Produced by Sanjay F. Sharma, David Eberts,
John Lipsz, Trip Hope
Written and Directed by Sanjay François Sharma
Starring Andrew Troy, Doug Jones, Douglas Tait,
Ron Roggé, Trip Hope, Jordu Schell,
Cathleen Mason, Tyler Johnson

This is a pretty cool sci-fi short film from writer/director Sanjay F. Sharma that is saddled with a goofy title.

The title refers to a nickname given to an alien species who have basically enslaved the human race on Earth. Everyone seems to be surviving by scrounging and scavenging, including former cop and current a-hole, Jack Dawkins.

Dawkins is well-played by the charismatic Andrew Troy, and the character is a genre stalwart: the scoundrel in need of redemption, á la Han Solo and Mad Max.

He may get his shot when he grudgingly accepts payment from a desperate father to locate his missing son.

Nothing in The Boogeys is especially trailblazing or shocking but that’s just fine, as it is a fast-paced, entertaining sci-fi outing. The effects are quite good for a low-budget short and the creature design is imaginative.
The acting is variable but mostly good, with nice turns by recognizable faces like Doug Jones (Hellboy) and Ron Rogge (Stranger Things). I also enjoyed Jordu Schell as Bates, who serves as an enjoyable foil/friend to Dawkins.

The Boogeysalso has a welcome sense of humor, dark as it is. I particularly like the cruel but genuinely funny gag involving the “Thief”.

All in all, The Boogeys is well worth twenty minutes of a sci-fan fan’s time. I would certainly like to see a feature from the talented Sharma.

The Boogeys has its World Premiere July 16, 2017
at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival

From the shores of Cuba and the streets of New York City to the icy plains off the arctic Barents Sea, the close-knit crew criss-crosses the globe to stop an anarchist from unleashing world chaos — and to bring home the man who made them a family. With more than an hour of never-before-seen bonus features and an Extended Director’s Cut, The Fate of the Furious will be the crowning glory of every fan’s collection.

Now that Dom (Vin Diesel), and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) are married, Brian and Mia have retired from the game, and the rest of the crew has been exonerated, the globetrotting team seems to have found a semblance of a normal life. But when a mysterious woman (Charlize Theron) lures Dom back into the world of crime and convinces him to betray those closest to him, the crew faces new trials that will test them as never before.

The Fate of the Furious reunites Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson and Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges in a heart-stopping new adventure that also features Charlize Theron, Kurt Russell and Scott Eastwood.

And we’re giving away copies to FOG! readers!

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

Who directed the first installment of The Fast and The Furious franchise?

Please include your name, and address (U.S. 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 July 23rd, 2017.

Streaming video is booming, and the ripples are transforming the entertainment industry. The U.S. streaming video market increased 22 percent from 2015 to 2016 to reach $6.62 billion, according to Strategy Analytics estimates. Netflix holds over half the market, followed by Amazon and Hulu. Internet users now watch more streaming video than cable TV. As streaming video has gained popularity, the technology has adapted and improved in order to offer consumers more options and become more competitive. Here’s a look at three of the latest streaming video trends that are changing the way entertainment is delivered.

Streaming 4K

With 4K Ultra HD TV sales are projected to surge 38 percent in 2017 and Sony is scrambling to get ahead of other brands by releasing the first 4K phone, 4K is one of the most important trends in video today. 4K provides four times as many pixels as HD, which translates into twice the resolution.

As more viewers adopt 4K screens, an increasing number of streaming video providers are offering Ultra HD content. Netflix, Amazon, Vudu and YouTube currently offer the largest selection of 4K videos. Other services such as Sony Ultra, Google Play, UltraFlix 4K and Fandango Now also offer 4K content, and Hulu provides 4K shows for a limited range of devices. DIRECTV and DISH have also begun offering limited 4K.

Many older films and TV shows aren’t available yet in 4K format, but original streaming series such as “Daredevil” are increasingly being produced in Ultra HD format. As more 4K becomes available, sports broadcasts will be one of the primary pioneering applications of Ultra HD broadcasting. Several broadcasters have already been filming 4K test runs of major sports broadcasts. NBC broadcast the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in 4K Ultra HD. FOX Sports filmed Super Bowl LI in Ultra HD, as a prelude to starting 4K broadcasts of other sports events in February. Meanwhile, Japan is already getting ready for a 2018 Olympics test of 8K, which will deliver 16 times the sharpness of HD.

High Dynamic Range

Following on the heels of 4K, and increasingly accompanying it, is high dynamic range (HDR), called the next big thing in TV technology by CNET technology expert Geoffrey Morrison. Where 4K Ultra HD delivers superior resolution, HDR instead improves two other factors that have an even greater impact on picture quality: contrast ratio and color accuracy.

Contrast ratio determines how bright or dark your screen looks. Color accuracy measures how closely the colors on your screen mimic the colors of three-dimensional physical objects on a flat screen. Together these factors have a greater effect on picture quality than resolution alone. If you put a screen with higher resolution next to one with better contrast ratio and color accuracy, the latter would look more lifelike. When you combine 4K resolution with HDR contrast ratio and color accuracy, the result is even more realistic.

HDR comes bundled with wide color gamut (WCG), which reproduces colors screens were previously incapable of representing. Together with the other properties of HDR and 4K, this combination delivers a color experience that outperforms any previous technology.

Almost all mid-range and high-end TVs now come with HDR. New 4K phones also include HDR. An increasing amount of HDR content is available from streaming video providers, including Netflix and Amazon.

Streaming Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is another hot trend in streaming video, popularized by smartphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S8 that support VR filming and viewing. Virtual reality creates an illusion of depth by using multiple camera lenses with overlapping views to take a full 360-degree composite shot of the subject from different angles. The multiple angles are then projected onto a viewing headset to create the impression of being immersed in the scene.

The VR market is on track to grow from $1.37 billion in 2015 to $33.90 billion by 2022, Markets and Markets projects. Live VR streaming is already being done through platforms such as YouTube. Usage is currently limited by equipment availability and download speeds, but as internet speeds accelerate and as headset adoption spreads, VR is poised to become a dominant form of streaming video.

Produced by Gabriel Campisi, Jared Cohn,
Demetrius Stear, David S. Sterling, Randy Wayne
Written and Directed by Jared Cohn
Starring Sara Malakul Lane, Randy Wayne
Shawn C. Phillips, Afton Jillian, James Cullen Bressack, Walker Mintz, Karalynn Dunton

The joys of summer: backyard barbecues, tanning in the welcoming sun and swimming in chlorine-filled pools. But what if one of these favorite summer pastimes spelled instant death?

In the generically titled Death Pool, it turns summer fun into one of the most ludicrous horror movies that leaves you more befuddled than afraid.

Part sick, part sad and funny, Death Pool feels like a Lifetime/Syfy movie gone awry that exploits real-life events for a rather confusing and uneven movie.

Johnny Taylor was an innocent boy until his parents left him in the care of his babysitter who had a sick panache for tormenting Johnny in the family’s swimming pool. After a near-drowning experience he’s developed a fear of water, even struggling to bathe himself as an adult. You feel a sense of sadness for him as he struggles with the his daily washing routine. However, Johnny has decided channel his water fear into drowning pretty women, a sick act his babysitter liked to do on Johnny.

Also known as the The Valley Drowner, our serial killer is drawn to women who happily play in pools so much so that he takes a job cleaning swimming pools with his best friend Brandon (Demetrius Stear). While cleaning pools helps him stay focused so much he can touch water without going into a full meltdown. However, he’s still drawn to killing women and beings to fed off the power it gives him, that he becomes more brazen and public with his killings. As a result, Johnny develops a cult-like following that really reflects our society and people’s hunger for fame.

Death Pool is one-of-kind. Unlike other horror/thrillers it doesn’t follow any formula and is hard to pin down what the director, Jared Cohn, was trying to accomplish.

Was it meant to be a satire? A thriller? A comedy?

Johnny is not neither threatening nor shy; falling into a more of a forgettable personality, there’s nothing that makes you gravitate towards the character or even care. Yes, his killings are wrong but it’s still hard to find a reason to feel sympathetic them nor his actions once Johnny becomes an adult.

Written and directed by Jared Cohn, Death Pool starts out with an intriguing premise that asks some serious questions about child abuse and psychology. However, after a while I couldn’t help but wonder how can one person kill so many people in a crowded pool without anyone noticing? The amount of victims he accumulates is similar to a Sharknado movie.

Featuring a cast a porn stars, nudity and independent filmmakers like James Cullen Bressack and Sara Malakul Lane, the latter who has a small part as Johnny’s ex-girlfriend, they carry the movie with intelligence and captivating presence that is unfortunately wasted as time goes on. Instead of intelligence, Death Pool relies on big, brash porn stars, large amounts of drugs, loud parties and stereotypical blondes that take away from the movie’s uniqueness.

However, it’s not a complete waste (at first). Starting out as movie that wants to explore the makings of a serial killer it dissolves into an exploitative and misogynistic movie that’s determined to rack up as many female nude scenes as possible. Cohn has delivered an uneven rushed film, but there are moments that builds on tension. Unfortunately, like the movie these promising scenes manages to go nowhere but to the Land of Disappointment.

The cinematography is rather consistently beautiful and surprisingly the acting isn’t a complete waste. Randy Wayne as Johnny is conflicted and dangerous while his best friend, Demetrius, has great chemistry with him.

Death Pool is weird and worth watching only once in your life if only for the laughs. It doesn’t bring anything new to the genre but there are unintentional over-the-top fun moments that’s good for a boring rainy day.

Death Pool is now available on DVD and On Demand.

From Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films, it was announced today at D23 Expo, that “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”—the fifth film in the now-iconic “Pirates of the Caribbean” film franchise—will sail home on Digital in HD and 4K Ultra HD on September 19, and on 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On-Demand on October 3.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” is a rollicking new tale of the high seas, infused with all the elements of fantasy, humor and action that have resulted in an international phenomenon for the past 13 years. Johnny Depp returns to his Academy Award-nominated role as the outrageous, swashbuckling scoundrel Captain Jack Sparrow, and is joined by Oscar winners Javier Bardem (Best Supporting Actor, “No Country for Old Men”) and Geoffrey Rush (Best Actor, “Shine”).

Fans who bring home “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” will experience the nonstop action in stunning 4K Ultra HD format, the ultimate home entertainment experience with next-generation high dynamic range (HDR) visuals and Dolby Atmos immersive audio.

Bonus material includes a collection of behind-the-scenes, making-of stories, including a conversation with directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg; a sit-down with the two young newcomers who play Henry and Carina; the secrets behind the menacing new villain, Salazar, and his ferocious ghost sharks; an on-set visit with Jack’s first mate from all five films; a chat with Sir Paul McCartney who appears as Uncle Jack; and a discussion about the franchise’s legacy; along with hilarious bloopers, deleted scenes and memories from producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s photo diary.

The rip-roaring adventure—packed with humor, suspense and jaw-dropping special effects—finds down-on-his-luck Captain Jack feeling the winds of ill fortune blowing strongly his way when deadly ghost sailors, led by the terrifying Captain Salazar (Bardem), escape from the Devil’s Triangle bent on killing every pirate at sea—notably Jack.

Bonus features include*:

BLU-RAY & DIGITAL in HD:

• Dead Men Tell More Tales: The Making of a New Adventure – Get unique access into the making of this exciting new “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie with this collection of revealing and entertaining stories that you can view individually or as a “play all.”
  • A Return to the Sea – Two talented filmmakers, Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, team up to bring “Pirates of the Caribbean” back to the screen. Hear how this new chapter of the tale was developed.
  • Telling Tales: A Sit-down with Brenton & Kaya – Meet Brenton Thwaites and Kaya Scodelario, the young actors behind Henry and Carina. The two sit down together for a revealing conversation on becoming a part of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” film franchise and its continuing legacy.
  • The Matador & The Bull: Secrets of Salazar & The Silent Mary – Oscar-winner Javier Bardem reveals more about his menacing new character and the foreboding ship he helms.
  • First Mate Confidential – Go on-set along with Kevin McNally, the affable actor behind the feisty Mr. Gibbs, Captain Jack’s reliable first mate from all five movies.
  • Deconstructing the Ghost Sharks – Peer below the depths at how these ferocious, mythical monsters were designed and brought to life.
  • Wings Over the Caribbean – Captain Jack has a memorable encounter with Sir Paul McCartney – rock ‘n’ roll royalty.
  • An Enduring Legacy – Take one more look at the “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” experience and the impact of “Pirates of the Caribbean” — the movies, the ride and beyond.
• Bloopers of the Caribbean
• Jerry Bruckheimer Photo Diary
• Deleted Scenes
  • Highwayman
  • Henry Turner Learns a Lesson from Captain Jack
  • A Whale in Poseidon’s Tomb
  • Alternate Coda: Murtogg & Mullroy “Flogging”

DVD:

• First Mate Confidential

Writer Jeff Lemire and artist Dean Ormston have captivated readers and critics alike with their “sad, dark, and brilliant”* creator owned superhero saga BLACK HAMMER, which follows the forgotten champions of Spiral City long after the age of heroes has passed. This fall, Dark Horse Comics will expand the universe of the BLACK HAMMER with SHERLOCK FRANKENSTEIN & THE LEGION OF EVIL, written by Lemire and illustrated by artist David Rubín, for the first of several high profile mini-series featuring different artists. While the main, Eisner-nominated BLACK HAMMER series focuses on the heroes of Spiral City—Abraham Slam, Golden Gail, Colonel Weird, Madame Dragonfly, and Barbalien—SHERLOCK FRANKENSTEIN & THE LEGION OF EVIL reveals the secret origins of the Black Hammer’s greatest villains.

“While working on BLACK HAMMER I found myself having more and more ideas for other types of superhero stories,” said Lemire. “The main BLACK HAMMER story continues to be the spine of these ideas, but I found them branching off into new directions and new characters as well. It occurred to me that there was a whole history here, a whole superhero universe all of our own, that I could explore and create within. So, Dean Ormston and I have decided to expand the world of BLACK HAMMER and create an avenue to tell these other stories. The first mini-series will be SHERLOCK FRANKENSTEIN & THE LEGION OF EVIL, which will be illustrated by the incomparable David Rubín.”

“Lemire and Ormston have created a distinctive look and feel for BLACK HAMMER,” said David Rubín. “When designing characters like The Horseless Rider, Doctor Star, Wingman and Black Stallion, I wanted to match the wonderful weirdness of the Black Hammer’s rogue gallery featured in SHERLOCK FRANKENSTEIN & THE LEGION OF EVIL.”

“Lucy Weber, the daughter of the Black Hammer, is an investigative newspaper reporter, and her search for the truth about her father leads her to some very dark places,” said Dean Ormston. “In SHERLOCK FRANKENSTEIN & THE LEGION OF EVIL, Lucy heads to Spiral City’s infamous asylum to confront the world’s greatest super villains and the secrets they have locked away.”

“BLACK HAMMER follows in the proud tradition of creator owned comics published by Dark Horse,” said Dark Horse Comics President and Publisher Mike Richardson. “Like its many fans, I can’t wait to see what Jeff, Dean and the all star artists have in store for us as the expanded BLACK HAMMER universe unfolds.”

“The World of BLACK HAMMER has become my favorite place to be,” said Lemire. “The last thing I want to do is exploit the fans of BLACK HAMMER with needless spin offs or tie-ins that they have to read to get the whole story. So, these new mini-series, like the regular ongoing BLACK HAMMER  series, will stand alone and tell complete, self-contained stories.”

Dark Horse Comics will publish the debut issue of the four issue SHERLOCK FRANKENSTEIN & THE LEGION OF EVIL mini-series on October 18, featuring a main cover by Rubín and a variant cover by legendary HELLBOY creator Mike Mignola.

Much has been written over the years about the three main actors in Star Wars who helped define an entire generation of science fiction fans.

Carrie Fisher, the young daughter of extremely famous parents with an extremely famous scandal, was the most well known of the trio (at least among the industry.) She had already worked with Warren Beatty in Shampoo before taking on the iconic Princess Leia.

Harrison Ford was arguably on the downswing of a mediocre acting career that brought him small, flashy, and ultimately unsuccessful roles in film and TV prior to taking on Han Solo. Ford all but gave up acting for carpentry when the opportunity to read for Star Wars presented itself.

Like Ford, Mark Hamill worked regularly in series television in the early 1970’s and even turned in a great performance as Linda Blair’s boyfriend in a better than you think TV movie about teenage alcoholism. Hamill also had a good career doing voice-over even before Star Wars, something he’s widely considered a master of today.

Although unthinkable now, none of the three were the obvious choices at the time. But once they were cast Star Wars changed their lives forever. It’s always been fascinating to see the moves made by unknown stars after they’ve hit the big-time. In today’s industry it’s a carefully constructed science. Place your star in a proven franchise or hit TV show as a guest star (remember future Obi-Wan Ewan McGregor’s ER episode after Trainspotting made him an international star?) or have them do safe movies with ensemble casts that the success or failure of which cannot be directly linked to them.

But back in 1977 the industry hadn’t ever seen a juggernaut as big as what would become the Star Wars franchise. Not even Spielberg’s Jaws, which only two years earlier had set box office records, could compare. So what came next was virgin territory, and like most virgin territory, it can be messy and ultimately unsatisfying for all involved, which brings us to Corvette Summer.

Corvette Summer was an unusual choice for Hamill to make in the wake of the most successful film of all time. Hamill’s troubles immediately following Star Wars have been well documented. First came the car crash which broke his nose and left him with facial scars, then later the lawsuit resulting from bailing out of the TV series Eight is Enough to take the role of Luke Skywalker (a case which he would go on to lose,) and add to it the sudden meteoric fame stripping him of his anonymity forever,

Hamill was left beaten down to say the least. Taking on the role of a poor high school kid was a strange move for the accidental movie star. First of all it’s the story of a boy, not a man. At the end of Star Wars, Luke Skywalker had journeyed into manhood (at least figuratively) when he shot his torpedo into the Death Star’s exhaust port causing an explosion intense enough for Lucas to continue adding special effects to it decades later.

It was curious to see him choose a role that didn’t explore a more mature and experienced person. Instead, the character of Kenny Dantley, the barley passing California high school student, followed nearly the same path Luke did in Star Wars. Kenny, like Luke, longed to get out of his mundane existence with bad home life and bleak prospects.

Kenny’s only solace comes from the high school auto club led by his kindly Kenobi-esque mentor, Mr. McGrath, played by the wonderful character actor Eugene Roche. Kenny is clearly the star of the auto club evidenced by making the greatest car of all time. Kenny’s Corvette Stingray even looks a lot like a spaceship once complete. The early scenes in the movie; saving the body from the junkyard, building the car with his fellow students, showing off the finished product by cruising the strip in a clear homage to American Graffiti, are all quite charming.

Once the Corvette is inevitably stolen the movie really gets started. Kenny, heartbroken the love of his life is gone, begins a desperate campaign akin to that of a kidnapped child by plastering pictures of his car all over town.

When a traveling salesman tells him he’s seen the car in Vegas, Kenny doesn’t hesitate to hitchhike his way to find it. Along the way he’s picked up by some Mexican lowriders in an unusual scene that must have been considered racist even in the 1970’s. After ditching them for driving too slow he ends up getting a ride from Vanessa, played by Annie Potts making her movie debut. Potts, who would later soar to geek fandom with the Ghostbusters franchise, plays Vanessa, a self described “prostitute in training” driving a mobile sex van which she plans on taking to Vegas to become a high end call girl. Potts plays the entire role like a 1930’s gangster’s moll in what you’re never certain is a character for her budding prostitution business or simply the world’s most annoying human being.

Potts and Hamill have little chemistry but it’s never really established if we are supposed to be rooting for them to get together or not. Do we want the D student grease monkey to end up with the girl who clearly never heard of Gloria Steinem? Will he ever love her as much as his car? Once they reach Vegas the typical “fresh fish” scenarios play out. Kenny’s wallet is lifted by a con man played by Stanley Kamel who would later go on to play Tony Shalhoub’s therapist to great effect on the TV series Monk. He meets an entertaining gambler on a lucky streak played by sci-fi stalwart Dick Miller, and has a vicious run in with a car thief played by future deadly Blade Runner replicant Brion James.

Once Kenny finally tracks his beloved Corvette to a serious car theft ring he wisely goes to the cops only to find his old teacher Mr. McGrath who pleads with him not to file the report. McGrath confesses to being the middle-man in helping provide high end cars to the ring. McGrath explains how little he makes as a teacher in as speech that could have been written yesterday. Feeling betrayed Kenny does the first smart thing he’s done the whole movie, sells out. He goes to work for the very car thieves that stole his precious car and even demands a higher salary that’s offered him. It’s at this point Kenny takes what must be his first shower. Up until now Hamill’s Kenny was so completely filthy you could smell his character through the screen. Having been chased, beaten, and even hiding in a full barrel of motor oil in pursuit of his Corvette, Kenny was, to say the least, RIPE.

He strides into a casino a new man and throws money in Vanessa’s face. If this sounds demeaning, oh it is. Vanessa rebuffs his $ 70 sending him on his way. Kenny, conflicted, steals back his beloved car and later violently steals back Vanessa (who is in the last ring of her downward spiral making a porno film with creepy old men in a hotel bathtub) as well. Kenny literally drags her out of the casino kicking and screaming while patrons seem not to care. The ensuing car chase that follows finally shows off what Kenny’s car can really do. It leads them all the way back to his high school.

After pulling the fire alarm the students pour out to find Kenny’s corvette, with hooker included, sitting on the schools lawn. Mr. McGrath being rightly concerned Kenny will blow his cover and send him to jail for his illegal activities is relieved to discover his secret is safe. Kenny’s only goal was to get his car back and he does. What can stop Mr. McGrath from giving it back to the car theft ring? Nothing. Will Kenny ultimately have a normal non-customer even consensual relationship with the kidnapped Vanessa? We don’t know. At the end of Corvette Summer Kenny and Vanessa walk off in the sunset being pestered by Kenny’s best high school friend (played by Partridge Family alum Danny Bonaduce) nagging about hanging out later. It’s depressing.

Corvette Summer is a strange film. It’s a teen-sex-comedy wrapped inside a bleak 1970’s anti-hero action tale. It follows the same formula of many go up against the man and fail stories, like Rocky, Cuckoo’s Nest, Three Days of the Condor, Serpico, Parallax View, etc. It’s about a kid who tries to buck the system and ends up right back where he started, broke, dirty, and without a car. It’s also notable the violence in the film is fairly serious stuff. When Kenny first attempts to steal his car back he’s beaten with chains and tied up, presumably to be killed later. During the climactic car chase the head bad guy shoots to kill. Not exactly light fare for a comedy.

Sophmore efforts for actors can always be tricky. Everyone wants to know if lightning will strike twice or was the first time just a fluke. Although Harrison Ford went on to superstardom his next few efforts after Star Wars were not notable successes for him either. It’s important to note Corvette Summer was a qualified hit for MGM. It made 36 million worldwide and helped solidify the successful partnership of the writing team of Hal Barwood and the movies director Matthew Robbins. Barwood and Robbins, who attended USC alongside George Lucas, were responsible for many cult and bona fide hits of the 1970’s and 80’s including; Dragonslayer, Warning Sign, and an uncredited draft of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Ultimately movies like Corvette Summer don’t age well on their face but become vital examples of Star Wars lure inside the cannon of the time. In retrospect Corvette Summer is a dark film that has elements of something interesting to explore behind the motivation of its main character. Kenny, despite many attempts to dodge the experience, manages to lose his virginity to Vanessa during the course of the film. What’s makes this odd is the experience never changes his motivation. While he clearly loved having sex, it didn’t distract him from his true love and purpose, the Corvette.

This mirrored Luke Skywalker’s motivation as well. Did Luke Skywalker ever have sex? We know he kissed his sister. If he did, it never distracted him from becoming a Jedi. After all how do you keep em down on Uncle Owen’s farm once they’ve known the Force? Is the Force better than sex? We may never know.

Corvette Summer is PG and doesn’t play on TV very much. It occasionally runs on TCM and is worth a second look.

Fred Shahadi is a writer/producer living in Los Angeles and is the author of the upcoming Sci-Fi/JFK conspiracy novel, Shoot the Moon.

The annual trek of the Nerd Herd to the coastal town of San Diego is almost upon us. The once a year venture out to Cali for collectibles, parties, autographs and the only sunlight many of us get. And like in past years, to be lost among the horde of convention floor.

If you can’t get into your panel, or if the convention floor is overrun with too many Harley Quinns and Jokers to walk comfortably, here is a look at the fun activities, goods and services going on outside of the convention so you can make the most of your Comic-Con.

FUN STUFF

CONAN Live @ Comic-Con
San Diego’s Spreckels Theater
July 19 – 22

The red-headed stepchild of late night television returns to the Con with live tapings of his show. Featuring everyone you want to see from all the movies that make your heart beat a little faster.

Adult Swim On The Green
July 20 – 23, 1 – 6 pm
Located at Convention Way & 5th Ave Pier Behind the Convention Center

 Have a fun and badge-free afternoon of hijinks when Adult Swim brings out their heavy hitters for a three days of insane, possibly time-altering fun.

At night, treat yourself of night screenings on the grass of all your favorite Adult Swim shows.

Activities include:

• Adult Swim Presents: Things You’ve Never Seen – July 20, 8 – 10 pm
  • “Do you want to see things you’ve never seen before? Of course you do. It’s going to be completely mind blowing. We promise. Blankets and surprises provided.”

• Streams on the Green – Wednesday – Sunday
  • “We’re beaming our streams directly into your dreams LIVE from Comic-Con.”

• Adult Swim Presents: Rick and Morty – Saturday, July 22, 7:30 pm, Located at The Park at Petco Park Enter at East Village Gate
  • “Wubba-Lubba-Dub-Dub! Join us for an event so big we had to find more Green (we’re moving this one to Petco Park)! Have all life’s burning questions answered (no promises) at this special evening with creators Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon.”

• The Rickmobile
  • “The #rickmobile is rolling all over San Diego all week long! Follow it on the interwebs to find out where we’ll be.”

FX Network’s Sessions: The Legion Mixed Reality Experience
Hilton Bayfront Park

“FX Networks announced an immersive mixed reality (MR) experience – powered by the Microsoft HoloLens – that will bring its critically-acclaimed series, Legion, to life at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. Produced by immersive studio HERE BE DRAGONS, “Sessions: The Legion Mixed Reality Experience” will be FX’s main feature at FXHibition 2017, delivering cutting-edge technology to take fans through a one-of-a-kind experience.”

“FXHibition once again takes over the Hilton Bayfront Park in San Diego to bring immersive art experiences to fans based off of hit shows including, Legion, American Horror Story, The Strain, Atlanta and more.”

Her Universe Fashion Show
Thursday, July 20, Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel (RSVP Only)

The fourth annual Her Universe Fashion show, presented by Her Universe and Hot Topic will offer the femme fatales of sci-fi and comics and exclusive look at upcoming lines for all members of the glamourous geek squad.

HISTORY’s Viking Funeral
Friday, July 21 from 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Embarcadero Marina Park South

“A one-day event to honor Ragnar Lothbrok and other beloved characters who have recently risen to Valhalla. The Vikings funeral will begin with a procession throughout the Gaslamp Quarter in the early afternoon from noon – 5:45 p.m. The funeral will conclude with a waterfront ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. featuring a floating 45-foot replica Viking longship with pyrotechnic display. Cast will be in attendance. Ceremony will be held behind the Convention Center at Embarcadero Marina Park South”

MTV Fandom Fest At Petco Park
Friday, July 21, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM

“For the fourth year, the MTV Fandom Fest will celebrate the fans who have descended upon San Diego Comic-Con to raise their beloved television shows, movies, comic books, animation and more to global phenomenon. Fandom Fest will feature thousands of guests at Petco Park as MTV offers numerous events including fan-facing activations, live music, giveaways, and more.

Official sponsors of the 2017 MTV Fandom Fest include AT&T, Doritos®, JOLLY RANCHER Candy and Pepsi™.”

Amazon Prime Presents: The Tick Takeover
MLK Promenade (corner of 1^st and J streets)
Thursday, July 20: 9:00am – 6:00pm
Friday, July 21: 9:00am – 6:00pm
Saturday, July 22: 9:00am – 6:00pm
Sunday, July 23: 9:00am – 5:00pm                                                      

The Tick is back! Celebrate with scavenger hunts, games, beverages and more!  Amazon Prime is prepping the iconic Big Blue superhero for his debut with this amazing Tick experience, including:

• Creating custom promo items
• Scavenger hunt in a multi-room experiences
• Refresh and recharge in the ultimate Prime Member streaming lounge

Wired Cafe
Omni Hotel, 6th Floor Palm Terrace
Thursday, July 20, 11am – 6pm
Friday, July 21, 12pm – 6pm
Saturday, July 22,  11am – 6pm
RSVP Only

The Wired Cafe returns to Comic-Con for it’s tenth fabulous year to give industry elite, partygoers, panel professionals, fanboys and celebrities galore the opportunity to recharge, both their minds and their phones.

Always a great place to host interviews, podcasts and to sit and write for a spell.

This year, if you are lucky enough to score entry, you can become a Wired Cafe Insider for three days of unlimited adult beverages, express entry, food, relaxation and schmoozing for just $445.

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FREE SERVICES AT THE CON:

HISTORY’s Knightfall at MLK Promenade – Free Storage for Your Haul
Thursday, July 20 – Saturday, July 22 from 11AM to 7PM
Sunday, July 23 from 11AM to 5PM

 “HISTORY is partnering with Comic-Con to offer the first ever external bag-check outpost: Knightfall’s Guardians of the Gear at the centrally located MLK Promenade from July 20-23.

SDCC badge-holders can store their bags free of charge next to the Holy Grail and under the watchful eyes of the Knights Templar.”

Nick Barucci and his team at Dynamite Entertainment have sent one exciting announcement after another, leading the comic book news prior to San Diego Comic Con.

MIKE CAREY TO DEVELOP ALL-NEW BARBARELLA COMIC BOOK SERIES

Dynamite is First American Publisher to Ever Create New Stories for the Iconic Character!

Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce that Barbarella’s first ever comic series, timed this coming Fall to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the legendary heroine, will feature the writing talents of industry legend Mike Carey (Ultimate Fantastic Four, X-Men, Lucifer). Additionally, Jean-Marc Lofficier – longtime custodian of the Barbarella brand – will join Carey as supervisor on the project.

“In the 1960s, Jean-Claude Forest’s Barbarella was a character who helped to define her era – the first emancipated heroine for a decade that questioned all rules and moral codes,” says Mike Carey. “I’m hugely excited to be involved in re-inventing this classic and iconic character for the modern age, and introducing her to many readers who weren’t even alive when she first traveled the spaceways.”

Mike Carey is a British writer whose work spans comics, books, TV and film scripts, and radio plays. His novel The Girl with All the Gifts was an international bestseller, and adapted by Carey for the 2016 Colm McCarthy-directed film. He’s written for DC and Marvel, including acclaimed runs on Ultimate Fantastic Four and X-Men, and with Peter Gross, Lucifer and The Unwritten. His books include Fellside, the Felix Castor series, and The Steel Seraglio (with Linda and Louise Carey).

Created by Jean Claude Forest in 1962, Barbarella was introduced at the heart of the Sexual Revolution, 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.

Senior Editor Matt Idelson says, “I can’t begin to express my pride in getting to be part of the first new adventures of Barbarella in decades, and I’m excited for all the comics readers who don’t know of her exploits and are going to want to find the original material after reading this book. The bonus of finally getting to work with Mike after years of cyberstalking him is the cherry on the sundae, and if the early going is any indication, this book is going to be amazing!”

Jean-Marc Lofficier says, “Working together with Dynamite on the creative development of a new Barbarella series has been both inspiring and enriching. Julien Forest and I are very happy that Mike has chosen to join our team, and can’t wait to see the new directions in which he’ll take the book.”

“We’ve stayed in touch with Jean-Marc for quite a few years waiting for the time to be right to allow us to publish Barbarella. Matt worked hand in with Jean-Marc to find the right creator who can capture her voice and bring her to a new audience,” states Dynamite CEO/Publisher Nick Barrucci. “We are incredibly fortunate to be working with Mike Carey again. We worked with Mike just after launching Dynamite with Red Sonja, and have been looking for the right project to work on again. And Barbarella is that project! Mike will bring new depth to the iconic character.”

Dynamite Entertainment first announced the return of Barbarella to comic books in October of 2016, welcoming the sci-fi icon to their stable of strong female heroines alongside Red Sonja, Vampirella, Sheena, Dejah Thoris (of Warlord of Mars), and more. In addition to original comic book stories, Dynamite can develop Barbarella in categories which include art books and 3D figurines.

Barbarella is slated for release this Fall.

KEVIN SMITH’S HIT SUNDANCE FILM, YOGA HOSERS, GETS A COMIC BOOK PREQUEL

Dynamite Entertainment is pleased to announce the upcoming release of Yoga Hosers: A Sundance Super Special, their most recent collaboration with trailblazing filmmaker Kevin Smith. The official prequel to Smith’s hit film, written by Smith himself with art by Jeff and Liam Quigley, was previously a Sundance Film Festival only exclusive, and will now be made widely available to the public when it lands in stores September 6th!

Smodcomics proudly presents the official prequel to Kevin Smith’s Yoga Hosers, starring Johnny Depp, Harley Quinn Smith, and Lily-Rose Depp! Since the remarkably charismatic duo of Colleen C. and Colleen M. debuted in the horror-comedy film Tusk, fans have been clamoring for more of these 15-year-old yoga nuts – and with Yoga Hosers: A Sundance Super Special, True North Trilogy devotees will finally see the continuation of their story! What is the secret “eh-rigin” of these convenience store clerks destined to face the monsters of Manitoba? How did fate bring two Colleens together to survive all the craziness that Winnipeg could throw at them? And can they harness Moksha, the ultimate goal of yoga, to destroy everything that threatens the things they love, eh?

Writer/Director Kevin Smith said, “Nick and the Dynamite folks have made a home for me at their shop over the years. So when I thought about launching SModComics, he was my first call. I look forward to turning lots of material from my podcasts and movies into 4-color extensions of what we do in other media. And I’m happy to do it with Dynamite – the Jersey-based comics giant!”

“The relationship we have with Kevin is incredibly rewarding,” said CEO and publisher Nick Barrucci. “His talent has continuously sparked imaginations and brought fans to the comic book industry, and when he initially broached the subject of working together on publishing this amazing series, we could not have been more honored!”

Yoga Hosers #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ July 2017 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in September.

DYNAMITE SIGNS LICENSE FOR ELVIRA, MISTRESS OF THE DARK

Plans to Develop Comic Books and Merchandise Featuring the Iconic Horror Hostess

Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce that Elvira, Mistress of the Dark – the beloved horror icon brought to (after)life by actress Cassandra Peterson – will join their line of licensed pop culture properties courtesy of a new licensing agreement with Queen “B” Productions and DevlinAgency. The publisher will develop and manufacture a wide variety of product categories including comic books, trading cards, posters, lithographs, card games, and board games.

With her signature blend of sex appeal, fearlessness, sarcasm, and smarts, Elvira rose to stardom in 1981 as the nationally syndicated hostess of Elvira’s Movie Macabre. Her distinct personality a hit with audiences everywhere, she evolved quickly into a cultural icon and film star (including two motion pictures, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark and Elvira’s Haunted Hills). Becoming a universally recognized brand, Elvira is a hallmark of Halloween costumes, action figures, pinball machines, Halloween decor, model kits, calendars, perfume, and dolls, and over the course of thirty-plus years, has served as a spokesperson for global brands including Coors and Pepsi.

Cassandra Peterson says, “Where better to find ‘Yours Cruelly’ then with my fellow freaks and fiends of the comic book scene? Nooo….of corpse I’m not talkin’ about you, darling, but the ghouls and goblins in the pages of my very own Dynamite comic book! I can’t wait to light this powderkeg!!”

Scott D. Marcus, President of DevlinAgency says, “We are thrilled to be working with Dynamite on new ELVIRA comic books, and many other exciting consumer products. We took our time to find the right company to carry on the tradition of ELVIRA comic books and ultimately chose Dynamite because of their talent, marketing, and distribution….and they are cool dudes!”

Nick Barrucci, CEO and publisher of Dynamite Entertainment, says, “Elvira is timeless. Who else straddles the line between camp and class like Cassandra Peterson’s adored alter-ego? Her image is blazoned in the mind’s eye of a generation, a fierce and feminine figure as fresh on October 31st, 2017, as she was when she appeared on October 31st, 1981. It’s a delight to bring her fans (and her fiends) a wickedly wide array of brand-new comics, games, and merchandise, as we expand our merchandising categories.”

“I think we’re all pretty excited to bring Elvira back to comics,” says Kevin Ketner, Assistant Editor at Dynamite. “Just taking a look at how people consume media and have embraced horror movies and camp, it’s a perfect time! Plus, she’s absolutely iconic. She’s the horror host that is currently missing from our lives and our comic shops… or digital outlets.”

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT AND EXECUTIVE REPLICAS, ALONG WITH PHICEN LTD., DEBUT FIRST-EVER VAMPIRELLA 1:6 SCALE ACTION FIGURE

First Figure in Stores in Late September!

Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce a new licensing partnership with Executive Replicas and Phicen Ltd., adding iconic horror hostess and Dynamite mainstay Vampirella to the manufacturer’s celebrated line of intricately-detailed, sci-fi and horror-related action figures. The first release, the Vampirella Asian Version 1:6 Scale Action Figure, is slated for release in September 2017.

This officially licensed Vampirella Asian Version 1:6 Scale Action Figure, standing twelve inches tall and fit for display with a stable base, is every bit as enchanting as her dedicated fans would come to expect. This vampiric vixen comes to life in three dimensions with a Phicen seamless body featuring stainless steel armature, and includes her trademark one-piece bikini costume, three pairs of interchangeable hands, knee-high boots, a removable cape, and more accessories. The retail price for this exquisite collectible is $149.99.

“For those that love action figure collectibles, there’s never been a greater time than right now – when the craftsmanship and materials of figure development can so realistically capture the likeness of iconic characters,” says Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. “We’re proud to work with the team at Executive Replicas, one of the premier designers and manufacturers of high-quality pop culture merchandise, to bring Vampirellato collectors in the very desirable 1:6 scale format.”

“This production capability was absolutely necessary when producing a character like Vampirella,” Martin C. Dunlop, CEO of Executive Replicas, “Outside of a statue, there wasn’t any way to produce a figure this beautiful.”

Winston Dunlop II, President Executive Replicas added, “After years of trying to obtain a license and produce a Vampirella figure…the right way, finally with Phicen’s patented production capability, it was a must to add the beautiful Vampirella to the list of characters using our seamless bodies.”

Vampirella is a raven-haired heroine who remains, even after 48 years of publication, one of the comic industry’s most well-known characters. Since the character’s very healthy resurgence in 2010, Dynamite has published four volumes of a monthly series, several miniseries and one-shot specials, and crossovers with multimedia brands and comic book peers (Army of Darkness, KISS, Aliens, and more). The Vampirella franchise is a haven for writers and artists with a penchant for the macabre. An icon of horror, Vampirella has an appeal that transcends the printed page, becoming a favorite facet of merchandising including apparel, barware, statues, jewelry, tarot cards, and more.

JEEPERS CREEPERS SINKS ITS NEEDLE-LIKE TEETH ,INTO DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

MGM’s Cult-Favorite Horror Franchise Comes to Comics,
with Original Stories of Midwestern Murder and Mayhem

Look – When it comes to out-and-out creepiness in horror films, there’s a reason that Jeepers Creepers has the very word in its title. From one of the scariest opening sequences ever filmed, to the moment of the creature’s full visual reveal, and to the further evolution of The Creeper’s strange physicality and tastes in the sequel, the franchise adds layers and layers of spine-tingling creepiness with every twist and turn. The folks here at Dynamite are going to have so much wicked fun with this project. Hop into The Creeper’s rusty terror-wagon and join us for the ride!

In Jeepers Creepers, two homeward-bound teens are nearly run off a desolate country highway by a maniac in a beat-up truck… and later spot him shoving what appears to be a body down a sewer pipe. But when they stop to investigate, they discover that the grisly reality at the bottom of that pipe is far worse than they could have ever suspected: The Creeper – an ancient, winged monstrosity with needle-like teeth – awakens every 23 years for 23 days, terrorizing victims and using the scent of their fear to identify what replacement body parts he can harvest to maintain his immortal existence. Celebrated by horror maestro Clive Barker as “the most scary, stylish horror movie I’ve seen in years”, Jeepers Creepers – starring the talented actors Justin Long and Gina Philips – had a record-breaking theatrical release and spawned a successful sequel, wherein The Creeper menaced a broken-down bus full of high school athletes.

TIM SEELEY’S HACK/SLASH SET TO MEET DYNAMITE’S VAMPIRELLA IN CROSSOVER

Writer Shawn Aldridge (The Dark and Bloody), and artist Rapha Lobosco (Doctor Who) have been selected as the creative team to helm what is sure to be the biggest hit of this year’s Halloween season, Hack/Slash vs. Vampirella. With the blessing of Hack/Slash creator Tim Seeley, the two heroines of horror are set to hit shelves October 4th, 2017!

Created by writer/artist Tim Seeley and Stefano Caselli, Hack/Slash harkens back to the classic 80’s slasher flick, as it follows the story of young Cassie Hack, the very epitome of horror movie clichés: the young woman and lone survivor at the end of every horror movie who then channels her emotional trauma into becoming the ultimate “killer of killers” herself! “Along with a burly protector named Vlad, Hack travels across the country hunting slashers in the vein of Halloween‘s Michael Myers, Friday the 13th‘s Jason Voorhees and A Nightmare on Elm Street‘s Freddy Krueger.”

Now, the Vegas strip heats up as Cassie Hack, accompanied by her protector Vlad, are on the trail of a deadly slasher and meet the lovely, yet lethal Vampirella. The team-up event you’ve been waiting for is a high-stakes game of chance when they have to take on The Queen of Hearts!

Hack/Slash creator Tim Seely said, “Vampirella is the original horror exploitation heroine, and it’s been a goal of mine since I started Hack/Slash back in 2004 to have her team up with Cassie and Vlad! Dynamite has recruited some awesome talent to handle this never-before-seen tale, which will tie back to the new Hack/Slash series from Image.

Writer Shawn Aldridge said, “Ever have one of those days when Tim Seeley unexpectedly emails you saying he really enjoyed your book (The Dark and Bloody) and asks if you want to write a Hack/Slash mini and before you even finish the s in yes, he goes, ‘Oh, yeah, and Vampirella will be in it?’ No? Huh, well, I did. And I’m over the moon (or is that Drakulon?) about the chance to tell a tale about an icon of horror in Vampirella and one of the best duos in horror in Cassie and Vlad. I hope my excitement comes through in this fun tale of the Blood Red Queen of Hearts ripping people’s hearts out in Las Vegas.”

Kentucky-born, Oregon-based writer Shawn Aldridge is best known for the horror mini-series The Dark and Bloody (Vertigo/DC) and his creator-owned series Vic Boone. His work has also appeared in American Vampire Anthology Vol 2 (Vertigo/DC), Dark Horse Presents (Dark Horse) and FUBAR (Fubar Press). He has one wife, one kid, three dogs, and a lot of stories to tell.

Artist Rapha Lobosco said, “What got me really excited to work on Hack/Slash vs. Vampirella is the possibilities I’ll have while drawing the pages. As a big fan of horror comics, I always was fascinated by how those stories are told in comics, how the mood is set up using light and shadows, the way you can play with the layout of a page. Also, Vampirella was always one of my favorite characters, she’s been here for a long time and it never gets old – I remember looking at Frazetta’s drawing and being amazed by it. By putting her together with Cassie and Vlad I believe we going to have a series with a lot of action! It’s going to be loads of fun!”

Brazilian comic artist based in Dublin, Rapha Lobosco stood out with his work being published on a few indie comics in Ireland and UK before working as an inker on the 11th Doctor Who for Titan Comics, after that he started to work on the 007 James Bond: Black Box for Dynamite with writer Benjamin Percy and colorist Chris O’Halloran.

Dynamite Editor Kevin Ketner said, “Getting to see Cassie and Vlad team up with Vampirella is kind of a dream come true for a horror nerd like myself. It’s times like these that I’m really glad that I’m not a demon here on earth trying to cause havoc, because I would honestly be afraid to find out they were working together against me. Shawn and Rapha are doing a beautiful job blending these worlds and giving us a scary, but incredibly fun story and I can’t wait for everyone to check it out.”

“Tim Seeley’s Hack/Slash was an instant horror classic, so it was a no-brainer that his now iconic characters should meet-up with the foremost horror heroine of all – Vampirella,” said Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite. “Fans of both series will love as they join forces to confront horrors they themselves could not imagine! Shawn Aldridge and Rapha Lobosco are both incredibly talented, and their work is guaranteed to capture these characters in a way any true fan of horror will enjoy!”

Hack/Slash vs. Vampirella #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ August 2017 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in October.

RED SONJA 45TH ANNIVERSARY TRADING CARDS SLATED FOR RELEASE IN 2018

Dynamite Entertainment Announces Promo Preview Cards as Convention Giveaways,
– Makes Sets Available for Comic Book Retailers And Fans Worldwide

By popular demand, Red Sonja – Dynamite’s Entertainment longstanding fantasy series featuring one of the most iconic female characters in comic book history – will be featured in its own limited edition trading card line, arriving in 2018. The series will feature autograph cards, hand drawn sketch cards, limited edition hand colored cards, puzzle cards, limited edition oversized box topper coards and more. And to provide a teaser of these great cards, and to satisfy rabid fan demand, Dynamite will be handing out special Promo Preview Cards at select comic book conventions nationwide, announced in advance via the publisher’s social media channels.

Red Sonja, the She-Devil with a Sword, is a fictional character, a high-fantasy sword and sorcery heroine created by Robert E. Howard, and adapted for comics by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith. She first appeared in Conan the Barbarian #23 (Marvel Comics). Red Sonja has become the archetypical example of the fantasy figure of a fierce and stunningly beautiful female barbarian who typically wears armor resembling a bikini or lingerie. For a decade, Sonja has had many successful series with Dynamite Entertainment, including monthly, miniseries, one-shots, and crossovers.

“Red Sonja was Dynamite’s second published title, and our first to sell over 200,000 copies, over 240,000 to be exact. With millions of comic books sold world-wide in multiple languages, as an inspiration to hundreds of admirers in the cosplay community, and for so many other reasons, Red Sonja has a wide, well-deserved following with diverse passions,” says Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. “We’re eager to satisfy customer interests by exploring all possible merchandising avenues. Statues, toys, apparel, barware, trading cards – however you want to show your devotion to Red Sonja, Dynamite is happy to accommodate! And for retailers who are eager to supplement their comic book sales, Dynamite continues to develop new product lines to appeal to every customer in their stores.”

For those diehard collectors unable to attend and acquire the cards in-person, Dynamite will make a select amount available for fans to order through your local retailer. The Red Sonja Trading Cards Preview Set, with a set retail price of $10.00, will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ August 2017 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, corresponding to an on-sale date of October 4th. Red Sonja fans are encouraged to reserve the sets with their local comic book retailers.

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT SET TO PUBLISH NEW THE SWORDS OF THE SWASHBUCKLERS SERIES FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN

Writer Marc Guggenheim Attached to Make the Classic Series Soar Once More!

Dynamite Entertainment is proud to share the exciting news that thanks to the overwhelming support and effort made by comic book lovers everywhere, The Swords of the Swashbucklers Kickstarter successfully attained its goal after an exciting, month-long campaign. Thanks to the more than 800 backers, Dynamite will now not only restore the beloved series, but also bring the tale back to life with all-new adventures after more than twenty-five years out of print! Legendary screenwriter, producer, comic book writer, and novelist Marc Guggenheim (X-Men Gold, The Flash, The Amazing Spider-Man) has been tapped to write the new ongoing The Swords of the Swashbucklers series, which is slated to land in stores December, 2017.

Following the success of the original Kickstarter campaign, Michael Mantlo, brother of Bill and spokesperson for the Mantlo family stated, “Earlier this year, a Kickstarter campaign was set up to fund the re-release of Bill Mantlo’s & Butch Guice’s The Swords of the Swashbucklers. By ALL accounts it was a tremendous success, and now, after more than a quarter of a century out of print (and out of sight), the epic space opera has returned in a gloriously remastered edition AND in a new series that will continue the adventures of Domino Drake and the crew of the Starshadow! The hope is that this endeavor will introduce the Mantlo/Guice masterpiece to a whole new generation of fans. On behalf of Bill Mantlo, I’d urge everyone to carry this wondrous story far into the future by signing on for the journey through the purchase of these books. Not only will you get to enjoy a magnificent tale, you will also be helping support Bill Mantlo finally being able to improve his quality of life, and having the opportunity to experience the joy of knowing just how loved and respected he is by the comic book community.”

The Swords of the Swashbucklers co-creator Butch Guice says, “I am both humbled by and extremely grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support The Swords of the Swashbucklers Kickstarter launch received earlier this year, and am excited to see these characters being published again for fans old and new. My participation in telling the adventures of Raader, Domino, and the gang hold a very special place in my memory, and it is extremely gratifying to discover they are so fondly remembered by others as well. Thank you to everyone who has hand a hand in putting this launch together, and thank you to the many people who have helped make this revival happen.”

Lawrence Klein, attorney for the Mantlo family added, “I wanted to be Bill Mantlo when I was a kid, a lawyer and comic book writer. I fondly remember meeting Bill and Butch at a small comic shop in NYC way back when. Now grown up, sort of, I am thrilled to work with Bill, Butch and Dynamite to do my small part and bring a great story and many new ones to the published page. It is amazing to see the continued support for these stories and especially the love for Bill. Thank you Bill and Butch for a great legacy in comics.”

Writer Marc Guggenheim said, “Swords of the Swashbucklers has long been a favorite of mine and it remains one of the great high concepts in all of comics, which is unsurprising when you consider that Bill Mantlo and Butch Guice were the creative forces behind it. I’m humbled to continue their work and looking forward to introducing this remarkable comic to a whole new audience.”

Hailing from Long Island, New York, Marc Guggenheim served as a lawyer in Boston while working part-time as a writer, until one of his earliest scripts led him out west and directly into the television and movie industry. His first television project was ABC’s The Practice, before moving on to write several television smash-hits, including Law & Order, CSI: Miami, Eli Stone, Arrow, and most recently Legends of Tomorrow. His feature film credits include 2011’s Green Lantern and 2013’s Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. After the launch of his successful career in television and film, Guggenheim decided to turn his attention to comics, and has since served as writer on many of the top comic book franchises in the industry’s history, including Aquaman, Wolverine, The Punisher, Blade, The Flash, The Amazing Spider-Man, Young X-Men, and Super Zombies. Guggenheim currently serves as executive producer on the Emmy Award-winning Netflix series, Trollhunters from Guillermo Del Toro.

“We are so proud that we were able to achieve our goal and bring attention to Bill Mantlo’s heartbreaking story, but we could not have accomplished this incredible feat without the help of our fans, backers, and all of the amazing creators we work with on a daily basis that rallied the support for one of their own,” says Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. “By bringing on the always incredible Marc Guggenheim to serve as writer, we can guarantee the new series will show the proper respect for Bill Mantlo’s work, while introducing an entirely new generation to the series that inspired so many of the great creators throughout the comic book industry today!”

Dynamite will begin shopping the film and television rights shortly. Dynamite is repped by Charlie Ferarro at UTA, Ford Gilmore at Illuminati Entertainment, and attorney Howard Abramson. Guggenheim is repped by WME, Ziffren Brittenham, and Cliff Roberts.

The Swords of the Swashbucklers #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ October 2017 Previews catalog, and slated for release in December. Comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies of

DYNAMITE ANNOUNCES KEVIN CONRAN’S
ART OF SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW

All-New Art Retrospective Unveils Never-Before Seen Illustrations and Design From Groundbreaking 2004 Film

Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce that Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, the 2004 dieselpunk film written and directed by Kerry Conran and featuring the talented cast of Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Angelina Jolie, will be celebrated in a comprehensive art retrospective, personally curated by Sky Captain co-creator Kevin Conran and edited by Shannon Eric Denton.

Kevin Conran’s Art of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow charts the revolutionary artistic contributions to the film by its principle visual architect, Sky Captain‘s co-creator Kevin Conran. The groundbreaking feature film, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, was the first of its kind – it completely embraced the look and feel of the old serials while pushing the boundaries of modern filmmaking technology. The film inspired a whole new generation of filmmakers to adopt their innovative techniques that are now commonplace in every studio feature being made in Hollywood and around the world.

This stunning collection will provide a comprehensive gallery of Kevin Conran’s trailblazing illustrations and designs, including incomplete and unpublished work never-before-seen by the public at large! Kevin Conran’s Art of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is the first official collection of such artwork. Sourced from his private collection, this book spans over 20 years of the movie’s unique illustrations and includes behind-the-scenes details on how the movie was conceived of, illustrated, approved (or rejected), and brought to life. Whether you’re a fan, collector, enthusiast, or new to the world of Sky Captain, this book offers the most complete collection of Sky Captain artwork ever produced!

Kevin Conran says, “After more than a decade of fan requests, I’m excited that Dynamite is helping Sky Captain take flight one more time.”

“I’ve been honored to work with Kevin on several Hollywood projects, but as a huge fan of Sky Captain, I’m beyond thrilled to journey into this world one more time,” says editor Shannon Eric Denton.

“We’re delighted to be working directly with Kevin on this book, and be able to share much of the visual work he did that went into the creation of the movie with his brother Kerry,” says Rich Young, Director of Business Development at Dynamite. “There is a treasure trove of material here, and fans of the movie will really enjoy the behind-the-scenes glimpses and story he’ll be sharing.”

THE HORROR OF PUMPKINHEAD DESCENDS ON DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

Leading Publisher Signs Licensing Deal with MGM, Unleashing Cinema’s
Legendary Vengeance Demon in New Comic Books and Graphic Novels

Look – the 1980s was a renaissance for horror films, introducing thrill-seeking audiences to so many iconic murderers and monsters. Pumpkinhead is not only one of the most visually terrifying of the breed, but also one of the most tragic – it’s the very definition of a Revenge Tragedy. There’s a human story to it that affects us so deeply, so profoundly – how grief can unlock an insatiable darkness within even the noblest person. Dynamite’s proud to resurrect this demon of vengeance, to explore the murky depths of the human soul in all-original comics, coming soon!

In Pumpkinhead, a group of teenagers inadvertently kills a young boy in rural Appalachia, and his father Ed Harley seeks the powers of a backwoods witch to bring the child back to life. Instead, she invokes The Pumpkinhead – a monstrously clawed demon which, once reborn, answers only to Harley’s bloodlust. As the creature wreaks its slow, unspeakable tortures on the teens, Harley confronts a horrifying secret about his connection to the beast – and realizes that he must find a way to stop its deadly mission before he becomes one with the creature forever. A “vivid, stylish, atmospheric” film as described by The Hollywood Reporter, the Pumpkinhead film features a hypnotic, heart-rending performance by Lance Henriksen and the directorial vision of special effects master Stan Winston, and spawned three sequels.

Stay tuned for further announcements regarding this upcoming title launch.

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN
CELEBRATING THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF POP CULTURE ICON GUMBY
WITH NEW RETROSPECTIVE,
GUMBY IMAGINED: THE STORY OF ART CLOKEY AND HIS CREATIONS

Dynamite Entertainment is pleased to announce the launch of their newest Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, which will work to fund the creation of a new deluxe collection retrospective to pay tribute to the art and history of the creations of Art Clokey, the brilliant trailblazer behind pop culture stop-motion icons Gumby and Davey and Goliath. The retrospective, entitled Gumby Imagined: The Story of Art Clokey and His Creations, will offer a treasure trove of more than 60 years’ worth of never before seen images, and takes a behind-the-scenes look at the life of the man that changed the world of animation for generations to come.

The Gumby Imagined: The Story of Art Clokey and His Creations Kickstarter campaign begins July 13th, can be found by clicking HERE:

There are very few properties that elicit as much joy upon watching as Gumby. Anyone looking at the instantly recognizable green icon is certain to feel a smile form and a twinge of nostalgia for the groundbreaking children’s television series. But what many people don’t know is the incredible behind the scenes story of the man whose vision for characters like Gumby, Pokey, Davey, and Goliath would create so many lasting childhood memories for generations of children. Gumby Imagined: The Story of Art Clokey and His Creatioin is the fascinating pictorial history of Art Clokey and his creations, meticulously chronicled and told by his son Joe and daughter-in-law Joan Clokey. It is a story that crosses decades and illuminates how this visionary storyteller developed some of the most enduring entertainment images of the 20th century.

Gumby Imagined: The Story of Art Clokey and His Creations is currently being worked on by Joe and Joan Cloakey, who have poured hours of loving care into this book to make it the best possible tribute to both Gumby and Art Clokey. While working on the project, the writers stumbled upon archives worth of incredible images that have never been seen before by Gumby fans. Shots that encapsulate the life, vision, and painstaking animation process have now been scanned, cleaned, and inserted into a loving tome that is befitting of the storied history of Gumby. For the first time ever, fans will be able to see these images that reveal a rich and colorful history of not only the development of the pop culture icon, but the footprints of a family upon the stop motion sands of time, and their work to influence and define stop motion animation for generations to come.

“The most fascinating life story I’ve ever known just happens to be about my dad, mom and the world famous characters they created,” said Joe Clokey, son of Gumby creator, Art Clokey. “Art Clokey’s journey intersects and influences major touchstones of our American life. The sixty-year, behind-the-scenes story of Gumby and Davey & Goliath, interwoven with a rich tapestry of photos and rare anecdotes, weds perfectly with Art Clokey and his amazing life.”

Clokey continued, “This book will be a fascinating ‘page-turner’ with never-before-told stories about this clay animation pioneer. You’ll see Art’s friendship with East-West philosopher Alan Watts. His love and partnership with his wife Ruth Clokey and later with Gloria Clokey. Explore Art’s fascination with the counter cultural creative winds of the late 60s and 70s, infused with his spiritual learning from Christianity, Zen Buddhism and Eastern Avatars. It’s truly an honor to work with Dynamite Entertainment on this very special book.”

“Art Clokey and Gumby are as important to the history of American animation as the creations of Walt Disney,” says Dynamite CEO and publisher, Nick Barrucci. “To be able to tell the story of this man and his incredible cast of characters is a high watermark, both as a publisher, and for me as a fan. Looking through these incredible, never seen before photos and reading such rich history is guaranteed to make each and every one of us feel like a kid again.”

With an expected shipping date of November 2017, backers who support the Gumby Imagined: The Story of Art Clokey and His Creations Kickstarter have the opportunity to receive rewards, including a surprise Kickstarter Exclusive hard cover edition, collectible prints, DVDs, toys, and creator signed exclusives! With tiers designed to fit any collector’s budget, backers will have the potential to enjoy a number of great rewards, including:

• A digital copy of the Complete Alice in Wonderland graphic novel,
• PDF copies of Boo, the World’s Cutest Dog and Bettie Boop graphic novels,
• A digital edition of Gumby Imagined: The Story of Art Clokey and His Creations,
• A surprise Kickstarter Exclusive hard cover edition of Gumby Imagined: The Story of Art Clokey and His Creations, signed by both Joe and Joan Clokey!
• Gumbitties and Gumby flexible figures,
• A Gumby 60th anniversary t-shirt
• The full 1950’s Gumby television series on DVD,
• A hard cover copy of both The Art of Atari and The Art of Atari Poster Book,
• Gumby foam top hats, Gumby canvas tote bag, Gumby and Pokey bendable figures, Gumby socks, and much, much more!

The Gumby Imagined: The Story of Art Clokey and His Creations Kickstarter begins July 13th and backers can get on board and gain access to all of these amazing rewards by visiting HERE.

Batman and The Shadow, two of comics’ most iconic characters, will again join forces to save the world this October as Dynamite Entertainment, DC Entertainment, and Conde Nast partner for a brand new, six-issue crossover event that will unite history’s most well-known vigilantes as they confront the World’s Greatest Evil! Writer Steve Orlando (Batman/The Shadow, Justice League of America) and artist Giovanni Timpano (The Shadow, Transformers) will team to tell this instantly classic tale of noir, mortality and generational heroes and villains, set to hit stores October 4th!

The World’s Greatest Mystery. The World’s Greatest Detective. They can barely stand each other, so how will they possibly deal with the World’s Greatest Evil? What legacy can two of the world’s most enduring icons of justice leave once they discover an ancient evil has been living inside the world they protect for centuries, attached to its heart. Can Batman and the Shadow save the world without killing it in the process?

Writer Steve Orlando said, “Shadow/Batman continues to be a dream moment for me, working with two of the biggest icons of pulp fiction and pop culture history is and will always be an honor. To dig even deeper into the pasts and motivations of the characters, to craft villains and challenges that force them to redefine themselves and grow as the fascinating, obsessed, passionate people they are, is wonderful. In Batman/Shadow, Batman faced a truth he was afraid to comprehend. In Shadow/Batman, the Shadow is finally faced with a moment he’s avoided his entire life: the moment the Shadow does not know.”

Steve Orlando writes and produces comics, including VIRGIL (IGN’s best Graphic Novel of 2015), Undertow and stories in the Eisner Award Nominated Outlaw Territory at Image Comics. As well, he launched 2015’s Midnighter and 2016’s Midnighter and Apollo, both nominated for GLAAD awards, and took part in Justice League: Gods and Men, Batman and Robin Eternal and most recently launched Supergirl, Batman/The Shadow and Justice League of America for DC Entertainment’s REBIRTH initiative.

Artist Giovanni Timpano said, “I was working on the finale of the second arc of Eclipse when Dynamite Executive Editor Joseph Rybandt emailed me, asking if I was interested in working again on The Shadow. I have to admit that I was a bit doubtful, because I drew several stories of The Shadow, with several writers, so I was wondering if I would have been able to add something new and different from the previous times. I’m that type of artist who always needs a challenge, who doesn’t like to repeat himself. Then Joe told me that it was not just The Shadow, but The Shadow/Batman. And later, once I read Steve Orlando’s idea for the story, all of my doubts vanished. We all know how important The Shadow was for Batman’s creation back in the day, and Steve have taken this connection between the two characters and transformed it into the very heart of his story. This is not a simple crossover between these two heroes, this is an important piece for both characters’ history. That’s why it was impossible to say no to this project. All this gave me a different incentive to add something new to my take on The Shadow. Basically, this is my third time on The Shadow, and I feel as I’m founding my definitive version of the character.”

Giovanni Timpano is an Italian comic book artist who has worked with several of the top comic book publishers such as Dynamite Entertainment, IDW, and Zenescope. His work has been featured in many best-selling series, including The Shadow, GI Joe, Hellraiser, and Grimmy Fairy Tales. Most recently, Timpano partnered with Zack Kaplan and Image Comics to co-create the hit series Eclipse.

Dynamite Senior Editor Matt Idelson said, “Doing a sequel to a great story is never easy.  You find yourself comparing the work you’re doing to that which came before even before the rest of the world does.  In this case, though, I think Shadow/Batman is not only a sequel, but a logical and necessary extension to Batman/Shadow, and a powerful story on its own.  Steve has so deftly avoided repeating anything from the prior series, creating something that is so fresh, so awesome, there won’t be a single reader that walks away disappointed.  And Gio’s art is tremendous!  He’s always known what he’s doing, but his work has grown and evolved so much since his earlier Shadow work and I can’t think of another artist who would have fit this project so perfectly.”

“The commerical success and critical reception for DC’s Batman/Shadow series has been overwhelming – fans and critics alike have had nothing but positive reviews – which has allowed us to immediately create a new series,” said Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite. “With the success and popularity of the series, it was thrilling to receive the greenlight from our friends at DC for our new cross-over, and working with their team has been nothing short of a pleasure. I cannot express enough what an honor it is to have the opportunity to publish two of the greatest characters to ever appear in comics, and I can’t wait for fans of both to experience the amazing story we’re going to tell.”

“What DC and Dynamite Entertainment started with Batman/Shadow early in 2017 continues to spark interest with fans of these classic characters,” said Hank Kanalz, DC’s SVP Editorial Strategy & Administration. “Shadow/Batman is a compelling story that not only continues to honor the history of both heroes, but adds to it – which should be the goal for any great crossover comic. We can’t wait for the fans to see what Steve and Giovanni deliver.”

Shadow/Batman is not the first time these iconic characters will join forces, as The Shadow appeared in two issues of Batman’s regular monthly comic in 1973 and 1974. Most recently, DC Entertainment, Conde Nast, and Dynamite Entertainment partnered in April 2017 to publish Batman/The Shadow, a six-issue mini-series from creators Scott Snyder, Steve Orlando and Riley Rossmo.  The series, which has since been met with wide critical acclaim, is the thematic prequel to Dynamite’s new Shadow/Batman series.

The Shadow/Batman #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ August 2017 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 Shadow/Batman #1 with their local comic book retailers. The Shadow/Batman #1 will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, iVerse, Madefire, and Dark Horse Digital.

NEW 4K RESTORATION! Ireland will never be the same after Rawhead Rex, a particularly nasty demon, is released from his underground prison by an unwitting farmer. The film follows Rex’s cross country rampage, while a man struggles to stop it. Written by Clive Barker and directed by George Pavlou.

Dynamite Entertainment, one of the most recognized comic book and graphic novel publishers worldwide, is pleased to announce that Charmed is set to return in an all-new tale of magic and mystery – this time in a Manga-style original graphic novel!

Based on the classic television series, starring Holly Marie Combs, Alyssa Milano, and Rose McGowan as the Halliwell sisters, this new spellbinding story will be written by the talented Katy Rex (Jade Street Protection Service), with art by Amanda Schank (Wayward), and cover art from Jen Bartel (Jem and the Holograms) and hits stores in February 2018!

A blend of supernatural fantasy, horror, humor and heart, the Charmed Manga introduces Delia, a young girl learning to live with her burgeoning supernatural powers. When she accidentally unleashes them – with disastrous results – at her school, the incident gets the attention of Phoebe, Piper, and Paige Halliwell: three witches with a lot of experience managing magical abilities. With the assistance of the sisters and the Magic School, Delia begins to make a new life for herself, but magic has a way of getting out of control…

Writer Katy Rex says, “I can’t even begin to say how privileged I feel to be writing a Charmed Manga. I started watching Charmed when it first came out — in fact, I wouldn’t make plans with friends on Thursday nights so I could be home to watch it — and have considered myself a huge fan since day one. I think now, as a writer, that background in the fandom is really helping me engage with the spirit of the show and the sisters even as I depart from the main comic series and add brand-new characters. I’m very hopeful that classic fans, like myself, will enjoy revisiting the Magic School as I develop that canon through the eyes of a brand-new witch girl. I look forward to engaging with new fans who are looking for a story with strong, empowering, supportive women. I love that Charmed has always been willing to tackle relevant issues like sexuality and misogyny while still focusing on the best aspects of witchdom: fun, magic, and sisterhood.”

“The Charmed series has proven immensely popular to dedicated fans in any of its incarnations,” says Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to tell this story in an innovative and new format, fully accessible to readers and die-hard fans a whole new story and a whole new experience! Having writer Katy Rex join the creative team is immensely exciting thanks to her ability to create strong and inspiring female characters.”

Assistant Editor Matt Humphreys agrees, “We’ve really got an incredible team of creators working on this project. Katy’s written an enchanting story, Manda’s art is absolutely beautiful, and as a result, the book they’re putting together is really remarkable. (And Jen’s cover, of course, is spectacular!) I think fans of the series, whether they’re new or long-established, are going to be very pleased with it.”

Charmed premiered in 1998 to critical acclaim and commercial success, and by the end of its eight-season run had won numerous awards, aired in more than 20 countries and attracted an average audience of 4.5 million viewers per episode. Dynamite Entertainment’s comic adaptation of the series debuted in March 2017, and the trade paperback collection of that first story arc – entitled A Thousand Deaths – will be available in October 2017.

The Charmed Manga Edition, under license by CBS Consumer Products, will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ December 2017 Previews catalog, the premiere source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and is slated for release in February. Comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies of Charmed with their local comic book retailers. The Charmed Manga Edition will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, iVerse, Madefire, and Dark Horse Digital.

Hoping to write another chapter in his life, one Western icon is looking for a comeback in the Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh The Hero, arriving on Blu-ray (plus Digital HD) and DVD September 19 from Lionsgate. Theatrically released by The Orchard and directed by Brett Haley (I’ll See You in My Dreams), Golden Globe nominee Sam Elliott (Best Supporting Actor – TV, “Buffalo Girls,” 1996) stars as a broken man who must face the ghosts of his past and his inevitable mortality. Nominated for the 2017 Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and New York Critics’ Choice, The Hero Blu-ray and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $24.99 and $19.98, respectively.

In The Hero, Lee Hayden (Sam Elliott) is a Western icon with a golden voice, but his best performances are decades behind him. He spends his days reliving old glories with his former co-star, Jeremy (Nick Offerman), until a surprise cancer diagnosis brings his priorities into sharp focus. He soon strikes up an exciting, contentious relationship with stand-up comic Charlotte (Laura Prepon), and he attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Lucy (Krysten Ritter), all while searching for one final role to cement his legacy.

BLU-RAY/DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

• Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Brett Haley and Actor Sam Elliott
• Photo Gallery

Following a thrilling and successful two-week Kickstarter campaign, Dynamite Entertainment is excited to announce the upcoming release of their first game offering with the launch of the new Vampirella Tarot Card Deck! Thanks to more than 150 backers who supported the crowdfunded project, Dynamite Entertainment will now celebrate the vibrant history of the one and only horror icon Vampirella with a fully-functioning Tarot Card Deck that captures the timeless images of the 1969 Vampirella Magazine art in a unique and enjoyable collectible.  Slated for release just in time for Halloween on October 25, the Vampirella Tarot Card Deck will be distributed through Diamond Comic Distributors, as well as through a number of game distributors, and local retailers.

Created in 1969, Vampirella has thrived for nearly 50 years delivering classic tales of terror in comics, graphic novels, and magazines.  These cover images helped to define the horror comic genre with master illustrators like Frank Frazetta, Sanjulian, Bill Hughes, Jose Gonzalez, Enrich, Esteban Maroto, and Paul Gulacy, along with a host of other legendary contributing artists.

This first game offering from Dynamite Entertainment is a fun and exciting way to immerse yourself in the world of Vampirella.  This set of 78 VampirellaTarot cards illustrates the major and minor arcana and comes in a deluxe illustrated box with instructions for divining the future.  The cards are built in a beautiful art deco style that embraces the vintage look and feel of the classic Vampirella Magazine covers.

Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite, says, “As we continue to grow the categories that we create for our fans at Dynamite, I’m extremely excited to be introducing our new line of collectible games with a property that has as rich of a history in comics as Vampirella.  This first offering captures everything we love about the character including the vibrant art of the classic Vampirella Magazine presented in a novel and entertaining way.”

The Vampirella Tarot Card Deck will retail for $19.99 (SKU: C725130262165, UPC: 725130262165) and will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ August 2017 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in October. Vampirella fans are encouraged to reserve copies of the Vampirella Tarot Card Deck with their local comic book retailers beginning August 1st!

I’ll never forget the family Christmas dinner when somebody dared to pooh-pooh the movie It’s a Wonderful Life by saying it was merely okay, way too sentimental, and definitely not worth its stellar reputation as a timeless yuletide classic. First there were gasps of astonishment, then a heated exchange followed, and I think somewhere in the midst of the arguing the seeds for this Spasm germinated. I’ve got a soft spot for the Frank Capra/Jimmy Stewart film—it’s the sort of feel-good life-affirming movie that only a Scrooge could find true fault with—but never before had I witnessed such passion for the movie, or how diligently one of its fans would defend that film against any reservation, no matter how minuscule or valid.

When it comes to cinema geeks and film criticism, there are some sacred movies that are simply off limits.

They are untouchable.

When one takes a proprietary ownership of a film, one uses that film as a social litmus test to gauge others’ reactions, to see if they share the same appreciation for its artistry, to see if they laugh at the same jokes, cry at the same tear-jerking moments, cheer at the same heroics, jump at the same shocks, and notice the same sight gags—basically react in similar timely and appropriate fashion to each and every one of its important parts. Friendships and even marriages are often forged from a shared love of the same movie or movies. And since the passion of film geeks runs deep, if you ever dare to bash a sacred movie someone is deeply connected to—especially a movie that is universally adored for more than one generation—you risk not only alienating friends and family members alike, but coming off as, well, a cinema Scrooge.

There are some popular classic films that are so transporting and full of magic and master-class filmmaking that they seem utterly perfect. Some of mine are, obviously, and in no particular order, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., Goldfinger, The Godfather, Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, Grease, Chinatown, The Wizard of Oz, Die Hard, GoodFellas, Aliens, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Amélie, Mad Max Fury Road, and so forth.

Some not-so-obvious ones include The Third Man, The Conversation, The Prestige, A Christmas Story, Ghostbusters, The Silence of the Lambs, The Thing, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, The Goonies, Diabolique, and North by Northwest. Talk smack about any of these films and you’ll instantly seem less cool, and you’ll automatically have that much less in common with me.

I could recount my sacred favorites and discuss for hours all the reasons why they are untouchable, but for now I will simply list them without comment and invite feedback as to why readers agree or disagree such-and-such is an “untouchable” movie difficult or impossible to fault.

And feel free to add your own suggestions, preferably with a brief encapsulation about why you feel it’s a sacred movie.

More to follow. In the meantime, some of the movies you’re not allowed to talk poorly about in my house are (again, in no particular order):

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Amélie (2001)
The Right Stuff (1983)
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
The Godfather (1972)
GoodFellas (1990)
Chinatown (1974)
The Third Man (1949)
Casablanca (1942)
A Christmas Story (1983)
E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
The Goonies (1985)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
North by Northwest (1959)
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
Dr. Strangelove (1964)
Some Like it Hot (1959)
Grease (1978)
Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
The Prestige (2006)
Goldfinger (1964)
The Thing (1982)
Superman: The Movie (1978)
Ghostbusters (1984)
Moonstruck (1987)
Young Frankenstein (1974)
The Conversation (1974)
Die Hard (1988)
Heat (1995)
Hoosiers (1986)
Star Wars (1977)
The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Zodiac (2007)

Author Richard K. Morgan will bring Altered Carbon, the Philip K. Dick Award-winning novel published by Gollancz in the UK and soon to be adapted as a Netflix television series, to Dynamite Entertainment with all-new, in-continuity stories, exclusively available in the comic book and graphic novel formats.

Altered Carbon takes place four hundred years from now, when mankind is strung out across a region of interstellar space inherited from an ancient civilization discovered on Mars. The colonies are linked together by the occasional sublight colony ship voyages and hyperspatial data-casting. Human consciousness is digitally freighted between the stars and downloaded into bodies as a matter of course. But some things never change. So when ex-envoy, now-convict Takeshi Kovacs has his consciousness and skills downloaded into the body of a nicotine-addicted ex-cop and presented with a catch-22 offer, he really shouldn’t be surprised. Contracted by a billionaire to discover who murdered his last body, Kovacs is drawn into a terrifying conspiracy that stretches across known space and to the very top of society.

Richard K. Morgan says, “Dynamite Comics are a great cutting edge outfit with zero interest in the legacy shackles that seem to inhibit so much of the rest of the industry (they deserve a gold Broken Chains award for publishing The Boys alone) and I cannot think of a more fitting home for the Kovacs IP. I’m really looking forward to re-visiting the Protectorate universe in collaboration with them, and seeing what fresh stories we can tell in this medium.”

Richard King, Rights Manager at Gollancz, says: “We’re delighted that Dynamite will expand upon and continue the exploits of Takeshi Kovacs within the Altered Carbon universe, conceived so ingeniously by Richard K. Morgan, in comic book and graphic novel formats. Richard’s incredibly dynamic writing style and vivid characterisation lend themselves perfectly to the visual story-telling style of comic books, and we are thrilled to be working with Richard and Dynamite on this exciting new adaptation.”

“I’m thrilled we’ve acquired the license for the Altered Carbon series,” says Matt Humphreys, Assistant Editor at Dynamite. “Richard Morgan’s series of novels have long been one of my favorite cyberpunk noirs, and they’ve got everything I want in a good read: a great (and complex) hero in Takeshi Kovacs, an amazing science-fiction universe to explore, and mind-bending mysteries complete with twists, turns, action and drama galore. I think the property’s found an excellent home here at Dynamite – and I’m looking forward to getting to tell some really exciting new stories in the Altered Carbon universe!”

“We’re honored and excited to welcome Richard K. Morgan’s mind-blowing sci-fi epic to our library of officially licensed literary graphic novels,” says Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. “Altered Carbon is a world just begging to be visualized in comics! Like our original Dresden Files, White Sand, James Bond, and Red Rising projects, the new Altered Carbon comics will provide Morgan’s legion of fans with official, never-before-seen stories that they’ll absolutely love.”

Richard K. Morgan is the acclaimed author of The Dark Defiles, The Cold Commands, The Steel Remains, Black Man (published in the US as Thirteen), Woken Furies, Market Forces, Broken Angels, and Altered Carbon, a New York Times Notable Book that won the Philip K. Dick Award in 2003. The movie rights to Altered Carbon were optioned by Joel Silver and Warner Bros. on publication, and the book remained in feature film development until 2015. It is now being turned into a 10 episode Netflix series by Skydance Media. Morgan is also the author of two volumes of Black Widow comics for Marvel, the Crysis 2 and Syndicate computer games, as well as a Crysis graphic novel.

Altered Carbon fans are encouraged to subscribe to Dynamite’s social media for the latest news and updates on product development and release. Dynamite Entertainment products are available at comic book stores worldwide, and digital comics are available through Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, iVerse, Madefire, and Dark Horse Digital.

The Google Play Store still does not feature real play casino apps, even though playing table and slots casino games on mobiles is one of the fastest-growing entertainment activities out there. With this is mind, it was almost inevitable that something would come along to take advantage of that gap in the market and Cherry Rush app store from CherryRush.com is that thing.

Casino app shop

Cherry Rush is not a direct rival to the Google Play Store, as it does not offer a range of games apps: instead it is an app shop that concentrates one hundred percent on real play casino apps. This means apps that let you gamble with and for actual money rather than just simulated cash and it is the very first store to gather together these apps under one roof. In the short time that it has been around, Cherry Rush has quickly emerged as the go-to place for Android mobile users who want to play casino games on these devices, and there are several reasons for this.

Getting the right casino app for you

The choice of mobile casino apps on offer via Cherry Rush is pretty comprehensive, but the site doesn’t just make them available for you to download – it actively helps you decide which of them you should go with. Every app featured there is reviewed by the staff, all of whom are passionate and knowledgeable about the subject, with these reviews covering every relevant issue. Among the things they will clarify for you are what the games choice and quality is, how secure the app is, whether it will operate properly on your mobile device and how easy to use it is. Each app is also given a rating out of five, while the ones that the Cherry Rush staff rate especially highly will feature within the Highly Recommended feature and the most popular with customers are listed under Trending Apps. This lets you get to the best-rated apps a lot more quickly than you would be simply browsing.

Choice of how to play

The most common way of playing casino on a mobile device is to download the casino app, and Cherry Rush aims to make that experience as quick and painless as possible. There is a single download required and once it is complete you will have everything from the games to the banking, bonuses and customer support ready to go. However the store also recognises that not everyone wants to download the apps, and it offers HTML5 protocols that let you play by signing in via your internet browser if that is what you prefer. This means that there is nothing stopping anyone keen to play casino from doing so using this store.

Cherry Rush is rapidly rising in popularity among Android casino fans and it is very easy to see why. It is the only dedicated real play casino app store around and any rival would struggle to better what it offers

TNT’s hit television series The Librarians, from Dean Devlin’s Electric Entertainment, debuted as the most-watched cable network series launch in 2014 and has now entertained viewers for more than three years with its stunning cinematography, dramatic scenery, and dazzling costume designs. To celebrate the beauty behind the series’ production, Dynamite will now release an incredible retrospective that takes a behind-the-scenes look at the artistry of the show.

Based on TNT’s hit movie franchise, The Librarians centers on an ancient organization dedicated to protecting an unknowing world from the secret, magical reality hidden all around. Rebecca Romijn, Christian Kane, Lindy Booth and John Harlan Kim star in the series as protectors of the world’s mystical treasures with Emmy winner John Larroquette as their reluctant caretaker. The series features Noah Wyle as Flynn Carsen, the character made popular in the original TV movies. The Librarians was the most watched cable series debut of 2014 and was recently renewed for its fourth season which will air this fall on TNT. The Librarians is executive produced by Dean Devlin, Marc Roskin, Noah Wyle, and Marco Schnabel.

“The Librarians is a fun show with great adventure,” said Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. “The cast dynamics and premise are perfect for comic books, and I am thrilled that Dynamite Entertainment will have the opportunity to expand on this rich world in a series certain to reward longtime fans and newcomers alike!”

Dynamite Entertainment’s beautiful retrospective of The Librarians will be released in 2018. Look for details on pricing, format, and release in the coming weeks, along with news of the new Librarians comic book series from Dynamite, coming to a comic shop near you this September!

Produced by Will Packer, Malcolm D. Lee
Screenplay by Kenya Barris, Tracy Oliver
Story by Erica Rivinoja, Kenya Barris, Tracy Oliver
Directed by Malcolm D. Lee
Starring Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith,
Tiffany Haddish, Queen Latifah, Larenz Tate,
Mike Colter, Kofi Siriboe, Kate Walsh

Who would’ve thought that a grapefruit as prop could elicit one of the raunchiest gags and loudest laughs from a female buddy ensemble comedy?  I certainly didn’t, and yet I was crowing with laughter along with every other woman in my row.  Girls Trip surprises and delights on many levels, including a fairly decent balance between bawdy physical humor and more serious heartfelt moments.

Ryan Pierce (Regina Hall) seems to have it all: fame, career success, and her position as one half of a popular power couple with her equally charming and successful husband Stuart (Mike Colter).

But when she is offered the opportunity to deliver the keynote at the mecca of #blackgirlmagic sites, the annual Essence Music Festival, she attempts to go for the whole package by inviting her estranged college besties “the Flossy Posse” to rekindle their friendship and celebrate sisterhood. While it becomes clear that the years have brought struggles to each one, there’s no one like your friends to call you out and lift you up.

The chemistry between wild child Dina (Tiffany Haddish), gossipy but loyal journalist Sasha (Queen Latifah), straight-laced mom Lisa (Jada Pinkett Smith), and seemingly perfect Ryan is both fierce and fragile.

Director Malcolm D. Lee is no stranger to strong ensemble pieces, given the success of The Best Man franchise. His skill is evident in the balance between three incredibly popular and established lead actresses and a firecracker newcomer that gives each woman a chance to shine through both individual scene-stealers and excellent back-and-forth. With an unspoken understanding that more is hanging on this trip than a simple weekend among friends, the determination to make it work comes off earnest instead of contrived.

Each is fiercely loyal in their own way, and it grounds antics like a zip line peeing incident in friendship as much as hilarity. All four women do occasionally get boxed into their character tropes, with Latifah and King having to work through large stretches of one-dimensional writing that hammers their “career before everything” roles into the audience’s brains. Their dual dedication to keeping up perfect appearances in the face of financial insolvency (Sasha) and her husband’s infidelity (Ryan) can get tiresome, but the payoff is about right. Tiffany Haddish, however, is vibrant and amazing as Dina. Her performance will have every audience member pulling out their phones and searching for her stand-ups while wondering how Hollywood could have missed this comedic gem for so long. The dynamic between Dina and Lisa is one of the most enjoyable, and their polar opposite personalities set up some of my favorite moments which include a hilarious and graphic instructional on the grapefruit as sexual aid. Haddish’s delivery, physicality, and relatability allow her to run away with many of the best scenes, but the duo of her with Smith in the straight man role garners the biggest belly laughs.

The tendency to lean into the complexities of navigating a transition from carefree college friendship to a more complex and burdened adult version makes the movie resonate, but it leaves little for the male characters to do except play the stagnate roles usually relegated to women in bonding comedies. Guys serve as simple window dressing in the form of vacation booty calls (Kofi Siriboe) or vehicles to move the plot along. Larenz Tate is an excellent actor but outside of his character Julian being an overly-obvious sweet and flawless foil to the philandering Stuart, he has little other agency. Stuart is a classic smooth talking cheater and there was no thought given to making him come off as anything but self-serving.

Rare is the comedy that utilizes a 2 hour runtime flawlessly. Girls Trip comes incredibly close to that small circle of films. Though it is not without missteps, this raucous celebration of friendship and sisterhood should rest comfortably at the top of the list for ladies night must-sees this summer, if not this year.