On Friday, April 20, SYFY falls under the trance of FUTURAMA’s Hypnotoad, the dangerously mesmerizing amphibian with the power to put humans into a zombie-like trance. From 8/7c to 2am/1c, our glorious lord and master stages a full SYFY invasion, complete with his own far-out logo, psychedelic sidebar and hypnotic interruptions of FUTURAMA episodes selected for maximum trip-enhancing effect and Hypnotoad-centricity. They include:

• 8/7c – Bender’s Big Score Part 1: Earth is taken over by email-scamming aliens while Hermes loses his head and Leela falls in love.
• 8:30/7:30c – Bender’s Big Score Part 2: While Lars and Leela’s romance takes off, Bender helps aliens pillage history for its treasures.
• 9/8c – Bender’s Big Score Part 3: Leela and Lars prepare to get married, and we learn what happened to Fry when he returned to the 21^st Century.
• 9:30/10:30c – Bender’s Big Score Part 4: Lars reveals his secret as the humans fight back against the aliens.
• 10/9c – The Day The Earth Stood Stupid: Only Fry can save Earth when evil brains from another world plot to make everyone stupid.
• 10:30/9:30c – Three Hundred Big Boys: When each Earthican receives a $300 government refund, the Planet Express crew members pursue their respective dreams and desires.
• 11/10c – The Sting: A killer bee sting sends Leela on a long, strange trip.
• 11:30/10:30c – Bender Should Not Be Allowed on Television: Bender becomes a television star, as well as a terrible role model for children.
• 12am/11c – Rebirth: After a devastating spaceship crash, the Professor attempts to resuscitate the crew with his birth machine.
• 12:32am/11:32c – Mobius Dick: Leela becomes obsessed with hunting down a mysterious, four-dimensional space whale.
• 1:01am/12:01c – Reincarnation: FUTURAMA is reconceived in three alternate animation styles: classic black-and-white, old-school videogame and Japanese anime.
• 1:31am/12:31c – Decision 3012: Leela becomes campaign manager for a presidential candidate whose birth certificate is mysteriously missing.

Memory hold us together this week.

Whether an incident in our past sets us on the path to murder, or just temporarily losing all knowledge of who we are.

Some stories are told in the future, so present activities become the memories they look back on.

Cave Carson even starts in a memory to bring Star back, and I agree he’s a character too good to stay dead.

Batman Sins of the Father #3
Words – Christos Gage
Pictures – Raffaele Ienco

More playtime with Batman’s least favorite hired-gun Spider-Man cosplayer (Black Spider).

Bruce breaks in to Arkham for the files people just don’t want him to get.

It’s a super fun sequence that really feels like you’re going through a level of the game; Bruce gets to show off his amazing nearly inhuman aim and reaction time (it could’ve only be made perfect if “—- will remember that” popped, up maybe by Alfred?).

The files reveal, the dirty dealings of Thomas Wayne were worse than Bruce knew.

Wayne Tower would not exist without an agreement to let a sick case out of Arkham, putting into motion the events leading to the silencing of witnesses today.

Batwoman #14
Words – Marguerite Bennett
Pictures – Fernando Blanco

Drugs! In every layer of this spiraling arc so many drugs to enhance, to control (to explode!).

The Twin Eyes of the Many Arms of Death have gotten a real bad performance review, you can’t get worse than being handed a cuppa instant death.

With them out of the way (though all over the carpet- ewwwww), Tahani and Alice can move forward on their slaughter-filled revenge plan.

But, since we last saw her Beth has been getting better. Will her objections get in their way?

And will Kate get to her in time to save her/stop her from committing an act she can’t come back from?

Cave Carson has an Interstellar Eye #2
Words – Jon Rivera
Pictures – Michael Avon Oeming, Paul Maybury

Did you miss Star?

Were you afraid just because he imploded last issue that was the last we’d see of him?

Au contraire, this a book of flashbacks, and we get the (still) Earthbound Star of 22 years ago touring and writing a song about the alien world (and it’s conflict) this issue that Cave and crew are about to be hip deep in.

Sounds like a tall order right?

But between Rivera and Oeming they pull it off effortlessly and with flair.

This is the kind of Young Animal book that plays with the narrative, feels true to it’s Vertigo roots and I want more of.

The second feature is another podcast. It continues the story of how Cave’s last group broke up. It’s adorable, and is the better book with ant-headed side characters.

Death Bed #3
Words – Joshua Williamson
Pictures – Riley Rossmo

Luna’s cult saved them from a messy spot, they take Val and Luna to an entire underground city/church
dedicated to him.

It turns out to no one’s surprise, that Luna is not above straight-up BS-ing a group if they’re gullible and it seems fun. So back in the 70’s when these people had drugs, wine, their bodies and their unwavering belief in him; Luna started the cult just to take them to orgy town but ran away when they expected it to get serious.

But they kept at it after he fled, and repeated his deep teachings like “You are what you eat” – this can’t go
badly.

Green Lanterns #45
Words – Tim Seeley
Pictures – Ronan Cliquet

Jess is gone and trapped in her own head.

The memory of when her friends were slaughtered out in the woods has eaten at her since that day, partially painful due to their incompleteness. It has been hinted that maybe her own ring is responsible for shielding her from the identities of the murderers (for some reason), but a word from Singularity Jain seems to have unlocked it all throwing the Jess from now into then.

It’s interesting to see the JLA flail.

When there’s no one to punch and nothing to break they’re at a bit of a loss. This will be a job for scalpels over hammers, for a light touch. Luckily no one (on the good guy side) is more light fingered than one John Constantine.

Harley Quinn #42
Words – Frank Tieri
Pictures – Mauricet

Do you have a favorite post-apocalyptic story?

Look closely, it might be referenced this week. Red Tool (in the fuuuuutuuure) drives through the Jersey Wastelands with Harley strapped to the front of his car (wow, we thought it was hard to get her back in the present).

A smattering of Kingdom Come, Spaceballs, Robocop, Escape from New York, Back to the Future II, Max Headroom… I think Tieri is writing what he loves.

And then things go bonkers.

Quinn was brought back (forcibly) to stop a gang war between the (former)
Harleys. In her absence it’s become some straight up “the Warriors” insanity. And don’t forget, since this
is a future story anything goes.

Meaning all’s fair and fun and canon’s out the window!

Justice League #43
Words – Priest
Pictures – Pete Woods

We conclude this story’s war-torn African chapter jumping between “now” and “ the week before” with the week before occurring directly after last week’s issue so it’s only kinda confusing.

Deathstroke killed “the Fan” (last issue) and acts like this solves the JLA’s problems, but we know the Fan
worked with others (like the woman who took down the Watchtower), so does it really?

Deathstroke claims to be unstoppable and powers his way through the JLA in many pages of fight.

Wonder Woman recovers enough to throw herself back into battle and is told AFTER clocking Deathstroke that him defeating all the JLA was part of a plan (it’s too bad they don’t have communication devices to have warned her over before she did that).

Teen Titans Go #27
Words – Matthew K. Manning, Ivan Cohen
Pictures – Erich Owen, Jeremy Lawson

Robin goes to the doctor and gets a exemplary bill of health. So psyched he sends all the other Titans to get checked out too. Some character-related jokes later, Robin is asked for his insurance information. Relating health insurance to the “insurance” the mob strong-arms Robin goes ballistic.

Insurance-related jokes no child will get are thrown in. The Antna Ant-people fight with blue shields (and swords). Manning, Owen where did our for-profit medical system bad touch you? It wasn’t funny but I’m glad you got that out of your systems.

The second story is about the team cleaning the Titans Tower. Before they get far an explosion gives the collected dust life (and the physical appearance of the team members). A fun enough little one-and done story that’s dumb but inoffensive.

The Brave and the Bold: Batman & Wonder Woman #3
Words and Pictures – Liam Sharp

Bruce wakes up in nothing but his skivvies surrounded by fair folk and can not remember how he got there. Sounds like the set-up to a punchline, but the time in the Irish Quarter strained him enough for it to take time for his memory to return.

Now fully regained of his senses Batman and Wonder woman ride the mystical countryside in search of clues to the murder. They find instead the underpinnings of this entire bottled society.

Everyone genuinely seemed to have loved the deceased, and deep down has no real reason to fight the other side anymore. Except perhaps the reason is to not notice the walls of their cage?

This is going to take some exhaustive digging, the results won’t only change the fates of these people but might save their own. A leak from this realm is what’s causing the incident holding prisoner the people of Gotham!

Hailed as “a masterpiece” (Chris Evangelista, Slash Film) and “a mind-blowing experience” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone), director Alex Garland’s (Ex Machina) ANNIHILATION debuts on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD May 29, 2018 from Paramount Home Media Distribution.  The film arrives on Digital May 22.

Biologist and former soldier Lena (Academy Award winner Natalie Portman) is shocked when her missing husband (Oscar Isaac) comes home near death from a top-secret mission into The Shimmer, a mysterious quarantine zone no one has ever returned from. Now, Lena and her elite team must enter a beautiful, deadly world of mutated landscapes and creatures, to discover how to stop the growing phenomenon that threatens all life on Earth.  The film also stars Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, and Tuva Novotny.

The ANNIHILATION Blu-ray Combo Pack includes over an hour of bonus content. Natalie Portman, director Alex Garland and other cast and crew take viewers behind the scenes for a deeper look inside the film’s stunts, intricate set design and breathtaking visual effects. The Blu-ray also boasts a Dolby Atmos soundtrack remixed specifically for the home to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead.

ANNIHILATION Blu-ray Combo Pack

The ANNIHILATION Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English Dolby Atmos, French 5.1 Dolby Audio, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Audio, and English Audio Description and English, English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles.  The DVD in the Combo Pack is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with English 5.1 Dolby Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Audio, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Audio and English Audio Description and English, French, and Spanish subtitles.   The Combo Pack includes access to a Digital copy of the film as well as the following:

Blu-ray

• Feature film in high definition
• Bonus Content:
  • Part 1 – SOUTHERN REACH
    • Refractions – See how director Alex Garland created the tone, textures and color palettes for the various film environments on set.
    • For Those That Follow – Listen to the cast’s perspective on their roles and learn why they found the story so intriguing.
  • Part 2 – AREA X
    • Shimmer – See how filmmakers transformed real set locations to create the world of Annihilation.
    • Vanished into Havoc – Check out all the action as cast and crew walk you through the mind-blowing stunts and special effects.
  • Part 3 – TO THE LIGHTHOUSE
    • Unfathomable Mind – Learn why the visual effects are integral to achieving director Alex Garland’s overall vision for Annihilation.
    • The Last Phase – Listen to the cast and crew share their fondest memories from filming Annihilation.

DVD

• Feature film in standard definition

ANNIHILATION DVD

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

For more details, visit  Facebook.com/AnnihilationMovie

Welcome to Graphic Breakdown!

It’s Wednesday! The best day of the week!

Let’s talk comics!

Batman #45
Written by Tom King
llustrated by Tony S. Daniel

This is the beginning of a major storyline right here!

And to show it, DC has enlisted Tony S. Daniel to draw it. It totally feels earned though. Tom King has been doing great on this title and it’s finally time to cut loose.

Booster Gold has come to recruit Batman and Catwoman!

They have to help Booster save a younger version of himself. It’s a long convoluted tale through Batman’s history.

And it’s a joy to read through.

The art is excellent. Daniel really knows what he is doing and it show. They story is entertaining and it has some great story beats. King is just making each issue better than the last and it’s his peak work.

RATING: A-

Mister Miracle #8
Written by Tom King
Illustrated by Mitch Gerads

This is Tom King’s other book which is also one of the best series of the past year.

It’s funny and full of some of the best characterizations we’ve seen of this character.

In this issue, it’s time for Mister Miracle to head back to Apokolips!

This means it’s back to war for everybody! Scott Free finds himself up against Darkseid’s forces! But Barda is not at his side!

What’s a New God to do?

The story is damn entertaining. It’s the Mister Miracle story you’ve always wanted! The art by Gerads is tops. This is some good stuff people. Pick it up!

RATING: A

Aquaman #35
Written by Dan Abnett
Illustrated by Riccardo Federici

Holy hell this is a damn good time.

Dan Abnett ratchets up the drama a bit and it’s great!

King Rath is back and he’s pretty angry! He’s a great villain and Abnett uses him to full effect.

King Rath finds out Aquaman is still alive!

And this makes him super angry! This is part one of the “Kingslayer” storyline!

He sends the villainous Murk after Aquaman to finish the job!

And then things get really insanely crazy.

The story is very good. Abnett is the best writer this character has had. The art is something else. Federici does amazing work here.

Pick this up. Everything is really great and it’s a clear cut winner.

RATING: B+

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 #6
Written by James Tynion IV and Ryan Ferrier
Illustrated by Freddie Williams III

Well, here we are. The last issue of the second team-up between all of these characters. And it may in fact be the nuttiest one yet!

Tynion makes the story as crazy as it can be and it looks like he just wanted to top himself.  Former FOG! contributor Ferrier also delivers top notch dialogue for both The Turtles and Bat-Families.

The setting for this deadly finale is Liberty Island!

Batman and the Turtles have to bring Bane down! But can they?

And what does the Shredder have to do with it all? Find out here!

The best part of this book is the artwork. Williams has made the book his own and it’s damn good.

The story is just silly. But you will smile.

Pick it up and turn your brain off!

RATING: B

Injustice 2 #24
Written by Tom Taylor
Illustrated by Daniel Sampere

Tom Taylor. What a great series he has put together. This issue is no different. He’s takes a different glance at the DC Universe and makes something all his own.

Everyone gathers together for the final fight against Amazo!

Can the heroes take down this dastardly fiend?

And what is the secret weapon that they have at their disposal?

Find out here!

The art is very good as well.

I said it before and I’ll say it again. If you aren’t reading this series, you are missing out for sure.

RATING: B+

Deadman #6
Written and Illustrated by Neal Adams

Neal Adams finishes his Deadman saga on a sort of whimper here. I wish this was better but it’s not very good. Boston Brand deserves a better story than this!

The truth behind Ra’s al Ghul’s plan is finally revealed in this final issue!

Boston Brand’s death it seems wasn’t an accident! It was a gruesome murder!

And now Deadman has to face off against Ra’s. He may need Batman’s help though.

This book is deadly boring and overwritten. I got bored many times reading it. The art isn’t bad but it’s sadly lacking spark.

Thankfully, it’s over now and maybe we can get a decent Deadman series again.

RATING: D

Batman: Creature of the Night #3
Written by Kurt Busiek
Illustrated by John Paul Leon

This book is surprisingly good.

I knew with the talent behind it, that I would enjoy it. I never knew how much however I would absolutely love it. The concept seemed weak on the outset but I should have known better based on Busiek’s former real world take, Superman: Secret Identity.

Bruce Wainwright has grown up.

Yet, he still has trauma from his childhood with him.

But then Bruce learns that everything he ever believed might be a lie.

It’s all coming to an end.

The writing is just wonderful. Busiek is writing an incredible story here and it’s awesome. The art by John Paul Leon is the best of his career.

Pick this up. It’s really just excellent.

RATING: A

Bombshells United #16
Written by Marguerite Bennett
Illustrated by Sandy Jarrell

I love the art of Sandy Jarrell. It really elevated this already great series. I love that it has an independent sensibility to it that we don’t see very much over at DC.

In this issue, the Bombshells go to a place to fight that’s always a fun time!

What it it, you ask?

Well, a volcanic lair! I love those!

This issue is basically a huge fight.

But it’s a well done fight so why not?

The story by Bennett is pretty good. You may not be picking this up currently but you should.

It’s a good book with tons of entertainment value!

RATING: B

Superman #45
Written by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason 
Illustrated by Patrick Gleason

Well, this is it. The finale of the “Boyzarro Re-Death” storyline. Tomasi and Gleason have had a great run.

Myself? I’ll follow this creative team to whatever they happen to do next.

The Super Foes battle the Legion of Fun!

Superman and Superboy return to Hamilton to recharge.

Here they find out what they meant to the locals.

They also learn what the town means to them.

The story is tops. It’s a nice send off to the next era of Superman.

The art is great again. Make sure to read this entire run. It’s some excellent comic books indeed.

RATING: A

Super Sons #15
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Illustrated by Carlo Barberi

This is the beginning of the end for this title. Tomasi has had a nice little run with these characters.

Here, he looks to be ending on a high note.

Superboy and Robin have been through a lot. Now they have to go through something called “The Amazo Project.”

Kid Amazo is back! Ready to cause havoc! What he has planned may indeed tear this superteam apart.

The art is very good here. I look forward to see how Tomasi wraps this up.

Give it a shot. It’s been a great run thus far.

RATING: B

Damage #4
Written by Robert Venditti
Illustrated by Cary Nord

Maybe this title deserves a second look.

Venditti has been writing an okay story that has had decent enough art. It’s basically the Hulk for the DC Universe.

But in this issue they found my weak spot: artist extraordinaire Cary Nord.

Poison Ivy has attacked a bunch of fieldworkers!

Should Ethan turn into Damage and save them? Or should he protect his own sanity?

What does he choose?

I won’t tell you, but I will tell you that there is a lot of destruction in this issue.

The art is the draw here. Cary Nord is one of the best out there. He’s at the top of his game here, too.

Pick this up. Nord elevates the book and makes it something worth checking out.

RATING: B

Future Quest Presents #9
Written by Rob Williams
Illustrated by Aaron Lopresti

I loved the last few issues of this book.

That’s why it’s such a disappointment to me to read this issue. The story is bland and the art is blander.

Young Dorno of the Herculoids Clan wants to make his own way into the world.

He wants to be away from his parents. He goes on a dull adventure that may make him grow up too fast.

Seriously, that’s as exciting as it gets.

It’s a kind of depressing book overall. I feel like this one got away from them.

Pick it up at your own risk.

RATING: D-

Nightwing #43
Written by Michael Moreci
Illustrated by Minkyu Yung

Nightwing’s book has been a strange title since the DC Rebirth began.

It started off strong, then it dipped in quality a bit. I lost a bit of interest quite honestly in the book over time.

This issue, however, was a good introduction back for me into a character I really like.

Dick Grayson is tired. He’s been working non stop. It’s tough having your own solo title and being part of a team book (one has to wonder how Batman does it). So he’s taking a night off! He deserves it! But then Arsenal and Robin show up. They need his help. Of course.,So Dick suits up and decides to lend a hand. He quickly finds himself fighting the League Of Assassins and a bunch of ninjas! Their leader is Arsenal’s ex girlfriend!

But even worse for Dick is Robin and Arsenal bickering. It makes for a terrible night off but a delight for the audience.

This is a good jumping on for new readers. The story has a nice angle and Moreci runs with it. The art is decent as well. I always felt that with the right take, Nightwing’s book could be one of the top. Let’s hope somebody realizes that at DC and we get more good stories like this one.

RATING: B+

In celebration of the relaunch of MAD Magazine and today’s debut of a new issue no. 1, America’s #1 humor magazine is revealing a new kind of MAD-ness with its first-ever digital channel debuting April 20 on Twitch at twitch.tv/madmagazine. The iconic brand will also extend its digital presence with The MAD Podcast!, an all-new bi-monthly series launching this summer on iTunes, Stitcher and the newly improved MAD blog. Available on newsstands and via digital download today, the June 2018 issue of MAD Magazine marks a fresh look for the fan-favorite brand.

Broadcasting live from MAD’s new Burbank headquarters, initial programming for the new Twitch channel, lead by Senior Editor Dan Telfer, will comprise a collection of comedy guests including Steve Agee, Jordan Morris, Thea Lux, Candy Lawrence, Erin Tracy, Sean Ellis, Gerry Duggan, Joe Kwaczala, among others, alongside narrated video game runs, live art sketches and must-see tabletop game challenges. From wild gaming antics to absurd discussions with a premiere guest lineup, viewers will get a hysterical glimpse into the creative minds behind MAD, while engaging with other fans across the country. The official MAD Magazine Twitch channel will launch on Friday, April 20 at 4 p.m. PST. Fans can tune-in to MAD’s bi-weekly broadcasts on Fridays from 4-6 p.m. PST at twitch.tv/madmagazine.

Combining new perspectives with classic MAD wit, The MAD Podcast! is an upcoming bi-monthly podcast series hosted by Editor Allie Goertz. The podcast slate will include a variety of scripted and conversational content featuring interviews with notable contributors, as well as celebrity fans. The MAD Podcast! will also feature scripted comedy bits, call-ins and original music, written and produced by Allie Goertz and Assistant Editor Casey Boyd. Listeners can tune in to The MAD Podcast! on iTunes, Stitcher and the MAD blog later this summer.

Available today on newsstands, comic shops and via digital download, the June 2018 issue (issue no. 1) features cover art by acclaimed artist, Jason Edmiston and hilarious original content from new contributors including Brian Posehn, Luke McGarry, Megan Koester, as well as classic fan-favorite features from legendary contributors Al Jaffee, Sergio Aragones, Peter Kuper, and more. To subscribe to MAD, please visit here.

For more details, visit MadMagazine.com

Produced by Richard Perello
Written by Broken Lizard
Directed by Jay Chandrasekhar
Starring Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan,
Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske,
Rob Lowe, Brian Cox, Damon Wayans Jr.,
Seann William Scott, Lynda Carter,
Emmanuelle Chriqui, Tyler Labine,
 Will Sasso, Jim Gaffigan, Fred Savage

The Broken Lizard boys are back with the long awaited sequel to their 2001 smash comedy hit, Super Troopers, about obnoxious broski Vermont State Troopers and the wacky hijinx they get into.

Well, it is 17 years later and nothing has changed.

Well, except the troopers are older, not State Troopers anymore, and just as obnoxious.

A lot has happened in the intervening years for the troop.

After a horrible mishap involving an ill fated ride-along with Fred Savage, the guys have all been fired and are now construction workers.

Thankfully, because of a border dispute, Governor Jessman (Lynda Carter) is able to get the band back together, Captain O’Hagan (Brian Cox) and all, to oversee the transition of Canadian land to United States land, including the small, quaint town that resides on it.

Animosity, craziness, and ridiculous, convoluted pranks abound as the men fall back on old faithful jokes and a whole slew of updated versions of gags we have all come to love and expect.

After a successful crowdfunding and a lot of time, the Broken Lizard troupe return and are surprisingly funny and fresh. I say surprisingly because it has been 17 years. That is a damn long time from a sequel to a movie I didn’t know I wanted a sequel for.

Not being the biggest Broken Lizard fan I went in to this film trepidatiously after the original reviewer for the film couldn’t do it. However, I decided to enjoy myself and check my brain at the door. I and was pleasantly rewarded with more then a fair share of guffaws and chuckles.

If you are a fan of Broken Lizard and this style of humor than this film will warm your soul and tickle your gut.

Be sure to stay for the three, Yes Three, after credit scenes including the mandatory blooper reel. This is a good, fun film. It is full of cute-ass humor, nudity of both sexes, lots of toilet jokes and an occasional Rob Lowe.

So suit up, mount your favorite steed, buckle up, and get ready to laugh till you throw up.

Super Troopers 2 delivers on exactly what it sets out for. A fine escape from the shitshow of a thing we call life.

Produced by Nicolas Chartier, McG,
Alissa Phillips, Dominic Rustam,
Amy Schumer, Mary Viola
Written and Directed by
Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein
Starring Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams,
Rory Scovel, Emily Ratajkowski, Busy Philipps,
Aidy Bryant, Naomi Campbell, Lauren Hutton,
Tom Hopper, Sasheer Zamata, Dave Attell

“Never change!”

How many times has that been written in yearbooks, shouted out in parting, or said in earnest after a particularly poignant chat?

But if your friend is “beautiful on the inside” they might not echo your sentiment.

At least, that’s how Renee Bennett (Amy Schumer) feels.

Each day, the insecure Bennett wishes that she was a prettier, thinner, and more capable version of herself.

After an embarrassing accident at a SoulCycle class, Renee’s head injury makes her believe that she has been transformed into her dream self.

Her newfound confidence lands her a job promotion, a new beau, and a new lease on life.

But will her imagined physique make her lose touch with her genuine self?

Schumer is known for her body-positive outlook so I Feel Pretty should be a bright and empowering romp. Instead, there is a grating feeling that the writers have had to work incredibly hard to make the audience feel that the world is mean to someone who, in reality, was an average sized blonde woman with great clothes, a decent job, and two best friends in her thirties (an accomplishment in itself).

And let us be honest: Renee is already a bit of a mean girl before getting her concussion-induced self-esteem. In an exchange with her awkward co-worker (Adrian Martinez), she acts completely disgusted by her proximity to him working in the off-site basement office of the company rather than the fancy downtown office. This is a woman who, in lieu of a purse, used a Best Buy bag.

With this as starting fodder, it is almost no wonder that she becomes a monster once pride is added. When she starts believing in herself, there is no gradual slide from feeling out her confidence to being self-absorbed. She imagines men hitting on her based on the premise that they cannot help themselves in her presence and ditches her friends for the skinny popular girls.

From the moment Renee finds herself attractive, she exudes an insufferable confidence that’s more “better than thou” than “look at me now”.

Everyone around her that she always looked up to is oddly enticed by this attitude, and why wouldn’t they be?

She works at Lily LeClaire, a designer makeup brand that is about to launch a more “accessible” version of their products, much to the distaste of recent heir Avery LeClaire, a baby-voiced Michelle Williams with flawless skin, sharp style, and deep-seated insecurities about her ideas due to the undermining nature of her vocal tone. Williams delivers excellent one-liners, and is one of the funniest supporting actresses which means that comedy queens Busy Phillips and Aidy Bryant are absolutely wasted in their roles as Renee’s best friends.

An entire subplot with Tom Hopper as Grant LeClair was also not fleshed out in the least, taking valuable script space. It added nothing to the story, and could have been cut completely to shave a half hour from this overly drawn out comedy.

At an hour and fifty minutes, I Feel Pretty wears out its thin premise early and leaves the audience begging for Renee’s comeuppance in the face of her increasingly vapid cruelty.

When we ask someone to never change it is because there is something special there, anchored by how genuine the person is. But from the overblown instant confidence to the artificially harsh way that “regular Renee” is treated by the world (a baby cries simply from looking at her), there is nothing genuine about this movie to connect with. The lessons about the perils of superficiality never appear, and the idea that all it takes is believing in oneself is demonstrated better by the SoulCycle warmup scenes than the plot of the actual film.

Instead of “never change”, audiences will be writing “better luck next time”.

The American Way: Those Above and Below TPB
Written by John Ridley
Illustrated by Georges Jeanty and Danny Miki
Published by Vertigo
ISBN-13: 978-1401278359
Released 4/24/18 / $16.99

This is one of the best books of the last year. It’s the sequel to the original American Way series and it’s more than up to snuff. You need to pick up both and add them to your collection. It’s worth it I promise you and you’ll thank me.

It’s been a decade since the Civil Defense Corps was exposed as a fraud created by the U.S. Government for propaganda purposes.

The only hero that is left operating is the New American.

But an event happens and it causes a rift. Which side will the New American choose? And is the nation going to hell in a hand basket quickly?

What’s the event?

Well, Jason Fisher, the New American, has murdered a black criminal and now everyone seems to hate him. That gets the book rolling.

Meanwhile, Amber, is a drug addict now who is leading an anti-government group. It takes them from where we last saw these two to a new place. And it’s pretty dark.

These characters are then put through hell. The whole time, they have to make some tough choices about their values and morals. It’s fascinating.

The story by Ridley is really just great. He knows how to write a compelling narrative with strong characters. Each scene is completely necessary and well laid out.

It’s also incredibly insightful. There’s a lot of correlation between this book and the current political climate in the world.

I’m sure with a talent like Ridley at the helm that it isn’t an accident. The characters are faced with a government that doesn’t support them. More than a few Americans can relate to this theme currently.

The art is awesome too. Jeanty is one of the industry’s unsung heroes.

This series is fantastic and like it’s previous volume, Those Above and Below is a must read.

RATING: A

Sniegoski and McWeeney tolerating Kirby, star of Atomic Frenchie

When Kirby, a French Bulldog with a serious Napoleon Complex, moves to a new home in the quaint New England town of Strasburg, Massachusetts, and stumbles upon a forgotten secret laboratory, he realizes that his dreams of Planetary Conquest are finally within paw’s reach. But, suddenly, Kirby realizes he isn’t alone. Seemingly out of nowhere, a strange group of people appear, exhibiting what Kirby can only describe as superpowers! Kirby must rise up against all who stand in his way to emerge victorious in this ultimate quest for world domination.

Atomic Frenchie is the first book in a series from Insight Comics following the adventures of Kirby, professional supervillain and future ruler of Earth, as he schemes and battles his way past evil library robots, supernatural cat ladies, superpowered mail men, and more bizarre characters to achieve his sinister dreams of ruling the world.

Series creators, writer Thomas Sniegoski and illustrator Tom McWeeney, took some time to discuss their new book.

*  *  *  *  *

FOG!: What was the genesis of the project? 

TOM SNIEGOSKI: I have this weird habit of liking to include my dogs in my work. Had Labrador Retrievers in my Fallen series, and my Remy Chandler books, wrote a comic and its sequel called Swords of Shar-Pei. . . so yeah, love to work my current pup into my works.

My current furry buddy is Kirby. He’s my seven year old French Bulldog, and boy is he a handful.

I’ve never had such an experience with a dog. He’s super stubborn, pretty aggressive (when challenged) and seems to have some ulterior motives for all his actions. He was a book character just waiting to be born.

FOG!: How did Tom approach you with the project?  What were your initial thoughts of the concept?

TOM McWEENEY: Tom did what every professional says you’re not supposed to do, which is, he reached out to me on Facebook. He asked if I was interested in reading a proposal he’d written. I really didn’t know who he was, but I’d seen his name pop up in the comments of other comic guys I followed so he wasn’t a complete stranger.  I Googled him and saw he was legit and said sure.

The proposal was just a bare-bones breakdown of the basic idea and main characters, with short, one paragraph, outlines of what the second and third books in the series might be. Honestly, I didn’t think much of it on the initial pass. It seemed like a vanity project; some guy amused by his dog trying to make a story around that.

But, I sat on it before responding and found myself going back to the descriptions of books two and three. In there, he mentioned some other characters that intrigued me and that I thought had potential to make the book something great.

After a few discussions on the tone of the series and how Tom was going to let the story play out, I realized we were on the same page.

FOG!: What do you think Tom McWeeney uniquely brought to the project?

SNIEGOSKI: Tom McWeeney made this project sing. He not only brought an amazing sense of design, and incredible storytelling, but also he really made the idea SO much better than what I originally envisioned.

FOG!: The book features both prose and comic book sequences.  Were there certain sequences that were always intended to be in one format or the other and did any of those change while putting the book together?

SNIEGOSKI: When we were plotting out the first book we decided what would be comics—which would be Tom McWeeney’s territory—and what would be prose, which would be mine. There were sequences in the outline that just screamed to be drawn.

McWEENEY: The only sequence that was intended was the final battle scene late in the book, but that was decided upon even before we know what was going to happen. We both just knew there had to be a cool action scene late and that it should be shown rather than written about.

The first comic scene that was actually done for the book, was done for the proposal. Which was a sequence called “The Plan,” and it was written specifically to show Kirby in action and give buyers an idea of where we wanted to go. The other comic sequences just came as the story began to take shape.

FOG!: Your French bulldog, Kirby, to whom you dedicated the book to, is obviously the impetus of the character. What elements of your Kirby did you incorporate into the fictional Kirby?

SNIEGOSKI: The reason I named him Kirby is because he looks like something that Jack Kirby would have come up with if you asked him to design a dog. Kirby also looks like a Skrull.

Separated at birth?

FOG!: You posted on Facebook that the book was turned down by twelve publishers before finding a home at Insight Comics because it didn’t fit into their vision of kid-lit. Did you and Tom make any changes while shopping it around or were you able to stay loyal to your vision?

McWEENEY: Let me clarify that not all of those twelve rejected it because they didn’t “get it,” but most of them did. The idea behind Atomic Frenchie is such that it can really only work one way, which Tom and I discussed long before the proposal was finished. So, we’d agreed that we would be flexible within reason with buyers but that the core conceit had to remain intact.

That conceit is that Kirby is NOT a good dog. He is, in fact a villain in every sense of the word.

One of the first questions I asked Tom before agreeing to work on Frenchie was “Is Kirby going to pull a Darth Vader and have a change of heart at some point?”

And when Tom said “no”.

Immediately I told him, “OK”, I’m in.”

Insight “got” the idea right off and didn’t ask for a single change.

FOG!: In ten words or less, why should people read Atomic Frenchie?

McWEENEY: Ugh, I can’t say anything in ten words or less…Let’s go with, because it’s like NOTHING you’ve read before.

SNIEGOSKI: You’ve never seen or read a cooler book! BOOM!

FOG!: The end of the book teases the next volume.  When should fans expect to see that?

SNIEGOSKI: I would guess next year around this time at the latest.

McWEENEY: Since I’m a little behind on Book Two at the moment, I decline to comment.

FOG!: What are you currently geeking out over?

SNIEGOSKI: Hmmm, let’s see. For movies I thought A Quiet Place was great. I just got back from seeing Rampage and thought that was stupid fun. For TV, really digging the new Lost in Space. For books, currently reading Midnight Front by David Mack. For comics I’m LOVING Marvel’s Thanos book, Tom King’s Batman and Mister Miracle for DC, and Eric Powell’s Hillbilly for Albatross.

McWEENEY: I’m catching up on and loving Michel Fiffe’s Copra. Isle of Dogs was a masterpiece. Totally dug Babylon Berlin and Wild, Wild Country on Netflix.

I never miss an episode of the My Favorite Murder podcast. I listen to a lot of podcasts these days, mostly True Crime or Investigative Journalism types. Dirty John, Heaven’s Gate and In The Dark were all terrific.

Atomic Frenchie: Sit. Stay. Rule. is available now
wherever books and comic books are sold.
Available digitally on Kindle.

….And to celebrate, we’re giving away a copy courtesy of our friends at Insight Comics!

To enter, send an email with the subject header “ATOMIC FRENCHIE” to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following question:

What mini-series did Tom Sniegoski co-write with Christopher Golden with Bernie Wrightston
illustrating, remains to be the only Marvel Knights story never have been to collected?

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 May 6th, 2018.

Ten years after the events of the first film, the Kaiju return in Pacific Rim Uprising with a new deadly threat that reignites the conflict between these otherworldly monsters of mass destruction and Jaegers, the human-piloted super-machines that were built to vanquish them. Pacific Rim Uprising arrives on Digital and the all-new digital movie app MOVIES ANYWHERE on June 5, 2018, as well as on 4K Ultra HD, 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand on June 19, 2018 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Building on the striking visual world created in the first film, Pacific Rim Uprising features a next-generation battleground complete with upgraded Jaegers and new Kaiju that offers a captivating a state-of-the-art spectacle perfect for your next night in. Experience one-of-a-kind special effects and more than forty minutes of bonus content when you own the next installment on 4K Ultra HD, 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray  and DVD.

In Pacific Rim Uprising directed by Steven S. DeKnight, John Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) stars as the rebellious Jake Pentecost, a once-promising Jaeger pilot whose legendary father gave his life to secure humanity’s victory against the monstrous Kaiju. Jake has since abandoned his training only to become caught up in a criminal underworld. But when an even more unstoppable threat is unleashed to tear through our cities and bring the world to its knees, he is given one last chance to live up to his father’s legacy. Jake is joined by gifted rival pilot Lambert (The Fate of the Furious’ Scott Eastwood), 15-year-old Jaeger hacker Amara (newcomer Cailee Spaeny), returning veterans Charlie Day (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), Rinko Kikuchi (Pacific Rim), Burn Gorman (The Dark Knight Rises) and a talented crew of fiercely young cadets. The international cast also includes Tian Jing (Kong: Skull Island) and Adria Arjona (“Emerald City”). Rising up to become the most powerful defense force to ever walk the earth, they set course for a spectacular all-new adventure on a towering scale.

BONUS FEATURES ON 4K ULTRA HD, 3D BLU-RAY, BLU-RAY, DVD & DIGITAL:

• Deleted Scenes with Commentary by Director Steven S. DeKnight
• Hall of Heroes – John Boyega takes us through the awesome weaponry and cutting-edge enhancements of the latest generation of Jaegers featured in the film.
• Bridge to Uprising – The cast and crew discuss how the world of Pacific Rim has changed in the ten years since the events of the original film.
• The Underworld of Uprising – Humanity won the Kaiju War, but every war has casualties. John Boyega and Steven S. DeKnight give a tour of the coastal “Relief Zones.”
• Becoming Cadets – Step into the Shatterdome, and learn the grueling physical and mental preparation required of the young actors who portrayed the PPDC cadets.
• Unexpected Villain – Learn the secret reason that turned one of the most beloved heroes of the original film into a villain obsessed with humanity’s destruction.
• Next Level Jaegers – The cast and crew discuss the amazing technological advances of the Jaeger program in the years since the events of the original film.
• I Am Scrapper – Actress Cailee Spaeny shares the backstory of Scrapper, Amara’s incredible self-built Jaeger and its many unique abilities.
• Going Mega – Filmmakers take us through the technical and creative challenges of creating the most deadly threat the Pan Pacific Defense Corp has ever faced: the Mega Kaiju!
• Secrets of Shao – Meet the woman behind Shao Industries. Actress Tian Jing shares her insights on the enigmatic tech tycoon Liwen Shao.
• Mako Returns – Actress Rinko Kikuchi and director Steven S. DeKnight explain the significance of Mako Mori’s return and her importance to the events of Pacific Rim Uprising.
• Feature Commentary with Director Steven S. DeKnight

• 4K Ultra HD is the ultimate movie watching experience. 4K Ultra HD features the combination of 4K resolution for four times sharper picture than HD, the color brilliance of High Dynamic Range (HDR) with immersive audio delivering a multidimensional sound experience.
• Blu-ray unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.
• Digital lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download.
• MOVIES ANYWHERE is the digital app that simplifies and enhances the digital movie collection and viewing experience by allowing consumers to access their favorite digital movies in one place when purchased or redeemed through participating digital retailers. Consumers can also redeem digital copy codes found in eligible Blu-ray and DVD disc packages from participating studios and stream or download them through Movies Anywhere. MOVIES ANYWHERE is only available in the United States. For more information, visit https://moviesanywhere.com.

For more details, visit Facebook.com/PacificRimMovie

Boston pays host to the boys in beige L-R: Paul Soter, Steve Lemme, Erik Stolhanske, Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan / Photo by Aram Bogoshian

Last week we were treated to a special Boston screening of Super Troopers 2 with the hilarious Broken Lizard comedy team. Parts of the film were produced locally and plenty of local crew members and cast were in attendance. As part of the press junket the Troopers had arrived in uniform to our roundtable the next day and begged our forgiveness for their costumes. I wouldn’t have had it any other way!

Super Troopers 2 was partially crowd funded by an Indiegogo campaign in order to get distribution through Fox Searchlight Pictures. Broken Lizard director Jay Chandrasekhar confirmed this at the screening as the actors and writers shared more behind the scenes info about the movie including the casting of a cameo by Fred Savage and a starring role for Rob Lowe. Brian Cox and Lynda Carter also return for the sequel.

How did you get the big names involved in Super Troopers 2?

Jay Chandrasekhar: I worked with Rob Lowe on this show The Grinder which is on Fox. I shot four episodes and I said to Rob, “Hey, is there any chance you would play a part in Super Troopers 2?”

Rob said, “Anything, I don’t need to see the script, I’m in. Fred Savage is sitting there and he goes, “What about me?”

Did you guys do any ride alongs?

Paul Soter: Not by choice!

Steve Lemme: We were at a hotel in Missouri and we go to check in and there are something like 100 Missouri State Troopers there, they were having a convention. I got in the elevator late at night with a bunch of guys and one of them says, “You boys like Mexico?” I was like, “You got me,” and they said “We’re getting fucked up with us!”

They took me to the hotel room, passed around a bottle of whiskey, cut to an hour later, driving to a 7-11, drunk, in a Missouri State Trooper’s car.

Jay: He was driving!

Steve: Well, ONE of the troopers was driving!

Why did you guys pick Vermont State Troopers over any other State Troopers?

Jay: We were traveling at the Canadian border for a wedding and we noticed that there were very few cars, we started riffing on the idea of bored State Troopers.

What was the best part about filming in Boston?

Steve: The local accents! Actually the crew was tired of us at the end because all we did was make fun of Tom Brady the entire time. On the walkie talkies we’d be doing Ugg boot riffs.

Between the unconventional fundraising and managing the expectations of the second movie, what was the most difficult part of making this?

Paul: It takes a while because there were a million hard things about it. We’d done the crowdfunding and gotten money, and we still needed to raise more money. So we had to spend what we had raised through the crowdfunding so we had to film a chunk of the movie, raise money, and then go back and shoot. We’d never done anything like that and that’s a weird thing to do. Get started, be up and running, take 9 months off. So many aspects of the production and the fundraising—it was an effort.

Steve: And the big chunk we shot, the following year, it always seemed like right when we started filming, the money would drop out and we would have to find $2 million dollars by Friday or we’d have to go home and tell Rob Lowe to get on an airplane. That happened 2 or 3 times where we just had to kept keeping it going at the last second.

To conclude the Q & A for the screening, Paul pleaded for fans to spread the word on Super Troopers 2 because Broken Lizard has both Super Troopers 3 and Beerfest 2 half done, and these projects will hinge on the success of the sequel.

At the reporter’s roundtable we were able to go a little deeper with the guys, but Jay was unable to make this session. Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske were gracious to field some questions from the group, offer us cookies all the while dressed up like their onscreen counterparts, Farva, Mac, Foster and Rabbit.

What’s it like being on set with each other for the first time in a while?

Kevin Heffernan: We shoot stuff here and there and we have known each other for so long, we have been doing this for many, many years. It was kind of old hat, just a matter of growing the mustaches and putting the uniforms on. Then you are right back into it.

Paul Soter: We’ve done these characters before so it was just like slipping back into a nice comfortable slipper!

With guys like Tyler Labine and Will Sasso how much of the script makes it on film and what was improved and chaos while shooting?

Kevin: We like to shoot the script, definitely, we spend a lot of time crafting the jokes. We’ll improv in rehearsals and put lines in that way too and hopefully be fresh. When you bring the new players in, they want to have fun and that’s a good thing too. Will Sasso is one of the great improvisers around, you can’t improvise with him. That lead to the “Danny DeVito” scene in the movie which was not in the 30 drafts of the script.

FOG!: Farva has an amazing counterpart in the movie. How did you go about writing for the Canadian Mounties?

Steve Lemme: He’s an amazing character, and originally there was just a mention of that character. Then we thought, you know we should see this guy.

Paul Soter: As we have come to find over the years, everyone has got a “Farva” in their lives. It started as a little throwaway that of course in Canada they are going to have one, too. We found ourselves too intrigued and we had to show what the guy looked like, what the guy sounds like. Then Kevin met Paul Walter Hauser and it started to take off.

Kevin: Yeah, he’s the bodyguard in I, Tonya. I did an improv show with him and after it was done, I said, “I found the guy who can be Canadian Farva”. We sent him to our casting director, did the read for it and he got the part. The same casting director was casting I, Tonya, so because he did Super Troopers, he go the call for I, Tonya! It felt great to help get him in for some bigger and better things.

Steve: Also from his audition tape, we wanted to see a little more of him so then we decided that they should run into each other. That was the evolution, it went from a name on a page to one scene and then the second scene. When we got to the editing room, there was just so much there!

Super Troopers 2 is in theaters today.  See it meow.

“Comic books are the marijuana of the nursery; the bane of the bassinette; the horror of the house; the curse of the kids; and a threat to the future”

— John Mason Brown, author and critic, 1948

Just in time to celebrate the international stoner holiday 4/20 Dark Horse has teamed up with multiple Eisner-Award-winning editor and designer Craig Yoe to bring readers this newest collection of wacky, wild, and culturally relevant comics about the comically misinformed “dangers” of marijuana with Reefer Madness in an affordable paperback edition! And with the likes of Jeff Sessions lurking like a cartoon villain ready to snatch away recreational cannabis, Reefer Madness is as relevant now as it was during the baby boom!

From the 1930’s to the 1950’s and beyond, hysteria surrounded marijuana and its effects on the youth of America. Reefer Madness collects hilariously hysterical short stories such as “Satan’s Cigarettes”; “Hopped-Up Killer”; “Teenage Dope Slaves”; “We Can Stop The Enemies of Youth”; “My Scandalous Affair!”; “Dope Menace”; “Holiday of Horror!”, “Hooked!” and many more!

“This is one of the most fun books I’ve ever put together. Some of the writers and artists that created these comics must have been smoking something to concoct these ludicrous and loony tales of youth gone bad!” said Yoe. “The comics will serve up lots of lusty laughs for those who partake of contraband ‘giggle-smoke.’ Others attempting to snuff out the wicked marijuana cigarettes that they are sure to unleash unbridled passions will see these comics as moral tales of dire warning!”

Reefer Madness TPB is available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and your local comic shop. Priced at only $19.99, you can use the savings for your next trip to the dispensary in any of the ten states where recreational marijuana is now legal.

When “Record Store Day” started in 2008, it was merely a beacon of awareness for independent record stores.  Keep in mind, this was two years after the closing of giant-chain retailer Tower Records, but the indie stores persisted to give real music fans a place to get their vinyl.

Ten years later, you can buy vinyl albums at Target.  Again.

While paid music subscriptions like Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora and Tidal serve the general public, physical music eclipsed digital downloads in sales for the first time since 2011 this past March, according to Fortune.

Record Store Day returns this Saturday, April 21, 2018, and according to the official website, there are participating stores on every continent except Antarctica.

Sorry Antarctica, but with your -70° F average this month, vinyl becomes brittle at sub-zero.

The (virtually) worldwide event happens to be the place to land exclusive collector’s limited-editions of albums pressed for the event.  While many of these end up on eBay soon-after Saturday, their demand will drive increased price tags.  A 2012 picture disc from David Bowie of Starman averages $380.

The albums are often very limited (like in the low thousands, sometimes hundreds), so once your local store sells out of the 2 or 3 copies they had in stock, you’ll end up on the search at other stores for the remainder of the day.

Be sure to wake up early Saturday morning and have a list handy of your local participating record stores.  You can find your nearest stores by zip code here in the US, or by country here.

Here are some highlights of this year’s exclusive RECORD STORE DAY editions I’ve got my eyes out for…

VARIOUS – FREE TO BE… YOU AND ME

(limited to 3,000 copies in the US)

This album from Marlo Thomas and Friends released concurrently with a television special and quickly became the seminal album for what would become Generation X. This RSD edition will be pressed on blue/pink vinyl, and comes multi-page lyric book like the original. Not that you don’t already know every word to every track.

Go ahead, it’s alright to cry. Rosey Grier said so.

JOHNNY CASH – AT FOLSOM PRISON

(limited to 2,500 copies in the US)

One of the most iconic live recordings of all time is getting a box set with 5 vinyl albums, containing both of the two concerts, for the first time on vinyl.  The recordings include performances by June Carter, Carl Perkins and the Statler Brothers.  Packaging will be individually numbered, and contained in a deluxe hard shell slipcase with booklet.  It will also include unreleased audio of Cash and company rehearsing in Sacramento’s El Rancho Motel the night before the concerts took place.

THE CURE – TORN DOWN and MIXED UP

(each limited to 7,000 copies in the US)

Last year The Cure released their greatest hits, as well as an acoustic version of those hits, for RSD, selling out pretty much everywhere fast.  This year, they have a pair of new releases: Torn Down (Mixed Up Extra), containing 16 new remixes by Robert Smith of classic tracks and a vinyl reissue of their classic 1990 remix album, Mixed Up, pressed on vinyl for the first time.  Both releases contain two discs.

PRINCE – 1999

(limited to 5,300 copies in the US)

Unavailable on vinyl for 35 years, this is the original alternative single LP version of the critically acclaimed, breakthrough album 1999 from Prince. It features 1999, Little Red Corvette, Delirious, Free, Let’s Pretend We’re Married, Something In The Water (Does Not Compute), and Lady Cab Driver.

FLEETWOOD MAC – TANGO IN THE NIGHT ALTERNATIVE

(limited to 4,000 copies in the US)

Last year’s Fleetwood Mac release was a completely alternate version of their Mirage, made up of alternate takes from each track of that album.  This year’s release will do the same with alternate takes from Tango in the Night, which personally is my favorite of theirs. This album remains the final studio album released by the quintet of Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie and Stevie Nicks.

VARIOUS ARTISTS – KRUSH GROOVE

(limited to 1,500 copies in the US)

Long out of print, this is the soundtrack to the classic hip-hop film, featuring some of the biggest acts of the 80’s –  LL Cool J, Beastie Boys, Kurtis Blow, Run-DMC, Sheila E. and more.  This very limited edition will feature the cover only used by record clubs around the release.  Better yet, it’s pressed on Orange/Blue Haze vinyl.

Happy Shopping!

Cell Block Earth and Other Stories TPB
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray
Illustrated by Juan Santacruz,
Andy Kuhn, Tony Akins
Cover by Dave Johnson
Published by Dark Horse Comics
Released 3/21/18 / $17.99

Cell Block Earth and Other Stories is a Dark Horse collection of reprints with one brand new story. The writing is by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and the art by a mixed bag of artists I had not really heard of before.

While there’s nothing intrinsically wrong with this volume, I find myself wondering why it exists?

The book consists of three apparently unconnected stories, the first two of which don’t have endings, and the third of which doesn’t have a particularly original one.

Gray’s introduction extolls the pop culture influences of the stories herein and they’re certainly easy to spot—the B movie giant monsters, the Fantastic Four/Challengers of the Unknown heroes, the alien invaders, the robots, the angels and demons, the father whose love for his daughter conquers all.

My problem is that they come off more like clichés that we’ve all seen before, with hardly a new twist in the bunch.

I like the scene in the title story where the plot seems to be starting to head in one direction when all of a sudden, all technology simply stops.

Cell phones and cable broadcasts die, computers go dark, and, worse, airplanes cease to be able to fly…so they crash. This scene is handled well but our main character then instantly becomes a typical know-it-all post-apocalyptic hero and the plot jumps ahead to set up what looks like it might be starting to get interesting only to have the words, “The End” show up at the bottom of the page.

Will there be more? If so, where? When? Nothing is indicated that there will be. It just stops. This story has what is probably the best art of the book, by Juan Santacruz.

The second story is a confusing mess with some intriguing scenes but, again, no explanations, no ending, and no indication that anything is to be tied up anywhere.

Tony Akins offers up the most traditional Marvel/DC style art of any of the three stories here, appropriate since this reads like a superhero origin story. We meet an old man who was once, many years ago, involved in an undersea expedition where his four colleagues disappeared and were presumed dead. Suddenly, many years later now, they return, still young and healthy, and giant sea monsters choose that exact moment to turn up. Concluding that THEY must be somehow responsible, our heroes decide that THEY will have to save the day…only they don’t. We then move on the next story.

In this last tale, we revisit Fight Club, or is it that Lee/Kirby FF story where Ben Grimm is forced to have cage matches with aliens? Anyway, there’s lots of blood and demons and garbled philosophy here, all done up with art reminiscent of Howard Chaykin and sometimes Mike Mignola.

It’s not bad. And at least it has an ending, even if we see it coming a light year away.

None of these stories are bad, in fact. But they aren’t incredibly original and they aren’t particularly noteworthy.

If you’re of a certain age, you may remember back in the 1960s and 1970s when CBS, ABC, and NBC would try to earn back some of their investment on failed TV sitcom pilots by linking two or three together, calling it a comedy special, and just throwing them out there on the air in prime time. On the off chance that anyone actually seemed to like any of them they made it a series.

THAT, more than anything is, is the vibe I get from Cell Block Earth and Other Stories.

Long before the Holocaust was taught in schools or presented in films such as Schindler’s List, the youth of America was learning about the Nazi genocide from Batman, the X-Men, Captain America, and Sgt. Rock. Comics legend Neal Adams, Holocaust scholar Rafael Medoff, and comics historian Craig Yoe bring together a remarkable collection of comic book stories that introduced an entire generation to an engaging and important subject. We Spoke Out is an extraordinary journey into a compelling topic.  The book features classic comic book stories about the Holocaust and interviews with their artists and writers, with a cover drawn especially for this book by Neal Adams. An amazing but forgotten chapter in comics history! 

Craig and Rafael took some time to discuss this important book with Forces of Geek.

*  *  *  *  *

FOG!: Your new book, We Spoke Out: Comic Books and the Holocaust, covers one of history’s most heinous atrocities as seen through the comic book medium. What was the genesis of this project?

DR. RAFAEL MEDOFF: In 2008, Neal Adams and I collaborated on a comic strip about Dina Babbitt, a Jewish artist who was a prisoner in Auschwitz and was forced to paint portraits for the infamous Nazi war criminal, Dr. Josef Mengele. We were trying to raise public awareness about the refusal of the Auschwitz State Museum, in Poland, to return the original paintings to Dina. (Dina passed away several years ago, but we are still working with the Babbitt family to get the paintings back.)

While working on that comic strip—which is included in We Spoke Out: Comic Books and the Holocaust —Neal and I had many conversations about how the American public has come to learn about the Holocaust. I shared with him the fact that when I was a teenager in the 1970s, my friends and I learned about racism, drug abuse, the environment and other contemporary issues from the Green Lantern/Green Arrow series that Neal so memorably illustrated.That led Neal and me to thinking about how some comic books had also tackled the subject of the Holocaust—and so began the research which eventually culminated in the publication of We Spoke Out.

Early on in the project, the folks at IDW introduced us to Craig Yoe, of IDW’s imprint Yoe Books, and we realized that the three of us, with our different experiences and skills, would make an ideal team for this kind of book.

FOG!: Many of the comic book creators represented in We Spoke Out were Jewish, as is Stan Lee, who wrote the introduction and afterword to the book. For decades, comics were dismissed as escapist fantasy. Do you think this was a frustration for many of the original creators of both the Golden and Silver Age who were Jewish?

MEDOFF: They undoubtedly realized they were entering a field that most adults didn’t take seriously. What’s remarkable is how effective they were in creating a number of stories about serious and meaningful subjects, alongside the many comic book stories that were pure entertainment.

FOG!: Pioneering publisher EC Comics tackled the subject of the Holocaust in several stories before the company was closed down with the introduction of the Comics Code Authority. Do you think the institution of the CCA consciously prevented Holocaust-themed stories from being published at that time, or were they just looped in with the contents of EC’s oeuvre?

CRAIG YOE: Stefan, we’re not aware of any evidence that the Comics Code Authority singled out the Holocaust-themed comic book stories, though there was understandably some horror present and we do have a number pre-Code stories in the book.

Although the Holocaust-related comics we found from the 1950s were exceptional in many ways, they were probably less gory—and thus less objectionable—than, say, the typical EC horror story.

FOG!: How did you choose the comics that are reprinted in the book?

YOE: On the basis of strong story, top art, and they needed to help skillfully and artfully tell the historical narrative of the Holocaust. We were fortunate that many Holocaust-related comics involved characters with strong appeal, like Batman, the X-Men, Captain Marvel, Sgt. Rock, and Captain America. Plus there are top artists like Neal Adams, our partner, whose compelling work is reprinted along with the sensational original cover he did for this book. Among the other stalwart creators included in the book are Harvey Kurtzman, Wally Wood, Joe Kubert, John Severin, Frank Miller, Chris Claremont, Roy Thomas, Gene Colan, Jack Davis, Carmine Infantino, Gil Kane, and Robert Kanigher. We are grateful to the artists and writers or their estates, and DC, Marvel, EC and Warren were so enthusiastically supportive of this important project!

Art by Joe Kubert

MEDOFF: In selecting the stories, we also considered chronology. We were looking for comic book stories that were published between 1945 and 1993. Those were the years before the Holocaust was widely taught in schools, before there was a U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington or films like Schindler’s List—in other words, the years when comic book stories about the Holocaust played a significant role in exposing young people to a subject that they weren’t hearing about anywhere else. At the same time, we decided to omit several 1950s stories because they were in very poor taste. For example, some pre-Code stories somewhat cheesily portrayed Holocaust victims who rise from the dead as vampires or werewolves and prey on Nazis. We felt those were disrespectful to the memory of the victims.

FOG: Would you say these Holocaust oriented comics are still significant today–perhaps more now than ever?

MEDOFF: Just last week, a poll found that 66% of Millennials don’t know what Auschwitz was, and many of them don’t believe there was a Holocaust at all.

Clearly, Holocaust education in American schools today is not as effective as it should be. These comic book stories offer a way to help young people understand the Nazi genocide—through a graphic medium that interests them much more than ordinary text books.

CRAIG YOE: Fascistic tendencies are rising around the world. We even hear such rumblings in our own country. Some politicians and their extremist supporters are starting to say things that are reminiscent of a dark era that we had thought was over. It’s inspiring to see how comic book creators spoke out, and hopefully that will inspire today’s generation to speak out, too.

FOG!: If there was one story that you would consider a must read within the book, which one would it be, and why?

MEDOFF: “The Mad Master of the Murder Maze,” a Captain Marvel story by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane from 1969, is a fascinating look at how people can be manipulated to blindly follow a leader. It was apparently inspired by Stanley Milligram’s famous “obedience to authority” experiments, in which people followed orders to administer what they thought were extremely painful and potentially lethal electric shocks.

I’ll let Craig have the last word. I bet I know which story he’ll cite!

YOE: You know me! Of course Neal’s Batman story, “Night of the Reaper,” is amazing and has always moved me greatly!

However, Neal, Rafi and I all hold in very high regard “Master Race,” by writer Al Feldstein and artist Bernard Krigstein, a 1955 EC story.

It’s one of the most famous comic book stories of all time, because of its extraordinary, innovative, cinematic style of storytelling.

The fact that it has a compelling message about the Holocaust made it even more unforgettable, so we lead off We Spoke Out with this powerful masterpiece and it sets the tone for the whole book.

We Spoke Out: Comic Books and the Holocaust is available now.

Each year, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honors rock music’s pioneering figures during a prestigious, black-tie ceremony. As the Hall of Fame enters its third decade, it’s these singular induction ceremonies — featuring the biggest names in classic rock from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s – that have become nearly as iconic as the artists they celebrate. This April, Time Life and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame give home audiences front row seats to the four most recent incredible induction ceremonies with ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME: IN CONCERT.

Never before available at retail on any format, these four memorable live concert events are filled with the kind of collaborations and jam sessions that have made Rock Hall concerts legendary. With egos set aside — in many cases original band lineups perform together for the first time in years — inductees and friends take the stage to deliver once-in-a-lifetime performances, often with a truly mind-blowing combination of talent.

“From the first induction ceremony in 1986, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has sought to honor the top names in all genres of rock ‘n’ roll,” says Joel Peresman, President of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “These ceremonies have provided unique once-in-a-lifetime moments as the inductees and presenters come together to celebrate the legacy of these artists and it’s a privilege to produce this important part of music history and to share it with you!”

This ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME IN CONCERT, 2014-2017 set – a must-have for every music lover — features poignant reunions, moving and often hilarious induction speeches, and 53 iconic performances.

Among the unforgettable highlights on the DVD and Blu-ray sets:

• Bruce Springsteen joining inductees E Street Band for the deep cut classic “E Street Shuffle” from the Boss’s second album, from 1973.
• Legendary grunge-rock group Pearl Jam delivering thundering performances of “Alive,” “Given to Fly” and “Better Man.”
• The two surviving members of Nirvana joined on stage by Lorde, Annie Clark, Kim Gordon and Joan Jett for emotional renderings of the group’s biggest hits.
• Cat Stevens performing a spine-tingling version of “Father & Son” that turned the massive Barclay Center quiet as a church.
• Journey performs three classics: “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart),” “Lights” and “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
• Ringo Starr being welcomed into the Rock Hall with a little help from Paul McCartney.
• Original Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos joining the band for the first time in 6 years tearing through their early hits including “Surrender” and “Dream Police.”
• Five of the original members of Chicago performing on stage for the first time in 25 years.
• Features complete Hall of Fame Induction speeches including Coldplay’s Chris Martin inducting Peter Gabriel and Metallica’s Lars Ulrich inducting Deep Purple.

And we’re giving away three copies of the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME IN CONCERT, 2014-2017 Blu-ray!

To enter, send an email with the subject header “HALL OF FAME” to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following question:

Where is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum located?

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 May 6th, 2018.

Meet the team that rocked the Stone Age when Early Man arrives on Digital May 15 and on Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital), DVD, and On Demand on May 22 from Lionsgate. From Aardman, the award-winning tribe that brought you Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run, and Shaun the Sheep Movie, this prehistoric romp tells the epic story of Dug the caveman and his goofy friends who challenge invaders to a game of soccer in order to win back their home. Perfect for the young and young-at-heart alike, the cheerful tale told in charming, well-crafted claymation is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and is full of “abundant delights” (Ella Taylor, NPR). Starring in the film are Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne (Best Actor, The Theory of Everything, 2014; Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them), Tom Hiddleston (Thor: Ragnarok, Kong: Skull Island), Maisie Williams (TV’s “Game of Thrones”), as well as Timothy Spall (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Harry Potter Franchise).

Set at the dawn of time, when prehistoric creatures roamed the Earth, Early Man tells the story of courageous caveman hero Dug (Eddie Redmayne) and his best friend, Hognob, as they unite their tribe against a mighty enemy — Lord Nooth (Tom Hiddleston) and his Bronze Age City — to save their home.

The animated world of Early Man has extensive special features including never-before-seen featurettes that reveal the love, passion, hard work, and magic that goes into creating an Aardman Studios animated film. Early Man will be available on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD for the suggested retail price of $24.99 and $29.99, respectively.

BLU-RAY/DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

• “Before the Beginning of Time: Creating Early Man” Featurette
• “Nick Park: Massaging the Funny” Featurette
• “The Valley Meets the Bronze” Featurette
• “Hanging at Aardman Studios: A Workshop Exploration” Featurette

For more details, visit Facebook.com/EarlyManMovie

Diamond Select Toys’ Gallery line of PVC dioramas is expanding into new worlds! After exploring the worlds of DC animation and DC television, the Gallery has found a home in the DC comics universe! Capturing the comic-book looks of DC’s greatest heroes and villains, each 9-inch PVC diorama is sculpted in the 9-inch scale, with varying heights depending on pose and environment. Featuring dynamic designs and scintillating sculpts by today’s greatest artists, and the first few in the line are available for pre-order through your local comic shop or favorite online retailer!

Harley Quinn is the woman of the hour, the year and the decade, and the first DC Comics diorama captures her latest comic book appearance, with her corset, trademark hammer and red-and-blue pigtails! Sitting atop a crate of dynamite, Harley measures approximately 8 inches tall, and is made of high-quality PVC plastic with collectible-quality painted details. Designed by Shawn Knapp and sculpted by Jean St. Jean! (Item #MAR182419, SRP $45.00)

DST brings out the big guns with the second DC Comics Gallery, this superior sculpt of the Man of Steel! Sculpted in a 9” scale, this approximately 9” statue of Superman features detailed sculpting and paint, and comes packaged in a full-color window box. Designed by Shawn Knapp and sculpted by Joe Menna! (Item #APR182181, SRP: $45.00)

A Batman who laughs is a Batman who wins! From the pages of Dark Nights: Metal comes the Batman Who Laughs, the leader of the Dark Knights, a team of evil Batmen from across the multiverse. This fully Jokerized Batman debuted at C2E2 in Chicago, stands about 9 inches tall, and features a detailed sculpt with exacting painted details. The high-grade plastic statue comes packaged in a full-color window box. Designed by Caesar and sculpted by Alterton! (SRP: $45.00)

Future comic-shop/specialty store releases include Batman, Aquaman, Supergirl, Flash, Catwoman, Green Arrow and Shazam! One per month will go up for pre-order, with monthly releases starting in late Summer 2018. GameStop stores will also get in on the action with a few exclusive-debut figures, of Green Lantern, Nightwing and The Joker, which will ship in late 2018 and eventually make their way to comic shops.

Get in on the DC Gallery line at the beginning and pre-order the first few releases now! Order through your local comic shop, or your favorite online retailer!

Find a store at comicshoplocator.com, or check out the line at shop.diamondselecttoys.com/dc-gallery!

Photo by Chris Liverani on Unsplash

Poker is a fast paced and engaging game that millions of people all over the world competitively enjoy. Since there is always so much happening in the poker world, It is advisable to keep up to date on all of the latest stories and news reports surrounding the exciting world of poker.

The following five players have not only had a successful run in their games, but they have also helped inspire countless others to learn how to turn their passion into a professional career.

Phil Ivey

Photo via Wiki

Phil Ivey’s name strikes fear in the hearts of poker players worldwide. Not yet 40 years old but is already a lock to make the Poker Hall of Fame. Having won 10 World Series of Poker bracelets and over $20 million in tournaments all over the world, it’s no accident that when you ask anyone in poker who the best player is, they’ll almost unanimously name Phil Ivey. His dominant performances at the felt are the stuff of legend and have been reported numerous times on news about casino sites. What’s certain is that Ivey will remain a top-tier headliner in the poker world for many years to come.

Tom Dwan

Photo via Wiki

This is another famous name in the field. He has garnered a cult like following online for his capability, his aggressive and fearless style of play, and for his ability to immerse himself in the game. Many believe that he displays a combination of talents from past poker players, and he is one of the best high stakes cash game players that can be found. He has risen to every challenge and made it out on top almost every single time.

Viktor Blom

Photo via Wiki

This player has been dominating the online poker scene, known to many by his handle of Isildur1. He appeared on the scene out of nowhere, and has been steadily rising to the top, beating player after player, until almost everybody knew him by his online handle. While he has not accomplished as much as many other players, the fact that he is one of the fastest rising stars on the scene is no question.

Patrik Antonius

Photo via Wiki

This Finnish professional poker player began to make news after his incredible results in 2005. He continued to be a sensation six years later, battling against Tom Dwan in high stakes online challenges. While these challenges were never completed, many people were transfixed by the gameplay, and it was clear that he was incredibly competent player in his own right. He had been present in some of the biggest pots in recent history.

Erik Seidel

Photo via Wiki

This is one of the most popular players that fans cheer for because of how incredibly he has played. While he has not expressed a tremendous interest in being active on the scene, he has what can only be described as an excellent track record. No matter what the stakes are like, when this player takes the stage, he strives to win, and more often than not, he takes home the pot.

After ten years of anticipation, the overarching story of the Marvel Cinematic Universe reaches it’s last act with this week’s release of Avengers: Infinity War.

Although the films have a much broader audience than the comic book fanbase, we’ve assembled five must-haves to prepare you for this motion picture epic.

1.  Marvel The Avengers: The Ultimate Guide, New Edition

Granted, this volume gives the reader a pretty comprehensive look at the comic book history of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, but it also might provide both clues to what’s to come cinematically, as well as a broad history of the characters they’ve grown to love.

Marvel The Avengers: The Ultimate Guide, Updated and Expanded covers everything about Marvel’s mightiest Super Hero team–their stories, their powers, their allegiances, and their enemies. Exciting comic-book art on dynamic page design gives a stylish and up-to-the-minute look, while information is presented through character profiles covering key issues, storylines, and topics.

This updated and expanded edition covers major post-2012 storylines and their key comic book issues, including Avengers Vs. X-Men, Age of Ultron, Infinity, Civil War II, Secret Wars, and Secret Empire.  Featuring 18 pages of new content. It contains updates on the Avengers’ career timeline and existing character histories, including Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, and Spider-Man, plus profiles of new stars, such as the new Wasp (Nadia Pym), Thor (Jane Foster), Captain America (Sam), and Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan).

2.  Marvel Studios 101: All Your Questions Answered

The perfect companion book to the Marvel Cinematic Universe!  Where should I begin with the Marvel movies? Who exactly are the Guardians of the Galaxy? What’s the best order to watch the films in? And are Iron Man and Captain America friends or enemies?

If you’ve ever mixed up the different Thor movies, or you get confused by which Avengers villain is which, fear not! Marvel Studios 101 is the book for you – whether you want to take your very first steps into this pop-culture colossus, you have friends who are die-hard Marvel fans and seem to speak in another language, or you just want to have all of the questions answered that you’ve been dying to ask.

Featuring a sneak peek of the highly anticipated Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War, this friendly companion untangles plots and characters, film by film. Even if you’ve never seen a Marvel movie, it’s hard to miss that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a really big deal. 10 years’ worth of movies, all linked together into a vast, unique and compelling storyline. If you want to find out more but aren’t sure where to start, this entertaining, illustrated book breaks down everything in a straightforward and fun way!

3.  Marvel’s Black Panther: The Illustrated History of a King

Marvel made cinematic history with the release of this year’s release of Black Panther.  Now, from Insight Editions comes the illustrated history of the comic book icon!

From his first appearance in Fantastic Four #52 (1966) to his current New York Times best-selling solo series, the King of Wakanda has been a force to be reckoned with on the page—and now, on the silver screen. A veteran Avenger and a member of the Illuminati, T’Challa’s evolution from being a Jack Kirby and Stan Lee creation, to inspiring his own character-led film for Marvel Studios, to serving as a literal voice of the people and the state of race relations in twenty-first-century America has been legendary. As the first black superhero in mainstream American comics, debuting years before other industry heavy hitters like the Falcon, Luke Cage, and John Stewart (Green Lantern), Black Panther is a seminal note in pop culture history.

This deluxe hardcover book not only covers the history and creation of the character but also features exclusive concept art, layout and sketch art, and interviews with key artists and writers from Black Panther’s robust archives. Cover art and exclusive art card by acclaimed artists Denys Cowan, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Elizabeth Breitweiser.

4.  Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War Prelude

When a terrorist puts the Avengers at odds, Captain America and the Winter Soldier go rogue to find him – but Iron Man isn’t far behind. Will the Avengers survive the fallout? Then, find out where Captain America, Falcon and Black Widow are headed next – because the world needs heroes, whether it wants them or not. Get a sneak peek at Tony Stark’s brand-new armor!

Plus, as a Master of the Mystic Arts, Doctor Stephen Strange has witnessed many unusual things…but none so powerful and potentially Universe-threatening as the existence of the Infinity Stones!  Get ready for 2018’s biggest blockbuster with this special comic book prelude!

5.  Marvel Legends Gear Captain America Shield Replica

Sample provided by fun.com

“Get this man a shield.”

There’s no doubt that Tony Stark is the brain of the Avengers, but it’s heart is clearly found in the character of Steve Rogers, aka Captain America.  And no single item represents the heart of the Marvel Cinematic Universe better than Captain America’s shield.

Aside from the reserve in Wakanda, vibranium is pretty hard to come by (and let’s be honest, pretty damned expensive), which makes this far more affordable replica a must have.  This heavy molded plastic shield comes in a Super-Soldier appropriate 24″ diameter and features faux leather adjustable straps on the back for custom fit.  Whether mounting it in your man-cave in your own Avengers HQ or bringing it with you to a screening of Infinity War, this shield is a must have!

Avengers: Infinity War opens on April 27th, 2018.