Image via Instagram/AnthonyBourdain

“It’s been an adventure. We took some casualties over the years.
Things got broken. Things got lost. But I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

–– RIP Anthony Bourdain, 1956 – 2018

Chef, TV star, writer and all-around punk badass shuffled off this mortal coil on June 8 at age 61. A small screen personality who began his career in the best kitchens of the world, the author penned many a book about the joys of cooking, life and travel.

Bourdain left his mark on this world through his words and actions, inspiring countless others to see the world and taste all that life has to offer. From his shows such as Parts Unknown and No Reservations to his books including Kitchen Confidential and The Nasty Bits, Bourdain was a man to be reckoned with, in or our of the kitchen.

Take a moment to remember this amazing chef with a few quotes and clips:

Anthony Chowing Down With Obama

Obama goes to Vietnam and meets with Bourdain and teaches the President about the art of the noodle.

“It takes some skills to handle those sticky, cold noodles. But whatever your opinion of the man, the President has those skills.”

Anthony Bourdain’s Favorite Restaurant In Los Angeles:

Watch as the fast skillful scarfs down a double-double and talks about the hamburger, the perfect protein delivery system.

“The thing about a burger is that there are many forces at play…”

The Saddest Meal Anthony Bourdain Ever Ate

The chef talks to Conan O’Brien about bad decisions made late at night and/or “altered state of consciousness, the difficulties of sneaking into the Colonel’s chicken stand and his distaste for an airport Johnny Rockets.

Bourdain on Yo Gabba Gabba!

He might be a punk-ass chef in the kitchen, but in this colorful clip, Bourdain plays a doctor who helps Toodee get better. Probably because his young daughter wasn’t interested in watching him eat ox anus over a campfire.

Anthony Bourdain Goes To A Waffle House

“It’s warm yellow glow, a beacon of hope and salvation, inviting the hungry, the lost, the seriously hammered all across the South to come inside.”

Munchies With Boudain – Vice Channel

Bourdain takes a culinary tour of The City That Never Sleeps

Remember: “Your body is not a temple, it’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.”

RIP Chef.

To question why historical-themed games are still such a hit with online gaming fans is really asking why people are still so fascinated with history – and historical figures – in general.

Some people may look back at their history classes at school as boring afternoons when they wished they were doing something else, but for many people, learning about the past was full of excitement and adventure – and it is this feeling that online casino sites are trying to capture by theming their games with historical references.

Great Empires

A good way to understand what makes historically themed games so popular is to look at two of the most popular backdrops in these types of games – the Roman Empire and Ancient Egypt. These overlapping time periods gave the world some of the most dramatic storylines (just ask William Shakespeare!) as well as some of the most well-known characters.

Whether it is the seductive allure of Cleopatra, or the immense power of Julius Caesar, we have gone back to these stories time and time again to get our fix of adventure and drama. The games makers know this and have tapped into these themes to produce some of the most popular casino games of all time. The Book of Ra, Pharaoh’s Tomb and Rome are perfect examples of how these exciting time periods have made our gaming experience just that little bit more exciting.

Endless Opportunity

Rome and Egypt may have some of the most well-known games linked to them, but the good thing about history for games makers is that there has been a lot of it! They know that gamers love the adventure and excitement that comes with historically themed games and have more than enough choice when it comes to new ones.

Stakers has a whole host of historically themed casino games among their extensive selection and offers a number of different time periods, depending on what their customers want. You can choose from Vikings Go To Hell or Vikings Go Home if you fancy a bit of Scandinavian action after the Egyptian and Rome selections that include Ave Caesar, Valley of the Gods and Legend of Cleopatra.

Myths and Legends

Part of the attraction of playing online casino games in the first place is to escape what we might consider mundane or boring in today’s world. If you don’t find your work stimulating, then you will look elsewhere for some excitement, and gaming is the answer for many of us.

The ancient myths have enthralled us for centuries and we have consistently gone back to them for entertainment in all sorts of ways. It is only natural that online gaming has taken these themes and continued that process. The people who make the games know that the simple-to-understand games are the ones that are always popular, and they have designed new titles with that in mind. Bringing an element of mythical adventure into the mix is just the hook that us gamers need.

Modern-Day Adventure

As time goes on, new periods become part of history, of course, and gamers get a whole load of new themes to enjoy. From World War Two battles to famous cowboys from the Wild West, new titles come onto the market that continue our fascination with what has gone on before. The daring escapades of famous historical figures continue to give popular culture more intriguing subject matter. With the increase in popularity of TV shows such as Game of Thrones, the medieval fantasy genre has also helped these themes to carry on.

Films,Books and More

It is only natural that online casino games take so much from history when popular culture as a whole has always found it to be a rich seam of storylines. Whether it is classic novels and books or the countless film reboots and reworkings of historical legends, we can’t seem to get enough when it comes to these types of themes.

When you consider how many times Roman epics have been the subject of blockbuster films – let alone all the other aspects of popular culture in which the stories have permeated – it can be no surprise that online casinos use the legends to increase our enjoyment.

It seems that we will always be enchanted by the stories of long ago and the exploits of the many famous names throughout history. Gaming has just kept that tradition going – and looks likely to for a good deal of time to come.

Warner Bros. Animation is announcing its most ambitious Looney Tunes content initiative to date with Looney Tunes Cartoons, a series of new short form cartoons starring the iconic and beloved Looney Tunes characters.  With multiple artists employing a visual style that will resonate with fans, each “season” will produce 1,000 minutes of all-new Looney Tunes animation that will be distributed across multiple platforms – including digital, mobile and broadcast.

Looney Tunes Cartoons echoes the high production value and process of the original Looney Tunes theatrical shorts with a cartoonist-driven approach to storytelling.  Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and other marquee Looney Tunes characters will be featured in their classic pairings in simple, gag-driven and visually vibrant stories.  Each cartoon will vary from one to six minutes in length and, from the premise on through to the jokes, will be “written” and drawn by the cartoonists allowing their own personality and style to come through in each cartoon.

“The Looney Tunes are one of the most beloved group of animated characters in the world” said Sam Register, President, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Digital Series. “Looney Tunes Cartoons places these characters into the hands of some of the best artists in the business and into an animated shorts format that will remind many of the time when they first fell in love with Bugs, Daffy, Porky and the rest of the gang.”

Looney Tunes Cartoons is produced by Warner Bros. Animation and features veteran Looney Tunes voice cast members including Eric Bauza, Jeff Bergman and Bob Bergen.   Sam Register (Teen Titans Go!) and Peter Browngardt (Uncle Grandpa) serve as executive producers.

Geoff Johns is launching Mad Ghost Productions and is entering into an exclusive writer/producer deal with Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment to create content across multiple divisions of the Studio, including films, television and comic books, based on current DC properties as well as new and reimagined IP.  As part of this deal, he will segue from his executive post as President and Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment to focus on creative matters full-time.  DC Entertainment Publisher Jim Lee will expand his role to include the Chief Creative Officer title and responsibilities, and will continue to act as Publisher together with Dan DiDio as they have since 2010.  These announcements were made today by Thomas Gewecke, Chief Digital Officer and Executive Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, who is serving as DC’s interim head. 

Under this new deal, one of Johns’ first film projects will be Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Green Lantern Corps,” based on his New York Times bestselling series that saw an impressive nine-year run, spawning additional spin-off titles and comic book events.  Johns will write and be a producer on the film.  Additionally, he co-wrote and executive produced “Aquaman,” which releases worldwide December 21, and is writing and executive producing the second installment of the “Wonder Woman” franchise with director Patty Jenkins, releasing in November 2019.  New Line’s “Shazam!,” slated for an April 2019 release, is based on his original graphic novel.

On the television side, Johns co-developed and is executive producer and writer on the first original series for the upcoming DC Universe digital service, “Titans,” with Akiva Goldsman and Greg Berlanti.  Johns also wrote the “Titans” episode “Doom Patrol” that is spinning off into its own 13-episode original series for the digital service.  He is executive producing alongside Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Jeremy Carver.  He has also been crucial in helping build the DC television empire and co-developed The CW’s most successful superhero show, “The Flash.”  Alongside Peter Roth and WBTV, he has helped launch over a dozen additional hit television series such as “Arrow,” “Gotham,” “iZombie,” “Supergirl” and “Black Lightning,” among others.

His publishing projects will include a new pop-up slate of comic books under the banner of “The Killing Zone” focusing on new and lesser known DC characters and titles. Johns will also be writing a Shazam! comic book series scheduled to be out in the fall.  In addition, he will continue to write the commercial and critical hit “Doomsday Clock,” a comic book series illustrated by Gary Frank that collides the DC universe with the Watchmen universe, as well as the upcoming “Three Jokers,” illustrated by Jason Fabok.

“Geoff is a super talented writer and truly embedded in the DC Universe and its characters,” said Toby Emmerich, Chairman, Warner Bros. Pictures Group.  “We’re thrilled that he’s returning to his passion and his roots as a writer and producer.  And, it’s even better that he’s staying in our Warner Bros. family.  We look forward to working with him on ‘Green Lantern’ and other projects going forward.”

“Geoff is one of DC Comics’ most prolific writers, and we can’t wait to see what he does next now that he will be dedicating 100 percent of his time to telling the best DC stories possible across all media,” said DiDio and Lee.  “The new publishing projects we are working on together will be instant fan-favorites.”

“I took on a role at DCE because I love the characters and this universe more than anything. But, I want to spend my days writing and on set.  I’m thrilled to get back to a more hands-on creative role.  It’s a dream job on dream projects, reaching even deeper into DC’s vast pantheon of characters,” said Johns.  “I’m also excited to continue to work with the amazing team at DCE and my colleagues at Warner Bros.”

As one of the most successful comic book writers of his time, Johns has built his career on re-inventing dormant characters to commercial and critical successes as seen with “Green Lantern,” “Aquaman,” “Teen Titans,” “The Flash” and “Shazam!”, among others. His gravitation toward lower-level characters with unexplored and untapped potential has led to Johns currently holding the No. 3 spot on the 100 most prolific DC comics writers list next to comic book legends Robert Kanigher and Gardner Fox.

Johns’ impressive career history dates back to his beginning as an assistant to filmmaker Richard Donner. He established himself as a successful writer and rode the ranks to become President and CCO of DC Entertainment while simultaneously creating some of today’s most popular film, television and comic series.

DC Entertainment is celebrating 25 years of graphic storytelling with a line-wide relaunch and rebranding, returning to where it all began with DC Vertigo. Following the news of a Neil Gaiman-curated Sandman Universe imprint, DC Vertigo will continue to expand its slate with seven new series from bold voices across various entertainment backgrounds including novels, games, television, comics and more.

The relaunch is helmed by Mark Doyle, who returned to DC Vertigo last year after oversight of the Batman group of titles for DC. Under his leadership, DC Vertigo editorial is rededicating its focus to creating modern, socially relevant, high-concept, inventive stories appealing to readers of all genres.

DC Vertigo has curated seven new comic books giving writers and artists the creative freedom to tell their most imaginative stories. Kicking off the next 25 years of DC Vertigo, four monthly series will launch this fall/winter, while the remaining titles will follow in early 2019. The lineup includes:

BORDER TOWN

From writer Eric M. Esquivel (Adventure Time, Starburns Presents) with art and covers by Ramon Villalobos (Nighthawk, America) will debut in September

When a crack in the border between worlds releases an army of monsters from Mexican folklore into the small town of Devil’s Fork, Arizona, the residents blame the ensuing weirdness—the shared nightmares, the otherworldly radio transmissions, the mysterious goat mutilations—on “God-dang illegals.” With racial tensions supernaturally charged, it’s up to new kid in town Frank Dominguez and a motley crew of high school misfits to discover what’s REALLY going on.

HEX WIVES

From writer Ben Blacker (co-creator of The Thrilling Adventure Hour) with art by Mirka Andolfo (WONDER WOMAN, SHADE, THE CHANGING GIRL) will debut in October

“The women are too powerful. They must be tamed.” A malevolent conspiracy of men brainwashes a coven of witches to be subservient, suburban housewives. But it’s only a matter of time before the women remember their power…

AMERICAN CARNAGE 

From writer Bryan Hill (TITANS show set to launch on the DC-branded digital service, MICHAEL CRAY) with art by Leandro Fernandez (THE NAMES, The Punisher Max) will debut in November

In this thrilling crime saga, disgraced FBI agent Richard Wright, who is biracial but can pass for white, goes undercover in a white supremacist group believed to be responsible for the death of a fellow agent.

GODDESS MODE

From writer Zoë Quinn (Crash Override, featured in People’s 25 Women Who Are Changing the World and Forbes’ 30 Under 30) with art by Robbi Rodriguez (Spider-Gwen, FBP: FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS) will debut in December

In a near future where all of humanity’s needs are administered by a godlike A.I., it’s one young woman’s horrible job to do tech support on it. But when Cassandra finds herself violently drawn into a hidden and deadly digital world beneath our own, she discovers a group of super-powered women and horrific monsters locked in a secret war for the cheat codes to reality.

HIGH LEVEL

From writer Rob Sheridan (former art director for Nine Inch Nails, co-creator of the Year Zero alternate reality game) with art by Barnaby Bagenda (THE OMEGA MEN, GREEN LANTERNS) will debut in 2019

Hundreds of years after the world ended and human society was rebuilt from scratch, a self-interested smuggler with a price on her head is forced to traverse a new continent of danger and mystery to deliver a child messiah to High Level, a mythical city at the top of the world from which no one has ever returned.

SAFE SEX

From writer Tina Horn (host/producer of Why Are People Into That? podcast, writer/journalist/lecturer in sexual education and activism) and artist Mike Dowling (UNFOLLOW, 2000 AD) will debut in 2019

A dystopian sci-fi thriller about a ragtag team of sex workers fighting for the freedom to love in a world where sexual pleasure is monitored, regulated and policed by the government.

SECOND COMING

From writer Mark Russell (God Is Disappointed in You, THE FLINTSTONES) with art by Richard Pace (IMAGINARY FIENDS) will debut in 2019

God sends Jesus to Earth in hopes that he will learn the family trade from Sun-Man, an all-powerful superhero, who is like the varsity quarterback son God never had. But, upon his return to Earth, Christ is appalled to discover what has become of his Gospel and vows to set the record right.

“It’s time to rebuild DC Vertigo,” explains Doyle. “We’re returning to our roots by spotlighting the most exciting new voices in comics, as well as bringing new voices to comics. From the corners of television, games, music, activism, podcasting, comics and more, all of our creators are passionate and have something to say. These sophisticated stories have amazing new characters and vast worlds to explore. That’s what it has always been about for me—new stories, new voices, new possibilities. We’re creating a new generation of DC Vertigo classics for readers of all genres.”

Prior to being named DC Vertigo’s Executive Editor, Doyle began his career in comics at Vertigo in 2006. He went on to oversee the Batman family of titles, where he edited Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s New York Times best-selling run on BATMAN. He also led the charge in crafting Gotham-based series with varying tones such as GOTHAM ACADEMY, BATGIRL, GRAYSON and more. Doyle returns to launch DC Vertigo with a passion to bring the imprint back to the forefront of graphic storytelling.

This Sunday is Father’s Day, an actual holiday, dedicated to selling neckties to the fathers, uncles, grandfathers, big brothers, godfathers, and paternal role models in their lives.

And while most dads (or paternal figures) are likely happy with an afternoon in their man cave or an uninterrupted bowel movement, here are some of our unique suggestions to help celebrate these special relationships by giving them presents!

MR MEN & LITTLE MISS #GEEK MUG

There’s a pretty good chance that if your dad was born in the early Seventies, they remember the distinctive characters of Roger Hargreaves’ Mr Men/Little Miss series.  This chunky enamel mug is a must have, perfect for a hot beverage or as a distinctive pencil holder for his desk.  Plus, the hashtag lets you know what you really think about him.

JERRY LEWIS 10 FILM COLLECTION

Like The Three Stooges, slapstick tends to find a far better audience with men than women.  And one of the masters of slapstick is the legendary Jerry Lewis.  Revered in France (but criminally underappreciated here in the U.S.), Lewis was a consummate filmmaker, often producing, directing and directing his work).  Now comes the perfect collection and excuse to sit down with dad and watch a smart man do very silly things.

The 10-DVD set includes the following:

• The Stooge (1951)—Features one of Lewis’ earliest pairings with Dean Martin as a musical-comedy duo
• The Delicate Delinquent (1956)—A “teenage terror” is recruited for the Police Academy
• The Bellboy (1960)—Lewis plays a friendly but clumsy bellboy in this slapstick classic
• Cinderfella (1960)—Lewis’ take on the classic Cinderella story
• The Errand Boy (1961)—Paramount enlists a bumbling Lewis to spy on their productions in this hilarious film studio comedy
• The Ladies Man (1961)—A girl-shy man finds work in a women-only hotel with uproarious results
• The Nutty Professor (1963)—A socially awkward professor invents a serum that turns him into the handsome but obnoxious Buddy Love
• The Disorderly Orderly (1964)—Lewis wreaks havoc in a private rest home
• The Patsy (1964)—Lewis directs and stars as a novice recruited to replace a big-time comedian
• The Family Jewels (1965)—Lewis directs and plays seven distinct roles in this family inheritance farce

ATARI BLACK KATAKANA BACKPACK

For many of us, who were there when gaming began and you could waste an afternoon with a pocketful of quarters, Atari reigned the arcade.  From Pong to Asteroids to Battlezone to Centipede to Missile Command to Avalanche, the iconic brand became synonymous with cool.  This backpack maintains the cool factor and includes a padded laptop pocket with several pockets and a top flap.  A perfect gift for the devoted gamer.

SPRINGFIELD CONFIDENTIAL

Four-time Emmy winner Mike Reiss—who has worked on The Simpsons continuously since episode one in 1989—shares stories, scandals, and gossip about working with America’s most iconic cartoon family ever. Reiss explains how the episodes are created, and provides an inside look at the show’s writers, animators, actors and celebrity guests. He answers a range of questions from Simpsons fans and die-hards, and reminisces about the making of perennially favorite episodes.

In his freewheeling, irreverent comic style, Reiss reflects on his lifetime inside The Simpsons—a personal highlights reel of his achievements, observations, and favorite stories. Springfield Confidential exposes why Matt Groening decided to make all of the characters yellow; dishes on what it’s like to be crammed in a room full of funny writers sixty hours a week; and tells what Reiss learned after traveling to seventy-one countries where The Simpsons is watched (ironic note: there’s no electricity in many of these places); and even reveals where Springfield is located! He features unique interviews with Judd Apatow, who also provided the foreword, and Conan O’Brien, as well as with Simpsons legends Al Jean, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, and more.

Springfield Confidential is a funny, informational, and exclusive look at one of the most beloved programs in all of television land.

DEATH WISH

Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures presents director Eli Roth’s reimagining of the 1974 revenge thriller Death Wish. Dr. Paul Kersey (Bruce Willis) is a surgeon who only sees the aftermath of his city’s violence as it’s rushed into his ER – until his wife (Elisabeth Shue) and college-age daughter (Camila Morrone) are viciously attacked in their suburban home. With the police overloaded with crimes, Paul, burning for revenge, hunts for his family’s assailants to deliver justice. As the anonymous slayings of criminals grabs the media’s attention, the city wonders if this deadly avenger is a guardian angel…or a grim reaper.

Updated from the original novel by Brian Garfield, director Eli Roth and screenwriter Joe Carnahan’s (The Grey, Narc) Death Wish also stars: Vincent D’Onofrio (The Magnificent Seven, TV’s Daredevil and Law & Order: Criminal Intent), Dean Norris (Breaking Bad) and Kimberly Elise (The Great Debaters).  Extras include commentary, deleted and extended scenes, featurette and grindhouse trailer.

FUCK THIS SHIT SOCKS

They say the best things in life are free and when it comes to swearing, we firmly believe there’s nothing more free or wonderful than blurting out a volley of expletives.

But how should those of us with a penchant for expressing joy, pain or pleasure through the medium of the curse word go about our business in scenarios where the F-Bomb is socially unacceptable?

With Fuck This Shit socks, that’s how.

Discreetly scream your true feelings directly at your boss, co-workers, and anyone else that tests your patience from your ludicrously soft socks (made from 50% nylon, 47% combed cotton, 3% spandex) hidden behind your “business casual” pants.  And as for the easily offended, as the saying goes, “fuck them if they can’t take a joke.”

CADDYSHACK: THE MAKING OF A HOLLYWOOD CINDERELLA STORY

Caddyshack is one of the most beloved comedies of all time, a classic snobs vs. slobs story of working class kids and the white collar buffoons that make them haul their golf bags in the hot summer sun. It has sex, drugs and one very memorable candy bar, but the movie we all know and love didn’t start out that way, and everyone who made it certainly didn’t have the word “classic” in mind as the cameras were rolling.

In Caddyshack:The Making of a Hollywood Cinderella Story film critic for Entertainment Weekly Chris Nashawaty goes behind the scenes of the iconic film, chronicling the rise of comedy’s greatest deranged minds as they form The National Lampoon, turn the entertainment industry on its head, and ultimately blow up both a golf course and popular culture as we know it. Caddyshack is at once an eye-opening narrative about one of the most interesting, surreal, and dramatic film productions there’s ever been, and a rich portrait of the biggest, and most revolutionary names in Hollywood. So, it’s got that going for it…which is nice.

NASA SCOUT WALLET

You gotta imagine that by the time we’re pondering taking things like wallets into space with us, humans are going to have developed past physical money. Transactions are all going to be some sort of digital cryptocurrency that we access via something like a retinal scan. Of course, there will always be holdouts, but those sorts of people probably aren’t going to be the first in line to colonize another planet.

But while we’re stuck planetside, we’ve still got money in the form of plastic and paper. And we need a convenient way to carry it around since 7-Eleven doesn’t have retinal scanners installed yet. This NASA Scout wallet has the NASA “meatball” logo on the front, and an American flag printed on the inside. It has a bill holder, plus three card slots, plus two pockets behind the card slots, plus a clear ID slot with thumb assist, perfect for your NASA badge or your official visitor’s ID.

DIE HARD: 30TH ANNIVERSARY 4K

The greatest action movie of all time, Die Hard, has arrived with an all new 4K Ultra-HD remaster which makes it the perfect first movie since you upgraded your father’s entertainment center (Right?)

Bruce Willis is John McClane, a New York City cop, flies to L.A. on Christmas Eve to visit his wife at a party in her company’s lavish high-rise. Plans change once a group of terrorists, led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), seize the building and take everyone hostage, McClane slips away and becomes the only chance anyone has.  The film also stars Alexander Godunov, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, De’voreaux White, William Atherton, Hart Bochner, a giant Teddy Bear and that guy who looks like Huey Lewis. Also included within is a copy of the film on Blu-ray and a digital copy.  Extras include two audio commentaries, a subtitle commentary, image gallery, low quality newscasts (as seen in the film), outtakes, trailers and tv spots.

I FIND YOUR LACK OF FAITH DISTURBING:
STAR WARS AND THE TRIUMPH OF GEEK CULTURE

In I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing, A. D. Jameson takes geeks and non-geeks alike on a surprising and insightful journey through the science fiction, fantasy, and superhero franchises that now dominate pop culture. Walking us through the rise of geekdom from its underground origins to the top of the box office and bestseller lists, Jameson takes in franchises like The Lord of the Rings, Guardians of the Galaxy, Harry Potter, Star Trek, and, in particular, Star Wars―as well as phenomena like fan fiction, cosplay, and YouTube parodies. Along the way, he blasts through the clichés surrounding geek culture: that its fans are mindless consumers who will embrace all things Spider-Man or Batman, regardless of quality; or that the popularity and financial success of Star Wars led to the death of ambitious filmmaking.

A lifelong geek, Jameson shines a new light on beloved classics, explaining the enormous love (and hate) they are capable of inspiring in fan and non-fan alike, while exploding misconceptions as to how and why they were made. I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing tells the story of how the geeks have inherited the Earth.

JACKASS: COMPLETE MOVIE AND TV COLLECTION

Want to laugh?

Then meet the stars of Jackass: Johnny Knoxville, Chris Pontius, Bam Margera, Ryan Dunn, Dave England, Wee Man, Ehren McGhehey, Preston Lacy, Dimitry Elyashkevich, Spike Jonze, and Jeff Tremaine.

In this massive eleven disc-set, every death-defying stunt and hilarious prank all over again with this new collection, which features all seven Jackass movies and the entire TV show. Extras include audio commentaries cast interviews, featurettes, outtakes, promos and deleted scenes.

Boasting 16 hours of extreme stupidity, this definitive collection includes:

• Jackass: The Movie: Johnny Knoxville and his crew of fun-loving masochists bring their routines to the big screen in this feature adaptation of the popular but controversial MTV series Jackass. A crew of young men perform a variety of strange, painful, and often humiliating stunts for the amusement of themselves and those around them, including crawling across dozens of mousetraps while wearing rodent make-up, being rolled down bowling lanes on skateboards, racing in golf carts across an ancient driving range, giving themselves self-inflicted paper cuts, making snow cones out of urine, tightrope walking over live alligators, using uninstalled sanitary plumbing in a hardware store, terrifying Japanese pedestrians while wearing panda costumes, and much, much more.
• Jackass Number Two: For fans who thought the stakes couldn’t be raised any higher and the bar couldn’t be lowered any further, the original cast and crew of the stunt comedy sensation that swept the globe return for another round of jaw-dropping feats that are guaranteed to have viewers wincing through their laughter.
• Jackass 2.5: Johnny Knoxville and company return in this Internet-distributed sequel featuring original footage and previously unused outtakes from Jackass 2. Produced by Paramount Studios for less than two million dollars and tied in with the launch of jackassworld.com — an online community featuring blogs, archived episodes of the MTV series, and original content — Jackass 2.5 premiered on December 19, 2007, as part of Blockbuster Video’s Movielink service and marks the first time a major motion picture studio has premiered a feature film online.
• Jackass 3: This time the Jackass team takes part in another round of outrageous pranks and stunts. In addition to standing in the path of a charging bull, launching themselves into the air and crashing through various objects, the guys perform in segments such as “Sweatsuit Cocktail,” “Beehive Tetherball” and “Lamborghini Tooth Pull.”
• Jackass 3.5: A compilation of stunts that didn’t make it into Jackass 3, but that made Johnny Knoxville and the rest of the gang want to release them to the world regardless.
• Jackass Presents Bad Grandpa: The signature Jackass character Irving Zisman (Johnny Knoxville) and Billy (Jackson Nicoll) will take movie audiences along for the most insane hidden camera road trip ever captured on camera. Along the way Irving will introduce the young and impressionable Billy to people, places and situations that give new meaning to the term child-rearing. The duo will encounter male strippers, disgruntled child beauty pageant contestants (and their equally disgruntled mothers), funeral home mourners, biker bar patrons and a whole lot of unsuspecting citizens.
• Jackass Presents Bad Grandpa .5: Loaded with never-before-seen content, Bad Grandpa .5 gives you a whole new perspective on the world of Irving Zisman.
• Jackass Classic Television Collection: Join sadomasochistic superheroes Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, and the rest of the Jackass crew as they terrorize your TV screens and everyone that gets in their way (especially themselves) with their own sick and twisted interpretation of physical entertainment. Their brand of pranks, goofball antics, and unabashed brutal comedy are sure to bring new meaning to the phrase “Don’t Try This At Home!” To this date, Jackass ranks as one of MTV’s highest rated programs. However, controversy surrounding the show’s tastelessness and violence led to it’s inevitable cancellation. Includes both hysterical seasons.

JURASSIC PARK T. REX STATUE

Dr. Ian Malcolm once declared about making dinosaurs, “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”

Thankfully, Think Geek ignored this philosophical dilemma and the results couldn’t be better.

This exclusive statue celebrates Jurassic Park‘s 25th anniversary, which serves as a reminder that your dad is as old as a dinosaur.  Perfect size for your desk, this statue is 4 1/2″ tall x 12″ long x 3″ wide and is made of 90% plastic + 10% iron (for structural support).  Goats not included.  That’s chaos theory.

JAMES CAMERON’S STORY OF SCIENCE FICTION

The perfect companion to AMC’s six-part television series James Cameron’s Story of Science Fiction, this unique book explores the history and evolution of the genre with contributions from the filmmakers who have helped bring it to life

For the show, James Cameron personally interviewed six of the biggest names in science fiction filmmaking—Guillermo del Toro, George Lucas, Christopher Nolan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ridley Scott, and Steven Spielberg—to get their perspectives on the importance and impact of the genre. This book reproduces the interviews in full as the greatest minds in the genre discuss key topics including alien life, time travel, outer space, dark futures, monsters, and intelligent machines.

An in-depth interview with Cameron is also featured, plus essays by experts in the science fiction field on the main themes covered in the show. Illustrated with rare and previously unseen concept art from Cameron’s personal archives, plus imagery from iconic sci-fi movies, TV shows, and books, James Cameron’s Story of Science Fiction offers a sweeping examination of a genre that continues to ask questions, push limits, and thrill audiences around the world.

SCHLOCK LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY

The first film from writer/director (and star) John Landis, Schlock also features early work from makeup artist Rick Baker.  A love stronger, and stranger, than King Kong! The long-slumbering banana monster Schlock wakes up after 20 million years and escapes from his cave, befriending a blind girl who thinks he’s a dog, and causes mass panic in the small town with a shocking bloody massacre setting the scene. Schlock tries to escape but the military is fast approaching…

Now available for the first time ever in high-definition from Turbine Media Group, this exclusive limited 2000-copy Blu-ray/DVD combo mediabook edition contains the main feature in full HD sourced from an all-new, detailed 4K frame-by-frame restoration on Region Code–Free Blu-ray for worldwide playback, and an NTSC SD DVD 4:3 full-frame version, like in the good old days of VHS. The mediabook packaging features original artwork and a bound-in, fully illustrated booklet with rare pictures and new writing on the film in German and English!

Extras include new introduction by creator John Landis, exclusive newly shot interview with John Landis, vintage audio commentary by John Landis & Monster Maker Rick Baker, Trailers from Hell clip: John Landis on Schlock, original trailers and original 1970s radio spots.

LIKE BROTHERS

Whether producing, writing, directing, or acting, the Duplass Brothers have made their mark in the world of independent film and television on the strength of their quirky and empathetic approach to storytelling. Now, for the first time, Mark and Jay take readers on a tour of their lifelong partnership in this unique memoir told in essays that share the secrets of their success, the joys and frustrations of intimate collaboration, and the lessons they’ve learned the hard way.

From a childhood spent wielding an oversized home video camera in the suburbs of New Orleans to their shared years at the University of Texas in early-nineties Austin, and from the breakthrough short they made on a three-dollar budget to the night their feature film Baghead became the center of a Sundance bidding war, Mark and Jay tell the story of a bond that’s resilient, affectionate, mutually empowering, and only mildly dysfunctional. They are brutally honest about how their closeness sabotaged their youthful romantic relationships, about the jealousy each felt when the other stole the spotlight as an actor (Mark in The League, Jay in Transparent), and about the challenges they faced on the set of their HBO series Togetherness—namely, too much togetherness.

But Like Brothers is also a surprisingly practical road map to a rewarding creative partnership. Rather than split all their responsibilities fifty-fifty, the brothers learned to capitalize on each other’s strengths. They’re not afraid to call each other out, because they’re also not afraid to compromise. Most relationships aren’t—and frankly shouldn’t be—as intense as Mark and Jay’s, but their brand of trust, validation, and healthy disagreement has taken them far.

Part coming-of-age memoir, part underdog story, and part insider account of succeeding in Hollywood on their own terms, Like Brothers is as openhearted and lovably offbeat as Mark and Jay themselves.

Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Illustrated by Ryan Sook and Jason Fabok
Published by DC Comics

Man, what a great job Bendis is doing on this title!

From the first page to the last, this book is just exciting. The book opens up with Rogol Zaar flying into the Earth’s atmosphere and landing.

The first place he goes to?

The Fortress of Solitude!

Bendis has spent the first two issues setting the mood and backstory. There were some action pieces but it all felt like it was leading to something. This issue follows suit but man, does it take some dark turns.

Superman heads to the scene of another fire. He sees Batman there. This is particularly exciting because we get to see how Bendis handles Batman!

Not surprisingly, though it’s short, he has a great take on Batman. Deputy Fire Chief Moore is there as well, but they both have minor roles in this.

And that’s when the alarm for the Fortress of Solitude goes off.

Superman races there, and I don’t want to spoil what happens. Suffice to say, it’s emotional and heartbreaking.

Supergirl shows up (and we get to see Bendis write Supergirl) and all I can tell you for the rest?

It’s a setup to a big fight with Rogol Zaar. He’s the best villain since Zod in the Superman II movie for my money, and I can’t wait to see what happens!

The art by Ryan Sook is fantastic. I love Sook in general and this is another great job by him. He handles everything perfectly, from the action and the drama to the look of the characters themselves. The only thing that I didn’t like was the two page spreads. They were well designed and drawn but they made the page count less.

Still, that’s just because I want more. It’s so well done that it goes too fast. But that is the sign of a creator at the top of their game.

RATING: A

Produced by John Walker, Nicole Paradis Grindle
Written and Directed by Brad Bird
Starring Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter,
Sarah Vowell, Huck Milner, Samuel L. Jackson,
Brad Bird, Jonathan Banks, Bob Odenkirk,
Catherine Keener, Sophia Bush, Phil LaMarr

Generally, there are three real options for a sequel with a significant gap of time in between it and the original.

First, the writers could add too many elements, given the chance to tweak and change in near perpetuity.

Second, it could be underwhelming from the anticipation and expectation from audiences that the longer the wait, the better the product.

Or third, it could knock it out of the park after careful painstaking work extending over a decade.

Incredibles 2 may not have perfected the formula, but it is a fun (though maybe a bit slow) outing for all ages.

The second installment takes place right where the first ended, with the whole family ready to jump back into the superhero game. Alas, the world is still not quite ready to welcome their brand of “bad guy chase first, property damage assessment after” crime fighting. But when wealthy and well-connected business siblings Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk) and techie sister Evelyn (Catherine Keener) reach out with a plan to change their status in society, Bob/Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) is willing to do anything for the chance. Including stay home with the kids while Helen/Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) takes center stage.

Given that the first film focuses so heavily on Mr. Incredible and his development, it is refreshing to see the crime-fighting Elastigirl that he fell for all those years ago.

We see her take charge of more than just life-saving opportunities though; from interviews to sleuthing to diplomacy she shows that there is nothing she cannot handle when someone gives her the opportunity to lead. “Girls, come on. Leave the saving of the world to the men? I don’t think so” she says, in the brief clip of an interview fans will remember from the beginning of The Incredibles.

Here it plays as a rerun in the background at a studio, on the same set as an ambassador who fangirls at seeing the Elastigirl in the flesh. Helen is dynamic in ways we never got to truly explore before.

While the world worships her turn in the sun, Bob is reliving the same despondency that came from losing his superhero status before. Saving the day from the villain of Dash’s “new math” homework and Violet’s teenage angst does not hold the same draw for him, but seeing Bob come around to the importance of his role to his own family is equally as rewarding as Elastigirl’s limelight lessons. He loops in Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) in a more expanded role as best friend and confidant, and the combined soundboards of him and Edna (Brad Bird) provide much needed levity and balance to the heavy themes presented throughout the film.

It is amazing that the runtime is within a few minutes of the original, given all that Bird tries to explore.

From the noble drudgery of stay-at-home parenting to sibling dynamics to government policy and on, there are many hooks that are never completely reeled in. Much of the dialogue in the beginning sets supers up as “illegals” with an argument about whether they should be hiding who they are in order to be law-abiding citizens or practicing civil disobedience and saving people because it is the right thing to do, illegal or not. These and other incredibly interesting plot lines surface but then disappear over and over again. Who would imagine that a cartoon movie would suffer because of its less than in depth coverage of weighty themes?

Pixar always manages to be the first, whether its a good thing or not.

Luckily, one of the best elements – the original’s mod-50s/60s style – sees no changes at all, and still seamlessly blends a classic retro feel with futuristic technology. Thanks to a new villain, the Screenslaver, we get lots of new battles and gadgets as well as several new supers that have come out of hiding at the hope of a change in political mood towards their kind (really, such a wasted opportunity for exploration). A wonderfully jazzy soundtrack helps pick up the pace where anything else might have added to the the occasionally laggy pacing.

Incredibles 2 is not quite worth 14 years of wait time. But it is still a worthwhile summer flick that demonstrates much love and care has gone into making sure that the audience that has been waiting those 14 years enjoys the film just as much as those who may have just seen it last month on Disney Channel.

11 years ago, I might have called this perfect.

Written by Gail Simone
Illustrated by Adriana Melo
Published by DC Comics

Gail Simone and Adriana Melo reunite to bring Plastic Man back to the fore in a new miniseries, revisiting his origins while pointing him in a new direction.

Here, Plas is trying to piece together his memories, reconciling his superheroic identity with his criminal alter-ego, Eel O’Brian.

Complicating things is Obscura, a Spyral agent who requests his help in infiltrating a villainous cabal that may have infiltrated a number of superteams.

Simone is flexing old muscles here, as her take on Plastic Man feels like a slightly more laid back Deadpool. He’s about as manic as he is elastic, though weighed down somewhat by his criminal past.

Meanwhile Melo’s art, aided by Kelly Fitzpatrick’s colors, straddles the line between gritty and cartoonish, with dynamic, animated figures occupying dingy, dank surroundings, and Plas standing out in particular.

Together, Simone and Melo create an enjoyable enough start to the story, and the last two pages set up an interesting path for his story to take.

Still, here’s hoping the new Plastic Man gets a little more colorful as it goes along.

Written by Robert Venditti
Illustrated by Bryan Hitch
Published by DC Comics

This is the high profile debut for the new Hawkman title!

But is it any good?

Well, the art is utterly fantastic! Hitch makes Hawkman a viable looking character and probably the most definitive looking Hawkman since the legendary Tim Truman run!

If only the story from Venditti was more compelling.

That’s not to say the story doesn’t have its merits. The biggest issue for me was all the voiceover narration telling us what was going on.

I get that Venditti wants to catch new readers up quickly and streamline everything, but it felt rather cheap.

Hawkman starts out with telling us how he knows he is missing parts of his life. The one thing he does know is that he loves to fly!

He reveals he has compulsions that lead him to the Temple of Ooahk Kung, the All-See! What a great name. We then see that Hawkman has caught the attention Ooank Kung himself who looks like Gorilla Grodd on steroids.

The book then flashes back. We get some background leading up to this. Then we flash forward again to see Ooank Kung chasing Hawkman for stealing an artifact called The Nautilus. A small chase and fight ensues.

The issue ends with Carter Hall visiting Madame Xanadu asking for help with his memory. She sets things in motion by showing him some crazy visions. Carter then gets even more determined in figuring out who he is and where he comes from.

There is enough here for me to want to continue reading this. The story could be better but let’s all be honest: Venditti has the hardest job in comics with this character. Nobody knows who he is today and what he’s about. He’s been a lost confused character for years.

Though I hate the voiceover Venditti has written, maybe it’s the way to go. And maybe he’s just better off if he keeps things as simple as possible for now.

RATING: B

Written by Dan Abnett
Art by Various
Published by DC Comics

“Chamber 404. The space assigned us.”

“Our new headquarters.”

“It’s a shame it’s not T-shaped…”

The opening sequences of this month’s Titans Special focuses on Nightwing.

That’s as it should be.

The Titans, and the Teen Titans before it, have always at their core been about Dick Grayson.

The bright hope, the original sidekick, the one on which all the others were patterned.

Dick’s heroic spirit and boundless energy launched the Titans, and for many, many years he was the glue that held together the first iterations of the team through all their ups and downs. His leadership was a given.

More than any of the others he commanded respect: one part deferential status, one part unshakeable self-assurance, both qualities derived from his early years on the frontlines backing up DC’s most intimidating vigilante. Dick Grayson’s Robin was the bridge, a link between the traditions of the old guard and the optimism of a new generation.

As DC launches the Titans into a new era, and two new teams, it makes sense that Dick would, once again, be tapped to forge and lead the premier team. Though after all this time, and his own lengthy solo career as the somewhat darker-edged Nightwing, I suppose we’ll have to forgive the powers at be for highlighting his traditional side in this current endeavor more than his once youthful joie-de-vrie.

Maybe that’ll be Damian Wayne’s job.

Maybe they should’ve rethought that.

At any rate, while all the other heroes have been preoccupied with Source Walls and space gods, or busy coming to terms with personal tragedies, shifting allegiances and personal agendas, Dick Grayson has been hard at work doing what he always does. Being a hero.

Turns out, people all over the globe are developing superpowers. Apparently, the damage to the universal Source Wall has been bathing the planet in mutagenic potential from errant ‘Source Wall energy’, or energy from beyond its breach, or somesuch. Writer Dan Abnett isn’t terribly clear on the point, and it’s the first time I’ve heard anything of such goings on, (current events in the Justice League notwithstanding), so as a raison d’etre plot development it’s a little out of the blue and strange.

Suffice to say though, it’s been creating problems. Problems that Nightwing has decided to do something about.

As it happens, the Justice League agrees. They not only give Nightwing their blessings, they give his plans for a new team more support than he imagined, or possibly wanted.

And so, the genesis of a new Titans team is upon us. Writer Dan Abnett, whose been with the Titans for a few years now, seems very eager to highlight the tensions that Justice League involvement may hold for Nightwing. So straight off, despite a large roster of League-endorsed new recruit possibilities, Dick makes it clear he’s already selected the members of his new team. Ostensibly because he has decided they are all people he is sure he ‘can rely on’ to back him up and handle the crisis at hand.

Which makes it a little strange when it turns out everyone he has in mind, is facing down so many of their own problems.

I won’t get into all of that, better to leave those details to the loyal reader for now. But I will say (because everyone else already has, anyhow) that the new team consists of Donna Troy, Raven Darkholme, Gar Logan aka Beast Boy, Natasha Irons aka Steel, and Miss Martian. And yes, they got problems. Donna’s a mess, Beast Boy is a basket case, Raven is, well, Raven, Natasha Irons isn’t ‘good at making friends’ apparently, and Miss Martian is… uninvited.

Not all of these are necessarily deal-breaking crises, and some don’t even make much sense, but the message at the outset is clear enough. This is not your happy go lucky band of old friends and angsty teens figuring out life while saving the world from supervillains together.

Presumably in an attempt to make this version of the Titans appear much more serious, Abnett has chosen to depict a team that shades decidedly to grim. It’s even reflected in their costumes. The one unifying color in each uniform – including Gar’s for goodness sakes – is grey.

For this, and other reasons, I find myself uncertain about the potential of this new chapter in Titans lore.

On the one hand it’s good to see a team again which pairs Dick and Donna with Gar and Raven. And Nat’s tech savvy (actually, her distinctly super-science tech savvy) and her background fills a role the team has desperately missed since Victor Stone was co-opted to the Justice league after Flashpoint. Even Miss Martian’s status as a once-upon-a-time Titan, together with being an alien, with red hair, who is also a sidekick herself (sort of), seems to fit the pattern of a classic Titans team.

Except that the primary purpose for placing M’gnn on the team seems to be to keep an awkward tension between the Justice League and the Titans front and center. And I’m not a big fan of that.

Full Justice League endorsement is a nod Dick has coveted since the inception of the Teen Titans, and of course it’s nice to see them finally get their due. Emphasis on finally, unfortunately.

Sure, at one time, The League’s (and Batman’s) over-parental oversight of his team and leadership would have been a rich vein of post-teenage angsty drama for Robin. But it’s been a long time since Dick Grayson was an adolescent. A little like Dad telling his kid how to run his own multi-million dollar media conglomerate.

Making it clear throughout that Dick is by no means certain he even wants the Justice league’s involvement doesn’t do all that much to correct for the cloyingness of that. Particularly if tensions between Dick and M’gnnn, in her role as the League’s representative/’chaperone’/babysitter, becomes a primary narrative tension going forward. Which seems likely.

Don’t misunderstand. I understand why Abnett is choosing to do it. It’s an obvious direction to explore. And I guess he has to do something to address the dynamic, particularly after spending so much time in the run up to this new era, creating much of that tension between the current-day teams himself.

And I also understand the pressure he must feel to honor and cherish a legacy that is clearly close to his heart. This is not the first time he’s attempted to recapture the magic the flagship books held back in the seventies and eighties by layering on heavy reflections of what-has-gone-before.

But it is a new era.

Given how long now any long-time fan of the original Titans teams have waited for this acknowledgment of Dick Grayson and his compatriots, it would be nice to see Abnett take the opportunity to at least launch things with a truly fresh and original start. He’s certainly got the skills to come up with something more creative than slapping a paint of grey paint on a team known for its boisterous optimism, and immediately plunging them into degrees of angst, that frankly feels over-played, and undeserved.

Here’s the thing. What always set the Titans apart, particularly back when Marv Wolfman was at the helm and at his best, was the deft balance it always struck between flashy super-heroics and soap opera dramatics that were nonetheless authentic and gripping. I’m not saying move away from that. By all means – recreate that magic.

But let’s not get too serious. Gotta save some room for the sheer joy of super-heroics and the fresh excitement of boundless possibilities.

Right now, I’m wanting a lot more of that.

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.

And we’re giving away a copy!

To enter, send an email with the subject header “PAC RIM 2” to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following question:

In the original Pacific Rim, who portrayed Jake Pentecost’s father, the legendary Marshal Stacker Pentecost?

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 June 18th, 2018

Written by Magdalene Visaggio 
Art by Sonny Liew
Published by DC Comics

Eternity Girl is one of the most engrossing, enrapturing comics running right now.

The story of former superhero Caroline Sharp, forced into retirement, driven to despair, and unable to die, is a twisting piece of mindbendery.

The book unfolds in nonlinear fashion, as Caroline grapples with her depression while being offered a way out by her old archenemy Madame Zero…if she can help destroy all of existence.

Where issue #3 saw the forces of Chaos and Order take notice of Caroline and Zero’s journey to undo everything, the new issue explores various iterations of Caroline that came before her, from a Jocasta-like robot to a Tank Girl-esque figure battling marauders almost straight out of Fury Road.

There’s a Silver Age-style detour and even an homage to a beloved newspaper strip

Art and script come together here like few books before it, connecting the depths of the psyche to the outer limits of the cosmos. It’s a unique experience that doesn’t let up this issue. Infinity Girl continues to be one of the best books out there.

Don’t miss your chance to meet the iconic, eccentric and beloved Sheldon Cooper in his childhood as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment gets set to release Young Sheldon: The Complete First Season on DVD September 4, 2018 for $39.99 SRP. In its debut season, Young Sheldon garnered an average audience of 16.5 million Viewers per week, propelling the Big Bang Theory prequel to one of the Top Five Broadcast Sitcoms across all demographics.   Fans can catch up on all 22 episodes plus all-new bonus features prior to the show’s second season premiere. The first season of Young Sheldon is also currently available to own via purchase from digital retailers. 

Young Sheldon: The Complete First Season will also be available on Blu-ray courtesy of Warner Archive Collection. The Blu-ray release includes all bonus features on the DVD and is also arriving September 4, 2018. Warner Archive Blu-ray releases are found at wb.com/warnerarchive and your favorite online retailer.

For the last decade on The Big Bang Theory, audiences have come to know the extraordinary Sheldon Cooper.  Now, this single-camera, half-hour comedy gives us the chance to meet him in childhood, as he embarks on his innocent, awkward and hopeful journey toward the man he will become. Created and executive produced by The Big Bang Theory’s Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro, Young Sheldon is also executive produced and narrated by Jim Parsons who plays Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory. The star cast features Iain Armitage (Big Little Lies), Zoe Perry (The Family, Private Practice), Lance Barber (The Comeback), Annie Potts (Designing Women), Montana Jordan (The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter) and Raegan Revord (Modern Family).

For nine-year-old Sheldon Cooper, it isn’t easy growing up in East Texas. Being a once-in-a-generation mind capable of advanced mathematics and science isn’t always helpful in a land where church and football are king. While the vulnerable, gifted and somewhat naïve Sheldon deals with the world, his very normal family must find a way to deal with him. His father, George, is struggling to find his way as a high school football coach and as father to a boy he doesn’t understand. Sheldon’s mother, Mary, fiercely protects and nurtures her son in a town where he just doesn’t fit in. Sheldon’s older brother, Georgie, does the best he can in high school, but it’s tough to be cool when you’re in the same classes with your odd nine-year-old brother. Sheldon’s twin sister, Missy, who sometimes resents all the attention Sheldon gets, but also remains the one person who can reliably tell Sheldon the truth. Finally, there’s Sheldon’s beloved Meemaw, his foul-mouthed, hard-drinking Texas grandmother who’s supportive of her grandson and his unique gifts.

Includes All-New Special Features:

• Young Sheldon:  An Origin Story (NEW Featurette)
• Sibling Revelry (NEW Featurette)

Written by Joshua Williamson 
Art by Howard Porter|
Published by DC Comics

“Don’t listen to him Wally!
We’ve never needed a Reverse-Flash to tell us how to be heroes!”

At the outset of the Flash War, prior to the events of the last two issues, I wondered what could possibly set Barry Allen and the original Wally West so at odds they would go to ‘war’, all-out war, with one another.

Well now we know. Wally’s kids.

According to Hunter Solomon, aka Zoom, aka Wally’s personal (now, 25th century) Reverse Flash, Jai and Iris (and maybe Max Mecury, and Impulse too, for anyone paying attention) are all still stuck within the Speed Force.

Just like Wally himself was!

Wally can get them back, says Zoom, but only if he’s willing to risk destroying the Speed Force itself, by somehow breaking into it at just the right point of incursion and snatching the twins from their state of supposedly real, in-betweenness.

If that seems extraordinarily unlikely to you, you’d probably be right. (Probably.) So, what convinces Wally that Zoom isn’t simply manipulating the heck out of him (he is), and that he should actually attempt this hare-brained stunt without further consideration or consultation with his one-time mentor?

Well, the love of his kids obviously. That and his famously red-headed, hot-headed nature.

That seems to be enough for writer Joshua Williamson, and to his credit, he doesn’t waste a lot of time trying to justify it further. Wally knows this is a less than wonderful idea. But it’s a risk he has to take, he decides. And no one – certainly not Barry Allen, who’s been riding his butt, and by the way, not stepping up to help him out in this hour of need – no one, is going to get in Wally’s way.

And so, the race is on.

This issue, and the last, have mostly served as a bridge to get them to that point. And now that we, and all the characters of our cast, are up to speed, well, I guess it’s time to break it.

Now I don’t think for a moment that Wally plans to do that. Even with all his over-emotional pronouncements, Williamson is clear to indicate that Wally knows full well the seriousness of what Zoom is suggesting, along with no small amount of distrust of Zoom himself.

But in keeping with the sort of tensions you would expect to see rise to the boiling point between two super-speedsters, it certainly looks as if reality itself is in the hands of a couple of impetuous, hot-headed dummies. Just don’t break the universe guys. Again.

In all of this I find myself wondering about Linda Park.

Linda who does not recall anything of her other-universal life with Wally, or therefore their children – despite the fact that it takes only a dedicated effort on Wally’s part to get both Barry and his Aunt Iris to remember exactly who he is. Or was.

It begs the question of whether the same could happen for Linda… given enough stimulation. Maybe that’s something for Wally to think about.

Provided he doesn’t break the universe. Again. Or die. After all, the promos of this story arc proudly insist that after this there will be only one Flash.

There’s actually a great resolution to all of this, and I hope I’m right. I won’t go into any detail on my thinking, other than to say that all the elements of a solution, should Barry and Wally find their way to it, are already right before us, and them.

It’s a solution that could even allow for Wally to reclaim a life with Linda, Jai and Iris.

Seems to me, that was always just a matter of time really.

What happens along the race to that point remains to be seen though. It sure would be fun to see a little inter-dimensional time-travel though. Long as Barry and Wally don’t break the universe in the process.

Again.

Produced by Aaron Jay Rome, Max Shifrin,
Jeremy John Wells, Dean J. West
Written by Eric LeBlanc, Aaron Jay Rome
Directed by Aaron Jay Rome
Starring Dean J. West, Aaron Jay Rome,
Ashley Lenz

A URYDE (an obvious Uber/Lyft stand-in) driver is working his usual overnight shift. He’s looking forward to going home to be with his fiancée, but picks up one more ride for the night.

The passenger is a charismatic, charming young man who, he tells us, is on the outs with his girlfriend and just wants the driver to just….drive.

He doesn’t care where, dealer’s choice.

Along the way to nowhere, the two discuss relationships and other topics while slowly realizing they’re becoming fast friends.

Meanwhile, these bonding scenes are intercut with the driver arriving home after his shift.

This cross-cutting is at first confusing, but all is made clear soon enough, as we realize that things are not right as rain with the soon-to-be-married couple, and one of the men in the URYDE is not as he appears.

As the driver, passenger and fiancée, West, Rome and Lenz are excellent. Rome also co-wrote and directed, and for about the first half or so, turns the screw nicely, with the conversations between the men in the car interesting in and of themselves, but heightened by the clues that inspire dread in the viewer.

The scenes with the fiancée are also suspenseful and engrossing — for a while. While the film held my attention to the end thanks to the successful set-up, End Trip unfortunately starts to lose its grip before the one-hour mark.

The acting and direction remain solid throughout – also aided by some genuinely amusing comic relief, mostly in the realistically comfortable conversations between the men – but the script lets the viewer down.

End Trip begins to feel like an updated version of a certain late-eighties cult horror flick (sorry, to reveal which one would give the game away, though in fact the film tips its hand quite early on) that doesn’t have much else on its mind.

I stuck through it due to its overall competence but more so in the hope that Rome and co would deliver a big reveal, twist or bombshell that would make the tedious stretches worthwhile.

Alas, the home stretch, despite the genuine efforts of cast and crew, is a big, fat shrug, and renders the film as a whole pointless and empty.

Even so, keep an eye on Rome, West and Lenz (who looks like she could be Melanie Lynskey’s sister). These peeps have some good flicks and performances in their future.

For screening information, visit EndTripMovie.com

Written by Bryan Hill
Illustrated by N. Steven Harris
Published by DC Comics

This take on the Deathblow character is wildly nuts!

I have loved it thus far seeing alternative takes on Green Arrow and the Flash.

This time, its the second part of the storyline where Michael Cray has to go up against John Constantine and a totally whacked out version of Diana Prince aka Wonder Woman.

At the start of this issue, we see a particularly brutal and gory scene with Diana Prince.

Then, we cut to Cray tied to a chair talking to the alien consciousness inside him. It tells him he should have killed Constantine when he had the chance. It’s little touches like this that are just awesome. Hill does a great job writing some strong characters with great foibles.

Constantine offers to separate the alien consciousness from Cray’s brain.

Of course, Michael refuses.

Constantine is basically a servant to Diana here. When he can’t break Cray, Constantine tells him men are coming to kill them. He then ask Michael if he frees him, will he be at all difficult. Michael says “Very.” That one line is awesome and pointed and my favorite part of the series thus far.

Hill keeps the story moving. He and Harris also have one hell of an action scene in here. It’s nicely drawn by Harris but serves the forward momentum of the story quite well.

The issue ends with Cray meeting Diana.

The last image is a splash page and Cray’s last line hits home. It’s a great ending and a wonderful set up for next issue. I’m loving this. Hill and Harris are killing it on this title and it’s a great read month in and month out.

RATING: A-

Written by Tom King
Illustrated by Mitch Gerads
Published by DC Comics

One of my favorite new comic book series of the last year continues here.

It’s been a hell of a joyride up to now and this issue continues the fun. Tom King and Mitch Gerads have taken this character and pumped him with new energy and life. It’s to be commended.

This issue starts off with the war between New Genesis and Apokolips has ended. Mister Miracle and Kalibak must sit down and come to a truce. It’s starts off with Day One and continues throughout. They sit at a long table and debilitate. And it’s hilarious and awesome.

That’s pretty much the whole issue going from Day One all the way to Day Seven.

In between there are a lot of great character moments. The funniest one for me  comes early when Scott asks if there is a “restroom. Or something.”

King makes this scene very naturalistic. The humor comes from it being the participants in the room saying these lines. It’s some great deadpan humor.

My favorite scene comes on Day Three with Scott and Barda on the roof. They talk about how long it is all taking. It’s a nice moment and King allows the two characters to reconnect. It also shows he is not afraid to let the characters breathe.

One of the most horrifying things is when Kalibak hands Scott a gift. It’s a moment that made my skin craw for some reason and is quite dark.

The issue ends with a great set up for the rest of the series. Gerads did a great job again here too. The expressions are amazing and the panel layouts are strong. There’s nothing like this on the stands. And that’s a great thing.

RATING: A

Written by Tim Seeley
Illustrated by Minkyu Yung
Published by DC Comics

This is another of Tim Seeley’s Prelude books to Batman’s wedding.

After a decent enough first two parts, this one is the weakest.

It opens well enough.

Batgirl finds a walkman on a rooftop. She puts on the headphones. The Riddler starts up his game telling her he has come to Burnside!

It should be more exciting than it is.

Part of the problem is that Seeley doesn’t have a good handle on either The Riddler nor Batgirl.

They feel like generic characters in his hands.

Batgirl is put through all of the motions of a typical Riddler story. She goes through the clues which are surprisingly not complex. A grade schooler could have solved his puzzles. She runs afoul of some goons and makes short work of them. It’s like a step by step process of how to write a standard comic book story.

Then, the conclusion happens and it’s just trite.

The only line that made me stood up was when the Riddler says to Batgirl that he may come to love her. It was nicely placed and threw me off. Why couldn’t the rest of the issue be like that?

It’s literally an issue though that goes from point A to Point B and to Point C without many story beats. It ends with a “surprise” that doesn’t amount to much. Ah well.

The art is decent enough. I feel like Jung would produce nicer artwork with a better script. Seeley is writing all of these one shots. I hope he has better stories up his sleeve than this for future issues.

RATING: C

Written by Scott Lobdell
Illustrated by Trevor Hairsine
Published by DC Comics

I love the first page splash page in this book.

It has the Red Hood surrounded by Penguin’s goons who all have guns.. It’s raining. There’s lightning. The Red Hood is holding a shovel. It’s beautifully drawn by Trevor Hairsine.

And the only line on the page is from that Red Hood saying “Not a good night.”

And then, he launches into action!

Then, we have a flashback. Jason Todd is sitting around reading a letter from his father, Willis Todd. We get to see Jason’s parents from the past and get to know them a little. The letter talks about his father’s hopes for Jason. It’s the first time we get to see their backstory and it’s rather moving.

Jason gets a gift of a picture of his father and him as a young boy.

It’s the most emotional moment I’ve seen in comics in a long time. Lobdell handles this so well that it doesn’t get overly sappy. It’s a real beautiful moment.

Then, we cut back to the present time and it’s back to the fight between Jason and the Penguin. It has a stunning turn and a stunning moment which shows just how tormented the Red Hood is. It’s a dark and brutal turn. When the Red Hood screams, you feel his pain.

The art by Hairsine is some of the best of his career. He can do action for sure. But when those emotional moments hit, you can feel the pain.

This is my favorite issue of the series. It ends on a somber note and it’s just perfect. After two years on this title, Lobdell has written his best issue yet. Recommended.

RATING: A