Get ready for ball smackin' with Kick-Ass 2!

This October, Dave Lizewski and Mindy MacCready will be donning the costumes once more to kick ass and take names, as Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. set up to bring fans "Kick-Ass 2: Balls To The Wall"! That's right, Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl are coming back to the streets, to finish the job against crime and take on their archnemesis, Red Mist! Not only that, their actions have gone viral on the web, and now every person in this planet wants to be a superhero, in one form or the other! Comic Book Resoruces has this amazing interview post with Millar on the direction the writer is taking this series once the second story launches. Check it out via this link, and here's a teaser image of one page that's already making me excited to read the next installment!

Kick-Ass 2: Balls To The Wall #1 debuts on October 6. It will also be serialized in smaller form via Mark Millar's CLINT Magazine next month!

It's Official: Two Batmen will defend Gotham and the world!

Like I said in a previous post, there WILL BE two Batmen, and now it's been officially confirmed by both DC The Source and the NY POST that both Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne will be carrying on the mission to take down crime under the guise of the cape and cowl. Dick and his sidekick Damian Waye/ Robin will be continuing their adventures in the pages of Batman, Batman and Robin, and Detective Comics, protecting Gotham at all costs. On the other hand, the newly returned Bruce will be taking centerstage in new titles Batman Inc. and Batman: The Dark Knight, sporting a new costume and taking his fight against crime with a global approach! A new era is dawning for Batman, and it begins this November!

Comic Book Review: Batman #702

More than a month after I last touched on Batman, the second and last part of the chapter that explains the gap between Batman R.I.P and Final Crisis is finally here! What lies in store for Bruce Wayne before he finds himself displaced in time? Plenty, and every reason for me to give this short but sweet review of this latest issue of Batman, which is a must read again for fans who have resigned themselves to everything and anything about the Dark Knight under writer Grant Morrison's watch.

Batman #702
Written By: Grant Morrison
Illustrated By: Tony Daniels

The second and final part of "The Missing Chapter" picks up right where things left off - Batman investigating the death of the New God Orion and reporting his findings to Superman and the rest of his Justice League teammates. As I mentioned in the previous issue's review, things won't be immediately accessible to the average reader here. Keep in mind that the narrative follows the flow of the events chronicled in 2008's "Final Crisis", so it may be confusing to anyone jumping in and reading the story as is. Even before touching this book, I'd strongly recommend reading that miniseries first, and/or R.I.P for that matter just to get an inkling of what is going on. Morrison already assumes that the readers here are those who have already familiarized themselves with his run on both books, so this is just the clincher to fill in any other pieces missing in the puzzle. That said, this tale now proceeds with explaining just what happened to Batman before meeting his ultimate fate with destiny at the hands of Darkseid. What could be a fate worse than death? Well, this explains just what that is, and without giving away spoilers, it certainly feels a lot more burdening than the Dark Knight is accustomed to. His thoughts, feelings, and last moments before and after "Omega Day" are conveyed spectacularly by Morrison, and it's already a given the writer knows what he's doing with his material since it's just a matter of laying out the cards and explaining the interim period between his two crossovers.

I'll admit, I was very reserved with how he treated Batman during that time, but the fruits of his labor proved effective in the end when he introduced the new status quo reflected under the Batman: Reborn banner. Fans loved the changes, and so did I, but we all knew Bruce Wayne would return someday, and that's currently happening as we speak. Right now, questions surrounding his disappearance have been answered. The matter of appreciating how it went down, however, is left to the reader entirely, and in my own opinion, things went smoothly alright... at least where the entire event is concerned. Magic, time travel, and all that stuff not really associated with Batman have been the most frustrating things to gradually take in and accept, and Morrison's writing does take time to digest and appreciate. At least he's clear on his intent on the direction he wants to bring Bruce in. All we'll have to see is how that journey ends... and begins again once Batman Inc. comes into play come November. Also, art by Tony Daniels is still top notch as ever. I've come to appreciate the guy's pencils more and more as he chugs out his works for the caped crusader's exploits, and his tenure as writer isn't bad either. He and Morrison make a great pair though, and heavy writing plus inspiring artwork make for an awesome comic book package.

Now that it's gone and done, the two-part tale that brings Bruce Wayne back to the spotlight in the main Bat-book is over. Next month will see Dick Grayson back in the saddle, returning back to the present and preparing for the return of Mr. Wayne himself in a few months time. This issue didn't really blow my mind away after reading it the first time, but it certainly explained and supplemented to me material that compliments "The Return Of Bruce Wayne" storyline, leaving me anticipating his return and the impact that comeback will have on the future of the Bat-family. In all fairness, The Missing Chapter is a must read tale for fans who have followed Morrison's run on Batman, so pick this up if you are of that circle. I certainly am and did just that.

Rating - 9/10

The Awesome Joker & Lex!

If any of you enjoyed and appreciated the comic strip series Calvin & Hobbes as kids, it's a sure bet you're gonna love this piece by writer Brian Azzarello and artist Lee Bermejo, as featured in this week's Superman Batman #75, io9, and The Source!

Insightful. Adorable. Comical! I haven't picked up an issue of Supes/ Bats in a long while, but this was worth the price of admission back into that series, for one issue at least!

Street Fighter X Tekken Update: Highlights for the upcoming crossover!

Everyone who saw the premiere of Street Fighter X Tekken during this year's San Diego Comic Con practically went wild with the first trailer and gameplay footage shown during the mega convention event. As a result, SFIV producer Yoshinori Ono and Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada aimed to deliver more reason for their audiences to be excited by hyping up the game with several demonstrations during this recent Games Com. Shown below is a highlight video taken during the said event, featurin an exhibition and battle you would not expect!

Street Fighter X Tekken Gamescon Highlight Video
Heh, pretty awesome alright. However, if that's not enough, Gametrailers has put up this "Styles Collide" video that showcases how these two very different worlds managed to team up and get together to produce a game that's just every fighting game fan's wet dream come true!

Video Games | Street Fighter X Tekken | GC 10: Styles Collide Interview

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Street Fighter X Tekken is coming to the Xbox 360 and PS3 at a date TBA. Watch out for it!

Things Don't Look Good In Batman #705...

...and I mean that with a definite emphasis on "Not Good". Tony Daniels is going to take Dick Grayson for a wild ride when he gets back to the double duty writing/ drawing gig, and as seen in The Source, here's a look at the cover to issue #705, which puts the new "Dark Knight" in a very delicate situation.

Even with two Batmen on the scene, things are going to get real tough for Dick and his comrades as the adventure continues. Batman #705 ships on November.

The Official Walking Dead TV Series Trailer!

This coming Halloween, Walking Dead fans and zombie genre addicts in general are in for a very special treat. On October 31st on the AMC Network, the long awaited "The Walking Dead" TV series will finally make its long awaited premiere, giving fans of the Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore comic series something worth "dying for". With just a few weeks left until that point, the official trailer (which was featured in the recent SDCC)has now made its way online to give viewers a taste of the zombie apocalyptic story to come. Check it out!

The Walking Dead Trailer
As you can see, the story takes place in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse, where a policeman named officer Rick Grimes wakes up to after being shot and hospitalized in the line of duty. With no clue as to what has happened to the world, Rick embarks on a journey that will test his resolve and place him alongside other survivors who are desperate to escape the hordes of the undead. Fans of zombie flicks like the George Romero Dead movies and 28 Days Later must not miss this one!

Running on six episodes for the first season, The Walking Dead premieres on Halloween!

No Way Out With The Walking Dead...

Via the Robot 6 column at CBR, Image has released a new teaser image for The Walking Dead, and it doesn't look pretty.

From the looks of this poster, things are going to get intense for Rick Grimes and his posse of survivors, who have been struggling to escape the horrors and devastation unleashed by the zombie apocalypse. Either this teaser poster signals the end of the series... or it has dire consequences that will bring great change to the series one way or the other.

Find out what happens when Image releases The Walking Dead #80 this December.

The Brightest Day Mega Poster!

12 were risen and brought back to life... and their fates are now intertwined in the pages of BRIGHTEST DAY. As seen in DC The Source as well as Newsarama, check out this lovely poster/ conjoined spread of all the variant covers DC has created to commemorate all of those heroes and villains who came back from the dead!

Deadman. Martian Manhunter. Hawkgirl. Hawkman. Firestorm. Hawk. Aquaman. Maxwell Lord. Osiris. Reverse Flash. Jade. Captain Boomerang.

LIVE.

Alpha Flight... Returns?

They've been dead since New Avenger V.1 #16... yet now they are making a comeback?

Well, not really, but as part of Marvel's upcoming "Chaos War" crossover event, the Canadian superhero team will be returning in a short miniseries called "Dead Alpha Flight", and what that means has yet to be detailed to the rest of the Marvel Universe. More info can be picked up in this week's Cup O' Joe installment at Comic Book resources, so be sure to check out the link, and see what else is going on in the Marvel world in the next few months!

Marvel Vs Capcom 3 Update: New Character Videos!

Via Capcom Unity, here are some snazzy new Marvel Vs Capcom 3: Fate Of Two Worlds videos to quench the thirst of those hungry fighters itching to see more action from next year's crossover brawler!

On the blue corner, we have Marvel's "bad guy with a flaming head", the great Dormammu!

Marvel Vs Capcom 3: Dormammu Character Video
And on the red corner, it's the tiny red "Henshin-a-go-go" Capcom hero, Viewtiful Joe!

Marvel Vs Capcom 3: Viewtiful Joe Character Video
Finally, to wrap things up, here's the newest Characters trailer for MvC3!

Marvel Vs Capcom 3: Characters Video
For more updates, visit Capcom-Unity! Marvel Vs Capcom 3 hits next year!

GamesCom 2010: Tekken X Street Fighter

During the recent San Diego Comic Con, Capcom and Nacom dropped the bombshell by revealing Street Fighter X Tekken to the entire world. Now, with Capcom styled fighter already seen and under development, Namco unveils their contribution to the newest crossover dream match by giving gamers a first look at Tekken X Street Fighter!

Oh yes, your eyes don't deceive you here! The King Of Iron Fist Tournament's best fighters are going to take on Capcom's World Warriors on their own turf, and obviously, that means the SF Fighters will supposedly make the transition into a true 3D fighting game environment! Via Kotaku, the teaser poster featuring Jin and Ryu (as well as their evil counterparts in the background) was shown at this year's Gamescom by Capcom's Yoshinori Ono and Namco's Katsuhiro Harada. It's confirmed that we won't be seeing Namco's take until after Street Fighter X Tekken comes out, but fans have a brief glimpse of things now with this art spread, as well as an early, unfinished 3D Model of Ryu using Tekken graphics, and he's wearing a white colored version of Paul Phoenix's Gi!

Without any more details to convey, Tekken X Street Fighter is still a title TBA. Stay tuned for more updates, and for more on the story, visit Kotaku!

Body Counts For The Expendables!

Has anyone seen "The Expendables" yet? If you haven't, you're missing out on a huge testosterone manly party that's definitely one for the history books. Sly Stallone has gathered many of the toughest S.O.B actors this planet has to offer, and the action and mindless violence is all the reason you need to see this flick! In fact, if you were ever fans of the actors and superstars featured in The Expendables, you might be wondering how many lives each and everyone of these guys have taken since they begun eating baddies for breakfast. Well, fret not, for Screen Rant has posted this "Body Count Poster" from Term Life Insurance that lists ALL of the kills each actor in the poster has on their record!


Via: Term Life Insurance

Wow... Dolph Lundgren has the MOST kills! The man who plays Gunner Jensen in this flick is definitely a certified badass, only trailed by Stallone, who showed how much business he did over the years with his Rambo attitude! It's amazing how many years we've seen these guys kill bad guys and saving the world on the big screen, so it's no wonder why the tally is impressive when you combine all their feats together! It's funny that Terry Crews and Randy Couture are tied at 2, but then again, these guys hardly starred in any mega action roles... until being featured in The Expendables!

Directed and presented by Sylvester Stallone, The Expendables is currently showing in theaters!

Marvel Vs Capcom 3 Update: Dormammu and Viewtiful Joe are Official!

They were teased in trailers and T-Shirt of all places, but now that GamesCom 2010 is up and running, Capcom has officially unveiled two new members to their upcoming fighting game Bonanza next year, Marvel Vs Capcom 3! As seen in their blog as well as Kotaku, here are the new stars of the show!

The little pint sized 2.5D side-scrolling dude, Viewtiful Joe, will be joining his fellow Capcom heroes! This isn't the first time that Joe has "Henshin-a-go-go'd" hisway to a crossover fighter, as he has appeared in the previous VS brawler, Tatsunoko Vs Capcom! One has to wonder how effective he'll be in a 3 vs 3 environment, but one thing's for sure - he'll be very viewtiful and awesome!

Anyone who's read the exploits of Dr. Strange should be familiar with the dreaded Dormammu. As the eternal arch-nemesis to the (former) sorcerer supreme, this baddie with a fireball for a head means bad things for the Marvel and Capcom crowd in MvC3, and no one will be safe from the tyranny and destruction he'll carve along his path!

More characters are on the way! Marvel Vs Capcom 3 explodes into consoles next year!

Two Batmen fight crime this November!

Bruce Wayne will return, that's for sure., and he also has a new costume to sport when he comes back and reclaims the mantle of the bat. The variant cover to Batman Inc. #1, as illustarted by artist Andy Kubert, shows what fans can expect from Grant Morrison's new book than just a mere revival of his silver age gear. No, the yellow oval bat costume will have slight modifications to make him standout and look "different" for the new age.

As seen in DC's November Solicits at Newsarama, here's another look at the new costume Bats will wear. Honestly, and as I said before, it will take some time for me to get used to this new look for Batman. It looks like a cross between his Silver Age appearance, Batman Forever, and The Dark Knight, only it's intertwined in a manner that results in a very 90's look, which many people have similarly said about Wonder Woman's new costume as well. Could it be that we are experiencing a resurgence of that era's fashion and style? I certainly hope this is just temporary. Otherwise, the look is decent at best. Let's hope this "next stage of evolution for The Dark Knight" yields pleasant results once the book arrives in November!

Now to the other side of the coin... There are TWO BATMEN.

Yes, it's been confirmed that Bruce's protege and successor, Dick "Nightwing" Grayson, will still maintain his role as the "other" Batman, as seen in the covers to Batman #704 and Batman and Robin #17! That already answers questions and confirms suspicions fans may have had to the meaning behind "Batman Inc." - a Bat-family united and not necessarily limiting the mantle to just one man! Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne will apparently be Batman at the same time, and carry on the fight in their own and unique manner! Of course, this is just too similar to Steve Rogers and Bucky wearing the Captain America uniform during Marvel's Siege storyline, but eventually the mantle was passed to the former Winter Soldier, and Steve now carries on the fight minus shield and costume as the new top cop of the Marvel Universe, Commander Rogers. Anyway, it's nice to see Dick retain his Batman look, and it's more familiar to me since it's still the "Retro" design with a few changes attached to it. At least he can keep an eye on Damian while Bruce goes crusading, hehe.

Batman and his Bat-Family make trends this November!

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Easter Eggs!

Just as the title states, here are some nifty easter eggs videos I found on You Tube that spotlights treats found on what I consider to be one of the finest, if not THE BEST Playstation Portable game out in the gaming market today - Konami and Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker! Much like the previous installments of the series, the game is ripe with jokes and nods to things only fans of the MGS franchise would recognize. If you happen to be one of them, this is the treats to see. Be warned though, SPOILERS BE AROUND HERE, so if you haven't played the game (which you should), peel your eyes away from the monitor and skip this! Otherwise, enjoy!

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Easter Eggs Part 1

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Easter Eggs Part 2
Oh, on a related note, here's a "easter egg video" which foreshadows a tragic tale once told in MGS2.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Huey & The Water

One Slick Fan-Made Captain America Trailer

Captain America: The First Avenger won't be out in theaters til July next year, but you can't stop the hype from kicking itself into full gear. With the Thor Comic-Con trailer having made its way online recently, a lot of fans who haven't visited the recent SDCC already have their taste of the God Of Thunder upcoming movie.

However, there is the short Cap footage shown in the SDCC floor as well, and judging from descriptions by those in attendance, it really sounds kick ass. In fact, some fans even went the extra mile to concoct their own trailers of what to expect from the Cap movie, and this particular one caught my eye in You Tube.

Fan Made Captain America Trailer

I'll hand it to the guys who made this - pretty neat and slick fan made trailer alright.XD

Movie Review: The Expendables

It doesn't take a genius to figure out why I had to see this movie. As a kid growing up in the 80's and 90's, I absolutely HAD TO.

Movie: The Expendables

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Mickey Rourke, Steve Austin, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger

Directed By: Sylvester Stallone

No logical reason. No excuses. This movie had Stallone, Statham, Li, Rourke, Lundgren, Crews, Couture, Austin, and pretty much every other bad ass known to humanity that has ever contributed to the world of awesome and popculture. Gathered together like the superfriends and heroes they are courtesy of director Sly, all of these action movie guys converged in "The Expendables", which Stallone attributes as a tribute to the 80's and 90's action films of yesteryear gone by. Having seen Rambo raise hell and Arnold "Commando" his way off hapless wussies, I was surrounded by gung ho elements that I could literally lose my whole being to when it came down to a fist fight, and this movie proves you don't want to mess with these boys action-wise. I came watching this flick with a couple of my best buddies yesterday, and we weren't disappointed when we walked out of the theater after the two hour path of destruction story carved out by Stallone and crew. However, that's not to say the movie doesn't have its flaws, and there are several to point out in this review. Spoilers be abound if you are one of the weary ones, so I'd suggest turning away if you want to keep your mind fresh and enjoy this one like a virgin. Otherwise, read on and learn my take on things from a action movie guy's point of view.

First things first - The Expendables was intended to be a throwback to the old school action movie mentality, so don't expect any epic plot or story on this one. It's your typical "good guys going against the bad guys" scenario, and that's as simple as it gets. As mercenaries, they kill for a living and blow the living $@## out of their targets, so you can expect lots of explosions, gunfire, and bloodshed to be involved. As a Stallone project, it's very much in the same vein as his previous flick - John Rambo; Only you got an all star cast of other action guys backing him up and taking names... literally. Sly plays the leader of the group, Barney, who leads his team of Expendables on merc missions, namely Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, and Terry Crews. These guys have no moral compulsions when it comes to killing, and when a job needs to be done, they're professional about it, right down to the end. It's only when the CIA get involved that things start to become messy, and when Barney and crew travel to South America for another job, things don't go according to plan and an innocent life is left hanging in the balance. Going against their M.O and making it a personal mission of redemption, Barney leads his Expendables on what looks like a real suicide mission. Then again, they're the best at what they do, and what they do isn't very nice.

The Expendables Trailer
Ok, plot-wise, this movie is your typical B-Movie action flick. It was a pretty weak and obvious story, and you could see what was going to happen a mile away, but frankly, all I cared about was the action, and that's all that mattered in my case at least. Again, there's no way a movie like this can compete to a plot that's as diverse as Inception, but it sure makes up for it with some serious action star power. I've mentioned the primary cast as it is, but there's more faces involved here than Sly and crew. Mr. Stallone was really aiming for the top bill with this flick, and so he went all out and invited two other major stars from the action movie era, namely Bruce Willis and The Governator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger! Yes, two of his partners from Planet Hollywood make a cameo appearance in a scene that sets up the major plot of this movie, so this marks the first time in history where these three can be seen together in a big budget action flick such as this, and since he assumed office, Arnold hasn't been in any action flick... until now! Overall, that was one of the big draws and come ons The Expendables had, but let's not forget the action itself. Stallone, Statham, Li, and the gang dominate in so many ways by incapacitating and spilling the guts of their victims all around the place. From using CQC combat skills and martial arts prowess to delivering lead and metal heaven with heavy guns on the bodies of their victims, nothing is as glorious as pure testosterone driving into the minds of viewers watching senseless violence ensue. Of course, that may not appeal to audiences who expect intellectual activity on their films, and the way the film depicts itself in an over-the-top manner can be downright unbelievable to the average viewer. In fact, the fight scenes alone are almost one-sided and in The Expendables favor, and a certain match between two real life professional brawlers just ended in a manner I wouldn't have seen coming. Also, certain action scenes and key dialogue sequences were rather dull and were just there to give nods and poke fun at the actors and their background. True fans with a good eye will notice immediately what those references are, but then again, everything else matters little when you have guys beating and shooting the living crap out of each other, and that's probably the only thing you need here to draw excitement and appreciation for this movie.

Quite literally, you should enter The Expendables and expect what it set out to do - deliver no-brainer fun and action where it is required not to think at all. The sense of nostalgia fans of the action film genre feel for this film will generate some buzz around this movie, and that's all that matters when the product is all about tough guys shooting and blowing brains off their targets. Overall, it's all about the machismo fun, so just sit back, relax, and enjoy the movie for what it is - brainless action gone wild and alive!

Rating - 4/5

Checking Back With The Man Behind The Mask...

Since Friday the 13th hit the calendar this month, it's time for a little trip back to fright fest memory lane. Whenever this day lands, this iconic horror character always comes into my head, and since he's associated with one of horror fandom's most well-known B-Movie horror serials, I just had to revisit his escapades this day with one horror tribute I found in You Tube.

Friday The 13th - Jason Vorhees Tribute Video
Say hello to the Hockey Mask and Jason Vorhees, peeps! Happy Friday The 13th!

How A Lightsaber Works...

Lightsabers have always been a iconic piece of weaponry from the Star Wars universe. Used by Jedi and Sith alike, it takes great skill and mastery of the Force to wield the weapon properly and to great effect. In fact, this baby can incapacitate or decapitate foes with one swift blow, and as seen in the Star Wars films, once the saber hits its target, the wound is immediately cauterized to prevent blood and goo from gushing out.

In all my geekery, I have never understood the basics of "How A Lightsaber Works..." until I saw this "Fact and Fiction" sheet from Tech News Daily. For anyone who wanted to delve into the Sci-Fi and Fantasy Star Wars has enriched us for so many years, this is a good start, and for you lightsaber freaks, this is a rare inside look that shouldn't be missed.


Source TechNewsDaily.com: Where Technology Meets Daily Life
Saw the inside? Now check how this baby works in action in the films with this cool montage video!

Star Wars Lighsaber Montage Video

Batman: The Return and A New Batsuit!

This November, Bruce Wayne officially makes his return to the regular DCU timeline, once again donning the cape and cowl to battle crime and the superstitious lot. To commemorate his return, however, DC has given him a "new" costume, and by new I mean something very familiar and old school.

No Bat-Fans, your eyes do not deceive you. As seen in The Source, The yellow oval bat symbol has returned, and it's the cover to BATMAN: THE RETURN #1, by writer Grant Morrison and artist David Finch. The look that defined the Dark Knight during the pivotal Silver Age has made a comeback, but this batsuit looks a bit darker, and does have a few cosmetic changes to make it stand out from its predecessor. UPDATE: The suit also features in the cover to "BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT" as seen below, also drawn by David Finch, who also happens to be double timing as the writer of the series!

The suit is actually reminiscent of the Tim Burton Bat-flicks, and the one Bruce wore when he reclaimed the mantle from Dick Grayson the first time his young ward stepped in to fill his shoes after the events of Knightsend.

Notice that the belt is still the old school "capsule batbelt", and the boots actually have scallops. The new "Return" Batsuit shares the same color scheme, but the belt is like that of "Batman Forever", which saw actor Val Kilmer don the batsuit (with nipples).

Truth be told, the return of the yellow oval is going to take some time getting used to again. After embracing Jim Lee's artwork during the "Hush" storyline, Batman is now returning to the look that I grew up with.

Even Dick Grayson paid homage to his mentor when he was thought "dead", by assuming the mantle of the Bat and wearing the "retro look", with a slightly modified suit that is equipped with a new utility belt design, new gauntlets with two scallops, and a lighter cape to accomodate the young man's acrobatic fighting style, which also doubles as a para-cape reminiscent of what Chritopher Nolan introduced in "Batman Begins". Now with Bruce returning, what does that mean for Dick's tenure as Batman? Will he return to being Nightwing, or become something more?

No matter what he wears, Batman will always be BATMAN, and I can't wait to see where Grant Morrison and crew take him and his proteges when The Dark Knight returns, along with new books - namely BATMAN INC. and BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT! Watch out for Bat season this November!

Oh, before his return, Bruce Wayne will have to contend with the changes made during his absence, notably with his extended Bat family! Also seen in The Source, Check out the first look to the covers of the titles that make up "BRUCE WAYNE: THE ROAD HOME", by artist Shane Davis!

The End For The Man WIthout Fear?

Marvel.com debuted this teaser poster... and it doesn't look pretty for Matt Murdock.

After SHADOWLAND wraps up, what will be the final fate of the Man Without Fear this November? We'll just have to wait and see.

A Nice and Smooth Gundam Time-Lapse Video...

I enjoy Mobile Suit Gundam as much as the next mecha action fan, and knowing that a 1:1 scaled model exists in Shizuoka, Japan is something any fan would like to visit up close and behold if they had the means to chart a plane and visit the land of the rising sun. Well, for those who can only dream or see pics and media via the web, popculture news website i09 has posted this delightful article featuring a time-lapse video from You Tube of said Gundam statue standing tall and firm, in a sequence that gradually changes from the clear skies of the day to the dark colors of the night with spotlights and steam emitting from the mobile suit itself. Take a look and see how wowed I was with this "Summer Clouds" video.

1:1 Gundam Statue: Summer Clouds Video
Pretty neat stuff, huh? I wish I could be there myself someday, among the hordes of tourists just wanting to stand side by side with a legendary figure of Japanese popculture.

Mark Millar's Nemesis Has A Film Director!

Any of you read Mark Millar's Nemesis? If you haven't, you're missing out on some of the most awesome and intense s@#$ the writer has done since he introduced The Ultimates and Kick-Ass to comic geeks around the world! Imagine a story where Batman was The Joker? That's Nemesis for you - a costumed vigilante who traveled the entire globe to train and hone his body to kill cops around the world. Call it the reverse Dark Knight if you will, but the first two issues of this mini-sadistic-comic series has me glued on like a kid with his favorite candy treat. Millar's on a role with this comic... and following in the footsteps of Kick-Ass, it's even getting the big screen treatment!

News from io9 and Millar's own Millarworld Forums have just pegged legendary action movie director Tony Scott as the guy to helm the Nemesis film adaptation, and the comic's creators - Mark Millar and Steve McNiven, couldn't be even more pleased about the news. The man who directed Top Gun and The Last Boy Scout will be getting the green light to direct a film where we have a Batman archetype ready to dish it out against the law and kill anybody standing in his way, with guns and explosions blazing. It may sound crazy, but I'm actually very excited, and I can't wait for more details to pop up on the Nemesis movie!

The World Still Needs Heroes...

Marvel.com has released a new teaser poster, which proclaims that "The World Still Needs Heroes"... Featuring an unknown man staring at what appears to be a magical hammer similar to The Mighty Thor's.

Now who would be returning? Some lost soul from a parallel dimension, or an individual long thought dead perhaps? Yes, I probably already know who this poster is teasing to return in regular Marvel continuity, but I'll let Marvel do their thing and reveal the comeback that going to happen this November. Check out Marvel.com for updates and details.

Batman Arkham City Update: More covers from Game Informer!

When "Batman: Arkham City" was unveiled to the public online yesterday, Gothamites around the world went into a frenzy, excited over the little and details revealed about the game by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment, with the sequel being developed once again by Rocksteady Studios. Unfortunately, we'll all have to be a little patient for the game's release date, as it's slated to hit Xbox 360, PC, and PS3 in Fall of next year still. However, that shouldn't damper the spirits of Bat fans, as there's still plenty of unrevealed content waiting to pop up and excite us in the coming months leading to the game's release.

As one of the world's well known and longtime videogame magazine publishers, Game Informer has access to a first look and preview of Arkham City, which will be featured in their upcoming and newestSeptember issue. While it'll be a few weeks more til it reaches newsstands, the magazine's official website has a bit of a sneak peek for fans to see and go gaga over, as well as a look at the second cover of the September issue! That's rightm, there are two variant covers buyers can choose from, and both feature Batman and his on and off love interest and foe, Catwoman!

Meow, I'm liking Catwoman's pose right there on Cover #2. For more info and pics, check out the post at Game Informer!

Batman Arkham City Update: The official website and debut trailer are live!

Following the announcement that Batman: Arkham City is the official title of the 2009 smash hit video game Batman: Arkham Asylum, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment have also unveiled the game's official site, which is now live and ready to be visited by all you Batfans out there! Take a look and visit the link here!

Also featured is the debut trailer, which was seen before, but now sports the game's official title! You can view it via the player below!

Batman: Arkham City Debut Trailer
While there's hardly any more content to reveal at this point, the official Arkham City website also contains said trailer, as well as links to Pre-Order it and register for updates! Fans can also enter the Arkham City sweepstakes for a chance to win some awesome prizes, so anyone in their Batman game should take a look at this site and check back constantly for any future news!

Batman: Arkham City unleashes itself to the Xbox 360, PC, and PS3 on Fall 2011!

And now... "Batman: Arkham City"

Batman: Arkham Asylum was, unquestionably, THE BATMAN GAME. It had everything a Dark Knight fan could ever dream of - Batman, gadgets, awesome combat prowess, sick bad guys to beat, and of course The Joker and the rest of the Arkham loonies out to give Bruce Wayne's alter ego a hard time. However, with all the perfection and limited environment space Arkham Asylum had to offer, a sequel was definitely up in the works to be made and delivered for the hungry fans who wanted more Batman goodness.

Rest assured, the game's makers has answered your prayers, as the Batsignal has lighted up once more to call on Batman for next generation gaming goodness once again.

Via Enewsi and Kotaku, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment have announced Batman: Arkham City - the follow up and sequel to 2009's critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham Asylum. Developed by Rocksteady Studios, It will be released for the Microsoft Xbox 360, Windows PC, and Sony Playstation 3 on Fall 2011, so you can imagine just how much work the developers are going to put up just to make this game spell EPIC. From the title alone, the game will take place in Arkham City located in Gotham, with new additions to gameplay, more baddies to fight, and more environments to explore seeing how Batman's hometown is a bigger playground to navigate through.

NEW UPDATE: It seems Arkham City IS a new Maximum Security facility fortified in the center of Gotham, housing all of the city's criminals and keeping them isolated. This means there won't be any exploration in good Gotham. Now that's kinda disappointing to hear.

Judging from the scape of the project alone, production values will definitely be higher than the last game, so expect a lot more familar faces from the Batman franchise to show up, as well as Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprising their roles as Batman and The Joker for this sequel! With so little details revealed at this point, one has to wonder when the next big revealing trailer comes out? Time will tell I suppose, but right now, me and many Batfans out there are excited for what's to come!

For more news and the announcement, read up the posts on Enewsi and Kotaku!

UPDATE: Looks like Kotaku has an image up from the new Game Informer magazine showcasing Arkham City, with Batman, Catwoman, and Two-Face featuring prominently in the poster! Really can't wait for this now!

Movie Review: Tekken

Once again, I was treated to another typical video game movie adaptation.


Movie: Tekken

Starring: Jon Foo, Ian Anthony Dale, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Kelly Overton, Luke Goss

Directed By: Dwight H. Little

For the life of me, I should have already learned my lesson on watching these flicks given the recent streak of flops and missteps, but I couldn't help myself with seeing the Tekken movie, based on one of my favorite brawling games of all time. Yes, Bandai Namco actually gave the go signal to a studio called Crystal Sky Productions to produce a live action movie based on their hit mixed martial art 3D fighting game franchise, and how did that fare out? Not too well I'm afraid, but I got to give the makers of the movie their just dues for trying to make a film based on the series alone. I'll get more into the details as I roll along with this review. For now, just make sure to brace yourselves for some spoilers.

Avengers Movie Update: The SDCC Teaser Trailer!

They have been cast and they have assembled, but words cannot describe how exciting it feels to see this glorious short clip promoting this film's eventual release, featuring none other than Samuel L. Jackson speaking the words of his character, Nick Fury himself!

As transcribed and featured in Screen Rant and You Tube, here's the first teaser trailer of Earth's Mightiest Heroes... The Avengers!

The Avengers SDCC Teaser Trailer!

There came a day

A day unlike any other

When earth’s mightiest heroes found themselves united against a common threat

To fight the foes no single superhero could withstand

On that day, The Avengers were born.

First shown in the recently concluded San Diego Comic Con during the Marvel Studios Panel, The Avengers Teaser Trailer has found its way online just like Thor, and now fans have gotten another taste of epic comic action coming their way in 2012! AVENGERS ASSEMBLE~!

Marvel Teasers: The New Man Without Fear?

Everybody hear about Shadowland? The new Marvel Comics event sees Daredevil sporting a new costume and, as leader of the Hand, leading an army of ninjas to take out crime in the streets of New York... Permanently. This does not bode well for many of the heroes and villains in NYC, so they're caught in the middle of a war for the soul of the city, and things may not end in a happy note once everything is said and done. In fact, the first issue of Shadowland landed a major blow to the status quo and reputation of Matt Murdock, seeing a last page shocker that sent fans in a talking frenzy. What that is, I won't say or spoil, but it should be common knowledge at this point by now.

Right now, Marvel is slowly sending out new "teaser posters" that highlight the aftermath of Shadowland, pointing out to readers one very simple question and tagline: "Who Will Be The New Man Without Fear"? That alludes to something significant happening to Daredevil himself, as this is the title he embraced and carried for so long as a hero and vigilante in the streets of Hell's Kitchen. We won't know what Mr. Murdock's fate will be until the next few months, but a few heroes to "replace him" as of the posters featured by Marvel and Newsarama have popped up, namely those of Nova and Gambit.

Take your pick and guesses on which of these two revealed Marvel characters will be worthy of DD's title, but there's a good chance more candidates will show up soon. Stay tuned for more updates as time passes.

God Of War Update: Ghost Of Sparta Launches On PSP Nov. 2!

Fans of the God Of War saga were treated to a very brutal and epic game with last March's God Of War III for the Playstation 3. It was indeed the pinnacle of the series, showing off some of the best graphics and gameplay a game of today's console generation can offer to its users. As it marked the end of the story that began with God Of War I, it did not mark the end of the journey of its protagonist, Kratos, whose fate was left ambiguous at the conclusion of GoW III. What happens to him next hasn't been revealed, but a new game has been on the works to serve another dish of brutality to us players seeking more combo riveting adventure.

Following in the footsteps of God Of War: Chains Of Olympus, a new PSP GoW game has been made and is getting a release later this year! Entitled "God Of War: Ghost Of Sparta", it's another set in between and before the events of the original God Of War trilogy, chronicling Kratos' time as God Of War and revealing his origins. Set for a November 2 release this year, it's another testament to what Ready At Dawn and Santa Monica Studio can do for the fans - deliver more GoW bloody action!

As featured in the official US Playstation blog, an"Ultimate DLC Pack" is being offered to those who pre-order the game! Included in the package is the game's original soundtrack, a PSP Theme, a PS3 Dynamic Theme, a PSN Avatar, a Legionnaire skin that Kratos can use in the game, and a game directors documentary - featuring all the directors of the God Of War franchise talking in front of a live studio audience. A PSP Bundle pack is also set to be released, featuring a red and black PSP 3000 with the game and a UMD copy of the movie Kick-Ass! For a tease of what's to come, here's a recent clip from the game showing how brutal Kratos will be!

GoW: Ghost Of Sparta Gameplay Part 1

GoW: Ghost Of Sparta Gameplay Part 2
For more info and details, visit the official US Playstation Blog and Kotaku. God Of War: Ghost Of Sparta sees release on November 2!

Transformers 3 Update: The First Teaser Poster!

Fans of Michael Bay's Transformers series have gotten steady updates regarding the shoots, props, and robots appearing in the third movie set to appear next year, but now, a teaser image has been spotted and shows none other than the Autobot leader himself, Optimus Prime!

As featured in a post Enewsi, the poster, as found inEleocho's Twitter account, has Prime standing headstrong and posing in iconic fashion, with the logo "TF3" seen right below. The date for the movie's release can also be seen - July 1, 2011. Hopefully this second sequel will redeem any bad taste some fans may have with 2009's Revenge Of The Fallen, and with Megan Fox's character now replaced by a new female lead, it remains to be seen what direction Sam Witwicky's story will go for this new movie chronicling the war between the Autobots and Decepticons on Earth. All we know is that Prime and Megatron will battle once more, with new Cybertronians joining the fray to even up the odds on both sides.

For more info, check out Enewsi!

Inception's Joseph Gordon-Levitt Is A Street Fighter Player!

Going on its third week, Inception is still an amazing beast on cinemas. Still the talk of the town and full of the kind of energy and excitement one finds in Christopher Nolan films, you can also owe the film's success up to the amazing talent and cast who portray their parts in this movie so well. Next to Leonardo DiCaprio's amazing performance as Dom Cobb, the other guy who impressed me so much in this flick is none other than Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who plays Arthur, the partner and Point Man in Cobb's team. Cehck out this interview he has during David Letterman:

JGL Inception Interview on David Letterman

Having also starred in other recent blockbusters like G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra and (500) Days Of Summer, JGL is one of those young acting guys who got their big start as kids with TV Commercials and shows. Later on, his career bloomed when he appeared as the lead in Disney's Angels In The Outfield, and acting as the character Tommy Solomon from the classic sitcom series 3rd Rock From The Sun, a part that he is still known for today. He quit acting for a short while, but he came back and started acting in independent movies like The Lookout, which was another film I enjoyed. Today, Mr. Gordon-Levitt has cemented himself as one of Hollywood's biggest rising stars in the industry, and if you've seen 500 Days and Inception, you'll know why I'm a big fan of the actor. Recently though, it has come to my attention that JGL is, surprisingly, a Street Fighter fan! He revealed this little factoid during an interview in the Jimmy Fallon show, and how he tells the tale made me realize how much respect I have for this guy alone. Go and check out the segment below:

JGL Interview On Jimmy Fallon
Man, this guy is cool and awesome. Can't wait to see what's next JGL, and hopefully, you'll be The Riddler in the next Nolan Bat flick!