Free Comic Book Day 2012 is this Saturday!

Here's a gentle reminder for comic fans... Don't forget to visit your local comic book shop and take part of FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2012!

It's the only day where you can walk in and see most of your favorite publications print awesome free content absolutely for free, and even books from big publishers like DC Comics and Marvel are going to be in the mix! Be sure to check out titles like Avengers #12.1, DC Comics The New 52 FCBD Edition, and Transformers #80.5 in this year's list of books!

WIth the event celebrating eleven years of free comic book heaven and aiming to attract readers new and old into the fold, check out what's in store for FCBD 2012 by visiting the official site at freecomicbookday.com!

Fan made Casey Jones film exists and looks awesome!

Thanks to Facebook, YouTube, and Comic Book Movie, I have learned that one of the most awesome and non-mutant characters of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' franchise is getting his own film... Fan made of course, but it's still a big deal! Casey Jones, the hockey mask wearing buddy and friend of the turtles, is getting the spotlight treatment courtesy of filmmakers Hilarion Banks and Polaris Banks, with the former playing as Casey himself! Here's the trailer to this live action fan spectacle, and it's a mighty impressive endeavor I must say!


Casey Jones Fan Film Trailer

As a TMNT fan from way back, I'm very impressed with what I see here. It's kinda like a cross between Rocky and Batman Begins, but with the atmosphere reminiscent of the Turtles' live action films, only much darker (heck, there's even a cameo appearance by one of the heroes in a half shell here!). No dialogue is uttered in the trailer whatsoever, but the music and scenes tell you more than enough it's going to be a realistic take and kickass origin story of the "Goongola, Goongola!" crimefighter and vigilante! It's too bad I won't be able to see it  for myself when it premieres on August 14 on Austin TX, but fortunately the fan film will premiere online after that! Check out more details via Comic Book Movie, the official site, or Facebook event page!

Evo 2011 is happening now!

Taking place this weekend at good ol' Las Vegas, this year's Evo Championship Series Tournament, Evo 2011,  gathers all the world's greatest and hungriest fighting game players and makes them square off against one another for the top prize and to reign supreme! Fans and players of games like Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition, Blazblue: Continuum Shift II, Tekken 6, Marvel Vs Capcom 3, and Mortal Kombat better not miss this one! The best of the best will compete in exciting matches from these games, and even well known brawlers like Daigo Umehara and Justin Wong will be there!

Comic Book Review: Fear Itself #1

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in” – Michael Corleone, The Godfather Part III

There was a time I enjoyed reading Marvel Comics’ numerous event storylines, but since Brian Michael Bendis’ delivered the lukewarm Secret Invasion and Siege sagas, I’ve been hesitant to get back into the fold and even considered the possibility of giving up collecting altogether. For one thing, it’s getting pretty expensive to collect comic books in particular given the soaring prices these days, and unlike DC’s campaign to “Hold down the line at 2.99” an issue, Marvel isn’t showing any signs of letting up. True, they’ve got the marketing power to show for it, and with two of their biggest and arguably most popular characters in the Avengers roster getting movie treatments this year, there’s no surprise why their books aren’t budging price wise. The times are hard enough as it is, and as my interest in the books wanes even further, out comes Fear Itself, Marvel’s newest epic to come out of the woodwork that promises to deliver a high impact superhero story while tackling the numerous issues and concerns plaguing our world as it is today. After picking it up last Wednesday and reading it through, Does it deliver to that promise, or is it just another event chugged down by the House of Ideas to get more people interested in the Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger movies? Read on and find out the answer.

DC Presents "Green Lantern/ Flashpoint" comic for Free Comic Book Day!

On the first Saturday of May, readers and hobbyists will be treated to free books from the various creators and publishers of the comic book industry, as they celebrate another year of "Free Comic Book Day"! The event aims to thank loyal fans who have committed themselves to the hobby, while also attracting younger and newer readers to join in and see what the industry could offer to them! For 2011, DC Comics will be giving away a book that not only promotes the upcoming Green Lantern flick starring Ryan Reynolds, but also their next big event for the year that fans will have a chance to preview! Take a look and see the cover to "Green Lantern/ Flashpoint FCBD 2011 Special Edition"!

Looking sharp, no? As posted in DC's official blog The Source, the Green Lantern/ Flashpoint book is a double feature no DC fan would want to miss come Free Comic Book Day! With both stories written by superstar scribe Geoff Johns, the GL segment is a reprint of Green Lantern #30, which was part of the "Secret Origin" storyline and illustrated by artist Ivan Reis, depicting the tale on how Hal Jordan first received his power ring. Flashpoint, on the other hand, is DC's latest event of the year penned by Johns and drawn by Andy Kubert, which happens to revolve around The Flash and something happening to him that causes catastrophic changes around the DC Universe. Sounds exciting? Be sure to pick this up when it comes out in FCBD, and visit the source post over at DC The Source for more details!

Marvel Officially Announces "Fear Itself"

At their recent Press Conference in Midtown Comics and via a post by Newsarama, Marvel has officially announced their next big event come April next year - "Fear Itself"! While details of the plot still remain sketchy and mysterious, several teaser posters were already shown and released by The House Of Ideas in the previous week, and the tale is going to be helmed by the creative duo team of writer Matt Fraction and artist Stuart Immonen! To tease, Marvel has served up the trailer via their official website! You can also check it out below!

Fear Itself Trailer

Not quite enough? You can check out more details via Marvel.com's post, which has more videos of the Press Con and a special message from the writer of the upcoming mini-series himself, Matt Fraction!

The "Fear Itself" event begins on April, 2011!

Another "Siege" Teaser!

Venturing around the comic kingdom news, Marvel.com and Newsarama have released yet another teaser poster to the upcoming crossover event, "Siege"!

What Price Victory indeed? The Mighty Thor is sure to find out, as he's getting his goldilocks hair handed over to him by the Iron Patriot and the rest of the Dark Avengers in this image! Siege is still coming this January, so hold on to your butts and prepare for war in the Marvel Universe!

On The Spot: Collecticon 2009 -Story Ver.-

Another big event happened today, and it was another crazy moment for hobbyists everywhere. Once again, the annual Collecticon (short for Collector's Convention) was held at the Midtown section of Robinson's Place Manila, and from the moment I arrived, it was packed with all kinds of stuff, from the latest toys to the vintage items that collectors were dying to buy and own.

The view at the Collecticon as soon as the mall opened. What a crowd!
I entered the arena early in the morning to get an early bird's start, but the house was already packed by the time I arrived. Most of the stuff I looked for were comic related goodies, but I was able to scrounge up some Batman related items, which were pretty good deals in themselves.

This was but one of the many stalls with lots of toys and collectibles on display... woah...
While making my way around, I saw many friends, all of whom were eager to find and scoop something nice to add to their collections. Every convention I go to has a familiar face somewhere along the way, and the Collecticon proved no different. Towards the afternoon, the atrium started to pile up some more, particularly due to the auction and cosplay events that were scheduled for the day as well.

The crowd gathers as the auction and cosplay event begins...
There were lots of people dressed in all kinds of attire, and the auction was pretty successful in gathering bidders, as well as donations for the benefit of the victims of typhoon Ondoy. After taking a well deserved lunch break, I made one more pass before calling it a day in the early afternoon.

Overall, I had fun, and while it wasn't as crazy as the Toycon, the Collecticon had just the right amount of fun and activities to make it another spectacular event.