Batman Arkham City Update: Catwoman E3 Gameplay Trailer!

With this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo just around the corner, it would only be right for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, DC Comics, and Rocksteady Studios to release a new trailer promoting their much anticipated Batman: Arkham Asylum sequel - Batman: Arkham City. While this trailer does set up what threats The Dark Knight is facing next (including more thugs and Two-Face), it also shows off who'll he be paired up with: Gotham City's own feline vigalante, Catwoman!

Batman: Arkham City Catwoman E3 Gameplay Trailer!
Delicious! Can't wait to try my hands playing as Selina Kyle!

Batman: Arkham City is due for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC this October 18!

Comic Reviews: Fear Itself #2 and 3

Time for another comic review run. It's been a while, but what I'm about to review isn't exactly a shocker to me despite the "big scene" involved. I'm not going to lie to you. Since the past few issues of Marvel Solicitations have been teasing what's to come in the months ahead, I was expecting the inevitable to happen to a certain hero in the pages of Fear Itself. I just picked up the latest issue a night ago, and reading through it, I felt the ending was sort of anti-climactic. It could have been handled differently, but given the need to bring up the pace in this story, I suppose it couldn't have gone down any other way. Consider this a SPOILER review (especially for issue #3), and anyone who's seen the covers has an idea who the person in question is.

Justice League #1: The Full Cover revealed!

Via Comic Book Resources, here is the full cover to Justice League #1, written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Jim Lee. The issue, launching this August 31st, will be the first of a series of about 52 titles to be relaunched for DC Comics new initiative to "reboot titles for the modern age". More details can be picked up from the links on my previous post, or you can simply visit the source with additional information from CBR.

What you see above is also the new redesigns for the costumes of DC's greatest heroes in the Justice League. Geoff Johns certainly wasn't kidding when he said "Everything you know will change in a flash" via Flashpoint, and now we know the answer on what will happen AFTER Flashpoint ends. New looks all around for Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Cyborg (as illustrated b Jim Lee), and it's looking like the 90's for some all over again. Well, we'll just have to wait and see how everything goes.

DC Comics reboots their continuity, with landmark day digital distribution!

Looks like the rumors weren't kidding after all... And what news to kick off the first day of June!

Via USA Today and their own blog The Source, DC Comics has officially announced that beginning this 31st of August, most of their titles will be renumbered and restructured to be released on the same day both in print and digital media altogether. Through its 76-year long history of publishing characters like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and The Flash, the company will revamp their titles for "a more modern and diverse 21st century"

The first book announced and to be launched in this new #1 direction will be Justice League #1, to be written by DC Entertainment scribe and Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, while illustrations will be handled by DC Comics Co-Publisher Jim Lee. This will be the only issue, aside from the final issue of Flashpoint (the storyline the ends the old DC universe continuity and brings forth the new), that will see publication on August 31, offering a new beginning for new and contemporary DC readers to catch up on. Personally, I'm not so surprised about the news, but it is a landmark and historic moment to behold indeed. For more on the story, visit USA Today, The Source, and Newsarama!

UPDATE: More details on the story and on other #1 books emerge from Comic Book Resources! Check out the link here!

Isaiah Mustafa pitches himself as Luke Cage to Marvel

With all the superhero movies coming out, it would be a surprise if Marvel decided to use secondary string characters that fans wouldn't even imagine seeing secure their own movie. Luke Cage is such a character, and given his renewed popularity based on his current position as a member and leader of the New Avengers, getting his own solo flick would be mighty awesome for people who dig the man with unbreakable skin. As such, Isaiah "Old Spice" Mustafa is taking the initiative to campaign to the House of Ideas that he can play the former "Power Man" in his own film, going as far as to create a "teaser trailer" that was posted over at You Tube and even featured in Slash Film! Best check this out, Cage fans!

Isaiah Mustafa "Luke Cage teaser trailer"!

The question now is... Does he fit the part? You decide for yourselves, and let's see how Marvel reacts to this presentation. For more on the story, visit Slash Film!

David Slade promises official word on "Daredevil" this week.

Rumors have persisted that a reboot on "Daredevil" was inevitably going to happen, and it appears that director David Slade will be making a big announcement regarding the project sometime this week. Having been chosen to direct the film, the man who directed 30 Days of Night and Twilight: Eclipse (the third film in the Twilight franchise) is shouldered with a lot of expectations from fans and the studio, Twentieth Century Fox alike. While he hasn't given any confirmation as who will be starring, the lead role of Matt Murdock is speculated to have potential candidates already, in the form of Twilight star Robert Pattison and Garrett Hedlund. Official word is still pending of course, and all we can do it wait. For more on the story, check out the source post at Screen Rant.

Movie Reviews: Kung Fu Panda 2

Wow, this is the first serious movie review post I'm actually doing in months. Try as I might, I could never really find a good reason to properly review the previous movie I watched in theaters; that being Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Everything about that film just left me utterly disappointed, and while Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) did try to use his charismatic charms to win over audiences, it paled in comparison to the previous Pirate films, especially in terms of story cohesion and action. All things considered, I really felt the movie was forced and dragged on too much before we got anything decent to enjoy about it. This sequel had little to no redeeming qualities to it, and it surprises me why it HAD to be made at all. Not all sequels are bad, but this one takes the cake for "most disappointing" I've seen so far this year.

On the other hand, Kung Fu Panda 2 shines out like a diamond, and Jack Black and his ensemble cast of costars do more than make this fantastic sequel. They made this a fantastic sequel of AWESOMENESS!

Movie: Kung Fu Panda 2

Starring: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman, Jacky Chan, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Seth Rogen, Michelle Yeoh, James Hong

Directed By: Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Certainly another instant classic for the caravan of people looking for some well-rounded family movie goodness, Kung Fu Panda 2 is definitely a must see for fans of the first film and newbies who have yet to experience the "Skadoosh" that Po the Panda (Jack Black) and his mighty Kung Fu friends share in the big screen. The sequel explores more of the fat Dragon Warrior's origins, and introduces him to a new threat in the form of Lord Shen (voiced by Gary Oldman), a the heir peacock prince of China who was cast out from his home due to an unforgivable incident that ties directly to Po's past. When Shen returns and wrecks havoc in the Valley of Peace and Gongmen City, Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) sends Po and the Furious Five to the rescue, only for Po to freeze at certain instances when he recognizes a symbol belonging to Lord Shen that causes his repressed memories to surface. Confused and determined to find out the truth about his past, Po joins the Five in a race to save the capital, as Lord Shen holds a mysterious powerful weapon that could spell the end of Kung Fu.

Kung Fu Panda 2 Theatrical Trailer

Without giving away too much, all I can say is it's been a damn good wait to see this movie and I thoroughly enjoyed everything about it. Back in 2008, Kung Fu Panda blew me away with its dynamic 3D animation and superbly written story that it was hard not to count it as one of my favorite movies for that year (next to Iron Man, Tropic Thunder, and The Dark Knight). This sequel proves no different in expectations, and delivers much more excitement, intensity, and hilarious moments from the cast at hand. Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jacky Chan, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen, David Cross, Michelle Yeoh, and James Hong return to their respective roles in the movie, and they shine out as completely as they did before (especially Jolie's rle as Master Tigress, who gets more screen time as Po's closest confidant in the Five). Gary Oldman plays the role of villain once more as Lord Shen, and given how audacious and intimidating he can be on those types of roles, I wouldn't expect anything less but perfection from him, and he deliver alright. It was also a surprise to see Jean-Claude Van Damme among the line up for this movie, as he lends his voice to Master Croc of the Kung Fu Council. This all star power adds credence to what is already a fantastically animated film, and while majority of it is in 3D, there are stellar 2D animated sequences to that highlight Po's past with beauty. Oh, and the writing is simply cohesive and brilliant. Never have I felt laughter, sadness, and kung pow fury roll into an animated film so smoothly as this. I am impressed, DreamWorks Animation!

With all that said and needed to be said, Kung Fu Panda 2 is certainly the family-oriented animated treat kids and adults alike deserve and definitely need to see. I may get repetitious with my praising for this sequel, but I was highly impressed by the production values and time given to make this movie as awesome if not better than the first. Another sequel will certainly be in line after this, and I can't see why the studio wouldn't allow it either. Awesomeness is here, and the Panda and his posse deliver!

Rating - 5/5