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A Writer’s Perspective: Why Beauty and the Beast is the Show to Watch

Nancy Holder — Tue, 23 Dec 2014 18:48:56 +0000

“Are those scripts?” asked the parking attendant as I pulled into yet another hotel in Los Angeles (I travel a lot) and unloaded four three-inch binders, two pink and two blue, onto the luggage cart.

Yes, they are. I have two seasons of Beauty and the Beast scripts contained in four enormous binders—pink for season one, blue for season two—and I have taken them with me everywhere as I work on my three tribute novels for the show. Yes, I have digital copies on my hard drive; yes I could simply slip my laptop into an oversized purse and burrow in for days of writing and room service. But what sets BatB apart for a “tie-in” writer like me—someone who tries to create more adventures for the characters of a show, set in their world—is that the scripts for Beauty and the Beast are so well-written they’re like picture books, or perhaps more correctly, magical illuminated manuscripts. And they’ve just gotten better and better.

As my fellow fans (“Beasties”) will agree, Vincent, Catherine, Tess, J.T., and their friends and enemies are real to us and live in our heads—and hearts—even when the show is not currently airing. This is because the BatB writers are completely committed to telling stories that capture the passion and devotion of VinCat while sending Beauty and her Beast on pulse-pounding adventures, solving mysteries and risking their lives for justice. What makes BatB the show to watch is that they do this so well. BatB has one of the most ardent fan bases in the world, and it’s because this “universe” has expanded way beyond a weekly viewing event. It’s part of our lives.

Enter someone like me, attempting to keep that universe growing in other, in my case through novels. In Vendetta, my first BatB novel, I have attempted to give fans more of our special world, in which Catherine, Vincent, Tess, and J.T. work to rescue the kidnapped son of New York City’s most powerful crime boss while at the same time recapturing Cat’s father—unaware that Gabe has nefarious plans of his own. I felt a mandate to lavish extra time and attention on this book because of the high bar the show writers have set. My aim was also to write an exciting novel that “regular” readers would enjoy even if they aren’t ardent Beasties. For that reason, I couldn’t be a lazy novelist and simply depend on touching the heartstrings of fellow fans. I had to make sure I plotted a good story and keep the characterizations clear and strong for someone who might not know who Heather was, or understand a reference to “Z-babe.”

Sometimes it surprises viewers to hear that writers consider TV to be a visual medium. A TV script is an art form all its own because the images that writers evoke with words create the worlds for those special shows that take on a life of their own—like Beauty and the Beast. From these carefully crafted manuscripts, the actors, director, production designer, director of photography, stunt coordinator, and all the other staff and crew contribute their best work—but it all comes down to the scripts first. I have to write my novels before I view most of a season’s episodes—Vendetta was completed long before the huge reveals of the end of season one were shown onscreen—but because of the strength of the scripts, I could see the drama and tragedy that awaited us after a season-one-ending spoiler phone call from CBS.

I actually do several viewings of BatB with the sound turned off so I can see the nonverbal themes and metaphors that the teleplay writers have fashioned. For example, Vincent is often paired with roses; important “girl discussions” tend to take place at the coffee house Il Cantuccio; and who can erase from memory the magical world of Cat’s rooftop—which actually evokes her blurry memories of the forest, where Vincent first saved her and set them on the course of their destined love? You can see that I have written all these details into Vendetta. In my own way, I attempt to share the magic of the most involving show on television—and the scripts are my spell books. I hope that if you read Vendetta, you will likewise be transported by the sorcery of words into the enchanted realm of Beauty and the Beast. I assure you, my task was made much easier by the wizards who write for the show to watch on TV for the past two years…with at least one more season to go. And that’s why I drag this gigantic binders brimming with scripts all over L.A.—and count myself unbelievably lucky to do so.

BUY VENDETTA BY NANCY HOLDER NOW!

A Look Back at Best of 2014

Lee Roberts — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 00:23:32 +0000

THE YEAR IS ALMOST OVER:
Well, 2014 is almost over, just little over a week left in the year in fact, and in that light I want to look back at the year that was for comics. I will give a list of some of the bests from this past year, some I've put on the list because I think they are and some are on there because they where the best according to sales and majority of the reviews they received. So, let me begin with the best books to come out in 2014. Oh, these have no real ranking in the order they come in, the first is not the best of them and the last is not the least best of them, they are just the order that I typed them and nothing more than that and can be moved around in order in any direction.

BEST TITLES:
A) The Wicked + The Divine – Published by Image Comics, it's currently on issue #6, wrote by Kieron Gillen and art by Jamie McKelvie. This book is about a group of people that where normal until gaining the powers and minds of deities who will now only live 2 years because of gaining these powers. In this world this has been going on for as long as they can remember so it's not shocking that it happens, it's in fact popular, but with a death being involved there's now a mystery to uncover in their world and now the world is looking at them differently.

B) Spider-Verse – Published by Marvel Comics, wrote by Dan Slott and many others, art by many as well, currently on part 3 of it but there are a total of 21 books out that involve the Spider-Verse that are Edge of the Spider-Verse, Superior Spider-Man, Scarlet Spiders, Spider-Woman, and Amazing Spider-Man. The story takes every possible Spider-Man/Spider-Woman that Marvel is legally allowed to use and pits them against the Inheritors (one being Morlun) in a fight to the deaths. It's brutal and good.

C) Moon Knight – Published by Marvel Comics, on issue #10, first wrote byWarren Ellis and artist Declan for the first 6 issues, currently it's Brian Wood and Greg Smallwood on the title. This is not the Moon Knight of old, yet it is. It still revolves around Marc Spector being crazy with the multiple personalities and he does go out at times in his full suit and gear. However, it's primarly about him dealing with his personalities and doing it in a different way where he wears a suit and tie instead and the fights he gets into are more emotional than just thugs on the street.

D) Batman Eternal – Published by DC Comics, this is a weekly comic and is on issue #37 at time of writing this but it started in April, wrote and drawn by multiple people but main writer is Scott Synder. This story has been progressive and falls sometime before Batman “Endgame”, it involves a lot of twists in the plot as well as different and new characters.

E) Batman – Published by DC Comics, wrote by Scott Synder and drawn by Greg Capullo and is on issue #37. Right now the story line is called “Endgame” where the Joker is causing some new and big damage in it. This year has been a good one for Batman stories.

F) Outcast – Published by Image Comics, wrote by Robert Kirkman and drawn by Paul Azaceta and is on issue #5. This book is about demonic possion and is getting very popular and if you want to get this while the back issue are still under $20 you better hurry. Right now Robert Kirkman is in Rock Hill, SC filming a pilot for Outcast to be put on a premium channel.

G) The Walking Dead – Published by Image Comics, wrote by Robert Kirkman and drawn by Charlie Adlard and is on issue #135. I won't give anything away on this other than the book keeps getting better.

H) Shutter – Published by Image Comics, written by Joe Keatinge and art by Leila Del Duca
and it on issue #7. This is one that I haven't read, I have issue #1, was going to start it but at the time I had to cut down on how much I spent on comics and since I hadn't even read this title I didn't continue on. However, it's been going like mad here where I live and from what I've seen online for it, this book is doing quite well.

Tags:

marvel

comics

Happy Hunger Games! Vol. 2, Issue 13

Maria Jackson — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 01:42:20 +0000

Happy Hunger Games Series

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 is #1 at the box office for three weeks in a row! Most predictors didn't see this happening. Fire is catching and it's been a slow burn for MJP1 with a total earnings of $258,153, 593!

JLaw has been nominated for Best Actress in an Action Movie for her role in MJP1 and Lorde's Yellow Flicker Beat has been nom'd for Best Song by the Critics' Choice Movie Awards! (X)

Katniss has also been chosen by Time as one of the Most Influential Fictional Characters of 2014:

The Hunger Games heroine (played by Jennifer Lawrence) has already secured her status as a feminist role model and a box-office powerhouse. But Katniss is more than a movie icon now: Her three-fingered salute, used in Mockingjay as a signal of rebellion against the Capitol, has become a rallying symbol among pro-democracy protesters in Thailand and Hong Kong(X)

Madame Tussauds of London has revealed that the museum will make the addition of a waxy Katniss:

The figure here in London will be portrayed in Katniss’ hunting outfit, which she wears in the second installment of the franchise, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Teamed with her iconic brown leather hunting jacket, are dark charcoal trousers, knee-length tie-up leather brown boots, plus brown leather quiver (arrow bag) and trademark bow. Her hair will by styled in her iconic braid.

New York and Hollywood will also host their own waxy Mockingjay figures. Each figure took four months to create at a cost of £150,000 GBP/$233,617.50 USD each! (X)

See you next time, Tributes! And may this season be ever in your favor!

Tags:

Mockingjay Soundtrack

Jennifer Lawrence

Lorde

Mockingjay Part 1

Collecting Can Be A Hardship Today

Lee Roberts — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 02:00:02 +0000

GUARDIANS SELL OUT AGAIN:
First it was the cassette tape that came out on Black Friday/Record Day. Now it's the actual movie that gets a turn at being sold out. To be more specific, I mean the steelbook exclusive only sold at Best Buy for the Blu Ray 3D/Blu Ray/Digital Copy of Guardians of the Galaxy. Like the cassette, it was what I wanted to get, and yes I admit, this time around I didn't do my normal routine of preordering it and getting to the store right at opening on release day. However, one reason I didn't do that and the main reason really, is that every single time that I've done that, there's an abundance of them, and most of the time so many that even months after (for some years after), there's still the steelbook exclusive sitting on the shelves.

So, I did the what I shouldn't have, I assumed that Best Buy would have enough like they always did in the past, so instead of preordering and going at opening, I just went right after work and got to the store about 6:45pm. When I walked in the store I thought, yes this is going to be a great night cause I get to watch Rudolph when I get home, then the new Marvel's Agents of Shiled, and get the steelbook of Guardians to watch. It even looked like it was going to be good for me cause I see a stand for the movie right as I enter in the store. Now all I have to do is grab it, check out, and get out all in about a 2 minute time span.
Nope. What a fool I was.

I searched that store going down every isle for the movies, the cd's, the stands at the ends and in the walkways, and I did it multiple times. I'm sure the cameras in the store was focused on me thinking I was up to something since I was walking slow and scanning all around me, but I was just looking for the steelbook that maybe if I was lucky might have been hidden behind another movie or something else. It wasn't and I wasn't.

Not only is this exclusive sold out online, but it's sold out in every store in my area. There is one store that has it, it's nearly a 2 hour drive away. Aside from feeling defeated in my search and settling for just the Blu Ray version, even if I wanted to get this steelbook, I probably still wouldn't get it. I can't go during the weekday cause I work until 6:30 and with a 2 hour drive, that puts me there at 8:30 and then another 2 hours drive back, now I'm home at 10:30. I can't watch it cause I have my reviews to do, so I just spent 4 hours driving, the gas money, having to now stay up longer than I want to work on a review because I spent 4 hours driving, I miss out on doing anything I want to in my free time like reading comics (and yes I love doing my reviews, it's right now one of my funniest jobs I got, but like all jobs, fun or not, it's still a job and when you have to spend a full work day at work to be in a car for 4 hours to get a movie you won't get to watch and to do more work, well I'm not wanting to do that). So, my only real choice is to wait until Saturday to do it when I would have the time to do so but considering how quickly these have sold out on release day, will there still be some left near the end of the week?

My next choice is to look on ebay. Not going to happen. Not the looking, but the buying because even though I would like to have the steelbook, paying the prices people are wanting on ebay is way too much for this piece that, yes is very cool, it's not that wise a choice. I have already spent money on the regular version, I would have to not only spend double what the store price was but I would also be getting the 3D with it that's worthless to me since I can't even watch it on 3D.
Not ranting here, don't take it that way, I'm just explain in a very long way, if you are looking for this steelbook exclusive, you're unlikely in getting one.
Which brings me to my next topic....

COLLECTOR'S WORLD MADE POPULAR:
Are you a collector of comics, games, toys, or related items? Have you noticed a growing annoyance in the field? I'm talking about the collector items selling out and then being resold online for high to only if I was rich prices. There's always been that in the world of collecting, it's just part of the deal, but ever since the boom in popularity with the movies, games, and television shows, the collecting world has become harder.
Before the world knew about it, the collector’s items were being bought by collectors and sold by them. Some items would be hard to find and prices would be high, but they were still done mainly by collectors. And yes there was some that was getting and selling them just for a profit, but it was still pretty much a close group of people.
Times have changed ever since the movies and shows have shined a light on the collecting world. Before when comics and toys where just for kids and the general public that might have known that they could be worth money thought that the only ones worth money was the very old comics and toys. Now they know that a new comic, toy, or item that just came out today can turn into instant cash if you have the right one and because of that people who once overlooked it are now out there getting them. It's a business, I understand that, and I understand that need and want for more money in your own pocket, however what I don't like are the people that will go to a store, buy as many or buy out all of the item just to post online somewhere with a price that triples the original price or more, and say look at this rare item that can't be found in stores. Well, maybe if you wasn't such a jerk and bought 15 of them to sell online I would have had the chance to buy them in the store.

(Don't know whose collection this is but it's pretty awesome)
And yes I understand that some items are actually rare and only have a limited amount out there to start with but does that make it any better when someone buys more than one just so they can sell it to get money? For instance, if you know me you know I have a great liking for Harley Quinn and everything involving her. Well, her first appearance in the comics is a comic that is not a cheap comic to get. I want this comic, however, I don't want it for a profit, I'm not going to buy it to try to sale at a higher price, I want it to collect and put on my wall. This example is not as good but it gets my point across because that comic came out years ago and is one that is a bit hard to get. However, there are items that came out this week, like the steelbook Blu Ray of Guardians that was picked up by people wanting to get that extra buck off the collectors because they can't find them. All I'm saying is stop taking away from the people that just want to have it for their collection just so you can get a few extra dollars. If you want to do that, then buy only 1, get that, ONE, not multiple, 1, of the items and sell that one cause otherwise you're just being greedy and most likely you have caused someone not to get that item they want.

Christmas Gift Ideas for the Comic Fan

Lee Roberts — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 03:41:49 +0000

TIS THE SEASON:
Alright, it's now officially December and that means gift giving time. For some people this holiday is tough to pick out the right gift for those ones that like comic books. It's also tough for us comic fans getting some of the gifts from those people because they either give us comics that we have no interest in or ones we already have. That's why I'm going to make this blog about helping those gift givers find and give some of the comic fans gifts that they will like or possibly not have but want.
What I will do is give you an item as well as ways to find out if these are the right ones for that comic fan loved one. Some of the ways will be easy to find out, some might require you to play 20 questions, and a few might be required for you to ask outright if they have or like them. But at least you will have an idea for those gifts that you didn't know.
By the way, if you are reading this and you are the ones that like the comics and would be getting the gifts (which I'm going to assume that you are), then copy and paste this list, email it, send the link, do whatever you want to give it to those that would need this, and let them know that they can read it and get an idea. Or maybe pass it along to those that aren't in your family or gives you the gifts, but you know they do have someone and it would help, like that friend whose parent or loved one still buys the first comic that's seen on the stand and is nothing that will ever be read.
THE LIST:
1) The Walking Dead
WHAT TO GET:
1) The Walking Dead Compendium One and/or Two. You can find these on amazon used starting around $25-$30 and new $35+, there are some on ebay as well that range in price. Both of these books are huge and wonderful.

2) Seasons 1-4. These are pretty easy to find and some of them are cheap. However there are some that will appease the fans that are ore than just the movies. The limited edition sets for seasons 3 and 4 that are a collection piece and the show. Unless you have money to spare, season two limited edition might be out of your means with it ranging in the high hundreds to near a grand for this piece. However season 3 and 4 you can find under $70.

3) Games. There's so many different games out there now that are Walking Dead related. You can get the video games of season 1 and 2, one that's a collector's edition, there's a Yahtzee game of it that has a zombie head as part of it, so this one is just find out what kind of game they like and get it to match.

4) Toys and Statues. There's a ton of these, if they do collect to the toys/statues, then just look around the room to find out which ones they have. If you have to and can, sneak a few pics of the ones around the room and then take those into the comic shop to show the workers, they will know which ones they are and from there they can find you the ones you would need. Now be warned though, if you are looking to get the toys/statues, some can be quite expensive.

HOW TO ASK: This one is fairly simple, the first way is to find out if the person watches the show. Just ask if they watch it. See the first step is easy to do. Once you have asked if they watch the show, ask if the show really is the same as the comic cause you heard it wasn't nothing like it. If they are a fan of the comic and read it, then they will have something to say about it, whether they read the comic or not they should at least say at one point that they do or don't read them. If they do read them then you will have to do a little more investigation.
If they do read them then you can say that you heard those early issues are worth a lot of money (they are, issue #1 goes for over 1K), ask if they have any of them. If they say yes then you won't be getting them any of these comics but if they say no (and unless you have enough money to spare to spend a few thousand dollars on back issues) then you still probably won't get them the originals but you now know a little more to ask the follow up question. If they said yes to reading them but don't have those early issues, ask them how did they read them if they don't have those early issues. Once you find out, maybe they borrowed them, read them online, or they have the compendiums. If they tell you they are reading the current issues but don't have the early ones then you are good to get the trades. Go ahead and get the compendium for them, they will love it if they don't already have it. And even if they do have the original first prints of the early issues, you might want to get the compendiums just so they can have reference or want to re-read the back issues again but don't want to risk damaging the comics, this collected version is great for doing just that.

2) Spider-Man aka Peter Parker
What To Get: There's a bunch of items out there because this character has been around for many years. Picking something releated to this character is both easy because there is so much out there it's easy to find (maybe not cheap but easy), as well as being hard because you just might not know what one to get. But here's a few ideas.
1) Graphic Novels: Like I said there's a bunch of them out there so picking a graphic novel will depend on if you want to get first, middle, or current age stories. There is the Marvel Comics Essential graphic novels that have been collecting the Amazing, Spectacular, Web, and others of Spider-Man since issue #1. These can be found in comic shops for some of the early numbers, like book #1, or online on amazon but I say check with the comic shop first, help out local buisness first, amazon gets enough as is, but there is also major book shops with some as well.

2) Comics: For new readers right now is a great jumping on point for anyone wanting to read Spider-Man. Amazing Spider-Man is only on issue #10 and issues #1-10 can be found pretty easily at comic shops.

3) Toys: Toys are actually a little more tricky on picking because there are so many of them out there. Do you want something current, something that's more cartoon like, maybe one that's based off the movie, or just one that is a collectors piece, there's a lot of them. So where to get them? Depends, for those current, cartoon, or movie ones and a few collectors, try Toys R Us, Walmart, For some of the more hard to find pieces, try the comic shops, maybe even ebay if you feel lucky,

3) Movies
What to get: Lots of movies to choose from but also lots of cool ones to choose from.
1) Guardians of the Galaxy: It comes out December 9, 2014 and will make a great gift

2) Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase One Collection Case: If you have someone that's just now getting into the movies, Marvel is on Phase Two so if you want to pick some movies for the movie and comic fan, the Phase One collection is the way to go. It's a case shaped like the one from the movie, includes 6 movies, lots of extras, fun files, and even a tesseract cube.

3) Batman Collection: The Christian Bale collection can be bought with all 3 movies on Blu Ray for about $50-$80

4) Heroes: This was a great show (yeah it had a few problems going towards the end but it's still a great show). You can find this 4 season show pretty cheap and for any comic fan that hasn't watched it, they really should

5) Superman: No, not Man of Steel, not Superman Returns, the Christopher Reeves collection of Superman movies. Get them on DVD or Blu Ray, one or all four, it's worth it.

6) Spider-Man: Amazing or just Spider-Man, there's a total of 5 of them out right now, they are all cheap, and aside from Amazing Spider-Man 2 being more on the bad side for some, these are good movies

7) Batman 1 & 2: Not the Christian Bale ones, the Michael Keaton directed by Tim Burton movies. These are the best of the Batman movies, I still like them a bit more than Christian Bale movies and if you are a Batman fan and haven't watched these, you are missing out

.
8) X-Men: First Class and Days of Future Past and if you want then the first 3 X-Men movies before those

9) The Wolverine: Just get this one, don't even bother with Origins

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Happy Hunger Games! Vol 2. Issue 13

Maria Jackson — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 01:00:10 +0000

Happy Hunger Games Series

Welcome back, Tributes! By now, I expect you’ve all seen MJP1. If you have and even if you haven’t, read my review NOW and let me know your thoughts! I want to know what parts were your favorite and which you thought could be better. Let loose in the comments!

As if there was any doubt, MJP1 soared over the Thanksgiving competition and is sitting pretty at #1 at the box office. With a domestic total of $231,476,484 earned, MJP1 is already ranked as the seventh most popular film of 2014 (x) and may finish up in the top two!

Another unexpected charter is Jennifer Lawrence singing “The Hanging Tree”. The song describes two lovers searching for freedom from oppression in death. Grim, to be sure, but Lawrence sings the lilting melody with a slight southern twang. She’s captured ears in the UK, where The Hanging Tree is #29!( x)

Take a listen to this haunting tune

This is all a little hilarious considering Jennifer was terrified of singing!

They’re already starting to talk about MJP2! Director Francis Lawrence, Producer Nina Jacobson and Screenwriter Peter Craig recently talked to Buzzfeed about making the two parter and how the changes in MJP1 will affect MJP2.

If you saw the film, you’ll remember that Katniss’s list of demands given to President Coin in exchange for being the Mockingjay did not make mention of killing President Snow. According to the filmmakers, this was a choice to give each film a clear arch and objective.

“That’s probably one of the biggest changes in the splitting of the book,” director Francis Lawrence told BuzzFeed News. “The way that you can tell the two stories, for us, is that each story has its own dramatic question, has its own objective. In this one, Katniss is finally taking on the role as the symbol of the revolution and starting to step up and fight back. But the dramatic question is: Will we get Peeta back? …Part 2 is: Let’s go get Snow.”

This choice makes Katniss’s demand gradual, and we will see that in the next movie.

“For people who don’t know the books, then I don’t want to spoil that for them,” producer Nina Jacobson told BuzzFeed News. “But … we wanted to let Katniss arrive [at the demand to kill Snow] a little bit more gradually. What’s happened to Peeta informs that demand.”

With the push for Snow’s life, we will see a full-scale war, but there will be moments of “redemption” in the movie to balance the gloom and bleak world.

“We knew it was dark, and we looked at what wasn’t dark, and really paid a lot of attention to it,” screenwriter Peter Craig told BuzzFeed News. “Part of it is there’s a lot of affection between the characters that you can’t always show in moments where they’re fighting in arenas, or when they’re separated from each other. There’s a love story that’s emerging between Katniss and Peeta that is actually really, really sweet at its core. There’s all these characters that have been reunited and genuinely care for each other.”

“I feel like you can have darkness if you’ve got some redemption at the center of it,” said Craig. “[Mockingjay – Part 2] is really completely about redemption, and all these people forgiving each other, and finding each other again. It might take you through a thicket, but you come out the other side.”

See you next time, Tributes!

Tags:

The Hunger Games

Mockingjay

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Jennifer Lawrence

The Hanging Tree

Star Wars Force Awakens & Unleashes the Trailer and Cassette Tape Is Sold Out

Lee Roberts — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 19:48:11 +0000

STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS TRAILER:

Have you seen it yet? Come on it came out today and it's awesome! Ok, so the speeder that resembles a chocolate ice cream bar and the soccer ball droid are chuckle worthy but otherwise the footage extremely cool. Seeing the Falcom in action again was my highlight of the trailer but the whole thing looks beautiful. Here are a few bits from the trailer.

Lightsaber: sure it looks really cool and kind of like a sword with the handle guards but just what are those side beams for? Will they be used? Maybe during a duel where the two sabers are together the sides could extend to hit someone in the face or body? Then again maybe they are just for looks, like they are exhausts for the saber that almost looks like it's on fire. But seeing the red against the black of night and the white of the snow is nicely done. And who is this? I'm guessing with the red lightsaber that it is the Sith villain but does that mean it's not Luke? Maybe he has a little dark side in him in this film?

Now for the Falcon scene where it swoops in, does a loop, and flys down close to the ground as two Tie Fighters come at it. This scene is the one that shows me that this film will have some very different and breath taking shots and how they are being used. And just look at how awesome the Falcon looks.

The chocolate ice cream bar speeder bike that has a woman on it that I don't know who it is. I'm sorry but this thing just don't look that cool to me. It's a brown block sideways with a girl sitting on it.

And if you don't think it looks like an ice cream bar, then watch this tweak that was done to it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCOsIuI47JU

Another thing, the Stormtrooper. He's not a clone at least but he looks a little flustered. Not sure what has happened to him, maybe he's just hot from what looks like Tatooine cause I would think being in a Stormtrooper armor on Tatooine would be kind of hot. Is this scene after the one with all the Stormtroopers in what looks like a ship? I don't think so cause it looks like the door opens to someplace dark and not so full of sand. Still, a Stormtrooper with no helmet that's not a Clone Trooper, cool.

LIMITED REALLY MEANS VERY LIMITED DON'T EVEN WASTE TIME TRYING TO GET:

What I'm talking about here is the limited release of the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack on cassette tape. It was released today only, Friday Nov 28, 2014, as part of record day and Black Friday. However, not only was it released in limited amounts but it was released only in record stores but not all of them. If you think you can get them at a mega store like Walmart or Target, you won't. In fact, even if you went to a record store that was selling it, went early, stood in line, you still probably didn't get it.

On Wednesday I called the three record stores that where listed as doing the release. With each I had three questions to ask.

1) Are you going to have the Guardians of the Galaxy cassette tape on Friday?

2) What time do you open?

3) How much is it?

So here are the answers that I got from the three stores.

Store #1 Repo Record

1) Yes we will have them but only about 8 of them. I expect a line for them.

2) We open at 10am.

3) 8 bucks, they are $7.99.

Store #2 Lunchbox Records

1) Yes we will.

2) We're opening at 9am Friday.

3) They're $7.99

As a follow up question to them I asked how many they would have, his answer was, "I can't tell you."

Store #3 The Wax Museum

1) This is a wax museum, we don't do any new releases of records.

So, those where my answers on Wednesday Nov 26, 2014 when I called. Today, Friday Nov 28, 2014 get up at 7am so I can go to Lunchbox Records. I choose this one first because I had to be at work at 10:30am so going to the one that opens at 10am was risky. I get to Lunchbox Records at 8am and there is a line already. I get in line, stand in the 40 degree cold weather with the wind blowing and in the shade, and there I stand for the next hour waiting for 9am to arrive so I can get inside to get my tape.

9AM arrives, they only let in a few people because the store is small. Ok, so now I'm still standing outside in the cold. Slowly, very, very slowly, the people start to come out one at a time. With each one person that leaves, one person is let inside.

9:51AM, I'm at the front door now. There is the man that lets people in and out standing at the door on the inside. He lets someone out and I finally get to go in and I rush to the back, find a worker, ask, where are the Guardians of the Galaxy tape? We're sold out of them.

WHAT?!

First, I understand the line waiting, I understand the fire code by not letting in too many people, what I don't understand is not informing the people that are standing in line outside in 40 degree weather for nearly 2 hours that they have sold out of the tape. How hard would it have been for the man at the door to come outside when they sold out of the tapes to say, excuse me, anyone that is looking for the Guaridans of the Galaxy cassette tape, we are sold out. I'm betting they sold out quickly which means I stood in line in the cold for no reason what so ever except for the workers at Lunchbox being too lazy or uncaring enough to inform their customers they where out. Though that won't be a problem for me any from this point on since I won't ever step foot in that buisness again.

Now, since that store was such a horrible experience and bust for me, I see the time.

9:56AM.

Great, I'm only 6 minutes away from Repo Records, they open at 10AM, I might as well chance it now. I get in car, make it to the store at 10:01AM, and there's only 3 cars in the parking lot. Well, to say I was excited is putting it mildly. They've only been open for a minute and there's no cars in the lot, I'm sure to get a tape.

NOPE.

I go in, the guy at the checkout looks at me, asks can he help me. Yes you can, do you have the Guardians of the Galaxy cassette tape?

No, we sold out of them.

WHAT?

How did you sell out of them already, I ask, you just opened. No, we opened at 9AM.

Well, gee, glad I was told the wrong time of the opening on Wednesday. And now here I sit, no tape, not happy at all, and saw on ebay how much these tapes are going for is way more than I will ever spend on any cassette tape. Maybe if you live in a small town where there aren't many people going to look for a cassette tape of a soundtrack for a movie, then maybe you can get one. Me, I've called every record store that is within a 40 minute drive of where I live that was listed on the site of stores participating in the release and none of them have the tape. When Marvel said limited, they really did mean limited in this instance.

Tags:

Star Wars

Force Awakens

Records

Guardians of the Galaxy

Whose Who List of 7 of the Upcoming 24 Comic Based Movies

Lee Roberts — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 20:50:14 +0000

NOW THAT'S A LOT OF MOVIES:
At this point in time if you have a television set or a computer or just go out in public to talk to people, you know about comic book based movies. 15 years ago if I were to talk about the movie, “Generation X” that was done in 1996 or maybe the one with David Hasselholf that was done 2 years later in 1998 called, “Nick Fury: Agent of Shield”, would you know about it? I can speak from experience that the majority of people that I had talked to about those movies 15 years ago who wasn't already at the comic book shop had no clue about them and more than likely most people still don't know about them, they are horrible and was done for TV when things like that wasn't the in thing.
All that has changed, dramatically, so much so that people that I would say would never, ever, ever, never, would know about comic characters or say that they like them, are saying exactly that. That's because of the movies and we all know that. I accept that, I like that in a way because that has spiked the urge for people to want comics which in turn helps keep them going which means I keep getting to read them. It also means I have to deal with higher prices and harder to find back issues that I might want because now all of a sudden people are selling them when they didn't before because of the upcoming movie so they sell them for higher prices.
At any rate, that's not what this blog is about, it's about a whose who list of what you need to know about the upcoming 24 comic based movies that will be coming out between 2015-2019. That is a whole lot of comic movies with a whole lot of characters and these are only the big name popular movies that's been announced. I'm sure between now and the next 5 years there will be other lesser known about movies based off comics but since those are not the ones that's been announced and not the ones the general public know about, I will stick with these core 24.
However, I won't talk about all of them in detail because they might already be known, such as Captain America, Iron Man, Avengers, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and such are characters the general public knows about. But there are a few that might not be known about like Black Panther, Shazam, Inhumans, and Suicide Squad are just a few of the movies that just might not have a lot known about them and with that here is a little list of helpful tips on some of those lesser known of the movies.

By the way, this could be info that you might not know about the movie plots so you might want to be ready for SPOILERS.

1) Ant-Man: Not going to be Hank Pym but he will be in it only as an older man who is now the mentor to Scott Lang. Once a thief, possibly still is, Scott Lang is supposed to keep the Ant-Man tech safe but it's a movie so of course he won't and that will bring in the Yellowjacket. A villain will have tech that's stolen from the Ant-Man tech but better. In this movie there will also be Hank Pym's daughter, Hope Van Dyne played by Evangeline Lilly. She already has the haircut as Wasp so will she be the Wasp in the movie? Maybe, most likely I'm thinking since she is the daughter to Hank, she will be around Scott, they will hit it off, he becomes Ant-Man and she the Wasp, and together will have to fight Yellowjacket.

2) Black Panther: This is T'Challa the King of Wakanda and is one of the 8 smartest people on the planet. I won't go through all 8 but some others that are notable on the list are Tony Stark, Reed Richards, Bruce Banner, and Hank Pym, with the order of these being 1. Reed Richards, 2. Hank Pym, 3. Bruce Banner, 5. Tony Stark, and 6. T'Challa. Like with most comics, the order usually changes some as who is smarter than who depending on the writer. I've seen it said that T'Challa is way smarter than Tony Stark and on the levels of Reed Richards but the order don't matter much I just wanted to point out that T'Challa is extremely smart. One point to make with him is that his land has the only existence of vibranium (that metal that's used in Captain America's shield and later made into adamantium (vibranium not the shield)). T'Challa is not only super genius but he's also on the levels and possibly more skilled as Captain America. He has the super human stregnth levels and fighting skills along with his genius. The Black Panther is one of the more deadly humans that are on the planet that can fight on the field as well as with his mind, this movie should be good.
The character will be introduced in the third Captain America movie, Civil War and will be played by the actor Chadwick Boseman. I'm not sure what his role will be in the Captain America movie, more likely he will do what he did in the comic version where he tries to bring the two sides together as well as serving as a introduction to the movie fans so they know who he is when his movie comes out in 2017.

3) Suicide Squad: This is a DC Comics team that I was surprised and yet happy to see getting made. Here's the reason why I was surprised, this team is not really a good team or are heroes. The Suicide Squad is composed of villains, that's right villains, people that have committed crimes and murder, on multiple occasions, and have no areas of gray when it comes to their villainous ways. They are brought together to go out on missions that heroes can't do, which usually means killing and more than likely will be a sucide mission for themselves, hence the name of the team being Suicide Squad. Now the reason why I'm happy to see this movie being made, Harley Quinn will be in it. If you know me or read my blogs you know how much I love this character so I can't wait to see her being performed in a live action movie. Here are the only characters to be listed for the movie so far, and these aren't set in stone, Harley Quinn, Deadshot, and Lex Luthor. For the actors playing them, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn and Jai Courtney as Deadshot. Will Smith and Jessie Eisenberg are rumored to be in this movie as well, Jessie as Lex Luthor and I'm thinking Will Smith will play Black Spider, aka Eric Needham, a ninja that was once a hero but did some unlawful things that landed him in Blackgate and then on the team.

4) Doctor Strange: Stephen Strange is the Sorcerer Supreme in the Marvel Universe. He's the guy that if you want anything magical you go to him. Actually, he covers more than just magic, he does spiritual as well as magic, so the movie might have some religious themes in it. It's rumored that Benedict Cumberbatch will play Stephen Strange, for now it's just a rumor.

5) Inhumans: This is not just one person, as the plural part in the name indicates, they are many. Brief history, way back when the Earth was young and had primitive race of humans on it, there was a war going on in space. Earth sat in a key location for these fighting worlds, so one came to Earth to do experiments on the humans using a mutagenic Terrigen Mist that turned some of the humans into people with powers. Not quite mutants but also similar because the people already had to have the genes for the mist to activate. Over the many millions of years the Inhumans have been around and they are very powerful, the king of them, Black Bolt, has the power that when he speaks, even at a slight whisper, his voice will level cities. Right now the television show, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., might be using the Inhumans as their theme of powered people, which would be genius cause they could have anyone they wanted have powers as well as being the lead in to the movie and that would mean more viewers. So watch.

6) Shazam: Alright, some of you might already know about this one, he's been around for a very long time, but he's just not as popular as he was back in the 50's. Shazam is a kid really, Billy Baston, who was granted magical powers by a wizard and when he says the word “Shazam” he becomes Shazam. He's actually one of the few people that can go toe to toe with Superman and win. Why? Because his power is magic based and that's a weakness for Superman.

7) Captain Marvel: This is one I'm looking forward to and I'd bet a lot of others as well because Mrs. Marvel aka Captain Marvel aka Carol Danvers, is a character that is highly liked. She has many powers, energy absorption and projection, super strength, and flight. Not only that but she is a military pilot, she's smart, and a good fighter that's been trained by the military so knows how to hold her own. This should be an exciting movie and I'm sure she will end up being a part of the second part of Avengers Infinity War movie and possibly gets some cameos in early movies leading up to her own.

There you go, a nice list of what you need to know for basic facts of the coming 24 movies.

Tags:

marvel

comics

movies

2015 is Guardians Year and New Ninjas

Lee Roberts — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 19:23:59 +0000

MARVEL REALLY MEANS PLURAL FOR GUARDIANS OF GALAXY:
First let me say this, I love Guardians of the Galaxy, both comics and the movie, but it's because of James Gunn's movie that there are so many Guardians. Not as far as the characters go, I'm talking about how Marvel will have a total of 6 titles out that are Guardians of the Galaxy based. Right now there are 4, the core title Guardians of the Galaxy, the original team Guardians 3000, and then the two titles that focus on one main character with Rocket Raccoon and The Legendary Star-Lord. But coming out in 2015 there will be 2 more, Gamora and now Guardians Team-Up.

As I sat here thinking what I would say about this news, do I like the idea of having more Guardians books, do I not like it, is it worth telling these stories, or which character deserves a title, I realized I did like the idea. Of course the core book is needed and one that I've always liked, which is why I also like Guardians 3000 because these characters where the first ones I was introduced to way back when that got me to like Guardians. These two are fine and work well being their own titles but what about the other 4?

Rocket Raccoon, The Legendary Star-Lord, and Gamora are a good idea for the most part. I like the idea of getting new stories about Rocket and Gamora because these two characters have a lot of history that we don't know about. There are so many stories that can be told about who they were before joining the Guardians as well as what they do when they are not together fighting. However, Star-Lord, yeah he's cool, he also has a lot of stories, but he's like the quarter back of a football team. He's the one that's always talked about while the kicker only gets talked about when he does something wrong or makes that long kick, as for his normal kicks are just like enh ok. Well, that's Star-Lord, the QB that is not the kicker, he's getting a lot of stories and adventures anyways because of being the leader of the team. Let's get someone different, like Gamora, Groot even, or one on Drax.

Now getting a team-up title, that can be very interesting, to me at least it can be. One thing that I always liked was when the Guardians met up with some of the regular Marvel U characters. Sure most of the Avengers know about them and Spidey does, but Spidey don't get to go out on battles with the hardly at all. What about Daredevil, Punisher, or even some cosmic people like Silver Surfer and Nova? Ok those last two have had team8-ups but it's always cool to see another one. I would like to see more with Thor, which now will be actually new and a first time team-up (maybe depends on who she is) with the new lady Thor. So Guardians Team-Up has a thumbs up from me so far. And just look at this promo art, so cool, especially Gamora with the swords.

WHAT'S OLD IS NEW AND WHAT'S MUTANT IS NINJA:
You know of those 4 brothers that are ninjas, teenagers, and are mutants. Well, guess what? They're not the only mutant animal team out there for IDW Publishing. There's also Pigeon Pete, Slash, Herman the Hermit Crab, Mondo Gecko, and Old Hob and now they will be getting a 4 part mini-series that will be release February 2015. These are other mutant animals, or also known as, "Mutanimals", that had a series in the 90's and now after many years they get another go. Should they? Maybe, I'm sure they have a following, after-all, when it comes to a Ninja Turtles character, they become cult favorites.

DragonCon 2014 Geek Christmasween

Maria Jackson — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 00:03:42 +0000

You want to know what to get your fellow nerd for Christmas? Maybe you want to treat yourself? Fill your stocking full of win with a DragonCon 2015 membership!

I mean really, attending DragonCon is like having two Christmases and two Halloweens in a year. Every Labor Day weekend tens of thousands of your fellow geeks fill Atlanta with amazing cosplay, well known sci-fi, fantasy, and comic book stars for a four day revelry like noneother.

This year was no exception. I attended the Sunnydale to Hollywood panel to check out some of my favs. Afterwards, I went to the walk of fame to say hello to some of my favorite stars. You have the opportunity to get a photograph or autograph, but as I was on the strictest budget, I settled for telling them how amazing I think they are!

I was even invited to talk to Terry Gilliam! It was an amazing interview with excellent insights and lots of laughs.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend the parade, but what I didn’t know is that if you’re in the Marriott Marquis, the parade comes to you!

If you haven’t purchased your DragonCon 2015 tickets, you should do so NOW! It’s only $85! After 11/15/14, the price goes up to $95. But honestly, is there any place you’d rather be next Labor Day? I know where I’ll be!

Tags:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Julie Benz

Emma Caulfield

J. August Richards