We are just having fun reviewing and discussing comic books, graphic novels, manga, anime/animation, music and movies that we have recently read, listened to or watched.
News from around the net related to comic books, graphic novels, manga, anime, and movies.
WizKids is coming out with “Fast Forces Packs” for their DC and Marvel lines of HeroClix. Each pack will contain six figures. The DC packs, called DC HeroClix: War of Light Fast Forces Packs, will have characters from their Green Lantern titles. The Marvel packs, called Marvel HeroClix: Uncanny X-Men Fast Forces Packs, will have characters from their X-Men titles. Be sure to let your gamers know so they can start getting ready for another round of HeroClix.
YALSA has posted it’s 2012 list of “Great Graphic Novels”. Click on the link below to go to the full listing and see is your library needs to pick up any that you might not have purchased yet.
Any libraries that are in the New Orleans area start getting ready for the Wizard World Comic Con. As you can see by the banner above it will be held January 28-29. Let all your patrons know.
Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner are promoting a 2 year program were the company will donate at least $2 Million. The funds will be split between the “Save the Children”, “Mercy Corps”, and “International Rescue Committee” with their efforts in helping people in the Horn of Africa. There is a website that you can go to, www.WeCanBeHeroes.org as one of the points that people can donate. The companies will be using the imagery of the Justice League to help promote the cause.
If you are in the Columbus, Ohio area you will want to let your gamers know about the new dates for the Origins Game Fair. The new dates are May 30 through June 2. Make sure to let your gamers know in your libraries area.
Nura:Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 1, Hiroshi Shiibashi, Feb. 1, 2011, VIZ Media LLC. ISBN: 978-1421538914, $9.99.
Glades: The Complete First Season, 20th Century Fox, Jun. 11, 2011. ASIN: B004TJ1GY2, $39.98.
Other things mentioned in the podcast were: Monsters, Inc.; Nightmare Before Christmas; Ghostbusters; House M.D.; Stargate SG-1; Jack O’Neil; Farscape; John Crichton; Mentalist.
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and ICv2 have reported that comic books in the DC area are coming under fire again. The news story concentrates on comic books not being for little kids any more. That’s been the case since the 1980’s. The companies have also placed age level warnings on their comic books to let purchasers know what age demographic it is targeted for. The shift in story writing has been to allow artists to write and do artwork that is more artistic. Because of that, the medium has produced some great stories and a wide variety of art styles that are beautiful to view. There are books and movies that are made for specific audiences, the comic medium is no different. There are comic books made for different age groups that are available. To me it all falls back on the parents. The parent decides on what their child can read and/or watch as a family unit. You cannot decide what other family units believe is right for their family units to read and/or watch, otherwise you start corrupting what the Constitution stands for. The psychologist in the report states that the imagery could influence children, well I guess you better not take you child to an art museum because they will see the same type of imagery. There is a statement that their is violence, sex and adultery in comic books, well children can find all of that in David’s story in the Bible. Sometimes I just shake my head in wonderment. To read the stories follow the links posted below.
WizKids is planning on three new games based on the bestselling novel Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and the upcoming movie based on the young adult novel. The first two games will appeal to a hard core game collector. The games are The Hunger Games: District 12 Strategy Game and The Hunger Games: Jabberjay. Jabberjay is a card game, but it doesn’t sound like it is a TCG. The last gaming set is The Hunger Games: Collectible Figures. This set is prepainted miniatures of character likenesses from the movie. It is unclear if these will be for a miniatures game by itself or if they will be part of one of the other two previously mentioned games. I would expect the mini-figures to be similar to the HeroClix gaming pieces. Time will tell, with each game having an early March release date.
The Golden Globe Awards gave notice to two graphic novel titles. Martin Scoreses won Best Director for Hugo and the Adventures of Tin Tin won for Best Animated Film. Congratulations.
Hello Kitty has shown up in two places this past week. The Hearts Dental Clinic has remodeled and has become a Hello Kitty themed dentist office. The owner stated that the remodel was done to have a different image than the “painful, scary image” of dentist office. The Hearts Dental Clinic is located in Tokyo’s Kota ward. Then Japan Airlines, Tokyo FM Broadcasting and Sanrio is sponsoring a Hello Kitty themed airliner. It is being done to raise awareness of cervical cancer as part of the ‘Hellosmile” project. The jetliner flies from Toyko’s Handeo Airport to Sapporo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Okinawa until December.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-01-15/hello-kitty-dental-clinic-opens-in-tokyo
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-01-16/hello-kitty-jet-raises-cervical-cancer-awareness