SDCC 2016 | Geekscape

I Am Everywhere: ‘The Walking Dead’s Next Season Gets A Negan-Filled Trailer!

by Derek KraneveldtSeptember 15, 2016

Briefly: It’s almost time!

Well, we still have just over a month of waiting before last season’s cliffhanger is finally solved (who. did. he. kill?), but AMC has just debuted an exciting new teaser for next month’s premiere.

It’s pretty much all Negan, and he’s pretty much all bad-ass.

Take a look at the teaser below, and be sure to let us know who’s dead!

SDCC 2016: Hands-On With ‘Pac-Man Championship Edition 2’!

by The_aczAugust 10, 2016

Comic con may have ended almost a month ago already, but that won’t stop us here on the site from posting more about it!

While attending preview night, I had the pleasure of getting to try out Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 which had been announced earlier that same day. For those not in the know, Pac-Man Championship Edition was a very popular downloadable title for XBLA, PSN, and Steam back in 2007. it became so popular and well known that the game even received an upgraded version 3 year later with Championship Edition DX which added more mazes, ghosts, modes, and more!

From what I got to play so far, I can easily say that Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 has added and changed up so much stuff, but yet, still feels just as fun and familiar as it did 6 years ago. The gameplay is simple, traverse through a maze for about 5 minutes trying to eat as many pellets, fruit, and ghosts as you can. In the demo I played they introduced a brand new mechanic to the game, bounce pads.

While it may seem a bit of a small addition on the outside, these bounce pads really change up the game. Running onto one will propel Pac-Man in an arc to a corresponding bounce pad. In fact, a lot of the pellet trails will have you weaving in and out of the bounce pads as you flawlessly dodge ghosts. Speaking of ghosts, they’ve gotten quite the change.

Now, the main ghosts still act as they do. You hit them you die, but, the surrounding ghosts have changed quite a bit. The secondary/side ghosts are now a bit more transparent and actually don’t kill you. Instead, they’ll attach themselves to the main ghosts and follow you from there. You can also bump into the ghost line to make the ghost bigger. There are also some really cool instances this time around where if you eat a long ghost trail after getting a power pellet, the game will show a dynamic camera angle of Pac-Man absolutely destroying the ghosts, and it’s just as satisfying as it sounds.

Overall, from what little time I had with it, I was very impressed by how much similar, but different Championship Edition 2 really is. The best part is that the release of the game is only about a month away! The game will launch in the U.S on September 13th 2016 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. Were you able to try out the game at Comic Con? What are your thoughts? Tell us in the comments below!

SDCC 2016: From Pac-man To Mario Panel Recap!

by The_aczAugust 3, 2016

As mentioned earlier today in my interview with him, Pat Contri (Pat the NES Punk) hosted his first ever comic con panel this year, and he even brought some guests along.

The panel consisted of Pat himself, His friend Ian Ferguson, James Rolfe (Angry Video Game Nerd), Andre Meadows (Black Nerd Comedy), and Pixel Dan. Overall, a nice well rounded group of people to give an abridged version, but fun take on the history of video games. They even had a great turnout as they completely packed the room and even had to turn away some people (whoa!, that’s crazy).

The start of the panel didn’t necessarily start where most people expected it to. While most VG history articles, videos, etc usually like starting around the Atari era, Pat & co. decided to take a different approach and start at the very VERY beginning of games. They talked about how Ralph Baer (may he rest in peace) and how he is one of the most important and commonly overlooked influencer who helped get games where they are today. They also touched upon the creation of Pong, the rise of the pong consoles, and of course the age of Atari. They even had a really fun video that talked all about the fall of Atari and the infamous video game crash of 1983.

Next, they went on to talk about the Nintendo age and how they single handedly saved the market in the U.S from becoming completely dead and obsolete. After that, they went on to talk about the console wars and their own personal experiences growing up with either Nintendo or Sega, and how people around them acted. Then they talked a bit about the mid to late 90’s with the introduction of the PlayStation , rise of PC gaming, and how it was to see Atari and Sega finally drop out of the console war.

Finally, they talked about the present day and the rise of retro games and nostalgia. They talked about how surreal it was to see something like the NES Mini coming out and how a lot of indie games like Shovel Knight are very much inspired by the developers having that nostalgia for playing those kinds of games when they were younger. After that they took a quick Q&A, and just like that, the panel was over. GAME OVER (I’m so sorry, please forgive me.) There was this really cool guy that came dressed up as a Tiger Electronic though.

20160724_154949 — Man, I really need to get a better phone. These photos are pretty blurry.

What do you think of the panel? Where you there for it? Did you enjoy it? Tell us in the comments below!

SDCC 2016: Talking Retro Games With Pat The NES Punk!

by The_aczAugust 3, 2016

On the last day of Comic Con, I had the chance to attend a history of retro video games panel (more on that later.) The main host of the panel was Pat Contri, A retro game collector and reviewer on YouTube who usually goes by the online name Pat the NES Punk. I had the opportunity to quickly talk with Pat about his panel, his new NES guide book coming out, and more. Check it Out!

Buy Pat’s Book!: Click here
Donate to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals: Click Here
Check out our recap of Pat’s Panel!: Click Here

SDCC 2016: ‘The Magicians’ Panel Recap

by Kari LaneAugust 2, 2016

Season 1 of The Magicians ended with a jaw dropping cliff hanger, but fans were able to learn more about the highly anticipated season 2 at Comic-Con and catch a glimpse of what is to come. You can watch all of season 1 on Syfy.com

Sera Gamble, one of the writers, said of the main characters, “…they will all be back in one form or another.” If you have seen the season 1 finale, you know this statement can fill you with hope and dread at the same time.

Lev Grossman (the author of The Magicians books) moderated the panel and asked Gamble how the show got started. Gamble replied that it was actually Amazon that recommended his books to her. John McNamara, another writer for the show, commented, “I read it and it blew my mind.” He went on to say, “The scariest things in there are not the monsters but what people do to each other.” McNamara and Gamble then optioned the book with their own money to get the show started.

Grossman posed an interesting question to the actors on the panel, “Which of you auditioned for a different part?” Olivia Dudley, who plays Alice, said she auditioned for the role of Julia while Jade Tailor, who plays Julia, auditioned for Margo. Hale Appleman said he auditioned for Penny and said, “I would not have made a good Penny.” It is amusing to think of what the show would have been like if the actors ended up playing the roles they originally auditioned for.

Stella Maeve answered the question of what is the “hardest thing to do for your character” by saying, “For Julia, everything. These characters are flawed…hart to get into it.” She went on to say how it was difficult because many times she would not agree with her character and what she does. Summer Bishil felt it was, “grounding the hilarity between Margo and Elliot.” She added the writing helped and she focused on staying true to the script. Arjun Gupta, Penny, revealed, “taking Penny to a place where he was at a point of almost suicide.” Rick Worthy, Dean Fogg, humorously added, “In the pilot, initially I thought I died….Long story short…they found a brilliant way to keep me around.” Dudley talked about the physicality of Alice and how that affects her character. This was the “first time I got to play a character where everything is on the inside.” Before every take, she tenses up to remind herself that Alice holds it all in. Speaking of Alice, if you were wondering how drinking that “god spunk” was, she was able to make it herself and it was lychee. Jason Ralph, Quentin, rounded off the group saying it is challenging for him that his character thinks so fast.

Remember that Talor Swift song? Who could forget that magical dance number? Guess how much they paid for the rights to the song….$50,000! McNamara said that “the guy who wrote the check said, ‘Can we agree that we will never do this again?'” Ralph loved it though because “I got to be a pop star for the day”.

Maeve thinks that the fun thing about the books and the show is that they are “not afraid to make fun of themselves.”

Dudley went on to say, “We get to go to these worlds and comment on them, like a human”. That grounds the show because weird things happen and the characters actually acknowledge the strangeness. It is like they say what you the viewer are thinking.

Grossman asked, “What prop or wardrobe item from the show would you steal?” Worthy wants the dean’s office because there is “a lot of cool stuff in there.” He also likes the dean’s wardrobe and he loves the dean’s glasses! Bishil, just like Summer would say, “I would steal my stripper heels.” Appleman would “probably steal all of Eliot’s clothes and the Physical Kids’ house.” Dudley and Ralphy actually took home items! Dudley confessed she took home Alice’s glasses but “I brought them back.” Ralph took a jacket because it fit so well.

It is easy to wonder how similar actors are to their characters. Sometimes the line between actor and character blur. Gupta admitted, “So many times I have called people by their character names.” In thinking about how he is like Penny, Gupta said, “I would like to think I am a lot nicer than Penny but I don’t know if people think that.” Grossman the authority on the subject, said, “Olivia, you are the most like Alice”.

When asked what magical ability he would choose Ralph replied, “If you go by the rules of this world, you don’t just have one power. You’re a magician…you can just study a lot.” Grossman quickly replied that maybe Ralph is most like his character. Bishil shocked the panel by saying she would like to “turn poop into gold. It’s a daily thing…a lot of gold.” Ah Margo. The crowd loved her power choice.

There was a question from the audience about the spell casting and if it is choreographed. The action is described in the book, and serendipitously the finger tutting phenomenon happened right when they started making the show. It is rather cool to watch the character cast spells. Yes, they do have a choreographer.

Ralph was asked to pick between Olivia and Julia but he would not, though he had a nice response saying, “They both had specific times in his life.”

Gupta and Tailor are happy they are more in the show than in the books when asked what they like with the adaptation of the books.

For those wondering about the time loops, Gamble said, “I wouldn’t count out going back and looking at other time loops.”

Yes, we will find out why Elliot has two books. Not really a spoiler but makes a whole lot more sense after you have seen the show.

Ralph and Gupta were asked about their character’s relationship and Ralph feels they are “similar souls on a different path.” They are foil characters but they both want the same thing, magic.

If you wonder about how the show follows the books, Gamble explained, “We see the big plot points as spots on a map, and maybe we get there a different way than Lev and the book.”

If you aren’t already excited for season 2, they will have a centaur!

Here is a fun behind the scenes look at what is coming in season 2!

Also, here is the exclusive first scene of next season that they premiered at Comic-Con!

SDCC 2016: Plushes Galore From BeeFy And Co.

by Natalie KipperAugust 1, 2016

BeeFy and Co. is one of my go-to booths at conventions like WonderCon and San Diego Comic-Con. Owner Menh Voong has such a fun art style to begin with, and lately he has been mixing in characters from popular culture along with his original critters.

The newest pop culture release is “BMaxpoo,” modeled after Baymax from Disney’s Big Hero 6. The 10-inch tall plush features articulation in its head and arms, removable soccer ball and health gauge accessories, plus a light-up feature on its stomach. BMaxpoo is still available at the BeeFy and Co. online store for $25.

The SDCC-exclusive plush was Rexypoo, perhaps the most chill T-Rex you will ever see. This dinosaur came with a plush slab of meat that can stick to its tongue. There were only 100 of this guy made.

With teeny bean-sized plushes being all the rage, it makes perfect sense that the characters from Menh’s “Adventures of Ryupoo” series get in on the action. The new plush line, called “ittypoos,” currently consists of Ryupoo the panda and Unipoo the unicorn.

Also on display were the slightly larger “minipoos” line. These plushes stand 5 inches tall.

Attendees also got an up-close look at an upcoming plush. This hot dude is styled after a sriracha bottle. I love the art on the label, done in typical BeeFy-style.

Many of these cuties and others are available from the official BeeFy and Co. store.

SDCC 2016: Geekscape Interviews Joshua Williamson of ‘Flash: Rebirth’!

by jake108August 1, 2016

With the recent launch of DC’s Rebirth, I was able to catch up with Joshua Williamson, lead writer on The Flash: Rebirth series at Comic-Con. We sat down and had a chat about The Flash!

Jake: Rebirth just launched. What’s your pitch to those out there who don’t buy comics, who haven’t bought comics on a regular basis, and are new to this whole “Rebirth” launch. What would you say to entice them to buy into The Flash?

Williamson: If you like super hero books and want a character who actually enjoys being a super hero, rather than some of the other books that have become dark and gritty, and you want a fun book, you should read The Flash. It’s about a man who got hit by lightning and now can run really quick and really fast, and he’s someone who enjoys helping people.

Jake: The Flash Family is all here now, in Rebirth, –

Williamson: Are they all here?!

Jake: Well, with the two Wally’s, Barry, and now August, how is it juggling all of these speedsters at once?

Williamson: It’s been hard. Especially after issue three, there’s a lot of them. They don’t all have names. It’s like, “I know this one’s name, this one’s name, this one’s name, and this one’s name. The rest of you all are all faceless.” Like, they’re just in the crowd of Speedsters. It’s funny, in editorial, we know the names of some of them because we kinda had to. One’s named Roger. I don’t know if he’s ever actually mentioned, no one ever goes, “Oh, hey look, it’s Roger.” We try to focus on a smaller group. There’s a couple that get introduced in the next issue that you’ll see. August is a big one that was introduced in Issue 1. But I’m always trying show Barry’s perspective. The book is about Barry Allen and I want to keep that going.

Jake: How difficult was it introducing a new villain who hasn’t been touched on too much in Godspeed? How was that experience introducing a new super-villain in the DC Universe.

Williamson: It was a lot of fun. For me, I’ve had a really good time working with him, doing a sort of darker version of this character. I’m curious of what people are going to think about him. You know? He’s not Professor Zoom, he’s not like a Joker-type bad guy. He’s very calculated, and it’s a very emotional story for him and his relationship in the book, you’ll see. I think there will be people, when he is really introduced, I think they’re going to be readers who are like, “Is he the bad guy? Maybe he’s right!” You’re going to get some instances like that. For me, it’s just been fun. I like bad guys, I like writing bad guys. I hope people dig it. It’s been a lot of fun.

Jake: I understand his colors are white and gold, which is an unconventional color palate to use for a super-villain.

Williamson: Yeah! We’ll see what people think!

Jake: Are you drawing any inspiration from past storylines or threads going back throughout the history of The Flash?

Williamson: Oh yeah. I’m looking at everything.

Jake: How long have you been reading?

Williamson: Since I was a little kid! I love Impulse, I was a big time Wally fan, so I pull from that. I pull from a lot of the Mark Waid stuff. I read some of the old Silver Age stuff and I come up with things. Like what I think our second arc is going to be, after issue nine or issue ten, is pulled from a lot of Silver Age stuff. I’m pulling from a lot of places.

Jake: That sounds great. You’ve been doing a great job!

Williamson: Thanks, that means a lot. I am a Flash fan, so for me, I wanted to make sure it was a book that I would want to read. That would suck if you were writing a comic and were like, “I wouldn’t read this.”

The Flash Rebirth is currently on store shelves right now, with a new issue releasing twice monthly! Check it out!

SDCC 2016: ‘The Expanse’ Panel Recap

by Kari LaneJuly 29, 2016

The Expanse panel at Comic-Con was held in the Indigo Ballroom which was full of enthusiastic fans for this new series. The Syfy channel series is based on the books by James S. A. Corey (the pen name used by the collaborators Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck) and has had numerous articles sing its praise. Currently, five of the nine episodes are available to watch on Syfy.com and the entire season is available for purchase on Amazon Prime. If you have not checked out this series and you enjoy realistic sci-fi, drama, intriguing stories, an ethnically diverse cast and a gritty mystery, you need to go watch it now!

Adam Savage (best known for Mythbusters) moderated the panel. He opened by saying The Expanse is his “new favorite show” because it is real science. In this future, technology has not made everything perfect, and getting around the galaxy is a difficult journey. Also, Naren Shankar (executive producer) pointed out in this show, space and space flight were made to be a character. If you have watched the show, you will know they succeeded.

The Expanse has received a lot of recognition for its talented and ethnically diverse cast. Cas Anvar, who plays Alex, a Pakistani pilot with a Texan accent said, “That’s the beautiful part of the show…it doesn’t have racism. It has planetism.” Savage added that his wife was surprised to see what Anvar looks like after just hearing his Southern accent in the other room. In terms of diversification, actress Shohreh Aghdashloo said, “This is the best show I have ever been on” and actress Dominique Tipper said “same”.

The character of Joe Miller, played by Thomas Jane, gives the narrative a film noir feel. He is a detective on the Belt (the area relatively stuck between Earth and Mars) and he stumbles upon a missing person case that he cannot leave alone. Jane added that he feels he looks like the rat from Ratatouille that has drowned, which is a fair description because his character goes through quite an ordeal. Mark Fergus, one of the show’s creators and writers commented that, “Miller is like the uncle that won’t leave.” Jane pointed out that his character, Miller, “feels like an outsider but wanted to hang with these people.”

In regards to the special effects on the show, Shankar said they were not necessarily limited by what they could do but rather, “Your ambitions expand to what you have available.” This is not a show where there are crazy effects in the characters’ daily lives per se (there are definitely some amazing visuals though) because it is grittier and Fergus points out that you, “…get all the dramatic stuff back that has been lost with technology.” The characters are the focus, not the tech because the tech is commonplace to the characters (like a cell phone today).

Savage asked Dominique Tipper, who plays Naoimi (a woman who can hold her own against any man), “Does Naoimi bring out your inner badass?” Tipper replied “no” because it is part of who she is. However, she added (with her British accent) that when she watches the show at home sipping tea, and she will think about her character, “Wow that was a bit harsh”. When the cast was asked if they are like their characters, all of them chimed in saying that they are rather similar to their characters. Tipper cut in though saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I am absolute fucking delight to be around!”

One of the many complex characters on the show is Avasarala, played by Shohreh Aghdashloo, and she explained her character’s motives by saying that, “she had dedicated herself to her mission – Earth must come first” and that she wants to “make it a better place for our children’s children.” She went on to say this was the first time a character surprised her. Aghdashloo was asked by Savage, “How is it to be a female actress and get to say a lot of bad stuff?” She replied, “I am having a blast to be honest with you. I say a lot in the second season. What I love about this character is that she does not shy away from the truth.” One of the questions from the audience touched upon how brutal Avasarala is in the pilot and how that is different from the books. Fergus mentioned how they did not want the character to “be just an administrator. She has to get her hands dirty” and, in the pilot episode, that was an quick way to show her character and make you interested to know more.

One of the emerging leaders is Holden, played by Steven Strait, but unfortunately Holden is a bit of a slacker. Strait explained, “The more responsibility he has, it chips away at him…He refuses to pick a side and he becomes more gray. He can’t work only in black and white. By the end of season two, you will find he is a very different character from season one.” One problem with Holden is that he is a bit distant and hard to connect with. Strait elaborated on how they tried to make his character relatable by saying that they “…wanted to keep Holden’s journey as realistic as possible…want to show him struggle with each level of responsibility that he takes on. He struggles a lot through it but that shows his humanity.”

Though The Expanse is based on a book series, Shankar commented that they “…are doing a unique adaptation” because they are staying true to the books. They are also incorporating the novellas and they will “change the timelines a little”, but the “authors keep them on track.” It sounds like a rather symbiotic relationship where both parties are working together and figuring out what works best for their medium.

One of the teasers but not really a spoiler for season 2 is that we will see more of the Mars perspective and we will see it right at the beginning of the season!

Here is a fun video they screened about what it takes to act on this show!

https://youtu.be/T36JADaJh58

Check out the trailer for season 2

https://youtu.be/3gj8tRaFIfs

SDCC 2016: ‘Legends of Tomorrow’ Panel Recap!

by jake108July 29, 2016

The Legends of Tomorrow panel got off to a great start. Of course, having Supergirl as a lead-in helped too. Check out some of the panelists entry!

https://twitter.com/jake_108/status/758134640800518144

After everyone got out to the stage, the panel began showing exactly what we all wanted to see: A Season 2 Sizzle Reel. Check it out below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUrbrdZj-I4

As you saw from the trailer, the Legends seem to be taking on some people who are running rampant through time, taking advantage everything and everyone throughout time. Without the Time Masters in place to regulate who does what via time travel, it’s up to Rip Hunter and his crew to do the regulating themselves. However, let’s not forget what the ultimate endgame was for the Time Masters. Back in season one, it was revealed that the only reason why the Time Masters were working with Vandal Savage was to ensure the survival of humanity as a species. To them, it was the lesser of two evils in dealing with Savage. At some point in the future, a Thanagarian invasion will be launched at Earth, and Savage’s army won’t be there to stop them. In case you’ve forgotten what a Thanagarian is, well, it’s the species in which Hawkman and Hawkgirl received their powers from via that crashed meteor in ancient Egypt. Now, back to season 2.

As you saw from the trailer, we’ll be seeing some villains that we recognize from other DCTV properties, namely Damian Darhk. Darhk was a great villain in Arrow, he just wasn’t handled very well. His supernatural abilities will definitely play a integral part in the formation of the Legion of Doom. The Legion of Doom reveal was one of the best DCTV reveals at this year’s Comic-Con. The roster of this team of super-villians includes, Damian Darhk, Eobard Thawne aka The Reverse-Flash, Captain Cold, Malcolm Merlyn, and more. In the comics, the roster is constantly in flux depending on what arc they’re involved in. Still, this Legion of Doom is bound to be pretty awesome with the likes of Reverse-Flash, Captain Cold, and Malcolm Merlyn all working together.

Aside from the Legion of Doom reveal, we also got some news in who’s going to be appearing as part of the Justice Society of America. Citizen Steel, Dr. Mid-Nite, Stargirl, Obsidian, Commander Steel, Vixen, and Hourman are members of the JSA, but I’m sure Berlanti and his crew have a few more in store for us. If I had to create a brief wishlist for who I wanted to appear in the JSA, the two first names out of my mouth would be Jay Garrick and Alan Scott, the Green Lantern. Regardless, all this is shaping up to be great.

To wrap up, there was no mention of how Flashpoint would be changing anything in Legends of Tomorrow. Since we learned last season that time is constantly in flux, there’s really no telling on how minimal Flashpoint could be for the Legends crew if they’re way out in the future or a hundred years in the past. Still, Eobard Thawne has to get out of his cage at some point. Among the last reveals, we learned that we’ll be seeing Mayor Oliver Queen within the first few minutes of the Legends of Tomorrow season 2 premier. We’ll also be seeing some tension between Mick and Vixen, as Mick gets more aggressive now that he’s out of the shadow of Captain Cold. A love interest for Sara Lance is rumored, but not confirmed. Last, but not least, we’ll be seeing a pretty big twist involving Rip Hunter sometime before the midseason break. Can’t wait to see what is!

https://twitter.com/jake_108/status/756997100458512384

Legends of Tomorrow returns this October!

SDCC 2016: The Crew Is Back! Check Out The ‘Trainspotting 2’ Teaser Trailer

by Shane O'HareJuly 29, 2016

Spud, Renton, Sick Boy and Begbie are all back in the sequel to the monumental cult classic, Trainspotting. Check out the trailer for T2 below.

We aren’t really getting much from this trailer, other than goosebumps of seeing the original cast back together.

Trainspotting was the 1996, Danny Boyle directed, dark comedy about a group of Heroin addicts getting by in the slummy areas of Edinburgh.

Nothing much to go on plot wise, T2 will be a continuation of the story from the original.

T2; Trainspsotting 2 hits US theaters February 10th, and UK theaters January 27th. The film stars Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller and Robert Carlyle.

SDCC 2016: ‘Supergirl’ Panel Recap!

by jake108July 28, 2016

After making the jump to the CW, Supergirl aims to one-up its first season and dazzle new and existing viewers with their second season. Supergirl will be airing on Monday’s, which will be followed by The Flash on Tuesdays, Arrow on Wednesdays, and Legends of Tomorrow on Thursdays. Fans of DCTV are in for a treat, should Supergirl deliver!

Unfortunately for us, Supergirl has just begun filming, meaning that there was no new footage to show us during the panel. Instead, we were treated to a sizzle reel that showed key moments in Supergirl‘s first season. After that, the panel came out, most of which was the main cast. Tyler Hoechlin was there as a sort of coming out party for Superman. Plenty of fun tidbits with the cast happened during the panel, some of which I was able to capture. Check it out below!

https://twitter.com/jake_108/status/758138271503224833

https://twitter.com/jake_108/status/758138968156147714

https://twitter.com/jake_108/status/758135695454015488

https://twitter.com/jake_108/status/758088829177769985

https://twitter.com/jake_108/status/756991266450046978

Aside from the funny moments, a few things were confirmed for season 2. First off, the panel briefly discussed the now confirmed four-part crossover event that is happening approximately eight episodes into the season. However, they did not let on how exactly Supergirl would be introduced into the Arrow–Flash universe. I’m sure creators are exploring every avenue they can to bring the characters together. I feel that everyone assumes Kara will make an appearance on the Earth we know in Arrow and The Flash, but don’t be surprised if characters from the later two shows appear in National City!

Furthermore, show creators stated that even though we do have an inclusion of Superman on the show, the focus will not deviate from Supergirl. This is crucial as the show should stick to what the show is actually about. Still, you should expect to see some tension between Superman and Supergirl on what it means to be a hero. Of course, we do know that Superman has been doing this for a little while longer than Kara, but that doesn’t mean Kara doesn’t have handle on what she’s done in her first year as Supergirl.

In regards to Alex, we should be finding out a lot more about her character and her backstory in this next season. Actress Chyler Leigh, who plays Alex on the show, is deeply excited to see where showrunners take Alex next.

As for character romances, a Kara-Jimmy romance was hinted on for early next season. Jeremy Jordan, who plays Winn on the show, also hinted at a potential love interest. And of course, how could we forget Lynda Carter? Her role wasn’t exactly discussed in detail for the show, but because Superman and Supergirl are now in one place, we should expect that at the very least the President of the United States would take notice.

Supergirl premiers Monday, October 10th!

SDCC 2016: ‘Gears of War 4’ Panel Recap!

by jake108July 28, 2016

Gears of War is a franchise that is almost as synonymous with the Xbox brand as Halo. So when Gears of War 4 was scheduled to have a panel at this year’s SDCC, I had to go!

First off, the panel showed off the customized Xbox One S. The console features the deepest etching ever done on a console, which does add some incredible detail. The console itself will feature some sound effects, similar to themed consoles in the past. It was also announced that buying the console will also net you some exclusive in-game content. Die hard Gears fans will want this console, but I can also imagine some fans gauging their own interest for a console that’ll set them back over $450.

The panel would go on to bring out a surprise guest in John DiMaggio. It was recently revealed that Marcus Fenix would be making a return to the franchise as a father. By the time Gears of War 4 picks up, his son, JD Fenix is already an adult doing adult COG things. The rest of the voice acting talent includes Lauren Bailey, Liam McIntyre, and Eugene Byrd. Side note: Bonus points if you recognize the two last names from a couple of DCTV shows.

In an effort to keep the voice acting as authentic as they could, some scenes involved all four voice actors coming together in one room to act out a scene. These scenes seem to have great emotional impact on the story and sounds like it might tug at our heart strings when the game is released. In another instance, Rod Fergusson himself laid on the floor and had Lauren Bailey step on his face as she recited a line meant for a member of the Swarm.

It was at this point that the panel would announce a fifth character voice actor in Jimmy Smits. Smits will be playing Oscar Diaz in the game. We were shown a snippet of dialogue featuring Diaz, and I must say, I would have never guessed Smits was behind the voice.

We then started to get into gameplay. While Horde 3.0 wasn’t talked about a bunch, it was stated that Horde 3.0 aims to be less tower defense-y and more “scrappy.” I assume this means we’ll have a wider range of tactics at our disposal, more weapons, and a wider area in which we can place sentry turrets. As for the multiplayer, the sawed-off shotgun WILL NOT be in Gears 4.

As the panel drew to a close, we got one final reveal. JD Fenix’s name was used to interrogate Rod Fergusson, causing him to state what the “D” in “JD” stood for. At this point, John DiMaggio and the rest of the panel kept shouting, “What’s the D?!” Eventually, Fergusson broke. JD Fenix’s full name is James Dominic Fenix. His middle name is an obvious nod to Marcus’ fallen partner, Dom.

Finally, one of the more surprising announcements was that Fergusson himself alluded to some talks behind the scenes involving the creation of a Gears of War movie. Nothing was confirmed, but if Gears 4 has a big opening, we can expect to hear more about a potential movie.

That’s all they showed this year, but we can expect some more announcements as the game gets nearer to completion.

SDCC 2016: Bandai Is All About The Superheroes

by Natalie KipperJuly 27, 2016

The biggest license at Bandai’s booth at San Diego Comic-Con was easily Power Rangers. Merchandise from the series took up the majority of the booth’s real estate. And, I have to tell you, it is a good time to be a Power Rangers fan!

While there were several items that limited in edition, the majority appeared to be open edition.

Nostalgia was the name of the game with these toys. Many of the placards read “Legacy” on them and harkened back to the first several seasons of the show.

Some of the toys on display will be exclusive to certain retailers, like Toys R’ Us or Walgreens. Those effected had the store’s emblem on the placard.

Real talk: I love Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir so much. But, the merchandise on display, for the most part, disappointed me. The quality reminded me of those Sailor Moon dolls from the 90’s. They just don’t look enough like the characters, especially Adrien (there is something about his eyes that is off, too). The two-pack that was SDCC-exclusive seemed much better in terms of matching the design.

The portion of the Miraculous toy selection that I liked a great deal was the plush assortment of Tikki and Plagg, the sidekicks /confidantes for Marinette and Adrien. I thought the pair were very cute and their size (6 inches tall) fit their characters nicely.

One of the big draws for Bandai’s booth was the corner of Gashapon machines filled with Dragon Ball Z mini-figures. Quite a few attendees were excited about their inclusion. I even witnessed a fan working all four machines at once! That is some dedication, right there.

Oh, did I mention there was giant plush of Tubbs the cat from Neko Atsume a.k.a. Kitty Collector? It wasn’t not for sale but visitors could pose with it and take pictures. Figures of the game’s lovable felines were also on display at the booth. Attendees had the opportunity to purchase a set of desktop figures starring some of the game’s stars.

I personally know several people who will be excited about this one: a prototype of Dark Souls III‘s Artorias the Abysswalker along with concept art for the Faraam Knight. Both characters will be part of Banpresto’s DXF Figure line.

What items are you excited about? Let us know in the comments!

SDCC 2016: The Magical World Of Martin Hsu

by Natalie KipperJuly 27, 2016

I have been a fan of Martin Hsu’s for many, many years. His art perfectly captures the whimsy and fantasy of imagination. He brought with him many con-exclusives, several of which were one of a kind.

Martin’s Dragon Boy character was given special treatment with these classic figures, customized by the artists: Sean Chao, Jeremiah Ketner, Frank Montano, Cassia Harries, Jim Evans, and Mark Nagata.

Dragon Boy also materialized as a con-exclusive resin figure, limited to nine pieces. This photo was taken mid-day on the second day of SDCC and the line was already mostly sold out!

Also for sale was “Dragon Boy Tales,” an art book that featured daily sketches by Martin. Some of the original art was also for sale at Martin’s booth. You can learn more about the process behind “Dragon Boy Tales” on here.

For me, the highlight of the Martin’s booth was his adorable Dragon Dog plush. The fellow was inspired by Dragon Boy’s companion, Blacky. He is mostly made of a minky fabric. However, its tongue has a more sponge-like quality and the nose is leathery. I loved the combination of textures!

Another fan favorite was the Kindreds “Powder” figure set. This con-exclusive completely sold out. It was a 50-piece limited run. Made of resin, these figures had some heft to them. There was something quietly touching about this set. I think it was the concept behind it, that feeling of being safe and protected. Plus, I loved the fact that the child figure can either ride atop the bear figure or hide between its forepaws.

At Martin’s booth, I was introduced to the smartphone app, PowerCore. The app allows you to register products (there were several at the con that participated in this program) and unlock special stickers that can be used in online chat. Each QR code is unique and is used to authenticate your purchase. It is a pretty cool added incentive for collecting designer toys.

You can check out more of Martin Hsu’s work at his website.

SDCC 2016: ‘Injustice 2’ Panel Recap!

by jake108July 27, 2016

We had the pleasure of being at the Injustice 2 panel at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con! Here’s what you need to know!

The panel started with the trailer they released during this year’s E3. After that, the lead on the project, and creator of some of our most beloved games, Ed Boon stepped out on stage. Perhaps one of the most interesting things Ed Boon talked about early on in the panel was how Injustice came to be. Of course, fans of the DC lore know there’s a comic, but as for how it ended up on the consoles, Ed Boon said NetherRealm studios was looking to work on a game that was a little less gory. Still, Boon was grateful that the folks over at Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment allowed Boon and his team to create a more violent atmosphere for some of DC’s most iconic heroes and villains.

Boon went on to elaborate how the creation of this new mini-universe existing within the greater DC lore kept him and his team focused and dedicated. The chance at adding a new chapter in the DC Universe was something NetherRealm and Boon wanted to accomplish from the start. As for Injustice 2, the game’s story is taking precedence, which is highly unusual for fighting games. The first game’s lead writer is back and promised that there’s much more in store for the sequel. One of the most exciting story-related announcements from the panel was that of Supergirl’s heavy involvement. According to Boon and the panel, Supergirl’s story arc is going to be major and may be the catalyst for the sequel’s story. I’m only guessing here, but is it possible Supergirl would break Superman out of prison we saw him in at the end of Injustice?

As for the gear featured in the game, there will be lots of it and gamers will be constantly progressing. But for fans who are in the competitive scene, fear not! Injustice 2 will feature a Tournament Mode in which the gear and all its attributes will be negated, creating an even playing field.

The first Injustice game had 30 characters total, and Ed Boon himself confirmed that Injustice 2 aims to break that number, making it the biggest DC roster yet for a fighting game. Not only that, but the panel let on that there will probably be at least one major Mortal Kombat character to be included later on via DLC. Boon also commented on the number of tweets he gets, asking for specific characters to be included in the game. We should be getting character reveals at every convention from here until release date. As for this year’s convention, we got a trailer introducing Wonder Woman and Blue Beetle.

https://twitter.com/jake_108/status/756577122227884032

It’s important to note that all player models were created with the use of facial motion capture, ensuring top quality when the game releases. As for Blue Beetle, I also want to get it out there that hero will in fact be a teenager. That’s it for now folks! Injustice 2 will be releasing next year.

SDCC 2016 – ‘Call of Duty: Infinite War’ Panel Recap!

by jake108July 27, 2016

https://youtu.be/ZqG45rmdXtY?t=3s

Call of Duty is one of the longest running FPS franchises around. With other FPS, namely Battlefield, going backwards, Call of Duty is steady on going to the future. Infinite War takes gamers to space as they combat a lethal army hellbent on destroying Earth and everything associated with it. No, there’s not going to be any aliens here, but that won’t stop Infinity Ward from introducing sci-fi looking weapons.

Not much was revealed during the panel, however, Infinity Ward did drop a few tidbits on the game’s story. For instance, the focus of this particular Call of Duty is to drive the game’s story to a place that exceeds past iterations of the franchise. Early on, the team decided to approach this next chapter with an increased cinematic experience. To do this, the main cast was brought in to work and act out each cutscene and in-game cinematic using motion capture suits. It took TWO years to do this, with absolutely no recording booths involved. To prep the actors, military personnel were brought in to teach the actors how to handle themselves during firefight situations, how to carry rifles, how to shoot weapons, and follow protocol during certain situations.

During a demo shown to us during the panel, most of the player models looked nearly complete. One thing I did notice was that all of the female characters were unusually smooth, but I’ll hold any and all reservations until the game is actually released. With a cast like Kit Harrington, who plays the main villain, Brian Bloom, David Harewood, and Jamie Gray Hyder, we’re bound to play through one of the most narrative driven Call of Duty‘s to date.

The last announcement that came during the panel was the inclusion of a Zombies mode in Infinite Warfare. This is a first for an Infinity Ward Call of Duty title. This was a huge announcement as the Zombie Call of Duty community continues to grow. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare released November 12, 2016.

SDCC 2016: Heroes And Villains Mingle At Kotobukiya’s Booth

by Natalie KipperJuly 26, 2016

Over at Kotobukiya‘s San Diego Comic-Con booth, fans of both American and Japanese licenses found figures that fit their needs. While there was plenty of items on display that were already released, let’s focus on those teaser pieces!

Kotobukiya’s Bishoujo figure series was well represented at their booth. From the horror film branch of the line, there was a prototype of Bishoujo Edward Scissorhands as well as concept art for Bishoujo Tiffany and Chucky. On the gaming side, Ibuki and R. Mika from Street Fighter both had concept art on display.

There were also prototypes and concept art for DC Comics-branded Bishoujo figures. Of the three on display, Squirrel Girl was by far my favorite. The design is playful and captures the character’s essence very well.

Springing from a partnership between Kotobukiya and Supercell, here are prototypes of five statues based on the games, Clash of Clans and Clash Royale. The characters included are Barbarian, Archer, Wizard, P.E.K.K.A, and the Prince.

From the Japanese gaming sector, Tales of Berseria‘s Velvet Crowe and Touken Ranbu Online‘s Shokudaikiri Mitsutada will both be getting the ArtFX J treatment.

Anime fans weren’t forgotten either. Edward Elric and Roy Mustang from Full Metal Alchemist will be joining the company’s ArtFX J series. Yu-Gi-Oh also has its own line of ArtFX J figures, many of which are scheduled to be release in the fourth Quarter of 2016 or the beginning of 2017. There was even a prototype Cu-Poche (a series I personally adore). The figure in question was of Maho Nishizumi from Girls Und Panzer.

There was plenty of Star Wars merchandise to go around but one of the most impressive of was this ArtFX statue of Darth Vader – A New Hope ver. The 1/7-scale figure was rather imposing up close.

Characters from the Marvel universe were in abundance. I thought the battle-damaged bases for the Captain America and Iron Man ArtFX+ figures were nice touches. And check out that Thanos! He is a Fine Art Statue rather than one of the ArtFX figures, which explains the increased price tag.

There was a large lineup from the DC universe as well. They had figures of classic heroes (and villains) in several different art styles. Those from the Batman and Superman series had the most variety.

Did you stop by Kotobukiya’s SDCC booth yourself? What did you think of their offerings? Let us know in the comments!

SDCC 2016: Check Out The Trailer For ‘Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV’ Right Now!

by Shane O'HareJuly 26, 2016

The lead up to the release o Final Fantasy XV has been a doozy (we all just want the friggin game okay?). Little did we know that the accompanying film Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV would be so awesome looking. Fresh off the Japanese theatrical release, is the jaw dropping trailer for the English version. Get hyped.

This just goes to show that Square Enix knows how to make gorgeous art. Watching this trailer I got some major nostalgia from when Advent Children released.

Kingsglaive story runs concurrently with the events of Final Fantasy XV, and follows the father of the games lead. The films main characters are from an elite guard known as the Kingsglaive. They are tasked with protecting the kingdom of Lucis from the attacking kingdom of Niflheim.

You can get your eyes on Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV in a few ways. It will be coming bundled with certain collectors edition of the game, available on the Playstation Store August 30th and will have a limited theatrical run.

Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV stars Aaron Paul, Lena Headey, Sean Bean, Adrian Bouchet, Liam Mulvey and Andrea Tivadar.

SDCC 2016: We Are Going Nuts For Netflix’s Newest Original Film ‘BLAME!’

by Shane O'HareJuly 26, 2016

When I first saw the trailer for Netflix’s newest original movie I wasn’t too sure about it. It took me three play through’s to fully digest the experience. Don’t write this off just yet, because I am losing it over this trailer.

In a distant dystopian future that is wild and out of control, join Killy on a quest to reclaim a dwindling civilization from the brink of oblivion.

It’s got everything a weaboo would want! Good voice actors. Intense, dark brooding characters. A compelling story and what looks like a mean universe for our characters to live in. The CGI animation is absolutely incredible!

Based off the 1998 manga series of the same name, Blame! looks like it’s going to be an incredible ride.

It follows the journey of a lone human, Killy, as he tries to find access to a genetic marker that allows humans to connect to the Netsphere. A control system that can stop the ever expanding dystopian “City”.

No specific release date has been given, but you can expect it sometime in 2017.

SDCC 2016: ‘Bad Santa 2’ Is The Movie No One Asked For; But It’s The Movie We All Want!

by Shane O'HareJuly 26, 2016

It’s no secret that San Diego Comic Con has, over the years, changed. Turning from small book vendors and toy collectors, to everything pop culture. It’s also the time of year when we get a lot, and I mean A LOT, of new trailers for upcoming films. So when I saw the trailer for Bad Santa 2 I wasn’t really sure if I was at the right convention. Check out the teaser below.

https://youtu.be/JnPT0TRlIVE

I don’t really know if anyone wanted a sequel to this movie, but with how utterly dark and hilarious the first one was I’ve got high hopes.

Bad Santa 2 stars Billy Bob Thorton, Tony Cox, Brett Kelly, Kathy Bates, and Christina Hendricks (my waifu). You can see it in theaters November 23rd.

SDCC 2016: The Trailer For ‘Asterix: The Mansions Of The Gods’ Has Got Us Smiling

by Shane O'HareJuly 26, 2016

This is one of the most surprising trailers to come out of Comic Con this year, and it has me super excited.

The classic comic book characters Asterix and Obelix are returning to the big screen in what looks like a great animated adventure. Check out the trailer below.

Being a US citizen, I never had a whole lot of exposure to the ancient duo. I was introduced to the the series via the 2004 Gamecube game Asterix & Obelix: XXL.

The Mansions of The Gods is based off the comic of the same name from 1973, where our titular heroes rebel against Julius Caeser as he tries to take over their village.

The film does not have a US release date yet, but hits theaters in the UK August 19th. It also marks the first foray into 3D for the series.

It stars Jack Whitehall, Nick Frost, Catherine Tate, Matt Berry, Greg Davies, Harry Enfield, Dick and Dom and Jim Broadbent

SDCC 2016: Touring Entertainment Earth’s Booth

by Natalie KipperJuly 26, 2016

Entertainment Earth‘s San Diego Comic-Con booth was a treasure trove of pop culture collectibles. A ton of different licenses were showcased within the display cases that the surrounded the booth (which was then surrounded by lines of attendees). Here are some of the highlights!

With Star Trek celebrating its 50th anniversary, there was plenty of merchandise to go around. One of the highlights was the Kirk versus Spock bobble head set taken from the episode, “Amok Time.” The figures are numbered and the base plays music from the show. Another item was a crossover between Star Trek and The Big Bang Theory. Part of Bif Bang Pow!’s new Pin Mate line (more on that in a moment), the set places the cast of TBBT in Star Trek uniforms.

One of the con-exclusives this year was a pink variant of the Wonder Woman Chair Cape (to commemorate the hero’s 75th anniversary). The Chair Capes stem from the desire to share a love of pop culture in daily life. Beyond the con-exclusive Wonder Woman variant, there was also capes from Batman Beyond, Superman, among others.

Batman was another hot property and inspired one of the con-exclusives, a Jack-in-the-box based on Joker from The Dark Knight. I’ll admit, this one creeped me a bit. There was also a set of Pin Mates starring the characters of Suicide Squad.

Let’s talk about Pin Mates for a second. They are part of Bif Bang Pow!’s movement to combine simple, nostalgic toy designs with current pop culture icons. In the Pin Mates case, the figures are made of wood and hand-painted. Convention-exclusives from this line include previously mentioned Star Trek/ The Big Bang Theory set and the Suicide Squad set plus a two-pack from Antman, which I though was pretty clever.

Also of a nostalgic nature is the four-inch wooden push puppet of Guardians of The Galaxy‘s Groot. I am told this will not be the only GotG puppet to be made. However, they may not all be of the “push” variety.

Entertainment Earth has listed their remaining SDCC-exclusive merchandise on their online store. Supplies are limited, so don’t miss out!

SDCC 2016: Past Meets Present At Nickelodeon’s ‘Happy Happy! Joy Joy!’ Panel

by Natalie KipperJuly 26, 2016

Nickelodeon’s panel, “Happy Happy! Joy Joy!” celebrated 25 years of original animation on the kids’ channel. And there were no better guest speakers to join moderator Hector Navarro than Craig Bartlett (creator of Hey Arnold!), Butch Hartman (creator of Fairly Oddparents), Arlene Klasky (co-creator of Rugrats), and Jhonen Vasquez (creator of Invader Zim).

To start the discussion off, the speakers on the panel were asked what were their favorite shows that they didn’t work on. Butch chose Spongebob Squarepants. Craig’s was Fairly Oddparents. And both Arlene and Jhonen named Ren and Stimpy as their choice.

The panel then went on to describe their favorite “fan moment.” For Craig, it was seeing fan art and comments. One particular moment was when Carolyn Franke wrote a Hey Arnold! piece for The AV Club. Butch’s favorite experience was seeing a Fairly Oddparents merchandise question on a gameshow. He also enjoyed meeting fans. Arlene told a story about her doing a signing at Cal State Fullerton during which a fan told her, “Thank you for everything you have done.” Jhonen also told an anecdote. During a signing, he met a fan who watched Invader Zim as a child. He now had children of his own and watches the show with them. Jhonen liked being part of a family’s memories.

The discussion then transitioned to Arlene discussing her memories of Rugrats. When asked about her favorite moment from the show, Arlene replied that it would come from the future, “if” Rugrats was brought back.

The idea for Rugrats came from the time when Arlene was home with her young children. She had taken 14 months off of work and was considering not returning. However, she couldn’t “turn off” her creative thinking process.

Craig was then given the floor to talk about Hey Arnold! and the series’ upcoming movie, Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie. He never believed he would get a chance to create more Hey Arnold! material. But as fans who grew up watching the show became adults, they pushed for more Hey Arnold! on social media. Their online chatter allowed for the movie to be made.

The characters’ designs have received an update as they are a year older in the film. The Jungle Movie will answer a lot of questions fans had while watching the show. The storyline deals with Arnold searching for his missing parents. The movie will premiere around Thanksgiving 2017 as two-hour TV event. Fans can expect the next SDCC to have plenty of Hey Arnold! content.

Butch’s next series is called Bunsen is a Beast. In the show, Bunsen is the first beast to attend a human school. There, he befriends a human boy named Mikey. The two learn about each others’ different worlds. The show focuses on the pair’s friendship. Bunsen lives in a Monster House, which is a living entity and provides gags of its own in the show. Within the house are doors to different worlds and anywhere the friends want to go. That mechanic offers a limitless supply of story idea. Bunsen is a Beast premiers in 2017.

Finally, the floor was given to Jhonen. Invader Zim was his first cartoon experience and he had no clue how “things went down.” He transitioned directly from the comic book world. When Jhonen first saw Zim’s walking animation, he had the feeling of “Oh my god, this is really happening.” It was a challenge to translate the art style from his comic book for animation. Eventually, he began change his style a bit and designed things with the animation process in mind. Jhonen felt that was the toughest part of the process. It was noted that Invader Zim comics are still being published today.

One of the big highlights of the panel was the premier of the Jhonen’s animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles short, “Don vs. Raph.” He loved Ninja Turtles as a child. He felt that it had a “sense of person” behind the art. He loved the idea that there was a person whose life revolved around writing and drawing such material. That concept inspired his career path. Working on “Don vs. Raph” was a refreshing change of pace for him. The short can be viewed here.

SDCC 2016: ‘Monster Hunter’ Panel Offers Insight Into Future DLC And Things That Can Kill You

by Natalie KipperJuly 25, 2016

Capcom hosted a Monster Hunter panel at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con with a focus on the recently released title, Monster Hunter Generations. The event was moderated by Tristan Corbett, the Monster Hunter Brand Manager at Capcom. Joining him were two very special guests, Yasunori Ichinose and Shintaro Kojima, Generations’ Director and Producer, respectively.

The discussion quickly dove into upcoming DLC, the first highlight being the Okami-themed armor set for Felynes.

There are many collaborative DLC in Japan and with Generations releasing there first, many DLC have already been made available to Japanese players. However, this DLC is exclusive to players in the West. It was a sort of amusing concept, given that this Felyne-specific armor is based on Okami‘s Amaterasu, a goddess in wolf-form.

The creation of this DLC sparked a poll amongst the development team: “Which is better, cats or dogs?” In the end, cats won. Kojima-san remarked that neither himself nor Ichinose-san participated in the poll.

The second DLC discussed also featured a Felyne-only armor set. The Mega Man set is particularly special because much of the Development team were fans of the series. A trailer was shown highlighting the set and it was noted that the armor will have different color skins depending on what attacks the Felynes use (they couldn’t go into more detail than that). The color change was akin to Mega Man switching weapons and gaining different abilities based on the bosses he defeated.

It should be noted that, as in previous Monster Hunter titles, all DLC is free.

The panel then moved on to how the game’s monsters are designed. The first monster they mentioned was Amatsu, whose mention earned quite a bit of applause from the audience. The monster is an old favorite from Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, a game for the PSP that never saw a release outside of Japan. Its concept is based on the snake-like dragons found in Eastern mythologies.

Amatsu’s eye color changes and chest glows when it enters its “enraged state.”

Amatsu has the ability to fly because its body is filled with gas, which allows it to float. Its fins are used to navigate in the wind. The concept was inspired by kites. Monster designs sometimes draw inspiration from animals. In Amatsu’s case, it was the Leafy Sea Dragon.

Amatsu uses water-based attacks in which water shoots from its mouth. The animation is based on explosive chemical reactions.

The gear that can be forged from materials found when carving Amatsu’s corpse are based loosely on Shinto ceremonial garb. The majority of the armor sets created from “big boss monsters” are bulky but Amatsu’s set does not because it did not fit Amatsu’s image.

The second and final monster discussed at the panel was Nakarkos, a monster that made its debut in Generations. It was inspired by the idea of a dragon zombie. The team pointed out that zombies do not exist in the games’ world and that the concept was strictly for design purposes. Nakarkos is actually a monster that covers itself in the bones of others.

The initial design was more lizard-like but another designer changed it to a cephalopod/kraken-like creature.

Nakarkos’ design fit well with the Jurassic Frontier, a location new to Generations.

Two different armor sets can be crafted from Nakarkos’ materials. The pair are based on the concept of the heroes and villains of American comic books. The “villain” sets can be seen above.

And here are the “hero” sets.

The panel finished off with a trivia contest in which attendees guessed panelists’ favorite weapon class. Those who guessed correctly won a poster signed by Ichinose-san and Kojima-san plus some Japanese badges.

SDCC 2016: Talking Transformers With Hasbro’s John Warden

by Natalie KipperJuly 25, 2016

I spoke with John Warden at Hasbro’s booth during San Diego Comic-Con. John is most likely to be known for his current work as Design Manager for the company’s Transformers toy line but he has also held the impressive position of Lead Designer for the G.I. Joe line in the past.

What can you tell me about the exclusives available at San Diego Comic-Con this year?

From Transformers, we have three really cool exclusives. First of all, we’ve got the Titan-Class Fortress Maximus, which is a very unique item specifically designed for San Diego Comic-Con 2016. The Fortress Maximus is one of the biggest Transformers we’ve ever created. He has the ability to change into a city as well as a space station. This specific version comes with a Master Sword, which is really unique and hasn’t been out since the 80’s. It also comes with a unique deco scheme that is only available here at San Diego Comic-Con as well as a unique set of labels and exclusive packaging. The face-plate with the head on the Titan Master is unique. And last but not least, it has unique sounds for this version. So it is a must-have.

The other items we have are Titan Force, which is a three-pack of exclusive figures for Comic-Con. We’ve got Brainstorm, which is done up in the IDW-style deco. We’ve also got the Energize Sentinel Prime, which is based the idea that he has been resurrected from the IDW series. Last but not least, we’ve got Wind Blade, who has a City Speaker-style deco. She has the same color scheme as Fortress Maximus. Same blue, same grey – which is really rad.

And then the last exclusive that we have is really special. It rises out of a partnership with Xiao Mi and Hasbro. It was initially a China-exclusive and we brought it over here especially for Comic-Con fans. It is a version of Sound Wave that is able to change into a Xiao Mi tablet, which is just incredible. Fans so far have really been super-excited about this item, not just because of its great design but also its intricate transformation. It is a really elegant Transformer; really cool packaging. Couldn’t be more excited to be here.

How do you decide what toys will be sold as convention-exclusives?

Usually we try to decide our convention-exclusives maybe about one year in advance. A lot of it has to do with pop culture, the world that surrounds Transformers. Throughout the years, Transformers has always been a sort of reflection of pop culture and I think Comic-Con is a great place where fans of all sorts of cool stuff are able to come together and enjoy their hobbies and things that they love about all the wonderfully nerdy stuff. But when it comes to Transformers specifically, we have meetings. We think about what kind of big news we have on the horizon and we try to figure out the items that best fit in the universe of Transformers that help not only grow the franchise but also do a good job of exciting fans and cutting to the core of that Comic-Con fan. Like, what does that fan really want? We have a bunch of meetings about it. A lot of thought goes into it. It is usually about a year of planning or so.

How did you make the transition from G.I. Joe figures to Transformers?

Not a lot of people know that I worked on G.I. Joe but I worked on it for six-plus years. In a lot of ways, it is very different because you are dealing with 3-3/4 inch figures. You are dealing with a different level of detail. You are with a human design and costume design as opposed to robots. But I feel like there is a common core between those wonderful franchises and that is character as well as the emotional attachment that fans like me that grew up in the 1980’s still have. They have wonderful characters like Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Duke, and even some of the strange characters like of the Vipers from the Cobra team. It is about detail and I think when you bring to life one of the details that someone may have forgotten, it’s a subliminal thing. I think there is a lot of that same kind of thinking that I like to bring to my design philosophy and to Transformers, too. When I do a character like Skull Smasher or Hard Head or something like that, when you look at those types of characters and work with the designers on them, we want to cut to the core of what that character means but also to advance it to the next level. In some ways, it’s no different than when I did a version of [G.I. Joe‘s] Snake Eyes with a lot of extra detail on it but in a way that’s, I think, what fans want. It is almost like the memory is stronger than the nostalgia itself.

If you could work on any other toy line, what would it be?

That is really, really hard. You know, at Hasbro, I’ve had the opportunity to work on so many great things that this makes this question especially hard. Through my career, I’ve worked on Star Wars, Pokémon, G.I. Joe, and now Transformers as well as a number of other licensed products. Honestly, I think if I ever had the opportunity, I am a big Robotech fan. I have always liked Robotech. I think a lot of us fans do but I think right now I am just enjoying the present. Being a designer on Transformers feels like the best day of my life somedays. Somedays like this [during San Diego Comic-Con], you get pretty exhausted, just you are on your feet all-day and stuff like that. But it is the energy that the fan community brings, meeting people, and having people come up and talk to you and you tell you are doing a great job, it really gives you a great boost and inspires you to try new stuff. I think of all those things, I just really happy to be on Transformers. I feel like I am really at home on this brand. It is great.

SDCC 2016: A Chat With Camilla d’Errico

by Natalie KipperJuly 24, 2016

A convention staple, Camilla d’Errico’s booth at San Diego Comic-Con had a seemingly nonstop crowd of fans. Her distinct art style certainly left impression on me that first time I saw it. SDCC 2016 also celebrated the launch of Camilla’s most recent project: an adult coloring book.

How did you get started in the industry?

I got started in 1998 when I did my very first Comic-Con, like San Diego Comic-Con. Now that I think about it, it’s been 18 years since I’ve been coming so it’s half of my life that I’ve been coming here. I got started by going up to where they do portfolio reviews in the Sails Pavilion. I would wait and talk to editors and have them critique my work. One particular editor took a liking to me and saw what potential I had. I started my first comic book in 1999 with Committed Comics. They took a chance on me and I really appreciated that.

What are the inspirations for your work?

I am inspired by so many things. I take a lot of inspiration from nature and the beauty of color. If I could eat color, I would. But you can’t, trust me; I’ve tried. I’m inspired by a lot of juxtapositions, too. A lot of times my art work is described as “cute and creepy” because I like that balance. I like that little bit of a twist and a surprise. To me, one of the most I interesting and inspiring things is that as humans, we are not just one thing; We are a mix of things. One of my favorite characters that inspired me growing up was Scully from The X-Files because she was a scientist. She was very rigid. She didn’t believe in all of those things but she believed in God, who science can’t prove exists. She was a devout Christian. I love that contrast and I think that ever since then, I have wanted to have that in my artwork.

You are also known in the designer toy community for your figures, both original and customized. Is there any piece that you are particularly fond of?

I think my fondest figure was the figure I did with Dark Horse. It was a bust of my painting, “No Ordinary Love.” I think I am the proudest of that because it was the very first time that a company created a statue out of my painting. It brought it to life in a three-dimensional way, which was so cool! It took the longest to develop and it was a real collaborative effort.

What can you tell me about your Pop Manga Coloring Book?

I am really excited about my coloring book because it is the first adult coloring book that I’ve done. I had a really good time and a challenging time, too, to take my artwork and create it so that was patterned as well. Half of the book is new art. It was created specifically for the book so it very, very detailed. It was a challenge to get that much detail into it. The other part was older pieces that I took and created them into works that had patterns in them. It was a reinvention of my artwork. It was really neat and I am excited to see what people can do with my art. For some of these pieces, I have never imagined them in color. So going to see people coloring them, I have to give up of that ownership of it and just accept that is a collaboration between me and the public.

You can check out Camilla’s work at her website. Her Pop Manga Coloring Book is available now, priced at $15.99.

SDCC 2016: Brie Larson Is Officially ‘Captain Marvel’!

by Derek KraneveldtJuly 23, 2016

Briefly: Yes!

Captain Marvel still doesn’t have a final script or a director… but it now has its Carol Danvers.

Naturally, it’s the actress that many outlets have been speculating we’d see in the role, and the actress that fans have been clamouring for: Room‘s Brie Larson.

Call me Captain Marvel. pic.twitter.com/IgqRIb9ijM

— Brie Larson (@brielarson) July 24, 2016

What a perfect choice, don’t you think?

Captain Marvel hits theatres on March 8, 2019.

SDCC 2016: ‘Kong: Skull Island’ Gets An Epic First Trailer!

by Derek KraneveldtJuly 23, 2016

Briefly: Another bombshell trailer just dropped at the Warner Bros. panel during San Diego Comic-Con (though this one we definitely expected).

The studio has finally revealed the first trailer for Kong: Skull Island, which comes to us from The Kings of Summer director Jordan Vogt-Roberts, stars Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel Jackson, John Goodman, and John C. Reilly, among others.

There have been heavy rumours since Skull Island was announced that this film would mark the launch of a new, shared monster universe that would later tie-in with Godzilla (and potentially other creatures). We don’t see a Monarch logo (or anything of the sort) in this first look, but we’re damned sure that it would be cool as hell to see the two creatures fight.

For now, take a look at this first trailer, and be sure to let us know what you think of it.

SDCC 2016: Finally, ‘The Walking Dead’ Season 7 Trailer Is Here!

by Derek KraneveldtJuly 22, 2016

Briefly: Finally, the moment of San Diego Comic-Con that everyone seems to be waiting for.

Nope, not some new Marvel news (that Luke Cage trailer though), some insane exclusive, or the first teaser trailer for some movie that we won’t be seeing for two or three years.

Following the key art from last week, and the Fear the Walking Dead trailer from earlier this morning, AMC has officially debuted the trailer for The Walking Dead’s seventh season during its Comic-Con panel today.

Naturally, the mystery over who met Lucille in the season six cliffhanger has not been solved, and we’ll have to wait until October to find out. During the panel, Kirkman noted that “You’ll see who was at the end of that bat and what happened from there.” And that the Negan’s victim is “beloved to everyone.”

Without further adieu. Here we go:

The Walking Dead returns on Sunday, October 23rd!

SDCC 2016: The ‘American Horror Story: Fearless VR’ Is One Of The Scariest VR Experiences Yet!

by Derek KraneveldtJuly 22, 2016

Briefly: Shane already shared just what you’re in store for if you visit the fantastic FXHibition art installations outside of the Hilton Bayfront at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.

This morning, we returned to the now familiar territory to experience the one attraction that we missed out on yesterday, and it was definitely worth the wait.

We’re talking about the American Horror Story: Fearless VR, an intimate experience that FX didn’t really detail in the press release, didn’t allow us to take photos of, and an experience that was encompassed in a foreboding, plain black silo. Creepy, creepy stuff.

SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 21: A general view of atmosphere at FXhibition during Comic-Con International 2016 at Hilton Bayfront on July 21, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for FX) — SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 21: A general view of atmosphere at FXhibition during Comic-Con International 2016 at Hilton Bayfront on July 21, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for FX)

If you’re looking to experience the AHS: Fearless VR without spoilers, just know that it’s totally cool, extremely well done, and quite freaking terrifying. I attended the experience with our own Shane O’Hare, and upon completion of the VR, Shane noted that what he had witnessed terrified him, gave him intense feelings of claustrophobia, and that he would not go through it again… after also stating that it was one of the best VR demos he’d experienced thus far.

SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT!

Alright, now that we’ve got that spoiler warning out of the way, let’s talk about just how cool this experience was.

Six people enter the silo at a time, and the experience takes five or six minutes to enter and exit (so you can gauge your place in the sure-to-be-long line). Inside the silo, it’d be hard not to notice the sleek, white walls and semi-translucent ceiling, which all marks a start contrast from the smooth, black ‘bed’ that those in attendance will lay on.

SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 21: Guests enjjoy the AHS Fearless VR Experience at FXhibition during Comic-Con International 2016 at Hilton Bayfront on July 21, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for FX) — SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 21: Guests enjoy the AHS Fearless VR Experience at FXhibition during Comic-Con International 2016 at Hilton Bayfront on July 21, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for FX)

The FX ‘doctors’ cover you with a white sheet, help you put on your VR headset and headphones, help you become oriented, and once everyone is set up, the experience begins.

Everything is pitch black when an ominous voice warns you that you’re about to experience some of your deepest, darkest fears. The image fades in, you’re looking down towards your feet and laying on a gurney, and at that point it’s painfully obvious that you’re a corpse in some sort of gruesome morgue.

You spend a moment looking around and almost everything is off. The corpse on the gurney beside you has no head, you can see a body on the floor, everything is a Silent Hill level of dirty, you hear flies flying around you. Nothing about this is comfortable, and you quickly feel your skin begin to crawl.

A door opens in front of you, and a silhouette begins to approach. After a moment, she comes in to focus, and it’s the terrifying American Horror Story nun walking towards you, coming inches away from your face before beginning to push your gurney. You’ll notice heads and other body parts in jars as she pushes you down the hallway, and if you turn your head, something that you just saw may no longer be there. The gurney begins to move faster and faster, and you feel your stomach become unsettled due to the high-speed that your brain thinks that you’re moving at.

At this point, things become a little foggy, and I’m not quite sure what order the events take place in.

The nun continues pushing you, and eventually places you in a tiny, claustrophobic as hell cold chamber. It’s extremely dark, and turning your head will only let you see just how enclosed you are. After a moment of extreme silence, your perspective begins to shift and the gurney is suddenly falling into a foggy forest. You hear wildlife calling out, and it’s not long before three hooded figures appear from the fog, and as they approach you it becomes clear that they’re not walking, but floating ever closer.

The figures lift you up with some sort of telekinesis, and then literally burn you at the stake.

A hard cut, and a terrifying clown is standing stationary, just staring at you. It gets closer and closer before finally snapping. He then throws several dangerous objects at you, which are nearly impossible to not attempt to dodge.

The third object hits you in the face, another hard cut, and your gurney is again moving (on its own this time around). You’re now travelling through the halls of the Hotel Cortez. After a moment the ominous voice returns, warning you not to look down. An instant later, and the gurney enters, and begins to fall, down one of the hotel’s many elevator shafts. Though you’re stationary, you feel your stomach churn as you freefall down the shaft, gurney turning and flipping as it hits the walls.

You think that this must be it, but then the elevator races towards you. It stops just long enough for you to see the sharp, metal spikes protruding from its bottom, before it crushes you underneath it.

The ominous voice returns, letting you know that ‘The experience is now over. Please remember that everything you have seen was just a simulation.”

Then the nun comes back for one final jump scare, and the experience ends.

Holy hell that was freaky.

The FXHibition can be found across from the Hilton Bayfront, and is open Friday 10AM – 6PM, Saturday 10AM – 6PM, Sunday 10AM – 4PM.