Three more actors are set to join the already star studded cast in Ray Liotta, Jeremy Piven and Juno Temple. According to the Playlist, details on the characters are being kept under wraps. This trio will be joining Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Jamie King, Dennis Haysbert and the previously mentioned Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Josh Brolin and Chris Meloni.

Ray Liotta is enjoying a bit of a resurgence in recent months, having starred alongside Brad Pitt in Killing The Softly and several new films landing in theaters this year. Temple was most recently seen in The Dark Knight Rises as Selina Kyle’s accomplice and will also be featured in numerous films this year.

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For  will arrive in theaters October 4th, 2013

Josh "ecksmanfan" Johnson, Ray Liotta, Jeremy Piven and Juno Temple Join Sin City Sequel

• It’s off to Jotunheim, the land of the Frost Giants as Bruce Banner and his lab team embark on an all-new secret mission for S.H.I.E.L.D! Caught trespassing by the local natives, they’re going to need the help of the mighty Avenger, Thor!

Waid is excited to get Simonson on the book and having the legendary artist draw Thor again. While Thor will be showing up, the question should be which Thor is showing up? Waid makes an interesting  statement about the Thor we’ll be seeing:

Why on Earth would you have the amazing Walt Simonson aboard and NOT ask him to draw Thor? The teasing question is–which Thor will we be seeing? Banner and his team of assistants build a portal to Jotunheim, land of the Frost Giants, in order to obtain a rare metal there–but in doing so, they may have accomplished something totally unforeseen!

While we’ll have to wait and see exactly what Waid means, Simonson touched on revisiting the world of Thor and how he goes about tackling the Hulk:

It’s been interesting drawing Thor and not writing him. (laughs) I like what Mark’s been asking me to draw a lot, and he has kindly allowed me to kibitz a little. My earliest work on Thor was done pretty much the same way when I did layouts for Len Wein to write on the Thor title in the 70s. I also got to draw Thor in some of the Brian Bendis Avengers recently. I’ve found it’s been a lot of fun for me to go back and revisit the old boy again.

Regarding the drawing the Hulk and Thor, there’s an essential difference in their natures I try to reflect in the figure work.
I’ve approached drawing the Hulk with a certain ‘wildness’, since he is essentially a ‘monster’ who is the unfettered version of a mortal. The shapes that make up his figure as well as the actual lines used to define those shapes can be far less restrained that they might otherwise be for a more ordinary character. In other words, the drawing technique itself is meant to suggest the limitless quality of the Hulk’s fury and power. And because of his ‘monstrous’ nature, the Hulk’s figure and face don’t require the kind of symmetry that a character like Thor needs in order to be handsome within the context of the comic. I’m also inspired by the earliest versions of the Hulk by Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko where there seems to me to have been a nod to the Karloff Frankenstein monster of the early Universal horror films. All of which means I can pack a lot into my drawings to try to capture some reflection of the Hulk’s wild nature.

If you want to check out the full interview with Waid and Simonson click here. It will be exciting to see Simonson taking on Thor again. The artist did some incredibly work with the thunder god back in the day, so having him return to draw again mixed in with it being a Hulk book makes this a must get. What do you think about Simonson’s return? From what Mark Waid said do you think we’ll get a big twist with the Thor story?

Cody "The Thorverine" Ferrell, Waid And Simonson Talk Indestructible Hulk

The first crossover event of the new DC starts off with a bang.  Scott Snyder‘s Batman has been one of the best titles over at DC, and #8 is a continuation of that.

For the title being Batman, Bruce Wayne spends a good amount of time outside of the Batsuit.  It works to show how prepared Bruce is in any situation.  If you attack Batman or Bruce, you’re going to get the same rough fight.  After the last few issues, Snyder writes Bruce as a person who is clearly defeated, but not down.  It’s interesting to see Batman this way, as we almost never get to seem this broken and beaten.  The Talons become even more creepy and threatening, speaking in almost unison.  It gives them a hive mind style that is a classic horror movie plot line for a reason.  It’s horrific given the enemy.  Batman #8 acts as a prelude to the official Night of the Owls event, and the issue does feel like a prelude to a degree.  As stated before, this issue focuses on Bruce, with him not donning a Batsuit until the end of the issue.  We see how Bruce has planned his attack against the Court of Owls, with Aflred being a great asset in the right circumstance.  When the ending hits, no reader can’t have a big grin on their face, as you want to see Batman finally fight back against this vicious enemy.  The shining moment of the issue though, is only two or three panels long.  Having Bruce hate light, even though there is plenty of reasons for him too, is a small thing that adds to the depth of Batman.  It shows how Bruce is the mask and Batman is the real person.

The backup acts as the fuse to the event, with Alfred spreading the word to all of the Bat family.  It’s a great start up, but does raise a question or two.  Why is Alfred contacting Jason Todd?  He is a killer.  That doesn’t fit well with Batman.  Maybe in a time of need, he’ll be more likely to bring someone like that into the fold.  But it seems more of a reason to bring another book into the event, thus making more money.  Since this reviewer doesn’t read Red Hood and the Outlaws, it will be hard to tell if his inclusion is a good idea.   Rafael Albuquerque‘s art suits the dark atmosphere well.  He’d be a great Batman artist if Greg Capullo ever left the book.  Alfred is clearly saddened by what is going on, but trying as hard as he can to keep himself composed to help Bruce.  Batman, what a show off book.  It has two great artists and both are on the top of their game.  Batman #8 is worth the $3.99, or even more.

Greg Capullo keeps delivering phenomenal issue after phenomenal issue.  Capullo gives Bruce the stature of a real fighter, and one that has fifteen plans if one of his plans doesn’t go through.  Even when panels start to zoom out to accommodate for all the acton, characters are expressive, with readers being able to read what the characters are thinking and feeling in each situation.  Alfred also has the same look of terror while trying to keep himself composed.  Whether Albuquerque and Capullo talked about this beforehand will remain a mystery, but Alfred has the same look by both artists.  It’s simply stunning and something that we don’t see very often in comics anymore.  Every artists does everything their own way and it sometimes doesn’t go with how other pencilers pencil them.  Like Psylock and how she is Asian.  It’s astonishing how detailed each panel is, with one of the Talon’s entrance through a wood door being the highlight.  Tons of tiny splinters scatter in all directions.  How does Capullo get this done on time?

Batman #8 gets 5/5.

MrComicBook, Batman #8 Review

Round 5 announces exclusive collaboration with art toy design legend Jeremy Madl, aka MAD, on its first ever release of Round 5 X Bruce Lee X MAD figures and the debut of Bruce Lee‘s Temple of Kung Fu line of collectibles.

The Temple of Kung Fu launch represents the first of several planned collaborations between Round 5 and established artists from the art toy space centering on the official Bruce Lee brand.

“There are so many different things to celebrate about Bruce Lee, the martial artist, the philosopher, the actor, but here we are just celebrating Bruce Lee – the legend,”

said Damon Lau, President of Round 5.

“Working with MAD on a brand like Bruce Lee has been incredible, his passion for the brand is so evident in the design of this collection, which is amongst the best we’ve ever created.”

The first Temple of Kung Fu figures scheduled for global release this summer will feature a 3-inch blind box assortment of 28 characters including a variety of mystery characters, and will be available at select retailers around the world. In addition to the standard figures, Temple of Kung Fu will include hyper-limited chase figures featuring alternative colorways, costume designs, and accessories.

The Temple of Kung Fu will feature a broad variety of figures inspired by the legend and career of Bruce Lee, and those of Kung Fu history and lore.

MAD, best known for his collaborations with Kidrobot, is eager to be working on the Bruce Lee brand. “I’ve been a fan of Bruce Lee since watching his movies as a kid, and he’s become such an icon I jumped at the opportunity to create this line,” said MAD. “I think everyone will be blown away by our first release.”

 Awesome Stuff!

Agent Burgos, Bruce Lee's Temple Of Kung Fu

The Sideshow Collectibles and Hot Toys recently released a 12-inch Batman-Bruce Wayne (Batman Begins) Batsuit figure exclusively through their website and at the Asia Toy Fair. We have never purchased a 12-inch Batman before, so what better way then to order this piece. The pictures were amazing and I have always wanted to own some of Hot Toys products. We recently received the figure and I had to open it to take some pictures. I like my toys in their packages, but I wanted to release this one into the open.

The packaging is great with the box displaying Batman’s full gear climbing harness and his utility belt. The box is sturdy and you should be assured that your investment will be well protected inside.

The packaging inside is amazing and a great display without ever happening to open it up. An insert is included to tell us who the creative team was who created this masterpiece. Batman’s cape and his utility belt were kept separate and packed very well. In the main compartment, we see the amazing details that Hot Toys puts into their products with Christian Bale‘s likeness as Bruce Wayne and the accessories included.

Many great accessories are included such as Batman and his Cowl, a couple of extra interchangeable lower face sections to change his many expressions he displays in the movie (Really?), interchangeable hands to hold his utility belt items, Grapnel gun, Cape, Ninja mask and much more. We wanted to stop here, but we were already further than I normally like to be with my toys.

We had no choice now, but to start playing with the accessories and seeing how good this figure really was. The articulation and details are incredible in all of the accessories and the gear climbing harness. The interchangeable hands are great for posing and holding the many weapons that are included in Batman’s utility belt.

It was now time for Bruce Wayne to become Batman. We removed the climbing gear harness and attached his utility belt. The next piece that was rather very difficult to put on was the Cape. It is very tight and you are required to place Batman and his Cowl on top of the cape. Be very careful when doing so, which was frustrating.

Finally, Batman is in full gear! The cape is terrific and it can be moved in many ways. I have only one suggestion for Hot Toys to maybe try next time for Batman, by actually adding some kind of wire to allow you to really display the cape in many poses.

Is this what Batman would look like if Bruce Wayne got lazy to create the Cowl? We had to give it a shot.

Overall, we really enjoy this piece and we are very pleased with how amazing Hot Toys truly is as a company. The details and articulation they have put into this Bruce Wayne-Batman figure is awesome. The packaging was great to assure a mint figure, great accessories, the detailing is so lifelike and it is Batman! Other, than the difficulty of putting on the cape and cowl, I would say this piece is outstanding. Hot Toys recently acquired the rights to the Dark Knight Rises, so be prepared to see even more of their impressive line, including a large scaled Tumbler!

Angry Koala Gear, Unmasking Sideshow Collectibles And Hot Toys Batman

Suicide Squad #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

I loved this book. The opening was pretty graphic for a DC book. There was a quick introduction of the main cast of characters. It had a very Secret Six (group of Super-Villains from the old DC universe) feel about it, but only a hell of a lot better. More blood. More guts. More awesomeness. I was stunned at just how much fun this book was. Writer Adam Glass did some great storytelling in this first issue. Suicide Squad is a team of super-villains (notably Deathstroke, Harley Quinn and King Shark) who are all on death row at Belle Reeve prison and sent on top-secret missions. If you have not done so already, buy this book when it’s released in a second printing. Or scour the internet for someone selling the original first printing of it.

Writer Adam Glass – Artists Federico Dallocchio & Ransom Getty & Scott Hanna – Colorist Van Staples – Letterer Jared K. Fletcher

Demon Knights #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

This book was a fun ride through the DC universe’s take on its medieval times, but it’s just not the book for me. I’ve never been a big fan of the demon Etrigan, our main “hero” in this book. Granted, there are a ton of you that will continue to pick up this book and I would like to get your feedback on this issue so please post a comment. I will say this, the art was great and the bar brawl was fun. Come on, who isn’t a fan of a good bar brawl?

Writer Paul Cornell – Penciller Diógenes Neves – Inker Oclair Albert – Colorist Marcelo Maiolo – Letterer Jared K. Fletcher – Cover Tony Daniel & Tomeu Morey

Batman and Robin #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

I am a huge fan of Batman and liked the interaction between Bruce and Damian. I especially enjoyed how Bruce (Batman) wasn’t about to take any crap from his son. I’ll try to ignore the fact that they seem to be connecting this book to recent events in the old DC universe such as Damian saying that Bruce was easier to look up to when he wasn’t around and saying that Dick trusted him more. Either re-start this franchise like almost every other book and do not bring up past events. Although, maybe they are going to delve into the past somehow in upcoming issues. I am a fan of the villain NoBody and how he’s knocking off the Batman Incorporated caped crusaders. Despite the flaws, I will continue reading this series because as I said, I’m a huge fan of Batman.

Writer Peter J. Tomasi – Penciller Patrick Gleason – Inker Mick GHray – Colorist John Kalisz – Letterer Patrick Brosseau – Cover Gleason and Gray

Green Lantern #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

The status quo is pretty much left the same between the old DC universe and the new one. All of the events that took place in the Green Lantern stories still all happened in this new universe too. As a Green Lantern fan this makes me very happy. New readers will enjoy it, but will be left with many questions. You can take the costume off of the hero, but you can’t take the hero out of the man. That is what we learn very early on in as Hal – now stripped of his Green Lantern ring, due to his actions in War of the Green Lanterns – jumps from his apartment balcony and smashes through the a window of another building. We learn that a movie is being shot and nobody is in danger at all. Carol Ferris is still a Star Sapphire ring wielder and Sinestro is once again a Green Lantern, but is still as evil as they come. I think DC made the right call keeping the Green Lantern storylines intact, but it will be interesting to see how they tie these heroes in with the rest of the DC universe.

Writer Geoff Johns – Pencils Doug Mahnke – Inks Christian Alamy with Tom Nguyen – Colors David Baron – Letters Sal Cipriano – Cover Ivan Reis & Joe Prado with Rod Reis

Red Lanterns #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

Opening with Red Lantern Dex-Starr (a cat) being held captive only to be rescued by Atrocitus exclaiming “What are you doing to my cat?” was wonderful. What a great way to start a book. Soon came the revelation that Atrocitus isn’t really feeling the rage as much anymore. Writer Peter Milligan did a good job of explaining to new readers what the Red Lanterns are all about. I am glad that DC is giving these characters their own book and bringing more depth to them.

Writer Peter Milligan – Penciller Ed Benes – Inker Rob Hunter – Colorist Nathan Eyring – Letterer Rob Hunter – Cover Benes & Hunter with Rod Reis

Superboy #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

I’ll admit, before I opened this book I thought it was going to suck. I am happy to say that I was proven wrong! The one thing that has stayed the same about Superboy is that he is still half Kryptonian and half human. He’s living in a lab and at first it seems he will be terminated only to survive and fight back against what should have been certain death. In the end, he is about to be released to be used as a weapon against a government problem, the Teen Titans. I am looking forward to picking up issue two. You should also.

Writer Scott Lobdell – Penciller R.B. Silva – Inker Rob Lean – Colorists The Hories – Cover Eric Canete with Guy Major

Legion Lost #1 – NO SPOLIER ALERT!

I am a fan of the Legion, but this first issue bounced all over the place and quite frankly, I did not enjoy it. I thought of reading it a second time, but I just couldn’t. Maybe I am missing something, so please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Writers Fabian Nicieza & Pete Woods – Colorist Brad Anderson – Letters Travis Lanham – Cover Woods with Anderson

Mister Terrific #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

Billionaire Michael Holt is so distraught at the loss of his pregnant wife he turns his intelligence to the betterment of mankind. Yet in his early days, feeling betrayed by his science, he was ready to kill himself until a figure appears in his lab telling him to not give up. That figure, is his son. The rest of the story is a bigger setup to what’s coming, the new villain, Brainstorm. This book still has some growing to do and I am interested to see how DC builds this character.

Writer Eric Wallace – Penciller Gianluca Gugliotta – Inker Wayne Frucher – Colorist Mike Atiyeh – Letterer Dave Sharper – Cover J.G. Jones

DeathStroke #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

This book opens with Deathstroke in Moscow, severely outnumbered and kicking butt. There’s a lot of blood, killings and explosions in this book, which was a nice change of pace for a DC book. But does anyone else think that Wilson Slade is a cross between Deadpool and Cable? It’s because the character doesn’t seem unqiue that I will not be picking up this title regularly.

Writer Kyle Higgins – Pencils Joe Bennett – Inks Art Thibert – Colors Jason Wright – Letters Travis Lanham

Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #1

I am not going to give anything away in this review because I want you to get as much of a kick out of it as I did. Sure I found myself comparing some character abilities to Doctor Who, but what counts the most is that this is a fun book. Basically, this team fights other monsters. I was pleased to see the appearance of Ray Palmer (The Atom in the old DC universe) because only he could create the type of headquarters Frankenstein and his team need.

Writer Jeff Lemire  - Artist Alberto Ponticelli – Colorist Jose Villarrubia – Letterer Pat Brosseau – Cover J.G. Jones – Cover Color Hi-Fi

Batwoman #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

If you followed Kat Kane as Batwoman in the old DC universe you will not need a history lesson. I found this first issue to be a major disappointment. The art was very cool though. The story needs some work, which is probably why Batman shows up – to help give this book some direction as it heads into issue two. If you’re a new reader, you’ll be completely confused and left wondering just what is going on. This was not set up as a fresh start to anyone new to the title. I even felt lost and I know the character’s background. I want this title to do well because it has so much potential. My fingers are crossed for this series.

Co-Writers J.H. Williams & W. Haden Blackman – Artist J.H. Williams – Colors Dave Stewart – Letters Todd Klein

Resurrection Man #1 – NO SPOILER ALERT!

This guy looks too much like Magneto. Correction: a homeless Magneto. Mitch Shelly is a man that cannot die. The concept is cool – every time he comes back to life he has a new power. In this issue he is being chased for his soul. Apparently, it’s overdue. Bottom line, I was bored and will be taking a pass on this title.

Writers Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning – Art Fernando Dagnino – Colors Santi Arcas – Letters Rob Leigh – Cover Ivan Reis, Joe Prado & Rob Reis

Grifter #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

Cole Cash is Grifter. I have never read this character before, but had heard good things about him. We open on Cole in an airplane hearing alien voices in his head. He kills the first alien – who is in human form – to stop the plane from going down. From there Grifter is left wondering just what in the world is going on. The aliens tried to take him over, but he was stronger than they thought. Now, as we lead into issue two, Cole’s own brother will be going after him to bring him in on murder charges. The second issue should be pretty crazy.

Story Nathan Edmondson – Pencils Cafu – Inker Jason Gorder – Colorist Andrew Dalhouse – Letters Wes Abbott – Cover Cafu & Bit

Comic Canuck, DC Comics: The New 52, Week Three