NECA’s Friday the 13th Jason (1989 Video Game Appearance) Comic-Con Exclusive will be a fully articulated 7-inch figure done up in that truly horrifying video game deco. Better yet is Jason’s glow-in-the-dark features. Jason’s mask, hands, and feet will glow a soft blue, while his included machete blade and axe head will glow white. This comic-con exclusive will come in a special window box packaging with opening flap to re-create the look and feel of the classic 1989 Friday the 13th video game packaging.

Fans can pick up Friday the 13th Jason (1989 Video Game Appearance) during San Diego comic-Con July 17-21 at NECA’s booth #3145. This exciting exclusive will be priced at $25.

Via Figures.com

I will be attending SDCC this year, and I can tell you for sure I will be picking this up!

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Chuckie Valdez, NECA’s ‘Friday The 13th’ 8-Bit JASON SDCC Exclusive!

Last Wednesday night I had the opportunity to watch an advanced screening of the new Judge Dredd movie: DREDD 3D. For starters this is not the same Dredd as portrayed back in 1995 by Sylvester Stallone, this Dredd (played by Karl Urban) is much more gritty, dirty and brutally violent, akin to the character from the original comics.

LOVED

Starts with a bang -This film from the get go sets the stage that in the world that Dredd lives in is not one for the weak, not for the timid and that only those strong enough to keep the peace are those of the law, the Judges from the Hall of Justice. From there we start immediately into an chase sequence with Dredd and some perps that is well choreographed and staged.

Pacing – The movie isn’t just all big booms and gunfire, there is a great little story that is told in the pauses and quiet moments sprinkled in the film. The action sequences get your motor going and then they slow down just in time before your engine overheats and lets you cool down and absorb what is going on story-wise until they ramp up the action again.

Details through actions – DREDD 3D tells a great story visually instead of verbally which makes the movie feel more real as if you are experiencing it yourself. For example the Judges guns are each DNA activated and coded specifically for each Judge. There is no long overdrawn exposition explaining this it is visually conveyed in the beginning when Dredd suits up. This is quite refreshing and a great way to keep a movie going without slowing it down with needless exposition. We also learn what happens when someone tries to use a Judges weapon, and it is quite graphic and to the point.

Day in the life – This is not an origin tale for Dredd, this is more of a day in the life of Mega-City 1′s best and most effective Judge as he trains a rookie. We get small glimpses of who Dredd is and what makes him tick but never really get past the surface. Instead we get a great baptism through fire story about Dredd’s rookie Judge Anderson. It is through her story that we learn a bit more about Dredd, drawing you in and making want to learn more about who he is and why he does what he does.

Action – Every action sequence is well thought out and extremely well choreographed. The gun battles are well executed and staged so you can see the damage and havoc that is being caused while still being able to spot where the characters are on screen. The hand to hand combat is hard-hitting and violent, which is well suited for the tone and the story this movie is telling.

Sets, backdrops and props – The city and many of the backdrops for the scenes are heavily comprised of concrete and metal. This gives off a really dirty, gritty industrial feel. It visually lets the viewers know this is a tough, bad-ass city, one that demands someone more tough to dispatch justice.

Many of the vehicles look to be from the 1980s, and being in a post-apocalyptic society it makes sense that much of society would revert back to the older less computer controlled vehicles, even the display on the Lawgiver resembles digital displays from the 80s, think of an old VCR display or those old ‘speak-n-say’ toys. It all works to help convey the sense despair and lawlessness that is perfect for Mega-City 1.

The Judge’s uniforms are well designed for practical usage while maintaining the overall look established from the comic. The helmets are substantially thick and look well armored and you can see scuffs and scratches on them showing that they do work. The suits each Judge wears is made of sectioned body armor and leather for some mobility while providing maximum protection.

VFX and 3D – Most Stereoscopic 3D movies that have been produced that I’ve seen so far have nothing of note added by the 3D tech. DREDD 3D is not one of those movies. The 3D is used to great effect from the opening shot of the wastelands heading into Mega-City 1 giving a sense of depth and distance from the outland to the city. Once in the city the 3D lends some believable depth to the wide city shots. Once the movie gets going and we are inside the 3D is used to great effect through shots from cracks and breaks in the wall and other small minute things that would be too numerous to mention.

The 3D also shines during the heavy VFX moments. The VFX in the film were generally used for the weaponry and the city scenes except for sequences involving slow motion. In these sequences the colors are tinted slightly warmer and is given a nice soft glow and sparkle that visually cues the audience that this is an altered state of mind. These scenes are really fantastic and beautiful, with the 3D tech really increasing the effect and for certain slow-mo scences the tension of the scene. I don’t think I have seen slow-mo used this effectively since John Woo used it early in his career and more recently in ‘The Matrix.’

Acting – Without the use of eyes and facial expressions Karl Urban is able to convey a grit and toughness with his voice and posture. In scenes with other characters Karl Urban creates an imposing figure that is stern and unyielding that commands attention and is able to make you believe if you’ve done something wrong he’ll know it without saying a word.

The beautiful Olivia Thirlby does a wonderful job as Rookie Judge Anderson goes from reluctant and timid to hard-nosed bad-ass. She does this well and convincingly, illustrating it through facial expressions and posture. You can relate to her as someone who is being thrown into the pit on the first day and has all the anxieties and insecurities, then as she quickly grows into her role as a Judge you begin to cheer for her as she begins to wreck shop on her own.

Lena Headey who has played many a strong woman, does so again as the villains Ma-Ma. Her presence commands attention and fear from everyone except Dredd. Headey’s facial expressions and collected speech really let you know Ma-ma isn’t someone to screw around with.

NOT LOVED

Nothing of note. Dredd 3D was immensely entertaining and had taken great care to represent the character properly.

VERDICT

If you haven’t seen the trailer or have heard anything about this new film incarnation of Dredd I suggest you check out the trailer, forget about the old movie and put DREDD 3D on your radar. With a solid cast, great action and some very inspired use of slow-mo, this is a great movie to go out to your local theater to see and experience.

DREDD 3D is set to release in the US on September 21st, and is produced by DNA Films, IM Global, Reliance Big Entertainment/Pictures and is distributed in the USA by Lionsgate.

Wilt Manglicmot, SDCC ’12 DREDD 3D Review

If you have been reading Batman  or Swamp Thing since the DC’s New 52 relaunch, let me congratulate you. Those are some of the best comic books out there right now! At San Diego Comic Con 2012, I had the great opportunity to chat with Scott Snyder, writer of Batman and Swamp Thing. For starters Scott is an amazing guy, he is super friendly and really takes his time to talk to his fans.

Well, I was super nervous because I am a big fan of his work, so clearly I was trying to keep my geekness from erupting, but…

Well, just check the interview below where Snyder reveals a couple of interesting tidbits of his upcoming projects:

Agent Burgos, SDCC 2012: Scott Snyder Interview

I was given the opportunity to speak to author A.J. Scudiere at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con about her four novels, her audio-books, and her advice on how to get started as a writer! So here is of the interview I hope you folks enjoy!

“Can you explain your newest book?”

The newest book is Phoenix and it’s about a firefighter who was in a fire as a child, and in that fire he knows he lost his birth mother, but what he doesn’t realize until he’s much older is that he also lost a younger brother. So as he finds this out he goes on a search for the death certificate just to lay the past to rest. He finds that there is no death certificate and the further he goes the more he finds that things are not as they seem. So he has to figure out that the fire he was in wasn’t just a fire.”

How did you get into writing as you’re a teacher as well?

“I always wrote, when I was in third grade I had a pen and a notebook and it always seemed like a good idea to go and write an eighty page novella. So teaching was a natural fit, and I feel that both are very parallel.”

Which book was the most difficult to write for you?

“God’s Eye was the hardest to write, because I wrote Resonance and while I was shopping it around I wrote Vengeance, and Vengeance was so easy to write because I was occasionally writing letter s to agents and sending them copies of my books and so it was easy to write another book. And then they both got picked up and the publisher wanted the third book, and I started going to Cons and book festivals, and doing book signing, and trying to pay my bills as well as trying to write a third book. Trying to write a third book while trying to get a toehold in the market is crazy. And so that one was the hardest.”

How did you come up with the idea of using a full voice cast in your audio books?

“When I knew the book was going to go to audio I started to listen to a handful so I would have a better idea about audio books. I hadn’t listened to an audio book in about a decade, and I found I really liked some of them, and others I didn’t like. You get a single reader and it not only depends on the reader’s ability to act, but their ability to do voice work. A lot of times instead of characters they become caricatures, and it just comes down to nobody talks like that.  My audio guy was Stephen Rudnicki who did the Enders Game 20^th Anniversary addition. He was also looking to expand audio books, and I didn’t realize but it takes a very particular writing style and my style worked very well for them.”

To people who are trying to write and trying to become authors what advice to you give them?

“I say if you’re really getting started you have to practice. People like to sit down and believe they are going to write the great American novel on the first try, but Mike Phelps didn’t jump into an Olympic sized pool and swims the times he does on the first try. I wrote two novels before I wrote Resonance and I didn’t even try to shop them around, I was just trying to become better at my craft. The other advice I have is to not ignore the most popular advice around, it worked for somebody it might work for you. Also don’t feel married to that advice if it doesn’t work for you.”

I’d like to thank A.J for taking time out of her Con schedule to speak to me, and her publishers for setting up the meeting! It was a great experience, she was an amazingly nice person and I definitely hope to speak to her again soon.

Michael Worthan, My Interview with author A.J. Scudiere

Check it out— In addition to a full schedule of panels, Image Comics is also celebrating creativity at Comic-Con International in San Diego with exclusive covers and editions of popular and debut titles. Creators will be signing exclusives, which are available in limited quantities, so be sure to stop by the Image Comics, Skybound and Top Cow booths to make sure you get your copies!

Comic-Con International takes place on July 12-15 in the San Diego Convention Center. The Image Comics booth (#2729) will be the destination for Skybound, Shadowline, and Image central titles, while the Top Cow booth (#2629) will have all the latest in the WITCHBLADE- and THE DARKNESS-helmed universe.

Here is a list of the variants and exclusives, and full descriptions follow.

Image Comics & Skybound (#2729)
CHEW: SECRET AGENT POYO #1 Guillory Comic-Con Exclusive Variant Cover
SKULLKICKERS #15 Kitten Variant Cover
THE WALKING DEAD Michonne Bloody Poncho Variant Action Figure
THE WALKING DEAD #100 Vannen Watch
THE WALKING DEAD Hardcover Compendium

Top Cow (#2629)
ARTIFACTS #19 Broussard Comic-Con Exclusive Variant Cover
THE DARKNESS #105 Portacio Comic-Con Exclusive Variant Cover
THINK TANK #1 Bagus Comic-Con Exclusive Variant Cover
SUNSET Limited Edition Comic-Con Exclusive Hardcover

IMAGE COMICS

CHEW: SECRET AGENT POYO #1 Guillory Comic-Con Exclusive Variant Cover

A one-shot spinning off CHEW’s most popular supporting character, and comics’ most beloved homicidal cybernetic kung-fu rooster. Concentrated mayhem. Feathers, rage and hate! Plus: an all-star pin-up gallery from some of the most staggeringly talented artists in the industry!
$10.00
Limited to 700 copies

SKULLKICKERS #15 Kitten Variant Cover

Created as a gag cover to appear in previews so as not to spoil earlier issues, this kitten cover by Edwin Huang and Misty Coates is now available to purchase thanks to popular demand! Don’t let the kitten fool you, though. Inside is heinous violence, trouble-making and all the skullkicking you can handle.
$3.50
Limited to 500 copies

SKYBOUND

THE WALKING DEAD Michonne Bloody Poncho Variant Action Figure

Limited edition bloody Michonne action figure featuring an exclusive poncho based on her first appearance.
SRP: $25.00
Limited to 3000 units, Two per person

THE WALKING DEAD #100 Vannen Watch

In honor of The Walking Dead’s 100th issue, Skybound and Vannen watches bring you a limited edition timepiece. The watch features art from Charlie Adlard’s issue #100 cover. Each watch is signed by Robert Kirkman.
$85.00
Limited to 500 units, One per person

THE WALKING DEAD Hardcover Compendium

Limited edition, foil stamped hardcover version of THE WALKING DEAD Compendium Vol. 1. Collects issues 1-48 of THE WALKING DEAD
$100.00
Limited to 900 copies, One per person

TOP COW

Artifacts #19 Broussard Comic-Con Exclusive Variant Cover

Kicking off a brand new story in the Top Cow’s ongoing REBIRTH initiative, RON MARZ and STJEPAN SEJIC introduce a brand new Artifact bearer — Dr. Rachel Harrison, bearer of the Heartstone — in this special three part story. Available only at Comic-Con, this exclusive cover by MICHAEL BROUSSARD features Witchblade, Angelus and Aphrodite!
$10
Limited to 500 copies

The Darkness #105 Portacio Comic-Con Exclusive Variant Cover

Concluding DAVID HINE and JEREMY HAUN’s explosive opening story arc, this issue sees Jackie Estacado, bearer of the Darkness, confronted with disintegration of his perfect world. Available only at Comic-Con, this exclusive cover by WHILCE PORTACIO features The Darkness and his Darklings!
$10
Limited to 500 copies

Think Tank #1 Bagus Variant Cover
A Comic-Con Debut Issue!

The action-packed science series from MATT HAWKINS and RAHSAN EKEDAL tells the tale of a brilliant scientist trapped in a military think tank and his attempt to escape. Available only at Comic-Con, this exclusive cover by BAGUS HUTOMO introduces the world to slacker genius scientist — Dr. David Loren!
$10
Limited to 500 copies

Top Cow Comic-Con Exclusive Variant Set
Get all three of Top Cow’s exclusive variant covers for only $25, a $5 savings!
SRP: $25

SUNSET Limited Edition Comic-Con Exclusive Hardcover

A Comic-Con Debut Original Graphic Novel! Sometimes all you can do is go out with guns blazing… CHRISTOS GAGE and JORGE LUCAS debut their hard-hitting old man noir original graphic novel — SUNSET. On the surface, Nick Bellamy looks like any other veteran retiree left behind by a modern world. In reality, Nick is a former enforcer, who stole a fortune and years of freedom from his former mob boss. This limited edition variant will feature a foil stamped logo and an exclusive book plate.
$30 Limited to 250 copies

There you have it folks. I will be roaming around so if you want to buy me some of these exclusives please feel free to do so.

Agent Burgos, Image Comics Variants and Exclusives at Comic-Con International

Throughout his career, hard-rock icon and celebrated filmmaker Rob Zombie has continuously challenged audiences as he stretches the boundaries of music, film and the fan experience. Zombie’s frenetic summer schedule includes a stop as the host of the first-ever Comic Con attendee party, followed by the release of his remix album, Mondo Sex Head, in the midst of finishing up post production on his latest feature film The Lords of Salem, working on his next film project “Broad Street Bullies” as well as a working on a new album in the studio with Bob Marlette, and planning for a tour.

Non-stop and driven by his art, Zombie has sold over fifteen million albums worldwide and has earned seven Grammy® nominations for his albums. He is among only a handful of people to have unprecedented success for six feature films as the writer and director. Zombie is no stranger to working with and pushing the limits of all modern-day art mediums to accomplish his vision.

Now, as the ultimate curator of the fan experience, Rob Zombie will take over San Diego’s Petco Park to ring in Comic-Con as host of the first-ever official Comic-Con Opening Night Attendee Welcome Party, “Dawn of the Con,” on Thursday, July 12, 5:30 – 11PM PT. Presented by VH1, “Dawn of the Con” promises a night full of fantasy, science fiction, monsters and heavy metal for all Comic-Con attendees. Additionally, partygoers will get a sneak peek of his new remix album Mondo Sex Head.

Zombie’s latest project, Mondo Sex Head, features new and unique remixes of Rob Zombie classics by some of today’s top DJs and curated and executive produced by Jason Bentley, Music Director at L.A.’s influential KCRW and Electronic Dance Music expert. With Electronic Dance Movement (EDM) and rock rapidly combining featuring remixes by the likes of KoRn’s Jonathan “JDevil” Davis (“Thunder Kiss ‘65”), Photek (“Living Dead Girl”), Document One (“Let It All Bleed Out”), Ki:Theory (“Foxy Foxy” & “Pussy Liquor”), Big Black Delta (“More Human Than Human”), ††† aka Chino of Deftones (“Dragula”), Das Kapital (“Lords of Salem”), Drumcorps (“Never Gonna Stop”), former Glitch Mob member Kraddy (“Superbeast”) and the Bloody Beetroots (“Burn”), among others. Each track was hand selected by Rob Zombie who road-tested many of the songs in his car, driving the L.A. streets.

Rob Zombie’s upcoming film The Lords of Salem is almost complete. Zombie’s next film endeavor is the story of the “Broad Street Bullies,” the legendary mid-1970′s version of the Philadelphia Flyers hockey. The project has the support of the Flyer’s organization, which will cooperate with Zombie and pull no punches in telling the team’s incredible story. This will be Zombie’s first biographical film, his previous film credits, with box office total of more than $121 million, include the cult smash House of 1000 Corpses (Lionsgate 2003), its sequel The Devil’s Rejects (Lionsgate 2005), the animated film The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (Film Roman 2009), and the blockbuster re-imagining of John Carpenter’s Halloween (Dimension 2007), along with its sequel Halloween 2 (Dimension 2009).

Zombie continues to surprise his fans with every project, but one thing is constant, he always delivers.

Agent Burgos, ROB ZOMBIE TAPPED AS HOST FOR PREMIERE COMIC-CON PARTY

Berkeley, CA – July 3, 2012 — Fans of THE WALKING DEAD got a sneak peek at the hardcover edition of THE WALKING DEAD Compendium, Volume One at Emerald City Comicon in March, and now they’ll get a second chance to purchase one of the coveted tomes at Comic-Con International in San Diego.

The one hundred copies of the gold-stamped, hardbound edition brought to Seattle sold out in a matter of minutes, leaving 900 copies left to sell at Comic-Con, which takes place in the San Diego Convention Center on July 11-15. The hardcover Compendium collects issues #1-48 of THE WALKING DEAD by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard, and Cliff Rathburn, and is $100.

Because of the limited quantity, attendees will draw tickets at the Image Comics/Skybound booth (#2729) for a chance to purchase a Compendium. Attendees will draw from a bowl of tickets, and if the ticket they draw is a winner, they will get to purchase one copy of the Compendium. A limited number of Compendiums will be sold each day and are limited to one copy per person. Each attendee may draw tickets only once per day. The tickets will be available each day at the opening of the convention, beginning on July 11 (Preview Night), and will be available until all of that day’s compendiums are sold out.

A paperback edition of the Compendium will also be available at the Skybound for $59.99. A second paperback THE WALKING DEAD Compendium, collecting issues #49-96 was announced today at USA Today.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

ABOUT ROBERT KIRKMAN
Robert Kirkman’s success and passionate advocacy for creator-owned comics led him to become the first person invited to become a partner at Image Comics since the company’s inception twenty years ago and he formed his own imprint there, Skybound, in 2010. Kirkman is the creator/writer of the Eisner Award-winning The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, all-ages Super Dinosaur, The Astounding Wolf-Man, and new title Thief of Thieves, among many others. Kirkman has earned the respect of the comic, writing and television communities and topped the New York Times bestseller list for graphic novels in 2011 and in April 2012, he took the top five spots on both the hardcover and paperback lists. He’s the creator/executive producer and writer of the hit television show, AMC’s The Walking Dead, the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time in the U.S, also an international success in 120 countries and 250 million households. AMC is developing Thief of Thieves as a potential series with Kirkman serving as creator/executive producer and writer. www.Skybound.com is your destination for all news and merchandise for Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead and all Skybound titles

Agent Burgos, HARDCOVER THE WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM AT COMIC-CON Special, limited edition collects first 48 issues

Next week, Marvel Television returns to Comic Con International in San Diego and they’re coming with the biggest Super Hero television exclusives of the summer! Join Jeph Loeb, Head of Marvel Television, for the Marvel Television Presents panel as he unveils the world premiere first look at Marvel’s Avengers Assemble, the most anticipated new animated super hero series of 2013! Plus, check out an all-new Marvel Mash-Up featuring the Fantastic Four, experience Hulk and The Agents of S.M.A.S.H., and watch a full, all-new episode of Ultimate Spider-Man before it airs on Disney XD! You’ll also learn what’s coming next in the world of Marvel Knights Animation…and it’s astonishing!

Fans attending this panel will also receive one of the limited edition Ultimate Spider-Man button, available only at this panel and while supplies last!

“Marvel Universe on Disney XD has been a huge success thanks to our devoted fans and we want to make sure they get the first look at the future of Marvel Television,” explained Loeb. “And if you’re not a Marvel fan yet, I promise you’ll be one after we’re done showing you all this cool animation!”

The Marvel Television Presents panel is on Saturday, July 14 at 10:30am in Room 6BCF. Please note that no video or audio recording equipment may be used at this panel during any time.

Can’t make it to the convention to see Marvel (Booth #2329)? Follow along on the Marvel Events App & events.marvel.com, the best way to get exclusive videos, real-time announcements from the convention floor and up-to-the-minute panel, in-booth, and signing schedules of all your favorite Marvel creators!

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit www.marvel.com

Agent Burgos, Marvel Television Unveils Historic “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble” First Look & More At Comic Con International in San Diego!

July 3, MILWAUKIE, OR—Dark Horse and IDW team up on this once-in-a-lifetime crossover between the critically acclaimed Criminal Macabre and 30 Days of Night!

Steve Niles’s greatest characters come together in a final showdown, with a thrilling script by Steve Niles and artwork by Christopher Mitten.

Cal McDonald only wanted a beer, but what he got was a jaded federal agent and a story about vampires up in Barrow, Alaska. There’s a new vamp in LA, and he’s hell bent on escalating his attacks. When Mo’Lock’s sometimes ghoul-friend is murdered, Cal’s on the hunt . . . for Eben—the longtime protagonist/antagonist of 30 Days of Night.

Praise for Steve Niles:

“Not only is Niles’ dialogue and pacing the best it has ever been, but Mitten’s art is absolutely paradisiacal by being horrific, high-brow, or low-brow whenever the situation demands it. This is a collaboration seemingly blessed by the comic book gods.”—Comics Bulletin

“Fans of the horror genre really can’t go wrong with [30 Days of Night].”—About.com

For additional information check out the exclusive interview with Steve Niles on Comic Book Resources!

Criminal Macabre: Final Night—The 30 Days of Night Crossover #1 (of 4) is on sale December 12, 2012!

About Dark Horse

Founded in1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent such as Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Brian Wood, Gerard Way, Felicia Day, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, including The Mask, Ghost, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Its successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Mass Effect, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton’s Tragic Toys for Girls and Boys, Serenity, and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of both creator-owned content and licensed comics material.

Agent Burgos, #SDCC: DARK HORSE TO PUBLISH CRIMINAL MACABRE: FINAL NIGHT—THE 30 DAYS OF NIGHT CROSSOVER!

–SCIENCE Takes Comic-Con International: San Diego 2012 by Storm with Panels for FIREFLY, DARK MATTERS: TWISTED BUT TRUE and STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW–
TWITTER: @ScienceChannel #FireflySDCC #DarkMattersSDCC #SYSK

(SILVER SPRING, MD) – SCIENCE today announced that it will converge on the world’s leading comics and pop culture convention with three exclusive panels at this year’s Comic-Con International: San Diego (Comic-Con), taking place July 12-15. Headlined by the 10-year anniversary panel for the cult sensation FIREFLY, the network’s first appearance at the event features a star-studded lineup of top talent, producers and never-before-seen footage, along with numerous buzz-worthy surprises. SCIENCE will burst onto the scene at this year’s Comic-Con providing the ultimate signature experience that fans won’t soon forget, with additional presentations for DARK MATTERS: TWISTED BUT TRUE and STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW. FRINGE, which will make its SCIENCE debut on November 20, also will feature a panel on Sunday, July 15.
For the first time ever, SCIENCE will bring together the cast from the beloved but short-lived series, FIREFLY.

Captain Mal and his team will descend upon San Diego 10 years after the sci-fi western first hit airwaves and triggered a fanatical following. Since making its debut on SCIENCE in 2011, FIREFLY has become an audience favorite, attracting an army of both new and veteran Browncoats to the network. Join creator, executive producer and writer Joss Whedon, alongside fellow executive producer and writer Tim Minear, and cast members Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, Adam Baldwin, Sean Maher, Michael Fairman and the rest of the crew of Serenity for one of this year’s the most anticipated panels on Friday, July 13, at 12:30 PM (PT).
Friday evening at 7:15 PM (PT), John Noble (FRINGE) and the creators of SCIENCE’s hit series DARK MATTERS: TWISTED BUT TRUE will unveil shocking never-before-seen footage from the show’s second season. Join host Noble, the series’ executive producer and a featured scientific historian as SCIENCE offers a sneak peak at forbidden research records from the most shocking studies ever executed. Featuring gruesome lobotomy experiments, controversial CIA mind-control studies and accounts of live human transplants, the all-new season shows that science fact can be stranger—and sometimes more entertaining—than science fiction. Noble also will be signing limited edition DARK MATTERS Comic-Con posters at his autograph session for those brave enough to question everything. DARK MATTERS: TWISTED BUT TRUE season two premieres Saturday, July 14, at 10 PM (ET/PT). This is just the beginning of Noble’s Comic-Con conquest, as he will appear alongside the cast of the FRINGE at the Warner Bros. featured panel on Sunday, June 15. FRINGE makes its cable debut on SCIENCE on November 20 at 8 PM (ET/PT).

Finally, everyone’s favorite genius generalists Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant make their freshman Comic-Con appearance to record a live edition of their top-10 downloaded HowStuffWorks podcast. Josh and Chuck will lead Comic-Con’s fans in the 360-degree discussion Time Travel: Science Fact or Science Fiction? With surprise guests and exclusive giveaways, the guys also will reveal hidden scenes from their upcoming SCIENCE series STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW, premiering in January 2013.
“As a network, SCIENCE has one foot in the planetarium and the other in Comic-Con. This venue is the Mecca for creativity and inspiration that can spark a great work of art or the next scientific breakthrough,” said Debbie Adler Myers, general manager and executive vice president for SCIENCE. “From Joss, Nathan and our amazing FIREFLY panel, to John Noble and DARK MATTERS, to Josh and Chuck; our panels reflect the programming on SCIENCE—totally diverse but all whip-smart, hugely entertaining, lean-forward television.”

“We are very excited to welcome SCIENCE to the Comic-Con International family,” commented David Glanzer, director of marketing and public relations for Comic-Con. “They have some of the most-anticipated panels at this year’s event and we know they won’t disappoint the legion of fans that come from all over the world to experience the phenomena that is Comic-Con.”

For more information on this year’s lineup, please visit: SCIENCECHANNEL.com and Comic- Con International: San Diego 2012 at http://www.comic-con.org/cci/.
SCIENCE CHANNEL PANELS AT SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON 2012
TIME TRAVEL: SCIENCE FACT OR SCIENCE FICTION? STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW WITH JOSH & CHUCK

Thursday, 7/12/12, 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m., Room: 5AB
SCIENCE presents Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant, hosts of the Top 10 iTunes podcast STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW, as they lead a discussion about time travel with some very special celebrity guests for a live from Comic-Con taping of their podcast. Josh and Chuck’s loyal fan following, chemistry and insatiable curiosity are core to the launch of SCIENCE’s upcoming series STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW, as the two pioneer the way for what likely will be more introductions of talent discovered and incubated online finding a place on new platforms. Join Josh and Chuck and the SCIENCE team at Comic-Con for an exclusive sneak-peek of STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW, as well as limited edition Comic-Con exclusive giveaways from SCIENCE.

FIREFLY 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Friday 7/13/12, 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m., Room: 20
It has been 10 years since the crew of Serenity took flight in Joss Whedon’s short-lived but now revered series, FIREFLY. SCIENCE will reconvene, for the first time in a decade, Captain Mal Reynolds and the crew from the ship, calling all Browncoats to unite at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con. The cast of FIREFLY will talk about the past, present and future of FIREFLY, 10 years after its debut. SHINY.

DARK MATTERS
Friday, 7/13/12, 7:15 p.m.–8:15 p.m., Room: 6A
This summer, SCIENCE returns to the laboratory to unearth history’s most sinister tales with the second season of the breakout series DARK MATTERS: TWISTED BUT TRUE. Join USA Today’s Brian Truitt; John Noble; Executive Producer Rocky Collins; and science historian Michael Stevens as we take a closer look at the forbidden research records on the most shocking scientific studies ever executed. From gruesome lobotomy experiments, to controversial CIA studies, to spine-chilling accounts of live human transplants, the all-new season shows that science fact can be stranger, and even more entertaining, than science fiction. The six world premiere episodes take audiences inside a real-life Twilight Zone, where shocking CGI re-creations illustrate unforgettable tales of genius gone horribly awry. DARK MATTERS: TWISTED BUT TRUE premieres Saturday, July 14, at 10:00 PM (ET/PT).

JOHN NOBLE/DARK MATTERS AUTOGRAPH SESSION
Saturday, 7/15/12, 1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
John Noble, host of SCIENCE’s hit series DARK MATTERS, will be signing limited edition Comic-Con International: San Diego 2012 commemorative posters during his autograph session.

Agent Burgos, BROWNCOATS UNITE! SCIENCE CELEBRATES FIREFLY’S 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH EXCLUSIVE SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON PANEL

The final variant cover for Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead issue #100 is by Matthew Roberts. Roberts began working with Kirkman early in his career on the Kirkman-created Battle Pope series. The only way to get this variant is to sign up for The Walking Dead Escape: San Diego at www.thewalkingdeadescape.com and the variant is free with your admission purchase to be a Survivor or Walker.

Matthew Roberts has been drawing all of his life, inspired by Art Adams’ Longshot series and Mike Mignola’s Rocket Racoon. When Matthew Roberts worked on Battle Pope, he confesses, “I was moonlighting from my day job in the Air Force.” After years of serving his country, “With my patriotism quenched and my kids able to make their own breakfast, I’m back at the drawing table and honored to draw the variant for such a milestone issue and an amazing event in The Walking Dead Escape.” Roberts’ says, “I’m grateful beyond words for the opportunity to draw again, and to be working with Robert is a huge cherry on top. I couldn’t be happier.”

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Matt Roberts since the very earliest days of my career on Battle Pope,” says Kirkman, “I couldn’t be more thrilled that he’s coming back to comics to work with Skybound and I can’t think of a better way of reintroducing him to the world of comics than with this cover, commemorating The Walking DeadEscape and our monumental issue 100.”

The Walking Dead Escape: San Diego takes place July 12 -15 at Petco Park, centrally located near the San Diego Convention Center. Participants can be a Survivor and race through the zombie infested evacuation zone; a Walker who becomes one of the undead, embracing the inevitable; or a Spectator who watches the apocalypse from sidelines at the Escape Party. The Walking Dead Escape: San Diego is unlike any obstacle course event in the U.S., expanding on Robert Kirkman’s best-selling The Walking Dead comic book series and graphic novel storylines, allowing Survivors and Walkers to explore the initial days of the apocalypse. Survivors will climb, crawl and slide in an effort to avoid confrontation by hordes of Walkers, while achieving the ultimate adventure on The Walking Dead-themed obstacle course. The Walking DeadEscape is not a race, and Survivors are not timed, but the end is near, and they must move swiftly. If they’re lucky, Survivors will reach the decontamination zone at the end where it will be determined if they have been infected. Participants will be amazed at the interactive displays and The Walking Dead references along the course. Early registration is strongly recommended, as walk-ups may not be available on event day. This summer, The Walking Dead will be taking over Petco Park and fans will have a front row seat to the real-life action event of a lifetime. For more information or to register for this event, please visit www.thewalkingdeadescape.com or www.Skybound.com

Agent Burgos, Final Variant Cover The Walking Dead issue #100

That’s right, the one and only Michonne! She is already a popular character in the comics, but with the beginning of AMC’s The Walking Dead season 3, expect her popularity to get higher. This seems to be a repack figure, with an new design packaging and the poncho, which was not included in the original figure.

As of now we have no more details on the figure, although something tells me it might be sold only at the Skybound booth hehe.

Thoughts?

Agent Burgos, San Diego Comic Con 2012: Michonne Figure

The Walking Dead Escape: San Diego Partners with Make-Up Effects Company KNB EFX Group, Inc. Lead by Co-Executive Producer of AMC’s The Walking Dead Greg Nicotero

The Zombie Apocalypse Event Debuts at Petco Park to Celebrate Robert Kirkman’s
The Walking Dead Issue #100 During San Diego Comic-Con July 12-14, 2012

San Diego, CA – June 19, 2012 – The Walking Dead Escape: San Diego announced its partnership with KNB EFX Group, Inc. and its founder Greg Nicotero, the force behind Special Effects Make-up for TV shows and movies such as AMC’s The Walking Dead, Kill Bill, Predators, Transformers 1-3, Pulp Fiction, Dances with Wolves, Land of the Dead, The Chronicles of Narnia, just to name a few. In conjunction with the release of Robert Kirkman’s Eisner Award-winning The Walking Dead Issue #100 at San Diego Comic-Con, The Walking Dead Escape: San Diego takes place July 12 -14 at Petco Park, centrally located near the San Diego Convention Center. Registration is now open at www.TheWalkingDeadEscape.com.

There are three ways to participate in this epic adventure. Participants can be a Survivor and race through the zombie infested evacuation zone; a Walker who becomes one of the undead, embracing the inevitable; or a Spectator who watches the apocalypse from sidelines at the Escape Party. Greg Nicotero and his team at KNB EFX will transform those who sign up to be Walkers into the most terrifying zombies to grace San Diego.

With their work on AMC’s The Walking Dead, Greg Nicotero and his KNB EFX team have deep experience creating some of the most incredible zombies in the industry. Founded in 1988, they have become one of the most prolific Special Make-up Effects Studios in Hollywood. One look at Nicotero’s creations for the undead and The Walking Dead Escape: San Diego participants will know they are in for a zombie experience like no other.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to have Greg and his KNB EFX team on board for The Walking Dead Escape: San Diego,” said event producer Liam Brenner. “People who sign up to be Walkers will have the opportunity to be completely transformed into zombies by the leader in the Special Make-up Effects industry. It’s really a chance of a lifetime!”

Skybound.com’s The Walking Dead Escape: San Diego is unlike any obstacle course event in the U.S., expanding on the best-selling The Walking Dead comic book series and graphic novel storylines, allowing Survivors and Walkers to explore the initial days of the apocalypse.

Survivors will climb, crawl and slide in an effort to avoid confrontation by hordes of Walkers, while achieving the ultimate adventure on The Walking Dead-themed obstacle course. The Walking Dead Escape is not a race, and Survivors are not timed, but the end is near, and they must move swiftly. If they’re lucky, Survivors will reach the decontamination zone at the end where it will be determined if they have been infected.

For more information or to register for the event, please visit www.thewalkingdeadescape.com.

About Greg Nicotero & KNB EFX Group, Inc.
Greg Nicotero is Co-Executive Producer, Director and Special Effects Make-Up designer on The Walking Dead. In 2011, he received two Emmy nominations and won the Emmy (his 3rd) for Outstanding Prosthetic Make-Up for a Series for The Walking Dead. The web series “Torn Apart” based on the WALKING DEAD Franchise which he co-wrote and directed, won the 2011 Writer’s Guild Award for outstanding achievement in writing for new media.

His company, The KNB EFX Group (KNB) has contributed to such films as Dances with Wolves, The Green Mile, Sin City, Transformers and Pulp Fiction. Prosthetics and character make-up can be seen in everything from Kill Bill, Splice, Drag me To Hell, The Hills Have Eyes to Boogie Nights, Grindhouse, Austin Powers: Goldmember and Army of Darkness. Nicotero supervised make-up effects on no less than 90 films, from Inglorious Basterds to the Steven Spielberg/Tom Hanks HBO series The Pacific and Predator. He also won a British Academy Award for Best Make-Up as well as an Oscar for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

About Robert Kirkman
Robert Kirkman’s success and passionate advocacy for creator-owned comics led him to become the first person invited to become a partner at Image Comics since the company’s inception twenty years ago and he formed his own imprint there, Skybound, in 2010. Kirkman is the creator/writer of the Eisner Award-winning The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, all-ages Super Dinosaur, The Astounding Wolf-Man, and new title Thief of Thieves, among many others.

Kirkman has earned the respect of the comic, writing and television communities and topped the New York Times bestseller list for graphic novels in 2011 and in April 2012, he took the top five spots on both the hardcover and paperback lists. He’s the creator/executive producer and writer of the hit television show, AMC’s The Walking Dead, the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time in the U.S, also an international success in 120 countries and 250 million households. AMC is developing Thief of Thieves as a potential series with Kirkman serving as creator/executive producer and writer. www.Skybound.com is your destination for all news and merchandise for Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead and all Skybound titles.

Agent Burgos, The Walking Dead Escape: San Diego Partners With Greg Nicotero

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced cop of “Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture” by Rob Salkowitz about a week ago and after much hassle in life I was afforded a little while to engulf myself in this book, and this book alone. Being a beginner student of business I was rather interested in the points of view the author makes, as well as the way he is torn throughout the book by being a futurist, and businessman himself, and being a fanboy of comics and all their glory.

Right off the bat I give this book a four out of five, and that’s not being generous at all I feel this book is a solid read, fully informative, and without revealing too much he hits on topics, and gives insight to points about the comics and entertainment industries that I fully agree with, as well as saying a few things that I just don’t see happening in my opinion.

“Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture” was a quick read with as much amusement and stories as there is knowledgeable information about the business side of an industry. Now being a fan for such a long time has left me a little bit jaded about what the “Big 2″ are doing comic book wise, and as fans that kind of happens with all of us. We complain about the smallest changes, the way someone looks, or that the industry doesn’t understand us. What this book does is break down where the industry is, what has happened to the comics, and how everything from print media to the video game and movie industries has an effect upon the comics we love to read all the while following the author and his wife on their Comic-Con adventure.

If you feel you have a grasp on the business side of the comics industry this book may very well teach you a few important things, if you are a fan of Comic-Con in San Diego and want to learn more about the industry take a look at this book. It has everything for a newbie to business and an avid fan, as well as being well written and very funny at times.

Michael Worthan, A Review: Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture by Rob Salkowitz

The Walking Dead Escape: San Diego Debuts at Petco Park to Celebrate

Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead Issue #100                                                                  

During San Diego Comic-Con July 12-15, 2012

Registration for The Walking Dead Escape: San Diego Opens May 16^th

San Diego, CA – May 16, 2012 –Robert Kirkman, the creator/writer of The Walking Dead comic book series and graphic novels and www.Skybound.com announce their first event, The Walking Dead Escape: San Diego.  In conjunction with the release of the Eisner Award-winning The Walking DeadIssue #100 at San Diego Comic-Con, the event takes place July 12 -15 at Petco Park, centrally located near the San Diego Convention Center. Registration is now open at TheWalkingDeadEscape.Com. There are three ways to participate in this epic adventure. Participants can be a Survivor and race through the zombie infested evacuation zone; a Walker who becomes one of the undead, embracing the inevitable; or a Spectator who watches the apocalypse from sidelines at the Escape Party.

The Walking Dead Escape: San Diego is unlike any obstacle course event in the U.S., expanding on the best-selling The Walking Dead comic book series and graphic novel storylines, allowing Survivors and Walkers to explore the initial days of the apocalypse.

“Our fans have been reading about it, watching it and now they get to live it with The Walking Dead Escape,” said Robert Kirkman. “We are literally transforming Petco Park into the early days of society’s collapse and San Diego is just the first city to fall.”

Survivors will climb, crawl and slide in an effort to avoid confrontation by hordes of Walkers, while achieving the ultimate adventure on The Walking Dead-themed obstacle course. The Walking Dead Escape is not a race, and Survivors are not timed, but the end is near, and they must move swiftly. If they’re lucky, Survivors will reach the decontamination zone at the end where it will be determined if they have been infected.

Whether taking part in the event as a Survivor, Walker or Spectator, participants will be amazed at the interactive displays and The Walking Deadreferences along the course. Early registration is strongly recommended, as walk-ups may not be available on event day.  This summer, The Walking Dead will be taking over Petco Park and fans will have a front row seat to the real-life action event of a lifetime.

For more information or to register for this event, please visit www.thewalkingdeadescape.com or www.Skybound.com

Agent Burgos, The Walking Dead Escape: San Diego