The Prisoner Retro Style Action Figures Launch On Kickstarter 

Posted on 04/19/2021 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

This Kickstarter is fully funded but still notable because of what it is offering. I know many folks would be interested in this simply from how successful the project already is.

The Prisoner Retro Style Action Figures Launch On Kickstarter

The First-Ever Officially Licensed Action Figure Line Based on the Cult Classic TV Show

(April 19, 2021) Wandering Planet Toys is launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund the first-ever officially licensed action figure line based on The Prisoner, the cult classic television show starring and created by Patrick McGoohan. The campaign will run from Monday April 19th until Wednesday, May 26th at 6:06 PM PT.

In 1967 the cult classic TV series, The Prisoner burst onto the screen. The series, about an unnamed British intelligence agent who awakes to find himself trapped in an idyllic seaside village, was not only an instant hit with viewers at the time, it went on to be watched and re-watched obsessively by fans, quickly gaining cult status. And while there have been several collectables released over the decades, The Prisoner has never received a line of officially licensed action figures… until now. Wandering Planet Toys, appointed by ITV Studios, will bring to life 4-inch retro style action figures that celebrate Patrick McGoohan’s brilliant series.

“The Prisoner is quintessential cult TV,” said Wandering Planet Toys co-founder and Emmy nominated writer Chris “Doc” Wyatt (Marvel’s Rocket and Groot). “Depending on the viewer it can be seen as a stylish spy drama, an allegorical social commentary, a paranoid conspiracy thriller, or even a piece of avant-garde filmmaking. Our Wave 1 toys are dedicated to the idea of honoring the series and contributing to its fandom.”

Wandering Planet Toys’ campaign features multiple tiers:

NUMBER 6 FIRST EDITION features the iconic black jacket with white piping, and the classic 6 badge.

NUMBER 6 KICKSTARTER-EXCLUSIVE “ARRIVAL” EDITION features the Prisoner’s all-black outfit, as seen in the episode “Arrival” and in the opening credit sequence of each episode.

NUMBER 6 BEACH ESCAPE EDITION version of Number 6 is a variant of the First Edition figure, but WITHOUT the #6 badge. This edition features a special cardback featuring the icon moment of Number 6 attempts escape on the Village’s beachfront.

NUMBER 6 “CHECKMATE”  EDITION. This edition of NUMBER 6 figure sports the multi-colored cloak worn in during the living chess game in the episode “Checkmate” complete with the chess staff.

NUMBER 6 – LIMITED EDITION ROVER PACKAGE. No discussion of THE PRISONER is complete without mention of the Village’s spherical guardian and menace, ROVER. In order to evoke the iconic moment of NUMBER 6 pushed up against the gelatinous side of the guardian, Wandering Planet Toys has created a Limited Edition plastic packaging unit depicting our hero in the belly of the beast. This package is a resealable clamshell so the figure can be removed for display, then reinserted.

“FREE FOR ALL” TWO-PACK SET. This 2-figure set features NUMBER 6 and NUMBER 2 (as played by Eric Portman). The accessories include NUMBER 6’s hat, bullhorn and election poster from the episode, as well as phones from NUMBER 2’s office.

“SCHIZOID MAN” TWO-PACK SET. This 2-figure set features NUMBER 6 as well as his doppelganger NUMBER 12 (also played by Patrick McGoohan, but with a color-reverse white jacket with black piping). The accessories include two fencing foils, two fencing helmets, and two marksman pistols, and miniature versions of NUMBER 24’s psychic testing “Zener cards”, so that you can hold your own contest to determine which figure is the real NUMBER 6.

DEGREE ABSOLUTE – The “ALL IN” PLEDGE including an EXCLUSIVE Wandering Planet designed THE PRISONER T-Shirt. In addition to the full Wave One product line, backers will also receive an exclusive THE PRISONER T-SHIRT designed by Wandering Planet Toys.

“Wave 1 of The Prisoner action figures are far along in development,” said Wandering Planet Toys co-founder Gavin Hignight. “The figures have been sculpted, the packaging has been designed, and approvals have already been granted by our partners at ITV Studios. As longtime fans of The Prisoner, we are so excited for fans and collectors to see these toys and the detail we’re putting into them, but that can only happen if the campaign is funded.”

The Wandering Planet Toys campaign concludes May 26, 2021. For updates, follow Wandering Planet Toys on Twitter.

To support the campaign, visit Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wanderingplanettoys/the-prisoner-retro-style-action-figures?ref=7e7gzf

 

“The Prisoner ™and © ITC Entertainment Group Limited. 1967, 2001 and 2021. Licensed by ITV Ventures Limited.  All rights reserved.”

Posted in Kickstarter, Nerd Notes, TV and Movies | Comments Off on The Prisoner Retro Style Action Figures Launch On Kickstarter 

Boxed Collector’s Editions of Sam & Max Save the World coming April 30 from Limited Run Games

Posted on 04/15/2021 by Pop-Culture Spectrum
Sam & Max Save the World header

Great gouts of steaming magma on a beeline for the orphanage! Sam & Max Save the World is getting a physical release!

Skunkape Games, a studio founded by former Telltale developers to remaster the episodic Sam & Max games, have teamed up with Limited Run Games for three forthcoming physical products:

Limited Run will make these available in an open preorder from April 30 through May 30. Visit their store for more details: https://limitedrungames.com/collections/sam-and-max

Assets:

About Sam & Max
Individually Sam & Max are a six-foot dog in a suit (Sam) and a naked hyperkinetic rabbity-thing (Max) with sharp wit, big guns, and their own unique way of fighting crime. Collectively they are the Freelance Police, stars of award-winning comics by Steve Purcell, a 1990s LucasArts adventure game, a short-lived Canadian TV show, an upcoming VR game, and three episodic seasons released by Telltale Games between 2006 and 2010. Skunkape’s remastered version of the first of these, Sam & Max Save the World, released for PC and Nintendo Switch in December.

Sam & Max in their remastered office

In Sam & Max Save the World (a.k.a. Sam & Max Season One), the duo investigate a hypnosis plot that spins to global proportions in six linked cases that originally released as downloadable monthly episodes. The remaster features overhauled lighting, lip-sync, audio, cinematography, and more to bring a 15-year-old game up to modern standards.

Original-remaster comparison shot

About the Limited Run Collector’s Editions
The Collector’s Editions will feature big box packaging with cover art painted by Sam & Max creator Steve Purcell, a Highway Surfing mini print (also painted by Purcell), six postcards depicting the game’s six episodes as comic book covers, and the game on physical media.

Sam & Max Save the World Collector's Edition mockup

The Collector’s Editions will also include an updated recreation of the Sam & Max Season One Case File, which was available in very limited quantities when Sam & Max Season One originally released in 2007. You can learn more about the Case File and its history here: https://skunkapegames.com/samandmax/casefile

Sam & Max Season One case file
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IDW Previews Four Tantalizing Pages from 2021’s Most Hotly Anticipated Comic Book Crossover, Locke & Key / The Sandman Universe: Hell & Gone

Posted on 03/12/2021 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

Two Beloved Fantasy/Horror Comic Book Series Collide in an Exclusive First Look by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez

SAN DIEGO, CA (March 9, 2021) – New York Times bestselling novelist Joe Hill and superstar artist Gabriel Rodríguez have crafted a tale of mystery and terror, bringing together two of comics’ greatest fantasy franchises — their award-winning series Locke & Key published by IDW and DC’s blockbuster The Sandman, created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg — in Locke & Key / The Sandman Universe: Hell & Gone #1, slated for release on April 14th.

With a hit Netflix Original Series Locke & Key adaptation produced by IDW Entertainment heading into its second season and anticipation building with recent casting developments for Netflix’s upcoming The Sandman, there’s never been a better time for these brilliant comic book universes to collide, and IDW is proud to debut the opening scene of this mature-themed miniseries for all the world to enjoy.

“Without Sandman, I don’t know if there ever would’ve been a Locke & Key,” says Hill. “Neil Gaiman’s stories taught Gabriel and me how to tell ours. The Sandman series is to comics what J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings was to fantasy and maybe what Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was to rock & roll: it’s the Alpha & Omega of dark fantasy in this format. Neil dreamt up all the best toys, and what a thrill it’s been to play with them. Maybe the biggest surprise is how well, how naturally, these series lace together. It’s like they’ve always been waiting for each other.”

Rodríguez adds, “An idea we started discussing with Joe as a joke became a Dream once and now the stars aligned to lend us the Key to open the gate to a story that means so much to us! Both Joe and myself fell in love deeper than ever with comics thanks to a generation of genius creators guided by editor Karen Berger in DC’s Vertigo line. They brought to the medium a breath of insane, mind-bending fresh air rarely seen before. Morpheus’ saga is directly responsible for inspiring the foundation of Keyhouse, the crafting of the magic keys, and the family saga of Locke & Key. To have these universes weave together in a multi-dimensional, gut-wrenching, and heartbreaking adventure is indeed a Dream UnLocked.”

Hell & Gone #1 follows a desperate Mary Locke, whose brother Jack may be 10 years dead but still sends letters home from Hell. Her quest to rescue him from The Pit will require her to outsmart Roderick Burgess (the most wicked man in England), puzzle her way through the House of Mystery, and risk the walking nightmare known as The Corinthian in a disintegrating Kingdom of Dreams!

“Every time a new page comes in, it drives home the point that this series is a real thing and not just a dream,” says series editor Chris Ryall. “And in the hands of Joe and Gabriel, what an amazing dream-like treat this is going to be for both series’ legions of fans.”

Nachie Marsham, IDW Publisher, says, “Infinitely imaginative and flawlessly executed, the continuing tales of Locke & Key serve as an inspiration for all of us, teaching us lessons anew about the power of visual storytelling. In crossing over with The Sandman Universe, we find a seamless harmony of vision, themes, and aesthetic. Joe and Gabriel have created another masterpiece.”

Locke & Key / The Sandman Universe: Hell & Gone #1 will be available with multiple cover variants for retailers and fans to enjoy, including Cover A by Gabriel Rodríguez, Cover B by JH Williams III (Batwoman, The Sandman: Overture), Cover C by Kelley Jones (Batman, The Sandman), and two Retailer Incentive editions featuring art by Rodríguez and Williams, respectively.

For information on how to purchase Locke & Key / The Sandman Universe comic books, please contact your local comic shop or visit www.comicshoplocator.com to find a store near you.




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ABLAZE takes to the stars with SPACE PIRATE CAPTAIN HARLOCK

Posted on 03/12/2021 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

The crew of the Arcadia set sails in space once again starting this summer!

MARCH 11, PORTLAND, OR – ABLAZE proudly announced today that they will be presenting the next chapter in the Space Pirate Captain Harlock saga by legendary creator Leiji Matsumoto and artist Jérôme Alquié launching June 2021.

Set within the timeline of the original series, this brand-new Captain Harlock adventure marks the beginning of a new story arc. Planet Earth is threatened by an upcoming invasion by the Sylvidres and despite being banished as a pirate, Captain Harlock won’t give up trying to save the world. This time, the source of danger comes directly from Earth, not outer space. A team of scientists discovers a Sylvidres mausoleum where they find information about terrifying genetic manipulations and a destructive power capable of either providing the Sylvidres with immortality or putting an end to their civilization. The unprecedented cold spell hitting Earth might only be a taste of what this new enemy has in store…

Will Captain Harlock and his crew manage to solve this mystery and save the Earth from yet another menace?

Leiji Matsumoto said: “I’m very haCAP-HARLOCK-1-COV-Appy that Jerome Alquie is drawing this story about Captain Harlock. Seeing the manuscript, I could feel the passion that this work was carried out with, and the passion of young people who pursue their dreams. All the details are drawn with great care and the universe of the series is perfectly reproduced.  A day will come when young people will forge their own world. And if I can serve as a launching pad for the fulfillment of their dreams, then I am honored. Thank you very much.”

Jérôme Alquié said: “As a big fan of the universe of Leiji Matsumoto and Captain Harlock, it was a real pleasure and honor for me to work on this project. I hope you will feel all the passion that animated me throughout the project under the benevolent eye of Master Matsumoto. Today I am delighted to allow Harlock to shine even more and to share this story with the English-speaking public.”

Rich Young, ABLAZE VP Creative/Business Development said: “I grew up watching Star Blazers. And I’ve always thought Captain Harlock was such a cool character.  So I am of course thrilled to be publishing this title at ABLAZE now.  Leiji Matsumoto is a living legend, and Jérôme Alquié was born to draw this book…their collaboration here is something special.”

SPACE PIRATE CAPTAIN HARLOCK #1 will be solicited in the March 2021 issue of Diamond Previews for June 2021 shipping items, with an on-sale date of 6/9/21. Issue 1 will feature cover art by Jérôme Alquié , as well as all new covers by Derrick Chew, Kendrick Lim, Leirix Li, Yanick Paquette, Miguel Mercado, and Andie Tong. Retailers can reach out to Diamond or ABLAZE regarding special offers and promotions for the series, including retailer exclusive covers.

For updates, previews, and details on upcoming titles from ABLAZE, visit http://ablazepublishing.com/ and look for SPACE PIRATE CAPTAIN HARLOCK #1 at your local comics shop June 9th!

 

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AMC Games Presents The Magnificent Trufflepigs

Posted on 03/10/2021 by Pop-Culture Spectrum


The Story of Romance and Metal-Detecting is Coming to PC and Nintendo Switch in 2021

Doctor Who Alum Arthur Darvill On Board to Voice Lead Character

New York, U.S.A March 10, 2021 – AMC Games today announced the upcoming The Magnificent Trufflepigs, a wholly unique narrative game that challenges players to dig for the truth, both literally and figuratively – with British actor Arthur Darvill (Doctor Who, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow) on board to voice the lead character. The first game from the Leeds, U.K.-based studio Thunkd, The Magnificent Trufflepigs combines dramatic story choices with metal-detecting mechanics. SundanceTV has partnered with AMC Games to support the project with branding and promotion. 

The Magnificent Trufflepigs is coming to PC and Nintendo Switch in Early Summer 2021. Watch the game’s teaser trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tOvxkrVS8I
A first-person, romantic, metal-detecting game, The Magnificent Trufflepigs has players taking the role of Adam (voiced by Darvill), a sharp-witted but compassionate man returning to his childhood village of Stanning. There he joins a woman named Beth (voiced by Luci Fish of Safe House and Another Eden) on her mission to unearth a local treasure. But all is not as it seems, and players will have to choose how Adam responds as cracks begin to appear in Beth’s fairy tale plans.

“AMC Games is continuing its goal of giving voice to unique creators,” said Clayton Neuman, vice president of Games for AMC. “The Magnificent Trufflepigs is a dramatic narrative game with the maturity and nuance of critically-acclaimed shows seen across AMC Networks. I was blown away when I first read Andrew’s script, and I can’t wait for players to experience it, fully realized by our talented cast, later this year.”

“Thunkd is extremely proud of The Magnificent Trufflepigs, but gems like this can only be unearthed with the help of like-minded partners that are prepared to dig a bit deeper to find something special,” said Andrew Crawshaw, the lead designer of Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture and founder of Thunkd. “Everyone at AMC Games and SundanceTV has helped to ensure that making our first game has been an experience that we’ll treasure.”

About The Magnificent Trufflepigs

The game’s story focuses on Beth’s attempt to rekindle a childhood sense of adventure. Many years ago, she found an earring while metal-detecting on a local farm. It brought her brief fame and—most importantly—it made her feel special. But she never found the earring’s match, so she’s hatched a plan to invite Adam back into her life… leading them to dig up much more than she bargained for.

Features include:

  • Metal detecting!
    • Meditatively exploring a peaceful English farm
    • Finding “treasures” (mostly rubbish) with your detector
    • Digging them up with a large shovel and a small trowel
    • Sharing photos of your finds with Beth
  • Relationship building!
    • Chatting with Beth via walkie-talkie and instant message
    • Unravelling a mystery through narrative choices that help you:
      • Learn about Beth’s hopes and fears
      • Direct the conversation to root out the truth
The Magnificent Trufflepigs is the second title from AMC Games, the video game publishing division of AMC Networks. Their first game was 2020’s acclaimed flight passenger simulator Airplane Mode, which meticulously recreated the experience of real-time commercial flight, presenting players with randomized events to create an endlessly re-playable experience for flight enthusiasts and content creators alike.

Learn more about The Magnificent Trufflepigs on their Steam page here: http://amc.tv/TrufflepigsNews

 

About AMC Games
AMC is home to some of the most popular and acclaimed programs on television. AMC was the first basic cable network to ever win the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series with Mad Men in 2008, which then went on to win the coveted award four years in a row, before Breaking Bad won it in 2013 and 2014. The network’s series The Walking Dead is the highest-rated series in cable history. AMC’s current original drama series are Better Call Saul, Dispatches from Elsewhere, Fear the Walking Dead, NOS4A2, Quiz, Soulmates, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: World Beyond and the forthcoming series 61st Street, Kevin Can F Himself and Pantheon. AMC also explores authentic worlds and discussion with original shows like Talking Dead, AMC Visionaries and Ride with Norman Reedus. AMC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and its sister networks include IFC, SundanceTV, BBC America and WE tv. AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile.

About Thunkd

Thunkd is a new, independent, video game developer that wants to become synonymous with high-quality, short-form, ‘evening-sized’ games and experiences. Formed by Andrew Crawshaw, a games industry veteran with credits in multiple award-winning titles, Thunkd believes there is a sizeable audience that wants high-quality titles, that they know they can play from start-to-finish, without consuming what little leisure time they have.
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WarnerMedia’s Rooster Teeth Studios Developing Animated Series “Slam!” For HBO Max   

Posted on 03/09/2021 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

 ‘Slam!’ is based on the BOOM! Studios graphic novels written by Pamela Ribon (Moana, Ralph Breaks the Internet) who is set to write and executive produce the series

Rooster Teeth Studios, BOOM! Studios, and Minnow Mountain set to produce

AUSTIN, TX (March 9, 2021) – Today, WarnerMedia’s Rooster Teeth Studios announced development on a new animated series for HBO Max titled ‘Slam!’. ‘Slam!’ is based on the critically-acclaimed BOOM! Studios graphic novels created by Pam Ribon and Veronica Fish. Ribon will adapt and executive produce the series. ‘Slam!’ will be produced by Rooster Teeth Studios, BOOM! Studios, and Minnow Mountain.

‘Slam!” is an adult animated half-hour series set in the fast-paced, hard-hitting, super cheeky, all-female world of banked track roller derby, following two young women who will have to decide if their budding friendship is stronger than the pull of a team when a win is on the line. The series will be brought to life using a groundbreaking combination of rotoscoped and 3D animation to take viewers into the sport in a way never visualized on screen before.

“I’m so fortunate to have the coolest, talented-est, Austin-est animation studios in the world partnering to bring SLAM! to life as a television series,” said Pamela Ribon. “Billy Wee and the team at HBO Max geeked out just as hard as we did when talking about where this could go in storytelling and animation. That’s when we knew we’d found the perfect home. We’re so excited to make this rough and tumble, emotional, honest show about what it means to surrender your life (and your knees!) to roller derby.”

“We are beyond thrilled to be working with BOOM! Studios and Minnow Mountain to bring Slam! to life in animation,” said Ryan P. Hall, Head of Rooster Teeth Studios. “Pam Ribon is one of the best storytellers in the business and Slam! is a truly inspiring story, so we can’t wait to share this world with the HBO Max audience.”

Rooster Teeth Studios’ growing slate of content includes Brian Michael Bendis’ Cover in development at HBO Max, gen:LOCK Season 2 in production at HBO Max, and Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy currently airing on Netflix. As a development arm within Rooster Teeth, Rooster Teeth Studios leverages an in-house animation studio that produces original CG, 2D and mixed media content. Rooster Teeth produces the award-winning Halo satire Red vs. Blue, which is the longest-running web series in history. Rooster Teeth also produces the global phenomenon RWBY, which was the first western anime series to be distributed in Japan. Rooster Teeth Studios has partnered to make original content with HBO Max, Netflix, Cartoon Network, Discovery and Outlier Society, and collaborations with Hasbro, ELEAGUE, Scholastic, DC and Warner Bros. Consumer Products. Rooster Teeth Studios is represented by CAA.

BOOM! Studios, one of the largest comic book publishers in North America, has published some of the highest-selling original comics of the last decade, including Lumberjanes, Something is Killing the Children, Once & Future, and Keanu Reeves’ BRZRKR. The company is currently in production on a live action adaptation of their R.L. Stine graphic novel series Just Beyond for Disney+. They have adaptations of their material in development at Apple, HBO Max, Amazon, Paramount+, and at Netflix through their first-look TV deal with the streamer. BOOM! Studios is represented by UTA and attorney Matt Saver.

Minnow Mountain is a creative partnership between animator Craig Staggs and producer Steph Swope that began in 2012. The Austin, Texas based studio is the groundbreaking animation team behind Amazon’s critically acclaimed new series Undone, and the Emmy-winning animated documentary Tower for PBS.

Pamela Ribon is a screenwriter (MOANA, RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET, BEARS), TV writer, best-selling novelist, and Film Independent Directing Lab Fellow. She skated with the LA Derby Dolls for several years (We Are One! VB!), and has previously written about her roller derby experiences for Oprah.com, the Disney Channel, and in the novel GOING IN CIRCLES. She has adapted her critically-acclaimed graphic novel, MY BOYFRIEND IS A BEAR, (co-created with Cat Farris) as a feature film screenplay for Legendary and Atlas Entertainment and is attached to direct (with Paul Franklin). She was the writer of the upcoming Disney/Blue Sky Animation feature NIMONA until the recent studio closure. She is currently adapting her comedic memoir NOTES TO BOYS (AND OTHER THINGS I SHOULDN’T SHARE IN PUBLIC) as an animated series for FX’s CAKE.

Posted in TV and Movies | Comments Off on WarnerMedia’s Rooster Teeth Studios Developing Animated Series “Slam!” For HBO Max   

Your New Look at SEEN: RACHEL CARSON

Posted on 03/04/2021 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

  A Groundbreaking Graphic Novel Sheds Light on Pivotal Historical Figure
Rachel Carson in March 2021

LOS ANGELES, CA (March 3, 2021) – BOOM! Studios revealed today a new look at SEEN: RACHEL CARSON, a brand new original graphic novel from writer Birdie Willis (Over the Garden Wall) and artist Rii Abrego (Steven Universe) in the SEEN: TRUE STORIES OF MARGINALIZED TRAILBLAZERS series. The series illuminates the triumphs and struggles of important historical figures who aren’t found in traditional textbooks, but deserve to be remembered for their contributions to humanity and their inarguable strength and courage in the face of impossible odds. They’re the heroes— the inventors, the artists, the activists, and more—whose stories you won’t want to miss.

In SEEN: RACHEL CARSON, meet author and activist Rachel Carson, the woman who changed the way America fought against environmental crises through her bestselling books, ultimately spurring the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

SEEN: RACHEL CARSON is the latest release from BOOM! Studios’ award-winning BOOM! Box imprint, home to groundbreaking original series such as Lumberjanes by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Brooklyn Allen, and Noelle Stevenson; Giant Days by John Allison, Lissa Treiman, and Max Sarin; The Last Witch by Conor McCreery and V.V. Glass; Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera and Celia Moscote; The Avant-Guards by Carly Usdin and Noah Hayes; Fence by C.S. Pacat and Johanna the Mad; and Goldie Vance by Hope Larson and Brittney Williams.

Print copies of SEEN: RACHEL CARSON will be available for sale on March 24, 2021 at local comic book shops (use comicshoplocator.com to find the nearest one) and March 30, 2021 at bookstores, or at the BOOM! Studios webstore. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and Madefire. The SEEN series launched with SEEN: EDMONIA LEWIS from writer Jasmine Walls and artist Bex Glendining, available now.

For more on SEEN: TRUE STORIES OF MARGINALIZED TRAILBLAZERS and other projects from BOOM! Studio, stay tuned to www.boom-studios.com and follow @boomstudios on Twitter. 

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Award-Winning Journalist Mike Sager and NeoText Re-Release JANET’S WORLD, A Gripping and Personal Tale of Journalistic Malpractice

Posted on 02/28/2021 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

Janet Cooke’s Only Interview Is Framed by Insight from Her Former Boyfriend and Fellow Post Staffer Sager

(Feb 23) The latest collaboration between digital publisher NeoText and reporter Mike Sager’s The Sager Group is JANET’S WORLD, a thorough and intimate investigation into the story of former reporter Janet Cooke and the scandal that rocked not just her career but the entire field of journalism. The release of JANET’S WORLD is part of a collaboration between Sager—an esteemed writer for the Washington Post, Rolling Stone, and Esquire for more than forty years—and digital publisher NeoText, created last year in order to release updated, expanded, and remixed versions of some of Sager’s classic reporting, as well as brand-new pieces of journalism written and developed in collaboration with Sager’s indie publishing house.

Janet Cooke caused one of the biggest scandals in the history of journalism when her 1981 Pulitzer Prize-winning article, about an eight-year-old heroin addict, turned out to be a fabrication. Cooke, a Black reporter for the Washington Post, worked under the legendary editors Ben Bradlee and Bob Woodward during a period of time when employers were seeking to diversify newsrooms and other workplaces through a program known as Affirmative Action. Her disgrace was a jarring wakeup call for the news industry. Vilified by history as a fabricator, Cooke’s difficult role as an African American professional woman during this era is often overlooked.

Cooke’s transgressions rocked the foundations of public trust the press had built since the Vietnam and Watergate eras, when the 4th Estate was seen as a force for objective reporting and an advocate for the public good. Immediately, Cooke became infamous, the first in a line of publicly exposed fabulists, including Stephen Glass of the New Republic and Jayson Blair of the New York Times. Cooke’s case also came to symbolize myriad issues in journalism and beyond: the use of unnamed sources, diversity recruitment, newsroom ethics, resume fraud, and the tendency of some writers, operating in the genre known as creative nonfiction, to take license in the pursuit of more literary storytelling.

JANET’S WORLD, written by her former boyfriend and fellow Post staffer Mike Sager, is Cooke’s only in-depth interview. While faithful to the basic fact-finding contained in the Washington Post’s internal investigation of the case, easily available online, Sager’s work plums the depths of Cooke’s persona and upbringing, telling the human story behind the headlines and casting a light on racial inequities of the time. The book also contains new material documenting the lasting effects of the Cooke scandal—on journalism and the world at large.

JANET’S WORLD is available digitally and in paperback on the NeoText website, Amazon, and wherever books and eBooks are sold.

For more updates on NeoText, follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and visit www.neotextcorp.com.

Posted in Books | Comments Off on Award-Winning Journalist Mike Sager and NeoText Re-Release JANET’S WORLD, A Gripping and Personal Tale of Journalistic Malpractice

Watch the Brand New Trailer for BRZRKR #1 Voiced By Keanu Reeves

Posted on 02/28/2021 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

Discover the First Original Comic Book Series from the Star of ‘John Wick’
and ‘The Matrix’ in March 2021

LOS ANGELES, CA (February 25, 2021) –  BOOM! Studios today revealed a brand new trailer for BRZRKR #1, the premiere issue of the twelve-issue limited series from the iconic Keanu Reeves in his Must Read comic book writing debut alongside New York Times bestselling co-writer Matt Kindt (Folklords, Bang!), acclaimed artist Ron Garney (Wolverine, Captain America), colorist Bill Crabtree (BPRD), and letterer Clem Robins (Hellboy), available on March 3, 2021. The series trailer for the highest-selling original comic book launch in nearly 30 years features a voiceover by creator Keanu Reeves.

The man known only as B. is half-mortal and half-god, cursed and compelled to violence…even at the sacrifice of his sanity.  But after wandering the world for centuries, B. may have finally found a refuge – working for the U.S. government to fight the battles too violent and too dangerous for anyone else. In exchange, B. will be granted the one thing he desires – the truth about his endless blood-soaked existence…and how to end it.


BRZRKR #1 features main cover art by superstar illustrator Rafael Grampá (Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child) and variant cover art by superstar artists Mark Brooks (House of X/Powers of X), Dan Mora (Future State: Dark Detective), and Lee Bermejo (Batman), as well as a 1-in-1000 variant cover with art by Jonboy Meyers (Venom) and signed by Keanu Reeves, and more.

BRZRKR is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ eponymous imprint, home to critically acclaimed original series, including We Only Find Them When They’re Dead by Al Ewing and Simone Di Meo; Seven Secrets by Tom Taylor and Daniele Di Nicuolo; Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera; Once & Future by Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora; Faithless by Brian Azzarello and Maria Llovet; and Abbott by Saladin Ahmed and Sami Kivelä. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties including Magic from Jed McKay and Ig Guara; Dune: House Atreides from Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Dev Pramanik;  Buffy the Vampire Slayer from Jordie Bellaire and David López, Firefly from Greg Pak, Lalit Kumar Sharma & Daniel Bayliss; and Mighty Morphin and Power Rangers series from Ryan Parrott, Marco Renna, and Francesco Mortarino.

Print copies of BRZRKR #1 will be available for sale on March 3, 2021 exclusively at local comic book shops (use comicshoplocator.com to find the nearest one) or at the BOOM! Studios webstore. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and Madefire. 

For continuing news on the BRZRKR series and more from BOOM! Studios, stay tuned to www.boom-studios.com and follow @boomstudios on Twitter. 

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Cyanide & Happiness: Freakpocalypse to Launch on March 11 on Nintendo Switch and Steam

Posted on 02/25/2021 by Pop-Culture Spectrum


Cyanide & Happiness: Freakpocalypse to Launch on March 11 on Nintendo Switch and Steam

Get ready to explore the Cyanide & Happiness universe for the first time ever through this hilarious and exciting point-and-click adventure

Boulder, Colorado, February 25, 2021—Today, Publisher Serenity Forge, alongside developers Skeleton Crew Studios and Explosm Games have announced that Cyanide & Happiness: Freakpocalyse — the first point-and-click-adventure game in a “tragilogy” (trilogy of tragedy) filled with dark comedy, drama, and weirdness — will launch on Nintendo Switch and Steam on March 11, 2021, for $19.99, with a 10% for the first week. Preorders will be available starting March 4, 2021, through Nintendo eShop.

In Cyanide & Happiness: Freakpocalyse, players follow the adventures of Cooper “Coop” McCarthy, as he does normal high school things, like trying to find a prom date and doing his best to avoid getting killed by bullies all while trying not to trigger an apocalyptic event.

First announced in 2017 and brought to life through Kickstarter, Freakpocalyse is the first chance for fans to experience and interact with the universe from the much-loved Cyanide & Happiness animated shorts, webcomics, and card games.

Key Features:

  • All the fun of a Cyanide & Happiness animated short, all packed into a video game!
  • Fully voiced dialogue featuring special guest voice actors including Arin Hanson (Game Grumps), Jessica Calvello, YMS Adum, Rice Pirate Mick, and more.
  • The first-ever chance to interact with fan favorites from the Cyanide & Happiness universe, including Ted Bear, Shark Dad, Señor Cleanfist, and more.
  • The first installment in the Freakpocalypse “tragilogy” – a trilogy of games telling the complete tragic & chaotic story.
  • An incredibly interactive world with more than 100 bizarre characters and countless objects to look at, touch, and talk to, along with unlockable costumes to find and wear.
  • No need to know the back story— Freakpocalyse gives long-time fans a lot to look forward to, but is also the perfect introduction for anyone new to the franchise.
  • Cinematic cutscenes and a completely original soundtrack.

Cyanide & Happiness: Freakpocalyse will be available in French, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and English on Nintendo eShop for Switch and on Steam for $19.99, with a 10% for the first week, and is rated M by ESRB. Learn more at http://www.freakpocalypse.com.
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