BAD IDEA Has Lost Its Mind Again – Claims Rocks Are The New Comics, Announces Rock Exclusive To Pin Redemption.

Posted on 11/04/2021 by Pop-Culture Spectrum
IN A WORLD…where paper and labor are in great shortage…

ONE MAN…actually one company…

HAS THE POWER…to save all of comics with…

ONE DECISION…to stop trying desperately to make release dates and instead pivot to their…

ONE DESIRE…to trade pins for rocks.

NOW, YOU MUST FIGHT TO SURVIVE…pin redemption offer number 2!

For real though, what does a comic book publisher do when there is no paper to print comic books? We go old school baby! Waaaaaay old school. And we carve our comics into rock just like our comic book creator ancestors intended.

That’s right, First Customer Pin Redemption offer number 2 is an offer to trade your pins for comics carved onto rock itself!

But what’s the BAD IDEA twist? Simple, we’re actually not carving anything. We’re just gonna send you a rock.

So, you know, for legal reasons let’s just amend that previous statement:

First Customer Pin Redemption offer number 2 is an offer to trade your pins for rocks. Just plain old rocks.*

*one rock per customer

So there’s no comic? No. That was just witty banter. The rock does not come with any comics carved on it.

Is it a special rock? No.

Is there anything unique or particularly appealing about the rock? No.

Is the rock is like a metaphor or an art piece like something Banksy would do? mmm…yeah, sure.

What does the rock look like? I mean, rocks all kinda look the same, don’t they?

Though we might spray paint the BAD IDEA logo onto the rock if we get time.
So how do you obtain one of these incredibly ordinary and quite common rocks? You send us a First Customer Pin.

To recap, BAD IDEA sends every BAD IDEA Destination Store a First Customer Pin tied to select releases. The first customer to purchase the issue the pin is tied to on the day of release is awarded a First Customer Pin. Every so often, we’ll announce an opportunity – could be an item, an experience, a live event or some such accoutrement – that is avaliable exclusively via the expenditure of First Customer Pins. These opportunities will be limited, avaliable for very short periods of time and exclusively for those BAD IDEA-sters who possess a First Customer Pin. (aren’t you glad you camped outside your store all night now?)

If you choose to procure one of the incredible opportunities you must  forfeit your First Customer Pin. The first redemption opportunity was two brand-new BAD IDEA comics – WEREWOLF and RETIREMENT PLAN. At that time, we warned you that we would do everything in our power to make you regret spending your pins on those comics and not waiting for a future even more incredible-er opportunity! But…we never said the very next redemption opportunity would be that incredible thing that would make you regret trading for comics. I suppose, if you didn’t redeem the exclusive comics and held onto your pins you might even kinda regret THAT having done that right about now. Well, enough about tomorrow’s First Customer Pin opportunities, let’s focus on what’s avaliable today.

Today, we’re announcing that the second BAD IDEA First Customer Pin opportunity is:

ONE ALL-NATURAL, PIN-EXCLUSIVE, POSSIBLY BAD IDEA BRANDED ROCK.
Redemption Instructions:
If you have a First Customer Pin, you may redeem one rock (also probably mucho ridicule) from BAD IDEA. To redeem your rock, simply send us your First Customer Pin, a check or money order (made out to Cincinnati Kid LLC) for $9.99 to cover shipping and handling ($29.99 each if you are international) and the following information:

– Full Name
– Full Address (this is where we will send your rock)
– E-mail address
– Phone number

to this address:

Bad Idea
5455 S Fort Apache Rd
Suite 108-154
Las Vegas, NV 89148-6416

All redemptions must be postmarked by or before November 30th. That’s one month.

Please allow up to 6-12 weeks to receive your rock.

Again, checks and money orders need be made payable to “Cincinnati Kid LLC”. Any made in error will be rejected. Sender may or may not be notified of the error prior to the redemption deadline.

Be vigilant when providing your contact details. We will not be chasing redemptees if there are errors or omissions. Make sure to provide your full address including your street address, your apartment, suite, unit, building, floor etc., your city, state, zip and country.

Remember that obtaining your First Customer Pin exclusive rock with your First Customer Pin will mean forfeiting the pin and potentially missing out on all the upcoming First Customer Pin opportunities. Unless, of course, you manage secure new ones!

If you have yet to secure a First Customer Pin, both REFUSE x LAST RESORTS and ODINN’S EYE #1 will release First Customer Pins in conjunction with the comics. Both are in stores December 1st. Good luck.

Lastly, you may be thinking, why? Why are you doing this BAD IDEA? Simple. We’re training you. Training the BAD IDEA faithful to ignore what’s at the end of the rainbow. To enjoy the journey. Don’t worry about what you’re pre-ordering or what you’re redeeming for. Just pre-order. Just redeem. Blindly. Always.
Remember, the BAD IDEA way also means no variants, no trades, no digital, select stores, perennially available Not First Printings and no more than approximately two comics a month – just monthly comics, sold in comic book shops. Goodbye, troubles. Hello, BAD IDEA SIMPLICITY™.

Wanna get in while the gettin’s good with Bad Idea?  You simply have to visit a Bad Idea “Destination Store” — one of the 200 and counting comic shops around the world that have joined our independent network of direct-distribution retail partners — to pick up all the glorious BAD IDEA books every first Wednesday of the month. (Or pre-order in advance to make sure you secure your copy.)

We’ve made it even easier, too. To locate a Bad Idea retailer near you and then pre-order any and every Bad Idea title, simply click here and fill out the little form.

Did you hear about the miner who got sick of his job? It was just boring! For more information, visit Bad Idea online at BadIdeaCorp.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or just mash the screen with your palm and do all four simultaneously.
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Play AS the Kaiju!

Posted on 11/04/2021 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

Play AS the Kaiju! New Versus Mode and Twitch Integration Added to Kaiju Wars Demo
To celebrate Godzilla day, Foolish Mortals have added Twitch integration and the ability to play as the monster to Kaiju Wars. These new features are playable now on Steam via the game’s lengthy demo!
November 3, 2021 – Can you hear the ground shaking? It’s… GODZILLA DAY (November 3rd)! To celebrate the most famous monster of monsters Foolish Mortals has added two brand new features to the Kaiju Wars demo, available now on Steam.

Download the extensive free Kaiju Wars demo here — https://store.steampowered.com/app/1508400/Kaiju_Wars/

Play as the Kaiju in local versus!
Play as the Kaiju in a special local hot seat VERSUS multiplayer mode (or online via Steam RemotePlay) for certain missions. One player plays as the kaiju, using abilities, moving the kaiju, and playing dark project cards. The other player plays as the humans (as usual), trying to stop the kaiju. Who will win this titanic struggle? Hard to say, as this mode is still being balanced! Unlock additional versus missions by playing through the campaign.

Watch the new released Kaiju Wars Versus Video — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wZTH2vTd8Y

Twitch Integration
Twitch viewers can now take part in the destruction as a selection of comments that appear directly in-game when certain events happen. For example, typing “!bad NOT MY CABBAGES!” will display “NOT MY CABBAGES!” in-game when a bad event happens, like a building being destroyed. Check the in-game options menu to enable Twitch integration.

Command the army!
  • We need more time! – Play as the mayor of Floatio city, tasked with holding off the overwhelming strength of a kaiju attack. Park tanks and jets in the monster’s path to slow it down (don’t worry, we have a good insurance policy).
  • Construct buildings! – Build sacrificial army bases and airfields to distract the kaiju and line the city streets with fodder.
  • Deploy experimental weapons! – Conventional weapons aren’t enough; deploy experimental weapons such as freeze rays and transforming mechas to keep the kaiju at bay.
EVACUATE!
Our chief scientist is working on an anti-monster serum, but it’s not ready yet! Be prepared to evacuate the laboratory using transport trucks, boats, or planes when the kaiju get too close.

Fight the KAIJU!

  • Five unique kaiju – Each specializing in different types of destruction.
  • They mutate! – Tremble in fear as each kaiju grows stronger and gains devastating abilities through mid-level mutations.
  • Unstoppable! – Kaiju can’t be killed, but can only be slowed down and forced to fall back… for now. Pepper them with ammunition, if you can.
  • Predictable! – They move towards the nearest building, and them scientists have mathed the exact odds they step on each tile!
Campaign Mode!
  • Uncover the mystery – Strange things are happening: frequent volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and earthquakes. Find out why over the course of an 8+ hour story-based campaign.
  • Embark on a Campaign! – Play missions from all over the world as you progress through the globe-trotting fight against kaiju. Test your wits in tactical puzzles, command dozens of units in large-scale scenarios, and fend off repeated attacks while developing your city economically in city defense missions.
  • Upgrade your ACES – Veteran ACE units accompany you throughout your campaign. Spend medals to upgrade and customize your top fighters.
  • Customize your Project Deck – Unlock powerful Project cards, customize your deck, and bring your best strategy to compete on the online leaderboard!
Create your own battles!
  • Create your own city or scenario – Simple and easy to use, scenarios can be crafted in minutes using the drag and drop map editor
  • Share your creations online – Share your cities or maps online using Steam Workshop integration
  • Compete with other players! – Gain the top spot on the Weekly Challenge leaderboards
About Foolish Mortals:
Foolish Mortals is a small independent game studio based in a faraway land called Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Their first project was Radio General, a successful strategy simulation where you interact with your units over the radio using speech recognition.
Posted in Video Games | Comments Off on Play AS the Kaiju!

Usagi Yojimbo Comic Book Rings in 2022 with 25th Issue Milestone and Lone Goat and Kid Encore Presentation

Posted on 10/20/2021 by Pop-Culture Spectrum
New “Crossroads” Storyline and Seminal Usagi Yojimbo Tale Offer Excellent Entry Points to the World of Acclaimed Cartoonist Stan Sakai

SAN DIEGO, CA (October 20, 2021) – Celebrate the new year with two milestone events for Usagi Yojimbo, the beloved epic fantasy by Stan Sakai and winner of two of this year’s Eisner Awards, including “Best Continuing Series”! In January, a new storyline entitled “Crossroads” will debut in the pages of Usagi Yojimbo #25, while longtime fans and curious newcomers can revisit the early adventures of the rabbit ronin, now in full color, with the launch of the six-issue miniseries Usagi Yojimbo: Lone Goat and Kid.

Usagi Yojimbo reaches the 25th issue of its full-color, monthly series at IDW with a new two-part storyline, “Crossroads.” In this tale, Usagi and Yukichi have left the Northern Province where Usagi was branded a criminal as a Lord Mifune loyalist. They come upon a group of pilgrims traveling to the local temples, set upon and left for dead by a band of cutthroat ronin with no regard for the law. In hunting after them, Usagi and Yukichi must head back to the very province from which they just escaped!

“Yukichi is Usagi’s cousin, and someone with whom he will be traveling for a while,” says Sakai. “Yukichi is younger and less experienced so Usagi has to take on the role of mentor, though he learns a few things himself. I like the dynamics between these two and their travels make good springboards for new adventures.”

For comic readers interested in seeing vintage Usagi tales through a new lens, the upcoming Usagi Yojimbo: Lone Goat and Kid miniseries reprints a selection of seminal short stories in full color for the first time. The debut issue revisits the tale of “Frost and Fire,” wherein our hero is tasked with retrieving a slain samurai’s swords… provided that he can solve an impossible moral quandary first. As a special bonus, David Petersen, the acclaimed creator of Mouse Guard, will provide the cover artwork for all six issues.

“I grew up reading and watching Lone Wolf and Cub in manga, movies, and television, so when I was thinking of new characters, this series came to mind as a homage/parody. My first thought was ‘Lone Bear and Cub’ but changed it to ‘Lone Goat and Kid’, which I like even better. I love that kid because, as in the original, he does almost nothing but is still essential to the story,” says Sakai.

Written and illustrated by Sakai for more than 35 years, Usagi Yojimbo is set in a unique world based on 17th century Japan. A ronin, Miyamoto Usagi traverses this unique world – a landscape populated by ghosts, dinosaurs, monsters, and warriors of all kinds – honing his skills, saving villages, and often navigating delicate affairs of national/political significance.

Sakai’s deft weaving of history, folklore, and Japanese culture into Usagi Yojimbo has made it a critical favorite, adored by comic readers. New full-color adventures of Sakai’s classic character began in 2019 with IDW’s monthly comic series, collected in three volumes so far (Bunraku and Other Stories, Homecoming, and Tengu War!). Meanwhile, classic tales have been made available in full color for the first time ever as part of the Usagi Yojimbo Origins trade paperback series. This past June, Sakai and his wife, Julie Fujii Sakai, released Chibi-Usagi: Attack of the Heebie Chibis, an original graphic novel illustrated in a fun, cartoony style welcoming to young new readers.

“It’s been a real treat to see Stan’s new stories come to life month-to-month while also revisiting his early work in our color reprint series,” says editor Bobby Curnow. “What’s utterly remarkable is how engaging the world of Usagi Yojimbo has always been and still is. The humanity of Stan’s characters and stories always shines through with wit, action, and heart, regardless of the year.”

For information on how to purchase IDW’s line of Usagi Yojimbo comic books and graphic novels, please contact your local comic shop or visit www.comicshoplocator.com to find a store near you.

Posted in Comics | Comments Off on Usagi Yojimbo Comic Book Rings in 2022 with 25th Issue Milestone and Lone Goat and Kid Encore Presentation

Possibility Space, a new game studio with promise

Posted on 10/13/2021 by Pop-Culture Spectrum
ArenaNet and Undead Labs Founder Jeff Strain Announces Possibility Space, a New Distributed Game Development Studio

Industry Veterans From Double Fine, Electronic Arts, Magic Leap, Oculus, Ubisoft, VICE, Valve, ArenaNet and More Join Innovative Studio

NEW ORLEANS, La. — October 13, 2021 — Jeff Strain, Co-Founder of ArenaNet (Guild Wars, acquired by NCsoft) and Founder of Undead Labs (State of Decay, acquired by Microsoft), is happy to announce a new studio: Possibility Space. Possibility Space is built around an innovative model where game developers can create shared human experiences in an ambitious, physically distributed studio.

Strain is joined by an exceptionally experienced team of industry veterans: Jane Ng (Campo Santo, Valve) is Possibility Space’s Visual Director; Austin Walker (Waypoint Media, Friends at the Table podcast) is IP Director; Liz England (Ubisoft, Insomniac) is Simulation and Narrative Systems Director; Richard Foge (Undead Labs, ProbablyMonsters) joins as Design Director; Brandon Dillon (Oculus, Double Fine) is VP of Engineering; Leah Rivera (Undead Labs, ArenaNet) is Senior Narrative Systems Designer; Brian Jennings (NZXR, Magic Leap) is Technical Design Director; Charles Randall (Ubisoft, BioWare) and Erica Tam (Electronic Arts, Oculus) join as Senior Gameplay Engineers.

“We felt this was the right time to create something new–a studio built from the ground up to embrace evolving needs and perspectives for both players and developers,” says Possibility Space Founder Jeff Strain. “Like many others, the past year and a half has been a fraught time for me. While I am grateful that my family is safe, the anxiety, fear, and isolation of the last 18 months has been almost unbearable at times. That fear and isolation was the catalyst for Possibility Space, a modern kind of game studio, where we are creating a joyful game that’s been my dream for many years. I’m delighted and grateful for the team that has chosen to share in this vision and bring it life.”

“I’m so excited to join up with Jeff and the incredible team at Possibility Space,” adds Austin Walker, formerly Editor-in-Chief for Waypoint at VICE Media, host of Friends at the Table podcast, and IP Director for Possibility Space. “To be frank, I never thought I’d take the leap from media to development, but as I got to know the folks here, I realized just how badly I wanted to work with them. So many of our ideas and priorities line up, from our thoughts on what makes a compelling game to our commitment to an equitable and healthy studio culture. I’m very lucky to be working alongside so many talented people, and I’m thrilled to bring my experience as a storyteller and worldbuilder to the innovative projects we’ll be working on in the coming years.”

Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, Possibility Space is drawing talent from around the world by allowing passionate developers to live and work wherever they want. It’s the natural next step in Strain’s decades-long commitment to creating world-class games within safe and ethical work environments.

As Possibility Space Visual Director, Jane Ng, formerly Lead Environment Artist on Firewatch at Campo Santo and artist on Half-Life: Alyx at Valve, puts it, “My mom says that the world is in great need of expelling ‘tired air,’ which probably makes more sense in the original Cantonese. But when I had the opportunity to shape a team and a company with ambitious, fresh goals that just seemed so right for the time, I shook off the fatigue of the pandemic and jumped in. The fact that I didn’t have to leave my home or uproot my family just made it easier to see it was the right team to join. I am thrilled to be part of Possibility Space, and to play a part in opening all kinds of possibilities for players and developers.”

Ng is joined by Liz England, Possibility Space Narrative Systems Design Director, formerly a Lead Designer of Watch Dogs: Legion and Designer on Sunset Overdrive and Scribblenauts. “A big motivation for me in joining Possibility Space is the opportunity to assemble a team of smart, hard-working creatives from a whole bunch of diverse backgrounds, and bring them together to do fantastic work within a culture where people are set up for success.”

“Turning the page on a new chapter can be scary, especially with all the uncertainty in the world these days,” says Possibility Space Technical Director Brandon Dillon, who previously worked as Product Management Director for Oculus VR and was the Technical Director for Grim Fandango Remastered at Double Fine Productions. “I personally made the decision to join Possibility Space to help build an organization that truly wants every employee to have a whole, healthy life away from work, and which supports and emphasizes community service and outreach no matter where we are based. Now I don’t have to compromise between where my family and I make our lives and making world-class games.”

Possibility Space is supported by partnerships including the State of Louisiana Office of Economic Development and Unity Technologies. Transcend Fund, a global venture capital firm focused on games and digital media, led an investment into Possibility Space in April of this year.

Posted in Video Games | Comments Off on Possibility Space, a new game studio with promise

An Unlikely Hero Arises in GETTING DIZZY #1 First Look  

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

From the Writer of ‘DC Super Hero Girls’ Comes a Teen Who’ll Rollerskate into Your Heart This November 

LOS ANGELES, CA (October 8, 2021) – BOOM! Studios today revealed the first look of the  original four-issue limited series, GETTING DIZZY #1, from New York Times bestselling author Shea Fontana (DC Super Hero Girls, Wonder Woman Rebirth), acclaimed artist Celia Moscote (Juliet Takes A Breath), colorist Natalia Nesterenko (League of Legends), and letterer Jim Campbell (Power Rangers), with a superhero story that reveals a true hero is nothing without her friends, available in November 2021.

Dizzy wants to be the best! But with everything she’s tried, including roller skating, this teen can only achieve one thing –  disaster. Just when Dizzy is ready to pack it in, everything changes when the Negatrixes attack, forcing her to take up the super-powered mantle of ‘Burb Defender! But if she wants to save the world, she’s going to have to assemble the coolest skating crew the ‘Burbs have ever seen!

GETTING DIZZY #1 features main cover art by series artist Moscote, and variant cover art by Cara McGee (Star Wars) and Miguel Mercado (Mighty Morphin).

GETTING DIZZY 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; Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera and Celia Moscote; Giant Days by John Allison, Lissa Treiman, and Max Sarin; Mamo by Sas Milledge; Save Yourself! by Bones Leopard and Kelly and Nichole Matthews; Specter Inspectors by Bowen McCurdy and Kaitlyn Musto; The Last Witch by Conor McCreery and V.V. Glass; Ghosted in LA by Sina Grace and Siobhan Keenan; The Avant-Guards by Carly Usdin and Noah Hayes; Fence by C.S. Pacat and Johanna the Mad; Goldie Vance by Hope Larson and Brittney Williams; and educational series Seen: True Stories of Marginalized Trailblazers.

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

For continuing news on GETTING DIZZY and more from BOOM! Studios, stay tuned to boom-studios.com and follow @boomstudios on Twitter.

Posted in Comics | Comments Off on An Unlikely Hero Arises in GETTING DIZZY #1 First Look  

THE KURT BUSIEK UNIVERSE COMES TO IMAGE COMICS WITH NEW ARROWSMITH, ASTRO CITY & MORE IN 2022

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

PORTLAND, Ore. 10/08/2021 — Kurt Busiek, the bestselling writer of Avengers, Superman, Thunderbolts, Iron Man, JLA, and more, is returning to Image in a big way in 2022, with new entries in fan-favorite series, including Astro City, Arrowsmith and others, plus new creations and more, as he brings his creator-owned work to Image Comics as his primary publisher.

“I’m thrilled to be back at Image and glad to be working with Eric Stephenson and the whole crew here,” said Busiek. “Image is the best comics publisher for creator-owned work, so it’s very nice to be bringing my books together here, where they can be available as a group, supported by the team here—and sitting alongside such great series as Saga, The Walking Dead, Criminal, Savage Dragon and so many more. And not just because Image is only about twenty minutes from where I live, so I can actually drop by the place, once the pandemic is in the rearview. My creative partners and I are looking forward to a having a home for the work we’re doing now and lots of new ideas to come.”

Chief Creative Officer and Publisher at Image Comics, Eric Stephenson, is just as excited Kurt is making the move to Image. “When I was editing comics for Extreme Studios back in the ’90s, one of my big regrets was that I couldn’t close the deal on getting Kurt Busiek to write Supreme, so working with Kurt to make Image the home for all of his creator-owned work—from Astro City to Arrowsmith to Autumnlands and more—has been nothing short of a thrill. In addition to being one of comics’ finest writers, Kurt is also a magnet for equally talented artists, and we couldn’t be happier to see the Image ‘i’ on work by the likes of Carlos Pacheco, Brent Anderson, Alex Ross, Ben Dewey, Stephen Mooney, Jordie Bellaire, and Alex Sinclair.”

First up, Busiek and superstar artist Carlos Pacheco (Fantastic Four, Avengers Forever, Final Crisis, X-Men, Superman) bring fans the much-anticipated return of Arrowsmith in Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines. This six issue miniseries launches from Image Comics in January 2022—followed in February by an oversized, fully re-mastered hardcover collected edition of the original series.

In March, Arrowsmith will be joined by the return of Astro City, Busiek’s collaboration with Brent Anderson, Alex Ross, and Alex Sinclair, first with an Astro City one-shot special introducing new characters and setting the stage for upcoming dangers for the city and the world, plus new collected editions that will make the entire Astro City backlist available again.

Longtime fans will also be treated to a new urban-fantasy graphic novel, The Gods on Sunday Morning, from the whole Astro City team, after which they begin a new ongoing run on the acclaimed series.

Also in the works is Free Agents, a new series launch from Busiek with co-writer Fabian Nicieza and artist Stephen Mooney and the return of Autumnlands from Busiek with Benjamin Dewey and Jordie Bellaire, all planned for late 2022.

In addition to all the exciting new content from the mind of Busiek, there will also be re-releases of his popular backlist gems like Shockrockets and Superstar: As Seen on TV, both with Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger and Jeromy Cox, and The Wizard’s Tale with David Wenzel.

In the upcoming Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines, it’s World War I—but a war of wizards and dragons as much as bullets and barbed wire. Young airman Fletcher Arrowsmith plunges back into the heat of war—and finds himself behind enemy lines, facing a threat that could doom the Allied Powers. Old friends and new favorites will appear, and the world of Arrowsmith will be deepened, as previously-secret history and machinations are revealed.

For the re-mastered hardcover, Arrowsmith: So Smart In Their Fine Uniforms, readers are introduced to young Fletcher Arrowsmith who learns the true cost of war in an alternate history where dragons and magic spells are as much a part of World War I as bullets and barbed wire. This edition, deluxe-sized and in hardcover for the first time, will present the art as Pacheco originally intended, and will feature ancillary material about the creation and history of Arrowsmith.

Of the return of Arrowsmith, Busiek said: “Stepping back into this universe at long last, and writing these characters again feels like coming home, and visiting with old friends—admittedly, old friends we do dangerous, stressful things to in the name of adventure. And the art, by Carlos, Rafael, and Jose, is just astounding. Arrowsmith fans have been very patient, but have never been shy about letting us know they want more—and I can’t wait for them to see both the new series and the re-mastered original in the kind of hardcover edition we think it deserves.”

Carlos Pacheco added: “It seems like only yesterday Kurt and I were dreaming of creating a book about WWI and magic. It’s been a long trip since then. We kept hoping to bring the world of Arrowsmith back to life, but the stars didn’t line up properly until now. And maybe the stars didn’t help, but the readers have. I feel like we’ve had an unwritten agreement with all the people who’ve supported Fletcher and Hilda since the day they both took flight, and pushed us to bring them back. We’re very happy to say here they are, after all these years.”

“It’s also wonderful to be back in the world of Astro City,” said Busiek. “Alex, Brent, and I have been planning this for a long time—we’re introducing a teen-hero team, The Jayhawks (and more), in the special, and setting off a mystery as important to Astro City as what happened to the Silver Agent or the story of the Broken Man. Alex has designed a cornucopia of new characters, and Brent is going to town on the artwork. It’ll be a very fun ride—and yes, longtime readers, we will get to the story of the N-Forcer, I promise! Plus, I think The Gods on Sunday Morning will be a treat, both for Astro City readers and others. It’s a standalone urban fantasy graphic novel about a group of long-forgotten gods in the world today, taking a similar approach to fantasy as what Brent, Alex, and I have done with superheroes, and it’s looking just gorgeous.”

Artist Brent Anderson added: “Twenty-seven years ago Kurt Busiek offered me the chance-of-a-lifetime to co-create an entire universe filled with super-powered heroes, crazy villains, wizards, sorcerers, mad geniuses, monsters of all stripes, and extraterrestrial aliens, a universe the center of which is Astro City. Originally published by Image in 1995, these are comic book stories I am proud to see on my bookshelves, and I look forward to creating many more. Like I said, chance-of-a-lifetime! Over the years, Kurt has asked me to draw several non-Astro City stories—The Spirit, Green Lantern, the Avengers, but the most recent is The Gods on Sunday Morning, an excitingly original graphic novel published exclusively through Image Comics by Kurt Busiek. Drawing it made me feel young again.”

On future projects, Busiek said: “I can’t wait to start telling you about what’s coming for Dusty and Learoyd in Autumnlands, what the Free Agents are all about, and beyond. We’ve been cooking up a lot, and it’s great to finally get to see it becoming a reality.”

Ben Dewey said of Autumnlands, “Kurt is one of my favorite creators. He can invent captivating stories that have a grand, high-concept cosmological scale or get a reader deeply invested in the details of a simple fireside conversation between two regular people. He understands characters and why we love or despise them. His work is proof that comics can be magical.”

“Working with him on Autumnlands pushed me to be my best and it’s a world that has many exciting frontiers ready to be explored. When it returns I think it’ll be just as big a challenge for me as it was when we started off because the scale of the world demands it. I treasure every project I’ve gotten to work on with Kurt; as his collaborator there’s always opportunities to learn more about the craft of storytelling in comics. He never fails to inspire me with his boundless  imagination, enthusiasm and wit. I’m a fan and I’m looking forward to seeing what new worlds he’s going to show us. I’m lucky because I get to see them first!”

“Kurt and I have always had fun working together,” said Fabian Nicieza. “I’ve been waiting 30 damn years to have an Image book! Free Agents hits all our strengths and sweet spots, and Stephen and Tamra only add to my excitement.”

“I’m thrilled to be joining such a top-notch team,” added Stephen Mooney. “Kurt and Fabian put together some incredible concepts, and I’m eager to show what Tamra and I can bring to the party. Teaming up with Image again just makes it all the sweeter.”

Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, January 19:

Arrowsmith: So Smart In Their Fine Uniforms (Diamond Code: NOV210098, ISBN: 978-1-5343-2206-6) will be available on Wednesday, February 23 and in bookstores on Tuesday, March 1. It can be pre-ordered at your local comic book shop or independent bookstore or via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, and Indigo.

Busiek’s upcoming releases will all also be available for purchase across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

 

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CAMP MANNA to Release to Home Entertainment October 15

Posted on 10/05/2021 by Pop-Culture Spectrum
Faith based films are not something I would traditionally promote, but… Gary Busey is in it.
Grand Rapids, MI – In the vein of throwback classic summer camp movies of the 80s and 90s, the new comedy CAMP MANNA promises to bring back hilarious memories of Christian Camps past. Produced by GRLA and is distributed through Ocean Avenue Entertainment, Camp Manna will be available on digital platforms and DVD October 15.
See the trailer here:
CAMP MANNA follows Ian Fletcher, a ‘non-believer’ from Florida who is shipped off to a backwoods all-boys Christian camp by his well-meaning aunt and uncle. There, he is forced to navigate the hierarchy of the camp, lead by Camp Director Jack “Cujo” Parrish (Gary Busey) and overzealous counselors Clayton Vance (Jimmy Tatro) and Bradley Sommers (Evan Koons); find a new community of friends; and survive a biblically-themed Olympiad known as The God Games.
Creators Eric Machiela and Eric Scott Johnson both grew up going to church camp in Michigan, and wanted to create an entertaining satire that would both celebrate and lampoon this summer ritual from their childhood.
Eric Scott Johnson shares, “Our summers centered around going to or working at church camps.  We wanted to make a nostalgic film that mirrored our fun memories, silly customs, lasting friendships, and the challenge of hanging on to our beliefs as we started asking tougher questions as teenagers.  We believe that sometimes getting to the heart of our faith is best told with laughter.”
A little film with a big heart, CAMP MANNA ultimately hopes to bring people together. Eric Machiela continues, “We hope that Camp Manna can help us laugh at ourselves and celebrate this beloved symbol of summer for Christian kids everywhere.”
CAMP MANNA will be available on digital platforms including Prime Video (Amazon), iTunes, Google Play, and Vudu. Physical DVDs available at outlets including Amazon and OceanAve.TV. More information on CAMP MANNA can be found at the website CampMannaTheMovie.com
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A Real Horror Show in R.L. Stine’s JUST BEYOND: MONSTROSITY

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

 Discover the Latest MONSTROSITY from Author of Bestselling ‘Goosebumps’
and ‘Fear Street’ in October 2021

LOS ANGELES, CA (October 1, 2021) –  BOOM! Studios today revealed a new look at JUST BEYOND: MONSTROSITY, from R.L. Stine, the award-winning, bestselling author of Goosebumps and Fear Street, artist Irene Flores (Heavy Vinyl) with additional inks by Lea Caballero, colorist Joana LaFuente, and letterer Mike Fiorentino, set in the world of the highly acclaimed middle grade horror series Just Beyond, soon to be a television show on Disney+.

THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE HORROR BUSINESS! Ruthie and Ezra Dillon’s dad and uncle just bought an old Hollywood movie studio. And while the family has plans for reviving it to make scary movies for a modern audience, the monsters hiding in the backlot have other ideas. Ruthie and Ezra are eager to star in their family’s films, but they’ll soon find themselves in a real horror show with Wolfenscreem, the Lagoonatics, and the Wasp-Keeper…who are all ready for their revival with a vengeance!

JUST BEYOND: MONSTROSITY will be published through the company’s award-winning KaBOOM! imprint, where R.L. Stine has originated his first new concepts in the comic book medium as part of his multi-book agreement with the publisher. With the release of his debut novel Blind Date in 1981, R.L. Stine established himself as one of the most important voices in horror for a new generation. This was followed up with the release of Fear Street in 1989, which remains the best-selling YA series in history with more than 100 books published thus far, and Goosebumps in 1992, which transformed Stine into a worldwide celebrity. The series was soon adapted as a hit TV series and recently returned as a blockbuster film starring Jack Black in 2015 from Sony/Columbia Pictures, with a sequel hitting theaters in 2018. Stine has continued to create exciting new horror concepts for younger audiences each year, in turn becoming one of the most successful American novelists of all time.

Print copies of JUST BEYOND: MONSTROSITY will be available for sale on October 20, 2021 at local comic book shops (use comicshoplocator.com to find the nearest one), on October 26, 2020 at bookstores or at the BOOM! Studios webstore. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and Kindle.

R.L. Stine’s Just Beyond: The Scare School, Just Beyond: The Horror at Happy Landings, and Just Beyond: Welcome to Beast Island are available for purchase wherever books are sold.

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

         

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Daedalic showcases upcoming publishing line-up at Steam Next Fest

Posted on 09/28/2021 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

All games are available as free demos during the event
Hamburg, Germany, September 28th, 2021 – Publisher Daedalic Entertainment is going to participate in the Steam Next Fest from October 1st to 7th with multiple demos of upcoming games from a variety of genres. Players will have the opportunity to try out three games from their portfolio for free.

Life of Delta 
In the point & click adventure Life of Delta, a small robot named Delta tries to survive in a post-apocalyptic world and goes on a journey to find his friend. On his travels he meets a host of interesting characters and faces countless challenges. Players solve puzzles, play mini games and interact with the characters.
The announcement trailer: https://youtu.be/vIwGQWeox1w

Wildcat Gun Machine
Armed with a wide variety of guns, a meowntain of bullets and a bad cattitude, players will enter the bullet hell dungeons and face hordes of fur-midable opponents like disgusting flesh beasts and other fur-ocious trigger happy monsters. Coming to PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch in late 2021, Wildcat Gun Machine is a purrfectly executed dungeon crawler like no other.
Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/YUA6LjC6xXY

JARS
In the musty depths of his parent’s basement, young Victor tries to discover the secrets buried beneath his house. JARS is a strategy game with puzzles and tower defense elements. In order to reach their goal, players must deploy minions to destroy every jar and defeat the nasties crawling through the cellar. The grim, hand drawn art style is inspired by spooky and funny classics, giving JARS a distinct look. The game will be released on October 20th on PC and Switch.
The trailer teaches more about the game’s mechanics: https://youtu.be/aQ3Lhej3qPU
Posted in Video Games | Comments Off on Daedalic showcases upcoming publishing line-up at Steam Next Fest

HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER #1 Hits Industry Record-Breaking Numbers

Posted on 09/23/2021 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

 Discover a New Horror Series  from the Creators of ‘Something is Killing the Children’ in October 2021

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 21, 2021) – BOOM! Studios announced today that the highly anticipated series premiere of HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER #1 received record-breaking orders of over 460,000 copies, making it the best selling original comic book series in BOOM! Studios history after Keanu Reeves’ BRZRKR, and resulting in a new release date of October 27, 2021, to accommodate the volume of orders and ensure quality.

HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER #1 is a brand new ongoing original series set in the world of creators James Tynion IV (The Department of Truth, The Nice House on the Lake) and Werther Dell’Edera’s (Razorblades) Eisner Award-nominated global phenomenon Something is Killing the Children. The series is co-written by James Tynion IV and writer Tate Brombal (Barbalien), and illustrated by Werther Dell‘Edera and artist Chris Shehan (The Autumnal), colorist Miquel Muerto (Something is Killing the Children), and letterer AndWorld Design (The Many Deaths of Laila Starr).

You know Aaron Slaughter as Erica’s handler and rival. But before he donned the black mask, Aaron was a teenager training within the House of Slaughter. Surviving within the school is tough enough, but it gets even more complicated when Aaron falls for a mysterious boy destined to be his competition. Discover the inner workings of the mysterious House of Slaughter in this new horror series exploring the secret history of the Order that forged Erica Slaughter into the monster hunter she is today.

“In 2019, James and Werther took the industry by storm with a new original horror series, Something is Killing the Children. It quickly became a worldwide sensation, selling over 1.1 million copies in its first 18 months, garnering numerous award nominations,” said Filip Sablik, President, Sales & Publishing. “The nearly half a million copies ordered of HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER #1 is a thunderous show of support from our retail partners, but necessitated we adjust the release date by one week to ensure the world class production quality retailers and fans have come to expect from BOOM! Studios.”

HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER #1 features main cover art by series artists Dell’Edera and Shehan, as well as variant cover art by acclaimed illustrators Alvaro Martinez Bueno (The Nice House on the Lake), Jenny Frison (Wonder Woman), Mike Del Mundo (X-Men, Thor), Gabrielle D’Otto (Detective Comics) and more.

“I’m thrilled we’re able to expand the rich world that James and Werther crafted within the bestselling Something is Killing the Children,” added BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief, Matt Gagnon. “It truly opens the doors to endless opportunities to explore everything the HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER has to offer, a vast tapestry of brilliant horror stories just waiting to be told. We’re excited to embark on this new journey with James, Werther, Tate, and Chris as they lead us ever deeper into the world that birthed Erica Slaughter and the monsters she hunts.”

HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ eponymous imprint, home to critically acclaimed original series, including BRZRKR by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney; Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera; Once & Future by Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora; We Only Find Them When They’re Dead by Al Ewing and Simone Di Meo; Seven Secrets by Tom Taylor and Daniele Di Nicuolo;  Proctor Valley Road by Grant Morrison, Alex Child, and Naomi Franquiz; The Many Deaths of Laila Starr by Ram V and Filipe Andrade; and Eve by Victor LaValle and Jo Mi-Gyeong. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties, including Dune: House Atreides from Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Dev Pramanik; Mighty Morphin and Power Rangers from Ryan Parrott, Marco Renna, and Francesco Mortarino; and Magic from Jed McKay and Ig Guara.

Something is Killing the Children is the bestselling, Eisner Award-nominated hit series created by acclaimed comics writer James Tynion IV and illustrator Werther Dell’Edera. It has sold over one million copies worldwide, has been nominated for Eisner, Harvey, and Ringo Awards, and garnered widespread critical acclaim. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix is developing a Something Is Killing The Children series with Intrepid Pictures’ Trevor Macy and Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House). Readers and fans can find the first three volumes collecting the first fifteen issues of the ongoing series in bookstores everywhere. Something is Killing the Children Book One Deluxe Edition will be available in hardcover and slipcase format in October 2021.

Print copies of HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER #1 will be available for sale on October 27, 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 Kindle.

For continuing news on SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN and more from BOOM! Studios, stay tuned to www.boom-studios.com and follow @boomstudios on Twitter.

Posted in Comics | Comments Off on HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER #1 Hits Industry Record-Breaking Numbers