TheHeroBlog.com

New Dark Knight Rises Trailer

Animated "Dark Knight Returns" coming this fall

Just read about this over on ICv2.com - Warner Bros. is going to release a direct-to- video animated version of Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns". Part 1 is coming this fall, Part 2 will come next year. Batman will be voiced by Peter "Robocop" Weller.

I'll try to go in with an open mind, but I can't help but worry. I can only hope they won't pull any punches, and that the adaption is true to the original work. I remember being immensly disappointed by Marvel's Ultimates, which didn't feel like the comic at all. I hope the animated version of this DC classic this doesn't leave the same bad taste in my mouth.

Read the story and check out the screen shots here. And have a great three day weekend - see you Tuesday!

First Look at "Marvel Heroes" MMO.

Watch this. Try not to wet yourself.

Once this releases, I will officially bid farewell to all my free time.

There is no release date yet, and many details about the game are still being kept under wraps. But here is what we do know thanks to this recent article on IGN.com:

• It's a "Diablo-style MMO"
• You can play solo or team up
• You collect playable characters as you go
• You can switch between characters at almost any time
• If you want to team up and ALL play as Spidey/Iron Man/White Queen/etc., you can.
• New powers will come as "drops" from defeated enemies.
• Costume variations can be made via crafting.
• There is full voice acting - no "just reading mission objectives"
• Each character is tied to one of three resource types - Fury (The Thing), Combat (Black Widow), and Energy (Iron Man) <-- I made up two of those three names - the article only names "Fury", then describes the other two.

More info to be found in the article, but those are the main points. I, for one, cannot wait to try this out! (Thanks to Dave Prime for pointing out the link!)

Hitting Shelves Today - 5/23

We'll start off with the book "everyone" is talking about - Astonishing X-Men #50.

Why is this title getting mainstream media attention? Because it's got a homosexual doing something that is still frowned upon by an alarmingly high number of Americans. A man proposes to (gasp!) another man! And next issue, there will be a wedding! Will this gay marriage do what Red Skull couldn't - destroy the American way of life?! Guess we'll have to pick it up and see.

Here's what The View had to say about it:

Some people think gay marriage is a sin. I don't. When I think of a sin, I think of something really, really bad. Something you could go to hell for. Like embededing a video clip from The View in an otherwise respectible superhero blog...

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Bat-fans have been waiting quite a while for Grant Morrison to finish his Batman Incorporated story line with this new #1:

BATMAN, INCORPORATED makes its NEW 52 debut with an all-new first issue! The series hits the ground running as BATMAN and ROBIN face off against the assassin GOATBOY! LEVIATHAN'S sinister mission revealed!

Here's a preview.

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Dark Horse is offering up an interesting one this week - Resident Alien #1:

A stranded alien seeks refuge in the small town of Patience, USA, where he hides undercover as a semiretired doctor, masking his appearance using his unique mental abilities. Now known as Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle, all the alien wants is to be left alone until he’s rescued. However, when the town’s real doctor dies, “Dr. Harry” is pulled into medical service—and also finds himself smack dab in the middle of a murder mystery! He’d rather be fishing. Acclaimed creators Peter Hogan (2000 AD, Tom Strong) and Steve Parkhouse (The Milkman Murders, Doctor Who) deliver a truly unique sci-fi adventure tale!

There's a preview here.

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Here's a list of what's dropping today and how much it will set you back:

DARK HORSE COMICS   
ADVENTURES INTO THE UNKNOWN ARCHIVES HC VOL 01    $49.99
ADVENTURES OF DOG MENDONCA PIZZABOY TP    $12.99
BTVS SEASON 8 LIBRARY HC VOL 01 LONG WAY HOME    $29.99
DARK HORSE PRESENTS #12 KIETH CVR    $7.99
DARK HORSE PRESENTS #12 MOTTER VAR CVR    $7.99
DOCTOR SOLAR MAN OF THE ATOM TP VOL 02 REVELATION    $15.99
GUILD FAWKES #1 DUFFIELD CVR    $3.50
MIND MGMT #1 KINDT CVR    $3.99
ORCHID #7 (MR)    $3.50
RAGEMOOR #3    $3.50
RESIDENT ALIEN #1    $3.50
SPACE FAMILY ROBINSON ARCHIVES HC VOL 04    $49.99
STAR WARS DARTH VADER GHOST PRISON #1 (OF 5) WILKINS CVR    $3.50
   
DC COMICS   
ABSOLUTE BATMAN DARK VICTORY HC    $99.99
ALL STAR WESTERN #9 (NIGHT OF THE OWLS)    $3.99
AQUAMAN #9    $2.99
BATMAN #3 2ND PTG    $2.99
BATMAN INCORPORATED #1    $2.99
BATMAN INCORPORATED #1 COMBO PACK    $3.99
BATMAN KNIGHTFALL TP NEW ED VOL 02 KNIGHTQUEST    $29.99
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #9 (NIGHT OF THE OWLS)    $2.99
DOMINIQUE LAVEAU VOODOO CHILD #3 (MR)    $2.99
FABLES #117 (MR)    $2.99
FLASH #9    $2.99
FURY OF FIRESTORM THE NUCLEAR MEN #9    $2.99
GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #9    $2.99
I VAMPIRE #9    $2.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #9    $2.99
MAD ARCHIVES HC VOL 03    $59.99
MAD VINYL SPY VS SPY 2 PACK    $49.99
NIGHTWING #8 2ND PTG    $2.99
SAVAGE HAWKMAN #9    $2.99
SHOWCASE PRESENTS SEA DEVILS TP VOL 01    $19.99
STORMWATCH TP VOL 01 THE DARK SIDE    $14.99
SUPERMAN #9    $2.99
TEEN TITANS #9 (THE CULLING)    $2.99
UNWRITTEN #37 (MR)    $2.99
VOODOO #9    $2.99
   
IDW PUBLISHING   
COBRA ONGOING #13    $3.99
COMIC BOOK HISTORY OF COMICS GN    $21.99
GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO TP VOL 04    $19.99
GODZILLA ONGOING #1    $3.99
HERO COMICS 2012    $3.99
JOE HILL THE CAPE HC    $24.99
MAGIC THE GATHERING #4    $3.99
SMOKE AND MIRRORS #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS EYE ONGOING #5    $3.99
TRUE BLOOD ONGOING #1    $3.99
   
IMAGE COMICS   
27 (TWENTY SEVEN) TP VOL 02 SECOND SET    $12.99
ARTIFACTS ORIGINS FIRST BORN TP    $19.99
CHEW #26 (MR)    $2.99
ELEPHANTMEN #39 (MR)    $3.99
EPIC KILL #1 2ND PTG    $2.99
FOOT SOLDIERS TP VOL 01    $19.99
HAUNT TP VOL 03    $14.99
NEAR DEATH #8    $2.99
NETHERWORLD TP    $19.99
NO PLACE LIKE HOME #4 (MR)    $2.99
PROPHET #25    $2.99
REBEL BLOOD #3 (OF 4) (MR)    $3.50
SAGA #1 4TH PTG (MR)    $2.99
THIEF OF THIEVES #2 3RD PTG    $2.99
THIEF OF THIEVES #3 3RD PTG    $2.99
THIEF OF THIEVES #4 2ND PTG    $2.99
WITCHBLADE #156 CVR A CHRISTOPER    $2.99
WITCHBLADE #156 CVR B BENES & BERNARD    $2.99
XENOHOLICS TP VOL 01 (MR)    $14.99
YOUNGBLOOD #71 CVR A LIEFELD    $2.99
YOUNGBLOOD #71 CVR B OTTLEY    $2.99
YOUNGBLOOD #71 CVR C GIARRUSSO    $2.99
   
MARVEL COMICS   
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #686 ENDS    $3.99
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN YOUNG READERS TP VOL 01 BEHIND MASK    $6.99
ASTONISHING X-MEN #50    $3.99
AVENGERS #25 2ND PTG ACUNA VAR AVX (PP #1020)    $3.99
AVENGERS MANY FACES OF HENRY PYM TP    $19.99
CAPTAIN AMERICA #12    $3.99
CAPTAIN AMERICA AND HAWKEYE #631    $2.99
DAKEN DARK WOLVERINE PREM HC NO MORE HEROES    $19.99
DEADPOOL #55    $2.99
DEADPOOL MAX TP INVOLUNTARY ARMAGEDDON    $19.99
DOROTHY AND WIZARD IN OZ #7 (OF 8)    $3.99
FANTASTIC FOUR #606    $2.99
HULK #52    $2.99
HULK SMASH AVENGERS #4 (OF 5)    $2.99
JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #638 EXILED    $2.99
MARVEL UNIVERSE SPIDER-MAN AMAZING FANTASY DIGEST TP    $9.99
MARVEL UNIVERSE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #2    $2.99
MARVEL ZOMBIES DESTROY #2 (OF 5)    $3.99
MIGHTY THOR #14    $3.99
MIGHTY THOR BY MATT FRACTION PREM HC VOL 02    $24.99
MIGHTY THOR BY MATT FRACTION TP VOL 01    $19.99
MMW AMAZING SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 07    $24.99
MMW AMAZING SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 07 DM VAR ED 44    $24.99
MMW ATLAS ERA JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY HC VOL 04    $64.99
MMW ATLAS ERA JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY HC VOL 04 DM VAR ED 180    $64.99
SECRET AVENGERS #27 AVX    $3.99
STRIKEFORCE MORITURI TP VOL 03    $34.99
ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN DOSM FALLOUT TP    $19.99
ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #12    $3.99
UNCANNY X-FORCE OTHERWORLD PREM HC    $24.99
UNCANNY X-FORCE TP VOL 03 DARK ANGEL SAGA BOOK 01    $19.99
VENOM CIRCLE OF FOUR PREM HC    $29.99
WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #9 2ND PTG BACHALO VAR AVX (PP #1020)    $3.99
   
COMICS   
ACOLYTE CHRONICLES #1    $3.99
ARCHIE #633    $2.99
BART SIMPSON COMICS #71    $2.99
BEST OF SONIC THE HEDGEHOG HC    $24.99
BEST SHOT IN THE WEST ADVENTURES OF NAT LOVE GN    $19.99
BIG NATE WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG TP    $9.99
BILL GATES CO FOUNDER OF MICROSOFT ONE SHOT    $7.99
BOYS ONLY HOW TO SURVIVE ANYTHING GN    $6.99
BUCK ROGERS IN 25TH CENTURY DAILIES HC VOL 06 1936-1938    $49.99
CALIGULA HC VOL 01 (MR)    $27.99
CALIGULA HC VOL 01 SIGNED ED (MR)    $34.99
CALIGULA TP VOL 01 (MR)    $19.99
CAVEWOMAN MUTATION #2    $3.75
CAVEWOMAN MUTATION #2 BUDD ROOT SP ED     PI
CLINT 2.0 #1 (MR)    $6.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #6 (MR)    $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #6 TORTURE CVR (MR)    $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #6 WRAP CVR (MR)    $3.99
DELTORA QUEST GN VOL 06    $10.99
DILBERT TEAMWORK MEANS YOU CANT PICK SIDE TP    $12.99
DINO DUCK PREHYSTERICAL GN    $6.99
DUNGEON ZENITH SET VOL 1-3    $39.99
ELRIC THE BALANCE LOST #10    $3.99
FANBOYS VS ZOMBIES #1 (2ND PTG) (PP #1018)    $1.00
FANBOYS VS ZOMBIES #2 (2ND PTG) (PP #1020)    $3.99
FATHOM KIANI VOL 2 #2 CVR A NOME    $3.50
FATHOM KIANI VOL 2 #2 CVR B RYAN    $3.50
FEMFORCE #159    $9.95
FLASH GORDON INVASION O/T RED SWORD TP (RES)    $19.99
FLASH GORDON VENGENCE OF MING GN    $12.99
GFT PRESENTS NEVERLAND HOOK #5 A CVR SEJIC    $2.99
GFT PRESENTS NEVERLAND HOOK #5 B CVR CAPPROTTI    $2.99
GIRLS ONLY HOW TO SURVIVE ANYTHING GN    $6.99
GOLDEN AGE WESTERN COMICS HC    $24.95
GREEN HORNET #25    $3.99
HELLRAISER #14 (MR)    $3.99
HOLLIDAY GN (MR)    $19.99
INTERIORAE TP    $19.99
IRREDEEMABLE #37    $3.99
JUDGE DREDD CRUSADE TP    $16.99
JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #181    $3.99
KEVIN SMITH BIONIC MAN #9    $3.99
KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #186    $5.99
LADY MECHANIKA #2 CVR G 2ND PTG (PP #1009)    $3.99
LIO STILL ANOTHER LIO COLL ZOMBIES NEED LOVE TOO TP    $12.99
LORD OF THE JUNGLE ANNUAL #1 (MR)    $4.99
MAKESHIFT MIRACLE HC VOL 01 GIRL FROM NOWHERE    $19.99
PRINCESS OF MARS ILLUSTRATED CLASSICS GN (PP #1017)    $15.95
QUEEN SONJA TP VOL 03 COMING OF AGE    $19.99
RICH JOHNSTONS CAPTAIN AMERICAN IDOL #1 (2ND PTG) (PP #1018)    $3.99
RICH JOHNSTONS SCIENTHORLOGY #1 (2ND PTG) (PP #1018)    $3.99
ROBERT JORDAN WHEEL OF TIME EYE O/T WORLD #25    $3.99
SOULFIRE VOL 3 #8 CVR A FABOK    $3.50
SOULFIRE VOL 3 #8 CVR B BENITEZ    $3.50
STAN LEES MIGHTY 7 #2    $2.99
STEVE DITKO ARCHIVES HC VOL 03 MYSTERIOUS TRAVELER    $39.99
STORM RIDER #1    $3.99
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE TP VOL 01 BERRY FUN    $14.99
TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #66 DOUBLE DLX ED (MR)    $21.99
TIME FOR FRANK AND HIS FRIEND GN    $14.95
VAMPIRELLA #17    $3.99
WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #12 (MR)    $3.99
ZORRO RIDES AGAIN TP VOL 01    $19.99

Preview: Marvel's "Civil War" Novel

ComicBookResources.com has an exclusive preview of the novelization of Marvel's epic Civil War event. If you're not familiar with the novel, here's the solicitation:

CIVIL WAR PROSE NOVEL HC
Written by STUART MOORE
Cover by MICHAEL TURNER
The Marvel Universe is changing. In the wake of a tragedy, Capitol Hill proposes the Super Hero Registration Act, requiring all costumed heroes to unmask themselves before the government. Divided, the nation’s greatest champions must each decide how to react — a decision that will alter the course of their lives forever! Experience Marvel’s blockbuster event like never before in this new adaptation!
352 PGS./No Rating …$24.99

CBR.com has13 pages from Chapter 2 of the book. It tells the story from the point-of-view of Spider-Man.

I initially didn't mind that the book was referring to the main character as "Spidey" and not "Peter". It sets the tone that says, "this is more about superheroes than the men/women inside the costumes."Not my favorite choice, but whateve - it could still be a cool book in a different way.

But over the course of the preview, I found myself having more and more of a problem taking it seriously. It could be the writing, it could be that I'm not used to seeing these characters in text-only form. Either way, I may have to wait for this one to hit the library.

We've Got Big Wow ComicFest (who needs WonderCon?)

You know what I hate most about WonderCon? Not being able to breathe while I roam the floor - dodging Twightlight fans and people who only came to see extended movie trailers.

You know what I didn't have to deal with at Big Wow Comicfest over the weekend? Exactly.

This is not to say there wasn't a crowd - there was. But it was managable and the people there were comic fans first and foremost. Vendors were fantastic. And what it lacked in movie-star power it made up for in fun. I really hope this convension becomes an annual thing.

Below are shots from Sunday:

There were a ton of great artists at the event (Cho, Wrightson, Lim), but the only one you really had to wait for was Jim Lee. Why? Because he was sketching when requested. Above,  a fan poses with Lee after Lee sketechd an awesome Magneto for him in 95 seconds (we timed it).

Speaking of sketches, here's something that Ron "Infinity Guantlent" Lim sketched, for free, for my buddy, Taver. Rock!

Free sketches are always nice, but if you want to spend...well, there was an auction there too. In case you can't make it out, this was a Jim Lee Batman. Asking starting price = $1000. First bid = $2700. Wow.

And finally, for all the young, aspiring artists out there - there was a Kids Korner, with a tone of different heroes to color and plenty of markers to do it with.

Big Wow! Comicfest Weekend is here

As the California Bay Area locals are already aware, we lost WonderCon to L.A. this year. Thankfully Big Wow! Comicfest stepped in to take its place.

So if you're looking to see Jim Lee, Bernie Wrightson, or Frank Cho this weekend, San Jose is the place to be. You can also catch former Punisher Thomas Jane there as well. And if you play Magic, WoW, Yu-Gi-Oh, Clix, RPGs or Boardgames, there's a tourney and/or casual gaming both days.

Speaking of games, Big Wow! will also host a demo of an unrelease superhero card game called Flare. You can sign-up here to be a part of the demo (multiple times are offered). I picked Sunday at 1 pm if you care to join me. I have no idea how good/bad the game will be, but it's kinda cool to be one of the first to get my hands on a card game of any kind. Who knows - this could be the next Vs. System. (I'm not holding my breath, but anything is possible...)

Finally, the Avengers Assemble Exhibition sounds like something anyone who loved the movie should check out. And if you're looking to pick up rare comics at good proces, you'll probably find what you need from all the vendors exhibiting there.

I'll try to come back with many photos on Monday, but if you want to check all this out for yourself, get advanced tix here for $15. Hope to see you there!

This.

Hitting shelves Today - 5/16

It seems like Hulk was the stand-out favorite among Avengers fans. For those who want to follow him in the comic world, Hulk 7.1 is the perfect jumping-on point.

Whatever happened to Bruce Banner…? RED SHE-HULK knows, and is NONE TOO PLEASED.

A preview can be found here.

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For those of you who like your monsters a little less mainstream, Dark Horse has B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Devil's Engine #1 (of 3):

Caught between bat-faced monsters, a devastating earthquake, and the mad science experiments of Zinco, Devon and Fenix form an uneasy alliance in order to get to safety!

Here's a preview.

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Walking Dead author Robert Kirkman has a new book this week - Hardcore #1. Interesting premise...

From the creative minds of Image partners Robert Kirkman & Marc Silvestri! Once the hard core is shot into the back of your neck, an assassin's brain waves can be transmitted into your body--circumventing your brain functions--taking complete control of your body. When assassins use this technology--your killer can be anyone; your barber, your neighbor or your wife. They are the best assassins in the world--but what happens when one of their own turns against them? Who can you trust when your enemy can change his appearance as easy as someone changes a shirt?

Here's a preview.

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Here's a list of what's dropping today and how much it will set you back:

The Bat in the Hat?

Check these out:

These are all done by an artist known as DrFaustusAU, and you can see all of his awesome work here. He-Man and Ghostbusters fans will definitely want to check it out.