The New 52: Batman The Dark Knight Issue No. 7 Review

The adrenaline-filled storyline comes to a close as Batman and Bane continue their battle, only one survivor can come out of this slugfest! Thankfully for Batman, an ally comes to his aid in the nick of time.

Showcase Presents: All-Star Squadron Vol. 1

The Justice Society! The Freedom Fighters! And many more! The original heroes from the Greatest Generation are back in this new collection, capturing their classic adventures together as The All Star Squadron! DC Comics will be reprinting the original issues of the All Star Squadron (1 through 18) as well their first appearance in Justice League of America issue 193 in the Showcase Presents: All-Star Squadron Vol. 1 paperback. The early stories by writer Roy Thomas and artist Rich Buckler, depicts the formation of the super group from other renowned teams, as the resulting threat of World War II draws closer to home. The paperback will be released on April 24, 2012.

Pre-order from Amazon:

Review: Avengers vs. X-Men 0

Unfortunately, the buildup issue leading towards the battle of the year was a bit of a letdown, offering scant details of the upcoming event. While the issue does profile both the Scarlet Witch and Hope Summers, little is revealed of their major roles in the miniseries. Does the emotionally unbalanced Scarlet Witch become more of a presence in this miniseries?

REVIEW: Batman #7

After a brutal week in the Court of Owl's maze, the Dark Knight is triumphant. Unfortunately there's no rest for Batman as the Court has just begun their attack on Gotham. Meanwhile the Dark Knight discovers details revealing his even deeper ties to the Court, and Nightwing won't be pleased with the news.

LEGO X-Men Marvel Superheroes

Could some of the upcoming LEGO X-Men minifigs wind up being released along with or part of the LEGO Avengers movie sets as well? A peek at the Marvel Superheroes page at the LEGO site, shows Magneto, Deadpool and Wolverine alongside Earth's mightiest heroes. This could also be simply a preview of the separate LEGO X-Men merchandise to come. Of course, this is all just speculation but we'll have more updates as they come.

Related Stories:

• LEGO Lord of The Rings
• LEGO Avengers 

Via LEGO

NBA2K12 for iPhone: AirPlay Update

Developer 2K Sports has released a new update for NBA2K12 for iPhone. The 1.4.3 update features social media sharing capabilities, the ability to capture your best replays, and limited AirPlay support.

Avengers vs. X-Men: Issue 2 Sneak Peek

Here’s a sneak peek at Avengers vs. X-Men issue artwork by John Romita Jr. The battle of the year starts in April. In issue, the powerful Phoenix makes it’s way to Earth and The Avengers make their way to the beaches of Utopia to save mankind at any cost.

iCloud Backup

One striking component of Apple’s iCloud feature, is the free 5 GB of online storage it provides it’s iOS device users. With the 5 GB allotted space, users can simply choose to sync and backup their device data and settings to the iCloud service, or the usual method, to their primary iTunes accounts on their computers. Now you would think 5 GB is pretty ample space but in reality, it’s actually not the case. Depending on the number of your photos in your Camera Roll, 5 GB can quickly be eaten up by those pictures. 

The New 52: Wonder Woman Issue 7 Review

Continuing their journey to Hell, Wonder Woman and her companions seek help from the god Hephaestus. Dark secrets about the Amazons are also revealed. The origin of Wonder Woman and the Amazons continues!

Captain Marvel Carol Danvers

Taking on the new identity of Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers stars in her own new series this July. Announced recently at WonderCon 2012, writer Kelly Sue DeConnick and artist Dexter Soy helm the new adventures of Danvers, which features a new costume with some similarities to the classic Mar-Vell outfit.

Review: Swamp Thing Annual 3

Some unknown force is mysteriously reaching out to all primates, directing them to Gorilla City. It just so happens that the Swamp Thing is being drawn in as well!

Taking over the writing chores from Alan Moore was no easy task for Rick Veitch but in the end, it's stories like these that truly mark Veitch's run on Swamp Thing, just as memorable. In Swamp Thing Annual 3, titled "Distant Cousins", our story begins with the imprisoned Flash villain Gorilla Grodd, held captive within Gorilla City. The central focus isn't primarily on Swamp Thing but rather a fond look at the primate characters in the DC Universe. It was definitely a post-Crisis on Infinite Earths that gave a nod back at the quirky animals who played a role, albeit a minor one, of stories past.

Using his mind force, Grodd mentally reaches out and snares other primates from the DC Universe, such as Angel and the Ape, Congorilla, Monsieur Mallah (of the Brotherhood of Evil) and many others to release him from his fate. Unbeknownst to Grodd is that the Swamp Thing is also caught up in the net of the mind force!

Review: Fantastic Four Annual 21

The Inhumans have arrived at Fantastic Four headquarters to bring Crystal home regardless if she agrees! Their journey is interrupted by another disturbance on their home base though! Writer Steve Englehart has always captured superhero teams so well and Fantastic Four Annual 21 is no exception. Having enjoyed his work in Green Lantern Corps and West Coast Avengers, this story is another example of Englehart's fine work team chemistry and characterization.

Annual 21 continues the Evolutionary War storyline that was published through most Marvel Comics annuals in 1988. The High Evolutionary is interested in the Inhuman’s Terrigen Mists and have invaded their territory on the moon, to capture it. What stands out about the annual is that it focuses less on the crossover story and more on the lives of the Fantastic Four!

The story actually begins at Fantastic Four headquarters though where the current lineup of Ms. Marvel/She-Thing, The Thing, The Human Torch and Crystal (of the Inhumans), have returned battle weary and off to catch some rest. This is quickly interrupted when Medusa and Black Bolt, make their holographic appearance to Crystal insisting that she return home to settle matters amicably with her husband Quicksilver. The rest of the Inhumans are then teleported to the Baxter Building as the battle begins to bring her back by force!

Review: Superman Issue 7

A rampaging superhuman emerges from an explosion at an energy facility. Is it actually Lois Lane? Watch out because here comes Superman for a confrontation!

AvX: VS Issue 1 Sneak Peek

The action between the Avengers and X-Men jumps off into another tie-in series simply titled AvX: VS! Featuring battle-heavy storylines, the series kicks off with The Thing taking on Namor written by Kathryn Immonen with art by Stuart Immonen.  In the second story written by Jason Aaron and art by Andy Kubert, it's Magneto taking on Iron Man. Enjoy the preview artwork by Andy Kubert until the superhero smackdown arrives in April!

Images via Marvel Comics

Summer of Valiant: Bloodshot and Archer & Armstrong

The Summer of Valiant Comics continues with two more explosive titles making their debuts. Bloodshot returns with a mysterious past and new adventures written by Duane Swierczynski with art by Manuel Garcia. The unlikely duo of Archer and Armstrong make their globe-trotting comeback with new stories written by Fred Van Lente and art by Clayton Henry.

Bloodshot makes it's debut in July with Archer & Armstrong debuting the following month. The Summer of Valiant Comics is almost upon us!

Via Valiant Entertainment

iTunes 10.6: Download Previously Purchased Movies

With the 10.6 iTunes update, you can now download previously purchased movies to any computer or any iOS device. Not all of the Hollywood studios have agreements with Apple for this feature yet but expect them to have their movies available as well.  This feature is located on the main screen of iTunes.


The option to redownload HD movies in 1080p resolution is also available.

Related Stories:

• Transfer your Apple TV purchases to your iOS device
• iTunes 1080p HD movies
• OSX Lion Mission Control

Marvel Vs. DC

Does anyone else see the similarities between Jim Lee's Justice League cover and Mark Bagley's Avengers Assemble cover?

Growing up in the 90's, I loved both Mark Bagley's work on the Amazing Spider-Man as well as Jim Lee's X-Men. I have to say this is absolutely cool, and could be a coincidence or a direct nod to Lee's original piece. But I can't help but think it's a actually a little jab at which is the better team. Tongue-in-cheek nonetheless. Oh well.

Avengers v. X-Men: Issue 6 Scarlet Witch Variant Cover

Witness the fury and power of the Scarlet Witch in this issue 6 variant cover drawn by Nick Bradshaw, of the Avengers vs. X-Men miniseries.

Image courtesy Marvel

Moebius: Silver Surfer

In remembrance: Jean Giraud (1938-2012)

Like most young readers of the 1980s, my first taste of Jean Giraud aka Moebius' artwork came about during the Silver Surfer miniseries that he worked on with Stan Lee. It was brief glimpse of his amazing work that had dazzled European audiences before.  The scenes featuring the mighty Galactus were breathtaking to say the least. His most popular work was on a western series Blueberry and his concept designs and storyboards have included films such as Alien, Tron and Willow.

Collecting comics during my youth of the 1980s and the scarcity of comic book stores at the time, I was fortunate to be able to experience his work firsthand, through Marvel Comics. We have lost another master of the medium.

via LA Times

X-O Manowar Issue 1 Artwork Sneak Peek

Valiant Entertainment returns this summer with it's lead off title X-O Manowar! Here is a sneak peek at the upcoming premiere issue artwork as done by Cary Nord.

iTunes 1080p Movie Resolution

The recent 10.6 update for iTunes now features movies and television shows available for purchase, in 1080p resolution. You can switch to this format in the Preferences section of iTunes or continue with the same 720p resolution as before.  Depending on the movie, there will be a size increase for the media file when you choose the new resolution.

The New 52: Animal Man Issue 7 Review

The Rot are hot on the trail of the Baker family, will Animal Man and his daughter Maxine, succeed in stopping them? Animal Man issue 7 continues the storyline from the initial issues despite beginning a new arc.  The Rot are at the forefront once again of this new storyline, as they spread their destruction in their attempts to capture the Baker clan.  Nothing stands in their way as The Rot draw closer and closer! A special guest star is featured as well!

Skottie Young AvX Variant Cover

Renowed artist Skottie Young has a different interpretation of the upcoming Avengers vs X-Men saga with this variant cover.  This special cover, debuting on April 4, will only be available at Midtown Comics in New York at both of their locations and through their website.  Don't fret as Marvel Comics plans to release the cover as a poster later in June.

You might also like:

 



Image courtesy Marvel Comics

Summer of Valiant: X-O Manowar and Harbinger

The all-new Valiant Universe makes it's explosive debut this May with the return of X-O Manowar and followed by Harbinger in June.  Writer Robert Venditti and artist Cary Nord helm the latest adventures of Aric the Visigoth.  Be on the look out for the special variant covers (especially the one that talks!) for X-O Manowar as well!

Peter Stanchek is back in the spotlight again as the lead character in Harbinger.  The new series written by Joshua Dysart and drawn by Khari Evans, also sees the return of Toyo Harada as he guides Peter with his newly discovered powers. What are Harada's true intentions though?

Stay tuned for more details as the Valiant Universe slowly unfolds with Ninjak and Shadowman on the horizon as well!

Via Valiant Entertainment

Earth 2: Issue 2 Cover Art Sneak Peek

In a Newsrama interview with Earth 2 writer James Robinson, a few more scant details of the forthcoming title were revealed.  One important aspect to understand is that the Earth 2 we've all come to known, is "not your father's Earth 2".  It's a parallel Earth with Golden Age heroes such as the original Flash, Jay Garrick and the original Green Lantern, Alan Scott, taking on new roles and costumes but also sharing the spotlight with Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman.  Garrick is a much younger character in this parallel Earth and is the subject of issue 2's cover artwork pictured above.

REVIEW: Justice League #6

The first arc of the New 52's flagship title concludes as the "Super Seven" battles the mighty Darkseid. Memo to Darkseid: don't piss off Superman.

Avengers: Black Widow

I've always been intrigued by the Black Widow and the only thing I knew about her was that she was Russian and kicked butt! I'll admit I never saw her in action during the Avengers but I enjoyed her partnership with Daredevil during Ann Nocenti's run.  The short hair look of the heroine drawn by John Romita, Jr., was spectacular. The pairing of both characters was unique because frankly, Black Widow didn't have any super powers at all.

The contrast in costumes for both characters also stood out for me as you had Daredevil clad in red while the Black Widow had her striking red hair standing out against her black costume. Her mysterious past also intrigued because I often wondered what her true motives were. Working side-by-side with other heroes, could they really trust her or did she have other secretive objectives as well?

Earth 2 Superman

DC Comics rounds out their previews for the upcoming Earth 2 comic with a look at the Man of Steel concept art.  It's a solemn portrayal of Superman, via Jim Lee as in this parallel Earth, his beloved Lois Lane is deceased. Stay tuned for more sneak peeks as they become available.

Earth 2 Wonder Woman & Supergirl Concept Art

Following the recent design reveals of Earth 2's very dynamic duo, DC Comics has also unveiled the concept artwork for Wonder Woman and Supergirl.  Supergirl's identity in Earth 2 is actually that of Karen Starr, who is Powergirl in our Earth.  Wonder Woman is the last of the Amazons. We'll get more details as both Earth 2 series make their debuts soon.  Supergirl was designed by Kevin Maguire and Wonder Woman by Jim Lee.

You might also like:

• Earth 2 Hawkgirl concept art by Brett Booth
• Earth 2 Batman & Robin concept art
• Earth 2 Issue 1 review

Images courtesy DC Comics

Super 7 x Star Wars

We've been big fans of Super 7 ever since we bought our Camo Walker t-shirt pictured above, way back when.  Though it was sold out at one point, that particular design is back in stock as well other Star Wars related t-shirts, in a new licensing agreement with Lucasfilm.  You can purchase the Camo Walker t-shirt and other designs at Super 7 directly.