March 2014 | Fanboys Anonymous

How I Met Your Mother Series Finale Review Last Forever Season 9 Episode 23 & 24

Posted by Anthony Mango - Monday, March 31, 2014

How I Met Your Mother series finale images spoilers
After nine seasons, it's finally time for Ted Mosby to meet The Mother in the How I Met Your Mother series finale two-part episode, entitled "Last Forever."

This has been an odd show built around the premise that we already know what happens: Ted meets The Mother and they have two children together. How Ted gets to that point, however, has always been a mystery to the audience. Tonight, that mystery is solved and the story comes to an end.

Yesterday, we had a special podcast retrospective of the show in which we discussed our theories on what is going to happen, what we'd like to see, and reminisced about our favorite moments as fans. Give it a listen! Is The Mother dead, or is that just a red herring?

LAST FOREVER REVIEW

Let me be blunt here: my gut reaction is to be mad. Throughout this entire series, I've been hoping that they would stick to their guns and Ted would not end up with Robin. Little did we all know that they were in fact sticking to their guns, but that that WAS their original plan.

It's disappointing, and I feel like they even admitted why: The Mother is barely in the story. Ted really just spent all that time talking about some other woman instead of their mother. How does that make Ted Mosby anything but LESS likable than before?

It's obviously not their intention, but it really comes off as though Ted's relationship with Tracy wasn't actually the love of his life. She was just another bump in the road like Stella and Zoey and Victoria to fill the void. She was a means to an end for him to have kids and after that was done, she was no longer useful.

Again, while I'm writing this out, let me remind you that this is my initial gut reaction to something I've waited nine years to see, so my opinions might change on this later, and right now, ten minutes have gone by and I'm already less angry and more disappointed.

I liked how the episode started with a flashback to the origins of the group, but immediately it started to make me think that this was just another sign that they were making Robin too integral.

I'll give credit to Carter Bays and Craig Thomas that they did stay true to the idea that this might be fictional, but it doesn't mean everything is a fairy tale. Barney and Robin getting a divorce? That happens in real life. The likelihood that we would have three perfect couples in Lily/Marshall, Barney/Robin, Ted/Tracy that all live happily ever after and play bridge on the front porch was probably not going to happen.

But damn it, why did this have to turn out to be a series about how Ted was still in love with Robin throughout everything? I know that it would be even more depressing if Tracy died and there was nobody there for Ted, but doesn't this just make you think that Ted only loved Tracy as much as he allowed himself to be deluded into thinking? He thought he loved Zoey, he thought he loved Victoria, he thought he loved Stella, he even thought people like Leilani were "the one." So what's the difference with Tracy? There were more clues about destiny than the others?

A friend of mine brought up a great point. He said it's as if they completely glossed over Tracy and said to the audience "what did she die from? Who cares." And then the kids basically have the reaction of "Dad, our mom has been dead for like, six years, just get over it already." Ouch. Also, why don't we even get a name for Barney's daughter's mother? I liked the idea that his daughter was the true love of his life, but her mother doesn't matter either?

I'm glad that they at least tried to tie up some loose ends, like Marshall paying Lily after losing the bet, but he technically didn't now, did he? And why was there no explanation about Bob Saget's voice?


It's going to take a long time for me to process this and I'm sure I'll be easier on it in the future, but if I'm giving an honest initial reaction to it, I can't help but be disappointed that for a show that has meant so much to me over the years, built upon the concept of receiving a payoff, it all ended up being kind of tossed aside for a Ted and Robin ship. Ted was supposed to be telling us the best love story that ever existed: the story of how he met Tracy. Not the story of how he always had a thing for Robin and now that his wife is dead, it's supposed to be justified for him to go after her for the millionth time.

HIMYM cast members say goodbye in series finale Do Robin and Ted end up together in HIMYM series finale?

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER'S FINALE?

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Harry Potter Spin-Off: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them to be a Trilogy

Posted by Unknown

Harry Potter Text Book is Going To Be a TrilogyThe mystical Harry Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them is set to be a trilogy! What that means for all you muggle fans out there is that there's going to be many more years of magical excitement to come!

The book, which is a short textbook of sorts, follows the story of Newt Scamander, an employee of the Ministry of Magic who travels the world discovering all sorts of wonderful magical creatures. It is set many decades before the Harry Potter series, which makes it extremely unlikely that Harry or his friends will appear.

Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara recently told The New York Times that "three megamovies are planned." It was clear from the get-go that this was going to be a big-budget production, considering it's one of the most valuable franchises out there.

It was also announced recently that J. K. Rowling herself will pen the first movie script. With her in charge, we're pretty much guaranteed a hit movie. It's unclear whether she will be writing all three scripts, but given that Fantastic Beasts isn't the largest of texts, she (or some other scriptwriter) will have some work to do to turn it into three big blockbuster movies.

What do you think of a new trilogy set in the wizarding world of Harry Potter? Let us know in the comment section below!

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The Walking Dead Season 4 Finale "A" Review & Synopsis

Posted by The Dace Man

It's that time of week again! Yours truly, Chris "The Dace Man" Dace, is back with another review and synopsis of AMC's horror drama The Walking Dead!

Its that time of year again where AMC grabs our minds and turns them into putty, as we spend our last hour with the cast of The Walking Dead and wrap up season 4. With a midseason finale that saw the return and demise of the Governor, the separation of the postapocalyptic group we've grown to love, and the loss of the beloved Hershel, the finale has a tough act to follow.

The Walking Dead Season 5 Spoilers and News
Andrew Lincoln has gone on record saying that this finale will "irrevocably change" Rick Grimes going forward. With a season that was saturated with character building, and the introduction of three new characters brought to life from Kirkman's comic that will usher in a new chapter to the series, what is in store for us in the finale entitled "A"? Last year's finale saw the Governor's first attack on the prison, and his full slip into insanity by mowing down his fellow townsmen, as well as the loss of Andrea. What is in store for us this year? Will we lose another beloved character? Will we see a new antagonist for Rick and the survivors to battle? Lastly, part of the group has arrived to Terminus, with the others not far behind, what happens when the entire pack arrives, and what exactly is Terminus? Hopefully all this will be answered tonight. If not, we're gonna have a very long wait till October!

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE WALKING DEAD SEASON 4, EPISODE 16: "A"

We kick off our last hour of zombie fix this season with a flashback to the prison. Rick, Maggie, and Glenn return from a run and are greeted by Hershel. Yay, Hershel cameo!! We then cut to a bloody Rick who looks to be in the future, he also appears to be rattled a bit. Close-up on his eye and then we roll into the main commercial break!

Back from the first commercial break, we see Rick at a camp with Michonne and Carl in the present. Rick says they'll stay at their campsite for another day or two, and they discuss what they will do upon arrival at Terminus. Carl questions who they are and what they will tell the Terminus inhabitants about their long storied pasts. In the distance they hear a man screaming for help whom they find is surrounded by at least a dozen walkers. The heroic Carl tries to save the man, but Rick stops him from running into the herd. The three take off and find another, smaller group of walkers as the larger one follows them. We cut back to another flashback of Hershel and Rick in the prison and Hershel asking a favor of Rick and to come with him. We cut back to the present and Rick, Michonne, and Carl continue fleeing until they find a truck to camp in and call it a night. The truck appears to be the same vehicle we saw Rick sitting by at the beginning of the episode. They hear a rustling in the woods, and after some more discussions, suddenly Joe has finally caught up to Rick and as we roll into commercial Joe has a gun to Rick's head. GASP!

News and Rumors about The Walking Dead
Before Joe can pull the trigger, Daryl reveals himself. Daryl tries to rationalize with Joe about not killing Rick and then offers himself. The group then jumps Daryl, and a man pulls Carl out of the truck. As the man tries to take advantage of Carl, Rick finally snaps and attacks Joe. In a moment that had me literally yelling "holy shit" at my TV, Rick bites Joe's neck, killing him, and then repeatedly stabs the man that had Carl. Rick has gone over the edge, and we now see the Rick from season 3 after Lori died—but this time he's killing the living. Daryl, Michonne, and Carl stare in silence as Rick repeatedly stabs a man begging for his life. We go to commercial and I try to pick my jaw off the floor.

Back with a calmer voice of reason, Hershel starts planning with Rick about taming wild animals. Hershel says to Rick "The war is over." We now see what brought Rick back from the aggressive edge. Hershel's words of wisdom convinced Rick to give up the war mentality and take up the farming life. Back to the original scene we kicked off the show with, a bloody Rick is sitting by a truck, and the group is silent. Daryl returns and begins talking to Rick about the group and how he met them and also explains that Beth is gone. Rick tells Daryl them reuniting is huge for the group and that he's his brother. They talk about Rick's anger and his uncontrollable rage when it comes to Carl's safety. We cut to a new scene of the four heading to Terminus once again. Instead of sticking to the tracks, the group diverts into the woods and approaches Terminus. They decide to spread out and do some recon, and Carl decides to stick with Michonne. Michonne asks Carl why he didn't stick with Rick, but he ignores the question. Michonne then explains to Carl how she lost her child. She explains the two she left her child with were high and were bit after the camp was overrun while she was on a run. She explains she became a monster because of her anger and that what brought her back was the group. She explains that there is no need for him to be afraid of Rick or her. Carl explains he still has these thoughts that would make Rick disappointed in him because he's a monster too. Rick saw and overheard the whole thing and then decided to bury the guns.

Terminus from the Walking Dead is it in the comics?
The group then decides to scale the fence and approach Terminus. They enter a warehouse where they meet the group in charge of Terminus. After introductions and the awkward lay-your-weapons-down standoff, they get their weapons back and head on the tour. Rick notices Glenn's riot gear, Maggie's poncho, and Hershel's watch. He immediately smacks the plate out of the hand of the tour guide and holds him at gunpoint asking where they got the items. We now have a Walking Dead Season Finale Showdown!!! Commercial time!!

We cut back to another prison scene with Rick interacting with Carl. After seeing Carl being stone cold he gives the same speech Hershel gave him. Back to the standoff and Rick is demanding answers. They engage into a gunfight with the group. The snipers on the roof seem to be directing them to a location. They're directed to the back where they are outnumbered. We cut to our last commercial break of the night! Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we have just been introduced to The Hunters!

We're back for our last few minutes of Walking Dead this season. The group is being directed into a rail car, and we are very close to the biggest cliffhanger ever. They are reunited with Glenn's group, and we get a prison flashback and close ups on all their faces. With the last dialogue of the season between Rick and Abraham about their situations, Rick delivers the final line: "They're messing with the wrong people."

Walking Dead renewed for more seasons

As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn) as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case, I don't even know what. What am I supposed to do till October?!—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!

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Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Segel Sing "Confrontation" from Les Miserables

Posted by The Dace Man - Sunday, March 30, 2014

How I Met Your Mother Series Finale SpoilersHey, hey, hey, Dacetacular Nation! Chris Dace is back, bringing you a diamond in the rough that's circulating on the Internet.

With the upcoming finale of How I Met Your Mother, set for Monday, March 31, it's no surprise that that the entire cast would sit down with James Lipton on Inside The Actors Studio. That's when we got a duet from actors Jason Segel and Neil Patrick Harris.

All it took was a question from an aspiring actor in the audience about the pair's extemporaneous 2005 performance of "The Confrontation" from Les Miserables, and a reminder from Alyson Hannigan that "We haven't heard that in a long time." After Jason Segel asked who would claim which role, Neil Patrick Harris—as only he can do—started to sing. This drew Segel into the song, and the two were off, giving us one last legendary memory with the entire cast. Check it out below, and make sure you catch the Fanboys Anonymous retrospective on How I Met Your Mother, only on Mega Powers Radio!


As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn) as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a French pineapple!—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!

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Hawkeye's New Clothes - Avengers: Age of Ultron Images

Posted by Jeff Penner

New Avengers: Age of Ultron photos keep pouring in as filming happens in broad daylight. We have some new images of Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye in some new duds as well as some good, close-up images of Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson).

Follow Jeremy Renner's first adventure as Hawkeye in Thor available to stream on Netflix

It sounds like Hawkeye has a lot more to do in this film than in the first one, where he was simply brainwashed for most of it. The new outfit seems to emulate that of the comic book version of Hawkeye (until a recent style update).

About the actual film itself, Iron Man himself had this to say:

"This one is a very ambitious sequel," Robert Downey Jr. said this week. "If you read it, it's dense, it's smart. Joss [Whedon] is a really smart guy. My 2-year-old is crazy about Hawkeye, and I think Jeremy [Renner] has a lot to do with the plot. There's always so many plates to spin to get these things half-right, and I'm really excited about this one."

Enjoy these possible spoiler-filled shots of Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver in action against what appears to be an Ultron drone (or possible stand-in for Ultron himself).

Read the comic book crossover event "Age of Ultron" on Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
Sexy San Diego Comic Con Scarlet Witch cosplay photosFollow Hawkeye's adventures as the team leader of the West Coast Avengers on the Marvel Comics App
Watch The Avengers film online for free on YouTubeScarlet Witch and Quicksilver rights debate between Marvel Studios and Fox
Follow Joss Whedon's official Twitter account for Avengers production news and blogsWho would win in a race: Marvel's Quicksilver or DC's the Flash?
Watch the Next Avengers Marvel animated feature film on Amazon PrimeFollow Ultron's comic book history on Comixology
The twins seem to have a civilian look to them, an "unintentional heroes" kind of thing. I do like this look for Hawkeye, he looks much more like he belongs among the likes of Captain America and Thor. What do we think about the outfits?

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Obituary: David A. Trampier, Early Dungeons & Dragons Artist

Posted by Eric Minton

Buy Dungeons & Dragons game guides at Barnes & Noble
 David A. Trampier, who passed away on March 24 at age 59, is familiar to old-school tabletop roleplaying gamers for his Dungeons & Dragons-related art. His work was stark and atmospheric, effectively portraying the amoral tone of the game's sword and sorcery roots. Many noteworthy images from the game's inception were his work—most notably the menacing gem-eyed idol gracing the cover of the original AD&D Player's Handbook, but also including various well-known and well-loved adventure covers and iconic monster and character illustrations. Perhaps his best-loved project, though, was the comic strip Wormy.

Wormy ran in the back of TSR's Dragon magazine (then called The Dragon) from September 1977 to April 1988. I loved it at the time, and I still consider it one of the best gaming-related comics I've ever encountered. Stylistically, it combined the rich colors, clean lines, and lush backgrounds reminiscent of Miyazaki with the sort of comically exaggerated characters found in Bakshi's cartoons. His characterization and dialogue were equally vivid. (For a more adept technical explanation of Trampier's strengths as a cartoonist, click here.)

Read original David A. Trampier comics on the Comixology app
Those dwarves have some nerve!
The story's meandering plot threads centered around the eponymous Wormy—a billiards-playing, cigar-puffing dragon wearing a cap down over his eyes—and the numerous monsters living in and around his wilderness lair. These included dimwitted ogres, mischievous trolls, a wisecracking imp, cantankerous (and short-lived) dwarves, and the puissant human sorcerer Gremorly and his winged feline ally Solomoriah.

Buy original Tampier artwork on auction at eBay
Trampier's work evolved over the course of the strip.
A central narrative arc revolving around a cache of demons trapped in large glass globes that Wormy used as billiard balls was never resolved. The last Wormy strip appeared in Dragon issue #132, leaving the narrative incomplete, and the author's advertised self-published Wormy anthology fell through. It turned out that Trampier had simply stopped sending in comics, and the checks for his last few strips came back to TSR unopened. For years, no one knew what had happened to him, although as fellow Dragon cartoonist Phil Foglio said, "When an artist's checks are returned uncashed, he is presumed dead."

Then in 2002, the Daily Egyptian—the student newspaper at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill.—featured an interview with a local cabdriver named David Trampier. The RPG community was quick to track him down. It turned out that Trampier had gotten tired of gaming and cartooning and had chosen to cut all ties with that part of his life.

For years, Trampier rejected offers to create or republish gaming art or to involve himself in the gaming community. Recently, as a result of health issues and losing his job, he'd begun selling off old art pieces and had agreed to appear as a guest at a Carbondale gaming convention. His death cuts short any hope of his return to the gaming world.

Here are a few more iconic illustrations from Trampier's portfolio:

Let's Play Dungeons & Dragons Online Trampier artwork images

RIP David A. Trampier D&DDavid A. Trampier Dungeons and Dragons artwork

Dungeons and Dragons artists David A. Trampier

Were you around for the early days of Dungeons & Dragons? Please share your recollections of old-school gaming art in the comments below

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A New Hope: Resurrecting a Canadian Demigoddess

Posted by Sarrah October Young

What began as a chance encounter during an essay assignment has turned into a full-blown reincarnation of what could possibly be the first female superhero. Move over Wonder Woman; Nelvana of the Northern Lights is back, and she's ready to kick some ass—in a nice Canadian way.

Read Nelvana of the Northern Lights for free on Comixology
Nelvana by Michael Walsh
Hope Nicholson is no stranger to comics or superheroes. A self-proclaimed nerd, Nicholson is extremely passionate about Canada's Golden Age of Comics and has produced a documentary outlining the era. Aptly titled Lost Heroes, the doc features the history of Canadian superheroes and their creators. Among them is the legendary Adrian Dingle, the man behind Nelvana of the Northern Lights. She stumbled upon the female superhero while researching a paper for her BA program and, despite the lack of information around Nelvana, the character immediately resonated with her.

"I never actually had access to read any of her stories for the first few years after I heard about Nelvana," Nicholson explains. "It was more her history and place in history that fascinated me. The stories themselves are fairly good for their time, but it's really their failed potential that caught my attention."

When she decided to take a stab at collecting and reprinting the Nelvana comics, she did so with the blessing of the original copyright holders whom she'd had the opportunity to get to know while filming her documentary. They granted Nicholson and her partner, Rachel Richey, exclusive rights to reprint Nelvana. The two then put together a fantastic Kickstarter campaign (now closed) that not only provided the means to collect/scan the comics and reprint them but also allowed the partners to commission art pieces from local and internationally acclaimed artists for inclusion in the book.

So exactly how difficult is it to resurrect an almost forgotten Canadian female superhero? Nicholson and Richey have had to jump through a few hoops in order to procure the pages needed for reprinting. "In most cases, we've had to physically travel to private collections or ask for submissions," Nicholson says.

Only one private collector allowed us to take issues home to scan. We did have to skip the Library and Archives vast collection though, as their digitization procedures were either too expensive for our budget if we allowed them to do it, or not high-quality enough for our purposes if they allowed us to do it (photographs, no flash, from several feet away). There were a few collectors that turned us down or didn't get back to us, and in one case, regretfully informed us that they would have loved to help but had recently sold off their entire collection.

While a great many people were enthusiastic about the project, there were a few who had some doubts. Nicholson defends her decision to reprint an almost unknown superhero and understands why some people might not grasp why she would undertake this project. "There was some resistance to resurrecting the comics, mostly from people who were surprised to see that anyone would be interested in spending the time to do this."

Devoting time to source the long-forgotten comics was precisely what Nicholson and Richey did. Not all the comics were found, and Nicholson knew they would need to have an alternative in mind if they wanted to see the project through to completion.

I wasn't sure if I would be able to find every issue in decent shape, but had enough back-up plans that I felt it would be a worthwhile leap to make. In the end, there was one issue, #3 that I only found one copy of and it was too delicate to scan, but luckily a 1970s microfiche of this issue was in re-printable condition so I was able to make it work.

Hearing that Nelvana was going to be reprinted, some comic collectors worried that the cost of the rare issues would increase due to the attention drawn to the comics. Nicholson agrees. "It certainly did [raise the cost], with an issue of Nelvana recently selling for $14,000 dollars, when last year it was only 2,000 at most." Not bad for an Inuit demigoddess who has been under the radar for mainstream collectors for almost 75 years.

Visit J.R. Faulkner's personal website to purchase original artwork
Nelvana by JR Faulkner
With Kickstarter backers to placate and an approximate release date of April 2014 for the book, how close is Nelvana to completion? Nicholson is clearly excited, and possibly a little relieved, to say, "We are DONE! I am so glad to officially say that. We are putting the book together and are aiming to submit it to the printers shortly. It should be in my hands in late April/early May when we will begin our mail-outs. The larger retailer release is planned in the fall if all goes according to plan."

Want to get your hands on a copy NOW? Grab yours at conventions, online through the official Nelvana website, and at select comic shops while quantities last. Check with your local retailer to make sure they didn't miss this!

What do you think about Nelvana's resurrection? Are there other long-forgotten titles would you like to see reprinted? Let us know in the comments below! Happy reading!

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I Got Gameplay Ep 69 - X-Rated Gaming

Posted by Unknown

Episode 69 of the I Got Gameplay radio show is now live! In this episode, Michael Burhan, Zack Latour, Travis Goss, and Kyla DiPietro celebrate the 69th episode of IGG by taking a look at X-rated gaming! If you're interested in the collections that have no story, subtext, or even are too mature for the mature, come join us as we celebrate everything obscene for your console!

Rated X gaming podcast 69th episode

You can check out the episode by clicking on the following links:

Libsyn: http://smarkoutmoment.libsyn.com/rss

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/igotgameplay/id570120518

Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/nerdgenious/igotgameplay?amp;refid=stpr

You can subscribe to the podcast's YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/IGotGameplay


You can join the discussion by going to our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/igotgameplay.

Join the IGG army in style by purchasing an I Got Gameplay t-shirt from our store. To order yours, just click on the appropriate link below! (UK and EU) http://nerdgenious.spreadshirt.co.uk/i-got-gameplay-retro-t-A25715613/customize/color/348 (US) http://nerdgenioususa.spreadshirt.com/

Retro Video Game T-Shirts on Sale for I Got Gameplay
The t-shirt comes in eight different colors and six different sizes, including Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, and 3XL. Shirts are £16.50 UK and $19.90 US. Grab yours today!

Video game show I Got Gameplay podcast free wallpaper download

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Cullen Bunn Teams Up the Shadow with Houdini

Posted by Orion Petitclerc - Saturday, March 29, 2014

Earlier today on Comic Book Resources, Dynamite Entertainment announced Cullen Bunn's involvement with writing a special issue #0 of its acclaimed The Shadow comic book series based on the popular pulp-era hero. The issue will explore Lamont Cranston/Kent Allard/Ying Ko's, a.k.a. the Shadow, secrets from his past as he confronts a secret society of evil magicians and meets the one and only Harry Houdini.

Watch The Shadow starring Alec Baldwin, John Lone, Penelope Ann Miller, Ian McKellen, and Tim Curry on Netflix
In an interview with CBR, Bunn mentions his personal connection with the Shadow through his father, who recently passed away, adding an extra special tone to the news. Dynamite CEO and publisher Nick Barrucci also expressed the company's excitement for working with Bunn, who has become a rising star in the industry.

As a fan of Bunn since his work with the late Venom series from Marvel and a budding fan of all things Shadow since recently rewatching the 1994 film with Alec Baldwin (one of my favorite superhero films from that era), I too am extremely excited about the news and look forward to Bunn's take on the Shadow and his interactions with one of the most recognizable names in magic.

Although there is no date yet for the book's publication, how excited are you guys and gals over this news? How bitter do you think the fruit from the weed of magical crime will be? THE SHADOW KNOWS! Drop a comment below about your favorite Shadow stories and geek out with me over the epically campy film.

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Joss Whedon Apologizes to Seoul, Korea for Avengers: Age of Ultron

Posted by Jeff Penner

Joss Whedon posted a quick video to apologize to the city of Seoul, South Korea. The Avengers: Age of Ultron begins filming on location March 30, and he suspects there will be several delays to daily life because of him. Just what is that man up to, this time?

The Avengers: Age of Ultron Director Joss Whedon

The video promises to put a spotlight on the city in a way never seen before. I'm not sure what that means, but I'm sure details will come. Photos have recently leaked showing Quicksilver, The Scarlet Witch, and Hawkeye filming with the stand-in suit for Ultron. In true Avengers flair, the scene was surrounded with debris and destruction. See the short speech below:


Whedon was just thinking of the public and being a nice guy, so this video was nice to see. Somewhat pointless…but still nice. What do you think he's going to do there that requires an apology?

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The Ultimate Universe Picks Up the Pieces in "Survive" 1 Review

Posted by Unknown

The Ultimate Universe was originally created modernize classic Marvel stories. Since this conception it has evolved into a fully functional universe in its own right, although every now and again it reminds us that it can do things that the main Marvel 616 universe just can't. Case in point: go through a near-death experience that comes pretty close to the end of everything. Following the Cataclysm event, the Ultimate Universe is in shambles. New Jersey has been destroyed, Thor was sucked into the Negative Zone with Galactus, and Captain America died off panel when he flew a fighter jet into Galactus' planet-eating device, Independence Day style. It's been confirmed that the Ultimate Universe will, in fact, continue, and Survive gives us our first look at what we can expect.

Marvel's Ultimate Comics Survive issue one cover art

Survive opens with the memorial for President Steven Rogers. I honestly didn't believe Cap died when we saw his plane crash, but the Sentinel of Liberty has truly fallen. I'm not sure why they made the choice to do it off panel, although with the Ultimate Universe's track record you have to assume they stand by the creed of "dead is dead." We then move to "New Jersey" where Monica Chang, head of S.H.I.E.L.D, is told by Attorney Franklin Nelson that she will be held responsible for the devastation caused by Galactus and that S.H.I.E.L.D will most likely not survive the political fallout. This should certainly be a fun plot point to watch, but I'm not entirely sure where this takes place. It seems at least a little bit of New Jersey survived the insatiable appetite of the Devourer of Worlds. We get a little more of Tony Stark's eulogy for Cap, which isn't much that wasn't said during the death of 616 Cap, about him being the best of the heroes and such. We then move to the Baxter Building.

Foggy Nelson blames S.H.I.E.L.D for the Galactus attackReed Richards inadvertently crosses paths with Sue Storm during a visit to the remnants of the Ultimate Baxter Building. This section mainly serves as catch up for those who may have missed the Cataclysm series. Reed explains to Sue that while in the 616 universe he met their counterparts' daughter and realized the life they could have had together. (You know, if he hadn't turned evil and tried to kill her.) Sue listens but doesn't let him get close, and the two end the conversation with the idea of restarting the Baxter Building think tank. With a new Ultimate FF series on the way, it seems likely this is a springboard for that new series.

We then jump to fan favorite mutant Kitty Pryde, whose phasing abilities were crucial to the Ultimate Universe's defeat of Galactus. Kitty receives a phone call from the president, who tells her her actions may have been enough to sway public opinion in favor of trusting mutants. This is easily the most exciting development because it could mean some plotlines that just can't be explored in the 616 universe. Bigotry has been a constant, and seemingly essential, catalyst for X-Men stories for decades. This could open a whole new realm of stories should Bendis really take the Ultimate Universe past the disdain for mutants. Following Kitty's phone call we jump to Spider-Man, who saves a construction worker from falling debris while helping with the cleaning effort. His appearance really is that simple, although it's presumably because his series needs the least hyping. Miles will be in the Ultimate Spider-Man 200th issue, due out next week, and thus doesn't earn much space.

All in all, Survive wasn't much to write home about, but it is a good read if you are interested in jumping into the Ultimate Universe. It does a nice job of balancing catch-up exposition with the beginning threads of several new big arcs, allowing the book to feel necessary, unlike many other "catch-up books" that tend to feel like advertisements more than original content. What did you think of Survive? Which new Ultimate book are you looking forward to? Let us know and stay tuned to fanboysanonymous.com as we work through the new beginning for the Ultimate Universe.

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Hy-Brazil of the Elven Wars Trilogy Series

Posted by Anonymous

Edward Harry is awfully full of pride. He has received tutelage in writing, uncommon for someone of his class in this time, and it's his nature to set a  magnificently high bar of morality for himself. In fact, everything about him seems to be the real deal. That is, everything except his name. Having answered to "boy" until he was a young adult, he chooses his own name, insisting on the importance of it being a strong and meaningful one. This was a significant scene in my opinion because it introduced the sort of person Edward Harry is. After little reading it becomes clear that, no matter what decision lies ahead of this man, he shares his trajectory, for the most part, with the straight arrow. His only shortcoming is his inability to hold his tongue when he should, although generally even that seems almost a strength.

Free View Hy-Brazil PosterHowever straight an arrow Edward might be, he is apparently subject to peer pressure and thus finds himself on a short scenic sailing trip with a young wayward Irishman, Calveigh, despite his master's wishes that he not keep the young man's company. It turns out that Calveigh has quite a bit more character than anyone expected, and the two become good friends on their journey—a scenic journey that turns into a fantasy crossing from the world of men into the unnatural world of elves, fairies, and other myths.

This crossing leads the young men to sights far beyond those in their wildest dreams and into situations far beyond those in their ugliest nightmares. Rather than being introduced to a world of graceful elves and wondrous fairies, Edward Harry and his friend walk head first into a place where humankind is either not welcome or welcome only for the purpose of servitude in the slave trade. The elves have the attitudes of cared-for kings, believing themselves superior and deserving simply because they are elves. Thus they have raised their kind onto pedestals from which they spit down on the masses. Edward Harry spits back, however, even when he is afraid.

Author of The Elven Wars Trilogy Gerald KillingworthThis book is a part of The Elven Wars trilogy, a series that tells the story of Edward Harry and his rise from his lowly class within this new world to the commander of a great army against half of the elven population marked by their tainted snobbery. It WILL be epic.

This story is the best high fantasy story I have read to date…ever. Because it is set so long ago, it is written to sound very old English. Edward Harry is a smartass, and he tends to stay under the skin of those attempting to exert their "God given" dominance over him. I absolutely loved this story. I loved the personalities of the main characters, I enjoyed the humor and the shenanigans and I laughed at some of the nonsense in this great read. If you like epic fantasies, this is a must read. Tell me what you think downstairs.

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Goat Simulator Launch Trailer Mocks Dead Island, and It's Fantastic!!

Posted by Mike Paden

Goat Simulator Early Beta Access Key Code Download
The Internet. A place of infinite possibilities, yet we instead choose to spend our time and energy on low-quality Flash games, all kinds of porn, and exploits of silly animals. Now, however, Coffee Stain Studios may have finally taken the cake on the wackiest endeavor I've seen with their new game Goat Simulator.

Sim-games are a unique genre. There's rarely any specific objective. You're given some tools, a world to play in, and left on your own to create fun. In this game you're a goat, and that's it. You're a goat left to act in any which way you please. Knock over a barbecue, run through traffic, or just graze in a field. It's all up to you!

To build hype for the release, Coffee Stain released this trailer, which is clearly a parody of the highly-beloved Dead Island debut trailer (watch first if you've never seen it!). The subtle piano juxtaposed with scenes of chaos and the reverse-video made popular by the original are reused to excellent comedic effect. Trailers are meant to excite you for an upcoming release, and this one has done just that!


The game is available for preorder right now on its official site for the very fair price of $10. It will be available through Steam on April 1.

Are you excited for Goat Simulator??
Goat Simulator Let's Play Full Game Beta
What animal would you want to see a sim for??

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Noah: The Official Movie Novelization Review

Posted by Anonymous - Friday, March 28, 2014

Movie lovers and legend lovers: recently Titan Books contacted us about reviewing Noah, the novel adaptation of the new film about the legendary biblical story. Noah is the man credited with the re-initiation of human life and the saving of animal life during the great flood that destroyed almost all life on Earth. I'm happy to say it was definitely decent, as far as action and fiction goes, though it was hard for me to relate to. Presumably everyone sees the injustice in human existence, but it would be awfully hard to find sympathy for Noah's cause considering he hardly seems sane most of the time.

Russell Crowe Noah movie book novelization
Probably more than anything else that stands out about the literary adaptation of the film is the fact that Noah seems to have a tainted idea of justice, unless you take the story of Abraham and Isaac into account. If most of you will remember, Abraham drags Isaac up the mountain intending to sacrifice him simply because the Lord requests it of him. Doing as the Lord tells him, he raises the sacrificial knife and is about to strike it down on Isaac when an angel grabs his arm and stays the knife. It was just a test. Noah's task in this movie and in the Bible, however, is not a test. Apparently, Noah will cause himself to witness anything to harden himself so he can watch his species die off. My issue with it was that there was no "God said…." His actions were strictly based on his interpretation of visions.

From the beginning, Noah seems to favor the four-legged beasts over humans—humans that eat meat, that is. It sort of draws on the idea that man was meant to be an herbivore, but that the nurturing of evil has caused them to crave meat, to explain a small percentage of the violence of man described in the Bible and the reason for the cleansing. He sets out to build an arc to save two of every animal species because of his visions, but with each step he takes, there is a new obstacle. It plays on the well-known name of Cain, giving a man in Cain's future line a bigger part than he played in the Bible. An interesting fact in my own Bible was that Tubal-Cain's proclaiming that if Cain was cursed for killing Abel, surely Tubal-Cain would be cursed tenfold. It adds a unique possibility to the movie: Tubal-Cain's antisocial personality and his survival of the flood. The bible doesn't strictly say that most of this didn't happen.

Interestingly enough, Methuselah's part in this film seems a bit more prominent than it is in the Bible itself. In the original story, his part is mentioned strictly as the next in the bloodline after Enoch, who begat Lamech, who then begat Noah. Depending on what other religious books you've studied, though, or other media interpretations, you might remember Methuselah playing a larger part, having a relationship with Enoch, ministering to the people with Noah to convince them to change their ways, etc. Enoch, Methuselah's father, was so absolutely pure that he simply was taken into Heaven, and in the movie, Methuselah is renowned as a great and legendary warrior—a protector of the fallen angels.

Noah's Ark: Genesis
The problem with Methuselah is not the fictional, or possibly even true, account of his wars waged, but the fact that the angels on Earth even exist. Most interpretations of the bible account for giants and great warriors, which are both pointed out whether you consider Methuselah, Tubal-Cain, or both as great warriors. As a young man, I remember reading Genesis and studying it. It is, after all, along with the first few books of the Bible the least realistic and possibly the hardest to gain an understanding of. Some interpretations, though—and the way I grew up understanding it—was that angels took human wives, breeding and creating giants, whom tended to be massive, violent warriors with generally shifty, uncontrollable moods. That understanding led me to almost instantly reject the fantasy of giants being present during the creation of man, which is how the book's author wrote his fantasy interpretation. Personally, though, the story of Methuselah struck me as unique and fun.

Another inconsistency was with Noah's children's ages. The bible places them as already in their hundreds and two-hundreds, while the movie places them in their teens and lower. Aside from that, you won't find enough evidence in the Bible to discount everything that happens in the film. For all I know, it all happened.

The reason for my critique has been this: I recently read many articles with complaints about accuracy. I also read many articles concerning the banning of this film in certain countries. I wouldn't call it historically accurate (as the Bible tells it), but then again, neither would I call the Bible accurate. The news hype and hatred surrounding this film seems unwarranted. In fact, if it didn't so heavily take from a biblical story, I might say it makes a pretty good fantasy piece. In closing, I hate Noah as a person, but I enjoyed the Noah religious fantasy story and I thought it was quite brilliant. There's going to be plenty of action and there's going to be many questionable moments, but this twist from the everyday understanding of the interpretations makes for a definitely great film novelization. Tell me what you think downstairs.


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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Reboot Trailer #1

Posted by Unknown

Break out the pizza and Vanilla Ice raps, because guess who's back?

teenage mutant ninja turtles tmnt michael bay april o'neil megan fox
"We're all motion-capture now….Cowabunga, I guess?"
It's been seven years since the last film in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, the totally-CGI TMNT. That's half the time between that film and the last live-action Turtles film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III. Now, with blessings and involvement from the original Turtles creators, comes producer Michael Bay and director Jonathan Liebesman's (Battle: Los Angeles and Wrath of the Titans) take on the heroes in a half-shell.

Predictably, the story has been taken the grim 'n' gritty route, but even so, the Turtles look like they'll add some fun moments to an otherwise straight-faced movie. Of particular note is the reveal that William Fichtner, playing the Shredder, is responsible in some way for the creation of the Turtles along with April O'Neil's father. I suppose this is an attempt to tie her in more closely with the Turtles, as opposed to (as in previous versions) meeting and befriended them by chance or being saved by them. I'm intrigued as to what the Turtles' new origin entails. Were they a mistake? Shredder says he and April's father tried to "create heroes," but obviously he's going to try and destroy them at some point. Note the brief shot where he approaches a familiar looking suit of armor….
It's tough to glean much from roughly 75 seconds of footage, but I think this trailer indicates a good direction. There'll be action aplenty, which we know Bay and Liebesman can deliver. Again, the few brief glimpses we get of the Turtles suggest they'll still mix some attitude, humor and energy into the proceedings. Even through the Turtles suffer from VFX disease, their designs look good, and—God help me—I can't help but grin a little at Mikey's "Right?" 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comes out on August 8th. Are you excited? Think it's become too serious? ("Crime, violence and fear have run rampant…our great city is being destroyed." What is this, Gotham?) Sound off in the comments below.

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New Indiana Jones Movies May Recast Like James Bond

Posted by Unknown

Some time ago I wrote an article discussing Disney's plans for the Lucasfilm properties they bought from George Lucas—in this particular case, for everyone's favorite adventuring archeologist, Indiana Jones. Now, Latino Review reports a new possibility for the future of the Indiana Jones franchise: Indy may become, as a few have phrased it, an "American James Bond," changing actors as the series continues.

Indiana Jones Temple Doom Goldfinger James Bond 007 white tuxedo tux spielberg lucas disney lucasfilm
"Jones. Indiana Jones."
There are definite plans to move ahead with the Indiana Jones franchise, but one of the potential pitfalls of a fifth Indiana Jones movie is star Harrison Ford's age. Although he was able to perform just as admirably in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, at age 60, as he had in the previous installments, even doing his own stunts, by the time cameras start rolling on Indy 5 he'll be well into his 70s. This not only limits what Ford can do, but also limits the believability of what Indy can accomplish.

As such, Latino Review claims that there is a deadline, and if the fifth Indiana Jones movie is not moving along by then, the studio is ready to recast the role younger and begin a new series of films. They liken this to different actors stepping into the Bond role after originator Sean Connery was finished—or aged out. There's another precedent for this move as well: George Lucas pitched Steven Spielberg his ideas for Indiana Jones after Spielberg expressed to him a desire to direct a Bond film. Lucas spun a tale based on the adventure serials of their youth, and the rest is history. This came full circle, in a way, when the two cast Sean Connery as Indy's father, Dr. Henry Jones Sr., in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, as an homage to the main character's roots.

The rumors continue: it's reported that Frank Darabont, who had worked for a long time on the script and story for the fourth Indiana Jones film, pitched a new story to the studio. There is also rumored to be a list of actors wanted for the next Indy, at the top of which is Bradley Cooper. However, Slashfilm, who followed up on the story, has reached out to some of its sources, and those sources have refuted all of these claims. Producer Frank Marshall even tweeted that this story is not true. I'm willing to give Latino Review some benefit of the doubt, though, because their track record for breaking bits of development news is pretty good.

Here's my take: Sooner or later, this plan will be put into action. Disney bought Lucasfilm primarily for Star Wars, no question, but the Indiana Jones franchise is nothing to shake a stick at—although, arguably, a large part of the success is due to Harrison Ford's charisma and total handle on the character. Yet as Latino Review points out, Ford isn't the box-office draw he once was (no star is anymore), and if there is still money to be made by the franchise, you can bet the studio eventually will do exactly what has been reported here. The role would have to be recast, and it would be difficult to find someone who could carry the films to the same degree Ford did. Cooper is not a bad choice for this; he has the same ruggedly American look and is a very physical actor, same as Ford. What I would miss is the (I feel) unique boyish charm with which Ford enlivened the role. Perhaps this is unfair to Cooper, whose work I'm not quite as familiar with, but it's hard to imagine someone else under the fedora.

So what do you think? Are these rumors false, as claimed? If they're true, would Cooper have what it takes to be Indiana Jones? Would anyone else? Do you find this whole thing, to quote Dr. Jones Sr., “intolerable?” Discuss it all below.

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Kurt Cobain's Life to Be Illustrated in Comic Book Tribute

Posted by Unknown

This year marks the 20th Anniversary of Kurt Cobain's infamous death, and the late Nirvana frontman is next to receive a comic book tribute, Billboard announced today.

Blue Water Productions Tribute Series to include Kurt Cobain
Tribute: Kurt Cobain, Blue Water Productions

Written and illustrated by Jayfri Hashim as part of Blue Water Productions' Tribute series, "Tribute: Kurt Cobain" will cover Cobain's early career and rise to superstardom as well as his battle with the overwhelming fame that caused his mental and emotional suffering.

Darren G. Davis, the Blue Water publisher of Cobain's installment to the Tribute series, told Rolling Stone that, "Not only is this a great way to understand the importance of his contribution to music, but it is a great tool for kids to read about him in a different medium. Our biography comic books are now taught in schools and libraries for students and reluctant readers."

The Tribute series has previously chronicled music icons such as Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Jim Morrison, Whitney Houston, and Keith Richards. Movie stars such as Bruce Lee, Marilyn Monroe, and James Dean have also been given their own comic tribute. Coming soon are issues about Freddie Mercury and Monty Python, according to Hollywood Reporter.

"Tribute: Kurt Cobain" is set for release on April 2 on the anniversary of Cobain's suicide. Preorders of the printed comic can be found at Comic Flea Market for $3.99 and will be available digitally through iTunes, Kindle, Nook, Google Play, ComiXology, and other e-book retailers.

Nirvana will also be inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame on April 10 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn alongside Kiss, Peter Gabriel, Hall and Oates, Cat Stevens, and Linda Ronstadt.

Will you be picking up the comic when it comes out next month? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Surfer Who? Silver Surfer #1 Review

Posted by Unknown - Thursday, March 27, 2014

Marvel writer Dan Slott has made it clear in various interviews and panels that he's a massive fan of the British television series Doctor Who. Although he's never worked on the show or the various lines of comics, it seems Slott has found an opportunity to use his love of the BBC series in his new series, Silver Surfer. Although the first issue is left with the lofty task of establishing a supporting cast as well as a direction for the wayward ex-herald of Galactus, it manages to keep things fun and ultimately creates a version of the Surfer we certainly haven't seen before.

SIlver Surfer and Dawn Greenwood on the cover of Silver Surfer one

The issue itself establishes quite a bit of story, though it doesn't progress far into the narrative. We spend half of the issue meeting Dawn Greenwood, a young woman who runs a bed-and-breakfast in Anchor Bay, the place where she grew up and what she calls the greatest place in the world. She opens the issue, wishing upon a star that we find out is actually the Silver Surfer—a bit of serendipity that's certain to come around later. During the rest of her segments, we follow Dawn as she deals with the whiny and kooky demands of tourists while her sister sends pictures of her globe trotting adventures. Just as Dawn begins to hint that she's developing a secret longing to leave Anchor Bay, she's teleported from her room to some sort of cage where we leave her for the issue.

Dawn wishes upon the Silver Surfer in Marvel's Silver Surfer 1Up in space, Slott quickly introduces us to a benevolent Silver Surfer who doesn't seem to be gaining much fulfillment from his endeavors. After saving a mini universe and losing its citizens in translation while they erect massive structures to their accidental messiah, the Surfer is approached by three cameras which beckon him to serve as champion of The Impericon, a place they reveal that has been kept secret from him over the years in fear he'd lead Galactus to it should he ever resume his heralding duties.

Once there, we're treated to a psychedelic wonderland complete with ski slopes built on massive sun flowers. While the layout and details are fun, the smooth story gives out to a steady flow of exposition here. The Surfer is ultimately tested and found worthy to serve as champion against the evil "Never Queen". However, things become more complex as citizens of The Impericon concede to
kidnapping the person who means the most to all of their champions to assure their assistance against the Never Queen. The powers-that-be then bring forward  Dawn—someone, strangely enough, who the Surfer has never met before. (Cue LOST in white bold letters on a black back drop.)

Silver Surfer #1 is a complicated issue. Fans of Doctor Who will see clear homages to the series in just about every aspect of the story. I think it was my familiarity with that program and its unique tone that led me to both understand what Silver Surfer was going for while simultaneously be bored by it. This certainly came from no lack of quality; the characters and their motivations are fun and well established, but the story didn't really progress anything. Issue one mainly served to establish the world we're going to be playing in, which isn't a whole lot of bang for your buck at $3.99 an issue. What it did manage to do, however, was give the Silver Surfer a new direction and plant the seeds for a supporting cast that extends beyond people in giant purple helmets and people who've worked for people in giant purple helmets.

What did you think of Silver Surfer #1? Did it toe the line between originality and homage, or do you think it read like a Doctor Who fan fiction? Let us know in the comments section below!

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The Dace Man Show Ep 40 - Dacetacular Universe

Posted by The Dace Man

Hey, hey, hey Dacetacular Nation! Check out Episode 40 of The Dace Man Show with hosts Dace and Gibby, and regulars Travis Goss and Michael Burhan! We have an all-star-packed show for you this week!

Captain America, Xmen and Deadpool Spoilers

Join The Dace Man and crew this week as they break down the following:

::SPORTS NEWS::
  • Current NHL standings,
  • MLB Spring Training standings, 
  • The LA Dodgers have surpassed the NY Yankees when it comes to pay roll,
  • Michael Vick is a Jet,
  • Phillies Talk, and
  • 76ers are about to break a record.
::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY:: 
  • Huffington Post quip.
::FRANK'S CORNER::
  • He's Vanished!? New Segment debuting with his return.
::CELEB NEWS::
Plus the High Five: Top 5 Marvel Characters The Dace Man Show Could Portray. All that and more, only on The Dace Man Show!


Fullmetal Alchemist The Sacred Star of Milos Full Movie Stream Fullmetal Alchemist Conqueror of Shamballa Full Movie Stream

Listen live to The Dace Man Show every Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST on Mega Powers Radio.

Follow on Facebook: Mega Powers Radio | Fanboys Anonymous | The Dace Man Show | I Got Game Play | Geek Speak | Rose Colored Reviews | Sports Talk Weekly | Addicted to Anime


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