Fanboys Anonymous

Review: Uncanny X-Men Annual #1 by Bendis, Sorrentino and Maiolo

Posted by Sean Hamilton - Thursday, December 18, 2014

Eva Bell Uncanny X-Men Annual
Uncanny X-Men Annual #1 (2014)
cover by Andrea Sorrentino
Let the X-Men take you on a journey through time and space.

Marvel has been using time travel and its effects for altering past, present, and future to maximum effect throughout their comic universe. This is nothing new, but it is slowly building to a big event. Uncanny X-Men Annual #1 is a snapshot examination of how time travel effects an individual mutant, with some wider ramifications for audiences to consider

In this issue, Eva Bell (aka Tempus), a new young mutant in training, is caught in a time tempest and lost to the eons, when she can't control her time-traveling abilities.

The story follows the missing events from Uncanny X-Men #17, where Eva went missing during the group's training exercises in Tabula Rasa. For a person such as Eva, with the ability to traverse time, her existence is always in the here and now. However, as part of Cyclops' new wave of powerful mutants, this is a good setup for a character who has been teased to have a big future in the pages of X-Men comics.

Eva is flung to a nightmarish future
Eva Bell jumps through time to an apocalyptic future
Eva was first introduced in the launch of the All-New X-Men #1 by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen in 2012. We have seen the character progression from a frightened teenager to a strong-willed young woman, though the later stages of her advancement were saved for the special releases this month. Bendis has been talking up the Uncanny X-Men and All-New X-Men Annuals for the past few months. Despite such hype, the first part of this story has lived up to most of my expectations, but not in the way I anticipated.

The star of this show is first and foremost the wonderful art by Andrea Sorrentino and colors by Marcelo Maiolo. Both artists work in a collaboration that provides gripping and memorable images. The layout from Sorrentino is dramatic, but the hues from Maiolo add a depth to the art that could have been lost in other hands. Of course, Bendis provides a strong story around which such artistic abilities can flourish. Although, without the second part of this story, it is difficult to gauge the lasting impact of the story itself.

Eva time travels to the wild west
Eva meets the Rawhide Kid
Bendis does offer some nice little touches worth further mentioning. The cameo by the Rawhide Kid was a great story interaction to bring a historically significant Marvel character to some new level of resonance. The foreshadowing of Illyana Rasputin (aka Magik) as a Sorcerer Supreme and training alongside Dr Strange in earlier issues of Uncanny X-Men finds some fruition in this issue also.

Sorrentino's depiction of Eva's mutant ability to create time pockets is one of the most artistic expressions I have seen lately to show off a superhero power. It is great to see such an interpretation given. Sorrentino and Bendis have the reader following along at a nice pace through this issue. There is a natural rise and fall of tempo, with some dramatic scenes at the end, to provide that crucial cliffhanger as we anticipate the next installment of the story.

Eva finally settles in one place in time
Eva makes it to 2099
Ultimately this is an issue of Uncanny X-Men worth checking out. It is a strong story, paired it with a unique artistic style that produces an intriguing experience.

While this story has filled in some of what happened to Eva, I did come away with more questions than answers. Hopefully these will be answered with the follow-up in next week's annual.

Did you get what you hoped for out of this issue? What did you think of Sorrentino's art? Where do you think we are heading next in the All-New X-Men Annual?

Leave your thoughts and comments below and make sure you come back next time for the concluding chapter of this two-part story.

Read More
, , ,

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! Audio Commentary "Koopa Klaus & Little Marios" (Season 1 Episode 36) – FanTracks #12

Posted by Anthony Mango

On episode 12 of the Fanboys Anonymous FanTracks podcast, the panel continues the series of Christmas-themed television shows by providing audio commentary for:

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
Season 1 - Episode 36 - "Koopa Klaus & Little Marios"
(original air date October 23, 1989)

Hosted by Tony Mango including Mike Paden.

FanTracks The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! audio commentary

After a short introduction, you will be told when to sync up your copy of the episode so you can follow along with our commentary. Follow the links below to listen to the podcast on either YouTube, iTunes, or Stitcher. Make sure to subscribe!


logo Stitcher Radio icon transparent logo iTunes icon transparent


Read More
, , , ,

Should Sony Pull The Interview or Release the Movie Somehow?

Posted by Unknown - Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Sony Pictures has officially cancelled the release of the highly controversial The Interview—a movie that stars James Franco and Seth Rogen in a wacky adventure to assassinate the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un.

watch The Interview film online Kim Jong-un

This comes after hackers made threats that they would perform a cyber-terrorism attack equivalent to those of 9/11 on any theater that shows the film. Whether North Korea itself is responsible for these claims has not yet been confirmed.

Was this the right decision to pull the movie and not release it? In my opinion, I'm surprised they didn't do this sooner. North Korea made threats months ago when reports of this movie came out. Any kind of threats like this shouldn't be taken too lightly. 

Sony will definitely have to suffer some backlash from people for doing this. I honestly wasn't a fan of Zero Dark Thirty because it took place so recently after the Osama bin Laden killing and I'm surprised it didn't spark a bigger controversy in the Middle East. At the end of the day, Sony is making the right decision for themselves and possibly the safety of others. I personally wanted to see the movie, but I guess I'll have to wait for a bootleg or a leak of some kind to show up online.

What do you think of Sony's decision? Leave your opinion down in the comment section below

Read More
, ,

The Dace Man Plays: Twisted Metal (PS3) Part 4

Posted by The Dace Man - Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Dace Man here with the 24th edition of The Dace Man Plays!

Twisted Metal Playstation 3 Walkthrough and GamePlay

Going forward, yours truly will play a game here and there usually for about 10–20 minutes because, frankly, anything longer and you all would lose interest. Hear my commentary as I take on some of the classics and some of the new-age stuff I don't quite understand!

In this installment, my nephew John teams up and loses track of time with fellow Dace Man Show co-host Gibby. This time we play PlayStation 3's Twisted Metal and the fourth level in the Sweet Tooth Campaign. See how delusional and deranged we get while playing for over an hour and with my nephew, who is clearly better than us, in part four.


Subscribe to The Dace Man Show on iTunes RadioSubscribe to The Dace Man Show on Stitcher 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 PlayStation 3 controller—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!

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 | Nerd Court | Sports Talk Weekly | Addicted to Anime

Read More
, , ,

Futurama Audio Commentary "Xmas Story" (Season 2 Episode 8) – FanTracks #11

Posted by Anthony Mango

On episode 11 of the Fanboys Anonymous FanTracks podcast, the panel kicks off its series of Christmas-themed television show editions by providing commentary for the first of several X-Mas stories from the 31st century:

Futurama
Season 2 - Episode 8 - "Xmas Story"
(original air date December 19, 1999)

Hosted by Tony Mango including Ronnie Brown and Sam Lascio.

FanTracks Futurama audio commentary

After a short introduction, you will be told when to sync up your copy of the episode so you can follow along with our commentary. Follow the links below to listen to the podcast on either YouTube, iTunes, or Stitcher. Make sure to subscribe!


logo Stitcher Radio icon transparent logo iTunes icon transparent


Read More
, , , ,

The Dace Man Show Ep 76 - Playboy Bunny Abigail Rich

Posted by The Dace Man - Monday, December 15, 2014

Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Check out Episode 76 of The Dace Man Show with hosts Dace, Gibby, Nicholas Andrew, and Tricia Bell, and special guest Miss Abigail Rich.

Playmates online free pictures

::SPORTS NEWS::
  • NHL things
  • NFL week 13 is in the books!
  • Plus more
::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY::
  • Short but fun…like a gherkin.
::FRANK'S CORNER::
  • Frank's gone again, and Fun bags is back in charge.
::CELEB NEWS::
  • YouTube Crashes
  • Flash/Arrow Crossover
  • Plus more…
::Who Said It::

The View news and cast rumors VSFlash and Arrow Cross Over Event

Plus Gibby Sings and The Douchebag of The Week! All that and more, only on The Dace Man Show.


Subscribe to The Dace Man Show on iTunes RadioSubscribe to The Dace Man Show on Stitcher 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 comfy seat in front of your computer—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!

Download The Graduate by our friend Mike Neuse FREE by clicking the picture below!

http://mikeneuse.bandcamp.com/album/the-graduate


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 | Nerd Court | Sports Talk Weekly | Addicted to Anime

Read More
, , , ,

The Simpsons Audio Commentary "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" (Season 1 Episode 1) – FanTracks #10

Posted by Anthony Mango

On episode 10 of the Fanboys Anonymous FanTracks podcast, the panel kicks off its series of Christmas-themed television show editions by providing commentary for the first episode of what many of us consider to be our favorite TV show of all time:

The Simpsons
Season 1 - Episode 1 - "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"
(original air date December 17, 1989)

Hosted by Tony Mango including Ronnie Brown and Sam Lascio.

FanTracks The Simpsons audio commentary

After a short introduction, you will be told when to sync up your copy of the episode so you can follow along with our commentary. Follow the links below to listen to the podcast on either YouTube, iTunes, or Stitcher. Make sure to subscribe!


logo Stitcher Radio icon transparent logo iTunes icon transparent


Read More
, , , ,

Week in Geek: December 14th, 2014

Posted by Jeff Penner

Want to know what happened the past few days in nerd culture? WEEK IN GEEK is your quick fix to catch up with the rest of the fanboys out there.

Nerdy current events in geek culture for this week


MOVIES

Sony Hack Reveals Spider-Man Plan and More!

My take: We've all been saying for years that Sony should swallow their pride and let Marvel have his movie rights back. In the wake of two flops, they've finally come to their senses! A recent hack of Sony's internal communications reveals that talks have taken place to allow him into the MCU. Not only that, we have a possible director for the upcoming Aquaman film from DC, details on a Fox X-Men, Fantastic Four crossover and even a possible adaptation of Kraven's Last Hunt. The last two being horrible ideas.

Sega Hoping for Movie Success with Game Properties.

My take: Yup, they own Sonic: the Hedgehog but they're eying properties like Altered Beast, Streets of Rage, Shinobi, Rise of Nightmares and Crazy Taxi. Not sure how they expect that to turn out.

TELEVISION

The Flash Mid-Season Finale Did Not Disappoint.

My take: "The Man in Yellow" finally appears in full and things heat up to this season's full finale. Revelations will be made, as his identity is still, technically, in question (despite a possible reveal). We also get Ronnie Raymond as "Firestorm" flying off into the night. He doesn't appear to be combined with a professor in his brain (my preferred version of him) but that could always come later.

Mark Hamill Will Reprise "Trickster" Role.

My take: In a strange twist where DC would help promote Disney's upcoming Star Wars projects, Mark Hamill will be a super-villain again! He's older but back in shape and this will be a ratings bonanza no matter which way you slice it. Will he use his "Joker" voice? Here's hoping!

Krypton TV Show Planned.

My take: This is the worst idea in the history of ever.

COMIC BOOKS

Scarlett Witch Retcon.

My take: Marvel's AXIS storyline just dropped a bombshell on us spoiler alert…she's not related to Magneto or Quicksilver, after all! I've always found her interesting, when I got into comics, she and The Vision were well into their relationship. A love triangle with Wonder Man always spiced things up, too.

Archie Reboot!

My take: So much for "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". The series will re-launch in 2015, backed by powerhouse writer Mark Waid and art by Fiona Staples (Saga). With the success of After Life with Archie, it's a great time to make a change. I don't like the idea of "new look and edgier tone", though, which is how it's described. I would simply prefer to call it "modernized". Could a TV series be far behind?

IDW's Ragnorok A Confusing Love Letter.

My take: To have Walt Simonson drawing a story with Asgardian gods outside Marvel seems so wrong…but damn if his art isn't jumping off the page. His animated style will make you want to go back-issue shopping or pick up a trade paperback. Seriously check it out or his old run on Thor. You're welcome!

Watch out for this segment each and every weekend. We'll see you next week!


Did we miss something? What are your thoughts on these topics? Leave us a comment below!

Read More
, ,

Review: All-New X-Men 33 by Bendis, Asrar and Gracia

Posted by Sean Hamilton - Sunday, December 14, 2014

Jean Grey and Miles Morales intertwined
All-New X-Men #33 cover
by Mahmud Asrar and Marte Gracia
The All-New X-Men are all lost in the Ultimate Universe.

Having been trapped in a different dimension by the uncontrollable power of a new mutant, the team of Angel, Beast, X-23, Iceman, and Jean Grey struggle to comprehend just what has happened to them. As they come to grips with where they are, there are some great awkward teenage interactions among the difficult situations in this issue.

The story in All-New X-Men #33, by Brian Michael Bendis, progresses so far as allowing the main characters, plus the Ultimate Spider-Man Miles Morales, to establish just what has happened and little more. This issue isn't heavy on advancing the plot. In fact, doing so would be biting off too much for one issue, given the diverse locations the X-Men are spread over. Because of the the multiple character threads that need to be maintained, we get glimpses of them all, with greater focus on the Jean/Miles and Angel/X-23/James Hudson aspects of the story.

We learn from Bendis that, in the Ultimate Universe, mutants were created by human experiments, not as a result of evolution. While this reveal is a nice twist, the conversations between the teenage Miles Morales, Jean Grey, and Miles's roommate at school, Ganke, are the most enjoyable part of the issue. It is here that Bendis shows a quick wit and some great one-liners. The final pages of the story are full of dialogue, making letterer Cory Petit step up and coordinate well with the space artist Mahmud Asrar has provided.

Jean Grey and Miles Morales seek help
Jean Grey plays havoc with
 teenage boys thoughts.
Asrar brings his A-game to the art; his work is top quality and very cohesive with the earlier work in the series. One particular aspect that stood out in this issue was the use of facial expression around the eyes and brows, which worked in well with the dialogue and emotional qualities Bendis is conveying.

As always Marte Gracia's colors are fantastic. The use of shadow and the angle of light are contrasted nicely against simple backgrounds of either solid, two-tone, or faded effects. The great art employed uses a good panel setup, with mostly larger panel boxes, to enhance the pages and maximize the opportunity to fit in dialogue.

While this issue doesn't focus on moving the story in leaps and bounds, it bridges important plot points and brings us closer to the end goal. Don't expect a full-on page turner; this is a fun jaunt that is part of a bigger journey for the All-New X-Men.

As always we want to hear what you thought of this issue, so make sure you leave a comment below or hit us up on Facebook. Make sure you come back for more X-Men related reviews at Fanboys Anonymous.

Read More
, , ,

Sleepy Skunk's 2014 Movie Trailer Mashup

Posted by Anthony Mango - Thursday, December 11, 2014

Being a huge movie fan, one of my favorite things to see is when someone takes something from film and amps it up to the next level. It's rare to find a gem amongst a sea of bad YouTube videos with ear-grating music set to choppy, disjointed clips from random anime that I'm not the least bit impressed with—but thankfully, this is not the case.

This mashup by The Sleepy Skunk of different movie trailers from 2014 was sent in to Fanboys Anonymous and it was definitely worth the watch. Similar to how GenRocks made her yearly filmography videos, this takes the three primary overall themes from films—action, romance, and comedy—and blends them together in a nice, compact little package that is very well done.

Go ahead and check it out:



What do you think of Sleepy Skunk's mashup? What were some of your favorite movie trailers from this year?

Sound off and tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
 
The Sleepy Skunk YouTube movie trailers mashup 2014
 

Read More
, ,

Dimebag Darrell and Alrosa Villa - Ten Years Later

Posted by Eddie Siqueira - Wednesday, December 10, 2014

For some odd reason, 2014 turned out be the year for nostalgia. 10th anniversary this, 20th anniversary that; and as we near the final weeks before turning the proverbial page, another anniversary has passed. Nowhere near as pleasant as a '20 years of Forrest Gump' or celebrating the release of Soundgarden's 1994 seminal album Superunknown, but rather, an anniversary that did not raise enough eyebrows given its relevance to the issue of gun control. Guitarist Dimebag Darrell was killed on December 8th 2004 in Columbus, Ohio, while performing onstage at the Alrosa Villa club.

Dimebag Darrell confederate washburn live pantera cowboys from hell

Anyone who has had a taste of heavy metal knows who Pantera were. Without a doubt one of the top 10 most influential heavy metal bands of all time. What is arguable, however, is that Pantera's Dimebag Darrell was the greatest heavy metal guitar player of all time. Rhythm—check: he had attitude, style and conjured for too many memorable riffs. Pantera's first commercially successful release Cowboys From Hell (1990) is proof enough to showcase this phenomenon, let alone the rest of their catalog. Solos—check: melody, speed, shred, bends, whammy bars, finesse, harmonies, etc. Simply put, he could sing, yell, rap, and start fires with the strings. Dimebag was the essence of Pantera and the modernization of heavy metal from fast thrashing, galloping guitars to a thicker, heavier and meaner un-reverbed variation which took the metal world by storm in the early 90's. Don't let the banality of MTV's grunge extravaganza fool you—there was a lot more going on than Nirvana in guitar land at that point.

Dimebag Darrell pantera cowboys from hell moscow monsters of rock 1991
Tear down this wall: Pantera perform the first heavy metal concert alongside AC/DC and Metallica in Russia
since the fall of the Berlin wall (L-R: Dime, Rex Brown, Phil Anselmo, Vinnie Paul).
Pantera had a good run with nearly fifteen years of success before giving in to inner turmoil and whatever else bands go though. By 2003, Dimebag had formed Damageplan with his drummer brother Vinnie Paul (also formerly of Pantera). They enjoyed only a timid success in comparison to Pantera, but had a good thing going. Then, for no discernible reason, Dimebag was shot onstage by a psychotic fan who had a history of mental illness and prescribed meds in his system (or lack thereof). Why he had a gun, is the real issue.

Dimebag Darrell zakk wylde guitar world camouflage assault rifle machine gun
I won't turn this into a case study, but as a non-American looking in, I (and almost everyone abroad) see these situations as absolutely preventable. Guns are something only the police or an army should have, not your average civilian. Though I understand and respect that the United States was founded on amendments, a musket in 1776 is quite different from a semi-automatic over two centuries later.

What's even more bizarre is that there are other countries with far more liberal gun laws rarely see these random shootings occurring. Switzerland for instance, where guns are part of the culture has one of the highest ownership ratio for firearms in the world and yet only a few isolated incidents such as suicides (mostly) and crimes of passion are reported (in which 90% of these cases include a gun). A referendum was held in 2011 for stricter gun control—the population voted against it, even though statistics showed that the violent death rate would plummet significantly.

Dean Guitars dimebag darrell pantera zakk wylde james hetfield marilyn manson six string masterpieces joe satriani paul booth chester bennington kerry king
Dean Guitars's Six String Masterpieces event with tribute paint jobs

Zakk Wylde Eddie Van Halen Dimebag Darrell tribute event
Zakk and Eddie hug it out days after
the death of Dime at a tribute event.
So what could cause such rampage in the U.S.?

Countless shooting incidents occurred before that night, and many more have happened since. Yet, there appears to be an insatiable desire to keep the dubious freedom of guns alive.

"Dimebag suffered a fatality", I remember reading ten years ago with a clenched throat as I poured over the developing story.

Many people immediately jumped to the defense of heavy metal as the media, yet again, scrutinized the music for ill intent (we have seen this with Marilyn Manson, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, and heck, even The Beatles in their day).

Alrosa Villa Columbus Ohio December 8th 2004 Dimebag Darrell Damageplan Vinnie Paul Pat Lachman Bobzilla
Fans mourn Dimebag at a makeshift shrine
outside the crime scene.
Yet, in camo-pants and posing in Guitar World with a rifle alongside Zakk Wylde a mere year before, the true Texan Dimebag Darrell celebrated the very culture that killed him. John Lennon never did, and yet, he was gunned down in liberal New York City, and his favorite pastime was singing of peace. The fact remains that Dimebag Darrell suffered a stupid death, one hundred percent unnecessary. Blame the system, blame the meds, blame guns, blame Nathan Gale who was eventually gunned down by the police after taking Dimebag's and three others' lives that night at the Alrosa Villa club. Maybe nothing can be done, and that's the way it has to be.

RIP Dimebag Darrell rest in peace

Whether he'd be onstage or in his Kiss casket buried alongside Van Halen's legendary Charvel hybrid a.k.a. bumblebee Frankenstrat, Dime's music rings on forever. Leave your thoughts in the comments. Getcha pull!

Read More
, ,

Review: ODY-C #1 by Matt Fraction and Christian Ward

Posted by Sean Hamilton

The Odysey set against space by Fraction and Ward
ODY-C 1 cover by Christian Ward
The Odyssey is a classic tale.

What better way to re-experience The Odyssey than by reading the story as retold in a comic?

And having the main character's sex role reversed or inverted?

Did I mention it's also in space?

Well then, this is ODY-C.

In true "Homeric" style, writer Matt Fraction (Hawkeye, Sex Criminals) and artist Christian Ward (Infinite Vacation, Olympus) take us on a sweeping panoramic journey that is epic in scale and psychedelic in form.


From the opening pages there is a sense of the grandiose as we are treated with a fold-out that is no shorter than 8 pages in length, and not just for fun;the pages contain useful back story and context so that any reader, at any level of engagement, can readily pick up ODY-C and understand where the story is beginning from and why. This level of detail is carried throughout the book, demonstrating the commitment to craft that Fraction and Ward have put in for their readers.

Odyssia look fowards to home with some uncertainty
Odyssia is a strong willed leading lady
ODY-C tells the story of Odyssia, the heroic ruler of Ithica, who has been among the combined forces with Mene and Gamem, that have been battling to overthrow the system of Troiia. Following the conclusion of the war, which has raged for decades, the victorious leaders part ways for home. However, not long after their departure, the crew of the vessel ODY-C, from which the title is taken, come under attack. As the crew of the ship are caught up with in-fighting during the skirmish, they are blown off course and must take a long journey home.

Intergalatic Homeric epics include spaceships
The ODY-C races through space
Fraction's telling of this classic tale is refreshing. The manner in which this is achieved is a bit unorthodox under current comic storytelling approaches, but given Fraction's ongoing desire to push the envelope, the experimentation pays dividends. Most of the issue is governed by the narrative boxes that tell the story rather than captions or character dialogue. It is more like reading a story than following a conversation. As part of this process, the veteran letterer for ODY-C, Chris Eliopoulos, does a great job of interpreting Fraction's scripts and channeling the story through the pages.

The story of The Odyssey is as much a focus of the journey as anything else. Given this, the art of ODY-C is as much a part the overall reading journey. It is a trip in the manner of an hallucinogenic-induced exploration; Ward pulls no punches. The cover alone evokes a sense of style that entices an audience with different expectations and tastes than average comic book readers.

Ward does a lot to engage his audience in a compelling way. Issue #1 has done a great job of setting the scene and allowing some great glimpses of the main characters from an artistic point of view. Ward's pacing is frantic to keep up with Fraction; there is just so much story to be told between the covers. Despite this, the story did not feel overly rushed. Given the source material, it could be stretched into a long-running series, but the initial setup is crucial for bringing in an audience and establishing characters. Both creators do well to balance such needs here.
The ancient gods come alive in ODY-C
Zeus is a gender inverted god

Overall, this is a worthwhile beginning to a series that has a lot of potential. You certainly get a bang for your buck. At a time in which space-opera entertainment is extremely relevant to mass audiences, it is a good stroke to capitalize on the market. However, time will tell if this hits enough notes in a field that already may be too saturated. Still, let's hope we see some longevity with ODY-C.

Please let us know what you think, check us out on Facebook, Twitter, or simply leave your thoughts below.

Read More
, , ,

Press Start Plays: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Posted by Tam To - Monday, December 8, 2014

Fanboys Anonymous Nintendo Let's Play
Eight-player chaos will ensue as the Press Start crew tries their hand at Super Smash Bros. for Wii U!

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U features all of your favorite Nintendo all-stars including Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Pikachu, Samus, and many others! Who will you choose? Settle it in Smash!

Check out part one of our Smash series below, and stay tuned for more to come! Warning: For mature audiences only!!

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is available now exclusively for the Nintendo Wii U.


Have you gotten your hands on this hectic fighting game? What are your thoughts? Sound off in the comments below!

Press Start films weekly and can be followed on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Read More
, , ,

Watch Terminator: Genisys Trailer #1 Teaser Video

Posted by Anthony Mango - Thursday, December 4, 2014

Our first look at Terminator: Genisys has been released today with the first trailer. Watch it below:


My initial reaction: ridiculous. My favorite movie of all time is Terminator 2: Judgment Day and ever since that movie came out, everything else in the franchise has been a disappointment except for the television series The Sarah Connor Chronicles. The problem that everything else has (outside of not having the oversight of James Cameron) is that they're continually trying to change the series. This is no exception. In fact, this actually goes out of its way to fully replace the whole series and reboot it.

Why? Because it will be soooo awesome to see that, as they've marketed it, the rules have changed and the entire purpose of everything we've seen before has been rendered useless? OMG but that means anything can happen!! Reboots can be fine (see: Batman Begins), but retconning a previous story for the purposes of shock value or a clean slate is lazy storytelling and something better suited for lame fan fiction.

Am I going to see it? You bet your ass I will. But that's not out of ANY excitement for this movie itself. It's entirely out of it my devotion to the previous films. I fully expect to think that this is as big of a misstep as Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines or Terminator Salvation. In fact, at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if they go with the absolutely dreadful decision to make John Connor a Terminator like they've wanted to do in the past. That will officially kill this movie for me, and I can see it coming from a mile away.
The beginning of Terminator: Genisys, the first of three planned films that Paramount hopes will relaunch the beloved sci-fi franchise, is set in 2029, when the Future War is raging and a group of human rebels has the evil artificial-intelligence system Skynet on the ropes. John Connor (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' Jason Clarke) is the leader of the resistance, and Kyle Reese (Divergent's Jai Courtney) is his loyal soldier, raised in the ruins of post apocalyptic California. As in the original film, Connor sends Reese back to 1984 to save Connor's mother, Sarah (Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke), from a Terminator programmed to kill her so that she won't ever give birth to John. But what Reese finds on the other side is nothing like he expected.

What do you think? Is the franchise keeping its steady nosedive or is this a course correction that will revitalize the series?

Terminator: Genisys will be released in theaters July 1, 2015.

Directed by: Alan Taylor
Written by: Laeta Kalogridis, Patrick Lussier, James Cameron (characters), Gale Anne Hurd (characters)
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger (T-800), Emilia Clarke (Sarah Connor), Jai Courtney (Kyle Reese), Jason Clarke (John Connor), J.K. Simmons, Matt Smith, Aaron V. Williamson, Lee Byung-hun, Sandrine Holt, Courtney B. Vance (Miles Dyson), Dayo Okeniyi (Danny Dyson)

HD Terminator: Genisys logo poster

Read More
, ,

New James Bond 24 Film Titled "Spectre" Starring Christoph Waltz, Dave Bautista, Monica Bellucci, & More!

Posted by Anthony Mango

The title to the latest installment in the James Bond franchise has been revealed today: SPECTRE.

007 Spectre movie wallpaper James Bond 24th film

The 24th film will star Daniel Craig in his fourth outing as agent 007 with returning Skyfall director Sam Mendes helming the movie once more.

The featured car in the film will be an Aston Martin DB10.

No official announcements were made with regard who will perform the main title song, although current rumors point to British singer Sam Smith as a possible frontrunner for the job. Thomas Newman is returning for the score. (One of my only disappointments, as I prefer David Arnold.)

Regarding the cast, almost everyone from Skyfall is returning as expected, such as Ben Whishaw as Q, Ralph Fiennes as M, Naomie Harris as Moneypenny, and Rory Kinnear as Bill Tanner. Our new cast members are as follows:
  • Léa Seydoux as Madeleine Swann
  • Monica Bellucci as Lucia Sciarra
  • Andrew Scott as Denbigh
  • Dave Bautista as Mr. Hinx
  • Christoph Waltz as Oberhauser (but we'll get to that in a moment).
Fans of the Bond franchise should not only be delighted with the title of the film, but they should also know what's going on here with the story and the cast. For newer fans who are not as familiar with the title, S.P.E.C.T.R.E. is the primary evil organization that 007 has battled numerous times, spanning multiple films. They are led by "Number 1," also known as Ernst Stavro Blofeld, whom we can assume will be Christoph Waltz's character, even though more material has been referencing him as Oberhauser, so it remains to be seen.

Supporting him will be Bautista's Hinx character, the big, physically threatening henchman. This is yet another callback to the older elements of the series, where villains such as Jaws and Oddjob were commonplace.

Andrew Scott's character Denbigh isn't confirmed to be on Bond's side or not, but it's more than possible that he will be the primary villain of the piece, with Waltz's Blofeld pulling the strings in the background, similar to how he carried himself in Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and Diamonds Are Forever before being killed off in the opening credits of For Your Eyes Only.

As far as our new ladies go, more often than not, there is one villainous woman and one on Bond's side. Léa Seydoux would obviously be better suited for the adversarial femme fatale, as she has already proven herself capable of such a role with her performance in Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol. Monica Bellucci, therefore, is likely the Bond girl we can assume will find herself in bed with Bond by the end of the movie.

I'm personally pumped about this in more ways than one. I previously expressed my interest in the return of this criminal organization being led by Christoph Waltz, so you can read my opinions about that in this previous post.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS NEWS?
TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!

Read More
, ,

Review: Cyclops #7 by Layman, Garron, and Sotomayer

Posted by Sean Hamilton - Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Cyclops is becoming more of a pirateCyclops is in a precarious position.

The young mutant made a critical error last issue, which saw the Starjammer and its crew overcome by the dread pirate Valesh Malafect. Now Corsair is in the brig, the Starjammers are adrift in space, and Cyclops has been adopted into Malafect's crew. It seems like only a matter of time before this powder keg explodes around Cyclops.

Cyclops #7 picks up both the pace and drama of the story. John Layman's first issue into the series was somewhat flatter than expected, but with issue #7 we see a little more pizzazz. While we will certainly see some plot development during the ongoing story, the main narrative is straightforward.

This is an audience-friendly story. The ability to jump in at any point makes this book a plus, especially for young readers. This also matches the style artist Javier Garron brings to Cyclops.

Cyclops and Vileena Malafect
A new love interest for young Cyclops?
Under the artistic guidance of Garron the main characters take on a friendlier appearance. Cyclops himself appears even more youthful in form and expression; more so than the serious version we saw as Russell Dauterman depicted during the first arc. However, this development in the series can be a little jarring at times.

Layman is building up to the Black Vortex event but has time to develop his characters. While it is certain Cyclops will have a role in the event, it isn't clear how this will pan out just yet. Given this, I am optimistic that the series will continue its ascent and bring us some dynamic storytelling. The seeds of this can be seen in Cyclops #7.

We are introduced to the crew of the Desolation, Malafect's ship, which has the pirate captain's own daughter among its crew. Vileena, who acts as Cyclops' guide and go-between for the other crew members, leaves a lasting impression on our titular hero.


Cyclops amongst the new band of pirates
Cyclops has to become a weapon to survive
As the story unfolds, we get to witness some of the key characteristics for which Cyclops is so well known. Planning and tactical skills are forefront, and a dramatic show of his optic blast reminds us that while he may look younger, he is still a force to be reckoned with.

Garron uses some dynamic panel arrangements to good effect, particularly those involving an exchange between the captured Corsair and his son. It is during these pages we also get to see the magnificent holding cell. The colors here by Chris Sotomayer pop out, and his skill remains a focal point for the series as a whole.

Sotomayer's colors are vivid and upbeat but don't pull away from the story. Rather, they enhance it with an exotic quality. Space travel and interaction with alien creatures has no bounds, so the artists can bring some flare to how they want to tell this type of story.

We want this series to move forward, and while it is booked in to at least May 2015, that seems like a lifetime away just yet. There seems to be a lot more story to be told by Layman and Garron here. I will be coming back to see how it goes, will you?

The Starjammer explods in space
Cyclops is a setting for space battles
Let us know what you thought about this month's issue of Cyclops and leave a comment below or follow us on Twitter and post a message there.

Read More
, , ,

Week in Geek: December 2nd, 2014

Posted by Jeff Penner - Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Want to know what happened the past few days in nerd culture? WEEK IN GEEK is your quick fix to catch up with the rest of the fanboys out there.

Nerdy current events in geek culture for this week


MOVIES

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer Online Release.

My take: The fanboy and fangirl world held their collective breath and pressed "play". What they saw calmed many of their fears. A trailer for Star Wars that truly looks like an updated, unique Star Wars film. Did the horrors of the prequels actually make this feel more worth the wait…?

Avengers: Age of Ultron Doing Reshoots.

My take: Either a good sign or bad, reshoots to add more action into a superhero movie can't be a bad thing. However, if the film was originally going for a more cerebral vibe than biff bam pow, these reshoots may dumb it down too much. In any case, this could be the calm before the storm film, or the Empire Strikes Back of Marvel movies.

Suicide Squad Cast Announced.

My take: Likely touted by DC exec's as a potential "sleeper hit", the surprise cast includes Will Smith as Deadshot and Jared Leto as The Joker. This will eventually get packed with loads of additional guest characters, most likely and become a cluster-you-know-what soon enough.

TELEVISION

Marvel Doubles Down on Mutations.

My take: Marvel Studios is playing a double-ended war. They are passive aggressively trying to get their properties back, while slowly replacing "mutants" with "Inhumans" in the MCU. If, by some miracle, the mutants return to their ranks, a simple line of dialogue could retcon anything they'd set up with no problem and they'd have both properties to play with. As a fan of the MCU, I wish them luck!

Star Wars Rebels Already Replaced?

My take: Disney already knows that this series will end, as well as what will take it's place on TV. Considering how amazing the recent trailer was and how moderately well done this show has been, I love that they have something up their sleeve. I wouldn't be shocked to see a live action Ezra show up in a future feature film.

COMIC BOOKS

Secret Wars Map Detailed Out.

My take: Marvel's major 2015 event may not be a full re-boot but certainly appears to have the intentions of cleaning house. Instead of multiple universes colliding (as DC likes to do), Marvel's universes/timelines are being put on an easy-to-imagine, single planet. It seems that Dan Slott's Spider-Verse may be setting our brains up for keeping track of multiple versions of characters as this story could be an all-out brawl like we've never seen.

DC is Such a Tease.

My take: Teen Titans? Wally West? Stephanie Brown? The JSA? Ugh, if only I weren't so nostalgic! I can, sadly, see myself losing my salary to DC and Marvel's huge events in 2015. I'm so excited to see the post-Crisis characters I grew up with again that I'll be reading with bated breath to see the ultimate outcome. Don't break my heart, DC.

VIDEO GAMES

Batman: Arkham Knight Trailer Prt.1 and 2.

My take: Having been a little disappointed with the gameplay of Gotham Origins, I'd like to see the kinks worked out in this game before release. I have no problem waiting. The video graphics look great, of course, so hopefully gameplay will be smooth and fun. The addition of the Batmobile will likely replace the "dream" sequence levels of previous games and looks like a pretty slick level or two.
Watch out for this segment each and every weekend. We'll see you next week!


Did we miss something? What are your thoughts on these topics? Leave us a comment below!

Read More
, ,

The Premiere Date for House of Cards Season 3 is...

Posted by Unknown

Joy to the world! Frank Underwood is back! Well…He will be back soon, anyway.

Frank Underwood House of Cards President Kevin Spacey Power Netflix Series TV
"Democracy is so overrated."

Netflix has announced House of Cards will be returning for its third season on Feb. 27, 2015.

The news broke on the show's Twitter page, after it was teased that President Underwood and his First Lady had a special announcement.

If you haven't seen season 2 yet, the teaser contains a major spoiler.

Kevin Spacey has been keeping busy this year appearing as Underwood in an episode of the Colbert Report and portraying a very similar character in the video game Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.


Frank Underwood Kevin Spacey President Netflix TV Show Actor
"The best thing about human beings is that they stack so neatly."
The show was on the news—for sadder reasons—late in October due to the passing of actress Elizabeth Norment, who played Nancy Kaufberger, Frank's secretary.

Are you excited about season 3 of House of Cards?

What do you hope to see happen in the new season?

Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Read More
, ,

Suicide Squad Cast Confirmed: Jared Leto is the DCU Joker

Posted by Unknown

Literally days ago I posted an admittedly late-to-the-party article detailing some strong rumors about the cast for Suicide Squad, and what the movie could do for the DCU. Lo and behold, Variety has just confirmed and released the cast list for the David Ayer film!
joker suicide squad the killing joke alan moore brian bolland batman dc comics jared leto
Had to start with this one.
Here's the breakdown: Will Smith is Deadshot, Jared Leto is the Joker, Margot Robbie is Harley Quinn, Tom Hardy is Rick Flagg, Jai Courtney is Boomerang, and Cara Delevigne is Enchantress. 

If at any point during that, you said, "Who?" then by all means, read on.

deadshot dc comics the new 52 suicide squad secret six wil smith

Will Smith—Deadshot, a.k.a Floyd Lawton. In the comics, he's a marksman who claims he never misses and often plays the role of assassin. His trademark is a pair of wrist-mounted guns; we'll see if Ayer keeps them. We'll also see, going forward, if he'll come toe-to-toe with Ben Affleck's Batman as in the comics, or if this Deadshot had no connection to Gotham. 

Jared Leto—The Joker, who presumably needs no introduction, and who presumably will show up fighting Batfleck at some point. For the shared cinematic universe Warner Bros and DC Comics are building, Jared Leto is the infamous Clown Prince of Crime, and his inclusion is a curiosity, despite Harley Quinn's involvement. As I said in the prior article, Joker's not exactly a team player. Ah, but what if he were a target? Part of the mission? We'll have to see how his involvement plays out.

joker jared leto suicide squad harley quinn margot robbie wolf of wall street batman animated dc comics

Margot Robbie—Harley Quinn. Harley, unlike everyone else on this list, doesn't originate from the comics. She was a creation of Bruce Timm and Paul Dini for the 1992–1995 Batman: The Animated Series, becoming so popular that she was brought into the mainstream DC Comics universe. Harley begins life as Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum who treats the Joker, eventually falling for him in a kind of Stockholm Syndrome way. 

rick flag flagg junior dc comics suicide squad tom hardy warner brothers david ayer

Tom Hardy—Rick Flagg. He's the government operative among the Suicide Squad, which otherwise is peopled with criminals. On the page, Flagg is a soldier from a family of soldiers, but his relationship with Waller (which will probably be special ops, secret missions, etc.) leads to his involvement in the squad. 

captain boomerang the new 52 suicide squad dc comics flash rogues tim jack drake

Jai Courtney—Boomerang. There are two Boomerangs from DC Comics titles, and both usually also are called Captain Boomerang, but no matter. The original is George "Digger" Harkness, a Flash villain who, upon joining the Squad, was quickly mistrusted and disliked by his teammates. The other is that character's son, Owen Mercer, who grew into a young man unaware of his parentage until Harkness visited him. We don't know if the movie will treat him as a Flash villain. Given the character's history, there's a chance we could see him in Ezra Miller's debut film or beyond, as Boomerang is part of another group called the Rogues…

enchantress june moon dc comics cara delevigne warner bros suicide squad

Cara Delevigne—Enchantress. Cara Delevigne is a relatively new actress, having had small parts in a few recognizable films like Joe Wright's Anna Karenina. The inclusion of this character is very interesting, considering how long Marvel has taken to get to the "magic" of their universe (Scarlet Witch, in the upcoming Age of Ultron, and the someday-soon Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange) and considering that Enchantress' main ability is magic. Of course they could, and very well might, change the character so as to not deal with all that business. We'll have to see. That said, Guillermo del Toro just recently turned in his draft of his long-gestating Dark Universe to Warner Bros, his movie featuring the darker, more magical characters from DC and Vertigo. Del Toro's script might not have much to do with the main DCU, but it's fun to speculate, no? 

Variety's release also mentions that the film is still looking for its Amanda Waller, for whom Warner Bros. reportedly wants Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, and Oprah—who Variety says is WB's first choice for the part. Wouldn't THAT be something? Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor is said to appear in the movie as well. 

A final interesting tidbit is that Warner Bros. envisions the project as the Ocean's Eleven of comic book films. That certainly gives a good idea of the angle the film will take, and perhaps the tone. While the truest adaptation of Suicide Squad would likely be R-rated, odds are this will be rated PG-13 along with the rest of the comic franchise movies to maximize box office potential. In that light, the Ocean's Eleven comparison makes some sense, although that movie didn't have nearly as many action scenes as this one should. 

Well, there you go, Internet! Another piece of news to scrutinize and devour! Will Suicide Squad blow up in WB/DC's face, or will this be the first of many missions? Leave it below. 

Read More
, ,

FOLLOW AMT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

SUPPORT FANBOYS ANONYMOUS