Fanboys Anonymous

Bam! Pow! Splat!

With a recent announcement that the 1966 Batman TV show will finally be getting a DVD/BD release, Batmania will once again grip the world. The show, spanning a mere three seasons, but a whopping 120 episodes, is a prime example of camp done right. It's often mistakenly referred to as a parody of the Batman character, but this is not true. A parody is a humorous imitation of something else, which could be, in a loose definition, what Batman '66 is, but it doesn't go far enough.

Camp is the celebration of the excess of ridiculousness of a situation. With this show, it is its own thing, not a funny copy of Batman. Classifying it as a parody is missing the point. If someone made a film called Fatman, this could be a parody of Batman. We would see Batman with a pot belly, for example. The Batman TV show starring Adam West and Burt Ward is the same Batman character created by Bob Kane and first appearing in 1939; it's simply a different spin on the Caped Crusader. Clear?

For many years, this show was left out in the cold in regards to getting a home video release. It was never available on DVD or VHS or anything. If you looked hard enough you could find it on the grey market, taped from TV I assume, on certain websites out there. Why? There are a number of issues keeping it from being released and I'll leave it to you to research. It's too much for here. It doesn't matter any longer, because it's coming out this November on both DVD and Blu-ray! Yes!

I remember reading years ago that it wasn't being released because Warner Bros. feared that the campy nature of the show would interfere with the rebooted universe of Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. It's a bit conspiratorial, but makes sense in a way. The epic failure of Batman and Robin from Joel Schumacher still hangs thick and nasty in the air and no one wants to revisit that nonsense. That film is an example of bad camp.

Batman is dark and gritty now and probably forever. I can't see them returning to the more light hearted campy Batman of the '66 show. That doesn't stop us Fanboys from enjoying those 120 episodes, plus there's the movie. Batman: The Movie is the first time the Dark Knight ever appeared in a theatrically released feature film. What's great about it is that it fully encapsulates every aspect of the TV series; It has the four biggest villains: Joke, Penguin, Catwoman, and Riddler. It also has other vehicles, in addition to the Batmobile, showcasing the full capabilities of the show. It's severely underrated.

The show was extremely popular during its first two seasons, but slowly became overexposed once they decided to air episodes night after night and increase the output. The second season alone is 60 episodes! That's more than many shows ever have. Faced with declining ratings they wound up "jumping the shark" with the introduction of Batgirl and things went down hill in a hurry. They were soon cancelled and Batman went into a pop culture coma until Tim Burton and Michael Keaton resurrected him in a big way with 1989's Batman.

It would have been nice to see the show continue, but oh well. Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb. Er, I mean some days you just have to accept things and move on. Long live Batmania!


Anyone else excited about the release in November? Is anyone buying the complete collection or waiting for the individual seasons? Sound off below.

Guardians of the Galaxy - Directed by James Gunn. Written by James Gunn, Nicole Perlman, Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. Starring Chris Pratt (Peter Quill), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Dave Bautista (Drax), Vin Diesel (voice of Groot), Bradley Cooper (voice of Rocket), Lee Pace (Ronan), Michael Rooker (Yondu Udonta), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Djimon Hounsou (Korath), John C. Reilly (Corpsman Dey), Glenn Close (Nova Prime), and Benicio Del Toro (The Collector).

Guardians of the Galaxy is the latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise of connected movies in Phase 2 that will build toward Avengers: Age of Ultron. It is the story of thief Peter Quill and a band of misfit outlaws who join forces to help save the galaxy from the threat of Ronan the Accuser, a Kree warmonger with a big-ass hammer and ties to the Mad Titan himself, Thanos.

Going into this film, I thought that it was going to be quite bad. The whole concept was something that I frowned upon from the very beginning. After all, one of the best parts of what kicked off this whole series was the realism behind Iron Man, and here we are watching a tree and a raccoon fight in space? Give me a break. I was never a fan of the comic series that spawned this and assumed that at the very best, this would just be a tolerable stepping stone in the middle of two better films.

So was I proven right or wrong with my assumptions?

It's time for another REVIEWPOINT as we break down the film's hits and misses.


As always, let's start with the bad news first.


1. DRAX THE DESTROYER

For those who are unaware, one of the other branches off A Mango Tree is Smark Out Moment, which is dedicated to professional wrestling. Despite how I am a fan of professional wrestling, I do not actually support the idea of wrestlers being cast in roles unless they are particularly impressive. I'd rather see a good actor develop an impressive physique rather than take the easy way out. Dave Bautista isn't one of my favorites, and unfortunately, the same carried on here. While his character has some development, it isn't much, and Dave's acting was the weakest point in the whole film as far as main characters go. It also doesn't help that the amount of times he gets his ass handed to him sort of went against the idea of him being The Destroyer who could whoop everyone.

2. NOVA CORPS

Why was Glenn Close in this movie? Why was John C. Reilly in it? To look awkward, out of place, and deliver some pithy dialogue that really didn't contribute all that much to the story? The Nova Corps is Marvel's answer to the Green Lantern Corps, but without any badassery at all in this film. They're a bunch of jokester chumps who die or don't get involved in the action—like that one woman who can't seem to look at anything but her iPad.

3. VILLAINS

None of the villains in this film impressed me. Yes, that includes Thanos. They just didn't feel all that intimidating. The first introduction of Thanos at the end of The Avengers was epic, but this one just jumped right into it and felt too lighthearted for my tastes. Ronan was pretty one-note. Why does he want to commit genocide? Essentially, because BOOM POW LOL JOKE and nothing else. Nebula doesn't have much of a character, either. The Collector is like the Liberace of space who has been in only two scenes so far in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he just sort of stands there awkwardly and seems like a joke. Yondu was just Michael Rooker in blue paint.

4. CREDIT SEQUENCES

Marvel has really dropped the ball with the credit sequences in Phase 2. The original films teased amazing things, but outside of the end of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, everything else has been more of a pointless laugh. Did I really need to see Bruce Banner falling asleep in Iron Man 3? What about the rampaging monster from Thor: The Dark World? In this one, while it may be kind of cute, Groot dancing and Howard the Duck aren't going to give me goosebumps that make me want to watch them again.

5. NO ANTICIPATION TO AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

To some extent, this has to deal with the credit scenes, but that's not necessarily where it stops. This whole film in general just felt more like a side project rather than something building up to Avengers: Age of Ultron. Outside of the Infinity Stone that was introduced (by the way, which one was that?), nothing else seems to have any effect on the upcoming film. Because of that, none of it got me psyched up for it.


1. GROOT

Groot is the man. Well, he's the tree. Nuff said, right? 

2. MUSIC

The music in this movie was so important and such a huge part of the core structure that if it had failed, it would have ruined the entire thing. Thankfully, I feel like they pulled this off. I'm not personally a huge lover of all of these songs, but I could put that aside to enjoy their placement in the film. To be perfectly honest, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is something that I feel is incredibly overrated, but I felt a nice calm sense of resolution when it came on at the end. 

3. HUMOR

Is it too humorous? Possibly. The tone of the film having that mentality that a lot of it doesn't really matter all that much is a downside. Yet the alternative way to look at things is that the jokes themselves are actually funny, for the most part. Drax's humor sometimes falls flat, but Rocket Raccoon is charming as the primary source of comic relief. Peter Quill has his fair share of moments as well. Marvel is really playing it dangerously by amping up the humor in their films as of late, and I think this is the absolute maximum that should ever happen in any of these, but for what it's worth, I did laugh.

4. CELESTIALS

Forgive me for taking this to a total fanboy-esque level, but they showed the goddamn motherfucking Celestials!!!?!?!?!!!? WOW. I laughed at Howard the Duck and Cosmo, since I love cameos in these kind of movies, but that one just floored me. I never expected to see Celestials referenced and shown like that in any capacity. 
 


This is one of those situations where I would recommend the film, but I don't necessarily want to praise it all that much. If the rest of the MCU films are on par with this, it will be serviceable, but not admirable. We need more that are as good as The Winter Soldier and less that are of the quality of The Dark World. On its own, this is more than fine for a fun movie to go see. Will I ever watch it again? I'm not sure. If I do, it will be while I'm trying to get ready to see Age of Ultron and really nothing else. I can pop in The Avengers at pretty much any time of the day and enjoy it, but this movie isn't necessarily the case.

Back in college I was introduced to The Evil Dead. A couple buddies knew the films well and we watched them, all three, back to back all the time. It seemed like every weekend. I remember watching the second film before I even knew the first one existed. Evil Dead II is simply on another level; it's the first one but with better acting, a larger budget, and a much clearer distinction into comedy. I consider it more of a remake anyway, to be honest, a completely in your face "do-over" than a continuation of the first one's story. It's the same damn story and Bruce Campbell's Ash would have to be the dumbest person alive to go back to the same house and relive the same thing over again. There's plenty of evidence to suggest it is more of a remake than sequel, believe it.

Director Sam Raimi has said the first portion of the second film is meant to be a recap, but he has also stated in interviews that yeah, it pretty much is a remake with a bigger budget. I'm fine with that; hell, James Cameron more or less did that with Terminator 2: Judgment Day. It's the same story but with better special effects.

What I love about the Evil Dead series is the combination of horror and comedy. The simplicity of the situation is also crucial. It's just this guy out there in the woods, fighting demons and trying to stay sane and alive. While the first is an early '80s cheaply made horror film in the same vein as Friday the 13th, the second combines the elements of comedy that would derail the franchise in Army of Darkness, the third installment. I like the film, but they went too far the other way into slapstick and nonsense. It's interesting how each film goes further along the dial from horror to comedy, finding that sweet spot with Part 2. The gore, the humor, the sense of impending doom... it's all there.

Don't get me wrong, I adore Army of Darkness. It's the most re-watchable one of the three for sure and has some great quotes. "Listen up you primitive screwheads." "This is my BOOM STICK!!!" That's poetry, that is. So I love the film but I also like the balance between genres and the simplicity of the first two films.

With the recent announcement of the upcoming Evil Dead TV series by Raimi, there's no telling what direction the franchise will go in. I never saw the reboot/remake from a couple years ago and have no desire to see an Evil Dead film without Bruce Campbell in the lead, sorry. The TV series is set to have him in it but I'll believe it when I see it. Never fear, though, because there is talk of the actual film series getting more entries.

Bruce and Sam have talked for decades about the possibility of a sequel to Army of Darkness. Well, get ready Geekoids of the Internet, because there are rumors of it finally happening. Again, because I've been a fan for so long and heard this before, I will believe it when it happens. There are also plans to do a direct sequel to the 2013 film and then do another film that ties the two timelines together. Wow, that's ambitious.

I'm cautiously optimistic. Of course I want to relive my college days vicariously through a new film, hoping to channel the same feelings of joy and hilarity that I felt 20 years ago (yeah, I'm that old, deal) but I don't know if the boys have it in them. It might be more of a parody of Army of Darkness rather than a true continuation of the story.


So will more Evil Dead work or are they simply spinning their wheels on nostalgia? Was the new one any good? Do you want to see more? Sound off below.

What is up Dacetacular Fanboy Nation! After all the excitement from Comic Con this weekend, this nerd needed to recover from the massive coronaries had at the awesome news. Now granted I'm not the biggest fan of this franchise, but for some reason I'm really excited for this release... and I'm a man who bought his tickets to Guardians of the Galaxy like a week before.

SpongeBob SquarePants is heading back to the big screen. Below you'll find the newly released trailer for the Nickelodeon juggernaut, and we see a different form of animation coming along with it! Enjoy, Fanboys and Fangirls.



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 pineapple under the sea—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!


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That's right Fanboys and Fangirls, Michael Keaton had answered the heroic call once again.

Unfortunately he will not be playing Batman in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice... we have to deal with Ben Affleck for that one. However, Keaton will play the role of Birdman! What's Birdman you say? I'm glad you asked! Birdman is a dark comedy that follows the life of an actor who made famous an iconic superhero known as Birdman! 

In a last ditch effort, he is set for a Broadway play, and in the days leading up to opening night he battles his own ego to recover the life he once had. The film stars Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Edward Norton, Zach Galifianakis, and Naomi Watts, set to hit theaters October 17th! Enjoy the international trailer folks!!

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 cape—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!


Follow on Facebook: Mega Powers Radio | Fanboys Anonymous | The Dace Man Show | Nerd Court | Sports Talk Weekly | Addicted to Anime

As with practically everything else that has happened so far with the production of Marvel's Ant-Man film, there was some confusion this weekend as to Evangeline Lilly's character. For the longest time, it had been rumored that she would portray Janet Van Dyne, aka Wasp. The problem with that was Marvel's choice to make Hank Pym an old man in this story (whyyyy??????), which would have meant that Janet would either be changed to NOT be his love interest, or it would be a creepy instance where Michael Douglas was hitting on someone young enough to be his daughter.

Even though I myself think it's a mistake to keep the "old man Pym, let's go with Scott Lang as Ant-Man" idea going forward, I'm thankful to hear that Lilly's character will indeed be Pym's daughter, Hope. Hope what, though? She had been referred to as both Hope Pym and Hope Van Dyne. It may not seem like it matters, but it could result in some big influences on the plot.

In the comics, Hope became the villainous Red Queen who had essentially the same powers as her mother. Other than that, she's a relatively blank slate, so they could take her character in all sorts of different ways.

Something else to take into account is that there are incarnations of the Hank Pym character that make him abusive towards his wife, Janet. At the moment, Janet has not been confirmed to appear in the movie at all. Is Hope's relationship strained with her father to the point where she would go by Hope Van Dyne rather than Hope Pym? Is her mother perhaps dead to begin with?

The plot is supposed to revolve around Pym acting as a mentor to Scott Lang and instructing him to pull off a heist with the Ant-Man technology to circumvent the villainous goals of Darren Cross, who will be a member of the company taking it in a more evil direction. Lilly is without a doubt the love interest for Lang, and there's a chance that as much of a love story element might be between them, there may be an even bigger story between her and her father.

It's no secret that conflict drives films, so what if Hope has a controlling stake in her father's company and is aligned with Cross until Pym redeems himself with the help of Scott Lang, who is in need of guidance that Pym gives him in return?

I still maintain that even as solid of a story as that might be, that it is a mistake in the long run rather than going with a generic origin tale of Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne as the young protagonists. You can even keep the casting decisions the same and just rename the characters and tweak the script. I will trust that Marvel's team knows what they're doing, judging by their overall track record, but that doesn't mean that they haven't made mistakes before. This idea of Hope Van Dyne could be much worse, but it could also be so, so much better.

Yeah, it's like that. I'm not a feminist or anything but watching girls get a chance to kick butt and take names on film is a really cool thing. I'm all about "girl power" and there's something liberating about having women let loose a little bit and have some fun that normally only men enjoy.

Make no mistake, women can kick ass, too. With Scarlett Johansson and Jennifer Lawrence taking charge in recent Marvel films, we have a new crop of femme fatales ready to carve up some bad guys.

It wasn't always this way. Decades ago, women were relegated to roles ranging from secretary to damsel in distress. I'm not mad about that at all; I get annoyed when people whine about there not being enough good roles for women. If you don't like it, go write some scripts and get them made. Anyway, back to the women kicking ass on film thing, which experienced a major break through when James Cameron decided to cast Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor in The Terminator and Sigourney Weaver in Aliens (where she continued her role as Ellen Ripley from Alien).

Weaver's Ripley earned her an Oscar nomination and she built the house upon which the Alien franchise was built. Her stern yet motherly take on the part earned her icon status in my opinion. She's just the best. Ripley wants to help people. She's brave and self-sacrificing, yet don't for a minute think she's a pushover. When macho idiot Private Hudson (played superbly by Bill Paxton) spouts off, "Game over, man! Game over!", Ripley doesn't jive with his nonsense. She puts him in his place right then and there and takes charge of the situation. And who can forget her final showdown with the Alien queen? Badass.

Hamilton of course went on to up the ante on female actions stars in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and her turn as Sarah Connor is legendary. This character even spawned a short-lived TV series, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and while the show was hit or miss, the fact they centered it around her is pretty impressive. These two women proved to Hollywood that you can have a female lead front and center in an action film and have tons of success. Simply make their motivations clear and cast great actresses and you can't lose.

Fast forward to today and we have a new generation of female ass kickers. With Jennifer Lawrence and Scarlett Johansson starring in everything under the sun these days, it's hard to think this new phenomenon will be going anywhere anytime soon. I have to also give a shout out to Milla Jovovich for her role as Alice, the ultimate zombie slayer. Quality of the film aside, you gotta giver her credit for looking hot and doing a great job in the action scenes in the Resident Evil movies. 


With Johansson's Black Widow and Lawrence's Mystique rumored for their own spin-off films, there's no telling how far this new sub-genre will go. We also have a female Expendables film called The ExpendaBelles. There is no release date for this one and they are still searching for a director, preferably a female one. Kathryn Bigelow would do a damn fine job with this and give it some needed gravitas.

Oh, and she just happens to be an ex-wife of James Cameron. It's funny how after their divorce he made a film, True Lies, that featured a bumbling female instead of a particularly strong one in the form of Jamie Lee Curtis. Remember that scene of her stripping? Hmm, methinks Cameron was a mite miffed with women during this time period. It worked out fine; hell, we got Curtis doing a striptease, that's something.

Praise should also be given to Joss Whedon, who not only writes very good female characters, but wrote one of the best ever—Buffy, who led the cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in kicking undead behind for almost a decade. She set the standard for teenagers being strong and self-sufficient while also having depth and believability.

So is this the Golden Age for women's liberation? Are females busting heads here for good or is it a fad? Or, do you not even like the idea at all and think women shouldn't be action stars, for some reason? Sound off below.

Relax son, what could go wrong? - Alexander Lozano Cyclops #3 Cover

Who didn't want to be a pirate. No wait, an astronaut. Hang on, both, together, at the same time. Like your dad, right!

Oh, its a pirates life for me, arrrgh. Well, maybe not in quite the swashbuckling sort of way. Nonetheless, adventure calls and Cyclops #3 is delivering.

Greg Rucka's story continues to develop the unfolding nuances of how navigating a father to teenage son relationship can be. This is set in the background of crashing space ships and hidden secrets. However, it is given room to bloom in a semi-natural way. The path of discovery can be murky, but Cyclops shows the quiet determination and grit that has been developed in this character for decades. It is the ability to readily accept his circumstances and move on, that makes Cyclops likeable in this incarnation.

Rucka has begun to show the interesting dynamic of relationships he is known for in other work. This underlying theme in the series has a relevance to any time that makes the story familiar for readers. There is jarring from the narrative, but just sit back and enjoy the ride through space with father and son.

For Cyclops #3, when it comes to the art, you are hit in the face by the amazing cover of Alexander Lozano just by picking up any of any issue of the series. Lozano's cover art does everything it should. It grabs you and makes you want to open the book up and read. I don't want to appear to be playing things up here, but once you do flick between the pages, Russell Dauterman provides a visual landscape that is mesmerising. It has a fun playful colour palate provided by Chris Sotomayer that beautifully enhances the line work. This is a comic full of imagery that seamlessly sells you on nearly every page.

Space IS Pink, right?

Given this, it is not surprising my reaction to the SDCC '14 panel, Marvel's Next Big Thing announcement of the change of creative team for this book made me pucker up for a moment. I know change can be a good thing, but with such a wonderful series so far, I hope the new team of John Laymen (Chew) and Javier Garron (Bat Girl) continue this feast for the eyes. Despite the changes coming in October with Issue #6, by looking at some of Garron's previous work, it is quite complimentary with Dauterman, so the transition may go well.

This series is just fun to read—it is a space adventure at the right time and place. With Guardians of the Galaxy opening in theaters around the world over the next week, who doesn't want more space-opera to fill the need Marvel has created. I cant wait for the next issue, coming out very soon (next week even!).

I know I've gushed a little on this review, but I really enjoy reading this title. It reminds me just what a good comic can do and lose you in the covers. Let me know if you enjoyed it also (or not) down below.

Iron Man Special: No End In Sight cover by Gary Choo.

Iron Man is a Marvel heavy hitter.

So why does it feel like he wasn't in this special story? Iron Man Special #1, the continuation of the No End in Sight story left me wondering. Iron Man is (unknowingly) helping in the mysterious disappearance of Cyclops, leader of the Uncanny X-Men. While he plays an important story device here, it is the students of New Charles Xavier School for Mutants who are the stars in the story. The focus is on them as they manipulate Iron Man to help them recover their missing professor.

For Sean Ryan's story, while it is already part two of three for the No End in Sight crossover, I feel that we haven't really built a lot of momentum. The story is fine, don't get me wrong, it's the flow however and end of this part that leaves me asking myself, "what have we achieved?" I hope that the concluding chapter will amp things up a little more. Maybe a little context on the nature of the 'special' could help here.

Specials, like annuals are a niche of comic publishers all on their own. These type of comics allow up-and-coming artists and writers the chance to showcase and hone their craft. They play an important part in the career prospects of collaborators, allowing editors to try new things and can earn the publisher a little something also.

Having said that, the work that is produced can still feel like it is in that phase of the writer or artists career. This can mean that the stories don't stick together as easily as an industry veteran's or the art is jarringly different. Even the colorist and inkers may have a style that stands out for whatever reason.

Fake it 'till you Make it.

Where I come from, there is an off-beat saying of, "fake it 'till you make it." In this slightly simplistic manner that is what is being done in Iron Man: Special #1. The team of Ryan and Handoko, along with the other talent and trying to pull together a tale to show their ability. It has some promise, the delivery of which could be enhanced for the finished product. Don't get me wrong, this has nice art and a passable story behind it. I'm not sure I could do better, but the finished product shows the standing of both artist and writer at this point in their journey with their craft.

The art by Handoko has been supported by no less than four inkers, which seems a lot for one comic, was timing an issue here? Nonetheless, while the characters drawn fit in well and a nice interpretation of the Uncanny X-Men school kids, it is the background details that stand out here. The simplistic look and feel, support by a colour scheme of pastels and mute tones has a flattening mood on the book.

Uncanny X-Men turn space cadets.

This is in contrast to the dynamism of the cover by Gary Choo. An action pose of Iron Man blasting an unseen foe, perhaps emulating his fight scene in the alien adult entertainment establishment in this issue.

Iron Man: Special # 1 continues the story Ryan set up from Uncanny X-men Special #1 last month and brings the pieces closer to the final chapter. There are still loose ends to tie up in the Nova Special #1 conclusion of No End In Sight, but that will have to wait until September or October to see how it ends.

This was a nice distraction during my normal X-Men reading, but I wonder where this fits into the continuity of the series, if at all really. The overall product is passable, but for a special, attracting a high price from my local comic book shop, I had wanted a little more.

What do you think, does Iron Man Special #1 do it for you? How have you found the No End in Sight special story so far? Are you looking forward to Nova's part next. Tell me below.

As if licensed clothing, condoms, and coffins weren't enough to accommodate the ultimate KISS fan's rock and roll lifestyle, global branding company Epic Rights has announced a forthcoming KISS merchandise lineup to strum the heartstrings of collectors in 2015.

Bif Bang Pow!, Figures Toy Company, and K'NEX Brands have all made deals with the Demon (this is the work of Mr. Simmons, of course) and Epic Rights for the production of yet even more toys in the iconic band's likeness.

Juli Boylan-Riddles, Epic Rights' EVP of Global Strategic Partnerships & Licensing, acknowledged the loyalty of the KISS Army and their inevitable need to put those painted faces in living room glass cases. "There continues to be an incredible demand for anything KISS, as evidenced by the quality and quantity of licensing partners that the band and the brand attract, and we look forward to working with Bif Bang Pow!, Figures Toy, and K'NEX to bring all new product to consumers," says Boylan-Riddles. "KISS' loyal, passionate fans are a marketing fantasy come true, introducing younger generations to the indelible music and celebrated antics of one of the most popular bands of all time, continuing to grow the KISS consumer base and fuel demand for all things KISS."

Bif Bang Pow!, the manufacturer of first-rate collectibles of other franchises such as Star Trek, Dexter, and Adventure Time, are bringing to us the first ever 3.75" scale KISS action figures, slated for Q1 of next year. Following these figures will come tin totes, nesting dolls, and drinkware. These symbols of your eternal childhood will be accessible on Entertainment Earth's website.

President of Bif Bang Pow! and KISS fan since the 70s, Jason Labowitz, is enthused with their new offerings. "While we may have been given the opportunity to buy some great KISS products over the years," he says, "the Holy Grail of toys for collectors, 3¾" action figures, were missing - until now. It's an honor to work on a fan-centric line plan for the action figures, as well as a complimentary set of new collectible merchandise."

Speaking of the 70s, if you had the first KISS figures made in 1978-1979 by the Mego Toy Company, 18" reproductions by Figures Toy Company are also coming in Q1 of 2015. Like the original 12" models, the collectibles will each have rooted hair, fabric clothing, and 16 points of articulation. 12" tall figures will also be re-released, along with 8" versions as well, through Toys 'R' Us, Entertainment Earth, the KISS Army Warehouse, and other retailers. The MSRP for the 8" and 12" figures are $24.99 and $59.99, respectively.

K'NEX Brands is the third toy company to bring forth a new yet nostalgic line of KISS toys, this time of the buildable kind that will allow consumers to assemble their favorite Knights In Satan's Service (that's not really what it stands for). The LEGO-esque blocks resembling Demon, Starchild, Spaceman and Catman will include costumes, instruments, and a stage for display one's creations. Want to take the band on the road? K'NEX is also releasing a KISS Rock Stage Big Rig Building complete with two roadie figures and more than 300 pieces to put together the ultimate concert setup. Pyro sold separately at your local fireworks stand. These are all currently available for purchase at the K'NEX online store.


Michael Araten, President and CEO of K'NEX, joins the others in anticipation to bring the next generation of KISS fans the same creativity that older collectors may have had with K'NEX growing up. "It's an excellent representation of what loyal KISS fans and our steadfast builders expect and new consumers want—amazing value, interactivity, and building fun!"

Celebrate more than 40 years of KISS's musical career by adding—or starting—your own collection of one of the most influential bands' merchandise. Who's your favorite member of KISS? Let us know in the comments below, as well as which of these figures you'd be most likely buy. You got, you got, you got nothin' to lose.

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.

MOVIES

Batman v Superman DOESN'T Blow It at San Diego Comic-Con.

My take: DC/WB had one job last weekend: get Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot on stage together, plus show footage from the movie. Mission accomplished. As much of a train wreck as this new DC Cinematic Universe is going to be, it will still be amazing to see these characters in live action next year. With all the plotlines, characters and setup they plan on, I'll allow this movie to be 3 hours long.

Ant-Man Loses Cast Members.

My take: Though due to scheduling, this movie just won't stop changing. They've added Evangeline Lilly (drool) as Jan Van Dyne, potentially introducing The Wasp to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This production is going to have to step things up and show some absolutely mind-blowing footage to turn the negative press around. Let's remember that there was a time the mere thought of a Guardians of the Galaxy movie made people's eyebrows raise in doubt. Despite Edgar Wright's departure, the movie, story and characters may yet help expand the MCU in a positive way.

Joaquin Phoenix to Play Doctor Strange?

My take: I've said it before and I'll say it again, Marvel has an amazing eye for matching talent to a character. Phoenix had never crossed my mind but as soon as I heard this, it made total sense. I would personally prefer him over Johnny Depp or even Benedict Cumberbatch.

The Death of Superman Lives Documentary in the Works.

My take: Back in the years when James Cameron was no longer in talks to make a Spider-Man movie come to life, a new Superman film almost became reality, too. Thank goodness it didn't. Even at an ignorant age when I would have loved to see a live-action Superman film, everything I heard about it made me hope it didn't come to light. To the mainstream audience, these films are all they know of these characters. Imagine a kid today thinking Superman was a black-suit-wearing jerk who couldn't even fly. This documentary is currently on Kickstarter and very likely to get funded and made in the next few months.

Lucy Outpaces Hercules Opening Weekend.

My take: Scarlett Johansson is no dummy. Lucy may have well have been called "Black Widow Movie Test Reel". Expect an announcement soon and you can bet Chris Evans will have a guest appearance. Hopefully, this is a new dawn where Hollywood features more female-driven films that aren't marketed as a "twist" or commodity.

Mad Max: Fury Road Gets Fans Excited.

My take: Enjoy. If there is one thing that other fans seem to be absolutely pumped for that I just don't care about, it's this one. I didn't enjoy the originals. I'm sorry.

Godzilla 2 Announced at Comic-Con.

My take: I wasn't totally blown away by the first movie, too many human soldiers confident they were going to punch Godzilla in the face when they caught up to him. However, the battle sequences were better than what Pacific Rim had to offer and the big green was actually kind of a hero. Bring on a series!

TELEVISION

Peter Jackson to Direct Episode of Dr Who.

My take: It will be 6 hours long.

Agent Carter Joins TV Land with Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..

My take: With directors on board like Joe and Anthony Russo from (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) and Joe Johnston of Captain America: The First Avenger, Marvel is clearly giving the show the respect it deserves while truly blending TV and cinema in a never done before. It will be nice to watch a series set in the olden days where technology will be somewhat limited. Too many lasers and blasters, nowadays. I also suspect that Agent Carter will be a creative, clever and awesome place for Easter Eggs. Plus, it's going to have a real, live "Jarvis". Come on. That's awesome. Marvel really knows how to quietly "nod" but instead receives high fives all around.

Arrow Teases New Arch Nemesis.

My take: With the DC Cinematic Universe and DC TV Universe now confirmed to not be connected, they are free to see what they can do. With Ra's al Ghul as Oliver Queen's new enemy, it's becoming clear that Green Arrow (as he'll soon be called) is DCTVU's "Batman". I'm still behind on this series but am starting to look forward more and more to catching up

CW's The Flash Shown at Comic-Con.

My take: The first episode is getting positive feedback all around. It looks like it will be a fun and humorous series, possibly to counter the grittier tone of Arrow. It will be interesting to see if DC keeps the TV characters solely on TV or if we'll see a big screen version of Green Arrow, Flash and the rest. If so, it's going to get awfully confusing to the mainstream audiences who aren't more experienced keeping these things separated.

Guardians of the Galaxy Animated Series Announced at Comic-Con.

My take: Many franchises exist solely to sell products like action figures. Marvel has this in the bag with the live action toys as well as the figures for Ultimate Spider-Man, Avengers Assemble and (to a lesser extent) Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.. With such recognition of these properties and the Guardians of the Galaxy movie, Marvel has created a print-out-own-money machine. A huge reason that DC's popular Young Justice series was cancelled was poor merchandise sales. However, Marvel's animated history is a little checkered and is often overshadowed by DC's quality. It's possible the animated shows will be much more suited for kids, allowing the live action movies to grow up a little bit more.

COMIC BOOKS

New Star Wars Books to Create New Canon.

My take: I'm not completely sure I have a need to know what happened between the movies but I'm more excited now than I was decades ago. We seem to have more of an awareness and I think a bit more care will go into weaving some new threads. As long as the books don't each have "I have a bad feeling about this" and visits to Tattooine every other issue, I think I'm going to enjoy the ride.

Grant Morrison Maps Out the DCU.

My take: Why would DC allow someone who's writing style alienates half their audience to re-write and literally map out their entire universe? Although it's nice finally have an idea of what's going on and what DC's intentions are. However, I wouldn't understand Grant Morrison explaining how to peel an orange, let alone how 52 universes are woven together. Ever since he tried splicing "Zur-En-Arrh" into the current DCU, I've given up completely on him. Final Crisis was the absolute last straw and DC lost me after 20 years of dedication.

Female Series Galore at Marvel.

My take: San Diego Comic-Con had announcements or focus on female-lead series including Captain Marvel, Spider-Woman and Angela (Thor's newly revealed sister). More smart moves on Marvel's part as readership and "nerd culture" comes more into focus as gender neutral.

Avengers: Rage of Ultron Series.

My take: Originally, I boasted heartily that I was positive by the time Avengers: Age of Ultron came out Steve Rogers would be Captain America again, Superior Iron Man will have wrapped up and Thor will be swinging his man-junk around (by which I mean Mjolnir, of course). However, this series intended to coincide with the movie release (so new fans see something familiar at the comic shop) will play on two timelines: a past Avengers team and the current "Marvel NOW" version. This way, the readers get Ultron, familiar characters to the movie-going audience, as well as the versions in the ongoing comics. Well played, Marvel. Well played.

VIDEO GAMES

Batman: Arkham Knight Keeps Sounding Better.

My take: If this game series goes out on this title, it's planning on going out with a bang. With graphics that look more true-to-life than any of the previous games, additional missions, costumes and add-ons, I can't wait to spend the rest of my life playing over and over again. With a playable Batmobile and game-within-the-game stories with Red Hood, Nightwing and who knows who else, they look to really want to make up for the disappointment we had in Batman: Arkham Origins.

Guardians of the Galaxy Video Game Penned by Dan Abnett.

My take: As co-writer of the greatest era of any of Marvel's cosmic lines, Dan Abnett should be writing way more than just the video game tie-in. Hopefully, Abnett and sometimes-writing-partner Andy Lanning will get some more play in Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (announced at San Diego Comic-Con, with a release date of July 28th, 2017).

Lego Batman 3 Basically Lego Justice League.

My take: It's all marketing but it works for me! Lego Batman 3 takes Batman out of Gotham City and explores the DC Universe. An outer space, Green Lantern-centric story means aliens, rocket ships, different planets and piles of different costumes. These games do start to feel repetitive to me after a while so multiple locations and characters to explore make this latest venture extremely appealing.

If Game of Thrones has become infamous for anything, it would be the show's shameless ability to kill characters constantly. Nameless extras die by the hundreds, but even the most major of characters are not safe from writer George R.R. Martin's wrath. Lest we forget the moment that shocked the world when Ned Stark was beheaded at the end of season 1, even though he was positioned as the star of the show throughout the entirety of it.

Season 4 may have had the highest body count yet for the series. With tensions running higher than ever in the Seven Kingdoms, a major battle at The Wall, and the looming threat that winter is coming, people are dropping like flies. For an in-depth recap of the entire season and all future episodes, be sure you're checking out Sand & Snow: A Game of Thrones Podcast here on Fanboys Anonymous.

With death being such a major theme, it's only appropriate that we determine which one viewers liked the most. Therefore, we've created a single-elimination tournament to figure that out by allowing you the fans to vote! We've already voted through one part of the first round, let's keep rolling to the next!

Oberyn Martell was only with us for a short time, but perhaps gained admiration faster than any other new character. From his first episode he appeared as a suave yet tempered warrior with a displeasure for Lannisters; an easy way to win the hearts of many viewers. His finest moment came when Tyrion seemed without hope to find someone to represent him in the trial by combat. Oberyn entered Tyrion's dark jail cell and heroically proclaimed, "I will be your champion." While Oberyn's motivation was more fueled by revenge, Tyrion was grateful nonetheless. However, during the fight Oberyn becomes cocky and refuses to kill until he gains a confession from his opponent, "The Mountain" Sandor Clegane; a man responsible for the rape and murder of his sister and her children. The Mountain takes advantage of this and finds himself the victor in the end. Oberyn receives his confession, but while also receiving two eyeballs full of thumbs and a splitting headache courtesy of Clegane's mighty hands. This left us with a fallen hero, Tyrion sentenced to death, and millions of broken hearts worldwide.
Tyrion Lannister began the series a man who loved no woman more than a good whore. Shortly before entering his first battle, he met one named Shae who would end up capturing his heart. Their love grew quickly, but they had to remain secret or else Tyrion's family would likely cause them harm. Unfortunately, things got even more complicated when Tyrion's father had him arranged to be married to Sansa Stark. The break-up was not a pleasant one. Tears were shed, faces were slapped, and in the end Shae testified against Tyrion during his trial for the murder of King Joffrey. However, this was nothing compared to when Tyrion escaped from his cell and found her lying in his father's bed. She made the first move to attack, but Tyrion didn't hesitate to defend himself and release his frustrations. He wrapped a blanket around her and didn't release her until all movement had ceased. Shae now knows the answer to "where do whores go?"

Episode two of the season started off with this twisted scene of Ramsey Snow, his bedwarmer Myranda, Reek, and two hounds hunting in the woods. The game? A scared, crying young blonde girl. Ramsey calls out "if you make it out of the woods, you win!" while shooting arrows in her direction. Before long, they catch up to their prey with an arrow in her leg. Myranda wishes to give the killing blow, but Ramsey says his dogs deserve the pleasure. After a short explanation of his motivations, he sics his hounds on her while Reek winces to the sound of her screams and tearing flesh.

Shae vs. Peasant Girl
	Shae
	Peasant Girl

Arrow is no stranger to adding characters from the comics, so fans have always speculated on who would be the next person that they would recognize. From early on, the superhero Wildcat was spoken of as almost a guarantee. Those rumors ramped up considerably when a picture was released of Stephen Amell in a boxing ring. It has now been announced that J.R. Ramirez will indeed be playing Ted Grant in season three.

Why is Wildcat going to show up? There are several reasons. First and foremost, it is fun to introduce characters from the comics to spice things up. Whether you announce The Clock King or The Royal Flush Gang or throw out a reference to Sandra Moonday Hawke, DC fans are going to squeal in excitement.

Secondly, Wildcat is not as high-profile as Batman or Superman, so there's no need to worry about overloading the audience with the same character. When was the last time we saw Wildcat involved in something? His handful of quick appearances on the Justice League Unlimited cartoon? Some episodes of Batman: The Brave and the Bold? It's much easier to bring a minor character like him into this universe for a short time frame rather than a big one. The Flash showing up in three episodes would have let fans down. That is why he's getting his own spin-off series. Not many people care about Ray Palmer outside of the hardcore dedicated fans, so we won't be seeing an Atom show. Wildcat is in the same regard.

The third and best reason why Wildcat is joining the crew is because he has personal ties to one character: Black Canary. He is responsible for training her to become the bad-ass that she is. In the Arrow universe, this character has been split in three different ways. Instead of Dinah Laurel Lance, we have aspects of the heroine passed onto Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy), her mother Dinah (Alex Kingston), and her sister Sara (Caity Lotz). Sara operates as the vigilante The Canary, having trained as a member of the League of Assassins, while Laurel is not quite the action star that she will eventually become.

This is where Wildcat will come into play. Not only is it pretty much written in stone that Sara is going to bite the bullet and die at some point in this series, but Laurel will take up her mantle and become Black Canary as she's intended to be. To do that, she must go beyond her basic self-defense practices and truly become a fighter to hang with the likes of Ollie and Team Arrow. The description of Wildcat's character confirms that this is the direction the series is going, stating: "Grant will be a former boxer who now runs a gym for underprivileged youth. A man with a mysterious past, he will play a pivotal role in Laurel Lance's arc this season."

There is one other aspect to point out here, and that is the age of J.R. Ramirez. Normally, Ted is quite older and a veteran that is somewhat of a father figure to Black Canary and a former member of the Justice Society of America (the precursor to the Justice League of America). In Arrow, he seems to have been bitten by the "everyone has to be younger and sexier" cloud that CW hovers over the production of all their shows. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as some things are open to interpretation and can possibly be changed for the better. Just look at how they have handled Thea Queen and Roy Harper instead of going with Speedy being Roy Harper and then eventually the HIV-positive prostitute Mia Dearden. Thea "Speedy" Queen has a much stronger connection to Oliver and even acts as a connection point between Oliver and the Merlyn family, who, too, have a stronger backstory rather than just being some singular guy Green Arrow fights. There's a chance a good story can be told here with Wildcat being a possible romantic interest for Laurel, similar to how it is rumored that Ray Palmer will have his eyes on Felicity Smoak. After all, as much of a playboy as Oliver Queen is, he shouldn't get the girl all the time, right?

Another trailer for the upcoming film The Maze Runner has been released. Check it out below:

When Thomas (O'Brien) wakes up trapped in a massive maze with a group of other boys, he has no memory of the outside world other than strange dreams about a mysterious organization known as W.C.K.D. Only by piecing together fragments of his past with clues he discovers in the maze can Thomas hope to uncover his true purpose and a way to escape. Based on the best-selling novel by James Dashner.

The Maze Runner will be released in theaters September 19, 2014.

Unveiled this weekend at San Diego Comic-Con 2014, the first official trailer for Mad Max: Fury Road is now available on Warner Bros.' YouTube channel. Directed, produced, and co-written by the man famous for the series, George Miller, this will be the first film in the franchise in almost 30 years!


Max is back! And he's still mad! So mad, in fact, that he begins the trailer by stomping an innocent 2-headed lizard under his boot. We start off with a desolate, desert landscape. The exact setting you'd expect for the postapocalyptic series. But it doesn't stay quiet for long! The frame is soon filled with sand storms, smoke bombs, and all types of mechanical vehicles & body parts.

Tom Hardy returns as Bane—wait no—he's playing the titular character of Max, but that face mask could throw you off. The movie also stars Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa, Nicholas Hoult as Nux, Zoë Kravitz as Toast, and for you wrestling fans: Nathan Jones as Rictus Erectus.

Mad Max: Fury Road is currently set to release May 15, 2015.

Do you dig the trailer? Do you think this has the potential to revitalize the franchise? Let us know in the comments below!

HBO is now taking preorders for the home releases of season 4 of their hit fantasy-drama series Game of Thrones. Along with it they revealed the official cover art as well as the special features. Check the press release below for more info.

The global cultural phenomenon Game of Thrones returns for its fourth season on Blu-ray and DVD from HBO Home Entertainment on 16th February 2015 and is loaded with exclusive bonus content, including extensive guides and illustrated histories. This hit HBO series has broken ratings records and topped The Sopranos to become the most popular show in the network’s history. Season four continues this winning streak with 19 Emmy® Awards nominations including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Peter Dinklage) and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Lena Headey).

Lots of exciting Game of Thrones news broke this weekend at San Diego Comic-Con 2014. Well we have one last scoop for you, and this one may be the most shocking of them all! Clevver News met up with Martin on the red carpet at SDCC and asked him what he thought about South Park's episode based on Game of Thrones. The answer ended up revealing something far deeper than I'm sure the interviewer anticipated.


Martin claims to have never seen the 3-part episode but is aware of the running joke involving himself having a fascination with male genitalia. He emphatically denounces it as a "scurrilous rumor." He explains further "I have nothing against weenies. Weenies are fine, but I am not obsessed with weenies. I am definitely on the boobies side of the equation."

So there you go. George R.R. Martin says boobies > weenies.

Which side of the equation are you on? And do you think George R.R. Martin is telling the truth? Let us know in the comments below!

The summer movie season is winding down now and we've seen some prime examples of two completely different film series in regards to tone and approach to movie making. One is of the most basic form of entertainment: crass, loud, and appealing to the lowest common denominator of the movie going public. It has revealing shots of girls in tight clothes, plenty of explosions, and stupid action scenes that do nothing to advance the plot and lots of noise. Wanna guess the POS I mean?

The other is a film of genuine heart and maturity, done with storytelling and character development front and center, where the characters feel like real people (or in this case real apes), and their motivations are clear and concise and very understandable. This last point is important to repeat. Even when the characters are doing "bad" things, even when the antagonists are killing and maiming, as the audience you see where they are coming from and even want them to succeed because they are so well realized and compelling.

These two films, Transformers: Age of Extinction and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, represent the sharp dichotomy of today's Hollywood film making. It's telling that I don't even have to say which film is which; I could just repeat those two above paragraphs and anyone that has any clue about summer movies would nod and say, "Yeah, Transformers is the first one, Apes is the second."

Since I don't wish to bash Bayformers and give them anymore of my time, I'll focus instead on the film that has given me hope in regards to the present state of movies. The Apes films, going all the way back the 1968 science fiction classic The Planet of the Apes, has always been more intellectual sci-fi compared to most franchises. Sure, there is plenty of battles if you are into that stuff, but the themes of social inequality, injustice, animal captivity, and the future of the human race have always been on the forefront of these films.

Dawn is no different. What I find so amazing is that, much like the Toy Story trilogy, the Apes films manage to instill a sense of reality into a potentially wacky premise. I mean, apes taking over the planet? C'mon, get real! But they make it work; and work so well you begin to care about these CGI creations, even forgetting that not only are they just apes, but fake, computer generated apes at that! It's a perfect blend of high stakes entertainment and heartfelt tragedy. I walked out of the theater stunned and with hope that despite the box office success of crap like Transformers, there's still room for intelligently made summer films.

Does everyone agree? Is there still hope for cinema, even with all the noisy crap out there?