Posted by
The Dace Man
- Friday, January 2, 2015
What is up Dacetacular nation! Long time, no chat. Chris "The Dace Man" Dace back in action and bringing you some of the big news hitting the internet for the big year of 2015
A flood of pictures hit the internet the other day featuring promotional artwork for Avengers: Age of Ultron. Now if this doesn't get you pumped for Marvel's May release, I don't know what will—well maybe the new trailer coming later this month.
So check out some of this conceptual artwork featuring Iron Man in Hulkbuster armor, The Vision, Black Widow and even Ultron Himself.
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!
Follow on Facebook: Mega Powers Radio | Fanboys Anonymous | The Dace Man Show | Nerd Court | Sports Talk Weekly | Addicted to Anime
Posted by
Sean Hamilton
- Thursday, January 1, 2015
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| Cyclops #8 cover by Alexander Lozano |
Cyclops is a hero in the making.
With the series Cyclops, a new generation of comic enthusiasts gets to see the rise of one of the most important figures among the X-Men as a teenager and mutant. At the same time, we are fortunate to see a range of artistic styles and expressions of the characters surrounding Cyclops, some of which are being managed on the periphery.
This time, the Starjammers are safe, and just in the nick of time. This doesn't really come as a big surprise; the drama set up around this plot point wasn't particularly strong because it competed with the captivity of Cyclops and Corsair. The Starjammers' dire situation served its purpose and now has been resolved and handed off, with the team to be reunited at some point in the future. Given this, it feels like we can move on and focus on father and son again.
It is good to see writer John Layman and editor Katie Kubert make this decisive move. The more entertaining aspects of the story are about Cyclops and how he will save his dad and get free of the pirate Malafect.
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| The Starjammers are saved |
Now that we are three issues into the next arc and the creative team has had some time to gel, I admit I am missing the previous approach to colors in this book by Chris Sotomayer. Any change in the balance of the creative team would of course produce a new feel to the series, yet comparing Sotomayer's colors from the first arc to now, the style is less dramatic now. While this probably suits the style Javier Garron brings to the pencil and inks, it is a shame, because Sotomayer was integral to the great artistic look of Cyclops from the start, and now his work seems downplayed a little. A great take-home message from this, however, is the importance a colorist has in the final product audiences view; this should not be underestimated.
Regardless, Garron has settled into the art role well now and is making this series his own. There is more confidence coming through in the art, I find this represented in the double-page portion in the very middle of Cyclops #8. It is from here that the story itself is starting to get interesting, much like the titular character is in this issue. It also seems as though Garron is toning down the previous cartoon qualities of the art.
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| Cyclops helps save the Starjammers |
Layman is picking up the tempo in the second half of this issue. Within a few pages we see Cyclops save his fellow pirate crew members, two deaths, and most importantly the Vortex is introduced. This last item will play an important part of the upcoming event from Marvel, Black Vortex, early in 2015. Then let's not forget the romantic interest in the series picking up a notch, with Vileena making a move on Cyclops, whose awkward demeanor was a priceless moment.
Cyclops is starting to feel like a series back on track. While I'm still not sure about the longevity of the series, and Marvel certainly isn't squeamish about cancelling a series that isn't performing, we are at least getting a more entertaining issue here. The incorporation of the series into the Black Vortex event could help lift its exposure, yet on the other hand the this is the type of book that could have a predetermined fate once the main character is reunited with the other original time-displaced X-Men.
Despite this, what do you think about Cyclops #8? Do you think the series is back on track? Where do you see it going in the future? Leave us your thoughts and comments below.
Posted by
Mike Paden
- Tuesday, December 30, 2014
A legendary voice for 90's kids, Christine Cavanaugh, passed away on December 22nd at 51 years old. The full details of her death remain unknown, however her catalogue of work is something unforgettable.
She is perhaps best known for performing the voice of Chuckie Finster on the hit Nickelodeon cartoon Rugrats. She is also known for roles such as Dexter on Dexter's Laboratory, Oblina on Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, and the titled oinker from Babe.
Cavanaugh retired from voice acting in 2001 and has since remained out of the spotlight. She leaves behind no children but was a godmother.
What were your favorite Christine Cavanugh roles? See her whole career on
IMDB.
Posted by
Sean Hamilton
- Monday, December 29, 2014
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Wytches 3 cover
by Jock and Hollingsworth |
Oh the suspense! I may not have been much of a horror fan previously, but I am very quickly changing my tune thanks to Wytches.
Issue #3 plays on some of the darkest fears we can have. Writer Scott Snyder is playing it close to home, as testified in the post issue notes of the issue, by bringing to the fore every parents' worst nightmare—the missing child fear.
Elaborating on this, Snyder explains that the extrapolated concern is the need for a parent to protect their child and the helplessness they feel when this is impossible, such as from the Wytches.
At the heart of this, Snyder is exploring a richer aspect of the psychotic realm of human nature. This is the capacity for atrocity and harm against one another. The idea of the pledge, which is fleshed out a little more in the third issue, is nothing more than a device one person can use against another to bring harm by way of the Wytches. This replaces a more personal sense of conflict, but the damage can still be the same, if not worse.
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| The Wytches will get you! |
Snyder begins to bring in more back story in Issue #3 of Wytches. The characters are given more depth, particularly Charlie Rooks, Sailor's father. He is the star of this issue, and despite Sailor not being present for much of the issue, the central character remains prominent in an off page role. It is the little things that are starting to set this story apart—I wont quite look at needles the same way again after this issue—and Snyder is setting us up for a climatic first arc in the next few issues.
It goes without saying that the imagery in Wytches from Jock and Matt Hollingsworth is more akin to art in the more traditional sense of the term than that associated with comic books. There is a style here that is unique and striking. It has to be read as a whole experience to appreciate the collaboration between art and story and the creators as a whole.
The process pages from Hollingsworth at the end of the issue, which details how the colors are added to the inked pages from Jock, are eye opening. The steps involved and time it must take to render the final effect makes the reader appreciate just what is involved on producing a high quality comic such as this.
IMAGE continues to produce dazzlingly high quality comics and Wytches is out selling the creators expectations as a series. Given this, what do you think about this issue or the series so far? Does it meet your expectations? How does it compare to other work by these creators? Make sure you leave a comment below.
Posted by
The Dace Man
- Saturday, December 27, 2014
Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Check out Episode 79 of The Dace Man Show with host Chris "The Dace Man" Dace as he takes a look back at 2014!
Merry Dace-Mas to all and all a Dacetacular Night! The crew is off enjoying Christmas Eve with their friends and family, meanwhile The Dace Man himself will take you through the halls of Dace Man Show past. Join The Dace Man as he replays some of the highlights of 2014 in this end of the year recap on Christmas Eve!
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!
Follow on Facebook: Mega Powers Radio | Fanboys Anonymous | The Dace Man Show | Nerd Court | Sports Talk Weekly | Addicted to Anime
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Monday, December 22, 2014
On episode 9 of the 4 Reel Movie Club podcast, Fanboys Anonymous members give their thoughts on four Christmas classics for the holiday season.
Host: Chris Dace
Panelists: Tony Mango, Mike Paden, and Lauren Ciccarelli.
THIS MONTH'S SET OF MOVIES:
It's a Wonderful Life
The Year Without a Santa Claus
The Santa Clause
Jingle All the Way
You can watch the podcast below. Make sure to subscribe!
Posted by
Orion Petitclerc
- Sunday, December 21, 2014
Carnage no more…? Not so fast! You haven't even read my review yet! Welcome to my review of the final chapter of one of the best Carnage comic book miniseries in recent years, AXIS: Carnage #3.
In the last issue, Carnage saved reporter Alice Gleeson from the marauding and macabre Sin Eater, a wraith seemingly resurrected from Spider-Man and Venom's past. Carnage takes the opportunity given to him to learn about how to be a good person and a hero from Alice, of whom he's grown fond and idolizes as "one of the good'uns," to paraphrase from his other appearance in the main Avengers & X-Men: AXIS event series. Being good isn't all it's cracked up to be, and Carnage struggles to cope with his inner demons as the Sin Eater continues to hunt Alice down in his serial murder spree.
This issue picks up after Sin Eater has captured Alice once again, leaving Carnage in the sights of a pair of surface-to-air missiles and certain doom. In his brief stay in limbo at the gates of heaven, the angelic aspect of Alice delivers to Carnage a familiar, yet mispronounced Uncle Ben motto as one of the greatest lessons a hero can learn before he pulls himself back into the land of the living. Now, as far as Rick Spears is stretching Carnage's invulnerability to the point of indestructibility against friggin' missiles, one should note that the symbiote and Cletus Kasady have evolved so much throughout the years they've been bonded that they have become something of a comparative powerhouse—a Superior Carnage, if you will. (I suggest reading Superior Carnage to catch my drift.)
Alice finally uncovers the truth behind the Sin Eater's secret identity (it's rather convoluted, but hey—that's comics for ya'!) and Carnage ultimately saves the day only to learn one final lesson about being a hero. Spears leaves Carnage as a bright-eyed do-gooder in the end so Cletus' redemption story could continue in AXIS, but despite the new status quo for the character, I feel that this is the best next step for him. The way Spears redeemed Carnage was just thematically fitting and, more importantly, satisfying. I'm hoping we get to see more stories after AXIS and Carnage's upcoming cameo in Nova in which he gets to be a hero—a new Lethal Protector, for the lack of one. (Sorry, Broxin [Eddie Brock as Toxin], but you'll get that title back when creators start including you in comics again!)
Once again, Germán Peralta and Rain Beredo outdo themselves with the art in this issue. Their combined skills and style, to me, are very reminiscent of those of Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire's—two of my favorite modern artists and Marvel superstars. I still have issues with Peralta giving Carnage a tongue, but I think I'm going to overlook this minor blemish this time around.
AXIS: Carnage #3 gets 5 out of 5 stars for both the writing and art, leaving me more than impressed with this tie-in series overall. If you've read this issue, what were your thoughts on the way Carnage was redeemed as a hero? Would you like to see him get his own series with the new status-quo, or do you want him to be the villain you loved him as again? What could this All-New Carnage (hint-hint, Marvel!) angle mean for his relationship with Spider-Man and Eddie Brock? Let us know in the comments section below, and keep following Fanboys Anonymous for more comic book reviews by yours truly. Also, don't forget to check out The Venom Site for all of your symbiote news, reviews, and point-of-views!
Speaking of Carnage, why not play the brand-new Venom pinball table from Zen Studios available on Steam and iOS and Android devices? It features Carnage, too!
Posted by
The Dace Man
- Saturday, December 20, 2014
Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Check out Episode 78 of The Dace Man Show with hosts Dace, Gibby, Nicholas Andrew, and Tricia Bell.
::SPORTS NEWS::
- NHL Rankings
- NFL week 15 is in the books!
- Plus more
::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY::
::FRANK'S CORNER::
- Top 10 Colbert Report Moments according to EW Online.
::CELEB NEWS::
- The Colbert Report Final Show on the horizon
- Spiderman to Marvel?
- Plus more…
::Who Said It::
VS
Plus Gibby Sings! All that and more, only on The Dace Man Show.
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!
Follow on Facebook: Mega Powers Radio | Fanboys Anonymous | The Dace Man Show | Nerd Court | Sports Talk Weekly | Addicted to Anime
Posted by
Unknown
- Friday, December 19, 2014
Subscription models have rapidly dominated the entertainment market with Netflix leading movie and television streaming and Spotify leading in music. The pay-per-month deal is an attractive offer for those who frequently binge-watch movies and whole TV series late at night where no one can see their baggy eyes and mounds of junk food (one more episode, I swear!). Now, in an attempt to lure movie lovers off their couches and back into the theater, AMC will pilot their own monthly subscription service: unlimited movies for a flat rate of $35.
AMC, the second-largest movie theater chain behind Regal Entertainment with close to 5,000 movie screens around the country, has partnered with MoviePass to test run a subscription service that allows members to see one film a day for a monthly fee of $35 for standard films and $45 for IMAX and 3D.
According to the Denver Post, AMC Theaters and MoviePass will test market the service, called MoviePass Premium, in metro Denver and Boston AMC theaters in hopes to revive the steady decline in theater attendance. With the box office reaching an all time low in summer ticket sales since 2001 (no movie topped $300 million), MoviePass Premium may drive extra traffic to theaters. It's an ambitious plan, but like both the music and news industries, film is fighting a tough battle with the Internet.
Since 2007, moviegoing has seen a downward trend among young adults, as reported in Nielsen's 2014 Moviegoing Report released last week. Audiences between the ages of 12 and 24 years old had a 15.5 percent decrease, seeing an average of 7.1 movies a year, one point less than the relatively stable 25 to 44 age group.
"Millennials are consuming things differently, and that includes going to the movies," Stacy Spikes, MoviePass's chief executive and co-founder told the New York Times.
Streaming content instantly appeals more to young adults, initiating the decline as an unlimited amount of movies are readily made available for just $8 a month on Netflix or found for free elsewhere on the Internet. According to the Nielsen Report, 87 percent of young adults say they stream movies or TV shows, with more than 60 percent stating they've streamed at least two films in a single day. That same age group are reportedly more likely to see a movie in a theater as a group and rely on social media as a trusted source of movie information.
To combat that trend, AMC's average ticket prices increased 5.3 percent this year to $9.48, according to the New York Times, and reach as high as $15 in New York City, making this is a great deal for film enthusiasts that will take full advantage each month—even if you see at least three movies each month, it still saves you enough money for popcorn.
This isn't the first time AMC attempted to gauge consumer interest; last month they offered unlimited viewings of Interstellar to AMC Stubs members for $19.99. However, while theaters will be paid full price for every admission, they will need to rely on moviegoers to not actually increase their attendance. It's a simple economics trick that works similar to gym membership: "Some overuse, a lot underuse," Spikes told the New York Times.
The subscription service is expected to launch Jan. 5 and will be available on a limited basis, allowing subscribers to see any movie only once. Additional cities will be added based on the success rate of the service. "This is something we'd have to figure out and road-map together," Spikes told Denver Post. "We will follow whatever patterns we see."
Are you a frequent moviegoer? Would you subscribe for unlimited movies at AMC Theaters if the service was brought to your hometown? Let us know in the comments below.
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