GeekWeek

Red Band Trailer: KICK-ASS 2 Premiere - NSFW

KICK-ASS 2 will be released by Universal Pictures on August 16, 2013. I think we have a contender for the movie quote of the year ..."Yeah, there's a dog on your balls." Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

COPRA #4 Review

"COPRA" is a 24-page monthly comic and a force of nature. It proves that sometimes the best thing to do is to do it yourself. That is what Brooklyn cartoonist Michel Fiffe has concluded. He is on a quest to create something different and compelling. It is a journey that...

IRON MAN 3: Final Global Theatrical Trailer

2:31 of joy and goodness ... in theaters May 3, 2013 via movies.yahoo.com

110th TOY FAIR 2013 Opens In New York

Despite the weather, Toy Fair 2013 is open and I am sad I had to miss it. That being said, I will be excitedly gathering pictures over the next few days and compiling my must have toys. Already leading the pack are the BATMAN Original Series range from Mattel and...

DC's BLACKEST NIGHT or BRIGHTEST DAY? Geoff Johns Leaves GREEN LANTERN for JUSTICE LEAGUE

For many decades, I never used to pay much attention to anything in the DC Universe unless it involved Gotham City or Metropolis. That changed with BLACKEST NIGHT when my weekly comic bill skyrocketed out of control. I don't think BLACKEST NIGHT was perfect, but what it did was reopen...

MAN OF STEEL: Official Trailer

I believe we may be about to get the Superman movie we have all been waiting for ... watch, be amazed and feel free to shed a tear or two of joy.

DREDD: 2012 Teaser Poster

The first movie poster and a few new stills from DREDD were released from this September's blockbuster starring Karl Urban, Lena Headey and Oliva Thirlby. Hopefully this new version of JUDGE DREDD will do justice to the hero from the UK's 2000AD comic book. Not to be confused with Sylvester...

COMING SOON: Marvel/Reebok Superhero Sneakers for "Big Kids"

Now I don't have to be jealous of my son's snazzy geek footwear. It is also refreshing that they have created the two pairs for geekettes as well. You can see the full range here Marvel Superhero Sneakers Reebok X Marvel Officially Licensed Limited Edition Sneakers! The sneakers drop this...

IRON MAN 3 (Photos): Iron Patriot Spotted on Set

The early speculation about whether The Iron Patriot would appear in IRON MAN 3 seems to be right on the money as these new set pictures show. James Badge Dale was pictured in the outfit. He is listed as appearing as Eric Savin (Coldblood), so it will be interesting to...

THE WALKING DEAD (Video): "Season 3 Premiere Will Top the Season 2 Finale"

As "Zombie Fever" grips the US, Florida and Facebook in particular, let's take a look at the latest update from the set of THE WALKING DEAD. “Darker, harder, faster, deeper.” Andrew Lincoln and the cast of The Walking Dead welcome you to the set of Season 3. via www.amctv.com

MARVEL HEROES: First Trailer and Details Released

This looks amazing. Gazillion Entertainment, a leading developer, publisher and operator of massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, has revealed the first glimpse of the eagerly anticipated free-to-play online game "Marvel Heroes." Taking the MMO category to a completely new level of excitement and engagement, "Marvel Heroes"combines action role-playing games with...

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES: New Posters - Hit or Miss?

With the pressure mounting on THE DARK KNIGHT RISES to challenge THE AVENGERS' box office supremacy, Warner Brothers released a single poster earlier this week, which left me (along with many other people) underwhelmed. I imagine that feedback must've trickled back to WB because they released 6 more posters ......

THE WALKING DEAD: Uncovered Michonne Revealed

Two weeks into shooting Season 3 of THE WALKING DEAD, Entertainment Weekly have brought us the first glimpse of Danai Gurira as Michonne without her cloak. Season 3 is due to air on AMC in the Fall. Ever since we saw that cloaked figure brandishing a katana sword while accompanied...

DC Entertainment To Fight Hunger Crisis in Horn of Africa

DC Entertainment is out to fight the hunger crisis in the horn of Africa and you can help too:

 

DC ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES “WE CAN BE HEROES,”
AN UNPRECEDENTED GIVING CAMPAIGN TO FIGHT
THE HUNGER CRISIS IN THE HORN OF AFRICA
Featuring Iconic Justice League Characters, Multilayered Campaign
To Leverage All Time Warner Advertising Platforms
Generating Significant Awareness of the Crisis

Multi-Million-Dollar Commitment Will Support
Three Aid Groups Working in Africa:
Save the Children, International Rescue Committee and Mercy Corps

(January 23, 2012 – New York, NY) DC Entertainment, home of the world’s greatest super heroes, today unveiled an unprecedented giving campaign to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa. This multi-million-dollar commitment over the next two years will be supported across all Warner Bros. Entertainment’s and Time Warner’s businesses and feature DC Entertainment’s iconic Justice League characters, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg, issuing the call to action, “We Can Be Heroes.” The announcements were made at a press conference today in New York by Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros.; Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group; and Diane Nelson, President, DC Entertainment.

We Can Be Heroes will support the efforts of three humanitarian aid organizations working in Africa—Save the Children, International Rescue Committee and Mercy Corps—as part of the global effort to fight the current hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa. The region is suffering its worst drought and famine in over 60 years, with 13 million in need of critical assistance and 250,000 facing starvation in Somalia alone. Each partner organization was chosen for its track record of effective and expeditious humanitarian aid efforts in Africa.

We Can Be Heroes will be supported via promotional exposure across all of Time Warner’s divisional advertising platforms (Warner Bros., Turner Broadcasting, Time Inc., HBO), generating millions of consumer impressions and creating crucially needed awareness of this crisis worldwide. Save the Children, International Rescue Committee and Mercy Corps will equally share a corporate donation of at least $2 million over the next two years comprised of cash donations, employee matching funds and consumer matching funds.

“Warner Bros. has a long history of corporate philanthropy and outreach, and this campaign proudly continues that tradition,” said Meyer. “We are a global company, and this is a global issue. By marshalling our expertise in consumer and fan engagement and creating global awareness, we hope we’re able to inspire others to join us in becoming ‘heroes’ and make a difference in the Horn of Africa.”

The Justice League characters were chosen by DC Entertainment both for their global recognition as well as their demonstration of strength in unity and numbers. The campaign’s graphic identifier features the iconic Justice League characters—Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg—outlined in silhouette against the African continent. Each of these characters is a super hero in his or her own right, but when they band together as the Justice League, they become an unstoppable force for good and right in the universe—a key message of the We Can Be Heroes campaign. While many individuals may feel powerless to effect change on their own, as part of a global campaign such as this, their efforts, combined with those of other donors, can create a world of change.

A key launch element of We Can Be Heroes is the campaign’s website, WeCanBeHeroes.org. Here, consumers can make donations which DC Entertainment will match 100 percent (up to $1 million in donations), purchase specially branded merchandise, with 50 percent of the purchase price going to fight the hunger crisis via We Can Be Heroes, sign up for newsletters and updates, and join the We Can Be Heroes online community. The site will also feature information on each of the partner organizations and updates on current conditions in the Horn of Africa.

“This campaign goes straight to the heart of our core competency, as Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment both have a rich legacy of telling socially relevant, compelling stories with characters embraced by global audiences,” said Robinov. “The fact that we’re able to take what we do and use it to raise awareness—and inspire action—around a cause as important as this is gratifying. With the support of the entire Studio and our Time Warner sister companies, this campaign, like the DC Comics super heroes, will make a great impact on an important issue.”

“The members of the Justice League are an international team of super heroes beloved by a broad range of fans, including men and women, young and old. This makes them the perfect ‘spokescharacters’ for this campaign,” said Nelson. “Their dedication to social justice and commitment to band together to defend the helpless brilliantly supports the ideals of the We Can Be Heroes campaign. The hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa is something we can reverse if we all work together. I’m proud and grateful we’re able to harness the power and standing of the DC Comics brand and iconic characters as well as for the support from both Warner Bros. and Time Warner that has allowed us to pursue this unprecedented initiative."

“This is a tragic situation affecting millions and millions of people. Everyone has the ability to be a part of the solution and efforts such as We Can Be Heroes help bring us closer to that goal,” said Dr. Jill Biden, who visited refugees in Kenya in August and has worked to raise awareness of the crisis. “I commend the efforts of DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. and other organizations who are using their global reach to help raise awareness of the crisis.”

For more information on We Can Be Heroes, visit www.WeCanBeHeroes.org . For more information on the campaign’s partner organizations, visit their websites: www.savethechildren.org (Save the Children); www.rescue.org (International Rescue Committee) and www.mercycorps.org (Mercy Corps).

BATMAN: NOEL Review

What if you had to die in order to learn how to live? In short order, that’s the plot to “A Christmas Carol,” by Charles Dickens. “BATMAN NOEL,” is a graphic novel that applies that life-changing premise to Batman. At first, as you read this book, you might think that it will only make a reference to the Dickens classic. And then you think that it’s got to be The Joker who plays Scrooge. But this is not being played for laughs exactly. This is serious--spiked with some whimsy. Written and drawn by Lee Bermejo, the co-creator of The New York Times best-selling, “Joker,” this is a tale you just have to read to believe.

The intriguing idea that Bermejo plays with for all its worth is whether or not someone can make a fundamental change. The Dark Knight has become selfish and abusive. Bernejo, who dazzles us with his eye-popping Neo-Gothic drawing style, masterfully writes a Batman who sure looks beyond repair.

Bermejo has fun seeking out the humanity in Batman. We see a Batman that completely fits into a Scrooge mold. Batman is Scrooge! And, for the purposes of this story, Bob Cratchit has been reduced to a small time hood working undercover for Batman/Scrooge, with being constantly terrorized by his boss as part of his job description. This Scrooge runs Cratchit ragged and has no qualms about putting Tiny Tim in the line of fire! Be that as it may, we all know that there was something about Scrooge that made him worthy of redemption.

It’s fascinating to see how Bermejo has custom-made “A Christmas Carol” for Batman. It’s done with confidence. He consistently drives home the fact that this is Batman’s life. The narrator is a street smart guy off the street reciting the urban myth his dad told him as a kid. It’s the tale of a caped crusader, ole Scroogey, who has lost his way. There had been a time, not too different from the madcap “Batman” of the ‘60s, when life was full of hope. But his partner, Robin, like Jacob Marley, is no longer around to keep his spirits up. Now, The Dark Knight is bitter and he’s become reckless with his humanity, or lack of humanity.

One by one, the spirits arrive to warn Batman that he’s on the wrong track. There’s Catwoman to remind Batman of what a beast he has become. Then there’s Superman going through an intervention with Batman that is a classic battle between light and dark while also being funny like the old Batman vs. Superman throw downs over the years, like in the pages of “World’s Finest.” And, last but not least, is the scariest of all spirits, The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, which you’ll have to see for yourself. This is such a visual delight and a story woven to fit Batman like a glove. We know there’s a human somewhere lurking deep inside Batman. “Batman Noel,” will make you believe that even a black leather clad vigilante can have a heart.

I hope you enjoyed the review and will pick up “Batman Noel.” And feel free to visit me at Comics Grinder and see what else I’m up to.