Monday, October 9, 2017

"Fantastic Beasts" Adds New Cast - Jessica Williams, Carmen Ejogo Among Them

Casting Continues on the New “Fantastic Beasts” Adventure Set in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World

Actors Join the Ensemble Led by Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Jude Law and Johnny Depp

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Additions have been made to the cast of the all-new adventure set in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, the second of five feature films in the series that began with “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” The film, which is currently in production, is being directed by David Yates.

Among the actors who have joined the international ensemble cast are: Carmen Ejogo, returning to the role of Seraphina Picquery; Wolf Roth as Spielman; Victoria Yeates as Bunty; Derek Riddell as Torquil Travers; Poppy Corby-Tuech as Rosier; Cornell S. John as Arnold Guzman; and Brontis Jodorowsky as Nicolas Flamel. Fiona Glascott and Jessica Williams have also been cast in roles to be revealed.

Reprising their roles from the worldwide hit “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” are Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”), who stars as wizarding world magizoologist Newt Scamander; Katherine Waterston as Auror Tina Goldstein; Dan Fogler as No-Maj Jacob Kowalski; Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein; and Ezra Miller as Credence. Oscar nominee Johnny Depp (the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, “Finding Neverland”) returns as the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, and Oscar nominee Jude Law (“The Talented Mr. Ripley,” “Cold Mountain”) portrays Hogwarts professor Albus Dumbledore.

Rounding out the main cast are Zoë Kravitz as Leta Lestrange; Callum Turner as Theseus Scamander; Claudia Kim as a woman in a wizarding circus; William Nadylam as Yusuf Kama; Ingvar Sigurdsson as Grimmson; Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Skender; and Kevin Guthrie as Abernathy.

J.K. Rowling wrote the screenplay for the film, which opens in 1927, a few months after Newt helped to unveil and capture the infamous Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. However, as he promised he would, Grindelwald has made a dramatic escape and has been gathering more followers to his cause—elevating wizards above all non-magical beings. The only one who might be able to stop him is the wizard he once called his dearest friend, Albus Dumbledore. But Dumbledore will need help from the wizard who had thwarted Grindelwald once before, his former student Newt Scamander. The adventure reunites Newt with Tina, Queenie and Jacob, but his mission will also test their loyalties as they face new perils in an increasingly dangerous and divided wizarding world.

The film expands the wizarding world, moving from New York to London and on to Paris. There are also some surprising nods to the Harry Potter stories that will delight fans of the books and film series.

David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram are producing the film, with Tim Lewis, Neil Blair, Rick Senat and Danny Cohen serving as executive producers.

Collaborating with Yates behind the scenes are: Oscar-winning director of photography Philippe Rousselot (“A River Runs Through It”); three-time Oscar-winning production designer Stuart Craig (“The English Patient,” “Dangerous Liaisons,” “Gandhi,” the “Harry Potter” films), three-time BAFTA Award-winning editor Mark Day (the last four “Harry Potter” films, “State of Play”), four-time Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood (“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” “Chicago,” “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Alice in Wonderland”), Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Tim Burke (“Gladiator,” the “Harry Potter” films), and Oscar-nominated visual effects supervisor Christian Manz (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1”).

The new adventure is being filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, which has been the cinematic home of the Wizarding World since the first “Harry Potter” film.

Slated for release on November 16, 2018, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

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Sunday, October 8, 2017

Review: "Ghost in the Shell" is a Miscast Misfire

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 17 (of 2017) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Ghost in the Shell (2017)
Running time:  107 minutes (1 hour, 47 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence, suggestive content and some disturbing images
DIRECTOR:  Rupert Sanders
WRITERS:  Jamie Moss, William Wheeler, and Ehren Kruger (based on the comic, Ghost in the Shell, by Masamune Shirow)
PRODUCERS:  Avi Arad, Michael Costigan, and Steven Paul
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Jess Hall (D.o.P.)
EDITORS:  Billy Rich and Neil Smith
COMPOSERS:  Lorne Balfe and Clint Mansell

SCI-FI/ACTION

Starring:  Scarlett Johansson, Pilou Asbaek, Takeshi Kitano, Juliette Binoche, Michael Carmen Pitt, Chin Han, Danusia Samal, Kaori Momoi, and Peter Ferdinando

Ghost in the Shell is a 2017 science fiction and action film from director Rupert Sanders.  The film is based on the manga (Japanese comics) created by Masamune Shirow and published in 1989 and 1990.  Ghost in the Shell the movie focuses on a first-of-its-kind cyborg super-soldier that fights terrorists and dangerous criminals.

Ghost in the Shell is set in Tokyo, Japan, in the the near-future.  Most humans have augmented various traits like vision, strength, and intelligence with cybernetics, and the line between human and robotics has blurred.  Major Mira Killian (Scarlett Johansson) is a young woman who survived a terrorist attack that killed her parents.  Her body was destroyed, but she was saved by the world's leading developer of “augmentative technology,” Hanka Robotics, via the secret “Project 2571.”  Mira's brain (her “ghost”) was placed in a mechanical body or “shell.”  Now, she is cyborg counter-terrorism operative in a unit known as “Section 9.”

A year after her rebirth, Major is involved in an operation to discover the whereabouts of the mysterious hacker and cyber-terrorist known only as “Kuze” (Michael Carmen Pitt).  An electronic or digital encounter with Kuze causes the glitches that Major has been suffering to intensify.  Major has also discovered that this case is raising troubling questions about what really happened to her and that will bring her into direct conflict with Hanka's domineering CEO, Cutter (Peter Ferdinando).

I would call Ghost in the Shell mediocre or average, but those words don't quite describe the listless, empty nature of this film.  Ghost in the Shell has been praised for its special effects, soundtrack, and design, but little of that impresses me.  In fact, the visual effects look like leftovers from Steven Spielberg's 2002 film, Minority Report.

It looks to me as if Ghost in the Shell's director, Rupert Sanders, is desperately trying to make his film look and sound like Ridley Scott's beloved 1982 film, Blade Runner.  Ghost in the Shell, however, has neither Blade Runner's style nor its jazzy, Film-Noir vibe; actually Ghost in the Shell is simply a limp and lame attempt to copy Blade Runner.

Some have been critical of Ghost in the Shell's story and its lack of character development.  Yeah, I would describe it as “lack of character development,” and the screenplay is indeed hackneyed.  You can see it story points coming miles away; everything Major knows is a lie; she shares a past connection with the villain; being a human is the most important thing... yadda, yadda, yadda.

Because Ghost in the Shell is an original Japanese work of fiction, some people were upset that Scarlett Johansson, a white woman, plays the lead.  I have read the original manga, and Major is drawn to look like a white woman.  Even if she were not depicted as white, it still would not bother me all that much that a white actress plays the part of Major.

It is not Johansson's skin color that is the problem.  It is her wooden, monotone performance.  It is as if Scarlett is pretending to be a ghost with no personality that lives inside a mannequin.  It is obvious that I am disappointed in this movie.  As an adaptation of a visually striking manga/comic, Ghost in the Shell is simply a major misfire.

3.5 out of 10
C-

Wednesday, August 30, 2017


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Saturday, October 7, 2017

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from October 1st to 7th, 2017 - Update #29

Support Leroy on Patreon.

BLM - From RSN:  Are you a "Black Identity Extremist?"

MOVIES - From Nerdist:  On the 30th anniversary of Clive Barker's film "Hellraiser" (1987), Nerdiest ranks all the films in the series.  There are ten as of this year's "Hellraiser: Judgment."

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STAR TREK - From CinemaBlend:  Would Quentin Tarantino really direct a "Star Trek" movie.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Jason Statham will get their own "Fast & Furious" movie spinoff, set for 2019.

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MOVIES - From THR:  James Cameron talks about how he convinced Linda Hamilton to return for a "Terminator" revival.

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MOVIES - From THR:  Universal takes "Bride of Frankenstein" off its schedule.  Part of its "Dark Universe" line, it was scheduled to debut Feb. 14, 2019.

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MOVIES - From TheNewYorkTimes:  Decades of sexual harassment allegations against Harvey Weinstein are revealed.

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MOVIES - From YahooNews:  Rooney Mara says that it was not entirely her decision not to return for the sequel to 2011's "The Girl with a Dragon Tatoo," which is entitled "The Girl in the Spider's Web," which is due in 2018.  British actress Claire Foy will take over the role of "Lisbeth Salander," from Mara.

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ANIMATION - From RollingStone:  Fox's beloved and Emmy-winning animated television series, "Bob's Burgers," will also be a animated feature film in 2020.

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HISTORY -  From TheVillageVoice:  In the wake of "Playboy" magazine founder, Hugh Hefner's death, "The Village Voice" is make available its 1980 Pulitzer Prize-winning article, "Death of a Playmate."  The article is about the murder of "Playboy playmate," Dorothy Stratten, by her husband who killed himself after murdering her.  Stratten's life was fictionalized in Bob Fosse's final film, "Star 80" (1983).

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AVATAR - From THR:  Oscar-winner Kate Winslet joins James Cameron's "Avatar" universe.  Winslet starred in Cameron's Oscar-winning box office record setting film, "Titanic."

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MOVIES - From THR:  Joachim Ronning, director of the recent fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film, will direct the sequel to "Maleficent," the 2014 worldwide hit starring Angelina Jolie.

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MOVIES - From SlashFilm:  Luc Besson says that "Lucy 2," the sequel to his hit film starring Scarlett Johansson, is still happening.

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MOVIES - From Collider:  Director Doug Liman provided an update on "Edge of Tomorrow 2."

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LAS VEGAS:

BREAKING NEWS - From WashingtonPost:  A gunman opened fire at a country music concert in Las Vegas on Sunday night - Breaking news and developing story.

From YahooNews:  Dark details emerge about the family history of Las Vegas mass shooter, Stephen Paddock.

From YahooNews:  Stephen Paddock was a multimillionaire!

From YahooNewsweek:  The identities of the victims of Las Vegas mass shooter, Stephen Paddock, are being revealed.

From TheDailyBeast:  Former Fox New host and serial sexual harasser, Bill O'Reilly, says that Las Vegas massacre is "the price of freedom."

From YahooFinance:  Walt Disney Company CEO Robert Iger announced that a Disney cast member, Carrie Barnette, was killed in the Las Vegas shooting.  Another, Jessica Milam, was injured.

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MUSIC - From TMZ:  Tom Petty found in full cardiac arrest at home in Malibu - Developing Story.

From YahooNews:  Tom Petty may have been taken off life support.

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TELEVISION - From TVLine:  Jon Hamm has joined Neil Gaiman's "Good Omens," the six-part TV adaptation of Gaiman's novel of the same name that he wrote with the late Terry Prathett.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  It is a close race for #1 at the 9/29 to 10/1/2017 weekend box office with "IT" ($17.3 mil), "American Made" ($17.01 mil), and "Kingsman 2: The Golden Circle" ($17 mil) fighting for #1.

From TheWrap:  Period pieces, "Loving Vincent," and "Victoria and Abdul," expand at indie box office.

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CELEBRITY - From People:  O.J. Simpson has been released from prison.

From BET:  Rob Kardashian can't pay his baby mama Blac Chyna the $20,000 per month in child support for their child, Dream, that he agreed to pay. 

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MOVIES - From SlashFilm:  Don Mancini, the creator of the horror movie killer, Chucky ("Child's Play"), submits to a Q&A about the "Chucky" franchise and about the new film, "Cult of Chucky," the seventh installment.

TRAILER:

From SideshowToys:  Here is the first trailer for Alex Garland's upcoming film, "Annihilation" (February 2018),

OBITS:

From YahooNews:  Rock music legend, Tom Petty, has died at the age of 66, Monday night, October 2, 2017.  Petty was best known as the front man of the band "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers."  He also recorded two albums with the supergroup, "Traveling Wilburys," and he released three solo albums.  He won three Grammy Awards, one as a solo artist, one with the Heartbreakers, and one with the Wilburys.

From DeadlineTV:  Comedian Ralphie May has died at the age of 45, Friday, October 6, 2017.  He rose to fame competing on NBC's "Last Comic Standing" in 2003.

From RSN:  Peace activist and teacher, Scott Galindez, died at the age of 52, Tuesday, September 26, 2017.  He was a frequent contributor to news service, Reader Supported News.


Friday, October 6, 2017

VIZ Media Acquires "Infini-T Force" Anime Series


VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE ACQUISITION OF TATSUNOKO PRODUCTION’S NEW ACTION ANIME SERIES INFINI-T FORCE

Series Marks The Legendary Studio’s 55th Anniversary; Catch The Upcoming North American Premiere Of Subtitled Episodes

San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, proudly announces the acquisition of INFINI-T FORCE, a hero-action series from the legendary anime studio, Tatsunoko Production. The acquisition includes rights for digital streaming, EST, home video and merchandise in North America, Latin America and Oceania. In addition, VIZ Media has acquired the feature-length movie, debuting in Japan in early 2018; this acquisition includes theatrical rights.

VIZ Media also announces the North American streaming premiere of INFINI-T FORCE Episodes 1 and 2 on Wednesday, October 4th, 2017 on VIZ.com/Watch. Episodes will be presented with English subtitles and will be available to stream on-demand. Subsequent new episodes of INFINI-T FORCE will debut on every Tuesday.

2017 marks the 55th Anniversary of the founding of one of Japan’s most famous animation studios – Tatsunoko Production. As the centerpiece of the anniversary, INFINI-T FORCE unites the heroes from four of the studio’s most popular shows – Gatchaman, Hurricane Polimar, Casshan and Tekkaman.

“INFINI-T FORCE introduces Tatsunoko Production’s most famous anime superheroes for a new generation of viewers while also exciting fans of the original shows,” says Charlene Ingram, VIZ Media’s Director of Animation Marketing. “We are honored to work with Tatsunoko Production in presenting INFINI-T FORCE to North American fans this fall!”

Living in Tokyo’s trendy Shibuya district, Emi Kaido is the envy of almost every high schooler in Japan. She has startling wealth, a luxurious modern apartment, and no parents in sight. But beneath it all lies a tangle of apathy and loneliness. Emi is parentless and is looking for diversion in all the wrong—and dangerous—places. And it’s the choices Emi makes that teaches her that life can change in an instant. Her penchant for peril drags her into yet another life-and-death situation, this time involving an enigmatic object known as the “Case” and four mysterious heroes. What ensues is an all-out battle between good and evil, and a story of self-realization. The future of humanity and the world lies in Emi’s hands.

Founded in 1962 by animation visionary, Tatsuo Yoshida, Tatsunoko Production continues to be a pioneer of Japanese animation. Tatsunoko franchises have captivated viewers around the world for generations with a wide range of animated properties, including Speed Racer and Battle of the Planets.

For additional information on anime and manga titles distributed and published by VIZ Media, please visit VIZ.com.


About VIZ Media, LLC
Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan's largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.

Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at VIZ.com.

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VIZ Media to Bring "Blame!" Anime to U.S. Home Media

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF THE CELEBRATED ANIME FILM BLAME

Acclaimed Sci-Fi Thriller From Polygon Pictures Scheduled For DVD And Blu-Ray Release in 2018

San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, thrilled a packed audience during its official panel at New York Comic Con this past weekend as it announced the acquisition of the North American home video and product licensing rights to the celebrated film, BLAME!

VIZ Media will release BLAME! as Blu-ray and DVD Editions, featuring an Art Gallery, and a Blu-ray exclusive "Making of BLAME!" documentary. The film was directed by Hiroyuki Seshita, who also brought the world the complex, sci-fi action of "Knights of Sidonia" and Ajin: Demi-Human. BLAME! debuted on NETFLIX this past May.

In BLAME!, an “infection” in the past has caused automated systems to spiral out of order, resulting in a multi-leveled city structure that replicates itself infinitely in all directions. Now humanity has lost access to the city’s controls, and is hunted down and purged by the defense system known as the Safeguard. In a tiny corner of the city, a little enclave known as the Electro-Fishers is facing eventual extinction, trapped between the threat of the Safeguard and dwindling food supplies. A girl named Zuru goes on a journey to find food for her village, only to inadvertently cause doom when an observation tower senses her and summons a Safeguard pack to eliminate the threat. With her companions dead and all escape routes blocked, the only thing that can save her now is the sudden arrival of Killy the Wanderer, on his quest for the Net Terminal Genes, the key to restoring order to the world.

“BLAME! blends apocalyptic action and hard science fiction with the story of man’s struggle against technology,” says Charlene Ingram, VIZ Media’s Director of Animation Marketing. “We are thrilled to add this film to VIZ Media’s home media collection and look forward to presenting BLAME! to fans this spring.”

BLAME! was originally serialized as a manga series in Kodansha’s Afternoon magazine from 1997 to 2003. It was the debut work of creator Tsutomu Nihei, who went on to win the 39th Kodansha Manga Award for his series, Knights of Sidonia. Nihei is also known for his work on the sci-fi manga series, Biomega (which is published in English by VIZ Media).

BLAME! was produced by Polygon Pictures, the Japanese 3DCG animation studio widely renowned for its award-winning work on shows like "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and "Transformers: Prime," as well as the acclaimed Knights of Sidonia series.

For additional information on anime and manga titles distributed and published by VIZ Media, please visit VIZ.com.


About VIZ Media, LLC
Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan's largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.

Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at VIZ.com.

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Titan Comics Announces Its Activities for New York Comic Con 2017

FULL PLANS REVEALED: TITAN COMICS AT NEW YORK COMIC CON 2017

Titan Brings The Death of Stalin, Doctor Who, Fighting American, Hard Case Crime, And Wolfenstein, Plus Many More, To NYCC!

This New York Comic-Con (October 5 – 8, 2017), Titan Comics brings its largest-ever offering of thrilling debuts, NYCC variants and special appearances from a host of creators including; the creator behind The Death of Stalin which inspired the upcoming political thriller from Armando Iannucci – Fabien Nury, writer of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – Millennium adaptation, Sylvain Runberg, and Minky Woodcock creator Cynthia von Buhler, and comic writers Dan Watters (Wolfenstein), Ryan O’Sullivan (The Evil Within), Ram V (Quake: Champions), comic artists Rachael Stott (The Twelfth Doctor), and Michael Dialynas (Robotech) plus many more phenomenal talents from across the comics industry.

Titan Comics will be exhibiting a number of fantastic NYCC exclusives – only available at Titan’s booth #2142 – including: Wolfenstein Issue #1 exclusive NYCC game variant cover, plus collect the full story arc with an exclusive NYCC series pack with Issue #2 debuting at the show; Fighting American Issue #1 makes its world debut at the show with a special NYCC variant by Andie Tong (TEKKEN); plus convention specials of Doctor Who featuring a cover by fan-favorite artist Alice X. Zhang; plus, celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine with Titan’s Convention Special Issue #0 -  based on the hit classic movie, this special brings the Fab Four to comics!

Celebrate Titan’s brand-new Robotech comics series, based on the cult 1980s animated TV show, at NYCC! Pick up the phenomenal third-printing cover by artist Mike Dialynas, who will be at the Titan booth #2142 from 1.30pm on Friday 6 October, signing copies.

The upcoming dark comedy movie by Veep creator Armando Iannucci, The Death of Stalin - based on the graphic novel by Fabien Nury and Thierry Robin, from Titan Comics – hits cinemas in 2017. Fans can get a special look at exclusive footage from the upcoming movie, at a special screening with guest writer Fabien Nury and director Armando Iannucci, at 7:45pm in Room 1A06. Sign up to the panel here.

Plus, fans can pick up The Death Of Stalin graphic novel that inspired the upcoming movie at the French Comics Association Booth #1669 from 5:30pm on Thursday 5 October, and meet writer Fabien Nury as he signs copies!

Fighting American – the legendary creation from the legendary comic book duo Joe Simon & Jack Kirby – is back! Celebrate the centenary of Jack Kirby with an NYCC exclusive Issue #1 cover by Andie Tong, just in time for Joe Simon’s birthday on October 11.

Titan Comics’ Gaming comics are set to have a special presence at the show, with a variety of events, live stage interviews and signings throughout the weekend including; an unmissable Assassin’s Creed livestream interview with Ubisoft brand manager Anouk Bachman taking place on Thursday 5 October at 1:45pm, NYCC Livestream Stage.

Plus, take an exclusive look at what’s coming up for Titan and Bethesda featuring the brand-new comics based on the highly anticipated Bethesda games; The Evil Within 2, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, and Dishonored: Death Of The Outsider! Join the creative minds behind these spectacular and bold comics for an unmissable Gaming & Titan Comics Panel (Thursday 5 October, Room 1A21, 7:45pm)with Ryan O’Sullivan, Ram V, and Dan Watters, for never-before-seen art previews and special announcements. But that’s not all – all attendees will receive free comics and gifts! Followed on Friday 6 October by a signing at Titan Booth #2142 at 11:45am, this is a fantastic opportunity to meet the creators behind these thrilling and powerful new stories based on the hit games!

Hard Case Crime founder, Charles Ardai and Minky Woodcock creator Cynthia von Buhler tease the next bold comic from Hard Case Crime - Minky Woodcock: The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini. Don’t miss the exclusive NYCC Livestream Stage interview with Charles, Cynthia and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – Millennium writer Sylvain Runberg at 11:45am on Thursday 5 October as they discuss all things crime, sleaze, and violence.

Titan Comics is also pleased to take NYCC attendees behind the scenes of our Doctor Who line of comics! Doctor Who, and Torchwood fans should not miss Titan’s Doctor Who & Torchwood Panel – packed with exclusive reveals, never-before-seen artwork previews, and comic guests! With comic guests Nick Abadzis, Simon Fraser, Cavan Scott, Rachael Stott, George Mann, and hosted by Doctor Who editor Andrew James, this panel will reveal upcoming plans for Titan’s Doctor Who & Torchwood comics, giving fans the first scoop on 2018 happenings. This highly anticipated panel will take place on Saturday, October 7, at 7:45PM in room 1A24. All attendees will receive a free Doctor Who goodie bag bundle of Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Doctor comics!

See below for a full list of creator signings and panel information:

THURSDAY 5th

LIVESTAGE: Hard Case Crime
Guests: Charles Ardai (Editor), Sylvain Runberg (Writer), Cynthia von Buhler (Creator)
Time: 11:45am – 12:00pm
Location: NYCC Livestream Stage

LIVESTAGE:  Assassin’s Creed
Guests: Andrew James (Editor), Anouk Bachman (Brand manager)
Time: 1:45pm -  2:00pm
Location: NYCC Livestream Stage

SIGNING:  The Death Of Stalin
Guest: Fabien Nury (Creator)
Time: 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Location: Booth #1669 – French Comics Association

PANEL: Gaming & Titan Comics: Evil Within 2, Wolfenstein 2 and Dishonored Panel
Guests: Ryan O’Sullivan (Writer), Ram V (Writer), Dan Watters (Writer)
Time: 7.45pm – 8.45pm
Location: Room 1A21
Giveaways: Free digital comics bundle for every attendee!

Take an exclusive look at what's coming up for Titan and Bethesda featuring the brand-new comics based on the anticipated Bethesda games; Evil Within 2, Wolfenstein 2 and Dishonored: Death Of The Outsider! Join the creative minds behind these spectacular and bold new comics for an unmissable panel for never-before-seen art previews and special announcements! Each attendee will receive free comics and gifts! -- http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/en/Sessions/48731/Bethesda-Titan-Comics-Evil-Within-2-Wolfenstein-2-and-Dishonored-Panel

EVENT: The Death of Stalin – Screening
Guests: Fabien Nury (Creator), Armando Iannucci (Director)
Time: 7:45pm – 8.45pm
Location: Room 1A06 (seating capacity 800)

IFC Films presents exclusive clips and a talk back about The Death of Stalin, starring Steve Buscemi and Jeffrey Tambor. Based on the graphic novel from Titan Comics, originally published in France, this darkly comic political thriller follows the struggle for supreme power after Stalin's falling–changing the fate of the nation and the world. And it all really happened. Q&A to follow including director Armando Iannucci and writer Fabien Nury. Give-aways to be announced!

http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/en/Sessions/49078/The-Death-of-Stalin-Exclusive-Footage-and-Interview-with-Fabien-Nury-for-the-IFC-Release-of-the-Film-Based-on-Titan-Comics-Political-Thriller

FRIDAY 6th

LIVESTAGE:  Wolfenstein, The Evil Within 2, Dishonored, Quake: Champions Comics
Guests: Ryan O’Sullivan (Writer), Michael Moreci (Writer), Ram V (Writer), Dan Watters (Writer)
Time: 11:00am – 11:30am
Location: NYCC Livestream Stage

SIGNING: Wolfenstein, The Evil Within 2, Dishonored, Quake: Champions Comics
Guests: Ryan O’Sullivan (Writer), Michael Moreci (Writer), Ram V (Writer), Dan Watters (Writer)
Time: 11.45am – 12:45pm
Location: Titan Booth #2142

SIGNING: Robotech
Guests: Michael Dialynas (Artist)
Time: 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Location: Titan Booth #2142

SATURDAY 7th

SIGNING: Doctor Who
Guests: Nick Abadzis (Writer), Simon Fraser (Artist), Alex Paknadel (Writer), Rob Williams (Writer)
Time: 12pm – 1pm
Location: Titan Booth #2142

SIGNING: Doctor Who
Guests: Cavan Scott (Writer), George Mann (Writer), Rachael Stott (Artist)
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Location: Titan Booth #2142

PANEL: Doctor Who & Torchwood Comics
Guests: Cavan Scott (Writer), George Mann (Writer), Rachael Stott (Artist), Simon Fraser (Artist) and Nick Abadzis (Writer)
Host: Andrew James
Time: 7:45pm – 8:45pm
Location: Room 1A24
Giveaways: Free bundle of digital comics for every attendee!

An unmissable comic book panel packed with exclusive reveals, never-before-seen art previews and special announcements! Get your fix of all things Whovian from our special team of Who comics writers and artists, along with editor Andrew James who will reveal upcoming plans for Titan's Doctor Who Comics and take you behind the scenes of Titan's stand-alone Doctor Who comic - created especially for the show!
http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/en/Sessions/48634/Doctor-Who-and-Torchwood-Comics

To keep up to date with Titan Comics at NYCC follow Titan Comics on Twitter at @comicstitan and on Facebook and Tumblr.


ABOUT TITAN COMICS
Titan Comics offers astounding comics and graphic novels from the world's greatest licensed properties, alongside creator-owned comic books from new and world-renowned talent and classic graphic novels re-mastered for brand-new audiences.

For more information, visit: https://www.titan-comics.com

Connect with Titan Comics:
https://twitter.com/ComicsTitan

https://facebook.com/ComicsTitan

http://titancomics.tumblr.com/

https://www.youtube.com/user/ComicsTitan

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Image Comics Announces it Activities for New York Comic Con 2017

IMAGE COMICS AT NEW YORK COMIC CON 2017

Creator-owned panels, con exclusive variants, and signings for the #FutureOfComics

PORTLAND, OR — Image Comics is pleased to return to New York Comic Con on Thursday, October 5th through Sunday, October 8th, 2017. Please note: updates to the schedule may appear online during the show. Please refer to the www.imagecomics.com post for the most up-to-date information.

CONVENTION EXCLUSIVES:

  •     A.D.: AFTER DEATH hardcover by Scott Snyder & Jeff Lemire, cover by Lemire, $40
  •     GOD COUNTRY hardcover by Donny Cates & Geoff Shaw, cover by Shaw, $35
  •     KILL OR BE KILLED, VOL. 1 hardcover by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips & Elizabeth Breitweiser, $35
  •     SEVEN TO ETERNITY, VOL. 1 hardcover by Rick Remender & Jerome Opeña, $35
  •     MONSTRESS, VOL. 2 hardcover by Marjorie Liu & Sana Takeda, cover by Takeda, $35
  •     GOD COMPLEX #1 by Bryan Lie, Paul Jenkins, & Hendry Prasetya,  $10
  •     MOTOR CRUSH #6 by Brenden Fletcher, Cameron Stewart, and Babs Tarr blank sketch cover
  •     MAGE: HERO DENIED #1 by Matt Wagner, cover by Wagner
  •     GOD COMPLEX by Paul Jenkins, Bryan Lie, and Hendry Prasetya $10
  •     SWING/SUGAR Flip Preview Book, $5.00 (available at: AA tables B30 & B31)
  •     WARFRAME #1 NYCC Variant, $10.00 (available at: AA tables B30, B32, P05)
  •     PORT OF EARTH Ashcan, (available at: AA table M10)

LIMITED* MERCHANDISE:
* Limited quantity available for sale at the Image booth. 

  •     IMAGE COMICS ICONS T-shirt, $24.99 (+tax)
  •     IMAGE COMICS FUTURE OF COMICS T-shirt, $24.99 (+tax)
  •     PLUTONA sweatshirt, $44.95 (+tax)
  •     Image Comics canvas tote bag, $12 (+tax)
  •     Image Comics 25th Anniversary enamel lapel pins, $10 (+tax)
  •     Image Comics Rose City enamel lapel pins, $10 (+tax)
  •     BLACK SCIENCE Statue, $150 (+tax)

PANELS HOSTED BY IMAGE COMICS:

Image Comics: Creating The Future of Creativity
Thursday, October 5th @ 4:45 – 5:45 PM, Room 1A02                           

"Do you have a story to tell that you think might be "too weird" or a little bit off-kilter? Here's the truth: anything goes in comics. The only limits are your time and imagination, so why hold back? Come to this panel and follow the example of Seth M. Peck (THE REALM), Cat Staggs (CROSSWIND), Jeremy Haun & Jason A. Hurley (THE BEAUTY), Brenden Fletcher (MOTOR CRUSH), and Matt Wilson (THE WICKED + THE DIVINE). They swing for the fences every time, and so should you.

Image Comics: The Future of Genre       
Friday October 6th @ 6:45 - 7:45 PM, Room 1A21       
                   
"What kind of comics are you into? Are you a horror fiend? A crime fan? On the hook for sci-fi? Comics are perfectly suited to tell all types of stories. Come listen to Wes Craig (DEADLY CLASS), Ryan Browne (CURSE WORDS), Donny Cates (GOD COUNTRY), Gregg Schigiel (PIX), and Amy Reeder (ROCKET GIRL) discuss telling stories that range from the realistic to the magical, what drives their creative engines, and what they're looking forward to seeing more of in the future.
               
Image Comics: The Future of Fantasy           
Saturday October 7th @ 4:00 - 5:00 PM, Room 1A24 
                            
"Fantasy has long been a genre where we discuss our deepest fears, express our quietest hopes, or even just enjoy a rollicking story of swords and magic. Justin Jordan (THE FAMILY TRADE), Meredith Finch (ROSE), Sebastian Girner (SCALES & SCOUNDRELS), Simon Spurrier (CRY HAVOC), Caspar Wijngaard (ANGELIC), and W. Maxwell Prince (ONE WEEK IN THE LIBRARY) have more than proven that they know their way around a fantasy tale, and they're here to talk about telling stories about fantastic places while living on our mundane Earth, avoiding common pitfalls of the genre, and making the unbelievable beloved.
                           
Image Comics: The Future of Storytelling
Sunday, October 8th @ 3:45 - 4:45 PM, Room 1A21                               

"Comics aren't just words or pictures. They're the intersection of both, and mastering the art of comics storytelling can be tricky. Marjorie Liu (MONSTRESS), Kyle Higgins (HADRIAN'S WALL), Morgan Beem (THE FAMILY TRADE), Andrew MacLean (HEADLOPPER), Alison Sampson (WINNEBAGO GRAVEYARD), and Cliff Chiang (PAPER GIRLS) co-create some of the most beautiful and powerful comics on store shelves. Come listen to them discuss the ins and outs of storytelling and how to make your comics the best they can be.

SIGNINGS* HOSTED AT IMAGE COMICS BOOTH (#1444):
*wristbands will be available for fans to pick as soon as doors open, first come, first served, at the Image booth on the day of the desired ticketed signing.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5
11:00 – 11:45AM: Ram V

12:00 – 12:45PM: Rod Reis/Kyle Higgins
12:00 – 12:45PM: Paul Azaceta

1:00 – 1:45PM: Zack Kaplan/Andrea Mutti/Vladimir Popov
1:00 – 1:45PM: Dan Panosian

2:00 – 2:45PM: Joshua Williamson
2:00 – 2:45PM: W. Maxwell Prince

3:00 – 3:45PM: Todd McFarlane (wristbands req.)

5:00 – 5:45PM: Ryan O’Sullivan/Plaid Klaus
5:00 – 5:45PM: David Walker, Sanford Greene, Chuck Brown

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6
11:00 – 11:45AM: Nick Dragotta
11:00 – 11:45AM: Brenden Fletcher (wristbands req)

12:30 – 1:30PM: Robert Kirkman (wristbands req)

2:00 – 2:45PM: Matt Nixon
2:00 – 2:45PM: Sean Mackiewicz

3:00 – 3:45PM: Todd McFarlane (wristbands req)

5:00 – 5:45PM: Meredith Finch
5:00 – 5:45PM: Donny Cates (wristbands req)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7
10:00 – 10:45AM: Andrew MacLean
10:00 – 10:45AM: Kyle Starks

11:00 – 11:45AM: Dustin Nguyen

12:00 – 12:45PM: Jeremy Haun/Jason Hurley
12:00 – 12:45PM: Matthew Roberts

1:00 – 1:45PM: Todd McFarlane (wristbands req)

3:00 – 3:45PM: Donny Cates/Lisandro Estherren
3:00 – 3:45PM: Daniel Warren Johnson

4:00 – 4:45PM: Zack Kaplan/Giovanni Timpano
4:00 – 4:45PM: Joshua Williamson

5:00 – 5:45PM: Robert Kirkman (wristbands req)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8
11:00 – 11:45AM: Cliff Chiang
11:00 – 11:45AM: Donny Cates/Lisandro Estherren

12:00 – 12:45PM: Jeremy Haun/Seth Peck
12:00 – 12:45PM: Si Spurrier/Caspar Wjingaard

1:00 – 1:45PM: Sebastian Girner/Jody LeHeup
1:00 – 1:45PM: Dan Panosian

2:00 – 2:45PM: Marjorie Liu (wristbands req)
2:00 – 2:45PM: Jamie McKelvie/Kieron Gillen (wristbands req)

3:00 – 3:45PM: Jonathan Coulton
3:00 – 3:45PM: Leandro Fernandez

IMAGE CREATORS IN ARTIST ALLEY:

Bechko, Corinna: I3
Brisson, Ed: C26
Cady, Ryan: P05
Capullo, Greg: S1
Craig, Wes: I9   
Duggan, Gerry: L4   
Fernandez, Leandro: N26
Finch, Meredith: S11   
Gillen, Kieron: J7
Girner, Sebastian: K23
Goodhart, Isaac: B29
Hardman, Gabriel: I3
Harris, Joe: K28
Haun, Jeremy: K20
Hawkins, Matt: B30
Hawkins, Matt: B30
Johnson, Daniel Warren: D21
Jordan, Justin: D18/D19
Kaplan, Zack: M10
Kyriazis, Ilias: M24
Larsen, Erik: L5
Latour, Jason: L2
LeHeup, Jody: K22
Lenox, Emi: K24
Liu, Marjorie: J3
MacLean, Andrew: O3
Mahfood, Jim: K18
McKelvie, Jamie: J8
Montclare, Brandon: M31
Murphy, Sean Gordon: E9
Nguyen, Dustin: C12
Opeña, Jerome: B18
Reeder, Amy: M32
Reis, Rod: O27
Sampson, Alison: K27
Seagle, Steven: F15
Sejic, Linda: B31
Sejic, Stjepan: B32
Shalvey, Declan: L1
Simone, Gail: M17
Snyder, Scott: S1
Soule, Charles: S3
Staggs, Cat: M18
Starks, Kyle: C19
Tarr, Babs: E5
Timpano, Giovanni: O10
Towe, Jim: O12A
Ward, Malachi: C22
Williamson, Joshua: S4
Wilson, Matt: J6
Young, Skottie: D22


ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of bestselling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

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