Monday, July 23, 2018

Review: "Spilt" is Shyamalan's Best Film in at Least a Decade

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 5 (of 2018) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Split (2016 / 2017)
Running time:  117 minutes (1 hour, 57 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for disturbing thematic content and behavior, violence and some language
WRITER/DIRECTOR:  M. Night Shyamalan
PRODUCERS: Marc Bienstock, Jason Blum, and M. Night Shyamalan
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Michael Gioulakis (D.o.P)
EDITOR:  Luke Ciarrocchi
COMPOSER:  West Dylan Thordson

HORROR/THRILLER

Starring:  James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Betty Buckley, Haley Lu Richardson, Jessica Sula, Izzie Coffey, Brad William Henke, Sebastian Arcelus, and Rosemary Howard (with Bruce Willis)

Split is a 2016 horror-thriller from writer-director M. Night Shyamalan.  The film is a standalone sequel to Shyamalan's 2000 film, Unbreakable.  The film received a film festival release in 2016, but was released to theaters in January 2017.  Split focuses on three kidnapped girls who desperately search for a way to escape their captor, a man diagnosed with 23 distinct personalities.

As Split opens, Casey Cooke (Anya Taylor-Joy), a seemingly emotionally withdrawn teenager, is hanging out with her classmates, Claire Benoit (Haley Lu Richardson) and Marcia (Jessica Sula).  The three teens are kidnapped by a mysterious man who has DID – dissociative identity disorder (also and formerly known as “multiple personality disorder”).  The girls' abductor, “Dennis” (James McAvoy), is one of several personalities, as many as 23 according to Dennis' psychologist, Dr. Karen Fletcher (Betty Buckley).

The girls are imprisoned in an underground bunker and held in a cell.  Casey tries to befriend a young boy personality named “Hedwig.”  From him, Casey learns that time is running out, as “The Beast” (a 24th personality) is coming, and the teens are to be sacrificed to him.

Although Split has been out in the public for almost a year and a half, a little more including its film festival release, I still want to be careful about spoilers in this review.  I can say that James McAvoy gives a dramatic tour de force performance in multiple roles.

Honestly, I have thought of him as a good actor since I first saw him in two Academy Award-winning film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) and The Last King of Scotland (2006).  It is this performance, however, in which McAvoy reveals that he has the techniques and skills of a top-form actor and the qualities of a movie star.  Goodness gracious!  The camera made love to this dude, and I could not get enough of him.  McAvoy took each personality that director M. Night Shyamalan revealed and gave us a unique and alluring individual.

Speaking of Shyamalan, he proves with this film that he has always been a exceptional filmmaker, even when he was making mediocre films (The Last Airbender) and box office bombs (The Lady in the Water – which I love, by the way).  I have thoroughly enjoyed his movies (Unbreakable, Signs, and The Village) even when I hate the “twists” and “shock reveals” in the last acts of those films.  Split is good, beginning to end.  Shyamalan has unleashed his inner Hitchcock to create a film that is difficult to ignore once you start watching its astonishing twists and turns.

I would be remiss if I did not mention Anya Taylor-Joy as Casey Cooke.  I think that she is as much the star of this film as James McAvoy is.  In a way, she embodies the heroic journey, and she spins the familiar teen female victim of horror movies and thrillers and turns her into a stalwart figure, the unbreakable, unsinkable heroine.

Obviously, I love Split.  I wish I had seen it in a movie theater, and I am not reluctant to recommend it to fans of thrillers.  It is not just a good movie; it is also one of the best films of 2017.

9 of 10
A+

Thursday, April 26, 2018


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Saturday, July 21, 2018

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from July 15th to 21st, 2018 - Update #26

Support Leroy on Patreon:

COMIC-CON - TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Joss Whedon and Monica Owusu-Breen to shepherd a reboot of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," but with a Black female lead.

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COMIC-CON - TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Andrew Lincoln, who plays "Rick Grimes," the lead character on AMC's hit, "The Walking Dead," confirms that he is leaving the series during the upcoming season.

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SCANDAL - From CBR:  Old social media posts get James Gunn ("Guardians of the Galaxy" franchise) fired by Disney.

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SCANDAL - From TheWrap: Lionsgate's legal affairs department is hit with sexual misconduct accusations.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  Their will be a movie musical based on the legendary musical, "Cats."  Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellan, James Corden, and Taylor Swift will be among the cast.

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COMICS-FILM - From ShadowandAct:  Zazie Beetz (FX's "Atlanta") in talks to star opposite Joaquin Phoenix in Warner/DC Comics' standalone film, "The Joker."

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COMIC-CON - From BleedingCool:  New Line announces a third film in its "Annabelle" horror movie franchise.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Sony Pictures moves Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" to August 9, 2019.

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COMICS-FILM - From YahooTheTelegraph:  Once upon a time, online morons/trolls were totally against Chris Nolan casting the late Heath Ledger as "The Joker" in "The Dark Knight."

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STREAMING - From YahooEntertainment:  Chris Rock joins Eddie Murphy in Murphy's Rudy Ray Moore biopic, "Dolemite is My Name," which will be exclusive to Netflix in 2019.

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CELEBRITY - From YahooSports:  An article about former NBA legend Kobe Bryant's upcoming projects.

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COMICS-FILM - From DenofGeek:  Everything you need to know about Warner Bros./DC Comics' "Shazam" movie, which is due April 5, 2019.

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COMICS-FILM - From TheWrap:  Black Canary, Huntress, Cassandra Cain, and Renee Montoya will join Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn in the "Birds of Prey" film.

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TELEVISION - From CBR:  Their may be a TV series based on the "Aliens" film franchise.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Harrison Ford is considering starring in a big-budget adaptation of the Jack London's 1903 novel, "Call of the Wild."  Previous film versions of the classic novel about the Klondike gold rush have starred Clark Gable and Charlton Heston.

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MOVIES - From IndieWire:  Keanu Reeves cast doubt on "Bill & Ted 3" because the project is still facing challenges.

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CULTURE - From NYTimes: "When Black actors use their "White voice."

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 7/13 to 7/15/2018 weekend box office is "Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation" with an estimated take of $44.1 million.

From Variety:  "Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation" also passes new release "Skyscraper" at the international box office.

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EMMYS- From Variety:  Here is a complete list of the 70th/ 2018 Emmy Award nominations.

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MOVIES - From TheGuardian:  A lost screenplay, "entitled Burning Secret," written by the late Stanley Kubrick ("Full Metal Jacket") has been found.

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MOVIES - From RollingStone:   The original director, writers, and actors will return for a sequel to the hit 2009 film, "Zombieland."

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MOVIES - From PopSugar:  Dwayne Johnson is not sure if he is going to be in "Fast & Furious 9"

OBIT:

From PittPostGazette:  Former NFL player, Gabe Rivera, has died at the age of 57, Monday, July 16, 2018.  Rivera was the Steelers first round pick in 1983 out of Texas Tech.  Six games into his rookie season, his career ended when he was injured in a car accident and paralyzed from the waist down.  Rivera was notoriously chosen ahead of hometown boy Dan Marino who was picked later in the first round by the Miami Dolphins where he went on to have a legendary and record-setting, NFL Hall of Fame career.

VIDEOS:

From YouTube:  The first official trailer for "Glass," the sequel to M. Night Shyamalan's "Unbreakable" and "Split."

From YouTube:  Second official trailer for "The Predator."

From YouTube:  First trailer for Warner Bros./New Line/DC Comics' "Shazam" (due Spring 2019).

From YouTube:  First full(?) "Aquaman" trailer.


Friday, July 20, 2018

Subscriptions for "DC Universe" Streaming Service Opens

DC UNIVERSE Digital Subscription Service Now Available for Pre-Order

First DC UNIVERSE Original - Titans Releases First Trailer to Celebrate Pre-Order Launch!

Annual Memberships On Sale for $74.99

Pre-Order by July 22, 2018 for a Chance to Win Two Tickets to the Highly Anticipated Aquaman Premiere

Batman Beyond, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and Justice League the Animated Series Join Digital Service Line Up

Pre-Order available at DCUNIVERSE.com as well as at DC Booth at SDCC

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fans looking to experience the first-of-its-kind digital subscription service that is DC UNIVERSE are one step closer. Slated for release in fall 2018, fans in the United States can now pre-order DC UNIVERSE at DCUNIVERSE.com for the yearly membership fee of $74.99 (plus tax, if applicable in your state). Monthly memberships will be available at launch for $7.99 a month.

To celebrate today’s pre-order availability, DC UNIVERSE and Warner Bros. Television released a first-look at the upcoming exclusive original series Titans with the trailer premiere. The highly anticipated series will debut on the digital service in the fall of 2018. In addition, more fan-favorite DC library content has been confirmed for the DC UNIVERSE line-up, including Batman Beyond (1999), Justice League the Animated Series (2001-04) and Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008-11).

As an added pre-order bonus, DC UNIVERSE is offering The Aquaman Premiere Sweepstakes*. Fans who pre-order between Thursday, July 19 (9:30 a.m. PT) and Sunday, July 22 (5 p.m. PT) will be automatically entered for a chance to win two tickets to the U.S. premiere of the Warner Bros. Pictures film Aquaman in December 2018.

Comic-Con attendees who visit the DC booth #1915 and pre-order, will receive an exclusive collectible t-shirt. Fans can also visit the DC UNIVERSE Experience at the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter to immerse themselves in content from the upcoming service and literally walk through the new originals, beloved classics and iconic comics.

Fans who pre-order a yearly membership before the service’s launch in fall 2018 will get an additional three months of DC UNIVERSE for free. Annual memberships will go live with product availability in the fall.

DC UNIVERSE will be available in fall 2018 as a direct-to-consumer digital service, backed by Warner Bros. Digital Networks and built by Warner Bros. Digital Labs. Fans who sign up for memberships will enjoy new original live-action and animated series, classic TV series and films, a curated selection of comic books, breaking news, an expansive encyclopedia, and access to exclusive merchandise. Additional fan features include opportunities to connect with others in the DC community, earn premium rewards and participate in sweepstakes and contests.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open only to legal residents of the 48 contiguous U.S. or DC who are 18 or older. Sweepstakes begins 7/19/18 at 9:30:00 a.m. PT and ends 7/22/18 at 5:00:00 p.m. PT. Limit 1 entry per person. For Official Rules, including odds and prize details, visit AquamanSweeps.com. Sponsor: DC UNIVERSE.


ABOUT DC UNIVERSE
DC UNIVERSE, launching in fall 2018, is a standalone digital experience designed for the DC fan. Showcasing DC’s iconic characters, DC UNIVERSE offers new original live-action and animated series, legendary films and series, and epic animated movies, as well as a fan community, a curated selection of comic books, and exclusive merchandise. DC UNIVERSE is operated by Warner Bros. Digital Networks in collaboration with DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Digital Labs. DC UNIVERSE offers access to exclusive content and experiences not available anywhere else. To learn more, visit www.DCUNIVERSE.com.

ABOUT DC ENTERTAINMENT
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, the Flash), DC Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating across Warner Bros. and WarnerMedia. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is one of the largest English-language publishers of comics content in the world.

ABOUT WARNER BROS. DIGITAL NETWORKS
Warner Bros. Digital Networks (WBDN) creates, builds, and operates direct-to-consumer digital services, digital premium content, and experiences. The WBDN team is charged with bringing together a diverse portfolio of brands and innovative, exclusive premium content, focused on serving digital-first audiences. Leveraging the studio’s iconic franchises and vast library, WBDN’s portfolio includes DC Universe, DramaFever, and both Boomerang and Filmstruck in partnership with Turner. WBDN also produces and distributes premium digital series through Stage 13 and Machinima and in partnership with LeBron James’ Uninterrupted and Ellen DeGeneres’ Ellen Digital Ventures. Warner Bros. Digital Networks’ premium programming and digital offerings put viewers at the center of entertainment, sports, gaming, and pop culture, reaching audiences anywhere, across any platform.

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Thursday, July 19, 2018

VIZ Media Acquires "Megalobox" Franchise

VIZ MEDIA ACQUIRES THE FUTURISTIC BOXING ACTION SERIES MEGALOBOX

VIZ Media Secures Master Licensing Rights For MEGALOBOX, Series Reboot Of The Legendary Manga/Anime Property Tomorrow’s Joe

San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, thrilled fans during its official panel held at Anime Expo as it announced the acquisition of the Megalobox anime series.

MEGALOBOX reboots the classic manga published by Kodansha, Tomorrow’s Joe, the widely acclaimed story of an orphan who becomes a champion boxer that marks its 50th Anniversary this year. VIZ Media acquired the exclusive theatrical, broadcast, home media, and non-exclusive streaming, merchandise and consumer products rights to Megalobox from TMS Entertainment Co., Ltd., one of the world's largest and most distinguished animation studios.

A variety of renowned anime industry veterans make up MEGALOBOX’s staff, including Director and Conceptual Design by Yo Moriyama (Attack on Titan) and Series Composition and Screenplay by Katsuhiko Manabe (Fist of the North Star: The Legends of the True Savior).

In MEGALOBOX, the protagonist of the story is a young man with no origin and known only by his ring name: “JNK.DOG” He survives by fighting in rigged, underground matches of a sport called MEGALOBOX, a form of fighting utilizing powered exoskeletons. JD is bored, resigned and unfulfilled—until the day he encounters Yuri, the reigning official champion of MEGALOBOX.

For additional information on MEGALOBOX and other 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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Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Bluefin Brings Star Wars B-Wing Star Fighter Model Kit to Comic-Con International


BLUEFIN PRESENTS STUNNINGLY DETAILED EXCLUSIVE KITS FROM BANDAI SPIRITS HOBBY FOR STAR WARS AND DRAGON BALL FOR COMIC-CON 2018

Bluefin’s Booth Will Offer A Variety Of Easy To Assemble Kits For Top Pop Culture, Sci-Fi And Anime Properties; Scores Of New GunPla Kits Also Available!!

Anaheim, CA, June 26 – Bluefin, the leading North American distributor of toys, collectibles, and hobby merchandise from Japan and Asia, presents an impressive array of stunningly detailed and easy to assemble kits from Bandai Spirits Hobby that will be available for purchase during Comic-Con International 2018. A pair of Comic-Con exclusive kits also will be available.

Comic-Con International is one of the nation’s largest comic book, science fiction, and pop culture events, and will take place July 19th–22nd, 2018 at the San Diego Convention Center, in San Diego, CA. Bluefin will be located in Booth #401. Complete details on Comic-Con are available at: comic-con.org.

Catch the following Comic-Con Exclusive kits from Bluefin during the show:

Bandai Spirits Hobby Figure-Rise Standard Dragon Ball Vegito Model Kit · MSRP $58.00

Comic-Con attendees will be the first to get their hands Standard Vegito for the first time in the world - even earlier than in Japan!  The fusion between Goku and Vegeta to counter Majin Buu using the “Potara,” a sacred artifact of the Supreme Kai, is now available in a Figure-rise Standard edition. Boasting the widest range of any Figure-rise Standard kit, Vegito can achieve a multitude of poses recreating fan favorite scenes from the anime series! A substantial 17.7-inch Vegito sword is also included as well as an impaled Buu (2.5” tall) figure. by using forced perspective, one can arrange this kit to accurately mimic this memorable moment in the heat of battle!

Bandai Spirits Hobby 1/72 Scale Star Wars B-Wing Star Fighter Limited Edition Model Kit · MSRP $58.00

Comic-Con attendees will be the first to get their hands on the Figure-rise Standard Vegetto for the first time anywhere in the world - even earlier than in Japan!  The fusion between Goku and Vegeta to counter Majin Buu using the “Potara,” a sacred artifact of the Supreme Kai, is now available in a Figure-rise Standard edition. Boasting the widest range of any Figure-rise Standard kit, Vegetto can achieve a multitude of poses recreating fan favorite scenes from the anime series! A substantial 17.7-inch Vegetto sword is also included as well as an impaled Buu (2.5” tall) figure. by using forced perspective, one can arrange this kit to accurately mimic this memorable moment in the heat of battle!

Stop by the Bluefin booth to browse an impressive collection of Limited Edition GunPla (Gundam Plastic Model) kits from Bandai Hobby.

    1/100 Scale GUNDAM ASTRAY GOLD FRAME (Special Coating) - $80
    1/100 Scale Hyaku-Shiki 2.0 (Clear Version) - $55
    1/100 Scale TALLGEESE (Special Coating) - $80
    1/144 Scale KAMIKI BURNING GUNDAM PP (Clear Version) - $21
    1/100 Scale GUNDAM SEVEN SWORD (Clear Color Version) - $60
    1/100 Scale JUSTICE GUNDAM (Clear Version) - $55
    1/100 Scale FULL ARMOR GUNDAM (Half-Mechanical Clear Version) - $70
    1/144 Scale 00 RAISER (Clear Version) - $35
    1/144 Scale GUNDAM BARBATOS LUPUS (Clear Version) - $30
    1/144 Scale GUNDAM BARBATOS LUPUS REX (Clear Version) - $17
    1/144 Scale GUNDAM KIMARIS VIDAR (Clear Color Version) - $17
    1/144 Scale SINANJU (Clear Version) - $40
    1/144 Scale GUNDAM BAEL (Clear Version) - $17
    1/144 Scale PETIT’GGUY UNICORN WHITE - $8
    1/144 Scale PETIT’GGUY TRANS-AM RED - $8
    1/144 Scale Haro Shooting Orange (Clear Version) $10
    Mecha Collection Bulma Capsule 09 Motorcycle (Clear Ver.) $10

Explore Bluefin’s wide range pf GunPla products at: http://www.bluefincorp.com/catalog/gundam-models.html.


About Bluefin
Based in Anaheim, CA, Bluefin built its reputation as a leading distributor of Japanese toys, collectibles, novelty and hobby products. In recent years, Bluefin has grown to include a range of high quality collectible lines from Asia and has established itself as the official North American consumer products and retail development partner for Studio Ghibli. Selling to thousands of specialty, chain and independent stores, Bluefin is an official North American distributor for Bandai Hobby, Bandai Shokugan, and Storm Collectibles, and is the sole provider of Bandai Tamashii Nations products, and is also the exclusive and official distributor for Mr. Hobby, SEN-TI-NEL and Flame Toys. Additional information is available at: www.bluefincorp.com.

https://www.instagram.com/bluefinbrands/

https://www.facebook.com/BluefinBrands/

https://twitter.com/BluefinBrands

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClaqOdyh-gLzT27x9p-o0nw

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Image Comics Announces its San Diego Comic-Con 2018 Program

IMAGE COMICS AT SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON 2018

#WeBelieve in creator-owned panels, signings, & con exclusive variants

PORTLAND, OR — Image Comics is pleased to return to San Diego this year for San Diego Comic-Con 2018 on Wednesday, July 18th through Sunday, July 22nd, 2018. 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.

COLLECTED EDITION CONVENTION EXCLUSIVES (sold at IMAGE BOOTH - #2729):

    ICE CREAM MAN, VOL. 1: RAINBOW SPRINKLES hardcover by W. Maxwell Prince & Martin Morazzo, cover by Morazzo, $35 +tax
    VS, VOL. 1 hardcover by Iván Brandon & Esad Ribić, cover by Ribić, $35 +tax

LIMITED* SINGLE ISSUE CONVENTION EXCLUSIVES (sold at IMAGE BOOTH - #2729):
* Quantities will be limited by customer and per day on a first come, first served basis. Please ask at the Image booth about availability. 

    IMAGE FIRSTS DEADLY CLASS #1 by Rick Remender & Wes Craig, featuring a SYFY cast photo cover, FREE
    FARMHAND #1 by Rob Guillory, cover by Guillory, $10 +tax
    UNNATURAL #1 by Mirka Andolfo, cover by Andolfo, $10 +tax

SINGLE ISSUE CONVENTION EXCLUSIVES (sold at SKYBOUND side of booth - #2729):

    WALKING DEAD #181 by Robert Kirkman & Charlie Adlard, cover by Charlie Adlard & Dave McCaig, $10
    REDNECK #13 by Donny Cates & Lisandro Estherren, cover by Geoff Shaw & Dee Cunniffe, $10

SINGLE ISSUE CONVENTION EXCLUSIVES (sold at TOP COW booth #2629):

    INFINITE DARK/THE FREEZE FLIP BOOK by Ryan Cady & Andrea Mutti, covers by Phil Sevy (THE FREEZE) and Andrea Mutti (INFINITE DARK), FREE with a Top Cow booth purchase or by attending a Top Cow panel
    APHRODITE V #1 by Bryan Hill & Jeff Spokes, cover by Natali Sanders (Limited to 1,000), $10.00

CONVENTION EXCLUSIVE MERCHANDISE (sold at IMAGE BOOTH - #2729):

    DEADLY CLASS T-shirt, $24.99 +tax
    DEADLY CLASS enamel lapel pin, $10 +tax

CONVENTION EXCLUSIVE MERCHANDISE (sold at TOP COW booth #2629):

    WITCHBLADE enamel lapel pin, $10
    SUNSTONE enamel lapel pins, $10

SIGNINGS AT THE IMAGE COMICS BOOTH (#2729)
**TICKETED denotes signings require wristbands. Wristbands will be given out at the booth as soon as the convention floor opens on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets will be available for attendee badge holders only. There will be a limit of 3 items per person for ticketed signings unless otherwise noted. No CGC, CBCS, or other witnessing/grading.

THURSDAY, JULY 19
10:00 – 10:45 AM

    Rob Guillory (CHEW, FARMHAND)

11:00 – 11:45 AM

    Doug TenNapel (GEAR)
    Joshua Williamson (BIRTHRIGHT, NAILBITER) [Skybound]

12:00 – 12:45 PM

    Doug Wagner (PLASTIC, THE HARD PLACE)
    Sean Mackiewicz (GASOLINA) [Skybound]

1:00 – 1:45 PM

    Cat Staggs (CROSSWIND)
    Grace Ellis (MOONSTRUCK)
    Melissa Hutchison & Dave Fennoy (Telltale voice actors for Clementine and Lee) [Skybound]

2:00 – 2:45 PM

    Sina Grace (NOTHING LASTS FOREVER, SELF-OBSESSED)
    Steve Orlando (CRUDE, UNDERTOW) [Skybound]

3:00 – 3:45 PM

    Marco Finnegan (CROSSROAD BLUES)
    Rival Games (THIEF OF THIEVES) [Skybound]

4:00 – 4:45 PM

    WHERE WE LIVE multi-contributor signing featuring: Erika Schultz, Amy Chu, Aaron Campbell, Rafael Albuquerque, Matt Hawkins, Brian Haberlin, David Walker & many more.

FRIDAY, JULY 20
10:00 – 10:45 AM

    Aaron Campbell, Pornsak Pichetshote (INFIDEL)
    Jeff Lemire (DESCENDER, A.D.: AFTER DEATH, ROYAL CITY, GIDEON FALLS) **TICKETED**

11:00 – 11:45 AM

    Kickliy (PERDY)
    Sean Lewis (THE FEW, COYOTES)
    Donny Cates (REDNECK, ATOMAHAWK, GOD COUNTRY, THE GHOST FLEET, BUZZKILL)  [Skybound]

12:00 – 12:45 PM

    Tomm Coker (THE BLACK MONDAY MURDERS)
    Justin Greenwood, Landry Walker (THE LAST SIEGE)

1:00 – 1:45 PM

    Dean Haspiel (THE RED HOOK)
    Jason Howard (CEMETERY BEACH) [Skybound]

2:00 – 2:45 PM

    Rick Remender (DEADLY CLASS, LOW, BLACK SCIENCE, DEATH OR GLORY, FEAR AGENT, SEVEN TO ETERNITY, TOKYO GHOST) **TICKETED**
    Dan Panosian (SLOTS) [Skybound]

3:00 – 3:45 PM

    Mirka Andolfo (UNNATURAL)
    John Layman (CHEW, LEVIATHAN)
    Jeremy Haun (THE BEAUTY, THE REALM)

4:00 – 4:45 PM

    Robert Kirkman (OBLIVION SONG, THE WALKING DEAD, OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA) [Skybound] **TICKETED and restricted to: 3-item limit**

SATURDAY, JULY 21

11:00 – 11:45 AM

    Robert Kirkman (OBLIVION SONG, THE WALKING DEAD, OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA) [Skybound] **TICKETED and restricted to: 3-item limit**

12:00 – 12:45 PM

    Doug Wagner (THE HARD PLACE, PLASTIC)

1:00 – 1:45 PM

    Marjorie Liu (MONSTRESS) **TICKETED**
    Daniel Warren Johnson (EXTREMITY) [Skybound]

2:15 – 3:30 PM

    DEADLY CLASS SYFY TV signing featuring: Creator & Executive producer Rick Remender & members of the show’s cast **TICKETED and restricted to: 2-item limit, items must be DEADLY CLASS brand.**

SUNDAY, JULY 22

    Donny Cates (REDNECK, ATOMAHAWK, GOD COUNTRY, THE GHOST FLEET, BUZZKILL)


PANELS HOSTED BY IMAGE COMICS:

Thursday, July 19 @ 2:00 – 3:00 p.m., Room 23ABC                       
#WeBelieve in Fantasy
Creators conjure magic on a monthly basis, stretching the boundaries of reality to explore resonant themes under a veneer of high fiction. This group of creators has taken a legacy of wands, wizards, and incantations and tailored it to a modern context, where shape-shifting teen baristas search for missing love and reckless rockers parlay with infernal forces. Let this panel of spellbinding talent, including Sam Humphries (BLACKBIRD), Grace Ellis (MOONSTRUCK), Jeremy Haun (THE REALM), Johnnie Christmas (FIREBUG), Megan Hutchison (ROCKSTARS), and other special guests enchant you as they explain the alchemy behind their latest comics.
                                      
Friday, July 20 @ 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., Room 23ABC                       
#WeBelieve in Horror
Image Comics has ushered in a new era of horror with cerebral writers and visceral artists elevating sequential-art dread to claustrophobic heights. From John Layman's kaiju free-for-all, LEVIATHAN, to Pornsak Pichetshote and Aaron Campbell’s reflective haunted house boiler, INFIDEL, comics are evolving terror to new personal, socially minded levels. Join a roster of the most sinister storytellers including Will Dennis (the editor of WYTCHES, GIDEON FALLS) and other special guests to discover how they're altering an entire genre.    
                                            
Saturday, July 21 @ 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Room 7AB                       
#WeBelieve in Suspense
Comic scribes wield character, dialogue, and panels with clockwork precision, leading readers through a gauntlet of plot beats designed to ratchet tension and escalate stakes. In concert with artists, these storytellers operate outside budget constraints to orchestrate explosive dramas without any limits save their own imaginations. Listen to a panel of thrill gurus including Donny Cates (REDNECK), Mirka Andolfo (UNNATURAL), Steve Orlando (CRUDE), Jacob Semahn (NO. 1 WITH A BULLET), Megan Hutchison (ROCKSTARS), and Dean Haspiel (THE RED HOOK) as they deconstruct their approach to weaving the tightest suspense in comics.
                                   
Sunday, July 22 @ 1:45 – 2:45 p.m., Room 5AB                       
#WeBelieve in Craft
Image hosts a stable of creators who have honed their skills through countless comics, publishers, and media. With their creator-owned projects, these writers and artists build on expansive careers to deliver the apex of comics craftsmanship. Join a murderer’s row of career myth-makers including Joe Casey (NEW LIEUTENANTS OF METAL, MCMLXXV), Daniel Warren Johnson (EXTREMITY), Justin Greenwood (THE LAST SIEGE), Kickliy (PERDY), and Shannon Wheeler (MEMOIRS OF A VERY STABLE GENIUS) as they chart the paths they traveled to arrive at their current projects. 

IMAGE COMICS' CREATORS IN ARTIST ALLEY:

Chris Burnham - HH-18
Juan Gedeon - AA-15
Sanford Greene - FF-21
Joe Harris - EE-20
Tom Neely - AA-05
Dustin Nguyen - CC-01
Jimmie Robinson - EE-22
Landry Q. Walker - EE-19
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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 six individuals on the Board of Directors: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, Jim Valentino, and Eric Stephenson. 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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Monday, July 16, 2018

BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for July 18, 2018

BOOM! STUDIOS

MAY181226    ADVENTURE TIME COMICS #25    $4.99
MAY181227    ADVENTURE TIME COMICS #25 SUBSCRIPTION BAK VAR    $4.99
MAY181216    BY NIGHT #2 (OF 12)    $3.99
MAY181217    BY NIGHT #2 (OF 12) SUBSCRIPTION ALLISON VAR    $3.99
MAY181221    FENCE #8    $3.99
MAY181214    JIM HENSON FRAGGLE ROCK #3 MAIN    $3.99
MAY181215    JIM HENSON FRAGGLE ROCK #3 SUBSCRIPTION MYLER CONNECTING CVR    $3.99
MAR181259    LUMBERJANES TP VOL 09    $14.99
MAY181188    MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #29 MAIN SG    $3.99
MAY181189    MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #29 SUBSCRIPTION GIBSON VAR SG    $3.99
MAR181309    ROCKOS MODERN LIFE TP VOL 01    $14.99
MAR181270    SIX FIGURE CROWDFUNDING HC NO BULLSH*T GUIDE    $19.99
MAY181223    STEVEN UNIVERSE ONGOING #18    $3.99
MAY181224    STEVEN UNIVERSE ONGOING #18 SUBSCRIPTION OMAC VAR    $3.99
MAY181185    THRILLING ADVENTURE HOUR #1 (OF 4) CVR A CASE    $3.99
MAY188891    THRILLING ADVENTURE HOUR #1 (OF 4) FOC PRINTMAKING INCV    $3.99
MAY181186    THRILLING ADVENTURE HOUR #1 (OF 4) SUBSCRIPTION BUSTOS VAR    $3.99
MAY181206    WWE #19    $3.99
MAY181207    WWE #19 RICHES ACTION FIGURE VAR    $3.99
MAY181208    WWE #19 SCHOONOVER RAW CONNECTING VAR    $3.99