Celebrate Your Geekdom
from ThinkGeek:
Power up your patriarch with ThinkGeek’s Ultimate GeekDad Giveaway!
Father’s Day is June 19 and you can bring home super loot by entering our contest below by 12 noon ET on June 17, 2011. We’ll announce our randomly chosen winner the evening of June 17 so you’ll be able to deliver the good news on Father’s Day.
from VIZ Media:
VIZ Media has just launched a special digital promotion for its Naruto manga (graphic novel) series. Digital versions of Volumes 1-27 of the classic action adventure story are available via the VIZ Manga App for the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch for only $3.99 — 20% off the normal MSRP. The promotion kicks off today for a limited time only and ends Friday, June 17th at midnight PST.
Created by Masashi Kishimoto in 1999, Naruto (rated ‘T’ for Teens) quickly became Japan’s most popular ninja manga targeting tweens and teens and has sold more than 85 million copies to-date. Naruto is also one of the most popular anime/manga properties in North America. The Naruto manga and animated series depict the adventures of a young boy named Uzumaki Naruto who trains to become a ninja. Naruto, cursed with the spirit of the nine-tailed fox demon sealed within his body, is forced to live a bullied life discriminated against by his fellow villagers. But Naruto is resilient and undaunted and his determination often inspires those around him. Through the adventures, the young ninja learns the importance of friendship, teamwork, loyalty, hard work, creativity, ingenuity and right vs. wrong. More information on Naruto is available at Naruto.com.
The VIZ Manga App is the leading application to read Japanese manga on the iPhone iPod Touch, and iPad. The app is free to download through the iTunes store, and volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada for only $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) each.
An extensive library of over 250 volumes is available now, including popular series such as Bleach, Blue Exorcist, Death Note, Naruto, One Piece and many more. Readers are encouraged to check the app regularly, as new additions to the store and free Chapter 1 previews of other forthcoming manga series are featured.
For more information on the VIZ Manga App, please visit VIZ.com/apps/.
from VIZ Media:
VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced it has been named the exclusive U.S. product licensor for the new animated crime-fighting action series Tiger & Bunny. The company will showcase the property to a variety of potential merchandise partners during the 2011 Licensing International Expo, held in Las Vegas, June 14th-16th, 2011. VIZ Media will be located in Booth #2481.
The Licensing International Expo is held at Mandalay Bay Convention Center and is the preeminent marketplace for the hottest international brands and properties. The event features a show floor of more than 7,000 properties from all of Hollywood’s major film studios, global entertainment companies, Fortune 500 consumer brands, sporting teams, interactive properties, fashion labels, and cutting-edge artists and designers. The annual event celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2010.
Tiger & Bunny currently simulcasts the same day it debuts in Japan on Hulu (Hulu.com) and VIZAnime.com, the company’s own exclusive web destination for anime. Tiger & Bunny Blu-ray currently rank Number 1 on Amazon Japan, and a wide variety of toys, collectables, and other products are already licensed for the Japanese market.
“We’re very excited to participate again at the Licensing International Expo, and this year we’ll showcase Tiger & Bunny, a new series that has been the subject of tremendous buzz among fan circles,” says Tracy Hanchett, Director, Consumer Products. “With its multi-textured characters and unique blend of comedy and over the top action, the Tiger & Bunny brand is ideally suited to a range of product merchandising options across all categories for the key male 14-25 demographic. We look forward to meeting with leading product partners at the show to explore the exciting range of possibilities for this hot new property.”
Tiger & Bunny (rated TV-14) is directed by Keiichi Sato (director of Karas), with original character designs by Masakazu Katsura, creator of the manga series, I”s and Video Girl Ai (also published by VIZ Media). Stern Bild is a metropolitan city where superheroes called NEXT help to maintain peace. Sporting sponsor logos on their suits, these heroes work to solve cases and save people’s lives in order to earn Hero Points, while also helping to improve the public image of their corporate sponsors. Their activities are documented and broadcast by the popular show “HERO TV,” in which each superhero strives to become the “King of Heroes” of the year.
One such hero is Wild Tiger (real name Kotetsu T. Kaburagi), a veteran superhero who relies on his years of experience and instincts to fight crime. Though obligated to work for his boss’s best interest, Kotetsu follows his own code of honor and is even willing to cause destruction to public property for the sake of protecting the lives of his fellow citizens. Over time, he has grudgingly earned the nickname “Crusher for Justice.” Now, Kotetsu suddenly finds himself forced to team up with rookie hero Barnaby Brooks Jr.
To view the official trailer and to follow Tiger & Bunny on the official Facebook page, please visit www.facebook.com/TigerAndBunny.
For more information on Tiger & Bunny and other animated titles from VIZ Media please visit VIZAnime.com.
from ThinkGeek:
Hot enough for ya?
It feels a bit like Athas here at ThinkGeek World Domination HQ. We haven’t run into any cannibal halflings, but rumor has it that our marketing director is half-human, half-Ssurran.
Sadly, that Star Wars ice cream truck we found in April seems to have disappeared. We really could use an Admiral Snackbar right about now. In the meantime, hug your air conditioner and get as much stuff delivered to you as possible.
Half-Life Headcrab Plush Hat
Were you forced against your will to see footage of the royal wedding? Did you laugh your butt off at all the ridiculous hats? If you don’t know, those wacky hats are called fascinators. We assume it’s because they’re fascinating. Y’know, in a “WTF is that thing on your head?” kind of way. Of course, the original “WTF is on your head?” hat is the headcrab. Be sure to keep a crowbar nearby when you try it on… just in case.
Save $10 — Guanine met Cytosine, fell in love…
Doing some early shopping to thank Dad for his half of your most fantastic genome? You’re clearly the best kid in the family. (But we knew that.) Use code DADGENES for $5 off $30+ or $10 off $60+ through 11:59pm ET 6/4/2011.
Father’s Day is June 19 — Shop now, slack later!
Father’s Day is June 19th. It may seem far, far away, but if you’re like us and prepping your games and costumes for convention season, it’ll sneak up on you like a ninja. Why not grab a gift for Dad now while you’re thinking about it? Check out our list of Pop-worthy presents, hand-picked by ThinkGeek’s own GeekDads.
Find more What’s New items at ThinkGeek!
from StarWars.com:
Star Wars Celebration VI Sets Its Sights on Orlando, August 23-26, 2012
Tickets on Sale Now — Buy Today!
After the impressive (most impressive) success of last year’s Empire-themed Star Wars Celebration V, we are thrilled to announce that the biggest party this side of the galaxy, Star Wars Celebration VI, is setting down August 23-26, 2012 back at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida!
With official Celebration host hotels starting as low as just $65 per night, it’s never been more affordable for fans to vacation in Orlando on any budget. Orlando is a destination for fans and families from around the world, with highlights including the all-new Star Tours: The Adventures Continue at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Traveling to Celebration VI will provide the perfect opportunity to experience the all-new Star Tours adventures with Star Wars fans from around the world!
Tickets
Tickets to Star Wars Celebration VI are available now! Be among the first to grab your ticket and guarantee your spot at this not-to-be-missed Star Wars event! All-new memories begin with a ticket to the convention, and it’s not too soon to start planning your trip today! Don’t miss out on all of the exclusive merchandise, interviews with cast and crew — and MORE! Buy Tickets.
Hotels*
SAVE when you reserve your hotel room through starwarscelebration.com. Our official travel desk will land you great rates at a number of host hotels in the Orlando area starting at just $65/night. And booking through the official site will also grant you access to ride the Celebration VI Shuttle bus back and forth to the convention center! Don’t wait, reserve your room(s) today!
*Note: the ONLY official Celebration VI travel partner is powered by onPeak. Don’t be fooled! Book your travel today by visiting starwarscelebration.com and receive our “Best Rate Guarantee.” We cannot honor room rates reserved through other travel groups.
Bigger, Better… and All About You
Like the Empire’s second Death Star, Celebration VI is shaping up to be even BIGGER than all previous iterations — and also like the second Death Star, it’s all still under construction. That means that we’re still planning the programming, the panels, guests, special events and activities, and we want to hear from YOU to help make this the best Celebration yet! What do YOU want to see?
Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to let us know what you think.
Celebrations are for YOU, the fans, whether you saw Star Wars when it first premiered or you’re just now exploring that galaxy far, far away for the very first time. So send us a tweet or write on our wall. We’ve got more than a year until Celebration VI, and we’re going to build it together! When completed, this ultimate Celebration will spell certain fun for Star Wars fans across the galaxy.
We thank you for all your support and passion. It’s the fans who have sustained the Saga for all these years, and — come August 2012 — we’re excited to welcome you back to our galaxy.
May the Force be with you!
from “Weird Al” Yankovic:
Why wait? “Weird Al” Yankovic’s new album — Alpocalypse — won’t be in stores until June 21, but you can pre-order it right now! This very minute! We’re not even kidding.
You can buy it as a regular CD, as a deluxe CD/DVD (with 10 music videos), or if you’ve got a healthy disposable income, as part of a fancy-schmancy super-deluxe package (with cool, collectible stuff)!
Check out all the options here! And choose wisely… the Alpocalypse will be upon us before you know it.
from VIZ Media:
VIZ Media has announced the availability of the anime series, MÄR, on Netflix, Inc., the world’s leading Internet subscription service for enjoying movies and TV shows. 52-episodes of the animated fantasy adventure story will be available to stream to subscribers in the U.S. beginning May 31st.
MÄR (rated TV-PG, subtitled) is based on the hit 15-volume manga series created by Nobuyuki Anzai (Flame of Recca), published in North America by VIZ Media. The series joins several other popular VIZ Media anime titles such as Bleach, Death Note, Naruto, and InuYasha, which can now be instantly streamed from Netflix.
An ordinary middle-school boy with an overactive imagination, Ginta Toramizu dreams about fairy tales and make-believe lands. One day at school, a gate appears and he enters the World of MÄR, the world of his dreams. Within the World of MÄR exist ÄRM: accessories with unique powers. Soon, Ginta stumbles upon Babbo, an ÄRM that can speak, and learns that he has been summoned to this mythical world to stop the Chess Pieces, a group of rogue soldiers, from destroying the World of MÄR. Now part of Team MÄR, Ginta and Babbo fight in War Games against the Chess Pieces to save the MÄR World. But will Ginta’s mission be compromised by his ally’s secrets?
To learn more about MÄR anime and manga series, please visit VIZAnime.com or ShonenSunday.com (free Chapter 1 manga preview available).
from The Hobbit Blog:
New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures and MGM have announced the titles and release dates for filmmaker Peter Jackson’s two-film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit. The first film, titled The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, will be released on December 14, 2012. The second film, titled The Hobbit: There and Back Again, is slated for release the following year, on December 13, 2013.
Both films are set in Middle-earth 60 years before Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar-winning The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. The adventure of The Hobbit follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug.
Under Jackson’s direction, both movies are being shot consecutively in digital 3D using the latest camera and stereo technology. Filming is taking place at Stone Street Studios, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand.
Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, the character he played in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Martin Freeman, who just won a BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the BBC series Sherlock, takes on the central role of Bilbo Baggins. Also reprising their roles from The Lord of the Rings movies are: Cate Blanchett as Galadriel; Orlando Bloom as Legolas; Ian Holm as the elder Bilbo; Christopher Lee as Saruman; Hugo Weaving as Elrond; Elijah Wood as Frodo; and Andy Serkis as Gollum. The ensemble cast also includes (in alphabetical order) Richard Armitage, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Sylvester McCoy, Bret McKenzie, Graham McTavish, Mike Mizrahi, James Nesbitt, Dean O’Gorman, Lee Pace, Mikael Persbrandt, Conan Stevens, Ken Stott, Jeffrey Thomas, and Aidan Turner.
The screenplays for The Hobbit films are by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson. Jackson is also producing the films, together with Fran Walsh and Carolynne Cunningham. The executive producers are Ken Kamins and Zane Weiner, with Philippa Boyens serving as co-producer.
The Hobbit films are productions of New Line Cinema and MGM, with New Line managing production. Warner Bros Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television licensing being handled by MGM.
from J!NX:
Alliance and Horde Premium Hoodies are back!
After much longing, we are proud to bring back the Horde and Alliance Premium Hoodies, available in both Men’s and Women’s.
Alliance Premium Hoodie
Alliance Women’s Premium Hoodie
Horde Premium Hoodie
Horde Women’s Premium Hoodie
World of Warcraft Only Noobs Play Alliance Premium Tee
World of Warcraft Only Noobs Play Alliance Women’s Tee
Battlegrounds are so fun these days. And by fun, I mean easy. The Alliance noobs that funnel out of their base might as well have targets painted on their bellies. I’ve taken to calling Arathi Basin “The Honor Farm”, which is ironic because there’s really no honor in dominating a squad of Night Elf mouth-breathers. Well, there’s no honor, but it’s still a hell of a lot of fun! >=D
World of Warcraft Only Noobs Play Horde Premium Tee
World of Warcraft Only Noobs Play Horde Women’s Tee
PVP used to be such a challenge: a field of evenly-matching combatants, battling with wisdom and strength in a fight to the death! Now the Horde can’t even field a proper army. They just send out a squad of swaddling toddlers, noobs who pick their nose with their wands and hold their swords by the pointy end! Come now, pathetic creatures of the Horde! Surely you can do better!
25% Off Your Order of $50+
Use Promotion Code: MEMORY11
This offer expires Friday, June 03, 2011 at 11:59PM PST, so don’t wait!
*can’t be combined with any other offers, sale prices, or discounts
from J!NX:
World of Warcraft Summer 2011 Collection
The days have grown longer, and the sunshine brighter; at last Summer is upon us. As you eagerly await the Midsummer Fire Festival, stay cool this season with an upgrade to your wardrobe from the epic new WoW Summer 2011 Collection.
Just a Few Days Left
Fans of The Guild! You’ve only got until this Friday to enter the J!NX Quest: The Guild Quote-a-thon. Enter now before you miss your chance at a $250 J!NX Gift Certificate and all seasons of The Guild on DVD.
from The Associated Press:
Stan Lee, whose career writing comic books has run from the golden age to contemporary times, is going digital.
Boom! Studios said Monday that the man who helped create modern marvels like the Fantastic Four and X-Men will see his current crop of comic series available online and on mobile devices through his own app by way of the Los Angeles-based comic and graphic novel publisher.
Dubbed the “Stan Lee BOOM! Comics App,” the program is being offered through Apple’s iTunes app store. Lee’s superhero comic series Soldier Zero, The Traveler and Starborn are also being made available through it and through Boom!’s own app.
The comics come with a free preview of the first issues but cost $1.99 for subsequent issues. The iVerse Media-developed app will also be linked to Lee’s Twitter musings.
The titles will also be available for download on desktops, including Windows and Mac, through ComiXology, Graphic.ly, iVerse and MyDigitalComics.
The three new series, penned by Lee, made their debut last year in association with his company, Pow! Entertainment.
Lee said that given the proliferation of comic books into the digital sphere, it made sense to bring his own titles to market that way, too.
“What’s great about releasing this app is that it enables us to bring the joy and wonder of comics to the mobile fan and a whole new generation of readers,” Lee said. “Comics are a medium that transcends age, appealing not only to today’s young readers, but older ones as well. And by giving them an unprecedented level of access, we’re ensuring that the fantastic stories, characters and worlds found only in comics will endure for many years to come.”
Digital comics have gained popularity and acceptance in recent months with most, if not all, major publishers — DC, Marvel, IDW, Dark Horse, Zenescope Entertainment, among others — embracing the platform. It lets comic readers carry their favorite titles on their phone or access them on their laptop without having to cart around numerous issues.
Boom!, whose roster of titles include Irredeemable, Dracula: The Company of Monsters and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, has put its lineup in its own app, too.
“With the easy accessibility of digital comics, we’re excited to be able to turn everyone with a computer, iOS or an Android device into a lifelong comics fan,” said Chip Mosher, marketing director of BOOM! Studios. “Anyone who’s ever been curious to try comics now has the power to read them instantly with just a click of a button.”
from J!NX:
Black Knight Bridge Security Premium Tee
Do you have a small, meaningless bridge in dire need of securing? Black Knight Bridge Security provides the finest bridge security in all of Camelot. Black Knight operators are rigorously trained in all forms of martial combat, including punting, biting, and taunting, and they will fight on despite grievous flesh wounds. Since 932 AD, none have passed! (Well, one stuffy guy and his horse-man, but they ran away, so they don’t count.)