Dark Horse Introduces New Events and Community Manager, Kari Yadro

from Dark Horse Comics:

Today Dark Horse announced the appointment of Kari Yadro to the newly created role of events and community manager. In the beginning, Dark Horse was built on the idea of creating an atmosphere that was friendly and accessible to both creators and fans. In 2010, Dark Horse has looked to continue this tradition with a heavy focus on the growing online social-networking channels. Looking forward to 2011, the company hopes to focus heavily on the growing comics community in Portland, Oregon, and the world at large, with more events and activities demonstrating leadership balanced with accessibility.

This new position will not only encompass all Dark Horse trade-show coordination and planning, but also any and all Dark Horse events, such as in-store appearances and signings. In addition, the Dark Horse events and community manager will focus heavily on Dark Horse’s social-networking strategy, overseeing Facebook, Twitter, and all other channels, as this has become an increasingly important area for Dark Horse.

Kari Yadro comes to Dark Horse from a storied career with Barnes & Noble, where she currently holds the position of community relations manager. In her time there, she has handled coordination of all in-store events, large and small. Kari’s passion for science fiction led her into the comic shop by way of Dark Horse’s own Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight.

“It’s an honor to be joining the comic-book industry, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, where there are so many amazing publishers,” said Kari Yadro. “I’m really excited about connecting with Dark Horse’s fans and exploring partnership opportunities with organizations in the local and world communities.”

“As Dark Horse continues to expand our presence in the minds of fans on and off of the trade-show floors, I am confident that Kari brings the perfect balance of events experience and community building to her new role,” said Dark Horse’s director of public relations, Jeremy Atkins. “I couldn’t be happier about the level of energy and enthusiasm she brings to the position.”

Kari will cut her teeth at October’s New York Comic Con. Please make sure to stop by the Dark Horse booth and say hello.

Infectious X MIMOBOT Design Challenge Winners Announced! Plus, Back-to-School Sale Extended!

from Mimoco:

Infectious X MIMOBOT Design Challenge WINNERS! Unmasked MIMOBOT characters feature alternate faces hiding beneath the helmet for an added dimension of surprise. Check out all the alternate faces now!

EXTENDED! Back-to-School: due to a glitch on our website this weekend, we’ve extended the sale for 24 hours. Save 20% OFF all MIMOBOT thru tomorrow, 9/8 at midnight, PST! Shop NOW!

Video Profile: Daily Monster! Master monster-maker Stefan Bucher’s art is a new style of performance animation and completely addictive to watch! WATCH NOW!

FREE Shipping on orders over $75*! Click here for more info.

Hot Topic: Yowzer! Choose your hero + Accessories BOGO!

from Hot Topic:

Who’s Your Hero?
Shop Superheroes

Last Chance to Mix N’ Match!
All Accessories: Buy One, Get the 2nd 1/2 Off*
Shop Now

*Offer valid online and in stores thru 9/8. Excludes lingerie, shoes and clearance. Price of second accessory must be of equal or lesser value. Price adjusted at time of checkout. Hot Topic, Inc. reserves the right to end or modify this promo at any time.

Find a Hot Topic store.

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J!NX: Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a Squid’s Life for Me!

from J!NX:

New Design Arcade Winner: Jolly Aberration
To those who braved the seven seas, the Jolly Roger was a sight that struck fear into the most seasoned of sailors. However, while pirates may have taken their liberties with heavy-laden merchant vessels with little to no risk, there was one ship they would never touch. The ship that flew the Jolly Aberration flag was the Beholder’s ship, and not one to trifle with, unless one had a strong desire to visit old Davy Jones. Congratulations to ComfyCushion, for an epic Design Arcade victory!

ZOMG! J!NX has a full line of clothing!?!
That’s right! There is now a full line of buttondown shirts, pants and jackets with a geeky flare that you can use to en-handsome-ize yourself. Not that you needed it, of course, but every little bit counts. You can see the whole line right here. Get yours soon, before they’re gone!

Starcrash: The Ultimate Roger Corman Science-Fiction Classic

from Shout! Factory:

Starcrash
Starring Caroline Munro, David Hasselhoff, Christopher Plummer, Joe Spinell and Marjoe Gortner

2-Disc Special-Edition Blu-ray and DVD
Digitally Remastered and Presented in Widescreen for the First Time with a Galaxy’s Worth of Special Features!

Crashing Home Entertainment Shelves Nationwide September 14, 2010 from Shout! Factory

One of the most eagerly awaited inter-galactic science-fiction adventures, released by Roger Corman’s New World Pictures, will finally be made available for the first time to the home entertainment shelves as Starcrash, directed by Luigi Cozzi, will debut September 14, 2010 on 2-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray and DVD from Shout! Factory, in association with New Horizons Picture Corporation. An adventure like no other, the Starcrash 2-Disc Special Edition contains anamorphic widescreen presentation of the movie with DTS HD 5.1 surround sound (Blu-ray), a reversible cover featuring vintage art for original movie posters and a payload of bonus content including all-new interviews and commentaries with cast and crew, rare behind-the-scenes footage and much more! A must-have for loyal fans of Roger Corman and Luigi Cozzi, science fiction enthusiasts and collectors, Starcrash 2-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray and DVD mark the latest installments from the popular Roger Corman’s Cult Classics home entertainment series from Shout! Factory. Each Special Edition Blu-ray and DVD is sold separately. Blu-ray is priced to own at $26.97; and DVD is available at $19.93.

Produced in Italy in the wake of Star Wars’ phenomenal success, Starcrash (also known as The Adventures of Stella Star in overseas territories) became an international blockbuster in its own right. This 1979 film became one of New World Pictures’ biggest box-office hits. Critics might have laughed, but so did audiences, who grooved to its campy humor, wildly imaginative special effects (some of them quite good!) and non-stop adventure. Where Star Wars dared not go, Starcrash went — at warp speed!

The lasting peace of the galaxy is threatened by the diabolical and relentless Count Zarth Arn (cult icon Joe Spinell, Rocky, The Godfather and The Godfather Part II), who is determined to take the universe for himself and make each planet his plaything, each inhabitant his slave. There is no question that the Count is evil, given his propensity for cackling at every opportunity.

Can anyone save the universe from this megalomaniacal madman? Indeed there is, and she’s quite a beauty.

Brave, bikini-clad star warrior Stella Star (Caroline Munro, The Spy Who Loved Me, At the Earth’s Core) and her co-pilot Akton (child evangelist-turned-actor Marjoe Gortner, Food of the Gods, Mausoleum) are pressed into service to thwart the evil Zarth Arn’s plot. If they succeed, galactic peace will be achieved. If they fail, the universe will fall into decay and destruction at the hands of its sadistic new overlord.

Have no fear, because Stella Star is here!

The film’s zesty, star-studded cast also includes People’s Choice Award winner David Hasselhoff (Knight Rider, Baywatch) in one of his first big-screen roles, noted screen tough guy Robert Tessier (The Longest Yard, The Cannonball Run) and legendary two-time Emmy and Tony Award winner, and Academy Award nominee Christopher Plummer (The Last Station, Murder by Decree, The Sound of Music) as The Emperor.

Starcrash was written and directed by fan favorite Luigi Cozzi (AKA Lewis Coates), whose other cult masterworks include Alien Contamination (an “homage” to Alien) and the unforgettable Lou Ferrigno vehicle Hercules (an “homage” to Conan the Barbarian). The film also boasts a rousing score by five-time Academy Award winner John Barry (Dances with Wolves, Out of Africa, 10 James Bond films).

Alas, Starcrash would prove to be the only big-screen Stella Star adventure… but as its worldwide legion of fans will attest, it was one to remember!

Starcrash 2-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray and DVD Bonus Content
New Anamorphic Widescreen Transfer (1.85:1) and DTS HD 5.1 Surround Sound (Blu-ray), Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound (DVD)
Disc One:
• Interview with writer/director Luigi Cozzi
• Starcrash: the music of John Barry, a detailed analysis of the score by Mars of Deadhouse Music
• 2 feature-length commentaries by Starcrash historian Stephen Romano:
Commentary 1: the history of Starcrash, the making of the film and its importance in 1970s fantastic cinema.
Commentary 2: Starcrash scene-by-scene: production trivia, anecdotes and critical analysis.
• Behind-the-scenes image gallery, featuring storyboards, art, and rare, never-before-seen photos!
• Promotional art gallery, featuring photos, posters, lobby cards and early poster designs by Drew Struzan
• Fan art gallery, featuring an exclusive look at the all-new, sexy Stella Star art from fantasy illustrator Robin Greenville Evans
• Theatrical trailer with commentary by Eli Roth from Trailersfromhell.com and an all-new exclusive trailer commentary by filmmaker/editor Joe Dante!
• TV spots and radio spots
Disc Two:
• Interview with actress Caroline Munro (60 minutes)
• 17 deleted and alternate scenes
• The complete, original Starcrash screenplay, illustrated with original storyboards and early, full-color concept art
• Exclusive 20-minute behind-the-scenes footage reel, with commentary
• The making of the special effects of Starcrash by Armando Valcauda with exclusive, never-before-seen special-effects footage

Shout! Factory will continue to present Roger Corman’s Cult Classics home entertainment releases on a monthly basis. Upcoming highlights include The Slumber Party Massacre collection, The Evil, Twice Dead, The Warrior and the Sorceress, Barbarian Queen, Not of This Earth, Terror Within, Streets, Angel in Red, Lady in Red, Crazy Mama, Big Bad Mama, among others.

Independent filmmaker-producer Roger Corman’s storied career ranks as one of Hollywood’s most amazing success stories. Having produced more than 350 films and directed 50 others, his influence on American film goes far beyond his own energetic, creative low-budget movies. He is arguably one of Hollywood’s most gifted and masterful filmmakers. In 2009 he was the recipient of an honorary Academy Award for his contribution to the medium of film.

Noted for his keen ability to spot young talent, Corman’s most lasting legacy will undoubtedly be the legion of producers, directors, writers and actors he has fostered, among them: Jack Nicholson, Francis Ford Coppola, Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, Ron Howard, Peter Fonda, Jonathan Demme, Gale Anne Hurd, Diane Ladd, Tommy Lee Jones, William Shatner, Sandra Bullock, Bruce Dern, Talia Shire, Charles Bronson, Joe Dante, Carl Franklin, Jonathan Kaplan, Bill Paxton, Dennis Hopper, Curtis Hanson, Peter Bogdanovich, John Sayles, David Carradine and Sally Kirkland.

New Emily Tees Available Now at Hot Topic!

from Emily the Strange:

FIVE new Emily Tees in Hot Topic stores RIGHT NOW!

Mummy Curse V-Neck Tee
Bad Kitten Club Raglan Tee
Team Strange Football Tee
Tie and Kitty Pocket Tee
The Cat-Girl Tee

Hot Topic stores that carry the current line of Emily the Strange Tees & Accessories…

Find Emily on: Twitter | Facebook | MySpace | YouTube

Browncoats: Redemption Online Premiere

from Browncoats: Redemption:

This is the global online premiere of the fan film for charity, Browncoats: Redemption. This film will be available to view for 48 hours beginning Saturday, September 4th, 2010 at 7pm EDT.

For better viewing turn HD to OFF.

Learn more at browncoatsmovie.com
We are on Twitter @browncoatsmovie

Pre-order “The Art of District 9: Weta Workshop”

from Weta:

Pre-order The Art Of District 9: Weta Workshop
We are proud to start taking pre-orders for this beautiful book today. Written by Daniel Falconer and featuring 650 pieces of concept art and more than 200 photographs of conceptual sculptures and finished props. When you order from Weta, you not only get Weta Dollars, but also a Limited Edition MNU Alien Tagging Stencil, signed by five of the Weta artists whose work is featured in the book. We will still be shipping from our local warehouses in the US, UK and New Zealand. Pre-order The Art of District 9: Weta Workshop now!

Meet the designers at a special District 9 screening in Wellington
To celebrate the release of our new book The Art of District 9: Weta Workshop, Weta, HarperCollins and Wellington’s awesome Embassy cinema — once the venue for the world premiere of The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King — are putting on a very special event. Just in time for Father’s Day — Read all about it on our site!

Announcement — Weta at Armageddon Auckland
Weta will be attending the Armageddon pop-culture expo in Auckland, New Zealand on Labour Day weekend. More details will follow nearer the event.

Focus on Clothing
T-shirts, hats, scarves — don’t brave the elements without kitting yourself out at our online store. Whether you are in the Northern hemisphere going towards Winter or here in the Antipodes headed for Summer, it’s time to refresh that wardrobe of yours!

Podcast with Gino Acevedo — not long now…
Due some unfortunate circumstances, the podcast with Gino Acevedo has been delayed a week, but never fret — it’s in the can and is just awaiting a brief edit.

Follow Weta Online! Twitter | Facebook

Just in Time for the Holidays, Back to the Future: The Game arrives!

Back to the Future: The Card Game

Looney Labs, the creators of the award winnings games Fluxx and Treehouse, has an awesome new addition to its large collection of fun-filled games. In collaboration with Universal Pictures, for the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the film, Back to the Future: The Card Game hits store shelves September 3rd. As a descendant of one of the characters from the Back to the Future movies, you must not only travel back in time to fix the time line to ensure your birth, but then you have to stop Doc Brown from inventing time travel to begin with! Sounds like a paradox, I know, but hey, with a card game you don’t have to fear a massive universe-ending cascade effect.

Using the game mechanics of their popular Chrononauts time traveler game, it’s a card game that plays almost like a board game. Time Line cards are laid out in 4 rows of 6, chronologically from 1885 (when Hill Valley was in desperate need of a new Blacksmith) to 2015 (the infamous botched McFly Jailbreak). Each of these events is either a Lynchpin or a Ripplepoint, meaning, if a Lynchpin event is changed, it will have one or more “ripples” in the time line (such as we saw when George punched Biff at the “Enchantment Under the Sea” dance and Marty returned to a new and improved future).

Like every other Looney Labs game I’ve played, it’s ingenious in its quick and easy-to-learn, yet complex and ever-changing, game play. The cards basically tell you everything you need to know so you’ll only have to double-check the instructions the first few times you play before getting the hang of things. The illustrations are similar to a comic book and are chock full of images from the films. The cards are also dotted with events, quotes and references from the films so you quickly get a feeling of familiarity with the game, almost like catching up with an old friend.

Back to the Future: The Card Game Contents

As I said, game play is pretty easy. Once you’ve laid out your Time Line cards, you randomly draw an ID card to determine whose great-great-grandchild you are. The ID cards include a set of events that you must make happen in order to preserve your time line and win the game. For example, if you are Marty McFly III, you certainly want to make sure great-great-grampa takes that swing at Biff in the parking lot of the dance but if you are Buffy Tannen, you want to prevent it.

Unlike Chrononauts, where meeting those time line event changes wins you the game, Back to the Future adds an interesting twist: The game ending card has 5 randomly shuffled cards stacked, 4 of which are duds. If you meet your goals and flip the card, you have a 1 in 5 chance of actually winning on that turn, giving the other players a chance to mess up your time line again if it’s a dud.

In order to change those time lines, you use Game cards which include Items (like a case of Plutonium or a copy of George McFly’s first novel), Time Machines (yes, you finally get to drive the DeLorean), DoubleBacks (which let you change events when you travel back in time, maybe twice if you have the correct item on hand), Actions (such as Hitch a Ride, which lets you flip any lynchpin of your choice if the player before you changed time) and Power Actions (like Memo, where you can leave a memo for yourself to remind you to stop another player’s Action before they can finish it).

Looney Labs really paid attention to the details in creating this game. You’ll find the obvious things here (such as various versions of the DeLorean, the Gray’s Sports Almanac and the fading McFly family photo), but you may have forgotten about the bullet proof vest, Mr. Fusion and Frisbie’s Pies. I think my favorite little touch is the back of the ID cards. While all of the other cards bear the Back to the Future logo, the ID card is an Employee ID badge featuring the CusCo logo, address and ID bar-code. For those of you who don’t recall, CusCo was the company that Marty McFly was working for when he received the YOU’RE FIRED! fax.

Between the events on the Time Line cards, to the quotes and other references on the other game cards, you’ll find yourself smiling and laughing a lot as you recall favorite moments from the films. As a matter of fact, every hand we’ve played so far has been filled with pauses as we stopped to discuss the shows, and we have an insatiable desire to have a Back to the Future movie marathon very soon. If, after playing a few rounds of your new Looney Labs Back to the Future: The Card Game, you find yourself hankering to watch the movies, too, more Good News! Universal is releasing a new, digitally remastered Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy box set on DVD and Blu-ray in October.

For 2 to 6 players, ages 11 to 111.

Contents include:

  • 28 time line cards
  • 10 Character cards
  • 62 Game cards
    • 17 Items
    • 6 Time Machines
    • 8 DoubleBacks
    • 17 Actions
    • 14 Power Actions

You can get Back to the Future: The Card Game directly from Looney Labs, or check your local game retailer. While Back to the Future: The Card Game isn’t listed on Amazon.com yet, be sure to keep an eye out for it and check out the other Looney Labs games while you are there!

Looney Labs Website
Looney Labs Fan Club
Looney Labs on Twitter
Looney Labs Community Page on Facebook

Factory Entertainment: Inigo Montoya Sword Pre-Order, James Bond and Green Hornet Prints, Golden Gun Extras and more!

from Factory Entertainment:

This week, we’re excited to announce the pre-order date for the Princess Bride Inigo Montoya Sword Limited Edition Prop Replica. We also have a couple of Comic-Con exclusives available for purchase on our website and a trailer for an upcoming video game that you won’t want to miss. Be sure to check out our exclusive “gift” for those who order our James Bond Golden Gun Limited Edition Prop Replica directly from our store. Oh, we almost forgot to mention that we’ve extended this offer to the Signature Edition Golden Gun as well, which is our way of thanking you for your loyalty. More surprises to come, keep your eyes peeled!

The Princess Bride — The Sword of Inigo Montoya Limited Edition Prop Replica
• Limited to 750 Pieces
• $349
• Pre-Order Deposit — $100
Pre-Order Begins: 09/09 – 9:00 AM PST

Comic-Con Exclusives
We are pleased to announce that we have a very limited number of our SDCC exclusives left over and ready to order directly on our website now! Don’t miss your opportunity to own our James Bond Golden Gun Limited Edition ‘Q-Branch’ Blue Print & The Green Hornet Black Beauty Limited Edition ‘Green’ Print.

James Bond Golden Gun Limited Edition ‘Q-Branch’ Blue Print
• 11” x 14” Size
• Giclee Print on high quality 140lb archival stock
• Hand Numbered — Limited to just 500 pieces
Just $15 each at the Factory Entertainment store while supplies last. Each purchase also includes a special discount coupon, good for a $10 discount on any single item priced over $50 at factoryent.com for a limited time.

The Green Hornet Black Beauty Limited Edition ‘Green’ Print
• 11” x 14” Size
• Giclee Print on high quality 140lb archival stock
• Hand Numbered — Limited to just 500 pieces
Just $15 each at the Factory Entertainment store while supplies last. Each purchase also includes a special discount coupon, good for a $10 discount on any single item priced over $50 at factoryent.com for a limited time.

Golden Gun Limited Edition — Factory Direct Exclusive
Some great news for every customer who has already placed an order or is about to place an order for the LE or SE Golden Gun directly from our online store, factoryentstore.com. Included at no extra charge will be a set of 5 exclusive golden bullet replicas available nowhere else! That’s right, they are absolutely free and are our way of saying thank you for buying ‘Factory Direct.’ Hurry, this offer is only while supplies last. Offer expires September 30, 2010. (If you’ve already placed a pre-order for the LE Golden Gun, you don’t have to do anything. The exclusive bullet set has already been added to your order.)

Goldeneye is Back!
Have you heard the exciting news about the new Goldeneye 007 Wii video game from Activision? If not, check out this incredible trailer featuring a familiar multiplayer experience and a “very” special weapon.

Follow us on Facebook, we proudly add to the mostly inane babble but we also throw in more than the occasional gem!