News that Squishes: Cthulhu and Owl Pre-orders

from Squishable:

Hello Folks!

If you were sprinkling some news on your espresso, well you wouldn’t want to ruin it with just any salty, grainy news! No! You’d want it to be some sweet, delicious Squishy News! And here it is!

New Squishable Pre-orders! Yes indeed! We didn’t get all that many of these two, so pre-order ’em for shipment around September 20th. Because we love you.

Squishable Cthulhu — What better cuddle buddy than a hideous monstrosity from the dawn of time? He comes with both tentacles, wings, and arms to better eat your soul… I mean hug you. Totally available for pre-order.

Squishable Owl — Holy small squeeky things, it’s an Owl! He’ll clear out your rodent problem while dispensing snuggles at the same time! This is a multitasking owl, people! Also totally available for pre-order.

Really Big Wolf Understudy — They’re smart and sweet, and they do it all while looking snazzy. Like a super fuzzy, slick, lupine-style secret agent! Also, he’s really big!

Squishable Dragon Auction for Charity! — So the actual Squishable Dragon won’t be out until Winter, but this here is a preview of the awesome that is to come! He’s blue! He’s fierce! He’s got unusual-looking nostrils! Yes, this almost-final dragon prototype came to us with black nostrils instead of blue, which is why we’re auctioning him off for charity! All the proceeds will go to Child’s Play to get video games and toys to sick kids. Dragon! Kids! Auction! Woo!

Understudies Back in Stock! Guess what’s back? The Really Big Manatee Understudy and the Giant Moose Understudy! Yes they are, so please stop demonstrating in front of our house!

Thanks folks!

Zoe and Aaron
Squishable.com

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.

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!

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

Split Reason: “Heroes of Newerth” Secret Shop Now Open!

from Split Reason:

Too bad it’s me, Blacksmith!!! Earlier in August we announced the launch of the Heroes of Newerth Secret Shop, full of attribute stacking gear and rejuvenating potions to keep your skills on point during the next HON tourney or gaming session. You can even snag some stickers or posters to spice up your rig and outfit your gaming fortress. Farm that gold and make your way over to the Secret Shop to see what the vendor has for sale. Be warned, Creeps are on the prowl!

Today marks the launch of the SPLIT REASON Pick-a-box lottery offering you a chance to win-a-something! If you want to join in the random fun and pull the win lever, jump over to our blog for rules and instructions.

We have a few new T’s available if you want to take a potion challenge, gobble some ghosts whole, or finish your Ice Kream!!! Summer may be coming to a close but Frosty Treats are good all year long. It’s also the last day to cash-in on our Back to School sale, so if you want to save some coins use the promo code OCTORAWK during check-out.

New Products

J!NX: Samurai vs. Samurai

from J!NX:

New Design Arcade Winner: Samurai Wars!
There is no better swordsman than a samurai… except, of course, another samurai. When katanas cross, it is a duel of skill, and also of honor. The winner will live to see his next battle. The loser will not. This design is brought to you by Arrow, another winner of our Design Arcade Contest!

Check out our Full line of Clothing!
Did you know that J!NX now has an entire line of clothing inspired by the video games and geek culture we love? We now offer pants, jackets, buttondowns, polos and more, so you can still express your geeky attitude while lookin’ sharp at the same time! You can see the whole line right here. Tell us which one is your favorite, and you can be entered to win an XBox 360 with Kinect!

Breadpig: SXSW! Kilimanjaro!

from Breadpig:

Dearest Breadpig Legionnaire,

First, some great news: Breadpig has just broken $115,000 in funds raised and profits donated! We are so grateful for all the support and generosity you’ve shown along the way, and hope you’re with us as we try to triple that number by this time next year.

For those of you headed to SXSW in March, we wanted to make sure you were aware that we’ve proposed Breadpig panel! This would be a great chance to share our knowledge and philosophy with other geeky organizations while also being a convenient place to meet with and answer questions from you, our faithful fans. Think of it as a party with a Q&A. Alexis is also slated to talk on these two panels about bridging creatives and technical folks and porcine startup aerodynamics. Breadpig allies Awesome Foundation and ROFLCon also have panels up. Please give all of them some love before voting closes this Friday, August 27th!

It’s also the last week before courageous (and adorable) Breadpig allies Mitu and Maherunesa Khandaker climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa (38,688 bacon strips tall!), to raise funds for their charity Arohon. They’re looking for £5000 to build a women’s education center in one of Bangladesh’s many poverty-stricken areas, and we’re matching every donation you make over the next week until they reach their goal. They’re still about £1600 short, so please donate and help our intrepid friends with their mission to empower girls!

Finally, we’re excited to announce that xkcd: volume 0 is now available on Amazon — at a 32% discount, no less. What’s more, in what may be the most unifying geek event for the US and the UK since the installation of the trans-Atlantic telegraph cable, UK fans can finally purchase xkcd: volume 0 as well through Amazon.co.uk. Breadpig is for the children.

Until next time,
Alexis and Christina

BOOM! and Stan Lee Present Soldier Zero

Soldier Zero

from Things from Another World:

From Stan Lee, the most colossal force in the history of comics, teams up with BOOM! Studios to deliver a brand-new line of superhero comics! The great innovator brings his inimitable talents back in an explosive line of comics that nobody is prepared for!

In this first ongoing series, Soldier Zero, Stan teams up with critically acclaimed writer Paul Cornell (Action Comics, Doctor Who) and artist Javier Pina (Superman, Batman) for a dramatic, action-packed superhero scorcher.

When an alien parasite falls to Earth, wheelchair-bound college student Stewart Travers becomes infected, and goes through super-human changes that no mortal could imagine. Forced into a galactic war that’s chosen Earth as the battlefield, Stewart defends the front line as Soldier Zero!

The intergalactic war hits Earth this October in a new ongoing series from Stan Lee and BOOM! Studios. Stay tuned to future editions of the TFAW News newsletter to hear about Lee’s other upcoming titles!

Order Your Copy of Soldier Zero #1 Today

Check Out the Five-Page First Look Preview of Soldier Zero #1

See All Upcoming Products from BOOM! Studios

New Story at Tor.com! “The Speed of Time” by Jay Lake

from Tor.com:

The plug has been pulled on the universe; now it’s only a matter of, well, time.

Jay Lake is the author of the novels Mainspring, EscapementPinion, Green (set in the same world as his Tor.com short story “A Water Matter”) and Trial of Flowers. He has also published many short stories and is the 2004 winner of the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer.

Stephan Martiniere has worked extensively as a concept illustrator and visual director for video games. He was nominated for an Emmy for his direction of the animated short “Madeleine,” and he has received numerous awards including The Chesley Award for Best Hardcover and a Thea Award for his work on the Paramount theme park Super Saturator. Stephan did the covers for Jay Lake’s MainspringEscapement, and Pinion.

Dr. Grordbort: Read! Want! Win!

from Weta:

Featured Products — The Miniatures!
Few may recall this, but the first Dr. Grordbort’s Raygun to see the light of day was a Miniature Manmelter, exclusive to Comic-Con 2007. It sold out there and then. There are five more in the series, from the minute Mongoose to the Unnatural Selector.

Steampunk Exhibition — expressions of interest
Feeling arty? The anachronistic rogues of the Leage of Victorian Imagineers in Oamaru have issued the call for expressions of interest (as well as — naturally — expressions of utter disbelief)! The Exhibition itself takes place 23 October to 5 December this year, but if you intend to exhibit, you must express your interest by 3 September! Peruse the full set of details on the League’s Electric Web Domicile.

Smitten by the Mongoose?
The Victorious Mongoose 1902a Concealable Ray Pistol is a gorgeous wee thing and comes in its own velvet-lined leather-clad jewel box. As if anyone needs an incentive to purchase this fine and strictly limited edition collectible gun, we have nonetheless decided to offer it with a FREE Victorious Mongoose — miniature version and two FREE books. Get yours here! With the Mongoose in your corner, adventure can be added to the most intimate of situations!

Reviewers have said:
“I could go on forever about the beauty in both form and presentation of the Victorious Mongoose 1902A.” — Outlander, 2009
“While it may seem intended for the “mysterious sex” it is not in the least bit unmanly.” — Quatermass, 2009
Read all the reviews!

First round of Righteous Bisons all but vamoosed!
The Righteous Bison Indivisible Particle Smasher in all its lightweight glory was warmly welcomed when it first showed its brass piping to the public last year. Now, less than a year later, we are preparing for production run #2. If you still haven’t acquainted yourself in person with the Righteous Bison, we suggest you do so PROMPTLY!

Win!
To further entice you, the fine folk at Grordbort Industries Jollification Department have announced A CONTEST! The finest and most outlandish examples of posphorescent etchings (a.k.a. “photographs”) of the Righteous Bison and its handler in action will be awarded prizes in the form of Weta Dollars! 200 to the winner, 100 to one runner-up! Plus, of course, everlasting glory and a pat on the back! By submitting an entry, you of course agree to us using the image on our site, Facebook, Twitter and in newsletters. Email your entries (unlimited) to news@wetanz.co.nz before 15 September!

Electric Web Renovations Completed!
With no small measure of stealth, the card punchers in the engine room have just finished re-stabilising, transmogrifying and defragmenting Grordbort Industries’ Electric Web Dwelling. If you’ve never visited drgrordborts.com before, you should! There are wild tales of the unexpected, the uninhibited and the down-right unnatural! If you’ve been there before, you will recognise much. For now, we have just updated the “engine room” if you like, so that we can achieve much future greatness.

Platform Independence Day! Raygun Shootout Unleashed!
Dr. Grordbort’s Raygun Shootout, the 3D design contest where first prize is a trip to New Zealand is now open to ALL — not just users of Blender! The final leg in the competition involves the design and rotation of a raygun intended for 2-handed operation. This competition has seen some WONDERFUL entries and you should join in the fun!

A note of thanks
To all of you who attended our Dr. Grordbort’s Dinner at Cafe Polo in Miramar. We hope you had as much fun as we did! See you again next year?

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