Category: Arts & Culture

Dr. Grordbort Recommends

from Weta:

Colonial Frolics
We have ridded the factory floor of some of the peskier staff members. Messrs Taylor, Broadmore, Tremont and Launder have been shipped to the North American colonies for a bit of R&R at the San Diego Compartmentalised Picture Essay Jamboree. This is actually the first time Dr. Grordbort’s book VICTORY is available for signing on the North American continent! Greg Broadmore has been equipped with quills and a pint of ink and will be signing like there’s no tomorrow! If you could care less about Mr. Broadmore’s scribbles, you can always gawk at our Three Hand Painted and Customised Rayguns on display instead! The Iron Tiger, Der Adler and The Divine Ray are available EXCLUSIVELY to Jamboree participants (with enough cash). Aren’t they simply delightful?

Cutting Edge High End Contraption to be revealed at Jamboree
We can further divulge that major revelations are afoot at aforementioned convention. Grordbort Industries have been developing this particular little darling for some time and are GREATLY anticipating the unleashment on an unsuspecting public. Can you see what it is yet? We certainly can’t. Check out what the guys on the forum think…

Special Offers for SDCC patrons
At the convention will be a RANGE of Special Offers on Dr. Grordbort’s wares:

Heed our final warning:
LAST CHANCE to acquire an Unnatural Selector Ray Blunderbuss! Only 3 Left! Out of the 50, now only 3 remain. Order yours now.

Also getting scarce:
F.M.O.M. Wave Disrupter Gun — less than 20 left!

Follow Weta Online! Twitter | Facebook

Check Out What’s New for Celebration V This Week

from StarWars.com:

Only 4 Weeks Left Until Star Wars Celebration V!

Travel Discount Deadline Last Chance to Receive Exclusive Rates — July 21
LAST CHANCE to book discounted travel for Celebration V is July 21. Book your stay in Orlando this August through our official Travel Desk, powered by OnPeak and save! With rooms starting as low as just $65/night, getting to Celebration has never been more affordable. Don’t wait — book today! Reminder: OnPeak is the only official housing partner associated with Star Wars Celebration V. While other companies may contact you offering housing, they are not endorsed by or affiliated with Star Wars Celebration V.

Mark Hamill and Gary Kurtz at Celebration V!
Actor Mark Hamill, whose portrayal of Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars Saga has captured the imagination of generations of fans, will make his first United States Star Wars Celebration appearance this August 12-15 in Orlando, Florida. Hamill, whose acting career has encompassed scores of appearances in movies and television shows as well as critically acclaimed appearances on Broadway, will help mark the 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back along with scores of fans at the huge four-day festival at the Orange County Convention Center. Fans can meet Hamill in person in the Celebration Autograph Hall, run by Official Pix, where he is scheduled to sign autographs Friday and Saturday, with the possibility of extending to additional days. The actor is also scheduled for a rare appearance on the Celebration Stage. And in more guest news, producer Gary Kurtz will make a first-time appearance in the Celebration Autograph Hall at Star Wars Celebration V! Kurtz, who began his career with writer/director George Lucas as a co-producer on American Graffiti, produced A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. In addition to his production duties on Empire, Kurtz shouldered some of the second-unit directing duties of the film. He produced and directed the animated fantasy movie The Dark Crystal, working with Muppet creator Jim Henson and with the creator and voice of Yoda, Frank Oz. Recently Kurtz produced the British television series Friends and Heroes. Visit the Guests page, for more information. Don’t miss Mark Hamill and Gary Kurtz at Star Wars Celebration V!

Program Grid
Star Wars Celebration is four days of a galaxy far, far away dropped smack dab in the middle of Orlando. But what does that mean, really? It means non-stop presentations, workshops, contests, screenings, and special events in over a dozen stages, panel rooms, and screening rooms. Want to know when Empire Strikes Back is playing? Want to know when to check out the R2 Builders? Or maybe you want to know about everything else? Then check out the CV Event Schedule online now!

Get Your Exclusive Celebration V Gear — Only Available Online Until July 25
Don’t wait — this week marks your final opportunity to pre-order exclusive Celebration V t-shirts in advance of the event to ensure they don’t sell out before you get yours! Onsite quantities will be limited. Check out the website for details on mailing/pick up.

Star Wars Insider Announces Comic-Con and Celebration Plans
To mark the 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back, Titan is releasing a special tribute issue of Star Wars Insider with an exclusive Han Solo in Carbonite cover, available at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con International and at Star Wars Celebration V. This 100-page commemorative issue includes interviews with the cast and crew of The Empire Strikes Back, including: George Lucas, (story and executive producer), Irvin Kershner (Director), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett). The magazine also features interviews with the team behind Star Wars: The Clone Wars looking back on The Empire Strikes Back, 50 amazing facts about Empire, and an Empire merchandise guide. Plus, much more must-have material for all Star Wars fans. A special Empire cover, which features Han Solo in Carbonite, is available to purchase at the Titan booth at Comic-Con (stand #5537) and Celebration V (booth #521, part of the Gentle Giant booth). Visitors to the Star Wars Insider booth at Comic-Con and Celebration V will receive a FREE exclusive Star Wars Insider bookmark. Readers can keep up to date with more news and announcements from Star Wars Insider at the official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/StarWarsInsider. For more information, visit: titanmagazines.com.

Breaking News!
For more information about Star Wars Celebration V, visit the official site at starwarscelebration.com and be sure to check back next week for breaking news you won’t want to miss!

Celebrating 5 Years of MIMOBOT with NEW releases!

from Mimoco:

SDCC 10 Celebrating 5 Years! MIMOBOT!
Mimoco continues its five-year anniversary collection with the introduction of original characters — Dr. Knowledgeus and Isadore Glo, a San Diego Comic-Con exclusive — to its Core Series of memory-storing MIMOBOT alien robots. Learn More!

Infectious X MIMOBOT Design Challenge: Unmasked!
The Design Challenge submission period ends tomorrow on July 15! Have you Unmasked your MIMOBOT yet?! Deadline: July 15, 2010!

Video Premiere: The Doctor Is In!
Introducing the sickest scientific genius from Galaxy 4210 — Dr. Knowledgus.

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

NEW Stuff We Like!
Mickey and Minnie Mouse Bearbrick Mini-Figures
Collectors of Disneyana can add this unique set of mini-figures to their collection, as Mickey and Minnie are reworked in the style of Bearbrick figures. $18.95

LEGO Minifigures Series 1
Each minifigure comes in a sealed “mystery” bag, so you never know which minifigure you might get. $2.99

Factory Entertainment: Comic-Con Exclusives, Golden Gun LE Direct Store Bonus and more!

from Factory Entertainment:

It’s that time of year again! In this week’s newsletter we have a ton of announcements regarding all of our San Diego Comic-Con plans, including exciting convention exclusives! Booth #4044 is going to be “the place” to be and we can’t wait for you to stop by! We’re also very pleased to announce a special and limited exclusive to those of you who have already ordered or are about to order the James Bond Golden Gun Limited Edition from our online store. If you haven’t ordered from us yet, there are now MULTIPLE reasons that you should. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this opportunity… Here we go!

Factory Entertainment — Booth #4044 — July 22-25 — Exclusives

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 booth #4044 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!

The Prisoner Miniseries 5 Card Prop Set
• Each card features a piece of an original prop used in the filming of the miniseries.
• Limited to 200 sets
• Price $30 each

The Prisoner Miniseries Convention Exclusive Factory Set
• 72 Card Miniseries Base set
• Every set includes 2 exclusive Prisoner Miniseries Promo Cards:
No 1 : Ian McKellen miniseries Hand-Signed Autograph Card
No 2 : Patrick McGoohan Gold Foil Classic TV Series Facsimile Signature Card
• Each set also includes 1 random hand-drawn Sketch Card by one of the following artists: Clayton McCormack, Stacey G, Don Pedicini Jr, David Desbois, Bill Pulkovski, MO, Thanh Bui
• Limited to 400 sets
• Price $35 each

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 booth #4044 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!

On Display
Besides the many exclusives available to purchase at our booth, we’ll also have many items on display for the first time ever, including upcoming releases as well as sneak previews of future products. You will be able to see items from great licenses like:
The Green Hornet
The Princess Bride
The Beatles
Universal Monsters
…and more!

…which leads us to our next HUGE announcement for Comic-Con…

James Bond 007 Original Props On Display
We’re incredibly excited and honored to announce that we will have a number of original ‘screen used’ props from different classic James Bond movies on display in our booth. The props are graciously on loan from the EON Productions archives and make a rare public appearance. Don’t miss them, booth #4044.

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 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. (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.)

Green Hornet Contest Winners!
Congratulations to Rick from Kentucky and Tim from Michigan on winning an autographed copy of the amazingly detailed book, The Green Hornet: A History of Radio, Motion Pictures, Comics, and Television by Martin Grams and Terry Salomonson. Interested in ordering a copy for yourself? Click here to purchase.

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

VIZ Media Announces Exciting Personal Appearances, Activities and Show Exclusives for 2010 Comic-Con International

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced an exciting roster of personal appearances, panel discussions, events, giveaways and convention exclusives for 2010 Comic-Con International. Comic-Con is the nation’s largest comic book and science fiction event, and takes place July 21-25 at the San Diego Convention Center, California. VIZ Media will be located in Booth 2813.

Fans won’t want to miss a very special opportunity to meet comics and pop culture icon Stan Lee, co-creator along with Hiroyuki Takei (Shaman King) of the groundbreaking Ultimo manga series (rated “T” for Teens), on Saturday, July 24th. Mr. Lee will be a special guest at the Shonen Jump Panel, scheduled at 10:30AM in Room #9, where fans will get the latest manga and anime news and on-the-spot surprises, including a special Ultimo button for all attendees. Mr. Lee will also make an in-person appearance at the VIZ Media booth for a signing session of Ultimo Volume 2 at 1:15pm.

Vampire Knight (rated “T+” for Older Teens) is the newest anime series to captivate fans and is based on the smash hit manga series by Matsuri Hino, also published by VIZ Media. To celebrate the release of DVD Volume 1, the company is pleased to welcome as guests the talented voice actors Mela Lee (Yuki), Vic Mignogna (Zero) and Ethan Murray (Kaname) on Friday, July 23rd. Catch Vic Mignogna in the VIZ Media booth at 11:00am, where he will host the Vampire Knight trivia game. The festivities continue at 1:00pm, where fans will have the opportunity to meet the three voice actors at an in-booth signing session. Round out the day at the Vampire Knight Panel, at 3:30pm in Room #9, where Vampire Knight manga editor Nancy Thistlethwaite and the Vampire Knight voice actors will have an in-depth discussion of the edgy gothic romantic drama. There will also be a raffle, featuring exclusive prizes, for fans who come dressed in their best Vampire Knight costume.

The VIZ Media booth will be an exciting destination on the show floor for fans, with exclusive products available for purchase during special times throughout the show (attendees should check the digital signboard at the front of the booth for the daily schedule). For the Naruto: Shippuden fan, there will be a Naruto: Shippuden Limited Edition Sage Naruto Figure from Toynami and straight-from-Japan full-color reproduction Naruto: Shippuden animation cels (from Digital Manga) featuring favorite characters Naruto and Sasuke. Two special Vampire Knight bundles will be offered: Vampire Knight anime DVD Volume 1 with a Cross Academy armband set, and a set of 6 collectable Vampire Knight pins (armband and pins both from Great Eastern). Also available will be a bundle featuring One Piece Volume 54 (rated “T” for Teens) and One Piece Limited Edition Luffy Mallow (from FUNimation and Shocker Toys), and exclusive Bleach iPhone 3G/3GS cell phone cases from France in two designs featuring Ichigo and Toshiro.

VIZ Media will be offering a variety of fun activities at the booth this year. Fans can pose with their favorite Vampire Knight or Kekkaishi anime characters in a special photo area. Test your knowledge in the Naruto and Bleach trivia games. Try the fan-favorite claw catcher game to snag fun Naruto: Shippuden or Bleach prizes. Everyone’s a winner at the VIZ Media Treasure Trove, where players grab a coin to exchange for cool prizes. Fans can sample the video game area, featuring Namco Bandai Games America with a preview of Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 (Rated “T” for Teen) for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Scan your badge to enter to win a Naruto Shippuden-branded PSP game system and Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3 (Rated “T” for Teen) for the PSP (no purchase necessary), and get a Bandai collectible card good for three free Naruto Shippuden episodes on the PlayStation Network.

The VIZ Media collectable tote bag is back in a brand new color for 2010 — get your free bag to see what series are featured this year. Other giveaways include Biomega posters, VIZ Media Bling, Vampire Knight manga samplers, and much more while supplies last!

Finally, VIZ Media is proud to have three manga titles — Oishinbo (rated “T” for Teens), by Tetsu Kariya and Akira Hanasaki; Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka (rated “T+” for Older Teens), by Naoki Urasawa, Takashi Nagasaki, Macoto Tezka and Tezuka Productions; and Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys (rated “T+” for Older Teens), by Naoki Urasawa — nominated for 5 awards for the 2010 Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards, which are considered the Oscars of the comic book industry. In addition, Naoki Urasawa is nominated for Best Writer/Artist for his work on Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys and Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka. Winners will be announced at a gala ceremony at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel on the evening of Friday, July 23rd.

For more up-to-date information on VIZ Media’s activities at San Diego Comic-Con International, visit VIZAnime.com/comiccon.

ThinkGeek: for humanoids 00010101+ only

from ThinkGeek:

Dear Mayors of ThinkGeek,

Thanks for checking in! Today is the dorkiest AND best day ever. For starters, it’s Embrace Your Geekness Day. We don’t know about you, but we wear our geek on the outside. Also, self-hugging is skeevy. We prefer to use today to celebrate the birthday of Sir Patrick Stewart, the only bald guy who can look sexy and powerful while wearing a jumpsuit.

Since we can’t raise a glass of synthehol in his honor (yet!), we’ll just use these bottles of beer our new robot opened. Happy Birthday, Jean-Luc!

BeerBot Bottle Opening Shirt — Because you can quit anytime you want
Straight from a friendly robot company in Tijuana, we bring you the BeerBot Bottle Opening Shirt. This slightly inebriated robot forgot about the Three Laws six beers ago, but he’ll gladly help you pop the top of your brewski. When life is hilariously cruel and hands you a beer without a means to open it, you can laugh as you throw wide your jacket and hand the bottle to your BeerBot. Just remember, meatbags, drink responsibly.

Find more What’s New items at ThinkGeek!

VIZ Media Announces Special New Promotion for “InuYasha” Feature Films and TV Episodes Available from iTunes, Hulu and VIZAnime.com

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media announces a new promotion for InuYasha episodes and feature films (all rated “T” for Teens) available now from the iTunes Store in the U.S. and Canada (iTunes.com), as well as the streaming content provider Hulu (Hulu.com) and VIZAnime.com, the company’s premier website for anime.

iTunes will offer the first three InuYasha feature films (dubbed) — InuYasha the Movie: Affections Touching Across Time, InuYasha the Movie: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass, and InuYasha the Movie: Swords of an Honorable Ruler, for a special Download-To-Own (DTO) sale price of $4.99 (U.S.) each until August 3rd. Additionally, InuYasha TV episode 1 is available to download for FREE, and episodes 2-167, covering Seasons 1-7, will be 50% off and available for iTunes users to download for only $0.99 each.

Hulu will stream InuYasha the Movie: Affections Touching Across Time (subtitled) for free until August 11th; it will also be available during the same period on VIZAnime.com, the free-to-use interactive web destination that is the permanent home to some of the company’s best-loved animated series.

InuYasha is a hit TV anime series is based on a massively popular manga (also published by VIZ Media, rated “T+” for Older Teens) by famed creator Rumiko Takahashi, who won the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award for the series in 2002. Many of Takahashi’s titles have been adapted into other media such as anime, live-action TV series, and film. The InuYasha anime series ran for 167 episodes in total and has also spawned an exciting finale series, InuYasha: The Final Act (also available on VIZAnime.com), as well as several successful feature films.

InuYasha
When an enchanted well draws her into the past, Kagome, an ordinary modern schoolgirl, finds her destiny tied to the doglike half-demon InuYasha and a mythical gem called the Shikon Jewel, or “Jewel of Four Souls,” of which the smallest shard can grant the user unimaginable power. Throughout their quest to restore the shattered Shikon Jewel, InuYasha and Kagome have never faced an enemy more deadly or more cunning than the demon mastermind Naraku. With the Shikon Jewel nearly whole and in Naraku’s hands, the race to collect the remaining shards intensifies and a battle of epic proportions is brewing on the horizon…

InuYasha the Movie: Affections Touching Across Time
200 years ago, InuYasha’s father sealed away a powerful demon from a foreign land named Hyoga. A Shikon Jewel shard awakens Hyoga’s son, Menomaru, inspiring him to absorb the remains of his father’s power to take control of the world! It’s now up to InuYasha and his friends to stop this nearly invincible foe!

InuYasha the Movie: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass
With their greatest foe seemingly defeated, InuYasha and his friends return to their lives. But their short period of peace is once again shattered as a new enemy begins to emerge. Kaguya, the self-proclaimed Princess from the Moon of legend, begins a plan to plunge the world into a perpetual night of the full moon. InuYasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango and Shippo must once again unite to face a new threat.

InuYasha the Movie: Swords of an Honorable Ruler
Many years ago, the Great Dog Demon wielded the Three Swords of the Fang. Upon his death, he bequeathed a sword to each of his sons, InuYasha and Sesshomaru, leaving the third sword, the wrath-filled Sounga, locked away forever. Now that the Sounga’s power has been awakened, these two battling brothers must put away their sibling rivalry and face off against the force that spells doom for all mankind.

To learn more about the InuYasha anime and manga series, please visit VIZAnime.com or ShonenSunday.com.

J!NX: 15% off your order of $30+, plus Two New Tees

from J!NX:

New Wil Wheaton Collaboration Tees: Meeps and 8 Bit Crest
This week marks the conclusion of our first J!NX Collaboration with Wil Wheaton. The first of the final two shirts in the series, Meeps, honors the little wooden figures we love so much in table-top gaming. The other design, 8 Bit Crest, pays homage to science, gaming, sci-fi, and writing — interests quite prevalent among anyone living the Wheaton lifestyle.

New Promo! Get 15% off orders of $30 or more!
OMG, a new promotion! This week, you can get 15% off of orders of $30 or more when you enter the code “MEEPS” during checkout. Offer valid until 11:59pm (PDT) on 7/16/10. Not valid in combination with any other sale or discount.

Want More Ways to Save?
The J!NX Newsletter is a great way to keep up with our new products, events, and upcoming sales, but did you know that there are even more opportunities for discounts and contests via Facebook and Twitter? Simply “like” us on Facebook (BTW: We still don’t like the term “like”), and follow us on Twitter, and from time to time you’ll receive news on special promotions!

15% off all products for orders $30+

Use Promotion Code: MEEPS
This offer expires Friday, July 16, 2010 at 11:59PM PDT, so don’t wait!

Comic Book Icon Stan Lee to Make a Los Angeles Personal Appearance to Celebrate His Newest Co-Creation “Ultimo”

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media has announced a very special personal appearance by comic book legend Stan Lee on Friday, June 16th at 7:00pm at the Barnes & Noble bookstore at The Grove at Farmers Market in Los Angeles, located at 189 Grove Drive Suite K 30, Los Angeles, CA 90036. Lee is the co-creator of comics’ most iconic superheroes including Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men. His Barnes & Noble appearance celebrates the release of Volume 2 of his latest co-creation — Ultimo, and he will be autographing copies of Ultimo Volumes 1 and 2.

Ultimo (rated “T” for Teens) is a historic East-meets-West collaboration between Lee and famed Japanese manga creator, Hiroyuki Takei, the creator of the popular Shaman King series. Ultimo, Volume 2 is available in stores now and is also serialized in VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump Magazine.

VIZ Media will also welcome Stan Lee for a special appearance in the company’s booth #2813 on Saturday, July 24th at Comic-Con International 2010, the nation’s largest comic book convention taking place in San Diego, California.

The Ultimo back-story: High above Farmless City, citizens are stunned by the sudden appearance of two floating figures. Are they human boys, monolithic robots, or something much more strange? As the battle ensues between them, destruction and devastation falls on the hapless city. One figure is Vice, who seems to be as evil as his name implies. The other is Ultimo, intent on trying to stop Vice from wreaking more havoc. But who are Vice and Ultimo really? Where did they come from? In Volume 2, with girl and money troubles, life is hard enough for high school student Yamato, but then he stumbles upon Ultimo, a peculiar-looking puppet. Things only get stranger when Ultimo awakens and his archenemy, Vice, shows up. Ultimo and Vice are Karakuri Dôji, the mechanical embodiment of pure good and pure evil, devoid of human emotions that can cloud one’s judgment. Their purpose: to battle to the death to prove once and for all whether good or evil is the most powerful force in the universe.

For more information on Ultimo please visit Ultimo.viz.com or shonenjump.com.

Weta: Sir Ian McKellen and new District 9 gun

from Weta:

Listen to Ian McKellen on the Weta Cast
Gandalf himself, Sir Ian McKellen, made a stop at Weta Workshop during his stay in Wellington last week. Sir Ian was in town with Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, which is currently touring after a successful run in London. We met in the Weta Cave and had a few words with the always gracious Sir Ian. Daniel has also interviewed French sculptor Pierre Matter. He was at Weta last year — this interview has been “in the can” for a while, but that has not made it any less interesting. Regardless whether you are or aren’t familiar with Pierre’s work, you should tune in and visit his website so you get the visual stimulants along with the interview. Pierre’s work is awe inspiring. Get Episode XVI of the Weta Cast here!

NEW! Arc Generator Miniature
Joining the Assault Rifle in Weta’s range of miniature alien weapons from District 9 is the familiar Arc Generator. Familiar because its full-size counterpart is just about to be delivered to the lucky ones who pre-ordered. Order Your Arc Generator Miniature Here! This is an incredible miniature model of the full size gun, cast in metal it carries significant weight. Dave Tremont has done a fantastic job with Greg Broadmore’s iconic design.

Download and print our Comic-Con Specials!

Doctor Who Helmet Extravaganza!
Does your alien 1/4 scale helmet collection need a boost? For a week, we’re offering these helmets at US$20 OFF! That’s US$39 | GBP25 for the Cyberman Leader Helmet and for Lord President Borusa’s Headdress and US$29 | GBP19.20 for each of the other four. Gorgeous, incredibly detailed pieces of metal, each on its own stand and weighing in around 2 lbs, these helmets represent some of the creepiest aliens ever seen on the small screen, lovingly modelled by David Tremont, Weta’s resident Wholigan. And thanks to some international currency fluctuations we’re able to offer these at a fantastic price.

Dinner and Tall Tales with Dr. Grordbort’s Venusian Hunting Party!
Join Dr. Grordbort and his team for tales of Venusian rustics and ray guns in an ‘out of this world’ dining experience. The hunting party will meet at the Weta Cave and be escorted to Cafe Polo for a sumptuous four course dinner in an exclusively themed setting. More information and how to book!

Weta Cave museum change-out — tell us what you think should be in the cabinets!
Once a year, the Weta Cave gets a make-over. The mini museum has some of its displays replaced with new and exciting props, costumes, weapons, dummies and all sorts of objects from Weta’s recent as well as distant past. Go to the forum on the Shadow and Flame and tell us which are your favourite Weta props and make a case for why they should be on display.

We’re also having a book launch at the Weta Cave 14 August. Read more about this event on Facebook.

Follow Weta Online! Twitter | Facebook

VIZ Media and POW! Entertainment Welcome “Ultimo” Co-Creator Stan Lee for a Personal Appearance at 2010 Comic-Con International

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), and POW! Entertainment (POW!) are proud to welcome comic book legend Stan Lee for a special signing at the VIZ Media booth #2813 on Saturday, July 24th, at Comic-Con International 2010 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.

Stan Lee will appear at the VIZ Media booth at the nation’s largest comic book convention to help celebrate the release of Ultimo Volume 2. Ultimo (rated “T” for Teens) is the historic collaboration between Stan Lee and famed Japanese manga creator Hiroyuki Takei, and has been serialized in Shonen Jump Magazine since its debut in 2009. Volume 2 is available in stores now. Starting at 4PM on Thursday, July 22nd, and Friday, July 23rd, the first 60 fans to purchase Ultimo Volume 2 at the VIZ Media booth each day will receive a ticket to have their copy personally autographed by Mr. Lee on Saturday, July 24th, at 1:15PM.

VIZ Media will also welcome Stan Lee as a special guest at the Shonen Jump panel, scheduled for Saturday, July 24th, from 10:30-11:30AM in Room 9.

Ultimo represents a rare East-meets-West production between comics legend Stan Lee, co-creator of many iconic superheroes including Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men, and Hiroyuki Takei, the creator of the popular Shaman King manga series, published in Japan by Shueisha and in North America by VIZ Media.

The Ultimo back-story: High above Farmless City, citizens are stunned by the sudden appearance of two floating figures. Are they human boys, monolithic robots, or something much more strange? As the battle ensues between them, destruction and devastation falls on the hapless city. One figure is Vice, who seems to be as evil as his name implies. The other is Ultimo, intent on trying to stop Vice from wreaking more havoc. But who are Vice and Ultimo really? Where did they come from? In Volume 2, with girl and money troubles, life is hard enough for high school student Yamato, but then he stumbles upon Ultimo, a peculiar-looking puppet. Things only get stranger when Ultimo awakens and his archenemy, Vice, shows up. Ultimo and Vice are Karakuri Dôji, the mechanical embodiment of pure good and pure evil, devoid of human emotions that can cloud one’s judgment. Their purpose: to battle to the death to prove once and for all whether good or evil is the most powerful force in the universe.

For over half a century, Stan Lee has been synonymous with superhero comics. In addition to co-creating countless memorable series and characters, including Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, and Daredevil, he served as the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics. Lee remains a hugely respected and dynamic figure in the entertainment industry and continues to develop a variety of film, television and video game properties.

“We are extremely honored to have a legend of Stan Lee’s stature as a guest at the VIZ Media booth for a special signing at Comic-Con this year,” says Christopher Boily, Shonen Jump Editor-In-Chief. “The groundbreaking collaboration of the Ultimo manga has been a great success, and we are also extremely excited to welcome Mr. Lee as a guest at this year’s Shonen Jump panel in celebration of the release of Volume 2 of Ultimo!”

Stan Lee and his producing partner Gill Champion’s company, POW! Entertainment, worked with VIZ Media parent company Shueisha, and with JEA and Dream Ranch to facilitate the development of Ultimo. Champion, POW!’s COO and President, says, “Fans won’t want to miss Ultimo Volume 2 as more of the mysteries surrounding the Karakuri Dôji are finally explained. The characters that Stan and Hiroyuki Takei have created together are both classic and unique at the same time, with many different aspects that both manga and American comic fans will enjoy!”

For more information on Ultimo, Shonen Jump and VIZ Media please visit Ultimo.viz.com or shonenjump.com. You can also stay up-to-date on all Shonen Jump happenings by following ShonenJump on Twitter.