Category: Arts & Culture

An OPEN Internet

In response to the continuing debate of proposed law changes and aggressive attacks on freedom of speech and information on the internet, my state Senator is revealing information about her proposed changes to fight piracy and copywrite infringement without sensoring the internet. I’d like your feedback. What do you think of her proposals?

from Senator Maria Cantwell:

Thank you to the thousands of Washingtonians who raised your voices last week to support an open and free Internet. Thanks for your phone calls and emails to our office regarding the PROTECT IP Act.

Like you, I believe that America’s economy thrives on innovation and freedom of speech. The Internet allows entrepreneurs in Washington state and around the world to create ground-breaking companies and fuel economic growth. We cannot afford to rush an Internet policy that could trample on our innovation economy.

That’s why I opposed the PROTECT IP Act in the Senate from the beginning, and have offered an alternative – the OPEN Act. We need to protect creative content on the Internet from piracy by rogue foreign websites, but we must do so in a way that also protects freedom of speech, innovation and security on the Internet. Read more about the OPEN Act here, or read the full bill text here.

ARCANA COMICS Announces FCBD, Pre-Orders, and Winter Sale

from Arcana:

Arcana Comics is excited to ring in the new year with a bunch of new books, sales, and an amazing FCBD event! If you haven’t heard, this year, we’re starting a company-wide crossover, kicking off on Free Comic Book Day with INTRINSIC! Read more about that below. Also, our winter sale is still going on, so don’t miss out on that. You can receive 25% off all purchases from our store by entering the code “ARCANAWINTER” at checkout. We’re adding new books all the time, so it’s worth a glance over at our store. Keep reading…

Please remember that all Pre-Orders are Diamond and we’re in the final weeks of ordering from the January 2012 Previews, so if there are any books that pique your interest, be sure to ask you local comic shop to order them. If you’re a store, give Arcana Comics a try!

We’re 175 Graphic Novels and 227 Characters strong and growing every month!

Don’t forget to check out our iPad/iPhone App. It’s a free download in the iStore and gives you access to the Arcana catalog and exclusive downloads! For those Android users out there, there are also Arcana books available through the ComiXology app. DOWNLOAD FROM THE ISTORE.

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY

Arcana is proud to be participating in another Free Comic Book Day this year, but this time we’re doing things quite different. We’re kicking off an AMAZING company-wide crossover called INTRINSIC, which will blow you away. We can’t give a lot away now, but we can provide a sneak peak of the cover to INTRINSIC above, plus a description below. Be sure to ask your local comic book shop to get you a copy of INTRINSIC! You won’t want to miss it… trust us! For the price of free, you can’t go wrong.

DIAMOND CODE: JAN120014
FCBD LINK: CLICK HERE

DESCRIPTION: Horrors from different worlds have assembled to bring about a global threat known only as The End. A Philosopher has recognized the signs in time to gather his own forces for Good – including an ordinary, powerless young woman. Only together can they avert disaster on a biblical scale. Every last one of them… is Intrinsic. ‘Intrinsic’ is a company crossover event bringing together characters from hundres of titles beneath Arcana’s library. It is an event of unprecedented ambition, unlike anything that has been before.

To learn more about ARCANA announcements and upcoming titles and sales, check out their webiste at arcana.com

ABOUT ARCANA STUDIOS

Arcana Studios, Inc. is a transmedia company that has aggressively pursued establishing brands through engaging storytelling and compelling art. With a strong foothold in the print publishing world, Arcana continues to be a premier content provider. Arcana owns one of the world’s largest libraries of graphic novels and comics, and has adapted this library into live action feature films, stereoscopic 3D animated features, episodic television series and toys.

Arcana Studios, Inc. remains independent of major entertainment studio affiliation. Arcana Studios is currently in production of the stereoscopic 3D animated feature, The Clockwork Girl. Arcana is also partnered with Gale Ann Hurd (“Terminator”, “Aliens”) on Gearhead, Alexandra Milchan (Sylvestor Stallone’s “Head Shot”) on Blade of Kumori, Hans Rodinoff and Hollywood Media Bridge (“Lost Boys: The Tribe”) on Raise Kane, Scott Milam (“Mother’s Day”) on Gauze, Ben Magid (“Hack/Slash”) on Trout, Jar Productions (“Hidden Howie”) on Philosopher Rex, Terry Dougas (“The Invention of Lying”) on The Tower, Doc Wyatt (“Napoleon Dynamite”) on 100 Girls, JC Spink (“The Hangover”) on Continuum, Adrian Askarieh (“The Hitman”) on Amnesia and also is producing a three slate at Codeblack/Universal for Light’s Out, Ant and Blam!

Darth Maul Me

From Star Wars:

Join the dark side and become Darth Maul using the free Darth Maul Me mobile app from Star Wars: Episode I in 3D.  Whether you want to turn your face completely into one of Star Wars’ greatest villains, use the partial Darth Maul tattoos, or only give yourself the Sith eyes, Darth Maul Me has an option for you.  Simply take a photo with your camera or use an existing photo to quickly and easily turn yourself into Darth Maul.  Share your creation with your friends and encourage them to join you on the dark side.

 

See Star Wars: Episode I in 3D on the big screen; only in cinemas!

Supported Devices:

iPhone 3GS / 4 / 4S and iPod Touch

Supported OS:

iOS 5 and above.

FAIREST #1

From TFAW:

This March, New York Times best-selling, award-winning creator Bill Willingham presents Fairest, a new series starring the female characters from his Fables series. Balancing horror, humor and adventure, Fairest explores the secret histories of Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Cinderella, The Snow Queen, Thumbelina, Snow White, Rose Red, and many more.
The first 6-issue arc follows the misadventures of Briar Rose after she is stolen away by the goblin army in Fables #107. Fan-favorite artist Phil Jimenez (Wonder Woman, The Invisibles) returns to Vertigo to pencil the opening storyline. Award-winning cover artist Adam Hughes (Wonder Woman, Batgirl) provides covers, starting with a wraparound cover on issue #1.

Each issue will carry a $2.99 cover price, but you’ll save 35% off the first issue when you subscribe to the series or pre-order your copy at TFAW by 1/31! That’s just $1.94. Are you game?

ORDER FAIREST #1 TODAY FOR JUST $1.94
SUBSCRIBE TO FAIREST TODAY & GET ISSUE #1 FOR $1.94

 

New Teaser for Detention of the Dead

A new zombie flick from actor-turned-filmmaker Alex Craig Mann is currently in post production with an early 2012 release slated. Even if it wasn’t a zombie film, I’d be interested as it was filmed in Michigan. My home state has turned out some great films and filmmakers over the years – we trolls have talent! Due to the wide variety of scenery including sandy white beaches, mountains, fields, forests and large lakes that can double as oceans, Michigan has been a draw not only for local born talent to build a resume (Such as the Raimi brothers, Bruce Campbell, Jerry Bruckheimer, Francis Ford Coppola, Roger Corman, Albert and Allen Hughes just to name a few)  but other productions seeking to avoid higher taxes and even industry strikes in Hollywood.

Detention of the Dead is a zombie comedy tribute to Michigan native and film Icon John Hughes who gave us such films as Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and dozens of other films that defined a generation of youth. Detention of the Dead is basically a send-up of The Breakfast Club but instead of fighting the over-zealous Principal, they must fight for their lives as the student body becomes zombified.

Detention of the Dead stars Max Adler (Glee), Justin Chon (Twilight), Jayson Blair (The Hard Times of RJ Berger), Christa B. Allen (Revenge, 13 going on 30), Alexa Nikolas (Red State, Zoey 101), and Jacob Zachar (Greek)

 

When there’s no more room in Hell, the dead will go to DETENTION!!!!

It was bound to happen. If you put large group of conformity driven pubescences, aka your average teenager, together for long enough, you can’t be surprised when one day they decide to eat each other…

Comedy and Horror unite in this “The Breakfast Club” meets “Shaun of the Dead” tale about a group of oddball high school students who find themselves trapped in detention during a Zombie Apocalypse. Can they put their differences aside and work together to survive the night? Fat chance! This is High School after all.

 

You can follow updates on Detention of the Dead at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and on their Blog

BARNES & NOBLE AND VIZ MEDIA BRING THE DIGITAL MANGA EXPERIENCE TO NOOK TABLET™ AND NOOK COLOR™

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the leading retailer of digital media and educational products, today announced that it has teamed up with VIZ Media, LLC, the largest distributor and publisher of anime and manga in North America, to bring the digital manga (graphic novel) experience to NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color customers. Debuting in the NOOK Store™ today, VIZ Media’s collection includes 18 series, featuring 107 volumes, from its popular Shojo Beat, Shonen Sunday and VIZ Signature imprints. Volumes are available for purchase and fast download in the U.S. and Canada for $4.99 – $9.99 (U.S. / CAN) each. New digital manga volumes, including previews, will be available weekly.

Viewing manga on NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color is authentic thanks to Barnes & Noble’s newly implemented technology that formats manga in its original right-to-left reading order. Read your favorite graphic novels on the award-winning NOOK 7-inch devices, which feature a full-color VividView™ touchscreen. NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color also give you access to the world’s largest digital bookstore, popular movies, TV shows, music and more through the top entertainment services, as well as a collection of high-quality apps, fast Web browsing and email.

Over its 25 year history, VIZ Media has led the transformation of manga and anime from a niche category into a mass media phenomenon, telling stories that resonate with audiences and fans all over North America. The VIZ Media library includes global hits like BLACK BIRD, BLEACH, CROSS GAME, KEKKAISHI, NARUTO and VAMPIRE KNIGHT.

“NOOK Tablet  and NOOK Color are ideal devices for our customers to enjoy manga in stunning high resolution color that virtually makes the action leap off the page,” said Theresa Horner, Vice President of Digital Content for Barnes & Noble. “We’re excited to work with VIZ Media to offer NOOK customers access to some of the most popular manga titles available in North America.”

“The Barnes & Noble team and VIZ Media have put together a fantastic manga reading experience by giving NOOK customers full control of their reading experience with the ability to pinch and zoom to dive into the tiniest details” says Alvin Lu, Senior Vice President and General Manager of VIZ Media. “Barnes & Noble has been a major partner with VIZ Media for many years in growing the North American print manga market, and we’re very excited to expand our relationship to make our vast digital library of manga titles available to NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color customers. Over 100 volumes will be available at launch and we look forward to quickly expanding these selections to more than 500 in the coming months.”

The following manga titles are available today with many more coming:

Absolute Boyfriend Vols. 1-6 ·  Rated “T+” for Older Teens

Arata: The Legend Vols. 1-8 ·  Rated “T” for Teens

Backstage Prince Vols. 1 & 2 ·  Rated “T” for Teens

Beast Master Vols. 1-2 ·  Rated “T+” for Older Teens

Black Bird Vols. 1-11 ·  Rated “T+” for Older Teens

Children of the Sea Vols. 1-4 ·  Rated “T+” for Older Teens

Cross Game Vols. 1-4 ·  Rated “T” for Teens

Dengeki Daisy Vols. 1-7 ·  Rated “T+” for Older Teens

Fushigi Yugi: Genbu KaidEn Vols. 1-9 ·  Rated “T+” for Older Teens

House of Five Leaves Vols. 1-5 ·  Rated “T+” for Older Teens

Hyde & Closer Vols. 1-6 ·  Rated “T+” for Older Teens

I’ll Give It My All…Tomorrow Vols. 1-4 ·  Rated “T+” for Older Teens

Kekkaishi Vols. 1-19 ·  Rated “T” for Teens

Maoh: Juvenile remix Vols. 1-7 ·  Rated “T+” for Older Teens

not simple ·  Rated “T+” for Older Teens

Oishinbo Vols. 1-5 ·  Rated “T” for Teens

Saturn Apartments Vols. 1-4 ·  Rated “T” for Teens

Solanin ·  Rated “T+” for Older Teens

What A Wonderful World! Vols. 1 & 2 ·  Rated “T+” for Older Teens

 

For more information on VIZ Media manga titles, please visit www.VIZ.com.

For more information on NOOK, please visit www.nook.com.

To purchase VIZ Media manga titles for the NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color, please visit the NOOK Book Store at www.barnesandnoble.com/u/NOOK-Comics-Graphic-Novels-Manga/379003302/

VIZ MEDIA BRINGS BLUE DRAGON: TRIALS OF THE SEVEN SHADOWS TO NORTH AMERICAN FANS ON VIZANIME.COM AND HULU

VIZ Media has announced the launch of BLUE DRAGON: TRIALS OF THE SEVEN SHADOWS, the second season of the hit fantasy adventure series BLUE DRAGON (both rated TV-14), available now on VIZAnime.com, the company’s own website for free anime, as well as on the streaming content provider HULU (www.Hulu.com). Episodes 1-5 are available now, and 2 new episodes will debut each Friday.

The BLUE DRAGON series is based on the exclusive Xbox 360 videogame “BLUE DRAGON,” developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of “Final Fantasy,” and features character designs by Akira Toriyama, the creator of the best-selling DRAGON BALL series of manga (published in North America by VIZ Media).

BLUE DRAGON is a classic adventure story of magical Shadow powers, flying air fortresses, and unbounded heroism! Brought together by fate, Seven Soldiers of Light must awaken the Shadow within themselves in time to overcome a despotic power and bring peace to their land. Their ensuing journey through a rich fantasy world is also an internal journey to awaken the great power within each of them.

In the exciting Second Season, Shu and his friends fought to defeat the evil lord Nene, the ruler of the Grankingdom. Nene was defeated, but it was revealed that the true evil was none other than Zola, who was the avatar of the legendary Darkness. Shu and the other Seven Soldiers of Light managed to once again seal off the force of Darkness, but lost their Shadow Powers in the process. Two years has passed since the battle with Darkness. As Shu and Bouquet continue their battle against General Logi and his Rosekstan army, a new threat arrives. Powerful dragons calling themselves the “Legion of Elite Species” set out to test the worthiness of mankind, selecting Shu as the candidate.

For more information on this and other animated titles from VIZ Media please visit www.VIZAnime.com.

JOIN THE STRAW HAT PIRATES AND DIVE INTO THE ARTWORK OF EIICHIRO ODA IN THE NEW ONE PIECE COLOR WALK VOL. 2 FROM VIZ MEDIA

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced the release of a new collection of manga (graphic novel) creator Eiichiro Oda’s artwork from the bestselling pirate adventure, ONE PIECE, with the publication of the ONE PIECE COLOR WALK Vol. 2 on January 3, 2011.The new art book is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will carry an MSRP of $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN.

Color images and special illustrations from one of the world’s most popular manga are offered in this vivid new art collection. The book features behind-the-scenes info on how certain characters were designed and also includes an interview with Eiichiro Oda where he discusses his history and evolution as a manga artist. The book also includes a bonus postcard and in-bound full-color poster!

In the ONE PIECE manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens), Monkey D. Luffy is
inspired as a child to become a pirate by listening to the tales of the
buccaneer “Red-Haired” Shanks. But Luffy’s life changes forever when he
accidentally eats the cursed Gum-Gum fruit, and gains the power to stretch like rubber – but at the cost of never being able to swim again! Years later, still vowing to become the king of the pirates, Luffy sets out on an epic adventure… One guy alone in a rowboat, in search of the legendary “One Piece,” said to be the greatest treasure in the world.

“ONE PIECE is the most popular manga series in Japan and continues to be the bestselling manga series of all time with more than 240 million volumes sold to-date,” says Alexis Kirsch, Editor. “This new edition of ONE PIECE COLOR WALK Art Book features a big selection of Eiichiro Oda’s artwork rendered in vivid full color. Oda’s illustrations are imaginative, playful, and often dramatic, and most have never been seen before outside Japan. We invite fans to savor all the character and cover art contained in this wonderful new edition!”

Eiichiro Oda began his manga career at the age of 17, when his one-shot
cowboy manga Wanted! won second place in the coveted Tezuka manga awards.
Oda went on to work as an assistant to some of the biggest manga artists in the industry, including Nobuhiro Watsuki (RUROUNI KENSHIN), before winning the Hop Step Award for new artists. His pirate adventure ONE PIECE, which debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 1997, quickly became one of the most popular manga series in Japan and also enjoys a major worldwide following.

More information on the ONE PIECE manga series is available at
http://OnePiece.viz.com. The ONE PIECE manga series may also be read digitally through the VIZ Manga App for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, or through VIZManga.com for desktop/laptop computers or any internet-enabled device.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets
and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan. Owned by
three of Japan’s largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc.,
Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media
has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking
audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa.
With its popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine and
blockbuster properties like Naruto, Bleach and InuYasha, VIZ Media offers
cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime,
manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages. VIZ Media properties
are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature
films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.
Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

VIZ MEDIA EXTENDS 20% OFF HOLIDAY PROMOTION TO COVER ALL DIGITAL MANGA TITLES ON VIZMANGA.COM AND THE VIZ MANGA APP THRU JANUARY 8th

Fans Invited To Explore New Series Or Catch Up On Popular Ongoing Titles With A Special Discount That Applies To More han 500 Digital Manga Volumes

VIZ Media has extended its recently announced holiday digital manga promotion. Now through Midnight (PST), January 8th, 2012, all VIZ Media manga titles on VIZManga.com and the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch will be up to 20% off (regular prices range from $4.99 to $9.99).

The promotion gives readers an opportunity to explore the new SHONEN JUMP DIGITAL WARP ‘speed-ups’ of selected titles such as ONE PIECE and BLEACH, that will quickly bring U.S. readers up-to-date with Japanese releases, catch up with other ongoing VIZ Media manga series, or discover brand new ones!

VIZ Media’s multiple digital manga platforms enable universal access to enjoy manga from an iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and now, on VIZManga.com for desktop/laptop computers as well as Android-powered devices with built-in web browsers. With one account, registered users may access their purchases across even more devices than ever.

The free VIZ Manga App continues to be the top application for reading manga and features a rapidly growing library of the most popular manga series in the world. Over 45 series and 500+ volumes are currently available, with new additions and free Chapter 1 previews added weekly.

For more information, please visit VIZManga.com
 or www.VIZ.com/apps.

Remembering Darrel K. Sweet

The Sci-fi and fantasy literature family suffered another great loss this week, my favorite cover artist: Darrel K. Sweet. I can’t tell you how many times I bought a book just because he painted the cover. As a budding child artist, I would draw his covers on my bedroom wall with colored pencils, some of which my mother actually painted “Frames” around to keep when she painted the rest of the wall. He was a huge influence on me artistically and imaginatively.

He had a very unique style that identified his artwork at a glance. With over 3,000 paintings completed, his art adorned the covers of many a well-loved book including such series as The Wheel of Time, Xanth and The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. I can’t imagine that the next Xanth and final Wheel of Time and Thomas Covenant books will not be graced by his artwork wrapped around it.

They always say, “You can’t judge a book by it’s cover” but you could if it featured art by Darrel K. Sweet.

From Locus Online:

Artist Darrell K. Sweet, 77, died December 5, 2011. Sweet’s first illustrations were for Ballantine Books in 1975, and when the Del Rey imprint was formed in 1977, he produced many of their covers. Since then he has created illustrations for most of the major SF publishers, including Berkeley, Ace, and Tor. He is perhaps now best known for his illustrations of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, but he also produced memorable covers for Stephen R. Donaldson’s Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Xanth series by Piers Anthony, and novels by Jack L. Chalker, Terry Brooks, L.E. Modesitt, Jr., and many others.

Sweet was born in 1934 in New Brunswick NJ, and graduated from Syracuse University in 1956 with a degree in fine arts. He already had a reputation as a painter of animals, still lifes, and pastoral scenes when he started illustrating SF. He was nominated for a professional artist Hugo in 1983, and was a Chesley Award finalist many times.

 

ThinkGeek Loves Han. (He Knows.)

from ThinkGeek:

Last holiday ever?

We had to chuckle when a spam email reminded us that the Mayans predicted we’ll be outta here before the holly daze of 2012. If that’s the case, ThinkGeek is prepared! We’re ready to rock your under-tree zone with gifts for fans of Star Wars, Portal, and bonsai kitties.

And zombie fans, don’t fret. The Walking Dead is gone until February, but we have plenty of undead for you here.

Star Wars Han Solo in Carbonite Chocolate Bar
Taste the rich chocolate bounty. Getting these Han Solo in Carbonite Chocolate Bars shipped in from a galaxy far, far, away took a long, long time, but they’re finally here! Enjoy this rich chocolate bounty from Tatooine’s Tasty Treats. It’s the ultimate delight for Star Wars fans — or anyone who has ever wanted to eat Han Solo, for that matter.

Take $10 Off – Happy Blue Beanie Day!
We hope you used the Thanksgiving break to upgrade the browsers on the computers of your not-so-tech-savvy relations. If you didn’t, please do it next month and make the web designers and code monkeys of the world super duper happy! In honor of Blue Beanie day and web standards, we offer $5 off $30 or $10 off $50 by using the code BLUEBEANIE, good through 11:59pm ET on 12/02/11.

Find more What’s New items at ThinkGeek!