Dark Horse Comics and Sideshow Collectibles Wish You A Happy Hellboy Day (And How)!

HBDAY FB IMAGEHey! It’s Hellboy Day at comics shops all over the place, kids! Well, now. Sideshow Collectibles and Dark Horse Comics are sure in a celebratory mood, it seems. That explains not only the new BUY ME NOW $20 hardcover collection, Hellboy: The First 20 Years and that awesome $50 77-issue Hellboy Digital Megabundle, but also this pretty killer $399 Mike Mignola Hellboy Premium Format Figure, now available for pre-order for August delivery. Check it out:

Sideshow_HellBoy

Nice, huh? That gap in time will YOU time to find a spot for this big guy, as he’s 23″ H (584.2mm) x 12″ W (304.8mm) x 13″ L (330.2mm) and weighs in at a whopping 15 pounds. Yeah, that’s “small” for Hellboy if he actually existed, but for your real-life place with that wobbly coffee table with the matchbook shoved under one leg for “stability”) or shelf of questionable weight load distribution? Yeah, I’d say it’s time for an actual display case or just some new shelves entirely. Although I’m far from the one you want offering advice as far as shelf solutions. I’m just waiting for the day when I’m buried alive under a former Jenga-like tower of games. I’ll survive, though. Unless I decide to PLAY my way out and forget to eat at some point…

Harlan Ellison’s City on the Edge of Forever Finally Comics-Bound!

Ellison Trek IDW 
YES. I’m SO pleased at this news that I’m too busy doing mental back flips and stuff to type out a boring descriptive post about the plot and whatnot, so you get to read a boring descriptive press release instead. Woo. Yeah, I’ll be grabbing this five-issue series for sure. Or should I hold out for the inevitable collected edition? Ah, whatever – we’ll see. Isn’t that cover awesome, by the way? Meanwhile, just for fun here’s an old Harlan Ellison’s Watching video for you on the implosion of the trading card collector’s market:

As to that Trek comic? Here, go read all about it below the jump… Continue reading

RoboCop Versus The Terminator IS BACK (Thanks, Dark Horse Comics!)

RVT-Hardcover-WALT 
RVT GALLERYThis July, Dark Horse comics is bringing back one of the classic books of the 80’s with not one, but two editions of Frank Miller and Walt Simonson’s RoboCop versus The Terminator. The book will be available at select comic shops and online in both a $24.99* hardcover version (featuring a new Simonson cover) on July 2, 2014 and a oversize LIMITED Gallery Edition for $125.00* on July 9, 2014. Miller’s story ties OCP to the creation of Skynet and Simonson’s energetic, stylized art lends the story some massive power as the two characters cross paths a few time before a killer finale.

If you’re wondering what’s the price jump all about, the Gallery Edition will be printed the same size as the original art, and include reproductions of pencil sketches and promotional artwork for the series. I say if you’re a comics fan with an interest in seeing and learning from one of the best artists in the business, this investment will be a great one. I’ve been a fan of the man’s work since the 1970’s, but my root beer budget means I’ll settle for the hardcover (ah well). I’ll have to ask in that Gallery Edition is getting a digital release or at least a download for preview/review purposes because I can look at Walt’s art all day and night.

(*or LESS if you use those handy links provided!)

Fantastic Mr. Fox Gets The Criterion Collection Treatment. BUY IT.

 
Ooooh… I hate you (again) Criterion! Granted, I really DON’T hate these guys and gals because they do some incredible work with their hove video versions of some great and not so great films, I just hate that they charge a premium for all that hard work 9as they should). I didn’t buy Fantastic Mr. Fox on any format yet because I got busy, was too lazy to look it up when I wasn’t busy and then I heard Criterion was doing up a special “Director-Approved” version (drool!), meaning there goes an arm or leg if I now want the definitive version. This wonderful flick and Moonrise Kingdom are my current two favorite films from Wes Anderson, so perhaps that one is next up on the block to get this special treatment?

Yeah, I “hate” you, Criterion… but you’re doing film fans a major solid (at least in territories where you sell your fine products). This one’s available February 18, by the way…

BAM! SOCK! FINALLY! Batman Coming to Home Video!

(Thanks, hitmanhalley!) 

Well, that took way too long. Anyway, according to DC Comics and that news item/tweet they ran from Conan O’Brien here, it looks like someone’s long national nightmare is over while others are going to be starting. Anyway, Warner Bros. Home Video will be dropping some sort of set on you Bat-fans sometime in 2014, so you may (or may not) want to haunt your favorite retailer online or off so you can run over someone to grab that day one release. That is all. I’m a little bit thrilled about this because I’ve seen all those episodes but not for some time now and can only imagine the transfer work and all those crazy colors I’m going to see pop off the screen. “POW!” Indeed.

Beloved Shirts Might Make Me Fall Into A Warp Pipe…

Blue Boy ColorUnder normal circumstances, you wouldn’t catch me dead in a jumpsuit unless I happened to be in a Bizarro World episode of Breaking Bad where the RV I’m cooking up a btach of meth in explodes after Walter White has his way with a rocket launcher he’s whipped together from some washing machine parts. However, seeing this stupidly awesome Blue Handheld Belovesie Hooded Jumpsuit ($99.00) from beloved shirts has me reconsidering things a little.

Granted, I haven’t worn a jumpsuit of ANY type since some Halloween costume shenanigans many years back, but this one does look cool and those buttons! I’m betting people will want to press them even if I don’t want them to. Hell, with my luck, the day I put this thing on is the day some gigantic kaiju beast storms NYC, see me in it and thinks I’m a Game Boy. Yeah, I’ll run like hell for the nearest subway or old fallout shelter, as there’s No way I’m going to be some scaly brute’s new toy. Anyway, beloved has a nice bunch of other very cool shirts on their site (video game and non-game themed) for almost ages in a few price ranges. The Drew Wise shirts (which that funky blue jumpsuit is a part of) are really awesome. Boogie on over and take a peek, I say…

STL Ocarina Reminds You That Tauriel Is a LOT Cooler Than Zamfir Will EVER Be…

So, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug opens in theaters today and yes indeed, STL Ocarina wants to get you in the mood for the film with a lovely little tune played by an actual elf. Okay, so it’s NOT an elf, actually… but hey, that video and tune make you BELIEVE there are and that’s all that counts, correct? And yes, you can still snap up that 6 Hole Lord of the Rings Ocarina you’ve been eyeballing. Did you know that people who play any type of musical instrument over time tend to be sharper when it comes to picking up on mistakes? Well, there’s a University of St. Andrews study that says it’s all due to learning how to play an instrument and sticking with it. Who says you can’t learn anything new these days? Now go get yourself or someone else a nice playable gift this year!

KontrolFreek Is Back With More On Target Goodies For Console FPS Fans!

KFPhantomThey’re baaaaaaack! The last time I reviewed a few products from KontrolFreek, they ended up disappearing from the home office when some friends popped over, checked them out and decided that I owned them some freebies for making the trek all the way up here or something. Yeah, guess who’s not getting invited back, chumps? Anyway, fortunately, Casi over at KontrolFreek was kind enough to shoot over a set of the new FPS Freek Phantom (MSRP $19.99) and after playing through Call of Duty: Ghosts and a few other FPS and non-FPS games, it’s safe to say that they perform exactly as expected. Which would be pretty darn fantastic.

As noted in my earlier review, the FPS Freek series of analog stick toppers adds height to those sticks and precision to your movements, allowing you to use LESS pressure when moving normally, sprinting or shooting in games, allowing for more accuracy and less funny looking thumbs after extended play sessions. It’s all ergonomics, people – that’s all you need to know and even if you’re the most skeptical buzzard on the block, one try should convince you within seconds that this is the way to go if you’re a big shooter fan. I’d say you club-fisted gamers will NEED to learn to not jam those sticks around because you might occasionally pop one of the Freeks off an Analog stick (they’ll snap right back on). But other than that, this is money well spent if you’re a fan of those high-action shooters and want that extra edge in solo or online play. Anyway, go boogie on over to the KF site, check out what they have to offer and feel free to check out their upcoming PlayStation 4 and Xbox One lineup, as they certainly aren’t going to forget about you next-gen owners one bit. yeah, you KNOW you want that extra edge…

STL Ocarina Gives You A Second Chance To Score Some Windy Treasures…

LOTR_6-Hole Okay, second chances time! In case you missed STL Ocarina’s Black Friday deal, you can still score a discount TODAY in their Cyber Monday Sale! All you need to do is click on over to the official site, stick a thing or eight in your cart and use the Coupon Code: “cybermonday” to receive 10% off everything you buy!

Of course, this is valid on TODAY, Dec 2, 2014 only! And guess what? YOU can STILL get a whopping 40% off these ocarinas: 

12 Hole Plastic Soprano Ocarina 

12 Hole DIY Tenor Ocarina 

12 Hole Horn Tenor Ocarina 

Okay, my good deed for the morning is DONE. I’m going to sleep – I think there will be an elf blowing a dreamy little tune or something…

So, What’s In That Breaking Bad: The Complete Series Barrel? Let’s Ask Vince…

 
*DING!DING!! DINGDINGDINGDINGDING!!* Translation: Since Gilligan IS the Skipper, he knows it all. Check out the man himself unboxing the gift that keeps on giving, one of the best shows on TV and yeah, you want it even if you’ve seen every episode multiple times and can run lines with the family pet (who wants to bit the heck out of your foot for making him watch all that TV when it wanted to catch up on naps and playing with your shoe). I think I need one of these. Or one for each hand. I’ll give the second one away as a gift, you know…