Monday, October 31, 2011

The Return of The Lone Ranger

Dynamite Entertainment and Classic Media welcome the return of America's quintessential Western hero-The Lone Ranger® to the comic world! The masked man returns with a new #1 in January 2012 as an ongoing series. This new The Lone Ranger comic series kicks off with a six-part story called "Hard Country." To allow new fans to jump into the series, the first two issues will be included within a larger story.  It will then move into a longer, serialized tale, respecting the excellent template provided by Brett Matthews and Sergio Cariello with John Cassaday, setting off on a new trail.
At the end of the Matthews series, The Lone Ranger and Tonto were ready to strike out in the old west, fighting for what is right and helping those in need. "Hard Country" is about the old west striking back - a harsh environment where only the tough really make it. This is the story about these two American legends, early in their development, as they learn this bleak reality. While they're not going to fold, they will come to see that this is a hard task they've set for themselves. A hard task in a vast "hard country."

"The Lone Ranger #1 begins our Hard Country arc with a heart-breaking tale of loss that holds a mirror up to John Reid's past," says writer Ande Parks.  "The man John Reid has become in his The Lone Ranger identity was shaped by tragic loss. Now he sees that loss on the faces of a new generation. Can one man make a difference in the lives of a father and his children whose world is crumbling? The Lone Ranger is damn well going to try!"
 


First Look at Avenging Spider-Man #2

The series everyone’s talking about kicks it up a gear in this first look at Avenging Spider-Man #2 With Free Digital Code! From the blockbuster creative team of Zeb Wells & Joe Madureira pit the team-up of Red Hulk & Spidey against an unstoppable army of Moloids! Don’t forget that every purchase of a polybagged issue of Avenging Spider-Man #2 comes with a special code to be redeemed for a free digital copy of the issue on the Marvel Comics app! With J. Jonah Jameson held hostage, can Spider-Man and Red Hulk fight back the hordes of underground dwellers to save the day? The high octane web-slinging action continues this December in Avenging Spider-Man #2 With Free Digital Code!
 


AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #2 WITH FREE DIGITAL CODE (OCT110628)
AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #2 MCGUINNESS VARIANT WITH FREE DIGITAL CODE (OCT11029)
Written by ZEB WELLS
Art & Cover by JOE MADUREIRA
Variant Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
Rated T+…$3.99
FOC – 11/7/11, ON SALE – 12/7/11

Wolverine and the X-Men #2

It’s official, Wolverine & The X-Men is a hit and to celebrate the book’s critical acclaim, Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Wolverine & The X-Men #2! Following the catastrophic disruption to the Jean Grey School of Higher Learning, superstar creative team Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo are putting Wolverine and his new school to the test! With the all-new Hellfire Club causing all sorts of headaches for the new students, Logan must rally the troops and face the return of a classic X-Villain!

Did Wolverine make the right decision by moving to Westchester? Can he keep his school together before it’s too late? Find out this December, in Wolverine & The X-Men #2!
 


 Want to learn more about the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning? Visit www.jeangreyschool.com.

 GetGlue users – check in to Wolverine & The X-Men #1 and get your exclusive sticker, today!

WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #2 (SEP110589)
Written by JASON AARON
Pencils & Cover by CHRIS BACHALO
FOC – 10/31/11, ON SALE – 11/23/11

Avenging Spider-Man #1, 2 and 3 Covers and Art by Joe Madureira

As a result of the overwhelming support for the Avenging Spider-Man #1 With Free Digital Code* free digital copy promotion, Marvel is proud to announce that now every issue of Avenging Spider-Man’s action packed first arc, will be polybagged with a code for a FREE digital copy! So when you purchase any print copy of Avenging Spider-Man #1, #2 AND #3 from the blockbuster creative team of Zeb Wells & Joe Madureira, you’ll get a free digital copy of that issue on the Marvel Comics app (for iOS and Android devices) at no extra cost!

This November, no fan can miss the release of Avenging Spider-Man #1, available in stores with free digital copy and on the Marvel Comics app.

  AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #1 WITH FREE DIGITAL CODE (SEP110536)
Written by ZEB WELLS
Art & Cover by JOE MADUREIRA
Rated T+…$3.99
ON SALE – 11/9/11
 
AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #2 WITH FREE DIGITAL CODE (OCT110628)
AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #2 MCGUINNESS VARIANT WITH FREE DIGITAL CODE (OCT11062)
Written by ZEB WELLS
Art & Cover by JOE MADUREIRA
Variant Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
Rated T+…$3.99
FOC – 11/7/11, ON SALE – 12/7/11


AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #3 WITH FREE DIGITAL CODE (NOV110525)
AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #3 ASM 50TH ANNIVERSARY VARIANT WITH FREE DIGITAL CODE (NOV110526)
Written by ZEB WELLS
Art & Cover by JOE MADUREIRA
Variant Cover by TBA
Rated T+…$3.99
FOC – 12/19/11, ON SALE – 1/18/11
 

Ted McKeever's Mondo is Coming Next January

This January, Ted McKeever will be introducing the world to MONDO, his new three issue miniseries from Shadowline and Image Comics, in all its raging glory!

Though McKeever has worked on titles for Marvel and DC, including Spiderman and Doom Patrol, he is best known for his independent, creator-owned works such as TRANSIT, EDDY CURRENT, METROPOL, and the recent META 4. McKeever has been a cult favorite in the comics industry since the 1980's, an uncompromising one man comics team, consistently creating smart and uniquely twisted comics with a gritty, subliminal quality to their black and white inked pages. His work is often executed in mixed media, creating layers as rich and dirty as the stories themselves, and McKeever's new MONDO will be no different.

"Compared to my other work, I think fans will easily be able to tell this is my work," said McKeever. "And I have definitely not held back at all in this one!"

"McKeever kicks it out again with mind-blowing imagery, wild characters and multi-layered concepts," says Shadowline publisher Jim Valentino. "He never disappoints and MONDO will be counted as one of his best yet."

MONDO begins with Catfish's daily grind of "enhancing" poultry, but all that comes to a halt when he is accidentally tripped up by a loose chicken, causing him to fall victim to his own process. What proportions of his that were once human are now beyond anything normal! Add villainous corporate and military big wigs, a roller-skating weapon-toting chick named Kitten Kaboodle, a gang of tattooed babies, an enormous beach monster... and you have Ted McKeever's MONDO!



MONDO #1 (NOV110366), a 32-page Golden Age format black and white comic book for $3.99, will be on sale in stores and digital platforms on January 4, and is available for order now in the November issue of Previews.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Defenders #1 from Marvel Comics

When the impossible is everywhere and the very fabric of reality is threatened by insanity, the world needs more than super heroes…they need Defenders! Enter Defenders #1, from the top-selling creative team of Matt Fraction (Fear Itself, Invincible Iron Man, Mighty Thor) and Terry Dodson (Uncanny X-Men), as Doctor Strange assembles a new team of heroes to face a new kind of threat that will leave readers shocked. Doctor Strange, Iron Fist, Namor, Red She-Hulk, Silver Surfer and more of your favorite Marvel Heroes will band together exploring corners of the Marvel Universe you never knew existed for missions so deadly they have to be kept secret. Once a Defender, always a Defender – no matter the cost or sacrifice.



 
DEFENDERS #1 (OCT110587)
DEFENDERS #1 IMMONEN VARIANT (OCT110588)
DEFENDERS #1 ADAMS VARIANT (OCT110589)
DEFENDERS #1 ADAMS INKED VARIANT (SEP118111)
DEFENDERS #1 BLANK VARIANT (OCT110590)
DEFENDERS #1 I AM A DEFENDER VARIANT (OCT110591)
Written by MATT FRACTION
Pencils & Cover by TERRY DODSON
Variant Cover by STUART IMMONEN
Variant Cover by NEAL ADAMS
Sketch Variant Cover by NEAL ADAMS
Blank Variant available
I Am A Defender Variant also Available
FOC—11/7/11, On-Sale—12/7/11

Gladstone's School for World Conquerors Vol. 1 TP

The most villainous clique of kids in all of comics will be graduating to a trade paperback volume of GLADSTONE'S SCHOOL FOR WORLD CONQUERORS from Image Comics this November. Originally solicited at a lower page count, once the first 6 issues of this critically acclaimed series were tallied up, the collection clocked in at nearly 200 pages!

Mark Andrew Smith, writer of AMAZING JOY BUZZARDS, the two-time Harvey nominated THE NEW BRIGHTON ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, and editor for the Eisner-winning POPGUN anthology, has devised a dastardly plot to make wicked children the stars of the show in GLADSTONE'S SCHOOL OF WORLD CONQUERORS. And with the help of Armand Villavert's artistic mastermind, the nefarious youths of this series are deftly brought to the page, larger than life and disarmingly adorable!

"I believe in giving kids a story they can really sink their teeth into and never talking down to them," said Smith. "We also don't believe in skimping on story, so this will be a good solid read for any comics fan, new or old!"

Welcome to Gladstone's School for World Conquerors, a top-secret academy for the children of the world's greatest super villains to learn the trade. Join us as Kid Nefarious, Mummy Girl, Martian Jones, Ghost Girl, and the infamous Skull brothers unearth the School's and their parents' hidden past!

GLADSTONE'S SCHOOL FOR WORLD CONQUERORS, VOL. 1 TP (SEP110407, ISBN: 978-1-60706-115-1), a 192-page full-color all ages supervillain adventure comic book collection for $15.99, will be on sale in stores November 16.

COMIKAZE EXPO: It's Almost Here!

Next weekend November 5th and 6th, there will be an invasion on Los Angeles by the Comikaze Expo!  Here are just some of the things you can look forward to:

Cosplay - What would a convention be without the people that dress up as their favorite character from games, movies, etc. They spend countless hours prepping costumes to ensure everything is perfect. Comikaze cosplayers have a dance party Saturday night and there will also be a Masquerade Cosplay contest. There’s also help to get tips about costumes during the Creating Characters with Costuming and Jewelry panel.
Octopus –Did you know that if you get the Comikaze Octopus Logo tattoed, not only will they pay for it but also you get a pass to the Comikaze Expo for life? Well now you do and you have a great opportunity to get it done (check out ‘Inked’ below).

Match your skills and wit against others in various competitions for loot. There will be plenty of tournaments taking place at Comikaze. For you old school gamers there are the Super Mario Bros tournaments. There are also Magic The Gathering and YU-GI-OH tournaments. Maybe you need help building up your gaming skills. You can get your help here with gameplay tips.
Inked – Why not get a tattoo by some superstar tattoo artists while at Comikaze? You can get your ink on by Rob McClurg, Amy Nicoletto, Darrin White, Tattoo Tony or Cliff Kealoah.
Kid in You - We already mentioned old school gaming but how about being reunited with one of your favorite childhood Nickelodeon shows? The cast of Nickelodeon’s ALL THAT will be at Comikaze. There will be a cast reunion with Kel Mitchell, Lori Beth Denberg, Josh Server, Alissa Reyes, Lisa Foiles , Katrina Johnson,  Angelique Bates, Brian Hearne, Mard Saul, Jack Desena, Leon Frierson, Chealsea Brummet and  Giovonni Samuels. 
Artists, writers and creators, oh my! – There will be plenty of artists such as Cat Staggs, Mike Mayhew and Steam Crow Artists Daniel and Dawna Davis. Writers such as Carl Zimmer (Parasite Rex), Jody Houser (Womanthology) and The Winner Twins (The Strand Prophecy). Creators such as David B. Schwartz (Image Comics’ MELTDOWN) and  Ejen Chuang (Cosplay in America). There’s a large pool of talent covering comics, art and more.
Zebras? - Okay so there won’t be zebras but Team Unicorn will be there! In fact they will have the Team Unicorn’s Super Happy Fun Panel with Bonnie Burton and Sean Becker. Check out the panel on Saturday in Room 4 at 12:00pm.
Exhibitors – There are currently 246 exhibitors or vendors attending. From 1821 Comics to Zombie Survival Goods and everything in between will leave something for everyone. Check out the exhibitors list here.


Elvira! – Yes the Mistress of the Dark is the Official Comikaze Expo “Spooksperson”. Folks, this is it! You do not want to miss seeing this dark vixen’s last convention appearance. Elvira is the ‘hostess with the mostest’ and you can meet her in person.
Xtras lots of ‘em – From Daniel Radcliffe’s The Woman in Black screening to DC Comics New 52 Q&A panel. There’s a Doctor Who panel, Steampunk 101 panel and even  Zombie Movies: Fact or Fiction panel. I’m sure there are pop culture icons, actors, panels and exhibitors that will tickle your geek fancy.
Priced just right – Passes are $12 for this amazing event. The Comikaze Expo is hosting so many different events, exhibitors, artists, gaming, cosplay, panels and so much more that it would be an absolute sin not to go.
One and only Stan Lee. – How can you have a convention with out the pop culture icon that is Stan ‘the Man’ Lee? He will kick off the Comikaze Expo festivities with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. You can even get your picture taken with him!

We are very excited to go and can’t wait to share the happenings but why not go and experience them for yourself? With how hard the Comikaze crew worked on this, there really is no way you can be disappointed.  We hope to see you at the L.A. Convention Center for the first COMIKAZE EXPO!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 - Screenshots

Square Enix shared new screenshots from the FINAL FANTASY XIII-2. The new sequel from the legendary series is coming to Japan in December, North America in January 2012 and Europe in February 2012. 
Check out the art and screenshots below:




Ted McKeever's Mondo Teasers from Image Comics & Shadowline

Image Comics has been great with teasers of new series that have been released and soon to come. Here are a couple of teasers that have recently been released for a new 3 issue series coming next January from Shadowline and Image Comics. 




Wolverine and the X-Men #1: Things to Come


Here’s a taste of things to come in 2012!

WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #1 (AUG110653)
Written by JASON AARON
Pencils & Cover by CHRIS BACHALO
ON SALE TODAY!

WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #2 (SEP110589)
Written by JASON AARON
Pencils & Cover by CHRIS BACHALO
FOC – 10/31/11, ON SALE – 11/23/11

WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #3 (OCT110672)
Written by JASON AARON
Pencils & Cover by CHRIS BACHALO
FOC – 12/5/11, ON SALE – 12/28/11

WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #4 (NOV110560)
Written by JASON AARON
Pencils & Cover by NICK BRADSHAW
FOC – 12/12/11, ON SALE – 1/11/11

Giuseppe Camuncoli's Connecting Variant Covers for Fantastic Four #601 & FF #13!

The future of the Fantastic Four and FF collide this December as Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Giuseppe Camuncoli’s connecting variant covers for Fantastic Four #601 & FF #13! After the universe altering events of the highly anticipated Fantastic Four #600, Reed, his family and friends embark on a bold new journey into the Marvel Universe. No fan of superstar writer Jonathan Hickman’s critically acclaimed run can miss out on these exciting new variants!


FF # 13 (OCT110651)
FF # 13 CAMUNCOLI CONNECTING VARIANT (OCT110652)
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Art by JUAN BOBILLO
Cover by MIKE CHOI
Variant Cover by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI
FOC – 12/5/11, ON SALE 12/28/11

FANTASTIC FOUR #600 (SEP110551)
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Art by STEVE EPTING, LEINIL YU, CARMINE DIGIANDOMENICO, FAREL DALRYMPLE & MING DOYLE
Cover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO
FOC – 10/31/11, ON SALE 11/22/11

Stan Sakai is Honored with Year of the Rabbit Exhibit Plus the 200th Issue of Usagi Yojimbo is Here!

Earlier this year, Usagi Yojimbo creator Stan Sakai was named the 2011 Cultural Ambassador by the Japanese American National Museum. Shortly thereafter, the JANM opened their Year of the Rabbit exhibit—the most comprehensive collection of Sakai’s work to date.

Stan Sakai has won several Eisner Awards and has received over twenty Eisner Award nominations. Prior to Dark Horse’s long run on the series, there were thirty-eight Fantagraphics issues, sixteen Mirage issues, a summer special, and four color specials. Dark Horse’s Usagi Yojimbo #141 marks the landmark two hundredth overall issue of master storyteller Stan Sakai’s beloved series, and the rabbit ronin celebrates with a special story perfect for new readers, “200 Buddhas”! With a ruthless gang terrorizing his small town, a humble stonecutter receives a vision and sets out to carve two hundred stone figures. Just as he has finished the 199th, a long-eared stranger comes to his door seeking shelter from the rain!


The Japanese American National Museum is the largest museum in the United States dedicated to sharing the experience of Americans of Japanese ancestry. The founding of the museum is a story of high hopes, remarkable achievements, frustration, and, ultimately, success. The JANM is located in Los Angeles, and the Year of the Rabbit exhibit closes its doors October 30, 2011 - http://www.janm.org/exhibits/stansakai/

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Marvel: Shattered Heroes


Direct from Marvel...






SHATTERED HEROES Begins Now – Get Your First Look On Marvel.Com!

This week only at Marvel.com, bear witness to the debut of four, all new series setting fan favorite heroes of the Marvel Universe in a bold new directions. Originally featured in Fear Itself #7, fans now have the opportunity to see just how some of the year’s biggest new launches including, Fear Itself: The Fearless #1The Defenders #1Battle Scars #1 & this week’s Incredible Hulk #1, kickoff in 4 page stories of original content you won’t see anywhere else online! So what are you waiting for True Believer? See how Shattered Heroes begins and affects your favorite Marvel heroes, today at Marvel.com!

FEAR ITSELF: THE FEARLESS #1 (AUG110582)
Script by CULLEN BUNN
Story by MATT FRACTION, CULLEN BUNN & CHRIS YOST
Pencils by MARK BAGLEY & PAUL PELLETIER
Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS
ON SALE NOW!

INCREDIBLE HULK #1 (AUG110584)
Written by JASON AARON
Art & Cover by MARC SILVESTRI
ON SALE TODAY!

BATTLE SCARS #1 (SEP110505)
Script by CHRIS YOST
Story by MATT FRACTION, CHRIS YOST & CULLEN BUNN
Art by SCOT EATON
Cover by CARLO PAGULAYAN
ON SALE – 11/9/11

DEFENDERS #1 (OCT110587)
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art & Cover by TERRY DODSON
FOC – 11/7/11, ON SALE – 12/7/11

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Avenger: X-Sanction #1 Ed McGuiness' Cover

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at superstar artist Ed McGuinness’ Avengers X-Sanction #1 cover. The safety of the future is at stake and it’s all up to Cable in order to save it – even if that means taking on the heaviest hitters in the Marvel Universe. With only 24 hours to destroy the Avengers, can he take on all of Earth’s Mightiest alone? Find out as superstar creators Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness kick off the countdown to the 2012’s status quo-shattering event in the Avengers: X-Sanction #1!
 
AVENGERS: X-SANCTION #1 (OCT110606)
Written by JEPH LOEB
Art & Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
FOC – 11/7/11, ON SALE – 12/14/11
 

Ultimate Twilight Marathon Contest Presented by Harkins Theatres and Angry Koala Gear



Well, the Angry Koala Gear crew has some incredible news for Twilight fans! We were fortunate enough to team up with Harkins Theatres to giveaway a pair of Ultimate Twilight Marathon packages for the Tucson Spectrum 18 location.  This is definitely an amazing event any Twilight fan will want to attend.  

The Ultimate Twilight Marathon Package includes: 
 Admission to Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and the midnight premiere of Breaking Dawn Part One
    • Two FREE small popcorns (to be enjoyed the day of the event)
    • One FREE 2012 Loyalty Cup (good for $1 soft drink refills through 2012)
    • Two FREE Loyalty Cup refills (to be enjoyed the day of the event)
    • Commemorative Twilight lanyard
    • Harkins/Twilight Goodie Bag
The event is on Thursday, November 17th at 4pm and attendees will be watching all four movies with the premiere of Breaking Dawn Part One at midnight. 
Ok, now here is the fun part of giving away two of these amazing Twilight packages! We are going to be doing our very first contest and it is going to take place via Twitter. 
Here are the rules:
The contest will be starting immediately and ending on Wednesday, November 2nd at 6pm. 
There are only a few conditions of this contest, which will be very easy. 
First, you must follow us @angrykoalagear
Second, be on the look out for a special Twilight tweet regarding the contest and just retweet it. (You will be automatically entered in the contest) 
*Only one retweet counts, but it does not hurt to retweet it again! 
Well, it is just that simple. Again, the contest will end on Wednesday, November 2nd at 6pm and we will choose a winner randomly shortly after. 
The winner MUST provide their name, phone number and email address to provide this information to Harkins Theatres. Once this is done, Harkins Theatres will contact the winner to pick up their tickets at the Harkins Theatres Tucson Spectrum 18 location. 
Good luck and hopefully the Angry Koala Gear crew will see you there at this amazing event! 
Thanks again to Harkins Theatres for this awesome opportunity!


The Ultimate Twilight Marathon packages are available for sale at Harkins Theatres

Monday, October 24, 2011

Planet of the Apes #7 from Boom! Studios


My favorite series from Boom! Studios continues on with amazing writing and incredible art. The war of course continues between Apes and Man. Planet of the Apes #7 will be out in comic shops this Wednesday, October 26th.

The hit series continues! The human ghetto of Skintown is fortifying itself against ape forces. Any ape that enters is shot dead on sight. To fight back, Council Voice Alaya unearths the Sacred Scrolls authored by her grandfather, the Lawgiver. Can these words be the key in turning the tide of the bloody conflict between ape and man? Superstar writer Daryl Gregory and white hot artist Carlos Magno ensure you have to “get your hands on these damn dirty apes!”





AP Zombs from threeA Toys

AP Zombs invade Bambaland on the 31st, the 1/12th world will never be the same again, they will be available in 3-packs or single carded random!