PRIDE + PREJUDICE + ZOMBIES Debuting on Digital May 10 On 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ & DVD May 31

Debuting on Digital May 10

On 4K Ultra HD^™, Blu-ray^™ & DVD May 31

 

Bonus Materials Include Deleted Scenes, Gag Reel 

and Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes 

 

 

CULVER CITY, Calif. (Mar. 28, 2016) –Based on the best-selling novel by Seth Grahame-Smith and Jane Austen, PRIDE + PREJUDICE + ZOMBIES debuts on digital May 10 and on Blu-ray^™, DVD and next-generation 4K Ultra HD^™ May 31 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. In this reimagining of the classic tale, the Bennett sisters and 

Mr. Darcy must unite to fight a zombie outbreak that has taken over 19^th century England. Lily James (Cinderella) leads an ensemble cast featuring Sam Riley (Maleficent), Jack Huston (The Longest Ride), Bella Heathcote (Dark Shadows), Douglas Booth (Jupiter Ascending), Matt Smith (“Dr. Who”), Charles Dance (“Game of Thrones”) and Lena Headey (“Game of Thrones”).  

 

Bonus content on the PRIDE + PREJUDICE + ZOMBIES Blu-ray, DVD and digital formats includes the featurettes “Courtship, Class and Carnage: Meet the Cast” and “From Austen to Zombies: Adapting a Classic.” Exclusive content on the Blu-ray and digital editions include deleted scenes, a gag reel and a Mr. Collins Line-o-rama, which features Mr. Collins’ most memorable moments. Also included are the featurettes “The Badass Bennet Sisters,” which goes behind the scenes as the ladies prepare for battle; and “Creating the Unmentionables,” where the design teams explain how they created the 19^th Century zombies. 

 

4K Ultra HD features four times the resolution of high definition, high dynamic range (HDR)--which produces brilliant highlights, vibrant colors and greater contrast on compatible displays--and Dolby Atmos audio, remixed specifically for the home theater environment, delivering captivating sound that places and moves audio anywhere in the room, including overhead.

 

Synopsis: 

A zombie outbreak has fallen upon the land in this reimagining of Jane Austen’s classic tale of the tangled relationships between lovers from different social classes in 19th century England. Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet (Lily James) is a master of martial arts and weaponry and the handsome Mr. Darcy (Sam Riley) is a fierce zombie killer, yet the epitome of upper class prejudice. As the zombie outbreak intensifies, they must swallow their pride and join forces on the blood-soaked battlefield in order to conquer the undead once and for all.

 

Written and Directed by Burr Steers and based on the novel by Seth Grahame-Smith, PRIDE + PREJUDICE + ZOMBIES is produced by Marc Butan, Sean McKittrick, Brian Oliver, Natalie Portman, Annette Savitch, Allison Shearmur and Tyler Thompson. Stephen Meinen served as co-producer with Sue Baden-Powell, Kimberly Fox, Edward H. Hamm Jr., Phil Hunt, Nick Meyer, Compton Ross and Lauren Selig as executive producers. 

 

4K Ultra HD

§  Feature film in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR)

§  Dolby Atmos soundtrack (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 compatible)*

§  Also includes the film and special features on high-def Blu-ray 

* To experience Dolby Atmos at home, a Dolby Atmos enabled AV receiver and additional speakers are required, or a Dolby Atmos enabled sound bar; however, Dolby Atmos soundtracks are also fully backward compatible with traditional audio configurations and legacy home entertainment equipment.

 

DVD Extras Include:

§  Two Featurettes

• “Courtship, Class and Carnage: Meet The Cast” 
•  “From Austen to Zombies: Adapting a Classic”

 

Blu-ray Extras Include:

§  Deleted Scenes

§  Mr. Collins Line-o-rama  

§  Gag Reel

§  Four Featurettes:

• “The Badass Bennet Sisters”
• “Creating the Unmentionables”
• “Courtship, Class and Carnage: Meet The Cast” 
•  “From Austen to Zombies: Adapting a Classic”

 

Digital Extras Include:

§  Deleted Scenes

§  Mr. Collins Line-o-rama  

§  Gag Reel

§  Four Featurettes:

• “The Badass Bennet Sisters”
• “Creating the Unmentionables”
• “Courtship, Class and Carnage: Meet The Cast” 
•  “From Austen to Zombies: Adapting a Classic”

 

 

PRIDE + PREJUDICE + ZOMBIES has a run time of approximately 107 minutes and is rated PG-13 for zombie violence and action, and brief suggestive material.

 

Latest News on the ALIEN Franchise: April 26th ALIEN DAY

24 Hour Fan-Focused Social Media Event to Launch in Celebration of #AlienDay426

 

Dark Horse Comics, Funko, NECA, Sideshow Collectibles, Audible, Titan Books, Zen Studios and more than a Dozen other Partners Join Forces to Mark ALIEN DAY on Planet Earth

 

Reebok to Release Exact Replica of the ALIEN Stompers worn by

Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley

 

Nationwide Screening Returns One of the Most Iconic Film Franchises

to Theaters Across the Country

 

Los Angeles, CA (March 29, 2016) – Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products announced today an out-of-this-world global celebration of the ALIEN franchise culminating with a special 24 hour, fan-focused social media event on April 26^th – a nod to LV-426, the planet from the iconic ALIEN films. ALIEN DAY (#AlienDay426) to encompass a wide range of executions including nationwide screenings, never-before-seen consumer product activations and the kickoff of the ALIEN: Ultimate Trivia Challenge, allowing fans to test their ALIEN knowledge – with the chance to win memorable prizes every 42.6 minutes on Twitter.

 

Fox Consumer Products has teamed with an impressive portfolio of licensing partners; showcasing everything from unique apparel to exclusive comic books to high-end collectables. One of the most-requested licensed products, theReebok Alien Stomper worn by Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, as well as the mid tops worn by Lance Henrikson as the Android Bishop, are being released by Reebok in limited edition to mark ALIEN DAY. The iconic movie sneakers will be available beginning April 26^th at Reebok.com and select Reebok stores worldwide. Other ALIEN products include the following:

 

·         NECA announces the first ever Lieutenant Vasquez (Jenette Goldstein) and Newt (Carrie Henn) figure; as well as the release of a Kenner toy-Inspired Ellen Ripley figure

·         An ALIENS Queen & Power Loader and Ripley figure set in the tradition of their wildly popular ReAction retro action figure series from Funko LLC

·         Dark Horse Comics expounds upon Brian Wood and Tristan Jones’ ongoing ALIENS comic book series with exclusive covers for participating retailers and a deluxe 30^th anniversary hardcover version of the original ALIENS series from 1986

·         Titan Books launches the brand-new novel Alien: Invasion(The Rage War book 2) by Tim Lebbon

·         Available on Audible; a brand new audio drama, Alien: Out of the Shadows - starring Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner and Batman Begins) in his first audio role, Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter film series) and Corey Johnson (The Bourne Ultimatum) is a terrifying fight for survival and an intense struggle between human and artificial intelligence.

·         Additional licensed partners are found below

 

In addition, the Alamo Drafthouse is producing a nationwide screening program on April 26^th returning the ALIEN franchise to theaters across the country. In over 20 cities, including Austin, New York, Los Angeles and Dallas, participating Alamo locations as well as partner venues will showcase a double-feature presentation of ALIEN and ALIENS. In Alamo locations, each pre-ordered ticket includes a Mondo-designed ALIEN T-shirt, released exclusively for the event screenings. Additionally, the screenings will be accompanied by exclusive ALIEN merchandise—including apparel, accessories, posters and records—from pop-culture company Mondo. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, to find a full list of participating theaters, visit http://AlamoAliens.com.

 

ALIEN: Ultimate Trivia Challenge

The hallmark of ALIEN DAY will be a 24-hour Twitter contest. Every 42.6 minutes a new ALIEN trivia question will be presented via the official Alien Anthology twitter account,@AlienAnthology. In advance of the contest kickoff, beginning at 12 AM ET on April 26^th, fans will need to pre-register their Twitter handle at ALIEN Anthology (http://AlienAnthology.com).

 

Each trivia question (35 in a 24-hour cycle) will have various prize packages from 20^th Century Fox’s ALIEN franchise licensing partners. To qualify to win the corresponding prize, participants must “Reply” to the initial “question tweet,” correctly answer the question, and use the #AlienDay426 and #Contest hashtags. A winner (or “winners” when multiple prizes are offered) will be selected for each of the questions. Please refer to "Official Rules" for additional detail.

 

 

In regards to the announcement, Jeffrey Godsick, President of Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products stated: “The ALIEN franchise holds a special place not only within the universe of Fox but with movie enthusiasts across the galaxy.” Godsick added, “We noticed that fans of the ALIEN films were starting to rally around the calendar date of April 26^th -- given the connection to the planet LV-426. Quite simply, it gave us the idea to do something special on this day; to officially mark the occasion alongside fans and to build excitement online, in stores and once again, in theaters.”

 

The ALIEN film series starring Sigourney Weaver (Ellen Ripley) and directed by legendary auteurs Ridley Scott, James Cameron, David Fincher and Jean-Pierre Jeunet, is one of the most enduring horror sci-fi action franchises of all time.  Winning multiple Academy Awards®, these incredible films have spawned countless consumer product lines and launches -- from apparel to video games to comic books and more.

The highly-anticipated ALIEN: COVENANT, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Michael Fassbender, will be released in August 2017 by Twentieth Century Fox.

 

Additional global ALIEN DAY partners include:

·         ALIEN DIGITAL PINBALL– Fox Digital Entertainment, in partnership with Zen Studios, will launch three digital pinball tables via iTunes, Google Play, PlayStation Network, XBOX Live and Steam.

 

·         DC ENTERTAINMENT –Together with Dark Horse Comics, DC Entertainment will re-release the fan-favorite Batman VS ALIEN comics for the first time in over a decade

·         FRIGHT RAGS – Horror apparel retailer Fright Rags will release limited edition ALIEN-themed apparel

·         THE UPPER DECK COMPANY – The leading trading card company will launch ALIENS Anthology Collector Trading Card and the ALIENS “Vs” Trading Card Game system

·         HOT TOYS – The Hong Kong-based collectible manufacturer is announcing an all-new ALIEN Ripley 1/6^th figure

·         KOTOBUKIYA – The Japanese manufacturer unleashes an assortment of highly detailed collectables this spring including a 1:10 scale Warrior Drone ARTFX+ statue from ALIENS and mini "Big Chap" figurines posed to strike up conversation around your home or office!

·         INSIGHT EDITIONS – The illustrated pop culture book publisher will release the trade edition of the Weyland-Yutani Report

·         An all-new ALIEN Internecivus Raptus Statue from Sideshow Collectibles

·         SUPER 7 – The San Francisco based designer toy and apparel company has developed several toys in honor of the ALIEN DAY: ALIEN Muscle figures on card; ALIEN ReAction carrying case with exclusive ALIEN figure; Nostromo playset Kit Bash kit; Japanese vinyl Queen and ALIENS Glassware

·         LOOT CRATE – The monthly mystery subscription box for pop culture fans will launch a limited-edition ALIENS 30th Anniversary crate on 4/26 filled with exclusive merchandise, collectibles and more from all core licensee partners. 

·         MEDICOM TOY – Japan-based toy company MEDICOM TOY will release VCD (vinyl super deformed) ALIEN figure and retro style ALIEN figure via Diamond Comics

·         USAopoly – Launches a pair of classic board games with a thrilling twist: YAHTZEE® ALIEN VS PREDATOR™ and CLUE®: ALIEN VS PREDATOR™

·         HOLLYWOOD COLLECTIBLESto release a large-scale model of the Derelict from Alien, molded from an original model that H.R. Giger created for an exhibition in Las Vegas

 

Join the #AlienDay426 conversation on Twitter and Instagram @AlienAnthology and on Facebook athttp://facebook.com/alienanthology

Full contest rules and details can be found on the ALIEN Anthology website: http://AlienAnthology.com

DC SUICIDE SQUAD STATUES.

DC SUICIDE SQUAD STATUES 

TBS's CONAN Heads to Korea in Special Extended Episode to Air Saturday, April 9

TBS's late-night series CONAN is heading to Asia for the first time ever for a special extended episode shot on location in South Korea. CONAN in Korea, starring Conan O'Brien, is set to premiere Saturday, April 9, at 11 p.m. (ET/PT), exclusively on TBS.

O'Brien recently caused quite a stir when he arrived in Seoul, South Korea, to the cheers of thousands of screaming fans. That festive welcome kicked off a weeklong trip in which he was joined by Korean-American actor and The Walking Dead star Steven Yuen. The two explored various parts of the country, including the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and the Joint Security Area (JSA). O'Brien and Yuen also teamed up with music sensation J.Y. Park to film a K-Pop music video.

CONAN in Korea special marks O'Brien's fifth adventure in the past 12 months. Last spring, he made headlines as the first American late-night host to shoot in Cuba in more than 50 years. In November, he became the first American late-night personality ever to host a show from Armenia. And in January, he joined First Lady Michelle Obama at the United States Air Force Base in Doha, Qatar, to perform for the troops stationed overseas. Last year also included a week of shows from San Diego during Comic-Con® International. In previous years, O'Brien has done special shows from New York, Chicago, Dallas and Atlanta.

CONAN airs Monday-Thursday at 11 p.m. (ET/PT) on TBS. The show is produced by Conaco LLC, with Jeff Ross serving as executive producer.

---

Kevin Hart and Lionsgate to launch VOD service, Laugh Out Loud

The partnership will launch with new series, video-on-demand service, Laugh Out Loud, and social adventure mobile game initiatives
 

SANTA MONICA, Calif. March 31, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Lionsgate (NYSE:  LGF), a premier next generation global content leader, has entered the Kevin Hart business on multiple fronts, the Company announced today. The studio has formed a partnership with Hart and his company, Hartbeat Digital, to launch a new video-on-demand service, Laugh Out Loud, and create a new social adventure mobile tablet game, initiatives that further expand the global entertainment icon's multi-faceted career.  
 

The new OTT service will serve as the exclusive home for all content created by Hart outside his theatrical and live touring activities and will include original series starring Hart. One of the first shows being developed is a hidden camera premium original series in which Hart stars as an undercover Lyft driver.
 

Laugh Out Loud will also showcase content curated by Hart along with shows featuring social media stars and up and coming comedians, including a series starring social media phenomenon Logan Paul, the most viewed content creator on Facebook (300 million video views last month) and Vine (nearly 4 billion loops).
 

Codeblack CEO Jeff Clanagan, who has served as Hart's business partner for the past 10 years, has been named President of the new service as well as President of Hart's company, Hartbeat Digital.
 

As part of the multi-faceted relationship, Lionsgate will also join with Hart and game developer Fifth Journey to create a social adventure mobile game starring and written in collaboration with Hart.  Players become comedic rock stars with Hart as their mentor, embarking on adventures that include touring the country, starring in movies, hosting award shows and more. Game choices, mini-games and features will incorporate Hart's trademark humor and emphasize positivity.
 

One of this generation's biggest and most versatile stars, Hart has established a major presence in film, television and on tour, building a global fan base that includes 80 million followers. He has starred in smash box office hits including the Ride Along and Think like a Man franchises, Get Hard, The Wedding Ringer, About Last Night and Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain which have collectively grossed over $1 billion at the global box office. His upcoming feature film releases include Central Intelligence (opposite Dwayne Johnson) and Kevin Hart: What Now?
 

Hart's comedy tours have sold out venues around the world, including the Seriously Funny, Laugh at My Pain and Let Me Explain tours, which have all spawned hit stand-up comedy movies. His current sold out What Now? international tour is the biggest-grossing comedy tour of all time, and the movie component was filmed in front of a record 52,000 fans at the Philadelphia Eagles' home stadium. 
 

Hart is also the co-creator, writer, executive producer and star of the television series "Real Husbands of Hollywood."  He has won three NAACP Image Awards, two Teen Choice Awards, a BET Award and a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award. 
 

"Lionsgate has always been a great partner of mine, and I'm more than excited to take our business and creative relationship to new levels," said Hart. "I understand the direction in which the television business is headed, and I see this big new space toward which audiences are starting to gravitate. I believe that launching this venture together now puts us ahead of the pack."
 

"Kevin is one of the biggest stars in the world, and we're proud to kick off our partnership with a new OTT platform as well as a mobile game, extending a collaboration that began with the film Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain," said Lionsgate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer. "He is an incredibly versatile talent who will bring his unique comedic voice to Laugh Out Loud's entire spectrum of original content, and his ever-expanding global fan base gives both initiatives tremendous growth potential. Nobody understands how to continue extending Kevin's brand better than Jeff Clanagan, and we're pleased that he will lead the new platform's growth." 
 

"During his rise to global superstardom, Kevin has not only emerged as a singular and visionary talent but as an incredibly successful entrepreneur with tremendous business instincts that match his prodigious creative skills," said Clanagan. "The Kevin Hart brand speaks for itself, and his combination of creative brilliance and financial acumen position Laugh Out Loud and his social game to continue expanding his global fan base while introducing his comedic genius to a whole new online audience."
 

The deal was negotiated by Stephen Barnes of Barnes Morris Klein & Yorn for Kevin Hart and by Lionsgate Executive Vice President, Corporate Development Laura Kennedy and Lionsgate Executive Vice President & Deputy General Counsel Audrey Lee for Lionsgate. Lionsgate President of Interactive Ventures & Games Peter Levin and executive Daniel Engelhardt handled the social adventure game negotiations for Lionsgate. 

The new platform joins a growing suite of Lionsgate OTT services featuring branded, targeted content for affinity audiences including Tribeca ShortList, which launched last fall in partnership with Tribeca Enterprises, and Comic-Con HQ, which debuts this summer in partnership with Comic-Con International.

Tippett Studio & HappyGiant Unveil Next-Gen AR/VR Game “HoloGrid: Monster Battle”

Tippett Studio & HappyGiant Unveil Next-Gen AR/VR Game “HoloGrid: Monster Battle”

Berkeley, CA - March 30, 2016 - Tippett Studio and HappyGiant today announced an original Next-Gen Augmented and Virtual Reality gaming concept, HoloGrid: Monster Battle. A “Hybrid” Board Game, Collectible Card Game (CCG), and Digital Game in one, it delivers to players a new type of gaming experience.

Phil Tippett is a 2-time Academy Award winning Visual Effects Supervisor and Director best known for his work on the original Star Wars films, Jurassic Park, Robocop, The Force Awakens, and many more. Tippett also created the “Holo Chess” scene in the original Star Wars, which he recreated for the Force Awakens. 

“For years I’ve been making monsters for Directors to play with, and now for the first time, I’m making monsters for YOU to play with,” said Tippett. “We’re excited about the new fields of Augmented and Virtual Reality, and to be working with our friends at HappyGiant to create HoloGrid: Monster Battle.” 

Creatures battle on your tabletop with AR
HoloGrid: Monster Battle is being built for next gen AR & VR platforms, but will also release for mobile devices and PCs, giving the player the feeling that these creatures are doing battle right in front of you. The team is looking at all options from Publishing deals, to Crowdfunding.

“We’re incredibly excited and interested in new platforms like Magic Leap, HoloLens, CastAR, Meta and others, as well as current AR mobile tech such as Vuforia,” said Mike Levine, President of HappyGiant. “We believes in the future of AR Gaming, and to be working with Phil Tippett and his studio on this project is a dream come true. The tech has finally caught up to the point where this game can be made.”

Photogrammetry
Another exciting aspect of the project is the use of Photogrammetry to scan Tippett’s real life physical monsters into 3D digital assets for the game, giving them a level of detail and character unlike any other. 

“We’d been doing experiments with Photogrammetry, but more on museum level artifacts,” said Levine. “At the same time we began exploring doing projects with Tippett, we had the idea, ‘What if we tried this on some creatures?’ The results blew us away. That’s really where this idea was born.” “And it’s the exact same technique we used on The Force Awakens,” added Tippett.

Gameplay
HoloGrid: Monster Battle is akin to games such as Magic: The Gathering or Hearthstone, but uses physical playing cards to trigger Augmented Reality creatures and a gameboard. Players will be able to play head-to-head, either locally or remotely, and offline play is possible as well. 

Here's the teaser trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fVS5qqXek4

Just in case...

In case I am not on earlier, I just want to wish all of you a happy holiday weekend regardless of what you celebrate or don't at all. Thank you.

Ender's Game: 4K Utra HD + Blu-ray + Digital HD Review

Ender's Game is the long awaited adaptation of Orson Scott Card's award winning novel of the same way and while it was originally released as an event film during the fall of 2013, it failed to attract the young adult audience Lionsgate had previously garnered success with in the film adaptations of the Twilight and Hunger Games novels. Originally released on Blu-ray Disc in 2014, the new Ender's Game: 4K Utra HD + Blu-ray + Digital HD is really more of a port over of the 2014 BD release only now the DVD featured in the first release has been replaced by a new 4K 2160p Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc release which presents the film in a sharper and more colorful image quality because of the high dynamic range enabling that allows for greater color and more vivid images. The original 1080p Blu-ray release looked pretty darn good so it is no surprise that the 4K UHD version also looks great, but I found the difference in picture quality to be noticeable, but not nearly as jaw dropping as the Sicario UHD BD release. This could be due to a number of subjective factors that include, but are not limited to Sicario being a newer feature film release in general and one that I was not familiar with up until I screened it. Another factor that may play a part in this subjective review is that though still a relatively recent catalogue release on BD, science fiction films tend to benefit more from the eye and ear candy inherent with big budget releases. Simply put, I think maybe my expectations were too high. 

It is also varied upon one's point of view, but for me, on DVD, I have always preferred DTS Soundtracks over Dolby Digital because I found the sound to be more aggressive. In Blu-ray I preferred the Dolby TrueHD Soundtrack over DTS-HD MA 7.1 as included on the Blu-ray version of Ender's Game. So it is no surprise that between the previous DTS Soundtrack release and the new Dolby ATMOS, which is backwardly compatible with Dolby TrueHD, I prefer the Dolby ATMOS Soundtrack, which I think offered a greater range and higher fidelity over the DTS track. English Dolby Digital 2.0 Audio specifically mixed for late night Listening and a Spanish Language Dolby Digital 5.1 Soundtrack are also included on the HD BD version along with English Descriptive Audio and English SDH as well as English and Spanish Language Subtitles encoded as options. 

Like the UHD BD release of Sicario, the 4K Blu-ray Disc is the higher quality picture and audio presentation of the feature film only and all of the original bonus features and commentaries are on the HD BD, which is the exact same disc previously released. So if you have read previous reviews of that original release, you should know what to expect and thus that disc will not be covered here. A coupon insert containing a limited time only redeemable code for both an HD i'Tunes and Ultraviolet Digital Copy is also included within the single size two-disc black plastic BD case. 

I think for Ultra HD Blu-ray to distinguish itself the way Blu-ray did, the studios are going to have to invest in 4K exclusive content and even then without a greater level of interactivity that Blu-ray had over DVD, it may prove harder to draw in mainstream consumers that already have beautiful HDTVs and beautiful looking films on BD to invest in UHD BD at this early stage beyond cinema fans and the like so long as the selling point on catalog releases are simply greater picture and sound quality. I have no doubt that UHD TV is here to stay, but right now 4K Blu-ray feels a lot more like an extension of the format with titles packaged like Ender's Game rather than a successor to Blu-ray Disc as a whole. 

Ender's Game: 4K Utra HD + Blu-ray + Digital HD is available now at retailers on and offline courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

(C) Copyright 2016 By Mark A. Rivera.

All Rights Reserved.

For Immediate Release: Dark Horse Comics Unveils Mike Mignola and Dave Stewart’s Cover for The Trade Paperback of HELLBOY IN HELL Volume 2

March 22, 2016— Legendary comic book writer/artist Mike Mignola will conclude his critically acclaimed series HELLBOY IN HELL in 2016, when Dark Horse Comics publishes the final and tenth issue on June 1 and the trade paperback, HELLBOY IN HELL Volume 2 which collects issues 6 through 10, in October. In advance of the release of the series’ conclusion, Dark Horse Comics has released the cover to HELLBOY IN HELL Volume 2 by Mignola and award-winning colorist Dave Stewart. Following the conclusion of HELLBOY IN HELL, Mignola will take a year off from illustrating interior comic book pages in order to focus on fine art painting.

“Doing the cover to this collection was tough and of course I overthought the hell out of it,” said Mignola. “It's the end of the series and so much happens. How do I get that onto a cover? In the end, after doing two self-rejected covers, I decided to just illustrate the title of the book. THE DEATH CARD. There is also a fairly subtle nod to the climax of the book in there, but mostly it’s illustrating the title while trying to do a composition very similar to the cover of the first collection. Since the two books do make one story, I really wanted to design the book covers so they would work well side by side.”

After facing off for a second time against the Vampire of Prague, Hellboy, dead and in Hell, comes down with a fatal illness, and seeks the help of an incompetent team of doctors. As he explores the geography of Hell, learning little from a confused pair of map makers, Hellboy gets a glimpse of the new World Tree that he helped to create, stands accused of murder by his own sister and, in a way, brings about the destruction of Pandemonium itself.

While 2016 will see the conclusion of HELLBOY IN HELL, ABE SAPIEN (which concludes in August) and B.P.R.D.: HELL ON EARTH (which concludes in November), Dark Horse Comics will publish new issues of HELLBOY & THE BPRD co-written by Mignola and iZOMBIE co-creator Chris Roberson and illustrated by fan favorite artists, as well as unannounced titles which Mignola will co-write, but not illustrate.

HELLBOY IN HELL Volume 2 is available in comic shops October 5 and bookstores October 18. Preorder your copy today at your favorite retailer or local comic book store.  
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

HELLBOY IN HELL Volume 1 is now available from all major retailers.

HELLBOY IN HELL #9 and HELLBOY IN HELL #10 will be available in comic stores May 4and June 1.  

“Since introducing Hellboy in March of 1994, Mike Mignola has built a huge comic-book universe around the character on par with what Stan Lee and Jack Kirby accomplished in the Silver Age of Marvel Comics.. . .  Each new visual is like a master class in establishing mood, and Mignola’s skill increases as he refines his line, proving that less is more when it comes to his pulp-inspired fantasy horror universe.”

—THE AV CLUB

“Iconic.”

—ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

“One of the most beloved characters in the comic book community.”

—IGN 

“An inspiration to creators hoping to achieve similar success with their own characters and ideas.”

—MENTAL FLOSS

“Seminal.”

—THE NERDIST

###

Sicario 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and HD Blu-ray Plus Digital HD Review

In many ways I think Sicario could have been a new addition to the Traffic anthology that began with the original miniseries, spelled Traffik with a 'K' and set in London, Hamburg, and Pakistan and was subsequently adapted into an Academy Award winning feature film, which starred an ensemble cast that earned Benecio Del Toro his Academy Award for his role in the film. Subsequently a new Traffic miniseries followed that featured a new ensemble cast that included Elias Koteas and was largely set in Washington State. Sicario tells a more focused story because it does not really jump around too much from locales telling parrellel stories so much as it tells a succinct tale wherein one might argue that Emily Blunt's character is both the polar opposite of and at the same time a spiritual doppelgänger of Benecio Del Toro's character in the film. Josh Brolin kind of carries a swagger with his character, but like the Traffic anthology, nothing is what it seems and the line between doing good and being honest is blurred by the fact that there is a gray area that we all coexist within where the devil is in the details and there is no right or wrong so much as there are compromises and fate. The film features a pulse pounding score by J'ohann Johannsson, who I recall as the Icelandic artist behind the haunting techno tune, "The Sun's Gone Dim And The Sky Has Turned Black." There may be one or two moments where I felt certain assumptions seemed to come from nowhere, but Sicario is a film worthy of multiple viewings and I am pleased to present it was my first official 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc review.

First of all the jump in picture quality is only truly noticeable with High Dynamic Range enabled 4K Ultra HD monitors that meet the required HDMI and HDCP compliance in order to play back this disc in it's native resolution. Out of curiosity I tried seeing what would happen if I tried to play this disc back on my 3D ready 120hz HDTV and the same way you cannot play back a Blu-ray 3D disc back on a 2D 1080p set not to mention a 3D compliant Blu-ray player, or watch a 1080p Blu-ray dialed down to 480i SD resolution even on a 1080p TV, you must have an Ultra HD BD player and preferably a new 2016 model UHD set with HDR in order to get the full effect and really playback the content as it should be seen. Much like most Blu-ray 3D Discs, the 4K Ultra HD BD does not have any 4K bonus content. The film requires the storage of the 4K Ultra High Definition 2160p (2.40:1) widescreen aspect ratio presentation along with the English Dolby ATMOS (Dolby TrueHD Compatible) Soundtrack, which can be dialed down if need be to Dolby Digital though you will lose the full audio fidelity that is akin to trying to watch the 4K version on 1080p HD. Any film lover will tell you that sound is half the picture and while the investment in the minimal standard speaker arrangement will likely turn some consumers off especially if they just paid for a new HDTV in the last year or two. Even if you have to wait a few months, I highly recommend the upgrade provided the TV is also 3D ready if you have invested into that format as well. In fact I think 4K is a lot like 3D Blu-ray Disc in that physically it is the same type of physical media, but requires specialized hardware for playback. This noted, Lionsgate has also included a Region A high definition 1080p BD that looks great on it's own merits and features the same soundtrack along with Spanish Language Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and an English 2.0 Soundtrack optimized for late night viewing as well as an English Descriptive Audio track and English SDH and English and Spanish Language Subtitles encoded as options.

The extra features are all 1080p/24fps and cover the visual design (16:46), Acting (14:35), Score (6:19) and a look at the origins of Sicario (13:45). Bonus trailers that include The Last Witch Hunter, Heist, The Hurt Locker and TriBeCa/Lionsgate film streaming film service wrap up the bonus features on the standard HD Blu-ray Disc. A limited time only code for an i'Tunes and Ultraviolet Digital Copy of the film is included upon an insert within the black plastic 4K Ultra HD BD case.

I have another 4K BD review of Lionsgate's Ender's Game coming presently and The Expendables 3 as well as The Last Witch Hunter are also available on 4K UHD BD. Sicario 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and HD Blu-ray Plus Digital HD is available now at retailers on and offline courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

(C) Copyright 2016 By Mark A. Rivera.

All Rights Reserved.

Realistic 1/12 Scale BRUCE LEE Statue Debuts From Bluefin & Storm Collectibles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

BLUEFIN ANNOUNCES AMAZINGLY LIFE-LIKE NEW BRUCE LEE STATUE FROM STORM COLLECTIBLES

 

Official 1/12 Scale Rendition Of Legendary Martial Arts Pioneer And Film Star Debuts In May And Includes Swappable Alternate Head Sculpt Featuring A First-Ever Bearded Bruce Lee Design

 

Anaheim, CA, March 22, 2016 – Bluefin, the leading North American distributor of toys, collectibles, and hobby merchandise from Japan, Hong Kong and more, delights martial arts and pop culture fans and collectors as it announces the release of an official Bruce Lee premium statue from Storm Collectibles. 

 

Personally approved by Shannon Lee, the daughter of the legendary late martial arts pioneer and film star, the 1/12 scale Bruce Lee statue will debut in May with an MSRP of $55.00 (USD) from authorized Bluefin retailers nationwide and also from a variety of leading online outlets. Pre-orders are available now from select outlets. 

 

The new Storm Collectibles release was designed by renowned Bruce Lee sculptor, Arnie Kim, and features two extremely life-like swappable head sculpts, including the first-ever creation of a bearded rendition of Bruce Lee. The statue captures Lee in an iconic flexing pose, displaying his chiseled physique and prominent “wing-like” lat muscles. The 1/12 scale figure stands 7 inches tall.

 

Bruce Lee was a groundbreaking Chinese-American action film star, martial arts instructor, philosopher, and filmmaker. He starred in several highly influential martial arts movies such as Fist of Fury and Enter the Dragon and is widely regarded as one of the most iconic martial artists of all time. Lee’s martial arts philosophy and development of a style known as Jeet Kune Do, combined with his amazing physical abilities and on-screen charisma, drew him international acclaim and helped create enduring worldwide interest in martial arts.

 

Collectors are invited to check out additional Storm Collectibles figures available from Bluefin that include 1/6 scale pose-able figures of basketball legend and pop culture provocateur, Dennis Rodman, depicted in his “Bad Boy” wrestling attire, and heavyweight boxing champ, Mike Tyson, who is depicted in his early years when he fought for the U.S. Junior Olympic team. 

ORIGINAL PROPS AND COSTUMES FROM HIT TV SHOW HANNIBAL TO BE SOLD IN NO-RESERVE ONLINE AUCTION

Hannibal Lecter’s (Mads Mikkelsen) bespoke suits, a terrifying Wendigo bust, and Will Graham’s (Hugh Dancy) full size therapy cage are just a few examples of lots set to go under the hammer in the upcoming Hannibal: The Complete Series Auction, in partnership with Gaumont Television, this March.  Over 1250 lots of authentic pieces from the award-winning thrilling drama series, Hannibal, will be available for bidding with no reserve in a three-week-long online auction. The auction begins on Monday, March 21st on the Prop Store website, with lots closing for bidding April 4th-8th.

The acclaimed series, based on Thomas Harris’ novel Red Dragon, follows the cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter and his patient, FBI agent Will Graham. With a star-studded supporting cast including Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix, CSI) and Gillian Anderson (The X-Files), the series ran for three jaw-dropping seasons, helmed by executive producer Bryan Fuller.

VIZ Media Announces New Anime Art Books At C2E2 Convention

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES NEW PUBLISHING ACQUISITIONS AT C2E2 CONVENTION 

 

Leading Manga Publisher Previews The Upcoming Release Of New Art Books YOSHITAKA AMANO: ILLUSTRATIONS And THE ART OF CASTLE IN THE SKY 

 

San Francisco, CA, March 21, 2016 –VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, excited fans this past weekend at Chicago’s premier pop culture and comics convention – C2E2 – as it announced a pair of notable new publishing acquisitions.

 

During the VIZ Media Industry Panel held this past Saturday, the company thrilled a packed audience as it previewed the upcoming Summer release of YOSHITAKA AMANO: ILLUSTRATIONS, a vivid new art book presenting a curated selection of works by one of Japan’s most famous illustrators and character designers. 

 

VIZ Media also spotlighted the latest forthcoming addition to the Studio Ghibli Library – THE ART OF CASTLE IN THE SKY. This comprehensive book traces the animated film’s development from conception to final cut and will be the final Art Book edition to complete the Studio Ghibli feature film collection. THE ART OF CASTLE IN THE SKY’s publication in October also coincides with the 30^thanniversary of the film’s original release. 

 

New Summer & Fall 2016 Art Book Acquisitions 

 

YOSHITAKA AMANO: ILLUSTRATIONS · MSRP: $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN · Debuting Summer 2016 

Since beginning his career at age fifteen with the legendary animation studio Tatsunoko Production, Yoshitaka Amano has become one of the most acclaimed artists and illustrators at work today. Displaying a rare range, his oeuvre encompasses everything from minutely observed still-life sketches to full-color paintings on an epic scale, from children’s storybooks to dark adult fantasy, from theatrical productions to video games to sculpture to commercial design. YOSHITAKA AMANO: ILLUSTRATIONS offers a concise survey of this remarkable artist’s career to date. It includes selected full-color pieces for series such as Final Fantasy, Vampire Hunter D and Gatchaman (Battle of the Planets), as well as for Amano’s own creations like Hero and N.Y. Salad. Packed with sketches, commentary, and interviews, this beautiful volume opens a window into the world of Amano.

 

ART OF CASTLE IN THE SKY · MSRP: $34.99 U.S. / $39.99 CAN ·

Debuting Fall 2016 

Hayao Miyazaki’s Castle in the Sky was the first feature film produced by the legendary Studio Ghibli. Sheeta, a girl who has the power to defy gravity, is on the run from pirates when she meets the young inventor Pazu. Together they explore the secrets of Laputa, a flying city constructed by a long-lost race of people. All of Miyazaki’s major themes – the power of flight, the bravery of young women, and a world wrecked by change – are captured with beautiful animation and joyous storytelling.

 

Introducing Loot Crate DX: New Monthly High-End Crate Experience

LOOT CRATE INTRODUCES FIRST MONTHLY HIGH-END CRATE EXPERIENCE: LOOT CRATE DX    

Company’s popular mystery subscription box goes to the next level with even more sought-after and high-quality collectibles, apparel, home goods and more for geeks, gamers and pop culture lovers

First crate to feature items from popular franchises such as Adventure Time, Legend of Zelda and World of Warcraft

 

LOS ANGELES, CA - March 21, 2016 - At Silicon Valley Comic-Con this weekend, Loot Crate™, the company that defined the monthly mystery subscription box category for geeks, gamers and pop culture lovers, today announced its newest monthly subscription, Loot Crate DX. Created especially for fans who are interested in higher-end products, merchandise and collectibles, Loot Crate DX takes the company’s flagship mystery box experience to the “next-level” by delivering even more exclusives and higher-quality geek and gamer gear from the biggest, newest and most sought after franchises.

The first Loot Crate DX monthly box will feature sought after collectibles from franchises such as Adventure Time, Legend of Zelda, and World of Warcraft. Each crate will follow Loot Crate’s inventive monthly theme and feature collectibles, apparel, home goods and more for a total retail value of over $100.00.

Fans can sign up for Loot Crate DX starting Monday March 21st, 2016 at www.lootcrate.com/lcdx. Loot Crate DX is priced at $49.99 (including shipping and handling).

“Loot Crate was created to help give a voice to fans of pop culture around the World,” said Matthew Arevalo, co-founder and Chief Experience Officer at Loot Crate. “Those fans have told us they would like to see bigger, bolder and higher end offerings. This is our response, and we know Looters and soon to be Looters will be incredibly pleased with the result.”

In January of 2016, Loot Crate announced Loot Gaming, the company’s first monthly mystery box subscription dedicated to the biggest and best video game universes. Already, the first Loot Gaming crate, slated to ship in April, is sold out. Loot Crate’s new Anime line, now in partnership with Crunchy Roll, has also consistently sold out each month since launch. With more than a half million Looters for its flagship subscription service, Loot Crate has relationships with the hottest video game, entertainment and consumer product companies in the world, including Disney, Warner Bros., Nintendo, Activision, Minecraft, Bethesda and many more.

*Items shown are examples. Some but not all crates include wearables.