Emerald City Comicon 2013 Preview

Hulk Win Contest! at ECCC, ComicsBlend.com
Hulk Win Contest! at ECCC, ComicsBlend.com

Like Bruce Banner transforming into the Hulk, Emerald City Comicon is getting bigger! The Seattle celebration of comic books, science fiction and gaming takes over the entire Washington State Convention Center this year giving eager fans more celebrities, more panels and more everything!

Sci-Fi legends Sir Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: The Next Generation, X-Men) Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) Walter Koeing (Star Trek) Billy Dee Williams (Star Wars) and Christopher LLoyd (Back to the Future, Star Trek: The Search for Spock) will shine for adoring fans in panels, photograph and autograph sessions where they could how about a real life space traveler? Astronaut Clayton “Clay” Anderson will be appearing in the ECCC Kids! area.

Adam West as Batman, courtesy Emerald City Comicon
Adam West as Batman, courtesy Emerald City Comicon

Pop Culture Icons Adam West and Burt Ward (Television’s Batman and Robin) are sure to inspire huge lines. Television’s Dynamic Duo will appear at a screening of the Batman film at Seattle’s Cinerama on Thursday night before the con begins and the Mayor will declare Mayor Adam West Day in Seattle in honor of the Walla Walla, Washington native.

    The Walking Dead is killing it on television! Stars of the zombie comic book turned smash series Danai Gurira (Michonne) and Michael Rooker (Merle Dixon) will face the hordes of fanatic fans. The Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard will be appearing too. True Blood star Kristin Bauer, Dirk Benedict of Battlestar Galactica, Michael Shanks of Stargate and Misha Collins of Supernatural are among many other television actors shining for the fans.

Uncanny X-Men #135 cover courtesy Marvel.com. Art by John Byrne
Uncanny X-Men #135 cover courtesy Marvel.com. Art by John Byrne

Along with the stellar roster of celebrities folks can meet comic book legends who have made uncanny impacts on the heroes we see on the big screen. I’m most excited to meet Chris Claremont, writer of the X-Men series and creator of characters like Gambit, Emma Frost, Rogue, Sabretooth and Kitty Pryde. Claremont wrote my first comic book, Uncanny X-Men #116, and his work on the mutants is the comic book equivalent to the soundtrack of my life! The man gave us The Dark Phoenix Saga and Days of Future Past, inspiration for the upcoming X-Men sequel!

Denny O’Neil is another living legend famous for his runs on the Green Lantern/Green Arrow and Batman series with fellow guest Neal Adams. O’Neil was the Marvel editor of Frank Miller’s classic Daredevil run and returned to DC as editor of the Batman family of books to oversee modern classics Continue reading Emerald City Comicon 2013 Preview

UNCANNY AVENGERS vs.THOR?

Uncanny Avengers #4

Will Marvel’s new supergroup be destroyed by one of their own? The God of Thunder appears to be a hero possessed on the cover of this week’s Uncanny Avengers #4 courtesy Marvel. This is the big finale of the first arc by Rick Remender and John Cassaday.

In the aftermath of Avengers vs. X-Men Captain America and Wolverine assembled Thor, Rogue, Scarlet Witch and Havok to fight the power of a reborn Red Skull.

Rick Remender launched first Marvel Now book in a big shocking way. The Red Skull stole Professor Xavier’s the brain and turned it into the ultimate mind control weapon . I’m not ashamed to say I exclaimed “OH My GOD!” when I saw the villain holding the Professor’s brain over his desecrated head.

 
Uncanny Avengers #4 courtesy Marvel
Uncanny Avengers #4 courtesy Marvel

The Red Skull has been using the Professor’s power to incite anti-mutant hysteria turning ordinary citizens into obsessive and violent vigilantes. The villain’s mysterious S-Men have been enforcing his agenda. While the team may have survived the S-Men so far now one of their own could be turned against them!

Uncanny Avengers #4 courtesy Marvel
Uncanny Avengers #4 courtesy Marvel

The battle to stop the Red Skull’s war on mutants continues in the streets of New York as one member of the team switches sides! You could call the reborn Nazi scientist the Omega Skull since Continue reading UNCANNY AVENGERS vs.THOR?

Comic Book & Sci Fi Movies of 2013

Will the OSCARS celebrate sci-fi, comic book or horror ever again? Avatar was the most recent sci-fi film to be nominated for an Academy Award. Looper should have a contender at least for screenplay. Oscar buzz inspired this list of my most anticipated genre movies in 2013. These flicks have not receive Oscars but could be next year’s Geek Oscar contenders:

#10 Sin City: A Dame To Kill For Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller take us back to the notorious haven of crime, corruption and women with dangerous curves! Eva Green as Ava, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Josh Brolin join the hard-core citzens of Basin City! October 29.

#9 Oblivion Tom Cruise is a repairman of the future who finds a clan of humans (led by Morgan Freeman) on what’s supposed to be a scorched Earth! This new film from director Joseph Kosinski looks action packed and thought-provoking. April 19.

#8 Kick-Ass 2 Sadistic, satirical and twisted! More “real” superheroics from the mind of Mark Millar. Jim Carrey as Colonel Stars and Stripes is among the new citizen heroes that follows Kick-Ass’s crusade but the Red Mist is plotting vengeance against the vigilantes! June 28.

#7 World War Z I absolutely love the book by Max Brooks. I already know the film is very different from the novel. It really should have been a cable series like the Band of Brothers of zombies. I choose to believe in the Pitt…Brad Pitt! June 21.

#6 Pacific Rim Guillerno del Toro. Giant Robots. Giant Monsters. They had me with del Toro and giant anything! July 12.

#5 Thor: The Dark World Chris Hemsworth portrays the Odinson again as Thor returns to Asgard! Malekitch (Christopher Eccleston of Doctor Who fame) leads the Dark Elves and the powerhouse Kurse! Will Loki be forgiven of his crimes in The Avengers? This cosmic clash is sure to be action packed and could include more of the Shakespearean family drama as Loki could find a shot at redemption. November 8.

courtesy Marvel
courtesy Marvel

#4 Iron Man 3 Even after The Avengers I still believe fans want to see Robert Downey, Jr solo. Tony Stark’s world is obliterated by his arch-enemy. This third film unleashes the Mandarin (Oscar winner Ben Kingsley) and introduces the threat of Extremis and the Iron Patriot armor. The trailer is dark but I’m excited to see Shane Black direct a great performance out of Downey as a dethroned Tony fights his way back. May 3.

#3 The Wolverine I believe this is the movie that will be the definitive Wolverine story! The X-Man will faces an army of ninjas, the Silver Samurai and the woman who will change his life. Based on the classic series by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller and directed by James Mangold – this could be Continue reading Comic Book & Sci Fi Movies of 2013

THE WALKING DEAD Star MICHAEL ROOKER at Emerald City Comicon!

 

Michael Rooker as Merle Dixon on The Walking Dead courtesy AMC and Emerald City Comicon
Michael Rooker as Merle Dixon on The Walking Dead courtesy AMC and Emerald City Comicon

Emerald City Comicon saved one big surprise in the final week before this year’s big event! Michael Rooker (Merle Dixon) of The Walking Dead on AMC. is the final celebrity guest announced for the 11th annual convention! Rooker is a veteran character actor with a resume that includes Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Cliffhanger, Tombstone and The Sixth Day.

Rooker’s role as the zombie killing redneck you love to hate is what will be driving hordes of fans to ECCC for a chance to meet “Merle.”  Rooker will join co-star and previously announced guest Continue reading THE WALKING DEAD Star MICHAEL ROOKER at Emerald City Comicon!

BIG Secret in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: VIBE!

Justice League of America: Vibe #1 courtesy DC Comics
Justice League of America: Vibe #1 courtesy DC Comics

They weren’t kidding around! The powers that be at DC decided to resurrect Vibe and make him a big deal in The New 52. How big? How about this issue’s connection to the biggest bad in the DC Universe? Vibe from the Justice League Detroit days is a new member of the brand new Justice League of America book and his own solo series by Geoff Johns, Andrew Kreisberg and Pete Woods. The unlikely comeback is connected to one of the biggest mysteries of the DC Universe!

 

Before I continue here’s a….

SPOILER WARNING!

IF YOU HAVE NOT READ JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: VIBE #1 THEN STOP READING!

SERIOUSLY!

OK!

HERE IS COMES: Continue reading BIG Secret in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: VIBE!

Awards for Comic Book & Sci Fi Movies: My Geek OSCARS

courtesy Warner  Brothers
courtesy Warner Brothers

As we count down to this year’s Oscars I can’t help but sigh that the Academy fails to recognize the powerful performances and amazing talents behind 2012’s big sci-fi and comic book (I’m including James Bond because I love him and why not) based films?

 

Here are my films, stars, creators that should be nominated plus some of my own geeky categories:

 

Best Picture: The Dark Knight Rises, Looper, Skyfall

 

Best Actor: Christian Bale, The Dark Knight Rises

 

Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, The Hunger Games

 

Best Director: Christopher Nolan, Rian Johnson

 

Best Supporting Actor: Michael Caine, The Dark Knight Rises Javier Bardem, Skyfall Michael Fassbender, Prometheus

 

Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway, The Dark Knight Rises Emily Blunt, Looper

 

Best Song: Skyfall, Adele

 

MVP of 2012: Continue reading Awards for Comic Book & Sci Fi Movies: My Geek OSCARS