COMICS BLEND

Sasquatch Music Festival

This is not exactly related to comic books or sci-fi but I wanted to share the amazing photos from the Sasquatch Music Festival in a spectacular venue called The Gorge. Thousands of fans came to eastern Washington for a Memorial Day Weekend of modern rock featuring some of the biggest and up and coming acts in music.

Yet even in the deep remote Gorge we see comic book, anime and video game influences among the rock and roll fans! Every music fan must experience a concert at The Gorge (I’ve seen Coldplay and Kings of Leon there.)

Joshua Lewis (my frequent collaborator from KOMONews.com, Seattle Pulp – we survived Emerald City Comicon and The Hunger Games Tour Seattle together) and Kai Hayashi of KATUNews.com captured the rock and roll excitement.

Here’s the KOMONEWS.COM link to the gallery of day two and day three. Enjoy the rock and roll craziness.

By Editor

THOR 2 Major Villain

Thor & Loki — Tom Hiddleston as Loki & Chris Hemsworth as Thor in Thor courtesy Marvel

Expect a heavy hitter to hammer down on Chris Hemsworth in THOR 2 but it will not be the big purple bad at the end of The Avengers. I won’t reveal the ending just in case you’re not among the billions that have seen Earth’s Mightiest Movie.

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige tells Empire “But there will be a major new villain. A major, major new antagonist.”

Who will it be? Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale)is (rumored, in talks, final negotiations – all depending on which site you read) up for a role in Thor 2. Here are my thoughts on which villain he might play.

By Editor

Ridley Scott on Blade Runner Sequel and The Daleks

prometheusmovie_11512_6 — Prometheus courtesy 20th Century Fox

Ridley Scott’s return to science fiction is almost here. Prometheus goes back into the Alien universe. Imagine Scott having a creative hand in the making of another sci-fi icon – the Daleks?

Scott worked in the BBC design department where he would have designed Doctor Who’s arch enemies – if not for a scheduling conflict – according to a new interview with The Independent.

Scott is returning to his other sci-fi classic. The director’s next project is a sequel to Blade Runner but don’t expect Harrison Ford as the lead reprising Rick Deckard but don’t rule out an appearance.”I don’t think it’ll be Harry [starring]. But I’ve got to have him in it somewhere. That’d be amusing.”

For the entire interview here’s the link. I highly recommend – very insightful on Scott’s career and future.

By Editor

Top 5 Picks for 5/30/12

DoctorWho_StarTrek_01cvrA_02 — Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 courtesy IDW Publishing

America’s Got Powers #2 Super teens compete in the world’s biggest reality game show. A kid who thought he’d only be comic relief has the chance to be the ultimate hero. This is an action packed cautionary tale that skewers our obsession with youth, reality television and media manipulation.

Batman Annual #1 Forget Ar-NULD – this Mr. Freeze is not joke. The ice-cold criminal makes his New 52 debut. How it he connected to the of Court of Owls? Is Freeze an ally or a target for assassination.

Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who Assimilation #1 Two of the biggest science fiction franchises together! The Captain Picard and crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise and Doctor Who join forces when Borg and Cybermen form an unholy alliance threatening the galaxy.

Wolverine and the X-Men #11 Will the Red Hulk turn Iceman into crushed ice? Kid Gladiator takes on the Avengers! Which side will Logan’s students choose in the war between Avengers and X-Men? They better choose quick. Gladiator and the Shiar Death Commandos are headed for Earth.

X-Men Legacy #267 Rogue vs She-Hulk was just a warm up! When Avengers showed up at the Jean Grey School to put the students under house arrest it didn’t sit well with the X-Men. I love Rogue but can she defeat Iron Man?

Michael Fassbender On Inspirations for Prometheus Role

michael-fassbender-prometheus_main — Michael Fassbender in Prometheus courtesy 20th Century Fox

Michael Fassbender is creepy brilliant in the trailers for Prometheus. The actor is revealing the inspirations for this performance as “David” to GQ. He cites David Bowie, Lawrence of Arabia and Ridley Scott suggested he watch The Servant with Dirk Bogarde.

Fassbender reveals his favorite Ridley Scott films including Blade Runner -wouldn’t he make an amazing new version of Roy Batty for a remake? Here’s a link to the video interview. If you haven’t seen Fassbender as David in the faux commercial for the android here it is:

Prometheus is out June 8th

Back to David Bowie…I wonder which of Bowie’s ‘alien’ characters he refers to as his inspiration? Ziggy Stardust? I’m sure it’s Nicholas Roeg’s The Man Who Fell To Earth. This was Bowie’s first film role as an alien who comes to earth to bring back water to his drought stricked planet. The alien creates many inventions and forms a huge financial empire before…well I don’t want to give it away.

By Editor

Happy Birthday Ian Fleming & Bond Girls in Cannes

On this day in 1908 James Bond creator Ian Fleming was born in London.

Skyfall Bond girl Berenice Marlohe was joined by Carole Bouquet (For Your Eyes Only) and Martine Beswick (From Russia, With Love and Thunderball) appeared at the Cannes Film Festival to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the James Bond film series. Bouquet played Melina Havelock on For Your Eyes Only opposite Roger Moore. She still looks stunning. This photo and red carpet footage of Marlohe and Beswick is courtesy 007.com.

I’m still not sure if Severine (Marlohe’s character) is a heroine, villainess of perhaps a bad girl that goes good after sleeping with James Bond (Daniel Craig.)

Doesn’t it seem like the Cannes Film Festival would be an exciting location for a James Bond story? I recommend Never Dream of Dying by Raymond Benson setting in Cannes and Corsica. It was final part of The Union Trilogy. Bond’s fling with a scandalous actress leads him to her producer husband, an ally in a terrorist attack by the Union.

By Editor

The Dark Knight Rises Spot Feels Like Gangs of Gotham

It looks like The Dark Knight Rises will have a “Gangs of Gotham City” vibe to it. The latest commercial for Christopher Nolan’s Batman finale is out – thanks to Spinoff Online. Nolan has been reported saving he was inspired by A Tale of Two Cities.

There are moments when it feels as if Batman wins the police to his side while Bane has his army (are they his terrorists or a recruits from Gotham’s underbelly?)

In the scene when the bridges blow it makes me think perhaps the new film will be partly inspired by No Man’s Land. In that Batman crossover a massive earthquake hits Gotham City – the government declares it a no man’s land and the gangs carve up their terrorities in the remains. Bane acted as an agent of Lex Luthor in the storyline.

Here’s the latest ad below:

Here’s a link to No Man’s Land Volume One if you’re interested in reading that classic crossover.

By Editor

X-Men Gay Wedding Story Hits News Talk Radio

Northstar’s upcoming wedding to his boyfriend Kyle has generated praise, controversy and protests. Marvel’s decision to have openly gay X-Man get married has made mainsteam media. Ken Schram of KOMO NewsRadio reached out to Howard Boyd, manager of Zanadu Comics (my Seattle comic shop!) to get his insight on the gay Marvel wedding and which DC Comics hero will be coming out.

X-Men Interview

Schram is hilarious and it’s kind of fun to hear him try to comprehend the idea of the multiverse!

By Editor

Escape. Engage. Enjoy.