By now, if you are a comics fan, you’ve heard that not only is DC Comics going to be re-launching all of their series with new number one issues come August/September, but they will also be releasing all of these new issues digitally on the same date that the printed versions arrive in comic book stores [read Entire DC Comics Line To Be Renumbered and Get Day-and-Date Digital Release].

This is a big deal as they are the first major company to do this for their entire line of superhero books (no mention is made of whether DC’s Vertigo line will also be released in the same way). With the rise of the iPad and other tablet PC’s, digital comics have come to be seen as the future of comics. They are seen as a way to get people who don’t normally go into comic book stores to try out the world of comics publishing. Whether this is actually happening is hard to tell. Exact numbers for how many copies of books have been sold digitally are split up between any number of companies, and it’s impossible to get everyone to combine their numbers. All we can really tell is that people are not going into stores in numbers that they used to [...]

True Blood Season 3 was released today on DVD and Blu-ray and the prices have dropped from their pre-order amount!

The DVD is now $29.99 [that's 50% off the list price of $59.99 and $10 less than the pre-order price], while the Blu-ray is $34.99 [that's 56% off the list price of $79.98 and $15 less than the pre-sale price] [...]

DC Comics dropped a bomb on readers and retailers today with a huge announcement that strikes fear in the heart of the fandom — a line-wide reboot. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, in what appears to be an attempt to attract new readers to the comic line while also building mass media notoriety with the public at large with successful animated films, video games, and the upcoming line of DC Universe feature films, DC Comics is setting the comic book clock back to number one!

Not only that, but the most positively exciting thing about this news is the announcement of going day-and-date digital on all of the newly rebooted 52 titles (hopefully each hero will not represent a different Earth in the multiverse) starting with the release of the newly rebooted Justice League, written and drawn by bestselling creators Geoff Johns and Jim Lee, respectively, both of whom hold executive titles within the company [...]

Whitesnake drummer Brian Tichy’s mind works at the speed of his drum sticks; his answers fly out almost in a constant unbroken stream. I got the distinct impression that everything he does is with 100 percent commitment or none. This was backed up by Tichy fending off a barrage of text messages from Whitesnake’s tour manager because he was running late for a band dinner so that he could finish our interview.

This man lives and breathes and talks rock and it’s impossible not to get taken in by his infectious energy and enthusiasm for being the drummer in one of his all-time favorite bands.

Geeks of Doom: The first thing I want to ask: officially is it Brian with one ‘i’ or two?

Brian Tichy: [laughs] It’s one. But I accidentally wrote two in an email and I looked at it… I just thought it was funny and at the same time [of the email] I was doing a benefit show with Tracii Guns and we were kind of emailing about some stuff but this had nothing to do with him [the name]. I wrote to him and I…wrote Briian, two ‘i’s, not even thinking about it. This went on for a few days and I just kind of got used to signing with two ‘i’s just to see if anyone would notice and I go, “wait a second, I’m writing to Tracii, the original guy with two ‘i’s in his name!” Not even putting it together. At the same time Rudy Sarzo was emailing us about this benefit we were playing at and he starts signing his name r-u-d-i-i! [laughs] So it was pretty funny and then I just thought it was goofy, its funny.

But the cool thing is David [Coverdale], he likes it, so he put it on the record with two ‘i’s and I think it’s great because it’s just funny, it’s just a goof. So there’s my long-winded answer to that; it’s just a goof [...]

The $10 t-shirt deal of the day over at RIPT Apparel is a mash-up of Doctor Who and Star Wars called “R2D WHO and CYB3R PO” by artist Captain_RibMan.

The sale at RIPT began today, Tuesday, May 31, 2011, at midnight CST, and will continue for 24 hours from then, and once it’s over, it will not be sold on the site anymore [...]

Amazon is currently running a deal on the video game Portal 2 for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC.

- Xbox 360: $39.99 [33% off the list price of $59.99]
- PS3: $39.99 [33% off the list price of $59.99]
- PC: $29.99 [40% off the list price of $49.99]

Note, there’s indication as to when this sale will end, so grab this item at the discounted price while you can [...]

As we’ve been reporting for months now, Peter Jackson has been hard at work on his two planned Hobbit film adaptations, and back in March, rumors arose about what the official titles of the two films would be.

Now, the official titles as well as the final release dates have been confirmed for the two movies: Part I, which will be released on December 14, 2012, is called The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey; Part II, which will be released a year later on December 13, 2013, is called The Hobbit: There and Back Again [...]

This trailer is the best minute I ever spent. Gears of War 3 gameplay footage, all to the sounds of Ozzy singing “War Pigs.” I wish it was more than a minute long. The game seriously looks Epic (pun intended). There are guys exploding from underground, giant monsters, tiny monsters, and all-out intense fighting. There also looks like their could be some vehicle driving in this here game.

We also get a clue at the story line, it picks up with what was hinted at the end of Gears 2. Marcus’ father is alive, and now, you must rescue him.

Gears of War 3 will be released on September 20, 2011.

Enough listening to me, spend a minute and listen to some Ozzy, you can’t watch this only once! [...]

The $10 t-shirt deal of the day over at RIPT Apparel is a Stephen Colbert tribute called “King Colbert” by artist AJ Paglia.

The sale at RIPT began today, Monday, May 30, 2011, at midnight CST, and will continue for 24 hours from then, and once it’s over, it will not be sold on the site anymore [...]

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Vol. XX
DVD
Directed by Kevin Murphy
Starring Joel Hodgson, Michael J. Nelson
Shout! Factory
Release Date: March 8, 2011

Before I started putting my thoughts for this review to paper, I was trying to remember what movie was being roasted over an open flame on the first episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 that I ever saw. Merlin’s Shop of Mystical Wonders? Nope, but I do recall watching about five minutes of that one. Eegah? Close, but no cigar. That episode I watched on a day when I stayed home from school with the flu and it happened at the time I had just discovered the endless source of wonderment that is Comedy Central (in the form of reruns of the original British version of Whose Line is it Anyway?).

I’m afraid my introduction to the subversively hilarious world of MST3K (which we lifetime MST-ies have earned the right to call it) was a mid-90s Saturday afternoon excoriation, all done with good humor naturally, of the 1987 cheapo sci-fi fantasy Alien from L.A. (episode 516 for you fanatics out there), the movie that kickstarted dead-eyed swimsuit model Kathy Ireland’s uneventful acting career and was one of the lesser entries in the filmography of Albert Pyun, the director who excels at bargain basement schlock staffed with actors desperate for a lightning-quick payday (he also apprenticed with Akira Kurosawa…make of that what you will) [...]

I despise American Idol. It goes against every fiber of belief I have in music. The Simon Cowell Cookie Cutter Factory of creating “stars” really gets on my last nerve. Despite my negativity towards the-show-that-distracts-millions, I can’t help but write about it at the moment, because metal gods Judas Priest made a guest appearance on the series finale the other night – and blew the whole show out of the water with a great performance, which you can view at the bottom of this post.

My hatred for American Idol aside, you have to admit that this is a good move for Priest in the publicity department. As reported here numerous times, the band are about to embark on their farewell tour, and making an impressive appearance on a show like this is a good way to get the word out beyond the regular fan base [...]

The video game deal of the day over at Amazon today is Rift Collector’s Edition for PC Download for only $40.19 (that’s 33% off the list price of $59.99).

Note, this sale is valid only for today, Sunday, May 29, 2011, until midnight PST while supplies last.

With your purchase of Rift, you’ll receive the Ascended Gift Pack.

The Ascended Gift Pack is stuffed full of items to aid the newly ascended in the battle against the planar fiends. With potions, drinks, and scrolls, along with an extra bag, any new hero worth his mettle will keep this loot close at hand. [...]

Independent game developer Hothead Games is working on a new Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy game.

The announcement was made on May 25, 2011 — Towel Day — by Megadodo Publications, who you might recognize as the publishers of the actual Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy sited within the novel of the same name by the late Douglas Adams [...]

Since it first aired back in 1973 Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark has been proclaimed one of the finest and scariest features ever made for television and in the decades that followed, the film has gathered a strong cult following, culminating in a big-screen remake co-written and co-produced by Mexican genre filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro and directed by first-time feature director Troy Nixey.

A trailer for the upcoming film has just been released and you can watch it here [...]

Actor Jeff Conaway passed away yesterday, May 27, 2011, at the age of 60. Geek fans will remember him from television shows such as Babylon 5 and Freddy’s Nightmares, but he is also more popularly known from Grease and Taxi.

Conaway’s passing is a sad long story… At the beginning of May he was apparently dealing with pneumonia, and was taking a lot of medication to deal with the illness. Several days later, he was found unconscious on May 11, where it was discovered he had overdosed on painkillers (some media outlets have speculated other prescription medications as well) almost 10 hours before being found.

He was placed in a medically induced coma in the hospital, and was subsequently taken off life support on May 26. The following day, he died [...]