The Dare! Detectives
Casebook No. 1: ‘The Snow-Pea Plot’
Story and Art by Ben Caldwell
Additional Colors and Inks by Bill Halliar and Mike Mucci
Archaia Entertainment
Release Date: January 10, 2012
Cover Price: $24.95

The Dare! Detectives are a trio of ‘defective detectives’ operating out of Enderby City. Maria is a tattooed ‘bad girl’ with a chip on her shoulder, Toby is a dim-witted strongman, and Jojo is a bunny with an attitude. When the story begins, they’re chasing notorious criminal Furious George, a very bad monkey. The chase does not end well, and they end up having their detective license suspended. While sitting at their landlord Uncle Chan’s restaurant trying to figure out a way to pay the rent, they stumble upon a new criminal operation led by the Madame Bleu and and her angry panda bears. Uncle Chan is kidnapped, Madame Bleu and her pandas escape, and the Dare! Detectives are on the case again [...]

Monsters Are Just Like Us
Written and drawn by Super Ugly
Action Lab Comics
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Cover Price: $12.95

Have you ever wondered about the habits and daily lives of monsters? Would you be surprised to learn that they engage in mundane activities just like the rest of us? Writer/artist Super Ugly has spilled the beans and given us an inside look at the everyday lives of monsters.

Through the efforts of Super Ugly, we learn that Monsters Are Just Like Us. Monsters alternates between pages with text and hilarious pictures telling us things like “They never clear a paper jam, just like you!” and “They think ‘double-decaf, non-fat, no foam latte’ is coffee just like you!” My personal favorite is “They sing along with Miley Cyrus in the shower, just like you!” Unlike most books that show monsters rampaging and frightening people, Super Ugly shows monsters at work, at home, and at play [...]

Zombies vs. Robots: Pammi Shaw: Creator of Gods and Also Blogger
By Brea Grant
Kindle
IDW Publishing
Release Date: January 18, 2012

The Zombies Vs. Robots comics were one of the first big hits for IDW Publishing. Naturally, they continued the story with mores miniseries with Zombies vs. Robots vs. Amazons, and then Zombies vs. Robots Aventure and ZvR: UnderCity. In UnderCity, the character of Pammi Shaw is introduced. She is also the “author” of the blog entries that comprise this short story, Zombies vs. Robots: Pammi Shaw: Creator of Gods and Also Blogger [...]

Transformers: Robots in Disguise #1
Written by John Barber
Interior Art by Andrew Griffith
Cover by Marcelo Matere
Colors by Josh Perez
Letters By Shawn Lee
IDW Publishing
Release Date: January 25, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Transformers: Robots in Disguise #1 is the second ongoing Transformers series that IDW has begun this month. RID is a companion series to Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye. MTMTE focuses on Rodimus and his crew as they search for the Knights of Cybertron. RID focuses on the Transformers left on Cybertron.

Centuries of war between the Autobots and Decepticons have ravaged the planet. The planet is actually attacking them on occasion. The Autobots have established themselves as the authority on Cybertron [...]

Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #1
Written by James Roberts
Art by Nick Roche
Colors by Josh Burcham
IDW Publishing
Release Date: January 11, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

IDW is taking the Transformers universe in a bold new direction. After the events of the previous series, The Autobots no longer wage battles to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons, as the cartoon theme song once said. The war between the Autobots and the Decepticons is finally over. The Matrix was used to purge Cybertron, and the planet has reverted to a primordial state. Also, Optimus Prime has apparently retired, leaving Cybertron to explore the galaxy. In the remnants of the Matrix, the Autobots discover a star map that appears to lead to Cyberutopia, the home of the legendary Knights of Cybertron. Rodimus is now convinced that the Knights are real and he is assembling a crew to travel in space in search of the Knights [...]

Mo-Bot High
Hardcover
Written and Illustrated by Neill Cameron
David Fickling Books
Release date: October 28, 2010

The idea of high-school drama and giant robots sounds like two concepts that may have a hard time working together. However, in the world of Mo-Bot High, these two concepts complement each other, resulting in an original and unique story deserving of a wider audience. Mo-Bot High began as a weekly comic in England that was eventually published as a hardcover book.

Mo-Bot High tells the story of Asha on her first day at a new school. Asha quickly encounters a bully named Gemma and has her first fight with a Mo-Bot, also known as a DMC (digital mobile combat-suit). The Mo-Bots can be summoned using their cellphones, but they only work on the grounds of the high school [...]

Geektionary
Paperback | Kindle
Written by Gregory Bergman and Josh Lambert
Adams Media
Release date: January 16, 2011

There is a common misconception that all geeks like the same things. While it is true that some franchises like Star Wars seem to be universally loved by all geeks, there are several different geek categories. Explaining this to a nongeek used to be a difficult task and would require a clever video or PowerPoint presentation… until now.

The Geektionary is a helpful guide to the many different genres of geekdom. There is individual chapters on Science Fiction, Comic Books, Anime and Manga, Science, and even a chapter on Sports. Of course, there are also chapters on Gaming and Television and the Movies [...]

Infinite Kung Fu
Paperback
Written by Kagan McLeod
Pencils by Kagan McLeod
Top Shelf
Release date: August 9, 2011

Infinite Kung Fu is a martial arts adventure with several twists. Set in an ancient time when souls are refusing to pass on and can jump from one dead person to the next, the students of the Eight Immortals have turned on the teachings of their masters and have begun practicing the Poison Kung Fu styles.

One of the Immortals, Chung Li Ch’uan, encounters Yang Lei Kung, a former soldier, and decides that he will be teach him Kung Fu. Ch’uan believes that Kung is the chosen one and will defeat the evil emperor and his generals. Eventually, Kung becomes one of the Emperor’s generals and goes on a quest to learn many different styles of Kung Fu in order to become skilled enough to overthrow the emperor’s evil empire. Along the way, Kung gains several allies, including Moog Joogular, student of Chung Kuo Lao, another of the Eight Immortals. Joogular looks like a young George Clinton and has a very unique fighting style [...]

Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Season One
DVD
Starring Levar Burton, Whoopie Goldberg, Meg Ryan, Martin Sheen, Ed Asner, and Jeff Goldblum
Shout! Factory
Release Date: April 19, 2011

The eco-conscious ’90s are revisited in this collection of Season One of Captain Planet and the Planeteers. In this collection, viewers are introduced to the Planeteers, a group of teens chosen by Gaia, the Spirit of the Earth, to defend the Earth from environmental villains. The Planeteers are a multicultural bunch that includes Kwame from Africa, Wheeler from America, Linka from Eastern Europe, Gi from Asia, and Ma-Ti from Brazil.

As a Reading Rainbow and Roots fan, I remember being happy that Levar Burton was included in the cast as the voice of Kwame. I was also a fan of the original voice of Gaia, Whoopi Goldberg. Sadly, Goldberg and several of the original voice actors for the eco villains would be replaced in later seasons. In Season One, however, we have the voice talents of Meg Ryan (Dr. Blight), Jeff Goldblum (Verminous Skumm), Martin Sheen (Sly Sludge), John Ratzenberger (Rigger), and Ed Asner (Hoggish Greedly). This all-star gathering gave the show legitimacy and made watching the series more exciting. After I read the credits, I began playing a guessing game and trying to match the celebrity voice with the eco-villain [...]

Justice League of America #55
Reign of Doomsday Part 3 (Eclipso Rising Part Two: Mayhem)
Writer: James Robinson
Pencils: Brett Booth
Inks: Norm Rapmund
Colors: Andrew Dalhouse
Cover: Brett Booth and Andrew Dalhouse
Price: $2.99
DC Comics
Release date: March 23, 2011

Justice League of America #55 continues the “Reign of Doomsday” story begun in this year’s Steel #1 and Outsiders #37. It also continues the Justice League’s battle with Eclipso.

Part of the team is at the Emerald City on the dark side of the Moon visiting Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern. Scott has been seriously injured and his daughter, Jade, is at his bedside. Wonder Girl and other Justice Leaguers are preparing to do battle with Eclipso. Out in space, Batman (Dick Grayson) and Supergirl are attacked by Doomsday while investigating the ruins of New Krypton. Supergirl is in her “Dark Supergirl” mode and wearing a black outfit. The battle also involves the Alpha Lantern Boodika, Starman, and Blue Lantern Saint Walker. It’s another brutal, violent battle with a shock ending. Also, Eclipso claims the mind of another Justice Leaguer at the conclusion of that battle [...]

Outsiders #37
Reign of Doomsday Part 2: Doom’s Day
Co-Plot and Script: Dan DiDio
Co-Plot and Art: Phillip Tan
Colorist: Pete Pantazis
Cover: Phillip Tan with Guy Major
Price: $2.99
DC Comics
Release date: March 9, 2011

Doomsday’s reign of terror continues in this issue. In the Steel one-shot, Doomsday defeated Steel and flew off with his body. In this issue, Outsiders #37, Steel is nowhere to be found. In this book, Doomsday’s primary target appears to be Eradicator. Steel and Eradicator were both replacement Supermen in the aftermath of Doomsday’s first battle with Superman, so there may be a pattern forming. Currently, the Outsiders have been split into two teams. Doomsday battles Geo Force’s team, which includes Eradicator, Katana, Halo, Looker, and The Olympian. Unsurprisingly, Doomsday easily defeats this team. The Olympian and The Eradicator do the most damage, but they also fall. The Olympian reminds me of Marvel Comics’ Hercules character. He is very proud and boastful and makes elegant speeches while fighting. This character is very interesting, and I hope someone at DC finds a use for him soon, because Outsiders is slated to be canceled after issue #40 [...]

Skullkickers Volume 1
1000 Opas and a Dead Body
Written by Jim Zub
Art by Edwin Huang and Chris Stevens
Colors by Misty Coats and Chris Stevens
Price: $9.99
Image Comics
Release date: March 9, 2011

Skullkickers is a relatively new series from Image that has quickly found an audience and built a buzz. Their first trade paperback collection, “1000 Opas and a Dead Body”, collects the first storyline and their earlier appearances in the Image comics anthology Popgun.

Skullkickers follows the infamous exploits of two unnamed bounty hunters, a short, rude dwarf and a giant bald fellow who we shall refer to as “Dwarf and Big Guy”. They are fighting a werewolf and breaking up a cult. Later we learn that they are performing these acts for a fee. Soon after disposing of the werewolf, they witness the murder of a chancellor. The chancellor’s associates pay them 1000 opas to bring the killer to justice. Of course, what seems like a simple jobs becomes a madcap adventure that involves demons, gypsies, monsters, and the fate of an entire kingdom. [...]

Comics and cartoon writer Dwayne McDuffie, who most recently penned the script for the DC Animated feature All-Star Superman, passed away from complications from a surgical procedure he had on Monday.

McDuffie got his start in comics as a member of Marvel’s editorial staff in the 1980s. While an editor at Marvel, McDuffie began writing the Damage Control miniseries and helped to revamp the Deathlok character. Eventually, McDuffie began writing full-time and would help create the Milestone comics universe at DC. Milestone was a separate line that featured minority heroes such as Static, Hardware, and Icon. In recent years, McDuffie began writing for cartoons as well, including a cartoon adaptation of his Static character, Static Shock. He also served as the story editor on the immensely popular Justice League Unlimited cartoon and a writer on Ben 10: Alien Force. McDuffie also wrote the DC Comics straight-to-DVD animated feature Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, as well as an adaptation of All-Star Superman that was released on DVD and Blu-ray today [...]

The Six Million Dollar Man
The Complete Season One
DVD
TimeLife

I recently had a chance to view the series The Six Million Dollar Man Season 1 on DVD. The classic show follows the adventures of former astronaut Colonel Steve Austin (Lee Majors), who was horribly injured after crashing an experimental airplane. Austin is rebuilt with bionic parts. He has a bionic arm, eye, and two bionic legs. He can run at incredible speeds, has superhuman strength in his bionic arm and can see over great distances.

Colonel Austin repays his debt to the people who built him by going on secret missions. I remember watching reruns of this show as a child and playing with my brother’s Steve Austin action figure. This DVD set brought back a lot of those memories. The Six Million Dollar Man was a fun, action-packed show. Some of the effects seem a little dated. There was a fight scene between Steve Austin and an alligator that looks hilarious now. However, the show still retains its charm [...]

Steel
Reign of Doomsday Part 1: Full Circle (One-shot)
Writer: Steve Lyons
Artist: Ed Benes
Cover Artist: Alex Garner
DC Comics
Release Date: January 5, 2011

Steel #1 is part of a series of one-shots and regular issues that DC Comics is releasing with iconic covers of their heroes. Alex Garner‘s artwork on the cover immediately catches your eye.

The story begins in the middle of a battle between Steel and Doomsday, the vicious creature that murdered Superman in the monumental Death of Supermanstoryline. All of Metropolis’ other defenders are unavailable, so it falls on John Henry Irons to defend the city. Irons is recently recovered from a coma, but he feels that it is his duty to stop Doomsday [...]

Faster
Directed by George Tillman, Jr.
Starring Dwayne Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton, Carla Gugino, and Maggie Grace
Castle Rock Entertainment/CBS Films
Release date: November 24, 2010

The ads for Faster would lead you to believe that the film is a simple action movie with a revenge plot, a concept that has been used since the early days of cinema. However, Faster is a revenge plot with more twists and turns than a NASCAR race. Former WWE wrestler Dwayne Johnson plays the character known only as Driver. We see him being released from prison. During his “exit interview,” the warden shows pictures of wounded inmates that crossed his path. This sequence cleverly establishes Driver’s “badassery” and foreshadows the carnage to come. Driver and his brother pulled a bank robbery, but someone close to them set them up to be robbed by another group of criminals. Driver’s brother is murdered while he survives the robbery and goes to jail. While in prison, Driver has had people keeping tabs on the men involved in his brother’s killing. Almost immediately upon release, Driver begins exacting vengeance on these people. In the beginning, Driver is a remorseless killing machine, drawing the attention of Detective Cicero (Carla Gugino), who reluctantly teams up with Cop (Billy Bob Thornton) to track down Driver and end his killing spree [...]

*UPDATED BELOW*

Well, after what seems like months of nothing but unofficial set photos and test shots to go on, Entertainment Weekly has the first official pictures of Chris Evans as Captain America in the upcoming film Captain America: The First Avenger.

In the upcoming issue, of which Evans as Cap graces the cover, Evans talks about his doubts about taking the role. The article also reveals that Cap’s enemy, the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) has a “plan for world domination [that] involves a magical object known as The Tesseract” (aka, The Cosmic Cube).

I have to admit, I was not pleased when they first announced Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, since he’s already played Johnny Storm/The Human Torch in the Fantastic Four movies. I am not really fond of actors playing different characters in the same comic book universe; it tends to ruin my “make-believe time.” Also, I was unsure whether Evans could bulk up to really look the part [...]

The New Avengers: Luke Cage – Town Without Pity
Trade Paperback
Written by John Arcudi, various
Art by Eric Canete & Pepe Larraz, various
Colors by Chuck Chuckry, Andres Mossa, various
Letters by Joe Sabino, Various
Price: $14.99
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Release date: September 22, 2010

Luke Cage’s most recent solo adventure is the lead story collected in this trade paperback. The cover is a bit misleading because it implies that Ronin (now Hawkeye again) and Spider-Man play a major part in the series. Actually, they mainly appear in the first issue.

The story takes place during the end of the Superhuman Registration Act era in the Marvel Universe. Luke Cage gets a call from his old friend Leodis Dyson. Dyson is beaten and hospitalized by gangsters in North Philadelphia, so Cage travels to Philly to help Dyson out. After he arrives, he encounters a much deeper scandal that involves corrupt politicians, gangs, and the return of a classic Luke Cage villain.

John Arcudi‘s characterization of Luke Cage is consistent with Cage’s current portrayal in the Marvel Universe. Arcudi also does an excellent job of capturing the dynamic between Cage and his wife, Jessica. They constantly bicker, but you can feel the genuine love and concern that the characters have for each other [...]

Adam WarRock
The War For Infinity
Silver Age Records & Marketless Music
Release Date: October 7, 2010

Eugene Ahn, comic book fan and podcast host, has created a hip-hop alter ego named Adam WarRock. On WarRock’s debut album, The War For Infinity, listeners are treated to an “event” comic book story in musical form.

On the first track, “I Am Him,” we are learn the origin story of Adam WarRock. Adam WarRock created a perfect society with his mic, but is shunned by the very people that he was seeking to save. He creates a gauntlet that stores his power and ascends into the clouds and sleeps until he is needed again. That day inevitably arrives, and Adam WarRock awakes again.

WarRock’s saga continues throughout the course of the album, and eventually he meets Demonos on the track “Battle (Intro)”. Demonos and WarRock meet in an arena, complete with cheesy announcer. WarRock also informs Demonos of his power with lines like “Ya’ll must be crazy, thinking you can mess with Adam, man/Thinking I’m a goody two shoes like my name was Adam Ant.” The lyrical and heroic battle continues over the course of the album, especially on the track “Heroes Requiem,” where Demonos vanquishes several well-known super heroes. WarRock and Demonos have their final showdown on the song “Battle (Finale)” and it is an epic contest [...]

I recently came across this while trolling the ol’ interwebs. Eric Power (awesome last name) has created sort of a “clip show” of the Star Wars original trilogy using paper animation.

Click below to watch this cool vid.

I am really shocked and amazed at the fact that he was able to work in so many important events from Episodes 4, 5, and 6 with a runtime of two minutes and forty seconds. This is actually the music video to an original song entitled “Tattooine,” sung by Jeremy Messersmith. This is now my new favorite Star Wars song. Take that, John Williams!!

Seriously, though, I cannot get this very catchy song out of my head. Star Wars geeks who may have been disappointed (or thrilled) by last week’s news about the entire Star Wars saga being re-released in 3D now have this awesome video to show us what we really loved about the original saga, and that’s the heart of the film. And lightsabers. Lightsabers are always awesome. I would’ve liked a little more Lando, but this video still warms my geek heart [...]