News

Leiji Matsumoto’s Captain Harlock on WiiWare

Since the inception of video games, there has always been a comic book feel to many games. The comic book industry has always looked for venues to bring their creations to life either in Hollywood or in the gaming world. Nintendo Wii is making it easy for comics to bridge themselves into their platform. World famous manga artist Leiji Matsumoto of Captain Harlock and Space Battleship Yamato fame is finding a new audience with WiiWare. WiiWare is an exploding place for game creators and new content for creative individuals to launch new platforms for a hungry audience who are starving for something new. The adventures of Captain Harlock can now by captured by a software created by Sunsoft who make it easy to read the popular manga corsair from outer-space. This will be the first of many manga books to be released by the newly created company called Sunsoft Books.

Video of the Week

Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog

From teenage doctor Doogie Howser to Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, Neil Patrick Harris is making house calls once again with the latest offering by Joss Whedon.

Bookends

Anna Smudge: Professional Shrink

With the advent of summer holidays and school winding down. Kids are under the impression that learning is out the window. No more books, perish the thought. There are many books out there that will keep those little bright eyes glued to some exciting adventures. Some publishers are taking a clue from comic books and creating exciting stories laced in comic book themed ideas. Anna Smudge is the newest girl in town that will make reading exciting for many. Mac is the newest author from Popular Science Magazine and she chronicles the further adventures of Anna Smudge and her cast of "Professionals" in an ongoing series of exciting fresh plots. Not since Lucy from Peanuts that an eleven year old shrink can be a cool thing to read. Taking clue from the likes of Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Encyclopedia Brown and all the sleuths before her, Anna Smudge is full of promise as the next new series that will lure your kids like little fish to bait. Glenn Fabry a well known artist in the comic book industry fills out the book with his spot illustrations. This book will be the sleeper of the summer for kids nine and older.
 
A DANGEROUS ESCAPED HITMAN  

AN ART TEACHER WHO HAS LOST HER MIND

A NAKED MAN COVERED IN SEAWEED AND TALKING IN RHYMES

BUT WHAT DOES IT ALL HAVE TO DO WITH THE CRIMINAL MASTERMIND MR. WHO?

It’s up to Anna Smudge to find out. But Anna’s no ordinary eleven-year-old. She’s the top shrink in Manhattan, holding therapy sessions in a cramped storage closet in the lobby of her apartment building. And hordes of nutty New Yorkers are nearly kicking down her door, desperate to schedule an appointment. But Anna’s got major issues of her own: a mysterious blackmailer, a violent new patient, and more homework than a tenth grader. Oh, and she has to catch Mr. Who, the most horrendous criminal mastermind the world has ever known. Her father’s life depends on it.

Teaming up with a motley crew of friends, Anna embarks on an adventure that spans the landmarks of New York City. But how do you find a man when no one has ever seen his face? Does Mr. Who even exist? And if so, who is he?

WYSIWYG

The Beatles Heading to Guitar Hero or Rock Band

Least we forget, the Beatles want to be trendy once again. It’s now a battle of the bands of sorts with new games  "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero" as they go head to head in vying the Beatles on their products. The gaming world got wind of Guitar Hero and the Beatles are in talks to mimick the business plan of Metallica and Aerosmith who have lent their faces and songs to a very lucrative venture in one of the fastest generating money ventures in a long time. Seems there is a new kid in stores each day trying out either Rock Band or Guitar Hero. The games seem transcend easily with parents because most of the music in these games are from their generation. These power chord games are a hit and will one day change the landscape of music as they are also reinventing the music instruments. The future is bright. Wonder how many kids know of The Beatles? The market is growing to encompass all ages who want to graduate from air guitar to a semi-guitar god.

Games

Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution

Sid Meier is the gaming guru of the world for the past 20 years. He has unleashed on the world games such as F-15 Stealth Fighter, Railroad Tycoon, and Pirates. His biggest claim to fame is his glorified version of the classic board game "risk" as a computer came he calls Sid Meier’s Civilization. He is at again with the latest installment called Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution. How can the man run out of ideas, he has history to draw from and capture digitalized gaming versions of man’s greatest battles. You basically are in charge of every outcome in the civilization that you create in each game. You are the master of your destiny when you helm the controls for another revolution in Sid Meier’s Civilization.
 
Sid Meier’s Civilization® Revolution™ is the latest offering in the legendary award winning Sid Meier’s Civilization® series of strategy games, featuring the famous "just one more turn" addictive gameplay that has made this one of the greatest game series of all time. Civilization Revolution has been designed and built (by the legendary Sid Meier and his team at Firaxis) from the ground up for console and handheld systems delivering graphics, gameplay and controls that take full advantage of the hugely popular gaming platforms. Civilization Revolution is a watershed game offering players a chance to experience the epic empire building world of Civilization in a whole new way - in an accessible, visually immersive, fast paced, action-packed world that gamers crave.

Animation

Smurf Movie

To smurf or not to smurf, Sony has acquired the rights to Belgian cartoonist Pierre "Peyo" Culliford’s Smurfs to be produced in CG. Seems... Read more »

Big Buck Bunny

Look out Bugs Bunny there is a new rabbit in town.  Big Buck Bunny is the epitome of today’s super-size me culture. This clever cartoon... Read more »

The Cleveland Brown Show

There is an old adage when it comes to creative people, stick to what you know. Seth MacFarlane must be the crazy glue of the animation world. A... Read more »


Games

Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution

Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution Sid Meier is the gaming guru of the world for the past 20 years. He has unleashed on the world games... Read more »

Space Invaders Extreme

Space Invaders Extreme Only 30 years? Space Invaders captured the fancy of a generation in 1978 that was just ambushed by George Lucas with Star Wars.... Read more »

Princess Bride Free Video Game

  The Princess Bride is one of those movies that came out with no fanfare, but yet is endeared by many who saw this fun flick when it first... Read more »


Books

Anna Smudge: Professional Shrink

Anna Smudge: Professional Shrink With the advent of summer holidays and school winding down. Kids are under the impression that learning is out the window.... Read more »

Cherise the Niece

Jim Benton’s Cherise the Niece If you cherish Edward Gorey, Charles Addams, and Tim Burton and have a bent for black humor, then Jim Benton is your... Read more »

Al Jaffee’s Tall Tales

Tall Tales was an innovative newspaper strip syndicated internationally by the New York Herald Tribune from 1957–1963. Whereas newspaper strips... Read more »


Cartoons

The Animated Adventures of Bob & Doug McKenzie

Here is a fox of an idea. Fox TV is lending support to a new show based on those lovable "hosers" with a new series called, The Animated... Read more »

Alex Hallatt’s Arctic Circle

What does New Zealand native Alex Hallatt who lives in a town called Lyttelton in South Island know about the Arctic Circle? Plenty more than you and me... Read more »

The Return of The Electric Company

With the advent of gaming and lackluster interest in reading, illiteracy is on the rise. Who better to come to the rescue but Letterman and... Read more »


Highlights Catalog

Comics

Treasury Comics

With stagnating sales in the 70’s DC and Marvel were looking for ways to make extra revue, comics were still not in comic shops because they... Read more »

Dick Tracy Museum Closes

Out with the old, in with the new. A part of comic strip history died this week. How many people knew there was a  Dick Tracy Museum in Woodstock.... Read more »

Disney’s Kingdom Comics

Kingdom Comics is the newest imprint to hit the stands to exploit the Disney vault of past nuggets in the company. A constant staple for many generations,... Read more »


Movies

Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog

From teenage doctor Doogie Howser to Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, Neil Patrick Harris is making house calls once again with the latest... Read more »

Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs

Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs The same old gang from Futurama are back. This seems to be the route of over spent shows that are... Read more »

Hulk2 a Smash

The Hulk would definitely fail any anger management control class. The second attempt to bring the Hulk to the big screen is a success with the emphasis... Read more »


Web

Leiji Matsumoto’s Captain Harlock on WiiWare

Since the inception of video games, there has always been a comic book feel to many games. The comic book industry has always looked for venues... Read more »

The Beatles Heading to Guitar Hero or Rock Band

Least we forget, the Beatles want to be trendy once again. It’s now a battle of the bands of sorts with new games  "Rock Band" and "Guitar... Read more »

Adrian Tomine

The New Yorker Magazine is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you will get. Adrian Tomine’s cover is a priceless expression between... Read more »