Batman: Return to Arkham Release Date Set for October 18, 2016

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced that Batman: Return to Arkham will be available beginning October 18, 2016 for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One. The bundle includes remastered versions of Batman: Arkham Asylum andBatman: Arkham City, as well as all of the Game of the Year edition bonus and downloadable content ever released.

The newly revealed Official Batman: Return to Arkham Side-by-Side trailer showcases the game’s improved graphics, upgraded models, environments, lighting, effects and shaders. Batman: Return to Arkham is being remastered by Virtuos using Unreal Engine 4, and will be available for a suggested retail price of $49.99/€49.9/£39.99.

AkibaFest Relaunches Website With Ticket Info And Event Details

Aniplex of America today revealed the second phase of the AkibaFest website. AkibaFest will take place in the Little Tokyo area of Los Angeles, on October 15th and 16th in 2016, bringing with it the fun and festivities typically associated with the famous Akihabara sector of Tokyo.

The revamped 2.0 version of the AkibaFest website introduces the event’s cat-like mascot, which will be the subject of a naming contest to be revealed soon. Additionally, the site makeover details AkibaFest’s special guest appearances, as well as the weekend’s extensive film offerings showcasing over a dozen films, including the North American theatrical premiere of KIZUMONOGATARI PART 2: NEKKETSU, the highly-anticipated second installment of the KIZUMONOGATARI trilogy. AkibaFest will be the first time many of these films will see a North American theatrical release, offering anime fans a unique opportunity to see their favorite anime franchises on the big screen.

Between now and October 15th, additional details will be added to the site, including news updates, the full schedule of events (including AkibaFest’s maid café and cosplay contest) and a comprehensive list of exhibitors. DJs will be playing popular theme songs and remixes of enduring anime series throughout the weekend, while other special surprises will be revealed at the event itself.

Hideki Goto, President of Aniplex of America said, “AkibaFest is one of the ways of saying ‘thank you’ from the anime industry to all the loyal fans that have supported us throughout the years. The notion of bringing ‘Akiba to you’ stems from our core belief that anime, J-Pop, Japanese fashion and culture are alive and well in North America because of the powerful bond and passion our fans have for each of these things.”

Nickelodeon Brings Back Rocko’s Modern Life for Brand-New, Original One-Hour TV Special

Marking its 25th anniversary of original creator-driven animation to the day and date, Nickelodeon today announces another reinvention of its library content: the greenlight of an original one-hour TV special based on its classic ‘90s hit, Rocko’s Modern Life. With Rocko’s original creator Joe Murray on board as executive producer, the animated Rocko's Modern Life TV special will bring back all the show’s classic characters and offer some surprising new takes on life in O-Town. Additional news of Rocko’s airdate and casting will be announced in the coming months.

"I'm very happy to be rejoining Rocko and my friends from O-Town again,” said creator and executive producer Joe Murray. “What I have found by bringing these characters back is that it's not so much about nostalgia, but a sense that they still feel relevant and fresh to me, and after twenty years, they can't wait to comment on modern life in the 21st century. They still have a lot to say."

Originally airing from 1993-1996, the animated Rocko’s Modern Life follows the adventures of an Australian wallaby named Rocko and his two companions, Heffer Wolfe and Filburt, through their adventures in their home of O-Town.

“Following our news about Hey Arnold! and Legends of the Hidden Temple, greenlighting a Rocko’s Modern Life TV special is another strong example of how we are bringing our library content back for both new audiences and the generation that grew up on them in the ‘90s,” said Chris Viscardi, SVP, Content Development, Nickelodeon Franchise Properties. “It’s a testament to the strength and appeal of these characters that so many people have loved Nick animation for these last 25 years, and we are excited to bring them back for new stories and adventures.”

Today’s Rocko’s greenlight news--25 years to the day of the original launch of the iconic Rugrats, The Ren & Stimpy Show and Doug—follows recent announcements of Nickelodeon bringing back its library content for today’s audiences. Coming in 2017 is Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie, a new, original TV movie that will feature a storyline picking up from where the original series ended in 2004, resolving unanswered questions and plotlines, including Arnold finally getting answers about the whereabouts of his missing parents.

This fall, Nickelodeon will premiere its Legends of the Hidden Temple original TV movie, an action-adventure movie based on its ‘90s game show of the same name. Drawing from the original show’s premise of kids competing to retrieve artifacts from a mysterious Mayan temple, the new action-adventure TV movie version will follow three siblings who embark on a high-stakes, life-or-death mission. 

X JAPAN: Drafthouse Films Set Fall U.S. Release For Acclaimed Music Doc ''We Are X' '

Drafthouse Films announced today that they will releaseStephen Kijak's 'WE ARE X' in New York and Los Angeles on October 21, 2016, followed by nationwide expansion. Since its premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival--where it was awarded theSpecial Jury Prize for editing--the film has continued to garner critical acclaim due to its remarkably candid portrayal of its enigmatic subject, YOSHIKI, leader of the Japanese band X JAPAN.

​Since then, 'WE ARE X' has played to sold-out audiences on the festival circuit, including at the2016 SXSW Film Festival and was the most tweeted about topic during the week of SXSWonly after the festival's keynote speaker, President Barack Obama. Audiences at both theSundance and SXSW screenings were treated to exclusive performances by YOSHIKI, and similar eventized concert presentations of the film are planned for its theatrical release.

From the production team behind the Oscar-winning Searching for Sugar Mancomes 'WE ARE X,' a transcendent rock & roll story about X JAPAN, the world's biggest and most successful band you've never heard of...yet.

Under the enigmatic direction ofdrummer, pianist, composer andproducerYoshiki, X JAPAN has sold over 30 million singles and albums combined--captivating such a wide range of admirers asSir George Martin, KISS, Stan Lee, and even the Japanese Emperor--and pioneered a spectacle-driven style of visual rock, creating a one-of-a-kind cultural phenomenon.

Chronicling the band'sexhilarating, tumultuous and unimaginable history over the past three decades--persevering through personal, physical and spiritual heartache--the film culminates with preparations for their breathtaking reunion concert at New York's legendary Madison Square Garden. Directed by acclaimed documentarianStephen Kijak (Stones in Exile, Scott Walker: 30 Century Man), 'WE ARE X' is an astonishingly intimate portrait of a deeply haunted--but truly unstoppable--virtuoso and the music that has enthralled legions of the world's most devoted fans.

 'WE ARE X' was produced by John Battsek of Passion Pictures, producer of two Academy Award winning documentaries(Searching For Sugar Man, One Day in September). The film was directed by Stephen Kijak (Stones In Exile, Scott Walker: 30th Century Man).

BLEACH Anime Series Available On Blu-Ray

VIZ Media unleashes the tense anime action drama of BLEACH on Blu-ray for the first time with the home media release of Set 1.

Now available, BLEACH Set 1 presents the complete, uncut first 27 episodes of the popular series on 4 Blu-ray discs, and carries an MSRP of $54.97 U.S. / $63.99 CAN. Episodes are available with dialogue selections for dubbed English as well as subtitled, Japanese 2.0 audio, with episodes presented in their original 4:3 format.

In the BLEACH anime series, for as long as he can remember, Ichigo Kurosaki has been able to see ghosts. But when he meets Rukia, a Soul Reaper who battles evil spirits known as Hollows, his life is changed forever. Now, with a newfound wealth of spiritual energy, Ichigo discovers his true calling – to protect the world of the living and the dead as a Substitute Soul Reaper. When Rukia is taken away to face the ruthless justice of the Soul Society, Ichigo and his friends must cross over and do battle in the spirit world...

“Fans have eagerly anticipated the release of BLEACH on Blu-ray, and this summer we invite them to expand their personal anime collections with the release of the first set of this riveting series,” says Charlene Ingram, Senior Marketing Manager, Animation.

The BLEACH animated films and TV series (distributed in North America by VIZ Media,rated ‘TV-14’) are based on a smash hit manga series created by Tite Kubo (also published in North America by VIZ Media, rated ‘T’ for Teens).

Netflix Brings Original Anime Film, Blame!, to a Global Audience

Netflix announced, together with Polygon Pictures, a groundbreaking deal for the anime original film Blame!, to premiere exclusively on Netflix globally.

Blame! is set in the distant future where what’s left of the human race resides within the Megastructure, a vast and dangerous labyrinth that has grown wild and out of control. Thrown into this world is the mysterious Killy, a strange individual who is on a quest to bring civilization back from the brink of oblivion.

First appearing as a manga from 1997 to 2003, the much-awaited animated film adaptation of Blame! will be available as a Netflix original twenty years since its initial run. The film sees yet another creative collaboration following the success of sci-fi anime series Knights of Sidonia, between the award-winning creator of the original manga, Tsutomu Nihei and director Hiroyuki Seshita, who also brought us the thrilling, fast-paced suspense of AJIN: Demi-Human,which is also available on Netflix globally. Blame!,Knights of Sidonia, and AJIN: Demi-Human manga are all available in print from Vertical Comics and digitally via Kodansha Comics.

“We’re incredibly delighted to work with Polygon Pictures in bringing the latest Netflix original anime, Blame!,to fans worldwide,” said David Lee, Vice President, International Originals at Netflix. “We look forward to bringing the best of original anime to our members and continuing to work with the top creators in the industry.”

“We are super excited to be able to deliver the long awaited anime adaptation of Blame! as a Netflix original anime,” said Shuzo John Shiota, President and CEO of Polygon Pictures. “I’ve seen some initial footage and it is truly groundbreaking, especially in HDR format. I can't wait for fans around the world to experience this!”

Blame!is set to be the latest addition to the exciting slate of Netflix originals exclusively available to a global audience. In addition, Netflix is planning to release both Blame! andKnights of Sidonia in the cutting-edge, high dynamic range (HDR) format. This marks another milestone for the anime industry as the service continues to deliver innovative programming to entertainment fans worldwide.

The Walking Dead Third season Revealed During SDCC

Fellow Survivors,

In celebration of SDCC this week, Telltale joined our friends at Skybound Entertainment live on stage to discuss a few more details on our upcoming season of The Walking Dead.

Eagle-eyed fans will recognize that the poster revealed today is an homage to the original poster for The Walking Dead when the concept was first shown at SDCC in 2011. In contrast to the original, Clem is no longer being protected, and stands shoulder to shoulder with mysterious newcomer Javier. We'll be sharing some details later this summer on how you may be able to get your hands on a special limited-edition run of this poster.

The Walking Dead's Creative Director Dennis Lenart from Telltale was joined by Melissa Hutchison (voice of Clementine) to share a few more details about the upcoming season, and tried their best not to spoil the story that's yet to come.

What they could share was your first new look at the season since it was revealed at E3 last month. In this first shot, you'll see Javier and Clementine making their way through a walker-infested slaughterhouse. Remember, you'll be playing as both characters, although you may not be playing each character within the same frame of time...

Another unique aspect of this third season is that while it absolutely continues the story of the previous two seasons, it also serves as a new entry point for fans who've yet to be caught up to speed. Players starting with this third season will be introduced to young survivor AJ, who fans will recognize as the son of Rebecca from Season Two - and we can confirm that he will be making an appearance in this season as well. So players who are new to the series will have a chance to learn more about Clementine's backstory, while at the same time, those who have played previous seasons will have a story that's uniquely tailored to the diverging paths they've taken in the past.

Lenart also discussed the importance of playing as Javier, and how the team was able to create a character without any prior relationship with Clementine. This will provide an interesting opportunity for players to meet a character they may have helped shape. They'll also have a chance to play as a survivor fresh to the series, who is currently struggling to keep his family together in the face of the undead apocalypse.

Stay tuned for more news as it happens on this upcoming third season, as we gear up towards the premiere coming later this fall!

"I Quit" Why are Marvels youngest Heroes ready to Quit?

image credit Marvel

Hey O&G fans, recently posters have been popping up with some of marvel's young heroes with the caption "I QUIT" July 5th under them. This has lead some readers to believe that there will be big changes after the Civil War 2 story arc, with some heroes leaving their respective teams. Just in case you haven't seen them here are a few of the posters:

So what has these heroes ready to quit? Yesterday it was revealed as part of the Marvel NOW! "Divided We Stand" initiative, a new Champions series is on its way in October with young heroes from the Avengers and X-Men featuring these characters from the posters as part of the team. Writer Mark Waid describes the series as a "generational shift."

"When we were growing up, the general perception was it takes adults to fix the world. Kids can do little things, but basically you have to wait till you grow up to make the big choices and the big decisions. Well, Mark Zuckerberg would disagree with you. Some of the other young trend-breaking scientists that are coming to light, online especially, would beg to differ with you," Waid told Entertainment Weekly  "Those are the inspirations, as much as anybody else, for the idea that we don’t have to wait until we grow up to be Tony Stark or Captain America to make a difference in this world. We’ll find our way, and we’ll find our own way." This team takes its name from the 1970s Marvel super-team the Champions - a name that has been mired in legal battles that have prevented its re-use until now

The original CHAMPIONS series was created by writer Tony Isabella and artist Don Heck, issue #1 debut in 1975. Writer Tony Isabella developed the concept of a new team of superheroes and originally wanted the roster to consist of former X-Men Angel and Iceman, and the newly created Black Goliath. Black Goliath became unavailable when the character debuted in his own title, forcing Isabella to rethink the concept. Editor Len Wein insisted on at least five members, and Isabella added three established heroes: Russian spy Black Widow (team leader), the Greek God Hercules, and the supernatural avenger Ghost Rider.

This New team will consist of Ms Marvel, Kid Nova, Spiderman (Miles Morales) Awesome Hulk, Viv Vision (Daughter of the Vision) and Young Cyclops. Which should be an interesting combination.

Mark Waid will be joined on Champions by artist Humberto Ramos, currently writes the Ms. Marvel/Spider-Man/Nova trio in All-New All-Different Avengers. We will keep you updated on more info as the series is closer to it's release.

 

source: Entertainment Weekly and Wikipedia

 

by Sean Tucker

New Avengers Morph into U.S. Avengers

credit: Marvel Comics

A new Avengers title dubed U.S.Avengers will debut this fall from Marvel Comics, according to The Washington Post. The team will be comprised of Sunspot, Red Hulk, Cannonball, a new Iron Patriot, Pod, Squirrel Girl, and a Captain America from the future - who happens to be Luke Cage and Jessica Jones' grown-up daughter, Danielle Cage.

“We wanted a couple of members that’d speak to the U.S. in the title — hence super-scientist and supporting player Dr. Toni Ho stepping up to the main team as the new Iron Patriot, and General Ross waiting in the wings as the Red Hulk,” said series writer Al Ewing, who will be joined by artist Paco Medina. “And, of course, Danielle Cage, the Captain America of about thirty years in the future, who’ll be joining us for at least the first arc, as an enemy from her time comes to ours to stir up trouble.”

The title seems to pick up the storyline from the current New Avengers series featuring a re-organized A.I.M. Avengers team led by Sunspot. Like New Avengers, it will be written by Al Ewing, however it's not known if that series will continue.

source: newsarama