After leaving his homeworld to explore the galaxy, Groot joined a band of ragtag adventurers calling themselves the Guardians of the Galaxy. Groot has convinced his best pal and fellow guardian, Rocket Raccoon, to take an intergalactic roadtrip. They’re off to a bit of a rough start.
Read MoreThe future Dark Knight, Terry McGinnis is dead. So who is the new Batman Beyond? It’s Tim Drake, Batman’s former partner, Red Robin, who was flung 35 years into the future in order to save it!
Read MoreIn this steampunk adventure, Octavia Leander and Alonzo Garrett are fleeing a recent assassination attempt and a quest to solve the mystery behind Octavia's every growing healing powers. Hoping to find answers at the Lady's Tree - the source of a healer's power - the two must travel through lands where many are hunting them and brave a coming war as the Tree is a power in a hostile land called the Waste, whose inhabitants are fighting to retain independence from the Empire.
Confused? I was, as well. Clockwork Crown is the second in the Clockwork Dagger Novels series. Although this novel can reasonably stand on it's own, there are many moments where the emotional impact of events would be deeper felt if I had read the first book (The Clockwork Dagger). This is not to say Clockwork Crown is not enjoyable. Octavia is a strong, relatable character who is a joy to read about and her friend and compatriot, Alonzo isn't just a tagalong. He is a heroic and capable partner you want to root for.
The physical steampunk and fantasy elements are well told and fit excellently in the world Cato has created. The technology and magic jostle in the same world with precision. You do get the sense, again, that the majority of the world-building took place in the first book but the pacing of the novel and the nearly non-stop action don't give you much time to get lost. Giant airships, and gremlins, AND magic? Sign me up for another heaping helping of this guilty pleasure please! This book will be released on June 9th, 2015 and I am already primed for more of this world - despite the book having a satisfying ending. I hope Cato decides to create more with this series.
Ever come home to find your place wrecked? "Mom!!! That furball cat of yours has been at it again!" If you ever wanted to understand what that damn cat was thinking, all you need do is play through this game...I mean, cat simulator.
Read MoreToday I will be reviewing the V-MODA Crossfade M-100 over ear noise isolating metal headphones. Plus the boom pro gaming Headset attachment, which basically turns your normal pair of any V-MODA headphones (or any headphones that the attachment can fit on) into a gaming headset. So let's get into it.
When talking about any pair of headphones the most important part is the audio quality. Which is nothing short of amazing when it comes to the V-MODA M-100. The base is super punchy and on the loud side a good bit louder than the midrange and treble, which usually is not what I look for in headphones but V-MODA pulled it off. These headphones are made to complement the music that's popular today, so if you into Hip-Hop, R&B, Rock, Techno, House and especially Dubstep right off the back these are the headphones for you. Basically these headphones are for any music that has a real large emphasis on base and nowadays days that's everything. While not going to far off and ending up like various musicians supported headphones that are just base and nothing else. I feel like even your hardcore audiophile can enjoy these for what they are.
When talking about the Crossfade M-100 you have to talk about the design and tech that went into making these. They are pushing 50mm drivers which are the biggest drivers I have personally used and built like a tank. All the housing, the band and hinges are made of metal which is something you can't say about every pair of headphones. I think it's safe to say that these are really well-built pair of headphones. Despite being large they're very compact and fold up very easily when trying to put away. Although these headphones are on the heavier side they sit on your head quite nicely and the cushioning for the ear pads are the right mixture of soft but firm. On the design side I only have two minor complaints. First is that these headphones do you sit quite snug on your head maybe a bit too snug which I only really noticed while wearing for extended periods of time. The other thing is because these headphones are made of metal I noticed some of the screws and edges are kind of sharp, but as far as complaints go that's it. The last notable thing design wise on these headphones is the removable wire which you can also plug into either left or right ear, which brings us to the next topic accessories.
The V-MODA comes with a fair amount of accessories which include, a quarter inch adapter, a hard shell carrying case, a 1-button speak easy Mic cable and a shareplay cable. It allows you to let somebody else listen to your music with you. However the cool thing about these wires is that they are a woven Kevlar reinforced cable. That basically means they are super durable and built to last. The same goes for the boom pro gaming accessory which is sold separately that turns any normal headphones with removable wires into a gaming headset. (so yes that's beats and any other headphones of the sort) With a great quality mic, mute switch and volume adjuster if you are a gamer and you want to turn your expensive headphones into a headset I highly suggest you pick the V-mods Boom Pro gaming. That is all the accessories that I have with my V-MODA Crossfade M-100.
Another thing you can avoid while talking about these headphones is the price. Priced at $300 they are pricey, yet still get a better bang for your buck compared to various other similarly priced headphones.
The V-MODA Crossfade M-100 are a sleek really well-built great sounding pair of headphones that if you have $300 to spend on a pair of headphones I highly suggest you take a look at these you won't regret it!
Altantic City Boardwalk Con took place on May 14 to May 17th at Altantic City Convention Center. Overall the con had a good turn out for its first year, but did suffered a little bit from the common first con blues.
Location: As stated above the con took place at the Altantic City Convention Center. This is actually a very nice spacious setting to hold the con. With three floors available a lot of halls like Hall D, B etc. I can see the con expanding to more floors and the entire convention center in the future. There is plenty of breathing room on the main floor, which I consider important for any con. Everything was separated greatly.
The autographed section was kept far from the vendors, panel sections. Artist alley and indie artist were all gracious to chat about their work. Vendors and booth were also setup nicely. I love how they had all featured cosplayers in one section. Miracole and Chris Burns were on hand as Rogue and Hawkeye (will catch you guys next time, sorry I missed ya.) Having all the featured cosplayers in one area made it convenient. It gets tiresome going booth to booth looking for your favorite cosplayers. Having them in one section was great and hope to see other cons follow suit.
The location is right in the heart of Atlantic City as well. After the con we had a great time to go sightseeing. The team visit various casinos such as Caesars Palace, Taj Mahal and more. We even enjoy a calm stroll on the boardwalk.
Hail Justin!
Guests: The con had a good billed such as The Flash cast, Stan Lee. Unfortunately first con blues struck and the stars had to cancel. However that didn't really hurt the con much. Stars like William Shatner, Adam West were still on deck. As any con it gets better with age and I see this being the con the be for our friends in New Jersey.
Showroom Floor: The showroom floor had a lot of cool things to see. Three things I found fantastic was the Batmobile display which was amazing. The Batmobile from major Batman live action adaptations were on hand. Adam West Batmobile, Batman Forever, The Tumbler and The Batpod. I truly wanted to drive the Batpod. More cars were on display as well as the Ecto 1 from Ghostbusters, signed by the GB Cast themselves.
Finally the suit display in the middle of the convention was great. I went full geek when I saw the Space Ghost suit on display. As a kid who stayed up late watching the original Space Ghost on Cartoon Network. I can appreciate the suit on display.
Final Words: Altantic City Boardwalk Con was pretty good for its first yea. Like any con it has some kinks to workout. Overall the staff had a blast, which you can see in our outtakes with 8Bit drum below. ACBC is off to great start, once it finds its niche it will be the definitive con in Jersey.
City of Newton, 2087. Genetic engineering is the norm, the addictive Trance has replaced almost any need for human interaction, and an omnipresent AI named Central powers the city. CEL agents Charlie Regis and Max Lao are investigating a serial Mindjacker who is tapping into the neural wiring of seemingly ordinary citizens, stealing their knowledge and leaving them dead.
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image credit: Soapsox
Today we here at O&G got a chance to check out a get new toy. The soapsox (wash cloth) is a innovative new toy for kids to enjoy bath time. Here is a little history on the toy and the company.
SoapSox® began when our founder and CEO Ray Phillips worked as a Program Director at a residential treatment facility with children who have experienced trauma. Ray found that one of the most difficult times of the day was bath time. Children would argue, cry, and even attempt to hide to avoid taking a bath. After repeated struggles with one child who could not part with his favorite stuffed animal to bathe, Ray came up with the idea of modifying it to hold soap – the child was presented with the then modified stuffed animal and agreed to bathe. Ray continued to use this strategy over the years with children until learning that no product like it existed on the market.
Through his network of friends, Phillips met Alvin Uy, who heads a creative agency that develops products for brands including Disney, Hasbro, and Mattel. Uy came on board to help develop SoapSox® as the co-founder and vice president. After nearly two years of development, SoapSox® was introduced to the world in 2013 after a successful KickStarter campaign. SoapSox® was then born!
You may remember us from our appearance on Shark Tank...Or you may remember us simply by our full line of adorable children's bath scrubs. And today we show you just how simple it is to use a SoapSox. SoapSox is the next generation of washcloths for kids!
REVIEW
My daughter absolutely loved this toy! From the moment I gave it to her she hugged Emma the Duck and wanted to play with it immediately. The toy is a fun way to get children to bathe especially my little one who love to just get in and out. Each character is uniquely designed with a child in mind. Having an actual foam toy in the tub that in the shape of an animal makes the experience more realistic and interactive. They are really handy because all you have to do is feed the soapsox regular or liquid soap and just have fun washing! My only criticism of toy is that I'm not sure if the materiel will last through multiple laundry washes, but I will see in time how it holds up. Overall this is a great product and perfect for kids and I would definitely recommend this to parents.
Barry Allen wakes up 9 months after he was struck by lightning and discovers that the bolt gave him the power of super speed. With his new team and powers, Barry becomes "The Flash" and fights crime in Central City.
Read MoreTHE MANTLE follows Robbie—just your average, run-of-the-mill guy—as he drunkenly stumbles out of a punk show one evening. On his way home he’s hit with lightning and wakes to find that he’s been chosen as the new host for The Mantle, a power set of unimaginable scope. Despite his lack of interest, he’s forced into action. The Plague, a being who has spent 50 years killing every previous host of The Mantle, is already coming for him.
The Mantle written by ED Brisson and artwork by Brian Level, is a fun ride that immerses you into the world from the first page. The protagonist Robbie is not one you would qualify as a hero. In fact he is the least likely to be a hero. When we first meet Robbie he's at a party with his girlfriend Jen. The party is horrible so he takes mushroom to spice it up. Robbie doesn't seem to be motivated in anything. No real goals, dreams or aspirations. When he chosen by The Mantle, he changed a little but he acts like a child in a candy store.
The real interesting characters for me was the supporting cast. Robbie's girlfriend Jen, and the group of people who explain The Mantle to Robbie. The group all have powers, Necra can communicate with the dead, Kabrah has amazing strength and Shadow can teleport into any place given if he's in a dark area. Unfortunately the first issue doesn't explore the back story of each character, which was a bummer since I found myself more drawn to them than Robbie. The antagonist The Plague is also an interesting character. He reminded of Nemesis from Resident Evil 3 that has a one track mind. His goal is to destroy The Mantle. It's not fully explain why but the little seeds planted allude to a bigger story arc has my interest.
Overall The Mantle is a good start to a whole new superhero story. The artwork os great, the characters are interesting. The twist ending shows its not about the person who has the power.
Final Grade: B+/8.5
This novel introduces twins Sulis and Kadar on their way to the city of Illian from their desert home. Once there, Kadar begins apprenticing as a merchant and his sister Sulis joins the local temple to gods her people don't worship and with people who are prejudiced against those who come from the desert. Spurred on by the legacy of her now deceased mother, Sulis is bonded to a feli; giant sacred cats who help them communicate with their gods, and begins to unravel a conspiracy and oncoming war between the four gods of the temple. The novel also follows Kadar, poised on the brink of revolution with the Forsaken class in the city who are tired of being treated like chattel.
This novel is a marvelous piece of sprawling fantasy. Kelly Grant has solid world building skills and each character is unique and fleshed out in creative ways. Sulis is a great character and an excellent example of a strong female character in a fantasy setting. When she arrives at the temple and she's the outcast, she makes no attempt to hide who she is and what she knows. Her brother, Kadar, and the conflict he gets embroiled in, is thankfully as interesting as Sulis' so when you're switched between them, you stay interested in both stories. As the novel goes on, they do intersect in creative ways.
Unfortunately, the novel ends on a cliffhanger. I was flying through this book and while I enjoyed it, I felt I didn't get the pay off I wanted from all the build up in the book. I get that this is to get you to buy the second one but since this book isn't due out in paperback until May 26th, 2015, I have the feeling it's going to be a year before I get to see what happens next! Not fair, darnit...
Kelly Grant has a great world going here and I'm anxious to see where it goes. If you like magic, warring gods, and giant cats, you will enjoy this book.
Alibaba and his band of merry traveling men, woman and child land on an island of a lost tribal people, whose writings have been found in dungeons all over the world (and nobody's figured out how or why). To make sense of this mystery, they explore the local dungeon to learn more... and of course to find its treasure!
Read MorePerhaps the most baffling and hilarious independent film ever produced, The Room has won legions of fans around the world and become a favorite at festivals and midnight screenings! If there were ever a movie tailor-made for the RiffTrax guys, The Room is it!
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Humans have long since gone extinct and any remaining scrap of their civilization is heavily prized and ruthlessly hunted. Even the slightest scrap could change the course of a planet's role in the galaxy. So when courier for hire Jalia happens upon a group smuggling a very secret and very valuable bit of cargo, she's even willing to abandon her crew at a space station to take the job. But the cargo isn't just a bit of scrap and now every available ship and gun in the known galaxy is after her.
First off, this is a really cool space opera. I don't usually pick these up but when I do, I am rarely impressed and Aer-Ki Jyr impressed me. The levels of detail in the technology, weaponry, and abilities of each species are carefully thought out, fully described, and very interesting. The story stalls for those descriptions sometimes but it gets right back on track. I had vivid memories of the first time I saw Titan A.E., which is good and bad.
The good: It's just awesome. Aliens, spaceships, fun new technology, and space battles with intelligent, fun characters you enjoy interacting with. The book is tense, hilarious, heartwarming, and smart. I loved reading it.
The bad: I got a serious "Humans are the best evar!11!" vibe. Before going extinct, humans had the best tech, were self-healing, psychic super beings who could just fix all the things. Our only weakness seemed to be what ever cataclysm destroyed us. Granted this is thousands of years worth of inventions, evolution, and general progress to get there, but the fact we were just so darn perfect didn't sit that well. Nitpicky I know but it rubbed me the wrong way.
But this is not to say you shouldn't read it. If you like long space operas with cool aliens and battles, you'll love this book.
Want more of Lenni's writing? Check out my Amazon and Barnes and Noble pages.
When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and it is up to the Avengers to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plans.
The most anticipated movie of the summer is finally here. The stakes couldn't be higher for the mighty Avengers. However while the stakes are raised higher, the feel of intensity is not there. Avengers: Age of Ultron is a filmed made well done, but taste medium rare. Does Age of Ultron live up to expectations? Yes it does. Does Joss Whedon deliver on the action, story and direction? Yes and no.
As stated in the synopsis above. Tony Stark (Iron Man) has created a peacekeeping program, to ensure better protection of the planet. When the program becomes aware of its existence, it revolts and Ultron begins to plot his own plans for peace. However not without a price, which is human extinction.
Joss Whedon nails the overall story arc for the film. The film has the classic "Frankenstein" feel to it. The feeling of I have created a monster weighs heavy on Tony Stark. When this dynamic is front and center the film is amazing. The relationship between Ultron and Tony is a rocky one and explored in depth. Since Ultron is Tony's creation, his actions are a reflection of Tony's true feelings. What I love most is how the Avengers questions Tony's motives, especially Captain America. Who gave Tony the authority to take such an action? Why does he feel compelled to be the policeman of the world? This causes a rift in the relationship between Cap and Tony, which is a nice set up for Civil War.
If the movie kept this momentum I would have enjoyed it more. Unfortunately the film releases the tension in order to keep with the tone of the overall cinematic universe. What started as a great character arc for Stark gets toned down to focus on Black Widow's rushed, underdeveloped relationship with The Hulk. The love story would've been better if it had built up to it like how she flirted with Captain America in “Winter Solider.” Nothing was truly hinted in previous films that they would be together. This leaves the relationship coming off as random. It takes away from the high stakes established by Ultron. That feeling of intensity I had was lost when the film had to focus on individual story arcs. This is the biggest problem with Marvel Cinematic universe. It tends to focus on the later than the now, which makes the films feel like a setup than an actual complete story. The film had to play the role of sequel and origin story for some characters such as The Vision, Black Widow, Ultron and Quicksilver. Whedon does the best he could, giving us a sequel for established characters, while balancing enough time for us to connect to the new ones. It was nice to learn more about Hawkeye who finally get his shine. Jeremey Renner shows us a Hawkeye that is more than an archer for hire. Exploring his life was refreshing but it could have easily been a one shot deal.
Overall Age of Ultron is a fun ride. The action delivers on what you expect. However, with no real intensity, you get the feeling the Avengers will all make it out. The tone constantly shuffling from dark to family friendly gives a feeling that Marvel is trying to play it safe.
Final Rating
Elektra Bullseye
Hey O&G fans, with the success of Daredevil season 1 on Netflix and the series being green lit for a season 2, who would you like to see the devil of Hells kitchen face off against next? Elektra or Bullseye? Both are one of Daredevils greatest foes at one time ( Elektra eventually becoming an Ally and Lover). Both are extremely popular with DD fans.
For those who aren't familiar with the characters here is a quick bio:
Elektra Natchios, the daughter of a Greek ambassador, studied the martial arts as an adolescent. While in the US with her father, she began studies in political science at New York's Columbia University. There she met another student, Matthew Murdock, who would later become Daredevil. Murdock revealed to her that he had superhuman senses that compensated for his blindness, and they fell in love. A year later, Elektra and her father were held hostage by terrorists in a building on campus. Wearing a scarf as a mask, Murdock with Elektra's help defeated the terrorists. However, a policeman mistook Elektra's father for one of the terrorists and shot him dead. Emotionally shattered, Elektra decided she no longer believed in the law and wanted to withdraw from the world. She left America and Murdock.
She eventually studied martial arts with a sensei in Japan. She left to join the secret organization of martial artists headed by Stick, who was also Murdock's sensei. She spent a year in Stick's order and greatly developed her martial arts skills. But, Stick asked her to leave the group because she was still filled with pain over her father's death and hatred for the world she blamed for it. Elektra spent years as a bounty hunter and assassin for hire
Elektra was hired by Wilson Fisk, the alleged Kingpin-of-Crime, as his chief assassin. In this role she fought Daredevil and was ordered to kill Matt's best friend and law partner, Franklin "Foggy" Nelson. However, she could not go through with the assassination when Foggy recognized her as "Matt's girl, Elektra." Soon afterward, she fought and was killed byBullseye who sought to reclaim his former position with the Kingpin. Elektra died in Matt Murdock's arms, seemingly lost forever.
A mercenary of mystery, nothing is really known about the man called Bullseye.
Bullseye battles (and defeats) Daredevil at a circus in order to establish his reputation as an extortionist. Shortly after, Daredevil by chance overhears him in the midst of an extortion attempt and captures him. Bullseye is later hired by Maxwell Glenn to kill Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson, and Daredevil interferes. Although Bullseye defeats him again, Daredevil escapes with his life, and Bullseye's professional reputation is damaged as a result. Seeking to regain his credibility, he challenges Daredevil on live television, but is soundly defeated.
*(Side Note) During one of his many fights with Daredevil, Bullseye was drop off a Multi-Story Building and broke all his bones which paralyzed him. Japanese scientist Lord Dark Wind had Bullseye brought to Japan, where he laces his bones with adamantium, thus restoring his mobility.
So now that you know a little history on each character, Who would be a a good Nemesis in Daredevil season 2. Charlie Cox gave his opinion to IGN “I love Stilt-Man. I love Owlsley. I think in our show we’re more likely to see the likes of Bullseye, The Punisher and Elektra. I don’t know if any of those characters will appear, and also I don’t know what’s going to happen with Wilson Fisk. He’s certainly not out of the picture. Hopefully he’ll come back.”
ELEKTRA would be a front runner to appear in season 2. With Rosario Dawson's (Night Nurse) taking a break from Matt Murdock for a bit, having Elektra come in as his new love interest who later turns into a deadly assassin works great for the series. You could also tie in her training with Sticks and her involvement with his mysterious clan. You could also keep the kingpin's presence in season 2 to by having him hire Elektra to assassinate Daredevil.
Bullseye is one of Daredevil’s greatest foes, on par with Wilson Fisk. He is a lethal assassin who can make any object into a deadly projectile. Season 2 might showcase some epic battles between Bullseye and Daredevil. Having him as the antagonist also gives the writers the opportunity to have Elektra in the season (Since he kills her in the comic book series). Plus I think fans would love to see Bullseye use various things as a weapon!
So who would you choose? Will it be the sexy assassin or the Precision throwing psychopath? Either way if season 2 of Daredevil is anything like season 1 it will be awesome!
By Sean Tucker
Based on AMC’s hit original series, The Walking Dead ruled journals embody the thrills and excitement of The Walking Dead. Each journal is themed around a popular character, including Rick Grimes, Daryl Dixon and Michonne, and the Walkers who threaten the survivors’ existence. Along with debossed covers, the journal interiors also feature full-color photography from The Walking Dead.
Along time ago before people put their thoughts on social media. There was something we did in the 90's and and years before that. We used something that is rarely used today and that's journals. Insight Editions is bringing back the journals in a big way with The Walking Dead. The cover and material is amazing in great detail. I got the Darryl Dixon journal which comes with pics of the character and great design of his signature logo on his vest. The journal has a pages to make you're own story book. At a fair price of 18.00 dollars this is a great gift for kids, family and friends. Great things you can do with a journal. Practice creative writing, put your innermost thoughts instead on social media, even use as a data entry log. With The Walking Dead you can even think of making your own fan fiction. This is a great journal to pick up.
Reviewed by Anthony Negrino
X-Men Days of Future Past, the mobile game follows the plot of the popular comic book. Not the plot of the film starring Hugh Jackman. This game returns to classic beat em up gameplay that we love from the 90's.
Story- The world around you is in ruins. Sentinel robots have enslaved most of the United States and are set to stage a global war. The X-Men have failed; the few who survived this nightmarish future are imprisoned in Mutant Internment camps. But all is not lost, the battle for the future can be fought in the past. With one chance to re-write history, the X-Men must stop this war by preventing the assassination of Senator Kelly.
The story is told through gameplay and text cutscenes. It does a good job of highlighting the main points of the comic. It's great to actually see Wolverine interacting with Kitty as they battle the Sentinels. The way the story is told does the book justice. However don't expect some deep characterization from this.
Gameplay - The gameplay is focus on a 2.5 D side scroller. Players will utilize the touch screen controls to control your favorite mutant. Just like any classic beat em up, you have your attack button, special button and jump button. As you make your way through each area, enemies become more of a challenge till you meet the stage boss. The game features RPG elements, which allows to upgrade your characters attacks, increase health and even acquire new outfits. The more the story progress the more X-Men you will be available to use. Honestly the best person to use is Wolverine, due to his attacks being the best with any situation. Cyclops is THE WORST CHARACTER TO USE. The problem with Cyclops is his standard attack is his blast. However he needs time to recharge it. This leaves you vulnerable to open attacks. The enemy a.i. is easy to difficult as the game goes on. The boss battles are fun but nothing truly epic. However for nostalgic feel this is a beat em up you might want to check.
Graphics: The graphics are 2.5D with great use of 3d textures for the background. The use of color and design gives the player a comic book feel.
Music - The music is pretty decent. Nothing really that will have you hoping for a OST release.
Final Grade B-/8.0: Good graphics, old school gameplay and justice to the comic. For the price of a comic book its time for you to go into the past.
Denny Burke is finally about to graduate high school. Senior year has been one bad thing after another: a broken leg, a broken heart, and — worst of all — a broken home. With four of his closest friends, Denny goes on one last rock-climbing trip to prove he’s ready to start his adult life.
Read MoreThe Miku AR Camera app is a live action AR app synthesis of the popular Hatsune Miku. The use of the app is very user friendly. The app allows you take a picture with Miku front and center anywhere you want.
Read MoreBanner images provided by Classic Sailing or GollyGforce, for demo purposes only. Powered by Squarespace
