UGO.com has the teaser poster for this winter’s “Punisher War Zone.”
Starring Ray Stevenson (HBO’s “Rome”) as The Punisher, “Punisher: War Zone” is directed by Lexi Alexander and produced by Gale Anne Hurd. The film is set for a Dec. 5 release.
– Matt Price
I got a message from http://www.myspace.com/samsmallpark with a picture of the second San Diego convention exclusive for G.I. Joe:
The previously announced G.I. Joe exclusive for San Diego is Cobra Commander in a suit and tie, standing behind a podium.
– Matt Price
Nintendo is launching the latest color of Nintendo DS, Metallic Rose, as a standalone player, with some celebrity help.
Grammy-winning Carrie Underwood, from Checotah, will be featured in commercials promoting the Metallic Rose portable video gaming device. America Ferrera (”Ugly Betty”) will also be featured.
The Metallic Rose Nintendo DS debuted in 2007 as part of a “Nintendogs” bundle, but will become available as a standalone hardware system at retailers nationwide late this month.
The Nintendo DS has sold more than 19 million units since its launch in 2004.
– Matt Price
You can find the third TV spot for “The Dark Knight” online here. Worth checking it out for Morgan Freeman’s line, if nothing else. (And there is some other cool stuff in it.)
– Matt Price
“The Office” finished out its strike-shortened fourth season with “Goodbye, Toby,” in which HR representative Toby Flenderson marks his last day at Dunder-Mifflin. Michael is of course thrilled, as he’s constantly been in conflict with Toby. Michael demands a huge party, which Angela says can’t be done. So Michael turns the party over to Phyllis, creating dissention in the party planning ranks. Toby’s replacement, Holly, seems to be a better fit with Michael, despite his anti-human resources prejudice.“I believe that the department is a breeding ground for monsters, but what I failed to consider is that not all monsters are bad, like E.T.,” Michael says. But Holly’s still the subject of some hazing from Dwight — which leads to some of the episode’s best scenes. “The Office” raises the stakes with some dramatic changes for several characters — but it still manages many laugh out loud moments in the hour-long finale.
Check out “Goodbye, Toby” here:
From Friday’s Weekend LOOK:
By Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
The success of “Iron Man” the motion picture is translating into sales in comic shops as Marvel reported sellouts at the distributor level of “Invincible Iron Man” No. 1, by Matt Fraction and Salvador Larocca, and “Iron Man: Viva Las Vegas” No. 1, by Jon Favreau and Adi Granov.
Favreau directed the “Iron Man” movie, and was approached by Marvel to write a comic book featuring the character.
“It’s a four-part series with Adi Granov, with all the stuff you can’t do in the movie because you don’t have the freedom,” Favreau said at the recent “Iron Man” press day in New York. “He and I had met each other through working on this film, and he helped design the suit, and we based the suit design on his drawings.”
Granov worked on the “Extremis” storyline in “Iron Man” with writer Warren Ellis. In “Viva Las Vegas,” Favreau wasn’t constrained by budget restrictions.
“(Iron Man is) fighting Fin Fang Foom in it, which is like this over the top ancient Chinese dragon villain that you really, I don’t think you could get away with (in the film) – maybe in No. 3.”
“Invincible Iron Man” features Tony Stark facing off against Ezekiel Stane, the son of Obadiah Stane, the original Iron Monger, played in the film by Jeff Bridges. Fraction told Marvel.com about his take on Tony Stark, aka Iron Man.
“Tony Stark is equal parts James Bond and Chuck Yeager — a pioneer, a test pilot, an engineer, an adrenaline junkie visionary,” Fraction said. “Iron Man is the ultimate achievement in what we, as humans, can become. He’s not the product of cosmic rays or a radioactive spider. He is the triumph of human ingenuity over the frailty of the human form.”
The second issues of “Viva Las Vegas” and “Invincible Iron Man” are set to ship June 4. Second printings of “Viva Las Vegas” No. 1 and “Invincible Iron Man” No. 1 are scheduled to be in comic book stores on June 11. Copies of first printings of the comics may still be available at the retail level.
From Friday’s Weekend LOOK:
By Matthew Price
THE NEXT LEVEL
An alternate World War II is the starting point for “Turning Point: Fall of History,” a game that sounds better as an idea than it fares in execution.
In “Turning Point: Fall of History,” a game for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and personal computers, a slight tweak is made to history. Winston Churchill, when still a low-ranking diplomat, was hit by a taxicab when visiting New York City. In our history, he recovered, although he walked with a cane for the rest of his life. But in “Turning Point,” the storyline assumes his injuries were more severe, leading to Churchill’s death.
With Churchill out of the picture, Britain wasn’t able to hold back the Nazi war machine, as Great Britain and Europe fall to Germany in 1940.
Germany continues to expand its reach, occupying parts of Russia and Asia. Now, Hitler sets his sights on the United States.
In “Turning Point,” the gamer takes on the role of Dan Carson. Carson is a New York City construction worker trying to make ends meet in this alternate early 1950s. When Germany attacks the United States, Carson becomes part of the resistance, using guerilla tactics to battle back the German advance.
The game sounds fascinating, but only looks mediocre. The graphics don’t tax the next-generation systems, and seem more appropriate for a PlayStation 2 title. The aiming controls aren’t precise, and the game’s artificial intelligence is pretty questionable.
On the positive side, the soundtrack is by Michael Giacchino (“Lost,” “Alias”) and is one of the game’s high points.
“Turning Point: Fall of Liberty” has an intriguing premise and great music, but only manages a so-so game.
From Friday’s Weekend LOOK:
“Speed Racer: The Next Generation” introduces viewers to the next generation of characters in the “Speed Racer” universe. Decades after events of the first cartoon, Speed Racer has disappeared. His brother, Spritle, operates the Racing Academy, founded by the Racer family. The star pupil is X, Speed Racer’s son.
An orphan, Speed, comes to the academy, hoping to prove his worth as a racer. Speed conflicts with X as well as Zile Zazic, an oil tycoon who backs the school. Speed’s roommate is Conor, a Speed Racer fanatic who built a robot based on Spritle’s chimpanzee companion from the original series. Speed also bonds with Lucy, a young mechanic.
Secrets about Speed are revealed that connect him to the original series. Speed and X must learn to work together to find out what happened to the original Speed Racer.
The animation is passable. Peter Fernandez, the original voice of Speed Racer, brings a gravitas to his role as Headmaster Spritle. The script by comic-book veterans Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray has clever moments. It’s aimed more at kids than fans of the original, though it seems likely the mysteries of what happened to the original cast will be explored over the course of the series. (This DVD contains the pilot for the new series airing on Nicktoons.)
Extras: Interactive racing game; featurette on creating the new “Speed Racer.”
– Matthew Price
Batman 676 variant from Tony Daniel’s blog.
Kyle Roberts and I discuss the first part of “Batman: R.I.P.” in “Batman” #676. We also talk about the upcoming “Gotham Knight” anime DVD starring Batman, and “The Dark Knight,” the upcoming film starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger. Check it all out at this week’s comic podcast.
– Matt Price
Photo: Michael Pasquale / Mezco Toyz
From NBC:
“HEROES” ACTION FIGURES TO HIT STORES THIS SUMMER
Burbank, CA — NBC Universal Television, DVD, Music and Consumer Products Group has teamed with Mezco Toyz to introduce the first set of collectible figures based on the Emmy and Golden Globe nominated hit series “Heroes.” Hitting shelves in June, the first of three sets planned for this year include five main characters and will be available in specialty stores, major retail outlets, online retailers and NBCstore.com, as well as the NBC Experience Store.
Included in the first set of characters are: “Claire Bennet,” the heroine cheerleader with incredible recuperative powers; “Hiro Nakamura,” the office worker with the ability to bend time and space; “Peter Petrelli,” the most powerful of all the heroes with the ability to absorb the powers of others; “Mohinder Suresh,” a genetics professor from India who truly believes there are people with super powers living among us; and of course, “Sylar,” a manipulative and murderous villain. Mezco’s award-winning artists designed the seven inch scale action figures, which boast highly detailed features and extremely accurate accessories. Mezco will also provide an assortment of alternate heads and variant figures for the “Heroes” collectibles.
“The drama and intrigue of ‘Heroes’ has captured the imagination of so many fans around the world and we are really pleased to be able to introduce these special collectibles as part of the growing ‘Heroes’ brand,” said Kim Niemi, Senior Vice President of NBC Universal. “We are certain that the loyal ‘Heroes’ fans will feel that these figures reflect the action and excitement of the series and we look forward to introducing additional characters in the months to come.”
“NBC has a rich and proud history and Mezco is very excited to become a part of that tradition,” said Mike Drake, Director of Special Projects for Mezco. “Having our first series of seven inch ‘Heroes’ action figures on display at the storied ‘30 Rock’ building in New York City is truly a dream come true for us and seeing the excitement of the ‘Heroes’ fans as they view the figures makes the dream all the more sweeter.”
“Heroes,” which will return to NBC in the fall for a third season, chronicles the lives of ordinary people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities. In its first season, the epic drama was honored with a People’s Choice Award, an AFI Award, a Multicultural Prism Award and the TV Land Future Classic Award, as well as the TV Critics Association Awards’ Outstanding Program of the Year and nominations at the Golden Globe Awards, NAACP Image Awards, WGA Awards and Satellite Awards.
