The Walking Dead

Advanced Review: The Walking Dead #105

The Walking Dead is virtually everywhere you turn these days! TV, video games, lunch boxes, t-shirts, posters, action figures, magazines, novels — you name it, it is emblazoned with it’s logo! But nothing, and I MEAN NOTHING, can compare to the original concept that is brought to fans monthly in The Walking Dead comic book! Case in point, The Walking Dead #105, just when you thought it was safe to assume the path Kirkman was going to venture down, everything changes in the blink of an eye.

This issue is a wild ride into the inner sanctum of Neegan and his followers. But it is not just the surroundings or even the complete and utter subjugation of the people who live there that disturbs you, it is the utterly twisted mind of Neegan himself that keeps your heart pounding after every page. By no means is it pounding out of excitement, but rather the all encompassing fear of what terrible fate may befall Carl at any given moment! Kirkman has created absolutely no filter for his Neegan character, creating an issue that flips between whimsy and absolute devastation at a moments notice. It is unnerving to say the least and by the time you are finished with the final page, it is as if you were caught in an emotional tornado and thrown violently to the ground.

There are instances in The Walking Dead #105 that will disturb you, there are things that will be shown that we have not seen before in Kirkman’s world and you will feel pity for a small boy that has been thrown into an adult world. This story will bore it’s way under your skin, making every thought uncomfortable, every turn of the page unbearable and your mind will twist in the breeze with a barrage of possibilities that are just out of reach and will never come. It is a torturous feeling of uncertainty for our beloved Carl, and I would not have it any other way. If a story makes you feel this unnerved over a two dimensional character, you know it is amazing!

I will not give spoilers for this book but I will tease you with one thought. You will see Carl do something fans have not seen him do for a very long time — shed a tear!

Now — GO GET THIS BOOK!

Spike TV 2012 VGA Fallout: The Good & The Bad

2012 Spike TV VGA Fallout

By: Lawrence Napoli

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, what did Spike TV do now?

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:4553:]]Last year, my underlings at Cosmic Book News and I discussed several failings regarding the 2011 VGA’s and the kind of improvements that were needed to make this televised event simply better. This year, we prefaced December 7^th with a 3 part podcast that raised several concerns regarding the games that were represented, the categories themselves and which games we thought should be recognized as the best.

After watching last night’s show I was left befuddled, in the middle of the arid wasteland, alone with my thoughts, completely convinced that I was living in another world in the year 2012 where I played video games that no one else apparently played and experienced things that no one else did.

Then I had my moment of clarity and realized that once again, the Spike TV VGA award show reaffirmed its static role in the videogame industry as a dedicated marketing tool and nothing more. As such, the following truths reveal themselves to be self evident and unwavering:

1) The show is barely an awards show and merely a lengthy, cross promotional commercial.

2) The show does not provide an adequate venue for the industry professionals that make games.

3) The show is more interested in looking ahead than appreciating the present.

4) The winners determined have less to do with quality and more to do with economic power plays that fabricate trends and enhance already popular ones.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:4557:]]The Host

Samuel L. Jackson’s return as the host of Spike TV’s VGA award show is most welcome in light of past curiosities such as Zach Levi and Doogie Howser, er . . . Neil Patrick Harris. The man conveys equal parts confidence and eccentricity and this show needs his type of energy. I enjoyed his frequent cursing (would have loved to actually hear it). I enjoyed the fun a 64 year old man clearly demonstrated in being the temporary focal point for an industry he may or may not have genuine interest in. Either way, he’s an excellent actor and an exceptional host. Kudos, Samuel L! The audio clips of your most iconic dialogue in films set the tone for a very entertaining evening and those in attendance were truly privileged.

The Musical Performances

There was a lot to talk about in regards to the music of the 2012 VGA’s. It all starts with the orchestra that was featured multiple times (as well as that hot, blonde 1^st violinist in the leather dress) that played a musical homage to all of the game of the year nominees. They even had the girl who sang the vocals for the Dishonored theme, which was a neat add-on. Then there was DJ Wolfgang Gartner who kept the tech, pop, beats pumping throughout the show which was very acceptable, but by no means exceptional. I enjoyed Gustavo Santaolalla’s live performance presenting another introductory trailer for The Last of Us which is set to be released May 7^th 2013. I also got into Linkin Park’s performance of Castle of Glass, the theme for Medal of Honor: Warfighter. I honestly don’t care if Linkin Park isn’t what they used to be as a band, but their performance was solid. Finally, Tenacious D gave the show a nice bookend with their signature 80s rock sound. I’ve never been the biggest Jack Black fan in the world, but he’s a decent showman.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:4563:]]The Celebrities

Right off the bat we are all greeted by 3 cast members of The Walking Dead TV show: Steven Yeunn (Glenn), Norman Reedus (Daryl) and Danai Gurira (Michonne) make the presentation for the Best Shooter Category. I didn’t care for Zach Levi and his weird haircut making some color commentary (and promoting his nerd website) with Alison Haislip. Zach needs to stay away from this show. Jessica Alba presenting the world premier of Dark Souls 2 was funny due to every male in attendance achieving simultaneous erections, but odd because it had no connection to her little intro story concerning her “love” of Super Mario Bros. Marlon Wayans shows up to shamelessly promote his dumber than Scary Movie, scary movie who simply presents (Rasta) Snoop Dogg who talks about how much he loves Tekken Tag Tournament and then introduces Assassin’s Creed 3’s Tyranny of King Washington expansion. Before Tenacious D got to playing music, they presented the first ever Game of the Decade recipient which I completely disagreed with, but we’ll get into that later. Yet another curious celebrity cameo was Zoe Saldana (Star Trek Into Darkness) presenting Game of the Year (which I also disagreed with) who claimed it took some extra effort for her to be at the awards, but wouldn’t miss it for the world. Overall, the celebrities seemed out of place and for the awkwardness to end, they’d be better off staying home in the future.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:4556:]]The Good

The best thing I saw all night was the world premier of The Phantom Pain by Moby Dick Studios, a Swedish company that no one has apparently ever heard of before. It featured a haunting trailer of a man attempting to escape a hospital that was besieged by murderous soldiers as well as some supernatural force which had many speculating as to what this game could be. The internet has recently provided a possible explanation via conspiratorial links to Hideo Kojima and Konami in order to shroud what this game may really be: Metal Gear Solid 5.

Possible link #1) Later in the show, cameras cut to Kojima’s table, making note of the 25^th anniversary of the Metal Gear franchise. Link #2) Moby Dick’s CEO is listed as Joakim Mogren. “Joakim” is an anagram for “Kojima.” Link #3) “Mogren” contains the word “ogre” as in Kojima’s secret “Project Ogre” which Kojima himself refutes having anything to do with Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes, further suggesting that Project Ogre is, in fact, Metal Gear Solid 5. Link #4) The main character bears a striking resemblance to Solid/Old Snake or Naked Snake/Big Boss. Link #5) Several on the internet suggest the man on fire shown in the hallway is Colonel Volgin from MGS3 and Psycho Mantis from MGS1 is seen briefly towards the end of the trailer. Whatever the rumor and speculation concerning The Phantom Pain suggests, the trailer looked amazing, mysterious, suspenseful and everything gamers want to see in new projects.

Other show highlights involved the video skits that put Samuel L. Jackson’s likeness in various video game videos. They were all quite funny featuring Sam’s affinity for the F-word, but my favorite was the digital composite of Sammy in The Walking Dead: The Game graphics. I also enjoyed the overall flow and format of the show despite the fact they make precious few “award presentations.” I also want to make note of the really cool commercial for the game Metro: Last Light which presented it in a very dramatic fashion, but almost zero game footage to prove it.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:4558:]]The Bad

Here’s the short list:

1) Anything that continues to make South Park into a game, 2) Zach Levi’s hair, 3) the world premier of Castlevania Lords of Shadow 2 — Castlevania in the world of today? 4) Marlon Wayans, 5) too many Playstation All Stars commercials, 6) the “new” voice of Lara Croft making an appearance without much of an English accent despite her claiming to be very British, and 7) Ken Levine pushing the release of BioShock Infinite (which looks AMAZING!) further into 2013.

The Ugly

The results, ‘nuff said! And now we roll up the sleeves:

Best Shooter: Borderlands 2?– I never agreed with this game being in this category in the first place. If Borderlands 2 was subjected to Goldeneye’s award system, it would win the “Where’s the hit detection” award every time it is turned on. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed Borderlands 2 and it is worthy of winning Best Multiplayer, but come on! Shooting needs more precision than that.

Character of the Year: Claptrap?– Ok so I guess this was a bit of a fan favorite and Claptrap is hysterical, but I bring this result up to make a further point regarding Borderlands 2 as a production. What does it say about your game when none of your main characters get considered for this category and the annoying comic relief gets the victory representing all characters for the year of 2012?

Best Individual Sports Game: SSX?– Do we even need stupid categories like this?

Best PS3 and Xbox Games: Journey and Halo 4? – The biggest “no duh” moments of the evening and totally worth mentioning only in passing.

Best PC Game: XCOM: Enemy Unknown? – I’m pretty sure Guild Wars 2 is amazing and XCOM is just pretty fun. I have no explanation for this.

Studio of the Year: TellTale Games?– No.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:4559:]]Game of the Decade: Half-Life 2?– Entertainment Weekly compiled a list of 10 games since 2002 which were deemed worthy of the title “Game of the Decade.” Unfortunately we don’t exactly know what this means because it clearly doesn’t mean “the best.” Such a title implies the best incorporation of all elements of a video game that creates a truly seminal work of art. Wii Sports (2006) was on this list because it sold a hell of a lot of copies considering its simplicity both as individual software and with every Wii bundle that is currently collecting dust in your grandmother’s basement. Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002) was considered because someone really fell in love with cell-shading Link (FYI, I didn’t). World of Warcraft (2004) was considered because it is the biggest money making juggernaut (from a purely software perspective) of all time. Shadow of the Colossus (2005) was on the list for its “alternative art” status. BioShock (2007) was considered because of its twisted take on art design, its kick-ass gameplay and giving shooters more intelligence. Batman: Arkham City (2011) was considered for being the best video game adaptation of all time. Red Dead Redemption (2010) was here simply for being the best offering Rockstar could muster up. Portal (2007) was here to fill out another “different type of game” slot. Mass Effect 2 (2010) SHOULD have won because its combination of graphics, gameplay, narrative, characters and scale redefine what it means to be a videogame and is on the short-short list of best games ever.

But, Half-Life 2 won because a lot of nerds out there sleep next to a blow up doll of Gordon Freeman.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:4560:]]Game of the Year: The Walking Dead: The Game?– Thank you Robert Kirkman.; AMC and TellTale Games have relevance thanks to adapting your comic book. And make no mistake! 2012 is the year of TWD; good or bad, right or wrong and it is that shear fact alone that explains how this game took home the title of Game of the Year for 2012. If you require an explanation, I refer you to my review of TWD’s final chapter and thoughts concerning the game overall right here. Despite the insane ridicule suffered by Mass Effect 3, it is a superior game in EVERY respect. Of course, I could say the exact same for Assassin’s Creed III and Dishonored (both of which I am enjoying very much right now). The only Game of the Year contender I haven’t experienced is Journey, but simple games like that are lucky to have been made, let alone win for GOTY. This was simply the wrong choice and I loved The Walking Dead: The Game. But it is an extremely flawed game and to a large extent, doesn’t fully qualify as a game in the first place.

So who were the losers of the 2012 VGA’s?

Assassin’s Creed III and Ubisoft got absolutely zero love from Spike TV this year. This is quite stunning considering the quality of the game and the dedication of the company, but I somehow feel this is backlash for producing annual titles for a series that I affectionately refer to as suffering “The Madden Effect.” Madden comes out every year, they charge $60 bucks for it and how much of a “new game” are you really getting for your money? The Madden Effect has already taken a hold of Call of Duty. Apparently Assassin’s Creed needs to go into hibernation for a while to get back some respect.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:4562:]]Who were the “winners” of the 2012 VGA’s?

The Walking Dead and TellTale Games are the obvious choices besides winning Game and Studio of the Year they also took home Best Adapted Game, Best Downloadable Game and Best Performance by a Human Female (Melissa Hutchinson as Clementine). The real winner, however, is Robert Kirkman because his children’s children can easily afford to eat as well as he clearly does without concern for health risks because they are now (or will soon be) super rich thanks to The Walking Dead. I’m happy for Kirkman because the success of the comic book is warranted.; however, I give one warning to heed in regards to selling his license out as shamelessly as the local hooker. TWD: The Game is already showing a lesser polish to its product and the more hands that are stretched out, begging for a piece of TWD, the greater the chance for dilution pissing the brand away. I realize Kirkman’s comic series is soon coming to a close, so I guess it’s cool to take whatever money he can grab now and run, but that doesn’t mean TWD will be truly dead. If someone pays Kirkman more than enough money, you bet your ass he’d come up with more TWD stories. The fans love TWD specifically because its tone is the polar opposite of the concept of “selling out.” Please don’t break our hearts Robert. It’s ok if you feel the need to kill off Carl.

Movie News Reviews

Video Game Review: The Walking Dead: No Time Left (Episode 5)

A Video Game Review of The Walking Dead: No Time Left

By: Lawrence Napoli

Chapter 5 of TellTale Games’ The Walking Dead is a proper, although not so very surprising, end to this adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s signature IP. Originally, I was intrigued by the concept of an episodic game being presented over the course of time because A New Day showed so much dramatic promise, compelling characters and yet another zombie themed game I could get into. As new chapters were released, new mechanics (like shooting) were integrated and I wondered how this game could grow on the player when the “game play” aspect was simply not consistent. The execution of every chapter has left much to be desired and not just because the “timed release” aspect of this project seemed more like “whenever TellTale wanted.” Lee Everett moves like a tank, even when he’s running. Action is sparse. Scene transitions frequently freeze up or glitch out. Voices blink out of sync. Oh, and lest I forget the whole “illusion of choice” phantom mechanic at work which merely presents the player with multiple ways to reach the SAME exact plot twists. Say what you will about the Mass Effect series and its morality mechanic; at least it delivers variance in the journey and at the end of the game (we will pay no attention to the end of ME3 for the time being).

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It doesn’t matter how many you shoot in the head!

So here we are: you, me and a copy of this episodic game which may or may not be installed on your hard drive at this very instant. But before you wipe your HDD in disgust or purchase it hastily let me tell you my feelings regarding the value TWD: The Game. DO NOT pay more than $20 if you are thinking of making a purchase. Season passes on Xbox Live and PSN had every episode in your hands for $19.99 while Steam featured sales for much less than even that. When I heard that TellTale was releasing physical copies the game this upcoming December 11^th and charging $29.99 for them, I was flabbergasted. No one will ever convince me that TellTale’s offering equates to a 50% value of the average AAA game when they (as formulaic as they have become) deliver so much more than TWD such as multiplayer, larger environments, smoother mechanics, polished single player campaigns (for the most part), better graphics, better sound AND equivalent VO performances & enthralling stories. All of these standard AAA elements may not be interesting to the player by themselves, but their collective presence provides entertainment options of which TWD has only one in comparison: drama.

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To be avoided at the $29.99 (or more) price point.

Drama is TellTale’s saving grace amidst what might seem like a scathing review thus far. This software produces one of the best narrative stories I have ever experienced in the presentation of a video game. Writers Sean Vanaman, Mark Darin and Mark Whitta outdid themselves in carving out a perfect niche of Krikman’s zombie apocalypse by maintaining perfect tonal synergy with the fiction fans of the comics and TV show are familiar with. If the player enjoys audio/visual entertainment and does not have a heart of stone, this story will make you feel sympathy and suspense; hurt and happy. The common man character type, which TWD as a franchise has made its very own, carries over in full effect for the game. No one is spectacular which means everyone is relatable. The fact that zombies are littered all over the place is merely a zesty garnish to give the plot some edge. Every chapter of TWD brings A-game drama to the plate and as much as this is its biggest strength, it could also be its fatal flaw. The determining factor will forever be if the player accepts the presentation of this drama as entertainment enough. If the concept of “a really good drama without much action” turns the player off, then this game never gets turned on.

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Not exactly a high wire, but certainly high tension.

This brings me to Chapter 5: No Time Left in particular as confirming the determination (or stubbornness) of TellTale’s same-old/same-old approach to every chapter. The one thing that jumped out as different for me was the implementation of dynamic camera angles as the player’s avatar navigated certain scenes. Otherwise, No Time Left had the exact same quick time controls and wretched environmental navigation as always. Combining these elements with one of the most obvious endings in the history of fiction leaves a bitter taste in the player’s mouth by the end. It was during the final credit scroll that I realized that I barely needed to be present while playing this game as the choices I made throughout ultimately impacted nothing. Characters that were meant to die were dispatched and those meant to live would do so. I didn’t care so much about using a tazer or a sickle to take out a cannibal from a previous chapter. I didn’t care about exploring one room over another, taking one tool instead of another, chastising one member of the group over another. Why should choice matter when it doesn’t change the character, the journey or the outcome?

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:4523:]]

Hopefully you don’t feel like doing this after playing.

TWD by TellTale Games is a lazy interactive drama that requires the most pedestrian of hand-eye coordination to complete. To a very large extent I question TellTale’s need to present this story in the form of a game in the first place. An animated feature would have been a much more satisfying experience because it would have deleted EVERY negative aspect of this production: the game play. TellTale would be good to remember the effort made by the good folks at Quantic Dream who invented the term “interactive drama” with one of the most unique and successful games of all time: Heavy Rain. The game play mechanics at work in both games are similar, but not the same. The main reason it worked for Heavy Rain (without getting too much into it) was because the quick time controls were more organic to better reflect the action on the screen (of which there was plenty).

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:4524:]]

Drama yes; action no.

I can only recommend TWD by TellTale to the rabid followers of all things TWD. The average gamer more interested in shooting digital people will get very little out of this entire series. TellTale will release a second season to continue the story with the characters that survive. It is only a matter of time. However, if TellTale thinks it can pull the exact same gags on THIS gamer/reviewer then it has another thing coming. It needs to improve on every programming element to this game short of graphics. The action needs to pick up, transitions need to be polished and either mature the choice tree options or be done with them all together. TellTale gets 1 chapter of season 2 to change my mind, otherwise it will get the worst press imaginable: no press.

Comic Book News

Will The Walking Dead #107 See The Death Of Carl?

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:24350:]]

Update: For the recent Carl TV scene, head on over here.

(Editor’s Note: For more: The Doc also presents 10 facts why Lori is not dead on “The Walking Dead” TV show!)

The Rise And Fall(?) Of Carl Grimes

By:Chris “DOC” Bushley

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:4190:]]

Although AMC’s The Walking Dead has just recently evolved the character of Carl Grimes past the sniveling, under foot brat that is consistently never “in the house,” the comic book character of the same name has been a fan favorite since the beginning. A touch of exuberant youth that kept the group reminded of just how precious their lives truly were, Carl was also the reader’s segue into the ever devolving vestiges of innocence in that world. This is a snapshot of Carl’s life, from “birth” to badass and even his possible death!

(Warning: Spoilers Ahoy!)

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:4166:]]From the moment of his introduction, Carl Grimes has been one of my favorite comic characters. The unbridled innocence that exudes from the character in the earlier books kept you believing that no matter how horrible things are in Robert Kirkman’s world of zombies and human depravity, there would always be a spark of something good. The first meeting of Carl and his father Rick, after believing he was dead, is still one of my favorite moments from The Walking Dead comic book series. It is symbolically touching and the first step in Carl’s long walk into darkness.

In The Walking Dead #5 five Carl receives his first gun, it is also revealed that he is SEVEN years old! Imagine yourself at seven years old with an actual gun, yeah I don’t think I would be here either — at least with all working parts! But, it is that father son bonding moment that will solidify Carl’s turn from innocent child of the group into one of the most fearless killers in their ranks. For we all know what happens to those bullies that pick on Carl’s daddy! Sorry, Shane!

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:4171:]]From that moment, the sweet and naive Carl begins his transformation into a key character of the group. He sees himself as an equal to the adults, a “protector” and provider, someone that can steel himself against the horrors of their world and press on no matter what may occur. His fear and, most importantly, his need to be protected by others is alleviated in his eyes. He can do what his father can do, and eventually, even things Rick cannot!

But, to take a man’s life is no easy feat, Carl breaks down in front of Rick and tells him that it wasn’t like killing the dead ones, it wasn’t easy. Rick responds, “It should never be easy.”

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:4173:]]Then, in issue nine, Carl has his first touch with his own mortality. While being overrun with a mass of Roamers (called Walkers on the show!), Carl is unexpectedly shot from behind by Otis! Rick and Tyrese run to him while Otis emerges looking bewildered at what has just transpired. When Carl eventually awakens from his wounds he is a far different character than the smiling boy we met in issue one. He has felt what it means to be on the brink of death and he will never let it happen to anyone he loves ever again. He has become hardened to the world, his moral compass has begun to swing out of control and after The Walking Dead 48, which sees the death of his mother Lori and newborn sister Judith, Carl is a shell of the boy he once was!

Cut off from the rest of the group, Carl must now take care of his physically and emotionally damaged father, and we begin to see the disdain that he now harbors for Rick. He feels that Rick has become weak, letting their family die at the hands of outsiders. The boy who once killed his father’s best friend is now pondering if he needs to “deal’ with his own father. As others join the group, Carl descends into the background again until The Walking Dead issue #57. While on the road, Abraham, Rick and Carl are attacked by bandits. Abraham is held at gun point and Rick is beaten and restrained. Rick tries to fight back and is told that for is defiance, Carl will be raped in front of him! As a bandit pins down Carl, Rick snaps and tears out his captor’s throat with his teeth. Shocked at what has happened, the bandit holding Abraham at bay freezes long enough for Abraham to shoot him while Rick continually stabs the third. These horrific events change the dynamic of Rick and Carl’s relationship again. Father and son begin to talk about all that has transpired between them, and Carl tells Rick that if he knew the thoughts he had in his head, Rick wouldn’t love him anymore. They hug, the innocence may be lost, but their love for each other will always be strong.

Issue #61 is where we see how emotionally devoid Carl truly is and just how far he is willing to go to protect the group. In The Walking Dead #60, Ben, a boy around eight years old, kills his twin brother Billy. Ben is so mentally disturbed by the world they live in that he thinks it is all okay since his brother will just “return” to life anyway. As the group locks Ben in a van and ponders what to do with the youthful serial killer to be, Carl has his own ideas. In issue #61, Carl pretends to be sleeping while Rick lays down next to him. Carl then sneaks out to the van and carefully opens the door. He is greeted by Ben who says, “Aren’t you afraid of me?” Carl responds “No” and shoots Ben in the head!

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:4195:]]But the wheels of fate are always turning, as we see Carl and his “family” grow bigger and move on, we also see the threats heighten as well. Just as issue #83 shows us, when you think all is well — fate comes knocking! The Walking Dead #83 is one of the few comics that I actually had to stop and catch my breath after reading, it is so jarring that it couldn’t be helped! Although many characters die in this issue, it is Carl being accidentally shot in the head that, literally, took my breath away! No – almost – character death has ever moved me like that single moment. That young boy turned badass, Carl, becomes so frail in that moment — that it is actually hard to read. It is one of Robert Kirkman’s best skills to make readers care so much for these characters and at that moment, he truly moved us all!

As Carl recovered over the next twenty issues, the group dynamic swelled and changed. Another era of peace and prosperity began to develop, and with it a sense of safety. But we all know how Kirkman love to lure us into a sense of comfort before dropping a hammer into our skulls. This time the hammer is named Neegan, and the storyline was called “Something To Fear.”

The Walking Dead #100, one of the most brutal books I have ever read, introduces Neegan to Rick, Carl, Glenn, Maggie, Sofia, Michonne and Heath. As this new tyrant plays “eenie, meenie, miinie mo” with the group, Neegan takes a look at Carl and the boy’s world will never be the same again! As Neegan chooses Glenn and repeatedly bashes in his skull with his baseball bat “Lucille,” everyone looks on in horror. After Neegan and his men declare their deal with Rick’s group, they depart, leaving Rick crying over his fallen friend, while Carl steadies himself for what must come next!

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:4178:]]After Rick tells the community that they will have to comply with Neegan’s demands, Carl decides to confront Neegan himself. When Neegan’s group comes to collect half of all the community’s supplies, Carl greets them in a not so hospitable manner. Neegan asks Carl if he just threatened him, because he wants to be really sure when someone does! This is the point that may decide Carl’s fate in the next few issues! A line has been drawn between these two characters and Carl decides to pole vault it in issue #104!

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:4180:]]Seeing his father as making the wrong decision about how to handle Neegan, Carl stows away in the back of one of Neegan’s trucks as they head back to their camp. When they eventually stop, Carl takes the group by surprise, laying waste to a bevy of Saviors before vacating the truck with his machine gun! As he slowly steps out of the truck, Carl announces that Neegan killed his friend and he only wants to kill him if the others back away. Neegan tells Carl that he is genuinely scared of him and comments about the gun he chose to bring with him. Carl fires again but the sheer weight and kick back of the gun knocks him to the ground and he loses his grip of the gun. Dwight (a Savior that was held captive by Andrea) quickly begins to beat Carl before Neegan asks him if he would kill a defenseless boy. Neegan then announces that they should welcome their new arrival as the issue ends!

Now, we may not know the fate of Carl just yet, but the next few covers suggest our little “badass” is in for some harrowing times! The Walking Dead #106 is Charlie Adlard’s 100th issue on the book as artist, and he has promised something “big” is going to happen. Let it be known that the issue is also called “Revenge” which doesn’t bode well for the lifespan of our hero.

And we also see the big reveal of the cover for The Walking Dead #107!

Check them out below and let your own thoughts “roam!”

“The Walking Dead” #107 goes on sale in February!

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The Walking Dead #107:

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As gut wrenching as the cover of issue #107 may be, I may just have an inside scoop about Carl’s fate!

I met Robert Kirkman at last year’s NYCC 2011 and chatted about Carl a little bit. After we spoke, he wrote this in my copy of The Walking Dead: The Rise of the Governor (right)! Then he slowly looked up and said, “You know I’m lying, right?”

So, I cannot say for sure whether Carl will make it to see issue #108 or not, but I can safely say that Robert Kirkman has suddenly filled my head with one word regarding Carl — Fear!

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TV News

10 Facts Why Lori Is Still Alive In The Walking Dead TV Show (AMC)

One Bloated Zombie, Does Not A Body Make!

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

Three graves have been dug on the outskirts of the prison walls, but only one contains an actual corpse. The others remain bare, filled more with the grieving tears of the survivors than with the decomposing flesh of the dead. The crosses above them are etched with the names of those that cannot be found, but is it premature to give such finality to just the mere thought of death? Some think so!

In one of the most controversial seasons yet, Season 3 of Robert Kirkman’s opus to the undead, shows the band of survivors split into groups while being pursued by Walkers. Things happen, horrible things that leave at least on of the group dead, one in labor and one missing. The most memorable, yet tragic, scenes plays out as Carl has to seemingly shoot his mother after she gives birth to his sister so she will not become a Walker. It is unnerving to watch but also completely captivating and shocking! That is, until Episode 5 begins to shine new light to that particular scene! As much as we will all miss T-Dog, it is the legitimacy of Lori and Carol’s deaths that are in question!

As I spoke with my intern, DRox, quite feverishly about Episodes 4 and 5, we began to think that maybe – just maybe – everyone’s favorite candidate for mother of the year did NOT die after giving birth to little baby “Ass Kicker!”

Here are some facts and speculations for you to ponder:

FACT: T-Dog saves Carol by tackling two attacking zombies and pays the ultimate price for his heroism.

FACT: Rick and the “Hit-Squad” find T-Dog’s corpse in a hallway along with Carol’s head wrap. They NEVER find another trace of Carol, nor look to find her, just assume she is dead!

FACT: Lori goes into labor and Maggie must perform an emergency C-section on her in order to save the baby. Carl stays behind as Maggie takes the newborn to find the others. As she approaches the group in the courtyard, a single gunshot rings out. Carl emerges from the prison and Rick breaks down.

FACT: Rick goes all “Here’s Johnny” with an axe and destroys any Walker that stands between him and his discovery of Lori’s body.

FACT: Rick finds a bloated Walker with, what Greg Nicotero told The Talking Dead, “were strands of Lori’s hair by his mouth,” shoots it and proceeds to stab its belly numerous times. NO BODY PARTS ARE PULLED OUT OF ITS STOMACH!

FACT: In Episode 2, Carol kills a female Walker in order to perform a practice C-section on it because Hershell may not be able to deliver Lori’s baby!

FACT: When Rick discovers the room where Lori went into labor, he also discovers a bullet fragment on the floor. There is NO BLOOD surrounding the area where the bullet was pulled from!

FACT: There are no bones, nor anything else, from Lori found where she went into labor! T-Dog was attacked by TWO Walkers and his body was still found! Yes, he was larger than Lori, but her entire body – bones and all – fit into a Walker’s belly?!

FACT: We know that Carol’s knife is found By Daryl in the upcoming Episode 6!

FACT: We know there is a well stocked Infirmary and it is close to cell block C from Carl’s comments in Episode 2!

This is what we believe MAY have occurred: Carl, as bad-ass as he has become in Season 3, still does not have the heart to shoot his own mother in the face. He shoots wide and leaves Lori, who has passed out due to the pain and blood loss, to “rest in peace.” Carol, who is still running through the prison, stumbles upon Lori just as a Walker is approaching her. She fends off the Walker, stabbing it between the shoulder blades and knocking it into the wall. She then grabs a semi-conscious Lori and escapes the room. With Lori as “dead” weight, Carol cannot keep up the pace for long. Panicked, she scours the hallways for a room she had seen before – the Infirmary! Though not “professionally’ trained, Carol does her best to patch-up Lori to the best of her abilities as she hears a gunshot ring out from the room she saved Lori from. Help could be on the way.

Though these ideas are pure speculation, given the facts above, nothing adds up to either Carol or Lori definitively being dead. There is enough wiggle room there to imagine numerous possibilities rather than the one given to us. But, if I’m right, and Lori is not “dead,” there are even more ideas that can be brought into this amazing season! Who knows, maybe the next time we see Lori she could look like this (below)!

The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9pm ET on AMC.

Comic Book News

Advanced Review: The Walking Dead #104

Wow! That’s truly all I can say.

Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard are continually making their fanbase into emotional wrecks and it’s the compelling stories found in issues like The Walking Dead #104 that are doing it to them!

I don’t know what I can say without spoiling the feeling of utter dread you receive when reading this issue. It is an emotional rollercoaster and you will find yourself screaming, “STOP,” at the top of your lungs because you are at the precipice of something completely horrific!

Normally, when Kirkman delivers a devastating blow to the audience, i.e.. the death of Glenn, there is a lull in the story afterward. A “grieving” time if you will, a few issues where the reader can collect themselves, refocus on the storyline and brace themselves for whatever may come next. This time however, Kirkman is pulling no punches and has been berating us with emotional haymakers with every issue! There is no chance to breathe, let alone ready yourself for new horrors — the hits just keep coming! And I wouldn’t want it any other way!

The Walking Dead #104 is a tale with a lightening pace, page after page of action, drama and suspense that culminates in an ending that will make you hate the next thirty days until issue #105! There is no time for more build up or characterization, that time has passed, and it is now a “fight or die” scenario that our characters are in. The tides of change are upon us and there is no turning back!

I can’t give you spoilers without ruining the entire book, but I will give you a taste! Rick gets mad, Jesus fights and Carl carries one big @$$ gun! Hopefully that will satiate your curiosity until tomorrow!

Hold on tight, kids! This is one scary ride we are about to go on!

Comic Book News

The Best of The Best: DOC’s Top Five Comic Books For November 14th!

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“The Best of The Best”

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

If you thought October 10th was a HUGE release date with Batman #13 and the debut of Uncanny Avengers #1, just wait until next Wednesday when we see the pinnacle of comic book hype explode! EVERY company in the industry is offering up some of their best books for you to add to your pull list, but with so many choices, what are the books you just can’t live without? This list is here to help you narrow down just which ones are worthy of the title “The Best of The Best!”

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1. Batman #14(DC): Scott Snyder’s unnerving tale of the return of the “Clown Prince” to the streets of Gotham continues here! Harley tries to turn Bats into her own version of the Joker and the “family” is in disarray with the disappearance of Alfred. This series continues to be some of the best modern day Bat tales ever created and this one — is sure to keep you up at night! With a bunch of “Bat” books coming out on Wednesday, this one is the MUST have!

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2. All New X-Men #1(Marvel): The most controversial of the group, Bends’ take on the X-Men is sure to be a sure hit or miss with fans across the board! But let’s face facts folks, he is still a great writer that can bring about some amazing stories! Truthfully, bringing some fresh ideas to the “Merry Mutants” is desperately needed! Plus, we get to see the original X-Men return in this tale without the bickering and animosity that has been strune throughout the X books in the past two years. As they travel to the present, will these bright eyed versions of their former selves be enough to change the outlook of the modern X-Men? I will be first to find out!

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3. The Walking Dead #104(Image): The biggest independent comic book franchise of all time continues to churn out some of the best comics on the shelves month after month! Rick’s secret agenda has put him at odds with the others of the community, but none more so than the person he loves most, his son — Carl. Will his plan lead to Carl trying to step up and be more of a leader? And if it does, can a little boy with a big gun handle the wickedness of Neegan all on his own? By far, this book is Image’s front runner for best book!

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4. Archer & Armstrong #4 (Valiant): This dynamically different duo have to stop the Secret Sect from forming all of the pieces of the Boon before they destroy the world. But it is no easy path! On the way they must overcome ninja nuns, Nazi priests, former friends and, evidently, themselves in order to survive! Fred Van Lente has made this THE best “buddy” book on the shelves today, full of characterization, brutal action sequences and overall — fun! This is the best book you are not reading!

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5. The Boys #72(Dynamite): Garth Ennis has finished The Boys with issue #72. And when I say “finished” I don’t mean just wrapping up his insane book about those who keep superheroes in check, I mean the Boys themselves as well! #72 stars the only remaining team member, Wee Hughie, and we see just what he will do after both his personal world and professional one — are completely destroyed! I will sorely miss this crazy ride of a book, but there is still hope for the movie from Paramount to hold on to! This was the best anti-superhero book you will ever read, so get the trades and hold on for dear life!

So, that’s the best the myriad of companies have to offer — at least in my humble opinion! What books are you eager to see this week? Let us know in the comment section below and start saving your pennies — it’s going to be one massive week for comics fans!

Comic Book News TV News

Advanced Review: The Walking Dead: The Official Magazine

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What better way to keep yourself up to date with all things The Walking Dead than with — The Walking Dead: The Official Magazine!

Hitting newsstands October 23rd, this 100 page behemoth, from Titan Magazines and Skybound, is bloated with more tasty tidbits than a “Well Walker!” From the forward, by the creator of it all, Robert Kirkman, to the “Secret Diary of a Walker” article, no page is wasted to fully immerse you in every nook and cranny of Kirkman’s award winning world!

From cover to cover, every nuance is touched upon. There are in depth interviews with Robert Kirkman, Danai Gurira (Michonne), Talking Dead host Chris Hardwick, artist extraordinaire Charlie Adlard and AMC’s The Walking Dead‘s executive producer Glen Mazzara.

For me, the Danai Gurira interview was something rare, giving an inside look at an extremely strong woman that portrays one of the biggest badasses on television. After reading the interview, there is no other woman that could possibly portray such a character as Michonne than Danai Gurira!

Fans of the show do need to be wary though, story spoilers abound in this issue as the entire comic book series is laid before you in the article, “The Story So Far.” Covering all major aspects of issues 1-100, there is a potential to learn things about Michonne and the Governor that may occur in Season 3! Even though the headlines blatantly state, “Spoilers Alert,” you know you will read on anyway — you just can’t help yourself!

You will see all thirteen covers to the horrifically amazing The Walking Dead #100, a preview of Todd McFarlane Toys second series of figures, an in depth look at the zombie zaniness at Comic-Con and a bevy of on location photos and articles from the set of The Walking Dead television series. You will gaze at previews of Telltale Games The Walking Dead episodic video game and even get a cool pic of the official The Walking Dead Plug ‘N Play game! Who doesn’t love that!

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As amazing as all that sounds, it is the impressive articles that truly make the magazine shine. From the quirky, “The Secret Diary of a Walker” to “Choice Cuts,” – a look at the best and worst moments of different characters – there is no end to the range of quality to this magazine! My personal favorite is “Anatomy of a Story,” a dissection of a different story arc from the comic series. Each issue will take a deeper look into the creation of a tale and the evolution of the characters therein. It is something unique, catapulting this magazine above all others in its genre.

Everything – and I mean EVERYTHING – from everyone’s favorite zombie universe is featured in some way in this debut issue! Fans of the comic series, the television series, toys, video games and novels will be overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of information bestowed upon you. Not an inch of this issue is wasted! It is 100 pages of pure The Walking Dead excitement from cover to cover! I am overwhelmingly impressed by both the quality and the overall execution of the entire issue!

So, if you need something to sink your teeth into until Sunday night, get to your closest magazine outlet and pick up the most outstanding premiere issue I have ever read! The Walking Dead: The Official Magazine — on stands now!

“This magazine will be your one stop destination for all the news pertaining to the comic, TV show, video game, toys, games, and whatever else exists in the ever-expanding Walking Dead universe! If it’s happening, you’ll find out all about it right here!” – Robert Kirkman.

“The Walking Dead Official Magazine” goes on sale October 23rd in the U.S., November 8th in the U.K. and December 18th in Australia and New Zealand. Digital editions will be available globally on the iPad, Nook and Kindle Fire from October 23rd.

Subscription Offer:
The magazine is currently offering fans an exclusive FREE The Walking Dead T-Shirt (not available in stores) with new print subscriptions. For more information on this subscription offer and other offers in your territory, visit the magazine website:
www.TitanMagazines.com/WalkingDead

Social Networking:
Readers can join the magazine on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with news and special offers:
www.Twitter.com/WalkingDeadMag
www.Facebook.com/WalkingDeadMagazine

Movie News

TV Review: The Walking Dead Season 3: Episode One – ‘Seed’

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The Robert Kirkman machine continues to carve its’ way through the entertainment world, creating the high water mark for television dramas as well as the comic book industry. Never before have we seen such high numbers (14.2 million!) for a television drama, and certainly not for a “comic book show!” Why has The Walking Dead garnered such a high level of fan appreciation and followers — because it’s that damn good!

Breaking the shackles of just another “cult classic”, TWD has worked it’s way into the hearts of more than just the fans of the original source material. Though the comic fans are ravenous about the show (especially me!), it is the drama/horror fans that have really added to the extremely high viewership. And for those fans, I give you a comparison between the comic and the premiere episode of Season 3.

(Editorial Warning: Spoilers “Dead” Ahead!)

Episode One deemed, ‘Seed’, begins after the harsh months of winter have come and gone. Our group seems to have fallen in line with Rick’s, “This is not a democracy” speech from the season two finale and they look hardened, weary and Lori is more than a little pregnant! Foraging from house to house has become the status quo, but Rick will not allow this group to degrade themselves any lower and knocks a can of dog food from Carl’s hands before he can taste it. As walkers begin to become more present around the house, the group leaves silently – more reminiscent of a military outfit than a family.

This is where we see the first separation from the comic and show. Even though the worlds and situations are the same, there isn’t that emotional detachment between the group as there is here. There is still the “family” feel to the group, even as they become used to the killing and actually excel at it, it has never become so militaristic. It is fantastic that the writers have incorporated this edgier feel to the show, and for finally making Carl the complete badass he is in the comic!

Next, Rick and his right hand man, Daryl (a character that I so wish was in the book!), stumble upon the prison while hunting for food. This originally takes place in issue 13 of the book. But, as The Walking Dead: The Official Magazine (to be released Oct.23) states,” Season three will be, at least in part, covering issues 13 through 48,” so, we are bound to see amalgams of storylines throughout the season.

As the group hacks and slashes their way through the labyrinth of fences surrounding the prison, we can see that their prowess with weaponry has improved exponentially. Wielding pipes, hammers, hatchets as well as guns, they are conserving their bullets for the most of dire times and relying on “wetwork” instead to dispel the undead. They seem ready and relatively healthy to take on whatever may come their way. Something that is not present when first we see Andrea!

The fan favorite, Michonne, has helped Andrea stay alive through the winter, but it seems all her work is for not. Michonne rumages through a drug store to find anything. She silently decapitates two walkers with her katanna before grabbing some packages of asprin off the floor and heads back to a small building near by. As she walks through a discheveled hallway we get a first glance at a weakened Andrea. Andrea is extremely sick and tells Michonne to leave her here to die, she doesn’t want to be a burden any longer. The stoic Michonne tells Andrea that they will have to move on in a few days, and last we see of them, they have loaded Michonne’s zombie companions with their gear and are headed out into the world. This is a great dynamic for these two characters to be in. This meeting never happens in the book. Michonne was always a loner, besides her boyfriend and his best friend — her pet walkers! She was introduced to the group in issue 19, where she saves Otis from some walkers and follows him back to the prison. Since Otis is already dead in the show, this “Thelma and Louise” style story is a great way to build up both of these characters that are two of comicdom’s favorites.

Back to the prison! Rick’s “hit squad” enters the perimeter of the prison and slaughter walkers by the dozen. Just as they are feeling confident about clearing the section, riot gear wearing walkers emerge from around the corner! This is some of the most gruesome make-up effects I have ever seen on network television! The peeling off of the gas mask on the riot walker was so visceral, so disgusting that it only made me crave more! After feeble attempts to stab through the riot gear, Maggie plunges her machete up through the bottom of a walkers jaw to stop him. Her jubilant reaction to her handiwork was outstanding! After they clear the riot walkers, the group enters the prison.

Rick’s squad clears a cell block, finds keys to the inner areas of the prison and bring the rest of the group into their new home. Exhausted, they find cells to bunk in and settle in. Their is a great “Padme/Anakin” moment between Beth and Carl that reveals how far the Carl character has come since the last season. He is confident and deadly, making him project himself more as a protector than a child. In the book he is as lethal as any of the adults, but he also has Sofia to keep him grounded. Without Sofia on the show, maybe Beth will become his center, although the age difference is a little creepy!

Also, this is where we see the great divide between Rick and Lori. Rick is deeply removed from anything Lori has to say about the baby. He is the leader of this group, but no longer the loving husband. Does he blame Lori for the duel between himself and Shane? It is more than likely that he is afraid of losing her in childbirth and needs to distance himself from her to focus on the survival of the group. We also see a great conversation between Lori and Hershel. She confides in him that she hasn’t felt the baby move in a while and is concerned it is dead. She wallows to him about her fears of labor and the likelihood of she or the baby becoming walkers. She finally pleads with Hershel that if she or the baby turn, that he would kill them. This was an truly troubling scene and was a fantastic addition of emotion to the show.

Finally, the next morning, Rick, Maggie, Hershel, T-Dog, Glenn and Daryl all enter the bowels of the prison. During their search, walkers emerge from everywhere and the group gets separated! Maggie and Glenn hide in a room until the walkers have passed but they are lost from the rest of the group. Franticly, Herschel calls out for his daughter and is bitten in the leg by a walker that has been sitting on the floor! Panicked, the groups reconnect over the screaming Hershel and drag him down the hall as walkers emerge from everywhere. They bust a lock off a door, stumble inside and barricade the door. Rick looks at Hershel’s leg and decides that it must be removed in order to save him! Grisly effects abound as Rick hacks off the bitten area, and Hershel passes out. But, all is not over! Besides the walkers outside, there is a new issue to contend with. Daryl tells Rick to get down as he draws his crossbow upward. It seems they have entered the prison’s cafeteria and there are still prisoners here. Alive!

Outstanding first episode, that ampted the action up to eleven and the emotional duress through the roof! I was very surprised about Hershel being bit, especially since it was Dale that had his leg amputated in the book! More amalgam storylines abound and I couldn’t be happier! This show has become the pinnacle of drama television, forget the courtrooms and special crime units, life in a zombie filled world is where all the best stories can come from!

As the season progresses and the Governor makes his presence known, the emotional aspect of the show will become heightened. There are things that happen in the book that I do not know how they will be allowed on network television. The Governor is an extremely twisted man and fans of the book are worried about how he will be used in the show. Well, from what Robert Kirkman has said, the fans need not worry. He has this to say about one of the most vicious characters in comics today,” … the threat of violence posed by the Governor, has not been diluted for TV!” With that said, hang on folks, it’s going to be one intense season!

Comic Book News

Advanced Review: The Walking Dead #103

With all the hype AMC is getting with the fantastic television version of The Walking Dead, let’s not forget that this phenomenon began as “the little comic that could!” The heart and soul that exudes from the characters, started in twenty-two pages of black and white perfection! Issue #103 continues to prove that this “zombie” book is one of the best comics ever created!

Rick has a plan, a plan that he cannot let anyone know. A plan that will alienate him from the people he calls friends, and more importantly, from Carl. But he must not let that hinder his decision. If he wants his people to survive, they must truly fear what is to come!

Outstanding is a word that is all too often used to describe Robert Kirkman’s finest book. But, it is the exact word that falls from your lips as you read this issue. The pacing drives you forward into one of the most distressing issues to date. It is completely unnerving as Negan walks the hallowed halls of Rick’s community, with swagger and a venomous grin he changes the entire outlook of the series. Kirkman creates an atmosphere thick with agitation, so much so, that you dare not turn the page in lieu of tempting the fates!

This series does one thing better than any book out there — makes you fearful for the characters! Not enough praise can be bestowed upon Kirkman for his creation of an emotional tether between reader and character. It truly is astounding!

So, does Negan and his trusty bat,”Lucille,” get to taste blood again? I won’t spoil it for you, but I will say this — Negan’s not the only one who gets to hold good ol’ “Lucille!”

Comic Book News

NYCC 2012: Walking Dead Exclusive Merchandise!

Just announced on Skybound.com, the website revolving around everything Robert Kirkman, we get to see the FINAL approved NYCC 2012 Walking Dead Exclusives! These will be in extremely high demand and will only be available at the Skybound Booth #1229! So get there early!

Below is the official press release from Skybound.com:

Michonne and Pets PVC Figure Set and The Remains t-shirt

Robert Kirkman, creator and writer of The Walking Dead and Executive Producer/Writer of the hit AMC TV show based upon his bestselling comic book series and graphic novels, saved the best New York Comic-Con Exclusive Merchandise for last. Kirkman and Skybound, his imprint at Image Comics, bring you a limited edition PVC figure of The Walking Dead fan favorite badass, Michonne. That’s right, everyone’s favorite katana-wielding survivor and her “pets” are immortalized as limited edition PVC figures to be devoured by the hordes at New York Comic-Con. Also, a limited-edition black 100% cotton t-shirt, The Walking Dead The Remains shirt, pays homage to the last of the original survivors.

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The Walking Dead Michonne and Pets PVC Figure Set is a limited edition set available in three colors:

· Grey, like the post-apocalyptic world the survivors are living in, is limited to 1000 sets, $15 each

· Purple, like the stylish and unique Michonne herself, is limited to 250 sets, $20 each

· Glow in the Dark, well, that’s just cool, is limited to 250 sets, $20 each

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The Walking Dead “The Remains” t-shirt is limited to 250 shirts for $20 and if you’ve read the record-breaking 100th issue of The Walking Dead [Spoiler Alert], you know that means Rick and Carl, Michonne and Andrea. Show off your insider cred by sporting this tee and impress all the other aficionados of The Walking Dead comics and graphic novels.

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Speaking of graphic novels — While you are waiting in line to meet the incredible Robert Kirkman, you may need something for him to autograph. Well, what could be better than the NYCC Exclusive The Walking Dead Hardcover Compendium (Red Foil Edition)? This beautiful crafted book is limited to only 1500 copies and will set you back $100! But it’s well worth it!

Don’t know when your comic gods can sign all your newly acquired goods? I got ya covered! Below is a full list of times and appearances for you so you can factor in all your other events!

So empty your bank account and get out there for the coolest swag from your favorite book! And please, somebody send me a “Remains” t-shirt! I’m beggin’ ya!

Skybound Signings:

Thursday, October 11th:

5:00PM-6:00PM Robert Kirkman signing, creator/writer of The Walking Dead, Invincible, Super Dinosaur and Thief of Thieves

Friday, October 12th:

1:00PM-2:00PM Thief of Thieves signing with artist Shawn Martinbrough, writer James Asmus and colorist Felix Serrano

4:00PM-5:30PM Robert Kirkman signing, creator/writer of The Walking Dead, Invincible, Super Dinosaur and Thief of Thieves

TBD Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga sign advance copies of their upcoming novel, The Road to Woodbury. For further details, keep checking www.Skybound.com

Saturday, October 13th:

1:00PM-2:00PM Witch Doctor signing with creator/writer Brandon Seifert and creator/artist Lukas Ketner

5:00PM-6:00PM Thief of Thieves signing with artist Shawn Martinbrough, writer James Asmus and colorist Felix Serrano

Sunday, October 14th:

11:00AM-12:00 PM Jason Howard signing, artist for Super Dinosaur

3:30PM-5:00PM Robert Kirkman signing, creator/writer of The Walking Dead, Invincible, Super Dinosaur and Thief of Thieves

Comic Book News

Review: The Walking Dead: Michonne Special #1

We are just days away from the third season of one of the most anticipated television shows in the past decade, and what better way to introduce all those fans to the resident katana wielding bad-ass, than too give her her own special!

Reprinting The Walking Dead #19 — the first appearance of Michonne — in conjunction with the Playboy “origin” story, we finally get a more solid look at what created such a fan favorite character. From using her boyfriend and his best friend as moving camouflage, to the first time Rick and Michonne meet, this was a nice overview of the character that has endured so much at the hands of Robert Kirkman.

Though regular collectors of the series, and the Playboy story, will see nothing new in this book; it is still nice to have both stories together in one place. A singularly hand held origin piece that can be accessed anytime for your perusing pleasure! No digging through back issues needed!

My only qualm with the book is the definitive difference in the quality of the grey tones and line art. The Playboy story is much darker in hue than the original series and Adlard’s pencils used to be much thinner, a crisper style with much more detail. I know Charlie Adlard had to quicken his art style a few years back to keep the pace of a monthly book on track, but there is a clear division between the two tales now. Silly, I know, but the rest is still perfect!

So before you head out to your TWD parties this weekend, I’ve been invited to attend a few, be sure to hone up your knowledge about that mysterious girl from Season Two! Michonne will be the word on everyone’s lips at the water cooler — don’t be left out!

Comic Book News

Advanced Review: The Walking Dead #102

After the deaths of Glenn and Abraham, there has been a lull in action, but a real focus on how the characters develop from here. Kirkman has dialed the brutality back to a minimum, giving ample time to see exactly how Rick and crew choose to deal with their new world dynamic. A world that is now more dangerous than ever before, a world that must deal with â€” Neegan!

Though we all love the insane twists and turns that Kirkman does so well, it is the “quieter” times when his writing skills really shine. The introspective stories of these hardened individuals, are truly what makes this book stand out more than anything else on the stands today. And with issue #102, we get more of the same.

Touching upon every major character, Kirkman reveals Rick’s new strategy for survival and the reactions to it. This is the book where everything truly changes! The group’s function, their outlook and eventually, a shift in their core dynamic; sets the stage for something we have never seen before. Loyalties change, relationships become strained, secrets are sworn and Rick puts himself in the cross hairs for the good of the group. But does the group need him to be there to begin with?

Well executed and thoughtfully expressed, Kirkman is the best at deepening the emotional bond between characters and the readers! He makes it so easy to get lost in their world and even easier to care about them. Fans of The Walking Dead television show, will undoubtedly recognize some of the same plot threads from Season Two in this book. And even though you may feel a slight sense of deja vu, it is comforting to see some aspects of the different genres meld into great stories for both avenues. Plus, it will make it easier to become a fan of the comic if you haven’t already! But, who am I kidding? Who isn’t a fan already!

Comic Book News

Advanced Review: The Walking Dead #101

After the shockingly horrific events taking place in issue #100, Robert Kirkman gives us a somewhat cathartic issue this week to let us recover.

Although the characters, and we the readers, are still reeling from what happened to Glenn, there is no rest for the wicked. The pace is one of adrenaline fueled panic, which is exactly what the characters are feeling, but it rushes directly into a mediocre story. There is no time to flush out what these characters are going through, no contemplation regarding what to do and forgiveness given too freely to each other. The fleshing out of characters and their emotional distress is what The Walking Dead is known for, but these aspects seemed to be glazed over in this issue in order to make room for the next big surprise waiting around the corner.

Don’t get me wrong, the issue has merit and some well done scenes, but the pace is just way too fast. The connections between characters and the “little” moments seemed to loose their pull on the heartstrings the way they usually do â€” and it was sorely missed. The “Something To Fear” storyline has been one of the best overall arcs to this tremendous book, issue #101 is just the weakest link.

Movie News

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile for July 11th, 2012

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

( A weekly quick pick of the five titles that should reside at the top of your pull list. IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER! )

I do the research, you reap the reward! Before you head out to your favorite shop today, be sure to add these five titles to your list of goodies! Forget that “apple a day” nonsense, this “DOC’s” prescription to good health starts with these top five books of the week!

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2199:]]1. The Walking Dead #100: This book will leave you breathless with the horrific conclusion! If you thought the Governor was bad â€” think again! Everything changes and Rick’s world is turned upside down! Check out my full review here!

2. Batman # 11: Snyder’s conclusion to the amazing Night of the Owls storyline is here! It is brother vs. “brother” as Bruce Wayne fights for the soul of Gotham!

3. The Crow #1: IDW is putting out a whole new twist on The Crow mythos â€” with James O’Barr doing an alternate cover! Taking place in Japan, this body swapping tale is an amalgam of mysticism and advanced technology. Great book!

4. Bloodshot #1: The nineties and Valiant are back in full swing as Bloodshot emerges from the depths of nostalgia this week! If you like espionage, bullets and “undead” soldiers getting mind wiped â€” you will love this book!

5. American Vampire: Lord of Nightmares #2: Dracula has escaped and the status quo has completely changed! Plus, Snyder’s shocking final page leaves Agent Hobbes in a dire situation! Awesome!

Movie News

Advanced Review: The Walking Dead #100

100 issues! 100 issues of one of the most unnerving and highly acclaimed books that grace the shelves of your LCS each month! When I started reading Robert Kirkman’s opus to survival horror back in issue six, Charlie Adlard’s first issue, issue one hundred seemed so far away. But here it is, and believe me, you DO NOT want to miss this one! This is the issue where everything changes, and with ten different covers â€” you literally CAN’T miss it!

We all know by now, that Mr. Kirkman loves to build up a story before ending it with a crashing crescendo of mayhem! Well, he does not disappoint with this historic issue!

I actually found this issue very hard to read. Not because of any pacing or plot issues, but rather, do to the horrific events that transpire within. We have all grown to see these characters as much more than two dimensional drawings over the years. The characterization has always been the factor that has kept this book expanding, and it is that same extreme detail to characterization â€” that makes us become unnerved when terrible things happen to them. This issue, in particular, will make you cringe!

Robert Kirkman has always been able to manipulate a bevy of emotions from a reader. From joy to utter revulsion, he can twist a plot so that it is not an unforeseen conclusion to a story, but an unrelenting one! You are forced, head first, into horrific situations that will bewilder you with the sheer depths of human cruelty. And just when you think you can take no more, he astonishes you with something even worse!

I will not give any spoilers to this issue! You need to read this unrelenting force of brutality for yourselves! It will shock you at how depraved humans can be when all the shackles of civilization have been shook off. You not only owe it to yourselves to get this book, but we ALL owe it to Kirkman for giving us such an introspective look at the human condition all these years. Who would have thought a “little zombie” book could become all this spectacle?!

Congratulations for 100 issues of amazing stories TWD crew! Can’t wait to see issue 1,000! And to all you fans that thought no one could be more evil than the Governor â€” there’s a new kid in town! Now get reading!

Reviews TV News Video Game News

The Walking Dead Episode 2 Starved for Help: Video Game Review

When the Dead Walk, Itâ€™s the Living You Should Fear

A Video Game Review for The Walking Dead Game: Episode 2 â€˜Starved for Helpâ€™

By: Lawrence Napoli

As much as I enjoyed episode 1 of this digital game series, there is no question that the second installment dials up the creepy, grotesque and confrontation elements of people surviving the zombie apocalypse by a factor of 10. â€œAmazing,â€ is the one word Iâ€™d use to describe Starved for Help, but I am beginning to notice some unfortunate commonalities this game shares with others that claim â€œyour choice really matters.â€ More like, â€œthe illusion of your choice might matterâ€ which is proven by the playerâ€™s inability to alter the outcome of major plot points as a result of choosing a different path.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2086:]]Before I get into the goodies of episode 2, I must share with you all more complaints over the unprofessional manner in which TellTale Games is distributing this current project of theirs. For those not in the know, the first episode of this game was released back on April 24^th with the promise of new episodes to be released monthly. When it took just over two months for episode 2â€™s premier (it was released yesterday) the internet was set ablaze via gamer anger and resentment over a basic expectation that saw zero follow through from the developer. Fast forwarding to yesterday, after much anticipation and frustration, episode 2 was finally available to be downloaded off the Playstation Network. I downloaded the file, installed it and loaded up one of my saves to continue my adventure with Lee Everett. But then the game stopped the loading process and exited out to the PS3â€™s main menu as if I had quite the game, ALL BY ITSELF. Iâ€™ve owned the PS3 since day 1 of its release and this is behavior Iâ€™ve never witnessed out of the machine despite having suffered through the infamous PSN (hack-induced) outage in addition to the YLOD (Yellow Light Of Death) on my original â€˜fattyâ€™ 60 gig system.

Perplexed, I figured to reattempt the download and reinstall the software because thatâ€™s everyoneâ€™s go-to trouble shooting technique for all technology. No luck. After my third attempt I would easily describe my negatively charged energy as (to quote Vincent Vega) â€œa racecar in the red!â€ So I jumped on the phone (who uses those anymore?) to contact customer service for PSN [1-800-345-SONY] and I sought to track down some answers. I donâ€™t know if I was just extremely lucky, or if Sony simply knows how to properly employ their customer service phone lines, but 2 out of the 2 times I had to speak with a human representative, I got American sounding people for which communication was seamless. Their first suggestion was to go under the system settings option in the PS3 menu to disable the connection to the media servers which may have corrupted the file during download. That didnâ€™t work. They then suggested deleting the entire game from the hard drive and re-downloading all relevant game files (that would be the demo, episode 1 and episode 2). Bingo! So for any of you out there still struggling with this game, the answer is purging and donâ€™t worry, your save files will not be affected.

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I don’t remember the Bates Motel having this many technical difficulties.

The point of this lengthy intro is to communicate how TellTale has mismanaged this game thus far, despite having produced a gem of a game. The problem was definitely on their end because when I purged and restored, the network prompted me to download an update patch which did not happen for the episode 2 file by itself. Perhaps it is a problem for everyone having purchased the season pass for $19.99, but if I have to repeat this procedure for every future episode, I will be extremely disappointed. Iâ€™m thinking that this is the first IP developed by TellTale that consumers have been completely ravenous over so perhaps they are not used to this level of demand. This leads to management acting more like nervous fools pressuring programmers for faster results yielding a less than ideal product. This speculation has not been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, but simply getting this game into the hands of gamers has been shaky at best.

Story

As for the game, it certainly does not waste any time throwing the player back into â€œthe sh*t.â€ After a brief cut scene reviewing the playerâ€™s key decisions from episode 1, Lee Everettâ€™s gotta get his hands dirty immediately and often for the duration of Starved for Help. Although the first episode eluded to the perceived danger of other survivors, this is the prevalent issue for the entirety of episode 2. Finally, the player is getting knee deep into the unique harshness of Robert Kirkmanâ€™s zombie apocalypse and the new rules are as follows: 1) zombies are a constant threat, but never the immediate one, 2) bites donâ€™t turn people and 3) developing trust requires more than just trading favors. Knowing this, I was very hesitant about all of the new characters I was introduced to despite their well mannered demeanors and helpful attitudes. My Lee Everett already has plenty of issues with people he already knows that are somewhat gunning for him within the group. Additional wildcards will only complicate things. Some of these concerns were justified while others were misplaced. Trust is in short supply at this point in the story, but desperation (particularly the need for edible food) tends to force peopleâ€™s hands.

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This doesn’t look threatening in any way, shape or form.

Characters inside the playerâ€™s initial group have a little more exposition as well as bonding or conflicting moments with Lee which does much to raise the stakes for any danger the player runs into, of which there will be plenty. I like that thereâ€™s a lot more action involved in this episode whether its combat or running from trouble, but the overall pace of this episode remains as methodical as the first, so donâ€™t expect a drastic change. The one change that seemed undeniable was the darker tone combined with the proximity of the children in Leeâ€™s group to the increased level of horror.

Gameplay and Functionality

There are no new challenges to the required coordination for gameplay in episode 2, but there are certainly new difficulties navigating this chapter that wasnâ€™t nearly as much of an issue for episode 1. Starved for Help is very glitchy or laggy which has Lee getting stuck on corners, taking indirect paths to speak with people and investigate environments as well as having several awkward delays between transition scenes. As a result, this gives the episode a very choppy feel which does the player no favors considering snap reflexes are much more important to survive this time around. Again, what the player is called to do (whether itâ€™s button-mashing, targeting or movement) is not difficult in and of itself. However, if the game lags, the player has lost precious tenths of a second that will determine the difference between victory and defeat. This is an issue that may lead to some impromptu deaths, but is less of a deal-breaker and more of a growing concern for less than precise programming.

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The real danger is that my feet are actually glued to these stairs.

I find it very interesting how this game continues to feature an inventory indication on the screen with no player ability to interact with that inventory as he or she sees fit. Yes, some items are necessary to trigger the next scene, but not everything Leeâ€™s possession accomplishes this. What would make for more dynamic gameplay is for the player to be allowed to use different items in the inventory for situations that may not seem like it would be useful so as to present more options for reaching the goal. For instance: [and this example doesnâ€™t happen in the game, so no spoiler alert necessary] if Lee is held at gunpoint in a small, enclosed room and he only has a piece of rope and a pencil in his inventory, using one or the other combined with a convenient environmental distraction could set him free, or get him killed. This game seems to be too reliant on whatever props are immediately available in the current scene to win, which dilutes any perceived importance the player may place on investigating every corner and examining every item leading up to designated â€œmoments of truth.â€

Conclusion

Episode 2 Starved for Help is an excellent follow up to A New Day. Unfortunately, with all the problematic logistics behind the production and distribution of this game, I am forced to debate whether the wait was actually worth it. Donâ€™t get me wrong. The story is engrossing, the characters have depth and the ability to choose (illusion or otherwise) is still a compelling gameplay mechanic, but thereâ€™s an awful lot of time in between the release dates of these episodes. I feel the impact of the story is being lessened by its fragmented presentation. This interactive drama is just too good to be consumed piecemeal that I am now recommending interested gamers to save their money until every episode is available to play.

And I do highly recommend everyone to (eventually) give this game a play through as these very unique, Kirkman-esque social commentaries really make me think. Upon digesting everything I witnessed at the end of Starved for Help, it made me consider the concept of desperation in general. Is it something human beings simply cop-out to so as to act on raw emotion or is it a natural and justifiable survival instinct? The evolution of mankind suggests taking steps away from â€œthe animalâ€ to find new, innovative and previously unconsidered methods of problem solving; independent of the situation while pragmatic necessity rarely leaves people the time to weigh their options and consider alternatives.

This is the allure of well written zombie fiction as it is not as immediate or decisive as war or natural disasters, but as an equally dangerous peril that needs to be circumvented in order to survive. The manner in which an individual circumvents reveals a strength (or lack of) character which remains to be seen if such a thing matters when civilization ends. This is what makes Robert Kirkmanâ€™s pristine exploration of humanity in The Walking Dead a journey into the proverbial heart of darkness not because evil, death and depravity are at the center, but because we are fearful for not being certain that we wonâ€™t succumb to them when put to the test. Lee Everett certainly gets put to the test in Starved for Help. What will you make him do?

Movie News

Hail To The King!: A Father’s Day List Of Comicdom’s Most Famous And Infamous Fathers!

“You Need A License To Catch A Fish …”

By Chris “DOC” Bushley

With Father’s Day just a few days away, and my daughter snuggly sleeping in her bed, I began to ponder all the fathers and father figures brought to us each month in the pages of comics. The parallels between our favorite art form and real life are staggering, a true mirror of the vast facets of fatherdom we see everyday! From the fathers that would give everything for their children, to the delinquent dad that never taught his child right from wrong, the media darlings that have no time to gaze upon the angelic faces they have sired, to the ones that have chosen to be a “father” to those who need it the most.

Comics are at their best when they make us feel a connection, whether good or bad! The following list of fathers is not a group of the worst or best, but rather, a myriad of both. They are fathers that have made us reflect on how we raise our children, ones we can strive to be more like or those we never wish to become. Whether you agree or disagree, all of these characters have definitively made a connection to the readers â€” if not their children!

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Batman/Damien: The father that never knew he was one! DC finally recognized the great Son of The Demon story as cannon, and we got to see Bruce Wayne deal with his true heir! Though a father figure to all the previous Robins, it was the son that hated him that finally made him question what kind of person he was. A great dynamic of a frustrated father and the son who loves to do the frustrating!

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Wally West/Iris and Jai West: The dad who broke time to save his children! When his wife, Linda Park, was attacked by Professor Zoom, her pregnancy was terminated. Distraught by the loss of his twins, the Flash asked the Spectre to erase Wally West and Linda Park from the minds of the world. Too bad he and Linda forgot, too! Eventually, they both remembered and Wally fought Zoom again. This time the battle created a fissure in time and saved Linda’s pregnancy! He is the man that would turn back time for his children!

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Alan Scott/Jade and Obsidian: The father figure to all, the dad to none! Alan Scott may have been one of the most patriarchal figures to young heroes, but his own children were always second best. Though Jade and Obsidian finally worked on a strained relationship with their father, the early years of abandonment took its toll on Obsidian. He became a villain on more than one occasion, fighting against the very team his father beloved so much â€” the JSA! You can be loved by the public all you want, but it’s the love you receive at home that will sustain you forever!

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Rick Grimes/Carl: The dad who will never give up! Not a coma, dismemberment, torture, loss of a wife and baby, nor hordes of zombies can ever keep Rick from doing all he can to save his only son! He is the primal rage inside all fathers that will make us protect our children no matter what the circumstance! He is driven, almost to a fault, and when the dust settles â€” you will be damn sure he and his son emerge together!

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Scott Summers/Cable: The dad that wasn’t there! Literally! The only way to save his newborn from certain death, was to send him into the future! Eventually, Scott and Jean Grey got the chance to travel to the future and help a young Cable under the guise of “Slim and Red.” But, no matter how that time spent with his son may have helped Scott feel better about abandoning him, Cable never truly forgave his dad. To this day, their relationship is more as teammates than family!

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Magneto/Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and Polaris: Thrice the sire, never the father! Wow, talk about daddy issues! When all of your children start out abandoned, turn to a life of crime and eventually all turn against you â€” you know you did something wrong! Even now, as an X-Man, his children fight on the side of his enemies. Manipulating your children to get what you want, will only give you manipulative children!

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James Gordon/Batgirl, James Gordon Jr.: The everyman! Different continuity will give you different scenarios about who his children are or are not. But, whether he sired Barbara Gordon or not, he always tried to do right by his family! A single dad and the Commissioner to the most crime filled city in all of DC, “Jimmy” does all he can to be there for his children and teach them the difference between right and wrong. But even the best intentions can not stop pure evil as James Jr. has become a maniacal murderer! You try your best, but sometimes you fail!

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Wolverine/Dakken: Like father, like son! Wolverine never knew that his son was born after his wife Itsu was slain. If he had, would it have changed the horrible events of his son’s life? Or are we only made to pay for the sins of our father? Either way, Dakken swore to destroy his father’s life at every turn! He would do anything to antagonize his father, including becoming “Wolverine” on Norman Osborn’s Dark Avengers. In the end, Dakken left his father with nothing but scars as a memory of his son. A father fueled by rage will only burn his own future!

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Professor Bruttenholm/Hellboy: The father that didn’t have to be! When Nazi’s called a demon to earth, they never expected it to be an infant! Abandoned, Hellboy was “adopted” by Professor Bruttenholm and treated like a son. He was taught compassion, an appreciation for the arts and acquired a love of pancakes! Not even of the same species, the Professor should more compassion for Hellboy than most biological fathers on this list! It just goes to show that good men can help mold great “sons,” even if they are not their own!

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Reed Richards/Franklin and Valeria Richards: Father fantastic! The scientist, the adventurer, the hero â€” the father! Say what you will about Mr. Fantastic, there is no question that he can balance it all! A hero to the universe, doting husband and loving father â€” he is the epitome of what a father can be. Through it all, at the end of the day, his children can look upon their father and be proud to know how much they are loved. And to all of us fathers out there â€” that’s all that really matters!

Happy Father’s Day!

Reviews TV News Video Game News

Where is Episode 2 of The Walking Dead Videogame (PS3)? Telltale!

Where is Episode 2 of The Walking Dead Video Game?

(TBA)

By: Lawrence Napoli

The dog days of the summer months continue to roll on by with some fairly weak releases for video games (Doctor Who comes to mind! – EIC Matt), but there was one title that I thought was going to do a great job keeping me occupied: Telltale Gamesâ€™ The Walking Dead videogame. I enjoyed Episode 1 immensely as I gave it quite a generous review. Iâ€™ve proceeded to play through Episode 1 at least 6 different times to see how many different ways I can have Lee Everett survive while pissing off/making friends with as many or as few people as possible. There are two reasons why I have done this: 1) Because it was quite enjoyable to have a few â€œscrew upâ€ runs to purposely run my character into the dirt and 2) BECAUSE EPISODE 2 STILL HASNâ€™T BEEN RELEASED YET TO PROGRESS IN THE GAME!

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(Take THAT Telltale Games!)

The three most hated letters that gamers ever want to see or hear are â€œTBAâ€ or â€œTo Be Announcedâ€ in regards to release date information. In many ways, itâ€™s worse than a game that youâ€™ve seen teaser trailers and maybe even game play for, but clearly no promises have been made for release info because that project is nowhere close to being finished. â€œTBAâ€ after a stated date is the biggest and most unsatisfying tease when attached to games because what it really does is get consumers to cough up dollars when the developers donâ€™t have to produce jack. Release date information used to be solid gold, and if things transpired that caused that time to be altered in any way, the fallout, embarrassment and consumer backlash had much harsher consequences to the violators of that trust. Today, blowing off release dates is the norm (for movies too, see G.I. Joe 2) and developers couldnâ€™t care less for consumers that prepay in advance for reserved copies that we will eventually see in our hands sometime â€œTBA.â€

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2010:]]Telltale Games released Episode 1 of The Walking Dead on April 24^th of this year, and according to the season pass as designated on the Playstation Network ($19.99 for all 5 episodes), episodes will be released â€œmonthly.â€ Today is June 13^thand not only has Episode 2 NOT been released, but there has been ZIP from Telltale about not following through with their previously stated information let alone an actual date that we can count on. Type in â€œWhere is Episode 2: Starved For Helpâ€ and â€œWalking Deadâ€ into any search engine and all you get is a litany of websites with previews and promises for reviews once it gets released, and a whole lot of forums with irate people sounding off on Telltale for being dishonest and not having any consideration for their customers. Although I didnâ€™t participate in the forumsâ€™ curb-stomping sessions, I am one of the suckers that forked over money in advance for a fraction of a game and so I too, am righteously ticked off.

Here are the facts: #1: PSN clearly states â€œmonthlyâ€ in regards to episode release timing. The legalize of the term â€œmonthlyâ€ is non-specific enough to avoid being liable for any lawsuits that may be hatching in some gamerâ€™s head who also happens to be an attorney. But it also gives potential customers what would be considered a fair and simple expectation for content. Is this the perfect lure for consumers with zero risk for developers? Think about it. If the trend in the gaming industry is headed for the digital distribution of episodic content, how can the consumer trust developers to actually release the content when delays are inevitable (and in some cases indefinite; thank you Blizzard)? What if we take that scenario a step further and, for some reason or another, the developer goes out of business before even finishing the game? Can we rely on angel investors to swoop in and hire new programmers to finish the job? Accountability is the name of the game; so if Borderlands 2 gets pushed back to 2014, everyone can head back to GameStop and get their money back, but not so for digital transactions. The pre-order and pre-purchase business is just like insurance. Customers give you money and you hand back absolutely nothing other than a promise for some return, sometime in the future. What good is a transaction like this if the other party has a track record for breaking promises?

Fact #2: Despite the general sense of anger over Telltaleâ€™s shenanigans, they have made a lot of money off of just this first episode. As of May 17^th, 1 million episodes have been sold, and at $5 a piece per episode, this seems like a decent score thus far. Iâ€™d like to know how many season passes Telltale has sold because it quadruples their profit for the same amount of content currently available.

Fact #3: A lack of information by Telltale led to speculative misinformation on various websites, further fueling the fire of disharmony. Throughout this whole process, the one website a reasonable person would think would get you definitive answers as to the progress of the game would be telltalegames.com. WRONG! The whole website is little more than a well presented commercial for how awesome every Telltale project is as well as plenty of support for making purchases. The last information update concerning The Walking Dead game was posted on the 22^nd of May. This lack of support from the developer led to a few people taking to YouTube, so as to make some calculated guesses as to when the next episode would get released. Perhaps the worst speculation was from playstationlifestyle.net which clearly indicated Episode 2 would release on the PSN (dated May 29^th, 2012). The only useful information I was able to track down was from Telltaleâ€™s Walking Dead: The Game Facebook page which states that the reps from the company recently got back from E3 and they are ready to submit to Sony and Microsoft â€” and â€œif everything goes well, episode 2 will be available before the end of the month.â€ THE[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2012:]] END OF THE MONTH?!? In the interest of keeping this article rated PG-13, Iâ€™ll refrain from the expletives that ought to accompany such gall.

I donâ€™t like how Telltale Games is running their business. Normally Iâ€™d call for all interested parties to flood their website with complaints, but there is no link to reach them. If anyone out there knows a web based means of letting this company know first-hand at how disappointed its own customers are, let us know because this just isnâ€™t right. All of this negativity could have been avoided if Telltale was simply honest from the beginning. Iâ€™m looking for statements like: â€œEpisodes to be released periodically,â€ â€œGame is in progressive development,â€ â€œAn incomplete game still undergoing refinement,â€ â€œWe took a time-out so we could parade content that everybody and their mother already knows about at E3.â€ Of course, such honesty also would have avoided the most important thing: all of Telltaleâ€™s filthy profits!

Comic Book News

The â€œDOCâ€™sâ€ Top Of The Pile for May 30th, 2012

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

(A weekly quick pick of the five titles that should reside at the top of your pull list. In no particular order!)

I do the research, you reap the reward! Before you head out to your favorite shop today, be sure to add these books to your list of goodies! Forget that “apple a day nonsense”, this “DOC’s” prescription to good health starts with these top five titles of the week!

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1. The Walking Dead #98 : If I told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times, when Kirkman uses red covers â€” bad things happen! This is a biggie, folks! Do not miss this issue or YOU will have “Something To Fear”! Check out my review here!

2. Supercrooks #3 : Mark Millar’s homage to Ocean’s Eleven â€” with a twist, continues here! Just as the team gets back together, they find out who their “mark” is. This ones going to be waaaay tougher than they thought! Great book!

3. Batman Annual #1 : You think Scott Snyder has created an amazing version of Batman, wait till you get a load of his Mr. Freeze! Completely twisted with a shocking ending, Snyder throws out all you thought you knew and carves a new niche for himself in the Batman mythos! Amazing! Check out my full review here!

4. Animal Man Annual #1 : This is a great “down time” issue, that lets us see the first battle that teamed a Swamp Thing and an Avatar of the Red together! Creepy and engrossing, this one paves the way for the war with the Rot!

5. X-Men Legacy #267 : An Avengers Vs. X-Men tale that actually has a complete battle set up in a single issue â€” without roping you into buying more books! This is a great Rogue-centric tale that is all about control and when to lose it! One phrase can sum up this book â€” Rogue Smash Puny Avengers! Fantastic stuff! Don’t believe me, check out my review here!

Comic Book News

Review: The Walking Dead #98

(Editor’s Note: Extreme Spoilers Dead Ahead!)

The signs were on the wall. The ominous 100th issue looming in the distance, the happiness that has befallen numerous characters lately, but it is the covers that have given it all away! I told you all last time â€” when Robert Kirkman and crew decide to churn out the infamous “RED” covers, bad things happen to our favorite band of survivors! And I’ve never lied to you, have I? Well, only that one time, but we made it out of that Mexican prison pretty much unscathed â€” so it was worth it!

Here’s a gentlemanly tip: If you do not want to know any spoilers â€” stop now! If you are itching to see what Kirkman has done to all the characters we hold so dear, read on. But I warn you, once you know you can never go back!

Issue #98 begins with Abraham and Eugene walking to find supplies in order to manufacture bullets. But all is not what it seems, danger awaits them in the darkness, and it will change the status quo of The Walking Dead forever! Meanwhile back home, Rick and Andrea are working on their new relationship as machine gun fire rings out in the distance! It’s all hands on deck as our band of survivors rush to the gates to see what is happening. Negan has sent a retaliation squad to their very doorstep and everything changes in the blink of an eye! One character does all he can in order to survive, but survival is not in the cards for everyone â€” as a major character dies!

Now, I will not tell you exactly who dies â€” where’s the fun in that? But, if you read carefully, I have given you all the clues you need to piece it together! I for one, was completely shocked at how Robert Kirkman completely makes a reader feel numb as they watch these characters die. You cannot even catch your breath as you are thrown through a whirlwind of chaos, let alone have time to fully process what has just happened! And the most gut wrenching part, is that you know things are just going to get worse from here. There is no stopping it, the juggernaut of fear will roll over everyone until there is nothing left! In the end, as our survivors try to deal with what just happened, there is an overwhelming sense of bewilderment. Their confidence is gone, their bravado is gone, their ammo is almost gone and the worst part is â€” their attackers are gone! Nothing will ever be the same, and I thank Robert Kirkman for giving us these characters to get so emotionally attached to. Comics are suppose to make you feel something, this one certainly will. Issue 100 is coming â€” I just hope there is anyone left for issue 101!

Reviews TV News Video Game News

Video Game Review of The Walking Dead game [Episode 1]

When the Dead Canâ€™t Stop Walking

A Video Game Review of The Walking Dead [Episode 1 â€œA New Dayâ€]

By: Lawrence Napoli

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:1756:]]I am drawn to anything that involves zombies. Zombie stories entice such an adrenaline rush because of the intense amount of thought it provokes within me considering that such a fantastic scenario is merely one fictional circumstance away from becoming reality. How would I respond? How would I cope? How would the rest of the world? How would you? When the world literally goes to hell most people probably wouldnâ€™t don some makeshift superhero costume and become impromptu vigilantes to wipe out the zombie threat from the streets. Most people would track down as much family as possible, find the safest place available to hunker down in and wait it out, until waiting just wasnâ€™t safe anymore. The realism, drama and raw emotion that is extracted from plain people surviving the end of the world has a universal appeal to humanity because (to a much lesser, dramatic and danger-filled extent) we are all surviving the challenge of life every day when we wake up. This explains why Robert Kirkman and The Walking Dead franchise continues to reach new outlets for its brand and finding plenty of success (and dollar bills) in every iteration. I wonâ€™t extrapolate on the intrigue of the comic book or the intensity of the TV series, but suffice it to say, the video game world of The Walking Dead carries over everything that makes it work from its previous manifestations while keeping the experience fresh even for the most dedicated veterans of the franchise.

Gameplay

The Walking Dead videogame is an interactive drama that was developed and published by Telltale Games. This is the company that was also responsible for creating Back to the Future: The Game, Jurassic Park: The Game and Sam & Max: The Devilâ€™s Playhouse (the game). All of these games are presented in episodic fashion and employ a very similar visual interface in addition to game play mechanics. This is exactly the type of game that anyone can pick up and play because it doesnâ€™t require pinpoint reflexes nor does it demand rigorous repetition to master. If you can navigate an analog stick, you too can complete this game with relative ease (as is reflected in its trophy/achievement list â€“ all of which are accomplished by completing each chapter). The interface involves a third person, cel-shaded, fixed camera that harkens back to Resident Evils 1, 2 and 3. The challenge to progressing in the story is investigating each scene for objects you can interact with in the environment or by speaking to other characters to reveal that vital piece of information that unlocks options for surviving the zombie apocalypse. Anyone who is a veteran of Myst and is a fan of Mass Effect 2â€™s (not 3â€™s) dialogue system will find The Walking Dead very comfortable.

If poking around static environments and flirting with digital people is not what you consider to be â€œentertainingâ€ in a game, then rest assured, there is a significant element of combat in the game because zombies just arenâ€™t going to let you walk away from them. The first episode of The Walking Dead requires the playerâ€™s avatar to dispatch several zombies in quite brutal fashion at point blank range, and doing so requires a very easy to maneuver targeting reticule combined with quick-time button mashing challenges to fend off the various undead opposition. The gameplay is not nearly as challenging as Heavy Rain, but it is still active enough to not bore the player.

This gameâ€™s main source of fun is generated from simply participating in this expanded fiction set within the world of The Walking Dead. As such, talking is a large part of progressing in the story. The dialogue sequences blend seamlessly with the cut and action scenes which does much to aid in the suspension of disbelief. Choosing a speaking option, however, is not always as easy as leisurely pressing a button. Some contextual conversations have very brief windows for the player to make a decision before the option to respond in any way passes all together. Likewise, there will be similar decisions the player must make in emergency situations that can determine life and death for you or any other survivors you pick up along your journey. If the player is actively engaged in the story, making the decisions you really want with little to no time is a breeze. Also, the relationships you build with certain characters are not without consequence as key characters will remember how the player handled previous confrontations or details mentioned in prior conversations that may help or harm the player at a later point in the story.

Story

The story of The Walking Dead videogame is set the day of the zombie outbreak in the state of Georgia. The player assumes the role of Lee Everett, a black man in his 30s-40s that begins his zombie survival journey under less than optimum circumstances. Whatâ€™s interesting to note in this â€œChoose your own adventureâ€ style of video game story is that the player doesnâ€™t know any back story about Lee until conversation windows later on during the game present these options for the kind of information Lee is willing to divulge. Some players may be put off by this because they wonâ€™t know â€œthe right response to give,â€ but thatâ€™s exactly the point. Not knowing the details beforehand requires the player to mold the type of Lee, he or she wants him to be so if you want him to be a Rick-style knight in shining armor or a Shane-style psycho, the options are in your dialogue choices. Heck, thereâ€™s even a neutral option to give no response in just about every scenario. Overall, the story begins as very prototypical in presenting desperate people attempting to survive dire circumstances, but what has set The Walking Dead apart from other zombie franchises is its focus on character and relationships and that theme clearly carries over to the video game as Lee is not only the type of character I want to see survive and flourish, I believe he is a character that could easily matriculate over to the comic books or even AMCâ€™s TV series. One of the best parts of the story is the â€œendingâ€ the player gets to see at the end of each episode which teases the player as to the scenarios that await him or her in the next episode. Having played Lee in three distinct ways, I have found various different reveals at the end of episode 1 in terms of different sources of conflict, enemies within the group and who my most loyal friends may turn out to be. The story looks to play out in several different ways, all of which are very compelling, and Iâ€™ve only completed 1/5 of the game.

Presentation

I know a lot of people who are instantly turned off by cel-shaded graphics in video games. I will never claim to be the biggest fan of it either; however, I will note that this rather cartoonish style doesnâ€™t take any of the gravity away from The Walking Dead game. As a less demanding graphical style, cel-shading allows for more programming power to be put into proficient gameplay, dialogue options and environment interactions. Besides, whoâ€™s really interested in sitting through hours of load screens?

The game asks the player in the beginning whether he or she wishes to play with or without hints which basically highlights items in the environment that can be interacted with as well as suggesting whom to speak to and where to go next. Turning the help option off does present a greater challenge, but it may involve too much time investigating each and every scene for the player to acquire that which is necessary to progress.

The voice over acting is superb. Distinct sounds tied with naturally written conversation plays very well in establishing a serious and dramatic tone to this game. Cel-shaded graphics donâ€™t allow for the most revealing facial expressions, but combined with this VO talent, every character that the player is introduced to becomes one that he or she genuinely cares about.

Conclusion

The Walking Dead fans have no excuse for not already owning this game for the PC or PS3. It is not available for Xbox 360 yet (thereâ€™s a first) probably because Telltale is still working on a conversion code to allow the game to use Kinect control. The story is great because I get to play a role in building a significant survivor in this zombie apocalypse. The only bad part about this game is that I have to wait an additional month for the next part of the game to be playable and by the end of episode 1, believe me; you too will be demanding an expedient continuation. Non-fans of the franchise or zombie stories in general may not find too much fun here because it doesnâ€™t present enough generalized video-gaming enjoyment to be worthwhile otherwise. Despite its cel-shaded look, this is not a game for kids as the gore factor is high, adult situations are plenty and characters canâ€™t seem to hold back from dropping F-bombs left and right. At $19.99 for the entire 5 episode package on the PSN network, I cannot recommend a better bang for your video gaming buck than The Walking Dead.

Comic Book News

Advanced Review: The Walking Dead #97

As issue 100 slowly crawls towards us, Robert Kirkman sets his pieces in motion again for a terrible fate to befall them!

In this issue, Rick and group, return from the Hilltop to let everyone know about the deal Rick struck with its citizens. But there might be a few bumps in the road, as some of Negan’s men follow them! Meanwhile, back home, Eugene begins to test his boundaries with Abraham regarding Rosita and their “relationship.” And finally, when our heroes arrive back home, four of their lives will be changed forever as the impending darkness begins to envelop around them! Kirkman doesn’t call this arc “Something To Fear” for no reason, folks!

After a long run building up to this arc, Kirkman has begun turning the screws, ever so slowly again, to make us uncomfortable. He is a master of suspense, giving subtle hints as to what might happen to our favorite characters and leaving us no option but to watch in unbridled horror! We try to scream to them, “Look out!” but it falls upon deaf ears! Even the most hardened of the group can only take so much before they crack, and with so much joy entering into their lives again â€” the emotional turmoil beset upon the reader will be escalated to the Nth degree!

This series is untouchable when it comes to characterization and the emotional connection the reader has with Kirkman’s characters. I have never had so many “Oh, no!” moments in my twenty plus years of reading comics as I have reading this series! Kirkman has a way of making you believe in these characters and their plight to survive so much, that you feel emotionally drained when something horrible befalls them.

So, steel yourself for this new arc, it looks as though the winds of change have begun blowing again! Plus the cover tells it all! Fans of the comic series know all to well what happens when Adlard and Rathburn churn out the “Red” covers! Nothing good my friends, nothing good.

Movie News

Your Replacement For Comic Book Men On Sunday Night — Full Metal Jousting!

From Blah To — Bang!

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:789:]]If you are like me, and are looking for something that can satiate the hunger for more action after The Walking Dead on Sunday nights, I have just the thing for you — Full Metal Jousting!

Instead of wasting an hour of your life watching Kevin Smith’s lackluster series, Comic Book Men, turn to The History Channel and check out something that will get your adrenaline pumping! If you enjoy medieval weaponry, A Knight’s Tale or dudes getting the hell knocked out of them, you have to check out this series. It is testosterone personified!

Starting at 10p.m. Eastern, Full Metal Jousting, is a stylized “game show” where sixteen men are divided into teams of eight and choose their steeds that will lead them into battle. From varying backgrounds, these men are trained on jousting fundamentals by some of the best jousters in the world. From push-ups, getting hammered with a battering ram and actually getting slammed with an aluminum baseball bat as they ride, these guys go through it all! Finally, through a series of jousts, the teams will eventually be whittled down until only two men remain. Those two final “knights” will battle to see who will be the $100,000 winner and general badass extraordinaire!

Though there is the normal “reality” show set-up, where everyone lives in the same household, the general teaching of jousting and the battles, more than make up for the fraternity drama. Especially, when the jousters gear up into their ancient Iron Man suits of armor! Over eighty pounds of metal, it takes socket wrenches and screw drivers to harness the warriors into their suits, and you have to check out their helmets! It looks like Iron Man vs. Dr.Fate on horses! Too cool!

So, if you have an itchy remote finger after The Walking Dead on AMC, turn on over to The History Channel and have your ten o’clock hour go from blah to bang! Blood, guts and suits of armor await you this Sunday night, where one knight takes a trip to the hospital after being smashed off his horse! Full Metal Jousting may not be comic related, but it sure as hell beats five guys talking about which version of Catwoman they would rather have sex with. I hope they don’t get any paper cuts! Ouch!

“Full Metal Jousting” airs Sundays at 10/9c.

Movie News

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile for February 29th, 2012

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

(A weekly quick pick of the five titles that should reside at the top of your pull list. In no particular order!)

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I do the research, you reap the reward! Before you head out to your favorite shop today, be sure to add these five books to your list of goodies. Forget that apple a day nonsense, this “DOC’s” prescription to good health begins with these top five books of the week!

1. Moon Knight #10: Echo is dead, Moon Knight is in a hospital under police custody and Madame Masque has set her sights on retrieving the stolen Ultron armor! This book may be going out, but Bendis is definitely having it go out with a — BANG!

2. Invincible #89: Invincible goes Ultimate Spidey style with this one and the status quo will never be the same again! Kirkman brings the cosmic back to the forefront — at least one company does! Check out the full review.

3. The Walking Dead #94: Kirkman does it again and sets us all up for a world of hurt! Is Jesus truly a peace bringer or a “piece” bringer? Only time will tell but it all starts here! Check ou my full review for more speculation! Full review!

4. Tiny Titans #49: The penultimate book of the Eisner award winning series by Art Baltazar and Franco! The all “Squishy” issue is the perfect read for parents and children that incorporates current storylines into their banter. Like how Beast Boy and Robin discuss how Superman no longer wears “red undies” on his costume! Aw Yeah Titans!

5. Justice League #6: This is the best of the best and the type of story that reminds us how good comics can be! Plus, a back up story featuring Pandora and The Phantom Stranger! Does Pandora look a little familiar to anyone else or is it just me? Maybe I’m just over Zealous! Check out my review here!

Movie News

Advanced Review: The Walking Dead #94

Our good friends at Image have once again graced us with an advanced look at one of the best books on the shelves each and every month — The Walking Dead!

Issue 94 brings us part two of the” A Larger World” storyline, in which a man named Jesus has offered to extend a hand of peace and trade to Rick and his community. But can Rick really trust someone who trounced two of his best fighters all in the name of peace? Maybe, maybe not, but this one man will surely change the outcome of the lives they have been leading thus far.

Kirkman has been on a slow burn lately, setting the pieces of his creation in exact placement for something big to happen. And the character of Jesus will be the catalyst for either misery or happiness! Andrea has quite the ominous speech in this issue about who has survived, so ominous in fact that you cringe as she is speaking — wishing she had never opened her mouth. Moments such as this is exactly why this book has been so good for so long. Kirkman can dredge up emotions in readers so effortlessly that you forget you are reading a comic book. Carl’s complete emotional numbness for human life is so jarring that it almost seems he is no longer human himself. One can only ponder the amount of emotional damage this young boy is riddled with, and fear what he could do to “protect” the ones around him. Fear, contempt — and especially with this issue — trust all come into play making you ponder, as Rick does, the ability to have faith in another persons motives. In a world that has done away with rules and most courtesies, can you openly trust someone you don’t know, or for that matter, someone you thought you knew?

With Rick, Andrea, Michonne, Glen (and a surprise guest) escorting Jesus to the “Hilltop,” there is no one left at the community to stop Abraham from executing his own plans – plans that will remove Rick from a seat of power and leave Abraham as the new “leader.” With issue 100 looming off in the distance, one can only ponder the possibilities Kirkman has up his sleeve. Will Abraham take this opportunity to overthrow his “friend” or will Jesus do it for him? Will the community actually befriend another town and create a barter system that will benefit everyone? Whatever it is, Kirkman will surely leave us agape with shock as he always does! And with only four original characters left from issue one, I fear the worst!

As Sean Connery once said, “Jesus was a carpenter!” but he never knew this Jesus — and he is badass!

Movie News

AMC Trumps Ratings On Bad Shows: The Walking Dead Previews On Comic Book Men

“The Herded Sheep”

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

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After last week’s midseason premiere of The Walking Dead, Kevin Smith’s Comic Book Men hit the airways. I was really looking forward to a show that would spotlight our glorious hobby while adding in all the hilarity of a Kevin Smith production. But, alas, I apparently set my standards too high. By the first commercial break I was pretty much over the Pawn Stars duplicate, looking only forward to the following week’s preview for The Walking Dead!

Yes, AMC put the preview for episode nine of The Walking Dead in the first commercial break of Comic Book Men. Smart, very smart actually! How better to spike the ratings of a brand new show than to pull along the enraptured audience from one of their smash hit series! Just embed the previews for the next week within the new show’s commercial break, instead of at the conclusion of said show as per usual, and you have an instant ratings cushion! Brilliant for them, not so much for us. I would really love to see how drastic the ratings fell immediately after The Walking Dead preview concluded — because I was out of there faster than a fat kid in dodge ball!

So, I was thrilled this week as episode nine of The Walking Dead concluded, and we were graced with previews for episode ten immediately after! Until, AMC revealed that a sneak peak of episode ten would be shown during Comic Book Men! “Noooo! Well, I guess I could watch until the first commercial break,” I slyly convinced myself. But as I watched Kevin Smith and his collection of oddities amuse themselves with discussions of future self defilement and which super powers they would like to have, I realized I had been herded into a corral once again. If donkey wants the carrot, he pulls the wagon I guess! So, as the first and second commercial breaks fell by the wayside I looked at the clock. Finally, thirty-six minutes into this mind numbing “comic book show” I was given what I had come for — The Walking Dead sneak peak! All twenty-five seconds of it! I had spent thirty-six minutes watching forty-somethings attempt to play hockey, for a whopping twenty-five seconds of my favorite show! I will admit it openly, you got me AMC — but never again!

We here at the CBN offices offer to you a vast array of comic book, movie, game and television information. So, if you don’t enjoy having to wade through shows that you could care less about just to get your fix of the ones you do — I suggest this. Check out your favorite previews and sneak peaks here! Why should a mediocre show get trumped up ratings just because you want to see something from another show?! Let it falter, let the creators know that their product is not as good as the numbers show so that they can make it a better product! I am a huge fan of Kevin Smith, from his movies to the comics he has done, but this show just is not good, and it should not reap the rewards from a highly better show. AMC is smart, let’s be smarter and not fall into the trap they have set for us again. If you like Comic Book Men, great, enjoy it, but if the only reason you have it on is to see snippets of The Walking Dead — turn the channel! We will have it all for you here later and you won’t have to feel like a sheep anymore!

Movie News

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Comic Book Pile For January 25th, 2012

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

(A weekly quick pick of the five books that should reside at the top of your pull list! In no particular order!)

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I do the research, you reap the rewards! Before you head out to your favorite shop today, make sure you add these titles to your list of goodies. Forget the apple a day nonsense, this “DOC’s” prescription to good health starts with these top five books!

1. Justice League #5 : Johns and Lee are on fire with this book, creating some awesome moments and hokey catch phrases to boot! One word sells this book — Darkseid!!! For more, read my review.

2. Secret Avengers #21.1 : Uncanny X-Force scribe and CBN favorite, Rick Remender, breaks his way into the Bendis Fort Knox world of the Avengers! It’s a Hawkeye run team but all we care about is Venom!

3. Teen Titans #5 : Scott Lobdell pits his teenage team against Superboy with disastrous results. His re-imaginings of these characters are outstanding and so is Brett Booth’s pencils! Now check out my review!

4. American Vampire #23 : DC’s golden child, Scott Snyder, has made vampires cool again! But they’re not as cool as the kid hunting them down! Take a trip back to the fifties and hold on as the book careens out of control! Here’s my review for that.

5. The Walking Dead #93 : “Jesus” has come to save Rick and his crew, but do they really want saving from the guy who just kicked their ass? Kirkman’s next big arc starts here and Rick is more pissed than ever!

TV News

NYCC 2011: The Walking Dead: Robert Kirkman Won’t Kill Carl

By now we have all seen the season two premiere of The Walking Dead, and for those who didn’t — SHAME ON YOU! For all of those who haven’t seen it, I won’t spoil any of it, but for those of you who have — I have on the highest authority a little inside information.

Mr. Robert Kirkman gave me a promise on the inside of my copy of The Walking Dead: Rise of The Governor. And here it is:

Comic Book News

NYCC 2011: In Kirkman We Trust!

Robert Kirkman not only showed CBN’s EIC Matt McGloin and the “DOC” some fun zombie lovin’ but he was a real man of the people. Arriving late due to some car trouble, Kirkman not only told the fans that the seven o’clock cut off would no longer be in effect for tonight, but he also signed everything fans brought. And I mean everything! Fans had stacks and stacks of books that Kirkman joyously signed with his patented silly grin. And he stayed after the lights began to dim on the convention in order to make every fans dream come true.

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