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The Walking Dead #104 Review
♦ by Unknown Wednesday, 14 November 2012 Friday, 9 November 2012 Thursday, 8 November 2012 Wednesday, 7 November 2012 Wednesday, 31 October 2012 Thursday, 25 October 2012 Wednesday, 24 October 2012 0 comments
Many characters were unhappy with Rick's seeming deference to Negan in The Walking Dead #103, least of all his son Carl. The cover to issue #104 suggests that Carl is ready to lock, load, and go all Schwarzenegger on Negan's forces. Obviously that isn't quite what happens, but this issue is still host to some interesting new developments and a further evolution of Carl's gung-ho personality. It's not that readers can't sympathize with Rick's precarious position, but it is nice to see some of the characters refusing to play ball with the dastardly Negan. Carl alone delivers a moment that would be well worth a final page cliffhanger if it didn't happen midway through the issue.
Robert Kirkman sheds a bit more light on the inner workings of Negan's community. The moral of the story is that his own people aren't much more fond of the tyrannical leader than Rick's gang. This adds another interesting wrinkle to the formula. There's little doubt that the new central villain of The Walking Dead is going to get what he deserves sooner or later. The question is who will bring him down and exactly how much damage will be caused along the way.
Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn deliver some memorable imagery this month. Though the zombies themselves continue to be an afterthought at this stage in the conflict, the grotesque display of undead outside Negan's camp is enough to remind readers that this is a zombie book. There are certain panels where the level of detail drops out and characters lose all facial features, but in general this is a pretty strong effort from the art team. The general momentum the series has built up since issue #100 continues unabated.
Jesse is a writer for various IGN channels. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN.
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Is Guillermo del Toro Making a DC Supernatural Team-Up Movie?
♦ by Unknown Wednesday, 14 November 2012 Friday, 9 November 2012 Thursday, 8 November 2012 Wednesday, 7 November 2012 Wednesday, 31 October 2012 Thursday, 25 October 2012 Wednesday, 24 October 2012 0 comments
He is. He isn't. Now maybe he is. Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has clarified those rumors about him doing a team-up film of DC's supernatural characters, a la the comic book series Justice League Dark. The project was reportedly titled Heaven Sent.
Del Toro told io9, "I am talking to DC and Warners about tackling the 'Dark universe' characters, but we're not calling it [Heaven Sent]. I don't know where this title came from. We have a very concrete storyline that I'm proposing — but it's still very, very early days."
He said of the alleged lineup including the likes of Deadman, Swamp Thing, Constantine and Spectre, "They're great characters. I relate to them because they are supernatural monsters, first and foremost." But he stressed again that "it's way early days."
So let's just keep our hopes in check for the time being, fellow fanboys.
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Grand Theft Auto V Details Revealed
♦ by Unknown Wednesday, 14 November 2012 Friday, 9 November 2012 Thursday, 8 November 2012 Wednesday, 7 November 2012 Wednesday, 31 October 2012 Thursday, 25 October 2012 Wednesday, 24 October 2012 0 comments
The first official details about Grand Theft Auto V have been announced. In the newest digital issue of Game Informer, Rockstar has revealed that the game will have three playable characters -- Michael, Trevor and Franklin. Players will switch between characters “constantly” with a single button press, allowing them to see missions from different perspectives.
Michael is a retired bank robber in his early 40s who is now in the witness protection program, and whose wife has burned through his substantial fortune, causing him to get “back into the game.” His friend Trevor, the second protagonist, is around the same age as Michael and described as a “drugged out psychopath” who's a career criminal and prone to violence. The final character, Franklin, works as a repo man and is younger, in his mid 20s. Franklin is described as "the young and capable one of the bunch." All three come together to perform heists, which are described as “a big theme in the game.”
Players will experience missions as different combinations of the three, and each will have a different skillset. For example, in one heist mission, Michael rappels down the side of a building while Franklin uses a sniper rifle from afar and Trevor flies in a helicopter above. Players can switch back and forth between Michael grabbing a target inside the building or Franklin trying to snipe enemies inside. Once you escape, everyone meets in the helicopter, and the player can choose to fly it as Trevor, snipe other pilots as Franklin or fire a gun from the back of the vehicle as Michael.
Los Santos will be the biggest open world in Rockstar's history, "bigger than Read Dead Redemption, Grand Theft Auto IV and San Andreas combined." Players will also be able to explore underwater areas of the city.
Rockstar has also changed driving mechanics, noting that cars “hold to the ground a bit better” and have “a little more physics on them,” making driving feel more like a racing game. Shooting and melee combat have also been improved, as have pedestrian models (some pedestrians have now been mapped using motion capture for more realistic movement). Rockstar also hasn’t employed any celebrities to provide voices for the game.
Heists will be a key element, but players will also experience elements similar to Red Dead Redemption’s dynamic encounters, including stopping to check on broken cars and picking up hitchhikers. Players will also be able to chase and catch muggers or rob cash vans.
Characters can be customized by changing clothes, but height and weight customization isn’t included. The phone will also return for obtaining important info, but now allows players to access the internet, among other things. Some items previously only accessible from the phone in Grand Theft Auto IV will simply be accessible on the map.
Each character will have their own social circle -- Michael has his son (Jimmy), Franklin has a "crazy friend" named Lamar and Trevor has a paranoid conspiracy theorist friend named Ron. Separately from missions, players will be able to switch between characters and see them living their daily lives. You'll be able to switch between characters at any time when you're not in a mission.
Players won't be able to own real-estate, but there will be an economy for players to spend their money. GTA V has non canonical connection to the PS2-era Grand Theft Auto games, so don't expect to encounter C.J. or Tommy.
Grand Theft Auto V was originally announced in October 2011, followed by the first trailer in November. The idea of multiple playable characters was actually rumored early on, first suggested the day after the original announcement.
Rockstar will release the second trailer for Grand Theft Auto V on November 14th. For all the details in the trailer, check out our live Rewind Theater of the trailer that day, plus a ton of additional info throughout next week.
Source: Game Informer
Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following @garfep on Twitter or garfep on IGN.
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The Manhattan Projects #7 Review
♦ by Unknown Wednesday, 14 November 2012 Friday, 9 November 2012 Thursday, 8 November 2012 Wednesday, 7 November 2012 Wednesday, 31 October 2012 Thursday, 25 October 2012 Wednesday, 24 October 2012 0 comments
Jonathan Hickman is known for cramming big ideas into all of his work. But if you want big ideas mixed with sadistic characters, copious bloodshed, and plenty of black humor, The Manhattan Projects is the place to turn. Issue #7 explores both the origins and the fruits of the new American/Soviet super-science partnership. If readers felt bad for poor Helmutt and his perpetual whipping boy status in issue #6, things don't get any better for the Nazi scientist-turned-Soviet science slave this time. With so many sadistic murderers and madmen on the payroll now, it's important that the series retain its focus on the "normal" guys like Helmutt and Richard Feynman. It says something when an ex-Nazi is one of the closest things a book has to a regular protagonist.
In many ways, issue #7 defines the ongoing status quo of the series and what the characters are actually building towards. Where does a secretive cartel of super-scientist go after committing alien genocide, anyway? Hickman answers that questions, and the implication is that these seven issues have only offered a taste of the wacky weirdness to come.
Nick Pitarra's art offers that blend of surreal imagery and distinct but exaggerated character designs the script calls for. Though Pitarra is able to provide some novel new imagery this month, my favorite visual element continues to be his depiction of Joseph Oppenheimer and his split personalities. One area this issue stumbles, however, is in the use of color. Previously, Jordie Bellaire has been able to deftly distinguish between past and present scenes, as well as among Soviet, American, and German characters, through calculated use of blue and red tones. This time, however, the colors change at random and do a poor job of differentiating the various talking heads.
The series looks to be growing ever more wild and gruesome in the coming issues, and that's exactly what I want from my alternate reality tales of science run amuck.
Jesse is a writer for various IGN channels. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN.
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #15 Review
♦ by Unknown Wednesday, 14 November 2012 Friday, 9 November 2012 Thursday, 8 November 2012 Wednesday, 7 November 2012 Wednesday, 31 October 2012 Thursday, 25 October 2012 Wednesday, 24 October 2012 0 comments
Tom Waltz and Kevin Eastman have been dragging more and more classic TMNT characters and elements into the new series in recent months. Issue #15 throws Leatherhead into the mix. Though the book hardly needs another villain at the moment, Leatherhead nonetheless enjoys a solid introduction into this new continuity.
The writers briefly establish Leatherhead's origin as another of Baxter Stockman's out-of-control experiments before shifting back to the present. The Turtles are currently searching for a new base of operations, which seems like another unnecessary addition considering how recently they moved into April's antique shop. In any case, issue #15 winds up offering a fun little blend of intrigue, horror, and levity. In the case of the latter quality, Splinter is given the opportunity to stop being so dour all the time and bond with Casey Jones. As far as horror goes, the creators offer up a cool sequence that sees Leatherhead stalk the Turtles in the shadows.
That fight sequence is expertly rendered by Andy Kuhn. While Kuhn's facial work is a bit bland compared to Dan Duncan's, his work is packed with kinetic energy and enough light and shadow to really pop off the page. The series continuously sets a higher visual standard for IDW's licensed comics.
One downside to this issue is a familiar complaint with the series -- it more or less requires readers to have read the April O'Neil micro-series one-shot to fully appreciate the events within. I understand that IDW is paying homage to the classic Mirage series by resurrecting the micro-series format, but in many cases these stories would have been better served by being integrated with the main book. After eight one-shots, maybe it's time to give it a rest and focus squarely on this series.
Jesse is a writer for various IGN channels. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN.
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Nikita: Lyndsy Fonseca on Season 3 and Alex's "Very Different Direction"
♦ by Unknown Wednesday, 14 November 2012 Friday, 9 November 2012 Thursday, 8 November 2012 Wednesday, 7 November 2012 Wednesday, 31 October 2012 Thursday, 25 October 2012 Wednesday, 24 October 2012 0 comments
Nikita returned last week for Season 3, with a very different new scenario for the characters, as they are back inside Division – albeit a Division under new management.
I spoke to Lyndsy Fonseca about what’s to come this year for Alex, who’s had quite a few dramatic changes occur of late. We discussed Alex’s celebrity status, her dynamic with Sean and Amanda -- and a popular non-relationship with Owen -- and more. We also chatted about this Friday night’s exciting new episode, in which Nikita and Alex discover a young girl who has been taken by a former Division agent and apparently been brainwashed. Plus, will Fonseca be able to reprise her role as Katie in Kick-Ass 2?
IGN: Things have changed for everyone on the show, but for Alex, this is really the first time she is allowed to be herself – she’s not a double agent, she’s not a rogue agent, and everyone knows her true identity. What is this transition like for her?
Fonseca: I think in the bigger picture, her being this kind of public persona has brought a lot of power to her and this maturity. It hasn’t come easily. I don’t think Alex is the kind of person that enjoys dressing up like that and being in that public way. But I think what it does is forces her to grow up a little bit and kind of take charge on her own. As the season continues, we’re not going to be focusing a lot on her public persona, but I think she brings a lot of that to Division to help her deal with being there.
IGN: The premiere used her celebrity in a very fun and funny way, but going forward, how do you deal with someone who’s been trained to be a spy being very publically known?
Fonseca: Well, Alex is going to go in a very different direction than I think most of the audience is going to expect. We start off this season with her in this really great place and her using her celebrity to benefit the mission. But it’s going to go in a very different direction. She’ll end up really having to deal with certain things that… You know, I think that a lot of things have been cleaned up, like her relationship with her mother, and Nikita and her are on such good terms. It’s like the final thing is her addiction self, and she’s really going to have to struggle with.
IGN: So that's going to be coming back into focus?
Fonseca: I think that's been a little bit buried, because there’s been other things to deal with. Now that she’s in this new place where they’re all agents, they’re all in this together. But she gets hurt and there’s pain and it’s going to really force her to deal with things that she thought she had resolved before.
IGN: I’ve seen the episode airing Friday, with that great young girl…
Fonseca: She was amazing.
IGN: It seems as though this girl brings up a lot of emotions and memories for both Nikita and Alex.
Fonseca: I think that it’s kind of shocking to see a girl her age in Division, because she is the age that Alex was when she was sold into slavery and then a few years later was on the streets, doing drugs. You see this girl who’s just such a shell of herself. You don’t know if it’s Stockholm syndrome. You can’t really figure it out. And the pain in her eyes, everything that she’s dealing with, it’s so similar to Alex’s life and I think she sees a lot of herself. And I think Alex just doesn’t want to go there. What she ends up doing is going to the parents a lot and the mother and I think that is something that she can relate to as well. Because Alex’s mom didn’t know that she was alive and I’m trying to find out all this information, but I can’t tell them that I know that their child is alive. So dealing with the mom really is difficult in a lot of ways for Alex.
IGN: The first episodes this season touch upon a lot of the big emotional points the show has set up in the first two years, but as far as overall mythology goes, they’re more standalone. How is this season mapping out compared to the first two?
Fonseca: Especially at the beginning, it is a little bit more standalone and kind of bad guy of the week or a mission [of the week] at first. But there are going to be recurring storylines that we’re going to be doing that wall continue through all the episodes as well. It’s kind of a little bit of both. But it’s gonna be different, because there’s no Percy, you know? We’re in this together and Amanda is going to come in and out and we’re trying to figure out where she’s coming from and what her plan of action is. But it is a little bit more standalone than it has been in the past.
IGN: You mentioned Amanda and when I asked on Twitter if fans had questions for you, quite a few seemed to enjoy the interplay between Alex and Amanda.
Fonseca: I love that!
IGN: Will there be more of that this year? Obviously, it’s more difficult, because they’re no longer co-existing inside Division.
Fonseca: Right. Yes, they’re definitely going to be in a storyline together, but we have not shot it yet. I know that it’s in the future for the season, but in all honesty, I don’t know how it’s going to come out. I think the writers are still figuring that out! [Laughs] But it’s going to be good, because she’s going to have a hold over Alex in some way… So it’s not going to be taken lightly. It’s not going to be fun thing. Amanda is going to go all out.
IGN: And we know Amanda can be very scary when she goes all out.
Fonseca: Oh my gosh… She’s so good!
IGN: How are things going for Alex and Sean?
Fonseca: Well, it’s funny, because at work today, the only scene that I have to do is to make out with Sean Pierce in a closet. It’s a very hard day at the office. [Laughs]
But no, it’s not going to be an easy relationship. There’s going to be this thing where Sean really puts it out there and makes an ultimatum and says, “It’s me or Division” and “Why are we here? What are we doing here? We have a life to live.” And I think that contrast is totally confusing for Alex. It’s like, “What do you mean? This in my life. What am I going to do? Go sit on a beach somewhere and drink Mimosa?” That’s not reality, you know? And that’s going to cause problems because they want different things, even though they want each other.
IGN: Meanwhile, it’s funny, because a sect of Nikita fans have been curious about this whole Alex/Owen dynamic, even though they’ve never met...
Fonseca: I know. It’s so weird how there are shippers for that, when we’ve never even met! It’s very flattering! It’s great. It’s so cool.
IGN: So that being said, this season they will finally meet and interact. What do they make of each other initially?
Fonseca: You know, it’s kind of cool… I made the decision that there’s always been this kind of animalistic part of Alex. There’s this kid that’s not a celebrity… the really down and dirty part. And I feel like Owen can be like that. This guy is very, very animalistic in many ways. And I think they kind of connect in that and sense that about each other. And I don’t mean that necessarily in a relationship kind of way. It’s more that he comes back in the picture and it’s like, “What is your deal, man?” There’s definitely sparks and some sort of understanding that they have with each other.
IGN: You mentioned Alex’s addiction issues. Owen recently got over his own addiction to the regimen. Could there be some bonding there?
Fonseca: There is that. We haven’t really touched on that topic as characters yet, but absolutely. That would be a really cool thing to play as well.
IGN: So at San Diego Comic-Con, you were crossing your fingers – has it worked out with your Nikita schedule to do Kick-Ass 2?
Fonseca: It has! CW and Warmer Bros. and the creators here at Nikita, they’ve been so wonderful about letting me out for a week to go to London and do a little bit in Kick-Ass. I’m very limited in my time that I can go there, but the fact that they let me do it at all… I actually leave on Saturday to go shoot for a week there. And I’m really excited!
IGN: My last question comes via your costar, Devon Sawa. When I asked on Twitter if anyone had questions or you, he asked if himself, Shane West, Dillon Casey and Aaron Stanford were Ninja Turtles… who would be Raphael?
Fonseca: [Laughs] Well, that’s funny, because they were having this major debate two nights ago over dinner. And honestly, I had no idea what they were talking about, because I’ve never seen Ninja Turtles! I don’t know… If I’d seen it, I’d have an opinion! Sorry!
Nikita airs Friday nights at 9pm ET/PT on The CW.
Eric Goldman is Executive Editor of IGN TV. You can follow him on on Twitter at @EricIGN and IGN at ericgoldman-ign.
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Gambit #4 Review
♦ by Unknown Wednesday, 14 November 2012 Friday, 9 November 2012 Thursday, 8 November 2012 Wednesday, 7 November 2012 Wednesday, 31 October 2012 Thursday, 25 October 2012 Wednesday, 24 October 2012 0 comments
Marvel has launched a number of new solo series in the last year that have succeeded in offering clean, engaging, accessible takes on old characters. It's disappointing that Gambit hasn't been able to find the same creative success as books like Hawkeye and Captain Marvel. The fun factor is there, but beneath that veneer the series still seems strangely hollow after four issues.
James Asmus focuses more on action this month, as Gambit dives head first into a battle with dragon demons with little but the clothes on his back to serve as weapons. The scale is certainly bigger than I would have expected from the series. It's cool to see Gambit successfully battling monsters of the sort one would normally expect Thor to contend with. And our hero gets a few nice lines of narration in, including "I might as well die as I lived -- tryin' to impress a pretty girl that doesn't care." That's Gambit to a tee.
Clay Mann can certainly render a mean dragon or three. Some of the many battle scenes in this issue look spectacular, showing off Mann's talent for kinetic motion and power. But many panels are rough and haphazard as Leonard Kirk is called upon to fill in the gaps in Mann's work. Hopefully Mann will be allowed a bit of a breather and can return in top form again on a future arc.
Ultimately, what is the point of all of this tomfoolery? Asmus never reveals much about Remy's new partner, Joelle, or why she went through all this trouble on what was apparently a simple death wish. At the end of the conflict, Gambit is still in the exact same wayward emotional state he began the series. There's just too little sense of purpose, impetus, or clear direction to the book. Without those qualities, I can't picture myself following Gambit's solo adventures much longer.
Jesse is a writer for various IGN channels. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN.
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