“Mississippi Grind” trailer puts Ryan Reynolds on the road and rolling high

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Denise

mississippi grindYes, Reynolds blew everyone away with that SDCC Deadpool trailer.  But gotta say the trailer for Mississippi Grind is looking pretty sweet too.  No, Reynolds isn’t wearing spandex or blowing away bad guys in Grind (at least not from this trailer).  But it looks like a cool cross between bromance road trip comedies and Oceans Eleven.  Though gotta admit Reynolds’ costar Ben Mendelsohn had me thinking “did Martin Short have work done?  He looks so young!”  But no.  Different dude. But the performances Reynolds and Mendelsohn hint at in this trailer look like ones that could get some buzz in a few months time. (Hint: awards season)

Here’s the synopsis:

In this lively, freewheeling road movie, Emmy Award nominee Ben Mendelsohn plays Gerry, a talented but down-on-his-luck gambler whose fortunes begins to change when he meets Curtis (Ryan Reynolds), a younger, highly charismatic poker player.  The two strike up an immediate friendship and Gerry quickly persuades his new friend to accompany him on a road trip to a legendary high stakes poker game in New Orleans. As they make their way down the Mississippi River, Gerry and Curtis manage to find themselves in just about every bar, racetrack, casino, and pool hall they can find, experiencing both incredible highs and dispiriting lows, but ultimately forging a deep and genuine bond that will stay with them long after their adventure is over.

Reminiscent of classic 1970s American Cinema, Mississippi Grind is an unforgettable journey featuring two characters who—flawed as they may be—are always worth rooting for.  It’s a film about friendship, addiction, regret, family, and the paths we sometimes unexpectedly find ourselves on—told with empathy, humor, and a remarkable light touch by acclaimed filmmakers Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (Half Nelson, It’s Kind of A Funny Story).

Mississippi Grind also stars Sienna Miller, Analeigh Tipton, Robin Weigert, and Alfre Woodard.

It is produced by Jamie Patricof and Lynette Howell, who previously worked with Fleck and Boden on Half Nelson, and also produced The Place Beyond the Pines and Blue Valentine.

Check out the trailer below.  Pretty interesting, no?  Mississippi Grind hits theaters September 25th, but hits DirecTV August 13th.  Those sneaky devils.

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Off the Shelf — New Suicide Squad Vol. 1: Pure Insanity

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Denise

Suicide Squad Pure Insanity cover

Nutshell:  Just like Harley’s poor brain, New Suicide Squad: Pure Insanity is muddled and violent.  But unlike Harley, it’s not necessarily entertaining.  It has its moments, but as DC is already rebooting the lineup, I’m guessing they felt the same way.  Bonus points for the final issue, that introduces a new character I really want to get to know better. Grade: B

Story:  It’s a new day, and a new Suicide Squad Task Force X for Amanda Waller to try to corral.  But she’s got a new partner — Vic Sage — and a couple of assignments that will definitely put teeth into the task force’s nickname.  Onward, to Russia!

Best Lines:
“So while we get what we want, all anybody sees is just a bunch of lunatics doing what they’d probably be doing anyway.”
“A bunch of so called ‘super’ villains…who get beaten up by other people in tights on a regular basis?”
“I’m helping her.  I’m a psychiatrist.” Continue reading →

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: Vacation (2015)

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Denise

vacation onesheetHoliday road, anyone?  With temps in the Why Lord Why digits, I’m betting that sounds good to everyone right about now.  So let’s get to the synopsis for this, the reboot/reimagining/chapter 2 of Vacation!

The next generation of Griswolds are at it again.  New Line Cinema’s “Vacation,” starring Ed Helms (“The Hangover” films) and Christina Applegate (the “Anchorman” films), takes the family on the road for another ill-fated adventure.  The film marks Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley’s directorial debut.

Cast: Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Leslie Mann, Beverly D’Angelo, Skyler Gisondo, Steele Stebbins, with Chris Hemsworth, and Chevy Chase

I’m really digging that they’ve gotten the band back together for this one.  And by band, I mean Chase and D’Angelo.  They should be a hoot.  So, passes anyone?

Continue reading →

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Elsewhere Review: Trainwreck

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Denise

As always, clicky on the title for the original piece!

Movie Review: Trainwreck

Amy Schumer lushes out for your funny bone

Judd Apatow and Amy Schumer are two great tastes that taste great together.  Great.  Now I want a Reeses.

I’m a big Inside Amy Schumer fan.  I dig Apatow’s oeuvre, though some more than others.  (Giving you the side-eye, Pineapple Express.)  But I figured if anyone could nail down the weirdness of trying to overcome the trust issues and ingrained mistrust of the world that is dating in the 21st Century, it’d be these two.  I was right.  Boom.

In Trainwreck, Schumer plays Amy (obviously), a woman whose dad has told her that “monogamy isn’t realistic”.  So all her life she’s been the stereotypical dude in the relationship, hooking up and skipping out before mattresses have even had a chance to spring back into shape.  She’s a writer for a magazine that feels like a cross between Maxim and How To Be A Chauvinist Weekly.  Her beautiful, too-cool senior editor Dianna (played by Tilda Swinton, with just the right touch of IDGAF) tasks her with writing a piece about a big-time sports medicine doc whose been credited with saving the careers of many high-profile sportsball types.
Continue reading →

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Movie Review: Ant-Man

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Denise

ant-man onesheetLet’s face it; you’re either a Marvel junkie or you’re not.  So to the junkies I say this: go.  Go see Ant-Man.  See it now.  Spring for the 3D and get yourself some popcorn and licorice while you’re at it.  You’re gonna dig this.  But you don’t need that from me, because you’re probably already in line, or have your tickets for tonight’s show.  Good move, you.

For those that are a bit more curious as to the quality of the latest flick in the MCU — the last in Phase 2, which will complete the set-up for Phase 3 — I understand.  You’re trying to figure out if this is more Avengers than Iron Man 3.  (Hey, I liked Iron Man 3.)   So I tell you guys this: Ant-Man is fun.  Paul Rudd does an exceptional job as Scott “Ant-Man” Lang, and the writers (which includes Rudd) do a great job of laying out exactly how it feels to be a regular Joe tapped for greater things.  In fact, you could go as far as to say that with Ant-Man Marvel shrinks its bigger/louder/more ‘splode-y formula down to the basics.   And this focus on one man, one villain, one problem works perfectly here.

If Ultron was an exercise in showing the awesome power of superheroes, Ant-Man lets you into the daily grind that was hinted at with Ultron‘s Hawkeye subplot.  Scott Lang is a guy that just got out of jail for doing something he felt was right, against a company that was doing wrong.  But his prior life as a golden boy engineer has been replaced by one as an ex-con.  He tries to re-connect with his young daughter (Abby Ryder Fortson, adorable and wicked smart) as his ex-wife (the always amazing Judy Greer) moves on with her police-officer boyfriend (Bobby Cannavale, walking the line between meanie and guy trying to do right.)  Ant-Man focuses on the struggle Lang goes through to try to keep straight, getting beaten down over and over again until another “easy!” score doesn’t sound so bad.

That easy score is a break-in job at “some old guy’s house”, aka the home of Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas).  Comic book readers know him as the first Ant-Man, and if you think there’ll be flashbacks, then you’re right on point.  It’s nice to see the ol’ 1960s S.H.I.E.L.D. folks together, including our favorite WWII heroine.  (Though John Slattery as an older Howard Stark was such a miscast that I didn’t even know who he was supposed to be ’til I read the IMDb breakdown.)  But Pym ain’t what he used to be, plus he’s not keen on putting his “Pym Particles” — the things that allow Ant-Man to ant — in the hands of the genpop.  So several years back he was ousted from his own company in favor of a guy that will do anything for a buck.  That’d be Darren Cross, aka Yellowjacket (Corey Stoll, channeling the same naive, hard-headed single-mindedness he has in The Strain) who is ready, willing and almost able to sell that newly weaponized technology to the highest bidder.

Pym is looking for a superhero successor.  Cross is looking to re-create Pym’s success with shrinking things.  Pym gets his successor, Cross breaks the code…and cue superhero showdown!

Marvel has gone more human with this film, as opposed to its usual larger-than-life superhero halftime spectacular.  And Ant-Man is better than Ultron in conveying the day-to-day of a superhero, including how tough it is for someone to learn what to do and how to do it if you’re not chemically enhanced, mutated, or a god.  Rudd’s scenes with Evangeline Lily — who plays Pym’s daughter and Cross Labs exec Hope van Dyne — are not only comedy gold, they’re a wake-up call to anyone who things strapping on a suit is all it takes.  Sure.  You try to get a herd of ants to do your bidding.

Those ant/Ant-Man interactions are genuinely sweet, as Lang becomes more and more invested in his new identity.  Lang genuinely cares about his little buddies, and they definitely have his back.  Fellow entomology nerds will most likely enjoy the quick run-down of the three types of ants Pym and Lang tap as their mini-posse: the Bullet Ant, Crazy Ant, and Carpenter Ant.  What they won’t like (and what drove me crazy) is that these ants aren’t shown as female.  Because as with bees, worker ants are lady ants.  So as adorable as Lang’s posse — including favorite flyer “Ant-tony” — is just so much what-the-heck.  I couldn’t help but think that yeah, adorable; but Ant-tony is a princess ant!  She’s Wonder Ant Woman!  Okay fine.  this is make-believe, so I’ll go with it.  But as with Bee Movie, that disregard for the way these insects really live bugs me.  (Yes, that pun is on purpose.)

Back to the film.  Yes, Stan Lee has his court-mandated cameo.  Yes, there’s a final scene, a mid-credits scene, and an end-credits scene that ties Ant-Man into the rest of the MCU.  Yes, there’s a promise of more mini-goodness to come.  Yes, there’s even an Avenger or two here (spoilers, sweetie.)  Russell Carpenter’s cinematography isn’t the bombastic sweeping vistas the usual MCU films trot out, but it’s on-point and keeps a sharp eye on things regardless of how big or small they may be.  Editing is perfection, no easy task with the constant shifts in size during fight scenes.  Art direction has honeycomb patterns throughout Cross Labs, and on Cross himself, which is way cool.  They even trot out LOLA for some seriously cool flashback action.  I could have sworn Douglas stepped out of the T.A.R.D.I.S. circa 1990.

The soundtrack is fantastic, and I’m not just saying that because The Cure is used prominently.  The end credits music has a groovy-cool Aquabats vibe to it, though they haven’t released the 411 on that song yet.  All in all, Ant-Man is a worthy successor to the Marvel movies that have come before.  It gives a little-known superhero a grade-A big screen treatment.  He’s ready for his close-up, Mr. DeMille.

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#BCC2015 News: Hero Initiative Announces Baltimore Comic-Con 2015 Line-Up

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Denise

BaltimoreComicCon_logo_nodateI love it when ‘cons do charitable stuff. And The Hero Initiative is a Good Thing:

In late 2000, a consortium of comic publishers came up with the idea to create a financial safety net for comic creators, much in the same fashion that exists in almost any other trade from plumbing to pottery. By March of 2001, the federal government approved The Hero Initiative as a publicly supported not-for-profit corporation under section 501 (c) (3).

Since its inception, The Hero Initiative (Formerly known as A.C.T.O.R., A Commitment To Our Roots) has had the good fortune to grant over $700,000 to over 50 comic book veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today.

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterdays’ creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.

So, check out the three awesome folks at The Hero Initiative will be bringing to this year’s Baltimore Comic-Con.  See you in September?

Continue reading →

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza — Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation!

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Denise

rogue nationYour mission, should you choose to accept it…grab some passes for this movie! I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical at first, as it’s #5 in the series. But 1) Tom Cruise always seems to be 100% stoked in these films, and 2) I saw the trailer.  I’m all in.

Wanna know more?  Well, here’s the synopsis:

With the IMF disbanded, and Ethan (Tom Cruise) out in the cold, the team now faces off against a network of highly skilled special agents, the Syndicate.  These highly trained operatives are hellbent on creating a new world order through an escalating series of terrorist attacks.  Ethan gathers his team and joins forces with disavowed British agent Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), who may or may not be a member of this rogue nation, as the group faces their most impossible mission yet.

Ready for your mission?  Right this way… Continue reading →

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Harvey Awards announced: check out the full list of nominees here!

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Denise

BaltimoreComicCon_logo_nodateAfterlife with Archie! Battlepug! Girls with Slingshots! Mouse Guard! Saga! And those are just a few of the nominees for this year’s Harvey Awards!

Yes, I have my favorites, even from this stellar list o’ noms. I’m hoping Babs Tarr gets a Harv; I love her work on Batgirl. And a peek at that paragraph above will give you an idea of where I’m at.

Why not let the official release do the talking? The Harvey Awards will be presented at Baltimore Comic-Con on September 26th, 2015.

2014 Harvey Awards Nominees Announced!

Visit www.harveyawards.org for Ballots & Submission Details
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – July 14, 2015 – The 2015 Harvey Awards Nominees have been announced with the release of the final ballot, presented by the Executive Committees of the Harvey Awards and the Baltimore Comic-Con. Named in honor of the late Harvey Kurtzman, one of the industry’s most innovative talents, the Harvey Awards recognize outstanding work in comics and sequential art. They will be presented September 26, 2015 in Baltimore, MD, in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con.
Harvey Awards Nominee Logo

Nominations for the Harvey Awards are selected exclusively by creators – those who write, draw, ink, letter, color, design, edit, or are otherwise involved in a creative capacity in the comics field. They are the only industry awards both nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. Thank you to all that have already participated by submitting a nomination ballot. Final ballots are due to the Harvey Awards by Monday, August 31, 2015. Full submission instructions can be found on the final ballot.

Voting is open to anyone professionally involved in a creative capacity within the comics field. Final ballots are available at www.harveyawards.org. Those who prefer paper ballots may e-mail harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com.
This will be the tenth year for the Harvey Awards in Baltimore, MD. Look for more details soon as to how you can attend the Harvey Awards dinner.
This year’s Baltimore Comic-Con will be held September 25-27, 2015. The ceremony and banquet for the 2015 Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, September 26th.

Without further delay, the 2014 Harvey Award Nominees:

BEST LETTERER
____ Aubrey Aiese, LUMBERJANES, BOOM! Box (BOOM! Studios)
____ Deron Bennett, HACKTIVIST, Archaia Black Label (BOOM! Studios)
____ Ed Dukeshire, THE WOODS, BOOM! Studios
____ Jack Morelli, AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE, Archie Comic Publications
____ Josh Reed, DAMSELS IN EXCESS, Aspen

BEST COLORIST
____ Elizabeth Breitweiser, VELVET, Image Comics
____ Jordie Bellaire, MOON KNIGHT, Marvel Comics
____ Laura Martin, ARMOR HUNTERS, Valiant Entertainment
____ Dave Stewart, HELLBOY IN HELL, Dark Horse Comics
____ Matthew Wilson, THE WICKED + THE DIVINE, Image Comics

BEST SYNDICATED STRIP or PANEL
____ DICK TRACY, Joe Staton and Mike Curtis, Tribune Media Services
____ DILBERT, Scott Adams, Universal Uclick
____ FOX TROT, Bill Amend, Universal Uclick
____ GET FUZZY, Darby Conley, Universal Uclick
____ MUTTS, Patrick McDonnell, King Features Syndicate

BEST ONLINE COMICS WORK
____ ALBERT THE ALIEN, Trevor Mueller and Gabriel Bautista, albertthealien.com
____ BATTLEPUG, Mike Norton, battlepug.com
____ GIRLS WITH SLINGSHOTS, Danielle Corsetto, girlswithslingshots.com
____ SPACE MULLET, Daniel Warren Johnson, space-mullet.com
____ THE PRIVATE EYE, Brian K. Vaughan, Marcos Martin, and Muntsa Vicente, panelsyndicate.com

BEST AMERICAN EDITION of FOREIGN MATERIAL
____ BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS, Drawn & Quarterly
____ BLACKSAD: AMARILLO, Dark Horse
____ CORTO MALTESE: UNDER THE SIGN OF CAPRICORN, EuroComics/IDW
____ THE COLLECTOR, Archaia/BOOM! Studios
____ THE KILLER OMNIBUS VOL. 2, Archaia/BOOM! Studios

BEST INKER
____ Roger Langridge, JIM HENSON’S THE MUSICAL MONSTERS OF TURKEY HOLLOW, Archaia/BOOM! Studios
____ Danny Miki, BATMAN, DC Comics
____ Mark Pennington, ARMOR HUNTERS: BLOODSHOT, Valiant Entertainment
____ Joe Rivera, THE VALIANT, Valiant Entertainment
____ Wade Von Grawbadger, ALL NEW X-MEN, Marvel Comics

BEST NEW SERIES
____ BITCH PLANET, Image Comics
____ LUMBERJANES, BOOM! Box (BOOM! Studios)
____ MS. MARVEL, Marvel Comics
____ SOUTHERN BASTARDS, Image Comics
____ THE WICKED + THE DIVINE, Image Comics

MOST PROMISING NEW TALENT
____ Steve Bryant, ATHENA VOLTAIRE COMPENDIUM, Dark Horse Comics
____ Daniel Warren Johnson, GHOST FLEET, Dark Horse Comics
____ Chad Lambert, “KILL ME” FROM DARK HORSE PRESENTS, Dark Horse Comics
____ Babs Tarr, BATGIRL, DC Comics
____ Jen Van Meter, THE DEATH-DEFYING DOCTOR MIRAGE, Valiant Entertainment

SPECIAL AWARD FOR HUMOR IN COMICS
____ James Asmus, QUANTUM AND WOODY, Valiant Entertainment
____ James Asmus & Fred Van Lente, THE DELINQUENTS, Valiant Entertainment
____ Ryan Browne, GOD HATES ASTRONAUTS, Image Comics
____ Fred Van Lente, ARCHER AND ARMSTRONG, Valiant Entertainment
____ Chip Zdarsky, SEX CRIMINALS, Image Comics

BEST ORIGINAL GRAPHIC PUBLICATION FOR YOUNGER READERS
____ JIM HENSON’S THE MUSICAL MONSTERS OF TURKEY HOLLOW, Archaia/BOOM! Studios
____ LUMBERJANES, BOOM! Box (BOOM! Studios)
____ SISTERS, Scholastic-Graphix
____ SPONGEBOB COMICS, United Plankton Pictures
____ THIS ONE SUMMER, First Second Books

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED
____ HIT: 1955 TP, BOOM! Studios
____ MOUSE GUARD: BALDWIN THE BRAVE AND OTHER TALES HC, Archaia/BOOM! Studios
____ RAI VOL. 1: WELCOME TO NEW JAPAN TP, Valiant Entertainment
____ SIX-GUN GORILLA TP, BOOM! Studios
____ THE LOVE BUNGLERS, Fantagraphics

BEST ANTHOLOGY
____ DARK HORSE PRESENTS, Dark Horse Comics
____ IN THE DARK: A HORROR ANTHOLOGY, IDW
____ LITTLE NEMO: DREAM ANOTHER DREAM, Locust Moon Press
____ MASTERFUL MARKS: CARTOONISTS WHO CHANGED THE WORLD, Simon & Schuster
____ WILD OCEAN, Fulcrum Publishing

BEST DOMESTIC REPRINT PROJECT
____ HARVEY KURTZMAN’S JUNGLE BOOK: ESSENTIAL KURTZMAN VOLUME 1, Kitchen Sink Books/Dark Horse Books
____ STERANKO NICK FURY AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D. ARTIST’S EDITION, IDW
____ THE COMPLETE QUANTUM AND WOODY CLASSIC OMNIBUS, Valiant Entertainment
____ VALIANT MASTERS: H.A.R.D. CORPS VOL. 1 – SEARCH & DESTROY, Valiant Entertainment
____ WALT DISNEY DONALD DUCK AND UNCLE SCROOGE: THE SON OF THE SUN (DON ROSA LIBRARY VOL. 1), Fantagraphics

BEST COVER ARTIST
____ Mike Del Mundo, ELEKTRA, Marvel Comics
____ Francesco Francavilla, AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE, Archie Comic Publications
____ Jenny Frison, REVIVAL, Image Comics
____ Chris Samnee, DAREDEVIL, Marvel Comics
____ Fiona Staples, SAGA, Image Comics

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL, or JOURNALISTIC PRESENTATION
____ BACK ISSUES, Comic Pop
____ COMIC BOOK CREATOR, TwoMorrows Publications
____ HEROES OF THE COMICS: PORTRAITS OF THE LEGENDS OF COMIC BOOKS, Drew Friedman, Fantagraphics
____ MASTERFUL MARKS: CARTOONISTS WHO CHANGED THE WORLD, Monte Beauchamp, Simon & Schuster
____ TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE ULTIMATE VISUAL HISTORY, Andrew Farago, Insight Editions

SPECIAL AWARD for EXCELLENCE IN PRESENTATION
____ ARMOR HUNTERS, Josh Johns and Warren Simons, Valiant Entertainment
____ HARVEY KURTZMAN’S JUNGLE BOOK: ESSENTIAL KURTZMAN VOLUME 1, John Lind and Philip R. Simon, Kitchen Sink Books/Dark Horse Books
____ LITTLE NEMO: DREAM ANOTHER DREAM, Andrew Carl, Josh O’Neill, and Chris Stevens, Locust Moon Press
____ JIM HENSON’S THE MUSICAL MONSTERS OF TURKEY HOLLOW HC, Scott Newman, Archaia/BOOM! Studios
____ THE VALIANT, Kyle Andrukiewicz and Warren Simons, Valiant Entertainment

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM ORIGINAL
____ ATHENA VOLTAIRE COMPENDIUM, Dark Horse Comics
____ JIM HENSON’S THE MUSICAL MONSTERS OF TURKEY HOLLOW, Archaia/BOOM! Studios
____ SECONDS, Ballantine Books
____ THE WRENCHIES, First Second Books
____ THIS ONE SUMMER, First Second Books

BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES
____ AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE, Archie Comic Publications
____ DAREDEVIL, Marvel Comics
____ SAGA, Image Comics
____ SOUTHERN BASTARDS, Image Comics
____ THE VALIANT, Valiant Entertainment

BEST WRITER
____ Jason Aaron, SOUTHERN BASTARDS, Image Comics
____ Jen Van Meter, THE DEATH-DEFYING DOCTOR MIRAGE, Valiant Entertainment
____ Brian K. Vaughan, SAGA, Image Comics
____ Mark Waid, DAREDEVIL, Marvel Comics
____ G. Willow Wilson, MS. MARVEL, Marvel Comics

BEST ARTIST
____ Clayton Crain, RAI, Valiant Entertainment
____ Roberto de la Torre, THE DEATH-DEFYING DOCTOR MIRAGE, Valiant Entertainment
____ Chris Samnee, DAREDEVIL, Marvel Comics
____ Fiona Staples, SAGA, Image Comics
____ Jillian Tamaki, THIS ONE SUMMER, First Second Books

BEST CARTOONIST
____ Steve Bryant, ATHENA VOLTAIRE COMPENDIUM, Dark Horse Comics
____ Howard Chaykin, BLOODSHOT #25, Valiant Entertainment
____ Farel Dalrymple, THE WRENCHIES, First Second Books
____ Terry Moore, RACHEL RISING, Abstract Studios
____ Dan Parent, KEVIN KELLER, Archie Comic Publications
____ Andy Runton, X-O MANOWAR #25, Valiant Entertainment

BEST SINGLE ISSUE OR STORY
____ ARMOR HUNTERS #1, Valiant Entertainment
____ “Breaking Out”, DARK HORSE PRESENTS #35, Dark Horse Comics
____ JIM HENSON’S THE STORYTELLER: WITCHES #4, Archaia/BOOM! Studios
____ MULTIVERSITY: PAX AMERICANA, DC Comics
____ RAI #1, Valiant Entertainment
Congratulations to all of the nominees! If you know a nominee, please pass on the good news using email, Facebook, and Twitter.
Please submit any corrections to harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com. We try our best to list nominees correctly, and want to know if there is an error.
The Harvey Committee and the Baltimore Comic-Con will make every effort to contact all nominees. If you are a nominee and you do not hear from us by July 25, please contact us at harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com. We would love to discuss your involvement in the ceremony and the Baltimore Comic-Con.
For additional information about Harvey Kurtzman and the Harvey Awards, visit www.harveyawards.org or http://www.facebook.com/theharveyawards.

Harvey Awards banquet and award ceremony tickets, as well as General Admission and VIP Package tickets for Weekend, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for the Baltimore Comic-Con, are now on sale. Visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com/tickets/ for more information and to purchase your advanced tickets now.

The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 16th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area. With a guest list unequaled in the industry, the BaltimoreComic-Con will be held September 25-27, 2015. For more information, please visit the website, Twitter, or Facebook pages.
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Wayback Review: The Change-Up

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Denise

In honor of the killer Deadpool trailer shown at SDCC (what?  Google y’all) I present an earlier work in Ryan Reynold’s oeuvre: The Change-Up.  As always, clicky on the title for the original piece!

Movie Review — The Change-Up

| Aug 05, 2011 |

The body-swap.  It’s an old favorite, been around since time immemorial.  Like Father Like Son, Prelude To A Kiss, The Hot Chick, 18 Again (not to be confused with 17 Again, which is a teen-again thing.  Totes diff.)  And let’s not forget Freaky Friday, Freaky Friday,  and, of course, Freaky Friday.  Can you merge the fratty humor of The Hangover with a body-swap story and make it fun to watch?  With The Change-Up, that’s a yep, you bet.

Dave Lockwood is a Type A lawyer in hyperdrive.  He works, lives and even sleeps according to a set of rules so tight it’s a wonder he’s got time to use the bathroom.  Oh wait, he kinda doesn’t.  Mitch Planko is an over 30 Man/Boy who couldn’t grow up if his life depended on it.  His life consists of morning bong hits, “acting gigs” (a.k.a. blissful unemployment) and bangin’ anything with hooters in a 5 mile radius.  Felix and Oscar…sorry, Dave and Mitch, have been besties since 3rd Grade, even though they appear to be opposites.  So when they’re peeing in a fountain one night (because that’s just what guys do) and wish for each other’s lives…bammo!  Just be careful what you wish for, fellas.
Continue reading →

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Sinister 2: red-band trailer and SDCC info!

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Denise

sinister 2 onesheetHello creepytime! Sinister was a pretty cool scare flick, and if the red-band trailer for Sinister 2 is any indication, this sequel should pack a few gut-punches too. Here’s the synopsis:

The sequel to the 2012 sleeper hit horror movie. In the aftermath of the shocking events in “Sinister,” a protective mother (Shannyn Sossamon of “Wayward Pines”) and her 9-year-old twin sons (real-life brothers Robert and Dartanian Sloan) find themselves in a rural house marked for death as the evil spirit of Bughuul continues to spread with frightening intensity.

And yet another reason why I feel like this should have been the year I hit SDCC: Sinister 2 will be creeping up everywhere!  I hope they’re planning on hitting Werewolf. That bar is the shiznit. (Try the basalmic brussels.  You’re welcome.)

SINISTER 2 is also spreading some evil at Comic-Con. Keep a look out for gruesome Sinister Sightings each night. There will be a slew of terrifying projections all over San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter tonight (Friday, July 10th) and tomorrow night (Saturday, July 11th) between 8pm and 1am. Share a photo of the projection that you spot and then post it to Instagram or Twitter with #SinisterSightings for a chance to win a trip to LA with a friend and receive VIP access to Six Flags Fright Fest.  For a preview of what people should be looking out for, please see this downloadable link: http://wdrv.it/1HwhhYl.

Follow @SinisterMovie to get more information on the sweeps, and learn where you can find the next Sinister Sighting. See Official Rules http://bit.ly/1BT2xCl

Dig the trailer below. Sinister 2 hits theaters August 21st, 2015.

 

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