March 2019 | Otaku No Culture

Morning in America, A Supernatural Tale by Oni Press

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Exclusive cover to release
at Emerald City Comic Con 2019
* Released March 6, 2019
Spoiler Alert

Oni Press‘ comic Morning in America introduces a new gang of problem solvers, The Sick Sisters, and they have to figure out what’s going on in their hometown of Tucker, Ohio. Nancy, Ashley, Ellen and Veronica are a tight group of misfits. They have plenty to worry about. If they are not careful, they can be sent to detention hall fast. High school life is rough, but the terrors they will have to soon face will be tougher.

With the first issue, monsters flit about in the night and carry away their victims to somewhere. Nancy is told this incident when selling cigarettes to another punk kid, but she has a hard time believing. Things change when she overhears the police are doing nothing when she realizes this wave of disappearances is nothing to ignore. The bigger challenge is to convince her friends to go investigate. They have a good enough reason to: all high school kids are being targeted and they fear they could be next.

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2019 Fan Expo Vancouver Report, Takeaways & What’s Next for this Show?

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Fan Expo Vancouver made the shift from November to March and the change was certainly noticeable. Most industry observers believe they want to challenge Emerald City Comic Con, which takes place two weeks later, and others were hard pressed in which show to support. Next year’s event will be held February 15-17 giving room for all events to share the busy late Winter schedule. One thing that I learned is with some of the exclusives, especially the comic books, are simply reprinted material from previous year’s offerings. A lot of people were asking every time I passed by the merchandise table, and not every member of the staff knew. Though they have slightly different covers, the content is the same.

Unconfirmed reports suggest lower than usual attendance on Saturday. I found navigating through the crowds easy and welcomed the smaller crowds. The event had a steady flow of people throughout the day. I liked the new layout. There were a larger food court area and the main stage was visible upon entry. Those who wanted to be at the big celebrity Q&As did not have to walk far. Two smaller stages were positioned at opposite ends, making noise levels reasonable, but one did have to compete against the main. The types of panels offered ranged from mostly meetups to sketch-duels. Very little industry material existed and I was very thankful for the information from Conor McCreery (Kill Shakespeare) offered for those interested in working in the comic book industry.

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Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie Re-Released on Home Video!

We have the deets on Shout! Factory’s release of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie!

Shout! Factory is proud to bring back Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995) as a standalone release on June 4, 2019, Bonus features include new interviews, original featurette, and the theatrical trailer. Before, it was packaged with Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie as a double-feature and it was part of the 25th anniversary DVD steel book box set of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV series. With both out of print, to see this team re-emerge was just a matter of time.

Power up with six incredible teens who out-manoeuvre and defeat evil everywhere as the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers! But this time, the Power Rangers may have met their match when they face off with the most sinister monster the galaxy has ever seen – Ivan Ooze.

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Charles Ross Big News and Reviews; Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Stranger Things

One Man virtuoso Charles Ross best known for One Man Star Wars, and since its debut back in 2001, he’s performed worldwide!

One Man virtuoso Charles Ross has more than one show up his sleeve. He’s best known for One Man Star Wars, and since its debut back in 2001, garnering attention worldwide, he’s expanded his repertoire to include Lord of the Rings, Batman and now Stranger Things. Of the latter two, they are not as often performed but if you get a chance to see him perform them at special events, they’re worth the price!

As demand grows for specific shows, he will tour. Netflix’s season three of Stranger Things is the most anticipated television programme to come sometime in 2019 and this act will certainly develop as the series plot thickens.

His energy has never waned throughout the years I have seen him perform. One Man Star Wars is part of the local May the 4th celebrations at Farquhar Auditorium at the University of Victoria in 2019 and One Man Pride and Prejudice is set to go live (dates TBA). When considering his roots with the Fringe Festival, local or otherwise, where he tests new material, I will be in line to see his take of this Jane Austen classic. It was performed at the last Edinburgh and Winnipeg Fringe Festival. I believe my English Lit profs would want me to attend.

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Breaking Through the “Glass.” Details Revealed of Home Video Release!

Glass Blu-Ray + DVD

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Writer-Director M. Night Shyamalan‘s Glass is coming digital on April 2, 2019 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand on April 16, 2019! This release may seem quick, but for those wanting to see the entire trilogy back to back, the wait is not long at all. To understand how it comes together, like a puzzle, does require the release to have a lot of featurettes included. The commentary track can explain a few things that I might not have noticed before.

Universal Pictures is on the mark with getting this title out sooner than later, so fans can see how this auteur envisioned this trilogy. It took twenty years to make, and some nuances can easily be missed unless fans are watching the series back to back.

Unbreakable hinted at dangerous things to come. With Split starring James McAvoy (X-Men, Atonement), it only got scarier. This series of films spotlights Samuel L. Jackson (Hitman’s Bodyguard, Avengers Franchise), Bruce Willis (Unbreakable, Die Hard), Sarah Paulson (Ocean’s Eight, “American Horror Story”) and Anya-Taylor Joy (The Witch) at their best.

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Emerald City Comic Con Top Picks in What to Do and Going Lyte?

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Emerald City Comic Con is the jewel of the Pacific Northwest pop culture scene, and this event will be big! Instead of adjoining buildings to host the many events happening, it’s spread out just a little. Folks coming to meet the many entertainment guests will have to walk a few blocks away to the Hyatt Regency Seattle hotel and back again. Not everyone knows of this change, and it may be to thin the crowds so congestion is not as bad.

Although tickets have sold out for most days, this year offers a breath of relief–more or less. Fans hoping to get a ticket last minute instead of buying from a scalper (still a problem with this event) can sign up at Lyte. Here, those unable to attend can sell.

When considering there are more than 150 comic book industry talents to ply their trade, the other third of the show deserves their own building. In the main venue, the Washington State Convention Center, the exhibitor’s hall and artists alley make up the heart and soul of this event. A few names to mention include Rob Liefeld (Deadpool), Bob Camp (Ren & Stimpy), Mike Grell (Green Arrow), Irene Koh (The Legend of Korra), Chris Roberson (iZombie), Tim Sale (Batman The Long Halloween). For a complete list, please visit this convention’s website here and the schedule is up. This event has a lot of panels to update fans on what’s coming and the meet and greets are special unto itself.