Author: Ed Sum

I'm a freelance videographer and entertainment journalist (Absolute Underground Magazine, Two Hungry Blokes, and Otaku no Culture) with a wide range of interests. From archaeology to popular culture to paranormal studies, there's no stone unturned. Digging for the past and embracing "The Future" is my mantra.

What’s Next Now That Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters is Over?

The Transformers Prime series paints a landscape where the Autobots are few and the Decepticons are many.

70234439Transformers Prime is an animated series that is inherently dark. With Beast Hunters being the final season of this saga, Cartoon Network is putting a close to what is perhaps the best of all the re-imaging of Hasbro’s flagship product. Some fans may feel disappointed, and others will have to wonder what will become of the Autobots in their darkest hour. With seven more episodes remaining to be broadcast, hopefully that will be enough to wrap up everything that this series is cumulating to. With Predaking around, the big question is when will Grimlock and the Dinobots appear? IDW Publishing has a comic book featuring this mighty dinosaur. But as for this series, the character of Grimwing has yet to make a full appearance (since he exists as a toy). The battle with the Decepticons is not looking too good with when there is dissention in the air with Ultra Magnus now part of the team.

Continue reading “What’s Next Now That Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters is Over?”

Just How Many Times Must the Avengers Assemble?

If the movie Iron Man 3 can be ignored and the animated series Avengers Assemble can take its place, then audiences have a perfect cartoon follow-up.

AvengersAssemble2If the movie Iron Man 3 can be ignored and the animated series Avengers Assemble can take its place, then audiences have a perfect cartoon follow-up to the Avengers movie from last year. Some of the important nuances Joss Whedon’s treatment involved how individualistic each character is. And to try to get them to act as a team is part of what made the film great. The team didn’t work until when it counted the most.

This series has plenty of potential if it gets steered in the right direction. When considering that this series is developed to broadcast on Disney XD, the question of just how complex will the narrative get will depend on who is in charge of leading the Avengers. The pilot episode sets up Tony Stark (voiced by Adrian Pasdar) as a whipping boy. He is the billionaire playboy who thinks he can lead a team. But can he?

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IMAX’s FANFIX’s Into Darkness variant poster vs Man of Steel

Man of Steel PosterSadly, there will not be a FANFIX poster for Superman: Man of Steel. Collectors may feel disappointed but thankfully marketing is not going overboard in making every blockbuster movie event “special.”

Strangely enough, for this Friday, a 2nd variant poster will be made available for people going to see Star Trek: Into Darkness in IMAX 3D. This print will be available to the first 300 people, presumedly after leaving the show. The glow in the dark coating will be a different color to distinguish between the two editions.

Star Wars: Rebels is set for TV Fall 2014

With luck, Star Wars: Rebels may well bridge the gap between Episode III and IV without Darth Vader taking center stage.

Star Wars: Rebels (TV Series 2014–2018) - IMDbComing in Fall 2014 will be a new animated television series set in the universe as first conceived by George Lucas and wonderfully illustrated by Ralph McQuarrie. This series is said to be inspired by this illustrator’s works and that can be particularly exciting for Generation One fans.

With luck, Star Wars: Rebels may well bridge the gap between Episode III and IV without Darth Vader taking center stage. Well, one can only hope. The premise is set in an era where the Empire is firming its grip upon the galaxy, and the Jedi Knights are nearly extinct.

If the news from StarWars.com is any indication of the potential this series has to win new fans, screenwriter/producer Simon Kinberg (X-Men: First Class), Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and Greg Weisman (Young Justice) are serving as executive producers.

For Weisman, it will moreorless be a return to working with Disney. He quickly rose to become a fan favorite for having produced Gargoyles back in the 90’s. With luck, and if Star Wars: Rebels takes off, he may be able to return to bringing these creatures of stone back to life for a new generation of fans. Or Disney can finally consider releasing the last volume of the Gargoyles series to DVD. Many fans have been patient.

Star Trek: Into Darkness and IMAX’s FANFIX program

These Star Trek “limited edition” prints may well number roughly 25,000 since enough product has to be printed and shipped to all the participating theaters across North America.

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The IMAX premiere of Star Trek: Into Darkness was a crowd pleaser. Not only were fans treated to a well done movie, mixing some rebel rousing high brow action with a familiar story, but they were treated to a memento, a glow-in-the-dark poster of the Enterprise orbiting the Earth, with a rising sun to signify the final frontier. The painting of a sun and a starry background by artist Mark Englert will glow when the lights go out.

This item may seem gimmicky, but for the people who love merchandise, this collectible will no doubt be numerous and will last until stocks run out. Technically, they were available for people attending the Wednesday night show, and only select theaters are eligible to receive this box of posters to distribute. For the IMAX company, it’s their way of saying thank you for coming out and of introducing IMAX FANFIX™ to the masses. It’s not quite a rewards program, but it is a gesture with good intentions behind it.

These Star Trek “limited edition” prints may well number roughly 25,000 since enough product has to be printed and shipped to all the participating theaters across North America. Now if they were individually numbered, that would make a difference.

Gone is the IMAX 12:01 program, which saw a distribution of smaller 13.5×19.5 posters last year.

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