Submitted by Dennis Russo on Mon, 04/18/2016 - 23:21
RAILHEAD by Philip Reeve is a sci-fi novel from Switch Press that takes place in the far future, across countless planets and star systems. And the fastest form of transportation? No, not by spaceship, but by train. Yes, train!
It seems that mankind has never lost its infatuation with travel by rail, and in this future so far removed from present day, planet Earth itself is basically forgotten, and only gone back to for a getaway.
Raise your hand if you've turned on your favorite country station lately and got a dance mix or a rap song. Yeah, I've been there too. That's why I was so pleased to have come across a new artist on RFD's Cowboy Church, Tommy Brandt, (whom we've interviewed) performing his latest number, "Broken." Delivering the perfect mix of country and western with southern gospel, Brandt's music is a refreshing call to what country used to be.
Brandt's music does more than recall the sounds of yesterday; it openly longs for the values of yesterday, with many songs packed with nostalgia and family memories. For instance, in "If I Had It My Way," Andy Griffith would've stayed in black-and-white and his father would still be alive.
JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. TEEN TITANS continues the DCAU continuity that includes such titles as JUSTICE LEAGUE: WAR and BATMAN VS. ROBIN, retaining Jason O'Mara and Stuart Allan as the voices of Batman and Robin.
The story opens with the Justice League in open battle with the Legion of Doom -- Luthor, Solomon Grundy, Cheetah, Weather Wizard and Toymaster -- at the grand opening of the new Justice League headquarters, which the public has deemed the "Hall of Justice." During the aftermath of the battle, Weather Wizard attempts to run, and is suddenly possessed by a shadow demon that longtime fans will recognize as being the influence of Trigon. Weather Wizard is released from the demon's control, but it takes over Superman and goes silent.
Submitted by S.J. Mitchell on Fri, 04/15/2016 - 09:28
Announcing on twitter that they've inked a deal with MYO Agency, the Nu-Metalcore band from Ancona, Italy, has released a lyrical video for a single off their debut album (with MYO).
The song, titled 'Say It To My Face', is an ear shattering, senses shredding, cocophany that will appeal to listeners who love it LOUD.
For the new single, Sharks in Your Mouth collaborated with Aaron Matts from the band Betraying the Martyrs. According to their facebook page (which is in Italian), the single is culled from the new album titled: PROMISES.
If your taste in music is head-thrashing, amp-blasting, hardcore metal, 'Say It To My Face' by Sharks in Your Mouth, will have you circling the cage hungry for more.
Submitted by S.J. Mitchell on Thu, 04/14/2016 - 15:00
Jordyn Kane is a talented young artist who wrote and performed the theme for DC's Super Hero Girls. Last week on twitter she announced the next project she'll be involved in...
Barbie: Star Light Adventure!
With DC's Super Hero Girls, Ms. Kane's work was focused on creating the girl-powered anthem 'Get Your Cape On'. This time around, not only was she involved with the music, but she'll lend her voice to the one-and-only Barbie! Having voiced the character 'Courtney', in BARBIE: ROCK 'N' ROYALS, this won't be her first time performing as a voice actor.
Submitted by S.J. Mitchell on Thu, 04/14/2016 - 08:46
Heroes and Villains FanFest has expanded their celebrity guest list for the upcoming event in NY/NJ. This time their bringing in Caity Lotz, who is currently a time-traveling LEGEND for DC's latest CW hit series.
WARNING: This announcement / analysis contains SPOILERS for a recent episode of CW's ARROW.
Her character, Sara Lance, went from party girl (sneaking off with her sister's boyfriend, Oliver Queen) to a deadly assassing with a crew of time-travelers; trying to stop a madman from destroying the world as we know it.
Submitted by Critical Blast Staff on Wed, 04/13/2016 - 17:34
Uncanny X-Men #6 by Cullen Bunn and Ken Lashley
Summary: Psylocke is still looking for any sign that Warren has any consciousness left. She scans him and finds a vast wasteland in his mind. She believes she’s starting to get through to him. He appears to her as a true Angel. He says that he's here to tell her prophecy. This wasteland was the town of Green Ridge if she can’t stop Warren. She sees an army of archangels descending on the destroyed town. And this it is only the beginning.
Submitted by Mike 'Ace' Maillaro on Wed, 04/13/2016 - 17:00
It's sad that there have been so many failed attempts to bring the Gold Key characters back. Gold Key was a comic company that started way back in 1962. In addition to licensed books like STAR TREK, they would also put out several new characters in a wide variety of genres, like Magnus Robot Fighter and Turok Dinosaur Hunter. Valiant brought back some of these bigger characters in 1991, to some success. But in later years, Accliam, Dark Horse, and even Dynamite all tried to make another go with these characters only to have them fail badly.
When I think of Gold Key, I can't help but think of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, another old-school property that has made many failed attempts at relaunches over the years.
Submitted by Mike 'Ace' Maillaro on Wed, 04/13/2016 - 09:46
Doctor Strange will be in theaters November 4, 2016, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Michael Stuhlbarg, Mads Mikkelsen, and Tilda Swinton. Here's a first look at the trailer!
Commentary: Is it just me, or does it seem like Benedict Cumberbatch is speaking with an American accent throughout the trailer? I was a little surprised by that, but he seems to make it work. Personally, you can probably get away with Strange speaking with a British accent, he just seems pretentious enough that you almost expect him to have a British accent, even if he is from the United States.
Submitted by Mike 'Ace' Maillaro on Tue, 04/12/2016 - 06:22
Welcome back to Critical Blast’s weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week. Just a warning, I make these picks pretty much a week BEFORE I actually get to read any of these comics, so if something is a stinker, I take no blame on that. Let's get to it!
Submitted by Chris Delloiacono on Sun, 04/10/2016 - 22:08
There are so many children’s books available to parents and educators that it can be a daunting task to pick something out the children in your life will love. Obviously, learning possibilities are an important aspect that many of us are looking for when we undertake this arduous process. It takes a skilled voice and practiced artistic touch to bring an engaging story to youthful readers and also offer a message of learning. A NEW LEASH ON LIFE is a fabulous example of the best the genre can offer.
Submitted by Critical Blast Staff on Fri, 04/08/2016 - 07:08
X-Men ‘92 #1 by Chris Sims, Chad Bowers, and Alti Firmansyah
Summary: Xavier has announced that the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters would be accepting new students to be trained by the X-Men. Many of them came from Cassandra Nova’s facility. The school is pretty chaotic with students rollerblading in the halls and a new overpowered Danger Room. Beast is teaching the students X-Men 101 when Maverick bursts through the window screaming “X-Men! They’re coming for you!” He manages to add “It’s all a game” and passes out.
Submitted by Jeff Ritter on Fri, 04/08/2016 - 00:18
There are some things you never bring up in polite conversation with mixed company: politics and religion at the forefront. Everyone has very personal views on both matters and anything contrary to those views can draw ridicule, exasperation or outright anger from the opposite party. Then there are topics that even within a tight circle of friends and family can be contentious. Mortality is a good example. What if someone in the family doesn’t want to be buried but cremated? What if they don’t want to be resuscitated or live solely on life support? What if they don’t want to fight a difficult but potentially beatable disease like cancer? Coming to grips with how a loved one wishes to meet their end on their own terms is an emotional and difficult experience. Now you might think this is a crazy notion, but comic books can be almost as emotional and contentious as death itself. Don’t believe me?
Submitted by Jeff Ritter on Thu, 04/07/2016 - 08:16
THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY is the Tony Award winning musical based on the novel by Robert James Waller, which in turn was made into a hit 1995 film directed by and starring Clint Eastwood with Meryl Streep. I have somehow managed to miss the film and never got around to the book. I entered the resplendent Fox Theatre in St. Louis knowing only that it was a musical and a love story, and that there were likely going ot be bridges of some sort. I’d like to tell you that I always plan to see shows like this with zero preconceived notions, but this one was just providence.
