Travel Back To The Land That Time Forgot

From The Monster Island News Website

In the early 1970s’ Amicus Pictures (Owned by Milton Subotsky and Max J Rosenberg) decided to pump so life into the declining British fantasy film industry by bringing the works of Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs to the big screen. The company’s rival, Hammer, had abandoned its standard horror films for features starring half naked women in an attempt to put more bodies in the seats and the time seemed right for Burroughs strait forward action tales to fill the void.

READ MORE

Godzilla Gets Official Residency Papers

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Godzilla news story on Fox News. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The new Godzilla head atop the Toho Cinemas Kabukicho/Hotel Gracery Shinjuku entertainment complex was newsworthy. Godzilla being named tourism ambassador for Shinjuku was also newsworthy.

Now, Godzilla has been named an official resident of the Shinjuku district. What's more, you can obtain a copy of the official document naming Godzilla as a resident. I guess that, too, is also newsworthy.

RocketNews 24 reported:

You could make a long list about all the ways Japan is uniquely awesome (and as a matter of fact, we just did), but it’s not like every aspect of life in Japan is more enjoyable than in other countries. For example, taking care of paperwork at city hall or other government facilities is as boring as it is anywhere else in the world. 

So why is it that this week people have been voluntarily visiting the Shinjuku ward office in the heart of Tokyo? Because they want to get a copy of the official residency document of the district’s newest resident, Godzilla!

All you Godzilla artifacts collectors will want to head over to Shinjuku to get yourself a copy! Otherwise, your collection will not be complete without this very important document!

To read more, go here.

We Invite You To Return To The Planet of the Apes

From The Monster Island News Website

In 1966 Franklin J. Schaffner had purchased the rights to what he thought would make excellent movie. Pierre Boulle's novel "La Planete des singes." He peddled the idea to almost every studio in Hollywood, but nobody wanted anything to do with his "Monkey Planet." Studio executives thought the idea of talking apes would be laughed at. A ray of light came when he presented his idea to both Arthur P. Jacobs and Charlton Heston. Both signed on to produce and star in his movie. Now he had what he needed a huge star and some credibility. This got him in the door with Fox and got him his chance. Once again there were hesitations. What if the apes looked too fake? Could it be believable? A test scene was shot to test early ideas for the ape makeup. The test would feature Heston, Edward G. Robinson as Dr. Zaius, and Linda Harrison as Zira. It worked. The makeup test proved it could be done without looking cheesy. The movie was a go.

READ MORE

Thors #1 Brings the Hammer of Justice to Battleworld this June

From Marvel Comics

This June, prepare to meet Battleworld’s steadfast police force, the Thors! Gods of Thunder, doling out justice with a crash of thunder and a crack of lightning. Marvel is pleased to present your first look at THORS #1 – a brand new Secret Wars series from writer Jason Aaron (STAR WARS, THOR) and Eisner-award winning artist Chris Sprouse!

The chaos of Secret Wars requires a different kind of lawman. Welcome to the force – whenever there’s trouble on Battleworld, the Thors answer the call. Gods of Thunder from every universe, united in their quest to uphold the law. Keeping the peace, closing cases, and dispensing judgment with their mighty hammers! But a puzzling murder case on Battleworld has changed the rules. One that has the entire corps scrambling to find the murderer. But what they find could unravel the very fabric of reality!

Throg the Frog of Thunder, Beta Ray Thor, Thor Stormborn and many, many more hammer wielders from across the Marvel Universe take center stage to mettle out a new kind of justice. Prepare yourselves for a hard-hitting Marvel Comics police drama the likes of which you’ve never seen before! Bring the thunder this June when THORS #1 comes to comic shops and digital devices!

Epic. Widescreen. Hitch. Are You Ready?

From DC Comics

Superstar comic artist Bryan Hitch writes and draws new tales of the world’s greatest heroes in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA – first issue hits shelves June 17th!

It’s massive widescreen JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA action and adventure from legendary writer/artist Bryan Hitch! In the extra-sized debut issue, the League comes up against an armada of aliens heading for Earth that claims to be a peaceful religious tribe. But something sinister is lurking under the surface... Something with ties to ancient Krypton!

This amazing kick-off issue is available with seven different variant covers by Bryan Hitch, each spotlighting one of seven core members of the JLA, plus an incredible seven-panel foldout variant cover that presents all seven covers together into one giant panoramic battle scene!

All seven of the variant covers just made their debut on USA TODAY, along with an interview with Hitch on writing and drawing his favorite childhood heroes. Then check out the gallery above for a look at the entire 7 character gatefold cover!

Are You Ready for JLA?

RED SONJA #16

RED SONJA #16



Writer: Gail Simone
Art: Walter Geovani
Genre: Sword and Sorcery, Adventure, Superhero
Format: Comic Book
Page Count: 32 pages

From the acclaimed creative team of Gail Simone and Walter Geovanni, the final chapter in the epic "Forgiving of Monsters" saga finds the She-Devil with a Sword besieged from every side. A parasitic infestation, an intensely personal grudge, an imperiled Astronomer, and an entire kingdom on the verge of homicidal fury have all led to a showdown so bloody and explosive, it'surely lives up to -- or even exceeds -- the Red Sonja series' reputation of swords-and-sorcery excellence!

New Advertising Campaign Celebrates Fan-Favorite DC Characters

From DC Comics

New Advertising Campaign Celebrates Fan-Favorite Characters, Top-Notch Talent, Diverse Stories and DC Fans, Declares ‘There’s a Story for YOU’

DC Entertainment revealed a bold new advertising campaign today titled “DC YOU.” The campaign shines a spotlight on the New DC Universe (DCU) line of comic books, and reinforces the company’s commitment to creating a diverse offering of titles – something for everyone.

“With the New DC Universe, there’s a story for every kind of DC Comics fan. There’s a story for YOU,” stated Amit Desai, senior vice president of marketing and global franchise management, DC Entertainment. “The DC Comics slate rolling out this summer truly offers a comic book for everyone and our new advertising campaign – DC YOU – celebrates this bold, new direction.”

Beginning June 3, the new DCU will consist of 24 brand-new series as well as 25 on-going, best selling fan-favorite series, resulting in the most ambitious DC Comics lineup-to-date. Celebrating the new direction of the DC Universe, the DC YOU advertising campaign will focus on four main themes:

Characters – DC Entertainment will highlight its iconic characters, like Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, as well as popular characters, such as Batgirl, Black Canary, Bizarro, Cyborg and Starfire.
Talent – The campaign will spotlight top writers and artists, as well as emerging fresh voices, who are on board to help create an expansive line of comics that appeals to a broad audience of fans. Comic talent featured in the campaign include Batman’s Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, Superman’s Gene Luen Yang and John Romita Jr., Justice League’s Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok, Justice League of America’s Bryan Hitch, Black Canary’s Brendon Fletcher and Annie Wu, among many others.
Stories – The campaign will engage the readership, showcasing the diverse range of styles and genres as well as approaches to storytelling across the New DCU through various taglines, such as Are YOU ready to laugh?, Are YOU ready to hashtag this?, and Are YOU ready for the new awesome?
Fans – As the campaign name suggests, the New DCU is first and foremost about our fans and our commitment to creating great stories for all fans. The campaign will celebrate life-long fans as well as those new to comics.
DC YOU will appear in print inserts and ads across DC Entertainment’s physical and digital comic books beginning May 20. Digital ads featuring video content will begin airing June 3 across major online platforms.

The campaign will come to life on the DC Comics website (DCComics.com/DCYOU) and multiple DC Comics social media channels will encourage fans to celebrate and share their DCU via hashtag #DCYOU. And this year’s Comic-Con International San Diego(July 9-12) will bring DC YOU directly to fans in fun and engaging ways.

As part of DC YOU, DC Entertainment will also offer comic book retailers weekly promotional packs filled with collectible items inspired by the New DCU line of comic-books. These items will include posters, masks, temporary tattoos, stickers and are sure to encourage fans to visit their local comic book shop each week.

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES HOME MEDIA RELEASE OF RANMA ½ ANIME SERIES SET 6 LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SET

From Media Lab

Zany Comedy And Martial Arts Action Continue In Latest High-Definition Episodes Of The Legendary Anime Series, Available In A Special Blu-Ray Collectable Or Standard Edition DVD Set



VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, prepares a fresh round of RANMA ½ anime episodes for home media release in crisp high-definition with the debut of RANMA ½ Set 6 on June 2nd.

VIZ Media is releasing the gender-bending martial arts action comedy in the original Japanese series order across seven Limited Edition Blu-ray and Standard Edition DVD Box Sets. RANMA ½ is rated TV-14 and is based on the popular manga series originally created by Rumiko Takahashi. Notable bonus features include fan interviews highlighting the RANMA ½ phenomenon and an episode summary booklet.

The RANMA ½ Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set 6 carries an MSRP of $54.97 U.S. / $63.99 CAN. The latest set contains Episodes 116-138 on 3 discs, presented in full 1080p high-definition resolution with the series’ original, un-cropped 4:3 aspect ratio. Subtitled and English dubbed dialogue options are available. The Blu-ray edition also contains a full color art card and a 32-page booklet with individual episode summaries.

Blu-ray bonus features include clean openings and endings as well as series trailers and special “We Love Ranma Part 6 - We Love Working on RANMA ½” and “We Love Ranma Part 7 – We Love Bloopers” segments. The set comes in a gorgeously illustrated chipboard box with embossed foil stamping.

The RANMA ½ Standard Edition DVD Set 6 also features 23 episodes with the original, un-cropped 4:3 aspect ratio, with bonus features that include clean openings and endings and trailers. Subtitled and English dubbed dialogue options are available. The Standard Edition DVD set is available with an MSRP of $44.82 U.S. / $51.99 CAN.

The mayhem continues in RANMA ½ Set 6! A mysterious young man who uses pantyhose as a weapon steals the Jusenkyo guestbook and kidnaps Akane. In order to save her, Ranma teams up with Ryoga, Mousse, and Shampoo, but the young man, like Ranma, also undergoes a transformation when splashed with cold water! After that, monsters escape from strange hanging scrolls and cause chaos around town! The only way to stop them is for Ranma to go on a date with a scribbled panda that has also come out of a scroll! Finally, Ukyo stays at the Tendo Dojo to recover from the shock of a ruined okonomiyaki sauce that has been marinating for ten years. Could Ranma, who is acting strangely kind around Ukyo, have something to do with that too?

RANMA ½ manga creator Rumiko Takahashi is one of Japan’s most prolific and respected manga artists and is the creator of several long running series including MAISON IKKOKU, RANMA ½, and INUYASHA – all published in North America by VIZ Media. The spotlight on her prolific career began in 1978 when she won an honorable mention in Shogakukan's annual New Comic Artist Contest for Those Selfish Aliens. Later that same year, her boy-meets-alien comedy series, Urusei Yatsura, was serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday. This phenomenally successful manga series was adapted into anime format and also spawned a TV series and half a dozen theatrical-release movies, all incredibly popular. Takahashi followed up the success of her debut series with one blockbuster hit after another— MAISON IKKOKU ran from 1980 to 1987, RANMA ½ from 1987 to 1996, and INUYASHA from 1996 to 2008. Other notable works include MERMAID SAGA, RUMIC THEATER, ONE-POUND GOSPEL, and RIN-NE (all also published in North America by VIZ Media).

For more information on RANMA ½ or other award-winning anime titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

VIZ MEDIA LAUNCHES GENDER-BENDING SHOJO MANGA SO CUTE IT HURTS!!

From Media Lab

High School Romantic Comedy About Identity-Swapping Twins That Get More Than They Bargained For Launches In Print And Digitally In June

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, delivers a brand new shojo manga (graphic novel) series with the launch of SO CUTE IT HURTS!! on June 2nd.

The gender-bending comedy about a twin brother and sister who switch identities was created by Go Ikeyamada and will be rated ‘T’ for Teens. SO CUTE IT HURTS!! will be published in print under the Shojo Beat imprint and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. The series also launches digitally on June 2nd via VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App as well as from the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and GooglePlay stores. Future volumes will be published on a bi-monthly basis.

SO CUTE IT HURTS!! introduces readers to the Kobayashi twins, Megumu and Mitsuru, who were named after historical figures. But only Megumu has grown up with a taste for history. So when Mitsuru is in danger of losing his weekends to extra history classes, he convinces his sister to swap clothes with him and ace his tests! After all, how hard can it be for them to play each other?

In the opening volume, Megumu can’t rely on just her book smarts in Mitsuru’s all-boys, delinquents’ paradise of a high school. And Mitsuru finds life as a high school girl to be much more complicated than he expected!

“Go Ikeyamada’s hilarious comedy SO CUTE IT HURTS!! has become a major hit in Japan due to its charming ensemble cast and cheeky, fun story,” says Editor Pancha Diaz. “Revel in Megumu’s and Mitsuru’s struggle to navigate the complexities of high school life and the nuances of teenage romance while trying to keep their true identities secret. We can’t wait to for fans to fall in love with this hilarious new series in English this summer!”

Manga creator Go Ikeyamada's debut manga, Get Love!!, appeared in Japan in Shojo Comic magazine in 2002. Her current series, SO CUTE IT HURTS!!, is now published in English by VIZ Media.

For additional information on SO CUTE IT HURTS or other manga titles published by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

VAMPIRELLA #12

From Dynamite Entertainment



Writer: Nancy A. Collins
Art: Patrick Berkenkotter
Genre: Horror, Fantasy
Publication Date: May 2015
Format: Comic Book
Page Count: 32 pages

Vampirella may be the new Queen of the Nosferatu, but her rule is far from an easy one. Angered by her attempts to change how the Nosferatu prey upon humans, a rebel factor-lead by the powerful Count Savanovic-conspire against her with the help of an outside faction that even vampires fear. A potential ally makes himself known, but can Vampirella trust him-even if he is a blood relative? Find out in "Blood Born", the first installment in the new "God Save The Queen" story arc.

ALIENS / VAMPIRELLA CROSSOVER UNITES ICONIC HORROR CHARACTERS

From Dynamite Entertainment

Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce the upcoming 2015 crossover, Aliens / Vampirella, pitting the iconic horror heroine against the Xenomorphs popularized in eight feature films and numerous Dark Horse Comics series. Written by Corinna Bechko (Star Wars: Legacy, Savage Hulk), the sci-fi horror crossover marks the first time that the two comic book universes collide.

Writer Corinna Bechko says, "I've loved Alien since I first saw it as a kid on a crummy old TV in a well-lit room and got scared half to death anyway. Now that I have the chance to add a little corner to that universe I couldn't be happier. And pitting such an implacable horror against Vampirella? That's a meeting that definitely produces very fertile story-telling ground. The Alien franchise has always thrived with strong women in the lead. Smart, self-assured Vampirella is a joy to write for, even when she may have met her match."

"Aliens / Vampirella continues our string of successful crossovers with Dark Horse Comics. This is an incredible series -- featuring the iconic Vampirella against one of Fox's icons, Aliens -- and we're proud to have Corrina Bechko as the architect," says Dynamite CEO/Publisher Nick Barrucci.

"When I first heard about the Vampirella / Aliens crossover, I thought to myself, 'How is this going to work?' But then I read Corinna Bechko's outline for the series, and all my doubts were dispelled," says Dark Horse V.P. of Publishing Randy Stradley.

Vampirella is a raven-haired heroine who remains, even after 45 years of publication, one of the comic industry's leading ladies, due in no small part to Dynamite Entertainment's stewardship of the character. Since Vampirella's very healthy resurgence in 2010, Dynamite has published two volumes of a monthly series, several miniseries and one-shot specials, and crossovers with multimedia brands and comic book peers. The Vampirella franchise is a haven for writers and artists with a penchant for the macabre.

For over twenty-five years, Dark Horse Comics has been the comic book home to the Aliens franchise, expanding upon the universe of terror first introduced in the 1979 Ridley Scott-helmed sci-fi/horror masterpiece. Featuring the nightmarish extraterrestrials as imagined by H. R. Giger, the Dark Horse comics have enjoyed unprecedented success in both the hobby and mass markets. Throughout the years, the Xenomorphs have interacted with many staples of the comic book industry, including Batman, Predator, Terminator, Judge Dredd, Superman, and Green Lantern.

Aliens / Vampirella will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors' Previews catalog, the premiere source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market. Comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies of Aliens / Vampirella with their local comic book retailers. Aliens / Vampirella will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Dynamite Digital, iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital.

Batman Comic Book Spotlight

From View Obscura Comics

Batman is the superhero protector of Gotham City, a man dressed like a bat who fights against evil and strikes terror into the hearts of criminals everywhere. In his secret identity he is Bruce Wayne, billionaire industrialist and notorious playboy. Although he has no superhuman powers, he is one of the world's smartest men and greatest fighters. His physical prowess and technical ingenuity make him an incredibly dangerous opponent. He is also a founding member of the Justice League and the Outsiders.

Batman's presence in Gotham City generated a new breed of criminals, no longer the simple thugs and gangsters involved in Gotham Organized Crime, but more dynamic personalities. The first person inspired by him was Catwoman, a dangerous seductress using his style and methods towards her own ends. His next challenge was Dr. Hugo Strange, a mad scientist who had created Monster Men to do his bidding. He met his greatest nemesis when the Joker first appeared, a brilliant serial killer dressing like a clown and murdering people uncontrollably. He had been exposed to chemicals in an accident that drove him completely insane, and he swore revenge on Gotham for creating him. - DC Comics

Explore Our Collection of Batman Comic Books