FX's 'The Strain' to Offer Rejuvenation Pods at SXSW Festival

For those of you heading to the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, we've got a little relief for you. The FX network understands how utterly exhausting these shindigs can be, so they've decided to set up "The Strain Rejuvenation Station" to perk up all you weary fest attendees! Now, what exactly is a rejuvenation station? For 20 minutes you will be able to catch some zzz's in a nap pod, while exclusive content from the new FX show, "The Strain," plays on a tablet. The press release gives a bit more insight, so here are all the exciting details!

FX is bringing relief to fatigued South by Southwest attendees in Austin, Texas. The Strain Transformation Station will provide participants with the chance to recover from "the strain" of SXSW with 20-minute power naps inside custom-built Rejuvenation Pods. The pods are equipped with tablets showcasing exclusive content from the new FX original series, "The Strain."

The Strain Transformation Station
·Operating from March 7 through March 10, 12:00pm - 6:00pm · Located in the prominent downtown Austin location 419 Congress Ave. @ 5th Street
·A hostess will be on hand to book power-nap appointments in 10 Rejuvenation Pods with additional sitting area/lounge
·Appointments may also be booked ahead of time through the custom mobile site (www.thestrainpods.com)
·The Strain Vaccine (branded energy shots) will be distributed in and around the venue
·The Strain novels and special-edition comic books will be available for takeaway

Dark Horse Comics Brings Season 10 of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'

Cover Art by Rebekah Isaacs

Although Joss Whedon's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" left television in 2003, that doesn't mean the story was over. Beginning in 2007, Dark Horse Comics provided fans with an eighth and ninth season of the series in comic book form, with some Whedon-helmed stories to continue the saga of Sunnydale. Going to heights that couldn't physically or fiscally be reached during the television run, the Buffy comics took the Scoobies into all new territories.

On March 19, Dark Horse will be publishing the tenth season, which promises even more adventure. In a brief description from the "Buffy Zone" of the Dark Horse website, they reveal- "New season. New rules. The age-old battle of Slayer vs. vampire is the focus of Buffy’s life once again—it’s downright nostalgic! But with all the toying with magic she’s done lately, this girl should know it’s time for another game change . . . Shouldn’t she?"

The premiere issue ($3.50) is executive produced by Joss Whedon, written by Christos Gage and illustrated by Rebekah Isaacs. With all the familiar characters fans loved, hated, or even the ones we loved to hate, be sure to hit up your local comic book shop to find out what happens next!

-Nowal Massari

Fox Celebrates 35th Anniversary of "Alien" with Release of First Ever Ellen Ripley Action Figure

Courtesy IMDB

For 35 years now, "Alien" has been a cross-genre fan favorite franchise. To commemorate this sci-fi horror film's anniversary, Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products and toy gurus, NECA, are making Lieutenant Ellen Ripley into the action figure she deserves to be for the first time ever. The action figure will feature the likeness of Sigourney Weaver, the Oscar Nominated actress that brought the bad-ass monster fighting Ripley to life.

Jeffrey Godsick, president of Fox Consumer Products, spoke on the commemoration by saying “As we celebrate the 35th anniversary of one of the most successful film franchises of all time, we are thrilled to introduce an array of commemorative products across different categories in partnership with iconic brands including NECA, SEGA and many more[...] In addition to the highly anticipated release of Alien: Isolation™, hardcore fans can finally add Lieutenant Ellen Ripley to their ALIEN collections as we welcome her NECA figures into the family of officially-licensed merchandise. Many other exciting first-time and limited edition products will also release to celebrate this exciting milestone this year.”

'Star Wars' Comics Leave Dark Horse, Return To Marvel

Yesterday Dark Horse Comics announced in a statement that Disney had informed them of plans to allow the "Star Wars" comics license to expire and assign the franchise back to Marvel.

Mike Richardson, founder of Dark Horse, released the following statement on Friday:

"I am sad to report that Disney, the new owner of Lucasfilm, has notified us here at Dark Horse of their intention to move the Star Wars publishing license to another of their recent acquisitions, Marvel Comics, beginning in 2015. This will end a partnership that has lasted more than two decades. 

For those who are new to the industry, Dark Horse revolutionized the treatment of comics based on films. After a history of movie properties being poorly handled with little regard for execution and continuity, Dark Horse took a new approach, carefully choosing licenses and approaching them with excitement and creative energy. Our goal was to create sequels and prequels to the films we loved, paying careful attention to quality and detail, essentially treating those films as though they were our own. Star Wars has been the crown jewel of this approach. We began chasing the title as far back as 1989, and with the launch of Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy’s Dark Empire, a new era in comics was born. I’m not ashamed to admit that we were Star Wars geeks, and we have been determined to spare neither effort nor expense in the pursuit of excellence."

New Comics: July 31, 2013

BY DAVID BERCK

It’s the fifth week of the month (or it was when I wrote this) and you know what that means! Annuals!! That’s right, DC has decided to hit the market with five annuals and a director’s cut. Otherwise, it’s kind of a slow week, but Boom! decided to release the sequel to 2 Guns, which has been filmed and is open for wide release. Marvel hits us with a reprint collection, and the alternate version of their mega event of last year, Avengers vs. X-Men. This seems like a good week to maybe play catch up on some old titles or, hey, maybe even try the new Deadpool game!

Boom! Studios
3 Guns #1
Are you excited for the feature film release of 2 Guns featuring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg? I am, too! Most people are probably unaware that this is actually a comic book movie based on a Boom! Studios release from 2007. Well, Boom! is timing things just right by releasing the sequel to the original story the week of the movie release. The main characters are still in loads of trouble and dealing arms. This time, the Russians and another anti-government group is involved. And there's a third gun! If you think two government agents busting each other for gun running is a great concept, you may want to jump on this bandwagon right now!

'Game of Thrones' and 'True Blood' Comic-Con Events

HBO is returning to this years San Diego Comic-Con and they're bringing fans exclusive merch and signings from hit shows Game of Thrones and True Blood! Be sure to stop by the Dark Horse, Funko and Chronicle Books booths to grab some HBO goodies before they disappear.

"Game of Thrones Ascent"
The hit social media game "Game of Thrones Ascent" will be featured in the "Join the Realm" exhibit on L Street in front of the Omni Hotel. Three computer stations linked to the fascinating game will be available for all Comic Con participants to experience. In Game of Thrones Ascent players will lead the life of a noble during the time of upheaval as portrayed in the books and the series uniting both story and strategy. Players will claim their birthright by choosing which of the great houses they'll swear allegiance to, securing their holdings, developing their lands and personal reputation, and assigning sworn swords to quests--while forging alliances with new friends and much more!

New Comics June 26: Massive Uncanny Lazarus Rises from an Unwritten Ultron

BY DAVID BERCK


So. Many. Releases. Normally, we have to drop a couple of titles or so from our feature just so you, our valued reader, don’t want to take an axe to the writer’s head for driveling on and on about the neat new stuff being released. This week involved even heavier cutting as it seems everybody was saving heavy hitters for the last week in June.

Besides what’s listed here, give some serious consideration to picking up X-Men #2 and Fathom: The Elite Saga #2.

Dark Horse
Massive #13

Brian Wood begins a new story arc of his near future environmentally disastered (yes, I made that word up) Earth. With the Massive’s trail gone completely cold, another problem arises for the Kapital’s crew. And it lands them in New York. What could possibly go wrong?

Dark Horse unveils 'Game of Thrones' White Walker statue

Apparently Sam’s dragonglass did not kill that creepy White Walker who was going after Gilly’s baby. Well, sort of. This December, you can invite Game of Thrones into your own home when Dark Horse releases their White Walker statue.

The press release reveals that the statue of this fierce creature will arrive in “finer comic shops, bookstores and specialty retailers on Dec. 18, 2013. The White Walker is a hand-painted, numbered limited edition collectible. Each bust is packaged in full-color collector box, will include a numbered certificate of authenticity. Retail price is $124.99.

From Dark Horse’s David Scroggy: “The first appearance of the White Walker was the climax of the show’s second season. We thought that would be a perfect image to seize. We used exotic resins to simulate his ice spear, and will also re-create the striking blue luminosity of his piercing eyes. Game of Thrones is one of the best television sagas ever, and we owe it to the audience to capture every detail. Hopefully, we’ve succeeded.”

Now you know what to get the Thronie on your holiday list!

-Larissa Mrykalo

'Grimm' teams with Dark Horse Deluxe for show collectibles

Design for Nick's key

The fairy-tale stories of NBC's Grimm are getting just a little bit closer to the real world. On Sept. 25, 2013, Dark Horse Comic's collectibles imprint Dark Horse Deluxe is set to release some cool new NBC licensed products based on the cop drama-meets-fairy tale show.

Dark Horse Deluxe's initial Grimm product line has a variety of items, but includes two primary centerpieces. The first is Nick's Key, the subject of much of the conflict in the show. The wearable pin/pendant even includes the etchings on the sides, which in the show reveal a secret map. A lot of people are interested in where this map leads and just what is hidden there. This Key first appears in the “Pilot” episode of Grimm.

The second item is a pin version of a coin of Zakynthos. These coins have been the object of many a power hungry being from Julius Caesar to Adolf Hitler. They hold strange powers which strongly effect everyone but a Grimm, and were introduced in the Season One episode "Three Coins in a Fuchsbau."

Nick has been struggling for three seasons now to keep both of these items out of the grasp of the conniving royal families that would use them to gain even more power. But now you can have them both!

The product line is rounded out with a lunchbox, a pint glass, a coffee mug and an embroidered skull-design patch. More products will follow including journals, cards, some lenticular products, and character busts. So check out your favorite Dark Horse products retailer on Sept. 25, 2013 to snatch up your favorite before the royal families get them all.

And don't forget Grimm returns to Friday nights this fall.

-Melissa Harkness

Lance Henriksen on returning as 'Aliens' Bishop, comics, real alien encounters

Henriksen, courtesy Not Bad For A Human

Whether you know him from Aliens, Millennium, The Terminator, Pumpkinhead or numerous other movies, you know Lance Henriksen. The intense actor with a grave voice is a genre favorite, and he's back with a new comic book from Dark Horse Comics, and is again portraying the android Bishop in the new video game Aliens: Colonial Marines, which picks up after 1986's Aliens.

The game itself, which was released last week and the reviews have not been kind for the first-person shooter supposed to fit within Alien canon. But the return of Henriksen as a video game version of himself is something nerds need to behold. It's like the man who played the machine is now back in the machine.

And even if the game isn't faring well, Henriksen is also the creative voice behind To Hell You Ride, a horror comic miniseries about a curse in a small town that involves Native American burial grounds and a group of warrior's quest for revenge. Written with Joseph Maddrey (who also co-wrote the actor's biography Not Bad for a Human), Henriksen's nonlinear plot is captivating, disturbing and just simply kick-ass storytelling with excellent art by Tom Mandrake.

Henriksen joined me a couple months back at New York Comic-Con to discuss his return to Bishop and his work on the comic, but he also revealed thoughts about the Mayan 2012 predictions (which we know how that turned out); what has attracted him to so many supernatural roles; whether actors will be replaced by video games images or androids; and he even tell a bizarre story about his own real encounter with an alien.

Check out the video below after the jump...

-Aaron Sagers

Dark Horse unleashes hell with 'Game of Thrones' Tyrion bust

courtesy Dark Horse Deluxe

What to do when there are brave men knocking on your castle door? You go kill them! That is, if you're Tyrion Lannister. But if you're a collector, you answer the knock on the door and hope it's the mailman delivering this awesome Tyrion collectible.

After all, one of the most memorable episodes of last season's HBO hit series Game of Thrones was the "Blackwater" episode. Tyrion Lannister (portrayed by Peter Dinklage) stepped up and led the battle to protect King's Landing from his uncle, Stannis Baratheon, after King Joffrey's cowardly retreat.

Now, Dark Horse Deluxe's line of Game of Thrones collectibles is highly sought after and when deciding on this bust, the writers/producers of the show were consulted. David Benioff and D.B. Weiss chose this unforgettable scene and according to the press release, "They further assisted with special photographic reference taken during filming, expressly for use as sculpture reference for the piece."

Extreme attention to detail make this (approximately) 10x 9.5 inch, hand-painted figurine one that collectors will no doubt appreciate. The numbered piece is only being offered for advance order and is a limited run. It will also be packaged in a deluxe full-color box. They don't plan on having them in stores until Feb, 20, 2013 and the suggested retail price is $199.99. Just in time for Season three of Game of Thrones!

We wonder if we'll see this little guy on a future episode of Syfy's Collection Intervention?

-Larissa Mrykalo

Dark Horse Horror gets under our skin

Dark Horse Comics sent along this image today without any accompanying info, and yet it says so much. Although the comics publisher had already been making a big push to bring back horror comics for some time now, the maneuver has cultivated in a PR campaign.

This particular image from the "Drawing On Your Nightmares" calls to mind the experience of being a little kid, staying up late - way past bed time - to read about monsters and maniacs (and reading Colder in this case). Utilizing a flashlight, so as not to call upon the wrath of angry parents, a boy is surrounded by creeping shadows and a plethora of horrific possibilities just beyond the halo of light.

Sounds awesome, right? Trust us, it does, and hopefully it means we can look forward to some cool DHH news very soon - although we already got a bunch of info from Comic-Con about Eric Powell's The Goon, Steve Niles' Criminal Macabre/30 Days of Night crossover and a new book by Lance Henriksen.

We'll keep you posted on the news, but for now, just enjoy this creeptastic pic.

-Aaron Sagers