Two Books Join the New 52 in February

Last month we reported that DC was canceling four of its lower selling titles in January - Frankenstein, Grifter, Blue Beetle, and Legion Lost. That means the company will need to launch four new books in February to keep the overall number of ongoing DC books at 52.

Geoff Johns and David Finch's Justice League of America has already announced. Today, two more of these new titles were revealed by MTV Geek - Katana and Justice League of America's Vibe.

Katana spins out of Duane Swiercynski's Birds of Prey series and features the assassin who wields a sword she believes houses her late husband's soul. The series will be written by Ann Nocenti (Catwoman) and drawn by Alex Sanchez (JSA Classified).

As the title suggests, Justice League of America's Vibe is tied to Johns' new team book and focuses on the former gang leader-turned-superhero. The series will be written by Andrew Kreisberg (creator of the TV series Arrow) and illustrated by Pete Woods (Legion Lost). Additionally, Johns will serve as co-plotter for the first issue.

"We've done a lot of great things with the 'New 52," co-publisher Dan DiDio told MTV Geek, "and now we're putting the focus back on Justice League, with the launch of Justice League of America. We want to make people realize that this is one of our key franchises, and we plan to build it out not just with the main Justice League titles, but other books that tie into them as well."

Speaking of Arrow, DC also revealed a new creative team for Green Arrow starting with February's issue #17. Jeff Lemire (Justice League Dark) will begin writing the series, while Andrea Sorrentino (I, Vampire) will be the new penciller. Presumably the series will begin incorporating elements from the TV series. No word yet on whether we'll see any issues devoted to a shirtless Ollie Queen doing pull-ups on a salmon ladder.

Those worried what this new assignment means for Lemire's other DC books can rest easy. Lemire tweeted today, "Thanks for all the kind words about Green Arrow. Still writing Animal Man and Justice League Dark for a long haul too!" It was revealed at NYCC last month that Ray Fawkes will be co-writing Justice League Dark with him.

Finally, DC revealed that they'll be publishing 52 variant covers for Justice League of America #1. Each will feature a background flag from a different US state or territory.

There's still (presumably) one new title left to be revealed for February. We'll update you when that news hits, as well as when we have more information on Vibe and Katana.

Jesse is a writer for various IGN channels. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Two Books Join the New 52 in February

Last month we reported that DC was canceling four of its lower selling titles in January - Frankenstein, Grifter, Blue Beetle, and Legion Lost. That means the company will need to launch four new books in February to keep the overall number of ongoing DC books at 52.

Geoff Johns and David Finch's Justice League of America has already announced. Today, two more of these new titles were revealed by MTV Geek - Katana and Justice League of America's Vibe.

Katana spins out of Duane Swiercynski's Birds of Prey series and features the assassin who wields a sword she believes houses her late husband's soul. The series will be written by Ann Nocenti (Catwoman) and drawn by Alex Sanchez (JSA Classified).

As the title suggests, Justice League of America's Vibe is tied to Johns' new team book and focuses on the former gang leader-turned-superhero. The series will be written by Andrew Kreisberg (creator of the TV series Arrow) and illustrated by Pete Woods (Legion Lost). Additionally, Johns will serve as co-plotter for the first issue.

"We've done a lot of great things with the 'New 52," co-publisher Dan DiDio told MTV Geek, "and now we're putting the focus back on Justice League, with the launch of Justice League of America. We want to make people realize that this is one of our key franchises, and we plan to build it out not just with the main Justice League titles, but other books that tie into them as well."

Speaking of Arrow, DC also revealed a new creative team for Green Arrow starting with February's issue #17. Jeff Lemire (Justice League Dark) will begin writing the series, while Andrea Sorrentino (I, Vampire) will be the new penciller. Presumably the series will begin incorporating elements from the TV series. No word yet on whether we'll see any issues devoted to a shirtless Ollie Queen doing pull-ups on a salmon ladder.

Those worried what this new assignment means for Lemire's other DC books can rest easy. Lemire tweeted today, "Thanks for all the kind words about Green Arrow. Still writing Animal Man and Justice League Dark for a long haul too!" It was revealed at NYCC last month that Ray Fawkes will be co-writing Justice League Dark with him.

Finally, DC revealed that they'll be publishing 52 variant covers for Justice League of America #1. Each will feature a background flag from a different US state or territory.

There's still (presumably) one new title left to be revealed for February. We'll update you when that news hits, as well as when we have more information on Vibe and Katana.

Jesse is a writer for various IGN channels. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

X-Factor #245 Review

Another month, another mile in Peter David’s marathon revamping of X-Factor. This time, we say goodbye to another member of the team and work through some fresh emotions left buried for far too long. As a whole, the book is a solid group of character studies bereft of major action pieces, which may not tickle every X-Factor reader’s fancy.

If you’re not into hearing about emotions and implications, this may not be the best book for you. There are hurt feelings and cute, romantic moments to be found but not much in the way of action. Now, you may be saying, “But Poet, David’s character work is the best part of X-Factor! It’s the reason I keep coming back!” Fear not, gentle reader. I understand where you’re coming from, and you stand a very good chance of enjoying this story. Monet provides some nice moments of levity to contrast the seriousness of Lorna’s engaging dilemma. The problem is, not every reader will have the necessary attention span or interests for an episode of Gilmore Girls in comic form.

Peter David’s trusty comic book partner, Leonard Kirk, is once again the artist in charge of X-Factor, but his work fails to meet his usual standard. It’s not too tough to find instances of stiff character posture, and some images seem a bit rushed, with inker Jay Leisten needing to guess at facial features in some backgrounds and smaller panels. The expressions on characters' faces – usually Kirk’s strong suit – are noticeably inconsistent as well, especially during the confrontation in the bedroom. The small degree of visual spice to be found here is underwhelming, with most large format images serving better to chew up space than to improve the story.

Don’t let the score sway your opinion, here. This is one of those issues that will appeal strongly to one type of reader and repulse another. It’s not terribly difficult to find technical flaws in this issue, but, overall, it’s a sturdy episode. When deciding on this one, it’s best to be honest with yourself about whether or not you can stand an issue entirely comprised of superheroes emoting.

Poet is a freelance writer, mid-core gamer, and frequent IGN contributor. Follow Poet on Twitter @PoetMase, or post a message on his IGN profile PoetMase.

Source : ign[dot]com

American Horror Story: Asylum is Here!

On the heels of winning two Emmys last month for its first season (among seventeen nominations), American Horror Story returns Wednesday night for a brand new story, American Horror Story: Asylum.

Completely unconnected storywise to the first season, Asylum does feature several returning cast members playing totally different roles, including Zachary Quinto, Lily Rabe, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters and Jessica Lange - the latter of whom won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for her work in the first season. They are joined by several newcomers, including Chloe Sevigny (Big Love), James Cromwell (Babe, LA Confidential), Joseph Fiennes (FlashForward) and Adam Levine (yep, the Maroon 5 guy!), in the story of an asylum in 1964 where some very twisted things are occurring, involving both humans and... otherwise. It was also just announced that Ian McShane (Deadwood, Kings) will be appearing in two episodes.

American Horror Story amassed quite a following last year, even while some felt the show -- from Nip/Tuck and Glee's Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk -- was too over the top. With the new season and a completely new storyline here, we wondered, will you be checking it out? Let us know in our poll below!

American Horror Story: Asylum premieres Wednesday, October 17th at 10pm on FX.

Source : ign[dot]com

Madden, Borderlands 2 Lead U.S. Sales for September

The NPD Group has revealed the top ten best-selling games in the United States for the month of September.

The best-selling titles for the period between August 26th and September 29th are:

1. Madden NFL 13 (360, PS3, Wii, PSV)
2. Borderlands 2 (360, PS3, PC)**
3. FIFA Soccer 13 (360, PS3, PSV, Wii, 3DS, PSP)
4. New Super Mario Bros. 2 (3DS)
5. Guild Wars 2 (PC)**
6. NHL 13 (360, PS3)**
7. World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria (PC)**
8. NCAA Football 13 (360, PS3)
9. Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (Wii, 360, NDS, PS3, 3DS, PSV, PC)
10. Battlefield 3 (360, PS3, PC)**

**(includes CE, GOTY editions, bundles, etc. but not those bundled with hardware)

According to NPD analyst Liam Callahan, Madden sold 11% more units in its first month than Madden NFL 12, representing “the best month one performance at retail for a Madden title ever.” Borderlands 2, meanwhile, was up 234% over the launch of the original Borderlands in 2009.

“Although a stronger slate of content was released to market as compared to recent past months, weak comparisons to titles like Gears of War 3 and Dead Island from last September led to an overall decrease of 13% as compared to September 2011,” Callahan wrote. “When looking past the top-selling game for the month in each of the two comparison months, the remaining top 10 titles sold through 18% fewer units than they did last year. While year-over-year declines are present in video game software, we are seeing momentum leading up to the holidays when looking at August sales compared to September, which were up 67% on an average sales-per-week basis.”

Callahan notes that EA has five of the top 10 titles this month. Four come from EA Sports, continuing its massive string of success this month. Callahan adds that PC games are up 12% year-to-date through September thanks to strong launches like Guild Wars 2, Diablo III and Mists of Pandaria, softening the decline of sales this month. Overall, “video game sales alone were down 18%.”

Callahan notes that eight of the top 10 accessory items this month were character packs from Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure or digital point and subscription cards. “These types of accessories are helping offset the losses from accessories linked to hardware sales such as gamepads,” Callahan said.

On the hardware front, Callahan reports that hardware sales are up compared to last month for DS, 3DS, PlayStation 3, Vita and 360. Callahan suggests that this “points to momentum heading into the holiday season,” and that Wii U “has the potential to reinvigorate retail sales of hardware” when it launches next month.

Nintendo reports that 3DS software sales increased by 89% compared to the same month in 2011. New Super Mario Bros. 2 sold more than 295,000 units in September, and Mario Kart 7, Star Fox 64 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D “all saw sales increases compared to last month.” Nintendo also notes that Super Mario 64 DS has now sold more than five million units in the United States, making it the third DS game to pass the milestone (New Super Mario Bros. has sold 10.6 million and Mario Kart DS has sold 8.5 million).

According to Microsoft, 270,000 Xbox 360 systems were sold in September, giving the system a “49% share of current-generation console sales” in the United States and marking its “21st consecutive month as the top-selling current-generation console in the U.S.” Microsoft adds that more than $380 million was spent in September on Xbox 360 hardware, software and accessories.

This story will be updated once Sony provides IGN with a statement.

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following @garfep on Twitter or garfep on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Madden, Borderlands Lead U.S. Sales for September

The NPD Group has revealed the top ten best-selling games in the United States for the month of September.

The best-selling titles for the period between August 26th and September 29th are:

Madden NFL 13 (360, PS3, Wii, PSV) Borderlands 2 (360, PS3, PC)** FIFA Soccer 13 (360, PS3, PSV, Wii, 3DS, PSP) New Super Mario Bros. 2 (3DS) Guild Wars 2 (PC)** NHL 13 (360, PS3)** World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria (PC)** NCAA Football 13 (360, PS3) Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (Wii, 360, NDS, PS3, 3DS, PSV, PC) Battlefield 3 (360, PS3, PC)**

**(includes CE, GOTY editions, bundles, etc. but not those bundled with hardware)

Developing story…

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following @garfep on Twitter or garfep on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

The Revenant DVD Review

The Revenant opens with a young soldier, Bart Gregory (David Anders, Once Upon a Time), getting killed in the line of duty. One month later, shortly after being buried, he awakens as a mysterious vampire/zombie hybrid. It's not long before Bart realizes that, in order to stay alive, he must drink human blood. With the help of his old friend, Joey (Chris Wylde, Joe Dirt), Bart becomes a sort of nighttime vigilante, offing thugs and other bad guys in order to quench his undying thirst.

Despite being built around a few worn out genre cliches, The Revenant actually manages to offer quite a bit of slick originality and character. The film moves at a somewhat lax pace, allowing audiences to get to know our two leads, who often walk the line between being completely morally corrupt and often goofy and likable. And the picture injects just enough offbeat humor to keep things light and amusing, even when the film is treading dark territory. There's also a brooding undercurrent of tragic drama that perfectly complements the film's moody tone.

Much of this is thanks to writer/director Kerry Prior's sharp script which keeps you on your toes, dodging the more obvious story routes and rarely taking the easy way out. That said, the film does get a little too dark toward the finale. It also drags just a bit, especially after one particular twist involving Joey.

The film's principal leads (Anders and Wylde) also inject quite a bit of lively humor, emotion and realism into the characters. Their chemistry together drives the picture, often playing a lot like a warped variation of Bonnie & Clyde, by way of The Boondock Saints, An American Werewolf in London and Return of the Living Dead Part III (the one where the guy resurrects his dead girlfriend).

The film also adds a sly dash of social commentary, a bit of playfully nasty gore, plenty of brutal mayhem and surprisingly decent effects. While some might not have a taste for the twists and turns The Revenant makes, the ride is quite fascinating, fun, a little tragic and almost always refreshing.

The Revenant finally comes to DVD in the U.S. courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment. The film is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, mixed in 5.1 Dolby Digital. Sadly, Lionsgate opted against a Blu-ray release.

To say that the transfer is awful really doesn't put into words how genuinely shoddy it is. Right off the bat the image shows signs of heavy ghosting on text, snow and noise during low light scenes and a genuinely distracting amount of artifacting. And it doesn't get better from there. Depth is virtually nonexistent, as are textures and details. And color is a mess of flat, ugly browns and muted yellows. In fact, the transfer is so bad that it very nearly ruins the impact of the whole movie! It almost looks like a bootleg.

I'd point the finger at the low-budget production, but The Revenant was shot on Red One cameras, a traditionally very reliable shooting medium. Unfortunately, despite a few other regions getting a Blu-ray, The Revenant isn't getting a U.S. Blu-ray release anytime soon. Perhaps the HD streaming release is the way to go with this one, because the DVD transfer is certainly not praise-worthy in the slightest.

Audio, thankfully, is quite a bit better. Surrounds are fairly aggressive, giving life to virtually every scene. Dialogue sounds good, with no crackles or distortions, though there is quite a bit of hiss at times and also some echo in certain scenes. Bass is also a little subdued, but does chime in to punctuate a few key moments. The transfer might be nearly unwatchable, but at least the film sounds decent.

Extras consist of two commentary tracks (one from director Kerry Prior, the other from the cast), a making-of featurette, deleted scenes, a photo gallery and trailers. The commentaries are quite fun and informative. If you like party tracks, stick with the cast track. But the more rounded of the two is easily the director track. The candid 13-minute featurette is also well made and interesting and the 13 minutes of deleted scenes are well worth watching.

The Verdict

The Revenant is a clever, refreshing and fun horror-comedy destined for cult status. If only the transfer weren't one of the worst of the year. Seek this one out, but try to track down a high-def copy.

Source : ign[dot]com

Comic Book Reviews for 9/26/12

The final week of zero month is upon us as DC heads back to the last days of Krypton and even that dire evening in Gotham's Crime Alley. At Marvel, Spider-Man's plight with his new sidekick continues and the amazing run of Greg Rucka on The Punisher reaches its conclusion (kind of). Also, obscure X-Man Doop gets some time in the spotlight to astounding (and hilarious) results.

A quick note: with Joey heading on vacation and New York Comic-Con impending, the next couple of review round-ups will be a little thinner around the edges.

You also might notice that IGN as a whole has moved back to the 100-point scale. Love it; embrace it.

DC COMICS

All-Star Western #0

Written by Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti | Art by Moritat

"All-Star Western #1 dropped us into the action with little explanation of who Jonah Hex is and where he came from. For those who first encountered Hex in that issue, All-Star Western #0 will serve as a bare-bones but helpful reference concerning Hex’s origin story. Readers who have been following him since the beginning are likely to be a bit more frustrated by the recapitulation." -Poet

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

6.6

Aquaman #0

Written by Geoff Johns | Art by Ivan Reis

"In terms of most of DC's books, the Zero Month event was timed well, arriving just after most books had wrapped up their second major story arcs. Aquaman is one of the notable exceptions. Issue #13 promised a climactic showdown between Arthur and Black Manta. But now we have to wait an extra month for the wrap-up to that storyline. In its place is a flashback issue that details Arthur Curry's transition from quiet teenager to king of Atlantis. Issue #0 has its definite strengths, but it really does read like a placeholder for more interesting stories down the road." -Jesse

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

7.5

Batman Incorporated #0

Written by Grant Morrison & Chris Burnham | Art by Frazier Irving

"These DC zero issues can really kill the momentum of a series. They jump back in time to the origin of a character or team and supposedly provide a nice jumping on point for new readers. For Batman Inc. it's especially strange, since the series is not that old. Even before the whole New 52, there were only a handful of issues out. It seems a bit odd to be going over all this again. Fortunately, Grant Morrison, Chris Burnham and Frazer Irving still produce a fun and interesting issue, even if it kinda of feels unnecessary." -Ben

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

7.5

Batman: The Dark Knight #0

Written by Gregg Hurwitz | Art by Mico Suayan & Juan Jose Ryp

"Move along, nothing new to see here. You like Batman? You've seen the Batman movies and read some Batman comic books? Then you know this story. Sure, this little take is well written and has a nice flow, but come on. Joe Chill? We know this DC. Everyone knows this. Let's get back to that Scarecrow story; it wasn't great but at least it wasn't the story of Crime Alley all over again." -Ben

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

5.0

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #3

Written by Len Wein | Art by Jae Lee

"In terms of its story, Ozymandias ranks as possibly the least interesting and innovative of the Before Watchmen books. This series tells us absolutely nothing about the character we didn't learn from the original series. It's fortunate, then, that this book has the sublime visuals of Jae Lee to fall back on." -Jesse

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

6.5

The Flash #0

Written by Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato | Art by Francis Manapul

"I’ll say this much: you won’t find a poorly drawn issue of The Flash. Francis Manapul never ceases to deliver impressive layouts to tell his and Brian Buccellato’s story. The page showing how Flash designed his costume looks incredible with the way the panels seem to spring from his costume-springing ring. It looks great, but the lack of a compelling narrative that matches the quality of the art continues to leave this series in the dust." -Joshua

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

5.6

The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #0

Written by Joe Harris | Art by Yildiray Cinar

"It’s fairly common to hear about those thrust into the spotlight wishing for nothing more than to go back to their old lives. In comics, they usually get that chance for just long enough to taste relief before being thrown back into turmoil. The Fury of Firestorm spends Zero Month proving this corollary, and the style uses to do so makes it worth the trip." -Poet

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

7.0

I, Vampire #0

Written by Josh Fialkov | Art by Andrea Sorrentino

"Joshua Hale Fialkov and Andrea Sorrentino have been showing up a majority of DC’s New 52 since its debut one year ago, and they’ve done it again by using the zero issue in the best way I’ve yet to see. Not only do they tell how Andrew Bennett became a vampire, but they infuse the telling with details small and large that answer burning questions any reader might have. Chief among them, how did Andrew get that sexy white stripe in his hair?" -Joshua

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

9.5

Justice League Dark #0

Written by Jeff Lemire | Art by Lee Garbett

"It always strikes me as odd seeing a John Constantine that isn’t as sure of himself as we typically see him. It’s so engrained in his character to be cocky, that it’s strikingly uncomfortable to see him as anything but. Using that notion to full effect in JLD #0, Jeff Lemire paints a pretty stunning portrait of the DCU’s Constantine and just what the hell the nature of his relationship with Zatanna is. Though it’s a quick 20 pages, Lemire effectively transforms Constantine from a magic novice to the cocksure pirate that we know and love, all the while planting the foundations for the Justice League Dark story at large." -Joey

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

8.6

Red Lanterns #0

Written by Peter Milligan | Art by Ardian Syaf

"Red Lanterns #0 does not dare to do anything creative with its origin issue, and that proves to be its undoing. If you were wondering what foul deeds Atrocitus had to commit to gain his powers of blood prophecy -- and I’m talking foul -- then brace yourself for what Peter Milligan has in store. This issue reminded me of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman with its monsters and magic, but it has none of that story’s grace or ingenuity." -Joshua

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

5.9

The Savage Hawkman #0

Written by Rob Liefeld & Mark Poulton | Art by Joe Bennett

"The Savage Hawkman has generally distanced itself from the Thanagarian portion of Hawkman's mythology, focusing instead on simpler, more horror and action-based storylines. Considering that Hawkman has one of the more convoluted character histories in comics, that may have been for the best. The Savage Hawkman #0 is notable both in that it marks Rob Liefeld's final issue on the series and that it finally delves into Hawkman's connection to Thanagar. Though rough around the edges in some ways, this issue makes for a surprisingly enjoyable read." -Jesse

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

6.5

Superman #0

Written by Scott Lobdell | Art by Kenneth Rocafort

"Just as there was a return to Crime Alley over in Batman: The Dark Knight #0 this week, Superman #0 returns us to the well-documented last days of Krypton. Luckily, writer Scott Lobdell is able to find some new ground to cover and adds a wealth of new elements (and some odd twists) to the tale. The best thing I can say about this issue is that Lobdell finds a nice emotional hook for Jor-El’s discovery of Krypton’s eventual destruction: he makes the discovery the same day Lara tells him she’s pregnant. It’s a poignant moment that, unfortunately, is derailed by far less interesting notions of conspiracy theories and politics." -Joey

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

5.9

Talon #0

Written by James Tynion IV | Art by Guillem March

"The idea of Talon as a series is certainly sound; following a man that was able to break free of the Court of Owls’ clutches and try to redeem himself is a concept with plenty to offer. We could see him try and right the many wrongs he’d done as a Talon while trying to avoid assassination by the Court he betrayed. However, with Calvin Rose being a brand new character introduced in issue #0 – after we’ve seen the kinds of motivations that lead one to becoming a Talon – he’s got a long way to go to proving his worth as not only a hero of Gotham, but as the anchor of one of DC’s New 52." -Joey

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

7.0

Teen Titans #0

Written by Scott Lobdell | Art by Tyler Kirkham

"One of the best ways to draw out different aspects of Batman’s personality is to pair him with a new Robin. Tim Drake, a character with a personality distinct from both Robins who preceded him, entered Batman’s life at a very interesting time. Whether this retelling of Tim Drake’s path to the Bat-family is interesting as well is another question entirely." -Poet

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

5.2

Voodoo #0

Written by Josh Williamson | Art by Sami Basri

"Like Resurrection Man #0, Voodoo #0 is one of those Zero Month issues that simultaneously serves as a flashback tale and a series finale. One thing Voodoo has going for it that Resurrection Man didn't is that the ongoing plot threads will be continued in the pages of Grifter, meaning Josh Williamson isn't forced to tie up all the loose ends in the span of 20 pages. The result is a very straightforward but competently executed finale that offers readers no real surprises." -Jesse

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

6.5

Source : ign[dot]com

Comic Book Reviews for 9/26/12

The final week of zero month is upon us as DC heads back to the last days of Krypton and even that dire evening in Gotham's Crime Alley. At Marvel, Spider-Man's plight with his new sidekick continues and the amazing run of Greg Rucka on The Punisher reaches its conclusion (kind of). Also, obscure X-Man Doop gets some time in the spotlight to astounding (and hilarious) results.

A quick note: with Joey heading on vacation and New York Comic-Con impending, the next couple of review round-ups will be a little thinner around the edges.

You also might notice that IGN as a whole has moved back to the 100-point scale. Love it; embrace it.

DC COMICS

All-Star Western #0

Written by Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti | Art by Moritat

"All-Star Western #1 dropped us into the action with little explanation of who Jonah Hex is and where he came from. For those who first encountered Hex in that issue, All-Star Western #0 will serve as a bare-bones but helpful reference concerning Hex’s origin story. Readers who have been following him since the beginning are likely to be a bit more frustrated by the recapitulation." -Poet

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

6.6

Aquaman #0

Written by Geoff Johns | Art by Ivan Reis

"In terms of most of DC's books, the Zero Month event was timed well, arriving just after most books had wrapped up their second major story arcs. Aquaman is one of the notable exceptions. Issue #13 promised a climactic showdown between Arthur and Black Manta. But now we have to wait an extra month for the wrap-up to that storyline. In its place is a flashback issue that details Arthur Curry's transition from quiet teenager to king of Atlantis. Issue #0 has its definite strengths, but it really does read like a placeholder for more interesting stories down the road." -Jesse

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

7.5

Batman Incorporated #0

Written by Grant Morrison & Chris Burnham | Art by Frazier Irving

"These DC zero issues can really kill the momentum of a series. They jump back in time to the origin of a character or team and supposedly provide a nice jumping on point for new readers. For Batman Inc. it's especially strange, since the series is not that old. Even before the whole New 52, there were only a handful of issues out. It seems a bit odd to be going over all this again. Fortunately, Grant Morrison, Chris Burnham and Frazer Irving still produce a fun and interesting issue, even if it kinda of feels unnecessary." -Ben

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

7.5

Batman: The Dark Knight #0

Written by Gregg Hurwitz | Art by Mico Suayan & Juan Jose Ryp

"Move along, nothing new to see here. You like Batman? You've seen the Batman movies and read some Batman comic books? Then you know this story. Sure, this little take is well written and has a nice flow, but come on. Joe Chill? We know this DC. Everyone knows this. Let's get back to that Scarecrow story; it wasn't great but at least it wasn't the story of Crime Alley all over again." -Ben

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

5.0

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #3

Written by Len Wein | Art by Jae Lee

"In terms of its story, Ozymandias ranks as possibly the least interesting and innovative of the Before Watchmen books. This series tells us absolutely nothing about the character we didn't learn from the original series. It's fortunate, then, that this book has the sublime visuals of Jae Lee to fall back on." -Jesse

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

6.5

The Flash #0

Written by Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato | Art by Francis Manapul

"I’ll say this much: you won’t find a poorly drawn issue of The Flash. Francis Manapul never ceases to deliver impressive layouts to tell his and Brian Buccellato’s story. The page showing how Flash designed his costume looks incredible with the way the panels seem to spring from his costume-springing ring. It looks great, but the lack of a compelling narrative that matches the quality of the art continues to leave this series in the dust." -Joshua

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

5.6

The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #0

Written by Joe Harris | Art by Yildiray Cinar

"It’s fairly common to hear about those thrust into the spotlight wishing for nothing more than to go back to their old lives. In comics, they usually get that chance for just long enough to taste relief before being thrown back into turmoil. The Fury of Firestorm spends Zero Month proving this corollary, and the style uses to do so makes it worth the trip." -Poet

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

7.0

I, Vampire #0

Written by Josh Fialkov | Art by Andrea Sorrentino

"Joshua Hale Fialkov and Andrea Sorrentino have been showing up a majority of DC’s New 52 since its debut one year ago, and they’ve done it again by using the zero issue in the best way I’ve yet to see. Not only do they tell how Andrew Bennett became a vampire, but they infuse the telling with details small and large that answer burning questions any reader might have. Chief among them, how did Andrew get that sexy white stripe in his hair?" -Joshua

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

9.5

Justice League Dark #0

Written by Jeff Lemire | Art by Lee Garbett

"It always strikes me as odd seeing a John Constantine that isn’t as sure of himself as we typically see him. It’s so engrained in his character to be cocky, that it’s strikingly uncomfortable to see him as anything but. Using that notion to full effect in JLD #0, Jeff Lemire paints a pretty stunning portrait of the DCU’s Constantine and just what the hell the nature of his relationship with Zatanna is. Though it’s a quick 20 pages, Lemire effectively transforms Constantine from a magic novice to the cocksure pirate that we know and love, all the while planting the foundations for the Justice League Dark story at large." -Joey

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

8.6

Red Lanterns #0

Written by Peter Milligan | Art by Ardian Syaf

"Red Lanterns #0 does not dare to do anything creative with its origin issue, and that proves to be its undoing. If you were wondering what foul deeds Atrocitus had to commit to gain his powers of blood prophecy -- and I’m talking foul -- then brace yourself for what Peter Milligan has in store. This issue reminded me of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman with its monsters and magic, but it has none of that story’s grace or ingenuity." -Joshua

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

5.9

The Savage Hawkman #0

Written by Rob Liefeld & Mark Poulton | Art by Joe Bennett

"The Savage Hawkman has generally distanced itself from the Thanagarian portion of Hawkman's mythology, focusing instead on simpler, more horror and action-based storylines. Considering that Hawkman has one of the more convoluted character histories in comics, that may have been for the best. The Savage Hawkman #0 is notable both in that it marks Rob Liefeld's final issue on the series and that it finally delves into Hawkman's connection to Thanagar. Though rough around the edges in some ways, this issue makes for a surprisingly enjoyable read." -Jesse

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

6.5

Superman #0

Written by Scott Lobdell | Art by Kenneth Rocafort

"Just as there was a return to Crime Alley over in Batman: The Dark Knight #0 this week, Superman #0 returns us to the well-documented last days of Krypton. Luckily, writer Scott Lobdell is able to find some new ground to cover and adds a wealth of new elements (and some odd twists) to the tale. The best thing I can say about this issue is that Lobdell finds a nice emotional hook for Jor-El’s discovery of Krypton’s eventual destruction: he makes the discovery the same day Lara tells him she’s pregnant. It’s a poignant moment that, unfortunately, is derailed by far less interesting notions of conspiracy theories and politics." -Joey

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

5.9

Talon #0

Written by James Tynion IV | Art by Guillem March

"The idea of Talon as a series is certainly sound; following a man that was able to break free of the Court of Owls’ clutches and try to redeem himself is a concept with plenty to offer. We could see him try and right the many wrongs he’d done as a Talon while trying to avoid assassination by the Court he betrayed. However, with Calvin Rose being a brand new character introduced in issue #0 – after we’ve seen the kinds of motivations that lead one to becoming a Talon – he’s got a long way to go to proving his worth as not only a hero of Gotham, but as the anchor of one of DC’s New 52." -Joey

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

7.0

Teen Titans #0

Written by Scott Lobdell | Art by Tyler Kirkham

"One of the best ways to draw out different aspects of Batman’s personality is to pair him with a new Robin. Tim Drake, a character with a personality distinct from both Robins who preceded him, entered Batman’s life at a very interesting time. Whether this retelling of Tim Drake’s path to the Bat-family is interesting as well is another question entirely." -Poet

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

5.2

Voodoo #0

Written by Josh Williamson | Art by Sami Basri

"Like Resurrection Man #0, Voodoo #0 is one of those Zero Month issues that simultaneously serves as a flashback tale and a series finale. One thing Voodoo has going for it that Resurrection Man didn't is that the ongoing plot threads will be continued in the pages of Grifter, meaning Josh Williamson isn't forced to tie up all the loose ends in the span of 20 pages. The result is a very straightforward but competently executed finale that offers readers no real surprises." -Jesse

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

6.5

Source : ign[dot]com

Voodoo #0 Review

Like Resurrection Man #0, Voodoo #0 is one of those Zero Month issues that simultaneously serves as a flashback tale and a series finale. One thing Voodoo has going for it that Resurrection Man didn't is that the ongoing plot threads will be continued in the pages of Grifter, meaning Josh Williamson isn't forced to tie up all the loose ends in the span of 20 pages. The result is a very straightforward but competently executed finale that offers readers no real surprises.

This issue opens as Priscilla finds herself a Daemonite captive and doesn't stray far from there. There are the obligatory scenes of confusion and Pris coming to grips with her newfound powers. Williamson does little more than elaborate on details that were already reasonably well developed earlier in the series. The dialogue is sort of a mixed bag. While Williamson relies heavily on Priscilla's internal narration, there's really no other way to convey her jumble of thoughts and emotions in such a sparsely populated comic. The stilted Daemonite dialogue is more of a chore, though at least one of the characters pokes fun at them at one point.

One area this series deserves ample praise for is the art. Sami Basri holds the distinction of being one of the very few artists to remain on the same New 52 title for these past 13 months. Through it all, Basri has delivered consistently clean, attractive work with a strong sci-fi flair. I can only hope DC has future plans for Basri that will result in an equally long stint. Maybe an ongoing WildCATs series?

On that note, though Williamson has few surprises to offer here, he does effectively pave the way for the Grifter/Voodoo partnership and helps transition readers into that series. All signs seem to be pointing to a full WildCATs reunion down the road. It may be that Voodoo functions better as part of a team than on her own.

Jesse is a writer for IGN Comics and IGN Movies. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following Jesse on Twitter, or on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

IGN Assemble! #55 - Reality Punches and Stuff

Zero month trucks on, and this week we talk up some of the great successes -- like Justice League, Batwoman, and Wonder Woman -- and the not-so-successful like Red Hood and the Outlaws and, god help us, Catwoman.

We also talk about a surprising dark turn for Daredevil, the conclusions of Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison and Spider-Men, and the big news of the week courtesy of Ultimate Comics: Ultimates, Captain America becoming president.

There's also depressing talk about the Swamps of Sadness.

There are spoilers within for everything we talk about, so beware.

In the interest of self-promotion:

Check out the IGN Assemble! Facebook Group!

Check out the IGN Assemble! Wiki Page!

If you've got a question, comment, or art, feel free to drop us a line at ignassemble@ign.com.

IGN Assemble! Podcast: Episode #55
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Joey Esposito
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Enjoy!

Joey is IGN's Comics Editor and a comic book creator himself. Follow Joey on Twitter, or find him on IGN. He will love Star Wars until the end of his days.

Source : ign[dot]com

IGN Assemble! #54 - Dinosaurs with Jetpacks

We're back for another glorious week of comic book discussion and questionable sidebars. This week we continue to discuss zero month, the greatest evil plan of all time, and of course, the big events that occurred in Avengers vs. X-Men #11.

We also talk Uncanny X-Force, Wolverine and the X-Men, Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom, and the many, many zero issues that hit: Batman, Batman and Robin, Team 7, Batgirl, Suicide Squad, Demon Knights, Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E., Green Lantern Corps, and more.

There's also a boatload of news this week, including the new Thunderbolts series and the Justice League/Aquaman crossover.

There are spoilers within for everything we talk about, so beware.

In the interest of self-promotion:

Check out the IGN Assemble! Facebook Group!

Check out the IGN Assemble! Wiki Page!

If you've got a question, comment, or art, feel free to drop us a line at ignassemble@ign.com.

IGN Assemble! Podcast: Episode #54
(right click to save)

Subscribe to IGN Assemble! on iTunes

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Follow us on Twitter:

Joey Esposito
Erik Norris

Enjoy!

Joey is IGN's Comics Editor and a comic book creator himself. Follow Joey on Twitter, or find him on IGN. He will love Star Wars until the end of his days.

Source : ign[dot]com

Black Mesa Half-Life Remake Available Now

As announced earlier this month, the first part of fan-made Half Life remake Black Mesa is available for free starting today. The game can be downloaded through Black Mesa’s official site and allows players to play through the game up to Lambda Core. Black Mesa a total conversion of Half-Life 2, rebuilding Half-Life from the ground up in Source.

The game can be played by anyone who downloads Valve’s free Source SDK, and a full list of system requirements is available on Black Mesa’s site. Black Mesa will also be distributed via Steam in the future as part of Valve’s Stream Greenlight program.

Look out for impressions of Black Mesa later today on IGN.

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following him on Twitter or IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Check Out the Before Watchmen: Moloch #1 Cover

As revealed last month, DC Comics has more Before Watchmen on the way in the form of Before Watchmen: Moloch. Today, BuzzFeed revealed the cover to issue #1.

Before Watchmen: Moloch is written by J. Michael Straczynski with art by Eduardo Risso.

Joey is IGN's Comics Editor and a comic book creator himself. Follow Joey on Twitter, or find him on IGN. He loves superhero pets so hard.

Source : ign[dot]com

Guild Wars 2 Sales Reopen Today

Having suspended sales of Guild Wars 2 right at the end of last month because servers were creaking under the sheer weight of players, ArenaNet has reopened them this morning. So if you missed the boat on release weekend and have since lost all of your friends to Tyria, at least you can now join them.

ArenaNet originally suspended sales on August 30th, just two days after launch, because the server infrastructure was having problems keeping up with demand. Since then, the company had deployed new European and North American servers and prepared the Trading Post for a new influx of players.

ArenaNet's president Mike O'Brien had this to day: “Preserving the customer experience has always been our top priority. We’re supporting  Guild Wars 2 for the long run. We’ll always do what it takes to deliver the best online gaming experience for our customers, even when that means throttling sales.”

To celebrate, the developer released a bizarre and rather arresting new live-action trailer. Enjoy it below:

Source : ign[dot]com

IPTL Premier - MVP look to be favorites, but will they meet their potential?

MVP Clan came to life in October 2010, but December 2010 was the month when Korea StarCraft 2 Association finally recognized them as a professional team; however, it was May 2011 that put them on the Korean map for good when they took second place during GSTL 2011 May finals losing to SlayerS after very close games and five months later when they won GSTL Season 1 defeating Prime.

Yet, it is 2012 that brought them vast number of titles both for the players and the team as a whole; more GSTL medals,  third place at IPL Team Arena Challenge 1, KSL Opening Ceremonies and Asia StarCraft II Invitational Tournament. Now it’s time for the IPTL Season 1 and they are more than ready to become the ultimate champions of another team league again.

Normally this paragraph would be the beginning of “bad picks” chapter, but in case of MVP it cannot be done, since there is no bad player on the team at the moment. Even if some of them haven’t qualified for the GSL Season 4 they still have a strong or at least decent presence on the international or Korean scene. Great examples are Noblesse and finale; they haven’t won anything big in 2012 yet, but are consistently on top and in a tournament full of foreigners like IPTL Season 1 we might see them crushing bones and eating flesh of their enemies. You cannot underestimate Korean players.

Team captain and one of the best Starcraft 2 zergs in the world is DongRaeGu. Despite being a part of the scene since 2010, he made a name for himself in the second half of 2011 after winning LG Cinema 3D Special League over sC, 2011 DreamHack Valencia Invitational over ThorZaIN and taking second place during Arena of Legends 1 after losing to MarineKingPrime.

Just like any other player DRG had his slump during spring 2012 when he stopped performing as well as he used to, but currently he’s back on track. It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that out of every GSTL player it is Park Soo Ho who constantly outperforms his colleagues. He almost single-handedly carried MVP in the 2011 GSTL May event and even outperformed his own track record during 2011 GSTL Season 1 with a 13-2 record. There is no other player who came close to DRG’s score.

Besides GSL and IEM championship titles there is also MLG, which was the curse of MVP’s captain until June 2012 when he finally won his first Major League Gaming title during 2012 MLG Spring Championship after crushing Alicia 3:1. Back in 2011 he won MLG Spring Arena 1, but it was a much smaller event, hence we count his latest gold medal as the first big one. Still, many other players have won MLG events before him, but it is DRG who currently has 2 of each medals in MLG events.

Another huge name for MVP is KeeN who just recently placed third in TeamLiquid StarLeague 4 taking out Sting in a very one-sided match. At the moment, together with Vampire and finale KeeN represents MVP in GSL Code A.

Sniper as a Code S player cannot be overlooked. He always gives his best and is visible on the international scene participating in number of online qualifiers.There is also Monster who proved his worth all-killing Evil Geniuses during IPL Team Arena Challenge 3 three months ago and winning GIGABYTE ESPORTS LAN Invitational.

MVP doesn't have an all-star line-up, but every single one of their players is more than capable of taking down the best in the world. Their strength lies in cooperation during team events and steadily growing skill of every member on the current roster. In IPTL Season 1 they should advance to the playoffs.

Source : ign[dot]com

IGN Assemble! #53 - Zero to Hero

No, we didn't go with a zero episode to coincide with DC's zero month, but there may be one on the horizon...

This week, we're back to our regularly scheduled programming after the unbridled success of our ridiculously stellar 52nd episode, looking back on the DCU classic 52.

This week, we talk Hawkeye, The Punisher, The Amazing Spider-Man, Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man and the DC zero issues of the week, including Swamp Thing, Animal Man, Action Comics, Detective Comics, Worlds' Finest, and more.

We're also excited to say that we're running a caption contest over on the IGN Assemble! Facebook group -- you just need to have the best caption for the photo posted and you'll win a nifty box of random crap from my desk -- comics, DVDs, toys, gum -- who knows what you'll get!

There are spoilers within for everything we talk about, so beware.

In the interest of self-promotion:

Check out the IGN Assemble! Facebook Group!

Check out the IGN Assemble! Wiki Page!

If you've got a question, comment, or art, feel free to drop us a line at ignassemble@ign.com.

IGN Assemble! Podcast: Episode #53
(right click to save)

Subscribe to IGN Assemble! on iTunes

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Joey Esposito
Erik Norris

Enjoy!

Joey is IGN's Comics Editor and a comic book creator himself. Follow Joey on Twitter, or find him on IGN. He will love Star Wars until the end of his days.

Source : ign[dot]com

NPD: Darksiders II Leads U.S. Sales, Big Month for 3DS

The NPD Group has revealed the top ten best-selling games in the United States for the month of August.

The best-selling titles of the month, in order, are:

1. Darksiders II (360, PS3, PC)**
2. New Super Mario Bros 2 (3DS)
3. Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (3DS)**
4. NCAA Football 13 (360, PS3)
5. Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (Wii, 360, NDS, PS3, 3DS, PSV, PC)
6. Sleeping Dogs (360, PS3)
7. Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (360, PS3)
8. Batman: Arkham City (360, PS3, PC)**
9. Call of Duty: Black Ops (360, PS3, NDS, Wii, PC)**
10. The Amazing Spider-Man (360, PS3, NDS, 3DS, Wii)

**(includes CE, GOTY editions, bundles, etc. but not those bundled with hardware)

Additional details coming…

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following him on Twitter or IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Action Comics #0 Review

If this month's #0 issues are all about looking back and shedding light on the origins of various heroes in the New 52, where does that leave Action Comics? Grant Morrison's relaunched series has essentially been one big origin tale from the start. Luckily, Morrison finds room before the events of issue #1 to explore Clark Kent's very first adventure as Superman and the theft of his indestructible cape. While Action Comics #0 doesn't really need to exist in the larger context of this run, it delivers enough memorable character moments that it's well worth  read regardless.

The best compliment I can give this issue is that it feels more consistent and cohesive than the majority of Morrison's previous issues have been. The plot is relatively simple by Morrison standards, so rather than cutting between scenes and points in time intermittently, Morrison is able to follow the journey from point A to B in a more methodical manner. Issue #0 opens where one of the recent backup stories left off, with Clark ordering his first batch of Superman T-shirts. From there, we see him settle into his role at the Daily Star, interact with Jimmy Olsen, and put his growing abilities to the test for the first time as Metropolis' new defender.

Again, it's the character work that makes this issue. Morrison once again shows how easy it is to craft a compelling Clark Kent -- one who is both human and relatable yet also powerful and noble. Clark enjoys a definitive Superman moment in this issue that pays homage to his Golden Age, "man of the people" roots. But Jimmy Olsen also has a strong showing in this issue. Morrison sheds a great deal of light on what drives the character in the New 52 universe. The result is a more down-to-earth and independent-minded take on Jimmy than the flamboyant globetrotter Morrison wrote in All-Star Superman.

Issue #0 doesn't add much to the greater picture. The script acknowledges the recent revelations about Cark's landlady and her 5th Dimensional origins, but apart from that the book could just as easily have shipped a year ago to kick off Morrison's run. The subplot involving the stolen cape doesn't amount to much. What this conflict does accomplish is reminding readers that Morrison's Superman is as concerned with the individuals of Metropolis as he is with alien invasions and Justice League matters. It takes a deft hand to pit Superman against a child abuser and not have the results turn out hokey or preachy, but Morrison manages it.

Issue #0 benefits from a much more consistent visual style than the series tends to offer. Ben Oliver fills in for Rags Morales this month. While there's a certain sterility and coldness to Oliver's work (some of the smaller details Morales worked into his panels are sorely missed), there's a lot to be said for clean lines and an overall much smoother presentation.

Sholly Fisch delivers another backup feature to complement the main tale. Interestingly, this story delves into Morrison's ongoing mythology much more than these backups have tended to in the past. Fisch doesn't focus on Superman here, but rather the origins of the Captain Comet/Neo-sapiens subplot from recent issues. Again, this material isn't necessarily that vital, but it adds a bit of color to previous stories. It's nice to have one issue that slows down the breakneck pace of the series and focus on the characters before Morrison begins his final push.

Jesse is a writer for IGN Comics and IGN Movies. He can't wait until he's old enough to feel ways about stuff. Follow Jesse on Twitter, or find him on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Red Dawn to Premiere at Fantastic Fest

The upcoming remake of Red Dawn will have its world premiere as the closing night film of this month's Fantastic Fest, which runs from September 20-27 in Austin, Texas at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar.

Two of the movie's Wolverines -- Josh Peck and Adrianne Palicki -- will be in attendance at the Thursday, September 27 premiere. The movie's distributor, FilmDistrict, announced that a Korean-invasion-themed party will follow the premiere screening.

Fantastic Fest will also transform the Austin American Legion into a maximum-security prison for the ultimate Red Dawn after-party. As the studio press release puts it, "Prisoners will experience mandatory enjoyment from delousing stations as well as free prison tattoos and head-shaves.  Executive chef John Bullington will be doling out wild-game bulgogi, kimchi and piping-hot shots of deer blood while the uniformed detainees enjoy the musical stylings of festival favorite Future Folk."

Source : ign[dot]com