Friday, February 27, 2015

Titan Comics Announces "Ring of Roses" Graphic Novel


This July sees the release of conspiracy thriller Ring of Roses by Das Petrou and John Watkiss, which industry legend Dave Gibbons is calling, “fresh and invigorating...arresting and vivid!”

London, 1991. But not the London you may be familiar with. Imagine an England under Catholic rule - a rule so iron-fisted that science and technology has been set back decades.

Lawyer Samuel Waterhouse investigates a ghoulish murder mystery set in alternate history London of religious mania, secret societies, and the plague.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
RING OF ROSES
WRITER: Das Petrou
ARTIST: John Watkiss
PUBLISHER: Titan Comics
PAGE-COUNT: 144​pp

FORMAT: HC, FC​
ISBN: 9781782760016
PRICE: $22.99
​/$25.95 CAN/£16.99 UK​
​COMIC STORE RELEASE DATE: ​
July 8, 2015
DIAMOND ORDER CODE: MAR151544

THE DA VINCI CODE MEETS ​THE X-FILES!​ PRESENTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN COLOR!

“FRESH AND INVIGORATING...ARRESTING AND VIVID!” ​Dave Gibbons (WATCHMEN, SECRET SERVICE)​

Ring of Roses is available to order now from the March edition of PREVIEWS using order code: ​MAR151544

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites for the Week of February 22nd to 28th, 2015 - Update #13


NEWS:

From Variety:  Mr. Spock has died - Friday, February 27, 2015.

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From YahooCelebrity:  Zendaya responds to Giuliana Rancic's comments about her "ethnic" (my term) hair.

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From People:  Lady Gaga to appear in "American Horror Story: Hotel," the fifth season of the series, which is due October 2015.

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From YahooCelebrity:  A sad moment regarding Michael Keaton not winning the best actor Oscar this past Sunday night.

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From YahooMovies:  What's next for Oscar winners in the acting categories and also for several others, including John Legend and Common.

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From The New Yorker via RSN:  Why CitizenFour deserved its Oscar.

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From YahooNews:  Lady Gaga usually sings "jigaboo" music...

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From YahooMovies:  Birdman wins the "Best Picture" Oscar, one of four awards the film won.  Also a complete list of winners.

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From TheHollywoodReporter:  The winner of the Oscar weekend box office (Fri., Feb. 20th to Sun., Feb. 22nd, 2015) is Fifty Shades of Grey with an estimated take of $23.2 million.

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From TheHollywoodReporter:  Selma is the best picture of 2014 - according to a social media ranking.

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From YahooTV:  An interesting Zachary Quinto interview - talks about "The Slap" and "The Chair."

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From YahooCelebrity:  Is Eddie Murphy really "don?"

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From IGN:  Evan Peters on Quicksilver's possible return in "X-Men Apocalypse" and Bryan Singer drops another image from the film.


COMIC BOOKS:

From LiveForFilms:  Joe Madureira's comic book, Battle Chasers (one of my favorite) will return as as a game and eventually as a comic book.

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From YahooNews:  Next movie Spider-Man could be Black or Hispanic.

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From CinemaBlend:  Could the Doctor Strange of Marvel's movies be British?



Thursday, February 26, 2015

VIZ Media's "Requiem of the Rose King" Arrives March 10th, 2015

VIZ MEDIA LAUNCHES THE DARK FANTASY MANGA SERIES REQUIEM OF THE ROSE KING

New Series By The Creator Of OTOMEN Set In Medieval England Is Based On Shakespeare’s Political Drama Richard III

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of manga (graphic novels) and anime in North America, delivers an engrossing new series from one of the most exciting voices in contemporary manga with the launch of REQUIEM OF THE ROSE KING on March 10th, 2015.

Inspired by an early draft of William Shakespeare’s Richard III, one of literature’s most famous and polarizing political dramas, REQUIEM OF THE ROSE KING was created by Aya Kanno, widely known for her previous manga series Blank Slate and OTOMEN (both published by VIZ Media). REQUIEM OF THE ROSE KING is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will carry a print MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. Future volumes of the continuing series are scheduled to be published domestically twice a year.

In the series, Richard, the ambitious third son of the House of York, is a tortured soul who believes he is damned from birth to eternal darkness. But is it truly fate that sets him on the path to personal destruction? Or his own tormented longings? Aya Kanno’s dark fantasy finds the man who could be king standing between worlds, between classes, between good and evil.

In the opening volume, set in medieval England during the age of the Wars of the Roses, a fierce battle rages between the House of York and the House of Lancaster. Young Richard of the House of York is determined that his family will ascend the throne…but he’s hiding a secret that could destroy everything he desires.

“Aya Kanno’s unique take on the era of the Wars of the Roses, REQUIEM OF THE ROSE KING, will resonate with her current fans and hopefully bring even more awareness to her lush, masterful work,” says Joel Enos, Editor. “Aya Kanno returns to a darker, gothic inspired aesthetic, reworking Shakespeare’s classic tragedy about poisonous Machiavellian ambition into a ruthless and beautiful new series. Her Richard is a cunning, flawed prince determined to secure the throne for his family!”

Aya Kanno is the creator of manga series including Soul Rescue, Blank Slate (published by VIZ Media), and the New York Times bestselling series, Otomen (published by VIZ Media), which was recognized as a Great Graphic Novel for Teens by the Young Adult Library Services Association.

For more information on REQUIEM OF THE ROSE KING and other manga titles published by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and ONE PIECE, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

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Webcomics Update: Grumble #1 Page 18


Page 18 is here: http://www.comicbookbin.com/grumbleone018.html


Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Emmy-Winner Rob Schrab Named Director of "The LEGO Movie" Sequel

Everything is Still Awesome, as Rob Schrab is Set to Direct “The LEGO® Movie Sequel”

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the “Master Builders” of the first blockbuster hit, are writing and will produce the sequel together with Dan Lin and Roy Lee

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Director Rob Schrab (TV’s “Community,” “The Mindy Project”) will mark his feature directorial debut overseeing construction on “The LEGO® Movie Sequel,” the eagerly awaited follow-up to the worldwide sensation “The LEGO Movie.” The announcement was made by Greg Silverman, President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who wrote and directed “The LEGO Movie,” are writing the new feature based on a story by Lord, Miller, Jared Stern and Michelle Morgan. In addition, Lord and Miller will serve as producers, alongside returning producers Dan Lin and Roy Lee.

Silverman stated, “‘The LEGO Movie’ captivated critics and audiences on a global scale with its irresistible blend of humor, imagination and fun. Warner Bros. is excited to build our relationship with The LEGO Group with this new adventure, and we join them in welcoming the multi-talented Rob Schrab to the LEGO family as he takes the helm of ‘The LEGO Movie Sequel.’”

In a joint statement, Lord and Miller said, “We are so excited to collaborate with Rob. He is a comedy genius, a visual savant, and we have been stalking him for years. No one works harder than Rob, and his aesthetic, combined with his sense of humor, bring a strong, unique, thoughtful, and passionately nerdy voice to this project. People who know him are slapping their foreheads today and saying, ‘Of course!’”

Schrab has recently directed episodes of such hit series as “Community,” “The Mindy Project” and “Parks and Recreation.” He also wrote, directed and executive produced “The Sarah Silverman Program,” for which he gained a WGA Award nomination. He previously earned a 2007 Annie Award nomination for Best Writing in an Animated Feature Production, for the Oscar-nominated comedy “Monster House.” In addition, he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics, and received an additional nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special for his work on the 81st Annual Academy Awards.

“The LEGO Movie Sequel” is another piece of the Studio’s growing LEGO film franchise, also including the upcoming “Ninjago,” slated for a September 23, 2016, release, and an as-yet-untitled BatmanTM LEGO feature, due out in May 2017.


LEGO, the LEGO logo, Ninjago, the minifigure and the brick and knob configuration are trademarks of The LEGO Group. ©2015 The LEGO Group. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

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Negromancer's Fave Poli-Reads - February 2015 Edition - Update #8


From NewYorkTimes: It is racist because you are a racist, Giuliani.

From RollingStone:  Matt Taibbi dogs Rudy Giuliani.

From Reuters via RSN:  Kate Brown, the new governor of Oregon, becomes the first openly bisexual governor in U.S. history.

From RawStory:  I am always amazed by Sarah Palin's ability to be both pimp and prostitute at the same time.

From Esquire:  Charles Pierce - Why didn't Scott Walker graduate from college.

From Reuters:  John Stewart is leaving "The Daily Show."

From YahooNews.  The racist senior advisor to Rep. Aaron Schock (R. Ill) resigns.

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From The Intercept via RSN:  Glenn Greenwald on whiny, privileged celebrity journalists.

From NewYorkMag:  Greenwald's target.
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From RSN:  President Barack Obama: Blueprint for Middle-Class Economics


Tuesday, February 24, 2015

"Selma" Dominates 2015 Black Reel Awards - Complete Winners List

The Black Reel Awards annually honor African-Americans in feature, independent, and television film.  The awards also take notice of the work in film by people of color throughout the African Diaspora.  The awards were launched in 2000, and this is the 15th year the awards will be handed out.  The Black Reel Awards are now given out by the Foundation for the Advancement of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF).

The 15th Annual Black Reel Awards winners were announced on Friday, February 20, 2015.  The Black Reel Awards are comprised of more than 60 voters across the country.  The voters annually select and spotlight films and performances featuring African-Americans, as well as people of color throughout the African Diaspora.

Selma won 8 awards, tying the film with last year's 12 Years a Slave for the most Black Reel Award wins in a single year.

2015 / 15th Annual Black Reel Awards Winners:

Outstanding Motion Picture
Selma | Oprah Winfrey, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner & Christian Colson (Paramount)

Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture
David Oyelowo | Selma (Paramount)

Outstanding Actress, Motion Picture
Gugu Mbatha-Raw | Belle (Fox Searchlight)

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Motion Picture
Wendell Pierce | Selma (Paramount)

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Motion Picture
Carmen Ejogo | Selma (Paramount)

Outstanding Director, Motion Picture
Ava DuVernay | Selma (Paramount)

Outstanding Screenplay, Motion Picture
Chris Rock | Top Five (Paramount)

Outstanding Documentary
Anita: Speaking Truth to the Power | Freida Lee Mock

Outstanding Ensemble (Awarded to Casting Directors)
Selma | Aisha Coley (Paramount)

Outstanding Foreign Film
Fishing Without Nets (Kenya) | Cutter Hodierne (Drafthouse Films)

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male
Tyler James Williams | Dear White People (Lionsgate/ Roadside Attractions

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female
Teyonah Parris | Dear White People (Lionsgate / Roadside Attractions)

Outstanding Voice Performance
Morgan Freeman | The LEGO Movie (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Score
Jason Moran | Selma (Paramount)

Outstanding Original Song
“Glory” from Selma | Performed by: John Legend & Common;
Written by: John Legend, Common & Che Smith (Paramount)

INDEPENDENT:

Outstanding Independent Feature
The Retrieval | Chris Eska

Outstanding Independent Documentary
25 to Life | Mark Brown

Outstanding Independent Short
#AmeriCan | Nate Parker

TELEVISION:

Outstanding Television Documentary or Special
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown | Alex Gibney (HBO)

Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series
The Trip to Bountiful | Bill Haber, Cicely Tyson, Hallie Foote & Jeff Hayes (Lifetime)

Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Larenz Tate | Gun Hill (BET)

Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Cicely Tyson | The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)

Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Blair Underwood | The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)

Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Anika Noni Rose | A Day Late and a Dollar Short (Lifetime)

Outstanding Director, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Reggie Rock Bythewood | Gun Hill (BET)

Outstanding Screenplay, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Reggie Rock Bythewood | Gun Hill (BET)

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