Captain America's Sebastian Stan and Baseball Legend Reggie Jackson Headline Wizard World Sacramento 2016

Sebastian Stan, Evan Peters, Hayley Atwell, William Shatner Among Top Celebrities Scheduled To Attend Wizard World Sacramento, June 17-19

Reggie Jackson, Jewel Staite, Billy Boyd, Denis O’Hare, Michael Rooker Also Headline Roster; Talented Comics Creators, Variety of Exhibitors, Cosplayers, Robust Programming At Sacramento Convention Center

SACRAMENTO, Calif - Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) continues its 2016 schedule with its third trip to Sacramento Convention Center at Wizard World Sacramento, June 17-19, 2016. Captain America star Sebastian Stan, X-Men standout Evan Peters, Hayley Atwell (“Agent Carter,” Captain America: The First Avenger), William Shatner (“Star Trek,” “Boston Legal”), and Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson (The Naked Gun) headline the roster of celebrity guests scheduled to attend the pop culture extravaganza, the 11th event on Wizard World's calendar of comic con and gaming cons in 2016.

Jackson will attend on Saturday, June 18, only. Atwell will appear Sunday, June 19, only. Shatner will appear on Friday and Sunday; Stan and Peters are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

Other well-known Wizard World Sacramento guests include Jewel Staite (“Firefly”), Billy Boyd (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy), Denis O’Hare (“American Horror Story,” “True Blood”),  Michael Cudlitz (“The Walking Dead,” “Southland”), Michael Rooker (“The Walking Dead”, Guardians of the Galaxy ), Dean Cain (“Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” Vendetta), Chris 51 (“Epic Ink”) and others.

Wizard World is also the home of the most creative comics artists and writers on the planet. Artist Alley in Sacramento will feature Arthur Suydam (“Marvel Zombies” “Army of Darkness”) Phil Ortiz  ("The Simpsons," “Muppet Babies”), Paolo Rivera (“All-New X-Men,” “Daredevil”), Jason Shawn Alexander ("Abe Sapien," "Batman Arkham City"), Billy Martin (“TMNT New Animated Adventures,” also lead guitarist/keyboardist, Good Charlotte), James O’Barr (“The Crow”), Genese Davis (“The Holder’s Dominion”), Mike Norton (“Battlepug”), Victor Dandridge (“Vantage: Inhouse”), Carlo Barberi (“Avengers,” “Deadpool”), John Orlando (“Doc Behemoth”) and many others.

Wizard World comic and gaming con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, cosplay, comics, television, sci-fi, toys, video gaming, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. Wizard World Sacramento show hours are Friday, June 17, 3-8 p.m.; Saturday, June 18, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday, June 19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Wizard World is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event.  Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed –  will roam the convention floor. The famed Wizard World Sacramento Costume Contest will take place on Saturday night.

For more on the 2016 Wizard World Sacramento, visit http://wizd.me/SacramentoPR.


About Wizard World (OTCBB: WIZD)
Wizard World, Inc. (www.wizardworld.com) produces comic, gaming and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, television, cosplay, comics, graphic novels, toys, video gaming, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. A first-class lineup of topical programming takes place at each event, with celebrity Q&A's, comics-themed sessions, costume contests, movie screenings, evening parties and more. Wizard World has also launched Wizard World Store (www.shopwizardworld.com ), CONtv, a digital media channel in partnership with leading independent content distributor Cinedigm™ (NASDAQ: CIDM), and ComicConBox™ (www.comicconbox.com), a premium subscription-based monthly box service. Fans can interact with Wizard World on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and other social media services.

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"Ghost in the Shell" Live-Action Film Begins Production

PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND DREAMWORKS PICTURES’ “GHOST IN THE SHELL” IS IN PRODUCTION IN NEW ZEALAND

HOLLYWOOD, CA – Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures have announced that production is underway on “GHOST IN THE SHELL,” starring Scarlett Johansson (“AVENGERS: Age of Ultron,” “Lucy”) and directed by Rupert Sanders (“Snow White and the Huntsman”). The film is shooting in Wellington, New Zealand.

Paramount Pictures will release the film in the U.S. on March 31, 2017.

The film, which is based on the famous Kodansha Comics manga series of the same name, written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow, is produced by Avi Arad (“The Amazing Spider-Man 1 & 2,” “Iron Man”), Ari Arad (“Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance”), and Steven Paul (“Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance”). Michael Costigan (“Prometheus”), Tetsu Fujimura (“Tekken”), Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, whose animation studio Production I.G produced the Japanese "GHOST IN THE SHELL” film and television series, and Jeffrey Silver (“Edge of Tomorrow,” “300”) will executive produce.

Based on the internationally-acclaimed sci-fi property, “GHOST IN THE SHELL” follows the Major, a special ops, one-of-a-kind human-cyborg hybrid, who leads the elite task force, Section 9. Devoted to stopping the most dangerous criminals and extremists, Section 9 is faced with an enemy whose singular goal is to wipe out Hanka Robotic’s advancements in cyber technology.

“We are so pleased to be in Wellington to shoot ‘GHOST IN THE SHELL,’” said producers Avi Arad, Ari Arad, Michael Costigan and Jeffrey Silver. “The city boasts state-of-the-art production facilities and a rich urban landscape that make it an ideal setting for a sci-fi action film. The crew-base in New Zealand working on the film is first class, and working with Sir Richard Taylor and the team at Weta Workshop is inspirational on every level. The people of New Zealand have been terrific partners in helping us bring this story and its beloved characters to audiences around the world and we are thankful for their continued hospitality.”

Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures have entered into a marketing agreement with the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC), Tourism New Zealand (TNZ), Callaghan Innovation and the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) which recognizes the significant economic, cultural and industry development benefits the production will bring to New Zealand.  The collaboration will further promote New Zealand’s growing screen industry, develop local talent and showcase New Zealand to the rest of the world.

“The production will broaden the perceptions of the diversity of New Zealand’s locations by showcasing a science fiction urban setting in New Zealand,” says Dave Gibson NZFC Chief Executive.

Tourism New Zealand’s Chief Executive Kevin Bowler said: “Tourism New Zealand is thrilled to be working with Paramount Pictures for the first time on ‘GHOST IN THE SHELL.’ Film tourism is an important element in Tourism New Zealand’s work to inspire people to visit New Zealand and we look forward to this new opportunity to showcase New Zealand to the rest of the world.”

The cast of “GHOST IN THE SHELL” includes Beat Takeshi Kitano (“BATTLE ROYALE” series) as Daisuke Aramaki, Juliette Binoche (“The English Patient”) as Dr. Ouelet, Michael Pitt (“Hannibal,” “Boardwalk Empire”) as Kuze, Pilou Asbæk (“Lucy”) as Batou, and Kaori Momoi (“Memoirs of a Geisha”). The members of Section 9 are played by Chin Han (“INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE”), Danusia Samal (“Tyrant”), Lasarus Ratuere (“Terra Nova”), Yutaka Izumihara (“Unbroken”) and Tuwanda Manyimo (“The Rover”).

The film’s crew includes Cinematographer Jess Hall (“The Spectacular Now”), Editor Neil Smith (“Snow White and the Huntsman”), Production Designer Jan Roelfs (“FAST & FURIOUS 6”), and Costume Designers Kurt Swanson and Bart Mueller (“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Parts 1& 2”).


About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

About DreamWorks Pictures
DreamWorks Pictures is a production label of Amblin Partners, a content creation company formed by the former DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media, Reliance Entertainment and Entertainment One (eOne). The company develops and produces films using the Amblin, DreamWorks Pictures and Participant banners and includes Amblin Television, a longtime leader in quality programming. The company’s first film, “Bridge of Spies,” was released to critical acclaim in October 2015.  Other projects in various stages of production include: “The Light Between Oceans,” scheduled for release by Disney in 2016; “The Girl on the Train,” scheduled for release in October 2016; “A Dog’s Purpose,” scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2017; “Ready Player One,” scheduled for release in December of 2017; and “Ghost in the Shell,” starring Scarlett Johansson that is currently in production and scheduled for release in 2017.  Upcoming shows from Amblin TV include “All the Way,” an HBO movie directed by Jay Roach and starring Bryan Cranston; and “American Gothic,” a summer series that will air on CBS and begin production in February 2016.

DreamWorks Pictures can be found at:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DreamWorksPictures

Twitter: DW_Pictures

About the New Zealand Film Commission
The New Zealand Film Commission invests in original and culturally significant films, encourages talented New Zealand filmmakers through developing career pathways and facilitating connections offshore, and works to increase the number of people seeing New Zealand films here and overseas. It is responsible for marketing New Zealand’s screen production industry overseas and attracting international screen productions to New Zealand. The NZFC supports the growth of economic activity and helps ensure New Zealand has sustainable screen sector businesses operating within an internationally competitive screen sector.  The NZFC also helps negotiate co-production treaties and is responsible for administering the New Zealand Screen Production Grant, the Post, Digital and Visual Effects Grant and the 5% Uplift, and for certifying official co-productions and New Zealand films for tax purposes.

About Tourism New Zealand
Tourism New Zealand markets New Zealand to the world as a visitor destination. In the year ending February 2016, 3.2 million international visitors came to New Zealand. International tourism is one of New Zealand’s largest earners of foreign exchange, adding around NZ$11.8 billion annually to the nation’s economy. www.tourismnewzealand.com

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Warner Bros. Piictures Brought Out the Stars for CinemaCon

Warner Bros. Pictures’ CinemaCon Presentation Hits the Jackpot in Las Vegas

Big Movies, Big Stars and Big News Take Center Stage at the Studio’s Big Picture Presentation

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Warner Bros. Pictures showcased an impressive lineup of talents and highly anticipated films at this year’s CinemaCon, which generated tremendous excitement for the Studio’s wide-ranging slate. Chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara opened the program and announced that Ben Affleck—who will again play the role of Batman in the upcoming Justice League movie—will direct, as well as star in, a new stand-alone Batman feature.

The Studio’s presentation was highlighted by trailers and film clips—including some never-before-seen footage—and appearances by some of the major stars and filmmakers involved in each of the movies. It also served to illustrate Tsujihara’s statement about the diversity of the slate: built on the foundation of the key franchises of DC Super Heroes, animated LEGO® features, and “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” but also encompassing a broad scope of dramas, action adventures, horror thrillers and comedies.

There were also speeches from Sue Kroll, in her new post as Warner Bros. Pictures President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, who was recently named President of Worldwide Distribution.

Remarking on the Warner Bros. event, Kroll said, “CinemaCon is always one of the high points of our year: when we get to introduce our upcoming slate to our partners in the exhibition community who are responsible for bringing our films to audiences worldwide. It was wonderful to have this opportunity to showcase the broad range of films Warner Bros. has on the horizon, as well as some of the extraordinary artists behind them.”

Kwan Vandenberg added, “We appreciated the enthusiastic participation of actors and filmmakers from every title, who added tremendous star power to the presentation. CinemaCon gives us a chance to reinforce our commitment to the big-screen experience on a global level.”

Kicking off the film presentation with a bang, Ben Affleck and Amy Adams introduced a thrilling reel spotlighting the Studio’s ambitious slate of DC films. The roster includes the new Justice League film, as well as stand-alone features for Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg. Director Zack Snyder closed the reel with a greeting from the Justice League film set, surrounded by his stars.

The DC preview also included a glimpse of the summer’s hotly anticipated action adventure “Suicide Squad” and, immediately following, writer/director David Ayer took the stage and introduced the main ensemble cast, led by Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie and Joel Kinnaman. The extended version of the “Suicide Squad” trailer was met with loud applause and the buzz surrounding the film was palpable.

Host Mario Lopez then took the attendees through the rest of the summer line-up, including advance footage from the wide range of titles. The stars and filmmakers who excited the crowd about their upcoming films included: Russell Crowe for the action comedy “The Nice Guys”; Emilia Clarke for the drama “Me Before You” (from New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn Mayer); James Wan, Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson for the supernatural thriller “The Conjuring 2” (from New Line Cinema); Teresa Palmer and David F. Sandberg for the horror thriller “Lights Out” (from New Line Cinema); Kevin Hart and Rawson Marshall Thurber for the action comedy “Central Intelligence” (from New Line Cinema and Universal Pictures), which included a taped greeting from Dwayne Johnson; Alexander Skarsgård, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson and Christoph Waltz for the adventure “The Legend of Tarzan” (from Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures); and Todd Phillips and Bradley Cooper for the comedic drama “War Dogs,” which is based on real events.

Looking past the summer, Warner Bros. unveiled some of the films on the drawing board from the Warner Animation Group, or WAG for short. Three of the brilliant minds in the WAG think tank—Christopher Miller, Phil Lord and Nicholas Stoller—came to the stage to introduce a special reel featuring a few of the titles in the pipeline, anchored by three new films in the LEGO® movie franchise: “The LEGO® Batman Movie,” “The LEGO® Movie 2” and “Ninjago.” Stoller, who co-directed the next WAG film on the slate, “Storks,” was joined by fellow director Doug Sweetland and voice talents Andy Samberg and Katie Crown to present new footage from the heartwarming and hilarious family adventure.

The animation portion wrapped with never-before-seen footage from “The LEGO® Batman Movie,” which gives the breakout star of the hit “The LEGO® Movie” a film of his own. Drawing laughter and enthusiastic applause, the clip was presented by producers Lord and Miller, joined by the voice of LEGO® Batman himself, Will Arnett, who made a surprise appearance to the delight of everyone there.

Warner Bros. closed the presentation with a look at the most magical film of the year, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” written by Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling, which will bring moviegoers to a new place and time in the wizarding world. Four of the film’s stars, Eddie Redmayne, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler and Colin Farrell, came to the stage to introduce the new teaser trailer and a look behind the scenes of the film, which has already captivated fans.

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Review: "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation" a Nation onto Itself

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 8 (of 2016) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)
Running time: 131 minutes (2 hours, 11 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of action and violence, and brief partial nudity
DIRECTOR:  Christopher McQuarrie
WRITERS:  Christopher McQuarrie; from a story by Christopher McQuarrie and Drew Pearce (based upon the television series created by Bruce Geller)
PRODUCERS: Tom Cruise, J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk, David Ellison, and Don Granger
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Robert Elswit (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Eddie Hamilton
COMPOSER: Joe Kraemer

ACTION/ADVENTURE/SPY/THRILLER

Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Alec Baldwin, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, Sean Harris, Simon McBurney, Jen Hultén, Hermoine Corfield, and Nigel Barber

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation is a 2015 action-thriller and espionage film directed by Christopher McQuarrie and starring Tom Cruise.  It is the fifth film in the Mission: Impossible film franchise, which is based on the American television series, “Mission: Impossible,” that was created by Bruce Geller and that originally aired on CBS from 1966 to 1973.

Rogue Nation finds the Impossible Mission Force (IMF) taking on their most impossible mission yet, defeating an international rogue organization that is every bit as highly skilled as IMF.  A little over three year ago, I called Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol the best M:I film since the first one, 1996's Mission: Impossible.  Now, I think Rogue Nation is the best since the first film.

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation opens in Belarus.  Agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is on a mission with his IMF team – technical field agent, Benjamin “Benji” Dunn (Simon Pegg) and IMF agent Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames).  They have to intercept a shipment of VX nerve gas aboard an airplane before it is flown away to be sold to terrorists.

Later, CIA Director Alan Hunley (Alec Baldwin) and IMF Field Operations Director William Brandt (Jeremy Renner) testify before a U.S. Senate committee.  The IMF is currently without a secretary in charge, but Hunley believes that the Senate should not appoint new secretary.  He believes that the IMF is dangerous and destructive and that any successes its agents have are the result of luck.  Hunley wants the IMF disbanded and absorbed into the CIA.

Ethan Hunt has been trying to prove the existence of the Syndicate, an international criminal consortium.  He believes that the Syndicate is both the equal and the opposite of the IMF.  It is an anti-IMF that acts as a “rogue nation,” committing acts of terror and assassination.  Hunley believes that the Syndicate is a figment of Hunt's imagination and sends CIA agents and assets to capture Hunt.  Hunt believes that a mysterious operative, Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), is the person who can lead him to the Syndicate and its formidable leader, the mysterious Solomon Lane (Sean Harris).

I always want to be honest with you, dear readers, even when I'm being a fanboy who really loves a movie in spite of its faults.  I absolutely love Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, and I think that it is a genuinely good movie.  I don't know if it is possible that any other filmmakers could do a better job than director Christopher McQuarrie and film editor Eddie Hamilton did with Rogue Nation.  Maybe James Cameron could?

I think it is preposterous that this movie is so entertaining.  The action is so bracing and invigorating.  The ebb and flow of the thrills could cause you to ask for a cigarette after seeing this movie.  Rogue Nation is a way more entertaining action movie than Jurassic World, which made three times as much money at the box office as Rogue Nation did.  I kinda have to admit that I enjoyed watching Rogue Nation more than I did watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens three nights ago.  It hurts me to write this, cause I love me some Star Wars, but...

Seriously, Tom Cruise is as glorious as ever as Ethan Hunt.  This time, however, the mix of quality supporting cast as IMF agents and as allies, adversaries, and people somewhere in the middle is just right – like a stew or soup with that almost-perfect blend of ingredients, preparation, and cooking.  Yes, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation is a golden gumbo of flavorful characters, settings, plot, and execution.  I plan on experiencing this cinematic dish many, many more times.

9 of 10
A+

Friday, December 25, 2015


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

Image Comics and Iron Circus Comics Announce Genuine New Comics Talent Showcase

CREATORS FOR CREATORS NON-PROFIT OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES

Co-founders Brothers, Dragotta, Remender, Hickman, Keatinge, and Del Duca announce initiative at Image Expo

SEATTLE, WA—On Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at Image Expo, David Brothers, Nick Dragotta, Rick Remender, Jonathan Hickman, Joe Keatinge, and Leila Del Duca took the stage to announce a newly formed 501(c)(3) non-profit organization called CREATORS FOR CREATORS, aimed at fostering—both financially and through mentorship—new creative voices in the comics industry and bringing new works by those voices into being for the first time.

"Following in the footsteps of invaluable initiatives like the Xeric Grant, we'd like to introduce the Creators for Creators Grant. The goal of the grant is to help pave the way for the next generation of original comics creators by supporting their work financially and through mentorship, and providing opportunities for their creations to reach a wide audience," said Nick Dragotta.

Submission guidelines will be provided on May 1st, 2016 the same date submissions will open. Both single cartoonists and writer/artist duos will be eligible for the Creators for Creators grant. Applicants must be eighteen years of age or older.

The Creators for Creators award will consist of $30,000 of financial backing for the project and mentorship from a wide variety of experienced professionals from all corners of the comics industry. The goal is to not just educate the recipient, but to increase the body of knowledge available to new creators in the industry as a whole and easing entry for everyone.

Recipients of the Creators for Creators grant are free to choose how and where they publish their new comic, with Image Comics and Iron Circus Comics both offering optional publishing deals for the grant's recipient, but the recipient will be free to choose how and where they publish their work.

"We're on the cusp of great change in the comics industry, and it's important we meet that change head-on, instead of letting it catch us by surprise, or worse, ignoring it entirely," said Brothers. "The comics community is capable of great things, and the Creators for Creators grant is a good step in the right direction."

The Creators for Creators grant was founded by Charlie Adlard, Jordie Bellaire, David Brothers, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Nick Dragotta, Leila del Duca, Matt Fraction, Kieron Gillen, Jonathan Hickman, Joe Keatinge, Robert Kirkman, Jamie McKelvie, Rick Remender, Declan Shalvey, Fiona Staples, Eric Stephenson, C. Spike Trotman, and Brian K. Vaughan.

For more information, or to find out how to support the non-profit as a creator or publisher, please visit http://creatorsforcreators.org.

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VIZ Media Announces "Freeza Arc," Dragon Ball in Full Color

VIZ MEDIA RELEASES DRAGON BALL FULL COLOR: FREEZA ARC IN BOLD PRINT AND DIGITAL EDITIONS

Major Story Arc Of Akira Toriyama’s Bestselling Action Adventure Series Arrives In A Vivid Large-Size Color Manga Edition Next Month!

San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, offers a vibrant dose of Akira Toriyama’s most famous manga (graphic novel) series – DRAGON BALL – with the release of DRAGON BALL FULL COLOR: FREEZA ARC, Volume 1 on May 3rd, 2016.

The new edition of the classic action epic from the Shonen Jump imprint covers a fan-favorite story arc of the series and will be presented in a vivid, full-color volume at a larger 6 5/8" x 10 ¼” trim size. The volume is rated ‘A’ for All Ages and will carry a print MSRP of $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN. The DRAGON BALL FULL COLOR: FREEZA ARC, Volume 1 also launches digitally on May 3rd via VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App, as well as from the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and GooglePlay stores. Future full color editions of the 5-volume FREEZA ARC will be published on a quarterly basis.

After his epic battle with Vegeta, Son Goku and his friends must obtain the wish-granting Dragon Balls in order to resurrect their fallen allies! Their search will take them all the way to the planet Namek, where the evil Freeza and his minions are slaughtering the Namekians in order to fulfill Freeza’s wish for immortality. What will it take to defeat this great evil?

Also available digitally and in print from VIZ Media are Volumes 1-3 of the DRAGON BALL FULL COLOR: SAIYAN ARC, the exciting preceding storyline of the classic series.

Renowned worldwide for his playful, innovative storytelling and humorous, distinctive art style, Akira Toriyama burst onto the manga scene in 1980 with the wildly popular Dr. Slump. His hit series Dragon Ball (published in the U.S. as Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z) ran from 1984 to 1995 in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. He is also known for his design work on video games such as Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, Tobal No. 1, and Blue Dragon. His manga works include JACO THE GALACTIC PATROLMAN, COWA! And SAND LAND (all published by VIZ Media), as well as Kajika, Neko Majin, and an illustrated children's book, Toccio the Angel.

For additional information on DRAGON BALL 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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Bluefin Announces Gorgeous Statues and Figures Featuring "Fight Club" and DC Comics Favorites

BLUEFIN ANNOUNCES NEW EXCLUSIVE PARTNERS IRON STUDIOS AND BLITZWAY

Bluefin To Carry Highly Detailed Limited Edition 1/4, 1/6 and 1/10 Statues And Fully Poseable Figures By New Brand Partners For Batman vs. Superman, Rocky II, Fight Club And More!

Anaheim, CA – Bluefin, the leading North American distributor of toys, collectibles, and hobby merchandise from Japan, Hong Kong and more, has announced that it has become the exclusive North American product distributor for collectible and figure companies, Iron Studios and Blitzway.

Iron Studios:
Founded in 2010, Iron Studios is headquartered in Brazil and specializes in a wide range of incredibly accurate and lifelike 1/10 scale products. The first products to be carried by Bluefin will include:

·         Batman vs. Superman Dawn of Justice “Superman” 1/10 Statue · MSRP: $104.99 · Available May 2016

Limited edition statue is manufactured in Polystone and hand painted. Statue stands around 7.5 inches, including the base.

·         Batman vs. Superman Dawn of Justice “Batman” 1/10 Statue · MSRP: $104.99 · Available May 2016

Limited edition statue is manufactured in Polystone and hand painted. Statue stands around 7.5 inches, including the base.

·         Batman vs. Superman Dawn of Justice “Wonder Woman” 1/10 Statue · MSRP: $104.99 · Available May 2016

Limited edition statue based on Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman from Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. Statue is manufactured in Polystone, is hand painted, and stands around 7 inches, including the base.

·         Batman: Arkham Knight · MSRP: $149.99 · Available May 2016

Limited edition statue based on the popular video game is manufactured in Polystone and hand painted. Statue stands around 7.5 inches, including the base.

Pre-orders are available now from authorized Bluefin retailers nationwide and also from a variety of leading online outlets. For additional information on Iron Studios, please visit https://www.facebook.com/ironstudios and http://www.ironstudios.com.br/.

Blitzway:
Based in South Korea, Blitzway specializes in highly detailed and intricately sculpted 1/6 and 1/4 scale figures and statues of famous characters from pop culture, comics, and TV and movies. The first products to be carried by Bluefin will include:

·         Rocky II ¼ Scale Rocky Statue · MSRP: $449.99 · Available July 2016

A stunningly accurate statue over 20 inches tall! Sculptor K.A.Kim created an intricately sculpted face that imbues Rocky's internal conflicts and captures the image of raw strength and tenacity in the body and pose. Butkus, Stallone's pet dog in real life and the 'Rocky' series, takes his place next to Rocky as the ever-faithful partner and family member watching over the boxer.

·         Fight Club 1/6 Scale Tyler Durden Red Jacket Version Figure · MSRP: $249.99 · Available July 2016

Blitzway is very proud to officially introduce the Tyler Durden 1/6 Scale Collectible Figure from the 1999 blockbuster film, Fight Club. It features a highly detailed likeness head sculpt, accurate tailored costumes, brand new fully articulated body, various realistic accessories, and perfect realizations of the movie character. Sculpted by K.A. Kim.

·         Fight Club 1/6 Scale Tyler Durden Fur Coat Version Figure · MSRP: $249.99 · Available July 2016

Alternate version outfitted with a fur coat. Figure features a highly detailed likeness head sculpt, accurate tailored costumes, brand new fully articulated body, various realistic accessories, and perfect realizations of the movie character. Sculpted by K.A. Kim.

·         Fight Club 1/6 Scale Tyler Durden Special 2-Pack Version Figure · MSRP: $497.99 · Available July 2016

Special limited edition set includes both the Red Jacket Version and Fur Coat Version plus a special Tyler Durden bathroom robe exclusive. Sculpted by K.A. Kim.

Pre-orders are available now from authorized Bluefin retailers nationwide and also from a variety of leading online outlets. For additional information on Blitzway, please visit http://blitzway.com/index.html and https://www.facebook.com/Blitzway.


About Bluefin
Based in Irvine, CA, Bluefin built its reputation as a leading distributor of Japanese toys, collectibles, novelty and hobby products. In recent years, Bluefin has grown to include a range of high quality collectible lines from the United States, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore and established itself as the official North American consumer products and retail development partner for Studio Ghibli. Selling to thousands of specialty, chain and independent stores, Bluefin is an official North American distributor for Bandai Hobby, Kotobukiya and Capcom, is the sole provider of Bandai Tamashii Nations products, and is also the exclusive and official distributor for Hero Cross, Beast Kingdom, Comicave, Mr. Hobby, SEN-TI-NEL and X-Plus. Bluefin also represents TruForce Collectibles products worldwide. Additional information is available at: www.bluefincorp.com.

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