Posted by Michael Pinto on Jun 4, 2010 in Comic Books
I can just see the meeting where the demography folks break out their PowerPoint and announce that “if we want to gain a female readership we gotta have vampires!” And to be fair women love vampires — so how can you go wrong? Well looking at the above cover of the Marvel one shot Death of Dracula you can drive a stake through its heart. Clearly what the art director didn’t get is that vampires are really all about romance, yet what you’ve got here looks like a bad parody of a 50s pulp magazine. But wait it gets worse, here are the character designs by the talented Marko Djurdjevic who seems to be channeling the worse elements of Elfquest and DEVO: Read more…
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jun 4, 2010 in Comic Books
Advertorials are those sponsored sections in magazines which are usually trying to give you the soft sell — so I was somewhat surprised to see that not only has this approach been adopted to manga, but used to sell beer in Japan! From my crude translation this is a special publication sponsored by Suntory premium malts and is a “celebration of father’s day” which is June 20th. Read more…
It’s hard for me to believe that Lilo & Stitch came out eight years ago! What’s also interesting is that the film and related goodies like videogames are still quite popular in Japan. Show above is the Stitch HQ 3-Way Furisu Blanket which is quite kawaii! And at under $30 makes for a cheap cosplay outfit — although the catch is that since the blanket is on the small size it may only benefit young and somewhat short con goers. Read more…
Well, Tony Stark and anyone else who happens to have at least $400 to spend on designer shoes. That’s right, these incredible custom sneakers are currently being auctioned on ebay by Diversitile, a company that just so happens to specialize in, you guessed it, designer footware. The shoes apparently come with built-in arc reactor lights that mimic the designs of the Iron Man and War Machine armor featured in Iron Man 2. Don’t get me wrong, this shoes look absolutely stunning but considering the price, I think I probably buy a pair of Bapes, and have some cash left over and at least I know those would be comfortable. If you’re interested, check out the ebay listings here, or head over to their official blog for more information. Read more…
Every once in awhile someone does something awesome with legos that makes me wish I still had my box of spare parts. I always end up regretting the fact that I sold the majority on eBay so many years ago, with the exception of a few sets that I’ve managed to keep sealed away in their original box. Still, it really amazes me when someone creates something that’s actually somewhat useful. Sure, it’s neat to see someone construct a robot or a Valkyrie, but creating something a bit more original always manages to impress, and that’s exactly what B3ta user, Squirrelfantasy, did with his felt-tip lego printer. It might be a bit crude, but it looks pretty neat and gets the job done. Read more…
Apparently biologists are split as to if humans or climate change killed off prehistoric creatures like like mammoths, giant sloths and saber-toothed cats. These creatures known as megafauna all died out at about the same time early in human history. In this interesting clip professor Elizabeth Hadly gives an overview of the debate which can be seen in full here.Read more…
I suppose this should still be labeled a rumor, but at least it’s a plausible one that I feel I can weigh in on. Gear Live is currently reporting that a reputable source has informed them that Microsoft is set to announce the lauch of Hulu’s subscription-based service via Xbox Live at E3 later this month. The plan for a subscription based service has actually been common knowledge, though most people expected it to launch with the upcoming iPad app that has been in development for months already. Read more…
Here’s the first full trailer for the latest addition to the Resident Evil film franchise, Resident Evil: Afterlife. I’m sure some of you might be cringing after reading that headline, after all, Resident Evil: Extinction — the last entry in the series — failed on so many levels. After its predecessor ended with so much promise — at least, as much promise as a Hollywood video game adaption could — Extinction simply delivered more of the same, and as a result, many people, myself included, weren’t exactly looking forward to a fourth. Read more…
David Blaine, eat your heart out. Today I stumbled across this awesome video, complete with subtitles, of a Japanese street magician playing with Apple’s iPad. Sure, he’s no Lance Burton, and it’s a pretty neat little presentation in terms of viral marketing. I also hate to say it, but aside from using it as a glorified ebook reader, this video has probably demonstrated the most practical use of an iPad I’ve seen to date. Kind of sad, huh? Read more…
A few months back, the guys over at Woa2 stumbled across this insane Star Wars themed Honda while attending the Anime L.A. convention. According their post, the car is modeled after an X-wing, though I’m pretty sure the paint job alone looks closer to that of an A-wing — aside from the R2 unit in the back, of course. The interior of the car is just as impressive, featuring a custom wheel, dashboard, leather interior, a passenger-side computer console, and more. It’s obvious a lot of work went into this. Read more…
In this video clip Adam Savage the co-host of MythBusterstells the tail — err tale of the cannibalistic mice. It seems that they did an episode based upon the myth that bad breakfast cereal has less nutrients than the box. So to test this myth they fed one set of mice super sugary cereal and another set cardboard pellets. The result? The cardboard mice resorted to cannibalism and the making of a MythBusters episode that never aired. Read more…
Etsy artist Doc Martin was self trained in art from an early age but took his talent to the next level at a respectable SoCal art school. This colorful series of Star Wars inspired posters draws inspiration from the likes of Andy Warhol and LeRoy Neiman. Featured in this vivid set of prints are Boba Fett, Darth Vader, a Stormtrooper and a TIE fighter. Read more…
You don’t need us to tell you that Prince of Persia was a mildly entertaining action-adventure film. You either know that already or don’t care. But I CAN tell you a few things that you may or may not know about the loosely game-based Jake Gyllenhaal feature and the world behind it that might surprise you…unless Hollywood’s poor choices don’t surprise you anymore. Read more…
I’ve seen a great deal of geek shaped soap in my day, but the added touch of making this faux BlackBerry scented with blackberries is genius! Produced by the Two Eggplants Company this BlackBerry PDA Phone Soap shows some nice detail on the keyboard and even includes a screen full of mock icons: Read more…
Word came out this week that the Pee-Wee Herman Show, and its infamous star Paul Rubens, are moving on to Broadway, for a short time at least. This is one of those ideas that makes you go, “why didn’t anyone think of this YEARS ago?” because Pee-Wee and its mix of puppetry and live stars are perfect for the stage.
But it’s not the only show that I’d like to see get a Broadway adaptation. Here are just a few from my childhood* that deserve a shot.
* I watched some Nick at Nite, so this is all technically true. Read more…
Commissioned over 100 years ago in 1903 the paintings by C. M. Coolidge which are collectively now known as Dogs Playing Poker is a cornerstone of pure(bred) Americana. But as good as those doggies were, I belive that an America of the 21st Century needs a more modern for of kitsch — and thus I nominate this Ultimate Boston Terrier Star Wars Dog Art Set for the honor. Lavishly illustrated by Brian Rubenacker this set of prints captures the canine side of Darth, Boba, Princess, Obi-Wan and Yoda. Read more…
Netflix’s Watch Instantly feature has been a pretty handy tool since it launched. Users could slog through entire seasons of Law and Order, classic flicks like Harold and Maude and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, and certain sets of niche genre films, all at the click of a button.
But recently Netflix added a batch of titles to its library that transformed Watch Instantly into THE place for kids who watched a lot of cartoons in the ’90s (not including anime, which makes up the vast majority of Netflix’s “Anime & Animation” section). Read more…
This kawaii set of Han and Leia Kokeshi Dolls are designed as cake toppers — although I think they’d stand out on their own as a collectable. They were crafted by PeanutbutterBandit who who hails from Tinton Falls, New Jersey. Read more…
Even though I’m vegetarian the Japanophile in me craved this wonderfully detailed Ultra Realistic Sushi Lover Deluxe Soaps Gift Set. Designed by the Two Eggplants Company this set includes soap shaped likes shrimp, salmon, fatty tuna, calamari, cucumber, spicy tuna, roe sushi and a cute little gyosa as a bonus. And best of all the soaps are wasabi scented! Read more…
Who hasn’t made a cup of Earl Grey, and imagined themselves ordering it from a replicator? It might not be as instantaneous, but ThinkGeek’s Timmy the Monkey now has his own tea sampler set that features, among others, Tea, Earl Grey, Hot. I’m not even kidding — that’s what they’re actually calling their Earl Grey. It’s even labeled with the iconic Star Trek: The Next Generation typeface. Other flavors include Timmy’s 1UP Jasmine Green, Zombie Blood Orange, and Pirate Chai, but honestly, I’m sold on the novelty of the Earl Grey alone. Each of the four containers hold enough loose-leaf tea to make 10 cups. It’s a bit steep for $17.99, but given the fact that it’s all loose-leaf and not the cheap stuff you find in modern teabags, at least you know you’re going to be getting some quality tea out of it. For more info, check out their site here. Read more…
I’m sure it’s not every day that you come across house music featuring robots — famous ones, at least. The video here features some of our favorites lending their robotic talents to Eclectic Method’s latest release entitled, you guessed it, “Robots.” Clever name, right? Yeah, I thought so too. I was really hoping they’d throw in some Mechagodzilla, but I suppose it was just wishful thinking. Still, it’s a pretty cool video and if you’d like a copy of the song or more info about the group, check their official website. Read more…
Posted by Tim Sheehy on May 26, 2010 in Japanese TV
These commercials for the Japanese credit firm, JCB, feature J-Pop vocalist Ninomiya Kazunari miraculously saving the struggling Japanese economy with a simple swipe of his JCB issued credit card. The commercials are pretty hilarious, but at the same time I’m a little confused. In fairness, they’re technically encouraging some form of economic stimulation, but that’s only assuming people are actually going to pay off the balance they borrow on those cards, which, in part, is the reason behind the current global financial crisis. A bit ironic, don’t you think? Read more…
Star Trek Magazine is finally available for digital download. Since 1995, Titan UK has been publishing this fantastic magazine overseas, and while we have a decent equivalent here in the States, Star Trek: The Magazine, I’ve always wondered what I’ve been missing. Now, thanks to the folks over at Zinio, we can find out without having to spend the extra cash to import it. Starting with June, each issue will cost $4.89 each. Alternatively, you can opt for a subscription, offering 8 issues for $40. Considering what they usually charge for the print, this is a real steal of a deal. Check out the Zinio website for more information. Read more…
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 25, 2010 in Videogames
This wonderful fan video takes the soundtrack from Secret of Monkey Island and plays it on several PC audio systems that date from 1981 until 1994. It’s amazing to see how in less than 15 years you can see MIDI audio go from a series of beeps to something that sounds like a CD. Read more…
