With the amount of hype and hyperbole that surrounded John Carter, it’s almost impossible for any film fan to come into it with no pre-existing expectations. The film is the $275 million dollar project that has been in development at various studios for over half a century and has been referred to by many as of late as Disney’s Heaven’s Gate.

All this talk is due to the film going massively over budget and rumored to have been the catalyst of the departure of former marketing president MT Carney. Carney was reportedly behind the last minute name change of the film thanks to the failure of another Disney film Mars Needs Moms, the film which was budgeted at $150 million and only made $40 million of that back.

The film’s journey to the screen also has all the elements of a film journalist schadenfreude, with blogs churning out stories about the possible failure of yet another attempted Disney franchise. With the rumored break even point for John Carter being over $750 million the House of Mouse needs a box office home run and the film has an enormous uphill battle ahead of it.

If the film manages to find it audience this should be very easy. The film is the epic story of a broken Civil War Captain from Virginia, John Carter who is mysteriously transported to Mars, once there he finds himself entangled in yet another civil war and a love triangle to boot.  Thanks to a difference in gravity between planets Carter is given super-human strength. He kicks a lot of alien ass as he tries to end the war, bring peace to Mars and capture the heart of a princess.

The film is a spectacle and story in the grandest sense our screens have not seen since James Cameron unleashed Avatar onto the world.

More after the jump!

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Tired of making the same old hat, scarf, baby blanket, and iPod cozy? Want to spruce up your knitting with something a little more exciting and geek-tastic? Well you’re in luck, because Toni Carr, also known as Joan of Dark, has you covered with her latest book, Knits for Nerds.

In this delightful offshoot of contemporary knitting, Carr brings to life some must-haves for science fiction, fantasy, and comic book nerds. She’s got Hermione’s beaded purse that can store just about anything (though you’ll find it might fit fewer schoolbooks than she did), Penny’s gloves from “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog,” and Star Trek sweaters and sweater dresses (a little something for guys and girls).

Some are a bit obscure, like Mr. Nancy’s hat and gloves from Anansi Boys, and a sweater from the movie Real Genius. Others are inspired by your favorite fandoms: instead of Jayne Cobb’s hat from “Firefly,” you’ve got a scarf and socks based on the same design, as well as a “brown jacket” based on the browncoat Mal wears.

Me rocking the Mobius scarf

All in all, the designs are fun and easy, and there’s enough in Knits for Nerds to satiate any nerd’s appetite. I decided to make the Mobius scarf, mainly because my boyfriend had been asking me to make a scarf that he could just put over his head and have snug around his neck instead of having to deal with ends and tying and all that exertion involved with normal scarves. It took no time at all and I did it in a nice grey color.

I think next time I might combine her DNA helix tie with this design to make a Mobius DNA strip scarf. So many possibilities!

Interested in scoring a free copy? Leave a comment about what geeky thing YOU would like to be able to craft. I’ll select one of you at random next week for a free copy.

Remedy is responsible for some fantastic games, from the hard-boiled noir story of Max Payne to the troubled writer that is Alan Wake, the studio’s titles ooze personality and are stocked with fantastic (if occasionally heavy-handed) characters and unique game mechanics. When the original Alan Wake came on the scene after a lengthy development cycle it met with a positive critical reception and quickly built a rabid fan base of gamers who were hooked on its writer / reluctant hero / total crackpot main character and unique brand of storytelling.

In fact, the unique narrative structure and overall presentation of Alan Wake was arguably its strongest suit. The combat, although engaging, could wear a little thin at times, and didn’t have a ton of variety. Like most fans, when I heard that Remedy would be turning out another Alan Wake installment as part of the annual Xbox Live House Party promotion I was thrilled at the prospect of jumping back in to explore more of Wake’s world and dig deeper into the twisted plot.

Here’s the thing. American Nightmare isn’t really about that. American Nightmare is about shootin’ dudes. Lots of dudes. Shadowy, Taken dudes. The ammo and battery shortages from the first game? Nuh uh. Plenty of infinitely replenishing ammo and battery boxes to go around.

The suspense from being trapped in some dark woods with only a pistol and a couple of flares to keep you safe? No more. Grab enough manuscript pages and you’ll be unlocking and unloading a magnum, assault rifle, and automatic shotgun into your shadowy foes. The action is fast and frenetic at times, with large hordes of Taken, including newcomers like the Grenadier (guess what he does), coming at Wake almost constantly. (more…)

After the weekly trip to the comic shop, this week the Roundup checks out the return of Extreme’s Glory, what’s going on with the Thunderbolts and discovers why the New Avengers aren’t all that new anymore.

Glory #23
By Joe Keatinge and Ross Campbell

After being pleasantly surprised by Prophet last month, buying Glory #23 was an easy choice. These are about the most un-Liefeld like comic books ever published, and truly feel like fresh takes on the Extreme Universe of characters. Thankfully, Glory didn’t disappoint.

While Prophet reads like a total reboot of the concept, Glory is more a continuation of the previous series. Keatinge (more…)

For this week’s Comic Roundup, I continue my Dark Knight obsession with the new issue of Batman & Robin, check out part one of Myths & Legends new story arc and read the beginning of the end for John Byrne’s Next Men. Enjoy!

Batman & Robin #6
By Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason

It was about midway through month three of DC’s New 52 that I realized one Batman book was not going to be enough. I had quickly become obsessed with Scott Snyder’s Batman and was really enjoying Batgirl, but knew I needed more. One second print of Batman & Robin #1 later and I had my third Bat-family book and so far it has been awesome. (more…)

When I was asked to review this, I had never watched an episode of Merlin before. I had come to understand it was a pretty good show but had never actually bothered to watch it. But I figured “What the hell” and sat down to see if it was as enjoyable as I had heard.

After watching all 13 episodes of season 3, I can honestly say I’ll be looking into buying the first two seasons as soon as possible. Wow, this is a really great show.

Without giving too much away, Merlin is the story of the young wizard with a destiny doing everything in his power to make sure it comes to pass. Along the way he has to deal with a traitorous Morgana, King Uther, who feels anyone with magic should be dead and Prince Arthur Pendragon, who lives to make Merlin’s life more difficult. Along the way there is high adventure, romance and the occasional dragon.

What really impressed me about the series is how well written it is. The Arthurian Legend is not dumbed down for television as each episode’s story is deep and rich with plot. Plus the special effects are pretty damn good for a television show and the acting is not half bad.

The 13 episodes are spaced out over 4 DVDs (alas, no Blu-ray) and also includes a 5th disc of bonus features, including commentaries, outtakes, a “Making of” special and more. The picture is crisp and clean and the packaging, something a lot of companies are skimping on nowadays, looks great and holds up over time.

Merlin: The Complete Third Season is a great was to kill a weekend. I highly recommend it and know any fan of the Lord of the Rings or Skyrim will enjoy it. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to see how much Amazon wants for Season One.

This week I review and dissect the first issue if the newest Image series Alpha Girl, the latest addition to the world of Captain America, Winter Soldier and a preview of the beginning of the Star Wars universe in Star Wars – Dawn of the Jedi. All in this week’s Comic Roundup!

Alpha Girl #1
By Jeff Roenning and Robert Love

As the year goes on, I’m starting to realize that if you want a diverse, fun line up of titles month in and month out, Image is the place to be. From The Walking Dead to The Strange Talent of Luther Strode to the resurrection of the Extreme Universe, Image literally has a book for anybody. It continues this month with the launch of Alpha Girl, a different look at the apocalypse. (more…)

The saddest thing about all the recent press for Red Tails are the bitter fanboys who seem to be using it as a chance to rage against George Lucas for the recent Star Wars Blu-ray release, rather than talk about what is a very important film.

Yes, Red Tails happens to be the long-in-gestation passion project produced by the creator of Star Wars. But like The Tuskegee Airmen it portrays, George Lucas also faced great adversity… in Hollywood, to the tune of paying for the $58 million film out of pocket.

The film is a pulpy look back at the 332nd Fighter Group in World War 2, The Tuskegee Airmen, also known as the Red Tails due the distinctive paint on the tails of their planes. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American military aviators in the United States armed forces. This film focuses on a very specific period in the history of the Airmen to give audiences the most bang for its buck.

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This week marks the 50th installment of this little review column I like to call the Comic Roundup. To celebrate, I review the new Michael Bay‘s Transformers and Scarlet Spider series and the return of Rob Liefeld’s Prophet. Plus, next week we reboot with a brand new #1 (just kidding)! Enjoy!

The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #1
By James Roberts and Nick Roche

After 125 issues of IDW’s Transformers (if you add up all the miniseries and monthlies), this month sees the franchise heading off in new directions with two new ongoing series and new creative teams. The first book out of the gate is The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye and it is not what you would expect. (more…)

This week the Roundup reviews the finale of the Little Mermaid arc in Grimm Fairy Tales: Myths & Legends, the return of Shinku to the stands and the first issue of the new Wolverine and the X-Men: Alpha & Omega miniseries.

Grimm Fairy Tales: Myths & Legends #11
By Raven Gregory, Matt Triano, Marlin Shoop and CA Gutierrez

Of all the Zenescope titles, Grimm Fairy Tales: Myths & Legends continues to be one of the most accessible for new readers and one of the best. Taking a Legends of the Dark Knight approach, the book will have a different arc every 4 or 5 issues, but with seeds that connect them all together masterfully planted by regular writer Gregory. (more…)

Contest Closed!

Ever since his first appearance in The Crystal Shard in 1988, Drizzt Do’Urden has been one of the most popular characters in the world of fantasy literature. With his twin scimitar blades, ebony black skin and white mane of hair, he captured the imagination of gamers everywhere and became more than just a character on a page. Along with the heroes of the Dragonlance trilogy, he put Dungeons & Dragons novels on the map and made most of them must reads for fans of the game as well as lovers of high adventure.

Now Drizzt makes his return in the second chapter of the Neverwinter trilogy, named, appropriately enough, Neverwinter. R.A. Salvatore picks up where book one, Gauntlgrym, left off and shows us a Drizzt entering a new phase of his life, which is part of what makes this such a great read.

Salvatore gives us a Drizzt at a crossroads in his life. The last of the Companions of the Hall has fallen and for the first time the Dark Elf is truly alone. It makes for a fascinating, intense read that takes a new and different look at one of the oldest characters in the world of Forgotten Realms fiction. It’s what made it stand apart from other books starring Drizzt that I have read; you really feel like you get inside his head and you are watching the birth of a new Drizzt that is beginning, as he calls it, “a new road”. (more…)

Contest Closed!

This past year saw a lot of big events play out at a variety of comic book companies.

From Marvel’s Fear Itself to DC’s The New 52 to IDW’s Infestation crossover, comic publishers were looking for ways to bring in new readers and keep existing fans interested and happy. One that definitely delivered on its promise was Zenescope’s first Grimm Universe event, The Dream Eater Saga, the first half of which is now collected in trade paperback.

For Zenescope’s first company wide crossover, they were looking for a way to bring together the various casts of their Grimm Fairy Tales family of titles. They found it in the unspeakable horror of the Dream Eater.

In volume one, he has been released into the world and he is coming for anyone who has supernatural powers. Now the members of the Grimm Universe find that they have to work together to stop this ancient evil or it will mean the end of all that they hold dear.

The trade collects the prelude, The Dream Eater Saga #1, the Piper, Wonderland, Neverland and Salem’s Daughter one-shots as well as Myths & Legends #6. And the whole shebang is written by none other than Raven Gregory, one of the best writers currently working for Zenescope.

He manages to move the story along as a fairly brisk pace, putting the players in position and scaring the crap out of the reader more than once as we go along. But Gregory also uses each issue as a way to introduce the reader to the cast. It was something I didn’t even realize he was doing till I reread the entire storyline in one sitting. In that way, the Dream Eater Saga is the perfect introduction to Zenescope’s Grimm Universe. Give someone this book and they’ll have all they need to jump right into the rest of the titles in the line.

The art side of the book is handled by a who’s who of Zenescope artists, none of
whom will be strangers to regular readers. Some of the highlights are the prelude with art by Anthony Spay and the Neverland chapter with art done by Marco Cosentino.

Regardless, all the artists do a great job of visualizing the story and creeping out the reader (just wait till you see what happens in chapter one. Talk about freaky).

The Dream Eater Saga is modern horror comics at its best. After you finish reading it leaves you with a slight uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach and an urge to check under the bed. Leave your lights on and enjoy.

Zenescope was nice enough to provide us with a copy of The Dream Eater Saga Volume 1 to give away to one lucky Geekadelphia reader! Just leave a comment about which Zenescope title is you favorite.

We’ll pick a random winner at the end of next week. Please make sure to leave an e-mail address with your comment and books can only be sent to addresses in the United States and Canada.