How to Make the Legend of Zelda Better - Add Lesbians

It's hard to be critical of the Legend of Zelda video game series.  The wildly popular series brought to us by Nintendo and Mr. Miyamoto always seems to produce games that are not only epic but ones that are also innovative and "game changing."

So gfest is smart enough to know that we shouldn't be making any recommendations about what should be in the new Zelda Skyward Sword game in development at Nintendo right now.  Those folks are smart enough to figure it out themselves.  But if we were the type to make a suggestions, ours would involve lesbians. 

Very Unique & Funny Krusty the Clown T-Shirt

David Staffell over at Inkslip designs some awesome t-shirts.  Including this clever and funny as hell Krusty the Clown tee.  If you head on over to his website you can purchase this and many other creative, unique and hilarious t-shirts.

An Exclusive Look: Dr. Horrible's Evil League of Evil Comic Book

Watch the Bad Horse start off a meeting of the Evil League of Evil with his terrible "death whinny." We've got a peek at a meeting for the ELE, thanks to the new Dr. Horrible comic book.

Inspired by Joss Whedon's webseries and written by Zack Whedon, this Dr. Horrible comic will be released on September 1st by Dark Horse. But you can get a sneak peek right here, right now. These particular pages are part of a never-before-seen sixteen-page story, about the top secret organization The Evil League of Evil. But the main thrust of this comic is to answer Dr. Horrible questions, such as: What event inspired Dr. Horrible to become the world's greatest criminal mastermind? And how did Moist get so, uh, moist?

Check out more details about the Dr. Horrible comic here.

Source: io9

Ethan Van Sciver’s Cover to JLA #50 - Where are the Real JLA Members?

You know what would be a good way to celebrate the 50th issue of JLA?  Actually, have someone from the "real" JLA in the issue?  No Bruce Wayne, No Superman, No Oliver Queen, No Martian Manhunter, No Wonder Woman, No Aquaman, No Hawks, No Wally West or Barry Allen.  We do get Donna Troy, Supergirl, Tim Drake, Congorrilla, Guardian, Mikaal Tomas, Mon-El, and Cyborg. 

I very much like Van Sciver's art and he does a wonderful job with this cover, but the current line-up sucks.  The JLA is it's best when we have the "A-Team" superheroes we love working together to thwart whatever threat is upon us.

Morrison's JLA run was fantastic.  Bruce Timm's JLA & JLU run on Cartoon Network was even better. Now we are stuck with a bunch of C-list superheroes running the greatest League in the world.

SAW Director, James Wan to Direct Comic Adaptation of NIGHTFALL

Everywhere you look and everything you read seems to be about Vampires.  Movies, Television, Books, etc. all dealing with vampires.   Well, this a story might actually be a vampire story worth watching. Collider is reporting that Director James Wan (Saw) will helm a live-action adaptation of Nightfall.  The 2007 graphic novel — written by Scott O. Brown — tells the story of a man who “is sentenced to time in a prison run by vampires.” 

It seems that the simple premise is what got Wan excited about taking on the project.  The director told Deadline,”The minute I heard the concept, I was in.  Reading the graphic novel cemented that like Saw, it’s a simple concept that, if executed properly, will be so cool.”  Wan’s next film, Insidious, will be part of the Midnight Madness program at the upcoming Toronto Film Festival.

For those not familiar with the book. Below is a synopsis:

“When industrious, right-wing survivalist David Paxton is sent to a tough Texas prison, he has no idea that it’s secretly run by vampires using the inmates to feed on. Now, Paxton’s one hope of escape is a desperate prison riot and an uneasy alliance with a ruthless killer named Robbart.”

Big Superheros + Small Heads = Beautiful Art

I doing my daily run down of comic related news when I stumbled upon a post from Comics Alliance (one of my favorite sites) about Patricio Betteo and his art.  I was captivated by these shrunken head superheros.  The small heads, elongated bodies and use of bright colors makes these unique superhero prints a must have for any collector.

The explorations on Betteo's deviantART account contain a lot of the same faces that other superhero-fan artists tackle on the site, like Iron Man, Hellboy and The Joker. Fortunately,  Betteo also incorporated one of my favorite all-time books into his one-of-a-kind art - BONE.  I love the piece with Rose and Fone Bone.  His Spider-Man meeting a fly scene is also extremely creative and very well done.  

Source:  Comics Alliance

Target Stores Announces Customers Can Trade in iPhones, iPods, Cell Phones and Videogames

Target today announced it will soon allow customers to trade in a number of electronic devices, including new or used iPhones, iPods, cell phones and videogames, to receive in-store credit that can be used towards other purchases.

The company noted this new program "encourages guests to be eco-friendly," implying the electronics will be recycled and not resold. We contacted Target to get clarification.

It will launch in Northern California on August 24 with additional stores joining the program in September, and will be available in approximately 850 stores by the end of the year.

Target joins retailers GameStop, Best Buy, and Walmart as a destination to sell back used videogames. GameStop said on its latest earnings call that while the company is taking this new competition seriously, it has yet to see an impact on sales.

Source: IGN

How ‘bout This Tony Daniel Batman Cover?

This Batman Cover by Tony Daniel is just amazing.  DC's The Source caught up with Daniel to get the scoop on what he will be doing with Dark Knight starting this November.  Tony tells us:

“I’m excited to be back writing (and drawing) again. I’ll be hitting the ground running this next story arc. There are a few mysteries I want to keep secret, but I can say that I-Ching guest stars during my first arc back and Batman will need the blind mystic’s help to overcome the ancient evil that’s now taking root into Gotham’s Chinatown. Lots of swords, poison arrows, mysteries, puzzles, codes, a secret order, judo chops, punches, uppercuts, roundhouse kicks, horses, parades and fireworks, and well, it goes on.”

Did I mention how much I love this cover to BATMAN #705? 

Marion Cotillard Offered Role as Talia or Selina in BATMAN 3

According to the some what unscrupulous site Perez Hilton, Marion Cotillard has been offered a role in Batman 3. Apparently his sources are unsure of whether the role was Catwoman or Talia Al Ghul, regardless she reportedly turned down the offer as of now as she’s unsure whether the planned shooting start date of the next Batman movie will clash with other projects she’s either interested in or already committed to, despite the fact that she’s reportedly keen to work with Nolan again.

Who knows if this true.  It's Perez Hilton for Christ's sake, but nonetheless, I think she would be a good Talia or Selina.  She's sexy and sultry with just the right amount of confidence to pull it off.  And, it passes the Nolan smell test since she was in INCEPTION, but we will have to wait and see if it becomes a reality.

The third and final installment in the Nolan Batman franchise starts filming next spring for July 2012 release date.

Source: thinkmcflythink

Frank Miller Now Producing Commercials for Gucci?

Last week Gucci debuted the trailer for the TV spot advertising its new fragrance, Gucci Guilty, and revealed that the commercial is being directed by none other than Frank Miller, legendary comic book writer.

Frank Miller is an odd choice to direct any TV commercial, but he's a really odd choice to direct a commercial for a product aimed at women. 

This is not meant to be a Frank Miller bashing.  Gfest loves Frank.  We even love All Star Batman and Robin despite the fact most people hate it.  But let's be fair, Frank Miller doesn't have the greatest track record of portraying women in a particularly postive fashion.

Take the stories selected for the Sin City movie as an example. The only woman who is not a prostitute or a stripper is a lesbian parole officer who likes to walk around her apartment naked. Elijah Wood amputates her arm and eats it in front of her. She is then gunned down by corrupt cops.

Frank Miller introduced us to Catwoman as a former prostitute. He created the first female Robin and then Elektra simply to eventually torture and kill them. Wonder Woman in The Dark Knight Strikes Again is mostly just around for Superman to have sex with.

 

Often, it seems that the only woman Frank Miller feels safe writing is one who is dependent on a man for her survival.

 

The trailer for Gucci’s ad clearly borrows a lot from Miller’s Sin City playbook: iconic but vaguely laid out cityscapes; black and white world with occasional arresting spots of color; movie stars, bars, and fast cars.  Its hard to argue that the "look" of the commercial is very cool.

 

The commercial stars Chris Evans and Evan Rachel Wood. The full-length video will make its debut at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 12, so we'll just have to wait until then to see if Frank Miller has it within himself to produce something that women will be drawn to, instead of insulted by.   

 

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The Matrix World Mashup Trailer

The real beauty of a good mashup is when you just can't intially conceive it working.  This movie trailer mashes up Scott Pilgrim vs. the World with The Matrix films.  If you're like me, that doesn't sound like its going to work mashed up together. 

But I was wrong.  Very wrong. Because they are perfect together.

FIRST Trailer for AMC's THE WALKING DEAD

AMC has revealed the trailer for its new series, "The Walking Dead," which premieres with a 90-minute episode on Halloween night, Sunday, October 31, at 10/9c. "The Walking Dead is a six-episode series based on the comic book written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics.

"The Walking Dead" tells the story of life following a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), traveling in search of a safe and secure home. Jon Bernthal plays Shane, who worked with Rick in the police department before the zombie disaster. Other cast includes Laurie Holden, who plays Andrea, one of two sisters who join the survivors of the zombie plague, Steven Yeun as Glenn, an expert scavenger and Sarah Wayne Callies, who plays Rick's wife Lori.

Holy Fallout Batman! Would The Joker Ever Use a Nuclear Bomb?

In the DC Comics/Dark Horse Comics crossover Joker-Mask, while vandalizing a museum exhibit, the Joker finds and wears The Mask, which was made famous in the Jim Carrey movie.

Having no desires or personality traits that are hidden, the Joker essentially is himself but with near invulnerability, super speed, strength and other abilities. Using the Mask, Joker is actually able to defeat Batman and become unstoppable. He takes over the Gotham television waves and broadcasts 24/7 destruction.

Becoming bored with this, the Joker commandeers a nuclear bomb to destroy Gotham City. Batman confronts Joker/Mask, and his insistence that the Mask isn't funny forces the Joker to emerge and remove The Mask, then realizing that The Mask had been in control of the Joker ever since he put it on.

Its not a bad book, but having the Joker threaten to deploy a nuclear bomb didn't sit well with me.  Look, the Joker is clearly an insane maniac, but he has alway killed with some flair and drama.  He kills in such a way that people can appreciate his "artform" if you will. 

Does a nuclear bomb fit into the Joker's bag of tricks?  I think not. 

Steven Spielberg Working on LOCKE & KEY TV Series

We knew that the screenwriting team of Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci is spearheading an adaptation of the comic book series Locke & Key, written by Joe Hill.  Thanks to Vulture, we have a couple new pieces of info.  First, Locke & Key will be a television series rather than a film, as initially reported.  The tale of “a spooky New England mansion filled with mystical doors that transport [three kids] to different worlds and give them special powers” is apparently more episodic in nature.

Secondly, Steven Spielberg is now involved under his DreamWorks TV banner.  Spielberg has teamed with the boys previously for the Transformers franchise (they script, he produces), and both parties currently have a show on the Fox network (he has Terra Nova, they have Fringe).  Meanwhile, Josh Friedman (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) has joined the series as writer and producer — given the busy schedules of Kurtzman, Orci, and Spielberg, I imagine Friedman will assume showrunning duties if the show makes it to air. Locke & Key does not yet have a network, though Fox seems a likely home given that Spielberg, Kurtzman, Orci, and Friedman each have a flag planted there.

Source: Collider

WALKING DEAD #80 Teaser Image

Image Comics sent out this teaser image for issue #80 of Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead.

Source Image Comics

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS Test Screened in Chicago (Spoiler Warning)

Word spread quickly this afternoon on several Harry Potter fansites that an unnamed Warner Bros test screening happening in Chicago today was possibly an early screening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I.  Both Mugglenet and The Leaky Cauldron are now confirming that it was indeed a screening of a rough cut of the film, and reactions are starting to pour in, as well as a few plot details and confirmations, including (SPOILER warning):

1. Although it was still a rough cut with unfinished special effects and music, the film clocked in at 2-1/2 hours.  A composer for Part II has not yet been chosen.
2. The Tale of the Three Brothers, which tells the story of the Deathly Hallows, will be an animated sequence.
3. "Part 1" was not part of the title card.
4. We will get to see Hermione's home, as well as when she modifies her parents' memories to keep them safe from Voldemort.
5. Both Dobby and Kreacher do appear in the film, Dobby in particular got a very warm response from the audience.
6. A death of one of the characters has been changed somewhat...but that character still dies.
7. The film will end where it was reported last week - with Voldemort getting his hands on the Elder Wand.
8. There will be flashback scenes regarding the Horcruxes and Hallows, and Dumbledore and Slughorn will appear in these scenes, among others.
9. The Seven Potters Death Eater sequence will now include a highway chase.
10. There will be a scene where Harry dances with Hermione (not in the book) in the tent to cheer her up during the Horcrux search, and a scene where they passionately kiss (don't worry, it's not what you think).

 Reaction to the film itself has been overwhelmingly positive - granted, these reviews are from raving Harry Potter fans, so they're bound to be a little biased.  But as a raving Harry Potter fan myself, who just finished reading Deathly Hallows again this week (and who's also watching Goblet of Fire on ABC Family right now), it's sounds like they're staying very faithful to the book and they're not pulling any punches with this one, which is great, because the book didn't either.  It's dark and sad, and let's you know pretty much from the first chapter that all bets are off as to who is safe...essentially, no one.

It's also sounding good because the most of the major sequences we've seen in the trailers so far - like the dragon and the Battle of Hogwarts, are from Part II.  While Part I will mostly be a road movie with the trio pushing each other to their emotional limits searching for Horcruxes, it does have a good number of terrifying moments and action sequences to definitely earn the series' second PG-13 rating (after Goblet of Fire), and judging the reviews so far, it's all going to be there and more.

Source: ThinkMcFlyThink

STAR WARS Scents: Slave Leia Perfume and Eau Lando Cologne

Have you ever wondered exactly what Lando Calrissian smelled like (Colt 45 Malt Liquor), or wished that the essence of Leia could be yours (wet, smelly sand)?

Thanks to the Star Wars Celebration V Festival, you too can smell like either ther ruler of Cloud City/suave ex-space pirate or a princess enslaved by a fat slug like beast that kissed her own brother.  For $39.95 each, you can buy Eau Lando cologne or Slave Leia perfume.

Eau Lando comes in a tiny cape, but Slave Leia perfume comes with a choker chain and is said to be “more powerful than a thermal detonator, and yet more comfortable than a metal bikini.”

It's about time Star Wars got into the nerd fragrance market.

Source Collider and Star War.

Why DC Needs Ben Caldwell's Manga Wonder Woman

For me Wonder Woman's finest hour came when George Perez was writing her stories. Perez's books were captivating and he had a way of making Wonder Woman seem fresh and exciting. Unfortunately, after Perez left the book, DC seemed to regulate the Amazon Princess to a second tier character. In my mind, she was only a relevant and/or exciting character when she was involved with the Trinity (Superman, Batman & Wonder Woman). Her stand alone books seemed boring, meaningless and without relevancy to anything of substance going on in the DCU.

Then came Bruce Timm and the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited cartoon series. Timm's stories made Wonder Woman once again a fantastic character full of heroics and humanism. He walked the line very well with Diane making her one of my favorite characters on the show. She wasn't just relevant within the Trinity, she was relevant in her own right.  Diane was powerful, smart, compassionate, beautiful, humorous, intimidating and kind.

Recently, cartoonist Ben Caldwell's fresh, new take on Wonder Woman has circulated in and around the Internet.  Caldwell bring us a young and hip and continuity free, Wonder Woman packaged in a digest size format. His Wonder Woman is very cartoony (think Skottie Young) with a skew toward the generally female friendly Manga style.

DC needs to take a good hard look (or another good hard look) at Caldwell's take on the Amazon Princess.  In my opinion, this new look and story(s) will bring in new young readers and bring back those of us that have always enjoyed Wonder Woman but have lost faith in her stories over the years.

 I have posted some of Caldwell's Wonder Woman art that has been floating around the Internet for your enjoyment.  Please take a look and let me know if you agree with me that his take could re-energize this once fantastic character.

DC Releases huge BRIGHTEST DAY Cover Montage. Can You Spot the Hints?

In an effort to pump some life into an otherwise boring and incoherent story DC unveiled this beautiful BRIGHTEST DAY cover montage featuring all the key players in this "saga."  The covers fit together into this massive piece of art that teases what may come out of this story.  Click the image above to see it in all it's glory.

I could care less about the events that may or may not unfold in this series since to date it has been painfully underwhelming, but the art of this HUGE cover montage is wonderful.  This colossal spread features figures by the very talented Ryan Sook, with additional artistry from Fernando Pasarin and Joel Gomez (and a guiding hand from Co-Publisher Jim Lee, natch)

DC's the Source teases, "what does it all mean? Too early to tell, but all the more reason to spend a few more minutes enlarging the image below."  Do you care?