DC Set to Release New & Improved LUTHOR Hardcover Book

October sees the release of the NEW AND IMPROVED Luthor. A new hardcover collection of the original mini-series by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo with all new story pages (half an issue’s worth) and bonus sketchbook material.

Also, when DC sayd new story material, they really mean it. They've actually added new sequences throughout the book as well as adding pieces to existing scenes and re-shuffling the position of others.

This ‘new cut’ really enhances the original story and broadens it. For example, here are a couple pages we added to issue three, sans coloring and lettering.

In the original version, the fight between Superman and Batman was cut off towards the end. These two new pages continue the last page of the fight and allow readers to really find out what Superman was after.

These pages are beautiful.  The scene with Superman and Batman is amazing.  I normally do not rebuy "updates" books.  I am going to make an exception this time.

Variant Cover to ACTION COMICS #894 - Luthor meets Gaiman's Death

We've been anxiously awaiting next month's issue of Action Comics because of a special guest star: Neil Gaiman's famous character Death.

Death is the second oldest of the Endless, and a major character in Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, which, though neither Vertigo or DC mention it very often, is a part of the DC Universe. Apparently, she has a date with Lex Luthor.

Ok, not a literal date, but that would explain why she’s bringing him flowers. It would also niche nicely with the effect she has on any mortal she meets before their actual death: they fall in love with her.

According to The Source:  "Luthor, as fans of the series know, is in the midst of a storyline that takes him on a winding and dangerous quest for power – a quest that will bring the megalomaniacal villain into close proximity with characters in and beyond the far reaches of the DC Universe."

Up top is the VARIANT cover of Action Comics #894 by P. Craig Russell. AWESOME!

Via: The Source and Geekosystem

McDonalds Releases New Masturbating Batman Toy in Happy Meals

Every guy in the world ends up playing with his little buddy every now and again.  But what about the superheroes and villians of the DC Universe?  Are they any different than the rest of us?

Does Aquaman flog his dolphin?  Does Scarface beat the dummy?  Does Lex Luthor make the bald guy puke?  Does the Music Meister play the skin flute?  Do the members of the Shadowpact spank their monkey?  Sure they do.  They all do.  Hell, I'll even bet that Silver Age Flash still polishes his helmet every now and again. 

But what about Batman?  Bruce Wayne just goes and grabs himself a couple of Gothams loosest women when he gets the urges.  But what about when he's Batman?  Well, McDonald's seems to have answered that question for us with this new happy meal toy:

Super and Batman Fight EVERYONE and I'm Bored

If this cover is any indication, Superman and Batman will be facing the mother of all fights in Superman/Batman #78 coming out in November. 

Putting together teams of bad guys to take down the superheroes of the DC Universe is hardly a novel concept, especially in this comic book.  But this is one heck of a team of bad guys that has joined forces.

Superman fights Brainiac, Solomon Grundy, Parasite, Doomsday, Mongul, Lex Luthor, Bizarro and an amry from Apokolips sent by Darkseid. 

While Batman only has to fight the Joker, Scarecrow and Clayface?  This must be the Dick Grayson version of Batman, because Bruce Wayne could take down those three in a heartbeat. 

In all seriousness, I despise these kind of stories.  Each one of these villains is supposedly powerful enough to give Superman or Batman a serious run for their money.  Doomsday actually killed Superman for heaven's sake, and that was after the entire Justice League also took their best shot at him.  Yet now I'm supposed to believe that Superman could beat Doomsday along with every other member of his rouges gallery? 

That's lazy, sloppy storytelling in my book, and I don't care for it.  A five year old can think of the concept of "have them fight everyone."  I expect better from my comic books. 

Having said that, I do really like that cover. 

Frank Quietly Cover to SUPERMAN/BATMAN #75

I love SUPERMAN /BATMAN.  It has always been one of my favorite books.  I love the dichotomy of the two characters within this book.  I love the yin and the yang.  Batman and Superman play off each so very well.  So different but yet so much mutual respect for one another.  The part I like most of all is that deep down underneath the tights and cowl, they're best friends.  So I am very excited to read SUPERMAN/BATMAN #75.

To celebrate this historic issue we have this beautiful cover by the great Frank Quietly and the the lead story is by Paul Levitz, who finally gets to team the Legion of Super-Heroes with Batman as well as Superman and Superboy, all lusciously illustrated by Jerry Ordway, no stranger to Strange Visitors. But this is just the beginning.

What follows is a special section featuring 2-page strips. My homage to WEDNESDAY COMICS.  It starts with Steve Seagle and Teddy Kristiansen doing the only sequel they ever will to IT’S A BIRD… with “It’s A Bat, ” a story of how an editor tries to get a special section like this going. It continues with Billy Tucci and Peter Tomasi with Gene Ha each playing up the grand adventures of our heroes, while Adam Hughes, David Finch, J.T. Krul, Francis Manapul, Duncan Rouleau, Jill Thompson, Michael Green with Mike Johnson and Rafael Albuquerque and Shane Davis all show us how the Superman and Batman families have been inspired by these two icons. From Supergirls to super-pets, and a wild take on a Lex Luthor and Joker teaming by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo, it has it all, but don’t just listen to me. Go check it out!

Source: DC the Source

Is This DC Universe Game Trailer the Best You've Ever Seen?

On November 2, The DC Universe Online game will be unleashed upon us, and November can't get here too soon in gfest's book.  We've seen dozens of video game trailers before, but dare we say that this may be the best one ever made?  It sets out a really interesting plot for the game, and it looks almost ridiculously gorgeous. 

Good Lord we can't wait for this game to come out, even if it will drain our pocketbook like no game we've ever heard of before. 

Is Lex Luthor Addicted to Superman Peanut Butter?

In 1983, Sunnyland Refining Company began producing jars of creamy and crunchy Superman peanut butter.  As you can see in this commercial for the product, apparently Lex Luthor loved the peanut butter more than anyone else.  

Really Lex?  All the varieties of peanut butter in the world, and you got hooked on your archnemeisis' peanut butter?  I mean he's got one huge hunk of kryptonite in this commercial, and his grand plan is to use it to find out the secret recipe of Superman peanut butter.  Hey Lex, you're a billionaire, just go buy yourself several cases of it. 

C'mon Lex.  You're better than this.



 
Here's one more commercial:
 

What $30,000 Puzzle Could Stump Lex Luthor, Tony Stark & Bruce Wayne?

Even the Calculator, Mr. Terrific, Oracle, Ray Palmer, Reed Richards, and Charles Xavier would have a hard time mastering this beauty. 

The Superplexus, a three-dimensional puzzle guaranteed to test every last iota of your spatial dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and patience. Wallet too.

This is the three-dimensional spherical labyrinth that challenges the limits of your manual dexterity and spatial understanding as you maneuver a 5/8" wooden marble through its entire 330 feet course. 

The track is hand-made from Finnish birch and takes over 400 hours to construct and costs a mere $30,000.

How to Get Better Grass

We here at Gfest consider ourselves to Renaissance Men or Polymath (impressive word isn't it?) men.  So we always like to bring our readers not only the exceptional content they you have become accustomed to but also items that will make you stand out in the crowd.

If you want your lawn to look as good as Wayne Manor, Avengers Mansion, Luthor Mansion, Scrooge McDuck's Estate or Monty. Burns Manor all you need is a lawn mower according the book by David Parfitt entitled Lawnscapes.

Lawnscapes teaches readers how to mow artistic masterpieces directly into their lawns everything from checkerboard squares, hearts, and bull's-eyes to Christmas trees, Celtic knotwork, and much more.