There's a 3 Way Over at the Frankenstein Place...

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark Ready to Pounce

Previews of the ultra-stylized musical begin tomorrow and I, for one, can't wait to see what lies behind those doors just off Times Square in New York City. Want a sneak preview? Prepare for awesome in this new TV spot...



Drawing from over 40 years of Marvel comic books for inspiration, Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark spins a new take on the mythic tale of a young man propelled from a modest rowhouse in Queens to the sky-scraping spire of the Chrysler Building, the bustling offices of the Daily Bugle, through the dizzying canyons of Manhattan, to new vistas never before seen.The musical follows the story of teenager Peter Parker, whose unremarkable life is turned upside-down—literally—when he’s bitten by a genetically altered spider and wakes up the next morning clinging to his bedroom ceiling. This bullied science-geek—suddenly endowed with astonishing powers—soon learns, however, that with great power comes great responsibility as villains test not only his physical strength but also his strength of character.

Villains include Green Goblin, Kraven the Hunter, Carnage, Lizard, Electro and...umm...Swiss Miss, an original creation of the production team. Okeeee



Visit http://spidermanonbroadway.marvel.com/ for details, tickets and extra Bono approved web fluid.

MattyCollector's Cyber Monday Sale

Get ready, toy fiending folks, for the pain and agony of a MattyCollector sale x10. At stake are most of the toy releases you missed the first time, cried about for months, then discovered were returning for ONE DAY alongside toys from every line Matty has to offer. This means EVERYONE IN THE WORLD will be fighting it out to get their goods on a system that regularly kicks you around just when one measly Masters of the Universe figure is on the line.

Sale Starts: Monday, November 29th at 9 AM PT
Sale Ends: Sunday, December 5th at 11:59 PM PT
Extra Savings Day: Monday, November 29th ONLY 9 AM PT – 11:59 PM PT. Save 10% off every order over $100 (excluding taxes and fees). All products must be purchased during the same transaction and shipped to a single address.

Here's the lineup...

DC COMICS INFINITE HEROES

* Infinite Heroes Crisis 4-Pack
* Infinite Heroes Figure Stands

DC UNIVERSE CLASSICS

* Adam Strange and Starfire Figures 2 Pack
* Alexander Luthor and Ultraman Figures 2 Pack
* Justice in the Jungle: B’Wana Beast and Animal Man Figures 2 Pack
* The Color of Fear: Romat-Ru and Karu-Sil 2-pack
* 6" Superman
* DC Universe Classics Figure Stands

GHOSTBUSTERS

* Ghostbusters™ 6” Peter Venkman™ Figure (with Slimer)
* Ghostbusters™ 6" Ray Stantz™ Figure (with Subway Ghost)
* Ghostbusters™ 6" Winston Zeddemore™ Figure (with trap)
* Ghostbusters™ 6” Walter Peck™ Figure (with containment unit)
* 12" Ray Stantz™ Figure
* 12" Egon Spengler™ Figure (with trap)
* 12” Peter Venkman™ Figure
* 12” Winston Zeddemore™ Figure

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED

* JLU Lobo
* JLU "Shazam!" Family 4-Pack
* JLU Doom Patrol 4-Pack
* JLU Legion of Super Heroes 4-Pack
* JLU Gotham City Criminals 4-Pack
* JLU Justice Guild 4-Pack
* Justice League Unlimited Figure Stands

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE

* MOTUC He-Man®
* MOTUC Skeletor®
* MOTUC Battle Cat®

* 6" Figure Flight Stands

With figures ranging in availability from "fairly limited" to "don't hold your breathe", you'd best get there right when the gates open to gobble up all you've got your sights on. With 10% off every sale over 100 bucks and very loose limits on how many you can order, its going to be WAR.

Things to be Thankful For

I am very blessed and spoiled to death in some respects and I am very aware of it, so right now, I will recall some of the things I am most thankful for to put things in perspective...

-My Family
-My nerdtastic friends
-Jessica Biel's Butt
-IMDB
-The Japanese
-Ghostbusters Minimates
-The accident of chocolate and peanut butter
-God
-Digital Photography
-Warner Brothers deliveries
-The brains of Warren Ellis, Neil Gaiman, Jhonen Vasquez, Seth Green, Alan Martin, Edgar Wright, Doc Hammer, Jackson Publick and the fictional brain of Doctor Who
-Elvira
-Porn parodies of Comic Books and movies
-Hoodies
-Soft T Shirts
-Star Wars
-little plastic people, monsters and robots
-Art
-Sunshine
-Pasta
-Batman
-Living in the future
-Flash Drives
-Electricity
-Cheese
-Quiet

UPDATE: NECA's Mind Blowing Quarter Scale Classic Predator Figure

Prepare to be AMAZED.

"Standing over 19" tall, but it's the volume & mass overall that's most impressive." boasts the NECA crew. They go on to say "His arms are fully poseable & we're using soft goods on robe sleeves & skirt part to allow for articulation. Retail around $80. Available April 2011. 3 different versions will be available, so choose your favorite head or buy 'em all. This was truly a labor of love and one of the largest most intricate figures we have ever made. We know YOU wanted him & we found a way to make it. The original, the classic, the best. It will be packaged fully assembled so it will be a HUGE box and an impressive sight to behold. We had this in development for some time and wanted to wait until we knew it was really happening and would be all we wanted it to be (before making the announcement.) The separate body net was a major goal we wanted to make happen...the detail, the deco, the size. This is the definitive 1987 Predator!"

Hope you were wearing a helmet cuz your mind has just been BLOWN!! Congratulations to team NECA for a seriously amazing toy in a market that seems content to cut back on details with 90's era looking figures as a result. NECA paves the way. Raise that bar and KICK SOME ASS!!

UPDATE: These are limited to 5k pieces WORLDWIDE, so get your pre-order in ASAP or be crying later as you stare at the empty hole in your life where a giant Predator should be.

HOLIDorks SHOPPING LIST: Blu-Ray / DVD Overload

Yesterday, completely by accident, we found the most awesome deal on the 6 movie Harry Potter set we've ever seen. Of course today, it went poof, so we went digging to build you an ultra mega super powered geek movie list you can use to "hint" at what you'd like for a holiday present or do some power shopping yourself and avoid all the smelly mall people and most likely wind up with free shipping to boot. The primary and mostly hysterical observation you'll make right away is that there are better deals on Blu-rays then there are on DVDs! Is this a plot by the manufacturers to get people to embrace the new format or just a sign of the times that people are too broke to afford 40 bucks for a new Blu-ray? WE MAY NEVER KNOW. For now, let's dive right in...

The Expendables 3 disk Blu-ray DVD Combo - $19.99
Lord of the Rings Blu-rays or DVDs - $8 or $5.49
The Ultimate Matrix Blu-ray Collection - A 6 disk set for $40.99
Alien Anthology Blu-ray Set - The brand new 6 disk set for $69.99
Back to the Future Trilogy Anniversary Blu-ray Set or DVDs - $35 bucks or $23.49
V: The Complete 1984 Series (DVD) - $14.99
Supernatural Season 2 DVD Set - $18.99
Hellboy 2: The Golden Army Blu-ray - $9.49
Watchmen Director's Cut Blu-ray - $7.99
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths Blu-ray - $9.99
Dark City Director's Cut Blu-ray - $9.99
Live Free or Die Hard Blu-ray - $7.99
The Happening (just kidding)
Silence of the Lambs Blu-ray - $8.49
Dog Soldiers Blu-ray - $8.99
Serenity Blu-ray - $15.49
Batman Begins (Limited Edition Gift Set) Blu-ray - $15.99
Fight Club 10th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray - $10.00
Avatar (Three-Disc Extended Collector's Edition) Blu-ray - $24.99 (or on DVD for 20)
Toy Story 1 & 2 Blu-rays - $19.99
Zombieland Blu-ray - $12.99
Glee: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray or DVD - $41.99 or $19.99
Scott Pilgrim VS The World on Blu-ray or DVD - $24.99 or $17.99
LOST: The Complete Collection on Blu-ray or DVD - $194.99 or $148.99

And since you may have missed the Harry 6 pack...
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on Blu-ray or DVD - $10 or $8.99
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on Blu-ray or DVD - $10 or $8.99
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on Blu-ray or DVD - $10 or $5.99
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire on Blu-ray or DVD - $10 or $8.49
Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix on Blu-ray or DVD - $10 or $8.49
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince on Blu-ray or DVD - $10 or $8.99

There are also half a dozen deals on Disney Blu-rays, so pick a link above and just pop Disney into the search bar. If you like what you see and would like to show some appreciation for all this legwork, please use the links we provided when ordering or passing the info onto loved ones who need a clue what to buy for you. We get credit for the sales and since we are punk rock poor, that rules. Thanks and Happy Holidays!

Diamond Prepares for the Ultimate Battle: WARS VS TREK!!

You may think I've blown this out of proportion, but this time I have undeniable SCIENTIFIC PROOF!!

POINT 1: Diamond Select Toys has licenses for both Star Wars and Star Trek
POINT 2: Diamond Select has never done a cross over line for fear the universe would fold in on itself and time would explode exponentially from the center of a newly formed black hole. Proof of this nearly happening lies in Bristol Palin almost winning a dance competition and the movie Burlesque.
POINT 3: To work a loop-hole in the cross over/black hole theory, Diamond Select chooses a February release date to launch the coolest collectibles ever conceived for both their Star Wars and Star Trek lines, simultaneously.
Solving for X = Diamond Select being the cause of the civil war in the past. I hope you are happy boys. Of course Diamond will argue that they didn't actually MAKE the Star Trek item in question and are only selling in in their Previews catalog, but that's just apples and pears.

So their horrifically awesome creations are not a waste, here's the skinny...

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back - Slave 1 Bank : The hit DST bank line continues with a brand new Star Wars-themed release! Bounty hunter Boba Fett is one of the most iconic and popular characters in the Star Wars saga, and his distinctive starship, Slave-1, nearly brought an end to the rebellion with its precious cargo — the Carbonite-encased Han Solo. Now you can capture the relentless bounty hunter’s ship as your very own as this colorful and detailed vinyl coin bank, perfect for saving your well-earned bounties or just for display!

Star Trek: Classic Captain Kirk Statue : Hollywood Collectibles proudly present James T. Kirk, Captain of the starship Enterprise, as he directs shipboard operations from his iconic chair! With an authentic likeness of William Shatner as Captain Kirk, and with no detail spared on his Captain’s chair, this statue is a must-have for any Star Trek fan! This incredible piece of art is constructed from heavyweight polystone and then hand painted to the finest detail. Sculpted in 1/6the-scale, Kirk is 10” high seated in his chair. This statue is a Limited Edition of just 600 individually-numbered pieces.

Quake in fear.

NECA's Gears of War Action Figures Series 6

NECA has been cornering the market on video game action figures. With virtually no competition, its not a hard task, but no one will argue that the detail and excellent paint aps put into every one of their figures rule the Toys R Us pegs. The Gears of War line has given us plenty to cheer about, even throwing in the extra gory details that make the horror fans weep with joy. Now that line continues into 2011 with series 6, featuring...



Kantus Priest
Skorge
Cog Solider
Boomer Mauler

For those on the hunt, it looks like the Boomer will be one per case, with the Cog Soldier at 3 per. There was also some talk of a Cog Soldier variant, but we've seen zero proof of this so far, so cross your fingers on that front and wait for more news from the International Toy Fair this February!

The Warner Brothers 2011 Film Schedule

Out of 19 films on tap for 2011 releases, at least 13 of them will be of interest to you, the geekiest of readers. Here's a little info to send you off into the new year and give you some dates to mark in red on your movie watching calendar...

THE RITE (In theaters on January 28) : Inspired by true events, "The Rite" follows skeptical seminary student Michael Kovak (Colin O'Donoghue), who reluctantly attends exorcism school at the Vatican. While he's in Rome, Michael meets an unorthodox priest, Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins), who introduces him to the darker side of his faith, uncovering the devil's reach even to one of the holiest places on Earth.
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Colin O'Donoghue, Alice Braga, Ciarán Hinds, Rutger Hauer www.theritemovie.com


RED RIDING HOOD (In theaters on March 11) : Valerie (Amanda Seyfried) is a beautiful young woman torn between two men. She is in love with a brooding outsider Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), but her parents have arranged for her to marry the wealthy Henry (Max Irons). Unwilling to lose each other, Valerie and Peter are planning to run away together when they learn that Valerie's older sister has been killed by the werewolf that prowls the dark forest surrounding their village. For years, the people have maintained an uneasy truce with the beast, offering the creature a monthly animal sacrifice. But under a blood red moon, the wolf has upped the stakes by taking a human life. Hungry for revenge, the people call on famed werewolf hunter, Father Solomon (Gary Oldman), to help them kill the wolf. But Solomon's arrival brings unintended consequences as he warns that the wolf, who takes human form by day, could be any one of them. As the death toll rises with each moon, Valerie begins to suspect that the werewolf could be someone she loves. Panic grips the town as Valerie discovers that she has a unique connection to the beast--one that inexorably draws them together, making her both suspect...and bait.
Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Billy Burke, Shiloh Fernandez, Max Irons, Virginia Madsen, Julie Christie www.redridinghoodmovie.com


SUCKER PUNCH (In theaters and IMAX on March 25) : Close your eyes. Open your mind. You will be unprepared. "Sucker Punch" is an epic action fantasy that takes us into the vivid imagination of a young girl whose dream world provides the ultimate escape from her darker reality. Unrestrained by the boundaries of time and place, she is free to go where her mind takes her, and her incredible adventures blur the lines between what's real and what is imaginary. She has been locked away against her will, but Babydoll (Emily Browning) has not lost her will to survive. Determined to fight for her freedom, she urges four other young girls--the outspoken Rocket (Jena Malone), the street-smart Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens), the fiercely loyal Amber (Jamie Chung) and the reluctant Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish)--to band together and try to escape their terrible fate at the hands of their captors, Blue (Oscar Isaac), Madam Gorski (Carla Gugino) and the High Roller (Jon Hamm). Led by Babydoll, the girls engage in fantastical warfare against everything from samurais to serpents, with a virtual arsenal at their disposal. Together, they must decide what they are willing to sacrifice in order to stay alive. But with the help of a Wise Man (Scott Glenn), their unbelievable journey--if they succeed--will set them free.
Cast: Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Carla Gugino, Oscar Isaac, Jon Hamm, Scott Glenn www.sucker-punch-movie.com


THE HANGOVER PART II (In theaters on May 26) : In the follow-up to the record-breaking hit comedy "The Hangover," Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and Doug (Justin Bartha) travel to exotic Thailand for Stu's wedding. After the unforgettable bachelor party in Las Vegas, Stu is taking no chances and has opted for a safe, subdued pre-wedding brunch. However, things don't always go as planned. What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but what happens in Bangkok can't even be imagined.
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Jeffrey Tambor, Mike Tyson, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong




GREEN LANTERN (In 3D and 2D in select theaters on June 17) : In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, a small but powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. A brotherhood of warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him superpowers. But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds). Hal is a gifted and cocky test pilot, but the Green Lanterns have little respect for humans, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the ring before. But Hal is clearly the missing piece to the puzzle, and along with his determination and willpower, he has one thing no member of the Corps has ever had: humanity. With the encouragement of fellow pilot and childhood sweetheart Carol Ferris (Blake Lively), if Hal can quickly master his new powers and find the courage to overcome his fears, he may prove to be not only the key to defeating Parallax...he will become the greatest Green Lantern of all.
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Angela Bassett, Tim Robbins, Temuera Morrison, Jay O. Sanders, Taika Waititi, Jon Tenney www.greenlantern.com

























HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - PART 2 (In 3D and 2D in select theaters and IMAX on July 15) : In Part 2 of the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the Wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Jason Isaacs, Alan Rickman, David Thewlis, Julie Walters, Bonnie Wright www.harrypotter.com




FINAL DESTINATION 5 (In 3D and 2D in select theaters on August 26) : Death makes a killing in the next installment in the horror series which once again proves that no matter where you run, no matter where you hide...you can't cheat death.
Cast: Emma Bell, Nicholas D'Agosto, Miles Fisher, Arlen Escarpeta, Jacqueline MacInnes-Wood, P.J. Byrne, Ellen Wroe, David Koechner, Courtney B. Vance, Tony Todd




THE APPARITION (In theaters on September 9) : When frightening events start to occur in their home, young couple Kelly (Ashley Greene) and Ben (Sebastian Stan) discover they are being haunted by a presence that was accidentally conjured during a university parapsychology experiment. The horrifying apparition feeds on their fear and torments them no matter where they try to run. Their last hope is an expert in the supernatural (Tom Felton), but even with his help they may already be too late to save themselves from this terrifying force...
Cast: Ashley Greene, Sebastian Stan, Tom Felton


CONTAGION (In theaters and IMAX on October 21) : "Contagion" follows the rapid progress of a lethal airborne virus that kills within days. As the fast-moving epidemic grows, the worldwide medical community races to find a cure and control the panic that spreads faster than the virus itself. At the same time, ordinary people struggle to survive in a society coming apart.
Cast: Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet


HAPPY FEET 2 (In 3D and 2D in select theaters and IMAX on November 18) : The sequel to the Academy Award®-winning animated smash hit, "Happy Feet 2" returns audiences to the magnificent landscape of Antarctica, reuniting us with the world's most famous tap-dancing penguin, Mumble (Elijah Wood), the love of his life, Gloria (Alecia Moore {Pink}) and their old friends Ramon and Lovelace (Robin Williams). Mumble and Gloria now have a son of their own, Erik (EG Daily), who is struggling to find his own particular talents in the Emperor Penguin world. But new dangers are threatening the penguin nation, and it's going to take everyone working--and dancing--together to save them.
Cast: Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brad Pitt, Hank Azaria, Matt Damon, Alecia Moore (Pink), EG Daily


SHERLOCK HOLMES II (In theaters on December 16) : Guy Ritchie helms a new action-packed adventure, following the world's most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.), and his longtime trusted associate, Dr. Watson (Jude Law), as they match wits with their arch-nemesis, the criminal genius Moriarty (Jared Harris).
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Jared Harris, Eddie Marsan, Stephen Fry

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (In 3D and 2D in select theaters and IMAX - Undated 2011) : The follow-up to the 2008 hit. The new journey begins when young adventurer Sean (Josh Hutcherson) receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist--a place of strange life forms, mountains of gold, deadly volcanoes, and more than one astonishing secret. Unable to stop him from going, Sean's new stepfather (Dwayne Johnson) joins the quest. Together with a helicopter pilot (Luis Guzman) and his beautiful, strong-willed daughter (Vanessa Hudgens), they set out to find the island, rescue its lone inhabitant and escape before seismic shockwaves force the island under the sea and bury its treasures forever.
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine, Josh Hutcherson, Vanessa Hudgens, Luis Guzman, Kristin Davis

Credits are not final and dates are subject to change.

Batman Beyond: The Complete Series Drops TODAY!

Will Friedle took a futuristic Dark Knight in altogether new directions as the voice of Terry McGinnis in Warner Bros. Animation’s breakthrough 1999 series Batman Beyond.

The popular voiceover actor took time last week to speak about his days as the new Caped Crusader in preparation for the Tuesday, November 23 release of Batman Beyond: The Complete Series, a nine-disc limited edition DVD set that presents nearly 20 hours of animated action spread over 52 episodes, as well as including all-new bonus featurettes and a 24-page, 8”x 12” collectible booklet.

Batman Beyond: The Complete Series centers on Terry McGinnis, an ordinary teenager ... until his father is mysteriously murdered. Suspecting foul play at his father's company, Wayne/Powers Corporation, Terry meets Bruce Wayne and learns of a secret identity hidden for decades. Now too old to don the cape and cowl as Batman, Wayne refuses to help – so Terry does what any brash young kid would do: steal the Bat-suit and take matters into his own hands! Vowing to avenge his father's death, Terry dons the high-tech suit tricked out with jetpacks, a supersensitive microphone and even camouflage capabilities in search of his father's assassin.

The all-star production team was headed by executive producer Jean MacCurdy and producers Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett, Glen Murakami and Paul Dini. Writers on the series included Burnett and Dini, as well as Stan Berkowitz, Bob Goodman, Rich Fogel, Hilary Bader and John McCann.

Friedle made his mark in live-action television and film from the time he turned 10, starring in hit series like Boy Meets World and Don’t Just Sit There. He gradually shifted his attention to voiceover work, taking the lead in Batman Beyond and co-starring in Disney’s Kim Possible to name but a few. Today, he primarily stays behind the microphone, voicing such notable roles as Doyle on The Secret Saturdays and Blue Beetle on Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

Here’s a brief Q&A with Mr. Friedle …

QUESTION:
When you think back on all those Batman Beyond sessions, what are your favorite memories of recording the series?

WILL FRIEDLE:
This sounds like a cheesy answer, but working with Andrea (Romano) is just the greatest experience. Every week you go in and it’s amazing and fun. You just never knew who the guest cast would be. My favorite was recording Return of the Joker. Sitting between Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill for five days was pretty incredible. I learned more about being a voiceover actor in those five days than I did in the five months before that. Just watching the two of them work – how Mark got so into the character, completely losing himself in that role. And then there’s Kevin with that deep, booming voice, always sitting with his back straight and working perfectly with the microphone. It was an education.


QUESTION:
Do you have a favorite Batman Beyond episode?

WILL FRIEDLE:
There was an episode called “Out of the Past” where it’s Bruce Wayne’s birthday and as a birthday present Terry takes Bruce to see a new play, “Batman: The Musical.” So there’s Bruce sitting in the audience, watching these people in costume jumping on stage, singing about the Dark Knight, and Terry’s right behind him humming the songs. And Bruce just hates it. Seeing Bruce Wayne watching “Batman: The Musical” was pretty funny.


QUESTION:
Were you a fan of Batman: The Animated Series before you were cast for Batman Beyond?

WILL FRIEDLE:
I have been an animation fan my whole life. Love cartoons, always have. But I thought Batman: The Animated Series changed the whole ballgame. Every generation thinks they grew up with the best cartoons – I had Thundercats and Transformers, shows like that. Very bright, and the acting was very big. But then Batman came out and there was nothing cartoony about it. The acting was very real and the overall feel of the show was dark. It was like nothing you’d seen before, and I was a huge fan of the show. This was pre-Tivo, so this was one of those shows where you had to see it every day. You didn’t want to miss an episode. So when I got a call to be the voice of a new Batman, and the series was being made with the entire team that did Batman: The Animated Series, well, that was huge.


QUESTION:
You spent a lot of time with Kevin Conroy over the course of the series. What was that experience like for you?

WILL FRIEDLE:
First of all, Kevin is a classically trained actor. He’s very professional. I’ve had the good fortune of working with several characters like that, but I’d never done an animated series before, and I was kind of slumped in my chair saying my lines. And Kevin started giving me tips. Simple things, but things that really make a difference. For example, he had me sit up straight, and showed me how that helps open your diaphragm naturally. Little things you look for in an actor of his caliber like the right ways to play to the page, the right ways to not pop your P’s. He was nice enough to take me under his wing and teach me, and I’ll never forget him for that.


QUESTION:
What set Batman Beyond apart?

WILL FRIEDLE:
To me, it always goes back to the writing. Batman Beyond was so strong that you couldn’t wait to get the script for the next week. The character development was outstanding – from the new villains they’d invent to the way they brought back the old villains. And the way they treated Terry and Bruce, and their relationship. The casting was phenomenal, but even the greatest actors can’t make bad writing good – so it all comes down to what was on the page, and that’s where Batman Beyond became a great show.


QUESTION:
How important are super heroes to you?

WILL FRIEDLE:
I love super heroes, and Batman was always my favorite. I was never a huge Superman fan. I like the idea that Batman was just a man. He doesn’t have super powers. As you’re reading comics or watching animated series, I think you normally gravitate toward one or the other. But for me, it came down to this: Superman had to come from another planet to save us. Batman said “Look what we can do for ourselves – with our heart and mind and soul, we can save each other.”


QUESTION:
Why are super heroes important to society?

WILL FRIEDLE:
I love to read. I’m a voracious reader. I think the super hero genre is really our modern day Greek mythology, These are our gods; this is Homer writing the Iliad. We’ve got super heroes; they had gods. From a literary standpoint, this is the next generation of mythology. From a fan standpoint, with authors like Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson and even the Harry Potter series, a great fantasy book just takes you away. You can disappear into an entire world where you can forget what is going on in your world. For kids, I think it teaches a sense of right and wrong. For the most part, these stories are tales of good vs. evil. That’s important for kids – to see what is good and bad, and how it can be fought without violence. And just for the fun of it all, who doesn’t want to get lost in a great book or series?


QUESTION:
So now you’re back in the super hero realm – and Batman’s universe – on Batman: The Brave and the Bold. How do you like your role as Blue Beetle?

WILL FRIEDLE:
Blue Beetle is a ton of fun to play. I wasn’t totally familiar with the character, but I studied up for the role quickly. It’s been tricky because we wanted to make sure that we played to Jaime Reyes’ heritage – as he is the first real Latino super hero – but we didn’t want to do a cartoony Latino voice. But at the same time, you also have to make him Hispanic. So there was more riding on this role. Terry could be created in any way, shape or form. Jaime had already been established. It’s not a heavy character, but there’s more of a history. So to step into a world that’s already established was more difficult than creating a character from the beginning.


QUESTION:
You’ve been solely focused on voiceover roles for several years. Are you no longer interested in on-camera acting?

WILL FRIEDLE:
I retired from on-camera work at 30. Plain and simple. I started acting on camera when I was 10, so it had been 20 years. I really enjoyed it, but the on-camera side of the industry isn’t as fun anymore – it’s definitely not the same as when I started. I‘m now more established in the voiceover world, and I get to do it in a far more fun, more fulfilling way. I think I went out on a high note. I was still doing films and television series and I thought I’d rather walk away when it was my choice. I know you’re never supposed to say never, but I can pretty much say never to on-camera again.


QUESTION:
What’s the best thing about playing a super hero?

WILL FRIEDLE:
At the time we were doing Batman Beyond, I thought the coolest thing was telling my nephews I was Batman and not being lying to them. One time, my oldest nephew Huck came out from Brooklyn. He pulled me aside and said “Look uncle Will, I want you to know I’m six now. I think I’m old enough to see the Batcave.” He actually thought I was Batman, which is very cool. It can’t get much better for an uncle.




"Batman Beyond: The Complete Series" is available for the first time in its entirety on Tuesday, November 23. The nine-disc limited edition DVD set offers nearly 20 hours of animated action spread over 52 episodes, as well as including all-new bonus featurettes and a 24-page, 8”x 12” collectible booklet. Get Batman Beyond: The Complete Series (Limited Edition) on sale on Amazon.com for nearly 30 bucks less than retail!

Doctor Who: The Complete 5th Series on Blu-ray

When I'd last visited with the UK's most notable Doctor, he was tall and thin with crazy, manic eyes and boundless energy used for getting in and out of world shattering trouble. For those new to this phenomenon known as Doctor Who, here's the skinny...

The "Doctor" is a Time Lord, easily over 900 years old, somewhat forgetful, definitely a little on the "mad as a hatter" side, and feared by most things that go bump in the night, as he generally is able to find a way to destroy their plans and armies simultaneously without lifting a weapon. THAT is a skill to be respected. Easily bored, the Doctor has developed a nack for popping up in periods throughout time where he is needed most, which usually means lots of running and barricading doors to avoid a sticky death. In his travels, he often stops to pick up a human passenger to drag along behind him, so that he can experience the wonders of our existence all over again, through their eyes. Of course, the passenger is always a girl. He is..sort of a man after all. So the two wing around time and space in something called the Tardis, which looks like a vintage 60's police call box on the outside but is unbelievably huge on the inside. Seeing new people enter for the first time never gets old. The show doesn't take itself too seriously, even though most circumstances are life and death, with the lives being everyone on the planet, or ship, or universe, and the action moves along at a brisk pace, making for excellent entertainment. The 5th series was brilliant in this respect.

The series kicks off with the introduction of a new Doctor. Every now and then, the Doctor's body morphs onto a whole new person, though his thoughts and memories remain the same. This series has a Doctor who looks far younger than any who have come before, but it doesn't change the dynamic of the show or how people perceive him at all, for some reason. Landing in the yard of a young Scottish girl, the scenes play out like a "Cat in the Hat" romp, slowly evolving into a classic Peter Pan scenario, which you'll find is relevant all through past series as well. If you'd like to climb aboard the Tardis for adventure, but you've got work the next day, no worries! You can be returned 10 minutes from the time you left with enough sleep to slug it out in the morning, providing you've not been eaten by bloodthirsty aliens of course. You will be aging as you romp through the cosmos as the Doctor remains unmarked. "Come fly with me!" A Peter Pan story if I've ever seen one. At any rate, the young girl shows the Doctor a crack in her wall that whispers to her and scares her immensely, so with a promise to return immediately, the Tardis disappears and the young girl waits with baggage at her feet. Fast forward some years and HE'S BACK!! Apparently the intricacies of time travel are very tricky and he's overshot his target date, but the crack is still there and adventure awaits with a beautiful red headed girl friday just begging for a reprieve from her tiny town life.

The pair, played by Matt Smith and Karen Gillan, have undeniable chemistry and at the very least, compliment each other with their whimsical way of approaching every obstacle. For the Doctor, the solution to even the gravest of circumstances is only a thought away and just needs a bit of time to surface. For Amy Pond, having the last thing on your resume listed as "Kiss-a-Grahm" doesn't qualify you for much, so when the evils of the universe rear their multiple heads and those in peril ask if she has any idea what is happening, she answers with a quick, cheerful and succinct "NOPE!" and urges them to flee with all due haste. Perils of the series include invisible snakey alien creatures with mind control powers, vampires (sort of), Doctor Who fan favorites "The Weeping Angels" and now iconic Daleks as well as the previous owners of our planet Earth. All in a day's work...quite literally when all of time is at hand.

Along side the last season of Supernatural and perhaps the final season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, the 5th series of Doctor Who is the most brilliant complete series I've ever watched. Each episode stands alone as a highly enjoyable adventure which doesn't delve too deeply into the Scifi aspects as to lose you in near Trek-level doldrums, but also ties into the one before and what is to come with the ominous "crack in time" ever present. The series climaxes in some mind blowing scenes, which were probably moreso for those already fans of Doctor Who to begin with, and wraps up with the most perfect, fairy tale ending I've seen in years. With phenomenal writing, beautiful alien creations, an engaging cinematic viewpoint and a cast you'll love more with every passing minute, you can't lose. Excellence at every turn makes the 5th series of Doctor Who the perfect addition to the ultimate geeky Blu-ray collection.

Of course a series so loved as this has to be jam packed with extras, and the 5th series does not skimp. On every disk you'll find gems like "Meanwhile, Inside the Tardis", showing extended versions of scenes that ran a bit long, Monster Files explaining the origins of the alien mennace in each episode and how they were created for their scenes by a killer FX makeup staff and Video Diaries from the Doctor himself and the beautiful and deliciously dorky Karen Gillan AKA Amy Pond who does all but snort when she laughs. Some episodes also get commentary from creators and actors (which I'll admit to only a quick watching, but will say they are more enjoyable than most.) Also included are out takes and one whole disk of "Doctor Who Confidential" which takes you behind the scenes like a somewhat pretentious version of Entertainment Tonight with a horrific dancey version of the Doctor Who theme at the intro and voice overs in the meat of it. I only got 4 episodes into this before calling it quits.

Doctor Who is a phenomenon for good reason and the 5th series continues this awesome tradition. The action is engaging enough to hook you, smart enough to not question your intelligence, and light enough that you could gather your family in front of the TV, provided that your youngest aren't prone to nightmares from some of the more creepy aliens you'll be introduced to. Get this series today! You won't be sorry. Just remember...Bowties.Are.Cool.

Doctor Who: The Complete Fifth Series [Blu-ray] is available in stores NOW, on DVD as well.




And for those of you who have already seen some of this excellent series and want to scoop up something extra special for the nerdiest in your life, here are some figure pics to wet your appetite...















All available from underground toys via your favorite comic shop or here > Doctor Who 'Stone Dalek' Six Figure Set with Exclusive Underhenge Drone Dalek Figure and heeere > Doctor Who Eleventh Doctor Crash Set Action Figures

Get The Droid You Are Looking For This Holiday

~wokka~ Yes, I had to go there. An overwhelmingly geeky....force..if you will...made me do it. Don't judge me. We've been seeing some pretty badass Star Wars prints on the Mondo Blog but unfortunately, they are so pathetically limited, chances are the moment you hear about them from a second hand source, they are already sold out. Now, in the spirit of the Holidays, Mondo is giving you a giant HEADS UP that this Friday, their newest print "A Linch Pin Droid" will be up for grabs.

A Linch Pin Droid - Poster by Kevin Tong. 24"x 36" screen print w/ glow in the dark inks. 5 Colors, the border is metallic silver, the bright green and blue are glow in the dark inks. Hand numbered. Edition of 400. Printed by D&L Screen Printing on 100 lb White Cover Paper. Limit 1 per person/ household/ address/ etc. $50.00 - Available 11/26/2010 at a random time.

My print is called "A Linch Pin Droid" and it's an exploded view of R2D2, my favorite character in the Star Wars Trilogy. For this print, I made certain that I stayed true to the original Trilogy and spent months watching and pausing it. Although this print is largely technical, I was hoping that by showing R2D2's individual tools and components all spread out, people can reflect on the moments in the Trilogy where he used those devices to save the day and the galaxy. - artist, Kevin Tong

Mondo says they will also have some other things dropping online as well as a huge in-store sale, so be prepared! This could be one stop shopping for all the dorky loves on your list this year!