Month: October 2011

GTA III 10th Anniversary Claude Action Figure

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the legendary GTA III, Rockstar is teaming up with Sideshow Collectibles to put out a very limited Claude twelve 1:6th scale action figure. I saw this figure in person during last the New York Comic Con last weekend while I was at the Rockstar booth getting a special look at Max Payne 3 and I must admit that it is a pretty slick looking piece.

The box features a golden version of the game’s american release box art and the figure comes with a number of different hands to hold the various included weapons and also a secondary outfit in the form of the orange prisoner jumpsuit that he wore in the beginning of the game. I am familiar with Sideshow’s 1:6 figure via their Star Wars line and I assume that this means this figure will also have standard articulation points for various poses.

With the announcement of GTA V coming as well as the rerelease of this game for the iPad I can really see the fans jumping on this, which is what I do bee live to be the first toy based on this license.

Here is the official press release below and you can pre-order the figure here!

The limited-edition Claude action figure will be available November 2011.

10 years ago, this month, the revolutionary open-world epic Grand Theft Auto III was released to the world – a game that set players loose as a small-time criminal at the bottom of the food chain in Liberty City, a sprawling metropolis where anything can happen – and probably will. 

To commemorate the game’s 10th anniversary, Rockstar Games is proud to present this limited edition action figure of lead character Claude, an ex-con out for revenge in a city filled with mobsters, street gangs and cops on the take.

Found running the streets of Liberty City in Grand Theft Auto III, Claude rose from a small-time bank robber who is betrayed by his girlfriend to a big-time gangster ready to get revenge.

Produced in partnership with Sideshow Collectibles – Renowned toy manufacture revered by collectors around the world. This fully articulated 1:6 scale action figure of Claude comes dressed in his original attire of cargo pants and a bomber jacket, but he can also sport his iconic Liberty City Prison-issued jumpsuit (supplied).

Claude comes equipped with an arsenal of classic weapons from Grand Theft Auto III including a bat, knife, grenades, pistol, sniper rifle, and assault rifles.

Limited Edition – Only 1,500 pieces

Features:
12 inch body with nearly 30 points of articulation
Fabric Liberty City State prison outfit
Bomber jacket with real zippers
Canvas cargo pants
Two assault rifles
Sniper rifle
Grenades
Knife
Sub machine gun
Baseball bat
Pistol
One pair of fists
One right trigger hand
One left C grip hand

Rockstar Games Announces Grand Theft Auto V

Today Rockstar Games has officially come out of the blue with a minimalist blitzkrieg to announce Grand Theft Auto 5 onto the unsuspecting gaming world. Logging on to the Rockstar’s website only leads to the image above with nothing else aside from the trailer release date of 11/2/11 (Next Wednesday) and a Twitter hashtag of #GTAV as they are no doubt letting us do all of the dirty PR work for them.

It has been a while since 2008’s Grand Theft Auto IV was released as well as the two completely separate DLC follow-up games, The Ballad of Gay Tony and The Lost and the Damned, that concurrently take place in Liberty City and fans have been aching for another fresh installment of this franchise! And to think, it has only been ten years and three days since the release of the supernova hit GTA III, which is also due for an upcoming anniversary release on the iPad.

But they really left us nothing to go on, have they? Will the character be a return to one of the previous games or will we see an all new character? So far we have had some white dudes, a couple of italians, a black man, an Eastern European, a Jewish biker, a Puerto Rican, and a Chinaman in the handheld Chinatown Wars so who is left? If I had to guess I would pick a Los Angeles style Cholo since it is an all new character type as well as a chance to re-visit San Andreas. On the subject of San Andreas, does anyone else remember that teaser on the Rockstar Social Club’s site from a few years back?

For those of you that missed this, it was uncovered if you dragged a few items around on a digital desk until you uncovered this plane ticket for Niko Bellic going to San Andreas. What do you guys this? If he and cousin Roman were headed out west, do you think we will see them return? It would be a first for this franchise to reuse a protagonist but with such a fan favorite could you blame them?

Let us know in the comments how you feel and be sure to look here next week for the premiere trailer!

New Comics Releases for Wednesday 10/26/2011

Halloween is almost at hand and what better way to prepare for lavish outfits than by reading comics? This week features a number of jumping on points and a few issues that seem to have been built up to an epic climax. Also, if you are in the Los Angeles area this weekend I suggest you check out the Long Beach Comic Con going on Saturday and Sunday!

 

Mario’s Top 10 Picks of the Week!

10) GLADSTONES SCHOOL FOR WORLD CONQUERORS #6 (Image Comics)
Writer: Marc Andrew Smith
Pencils: Armand Villavert

Just check out the title! This book is hilarious and exciting, giving us a fresh perspective on the next generation of villains. I want to see more people discover this book. It is filled with high concept action with a large side of fun and entertainment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9) INCREDIBLE HULK #1 (Marvel Comics)
Writer: JASON AARON
Pencils: MARC SILVESTRI

The first of two new number one issues this week by Jason Aaron, I am a bit skeptical on the Hulk. This has been a hit or miss character for me and every time I think I start to get into it the character is handed off to a new writer who kicks off a new number 1 issue. Silvestri is great though so at least we will get pretty images in Aaron fails (which I doubt will be the case). I hope for big gritty action showing us what a monster this green bloke really is and with Aaron’s track record of crazy tales I think we might get just that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 ) AQUAMAN #2 (DC Comics)
Writer: Geoff Johns
Pencils: Ivan Reis

I will admit the last issue fell a little flat, serving as more of Johns’ personal platform to argue the merits of Aquaman in an uninspired Tarantino knock-off diner scene than an feeling like actual exciting first issue. That ONE critique aside, I am expecting this issue to bring it. As one of the few true Aquaman fans around I will look to this issue to see if I will continue to recommend the series publicly or if it will be one of my many secret comic pleasures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7) STAR WARS: CRIMSON EMPIRE III – EMPIRE LOST #1 of 6 (Dark Horse Comics)
Writer: Mike Richardson
Pencils: Paul Gulacy

Dark Horse has been pumping out a lot from the Star Wars Universe lately, opting for continuing mini-series rather than highly numbered on-goings and this is yet another one. I hate to admit it but I am still fairly new to the extended Star Wars universe set in place by the comics but I am really eager to read them. This time the series focuses on the last of the Red Guards that were shown ever so briefly in Return of the Jedi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6) WALKING DEAD #90 (Image Comics)
Writer: ROBERT KIRKMAN
Pencils: CHARLIE ADLARD

Rick and his crew are taking over and if you don’t like it, well, I hope you like guns in your face. Yup, I just said that. This series continues to chug along at it’s usual pace of nothing happening but with this being the sixth issue of the VERY unsurprising built-for-collected-editions six issue story arcs that we have come to expect from Kirkman I expect something to finally happen in this issue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5) GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #2 (DC Comics)
Writer: TONY BEDARD
Pencils: TYLER KIRKHAM

The last issue was a cool retelling of how Kyle got his ring followed by ALL of the other colored rings finding their way to him. This issue looks like there is going to be a fight as representatives of the other Corps arrive to see just why the hell this guy “stole” the rings. I love Kyle and any opportunity to see the hilarious Orange Lanterns is pure win ion my book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4) WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #1 (Marvel Comics)
Writer: JASON AARON
Pencils: CHRIS BACHALO

This issue kicks off the start of Wolverine running his own school in New York and I honestly have no idea what to expect. Aaron has done a great job working on Wolverine in the solo book but how will he fair in an entirely group ensemble? I am sure it will be good and after all of the Regenesis hype I am glad to finally see this issue hit stands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3) TEEN TITANS #2 (DC Comics)
Writer: SCOTT LOBDELL
Pencils: BRETT BOOTH

I hope Superboy finally throws down on these kids. Seriously.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) ALL STAR WESTERN #2 (DC Comics)
Writers: JUSTIN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art: MORITAT and JORDI BERNET

Jonah Hex living in the DC Universe working on a murder case taking place in Indistrial Revolution era Gotham City is exactly what it sounds like. The first issue packed one hell of a punch and I have found myself now going back and purchasing the trades for the Palmiotti/Gray run that came before this as I kick myself for missing them the first time around. If you like your good guys to have a bad side and your bad guys to get what they deserve then this is the book for you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1) AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #672 (Marvel Comics)
Writer: Dan Slott
Pencils: Humberto Ramos

The final chapter of Spider-Island is at hand! How will NYC cope with everyone being turned into spiders? Will Peter and Mary Jane get back together? When will J. Jonah Jameson give up his pathetic feud against Spidey? I bet none of these questions will be directly answered in this issue BUT I expect plenty of kicks and a splash page dedicated to the knock out punch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the rest of the releases for the week!

DC COMICS
All-New Batman The Brave And The Bold #12
All-Star Western #1 (Moritat 2nd Printing Variant Cover)
All-Star Western #2
Aquaman #1 (Ivan Reis & Joe Prado 2nd Printing Variant Cover)
Aquaman #2
Batman The Dark Knight #1 (David Finch 2nd Printing Variant Cover)
Batman The Dark Knight #2
Blackhawks #1 (Ken Lashley 2nd Printing Variant Cover)
Blackhawks #2
DC Comics Presents Catwoman Guardian Of Gotham #1
DC Comics Presents The Jack Kirby Omnibus Sampler #1
Flash #1 (Francis Manapul 2nd Printing Variant Cover)
Flash #2 (Francis Manapul Regular Cover)
Flash #2 (Francis Manapul Black & White Variant Edition)
Flash #2 (Greg Capullo Variant Cover)
Fury Of Firestorm The Nuclear Men #1 (Ethan Van Sciver 2nd Printing Variant Cover)
Fury Of Firestorm The Nuclear Men #2
Gears Of War #20
Green Lantern New Guardians #1 (Tyler Kirkham & Batt 2nd Printing Variant Cover)
Green Lantern New Guardians #2
I Vampire #1 (Jenny Frison 2nd Printing Variant Cover)
I Vampire #2
Justice League Dark #1 (Ryan Sook 2nd Printing Variant Cover)
Justice League Dark #2
Legion Secret Origin #1 (of 6)
MAD Magazine #512
Savage Hawkman #1 (Philip Tan 2nd Printing Variant Cover)
Savage Hawkman #2
Scalped #53
Supergirl #2
Superman #1 (George Perez 2nd Printing Variant Cover)
Superman #2
Teen Titans #1 (Brett Booth & Norm Rapmund 2nd Printing Variant Cover)
Teen Titans #2
Voodoo #1 (Sami Basri 2nd Printing Variant Cover)
Voodoo #2

Vertigo
DMZ #70
Green Woman TP
Spaceman #1 (of 9)

 

MARVEL COMICS
Amazing Spider-Man #672
Annihilators Earthfall #2 (of 4)
Astonishing X-Men #43
Avengers Academy #20
Avengers Solo #1 (of 5) (John Tyler Christopher Regular Cover)
Avengers Solo #1 (of 5) (Captain America Movie Variant Cover)
Captain America And Bucky #623
Daken Dark Wolverine #16
Daredevil #3 (Paolo Rivera 2nd Printing Variant Cover)
Daredevil #5
Deadpool #45 (Nick Bradshaw Regular Cover)
Deadpool #45 (Greg Horn Marvel Comics 50th Anniversary Variant Cover)
Disney Pixar Presents Toy Story
Dorothy And The Wizard In Oz #2 (of 8)
Dream Logic #4
FF #11
Incredible Hulk #1 (Marc Silvestri Regular Cover)
Incredible Hulk #1 (Blank Variant Cover)
Incredible Hulk #1 (Dale Keown Variant Cover)
Incredible Hulk #1 (Jose Ladronn Variant Cover)
Incredible Hulk #1 (Marc Silvestri Sketch Variant Cover)
Incredible Hulk #1 (Neal Adams Variant Cover)
Incredible Hulk #1 (Whilce Portacio Variant Cover)
Journey Into Mystery #630
Mighty Thor #7 (Pasqual Ferry Regular Cover)
Mighty Thor #7 (Alan Davis Marvel Comics 50th Anniversary Variant Cover)
New Mutants #32
Red Skull #4 (of 5)
Secret Avengers #18 (John Cassaday Regular Cover)
Secret Avengers #18 (David Aja Variant Cover)
Spider-Island Cloak And Dagger #3 (of 3)
Spider-Island The Amazing Spider-Girl #3 (of 3)
Spider-Island Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu #3 (of 3)
Spider-Man #19 (Marvel Adventures)
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #2 (Kaare Andrews 2nd Printing Variant Cover)
Ultimate Comics The Ultimates #3
Vampires The Marvel Undead #1
Venom #8 (Tony Moore Regular Cover)
Wolverine And The X-Men #1 (Chris Bachalo Regular Cover)
Wolverine And The X-Men #1 (Blank Variant Cover)
Wolverine And The X-Men #1 (Frank Cho Variant Cover)
Wolverine And The X-Men #1 (Nick Bradshaw Regenesis Gold Variant Cover)

AVATAR PRESS
Captain Swing #4 (of 4) (Raulo Caceres Regular Cover) (resolicited)
Captain Swing #4 (of 4) (Raulo Caceres Auxiliary Cover) (resolicited)
Captain Swing #4 (of 4) (Raulo Caceres Wraparound Cover) (resolicited)

Captain Swing #4 (of 4) (Raulo Caceres Penny Dreadful Variant Cover) (resolicited)
Courtyard GN (Jacen Burrows Signed Variant)
Stitched #1 (Mike Wolfer Regular Cover)
Stitched #1 (Mike Wolfer Gore Cover
Stitched #1 (Movie Photo Variant Cover)
Stitched #1 (Mike Wolfer Wraparound Cover)

BOOM! STUDIOS
Incorruptible #23
Planet Of The Apes #7 (Cover A)
Planet Of The Apes #7 (Cover B)
Planet Of The Apes #7 (Cover C Scott Keating)

DARK HORSE
Abe Sapien The Devil Does Not Jest #2 (of 2)
Angel And Faith #3 (Rebekah Isaacs Variant Cover)
Angel And Faith #3 (Steve Morris Cover)
Star Wars Crimson Empire III Empire Lost #1 (of 6) (Dave Dorman Regular Cover)
Star Wars Crimson Empire III Empire Lost #1 (of 6) (Paul Gulacy Variant Cover)

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
George R.R. Martin’s A Game Of Thrones #2 (Alex Ross Regular Cover)
George R.R. Martin’s A Game Of Thrones #2 (Alex Ross Negative Art Variant Cover)
George R.R. Martin’s A Game Of Thrones #2 (Alex Ross Virgin Variant Cover)
George R.R. Martin’s A Game Of Thrones #2 (Mike Miller Variant Cover)
Kato #14 (Ale Garza Regular Cover)
Kato #14 (Ale Garza Black & White Variant Cover)
Kirby Genesis #4 (Alex Ross Regular Cover)
Kirby Genesis #4 (Alex Ross Marvelous Acetate Variant Cover)
Kirby Genesis #4 (Alex Ross Sketch Variant Cover)
Kirby Genesis #4 (Ryan Sook Black & White Variant Cover)
Kirby Genesis #4 (Ryan Sook Variant Cover)
Robert Jordan’s Wheel Of Time The Eye Of The World #15
Vampirella #11 (Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic Regular Cover)
Vampirella #11 (Johnny Desjardins Regular Cover)
Vampirella #11 (Paul Renaud Regular Cover)
Vampirella #11 (Wagner Reis Regular Cover)
Vampirella #11 (Paul Renaud Blood Red Variant Cover)
Vampirella #11 (Wagner Reis Black & White Variant Cover)
Vampirella And The Scarlet Legion #5 (Billy Tucci Regular Cover)
Vampirella And The Scarlet Legion #5 (Johnny Desjardins Regular Cover)
Vampirella And The Scarlet Legion #5 (Billy Tucci Black & White Variant Cover)

IDW PUBLISHING
Anne Rice’s Servant Of The Bones #3 (of 6) (Renae DeLiz Regular Cover)
Anne Rice’s Servant Of The Bones #3 (of 6) (Jenny Frison Variant Cover)
Cobra #6 (Cover A David Williams)
Cobra #6 (Cover B Antonio Fuso)
Cobra #6 (Danny Cruz Crisis On Infinite Earths Variant Cover)
Eternal Descent Volume 2 #1 (of 6) (Jason Metcalf Regular Cover)
Eternal Descent Volume 2 #1 (of 6) (Santi Casas Ikari Studio Variant Cover)
Godzilla Kingdom Of Monsters #8 (Eric Powell Regular Cover)
Godzilla Kingdom Of Monsters #8 (Matt Frank MechaGodzilla Variant Cover)
Star Trek #2 (Cover A Tim Bradstreet)
Star Trek #2 (Cover B Joe Corroney)
Star Trek #2 (Photo Variant Cover)
Star Trek #2 (Tim Bradstreet Sketch Variant Cover)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3 (Cover A Dan Duncan)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3 (Cover B Kevin Eastman)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3 (Fred Hembeck Spoof Variant Cover)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3 (Kevin Eastman Sketch Variant Cover)

IMAGE COMICS
27 Second Set #2 (of 4)
Avengelyne #4 (Cover A Rob Liefeld)
Avengelyne #4 (Cover B Owen Gieni)
Breed III #6 (of 7)
Butcher Baker The Righteous Maker #7
Darkness #94
Gladstone’s School For World Conquerors #6
Green Wake #6
Guarding The Globe #6 (of 6) (Ransom Getty & FCO Plascencia Regular Cover)
Guarding The Globe #6 (of 6) (Variant Cover)
Infinite Horizon #5 (of 6)
Li’l Depressed Boy #7
Magdalena #7 (of 13) (Ron Marz/Keu Cha/Nelson Blake II Signed Edition)
Magdalena #9
Pilot Season The Beauty #1
Red Wing #4 (of 4)
Screamland #5
Vault #3 (of 3)
Vescell #3
Walking Dead #90
Walking Dead Weekly #43
Witchblade #144 (Signed Edition)
Witchblade #145 (Erik Jones HeroesCon Exclusive Variant Cover)

12 GAUGE COMICS

I.C.E. #3 (of 4)

AMRYL ENTERTAINMENT
Cavewoman Snow #4
Cavewoman Snow #4 (Budd Root Special Edition)

ANTARCTIC PRESS
Gold Digger Annual #17
Gold Digger Halloween Special 2011
Last Zombie Inferno #4 (of 5)
Steampunk Halloween (One Shot)

APE ENTERTAINMENT
Caspers Scare School #1 (of 4)
Dark Axis Rise Of The Overmen #1 (of 4)
Helldorado #1 (of 3) (Martin Coccolo Regular Cover)
Helldorado #1 (of 3) (Martin Coccolo Zombie Variant Cover)
Strawberry Shortcake Berry Fun #3 (of 4)

ARCHIE COMICS
Archie #626 (Dan Parent Regular Cover)
Archie #626 (Dan Parent Sketch Variant Cover)
Archie & Friends #158
Archie Double Digest #223
Betty & Veronica #256
Sonic Universe #33

ARDDEN ENTERTAINMENT
Devil Is Due In Dreary #1
Knightingail #1

ASPEN MLT
Dead Mans Run #0 (Cover A Tony Parker)
Dead Mans Run #0 (Cover B Micha Gunnell)

BIG IF COMICS
Pood #4

BONGO COMICS
Bart Simpson Comics #64

CAMPFIRE
Ali Baba And The Forty Thieves Reloaded GN

COMIC SHOP NEWS
Comic Shop News #1271

CREATORS EDGE PRESS
Jeff GN

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS
Frank Book HC (New Printing)
Frank Book SC
Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse Volumes 1 & 2 Collectors Box Set HC
Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse Volume 2 Trapped On Treasure Island HC

GG STUDIO
Extinction Seed #0 (of 6) (Cover A Livia Pastore)
Extinction Seed #0 (of 6) (Cover B Guiseppe Cafaro)
Extinction Seed #0 (of 6) (Limited Extended Cover)

KENZER AND COMPANY
Knights Of The Dinner Table #179

ONI PRESS
Sixth Gun #16

PANINI PUBLISHING
Doctor Who Special #29
Doctor Who Insider #7
Doctor Who Magazine #439

REBELLION/2000 AD
2000 AD #1754
2000 AD Pack September 2011 (issues 1750-1753)
Flesh The Dino Files GN
Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files Volume 18 TP
Thargs Terror Tales Presents Necronauts And Love GN

RED ANVIL
War Of The Independents #1

TITAN PUBLISHING
CLiNT #11
Star Wars Insider #129 Special (November/December 2011) (Newsstand Edition)
Star Wars Insider #129 Special (November/December 2011) (Previews Exclusive Edition)
Star Wars The Clone Wars Magazine #8 (November/December 2011)
Tank Girl Carioca #1 (of 3)

ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT
Brimstone #6
Charmed #15
Fly #5 (Cover A Eric J Letter F)
Fly #5 (Cover B Eric J Letter L)
Fly #5 (Cover C Eric J Letter Y)
Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Ever After The Dream Eater Conclusion (Dream Eater Crossover Part 12 Conclusion) (Cover A Eric Basaldua)
Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Ever After The Dream Eater Conclusion (Dream Eater Crossover Part 12) (Cover B Fan Yang)
Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Ever After The Dream Eater Conclusion (Dream Eater Crossover Part 12) (Cover C Angel Medina)
Grimm Fairy Tales Halloween Special 2011 (Cover A Franchesco)
Grimm Fairy Tales Halloween Special 2011 (Cover B David Seidman)
Giant-Size Grimm Fairy Tales 2011 Sinbad (Cover A Eric Basaldua)
Giant-Size Grimm Fairy Tales 2011 Sinbad (Cover B Marat Mychaels)