Usagi Yojimbo

Recently I decided to purchase the upcoming 'Usagi Yojimbo: Special Edition' slipcased set. The series, written and drawn by Stan Sakai, follows the adventures of Miyamoto Usagi, a ronin in feudal Japan. The series is immensely popular for its storylines, artwork, action and humor and has quickly become a favourite of mine. 'Usagi Yojimbo' mixes Japanese history, animals and samurai action all together to create a truly unique series, featuring the battle between good and evil, demons and other monsters and of course some very cool sword fights.

The new slipcased edition collects the first 7 'Usagi' books originally published by Fantagraphics, in two hardcover volumes. Also included with the stories are an interview with Sakai, a cover gallery in colour and various sketches and designs for the many different characters in the series.

The boxset can be found here at Amazon and here at the Fantagraphics website. It isn't being given a huge printing run, to keep it exclusive, so if you want a copy, I suggest you pre-order one now!

On another note, Stan Sakai will be in Australia from the 2nd to the 5th of December for the MiDFur convention in Victoria. Details can be found here, and while i'm kind of creeped out by all that furry stuff myself, i'm considering braving the "unique" people there to meet Sakai.

Weary Wednesday

I don't know what has been happening with me this week, either completely forgetting to blog or contracting a severe case of the lazies. Anyway, I will be back at full force on Monday, hopefully with something groundbreaking to share with you. If not, well, it'll just be business as usual here at Travelling At The Speed Of Mind!

The Movie Corner: Cowboys and Aliens (2011)

Following the 'Green Lantern' trailer yesterday, we've been given our first look at 'Cowboys and Aliens', the latest movie from Jon Favreau (Iron Man), starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde. Take a gander.

Green Lantern trailer

The trailer for 'Green Lantern' has surfaced early, and it doesn't disappoint. Enjoy!

Stuff I Want: The Venture Bros. STATUES

While skulking around the internet today, looking for Venture Bros. products as i'm want to do, I found that Sideshow Collectibles have acquired the license to produce 'Venture Bros.' statues. The maquette masters are starting off with Brock Samson and Molotov Cocktease, both presented 12 inches tall on a Venture Industries logo base.

Take a sneak peek at the statues in this teaser video:



I'm definately getting the Brock statue, and hope that some Monarch themed entries are on their way.

New Stuff: Batwoman #1

DC has released their solicitations for February 2011, and the first issue of the new 'Batwoman' ongoing series is among them. Take a gander.

Batwoman #1

Written by J.H. WILLIAMS III & W. HADEN BLACKMAN
Art and cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
1:10 Variant cover by AMY REEDER

The multiple award-winning creative team of J.H. Williams III (DETECTIVE COMICS) and W. Haden Blackman (Star Wars, Force Unleashed) launch the first, chilling arc of the ongoing series fans have been clamoring for! In the 5-part “Hydrology,” Batwoman faces bizarre new challenges in her war against the dark underworld of Gotham and new trials in her personal life as Kate Kane. She quickly finds herself in the deep end facing truths about her past and her future. Who – or what – is stealing children from Gotham’s barrio, and for what twisted purpose? Can she train her cousin Bette Kane (a.k.a. Flamebird) as her new sidekick? How will she handle dark revelations about her father, Colonel Jacob Kane? How is she dealing with the supposed drowning of her sister, the villain known as Alice? And why is a certain government agency suddenly taking an interest in her? The road to the answers begins here!

On sale FEBRUARY 23 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Sounds pretty good to me, and it looks like the writing duo of Williams and Blackman are jumping right in at the deep end with plot lines. This series looks to be one of the stars of 2011.

Lax Mark, Lax

Just apologising for my lax attitude towards blogging lately. But, I will be going to buy some fresh new comics this week including 'Hellboy: Double Feature of Evil', 'DeadpoolMAX #2', 'Batman In.c #1' and some back issues of 'Deadpool'. So i'll be back at full force soon, so hang in there.

Money Money Money

Today I went to buy the Venture Bros. first season on DVD at 32.99 and found it was 13 bucks, so I bought the first two seasons for less than the price of one.

All in all, good weekend.

DeadpoolMAX #3

Issue number 3 of this new monthly Deadpool series and this cover really caught my eye. Deadpool fighting Nazis and the KKK? Sounds like some fascists are about to get their heads handed to them. (P.S: I want that original artwork.) Solicitation below:

WRITER: David Lapham
ARTIST: Kyle Baker

THE STORY:
The history of the 20th Century is the history of great leaps toward the fulfillment of a promise – a promise made by these United States to be a land where and all are created equal. For Baron Helmut Emmerich Von Zemo, though, the 20th Century was an unmitigated disaster that must be combated by EXTREME steps. And what should happen when Deadpool is tasked to take down out this hood-wearing warrior of hate? Feel the freeing power of the gun and the sword!

IN STORES: 1st December 2010

Thoughts and Ponderation Part 2: Upcoming Osborn

While browsing this morning I found this cool little thing about the upcoming 'Osborn' miniseries, issue #1 comes with a teporary tattoo.


Yeah, it's kind of awesome and has convinced me to buy the first issue.

And while we're here, take a look at a preview of 'Halcyon' a new series coming out from Image. The series follows a world of superheroes after all supervillainy has been eradicated. It's got my interest so check it out. Halcyon #1 courtesy of CBR.

Thoughts and Ponderation

While perusing CBR this morning I took a gander at the preview of 'Batgirl' #15. I haven't indulged in Batgirl before, but this preview is certainly making me think about it. Give it a look. RIGHT NOW!!

Vampires Suck, but Deadpool Doesn't

The upcoming sotryline in 'Deadpool' running through issues #30 and #31 titled "I Rule, You Suck" pits the merc with a mouth against the world's latest craze, vampires. Solicitations below.


COVER BY: Dave Johnson
WRITER: Daniel Way
PENCILS: Carlo Barberi
COLORED BY: Marte Gracia
LETTERED BY: NEUROTIC CARTOONIST, INC

THE STORY:
“I Rule, You Suck,” Part 1 (of 2) Deadpool blowing away vampires—how @#$%ing cool is that?! Wait…he’s not blowing away vampires? He’s protecting vampires? That doesn’t sound cool at all. 32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$2.99

IN STORES: December 22, 2010

COVER BY: Dave Johnson
WRITER: Daniel Way

THE STORY:
“I Rule, You Suck,” Part 2 (of 2) These Draculas just don’t know when to quit! Deadpool’s already shown them they’re no match for his kill-skills, yet they continue to step to him. Are they just suckers for punishment, or are they setting him up? Silly draculas…tricks are for Deadpool!

IN STORES: January 26, 2011

Blogging takes it's toll

Well, today I have absolutely nothing new to contribute, so all I can say is I bought the Monarch and Henchmen figures. I had training for my new job yesterday so i'm still kind of mind-bushed, so I very much apologise.

Tomorrow I will be back with something new!

New Week, New Captain America photos

Alright, it's Tuesday but whatever, new pictures from 'Captain America: The First Avenger'. In these stills we get some HYDRA action (kind of disappointed they steered away from the Nazis) as well as more of Chris Evans as Cap. Enjoy! Sorry for the squashed images, but give them a click to go to the full view.








Looks pretty good to me, Hugo Weaving looks especially evil and those HYDRA bike troop guys are pretty sweet. Only thing that makes me wonder is the actual plot synopsis: Steve Rogers is the only man to successfully become a super soldier thanks to the Erksine serum (check), and through this he becomes Captain America (check). But the army is afraid to send him into combat (wait...) because he is their only super soldier, and instead makes him part of the USO show (uhh...). He hates the costume (no...) and can't wait to get out of it and do some real fighting (sort of no and yes, mostly no).

Really? They're not sending their only super soldier into battle? Well, the Allies just lost the war, it was fun while it lasted.