IDW Announces Todd McFarlane’s Spider-Man Artist’s Edition

In September, IDW will celebrate the dynamic artwork and storytelling of industry icon Todd McFarlane with the addition of Todd McFarlane’s Spider-Man Artist’s Edition to its multiple Eisner Award–winning line. Experience one of the most acclaimed runs in Spider-Man history like never before!

Todd McFarlane’s gorgeous work on Spider-Man was nothing less than groundbreaking. His intense version of the web-slinging wallcrawler took the character to new heights, instilling in the character a new sense of energy and vitality—first in The Amazing Spider-Man, written by David Michelinie, and then in a spin-off series, with both art and story by McFarlane himself. The impact that his dynamic artwork has had on the comics industry—on his legions of fans and the artists who have been inspired by and have emulated him—is truly immeasurable.

Venom, the Romantic Comedy Hit of the Year, on DVD and Blu 12/18

One of Marvel’s most enigmatic, complex, and badass characters comes home in VENOM, which will make its debut on Digital December 11, and on 4K Ultra HD™ Combo Pack, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, and DVD on December 18! This must-own comic book blockbuster, which has grossed more than $822 million in theaters worldwide to date, is directed by Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland) and features an all-star cast including Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises, Mad Max: Fury Road), Michelle Williams (The Greatest Showman), Riz Ahmed (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, TV’s “The Night Of”), Jenny Slate (Zootopia) and Woody Harrelson (Zombieland, The Hunger Games franchise).

Venom Trailer Shows Its Teeth ...and So Do The Fans

There's going to be lengthy discussions over this one!! Earlier today, Sony's VENOM trailer leaked out of Russia (via CinemaCon, which is in the US), prompting Sony to release it in full HD for press to get their grubby mitts on and possibly head off a lot of negative talk based on blurry, low res cam footage. NO SUCH LUCK!! The geek forums all over Facebook are already buzzing with both negative and positive points. Some say it's spot on (which it pretty much is) to the comic art and could not be more perfect. They are excited to see more of Hardy, fully suited in action. Others say yea, it looks just like the comic. It didn't work in Spider-Man 3 and it doesn't work now. From there, you'll find more than one comparison to the 97' Spawn movie...which is not meant as a compliment, and some comments about the odd way Hardy seems to be finely tuning every syllable of every word coming out of his mouth. Want to join the conversation? Here's the eye candy...

A Venom Movie Is Coming Sooner Than You Think

Shock and awe!! Perhaps backed by expectations of the re-invigoration of the Spider-Man movie franchise due in no small part to the character's "Homecoming" in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sony (Columbia) has decided to grab an October 5th, 2018 release date previously occupied by Warner Bros. Aquaman (now bumped to December, 2018, for whatever reason) for VENOM! This info, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter and tipped to us by Heidi at Comics Beat, starts with a YAY and sort of ends with a HUH?

CB reports:
It’s written by Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinker, the latter of whom wrote the pretty poorly received The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

As for the Director, THR reports that there is NO one in the chair just yet.

Guardians of the Galaxy Explore Venom's Home World

This November, dare to venture where no hero in the Marvel Universe has ever gone before as the Guardians of the Galaxy find themselves stranded on the home world of the Symbiotes! It all kicks off this November in Planet of the Symbiotes, the newest storyline beginning in Guardians of the Galaxy #21, from blockbuster writer Brian Michael Bendis and Marvel All-New Young Gun artist Valerio Schiti!

Ever since the Symbiote bonded with Flash Thompson, he has wielded it as a force for good, making the Earth a safer place as the hero known as Venom. Only the far reaches of space are a little bit out of his depth – even when he’s packing a crazed alien costume!

“Isn’t it interesting after all this time, we’ve never seen the Symbiote’s home planet?” says Executive Editor Mike Marts. “What does the planet look like? How will they respond to Agent Venom? It’s a lot of mystery, which is always fun. But come November, we’ll be adding to the Symbiote mythology in some new and exciting ways.”

Sony Expands Their Amazing Spider-Man Universe

In a move to forge a new legacy in the story of Peter Parker on screen, Sony Pictures Entertainment, in association with Marvel Entertainment, is developing several new projects in the Spider-Man franchise, with Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Jeff Pinkner, Ed Solomon, and Drew Goddard to collaborate on overseeing the developing story over several films that will be produced by Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach, it was announced today by Doug Belgrad, president of Columbia Pictures, and Hannah Minghella, president of Production for the studio.

Tour 80's NY with Eddie Brock in "Truth In Journalism"

Fan films are a realization of someone's dreams...about someone else's dreams. You grow up loving a comic book character and one day, find your love is shared by like minded individuals and before you know it, there's a script and cameras and the rest is Comic-Con history. The results are...often mixed. While all show undeniable passion for the source material, some shine just a little brighter. Today, we take a look at "Truth In Journalism" in which an indie camera crew which follows morally corrupt scumbag reporter Eddie Brock through a vintage 80's New York City. It's mean spirited, authentic feeling and funny as all hell.

Disney Stores Exclusive Marvel Action Figures

Diamond Select/ Marvel Select have been working over time to feed those Marvel Zombies who haven't seen a Marvel Legends or Marvel Universe wave for some time now. Now The Disney Store gets in on their sculptural genius with a small wave of exclusive figures you'll only see on their pegs.

Marvel toy collectors just got another reason to put the nearest Disney Store in their GPS. After partnering with Diamond Select Toys on four exclusive Marvel Select Avengers figures and two exclusive Amazing Spider-Man movie figures, the Disney Store has teamed up with DST yet again, to deliver three new Marvel Select figures that collectors will be dying to own!

The first figure (available now) is the Savage Hulk, a new, modern Hulk based on artist Marc Silvestri's rendering of the character in recent issues of the Incredible Hulk from Marvel Comics. Depicting a more intelligent version of the Hulk than previous Select offerings, this figure was sculpted by frequent Marvel Select contributor Jean St. Jean, and stands over 9 inches tall with 16 points of articulation.

Venom Symbiote Claims a New Host

The best thing about living in a future where geekery is invading every facet of our lives is that your favorite characters inspire amazing artists across the globe...and we get to see it as it happens. Such is the case with photographer Adam Jay (of SuperHero Photography) who was no doubt haunted by the imagery of the virus-like Venom symbiote and sought to re-create the moment of bonding with a human host with one of the sexiest Cosplayers on the planet, Freddie Nova (destroyer of men..which really should be her full name). The result is intense, stunning, beautiful in the sheer horror of it all and at the same time, insanely drool worthy! This is a stand up and clap kind of moment. Check out some images from the shoot...

It's Spider-Man Vs Time....Again?

While most companies are challenging themselves to work the word "Spooktacular" into every press release, Activision has dubbed this the TIME OF THE MARVELS!!! OK, that is overly dramatic..but they have released two Marvel video games right on top of each other, and that is always cause for celebration! Last week saw X-Men : Destiny explode onto the store shelves. This week, It's Spidey's turn.

Today, Spider-Man™ faces his greatest challenge ever - saving Spider-Man - in Spider-Man™: Edge of Time, available now in North American retail stores from Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI). Created by Beenox - the studio that developed last year's popular Spider-Man™: Shattered Dimensions - players take the roles of both Peter Parker's Amazing Spider-Man, and Miguel O'Hara's Spider-Man 2099 in a harrowing, action-packed adventure, spanning two timelines 100-years apart in order to thwart a cataclysmic future from happening - and the death of Peter Parker.

"Just like with Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, Beenox is bringing a fresh perspective to the series with Spider-Man: Edge of Time," said David Oxford, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Activision Publishing, Inc. "Dee Brown and the team at Beenox worked closely with Marvel's own veteran writer and co-creator of Spider-Man 2099, Peter David, on a high-stakes narrative experience where the ultimate challenge is not only to save the world, but also save Spider-Man himself."

"We're very excited to bring Spider-Man: Edge of Time to Marvel fans everywhere," said TQ Jefferson, Vice President of Games Production, Marvel Entertainment. "Activision and Beenox have managed to pack more fun, excitement and challenge into this game than their previous hit Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions; and we're eager for fans - both new and old - to dive into Spidey's latest pulse-pounding adventure."



Playing as the two extremely different personas of Peter Parker and Miguel O'Hara, both heroic web-slingers must urgently work together to correct a timestream gone awry, save each other, and prevent the death of the Amazing Spider-Man. With the story's two timelines evolving in parallel, each Super Hero must navigate through "cause-and-effect" gameplay moments, utilizing Spider-Man: Edge of Time's picture-in-picture display where the actions of one Spider-Man can result in immediate, and sometimes unexpected, effects on the other Spider-Man and his surroundings. Players will battle a variety of fan-favorite and all-new villains, including Anti-Venom and Black Cat 2099, using expanded combat abilities specific to each timeline - from Spider-Man 2099's close-quarters brute force, futuristic enhancements and gravity-defying acrobatics, to the Amazing Spider-Man's evasive techniques, upgraded web abilities and ranged tactics, as they race against time to preserve the balance of both worlds.

The game includes an all-star voice cast, beginning with legendary film star Val Kilmer as Walker Sloan; Smallville and V mainstay Laura Vandervoort as Mary Jane; Battlestar Galactica's Katee Sackhoffas Black Cat; "The Spectacular Spider-Man's" Josh Keaton as the Amazing Spider-Man; and Christopher Daniel Barnes, who voiced the iconic Marvel web-slinger in the 1994 "Spider-Man" series, as the voice of Spider-Man 2099.

Spider-Man: Edge of Time is rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB and is available on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Wii™ and Nintendo 3DS™, all developed by Beenox. The Nintendo 3DS edition marks the debut of Spider-Man on Nintendo's newest platform. A Nintendo DS™ version, created by developer Other Ocean, is also available and features a platforming adventure full of unique villains, such as the first-ever appearances of Overdrive, Arcade and Big Wheel 2099, created exclusively for this version.

For more information about Spider-Man: Edge of Time, or to join the Hero HQ VIP community on Facebook, visit www.Facebook.com/HeroHQ.

Venom Returns...Again...

It just goes to show ...you can't keep a good symbiote down!! Comics' favorite parasitic alien organism is gearing up for a comeback, but Marvel PR is keeping its new host under wraps...for nowww...

Venom is back with an all-new mission and all-new human host, but just what does this mean for the Marvel Universe? Find out in Venom #1, kicking off a new ongoing series from red-hot creators Rick Remender (Uncanny X-Force) & Tony Moore (Frankencastle), with major repercussions for Spider-Man! In this shocking direction for everyone’s favorite symbiote, the government now has Venom as their own Spider-Man, complete with a new look and new mission—eliminate threats to America as a covert agent. But can anyone control the destructive force of Venom? And just who is the man behind the mask?

Venom #1 also features a stunning cover by Marvel EIC and CCO & superstar artist Joe Quesada along with a dynamic variant cover from rising star Paulo Siqueira!

And don’t miss the birth of the all-new Venom in Amazing Spider-Man #654.1

VENOM #1 Written by RICK REMENDER, Penciled by TONY MOORE, Cover by JOE QUESADA & Variant Cover by PAULO SIQUEIRA. Sketch Variant Cover by JOE QUESADA
Rated T+ …$3.99 ON-SALE IN MARCH

Marvel's Secret Avengers #1 Teaser

And this time..we REALLY mean teaser. Right off, you'll say it's Spider-Man, and the wordage seems to go along with that...but what if the titles do a flip flop and the baddies become the hunted while trying to seek some sort of redemption while the core good guys take control once again? That would make this Venom! Only time will tell as Mavel's Heroic Age approaches this May.

Secret Avengers #1, from the superstar creative team of Ed Brubaker and Mike Deodato.

Spider-Man Joins the Incredible Shrinking Marvel Lines

Today, Walmarts across the USA are being invaded by the first wave of tiny little Spider-Men! Harkening to an odd time of ancient Toy Biz past, the bulk of these lines include Spider-Man in his many fashion choices adopted in the minds of power mad toy developers desperate for that piggy bank coinage. Such dark dreams have given birth to Dive Attack, Night Mission, Sky Speed and Ultra Spider Armor getups. Because I still have some pride, I could not bring myself to buy Swimmy Spidey, even for you, my geekiest of readers, but I did bite the bullet and snapped up a sampling of the series for your eager little ocular cavities.




















The articulation on these figures ranges from not-so-super poseable to down right useless. It's clear by the snap on armor, inexplicable web accessories and launching mechanisms that this is a "kid's line" and therefore, we are meant to ignore a lack of poseability. Oddly, the paints maintain a higher quality than some Marvel Universe pieces, with dry brushing evident all over. Beyond that, you are still looking at a line of small figures that are only 50 cents cheaper than MU when they should be only 5 to 6 dollars each. Keep your fiercest foes battle cards and chop that price down...or let's forget the whole deal and go back to Marvel Legends! yes...I'm still beating that drum and whipping the rotting horse. It just makes no sense.

CLICK HERE for more images of the 4 inch Spider-Man action figure line from Hasbro

Tweaking the Bad Guy Shelves

Found some more baddies as I sort through all these boxes so I had to move some people around. Dragon Man has to be one of my favorite Legends scale figures of all time. It's a crime it had such a limited release. On the flip side is the ugliest of ugly dates, Lady Deathstrike. It's a "What were they thinking" moment right there. Also added Sandman, another phenomenal figure, and the Build a Figure MODOK (whose name stands for Mobile Organism Designed Only for Killing...and he's a giant head. FUN!) Enjoy!