Assassin’s Creed: Hawk

assassins creed hawk coverThe Assassin’s Creed comic book team of writer Corbeyran and artist Defali are back with the 4th comic book installment Hawk in the Assassin’s Creed universe.  The story picks up right after the previous 3 comic book installments – The Ankh of Isis trilogy.  This time the team travels back to 13th centure Egypt when an long lost artifact is found.

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Max Payne 3: The Complete Series

max payne 3 coverI still remember the enjoyment of shooting mobsters in slo-mo with two guns blazing in original Max Payne game on my Xbox.  The Max Payne 3:  The Complete Series collects 3 stories – After the Fall, Hoboken Blues and Fight & Flight and ties everything together and is prequel to Max Payne 3 video game which was released last year on Xbox 360/PS3 and PC.

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Marada The She-Wolf

Marada She-Wolf CoverThe original She-Wolf … and I don’t mean singer Shakira’s “She Wolf” song back in 2009.  Remember the video?  That was a sure-fire booty-shaking epileptic seizure attack, but I digress.  Now back to the original She-Wolf, the 1980s creation by X-Men famed writer Chris Claremont and British artist John Bolton, the two created Marada the daughter of Rome, warrior and sorceress.

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The History of the Legendary Streetwear Brand: BAPE

bape 20Iconic streetwear brand A Bathing Ape (BAPE) is celebrating its 20th Anniversary.  This video takes us on a journey of 20 years of BAPE and where many streetwear brands and labels are fallen by the wayside, BAPE is still here kicking it and rocking the fashion industry.

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Welcome to NINJA NEW YORK

While we enjoyed NYCC by day we ended up dining at NINJA NEW YORK by night.

Ninja New York Restaurant -RetrendersOur host of Ramen’s other Half, Jonelle Marie, shares her first impression of fine dining in Tribeca’s one-of-a-kind Ninja New York Restaurant!
While there, we were looking for that secret door – you know, the one you would open and discover the artistry of Ninja acrobatic sword fighting and trickery like a James Bond flick, but it was impossible.  The place was a maze and when we asked to take us to your leader, they sent us numerous of Ninja PR henchmen to divert us from straight answers about what laid behind the echoing walls of their zigzagging cave-like paths that only Batman would appreciate. Though mystified by their stories, we had one of the most entertaining dining night outs I’ve had in a long time.

I would have to say Ninja New York is one of the most entertaining and delightful places to dine if you’re looking for fun and hearty authentic Japanese cuisine food. And you’re almost guaranteed not to have a dull moment from your first step in and out of this place!

Frankie’s Garage: Astra VXR hatchback

vauxhall vxrXcar Films checks out the Euro-spec Vauxhall Astra VXR hot hatchback.  Along with the race red color, the snazzy aero-kit and 20″ wheels, the turbo-4 generates 279 horses.  This Astra VXR can really give the Ford Focus and Fiesta ST hatches a dogfight.

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Making Food Fun for Kids

making food funIt can be very hard making your kids eat everything off their plate and with all the other daily distractions in life, but food artist Samantha Lee can probably make your kids eat everything off the plate while having fun.

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The Art of Battlefield 4

diceDICE recently released it’s latest Battlefield incarnation to the masses and fans looking to destroy things on a large scale will probably dive into this game.  While I step aside from the multiplayer destruction, I take a look at The Art of Battlefield 4.

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NYCC: Look at who’s behind Doctor Who!

Ramen and a Half interviews Andrew Sumner to find out what Titan Entertainment Group is all about at New York Comic Con. Retrenders NYCC - Andrew Sumner and Jonelle MarieFirst and foremost our team at Retrenders reviews many of Titan Books and we’ve grown to love what they do, because we simply love the content they publish and re-publish. Titan Entertainment is known to reinvent and revive content that had once had their moment in time from cult classics novels, comics, and they publish niche content about historical arts, artists, musicians, early filmmakers and much more. It’s as if Titan reflects on fascinating content and say – “This is entertaining – let’s revive it!”

Titan Entertainment Group is also an official licensee of Doctor Who products and works with popular media entertainment and culture. You can find out about their latest releases and featured products at Titan Merchandise.

Frankie’s Garage: 2013 VW Scirocco R

vw s rIf you grew up in the 80’s in the States, you might remember the VW Scirocco.  Currently in the US, we only get the Volkswagen Golf R, but not this Euro-spec Scirocco R.  This little hot-hatch has a 2.0 Liter Turbo 4-Cyclinder generating 262 horses.  This Ignition episode takes a look at the Euro-only 2013 Scirocco R.

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The Art of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

ACBF00It’s been a busy couple of weekends just button-mashing in the living room after big releases like GTA, Arkham Origins, Battlefield 4 and now comes Assassin’s Creed IV:  Black Flag.  This new installment takes you back to 1715 where Pirates rule the seas and you are thrown into the dark, gritty world of pirate life.

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Japan: Hello Kitty Econo-Box

mitsubishi mirage hello kittyIt’s a tuned JDM Mitsubishi Evo GSR … oh, wait a minute … it’s an econo-box base Mirage with Hello Kitty stickers.  This limited edition Mirage will be tuned by Sanrio to kick-off Hello Kitty’s 40th birthday.

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Crazy 4 Cult: Cult Movie Art 2

crazy4cult2coverOne of the best pop-culture art galleries here in the States is Gallery 1988 located on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, CA.  Since 2007, Gallery 1988 has showcased their own annual “Crazy 4 Cult” series celebrating the magic of movies.  With each year passing, the “Crazy 4 Cult” art show draws large crowds and stars in Hollywood looking to snap-up movie-inspired art pieces.  Titan Books releases a new volume Crazy 4 Cult:  Cult Movie Art 2 which collects various art pieces from the series.

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Sights, Sounds and Music Thru Tokyo

japanTake in the sights and visuals of Tokyo with music and sounds remixed by musician and video artist Kutiman.

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Very Naughty Boys by Robert Sellers

very naughty boysThe 1980s decade of films were dominated by Hollywood blockbusters and sequels, but also during this time, from across the pond in Britain, a couple of films would make it’s way over, like the “Life of Brian”, “Time Bandits”, “Mona Lisa” and “The Missionary.”  All these films was brought to film-goers by an unlikely friendship between a famous musician and Wall Street-type accountant/lawyer forming an independent film company.  During the ten-year run, HandMade Films produced 23 films and made it’s own mark in British film history.

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Kidbreakers from Japan: Kyushu Danji Jr

breakersJust when you think you’ve seen it all in breakdancing, we get to see something crazy and innovative by these kid breakers from Japan.  They call themselves Kyushu Danji Jr and they look to take on the world!

Anno Dracula: Johnny Alucard by Kim Newman

annodraculajohnnyThe trend in Hollywood, comics and print these days are stories with vampires.  One popular series is by creator and award-winning author Kim Newman with his Anno Dracula character.  Johnny Alucard is the fourth novel in this series and is set right after the third book, Anno Dracula:  Dracula Cha Cha Cha.

The story kicks off in 1976 Romania countryside, where Franics Ford Coppola is shooting his epic Dracula film with Hollywood stars like Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Harvey Kitel and Harrison Ford.  Our vampire vixen Kate Reed is on set as a consultant and from there, Kate and Coppola befriend a young vampire named Ion Popescu.  After a couple of months, the trouble production is finished filming, Ion looks to America.

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Once Upon A Time: Behind The Magic

ouatbookcoverABC’s hit fantasy drama Once Upon A Time 3rd season is underway, Titan Books releases a behind-the-scenes book for fans of the TV show.  Thanks to Netflix, my Once Upon A Time all-night marathon of seasons 1 and 2 is all finished!  Now I’m hyped for the new season.

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SPOTLIGHT: Central Valley Lowrider Car Show in Lindsay CA

Retrenders Spotlight - Lindsay Lowrider Car Show - Ruben Gonzalez & Danny De La PazRetrenders Spotlight - Lowrider Car Show - ChevroletThe Central Valley is well known for putting on the best of Lowrider Car shows and this one took place in Lindsay, California. Here you can meet the pioneer and founder of Lowrider Magazine himself, Sonny Madrid, and actor Danny De La Paz, who starred in films American Me and Boulevard Nights. His most recent film is “Kill Kapone“. I was only able to catch Danny as he was having a conversation with Lindsay’s Lowrider Car Show Promoter, Ruben Gonzalez.

The Lowrider Car Show proudly brought together a floor full of classic to modern Lowrider vehicles showcased at McDermont Field House & Sports Center in Lindsay, California. We talked to Sal Sierra about his 1936 Pick-up Truck along with a few other Lowrider and aficionados themselves: Roy Tolentino, Alfred & Mary Torrez, and Yoli Preciado. Even the Mayor of Lindsay, Ramona Padilla, had a few words to say about the car show.

Some of the car clubs that could be found at the show were: Lindsay’s Finest, Nuestro Pride, Nuestro Estilo, Rollerz Only, and Brown Effects.

FILMED: Short Doc / Magazine Style (Shot on the Fly)

Produced & Edited by Johnny Moreno.

I apologize for those that I was unable to film and interview. Telling everything about Lowriders definitely needs an in depth – present to historical visit about Lowrider culture and the people that are involved and making a difference. This video is simply a taste about the Lowrider world.

Interview with Anno Dracula author Kim Newman

annodraculajohnnyThe fan favorite vampire series Anno Dracula returns!  Author Kim Newman recently released his latest Anno Dracula novel – Johnny Alucard that takes place from 1976-1991.  Retrenders interviews author Kim Newman about his new book – Johnny Alucard and what the future holds for this popular Dracula series.

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RTNDR:  The universe of Anno Dracula and the characters you’ve created is very popular and many fans enjoy this series, so with this new book Johnny Alcuard, did you set out thinking, “Well, the fans might enjoy it if this character or that character goes through this plotline or this journey” or did you already have your own ideas and had everything mapped out?

KIM:  I plot books – and, in this case, series  – by a method known as ‘feeling your way in the dark’. I usually know where I’m going with a story but not the exact route I’ll get there.  I hope readers enjoy where I take the characters (and them) but tend to think of what the story needs rather than what people want – indeed, sometimes you have to go against expectations or wishes.  In this case, the book was written piecemeal over decades – the first chunk of it was done before the third novel in the series – and I always knew the spine was where a particular character went, though the details were developed during the composition and I think I surprised myself. 

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Sirens: The Pin-Up Art of David Wright

sirensdavidwrightWhat comes to mind, when you think pin-up art from of the 1940s-1960s?  Maybe model Bettie Page might pop in your head or paintings like the “Vargas Girls” by artist Alberto Vargas.  How about David Wright?  And NO, he’s not the Third Baseman from New York Mets baseball team!  In the 20th Century, British artist Dave Wright was also right-up there with his American peers like Alberto Vargas and Gil Elvgren.  World War II sparked the pin-up girl craze as David Wright created his “Lovelies.”  Dave Wright’s pin-up girls was all over Britain, “a standard fixture on the walls of barrack rooms, officers’ messes, pubs and clubs” (Terry Parker, Sirens: The Pin-Up Art of David Wright).

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Thrud The Barbarian by Carl Critchlow

thrud the barbarianIs it He-Man?  Conan the Barbarian!  No, it’s not – it’s our wandering beer-guzzling warrior Thrud The Barbarian!  Comic artist Carl Critchlow first unleashed his character Thrud as a college project, where it first appeared in a fanzine in the 1980s and then spawned a six-year comic strip run on Games Workshop’s “White Dwarf” magazine.

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Ramen Crew @ the Slide Your Ride’s 86 Festival 2013

ae86The Ramen Crew heads to Oaktown, CA for a large Toyota AE86 Corolla meet.

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Japan Only: Butt Pudding (Crayon Shin-Can)

shin-canFrom the Japanese manga series by Yoshito Usui comes the Crayon Shin-Can butt-shaped edible pudding.  The dessert kit comes with DIY instructions and when you’re done you can eat Shin-Can’s twerking butt.

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The Big Wow! Comicfest Wrap-Up!

Retrenders - Eddie Ballar & Ramon Angel - Johnny MorenoYes, it was a long weekend for the Ramen crew, but here is an “End-All” rundown on what “The Eddie” and Ramon have accomplished at Big Wow Comicfest. And not to mention, being a bit silly and fatigued from a long adventurous weekend.

Hosts: Eddie Ballar and Ramon Angel
Producer: Johnny Moreno
Executive Producer: Stephen Jang