Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – Tech Manual

batmantechmanualcoverWhenever there is a new Batman flick, like James Bond, Batman always has cool new toys to use on the bad guys.  In Batman v Superman:  Dawn of Justice, Batman has a new Batsuit, Batmobile and Batplane to get all the fanboys excited.  Well, almost everything you need to know about all the Bat-vehicles and Bat-gadgets, and even Superman’s suit and Wonder Woman’s uniform and weapons are in this book by Titan Books, it’s the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – Tech Manual.

bvs003If you’ve seen the movie, Batman is a mix of Frank Miller’s Dark Knight and as director Zach Snyder explains: “My Batman is the late 40s, and war weary” (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – Tech Manual, page 19).  Zach and the design team not only focused on Batman’s overall Batsuit, but went into detail about the body armor, the tech inside the cowl/mask, the cape and the utility belt.

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Sayori Chu interviews Stan Lee!

RETRENDERS Sayori Chu Interviews Stan LeeWe caught up with Stan Lee at Silicon Valley Comic Con to talk to him about the “BIG” direction with comics, how did it begin, what were its influences, and where is it going now that it has become immensely and worldly popular!

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The Blacklist: Elizabeth Keen’s Dossier

blacklistelizabethkeenIf you’re done binge watching Daredevil Sesaon 2 on Netflix, then it’s time to pick another cool action-thriller, that is NBC’s critically acclaimed The Blacklist starring James Spader (Raymond “Red” Reddington) and Megan Boone (Elizabeth Keen), which is currently on it’s 3rd TV season.  The first two seasons of The Blacklist are on Netflix and I have to say I’m hooked on the characters and the story.  Hardcore fans of The Blacklist may want to take a look at this new Titan Books release, Elizabeth Keen’s Dossier by Tara Bennett and Paul Terry.

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Welcome to Silicon Valley Comic-Con 2016!

Retrenders - Silicon Valley Comic Con - SVCC - by Johnny MorenoWelcome to the first Silicon Valley Comic-Con! The inaugural of SVCC was the largest Comic convention in San Jose, California, thanks to Steve Wozniak and Stan Lee. The convention was a collaboration between panel talks of surfacing technology such as Virtual Reality and how will we use it? So when you you took a stroll through the convention floor, you were literally walking through the imaginative world of stories ; and if you chose to attend a tech panel, you can see how comics and Sci-fi have contributed to innovative technology and its use –Such things as the hoverboard which is the future of skateboard transportation! Now that’s what I call the ying and the yang.
Now who said we were just here to see Stan Lee? – RETRENDERS, or course!

Arrow: Vengeance

arrowvengeanceI admit, I’m a huge Arrow fan, since it’s CW TV network debut 4 seasons ago.  I’ve watched every episode so far with pure enjoyment and also gone back to buy classic Green Arrow comics and toys, so yeah, I’m a Green Arrow fanboy.  Fans of the show will know when watching Arrow on TV, there are lots of characters and world building and sometimes certain characters don’t get enough back story, so Titan Books recently released a brand-new paperback novel “Arrow: Vengeance” which focuses on the villains point of view.

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The Little Prince: The Art of the Movie

alittleprincecoverThe Little Prince animated film is based on a 1943 story by author Antoine de Saint-Exupery about a pilot meeting a boy from another planet.  Author Ramin Zahed takes us on a journey with writer/director Mark Osborne known for his Kung-fu Panda animated hit on the challenge of making a classic story with new twist and animating it.  This is Titan Books’ The Little Prince – The Art of the Movie.

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Vinyl Pulp #11: Jeremy Dale aka ValleyDweller

JeremyDaleArtOneHere we are, the first episode of Vinly Pulp for 2016!  Our team was at Woot Bear with artist Jeremy Dale aka ValleyDweller and his #AlphaSketch art exhibit.

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Skullbunnies by Ben Seto

skullwarsIf you’re a vinyl toy collector looking for something cool, then check this out by artist Ben Seto, his tribute to the Star Wars Stormtrooper!  Ben is known for his Black Sheep Comics‘ Usagi Jane and the Skullbunnies creation, has turned his Skullbunnies into Skull Wars Buntrooper.

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Vinyl Pulp #10: KR Holiday Food & Toy Drive 2015

holidaykrcoverA few weeks back, the Kidrobot SF store held a food and toy drive to donate to local charities with artist J*RYU and cosplayer Vampy Bit Me.  Here’s the highlights from the event:

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The Jam-Packed Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo 2015 Show!

comikazeconlogoFirst off, we at Retrenders love providing solid content and quality video content on our YouTube channel, but we had a slight delay and like to apologize for the dark video quality.  We were shooting on our Sony V1U and left the ND Filter on and that’s a “not bad” on our part.  Lesson learned and that will never happen again.

Okay, got that off my chest!  Here’s the jam packed episode from Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo 2015 from the LA Convention Center on Halloween weekend.  Our Ramen crew explores the growing and ever expanding Comikaze Expo.  The Eddie and Ramon takes around the convention floor.  So sit back and grab some chocolate gummy bears and enjoy the episode.

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Sleepy Hollow: Creating Heroes, Demons & Monsters

sleepyhollowcoverWith an explosive and fun second season, the FOX tv series Sleepy Hollow has just launched its 3rd season this past October 2015.  If you don’t know, Sleepy Hollow is a supernatural mystery TV drama takes a “DC Elseworld’s version” of Washington Irving’s short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” with new twists and turns.  Ichabod Crane died defeating the Horseman in 1781, but then finds himself resurrected and trying to adjust to 21st century.  He collaborates with police office Abbie Mills and dig deeper into the supernatural and demonic forces attacking the town.  Now go behind-the-scenes with Sleepy Hollow: Creating Heroes, Demons & Monsters by Tara Bennett and Paul Terry.

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The Art of Stephen Hickman: Empyrean

hickmanartbookIf you ever read a Harlan Ellison, Anne McCaffrey or Larry Niven sci-fi book, usually the sci-fi art cover that catches your eye is drawn by artist Stephen Hickman.  This full-color hardcover art book – “The Art of Stephen Hickman:  Empyrean” is collection of Hickman’s amazing 40 years in fantasy sci-fi art.

hickman00“For me, fantasy imagery is simply my favorite place to work and live, and nature … Personal imagery, much of it inspired or informed by nature, is becoming more important to me the more painting I do, and fantasy is my direction of choice.” Stephen Hickman.

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The Stan Lee Interview @ Comikaze 2015

comikazeconlogoHow we spent our Halloween weekend?  Well, a road trip to SoCal for Stan Lee’s Comikaze @ the LA Convention Center.  Our Ramen host Ramon Angel interviews the comic book legend Stan Lee.

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The Art and Making of The Peanuts Movie

peanutsmoviecoverTwo major comic strips that I grew up in my childhood was Bill Watterson’s Calvin & Hobbes and George M. Schulz’s iconic cartoon character Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang.  I remember having so much fun reading the strips as a kid with my siblings and then watching the Charlie Brown cartoon Holiday specials on TV with my grandparents.  Just pure nostalgia.  After years of waiting, we now finally get an “official Charlie Brown cartoon” from animation house Blue Sky Studios.  Author Jerry Schmitz takes us Charlie Brown fans on an incredible journey inside Blue Sky Studios in The Art and Making of The Peanuts Movie.

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Virtues of War by Bennett R. Coles

virutesofwarcoverI read many novels, and you know it’s going to be some heavy reading when the first couple of pages start with a character listings, glossary and military definitions.  Our story doesn’t kick-off until page 13!  Virtues of War is the first in a trilogy of books by author Bennett R. Coles with the second novel Ghost of War available sometime in 2016 and the third novel March of War available sometime in 2017.  Virtues of War follows Lieutenant Katja Emmes and her 10-trooper striker team on Rapier spacecraft.

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Vinyl Pulp #9: The 13 Dunny Series by Brandt Peters

Dunny Box 00Our latest Vinyl Pulp episode 9 takes a look at “The 13” Dunny Series by artist Brandt Peters.  Vinyl Pulp host “The Eddie” buys a case and has an ultimate box break himself, finding the 2 rare chase figures.

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The Original QUARRY Novel by Max Allan Collins

quarrycoverWith a Cinemax television series this season, Max Allan Collins iconic hitman Quarry returns to the pop-culture forefront.  Journey back to the origins and first pulp adventure as Titan Books re-publishes the first Quarry novel from 1975.

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Heroes: Vengeance

heroesvengeancecoverNBC TV recently premiered their new super hero/sci-fi series Heroes Reborn and with the introduction of many new characters and typical large cast for a show like this, Titan Comics offers a new monthly Heroes comic book series where it will profile and highlight a character with a 5-part story arc.  Heroes: Vengeance #1 finds Oscar Gutierrez as a ordinary mechanic by day and the vigilante El Vengador.

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A Guide To Being A Vampire Slayer

buffyEven after lasting 7 season’s and 144 episodes on air, Joss Whedon’s cult hit TV show Buffy, The Vampire Slayer remains popular with fans today.  Do you also want to be like Buffy?  Do you want to be a Vampire Slayer?  Well, now’s your chance, as Buffy’s mentor Rupert Giles offers up his book: Demons of the Hellmouth – A Guide for Slayers, basically a Who’s Who’s list and character guides of the many vampires, demons, and other players they’ve meet along the way in the TV show.

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Wizard World 2015 – Happy Endings!

Wizard World 2015 - Happy EndingsFarewell Wizard World – until next year! On behalf of the “Ramen and a Half”crew and RETRENDERS, we’d love to thank Abby Ferguson for making everything so convenient for us at Wizard World 2015 at the San Jose Convention Center!

Wizard World ends with a pair of new Sunglasses

Wizard World 2015  - Red Sunglasses - Sayori Chu - RetrendersThe only mishap at Wizard World was loosing a pair of Sunglasses while wrapping up the show – “No thanks to Ramon!”

Vive La Lolligag! Vinyl Doll Release & Custom Group Show

lolligageventOn brezzy Saturday night, August 28, 2015 in the Richmond District SF, Woot Bear Gallery held the “Vive La Lolligag!” event.  Both an art show featuring a collection of contemporary artist reinterpreting the Lolligag vinyl doll and a final release edition of the Lolligag doll, the grape colorway Lolligag figure.

Our Vinyl Pulp team was there to recap the event and interviews with the creators and artists on hand.

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Batman: Arkham Knight – The Novel

arkhamknightOne of the most popular video games of the year for 2015 is Batman: Arkham Knight and if you haven’t gotten around to playing the game just yet, why not read the official novelization by writer Marv Wolfman to get your Batman fix?  Batman: Arkham Knight – the official novel follows the same story-line as the video game with some extra background information and spicy tidbits for DC/Batman comic book lore.

It’s been a year since the Joker has died and a relative calm has presided over Gotham City, but all that is about to change as the Scarecrow unleashes a new fear toxin in a diner, causing everybody to kill each other.  The Scarecrow gives an ultimatum to the citizens of Gotham that he will unleash the fear toxin all over Gotham City in a few hours.  Now it’s up to Batman and his team to stop Scarecrow’s plan, while all this is happening a new player gets involved.  Like in the DC Universe and Jim Lee’s Batman run “Hush” story-line, this new protagonist, the Arkham Knight knows Batman and his allies inside and out.  In this fight against Scarecrow, we find that Batman has been exposed to Joker’s “blood” and as he carries on the fight to save Gotham City and his friends, Batman will be tested mentally and physically.

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Vinyl Pulp #5: SDCC 2015 SF Dark Sakura

baitsdccdarksakuraVinyl Pulp host “The Eddie” does a quick review of the SDCC 2015 Exclusive Street Fighter Dark Sakura figure.  He gives his pros and cons of this BAIT Dark Sakura release.

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Vinyl Pulp #4: Junko Mizuno’s Violet Soda Lady @ Kidrobot

kidrobotjunkomizunosodaladyAnother cool episode of Vinyl Pulp is out and this time we are at Kidrobot for the release of Junko Mizuno’s Violet Soda Lady 8″ figure.  The Violet Soda Lady was released in 2012 for a 3″ Dunny series.  Now, Kidrobot and artist Junko Mizuno go big with an 8″ Dunny Violet Soda Lady figure with some new accessories.

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