You don’t have to, but if you are the type of person that needs to read every tie-in to the main book and want to read things in order, then make sure you read Greg Keyes prequel Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Firestorm. By the end of “Firestorm”, the “Simian Flu” has spread worldwide causing millions of deaths, civil unrest and economic meltdown around the world, while Caesar leads all the apes to safety into Muir Woods. Based on the screenplay by Mark Bomback, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, author Alex Irvine pens the novelization Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – Official Movie Novelization
July 18, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Turn My Hat into a Artful Face Mask
July 17, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Let’s see, take my baseball cap and my old raggy sweatshirt and turn it into a face-mask, so I look like a bank robber. Not really, this is art and wearable for the icy cold weather. Artist Shin Murayama latest project is: Yankees Extreme Cold Weather Face Mask Unissued 2014.
Only 8 of 8 produced and sold in Japan!
London Calling: House of Vans
July 16, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Like the one in Brooklyn, New York, kicks-maker VANS will be opening a House of Vans in London on August 9th, 2014. Not only will there be an in-door skate park, but a venue for musicians and artists alike. So the next time you take the Tube in London, stop at Waterloo Station.
The 30,000 square feet palace will be hipster fresh. Tunnel One will feature an art gallery; Tunnel Two will have the VansLab artist studios and a 100 person capacity screening room; Tunnel Three will hold a music stage for around 850 concert-goers and of course, a bar; Tunnel Four will hold the in-door skate park and restaurant/cafe; and Tunnel Five will hold another in-door skate park.
For more information, go to: House of Vans – London.
Japan: Mario Kart in Harajuku
July 15, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Do you play Mario Kart? If so, did you ever wish you can dress up like a character from Mario Kart and drive a real Mario Kart on the streets? Well, now you can. First you must have an international drivers license and hop on a plane to Tokyo, Japan. After that, you can check out Akibakart. You can rent these Mario Kart-like go-carts and ride along the streets of Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan.
Frankie’s Garage: Osaka Street Racing and Civics
July 15, 2014 by Leave a Comment
From BOWLS FILMS The Kanjozoku – Osaka’s Infamous Street Racers is a neat mini-documentary on the street racing scene in Osaka and their love of the Honda Civic. If you ever watched the anime Initial D or played Tokyo Xtreme Racer on the Playstation, then this will give you a taste of night street racing on the highways and byways in Japan.
Frankie’s Garage: The Future Nissan GT-R for Gran Turismo
July 11, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Designed in Europe and Japan is the Nissan Concept 2020 for the upcoming Gran Turismo video game. The virtual supercar might be the design for the next Nissan GT-R.
The Art of Fred Gambino: Dark Shepherd
July 11, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Do you know who Fred Gambino is? I admit I don’t, but I’ve probably seen his work on book covers, video games and films. You will now know who he is with this Titan Books release – The Art of Fred Gambino: Dark Shepherd.
This is not a typical art book collection of personal works, it also includes Fred’s own personal passion project – his screenplay, concept art and snippet graphic novel intro to Dark Shepherd. Along with this, there are various paintings, illustrations, sketches, Photoshop images and book art covering Fred’s career with commentary.
The Typewriter is BACK by Qwertytoys
July 11, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I remember my dad telling me word processing was different in his time, like they had these ancient machines called “typewriters.” What no cut and paste? No spell check or auto-grammar correct? How could you live with yourself? Turning term papers and thesis must have been nuts! But now if you want that “old-school” feeling Qwerkytoys has got it! Introducing the Qwertywriter – the typewriter-inspired product.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Firestorm
July 10, 2014 by 1 Comment
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) was a successful reboot of the Planet of the Apes franchise. Capitalizing on the box-office smash, the sequel Dawn of the Planet of the Apes will open all across America this weekend. If you’ve seen any of the trailers you know that the San Francisco/Bay Area and the world is in a post-apocalyptic turmoil. How did it get this way? Well, it’s all explained in this official prequel “Firestorm” by author Greg Keyes.
“Firestorm” picks up right after the end of the Rise of the Planet of the Apes. During the memorable Golden Gate Bridge battle scene, where SFPD officers are fighting with the apes, Caesar leads his apes to escape into Muir Woods. We find out that their has been a media blackout of the Golden Gate Bridge ape incident. We are introduced to reporter David Flynn and his girlfriend primatogist Clancy. She tells David that she’s been brought-in to find the apes and it’s all hush-hush, but she leaves some computer files for him if anything goes wrong. David Flynn’s ex-girlfriend ER Doctor Talia Kosar finds herself with many patients with high fevers and sneezing up blood the past of couple of days. Her colleagues from another hospital email her about the same situation and Talia alerts the CDC. A mysterious military-style outfit has hired Clancy and hunter Malakai Youmans to find the apes in Muir Woods.
Legend of Korra Cosplayers @ FanimeCon 2014
July 9, 2014 by Leave a Comment
More cosplay fun FanimeCon 2014. We are again up late, roaming around the convention floor, because you know, that’s the ‘con experience’ – 24 hours of anime and no sleep! Ramen host Jonelle spots 2 cosplayers cosplaying from her favorite Nick’ series – Avatar: Legend of Korra.
Sex, Drugs and Superpowers is Death Sentence
July 9, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The G+ Virus gives humans superpowers! Writer Monty Nero and artist Mike Dowling deliver an off-beat mature-audience superhero book in “Death Sentence.” In this world, the G+ Virus is like the AIDS virus that has spread across the globe affecting the general population. The G+ Virus is transmitted through unprotected sex, but the virus gives humans superhuman powers. There is a catch though, once you get it, you will ONLY have 6 months to live. Now what will you do with 6 months on the planet? What kind of superhuman power(s) will you get? And what will you do with your superpowers?
Travel Gear with Pilot & Captain
July 8, 2014 by Leave a Comment
If you find yourself traveling the country this summer by bus, car, plane or train and in need of getting gifts for family and friends, or just yourself, then make sure you check out this Philly outfit Pilot & Captain. From the award-winning design house The Heads of State, the founders Dustin Summers and Jason Kernevich stamp their own design touch to Pilot & Captain. Just dropping into Pilot & Captain are new molded souvenir magnets, postcards, mugs and notebooks.
Pilot & Captain Magnet – MSRP: $4.99USD each
Pilot & Captain Postcard Pack – MSRP: $15.00USD
The Doodle Artist – WalgDP
July 7, 2014 by Leave a Comment
It’s all about textures and layers for this doodling artist. Currently living in Singapore, artist Dhanedra, Dhan aka WalgDP gets his ideas from film, comics, and games.
BE@RBRICK x Transformers
July 3, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Just hitting the retail shelves is a collaboration between Medicom and Takara. The popular toy brick bears meets the transformerable robots in this neat merchandising product line. The 4 figures: Optimus Prime, Megatron, Starscream and Bumblebee figures can transform into their BE@RBRICK form or G1-style robot form. Now that is cool, so just take my wallet and credit cards now!
Eva Maid Outfits @ FanimeCon 2014
July 2, 2014 by Leave a Comment
If you’re an experienced ‘con-goer then you know it’s a mad blitz of fun all day all night. Like at Fanime – you never sleep! Our Ramen & a Half crew roamed around the late evening around the convention floor and our cosplaying host Jonelle spotted these 3 interesting cosplayers. Meet cosplayers Ashley Fee, Christine Deatrick and Jessie Blaufus as they get inventive with their cosplay outfits. These custom French Maid-inspired costumes are from the hit anime Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Chicago Mobsters meet Lord of the Rings: Hot Lead, Cold Iron
July 1, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The “Underworld” of trench coats and Tommy guns meets the “Otherworld” of magic and the supernatural. This is 1930s Chicago, where the mobsters run the town and Mick Oberon ain’t no ordinary dick, this P.I. got special powers. Instead of a revolver to pump hot lead, he uses a magic wand, really, I’m not joking. His wand of choice is the Luchtaine & Goodfellow Model 1592. Worlds collide in Hot Lead, Cold Iron by author Ari Marmell.
Food & Music in SF’s Mission District
June 30, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Celebrate food and music in this happy and trippy music video. By the musician/teacher DJ Overeasy. He records the sights and sounds of San Francisco’s Mission District and mixes it up to give us “Mission Foodiez”.
Kidrobot – The Art of War Dunny Series
June 30, 2014 by 2 Comments
This past weekend Kidrobot released The Art of War dunny series. The toy design theme for each of the 14 artists involved was to design a dunny figure based on Sun Tzu’s warmongering strategy novel – The Art of War. Our Ramen & a Half hosts of Eddie Ballar and Ramon Angel stopped by Kidrobot SF for the artist signing and release event with Frank Kozik, DrilOne and Huck Gee. We grab a quick interview with each about their dunny figure in the series and their upcoming projects. We also go unboxing a case with fellow dunny collector/artist Big C.
Japan: The Future of Robotics
June 26, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Remember watching anime like Bubblegum Crash or Ghost in the Shell about androids and cyborgs? Is it here already? Engadget is at the “Android: What is Human?” Exhibition in Toyko, Japan.
Kidrobot x Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
June 26, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I remember being blown away when I first read the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic books by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. Well, the turtles are back in a big way this summer with a new re-boot flick coming out in August 2014. To hold you over until the movie comes out, check out the new TMNT x Kidrobot line!
Dwell on Design LA 2014
June 25, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Our special guest host Anett Mende takes on the biggest modern home/office living event Dwell on Design LA 2014. The 3-day design showcased over 2,000 products and our Spotlight crew highlight products that caught our attention.
Frankie’s Garage: Clean StanceNation Civic EK9
June 25, 2014 by Leave a Comment
A look on UK-side of the pond, a clean StanceNation JDM-styled Honda Civic Type R EK9 hatch-back. Car Throttle interviews Ben Parker about his hot hatch ride.
More Cosplay Fun from FanimeCon 2014
June 24, 2014 by Leave a Comment
We find more cosplayers at FanimeCon 2014. Ramen & a Half host Jonelle spots a cool One Piece cosplayer. All the way from Reno, Charmie Sweets is cosplaying Nico Robin from the anime/manga One Piece.
23 Short Stories from the Wild West: Dead Man’s Hand
June 23, 2014 by Leave a Comment
All we get now in the multiplexes and the TV screens are superheroes, zombies and vampires! Hey, Hollywood, about some good old-fashion cowboy flicks? That Johnny Depp “Lone Ranger” fail of a film did not count! How about dropping some John Woo/Tarantino-style old west cowboy stories? I can envision a pair of Colt .45’s blasting in slo-mo during a stage coach robbery scene. Enough with the World War II movies, but I digress. If you want your fill of the old wild west with a mix of weird and the wonderful, try “Dead Man’s Hand” an anthology of short stories collected and edited by John Joseph Adams.
Django meets Zorro – Comic Book
June 21, 2014 by Leave a Comment
While in the midst of pre-production of The Hateful Eight film, a possible influential spin-off from The Magnificent Seven, Quentin Tarantino is also working to release a Comic book about Django and Zorro! Tarantino is co-writing the comic with Matt Wagner and edited by Reginald Hudlin.
Find out more at : comicvine/Djangomeetszorro
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