After three spectacular seasons, STARZ's brings its thrilling, gritty and poignantly complex period drama, Black Sails to an end after only four seasons. Last night STARZ released its first teaser trailer which was only marked with ominous words; calmly utter by Captain Flint, "the time call's for dark men, to do dark things...Do not be afraid to lead them to it."
 
The teaser hints the series will pick-off right where it left off―for the fight for Nassau and freedom from the Crown. Or is it? Last season's entry of the newly appointed Governor of Nassau, Woodes Rodgers marked a significant shift towards ending the lawlessness that has governed for years. His arrival struck a line of demarcation of which the series couldn’t possibly return. And so, the fight for Nassau rages on.
 
The only question is how these wide range of characters, especially the complex-revenge hungry Captain Flint (portrayed by the excellent Toby Stephens) will meet either redemption or their  demise. Flint's thirsty quest for revenge by manipulating and Machiavellian tactics have served him well thus far. Yet will Flint's relentless quest provide a satisfactory resolution that will be  believable and true to his character? Can he truly find a modicum of peace after all the sacrifice and bloodshed? Will  Eleanor realize that Vane spoke the truth and have "a come to Jesus" moment? (If I had to guess, hubris will be her downfall―if nothing else.) Will Silver be able to maintain perspective in preserving the crews’ well-being instead of backing Flint's dictates? Even if it means going toe-to-toe with Flint himself?
 
The series is set against the backdrop of the Golden Age of Piracy and follows the life and interactions of the most feared pirate of the time—Captain Flint. The show serves as a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island and set twenty years prior to the events of the novel.
 
Only way to find out is by tuning in to Starz when it airs it final season in January 2017.
 
 
"STARZ’S Black Sails: Goes Out with a Bang!" was written by Maria Sumoza

​

On Wednesday, September 7th, BioWare unveiled to Mass Effect fans a taste of what we have anxiously been waiting for―a glimpse of what Mass Effect: Andromeda's gameplay will look like with a little help of Frostbite and Playstation Neo.
 
A power house combination? There's no doubt...Kind of hard to say from a die-hard Xbox fangirl...
 
Although the Mass Effect: Andromeda is schedule to release in early 2017 on all current platforms; Aaryn Flynn, General Manager at BioWare clearly states that this small morsel is meant to be experienced on a 4k.
 
The purpose? for fans and gamers alike to comprehend and grasp the scope of what BioWare is trying to achieve in visually and aesthetically with the best and latest technology has to offer in Next Gen gaming.

The BioWare Developers chose to utilized the Playstation Neo to demonstrate Andromeda's potential.

Yet, I can't help but wonder what Andromeda may look under Xbox's 'Project Scorpio'?
 
Time will tell.
 
Even for those of us who own HDTVs, the alpha footage released is still very titillating and visually stimulating. From the small glimpses seen of Andromeda, one can very well be underway to be classified in its own genre as an art form.
 
The clip released shows Rider walking and exploring an alien vault. Scanning for potential resources, such as plant life while showcasing the playable characters' dexterity and life like movement. The gameplay footage is vivid, the colors are displayed resplendently and with such great attention to detail that the surrounding environs―shadows, contrast and lighting render them visually stunning.
 
A formal trailer will be released on N7 Day (November 7th). I can't hardly wait to see what this new chapter in the Mass Effect will bring.
 
"Mass Effect: Andromeda on 4K? AND in Playstation NEO?...Say WHAT?!?!" was written by Maria Sumoza.

RUNE WORKS ON GAMING:  BATMAN: A Tell Tale Series Ep 1: Realm of Shadows is Telltale Games latest entry in episodic gaming—continues to succeed in what the developers do best: story telling through immersive interactive gaming.
 
While Telltales’ BATMAN follows the same core mechanics that have made Telltales games wildly successful—critical decision making and a mild gaming style.
 
Episode One: Realm of Shadows bundles well known iconic heroes, anti-heroes and villains integral from Batman DC Comic Universe. However, it is the minor cameos of a surpassingly variety cast of characters that enriches the story with key conversation points; and ensures that the player will be sure to encounter them in future episodes.
 
BATMAN is scheduled to have a total of five episodes to be released monthly, with its next installment to be released in September 13th.

The first episode, finds the player donning the role of Bruce Wayne, while he continues his one-man vigilante crusade against Gotham’s criminals. Most of Realm of Shadows’ plot revolves around Carmine Falcone’s criminal dealings with a new mysteriously volatile and deadly substance that will hit the streets of Gotham and Bruce’s endorsement of Harvey Dent as mayoral candidate.
 
Classic lines delivered by Alfred Pennyworth, “a myth can be killed,” echo those mentioned in by Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne regarding the importance of Batman being a symbol; to insight fear, hope and most importantly morph into an icon of what Gotham needs him to be.

These instances in dialogue serve as a type of homage to earlier iterations of Batman films and comics.
 
Yet what is most enjoyable from Realm of Shadows is its visually gratifying in color and illustration that reminds any dedicated comic book fan of Jim Lee, Greg Capullo and Neal Adams, comic art style. Players will be thoroughly relish stepping into the role of Batman.
 
Telltales showcases one of Batman best known traits: the analytical detective; through the use of puzzles and exploration of crime scenes. Also going as going as far as planning your plan of attack against opponents while infiltrating crime dens.
 
As CEO Kevin Bruner, the game's narrative does indeed offer a "fresh interpretation of the universe set in current times, not tied to any existing iteration of Batman in games, film, or comics"—and so far it delivers.
 
Add masterful story telling and it’s truly a winning first entry to the Telltale games take on BATMAN.
 
BATMAN: A Telltales Series is now available on all next gen consoles and PC; as well as Xbox 360 and PS3.
 
 
By Maria Sumoza @mcsumoza
Lead Staff Writer (and Avid Gaming Nerd)

Bloober Team's latest's creation, Layers of Fear is a testament in subtle psychological horror artistry.

The game immerses the player in becoming the an obsessed artist, who is trying to complete his "magnum opus." Unbeknownst to the player, it is while trying to complete this masterpiece that the our artist psychologically unravels.

With each new level, information comes to light of what occurred in this beautiful turn of the century Victorian mansion. Thus the player undergoes a psychedelic journey and ever shifting perceptions while trying to "peel" the layers (or levels) necessary to uncover the truth.
​
Unlike many games in this genre that comprise themselves of gore, mutated monsters and gratuitous violence, Layers of Fear lacks all of that.

The artistry is in the classical music plying in the background, lulling you towards a false sense of 'safety' with the subtle sound effects as you traverse the through the mansion.

Game play consists at its core of puzzle solving, exploration (in the opulent Victorian mansion) and ever changing environs.

However, what makes Layers a game worth your time, it's reliance on first person narrative and a journey that slowly unravels and shapes your perception of what is and is not.

It makes you question your decisions: It is wise for me to open this door or the next?

Should I go into this hall or up the stairs?

These are the type of decisions that add to the mystery and anticipation of what the consequences of those actions might be.

Whatever 'steps' you take to finish your magnum opus and unveil one of three possible game endings, the result will be the same: an engaging and immersive psychological horror experience.

For gamers that do not enjoy psychology in their horror games, Layers of Fear with its subtlety and nuance is still a must-play for any gamer. If the beautiful haunted Victorian house with its art and decor doesn't catch your eye to explore then the hunting and the subtle hints in the story will force you to take note and . . . be afraid.

Now available on Xbox One, PS4 and Steam.


By Maria Sumoza

Welcome to the Spoiler-full talk about one Jesse Custer tale that is raucous, philosophical, violent, bloody, hilarious, and epic, as Preacher on AMC knows no bounds just like the books.

The genius of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon is reborn!

We do not get to wait three days for the age-old mythological rise from the dead, because that would be too much fun (and too hard to do for TV).

Instead, we have to wait seven long days to the old time religious Pagan Sunday for our Sabbath of a pastime in Jesse Custer, his newfound Irish gone nuts with immortality and good old fashioned American substance abuse slash 125-year-old vampire Cassidy, and the beauteous femme fatale Tulip.

Those familiar with the books or the behind the scenes with show creator Seth Rogan know just how hard it is to describe Preacher.

The epic yarn pushes every known, and numerous unknown, boundaries waaay past their limits, as many great genres of fight scenes cross into comedic scenes and then all sense of American religion (particularly the Christian majority that rule the southern United States with a tarnished iron fist) and its piety is examined with deep philosophy and turned utterly on its head.

There is gratuitous violence and justified violence.

There is a fantastic romance (not yet explored on the show) as the two former lovers Tulip and Jesse, a Mickey and Mallory of sorts resist the urge to rekindle their love on the show (for now).

And there is sex. Lots of sex. Sex in so many places, in so many ways. Pleasant sex. Steamy sex. Outright unwanted sex. The show has yet to touch on the sexiness, but it will!

So what can you say about a story like this?

Well for starters the pages are being paid tribute to with great writing and acting, albeit in a longer introductory season than in the books.

This is not a bad thing.

The actors Dominic Cooper (Custer), Ruth Negga (Tulip), and Anatol Yusef (Cassidy) were made for each other.

They have fully embodied the impossibly complex characters and their equally complex relationships with one another and I cannot wait to see those evolve on the screen as the melee of riotous events and all hell – or all god – breaking loose, literally and metaphorically depending on your point of view.

In the pilot the zealous organized religious leaders, full of pride in themselves and their warped messages become possessed by the Word of God – a ghost-like door-shaking spirit shown on the show.

As an added touch, Mr. Scientology himself, Tom Cruise explodes shortly after a Christian priest in Africa and a Russian Satanic priest burst into body parts and blood all over their followers.

The Word of God found them . . . unworthy.

Along with Seth Rogan is Evan Goldberg and Breaking Bad writer Sam Catlin as the show’s co-creators, and they are breaking new ground on the TV screen here, folks.

The satirical view of America in its past, present, and presumed future make for quite a tale in Preacher.
HBO passed up on this show, because it was too controversial.

HBO.

AMC has given free reign to the creators to make a real version of one of the most unique and mind-blowing comic book series of all time.

Of AMCs involvement and their allowance to do so many heinous and blasphemous things on screen, Catlin said:

“I’m more than surprised, I’m shocked. There’s been incredibly little interference from them. We were all apprehensive from the beginning, if they were going to make it. We discovered that they really wanted to do Garth’s comic book with all the blasphemy, the audacity, the violence, the perversity and just the craziness of it… they’ve been great.” [deadline.com]

Thank you, AMC. This is a rewarding experience.

My last call of joy, after seeing three episodes is just how great an actress Ruth Negga is. She steals scenes and is sexy, smart, and perfect with Jesse Custer. In the books Tulip is a blonde, but that is a distant memory in my mind now.

But hell, Cooper and Yusef are also perfect in their roles; somehow their voices sound exactly as they did in my head while reading the books.
​
And I mean, damn, they blew up Tom Cruise in the pilot. What more is there to say? Go watch this!

Because of rampant scalping, you now need a profile registered to be able to buy NY Comic Con Tickets, so fill this profile out between 5/20-6/1, folks.

The only Fans who do not need to be Fan Verified are kids who will be ages 6-12 at the time of NYCC 2016 and will be using a NYCC 2016 Adult Ticket or a Sunday Kids Ticket. Kids Tickets will be available for purchase during the Ticket on-sale time. Kids 5 and under will be admitted for free to NYCC and no Ticket is required. Please read the full process about the NYCC Tickets for Kids.

Here it is again, spelled out for the adults: you have to scroll down their page about the policy and click on the box that you read the policy before you can actually register for a profile (see pic) here.

From the folks over at the Con:

NYCC Fans,

Each year when we take over the Javits Center in October, we have one priority in mind: you, the NYCC Fans. We don’t run NYCC year after year because we love hanging out by the Hudson or we need to reach our step goal in October, we do this because we want to provide the experience of a lifetime to everyone who attends NYCC each year.

With that in mind, we want the New York Comic Con 2016 Ticket buying experience to be as smooth and fair as possible, so this year we are requiring Fan Verification. What does Fan Verification mean?

It means we are requiring anyone interested in attending NYCC to fill out a profile between Friday, May 20 and Monday, June 13. We recognize that this is an extra step before buying your Tickets and requires more commitment from you, but we also know that as true Fans of the Show, you won’t mind making it tough for the supervillains out there.

Here’s a quick look at nine important points for this new process:
1.Fan Verification is required for NYCC 2016. Everyone who would like to attend NYCC (whether you are buying Tickets yourself or someone is buying them for you) must fill out a Fan Verification profile.
2.Kids who will be ages 6-12 at the time of NYCC 2016 and will be using a NYCC 2016 Adult Ticket or Sunday Kids Ticket do not need a Fan Verification profile for their NYCC 2016 Ticket.
3.Fan Verification will be open from Friday, May 20 at 12:00 PM EDT to Monday, June 13 at 11:59 PM EDT. Fill out your Fan Verification profile correctly and completely - there’s no need to rush through it.
4.All NYCC 2016 Ticket Types will go on sale at the same time on a first-come, first-served basis. Fan Verification does not guarantee NYCC Tickets. 
5.We will no longer be selling VIP Tickets for NYCC.
6.NYCC 2016 Tickets will only be sold online. NYCC Tickets will not be on sale at retailers or any events leading up to NYCC 2016.
7.All Fans who filled out a Fan Verification profile will be notified via email 48 hours prior to NYCC Tickets going on sale.
8.The email you receive with the NYCC on-sale date will include a unique link where you will have the opportunity to purchase Tickets first-come, first-served when they go on sale. There is a one transaction limit per link.
9.If you are purchasing Tickets for you and your friends or family, you must assign each individual Ticket to a person using the name and email address they created their Fan Verification profile with. If you are purchasing a Ticket for a kid ages 6-12, you will add their name and age to the Ticket.
  
These changes are being done with you in mind and the hope that more of you will get the opportunity to experience NYCC. Please visit NewYorkComicCon.com/FanVerification for complete details on the NYCC Ticketing process along with other important NYCC Show news.

Thank you for your commitment and passion for the Show and willingness to take these extra steps to help us get more Tickets into your hands. We're looking forward to giving you even more amazing content to experience with us and can't wait to reveal more of what we've been working on for you.

NYCC 2016 is going to be our best Show yet and it's all going to start with Fan Verification improving the Ticket buying process for you.

Stay nerdy,
Lance

There is a tremendous amount of substance, controversy, and contention taking place that requires film and comic book fans alike to read into the darkness of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

The new DC universe, the new DC film universe I should say, is officially alive.

If nothing else, love it or hate it, you have to admit that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice made a powerful statement to that effect.

It is alive.

First things first, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a Batman film.

I do not care what the title says, this film starts and ends with Batman.

SPOILER ALERT!

Leaning heavily on the Frank Miller Dark Knight comic books, Ben Affleck’s Batman and Bruce Wayne are middle-aged, worn from two decades of battling Gotham’s goons and incredibly realistic for how the mentally disturbed dark knight still has nightmares over his parents’ killing, even though he has been serving the city in their name, pummeling criminals, for decades.

The man is tormented.

And he is a man. A rich man with martial arts skills and an engineer’s brain, but still a man.

There are even jokes between he and Alfred that play out well to harp on the aging effects.

At one point, while battling a bunch of thugs at once, Batman’s cape is grabbed tripping him up, which is a fantastic use of how a real world man would get hurt.

He is not Superman, who would not flinch if someone tugged on his cape.

Opening the movie is Bruce Wayne’s nightmare and more follow through the film that may allude to a possible alternate DC universe and storyline, akin to the Injustice: Gods Among Us storyline.

But that could be seeds for a Justice League 2 or 3 movie, not for the next film coming.

The dream sequences are a bit jarring and the first third of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a bit clunky, in large part because of them.

But without the dreams, we do not get the brilliant portrayal of the tortured, smart, weathered, and paranoid Batman that carry throughout the flick.

Batman is a dark character and the movie, his movie, follows the blackest of these themes.

The Batman brand of justice is even made into a literal bat branding that he employs on the scum, the sex traffickers, which becomes a death sentence in prison.

And as an aside, folks, we also have the triumphant return of the Batwing!

There are those that despised the world of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice out of the gate, with Man of Steel, and those that have taken to the second installment in the DC ‘verse with equal rancor.

Some find Man of Steel to be the greatest Superman film to date, even over the Richard Donner cut of Superman II; but the point remains, the darker, more realistic take on Superman in a contemporary world set a precedent that is followed very closely by DC in their penultimate setup for assembling the Justice League.

In a world ripe with terrorists and inspired madmen and super villains, Superman does what he feels is right, but that cause an awful lot of controversy, as his interests are not necessarily the US’s interests, or any countries’ for that matter.

It is how our real world might look.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is dark and gritty and takes the modern world, which inches closer to a dystopia every day, to a grim place where a Superman can resemble a god and also strike fear for his sheer unlimited power, and a man dressed as a bat can haunt criminals in the city of Gotham, where villains are assembling their own powers (see Gotham: Rise of the Villains if you need further proof on film; it is a great show).

Batman is concerned over the sheer power of an alien and this is turned against him when Lex Luthor uses him to trap Superman.

Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck are tremendous in their roles, but two actors stole the show in this film.

The first is the controversial casting of Jesse Eisenberg as Luthor.

The snippets of his speeches in the trailers leading up to the movie make him out to be the most annoying of villains we could ever have hoped to endure for two and a half hours.

Well guess what, trailers often portray the best parts, making bad films look great, or in this case they took terrible spots, out of context, and did a bad job of portraying what was really exceptional acting of a great character.

Eisenberg was the best portrayal of Luthor on-screen.

He stole the show with his perfect combination of the comic book villain’s rise as a young, rich CEO, megalomaniac lusting for power and then completely unhinged by the rising of Superman, who is everything he wants to be but cannot be.

He abhors his humanity and wants to destroy anything he deems greater than himself.

He is funny, at times, but more unnerving and creepy and maniacal. His intelligence and madness feed off of each other and his serial killer coldness comes off in spades. He even goes so far as to scheme a suicide bombing of the US Capital Building.

He is evil and multi-dimensional, like in the comic books.

Too often Luthor was poorly portrayed by cardboard one-dimensional efforts showing a businessman, or a funnyman, sociopath with aspirations of world domination; Superman is merely there to thwart him . . . and this is boring.

What Eisenberg and director Zack Snyder do with the character is make Superman not just the cause of Batman’s unhinging but Lex’s as well.

The next actor to steal the show was Gal Gidot as Wonder Woman!

She kicks ass on so many levels, literally and metaphorically.

Throughout the film she is there trying to crack Luthor’s hold on her; she merely wants to blend in with humanity and ignore its troubles as she had done for a hundred years.

But once Doomsday arrives, she is compelled to break onto the scene and help save Batman and Superman’s lives.

Wonder Woman is nearly as powerful as Superman himself and has her traditional sword, shield and Lasso of Truth, which all prove pivotal in the final epic battle.

Her character sees a lot of screen time trying to blend in and hide, but her true nature comes from a temper that boils over and she jumps in to help the world that is in peril, and the boys poorly matched up against a foe that is far beyond even Batman and Superman alone to stop.

It was an amazing performance by Gidot.

In the end though, as is fitting, it is Superman’s sacrifice that takes down Doomsday.

And in a shocking surprise, the DC ‘verse played out Superman’s death.

Batman will have to take the lead on assembling the Justice League and protecting super heroes all over the globe, as another death adds another burden on his aging shoulders.

New threats will rise after all, as Luthor from prison reports to Batman with glee.

The Doomsday battle is grandiose, and I can forgive DC for having it end at night in Gotham, instead of in Metropolis during day.

That is a grimmer portrayal and befits a dark film.

They did, however, portray the infamous two-page spread of Jurgens and Breeding’s book, Superman 75, where Lois has the fallen hero in her arms, as tears rain down.

The funeral, and Lois getting her engagement ring posthumously, actually brought a tear to my eye.

Now the world must go on, for a time at least, without a Superman, and all hell will break loose.

I for one, hope the next Superman film features “The Rise of the Supermen” from the dozens of comic books following the Death of Superman, with four major Superman players (none of them Kent) and ultimately leads to Clark Kent’s rising from the dead; it is what hooked me into serialized stories in comics as a kid.

Justice League will have to make do without, as they often have in the books, and it will make for interesting world building in this new living DC ‘verse.

And again, Batman is the leader here, by default.

The next solo film for Batman may see the great writing of Affleck, but I hope it incorporates more of Frank Miller’s works.

Miller has already stated publicly he would like to see the female 13-year old Robin, Carrie Kelley, from The Dark Knight Returns on the screen, and wouldn't that be awesome?

In the bat cave, Robin’s suit is there, tagged up by the Joker, who has presumably already killed the male Robin (Jason Todd?) and possibly burned down Wayne Manor; will we see this played out from the “Death in the Family” comic book storyline in the movies?

Overall, DC accomplished a lot with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice even though it is a bit jarring and certainly very dark throughout.

DC has certainly distanced themselves from Marvel with a much more gritty and stained universe.

The writing of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is top notch and the lines are memorable.

But because of the sheer volume of character building and world building going on, this movie does not play out as the smooth A of say Man of Steel, or even the A+ of the first Avengers film.

It is certainly every bit as good, if not better than Avengers: Age of Ultron, for similar reasons of editing and clunkiness.

This movie is no Casablanca, but it is a damn good comic book movie. If you like classics, such as Tim Burton’s Batman and many of the other excellent comic book films, like Superman II: the Richard Donner Cut, then this is worth seeing, and it is worth re-watching.
 
Rune Works REVIEW Grade: B+
 
“Read Into the Darkness of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” was written by R.J. Huneke.