February 2015 | Fanboys Anonymous

The Dace Man Show Presents: 2nd Annual Dacetacular Gaming for a Cause [LIVE FEED]

Posted by The Dace Man - Saturday, February 28, 2015

Hey, Hey, Hey Dacetacular Nation!! The time has come!! The Dace Man Show is partnering up with Fanboys Anonymous, Mega Powers Radio, Old Time Wrestling and Say Yes, Think No to kick off this 24-hour video game marathon with all proceeds going directly to Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania!

Charity Events heldto raise Money for less fortunate

Check out the live feed below as well as the line up of what we have in store for you nerds!! Remember to donate!!
Watch live video from DaceManShow on www.twitch.tv

Fundraising Websites - Crowdrise

The Lineup

  • February 28th Kick off at Noon - Twisted Metal 2! Last year we started with it and we decided to keep it a tradition!
  • Noon - 4 Retro Games! - Nothing screams nerd like trying to play Super Mario Bros by blowing the cartridge! Join us as we play anything and everything that originated on a system from when we were kids. The original Sonic, The Original Mario Bros, hell Gibby may play Metroid.
  • 4PM - 8PM SPORTS! - It's the most athletic we get during the winter time! Also, we promise not to let Gibby play the Bigs and lose 15-2 again....we know it was painful for us as well!
  • 8PM SUPER SMASH BROS TOURNAMENT - It's time to crown a true champion and we actually have a trophy. We will have one or two (depending on the amount of entries) 8 man mayhem matches to determine seating on the tournament. From there, we will engage in one-on-one battles to determine the Super Smash Champion! To enter the tournament, please reach out to Chris Dace on Facebook or shoot an email to thedacemanshow@gmail.com with the subject SMASH BROS. TOURNAMENT
  • Immediately Following the Tournament -  Singstar and Just Dance gotta get the blood pumping heading into the over night hours!
  • Twilight Limbo After Hours- Who honestly knows what's going to happen?
  • John Calls It - 9 AM To Finish  - My nephew John—who will be wide awake and ready to go—will close us out on the 24 hour gameathon, picking games and playing while the rest of us try to stay awake.

The Prizes

For every $5 donated to the cause your name will be entered into a random drawing for awesome prizes brought to you by our sponsors!
Super Smash Brothers tips and tricks
  • $50 Amazon Gift Card
  • Guardians of The Galaxy Poster
  • Captain America: Winter Soldier Poster
  • 2 Three Month Subscriptions to Loot Crate
  • 2 Opening Day Tickets to The Philadelphia Phillies vs. The Boston Red Sox 3:05PM Game April 6th (Section 229 Row 9 Seats 13 & 14)
  • Marvel Infinity Gauntlet Omnibus
  • 8 Various Tee Turtle Shirts



Fundraising Websites - Crowdrise

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Leonard Nimoy Passes Away at 83

Posted by Unknown - Friday, February 27, 2015

A cultural icon has died.

Leonard Nimoy, known to millions through his role as Spock on the original Star Trek series and film franchise, died today at age 83 after a battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

leonard nimoy spock star trek gene roddenberry jj abrams paramount nbc desilu

While there is no doubt the half-Vulcan/half-human science officer accounted for his best-known work, he also was a prolific artist. In addition to appearing on television throughout most of his career, even prior to Star Trek, Mr. Nimoy wrote poetry, performed spoken word pieces, acted on stage, recorded music, pursued photography, and taught acting at his own studio.

He was also a director, helming two installments of the original Star Trek film series, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and the beloved Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, serving also as a writer on those films and on that cast's final movie, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Improbably, he also directed the smash hit comedy Three Men and a Baby, perhaps his most accessible non-Trek work.

Mr. Nimoy had a deep relationship with the character he made iconic, even titling two of his books, both autobiographies, after him: 1977's I Am Not Spock and 1995's I Am Spock. His influence on the character, and on the franchise as a whole, cannot be denied.

leonard nimoy star trek 2009 zachary quinto chris pine zoe saldana jj abrams paramount
Leonard Nimoy reprised his role as Spock in JJ Abrams 2009 reboot,
 pictured here alongside Zachary Quinto as the newest iteration of the character.
The story goes that although NBC turned down Trek creator Gene Roddenberry's first pilot episode for the sci-fi show, they asked for a second—an unheard-of request by a studio. The request came with caveats, however. The studio particularly disliked two characters Roddenberry had included in the ship's crew: one, a cold, unemotional female first officer played by Majel Barrett, and the other, an alien with pointed ears whom they deemed too "satanic" for viewers. Roddenberry kept Nimoy on as Spock. (Barrett was reintroduced to the show later as Nurse Christine Chapel.)

Nimoy himself invented many of Spock's trademarks. During the filming of the episode "The Enemy Within," Spock must subdue an evil double of Captain Kirk. The script called for Spock to hit him with the butt of his phaser, which Nimoy found too violent for the character. Instead, he showed the director something he worked up with William Shatner: he placed his hand on Shatner's shoulder and neck and pinched. Shatner stiffened and crumpled in a heap. Thus, the Vulcan neck pinch was born. Similarly, Nimoy derived the famous "live long and prosper" V-shaped Vulcan hand salute from his Jewish heritage.

There is no question that Spock made Star Trek hugely popular. Without him, Star Trek may never have become the venerable franchise it is today. Issac Asimov wrote an essay about the character's mysterious appeal, even over that of the red-blooded American boy Captain James T. Kirk. "I Grok Spock" buttons were everywhere to be found for a time after the show. When Paramount rebooted the franchise in 2009, director J.J. Abrams made sure that the actor reprised his role to provide some linkage and credibility to the new series. Nimoy was even given a degree of casting approval over who would next become Spock.

Over a career that spanned decades and mediums, Nimoy never stopped creating and entertaining. He took what other actors might have seen as an impenetrable or unrelatable character and turned Spock into something unique, someone beloved. Leonard Nimoy played the character over the course of 79 original episodes, 2 Next Generation episodes, and 8 films including the Abrams series.

leonard nimoy spock star trek amok time live long and prosper peace and long live gene roddenberry nbc

I have watched Star Trek since I was 4 years old. For all the souls I have encountered in my travels, few characters—few actors—were as wise and dependable, as constant, calm, and logically reassuring. Leonard Nimoy created a quietly titanic force in Spock. I thought it only fitting to quote some of that wisdom to mark his passing. It's not from a movie or TV series, it's a bit of dialogue from the short-lived Star Trek animated series. Leonard Nimoy lent his vocal talents to the show on the sole condition that the entirety of the original cast, many of whom the studio was considering dropping or recasting, be brought back to reprise their roles as well.

In the episode "Yesteryear," Spock travels back in time to save his younger self from an accident. When their pet, an enormous mammal called a sehlat, is killed by a monster that otherwise would have killed Spock, the younger Vulcan looks to his older self for comfort.

"A Vulcan would face such a loss without tears," he tells the child.

"How?" he replies.

"By understanding every life comes to an end, when time demands it. Loss of life is to be mourned, but only if the life was wasted."

Leonard Nimoy's was not.

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A Casino Movie to Suit Your Mood

Posted by Fanboys Anonymous - Tuesday, February 24, 2015

There are so many movies that have featured casino scenes and stories over the years. Perhaps part of the reason that movie producers and directors featured the casino so much is that it’s one of those places that not everyone got to experience for themselves on a regular basis – it was a way of bringing a slice of life to an audience who might never have gone to a casino themselves.

Today, though, no matter where you are, it’s possible for anyone to play casino games online, through one of the many online casinos such as bgo, Genting casino and Gala casino. You can play casino classics like roulette, blackjack and poker in the comfort of your own living room as well as a huge selection of different slots. One of the biggest appeals of playing online casino is that you can play for as little as a few minutes at a time if that’s what you want to do.

And when you want a bit more of the ambience of a land-based casino, you can always watch one of the best casino movies. Five great casino movie scenes were recently featured in a great blog post by bgo and it’s always possible to find the right kind of casino movie for the mood you happen to be in.

For example, if you feel like watching a comedy, then the Hangover is a great place to start. One of the scenes is featured in the bgo list – where Alan, the nerdy one of the four friends in Vegas on a bachelor party weekend, wins more than $80,000 counting cards while playing blackjack. The film is a riot of strange happenings and crazy situations, where the groom’s three mates have to locate him and get him to his wedding on time. Though the odds seem impossibly stacked against them achieving this, they eventually pull it off.

However, if you’re interested in seeing inside the head of a gambling addict, then few films do this better than Owning Mahowny, which stars the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. The story is based on the true-life tale of a Canadian bank employee who defrauded the bank’s customers of millions in order to fund his gambling weekends in Atlantic City. Treated by a VIP by the casino manager in Atlantic City, Hoffman’s character is totally wrapped up in his world of gambling and betting, to the detriment of him and of those close to him. This film is not about the glitz and glamour of casino; it’s a character study on a man totally consumed by gambling.

And for an action-packed heist movie, any of the Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen movies make for great viewing. Ocean’s Eleven was released in 2001 and was a remake of the classic Ratpack movie of the same name. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and a host of other A-lister celebs star in this slick and sophisticated story which involves a casino heist, a love story and plenty of comedic moments. Filmed in three actual casinos in Las Vegas, the cinematography is excellent.

These are just three examples of casino movies that spring to mind – each of which has a different flavor and take on casino life. Stream a couple to watch and see which casino movie is your favorite!

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Reviewpoint Ep 8 - 2015 Oscars Review of 87th Academy Awards

Posted by Anthony Mango

On episode 8 of the Fanboys Anonymous Reviewpoint podcast is a review of the 2015 Oscars ceremony and a breakdown of the winners from the 87th Academy Awards.

Hosted by Tony Mango

You can check out the podcast below on YouTube, iTunes, and Stitcher. Make sure to subscribe!


Review of Oscars winners 87th Academy Awards results podcast

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87th Academy Awards: 2015 Oscar Results List & Predictions

Posted by Anthony Mango - Sunday, February 22, 2015

The 87th Academy Awards will be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and take place on February 22, 2015 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, as well as broadcast by ABC.

Full winners list of Oscars 2015 results Academy Awards 87th Annual

Event Schedule

November 8, 2014: The Governors Awards
December 3, 2014: Screen credits and music submissions due
December 29, 2014: Nominations voting begins 8:00 am PST
January 8, 2015: Nominations voting ends 5:00 pm PST
January 15, 2015: Nominations announced
February 2, 2015: Nominees luncheon
February 6, 2015: Final voting begins at 8:00 am PST
February 7, 2015: Scientific and Technical Awards
February 17, 2015: Final voting ends 5:00 pm PST
February 22, 2015: Ceremony begins 4:00 pm PST

This post will be updated with the full list of results of the winners. In the meantime, please tell us your predictions and let us know which movies you're hoping will walk away with an Oscar.

BEST PICTURE

NOMINEES: American Sniper, Birdman, Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, Selma, The Theory of Everything, Whiplash

PREDICTION: Birdman
- I had expected Gone Girl to be on this list and since that isn't the case, Birdman is the one film that I keep hearing more buzz about than anything else, by far. It has far too many nominations to ignore, too. Boyhood is mostly here for its effort, while The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything felt like they were such obvious Oscar bait that I hope they get ignored. The same probably applies to Selma, but the fact that it isn't nominated for much else means that the academy can't possibly love it so much to give it this award. The Grand Budapest Hotel was nominated for the same amount of awards as Birdman, but it is also weird in a way that could alienate itself. I've yet to see American Sniper, Selma or Whiplash, but all of these other films just didn't scream amazing to me and I doubt those three will, either. This is a very, very weak list for Best Picture.

RESULT: Birdman

BEST ACTOR

NOMINEES: Steve Carell (Foxcatcher), Bradley Cooper (American Sniper), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game), Michael Keaton (Birdman), Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything)

PREDICTION: Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything)
- The only redeeming quality of The Theory of Everything in my mind is Eddie Redmayne's performance. He kills it, and even though I'm a fan of Michael Keaton, his performance just doesn't match up in comparison. Cumberbatch I feel is just a safe nominee, as is Bradley Cooper, and Steve Carell is nominated for going against the grain. Keaton's got the "old actor back in the limelight" buzz, but Redmayne should get the Oscar.

RESULT: Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything)

BEST ACTRESS

NOMINEES: Marion Cotillard (Two Days, One Night), Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything), Julianne Moore (Still Alice), Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl), Reese Witherspoon (Wild)

PREDICTION: Julianne Moore (Still Alice)
- Rosamund Pike seems like too obvious of a choice in a way, but I'd be a fool to guess her after Julianne Moore has more buzz. After watching her performance, I'd be fond of Pike winning, though. Felicity Jones definitely doesn't deserve it and I didn't bother watching the other three movies.

RESULT: Julianne Moore (Still Alice)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

NOMINEES: Robert Duvall (The Judge), Ethan Hawke (Boyhood), Edward Norton (Birdman), Mark Ruffalo (Foxcatcher), J.K. Simmons (Whiplash)

PREDICTION: J.K. Simmons (Whiplash)
- I've heard nothing but uproarious praise for Simmons. Hawke was nothing special and Norton didn't stand out to me.

RESULT: J.K. Simmons (Whiplash)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

NOMINEES: Patricia Arquette (Boyhood), Laura Dern (Wild), Keira Knightley (The Imitation Game), Emma Stone (Birdman), Meryl Streep (Into the Woods)

PREDICTION: Patricia Arquette (Boyhood)
- Streep being nominated is no surprise, considering her record. Knightley happened to be the only woman in an Oscar bait film, so that's no surprise, either. Stone gets the "young person who will eventually win this in the future, but not now, although we want to show how confident we are in her abilities" nomination. I know nothing of Laura Dern's performance and haven't heard any buzz about it, so by default, this goes to Arquette.

RESULT: Patricia Arquette (Boyhood)

BEST DIRECTOR

NOMINEES: Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel), Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman), Richard Linklater (Boyhood), Bennett Miller (Foxcatcher), Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game)

PREDICTION: Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman)
- After watching them, I no longer think Richard Linklater has this in the bag. Was it a daunting task? Sure. However, Alejandro González Iñárritu had a much more complicated method of directing his film.

RESULT: Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

NOMINEES: Birdman, Boyhood, Foxcatcher, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Nightcrawler

PREDICTION: Birdman
- If not Birdman, I could see The Grand Budapest Hotel or Nightcrawler stealing this.

RESULT: Birdman

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

NOMINEES: American Sniper, The Imitation Game, Inherent Vice, The Theory of Everything, Whiplash

PREDICTION: The Imitation Game
- No real reason. It really is a shame that Captain America: The Winter Soldier wasn't nominated. Stigmas like that need to go away.

RESULT: The Imitation Game

BEST FILM EDITING

NOMINEES: American Sniper, Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, Whiplash

PREDICTION: Boyhood
- This film was made over 12 years. There's no way it shouldn't win, really. 

RESULT: Whiplash

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

NOMINEES: Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Guardians of the Galaxy, Interstellar, X-Men: Days of Future Past

PREDICTION: Interstellar
- Very surprised that The Hobbit wasn't nominated. While Dawn of the Planet of the Apes potentially could take this, I think it is Interstellar's to lose.

RESULT: Interstellar

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

NOMINEES: Birdman, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Ida, Mr. Turner, Unbroken

PREDICTION: The Grand Budapest Hotel
- If not this, then Birdman. This is a tough one. Do they go with the bigger, colorful movie or do they go with the smaller, darker movie?

RESULT: Birdman

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

NOMINEES: The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, Interstellar, Into the Woods, Mr. Turner

PREDICTION: The Grand Budapest Hotel
- I'm fairly confident in this prediction, but that doesn't mean it's a guarantee.

RESULT: The Grand Budapest Hotel

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

NOMINEES: The Grand Budapest Hotel, Inherent Vice, Into the Woods, Maleficent, Mr. Turner

PREDICTION: The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Since there is a variety of costumes in the film, I'd have to go with the movie that has the most nominations as standing out and probably getting the win more for popularity than credibility. However, Into the Woods could pull the win out.

RESULT: The Grand Budapest Hotel (Milena Canonero)

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

NOMINEES: Foxcatcher, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Guardians of the Galaxy

PREDICTION: The Grand Budapest Hotel
- This is almost makeup versus hairstyling. Foxcatcher would be winning for the makeup job on Steve Carell and The Grand Budapest Hotel would be winning on a tad of Tilda Swinton makeup, but primarily facial hair. Guardians of the Galaxy sadly has no real shot in my mind, but was just nominated because of the volume of aliens.

RESULT: The Grand Budapest Hotel (Mark Coulier and Frances Hannon)

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

NOMINEES: Alexandre Desplat (The Grand Budapest Hotel), Alexandre Desplat (The Imitation Game), Hans Zimmer (Interstellar), Gary Yershon (Mr. Turner), Jóhann Jóhannsson (The Theory of Everything)

PREDICTION: Jóhann Jóhannsson (The Theory of Everything)
- I've heard more buzz about this than anything else. None of these strike me as memorable except for one song from Interstellar which was more predominantly featured in the trailers rather than the movie. That song is amazing, but is it good enough to win the Oscar? Out of the others, I haven't seen Mr. Turner, but I probably paid the most attention to The Grand Budapest Hotel, but I can't remember much about it.

RESULT: Alexandre Desplat (The Grand Budapest Hotel)

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

NOMINEES: "Everything is Awesome" from The Lego Movie, "Glory" from Selma, "Grateful" from Beyond the Lights, "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" from Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me, "Lost Stars" from Begin Again

PREDICTION: "Glory" from Selma
- Considering how Selma isn't nominated for much else, this stands out to me as something that must have been noteworthy to the academy. This will be an unpopular opinion, but I think "Everything is Awesome" was incredibly annoying in the movie after having seen it so many times in the commercials, and it isn't even a great song, so I hope it doesn't win.

RESULT: "Glory" from Selma

BEST SOUND EDITING

NOMINEES: American Sniper, Birdman, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Interstellar, Unbroken

PREDICTION: American Sniper
- It damn sure better not be Interstellar, that's for sure. I couldn't even hear some dialogue during the movie.

RESULT: American Sniper (Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman)

BEST SOUND MIXING

NOMINEES: American Sniper, Birdman, Interstellar, Unbroken, Whiplash

PREDICTION: Whiplash
- It's a music film. Duh.

RESULT: Whiplash (Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins, and Thomas Curley)

BEST ANIMATED (FEATURE)

NOMINEES: Big Hero 6, The Boxtrolls, How to Train Your Dragon 2, Song of the Sea, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

PREDICTION: Big Hero 6
- The only movie out of this bunch that I've seen was How to Train Your Dragon 2, and I was disappointed in it. The Boxtrolls looked really, really stupid to me, and the animation was gross as well. While Big Hero 6 should have been something that I was interested in, the trailers failed to intrigue me, but I've heard good things.

RESULT: Big Hero 6

BEST ANIMATED (SHORT)

NOMINEES: The Bigger Picture, The Dam Keeper, Feast, Me and My Moulton, A Single Life

PREDICTION: The Dam Keeper
- I never know anything about these films, so I usually just pick the title that sounds the most pretentious or weird.

RESULT: Feast

BEST DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE)

NOMINEES: Citizenfour, Finding Vivian Maier, Last Days in Vietnam, The Salt of the Earth, Virunga

  PREDICTION: Virunga
- I never know anything about these films, so I usually just pick the title that sounds the most pretentious or weird.

RESULT: Citizenfour

BEST DOCUMENTARY (SHORT)

NOMINEES: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1, Joanna, Our Curse, The Reaper (La Parka), White Earth

PREDICTION: Our Curse
- I never know anything about these films, so I usually just pick the title that sounds the most pretentious or weird.

RESULT: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

NOMINEES: Ida, Leviathan, Tangerines, Timbuktu, Wild Tales

PREDICTION: Ida
- I never know anything about these films, so I usually just pick the title that sounds the most pretentious or weird. However, in this case, Ida is nominated elsewhere, so it would be the clear favorite to win in my eyes.

RESULT: Ida

BEST SHORT FILM

NOMINEES: Aya, Boogaloo and Graham, Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak), Parvaneh, The Phone Call

PREDICTION: Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak)
- I never know anything about these films, so I usually just pick the title that sounds the most pretentious or weird.

RESULT: The Phone Call

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE WIN? TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!

2015 Oscar Winners for Best Picture Academy Awards 87th Results

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Review: Marvel's Storm #8 by Pak, Barrionuevo, Palmer, and Redmond

Posted by Sean Hamilton

Storm lights up the issue
Storm #8 cover by Stephanie Hans
The longer this series goes, the better it is getting.

This is a strong issue and a satisfying way to see Storm close out this chapter of her series.

Greg Pak is writing an incredibly strong character and has found a voice for Storm that lets him own the story to a degree only glimpsed at earlier in the series. With the maturity of the character, the art provides some flourishes of imaginative creativity.

First and foremost, the cover by Stephanie Hans is electric. Since she came onto the series as the cover artist, it has been a joyous experience to pick this comic up each month from my local comic book store and pause for a moment to take in the cover. I am sucked into each issue by its cover, which always portrays a sense of the story within and draws me into it.

There is a lot of action in this issue, which helps drive a conclusion to the arc and bring resolution to the main character. The story, although centered on Storm, must also deal with some background characters such as other X-Men and the requisite bad guy before we can move on. Despite this, we see some powerful use of Storm's mutant abilities to manipulate the elements, and the grandiose nature of these abilities is captured by stunning art from Al Barrionuevo, Tim Palmer, and Ruth Redmond.

Storm is really one of the good guys
Protestors demand action to help Storm
Barrionuevo and Palmer continue to match the form seen in previous issues. I did notice a couple of instances where Storm's facial expressions or those of background characters did not really match up with their spoken words in the same panel. This is a minor issue, however; in general, the art got stronger the further into the issue you read. Redmond's colors and textures were certainly an example of this, as the final few pages of Storm's battle to save the Golden Gate Bridge and the bystanders on it depicted some great work. The changing nature of the weather and the colors to illustrate the severity of the situation and Storm's ability to control the outcome of the elemental power at play here was impressive.
Fear the might of Storm, the weather witch
No-one can stop Storm
This is a solid solo X-Men series about Storm, and in this issue, it doesn't pretend to do anything other than speak for this character. Pak is channeling the voice of the character and leaving the support cast and story to mold around Storm. In doing this, Pak achieves an important distinction between this series and other X-Men books, which are so concerned with the group dynamics.
Storm battles the elements in San Fransico
Storm must dig deep to safe the day
There is no plainer way to say it: Storm #8 is an excellent story to wrap up this arc of the series. We know from current solicits that the series will continue at least up to the beginning of Secret Wars, but I wonder if there is room for this series much longer than that. The character and stories can be stretched, but are there enough sales numbers? With Marvel's focus on female-driven series in other parts of their universe, Storm could fall the way of She-Hulk. That would be a shame, but that's the comics industry, where consumers get the ultimate say on the state of the play for all ongoing series.

As always, we want to hear what you thought of this issue and the close of this arc, so make sure to leave a comment below. What do you think of the cover? Did this close out the arc in a satisfying way? Hit us up with your thoughts, or head over to Twitter or Facebook and leave your mark there.

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Review: Marvel's Magneto #15 by Bunn, Walta, and Bellaire

Posted by Sean Hamilton

Magneto breaks S.H.I.E.L.D
Magneto #15 cover
by Dan Panosian
Cullen Bunn's Magneto is like watching fireworks.

The suspense and anticipation are key and only heightened by a dramatic buildup over time. When the main event goes off with a bang, it is spectacular to see, only for it to simmer down again afterward as we wait for the next piece of action.

Magneto #15 is a standout issue. For a series that has been extremely focused and more recently has had to pay its dues to the recent AXIS event Marvel pursued, this is a return to the top of its form. We also see Bunn take some time to knockout a few peripheral subplots in this issue that have been intertwined throughout the main series.

In this issue we get to terms, fairly quickly, about the true motive driving Magneto to surrender to the invading S.H.I.E.L.D operatives in the previous issue. As the story unfolds, it is tightly focused on drawing out the last bit of suspense and then sitting back and allowing the action sequences to speak.

There are several notable features from the plot that Bunn seems to be wrapping up in time for the pending Secret Wars–related material for this series. Raleigh Briar's allegiance is tested and comes out on the side we hoped it would, and the unveiling of an informant in S.H.I.E.L.D that has been feeding information to Magneto was a welcome surprise in this issue also. Finally the Marauders, captured so ruthlessly by Magneto in issue #6, are unleashed on the unsuspecting S.H.I.E.L.D helicarrier.
Magneto is captured by S.H.I.E.L.D
S.H.I.E.L.D take Magneto to captivity
There is a sense of satisfaction that comes from being patient, playing the long game in comics and then having an issue come along like this, that just hits it out of the park. Bunn has done a fantastic job here, and it is only rivaled by the artistic endeavors of his collaborators, artist Gabriel Hernandez Walta and colorist Jordie Bellaire.

Agent Haines interrogates Magneto
Let the mind games begin!
The consistently high standard of art from Walta and Bellaire is a testament to the longevity of Magneto as a series. Walta's unique style and the moody, gripping storytelling ability on each page is taken to a new level with Bellaire's coloring.

Magneto is right where he needs to be
Agent Haines lays down
the situation to Magneto
If you aren't already reading this series, grab the trade paperbacks, get up to speed, and then jump into this issue. My only fear is what is going to happen with it post Secret Wars. But until that happens, this continues to be a worthwhile reading experience, check it out and once you have, leave us a comment below about how you found this issue to be, then come back next month for our look at issue #16.

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Review: Marvel's Legendary Star-Lord #9 by Humphries, Medina, Vlasco, and Curiel

Posted by Sean Hamilton

Kitty Pryde and Peter Quill face off
Legendary Star-Lord #9 Cover
by Paco Medina
The ancient cosmic artifact, the mirror that can unleash an individual's terrifying potential, is safely back in the hands of the good guys.

Except as we move into the next phase of this story, the good guys are starting to look a little less good.

Gamora and Beast have already submitted to the Black Vortex and come out the other side more powerful than ever. These events have left the Guardians of the Galaxy, All-New X-Men, and Nova arguing over not only their own destinies but the fate of the universe.

As the dust settles and the stand-off resumes in Legendary Star-Lord #9, the third part of Marvel's "Black Vortex" crossover event seeks to unsettle readers by providing some surprising twists. Ultimately, however, this issue doesn't drive much more of the overall plot. Another of the heroes takes the plunge into the Vortex, but beyond this, there is just more of the same squabbling and bickering we saw in the previous issue of the event.

Let it be stated, Sam Humphries does write a fine issue. The rapport, wit, and personalities of the main characters come through in a genuine fashion. Yet this seems to be a bridging issue between the events last seen in Guardians of the Galaxy #24 and whatever comes next. A focus of the last issue and this one—the fighting between Kitty Pryde and Peter Quill—continues to be more forced than I would have anticipated. Either Kitty is being portrayed to be more stuck up and highly strung regarding her charge of the young X-Men or the drama here is a tool for the wider implications of the story.

Beast and Gamora after changing in the Black Vortex
Behold the power of the Black Vortex!
The art by Paco Medina and Juan Vlasco is tight and focused on the action driving this issue. The art feels as comfortable as it has through the event. Medina's style suits the previous issues, and the colors by David Curiel bring the same tone and setting that we have already experienced in "The Black Vortex." This consistency of art and color has, so far, been a great way to ease through the event and get wrapped up in the story. Without the distraction of dissimilar artistic approaches, the event is being pulled off in a satisfactory way.

The Black Vortex's pull is hard to resist
The heroes have to put a stop to this...
There is a good sense of pacing in the issue, for what it is worth, in getting readers from start to finish. Medina plays an important role in this, with his panel arrangements leading the story along. The art is not so dramatic as seen in the previous issue of the event, but there is a lot of focus on bringing characters' faces to the fore and establishing a connection with them for the audience.

Changes for the All-New X-Men
Angel feels to pull of the Black Vortex
Legendary Star-Lord #9 plays its part in the larger "Black Vortex" event. It isn't an overwhelming performance, more like a supporting role. Despite this, we are set up for the next part of the event, which could bring our heroes head-to-head with Mr. Knife or see them chase the Black Vortex across the cosmos to save the day. The cliffhanger Humphries gives us here leaves a lot of potential to play with.

As we draw to a close with part three of the event, what did you think of this issue? How are you finding "The Black Vortex" so far? Is it living up to the hype? Tell us below or head over to the Fanboys Anonymous Facebook or Twitter and leave a comment. Make sure you come back for the next part of the event with All-New X-Men #38.

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Group Meeting Ep 16 - MCU Spider-Man Reboot Series Plans & Ideas

Posted by Anthony Mango

On episode 16 of the Fanboys Anonymous Group Meeting podcast, the panel has a roundtable discussion about Spider-Man joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the new Sony/Marvel reboot of the series.

MCU Spider-Man Marvel Sony reboot wallpaper

Hosted by Tony Mango along with Sam Lascio.

Some topics we address:
  • Should Spider-Man be Peter Parker or Miles Morales?
  • Which love interest do you go with, Mary Jane Watson, Gwen Stacy, Black Cat, or someone else?
  • Who should be the villain? Kraven? Scorpion? Kingpin? Mysterio? Hypno-Hustler?
  • Casting ideas for various characters
  • What future movies come out of this, and how do Venom and Sinister Six factor into the plans?
You can watch the podcast below. Make sure to subscribe!










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FIRST LOOK: Jason Momoa as Aquaman in Zack Snyder's Justice League

Posted by Justin Hedvat - Friday, February 20, 2015

As we patiently wait for the trailer to arrive for next year's hotly anticipated Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, director Zack Snyder has whetted our appetite by giving us the first official image of Jason Momoa as Aquaman, one of the founding members of DC Comics' Justice League. Snyder took to Twitter to post the image with the caption, "There is only one true King. #unitetheseven"

Jason Momoa Aquaman Justice League Zack Snyder Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice
He's the Aquaman we deserve and the Aquaman we need right now.
The photo features a bearded, tattooed, and overall badass Aquaman brandishing a menacing trident—a huge divergence from the walking orange punch line that many of us have come to associate with the character. This ain't your granddaddy's Aquaman. Snyder's theatrical version looks like a cross between Momoa's Game of Thrones character Khal Drogo and the 1990s comic book version of Aquaman, which abandoned the orange-scaled scuba suit for armored shoulder pads that displayed his rippling chest—clearly a good costume choice, given the actor's massive build.

Though Momoa has previously claimed that he would not be blonde for the film, he does appear to have some blonde streaks in his hair, an obvious nod to the character's comic book origins. Snyder's Aquaman is covered in Polynesian-inspired tattoos and his arms and one shoulder are embossed in armor. The signature Aquaman logo can be seen on his waist, and though most of the color palette is muted, we can still detect notes of the iconic orange and green on his armor and pants.

Overlaying the photo is the tagline, "Unite the Seven," which could have various meanings: an attempt by Aquaman to unite the Seven Seas under one king, or perhaps the seven members of the Justice League that will be featured in DC's upcoming slate of films. Assuming it's the latter, this could be the start of an exciting ad campaign for Warner Bros. to introduce their new onscreen ensemble of characters.

DC Comics Trinity Batman Superman Wonder Woman Zack Snyder Justice League Aquaman
The Holy Trinity
"The Seven" could also be a cool way to reference the Justice League without saying "Justice League," which sounds just a bit too corny for the more modern, gritty tone that DC's films seem to be going for. We've previously been treated to peeks at Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, and we're hoping that we'll soon see teases at Cyborg, Flash, and Green Lantern in the coming months.

Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisenger, Aquaman's first appearance was in 1941 in More Fun Comics #73. Aquaman will make his big screen debut in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice on March 25, 2016, followed by Justice League Part One on November 17, 2017, and will eventually star in his own solo self-titled adventure, Aquaman, on July 27, 2018.

So what do you think of Jason Momoa as Aquaman?
Will he change the way much of the public thinks of the character?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

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Press Start: Why Are Our Games Broken? Discussion Lounge

Posted by Tam To - Tuesday, February 17, 2015


It seems as if more and more AAA-developed games are being released with patches straight out of the starting gate. Who can we blame? The developers for not doing a good enough job of polishing their game? The publishers for pushing for a release date before the product is ready? What about the consumers, who create artificial hype at impossible-to-reach levels?

Fanboys Anonymous Video Games

One of the more infamous examples of this issue can be found in Assassin's Creed Unity. Upon release, the game was reported to have been plagued by game-breaking bugs, glitches, and frame-rate drops due to poor optimization on the PC version. And let us not forget about the "no face" bug...

Assassin's Creed Unity no face glitch
There's a fetish for everything...

Regardless, it is obvious that this is an issue plaguing the industry. Why are our games shipping to us broken? The Press Start crew takes to the discussion lounge to chat about this increasingly frustrating situation.


What's your opinion on this topic? Let us know in the comments below!

Press Start films weekly and can be followed on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

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The Dace Man Show Presents: 2nd Annual Dacetacular Gaming for a Cause

Posted by The Dace Man

Hey Hey Hey Dacetacular Nation!! The Dace Man Show is partnering up with Fanboys Anonymous and Mega Powers Radio as well as Say Yes, Think No to host a 24-hour video game marathon with all proceeds going directly to charity.

24 hour gaming marathon for charity donations

On February 15th 2014, The Dace Man Show was able to  raise $900 for St. Jude Children Research Hospital. This year we're looking to do even better as we do battle again for 24 hours!

Check back regularly for updates and more information on the gaming blocks, prizes, and ways you can donate to Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania!

If you can't donate, you can still help out by spreading the word. Share us on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, or any other sources that you have so we can reach as many people as possible.


Fundraising Websites - Crowdrise

The Lineup

  • February 28th Kick off at Noon - Twisted Metal 2! Last year we started with it and we decided to keep it a tradition!
  • Noon - 4 Retro Games! - Nothing screams nerd like trying to play Super Mario Bros by blowing the cartridge! Join us as we play anything and everything that originated on a system from when we were kids. The original Sonic, The Original Mario Bros, hell Gibby may play Metroid.
  • 4PM - 8PM SPORTS! - It's the most athletic we get during the winter time! Also, we promise not to let Gibby play the Bigs and lose 15-2 again....we know it was painful for us as well!
  • 8PM SUPER SMASH BROS TOURNAMENT - It's time to crown a true champion and we actually have a trophy. We will have one or two (depending on the amount of entries) 8 man mayhem matches to determine seating on the tournament. From there, we will engage in one-on-one battles to determine the Super Smash Champion! To enter the tournament, please reach out to Chris Dace on Facebook or shoot an email to thedacemanshow@gmail.com with the subject SMASH BROS. TOURNAMENT
  • Immediately Following the Tournament -  Singstar and Just Dance gotta get the blood pumping heading into the over night hours!
  • Twilight Limbo After Hours- Who honestly knows what's going to happen?
  • John Calls It - 9 AM To Finish  - My nephew John—who will be wide awake and ready to go—will close us out on the 24 hour gameathon, picking games and playing while the rest of us try to stay awake.

The Prizes

For every $5 donated to the cause your name will be entered into a random drawing for awesome prizes brought to you by our sponsors!
  • $50 Amazon Gift Card
  • Guardians of The Galaxy Poster
  • Captain America: Winter Soldier Poster
  • 2 Three Month Subscriptions to Loot Crate
  • 2 Opening Day Tickets to The Philadelphia Phillies vs. The Boston Red Sox 3:05PM Game April 6th (Seats TBD)
  • Marvel Infinity Gauntlet Omnibus
  • 8 Various Tee Turtle Shirts

Check back regularly to see what other awesome prizes we will be giving away.


Fundraising Websites - Crowdrise

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The "Legacy Contact": Decide What Happens to Your Facebook When You Die

Posted by Unknown - Monday, February 16, 2015

It is common knowledge that death is the only real certainty we have in life. For this reason, many of us decide to lessen the burden on our family members and loved ones by buying life insurance to cover the our final costs and designing a will to divide whatever assets we may have.

Zombie Facebook Blood Horror Like Legacy Contract Thumb Yes
Pick your heir wisely.
Apparently, aside from which insurance to buy and how to draft a legal document containing information on our final wishes, many of us are also haunted by another question: What will happen to my social media accounts when I die?

Part of me really wished this was a joke, but a quick search on Google made me realize this is what many 21st-century minds worry about.

Well worry no longer, my friends.

Facebook ;has announced a new setting that will allow users to choose between the options of having their accounts permanently deleted after death or of designating "Legacy Contacts."

Screenshot Legacy Contract Facebook Death

The Legacy Contact is a person of your own choosing, a friend or family member, who will have control over the following aspects of your profile when you die:
  • Change your profile picture and cover photo.
  • Write a post that will appear at the top of your timeline (for example, to announce a memorial service or share a special message).
  • Accept friend requests from real-life friends and family who were not connected to you on Facebook before your passing.

According to Vanessa Callison-Burch, a Facebook product manager, these particular features "were among those most requested by Facebook users who gave the company feedback on its memorial-page policies."

On the other hand, the chosen person will not be able to:
  • View or download your messages.
  • Edit or delete posts you shared in the past.
  • Edit or delete posts others have shared on your timeline.

So no one will be able to delete any embarrassing pictures of you, but at least they will not be able to read any kinky messages you might have sent or received.

Facebook Screenshot Internet Death Legacy Will Heir
Leave a legacy, or delete your page?
Want to know how to setup your Legacy Contact now?

Step 1: Go on "Settings" on your Facebook account and click on "Security."

Step 2: Click on "Legacy Contact" and type the name of your choice in the "Choose a friend" box. Note that this page also gives you the option to delete your account instead.

Screenshot Facebook Like Message Death Will Heir
What will you say to your friend in your last message?
Step 3: Review the message your chosen Legacy Contact will receive. This message can be revised so that it is more personal between you and your friend.

Step 4: Once you are satisfied, you can either hit "Send" to have your message sent immediately or choose the "Not Now" option to have the message sent in the future.

Step 5: If you want to allow your Legacy Contact to download posts, photos, videos and/or other content from your account, check the "Data Archive Permission" box.

Done!

When your time comes, Facebook will notify your chosen contact that he or she may now manage your account.

Until now, accounts could only be memorialized by Facebook; they could still be viewed but could not be accessed or edited by anyone else. Callison-Burch believes this new feature is a great step up when it comes to social media:
Our team at Facebook is grateful and humbled to be working on these improvements. We hope this work will help people experience loss with a greater sense of possibility, comfort, and support.
Legacy Contacts are currently only available in the United States, but Facebook looks forward to expand it to other countries.

Setting up a Legacy Contact is completely optional.

What do you think about this Legacy Contact business? Do you think you will use it? Let us know your opinion by leaving your comments below!

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Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special Retrospective

Posted by Anthony Mango - Sunday, February 15, 2015

On a special podcast for Fanboys Anonymous, the panel prepares for the 40th anniversary of Saturday Night Live by doing their very own retrospective during the pre-show.

best SNL moments podcast Saturday Night Live 40 year special


Hosted by Chris Dace, joined by Tony Mango and Randi Dace

Some topics we discuss:
  • Comparisons of different sets of cast members
  • SNL's effect on politics with their parodies
  • SNL movie spinoffs
  • Favorite moments, best skits, and more!
You can watch the podcast below. Make sure to subscribe!




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Review: Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy #24 by Bendis, Schiti, and Keith

Posted by Sean Hamilton

The Guardians homage cover
Guardians of the Galaxy #24 cover
by Valerio Schiti and Jason Keith
Part two of "The Black Vortex."

Threatened by the Slaughter Lords, cosmically enhanced evildoers under the influence of Mr. Knife, the Guardians of the Galaxy and All-New X-Men face a drastic decision: do they use the Black Vortex to protect themselves, defeat the bad guys, and save the universe, or do they struggle without its power?

Taking the distraction the Slaughter Lords provided and while the others were fending them off, Gamora took the decision into her own hands and submitted to the Black Vortex, emerging as a new level 2.0 badass assassin capable of taking on the current threat easily.

With the Slaughter Lords defeated, Magik teleports the group to a nearby moon of Spartax and to safety. Here the drama begins anew as all must decide what to do with the Black Vortex.

Writer Brian Michael Bendis warps a tale of intrigue, subterfuge, and surprises. We see the older Hank McCoy, aka Beast, make a fateful decision; the arrival of Nova adds one more to the fray; and the conspiracy of the Black Maw with Thane is undoubtedly a subplot with more weight to be uncovered in subsequent issues of this crossover.
Beast steps out of the Black Vortex a changed mutant
Black Vortex enhanced Beast
Guardians of the Galaxy #24 moves the plot along at what feels like a deliberate pace. There isn't a huge amount of action, but there doesn't need to be. The crafting of "Black Vortex" is so far playing out well for readers; Bendis is pacing the story, building suspense with dramatic twists and turns. This issue does have a lot of dialogue to reveal the characters' motivations and drive some characterization. There is also a lot of panel work, and artists Valerio Schiti and Jason Keith are right at home with the sense of space and color arrangement that was set up in "The Black Vortex: Alpha." 
The conspiracy begins in Guardians of the Galaxy #24
Thane and Black Maw

Schiti provides some great art pieces, with a couple of double-page splash images and another whole-page splash. The grandiose feeling of space and the cosmic divine potential out there is driven home in the artwork. Keith's colors are great. The way the new designs of those who have been enhanced by the Black Vortex are depicted is attributed to the color as much as the art itself. In some more cases more so, as with Gamora. If this is the level of art for the series, then we are safe to say this will be an awesome experience to readers.

Deals and debts are clarified in Guardians of the Galaxy #24
Mr Knife and the Brood emissary
Overall, the art makes up for some lack in the writing in this issue. Bendis does some okay work, but it isn't stellar. The conflict between Kitty Pryde and Peter Quill seems a little forced for the sake of creating tension, but the seeds planted from this part of the event may become the most fruitful part of the issue.

What did you like about this issue? Did this continue strongly from the first issue of this event in your opinion? What do you hope for the next part? Tell us below or head over to the Fanboys Anonymous Facebook or Twitter and leave a comment. Make sure you come back for the next installment of "The Black Vortex" with Legendary Star-Lord #9.

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Review: Marvel's The Black Vortex - Alpha by Humphries, McGuinnes, Anka, Farmer, Gracia, and Maiolo

Posted by Sean Hamilton

The Black Vortex -The All-New X-Men and Gurdians of the Galaxy
The Black Vortex - Alpha cover
by Ed McGuinnes and Justin Ponsor
The saga begins here!

It's one last hit out for the X-Men and Guardians of the Galaxy before Secret Wars envelopes the Marvel Universe. If our heroes aren't successful in staving off disaster from Mr. Knife and the Slaughter Lords, then there may not be a universe to left to fall into for the next major Marvel event.

"The Black Vortex" has been hyped up enough to have a certain amount of expectations as a large crossover event, and it is issue heavy. Consider the list on the back page of each issue of the event, which reveals a total of 13 issues. Given this, does the Alpha issue deliver on the hype?

Ultimately you will be the judge, but as far as the setup goes, this feels like it is missing some back story. The events immediately proceeding this issue have been built up in Sam Humphries's story from The Legendary Star-Lord series. While you certainly can jump straight into the event from this issue, the context is glossed over so quickly that it has to be compromised in some way. However, in the writer's defense, we get to see a good deal of action and he does have to incorporate two large teams of Marvel heroes and one made up of villains within the confines of this single issue.

A long time ago, in a differnet galaxy far away...The Black Vortex
A Celestial stands on Viscardi

Humphries delves into a story that is full of action and intrigue. Important plot points are carefully revealed early on, including the origin of the Black Vortex, a mirror-like object that unleashes the cosmic power within any individual who submits to it. It is great to see Humphries show solid character performances. Many of the characters of the All-New X-Men, Jean Grey School and Guardians of the Galaxy have strong individual personalities, so to see each have their unique voice come through is a triumph of coordination.

The VIscardi try to probe space travel
Failure breeds determination
The first part of this crossover event flows well through this issue. There is a deliberate pace that encompasses the various aspects. We have a slower, winding speed with Thane, Mr. Knife, and the Slaughter Lords at the beginning. As the issue ramps up, the X-Men are sped into place for a showdown with the Guardians of the Galaxy as the two teams must decide what to do with the Black Vortex. Meanwhile, the Slaughter Lords come to the fore again. The development of the story and manner in which it proceeds feels good; by the end of the issue, we are left hanging on the desperate actions of one of the Guardians, who is trying to resolve an unwinnable situation.

A lot of the pace and storytelling dynamics are also attributed to the art from Ed McGuinnes and Kris Anka. The pair have a division of pages, and at some points it seems to blur together. The artists have distinct styles, and the differences between them are a little jarring as they crossover in this issue. However, by the end it isn't a deal breaker. There is some wonderful art on show here. McGuinnes provides a great back story for the Black Vortex as an object of desire; there is a sense of him taking the establishing pages while Anka gets to finish off with the big action piece.

The Viscardi provoke a Celestial
Anger at the Celestial will bring
about an unexpected consequence
A highlight was the three-quarter page panel that depicts the reuniting of the X-Men and the Guardians of the Galaxy. Here Anka and Humphries insert the comic relief that is necessary to bring the serious galaxy-worrying event back to a grounded state. The final page is also another notable piece of the art, with a full-page splash showing a refined Gamora. The colors here are gorgeous to behold, as they are throughout this issue.

As soon as the issue opens it is easily recognizable that Marte Gracia is on point, even without glancing at the credits on the preceding page. However, when joined with Marcelo Maiolo, this is a strong colorist team that brings depth and weight to the issue. The pages shimmer with a vibrancy and hue that is so often found in the pages of Marvel's stories set in space. The colors pop in a sublime way and make this a very attractive issue to read.

The Black Vortex appears
Gaze into the mirror of power
"The Black Vortex: Alpha" issue feels like a good start to this event. It is not a perfect issue but a solid one nonetheless. With the artistic team on board, it delivers for the extra length and higher cover price. I hope the series keeps at least to the standard set here or gets better.

What did you like about this issue? Do you feel the setup has hit the mark? How did you like the art and colors? Tell us below or head over to the Fanboys Anonymous Facebook or Twitter and leave a comment. Make sure you come back for the next installment of "The Black Vortex" with Guardians of the Galaxy #24.

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