Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tradio #21 - American Vampire
Hi again...been a long day, but I can't leave you hangin'! Hopefully you all have had your fill of turkey and survived Black Friday and are ready for a new trade review. With vampires being back in the spotlight with another Twilight movie (Look, I'm now trending!), I figured I would focus on a GOOD vampire tale this week with American Vampire by Scott Snyder, Rafael Albuquerque, and a little known author named Stephen King and published by DC Comics under the Vertigo imprint.
Vampires. Yeah...there is a lot of emphasis on vampires these days. They and zombies seem to permeate popular culture right now. Few comic books have really been able to do a lot for the whole vampire genre as of late like Kirkman's The Walking Dead has done for zombies, but American Vampire is trying to change that. Maybe "trying" is the wrong verb here. The book isn't "trying" to do anything. What it IS doing is taking a fresh spin on the classic vampire tropes that started with Mary Shelley's novel so long ago and giving it a much needed kick in the tail. The stories, and there are two separate yet intertwined stories here, of American Vampire center on a new breed of vampire born out of the dust and heat of the American West and moves that new breed into seedy 20's Hollywood. These vampires aren't southern gentlemen or old world aristocrats or even overly stylized Jews and they most definitely do not sparkle. What they do is set up a new paradigm for what a Vampire can be and what they can represent. What these are, you need to read and find out for yourself, but you find are two tales with some reoccurring characters who flesh out a fresh take on ideas of love, loss, trust, friendship, and a young woman's dreams.
The writing of American Vampire is so good. Scott Snyder is a great writer and he weaves a tight narrative that is complex, yet easy to follow. The characters are greatly fleshed out with a lot more characterization that what you may be use to in a "horror" book. Oh and that Stephen King guy...he just might have a future in writing. Nuff said. As for Rafael Albuquerque, he is like no one else. He has his light and dark down as good as Mignola and yet he has a detailed and kinetic style that is unlike anything else out there. He can go from the ordinary to the scary so quickly which just adds to the overall sense of horror in the book. His designs are pretty amazing and they keep you grounded in a familiar past and yet are all their own. Additionally, it has to be said that the coloring by Dave McCaig is pretty amazing as well. You would think that a book about vampires would be full of red and McCaig shows restraint with this that only adds to the terror when you do see the color on the printed page. Overall, American Vampire is excellent and you should be reading it...just don't come looking for any dreamy guys you would want to date cause you will just get your head bit off.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Nerd Thanks
Ahhh...Thanksgiving. That day when we think about what all we are thankful for before diving in and eating as much poultry and pig as possible and plan out how we are going to maneuver the Black Friday sales. I thought it would be apropos to take a minute and give thanks for some of the nerdy websites in my life that bring me joy on a daily basis. So sit back, grab a piece of pumpkin pie, and see a few of the things that warm the cockles of my little nerdy heart.
iFanboy - One of the first podcasts that I ever discovered and still at the top of my playlist every week. Three friends who started out just reading comics and taking turns picking a weekly favorite has turned into so much more. A big, friendly community of fans, friends, and creators who produce weekly content that is shaped out of a love for the genre. Unbiased? Nope, but you know, you love what you love and these three guys have introduced me to so many good series over the years like Fell, I Kill Giants, Sweet Tooth, Preacher, and Proof.
Beaucoup Pop - Speaking of a fun podcast and a growing community, I love these guys! Never would have found them if not for a friend, this is a local group of individuals who are all about building a local fan base and providing people with interaction who honestly may never have found each other any other way (us nerds are easily startled, you know). Movies, comics, music, video games, and even theatre are all covered weekly by Justin, Keri, Matt, and Tressa and a growing cast of local creators and friends. They bring joy...and lots of "ef-you, Matt!" moments...and we all need more of both.
Get Glue - One of the fun things that BCP has brought into my life. If it can be watched, listened to, read, or even thought about, you can find it here and like it and check-in to it and earn stickers...actual honest to God stickers...that they will send you...for free! The last time stickers got me this excited, they were scratch and sniff...if only Get Glue would do them...though I don't want to know what Ke$ha smells like. I am thinking Jager, pleather, wet dog, and feet.
Achievement Junkie - Here is an odd one. Achievement Junkies is no more. Back in the day, they did a podcast and blog that ended up creating a forum where I meet some amazing people who I gamed with over Xbox Live with for years. I have never felt more a part of a big online community as when this group was at it's height. The two creators of it even ended up on Xbox Live for a time...remember Nelson and (hot) Natalie? Well, they got canned and the blog and podcast ended. They tried to start things up again, but their hearts were never fully in it and it ended again. I miss them and that sense of community. Thankful for it when I had it...need to find that again.
Kotaku - Game news with a big side of snark. Up to the minute news and info in easy to use chunks. Always a stop on my daily browsing several times a day.
Xbox 360 Achievements - If you have an Xbox 360 then you know what an achievement is. You may also know what achievement addiction is and I have been at times a total achievement whore. This site has helped me out greatly in figuring out tricky ones and tracking down every last Agility Orb or Skull. Comprehensive lists, plus guides and forums...all created and submitted by other users on the site. A great resource.
Xbox 360 Deals - My daily stop to find out who has what for sale for the Xbox, you can always find something very tempting there and they have caused more than a few impulse buys. Never would have known about Newegg if it was not for them.
Thwipster - Speaking of impulse buys. Damn you Thwipster and your unbelievable prices on awesome trade paperbacks. Updated daily at midnight, the site offers great content at great prices with very reasonable shipping. Go there if you dare, cause you will spend money.
Tee Trade - Again with the impulse buys! But this time, this site isn't the cause of them...it is the answer. It offers peer-to-peer trading of t-shirts that you may get from those grab bag sales many t-shirt sites offer from time to time. Think you are stuck with something lame? Chances are someone out there wants it and all you have to do is post, browse, and contact. Typically only costs you shipping to the person you are sending your shirt to, but sometimes you can just out buy a shirt that you may have missed. Everyone I have ever traded with has been very nice.
The Onion - If you don't know The Onion, you have been living under a rock. Humor that cuts and will often make you think. News that is presented as if it were truth and takes itself very seriously. So funny with amazing production values. Podcasts, papers, books, and even television shows...they do everything very well.
Reddit - Another site that would be nothing if not for the users. It is easy. Post a picture and see if it is up voted or down voted and hope it makes it onto the front page. Lots of fun and funny pictures, it always brightens my day.
Well, there is a few nerdy sites that I am very thankful for this year. Check some out and then think about what you are thankful for. Have a great Thanksgiving everyone. Talk to you soon.
iFanboy - One of the first podcasts that I ever discovered and still at the top of my playlist every week. Three friends who started out just reading comics and taking turns picking a weekly favorite has turned into so much more. A big, friendly community of fans, friends, and creators who produce weekly content that is shaped out of a love for the genre. Unbiased? Nope, but you know, you love what you love and these three guys have introduced me to so many good series over the years like Fell, I Kill Giants, Sweet Tooth, Preacher, and Proof.
Beaucoup Pop - Speaking of a fun podcast and a growing community, I love these guys! Never would have found them if not for a friend, this is a local group of individuals who are all about building a local fan base and providing people with interaction who honestly may never have found each other any other way (us nerds are easily startled, you know). Movies, comics, music, video games, and even theatre are all covered weekly by Justin, Keri, Matt, and Tressa and a growing cast of local creators and friends. They bring joy...and lots of "ef-you, Matt!" moments...and we all need more of both.
Get Glue - One of the fun things that BCP has brought into my life. If it can be watched, listened to, read, or even thought about, you can find it here and like it and check-in to it and earn stickers...actual honest to God stickers...that they will send you...for free! The last time stickers got me this excited, they were scratch and sniff...if only Get Glue would do them...though I don't want to know what Ke$ha smells like. I am thinking Jager, pleather, wet dog, and feet.
Achievement Junkie - Here is an odd one. Achievement Junkies is no more. Back in the day, they did a podcast and blog that ended up creating a forum where I meet some amazing people who I gamed with over Xbox Live with for years. I have never felt more a part of a big online community as when this group was at it's height. The two creators of it even ended up on Xbox Live for a time...remember Nelson and (hot) Natalie? Well, they got canned and the blog and podcast ended. They tried to start things up again, but their hearts were never fully in it and it ended again. I miss them and that sense of community. Thankful for it when I had it...need to find that again.
Kotaku - Game news with a big side of snark. Up to the minute news and info in easy to use chunks. Always a stop on my daily browsing several times a day.
Xbox 360 Achievements - If you have an Xbox 360 then you know what an achievement is. You may also know what achievement addiction is and I have been at times a total achievement whore. This site has helped me out greatly in figuring out tricky ones and tracking down every last Agility Orb or Skull. Comprehensive lists, plus guides and forums...all created and submitted by other users on the site. A great resource.
Xbox 360 Deals - My daily stop to find out who has what for sale for the Xbox, you can always find something very tempting there and they have caused more than a few impulse buys. Never would have known about Newegg if it was not for them.
Thwipster - Speaking of impulse buys. Damn you Thwipster and your unbelievable prices on awesome trade paperbacks. Updated daily at midnight, the site offers great content at great prices with very reasonable shipping. Go there if you dare, cause you will spend money.
Tee Trade - Again with the impulse buys! But this time, this site isn't the cause of them...it is the answer. It offers peer-to-peer trading of t-shirts that you may get from those grab bag sales many t-shirt sites offer from time to time. Think you are stuck with something lame? Chances are someone out there wants it and all you have to do is post, browse, and contact. Typically only costs you shipping to the person you are sending your shirt to, but sometimes you can just out buy a shirt that you may have missed. Everyone I have ever traded with has been very nice.
The Onion - If you don't know The Onion, you have been living under a rock. Humor that cuts and will often make you think. News that is presented as if it were truth and takes itself very seriously. So funny with amazing production values. Podcasts, papers, books, and even television shows...they do everything very well.
Reddit - Another site that would be nothing if not for the users. It is easy. Post a picture and see if it is up voted or down voted and hope it makes it onto the front page. Lots of fun and funny pictures, it always brightens my day.
Well, there is a few nerdy sites that I am very thankful for this year. Check some out and then think about what you are thankful for. Have a great Thanksgiving everyone. Talk to you soon.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Tradio #20 - Axe Cop: Bad Guy Earth
Hello again! This week we take a look at a book that is truly unique in the world of comic books. Not only is it written for kids, it is written BY a kid. I present Axe Cop: Bad Guy Earth by Malachai & Ethan Nicolle and published by Dark Horse Comics.
Axe Cop is a truly unlike anything you have ever read. A creation of the fertile mind of a six year old (yes, you read that right) and his Eisner Award nominated thirty year old brother, Axe Cop is like your most wild, sugar-induced playtime session from childhood made real. Pure imagination on a printed page. The trade collects the three issues of the Bad Guy Earth epic and includes a far about of back material explaining the creative process behind the book. What started as a webcomic turns into the Lord of the Rings of a child's playtime. The story tells you everything you need to know about the titular character and his group of super powered individuals which include his pet T-Rex who has Gatling-guns for arms, his partner Dinosaur Soldier, Sockarang, Handcuff Man, and the brilliant scientist Uni-Man as they battle real cops, the army, the Psychic Brothers, and their bad guy army across time and space. It is totally epic and the most Id infused thing you will ever read. In many ways it reminds me of many Golden Age tales with a focus on fun with little care for what was coming next issue or for what had come before.
The writing is well, the writings of a six year old with his older brother helping to give the story some structure. The art is fun and has a very kinetic feel to it. Ethan is able to give form to the imagination of a kindergartner, which is quite a feat unto itself. Overall, the book is a quick, fun read that will make you smile more than once with it's fresh take on super-powered heroes and what those superpowers can be. It's not Watchman, but without tales like this, Watchman would have never happened in the first place. Have a great Thanksgiving, guys...this would be a great book to share with your cousins after you are full of turkey.
Axe Cop is a truly unlike anything you have ever read. A creation of the fertile mind of a six year old (yes, you read that right) and his Eisner Award nominated thirty year old brother, Axe Cop is like your most wild, sugar-induced playtime session from childhood made real. Pure imagination on a printed page. The trade collects the three issues of the Bad Guy Earth epic and includes a far about of back material explaining the creative process behind the book. What started as a webcomic turns into the Lord of the Rings of a child's playtime. The story tells you everything you need to know about the titular character and his group of super powered individuals which include his pet T-Rex who has Gatling-guns for arms, his partner Dinosaur Soldier, Sockarang, Handcuff Man, and the brilliant scientist Uni-Man as they battle real cops, the army, the Psychic Brothers, and their bad guy army across time and space. It is totally epic and the most Id infused thing you will ever read. In many ways it reminds me of many Golden Age tales with a focus on fun with little care for what was coming next issue or for what had come before.
The writing is well, the writings of a six year old with his older brother helping to give the story some structure. The art is fun and has a very kinetic feel to it. Ethan is able to give form to the imagination of a kindergartner, which is quite a feat unto itself. Overall, the book is a quick, fun read that will make you smile more than once with it's fresh take on super-powered heroes and what those superpowers can be. It's not Watchman, but without tales like this, Watchman would have never happened in the first place. Have a great Thanksgiving, guys...this would be a great book to share with your cousins after you are full of turkey.
Friday, November 18, 2011
A Gamer's Guide to Black Friday
Hello again! Well, it's that time of year again. Time for waiting in long lines and being elbowed by soccer moms for a $5 DVD player. Yes, it is almost time for Black Friday! Why has it got to be "Black" friday!?!? you may ask...well, it has something to do with stores finally making money for the year (which is really kind of sad when you think about it), but we aren't hear to talk about that. I wanted to post something useful for the gamer or the person shopping for a gamer on Black Friday so that you can get the most for your money when it comes to the big holiday games. So sit back, take some notes, and get ready to punch a granny for a cheap copy of MW3.
Retail/Brick and Mortar Stores: When it comes to getting up at the ass crack of dawn or, in most cases these days, far too far before the ass crack of dawn, you have to be ready. If you want to be one of the first in line to get a great deal that will sell out fast, you have to get there early. There are people who will camp out for hours to get a $200 TV, so if you want to go nuts and be that person, go for it. But chances are for most stores, if you get there an hour early, you should get a pretty good place in line and will have a good chance of getting what you came for. Just remember, there are a lot of crazy people out there, so you never know. Oh and dress warm...standing in line for an hour at four in the morning in November is no fun under the best of circumstances. When if comes to which store to hit, it all comes down to planning ahead. Figure out where most of your deals are and go there first. Have a list of what all you need and have a good idea of what order you will need to go through the store to get them. Lots of stores will actually post online a floor layout with where you can find their big door buster deals, so do some research before just jumping in the car. Also, things will sell out, but often different stores will have similar deals, so have a back up list of items you can look for at other stores if you can't find them at the absolute cheapest at your first choice store. As far as my list of gamer deals that follows, they are the most interesting deals that I have found. All these places will have sports games on sale (which I don't really care about) and they will all have Squinkies games on sale (which I also don't care about and if you don't know what a Squinky is, then you can count yourself as lucky), but they are not on this list. These are things that interest me, so your mileage may vary. Additionally, they are based on leaked ads, so not all the deals may happen at the store you go to, so check out the actual print ads first. As a side note, I didn't post anything from Gamestop because they are evil and you should not shop there and anything that is a door buster item (i.e. only available for a limited time during the day) are marked with an asterisk.
Best Buy will be opening at Midnight on Black Friday...yeah...you read that right...Midnight
Nintendo DS
Nintendo 3DS Bundle w/Super Mario 3D Land Game (Flame Red) - $179.99
Nintendo 3DS Bundle w/Zelda Game (Cosmo Black) - $179.99
Scribblenauts (Nintendo DS) - $7.99
Playstation 3
Assassins Creed Revelations (PS3) - $34.99
Batman: Arkham City (PS3) - $29.99 *
Battlefield 3 (PS3) - $29.99 *
Call Of Duty Black Ops (PS3) - $29.99
Call Of Duty World At War (PS3) - $7.99
Deus Ex Human Revolution (PS3) - $29.99
Dirt 3 (PS3) - $14.99
Disney Universe (PS3) - $29.99
Final Fantasy XIII (PS3) - $14.99
Homefront (PS3) - $14.99
Need For Speed: The Run (PS3) - $29.99 *
Rage (PS3) - $29.99 *
Sony Playstation 3 160GB Console Bundle - $199.99 *
Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions (PS3) - $14.99
Toy Story 3 (PS3) - $7.99
Uncharted 3 (PS3) - $29.99 *
X-Men Destiny (PS3) - $29.99
Xbox 360
Assassins Creed Revelations (Xbox 360) - $34.99
Batman: Arkham City (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Battlefield 3 (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Call Of Duty Black Ops (Xbox 360) - $29.99
Call Of Duty World At War (Xbox 360) - $7.99
Dance Central 2 (Xbox 360) - $24.99
Deus Ex Human Revolution (Xbox 360) - $29.99
Dirt 3 (Xbox 360) - $14.99
Disney Universe (Xbox 360) - $29.99
Final Fantasy XIII (Xbox 360) - $14.99
Forza Motorsport 4 (Xbox 360) - $34.99
Gears Of War 3 (Xbox 360) - $29.99
Gears Of War Triple Pack (Xbox 360) - $7.99
Homefront (Xbox 360) - $14.99
Just Dance 3 (Xbox 360) - $24.99
Kinect Sports Season 2 (Xbox 360) - $24.99
Need For Speed: The Run (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Rage (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Raving Rabbids Alive And Kicking (Xbox 360) - $24.99
Sesame Street Once Upon A Monster (Xbox 360) - $24.99
Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions (Xbox 360) - $14.99
Toy Story 3 (Xbox 360) - $7.99
Xbox 360 250GB Console Bundle - $199.99
Xbox 360 Kinect Sensor - $99.99
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller - $39.99
Xbox Live 3-Mont Gold Membership (Xbox 360) - $7.99
X-Men Destiny (Xbox 360) - $29.99
Wal-Mart will be opening at 10 pm on Thankgiving...seriously people!
Nintendo Wii
Epic Mickey (Wii) - $15.00
Lego Batman (Wii) - $15.00
Lego Harry Potter (Wii) - $15.00
Nintendo Selects Wii Games - $19.96
Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) - $19.96
Super Paper Mario (Wii) - $19.96
The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword Limited Edition w/CD And Gold Remote Plus (Wii) - $59.96
Wii Limited Edition Blue Console - $99.96
Wii Remote Plus - $39.96
Playstation 3
Batman Arkham City (PS3) - $28.00
Battlefield 3 (PS3) - $28.00
Call Of Duty 4 Modern Warfare (Ps3) - $15.00
Call Of Duty Black Ops Limited Edition w/Bonus Content (PS3) - $28.00
God Of War (PS3) - $15.00
Heavy Rain (PS3) - $15.00
Infamous 2 (PS3) - $28.00
Kane And Lynch 2 (PS3) - $10.00
Little Big Planet (PS3) - $15.00
PlayStation 3 160GB Console w/Bonus - $199.96
PlayStation 3 Translucent Blue Controller - $54.96
Pure (PS3) - $10.00
Uncharted 2 Among Theives (PS3) - $15.00
Yakusa 4 (PS3) - $10.00
Xbox 360
007 Quantum Of Solace (Xbox 360) - $10.00
Batman Arkham City (Xbox 360) - $28.00
Battlefield 3 (Xbox 360) - $28.00
Bioshock 2 (Xbox 360) - $10.00
Call Of Duty 4 Modern Warfare (Xbox 360) - $15.00
Call Of Duty Black Ops (Xbox 360) - $28.00
Dance Central 2 (Xbox 360) - $15.00
Forza Motorsport 4 (Xbox 360) - $28.00
Gears Of War 3 (Xbox 360) - $28.00
Kinect Sports Season 2 (Xbox 360) - $15.00
Xbox 360 4GB Console Bundle - $199.00 *
Xbox 360 4GB Console w/Kinect - $199.96
Xbox 360 Kinect Bundle - $99.96
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller - $49.96
Xbox Live 3-Month Subscription Card - $12.00
Target will open at the same time as Best Buy...at Midnight on Black Friday
Nintendo DS
Nintendo 3DS Bundle w/Super Mario 3D Land Game - $179.99
Nintendo Wii
Disney Epic Mickey (Wii) - $15.00
Disney Universe (Wii) - $27.00
Nintendo Wii Plus Motion w/Wii Remote And Controller - $39.00 *
Playstation 3
Need For Speed: The Run (PS3) - $37.00
Resistance 3 (PS3) - $37.00
Sony Play Station 3 160GB Bundle w/2 Games, 30-Day Playstation Plus Membership - $199.00 *
Sony PlayStation 3 DualShock 3 Controller - $39.00 *
Xbox 360
Battlefield 3 (Xbox 360) - $37.00
Dance Central 2 (Xbox 360) - $27.00
Forza Motorsport 3 (Xbox 360) - $27.00
Gears Of War 3 (Xbox 360) - $37/00
Kinect Sports: Season 2 (Xbox 360) - $27.00
Xbox 360 4GB Console - $139.99
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller - $39.00 *
Xbox Kinect Sensor w/Wipeout 2 Game - $99.00 *
K-Mart will open at a more traditional 5 am on Black Friday
Nintendo DS
Nintendo 3DS Flame Red Bundle w/$25 Gaming Coupon - $199.99 *
Playstation 3
Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (PS3) - $19.99 *
God Of War III (PS3) - $14.99 *
God Of War Origins Collection (PS3) - $29.99 *
Heavy Rain (PS3) - $14.99 *
Killzone 3 (PS3) - $29.99 *
Little Big Planet w/Rag Doll (PS3) - $24.99 *
Playstation 3 160GB 2011 Holiday Bundle - $199.99 *
Playstation 3 Controller - $34.99 *
Playstation 3 Starter Pack (PS3) - $49.99 *
The Ico And Shadow Of The Colossus Collection (PS3) - $29.99 *
Uncharted 2 (PS3) - $14.99 *
Xbox 360
Battlefield 3 (Xbox 360) - $34.99 *
Call Of Duty Black Ops (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360) - $19.99 *
Dance Central 2 (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Driver San Fransisco (Xbox 360) - $19.99 *
Enslaved: Odyssey To The West (Xbox 360) - $9.99 *
Fifa Soccer 12 (Xbox 360) - $39.99 *
Forza Motosport 4 (Xbox 360) - $39.99 *
Gears Of War 3 (Xbox 360) - $39.99 *
Gears Of War Triple Pack (Xbox 360) - $14.99 *
Kinect Sports Season Two (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Madden 12 (Xbox 360) - $39.99 *
Medal Of Honor (Xbox 360) - $9.99 *
Metal Gear Solid HD Collection (Xbox 360) - $34.99 *
Michael Jackson The Experience (Xbox 360) - $24.99 *
NCAA Football 12 (Xbox 360) - $39.99 *
Need For Speed: The Run (Xbox 360) - $39.99 *
Rage (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Transformers Cybertron (Xbox 360) - $14.99 *
Xbox 360 4GB System - $149.99 *
Xbox 360 Controller - $39.99 *
Xbox 360 Kinect Sensor - $99.99 *
Xbox 360 Starter Pack - $49.99 *
Xbox Live 3 Month Gold Membership - $14.99 *
Toys R Us will be opening at 10 on Thanksgiving night like Wal-Mart.
Nintendo DS
Lego Batman (Nintendo DS) - B1G1 Free
Lego Battles Ninjago (Nintendo DS) - B1G1 Free
Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Nintendo DS) - B1G1 Free
Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 (Nintendo DS) - B1G1 Free
Nintendo 3DS Super Mario Bundle w/Super Mario Bobblehead Stylus - $189.99
Super Scribblenauts (Nintendo DS) - B1G1 Free
Playstation 3
Battlefield 3 (PS3) - B1G1 $5.00
Call Of Duty Black Ops (PS3) - B1G1 $5.00
Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (PS3) - B1G1 $5.00
God Of War III (PS3) - B1G1 $5.00
Need For Speed: The Run (PS3) - B1G1 $5.00
Playstation 3 160GB Game System Bundle w/Power A Wired Controller - $199.99
Playstation 3 Wireless Controller - $20.99
Rage (PS3) - B1G1 $5.00
The Little Big Planet (PS3) - B1G1 $5.00
Uncharted 2 (PS3) - B1G1 $5.00
Xbox 360
6-In-1 Expansion Kit For Xbox 360 - 50% Off
Battlefield 3 (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Call Of Duty Black Ops (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Dance Central 2 Kinect (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Dance Central Kinect (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Forza IV (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Gears Of War 3 (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Kinect Sports Season 2 (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Kinect Sports (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Rage (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
The Run (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Xbox 360 4GB Game System w/Kinect And $10 Toys R Us Gift Card - $199.99
Xbox 360 Afterglow Controller - $17.99
Xbox 360 Kinect Sensor - $99.99
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller - $29.99
Xbox Live 3-Month Gold Membership Card - $12.99
Meijer will be opening on Black Friday at 4 am, like God intended...
Nintendo DS
Entire Stock Of Nintendo Handheld Accessories - 50% Off *
Lego Batman (Nintendo DS) - $9.99 *
Nintendo DSi Video Game System - $149.99
Nintendo DS XL And $30.00 Meijer Coupon - $169.99 *
Starfox 3D (Nintendo DS) - $19.99 *
Nintendo Wii
Nintendo Wii Hardware - $99.99 *
Playstation 3
Battlefield 3 (PS3) - $29.99 *
God Of War 2 (PS3) - $9.99 *
Harry Potter Lego (PS3) - $9.99 *
Infamous 2 (PS3) - $29.99 *
Killzone 3 (PS3) - $19.99 *
Need For Speed The Run (PS3) - $29.99 *
Playstaytion 3 Holiday Bundle - $199.99 *
Rage (PS3) - $29.99 *
Resistance 3 (PS3) - $29.99 *
Xbox 360
Cars 2 (Xbox 360) - $19.99 *
Dance Central 2 (Xbox 360) - $19.99 *
Forza 4 (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Gears Of War 3 (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Harry Potter Lego (Xbox 360) - $9.99 *
Kinect Sports Season 2 (Xbox 360) - $19.99 *
Medal Of Honor (Xbox 360) - $9.99 *
Need For Speed The Run (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Rage (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Star Wars The Force Unleashed 2 (Xbox 360) - $9.99 *
Online: Remember, a lot of places will be having online deals as well as the deals in store. Some places will even have the same deals available online that they will have in store, so it might be work some research on your part. Amazon will have some good deals, often matching deals that many brick and mortar stores have, but they often sell out very quickly.
In the end, if you want to get some great deals on games, there are some that will be there for the taking, but you have to plan and be ready to commit to it on Black Friday. Good luck out there, kids...
Retail/Brick and Mortar Stores: When it comes to getting up at the ass crack of dawn or, in most cases these days, far too far before the ass crack of dawn, you have to be ready. If you want to be one of the first in line to get a great deal that will sell out fast, you have to get there early. There are people who will camp out for hours to get a $200 TV, so if you want to go nuts and be that person, go for it. But chances are for most stores, if you get there an hour early, you should get a pretty good place in line and will have a good chance of getting what you came for. Just remember, there are a lot of crazy people out there, so you never know. Oh and dress warm...standing in line for an hour at four in the morning in November is no fun under the best of circumstances. When if comes to which store to hit, it all comes down to planning ahead. Figure out where most of your deals are and go there first. Have a list of what all you need and have a good idea of what order you will need to go through the store to get them. Lots of stores will actually post online a floor layout with where you can find their big door buster deals, so do some research before just jumping in the car. Also, things will sell out, but often different stores will have similar deals, so have a back up list of items you can look for at other stores if you can't find them at the absolute cheapest at your first choice store. As far as my list of gamer deals that follows, they are the most interesting deals that I have found. All these places will have sports games on sale (which I don't really care about) and they will all have Squinkies games on sale (which I also don't care about and if you don't know what a Squinky is, then you can count yourself as lucky), but they are not on this list. These are things that interest me, so your mileage may vary. Additionally, they are based on leaked ads, so not all the deals may happen at the store you go to, so check out the actual print ads first. As a side note, I didn't post anything from Gamestop because they are evil and you should not shop there and anything that is a door buster item (i.e. only available for a limited time during the day) are marked with an asterisk.
Nintendo DS
Nintendo 3DS Bundle w/Super Mario 3D Land Game (Flame Red) - $179.99
Nintendo 3DS Bundle w/Zelda Game (Cosmo Black) - $179.99
Scribblenauts (Nintendo DS) - $7.99
Playstation 3
Assassins Creed Revelations (PS3) - $34.99
Batman: Arkham City (PS3) - $29.99 *
Battlefield 3 (PS3) - $29.99 *
Call Of Duty Black Ops (PS3) - $29.99
Call Of Duty World At War (PS3) - $7.99
Deus Ex Human Revolution (PS3) - $29.99
Dirt 3 (PS3) - $14.99
Disney Universe (PS3) - $29.99
Final Fantasy XIII (PS3) - $14.99
Homefront (PS3) - $14.99
Need For Speed: The Run (PS3) - $29.99 *
Rage (PS3) - $29.99 *
Sony Playstation 3 160GB Console Bundle - $199.99 *
Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions (PS3) - $14.99
Toy Story 3 (PS3) - $7.99
Uncharted 3 (PS3) - $29.99 *
X-Men Destiny (PS3) - $29.99
Xbox 360
Assassins Creed Revelations (Xbox 360) - $34.99
Batman: Arkham City (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Battlefield 3 (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Call Of Duty Black Ops (Xbox 360) - $29.99
Call Of Duty World At War (Xbox 360) - $7.99
Dance Central 2 (Xbox 360) - $24.99
Deus Ex Human Revolution (Xbox 360) - $29.99
Dirt 3 (Xbox 360) - $14.99
Disney Universe (Xbox 360) - $29.99
Final Fantasy XIII (Xbox 360) - $14.99
Forza Motorsport 4 (Xbox 360) - $34.99
Gears Of War 3 (Xbox 360) - $29.99
Gears Of War Triple Pack (Xbox 360) - $7.99
Homefront (Xbox 360) - $14.99
Just Dance 3 (Xbox 360) - $24.99
Kinect Sports Season 2 (Xbox 360) - $24.99
Need For Speed: The Run (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Rage (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Raving Rabbids Alive And Kicking (Xbox 360) - $24.99
Sesame Street Once Upon A Monster (Xbox 360) - $24.99
Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions (Xbox 360) - $14.99
Toy Story 3 (Xbox 360) - $7.99
Xbox 360 250GB Console Bundle - $199.99
Xbox 360 Kinect Sensor - $99.99
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller - $39.99
Xbox Live 3-Mont Gold Membership (Xbox 360) - $7.99
X-Men Destiny (Xbox 360) - $29.99
Nintendo Wii
Epic Mickey (Wii) - $15.00
Lego Batman (Wii) - $15.00
Lego Harry Potter (Wii) - $15.00
Nintendo Selects Wii Games - $19.96
Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) - $19.96
Super Paper Mario (Wii) - $19.96
The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword Limited Edition w/CD And Gold Remote Plus (Wii) - $59.96
Wii Limited Edition Blue Console - $99.96
Wii Remote Plus - $39.96
Playstation 3
Batman Arkham City (PS3) - $28.00
Battlefield 3 (PS3) - $28.00
Call Of Duty 4 Modern Warfare (Ps3) - $15.00
Call Of Duty Black Ops Limited Edition w/Bonus Content (PS3) - $28.00
God Of War (PS3) - $15.00
Heavy Rain (PS3) - $15.00
Infamous 2 (PS3) - $28.00
Kane And Lynch 2 (PS3) - $10.00
Little Big Planet (PS3) - $15.00
PlayStation 3 160GB Console w/Bonus - $199.96
PlayStation 3 Translucent Blue Controller - $54.96
Pure (PS3) - $10.00
Uncharted 2 Among Theives (PS3) - $15.00
Yakusa 4 (PS3) - $10.00
Xbox 360
007 Quantum Of Solace (Xbox 360) - $10.00
Batman Arkham City (Xbox 360) - $28.00
Battlefield 3 (Xbox 360) - $28.00
Bioshock 2 (Xbox 360) - $10.00
Call Of Duty 4 Modern Warfare (Xbox 360) - $15.00
Call Of Duty Black Ops (Xbox 360) - $28.00
Dance Central 2 (Xbox 360) - $15.00
Forza Motorsport 4 (Xbox 360) - $28.00
Gears Of War 3 (Xbox 360) - $28.00
Kinect Sports Season 2 (Xbox 360) - $15.00
Xbox 360 4GB Console Bundle - $199.00 *
Xbox 360 4GB Console w/Kinect - $199.96
Xbox 360 Kinect Bundle - $99.96
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller - $49.96
Xbox Live 3-Month Subscription Card - $12.00
Nintendo DS
Nintendo 3DS Bundle w/Super Mario 3D Land Game - $179.99
Nintendo Wii
Disney Epic Mickey (Wii) - $15.00
Disney Universe (Wii) - $27.00
Nintendo Wii Plus Motion w/Wii Remote And Controller - $39.00 *
Playstation 3
Need For Speed: The Run (PS3) - $37.00
Resistance 3 (PS3) - $37.00
Sony Play Station 3 160GB Bundle w/2 Games, 30-Day Playstation Plus Membership - $199.00 *
Sony PlayStation 3 DualShock 3 Controller - $39.00 *
Xbox 360
Battlefield 3 (Xbox 360) - $37.00
Dance Central 2 (Xbox 360) - $27.00
Forza Motorsport 3 (Xbox 360) - $27.00
Gears Of War 3 (Xbox 360) - $37/00
Kinect Sports: Season 2 (Xbox 360) - $27.00
Xbox 360 4GB Console - $139.99
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller - $39.00 *
Xbox Kinect Sensor w/Wipeout 2 Game - $99.00 *
Nintendo DS
Nintendo 3DS Flame Red Bundle w/$25 Gaming Coupon - $199.99 *
Playstation 3
Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (PS3) - $19.99 *
God Of War III (PS3) - $14.99 *
God Of War Origins Collection (PS3) - $29.99 *
Heavy Rain (PS3) - $14.99 *
Killzone 3 (PS3) - $29.99 *
Little Big Planet w/Rag Doll (PS3) - $24.99 *
Playstation 3 160GB 2011 Holiday Bundle - $199.99 *
Playstation 3 Controller - $34.99 *
Playstation 3 Starter Pack (PS3) - $49.99 *
The Ico And Shadow Of The Colossus Collection (PS3) - $29.99 *
Uncharted 2 (PS3) - $14.99 *
Xbox 360
Battlefield 3 (Xbox 360) - $34.99 *
Call Of Duty Black Ops (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360) - $19.99 *
Dance Central 2 (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Driver San Fransisco (Xbox 360) - $19.99 *
Enslaved: Odyssey To The West (Xbox 360) - $9.99 *
Fifa Soccer 12 (Xbox 360) - $39.99 *
Forza Motosport 4 (Xbox 360) - $39.99 *
Gears Of War 3 (Xbox 360) - $39.99 *
Gears Of War Triple Pack (Xbox 360) - $14.99 *
Kinect Sports Season Two (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Madden 12 (Xbox 360) - $39.99 *
Medal Of Honor (Xbox 360) - $9.99 *
Metal Gear Solid HD Collection (Xbox 360) - $34.99 *
Michael Jackson The Experience (Xbox 360) - $24.99 *
NCAA Football 12 (Xbox 360) - $39.99 *
Need For Speed: The Run (Xbox 360) - $39.99 *
Rage (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Transformers Cybertron (Xbox 360) - $14.99 *
Xbox 360 4GB System - $149.99 *
Xbox 360 Controller - $39.99 *
Xbox 360 Kinect Sensor - $99.99 *
Xbox 360 Starter Pack - $49.99 *
Xbox Live 3 Month Gold Membership - $14.99 *
Nintendo DS
Lego Batman (Nintendo DS) - B1G1 Free
Lego Battles Ninjago (Nintendo DS) - B1G1 Free
Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Nintendo DS) - B1G1 Free
Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 (Nintendo DS) - B1G1 Free
Nintendo 3DS Super Mario Bundle w/Super Mario Bobblehead Stylus - $189.99
Super Scribblenauts (Nintendo DS) - B1G1 Free
Playstation 3
Battlefield 3 (PS3) - B1G1 $5.00
Call Of Duty Black Ops (PS3) - B1G1 $5.00
Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (PS3) - B1G1 $5.00
God Of War III (PS3) - B1G1 $5.00
Need For Speed: The Run (PS3) - B1G1 $5.00
Playstation 3 160GB Game System Bundle w/Power A Wired Controller - $199.99
Playstation 3 Wireless Controller - $20.99
Rage (PS3) - B1G1 $5.00
The Little Big Planet (PS3) - B1G1 $5.00
Uncharted 2 (PS3) - B1G1 $5.00
Xbox 360
6-In-1 Expansion Kit For Xbox 360 - 50% Off
Battlefield 3 (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Call Of Duty Black Ops (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Dance Central 2 Kinect (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Dance Central Kinect (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Forza IV (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Gears Of War 3 (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Kinect Sports Season 2 (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Kinect Sports (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Rage (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
The Run (Xbox 360) - B1G1 $5.00
Xbox 360 4GB Game System w/Kinect And $10 Toys R Us Gift Card - $199.99
Xbox 360 Afterglow Controller - $17.99
Xbox 360 Kinect Sensor - $99.99
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller - $29.99
Xbox Live 3-Month Gold Membership Card - $12.99
Nintendo DS
Entire Stock Of Nintendo Handheld Accessories - 50% Off *
Lego Batman (Nintendo DS) - $9.99 *
Nintendo DSi Video Game System - $149.99
Nintendo DS XL And $30.00 Meijer Coupon - $169.99 *
Starfox 3D (Nintendo DS) - $19.99 *
Nintendo Wii
Nintendo Wii Hardware - $99.99 *
Playstation 3
Battlefield 3 (PS3) - $29.99 *
God Of War 2 (PS3) - $9.99 *
Harry Potter Lego (PS3) - $9.99 *
Infamous 2 (PS3) - $29.99 *
Killzone 3 (PS3) - $19.99 *
Need For Speed The Run (PS3) - $29.99 *
Playstaytion 3 Holiday Bundle - $199.99 *
Rage (PS3) - $29.99 *
Resistance 3 (PS3) - $29.99 *
Xbox 360
Cars 2 (Xbox 360) - $19.99 *
Dance Central 2 (Xbox 360) - $19.99 *
Forza 4 (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Gears Of War 3 (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Harry Potter Lego (Xbox 360) - $9.99 *
Kinect Sports Season 2 (Xbox 360) - $19.99 *
Medal Of Honor (Xbox 360) - $9.99 *
Need For Speed The Run (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Rage (Xbox 360) - $29.99 *
Star Wars The Force Unleashed 2 (Xbox 360) - $9.99 *
Online: Remember, a lot of places will be having online deals as well as the deals in store. Some places will even have the same deals available online that they will have in store, so it might be work some research on your part. Amazon will have some good deals, often matching deals that many brick and mortar stores have, but they often sell out very quickly.
In the end, if you want to get some great deals on games, there are some that will be there for the taking, but you have to plan and be ready to commit to it on Black Friday. Good luck out there, kids...
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Tradio #19 - Sweet Tooth - Out of the Deep Woods
Welcome back, imaginary readers! This week, we focus on a writer/artist that has been killing it with his new series (Animal Man and Frankenstein) that are part of the new 52 over at DC. This title really got his work in more mainstream hands and ultimately lead to him getting the work he has today. This week, we focus on writer/artist Jeff Lemire's first trade for Sweet Tooth entitled Out of the Deep Woods, published by DC comics under the Vertigo banner.
Sweet Tooth is an ongoing comic series that focuses on Gus. Just your average nine year old boy with antlers and deer ears as he tries to survive in a post-apocalyptic America. Through the course of the five issues collected here, we see what became of Gus's family and how he survives the dangers that await him in the world outside of the forest home that he grew up in. A plague of some sort has wiped out most of humanity and since it happened, the only children that have been born are part animal. What makes Gus unique is that he pre-dates the plague and thus does he hold the key to curing the disease or is he the original cause? That question is not answered here, but we get to meet the mysterious and brooding Jeppard as he befriends Gus and offers to take him to the "Preserve"; a place where it is rumored that they protect hybrid children. Is the Preserve a myth? You have to read it for yourself.
Sweet Tooth is a great read. Lemire does an outstanding job of letting his art tell the story as much as the words. The themes are dark and world is dangerous and foreboding and his storytelling and art mesh to let these ideas seep through on every page. You really connect with Gus and ultimately with Jeppard and see the world through their eyes. Gus will make you want to cry over and over again as his life falls apart and he sees just where he can put his trust. Not a light-hearted read but it is brisk if you don't really appreciate all that is going on on every page. You can not go wrong with this book, but it will depress you if you have a heart and if you don't have a heart, you will before this first trade is over.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Tradio #18 - Fear Agent - Re-Ignition
Happy Wednesday to everyone! With the final issue of Fear Agent sadly hitting shelves last week, I thought it would be a good idea to take a look back at where it all began with the first volume of Fear Agent entitled Re-Ignition by Rick Remender and Tony Moore and published (at least in my edition) by Image Publishing.
A series started at Image and then moved to Dark Horse, Fear Agent tells the tail of Heath Houston, a hard-drinking and hard-living Texan who is the last of the Fear Agents. In the this collection of the first four issues of the series (which was divided into different mini series that made up a larger story) we see Heath battling aliens and investigating intergalactic strangeness as a sort of soldier for hire. The story is all about sci-fi, action, adventure, and more than a little horror. Heath is a shot first and then shot some more kind of hero who is like the unholy union of Han Solo and Philo Beddoe as he sets about going from one adventure to the next. Many things in these issues are never totally explained, but as you read on in the following volumes you see how Remender has crafted a tight timeline that uses time-travel, cloning, and waring aliens in the best possible way to develop both the overall story of the universe that the events play out in, but also the character of Heath Houston; who is at first a bit of a one-trick pony. As you invest more into the character of Heath, you see how deep the emotions run and why he is the person that he is. In a lot of ways the story presented here is all set up for the bigger and better things to come.
Overall, I love Fear Agent, though the first trade here is not as strong a story as what comes after. It ends in one hell of a cliffhanger that will make you want to run out buy the next trade though, which is great. The writing by Remender is very good and only gets better as the series progresses and the art by Moore is kind of the opposite. Don't get me wrong, I love Tony Moore, but he is kind of an artistic cock-tease at times. He will produce a couple very strong issues and then have a couple weaker ones and then someone else will take over (for more examples of this see The Walking Dead, Venom, Ghost Rider, Punisher, or DMZ). His first issues are always so strong, it is just frustrating to see work from him that looks and feels rushed, which this does at times. It is a very good read and a series you should stick with till the end to get so many questions answered and have one hell of a time getting to those answers. If you like action, space, Texas, swearing, aliens, monsters, drinking, and rocket ships that look like rockets: this is the book for you.
Overall, I love Fear Agent, though the first trade here is not as strong a story as what comes after. It ends in one hell of a cliffhanger that will make you want to run out buy the next trade though, which is great. The writing by Remender is very good and only gets better as the series progresses and the art by Moore is kind of the opposite. Don't get me wrong, I love Tony Moore, but he is kind of an artistic cock-tease at times. He will produce a couple very strong issues and then have a couple weaker ones and then someone else will take over (for more examples of this see The Walking Dead, Venom, Ghost Rider, Punisher, or DMZ). His first issues are always so strong, it is just frustrating to see work from him that looks and feels rushed, which this does at times. It is a very good read and a series you should stick with till the end to get so many questions answered and have one hell of a time getting to those answers. If you like action, space, Texas, swearing, aliens, monsters, drinking, and rocket ships that look like rockets: this is the book for you.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Tradio #17 - Avengers Prime
Welcome back! Today's Tradio is the recent trade collecting Avengers Prime by Brian Michael Bendis and Alan Davis.
Avengers Prime collects the five issue mini series by the same name that tells a tale of how three of the mainstays of the Avengers deal with the aftermath of the massive Siege storyline. As Thor, Ironman, and Captain America deal with the fallout of their shattered friendships and, in many ways, shattered lives they get flung into different realms with no clear way home. Eventually they find each other and have to work together to discover the mystery of where they have been sent and how they could possibly get back to Earth. The story is full of giants and demons, gods and warriors and we get to see how these three are able to overcome their own differences and be the heroes and friends they are meant to be.
I liked the trade a lot. The story is really good and you really get an idea of what these three have been through together and that ultimately their friendship is more important than past transgressions. If anything, the story is a little off if you aren't familier with the Siege storyline and what happened between these three heroes. Additionally, you do have to suspend some disbelief in the fact that Ironman had really been a complete dick to Captain America before Siege and it felt like this tied things up a little too neatly. Bendis is his typical self, with a lot of talking heads, but there is room for action in this story that is on the whole, a quick read. That said, it is a lot of fun and the art by Alan Davis is nothing short of spectacular. It reminds me in a lot of ways of his best work with Excalibur and his sense of layouts is amazing. Overall...an easy recommendation of a recent good, self-contained mini series from Marvel.
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