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‘King of the Hill’ Creators Announce New Adult Animated Series ‘Common Side Effects’

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Adult animation duo Mike Judge and Greg Daniels are having a busy time. After the return of their hit MTV series ‘Beavis and Butt-head,’ they announced that they would return to Texas with a relaunch of their hit cartoon sitcom ‘King of the Hill.’ They will also be executive producing a new Adult Swim television series ‘Common Side Effects,’ a comedy from Joe Bennet and Steve Hely.

“Adult Swim, the leader in adult animation and #1 destination for young adults, has greenlit ‘Common Side Effects,’ it was announced today at Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The half-hour comedy series delves into the complex reactions to the revelation of the mysterious elixir of life. ‘Common Side Effects’ was created by Joe Bennett and Steve Hely and is executive produced by ‘King of the Hill’ creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels,” Warner Bros. Discovery said in a statement.

They continued, ‘”Common Side Effects’ follows former high school lab partners Marshall and Frances who begin to unravel a conspiracy involving big pharma and the federal government to suppress knowledge of a rare mushroom that may hold the key to curing all the world’s diseases.”

The series will air on Adult Swim before streaming to the MAX app. Cartoon Network also dropped a promo visual revealing the animation style of the show.

President of Adult Swim Michael Ouweleen said of the show, “Tonally, this is like nothing else in animation right now, so we knew immediately that ‘Common Side Effects’ belonged on Adult Swim.”

“Mike, Greg and this entire team have such deep pedigrees in the comedy and animation worlds, and this new series will tackle everything from government corruption to the pharmaceutical industry through their unique and hilarious perspectives,” he added.

Adult Swim has not given a release date for ‘Common Side Effects’ as of the writing of this article.

The Ultimate Universe Returns In The New Marvel Pull List

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Marvel Comics is revisiting one of their imprints with Ultimate Invasion in the latest pull list. The Ultimate Universe offered new and updated origins for iconic characters and is best known for introducing Miles Morales.

“Superstar creators Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch team up for ULTIMATE INVASION (2023) #1, where the Illuminati must form once again to stop the Maker from his plans to destroy—or perhaps rebuild—the universe, with Miles Morales at the center of it all! Bryan’s work on THE ULTIMATES helped redefine Super Hero comics for the 2000s—wait until you see what he and Jonathan have in store for this decade! Including new data pages by Jonathan Hickman, plus exclusive behind-the-scenes material on the world-building that has gone into this project,” Marvel said on their website. “See what the Maker has in store for the Marvel Multiverse in ULTIMATE INVASION (2023) #1…”

Marvel revealed the pull list online:

New Comics

  • AVENGERS (2023) #2
  • BETSY BRADDOCK: CAPTAIN BRITAIN (2023) #5
  • BLOODLINE: DAUGHTER OF BLADE (2023) #5
  • CULT OF CARNAGE: MISERY (2023) #2
  • DANNY KETCH: GHOST RIDER (2023) #2
  • EDGE OF SPIDER-VERSE (2023) #3
  • GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2023) #3
  • HALLOWS’ EVE (2023) #4
  • HELLCAT (2023) #4
  • I AM IRON MAN (2023) #4
  • INCREDIBLE HULK (2023) #1
  • MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN (2022) #7
  • NEW MUTANTS LETHAL LEGION (2023) #4
  • SCARLET WITCH ANNUAL 1 (2023) #1
  • STAR WARS: BOUNTY HUNTERS (2020) #35
  • STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN SEASON 2 (2023) #1
  • ULTIMATE INVASION (2023) #1
  • VENOM (2021) #21
  • X-FORCE (2019) #41

New Collections

  • CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH VOL. 2 – PAX MOHANNDA TPB
  • DEADPOOL BY ALYSSA WONG VOL. 1 TPB
  • GOLD GOBLIN TPB
  • MIGHTY MARVEL MASTERWORKS: CAPTAIN AMERICA VOL. 2 – THE RED SKULL LIVES GN-TPB ROMERO COVER
  • MOON KNIGHT OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC FINCH COVER [NEW PRINTING]
  • PLANET HULK: WORLDBREAKER TPB
  • SECRET INVASION: MISSION EARTH TPB
  • TRIALS OF X VOL. 10 TPB
  • WOLVERINE EPIC COLLECTION: TO THE BONE TPB

Marvel Unlimited

  • AVENGERS FOREVER (2021) #15
  • AVENGERS: WAR ACROSS TIME (2023) #3
  • BISHOP: WAR COLLEGE (2023) #2
  • CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH (2022) #11
  • CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019) #47
  • GOLD GOBLIN (2022) #5
  • HULK (2021) #13
  • IMMORAL X-MEN (2023) #2
  • MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN (2022) #4
  • MOON GIRL (2022) #4
  • RED GOBLIN (2023) #2
  • SECRET INVASION (2022) #5
  • STAR WARS: YODA (2022) #5
  • WOLVERINE (2020) #31

These titles will be available in print or digital formats on June 21, 2023.

Toxic Crusaders Demo Impressions: Fun But Repetitive

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The Toxic Crusaders demo is out! It gives us a few locations to fight through, a boss battle, and four characters to try out. So, does this retro beat-em-up satisfy fans of the short-lived Troma cartoon? Let’s check it out.

We get to pick from Toxie, Yvonne, Major Disaster, and Junkyard. Sadly, No-Zone was left out. Although you may not get to play as the core four Toxic Crusaders, the roster is diverse enough to give a slightly different experience on each playthrough.

The pixel art is outstanding, capturing the cartoon’s style perfectly while incorporating The Toxic Avenger’s aesthetics. Speaking of the original movie, there are lots of Easter eggs spread throughout the demo. You’ll encounter a few colorful villains from the 1984 film: Leroy, Rico, and Frank from the taco restaurant fight scene.

The game certainly needs a bit of polishing and maybe a little more depth regarding the fighting. Unlike TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, there’s no leveling up and unlocking new moves. The core fighting mechanics are all you’ll get throughout the game. Thankfully, the character animations are very well done and help disguise the shallow move sets.

Each character has a special attack that drains a meter indicated below the life bar. These moves vary from character to character to character, but all appear to do similar AoE damage. Toxie spins around on his mop, Yvonne belts out powerful notes, Junkyard howls, and Major Disaster unleashes giant thorns from the ground. The attacks all appear to have the same range and effectiveness. Some are more flashy than others, though. The bar refills as you fight or when you’re standing in a puddle of radioactive waste.

When the meter is full, pressing both shoulder buttons together will unleash Rad Mode. Oddly enough, I ignored this during my playthrough because it never felt necessary to use. It might have been helpful if the enemies had been a tad more aggressive. As it stands, the basic core attacks suffice for every encounter.

I noticed that the hitboxes for enemies were not very generous. On multiple occasions, I would throw an object at Radiation Rangers, and they wouldn’t be affected because I would have to be on the same plane as my target. However, standard attacks didn’t always have this issue. Hopefully, this will be tightened up by next year.

The enemy AI would sometimes be wonky, too. There was a point where I stopped moving for a few seconds, and a nearby Radiation Ranger stopped dead in its tracks, unsure how to approach me.

One of the game’s best aspects is the inclusion of semi-animated cut scenes and the return of several voice actors to provide a surprising amount of dialog during gameplay. It feels like a continuation of the show, which was Retroware’s goal.

Toxic Crusaders will make for a fun multiplayer experience, but it’s unclear if there will be enough to warrant multiple playthroughs.

Check out our previous story on the Toxic Crusaders game for more info.

[Source: Steam]

New Kraven the Hunter Trailer Reveals Marvel Villain Brutality

Sony has been working on bringing out various Spider-Man villains into their own movies following the success of the Venom films. The next one that movie-goers will get a look at is the infamous Kraven the Hunter. Those that went to Cinemacon got a quick look at what the movie will be like, with reactions being mixed at the creative liberties taken. But now the public can finally see what a Kraven the Hunter movie will look like in the official trailer. And it’s definitely making waves with how vicious Kraven the Hunter will be.

The official trailer for Kraven the Hunter reveals actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the title character. We follow Kraven as a young boy to adulthood, following the teachings of his father and hunting his enemies. But things don’t appear to be as straightforward as we thought, as Kraven will be hunting a multitude of people ranging from hitmen to others who may be just as bad as him.

Like both the Venom and Morbius movies that came before, Kraven the Hunter will focus solely on the Marvel Comics villain, so don’t expect any Spider-Man cameos or appearances. While there are other Marvel characters that appear in the film, like the tease for the Rhino at the end of the trailer, the story in this film is all about Kraven. Much of the dialogue in the trailer is about Kraven and his family being predators to everyone and everything around him. We see a quick glance at how Kraven gets his abilities and how brutal his fighting skills will be. As a hunter, Kraven looks to show no remorse or mercy to those he sets his sights on. The film is going to be rated R, so we can definitely expect to see many successful hunts and blood for the highly-trained killer.

The movie’s official poster shows Kraven in an iconic pose that is pulled straight from Marvel Comics. It is the pose from the cover of The Amazing Spider-Man #17 released back in 2018, showing Kraven sitting down and contemplating his next move. The poster also has Aaron Taylor-Johnson wearing the iconic Kraven outfit that many comic fans are familiar with. However, we hardly see Aaron in the costume during the trailer, with only a few glimpses of him wearing the outfit and moving around.

Speaking at Cinemacon during a panel, Aaron Taylor-Johnson told fans that the movie is heavily grounded in the real world. “Kraven the Hunter is a Marvel movie grounded heavily in the real world… anyone who is familiar with the comics and the character of Kraven knows that he’s a fierce hunter with the skill of a highly trained killer. So, I figure now’s a good time to answer the Internet’s biggest question about the film. Will it be rated R? Fuck yes it’s going to be rated R.” Kraven the Hunter is set to release in theaters on October 6th, 2023.

What do you think of the trailer for Kraven the Hunter? Will you go see the movie when it’s finally out in theaters? Share your thoughts about the movie down below in the comments!

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn Delayed to 2024

Anyone that loves to play games like Bloodborne and Dark Souls has another game to look forward to from the developers of Ashen. Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is an action RPG that has you taking down deities in the City of Dawn. It has the makings of an interesting fantasy role-playing game that looks great and is super challenging. But it looks like those interested in Flintlock will have to wait longer, as the game has now been officially delayed.

On the official Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn Twitter page, A44 Games (the developers of Flintlock) announced that the game’s release is now delayed until 2024. In the thread, the team stated that they wanted to provide the best experience possible and are working hard crafting every element of the game to meet the high expectations.

“…It’s important to our whole team that Flintlock is a special experience, and we owe it to ourselves and to all of you who have been following the game since we announced to make it the most impressive and unforgettable game it can be… Your ongoing and unwavering support has been incredible. Each of us at A44 Games are humbled and inspired by your excitement for what we are creating and we truly appreciate your patience. We have a lot of exciting things to show you and we’ll have updates for you soon…”

Original, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn was set to release in early 2023 for both consoles and PC. The game Players will be able to explore a dangerous open world filled with desserts and ruins filled with various creatures and foes. The story of the game will follow Nor Vanak, a member of a coalition army that travels with her companion Enki through the City of Dawn as they attempt to take on the gods in a vengeful vendetta. The combat will have you wielding various magical spells and executing combos with a battle axe, gunplay, and much more.

While there are a lot of known details about the game, no specific release date has been given by A44 Games. Many people over social media have been receptive to the announcement of the delay, citing it will help to improve the quality of the game and make the experience even better. A44 Games promises to give more updates as we get closer to 2024, which will hopefully give everyone an idea of when we’ll see Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn on PC and consoles.

Will you be checking out Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn when it finally releases? What do you think about the development team delaying the release of the game a little bit longer? Post thoughts about everything in the comment section down below!

‘Run With The Wind’ Dashes Onto HiDive

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The 2018 sports anime ‘Run With The Wind’ was based on the 2006 novel by Shion Miura and released by Shinchosha Publishing. It ran for two seasons with twenty-three episodes and was produced by the Japanese animation studio Production IG. Sentai Filmworks licensed the anime for a North American release with HiDive announcing they would stream it starting June 25, 2023.

“The Irish have a saying: “May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back.” That’s an evocative blessing for a sports anime that is as inspiring as it is relatable. If you’re looking for your next anime binge, you really can’t go wrong with the Run with the Wind anime,” HiDive said on their website. They added that both the subbed and dubbed versions would stream.

The Japanese publisher Shueisha released a manga version of the novel illustrated by Sorata Unno released between 2007 and 2009.

You can watch this clip from the dub below:

MyAnimeList describes the synopsis as follows,

“Former ace runner of Sendai Josei High School, Kakeru Kurahara is chased away from a convenience store for shoplifting. Shaking off his pursuer, he runs into Haiji Kiyose, another student from his university. Haiji is impressed by Kakeru’s agility and persuades him to live in Chikusei-sou, the run-down apartment where Haiji resides along with eight other students. Having lost his entire apartment deposit at a mahjong parlor, Kakeru accepts the offer reluctantly.

However, Haiji reveals a secret during Kakeru’s welcoming party: the apartment is actually the dormitory of the Kansei University Track Club. He unveils his ultimate goal of participating in the Hakone Ekiden—one of the most prominent university marathon relay races in Japan. Unfortunately, all the residents apart from Haiji and Kakeru are complete running novices. Worse still, none of the inhabitants are even remotely interested in being involved with Haiji’s ridiculous plan! With only months before the deadline, will the fourth-year student be able to convince them otherwise and realize his elusive dream of running in the Hakone Ekiden?”

A live action adaption was directed by Sumio Ohmori and distributed by Shochiku in 2009.

Star Wars Eclipse Development Finally Moving Forward Again

After a long period of silence and no new information, it appears that things are getting back on track for Star Wars Eclipse. With all of the new Star Wars games that have come out and are planned for release in the coming years, many have wondered what was happening with Star Wars Eclipse. It felt like a very long time since developer Quantic Dream went silent about the game as it was addressing issues within the studio. But things appear to have changed and details about the progress on Star Wars Eclipse appear to be stable once again. Is this a good sign of things to come?

A video posted on the French website for television station BFM TV shows a behind-the-scenes look at the development of Star Wars Eclipse. While there is no specific gameplay shown, the video features a look at motion capture equipment and other tools that the team has been using during development. In the video (also shared on the station’s Twitter page) Guillaume de Fondaumière, CEO of Quantic Dream, spoke with the station about the game and some of the previous issues that the studio faced which impacted development. This included allegations of a toxic work environment that was a major point of concern for everyone online.

“It is far behind us. We work with our teams every day. It’s going very, very well. We are focused on game development, that’s the only thing that interests us. We decided to lead the studio in another direction, to really have perfect editorial control over our studio.”

If you don’t remember, back in 2018 Quantic Dream was facing allegations of fostering a toxic work environment for a number of developers within the studio. Some had mentioned instances of racism and sexist jokes that were thrown around during work hours, as well as one incident involving Photoshop images of employees in compromising scenarios. This had a bad reaction from gamers online who were eagerly anticipating Quantic Dream’s next project, to the point that studio founder David Cage responded to the controversy in an interview with Edge Magazine, denying the allegations at the time.

“Of course, like any human organization, we are not perfect by any means… But are we the kind of studio that was described? Our employees have said repeatedly: it’s not true. Can we improve? Yes. Have we made mistakes in the past? Probably. But we had to do something about what was being said. We were so hurt by specific allegations that we know are wrong or false, that we had to defend ourselves. We wanted people to hear our voice.”

Besides the reassurance that Star Wars Eclipse development is moving forward once again, no other details about the game were given. This could mean we won’t be seeing the game for a long time and that not much was done since the game’s reveal trailer during The Game Awards back in 2021. Star Wars Eclipse is said to be an action-adventure game with a heavy focus on narrative, including multiple characters with a branching plot. The game’s story was shown to take place within The High Republic era of Star Wars canon, placing it hundreds of years before Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. No release date has been officially given for the game, but some people online have speculated that if development continues without issues, then we might be seeing Star Wars Eclipse anytime in 2024 or 2025. Hopefully, we’ll have a better idea of where the game stands when Quantic Dream is ready to reveal more about it in the months to come.

What do you think about Star Wars Eclipse? Are you happy Quantic Dream is getting back to working on the game? Share your thoughts about everything in the comments down below!

New Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends Loungefly Pieces Are Coming Soon!

When you think of fun animation from the early 2000’s Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends is bound to pop into your head. The Cartoon Network show was incredibly fun and popular! Now, Loungefly is bringing some amazing pieces to help us all remember our favorite imaginary friends!

These are listed as “Coming Soon,” which likely means sometime between now and the end of July.

All pieces are officially licensed Cartoon Network items!

Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends Figural Bus Crossbody Bag – $75

I adore this fun crossbody!

It measures 11.5”W x 9.5”H x 4”D.

It’s time for a field trip! Climb aboard the Loungefly Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends Figural Bus Crossbody Bag for an outing with your favorite make-believe pals. Eduardo sets the course as he drives the home’s colorful commuter bus, which runs on moveable wheels that set things in motion. Turn the bag around to see some of Foster’s most beloved residents wave from the windows! Zippered pockets at the top and front of the bus help to keep your belongings safe at hand. Perfect for anyone looking to adopt a new look, this accessory makes a loyal travel companion for any adventure.

The Loungefly Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends Figural Bus Crossbody Bag is made of vegan leather (polyurethane). Bag has adjustable (detachable) shoulder strap and shiny silver hardware. Additional features include applique, embossed, debossed, printed, and moving part details. Take note of the coordinating inside lining.”

Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends House Mini Backpack – $80

The mini backpack measures 9”W x 10.5”H x 4.5”D.

Man, oh, man! You should see all the friends we’ve got on the Loungefly Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends House Mini Backpack. On the front, Madame Foster’s grand mansion rises from a scenic background. Down below, Max greets some of his favorite imaginary pals on the front zipper pocket. Look closely and you’ll find Wilt, Coco, Eduardo, Bloo, and Cheese as they stand near the mansion’s gates. Turn the bag around to see forest details continue onto the bag’s side pockets. On the back, Mr. Herriman, Frankie, and Madame Foster join the group for an encore appearance. Filled with childlike wonder, this accessory is the perfect companion for any after-school adventure.

The Loungefly Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends House Mini Backpack is made of vegan leather (polyurethane). Bag has adjustable shoulder straps and shiny silver hardware. Additional features include applique, embroidered, debossed, and printed details. Take note of the coordinating inside lining.”

Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends Mac and Bloo Zip Around Wallet – $40

The wallet measures 6”W x 4”H.

Loungefly Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends Mac and Bloo Zip Around Wallet. On the front, Mac hits the ground running with his best pal as Madame Foster’s grand mansion rises in the background. On the back, more friends join the fun. With four slots for holding cards and a clear slot for ID, this accessory is the perfect companion for any after-school adventure.

The Loungefly Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends Mac and Bloo Zip Around Wallet is made of vegan leather (polyurethane). Wallet zips closed with shiny silver hardware. Additional features include applique, debossed, embroidered, and printed details. Take note of the coordinating inside lining.

I am loving these pieces! The bus is especially fun!

What do you think?

Amazon Drops Teaser For Thriller Series ‘Harlan Coben’s Shelter’

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Amazon Studios dropped a teaser for their upcoming thriller television show ‘Harlan Coben’s Shelter.’ The series is based on a novel by Coben who will work as an executive producer on the project. Ed Decter works as the showrunner.

“Prime Video debuted the first-look images and revealed the premiere date for the highly-anticipated book adaptation of new pulse-pounding thriller series, Harlan Coben’s Shelter from New York Times best-selling author Harlan Coben. The eight-episode series will premiere globally on August 18 exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide, with new episodes available each Friday, leading up to the season finale on September 22. Harlan Coben’s Shelter is part of the savings, convenience, and entertainment that Prime members enjoy in a single membership,” Amazon said in a statement.

The cast for the show includes Jaden Michael as Mickey Bolitar, Constance Zimmer as Shira Bolitar, Adrian Greensmith as Arthur “Spoon” Spindell, Abby Corrigan as Ema Winslow, Tovah Feldshuh as Bat Lady, Sage Linder as Rachel Caldwell, and Brian Altemus as Troy.

You can watch the trailer below:

Amazon describes the synopsis as follows,

“Harlan Coben’s Shelter follows the story of Mickey Bolitar after the sudden death of his father leads him to start a new life in Kasselton, New Jersey. Mickey quickly finds himself tangled in the mysterious disappearance of a new student at his school, Ashley Kent, which leads to uncovering unimaginable secrets within their quiet suburban community. With the help of his friends—the inventive Spoon and the secretive Ema—Mickey pulls back the sleepy facade of Kasselton to reveal a dark underground that may hold the answers to decades of disappearances, deaths, and legends … and perhaps even his own complex family history.”

‘Shelter’ was originally published in 2011 by Orion Books in the United Kingdom and Puffin Books in the United States.

Apple Wants Sole Ownership Over Depictions Of The Fruit?

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Apple, the company that once revolutionized the mobile phone and personal computer markets, appears to be going off the deep end. Much like what Monster Cables was doing in the 2000s, Apple now thinks it should own the mere depiction of the fruit it’s named after.

The news came down from Wired that businesses specializing in the fruit are worried about the Tim Cook-run Apple pushing to own the “intellectual property rights over depictions of apples.” The company’s journey to own the IP rights of one of the world’s most recognizable fruits isn’t to be taken lightly.

Apple has, so far, filed several requests all over the globe to grant it the privilege of being the sole owner of the likenesses of the genus Malus. According to the article, four countries have given into Apple Inc: Armenia, Turkey, Israel, and, surprisingly enough, Japan.

But why do this? Apple’s logo is iconic and easily recognizable as is. What use would an image of various types of red and green fruits be to the company? It could be to keep other companies from using an apple-shaped logo like theirs. Or they want to be the only game in town (really the planet) that uses fruit as its sole identifier.

This idea is backed up by the tech company’s litigation over the oddest fruit-based companies and even a musical artist named Frankie Pineapple. It has got to go if it’s close, even if the logo is shaped like a friggin’ pear!

Bullying smaller companies into complying with what initially appears like an innocuous request can turn into a slippery slope. The scheme all comes down to getting several businesses to agree that all Apple wants is to own the rights to a black-and-white image of nature’s candy.

This seemingly small request can spiral into Apple taking ownership of several variations of that image, according to the University of Bern’s Cyrill Rigamonti. He asks, “… is there a likelihood of confusion with regard to some other not-exactly-identical apple?

Have you ever seen an image of an apple on a business’s sign and confused it for a technology company? Let us know what you think about the tech giant’s pursuit below.

[Source: Wired] [Source: SFGate] [Source: Futurism] [Source: The Verge] [Source: WIPO]
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