Whilst Marvel are out creating awesome Joss Whedon helmed movies, DC are also using Whedon alumni, with James Marsters voicing Lex Luthor for this (frankly awesome!) trailer for their new DC Universe MMO.

DC Comics 75th Anniversary Poster Book

As you know, we at GeekTown are huge comic book fans, so when DC’s publicity people offered to send me an early release of their DC Comics 75th Anniversary Poster Book for review I jumped at it!

The book is around A3 in size, and contains 100 ‘ready to frame’ posters of DC Comic covers throughout the years – From the front cover of ‘New Fun’ in 1935, through to one Alex Ross’s stunning cover’s for 2008′s ‘Batman R.I.P.’ run.

Each cover comes with a commentary on the artwork by Robert Schnakenberg , explaining the background of how it came about, and why it’s included in the book as an important DC issue. Every page edge is perforated, so (if your so inclined) you can easily remove the pages and hang them on your wall. Personally, i rather like them in book form though.

If your a fan of DC Comics, the DC Comics 75th Anniversary Poster Book really is a ‘must have’ addition to your collection.

DC Comics 75th Anniversary Poster Book is due on sale in the UK in October 2010, for £24.99 RRP.

Gallery of artwork samples from the DC Comics 75th Anniversary Poster Book

The Great Batman Movie Debate

What better way to enjoy Gotham’s very own Dark Knight battling evil than on a big screen under the impressive vaulted ceiling of Islington’s Union Chapel.

The Great Batman Movie Debate Lineup

Last night Sky movies and Shortlist magazine invited GeekTown to be part of the debate as to which of the shortlisted ‘top four’ batman films is indeed the greatest.  Chaired by Mark Dolan, arguments were put forward, some more convincingly than others, by Shortlist’s editor Terri White, Sky Movies ‘resident movie geek’ Josh Howie and two more who require little introduction, Dom Joly and Vic Reeves.

The evening began with a select crowd of fans enjoying some light refreshments in the chapel bar (!) before moving into the main hall for the debate.  Some interesting insights into the top four: Batman (1989), Batman Returns, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight included the controversial casting of Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson’s Joker vs Heath Ledger’s and of course the state of Christian Bale’s larynx in Dark Night.

The Great Batman Movie Debate - On Stage

Having entered the debate fully intending to cast my vote in the direction of The Dark Knight I was genuinely swayed by Dom’s, all-be-it less than enthusiastic, argument that Batman begins is the only film that really explains to the novice what on Earth is going on!  Personally I love that about Batman Begins, as well as the fact that you get two films rolled into one: the Shaolin-Monk-training academy escapade followed by the more familiar Gotham City night time punch up.

A short recess at the bar was followed by the announcement of the winning film, The Dark Knight, and then of course by the HD screening itself.  I’ve seen the film in more comfortable seating and with less daylight in the theatre but the novelty of the surroundings more than made up for these small shortcomings. Now all that remains is for me to get very excited about the rumored next installment in Christopher Nolan series of frankly awesome Batman films.

Sky Movies Showcase/HD presents all 6 Batman movies together in HD for the first time on UK TV, pus several other comic book hero movies. Titles will feature in back-to-back slots from Monday 12th – Sunday 18th July on Sky Movies Showcase/HD (channels 303 and in HD on 314).

 Loading ...

It’s a Marvel Monday here at GeekTown! Thanks to the lovely folk at Madame Tussauds and Marvel, we have 2 pairs of tickets to give away to their new Marvel Super Heroes 4D Exhibit at Madame Tussauds!

About Marvel Super Heroes 4D At Madame Tussauds!

ARRIVES EARLY SUMMER 2010

• New and unique multi-sensory experience from Madame Tussauds London and Marvel Entertainment, LLC
• Three floors of Marvel Super Hero fun featuring:
  • 4D animated film presentation with high impact surprises
  • themed interactive sets
  • Super Hero wax figures
• ONLY AT Madame Tussauds, Marylebone Road, London, NW1
• Nearest Tube – Baker Street
• Booking number 0871 894 3000 or www.madametussauds.com/London
• Opening times 9.30am – 5.30pm weekdays; or 9.00am – 6.00pm on weekends and during school holidays
• Prices from £12.77
• Save money and jump the queues by booking online

Marvel 4D Competition

A heroic new attraction is arriving at Madame Tussauds London this summer – “Marvel Super Heroes 4D”.   Scheduled to open for June 2010 “Marvel Super Heroes 4D”  brings to life some of the Marvel’s best loved Super Heroes through a mix of 4D animation, interactive themed areas and startlingly realistic Madame Tussauds wax figures.

Atmospheric sets conjure up the high-tech Super Hero world of S.H.I.E.L.D (Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law-enforcement Division) and guests will be able to get up close to wax figures of six of Marvel’s most famous names – Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Wolverine, Nick Fury and The Invisible Woman.   There will also be the chance for the public to “turn hero” themselves in a series of interactive experiences including walking on the ceiling with Spider-Man and stepping into Iron Man’s chest shield.

The climax of the experience is a new 360º eight minute animated 4D cinema presentation, complete with high impact special effects.  Screened in Madame Tussauds famous domed auditorium the story unites a crack team of Super Heroes including Hulk, Spider-Man and Captain America in a battle against one of Marvel’s most villainous baddies in an all new adventure.

More info at www.madametussauds.com/4d

Two ways to Win tickets to Marvel Super Heroes 4D At Madame Tussauds

As usual, we have 2 ways to enter.

1. Answering the question below:

Who is playing Captain America in the upcoming Captain America: The First Avenger movie?

Competition is now closed.

2. Enter Via Twitter by following @geektown, and retweeting this message:

In the UK? Win tickets to Marvel Super Heroes 4D by following @geektown and RTing this tweet! More at http://bit.ly/marvelcompgt

You can enter via both twitter and on the site, and double your chances!

The competition closes on 18th June 2010 and is open to UK residents aged 18 or over. There will be 2 winners picked from twitter and geektown.co.uk. By entering this competition, you are agreeing to the rules of this competition. Full rules can be read here.

DC Universe Online

SOE (Sony Online Entertainment) have confirmed the release date for their upcoming MMORPG ‘DC Universe Online‘, and it’s set fly/super-jump onto PS3 and PC in November 2010.

DC Universe Online allows players to build their own custom superheroes (or villain) inside the DC universe, to work along side (or against) DC’s heroes like Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and many more. Gotham City and Metropolis are 2 confirmed locations, with many more places in DC’s world also being accessible.

As i’ve mentioned before on the blog, i’ve always been more a DC Comics fan than Marvel (who’s own MMO is stuck in development hell), so i’m so looking forward to this release. It’ll be interesting to see how (if at all) the game fits into DC continuity as, judging my the screenshots, it’ll be Bruce Wayne as Batman, rather than Dick Grayson (as it is in current continuity). DC are planning a 52 weekly comicbook called DC Universe: Legends to run along side the game.

For more information, see the DC Universe Online website.

James McAvoy is Professor X

As many of you may know, after the ‘meh’ ness of X3, the X-Men franchise is getting a bit of a reboot, by going back to the early days of the mutant’s lives, in X-Men: First Class.

James McAvoy is the first of what is likely to be a number of X-Men casting announcement over the next couple of weeks, as the movie is due to start shooting in the next few months. Obviously there’s Magneto, but we’re also promised a number of other mutants ‘some familiar, some new’, also appearing in the movie.

X-Men: First Class follows the early lives of Charles Xavier (Professor X) and Erik Lensherr (aka Magneto), and will show how this 2 best friends end up on opposite sides of the fence.

I’m really looking forward to X-Men getting back on track. McAvoy is a great actor and a good choice for Xavier. Add to that the fact that Matthew Vaughn is directing, and has bought in KICK-ASS collaborator (and wife of Jonathan Ross) Jane Goldman to work on the script. Plus the whole thing is being overseen by X-Men 1&2 veteran Bryan Singer, X-Men: First Class really is trying hard to make us forget the mutant misstep of X3.

X-Men: First Class is due out 2nd June 2011.