Muttpop will be at the DesignerCon Pasadena this Saturday 11/20/10 from 10am to 5pm at booth #212.

We will be selling a few different goodies including copies of the Tequila Gamma Ray figure and showcasing the paint sample of King Katch. Please visit us, say hello, and add some Muttpop goodness to your Collection!

More information on the DesignerCon can be found by CLICKING HERE.

DesignerCon Location:

Pasadena Convention Center

300 East Green Street

Pasadena, CA 91101

Admission is $5.00 (free after 3pm).

Muttpop will be at booth #212.

The Green Lantern live action film trailer is officially out. From the looks of it, it'll be giving Green Lantern fans a lot to look forward too. I'm a little bothered by the odd looking Domino mask and Blake Lively's deadpan attempt at "acting". Otherwise, it's looking pretty sweet. Of all the superhero concepts, this one has the possibility to be a 'Star Wars'-like franchise. Comics scribe Geoff Johns has done a brilliant job to establish a rich mythology surrounding the rings in which different colored rings represent different states of emotion. It's a clever concept that could lead to an awesome series of epic action films. Let's hope they find the necessary success (and quality) to make it happen on the big screen!

I recently began playing Super Mario Galaxy 2. Wow. The first few levels of play feel pretty close in spirit and construction to the levels in the first Super Mario Galaxy. Considering how great the first one is, you'd think that'd be enough to make this a great game... but I was a little disappointed. The first game did things that blew my mind. Marginally building on that wasn't good enough for me. Fortunately, the game found ways to bring level design to a whole new level of brilliance right around the fourth world and onwards. As I write this, I'm playing through World 5; and every level thus far has matched or exceeded my high expectations for the game.

When I play a video game, I want to experience something that I cannot experience in any other medium. I want game play and level designs that will open up parts of my brain that I didn't know existed. From the fourth world onwards, Mario Galaxy 2 is doing this to me with every new level that I play... and I enjoy every second of it.

Below is a the Castle Level (Bowser's Gravity Gauntlet) that convinced me of the game's greatness:

Here's a glimpse at the final prints sample of the TIKITIS hardcover. The book will be in the standard US graphic novel size with a die-cut tiki inspired cover. This book should be available for purchase in stores in early December just in time for the holidays and King Katch figure release. Those with keen eyes will notice that this book design matches the beautifully designed King Katch box by Fabien M.

Now THAT is how you debut a television series! Unlike comic book adaptations that were faithful to a flaw (stuff like WATCHMEN, SCOTT PILGRIM and SIN CITY), Frank Darabont and his team found a nice balance between elements of the comic that work well on the television screen and bringing new elements and details to the story that allow the viewer to connect with the fascinating characters in the world of the Walking Dead. I cannot think of a better way to debut this potentially amazing series and am super excited for what there is to experience over the remaining five episodes and (hopefully!) many more seasons of this fantastic show.

As a comic, THE WALKING DEAD worked because of the ways it logically handles protagonist Rick Grimes means of survival in a world overtaken by zombies. But as the series progresses, it quickly becomes evident that the concept of survival in a lawless society is explored more fully than the idea of zombies. The zombies infestation is the impetus to bring people together intent on surviving... but because of the constant immoral decisions that characters are forced to make in order to survive and/or protect a loved one, the characters become more disturbing monsters than the zombies they are trying to avoid.

While reading the comic, there's a constant emotional distance between the reader and the story. Because the reader controls the speed of the action as their eyes go from panel-to-panel and page-to-page... it's nearly impossible to create suspense or genuine terror. The horrific elements of the story come from the natural way in which characters must commit vicious acts of violence. When seen on its own, an act of murder is rarely relatable. But when you understand the strong emotions behind the act... when you discover that the murder was a reaction to someone nearly killing a beloved family member... it can be uncomfortably relatable. The Walking Dead consistently does this in comic form. It's a nasty world whose fundamental concepts of family, friends and survival connect readers to a level of violence that is rarely justifiable.

By bringing The Walking Dead to the Television screen, director Darabont understands that he will not be able to connect on the cerebral level the comic effectively does. But as a more passive medium, television has a way more effective means of controlling pacing, conveying the disturbing world, and emotionally connecting with viewers through the strength of the actors and script.

The first episode does an amazing job of quickly bringing the viewers into the heart of the main character Rick Grimes. In the comic, Rick comes across as a traditional heroic father figure. The television show wisely brings a flawed element of connection to Rick's personality. He has a difficult time communicating with others; a man better suited for action than words. And by doing so, the viewer feels the frustration and determination he has fueling him to find his missing wife and son and prove that he cares.

The show also dramatically plays with the variety of looks for the zombies. At their most extreme, they are disgusting and vulgar. But at other times, they look completely human: vulnerable and lost. It's a great way to keep the world realistic and disturbing (and probably makes it a little easier on the make-up artists!). Thus far, the zombies are never treated as caricature. There's nobody yelling "Brains". And, unlike conventional zombie films, much of it takes place in broad daylight... which somehow reminds the viewer that the world of Walking Dead is very close to our own.

There's tons more I can say about the first episode... but more importantly: just watch it! If the rest of the show is as good as that first episode, we're all in for a helluva treat.

First off, have an awesome Halloween filled with terror, sweet costumes, and candy. And while we're at it, I wanted to give props to Mr. Dan Hipp, the cartooning mind behind Tokyopop's GyaKushu! His style is PERFECT for the creepy and silly. If you haven't checked out his blog, sample some of my favorite halloween/horror themed illustrations (below) and then CLICK HERE.