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Happy Mortal Kombat Week everyone! No, it’s not 1993 but a brand new Mortal Kombat game is out this week and the early reviews are predominantly positive. We’ll have some totally irreverent impressions of the game this weekend. This week; Lego’s giving us their version of a crisis, Marvel’s updated several of their games, and last week’s Convergence #1 may have dropped some hints at the future of the Injustice universe.

Colorful toys used in video game platforms is a trend on the rise, what started with the success of Skylanders was quickly followed by both Disney and Nintendo. Now, Lego is set to jump into the fray. The company is partnering with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Traveller’s Tales, the publisher and studio responsible for most of the existing Lego games, to create a new series called Lego Dimensions.

A $99.99 “Starter Pack” will launch on September 27th in the US (September 29th in the UK) for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4 and Wii U. Much like Disney’s Infinity, Lego’s starter pack will include a copy of the game, a Lego “Toy Pad” and three special minifigures: Gandalf, Batman and Wyldstyle from The Lego Movie. So far the universes tapped for this game include Back to the Future, Lord of The Rings, Ninjago, and DC Comics. Future expansions are planned for this year and level expansions will come in 2016.

Because of its connection to so many loved franchises, Lego is a perfect company to jump into this latest gaming trend. Could this also be a place for DC and Marvel to crossover?

Last week’s Convergence #1 from DC Comics continued the momentum of its Battle Royal themed event where almost every part of the publisher’s multiverse is pitted against one another in a fight for their very survival. The issue  also had a few tidbits about the Injustice universe created by Netherrealm (Mortal Kombat).

In the issue, dictator Superman’s powers were restored right before their Gotham is plucked into dome world as Batman and the rest of the remaining heroes from the battle fled right before destruction.  It’s obvious the Injustice universe is going to be a big part of this war, right? Would DC really just use it as canon fodder even though fans seem to really love it? It begs the question, where could future sequels of the game go? Could Batman and Superman ever reconcile to face a threat greater than themselves?

With the release of Daredevil on Netflix, Marvel’s game division didn’t waste time on adding to the wave of popularity surrounding ol horn head. The MMO Marvel Heroes 2015 released a classic costume based on Frank Miller and John Romita Jr’s classic The Man Without Fear. Fans of the Netflix show will also recognize his signature black mask covering the top of his head. All of the character’s regular skill trees and attributes remain. This new look is purely cosmetic, but definitely a cool throw back to Miller’s work.

Players can log in right now and pick up the new character skin.

The Infinity series continues over in the Marvel Mighty Heroes mobile game. This week players will defend the planet in the new chapter titled “Target : Earth” during an interview with developer DeNA‘s Bert-Jan De Weerd talked to Marvel about what players can expect:

After the battle in space the heroes back on Earth have to face of the unleashed hordes of the Mad Titan, Thanos! Black Panther has to defend his city of Wakanda, while Starbrand joins the fight using the powers bestowed upon him by the Builders against them. After suffering defeat at the hands of the Avengers last week, Ex Nihilo realizes he was fighting them for the wrong reasons. He joins the Avengers and as a new Avenger, Ex Nihilo joins the fight against his kin and against Thanos.

Marvel Mighty Heroes is available now for iOS and Android, plus it’s free to download.

A new audio portion of Halo 5’s “Hunt The Truth” campaign recently dropped on its Tumblr page.

It’s titled “Critical Condition,” and centers around the mystery of John 117 (Master Chief) and his home planet. The log explores a different side of the character through the testimony of retired military veterans. There’s been no word on if we’ll see more of the live action Nightfall series, but Microsoft is firmly committed to Halo 5: Guardians, October 27th release date.

Gaming/Comics Releasing 4-15-15:

Mega Man #48 (Archie Comics) $3.99

The epic conclusion to this Mega Man 3 game adaptation storyline, featuring new cover art from fan-favorite Brent McCarthy and a special Capcom art variant!

Art of the Uncharted Trilogy HC (Dark Horse Comics) $39.99

A detailed look at the art of one of the most exciting game series of this generation, with insightful commentary from the games’ creators!

Halo: Escalation TP Vol 2 (Dark Horse Comics) $19.99

The fall of New Phoenix, Master Chief’s return to action, and a dark plot by the Office of Naval Intelligence-all in this volume collecting Halo: Escalation issues #7-#12

Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Two TP Vol 1 (DC Comics) $14.99

As Superman’s iron grip on the world tightens, at the edge of the galaxy another grave threat approaches. Collects INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US YEAR TWO #1-6.

Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Two HC Vol 2 (DC Comics) $22.99

The Corps has a fight on their hands that will surely shake them to the core. Collects issues #7-12 and ANNUAL #1 of the hit series!

MORTAL KOMBAT!!!

Do you think these Amibos and Infinity figures are this generation’s plastic guitars and drums? What do you think would make an awesome follow up to INJUSTICE? What are you going to do to avoid Age of Ultron spoilers?

by Davey Nieves

Today Entertainment Weekly revealed the solicits for the first four issues of the nine part Convergence event from DC Comics. The event will bring together the pre-52 universe with just about every part of the DC Comics multi-verse. Perhaps the most interesting part of the solicit was the inclusion of the popular INJUSTICE universe.  A universe that was created in part with the 2013 award winning fighting game Injustice: Gods Among US. It’s a world where Superman was driven mad by the Joker resulting in the death of his city and family, causing him to take over the world, only for Batman and a team of rebel heroes to rise up against him. The DC Digital series that came with the game is among the publisher’s boldest stories and month in and month out feels like just about anything can happen. It’s looking like every part of the DC Multi-verse could be part of the event. The possibilities could also include the Arkham game universe, Batman 66, maybe even make the daring choice to play with film and television characters.

The Injustice universe will be one of the worlds at stake, along with the likes of Crisis, Zero Hour, Elseworlds, and the pre-New 52 DCU. This nine part mini-series sees the villain Braniac bottle the cities of forgotten worlds and Vince McMahon them into battling each other in his own personal dimensional elimination chamber. Here’s the solicit for issue 1-4

CONVERGENCE #1

Written by JEFF KING and SCOTT LOBDELL
Art by CARLO PAGULAYAN and JASON PAZ
Foldout cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
Variant cover by TONY S. DANIEL and MARK MORALES
1:25 Variant cover by BRIAN BOLLAND
1:100 BATMAN sketch variant cover by GREG CAPULLO
Blank variant cover
On sale APRIL 8 • 40 pg, FC, 1 of 8, $4.99 US • RATED T
This is it! The entire DC Universe, from the dawn of time through The New 52, must fight to survive against a threat that bends the Multiverse to its will. Your favorite characters from every era and every forgotten series are all here! But are you going to say hello again just to say goodbye forever? The stakes have never been higher as the heroes of Crisis, Zero Hour, Elseworlds, and more are brought together for Convergence!
In the first issue of this weekly series, Brainiac has collected cities of doomed and forgotten worlds, who must battle each other—and the losers will be destroyed! But why is he forcing this conflict? Join the refugees from Earth-2 as they unlock the truth behind this world that exists outside time and space and is very much alive! Is Brainiac really in control—or is this planet named Telos an unparalleled force of evil?
This extra-sized issue is packed with twists and turns and appearances you NEVER thought you’d see—including the heroes from the hit series INJUSTICE!

CONVERGENCE #2
Written by JEFF KING
Art by CARLO PAGULAYAN and JASON PAZ
Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
Variant cover by TONY S. DANIEL and MARK MORALES
1:25 Variant cover by JAE LEE
1:100 WONDER WOMAN sketch variant cover by DAVID FINCH
On sale APRIL 15 • 32 pg, FC, 2 of 8, $3.99 US • RATED T
As Telos, the Planet Incarnate, easily defeats the survivors of Earth-2, Thomas Wayne and Dick Grayson set off to find help in the pre-Flashpoint Gotham City. The emotional implication of these worlds colliding comes crashing down when Thomas Wayne confronts this world’s Batman, as father meets son!
Plus, Alan Scott’s attempts to connect with The Green yield unexpected results, setting our team on a quest to escape the planet. And the cyborgs of Futures End engage in a battle to the death against the reimagined heroes of the Just Imagine Universe, while the city of Superman Red and Blue takes on the opposing forces from GENERATIONS!

CONVERGENCE #3
Written by JEFF KING
Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA and JASON PAZ
Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
Variant cover by TONY S. DANIEL and MARK MORALES
1:25 Variant cover by DAVE McKEAN
1:100 AQUAMAN sketch variant cover by JIM LEE
On sale APRIL 22 • 32 pg, FC, 3 of 8, $3.99 US • RATED T
Death comes calling as an injured Telos takes out his rage on the people of Kandor, while the Earth-2 team endures another brutal casualty. And major plans are set in motion as Green Lantern and the others follow Deimos into the lost city of Skartaris to find Rip Hunter and the missing Time Masters, who could be their only hope of escape from this apocalypse for Infinite Earths!

CONVERGENCE #4
Written by JEFF KING
Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA and JASON PAZ
Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
Variant cover by TONY S. DANIEL and MARK MORALES
1:25 Variant cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
1:100 GREEN LANTERN sketch variant cover by JIM LEE
On sale APRIL 29 • 32 pg, FC, 4 of 8, $3.99 US • RATED T
Inside Skartaris, the heroes of Earth-2 must face the only man who can stop them from finding the missing Time Travelers—but why would Travis Morgan, aka The Warlord, want to kill them?
Meanwhile, Telos takes the captive Dick Grayson to several of the battling cities to prove the futility of challenging him. And whatever you do, do not miss the final page, as the surprising return of an unexpected villain could crush all hope for salvation and seal the doom of everyone on the planet!

Ferguson, Missouri. Nov. 24, 2014. (Photo by Adrees Latif/Reuters)

I am trapped on a desert of raw gunshot wounds

and a dead child dragging his shattered black

face off the edge of my sleep

blood from his punctured cheeks and shoulders

is the only liquid for miles

and my stomach

churns at the imagined taste while

my mouth splits into dry lips

without loyalty or reason

thirsting for the wetness of his blood

as it sinks into the whiteness

of the desert where I am lost

without imagery or magic

trying to make power out of hatred and destruction

trying to heal my dying son with kisses

only the sun will bleach his bones quicker.

(photo by Joshua Roberts/Reuters)

For a Manitoban article. I haven't actually read the story yet, but I was told it was about the popularity of certain monsters. The person requesting the illustration (not the author) told me that the Frankie in the story was "one part charles manson, one part
oprah, one part einstein, and one part "journey" (the band)."
I gave him a Charlie shirt. She liked it. :)
See the large version here.
EDIT: The story can be found here.

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