Battlefield 3 • Comixology • Neutrinos

For the last weekly podcast the crew talk about Battlefield 3, Comixology hitting the top sales charts, and CERN redoing their faster than light experiment

Justice League #2 • Batman Arkham City • DARPA Recycling

The crew comes back from break refreshed and ready to rock. Pete reviews Justice League #2 and talks about the big developments from New York Comic Con: Robot Chicken will do a special DC episode, and Marvel will be bringing back the Phoenix. Craig reviews Batman: Arkham City, and talks about the possibilities with Microsoft’s next gen game console, the Xbox 720. The Space Race comes to New Guienea, and DARPA is recycling Satellites. All in one episode!

Best easter egg ever in this game.

Sinestro Batman Skin

To celebrate this awesome day to come, I will be giving away a DLC code for the Sinestro Batman skin as seen in the image above. This is a PS3 only download code as the skin is only available for that version of the title for some reason. The giveaway will take place on Twitter over at the Giggaheim’s twitter account. There will be no-hashtags require and non of that nonsense. I will just tweet it there and it is first come first served. So be sure to follow us on Twitter if you want it. I only have one code to give away.

Flashpoint #5 • iPhone 4S • Tech & Love • Remembering Steve Jobs

The gang gathers for a somber podcast this week. It was an end to several eras, and losses in the world of fandom. First the crew pay tribute to Betty Luster (Mr. B Natural), and try and figure out how they will survive life without the Simpsons. Then they cheer up with the news of the iPhone 4S, and new iOS5 features available this week. Randis demonstrates how romance and relationships have been impacted by personal technology, and the crew remembers a titan with the passing of Steve Jobs. Stay Tuned after the podcast for Tech editor Doug and Craig as they remember Apple’s most influential force.

Flash #1 • iPhone 5 • Battlefield 3 Beta • Aphrodisiacs

A quick episode or betas and sneak peeks. Pete reveals set photos from the anticipated mega-movie, the Avengers. Craig talks about the Battlefield 3 demo. The crew discusses the fast processor on the upcoming iPhone 5, Pete reviews the new Flash #1 by Francis Manapul, and Randis covers all you need to know about aphrodisiacs.

Pete gets back into comics and reviews  the first trade paperback collection for Stephen King’s American Vampire. Netflix launches Quickster, while Dish network relaunches a damn good version of Blockbuster. Craig and Pete review the new Gears of War 3, and give you the info you need to know about it. The iPod may be dead, asteroids didn’t kill the dinosaurs, and the CDC has an anti-zombie plan. But the biggest scientific discovery was CERN breaking the light speed barrier. All in this week’s episode.

Doug rejoins the crew for an epic 77^th podcast. The crew chews over their hatred for 3D movies when hearing the news that Top Gun and Ghostbusters are coming to theaters in a new dimension. Craig tells us how to replace a high end Samsung TV, Doug tells us NASA has found Tatooine, and then Randis tells us about break up rituals on Dating Advice for Geeks.

The crew covers the favorite stories in fandom this week starting with movie related shoes. The special Nikes from Back to the Future 2 and Kermit Edition Addidas. Then Craig tells us about the record sales numbers for EA’s Madden NFL, and prepares us for Gears 3. Then they review the deleted scenes on the upcoming Star Wars BluRays, and review the BluRay for X-Men: First Class. The Randis reminds us that we cannot share our future with someone without knowing our past. Pete reviews all the superman news including Action Comics #1, and the theft of Mike Myer’s Superman collection. Then the crew remembers where they were on 9/11.

We noticed that Film Riot has been having issues getting the Red Epic 5K footage out to the masses, so with the permission of Sir Ryan Connolly, we have posted it on our site for you guys to download. Hopefully our server and bandwidth will hold up to the masses. Enjoy!!!!!

And for those of you who haven’t watched Film Riot’s, you are missing out on a lot. They are awesome!!!!!

You can also find Film Riot on Facebook, Twitter and on their official channel over at Revision3.com.

We try on a new format for Labor Day. First we talk about the professional tournament for Modern Warfare players and then shift to George Lucas “enhancing” his Star Wars movies yet again. After we spit fire at the newer special edition blu-rays, we try and figure out how to tell a friend that you want more, and when to try and make that move. Then Pete reviews the blockbuster inaugural issue of DC Comics New 52, Justice League #1 by Geoff Johns and Jim Lee.

iPhone –

SmartDating iPhone App – Keeps connected in a Facebook app format, along with you are able to connect with Facebook or VisionSync.  You are able to send messages, send winks, send a gift, and send a charm, view albums, and view videos at a press of a button.  They have gone so far as to partner with gift delivery services to have the ability to send gifts in real life and not just a virtual gift.

They have the option to upload videos as well as pictures onto your profile so it gives people a better idea of you and your personality.

• App is FREE
• Links with Facebook and Social Connect
• Fun Additional features – send a charm or gift, Google Maps people near me
• Videos on Profile.

SmartDate iPhone App – Like SmartDating, this app links in with Facebook and other social connects.  This app however offers a satellite view of every smart Dater in your area.  You are able to link with other SmartDate app users while you are out at the local bar or hotspot.  While finding them, you can message them or they can hit you up the same moment.  You do have the option to turn this feature off if that is not your thing.

This app is highly interactive to the real world and lets you connect to those who are really interested in a romantic connection

• Links with Facebook
• Satellite Views of Daters
• Favorite List

Android –

Pickup Lines App – This app is for the android market and is explained in the title.  It gives an easily guided list of pickup lines and the votes from other app users.  This app is generally used to help in originality and the ability to come up with something clever when trying to approach someone of interest.

Wertago App – This app is great from someone just into the dating scene. Is keeps you in the loop on where to go on hot blucs, events, parties, bars, and happy hours in your local area.  This app is great for those who want to get out there and build a social scene but do not know where to start!

• Customizable profile
• Track your friend and their GPS location
• Organize plans or set up meeting locations

These are just a couple of apps that are available for the iPhone and Android market.  There are many more apps that are available for you computer or tablet.  Using these apps can help with building and strengthen your social and dating life.  Do not forget the large dating sites, Match.com, eharmony.com, and Zoosk also offers apps for your phone to stay connected.

Try them out!

Dreams are successions of images, ideas, emotions and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during sleep. Dreams can last from a few seconds to as long as twenty minutes, though during some dreams it feels like they are going on forever!  Dreams are a connection to the human subconscious and will range from normal to extremely bizarre.  We have all had those dreams when you wake up thinking – what the hell?!

Sexual themes dreams occur no more than 10% of the time and are more common in young to mid-teens.  Some cases, sexual dreams result in orgasms or “wet dreams”

Now what are some meanings of some common dreams?

Being Naked in the dream – Dreaming you are completely or partially naked is very common.  Nudity symbolizes a variety of things depended on what is going on in your awake life.  It can symbolize being caught off guard.  While if you are proud of being naked in your dream that can symbolize your lack of embarrassment or shame or unrestricted freedom.

                Example – Naked in public – reflects a vulnerability or feelings of shamefulness.

Being Chased – These dreams stem from feelings of anxiety in your waking life.  Flee and flight is an instinctive response to a physical

threat.  A pursuer or attacked that is chasing you is a situation that must be confronted, and the attacker themselves represent the aspect of yourself.

Teeth falling out-

One theory is that dreams about your teeth reflect your anxieties about your appearance and how others perceive you. Your teeth help to convey an image of attractiveness and play an important role in the game of flirtation, whether it is flashing those pearly white, kissing or necking. Thus, such dreams may stem from a fear of rejection, sexual impotence or the consequences of getting old.

For more definitions of dreams check out www.dreammoods.com  or email me and I’ll send back a reading!

• Thor
• Priest
• Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides
• Hangover 2
• Kung Fu Panda 2
• X-Men: First Class
• Super 8
• Green Lantern
• Cars 2
• Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
• Captain America
• Smurfs
• Cowboys and Aliens
• Rise of Planet of the Apes
• Conan

We crown the winners and losers in the fun special.

Ultimate Fallout #6 • Gamescom • IBM’s Brain Chips • Dream Interpretations

In this episode Pete review Ultimate Comics Fallout #6 to mourn the loss of Ultimate Spider-Man. The gang passes judgment on potential movies Rambo 5, and a Blade Runner Sequel. Craig Talks about the developments at Gamescom including news That Playstation’s new handheld is more powerful than their PS3, and Diablo 3 could come to game consoles. HP does away with it’s mobile OS, Kindle skirts Apple, and IBM creates chip that mimic the human brain. Randis then interprets our dreams, and what they mean.

Here it is folks! To celebrate Dune Awareness Month, we encourage you to participate in our Caption Contest. Simply comment on this post with your caption, and you could win a gift certificate to the iTunes Store, XboxLive Points, or a Month of Netflix. This week’s contest closes August 28^th at noon, and the winner will be announce on our weekly Podcast. You can leave as many comments as you can create, so caption early and often!

Written and Illustrated by Michael Walton

Published by Zuda Comics

Available on Comixology

Issue six is the last of Michael Walton’s Dual. A highly imaginative tale about a man and his imaginary friend in a world with magical instances. We have followed Bill and Yasu for five issues and watched Bill grow up and deal with the idea and power of having an imaginary friend that grants him extraordinary powers once bill…well….ingests him. After meeting witches, and monsters, Bill crosses paths with a dragon, who is now marrying Bill’s true love, Carina. This whole issue is one big throw down, as Bill squares off with Dave the dragon.

This issue is exactly what I loved about this series, only more action packed. It has great mysticism mixed with wit and sobering reality that made Dual such a great series. Michael Walton, like many of his Zuda Comics cohorts, never strayed from the story and always stayed true to the vision of his story. There are tough choices he had to make as a writer, and he certainly picked a difficult project to illustrate by trying to marry a sober reality with fantastic elements. Btu the hard choices paid off, and made for a great series.

One of my favorite elements of Michael Walton’s style is a drop in color as Yasu and Bill meld as one. The ending of the book is poignant as it feels as though the cameras have been changed out, and the viewpoint changes. The prophecy that mystics have been telling Bill begins to come to fruition, and the world changes. What I especially loved, and hated about this book was that it was the end.  Walton leaves the ending wide open, as if the tale had only just begun, but unfortunately with Zuda Comics’ demise, so went a fantastic web series that is thankfully collected at Comixology. If you haven’t already, pick up Dual. Not only is it a great tale you can reread several times, but it is also a great digital comic to show off on you iPhone, iPad, or whatever device you are using. A true collectible.

Don’t forget to comment on the Summer Movie Wrap Up Show. You could win your favorite movie just by commenting on what you saw this summer. It doesn’t even have to be favorable. Comment by the end of Saturday for your chance to win.

You could also win a gift certificate to iTunes, Xbox Live, or Netflix by being clever, and posting a caption on the Dune Awareness Caption Contest page. What do you have to lose? Five minutes?

So head on over and unleash your fury!

Sony has officially dropped the price of the PS3 250GB model to $250. 99% of the time, my PS3 is nothing more to me than a blu-ray player and recently I have been shopping around for a new one. If you have been on the ropes for a while, now may be the time to invest in this system. I like the PS3 as a blu-ray player since it gets frequent updates to the OS for improvements to the video and audio quality for my blu-rays; and I have a lot of them.

Sony will also sell the 300GB model for $300, so the deal gets even better if you need the additional HD space.

Email your favorite movie for the show, for

A chance to win a copy of the BluRay of that movie on its release.

(When it comes out, we will have a copy show up to your residence that day. Pretty cool eh?)

Email all your comments about this year’s movies to podcast@giggaheim.com, or comment below!

Contest Ends Midnight Sunday August 21th

Here are the candidates:

Victor Freeze has been confirmed for the new Batman game. Rocksteady games has been putting a butt-load of characters in this new game and it just keeps getting better and better. I can not wait to play this sucker. Not sure I like his costume but here-nor-there it still looks really cool. Check it out.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTR5T0UdbJo

Dual #6 • Xbox Points Credited • Ninjas with iPads • Dating Obsessive Hobbyists

It’s a week filled with news of the weird. Pete reviews the last issue of Michael Walton’s Dual from Zuda Comics. Thor is replaced, Batman Dark Knight Rises gets a new ride, and Austin Powers rides again? Craig tells us about Microsoft giving people too many Xbox Live Points, and reviews Fruit Ninja for the Xbox Kinect. Nintendo contemplates making games for the iPhone while Ninjas smuggle iPads into Hong Kong. There’s a new World’s Tallest Skyscraper, DARPA loses a plane, and NASA thinks we’re all aliens.  Randis answers listener mail about dating people with obsessive hobbies, and also gives dating do’s and don’ts.

To celebrate Dune Awareness Month, we encourage you to participate in our Caption contest. Simply comment on this post with your caption, and you could win a gift certificate to the iTunes Store, XboxLive Points, or a Month of Netflix. This week’s contest closes August 19^th at 5pm, and the winner will be announce Friday night and on our weekly Podcast. You can leave as many comments as you can create, so caption early and often! Don’t let the Harkonins win!

A brilliant trailer has hit the web, and you should know all about it. Red Tails, the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, looks as brilliant as their story. The first African-American air corps story has always been exemplary, and the Giggaheim cannot wait for this film that is written and produced by George Lucas to hit screens in 2012.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozw1IF1pDcI

Don Moore, a writer who lives near the Giggaheim, has a fantastic article on his site DonMooresWarTales.com about Lt. Charles Bailey, Sr.. So head on over to Don Moore’s War Tales to get a real life account about the Tuskegee Airmen.

Here is a great bit of awesome from the creative mind of Charles Foreman. I love every panel of this mashup. What if Charles Shultz illustrated Steven Spielberg’s classic JAWS? Head on over to snakeoilcomics.blogspot.com and check out all of the strips!

And so finally here it is. One of the highly anticipated games from E3 has finally made its way for download. Halfbrick’s most successful game, Fruit Ninja, has been released on the Xbox 360, a Kinect only title, for 800 MSP ($10). This one will require more energy and exercise to play this bad boy as you are swinging your entire arms on the screen.

This title will probably make its way to a must have title for anyone that has a Kinect. I recently downloaded the demo, which allows you to play the Arcade mode 3 times before forcing you to buy it, and it was much harder than the iOS version of the game I currently own. It is VITAL that you pay attention to your silhouette in the background to understand exactly where you are swinging. If you can get that down, you will be a pro and become much fitter in the biceps area of your body very quickly. The silhouette is displayed in the example picture below:

The game play is basically the same as the other version but is again much harder. I did notice that it is possible to play with multiple people but in LOCAL PLAY ONLY…..BOOOO!!!!! If you have a Kinect, I definately recommend you download this title from the Arcade. We have posted the link below. Let us know what you think of the title and we may give away a free download to a lucky fan if we get good responses. You can rate the trial if you wish to review without purchase.

http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Fruit-Ninja-Kinect/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258410b79

Shai-Hulud (Shaihuludata gigantica) would like to remind you that today is the last day to give your captions for this week’s Dune Awareness Month Caption Contest. Entries are closed at5pm EST. So trample on over and make some worm-sign to the Caption Contest Page.

Call of Duty Black Ops DLC #4

G4TV has just gotten a hold of a trailer for the 4th and final DLC part for Black Ops. Its all Zombies; no new multiplayer player maps. Check it out. It looks pretty interesting especially the moon base map.

here is what I found:

I’m a Netflix guy. Despite previous articles, after playing around in Hulu, I like Netflix better. Hulu has some great TV shows updated and ready to watch at a moments notice without the hassle of getting a TiVo. Anything FOX is accessible from all devices. Family Guy and Wilfred have weird air times for me, so I can catch up on them at lunch or during work. Pretty convenient.

But there isn’t a whole lot else available to me that makes me want to pay for Hulu. BBC is all on the computer, and there aren’t many shows. That doesn’t help me when I want to watch something on my phone or iPad. Every show I was remotely interested in on other networks was only available on the computer, what a bummer. Where’s my mobile streaming ability? Why did I pay of unlimited data, when the content providers are limited themselves?

And then there’s the matter of commercials.

Really? Commercials Hulu? I know you have to pay for your service, but frankly, I wouldn’t give you guys more than an dollar a month. Back in my day (when the Earth was cooling) My “crazy” neighbors bought cable and HBO. A wacky idea to pay for television. But the shows and movies HBO had were full of cussing and boobies, and didn’t have one commercial interruption. Holy smokes! What a deal. A few extra bucks and I don’t have to worry about making the donuts, or having to spell relief. Hulu, on the other hand has inserted commercials in their TV programs, and frankly, I’m not sure why I would pay for that “privlage”. I can get many of the same shows on Netflix, and on my mobile devices, without one damn commercial.

Then there is a matter of quality. This can vary where you are, but in the swamps of Florida, I get some good streaming on all my devices, and I rarely get an interruption. Hulu threw me for a curve. I’ll watch something on my phone, and it will quit. Then it will resume, but be a radio show with the image frozen in place. Then I have to pause, and fast forward or rewind in order to queue up my last spot before I was interrupted. And this happens constantly. Constantly. But, since I am bitching that TV and movies streamed from distant lands can’t go to mobile device, I will say that I understand when this happens. However, the difference is Hulu crashes more often, and doesn’t give a rat’s ass. Netflix will know when something is crappy, and send an email asking me how the quality was.

Now, both have a pretty hit and miss collection of titles. Netflix has almost everything BBC, while Hulu has almost everything Fox. Netflix does get the edge with me on two accounts though. One is the ability to put something in your queue from a mobile device (haven’t figured out how to do this yet in Hulu), and they have their recommendations. Granted, I get some weird ones, but at least Netflix seems to care what I watch, and matches some things pretty close to what I enjoyed and hated. Hulu just barfs their titles at you, and you have to know exactly what you are after in order to view it. Kinda kills the pleasure of surfing through like-titles.

So overall…

I’ll let this 7-day trial with Hulu lapse. Why pay for something I get on Cable? And why pay for something that’s better on Netflix? If you want to ditch your TV, I’d say get both. These faults from Hulu won’t last long. They are an up and coming company. But it’s a long road ahead for them. And frankly, I don’t feel like bank rolling it. But, if you want one entertainment streaming outlet, I’d go for the Netflix, and wait for Hulu to grow up a little.

PlayStation has just pushed out an update, which adds better 3D support, auto-cloud saving ability and better organization of the XMB by grouping the TV/Video Streaming services together in their own category. The update also adds the auto-syncing of trophies which has been a wildly requested feature.

The update is available via the Software Update option on the PlayStation as well as online. You can find it here.

Here is a link to the exact features; most require PlayStation Plus.

It’s looking SWEET!!

1. No energy for the act of sex.

2. Do not have the energy to initiate sex

3. Do not feel sexy.

And when all those things happen –That LAST thing you want to do or think about would be sex.  Now that would not have too much an issue if the only person you were letting down was your right hand, but if you are in a relationship then the other part maybe thinking it is something that they are doing….or not doing. It is important to talk about these things with your partner, the worst thing you can do is nothing.  This would cause more problems, as ignoring this issue will make things worse and cause resentment.  But there are something’s you can do to avoid any issues.

1. TALK – the best cure of anything is to discuss the problem with your partner. IF you are having a stressful time at work than tell your significant other so they are aware it is nothing THEY are doing.  To be honest with them will take the pressure off of you and the feelings of dread for them.  Explain that currently things at work are stressful or that you had a stressful day at work so that are aware of what is going on with you.

2. ATTENTION — you know things at work are making you stressed out and you have no sex drive.  So you should keep all other aspects of your life the same right?  More than likely NO.  IF you know your sex drive is low and you are not able to perform in the bedroom, I defiantly suggest you make up that with more attention in other areas.  Not only will your significant other appreciate it but there will be less likely a build of resentment.  You don’t have energy for sex, cuddle alot. Your partner will defenitly appreciate the effort!

3. SPEECH — are you management? Are you supervising people while at work?  DO NOT bring home that talk to you partner.  Have a 30 minutes break from getting out of work so you can de-stress.  Many people when dealing with the pressure of managing people will bring home that frame of mind to their partners.  That is a total turn-off, unless you are into weird stuff and your partners likes being told what to do, then have at it.  But more often they will not.  Destress when you get some so the chances of you turning them off with “work” talk is less likely.

If you job is not that stressful but for some reason you still seem to not be able to “stand at attention” or “come to the show”.  You might want to review other aspects of your life and see if anything there is causing issues for you sex drive.  Many issues can be fixed with a simple change in diet or you can change the following –

-          Eat breakfast — yes you start the day off with a healthy breakfast and it will help keep you focused throughout the day.  Sounds dorky but its true!

-          Take a break during work — you are sooo busy…but make yourself take at least a 30 min lunch break.

-          Drink plenty of water.  People tend to be more agitated and have less energy when they are dehydrated, so make sure you are drinking plenty of water to keep yourself going.

-          Take a look at what you are eating – sodas, candies, fried foods?  Change it up to more nuts, fruit, and veggies.

-          Get some exercise.  Though you are tired try to get in 20-30 minutes of exercise, it will create more energy for yourself!

The whole point of these ideas is to give you a healthier lifestyle which in turn will give you more energy and you will have a better sex drive!

Try it out and share on how you liked it!

DC Comics Costumes • Twisted Metal • AT&T Tethering • Stressing Out Your Libido

Reunited with the lost Doug, the crew tackles the big issues of the week. Pete reviews Road by Eddie Sharam, and the crew decides whether they like the new look for DC Comics movie costumes for Catwoman, Bane, and Superman. Then they tackle the issue of racism in comics as they discuss the half-black, half-hispanic Spider-man, and how he caused a stir in comics. Craig talks about Twisted Metal’s release date, the latest Rockband releases, news on Borderlands 2, and the last Call of Duty Black Ops DLC is coming soon and it’s filled with zombies. Doug dissects AT&T’s tethering program, Skype on the iPad, and the Internet turns 20. And of course, Randis brings the house down with a look at how stress impacts your libido, and the average penis sizes. This is a can’t miss episode.

Here it is folks! To celebrate Dune Awareness Month, we encourage you to participate in our Caption contest. Simply comment on this post with your caption, and you could win a gift certificate to the iTunes Store, XboxLive Points, or a Month of Netflix. This week’s contest closes August 12^th at 5pm, and the winner will be announce Friday night and on our weekly Podcast. You can leave as many comments as you can create, so caption early and often!

For the 70^th episode Pete reviews Nancy in Hell #1 from Image Comics. Batman Fights Bane in the streets of Pittsburgh, and John Lasseter explains the Pixar sequels. Craig tells of Nintendo slashing its prices on the handheld gaming system, the DS 3D, and Rockband hits a milestone with their 3,000^th song. In tech news Netflix and Hulu battle for digital streaming attention while Apple has more cash on hand than the US Government. Then Randis gives us advice about going on vacation with a loved one, and going on vacation with their family.

Also, keep your eyes peeled for our upcoming Dune Awareness Month! Our inaugural Krull Awareness Month was such a success, that we’ve decided to continue the tradition with Victor Herbert’s DUNE (the 1984 version directed by David Lynch). Stay tuned for more caption contests, trivia, and other cool things we are brewing.

In our 69^th episode we hit a new low and earn our explicit rating in style. Pete reviews the fallout of the death of Spider-man in Ultimate Fallout #1. Superman goes through a lot of changes in a reboot, and Batman Dark Knight excites theaters. Craig tells us that Soundgarden and Incubus are coming to Rockband 3, Modern Warfare 3 uses crowd sourcing, and Sony goes exclusive with HDMI cables. Netflix raises its prices, and then the boys review Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. For the main event, Randis explains origins of socially unacceptable terms, the true meaning of the Kama Sutra, and ten fantastic sexual positions.

Flashpoint 3 vs Fear Itself 4 • PlayStation Network Passcodes • Space Shuttle Atlantis • Speed Dating

The Giggaheim podcast is packed this week. Pete reviews summer event comic books Flashpoint#3 and Fear Itself #4. Then answers listener mail by differentiating between Marvel Comics’ Mockingbird, and DC Comics’ Black Canary. After the news of sexually harassing Archie Comics, and Rockstar Games moving on to movies, the crew takes apart video game movies. Craig fills us in on the new PlayStation Network Passcodes, the lack-luster Burnout:Crash, and Modern Warfare 3’s Color Blind Assist mode. In Tech news Pokemon makes its own mobile app, Google and Microsoft bid for Hulu, and this week marked the last launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Craig melts everyone’s head with math, and Randis gives us all tips for Speed Dating.

Craig and Pete put down the bar-b-que and give a small podcast for the Independence Day holiday. Pete reviews his new iPhone 4, and gives a comparison to the iPad. Brief comics and movie news is covered, and the two review the latest summer blockbuster: Transformers 3. Craig gives the news on new DLC for Rockband and a leaked version of Gears of Wars 3. Then Pete and Craig compile a list of third movie sequels that were better than the second ones before them.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #160 • Mobile Gaming Future • Lulz Disbands • Flirting Guide

It’s a solemn end to an era as Pete reviews Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #160. Craig updates us on the latest Rockband DLC and the future of gaming on the mobile frontier. In tech news Pottermore brings up the issue of DRM, Tesla Motors stops making the ultra-fast electric roadster, Lulz apparently disbands, and we find out it is illegal to sell pieces of the moon. Then Randis gives us a guide on flirting, and poses the question: Do you have an office buddy you flirt with?

Congratulations!!

Runners Up were:

Kind of a lame name though.

A study was done in March 2011 reporting regret in Americans and the different subjects that feel the regret. Compared with a similar study done in 2005 – much came back the same % of regret.  Education and Family where the two areas that had the largest change between the 2 studies; Education in 2005 going from 32% down to 14% and Family in 2005 going from 2% to 14%.

Relationships being the most common regretful situation reported from Americans whom answered the question for the study increased from 15% in 2005 to 19% in 2011.  This regret for people focused mainly on lost chances for potential romances, and relationship that did not live up to their potential.  General at first, people tend to feel regret more with things they have done instead of the opportunities they past up.  However, after some time people tend to regret more the opportunities they past up.

So with this information – what would be the best way to look at walking up to that person and asking them out?  If they say yes, you have a date and build up your confidence!  If they say no, it would be safe to say that the regret of being turned down would be easy to handle the shoulda, woulda, coulda of not taking the chance.

So get out there and take some chances! You only have one life to live…do not live it in fear or regret.

Microsoft announced a new advertising platform called NUads, that will allow users of Xbox 360’s latest gadget, the Kinect, to interact with advertising on their gaming console. Ads will be embedded on the dashboard and embedded in gameplay and video content. Motion controls and verbal commands are programmed into the Kinect to interact with the ads:

“Xbox More” – Will naturally allow for a user to learn more about whatever they just saw that may interest them.

“Xbox Schedule” – Will send a text message to remind the user’s cell phone.

“Xbox Near Me” – Will map out the nearest retailer of a product that is advertised

Finally, a user can interface with the advertising by waving their hand. Users can vote on styles, brands, and even toppings for pizzas.

These features won’t be annoying you anytime soon, since they are only being revealed at today’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, and are set to launch in Spring of 2012.

Episode sixty five is a big one, and packed full of geeky fandom. Pete reviews the macho first issue of Butcher Baker the Righteous Maker, and the crew reviews two summer blockbusters: Green Lantern and Super 8. Craig gives a hand-on review of Xbox’s latest add-on peripheral, the Kinect. The space explorer Voyager reaches the end of the known Solar System, and Randis helps you get over those regrets you may have in your relationships.

Congrats to Eric. Close runner up was by Candy:

Thanks for the great captions, and tune in on Monday morning for the next caption contest!!!

I love the Muppets, and their marketing department has been making some smart parodies. in honor of Green Lantern, here is the Muppet version.

4pm is the deadline for the Krull Awareness weekly caption contest. You could win a month of Netflix movies just by being a snarky smart ass. So show your wit, and throw a caption in the comments section.

• Introduction 

• Fear Itself #3  

• Flashpoint #2  

And that is usually a kiss of death.

Remember Congo? The movie about the sign-language speaking gorilla based on the Michael Crichton novel? Remember the ads for that thing? It was everywhere! I remember the Taco Bell promotions, but I don’t remember much about the movie. It was horrible.

Here’s another example of commercials and marketing promotions being a kiss of death: The Phantom Menace. Yeah, you remember that don’t you? I downloaded the trailer to the first Star Wars movie in 20 years, studied every frame, and had a countdown clock for the release date on my first website for that film. Now, remember the promotions? Holy cow! Lucasfilm left no stone unturned. There was an “interstellar” map, that you had to collect pogs (remember Pogs?) from 5 different fast food chains. The first one to collect them all got cars, trips, and sums of cash. And how was Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace? That’s right…wasn’t too good a movie was it?

And that’s why I am scared about Green Lantern. I think Ryan Reynolds will make an excellent Hal Jordan (I’d love to see him as Wally West, but oh well), and the entire cast of Green Lantern Corps members looks amazing. The voice actors sound exactly the way I read them. The ring constructs look exactly like I imaged they would once I saw what CGI could do, and I think there will be some great action sequences.

But, I’m scared that this movie will miss marks, have giant plot holes, and be a disaster. All because I see different Green Lantern drinks, Green Lantern meals at Subway, jerks zooming through space in Green Lantern constructs trying to sell me cell phones, and endless ads in my comics (I can forgive that, since comic readers are the prime target market) and on TV.

When I do a basic Google search for “Green Lantern movie promotions”, I get 9,210,000 results. Eleven major cities will be illuminated in green in honor of the movie. Doritos is having a Green Lantern promotion, Reeses is having a promotion…the list is endless.

Will I see the movie? Hells to the yes. I have been a Green Lantern reader for years. I can’t wait to see this imaginative book come to life on screen. It should be epic, and it should be everything I daydreamed about as a kid. I just hope that it can break the cursed cycle, and the marketing bonanza hasn’t given this movie the kiss of death. So like a true Green Lantern, I will over come fear, and using my will power, I will sit in the dark, and watch DC Comics’ latest superhero movie.

The Christian Science Monitor is reporting that Voyager 1 has reached the end of the solar system. Solar winds from our sun have stopped blowing, and the exploratory space craft is now at the edge of interstellar space. Apparently, the lack of solar wind is unexpected, so Voyager will have to wear an albatross around its neck in order to find its way back on course.

Now here is the really interesting part of this whole thing: The edge of the solar system also experiences interference where the sun’s magnetic field “devolves”. The magnetic fields turn into “bubbles” (that are 100 million miles across) and resemble the top of a root beer. All of which are new to scientists in charge of the Voyager program. Fascinating discoveries from the edge of the unknown.

But I digress.

Technology, like the truth, can also set you free. And in this case the United States Government has created a “Shadow Internet” to set rebel groups in oppressed countries free. Remember those internet outages in Egypt? Well, with the Shadow Internet, you can still log online, and spread your message of freedom.

The Shadow Internet is basically a stealth communications network that utilizes cell-phone accessibility to access free, or unmonitored networks. According to the New York Times, the Obama Administration is trying to spread the word of democracy through the use of censor-free internet.

Simply put, Mesmo Delivery is about two men who are en route to deliver the content of a tractor and trailer. When they stop in a local greasy spoon diner, a fight breaks out. Any more details, and it would spoil the book. The story is a simple one, but takes some twists and turns. The driver is a boxer. He’s a huge, stocky man who obviously is more brawn than brains. Next to him is a lanky grease-ball who loves Elvis. Not too much to get attached to, but when the driver is assaulted, the book spins out of control, and it is a fantastic ride.

Rafael Grampa’s art is fantastic, and I didn’t want to spend the entire review throwing around terms like “kinetic”, “frantic”, “clean”, “earthy”, or “wild”. The art within the pages is all those things, but I didn’t want to sling the same terms at you, otherwise, why read this?

His art is a mixture of cartooning, illustration, woodcut printing, and industrial tattooing. It’s as if Steamboat Willie-era Mickey Mouse walked out on a pregnant Minnie Mouse, got a job loading trucks, and tattooed a pulsing, infected body part on his arm. That’s what it “feels” like to me. It’s similar to a raw twist on an art-form, but it certainly has the energy, detail and exaggerated features that lend itself to this violent story. Besides the style, Grampa also chooses layouts and angles to tell the story in a way that lures your eyes, and guides you through the book. After a few pages, you can taste cigarette smoke, feel hot dusts settle on the back of your sweaty neck, and your heart will race for the next crazy moment to happen. Rafael lures you in, and never lets go until the last page says: The End.

Grover’s one-minute version of the musical demonstrates the strengths of Sesame Street. Everyone learns what they need to about this ill-fated musical in under a minute, it’s funny, light hearted, and makes for engaging television.

Czechposition.com has a lovely article on their website with Star Wars producer Rick McCallum about the Star Wars TV show we keep hearing about (we covered this on Podcast 61). Why Czechposition.com? Why not StarWars.com? Well the Czech Republic will be where they film(ed) the TV series. McCallum then talks about why the Star Wars TV series is on hold:

“The TV series is on hold, but that has nothing to do with the Czech Republic; it has to do with the episodes being so ambitious. We have 50 hours of third-draft scripts, but the problem we have is there is a lot of digital animation; we don’t have the technology yet to be able to do them at a price that is safe for television. Since we would be financing them, it would be suicide for us to do this now. So we are going to wait three or four years.”

 

McCallum then Adds:

“Network television and cable television as we know it are completely imploding, so we’re not really sure that in five years’ time we can release a dramatic one-hour episode because it is all reality TV now”

 

So what would a Star Wars TV series be about?

“Basically, it is like ‘The Godfather’; it’s the Empire slowly building up its power base around the galaxy, what happens in Coruscant, which is the major capital, and it’s [about] a group of underground bosses who live there and control drugs, prostitution.”

So there you have it. To sum up the essential facts about the Star Wars TV Series:

• It’s going to cost a load of money for effects
• It’s 5 years away
• They do have 50 hours of script
• They will most likely film in the Czech Republic
• They aren’t sure if there will be a place for this show in the future
• If they do have a show, it will be about crime and power

So is this the Star Wars TV series you wanted to watch? Comment below, or on our Facebook wall.

Don’t forget to follow our Tweet Feed, and the KRULL Awareness Month Facebook page for updates and entries! We can’t wait to see what you come up with!!

Second, McFarlane Toys has been hard at work on these awesome toys. Although he isn’t a character in the comics, the Dixon figure looks outstanding!

So there you have it my undead fans. You are officially hip, and ready for the next season of The Walking Dead in October.

Weight loss – The Average human can loss 26 calories just from kissing for one minute.  From vigorous sex for 30 minutes, someone can burn 150 calories. So if you have sex 7-8 times a month, you can lose 3 pounds a year!

Side Note – Kissing is healthy! When you kiss it produces extra saliva which helps clean you mouth out.

Headaches – Sex causes your body to release endorphins which reduces pain natural from a headache.

A new kind of facial – Sperm has protein in it which has a tightening effect for skin.  When sperm is on the skin and evaporates it leaves protein which can help reduce wrinkles.

Side Note – a man will ejaculate approximately 18 quarts which contains half a trillion sperm in his life time

Blow Job Origin – In Victorian times, the slang term for a prostitute was “blowsy” and the slang term for ejaculation was “blow” – Then in the 1930’s blow and job were combined then associated with well..you know.

Side Note – In ancient Greece, the common slang for blow jobs was “playing the flute”

Love thy self – A study has shown that men whom watch males in porn, 2 guys  1 girl rather then all girls, produce more sperm.  They speculate it is due to men’s completive nature.

So hairy – A man’s beard grows fastest when he anticipates sex.

FUCK! – This acronym was created back in England when war, plague, and fire ravaged the country which depleted the population.  So the king issued an official order to fornicate Under Command of the King, to replenish the population.

Ithyphallophobia – the morbid fear of seeing, thinking about or having an erect penis

Formicophilia – the fetish for having small insects crawl on your genitals (I did not make this one up)

Sony revealed their new touch-screen PSP at the E3 conference today. Two versions will be coming to retailers: WiFi only, and  WiFi/3G models priced at $249 and $299 respectively. The New Playstation Vita will begin to incorporate the touchscreen gaming that have become popular with mobile a tablet device gamers. An app called “near” will alert you to other users who will be able to game with you over the network and what they are playing. There is only one cellular carrier available: AT&T.

The crew adopts Masta-Don into the fold for their sixty third adventure. Pete updates and reviews all the events that are transpiring in the War of the Green Lanterns by reviewing Green Lantern #66, Green Lantern Corps #60, and Green Lantern Emerald Warriors #10. Then Pete gives the low-down on DC Comics complete line re-launch. All news number ones, continuity, and how they are going to leave some stories in continuity. The crew reviews X-Men First Class, and then Craig gives us the Gaming News. PlayStation Network reboots, and  Xbox ramps up for E3 announcements including the new Diamond Membership. Randis covers the boy who sold his Kidney for an iPad 2, and Pete gives the news of another Sony hack, Car Apps that will kill you, and why the world needs an 8-foot wide 3D HDTV. Randis then gives us some sexually stimulating facts you may not know, and the crew answers your mail and questions.

Don’t forget to follow our Tweet Feed, and the KRULL Awareness Month Facebook page for updates and entries! We can’t wait to see what you come up with!!

July 14, 1861

Camp Clark, Washington DC

Dear Sarah:

The Indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days – perhaps tomorrow. And lest I should not be able to write you again I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I am no more.

I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter.  I know how American Civilization now leans upon the triumph of the government and how great a debt we owt to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. And I am willing- perfectly willing – to lay down all my joys in this life to help maintain this government, and to pay that debt.

Sarah, my love for you is deathless; it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but omnipotence can break: and yet my love of country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly with all those chains to the battlefield.  The memory of all the blissful moments I have enjoyed with you come crowding over me and I feel most deeply grateful to God and you that I have enjoyed them for so long.  And how hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes and future years, when, god willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and see our boys grown up to honorable manhood around us.

If I do not return, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I loved you, not that when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name…

Forgive my many faults and the many pains I have caused you.  How thoughtless, how foolish I have sometimes been!

But, O Sarah, if the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they love, I shall always be with you, in the brightest day and in the darkest night….

Always always. And when the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath, or the cool air your throbbing temple, it shall be y spirit passing by.

Sara do not mourn me dead: think I am gone and wait for me, for we shall meet again.

Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the 1^st Battle of Bull Run.

Now, Portal isn’t really a title known for its replay value. Once you know the solution of a puzzle, the mystery of how the hell to get across the map using a single set of portals is gone. Unless you have very short term memory and cannot recall anything from the past; then this game, like all games, will have plenty of replay value. Only time will tell if Valve has fixed this replay-ability problem.

• Gameplay  

• Graphics

• Multiplayer  

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjaWiXWP0rs

About 95% of the game is solving the puzzle of how to get to the other side of the map. From using the portal gun, blocks, levitation pads, and color-special gew, this is accomplished with sometimes no brain power, to a lot of brain power. You will feel sometime physically tired from thinking so hard on some of the puzzles. Your brain will be tested. Some of the more advanced maps require the combination of a lot of the special abilities and multiple portal activations. Just keep your mind free and it will come eventually.

The gameplay overall is very good. Much of the dialogue is hysterical, especially when the owner of Aperture Labs, Cave Johnson, begins to guide you in the game, who is played by J.K. Simmons, also known as J. Johna Jameson in the Spider-Man movies. He was the perfect choice to voice that kind of dialogue, direct and straight to the point (while places blame on others).

Solving a lot of the puzzles requires a great deal of timing, combinations and the mastery of death. A lot of the puzzles require what I call the “Leaps of Faith,” in which a jump requires a lot more momentum then just a simple walk through. Sometimes you have to launch yourself by jumping through one portal and coming out the other. Others require the use of blue, orange, or white gel to get across the map. Blue gel is used to make larger jumps then the normal character can pull off on her own. The higher you jump onto the blue gel, the higher you character will get. The orange gel is used to increase your run speed. This is used to make larger jumps using ramps and long hallways. So if you see either of those, it’s a good bet there is some orange gel somewhere. The white gel is the most useful. When painted on surfaces, it in turn, turns that surface into a surface that a portal can be formed. When carefully dispersed, you can paint the rooms with it, making every surface a good candidate for a portal. Made from moon dust, it is the most useful gel in the game (which is why you get it last). Some puzzles still require the use of all three gels; we can’t make them too easy to solve.

After taking that all in consideration, the campaign still has very little replay value. Once you know the solution, it is very easy to recall. However, the feeling of finally solving a puzzle after 30+ minutes of working it out is a good feeling.

This game is fun to play, but only on the initial run-through.

Anyone ever played Left 4 Dead 2??? Well that’s what these graphics are. That gritty look but with more lighting is what this game uses. Valve used the same engine it used in L4D2 and it really shows. Want to believe me??  Check out the main menu when you boot up the game. It is identical. I’m not saying the graphics were bad, just that there is no difference to that of a previous title. This game has a very simple gameplay concept and only requires simple graphics. No need to clutter the screen with useless crap. The clean environment actually makes you feel like you are actually a science experiment or a rat in the maze trying to find the cheese. That’s the point of the game.

The graphics work for this title. Now had Portal 2 been Gears of War or Halo: Reach, it would have been a huge disappointment because those titles require the latest and greatest graphics.

The graphics just work for this game. Simple graphics + Simple gameplay = GREAT GAME

Multiplayer within Portal 2 is much like the single player campaign but even more complex. Because there are 2 players, your team has 2 sets of portals to navigate yourself and objects across the different maps. Your team is playing as a pair of robots who are built and destroyed at GLaDOS will. This provides even more mind-numbing puzzles and will test your knowledge. It is very fun but you have to cooperate. You will not succeed unless you have a smart and cooperative buddy. The multiplayer can be played offline and online; so grab a buddy and go to town. It is very fun. There are 5 courses with about 8 puzzles each. Some of the puzzles require effective timing and can be annoying but when you succeed you will love each other.

OVERALL

Overall Portal 2 is a fabulous game. It rich, clean environment make it very fun to play but I can’t find that promised continued play out of it. Even in the multiplayer, one you know the solution it is very easy to recall and solve the puzzle, which takes the fun out of it. It is a great game for practicing your puzzle solving skills but fails to meet continued playability unless you are helping a lot of your friends out going after achievements. Overall I give this game a 8.5 out of 10. It is a great game but again suffers from a variety of courses.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Krull/111920722153897?ref=ts&sk=info

And apparently out of the whole world, there are 9,981 fans of that page, which has a Wikipedia entry, and some photos. So, for shits and giggles, Giggaheim put together it’s own Facebook page for Krull Awareness you can “like” and be part of here:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_175307965859304

If that link doesn’t work, feel free to bitch at us: podcast@gigaheim.com, and we will give you an invite to the open group. Make it what you will my friends!

1)    52 titles will be rebooted in September. Roughly, all of them. All. Of. Them. All new  number one issues. Collectors, Start your Engines…

2)    Jim Lee and Geoff Johns took great pains to bring dead titles (Deadman, Aquaman, Hawkman) back to life, and redesign them to match modern design esthetics (Flash, Wonder Woman) so they will be new books.

3)    Day & Date digital releases. This got me going. I’ve wanted this since I got my grubby hands on an iPad. Why go down to the comic store when I can be ANYWHERE and read? Why take up room in the house you will fight with your loved ones over, when everything lives in the cloud? And for the collectors? Holy crap, windfall. These number ones could actually be worth something since so many of us are migrating to a digital frontier, much less the treasures we have in our long boxes?

4)    Retailers are going to be nervous. Very nervous. With the digital frontier calling loudly, the local comic book store is now panicked. They were facing this crisis down for the past couple of years, but now they have to face the same problem records stores faced at the turn of the century. What game stores will face soon.

So we’re looking at new continuity? I honestly don’t think so. Look at the new cover for Justice League International. That would not have happened unless the past 52 weeks of comics happened. All of these teaser comics we got today are related to Brightest Day. Except JLA…

Does DC need a company wide reboot?

Eh, hard to tell. It would be silly to dynamite all the new Green Lantern Mythology that has been introduced over the past decade. Batman is gathering a family, and Barry Allen is back (sort of). But, Superman is walking the Earth as if he was inspired by Samuel Jackson in Pulp Fiction. JLA, what should be the company’s flagship title, is a goddamn disaster. Most of DC Comics’ top title haven’t been winning more market share, or keeping fans. Superman is a great example.

Would they really reboot it all?

Well, they’ve painted themselves in a corner, and a time-travel induced wipe-out would be a tidy way to do it. In this case, they have to reboot it all, despite Zatanna pulling in good numbers for a magic book, and Batman coming back from the dead, and other comics doing really, really well. This isn’t a situation to compromise. They have before, like the end of Crisis, but it eventually caused a lot of problems. But, would DC really pull the trigger?Well, JMS gave a lovely sound bite about how Earth-1 Superman helped them off the ledge into this new chasm. Would they really wipe out a good thing for some other books. As Spock says: The needs of the many….

So What do I do in September?

Read comics. If you love them, read them? If you hate the idea of watching rerun comics, and having to pull another 12 issue of Hal Jordan’s “Secret Origin”, don’t pull them. The beauty of this market is that it is saturated with great stories and art. So now is the time to experiment with other things. Try an indie title, or a title from another publisher that always intrigued you. This is your moment to be brave.

Me? I’m going to watch the summer go by, and then decide on this. Digital has me all jazzed, but if I wind up pulling the beginning of the Flash one more time, I will be off to more creative pastures. I’m glad DC has the stones to try something this big, but I also have a feeling a lot of it is going to be an alternate Earth rug-pull. So, if I were you, sit back, and watch DC’s marketing department got to work this summer. It should be beautiful.

With that we can get our free PSN Plus subscriptions and our 2 free games. HEHE

HUMMMMM, it seems Rockstar Games has come up with an awesome way to sell more DLC to users across the various services. With the “Rockstar Pass,” which will retail for 800 MSP ($10), will grant you continuous access to all future LA Noire DLC in the future. I seem to like that more especially since all I have to do is schedule a download instead of making sure I can afford the counts DLC coming out over all the games.

Act fast though, the price will increase to $12 on June 14th.

Corning created a fantastic video called A Day Made of Glass, and it makes me hopeful. The world could be a gorgeous place of glass and bright horzons. And also filled with Glass cleaner, germ wipes, and a sharp raise in people with Mysophobia. Anyways, this is the future it feels like I have been promised all those years.

October 19^th 1805

HMS Victory

Cadiz ESE, 16 Leagues

My dearest beloved Emma, the dear friend of my bosom, the signal has been made that the enemy’s combined fleet are coming out of port.  We have very little wind, so that I have no hopes of seeing them before tomorrow. May the God of battles crown my endeavors with success, at all events, I will take care that my name shall be ever most dear to you and Horatia, both of whom I love as much as my own life.  And as my least writing before the battle will be to you, so I hope in god that I shall live to finish my letter after the battle.  May heaven bless you, prays your nelson and Bronte.

October 20^th

In the morning we are close to the mouth of the stairs, but the wind had not come far enough t6o the westward to allow the combined fleets to weather the shoals off Trafalgar; but they were counted as far as forty sail of ships of War, which I suppose to by thirty-four of the line and six Frigates.  A group of them was seen off the lighthouse of Cadiz this morning but it blows so very fresh and thick weather that I rather believe they will go into the harbor before night.  May god almighty give us success over these fellows, and enable us to get a Peace.

Rocksteady games has officially announced (early I might add) that Batman will not be the only playable character in Batman Arkham City. See will have her own combat symbol and her own gadgets. This makes my achievement list for the game just a bit bigger. As you might have noticed lately, more and more developers are releasing there games later in the year which is just annihilating my wallet. SIGHHHH!!!!

Fable 3 is now available via Games on Demand on Xbox Live. It retails for $39.99 and is 5.61 GBs in size. If you haven’t already purchased the game and have been meaning too, have at it. All-be-it is a little buggy and sometimes the game can corrupt your save (which I did not experience), it is still a very good game. The experience is much much better then the previous sequel. So if you want to purchase it, head on over to the link below and purchase the sucker.

For those that don’t want to purchase it yet, there is a demo also available on Xbox Live for Gold members only.

Click Here to purchase Fable 3

But what is the point of these options to communicate if you do not take full advantage.  Back in the turn of the century and Victorian, Queen Elizabeth era; love letters were the ONLY way of communication.  Men would send letters declaring their love of another.  People would be bribed to send these letters sometimes risking their lives to make sure the person received these declarations of love.

What am I saying?  Send a love letter! When was the last time you received a handwritten note from someone? So, how do you write a love letter?  Here is a guideline for creating a love letter.

There is no wrong way, per say, of writing a love letter, they are suppose to take in all your emotions and thoughts on someone and put into words. However, if you have a problem getting started there is a guideline you can always go with and get your thoughts clear.

-        Why do you love your other half or person?

-        What emotion besides love are you trying to convey – humor, sentimental, super sappy?

-        What physical characteristics do you love about the person – do not get perverted, this is about love not boning.

-        What do they do for you?  They bring out the best in you, they support your crazy ideas.

-        Using your special nicknames if you have any for the person ie. hunny, bunny, sugar tits, etc

-        What is your general message for the letter?

I do suggest if you do this to handwrite it and mail it.  Email and text are there and of course it is the thought that counts, but you get more of the emotion from someone when you handwrite something.

The best part of declaring your love for someone on paper – what better way for them to have something they can read over and over again, especially when there is a fight later on (cause lets be honest, you will eventually fight) and what is better then to have something you put so much work into on your side during that time.

Wanna win one? We are having caption contests, twitter follower contests, and there will be a special Grand Prize at the last podcast for June. So, listen to the podcast, and have fun this month with one of our favorite movies: Krull.

Be sure to check it out on Spike TV or Xbox.com at 12:30 ET. I’ll be watching and trying to keep you guys updated. We’ll work things out to make sure that happens.

Chortle

I think one more series to really say goodbye to the characters and the fans,’ he told Chortle. ‘I’m not rushing into it because I don’t want it to be a zombie series where the show is dead but its body is still moving around.

Oh farewell IT Crowd. You were a jewel, and Thank you for not stretching out a show for the sake of more seasons.

Craig, Randis and Pete gather for a Memorial Day podcast. Pete reviews Joe Kubert’s Dong Xoai, Vietnam 1965 to get into the mood of the holiday. After comics news about ComicCon International’s Office, and speculating on the baddie for the Avengers movie, Craig gives us a sneak peek at E3: Gears of War 3, Modern Warfare 3, and the new Nintendo console. Pete and Craig review Portal 2, and then, inspired by letters from the front, Randis tells us how and why to write a love letter. And then the gang pulls together an official War Movie List.

It looks….samey. The release date is now December 13, 2013. Lucky!!

Dong Xoai, Vietnam 1965

Our mission at the Giggaheim is to always keep you hip, and if you do not know who Joe Kubert is, or have heard of The Kubert School, feel free to investigate those links first. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Reason I send you across the net to Wikipedia, is that I could spend all day writing about the works of Joe Kubert, and his vast catalog of comics work. But, the great professor recently assembled a fantastic book, and schooled everyone on the graphic novel form of story telling.

I bought this book after listening to other podcasters drone on and on about how great it was. I won’t lie, Vietnam isn’t really a war I am in to. World War II, the American Civil War, and the War of 1812 are probably conflicts that I could read about until my eyes fall out. Vietnam has never held my interest due to the plethora of gritty movies, and over-the-top media that seemed to sensationalize the conflict and how it changed America.

Dong Xoai, is a story I was immersed in. I captivated me from all angles of my interest. The commonality of the soldiers stories, the careful accounting of the true tales of the Dong Xoai Battle, and the masterful crafting of the story and illustrations. Joe Kubert presents an account of these American soldiers as they try and complete a mission they were tasked with. Frankly, I’m not going to write down the plot points, it would ruin the experience for you. This truly is an experience, and any more pontification here would only rob you of it.

I will, however, laud the panels and illustrations by Joe Kubert here. The book doesn’t read or flow, as you would traditionally expect. The loose pencils give the reader a genuine feeling that an illustrator had been assigned to the unit to chronicle the events within the book, and the journal was only now just published. It’s intimate, gritty, and inspiring. Everything the movies fail to achieve. If you enjoy the graphic novel medium, and you want to dive into a war-themed book, Dong Xoai is a book that will grip you by the collar and deliver an experience short of enlisting.

Might first suggestion comes from of a more recent title. Of course, I mean Black Ops.

Call of Duty Black Ops posses that of both great fun and an awesome campaign. Get a group of friends and see if you can find those fighting for our country right now across from the world. Try and go easy on them; for they are fighting an even greater fight in real life.

Civil War Adventure

I recently reviewed this title for Free Comic Book Day on Podcast 61, and thought it was a brilliant collection of short stories, much like Weird War Tales. However, this isn’t a trippy, strange tales collection. Chuck Dixon (G.I.Joe, Batman, Green Lantern) has assembled a fantastic historical fiction over at History Graphics Press.

Like I mentioned on the podcast, these books remind me of Marvel’s Illustrated Classics comics. Books that were meant for ages 10 and up, and had some fascinating stories, and factoids that kept young readers memorized and interested in history. The Free Comic Book Day edition is a fantastic taste of what is accomplished in every issue. You get 2 gritty tales from the war between the states, and a guide to amputation in the back. Everything a growing boy needs to fuel his imagination.

Now, I am a Civil War buff. I grew up in Virginia, and US 1 is named Jeff Davis Highway. You can spit into the wind and hit a Civil War battlefield. I was surrounded by history, and the more you dig into the American Civil War, the stranger it gets. Tales of men writing home on hard tack crackers, the amount of unbridled slaughter, the technological advances, and the fact that one of the war’s largest battles was fought over shoes makes the war that united the states a fascinating subject.

Chuck Dixon and the team at History Graphics Press have a bottomless well to draw from, and I certainly hope that this book has an extraordinary shelf life. It is a fascinating read for all ages bringing entertainment and education in 22 illustrated pages.

Weird War Tales

Published by DC Comics in 1971, the book ran 124 issues until 1983. Weird War Tales featured stories from the battlefield that had “strange” overtones of supernatural suspense and mystery. Think The Twilight Zone, but with a concurrent military theme. This book wasn’t a throw-away experiment to see if they could publish a suspense-horror book though, and the amount of talent on the book is an all-star line-up that makes the Dream Team look like a gaggle of pedestrians trying to order coffee at Starbucks. Here’s a just a few alumn:

J. M. DeMatteis

Arnold Drake

Steve Englehart

Garth Ennis

Joe Kubert

Alfredo Alcala

Reed Crandall

Frank Miller

Alex Niño

Walt Simonson

Alex Toth

The books are always a collage of Done–In-One tales, and have always been an enjoyable read. Better still, for you collectors out there, the books are a collection of first appearances, and are relatively inexpensive to track down.

Recently, Weird War Tales had a revamp from DC Comics with another all-star line-up:

Darwyn Cooke

Dave Stewart

Gabriel Hartman

Nic Klien

Steve Pugh

This particular volume came out in November, 2010, and you can probably find it in the dollar bin of your local comic book retailer, and I reviewed it on Podcast 28. So if you want a war-related comic that is more sci-fi short story, than historical fiction, pick up any copy of Weird War Tales.

There’s one shuttle mission left, and it’s in July (Atlantis-11:40 a.m. (EST) July 8^th , 2011 to be precise). But the exploration of space won’t end there. (Just launching humans from Florida, a vehicle that you can use over and over again, and looks freaking bad-ass.)

To give us dreams of the stars again, NASA has unveiled the MPCV, which stands for Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle. Lockheed Martin will be building a 4-person craft that can explore space for 21 days, dock with the International Space Station, and “Is 10 times safer upon re-entry of Earth” according to NASA. Pretty Bad-ass eh? Loos like NASA will let the private sector have local space for uber-rich tourists, and get down to the business of exploring he rest of the infinite cosmos.

So, fans of space and the Giggaheim we ask you this: Just how far into space will 10.5 days get you in this thing?

So a group called Lutz Security targeted Sony Music Japan, and worked their way in via an SQL injection and published the details online. No personal data was touched, but could be accessed. Lutz made their point to attack the company, and not the users, and reinforced their idea with this quote:

“This isn’t a 1337 h4x0r, we just want to embarrass Sony some more.”

What do your parents do for a living? This opens the door to discuss their parents and also get insight on their past.  It will also show you what kind of relationship they have with their parents.  And as you heard on the podcast a couple of weeks ago, parents play a huge role in someone’s attraction in the opposite sex.

What kind of music do you like? A very simple question indeed but it will show someone’s creativity and music compatibility will definitely help the odds in the relationship working out.  This is also a very easy first date question that can create much conversation.

If you could wake up with a super power, what would it be? This is a silly question, I suggest gauging how the date is going before using this question, if you guys are having a fun good time, have at it – if there is awkwardness going on, I suggest holding off on this question.  However if you think it is good to ask, it would be fun to know what they would chose and why.  Your date would have the ability to control weather like storm? Why? This question would be fun and again create a good sized amount of conversation with getting to know the person’s why of thinking.

What is your favorite book/what are you reading right now? Let’s face it, if you are listening to this podcast you most likely in to reading and gather information.  This question is to make sure the person is on your same level without seeming full of yourself.

What do you do for work? This question should be obvious.  But I’ll spell it out; you want to know someone can take care of themselves.  Due to the economy, this answer could go different ways, if they are unemployed why?  Please note when asking this question, be sympathetic! They have a job, do they like it?  They do not have a job, why? Are they looking?  If they spend all day playing videogames and NOT looking for work if unemployed, they are not a winner.

Are you a dog or cat person? This question opens the door for a fun banter back and forth because people do have strong opinions on this but the majority of people will not consider this a deal-breaker if they do not agree.

What is you favorite electronic right now? From listening to Giggaheim podcast you know how many different electronics are there right now and how quickly they change.  Discuss someone’s electronics and you will probably see their excitement while explaining them.  They just got an IPad and love it, why?  They FINALLY were able to update their playstation – what do they think? This subject could definitely take up some talking time!

Have you ever tried an online dating site? Of course this will only work if you DID NOT met on a dating site, however, asking them what brought them to a dating site will substitute if you did.  This question will give you an idea of how serious they are in the dating aspect.  How hard are they trying to date someone?

What do you like to do on your free time? This is a generic question, but something that is expected to be asked.  I personally always have a hard time answering as I am a very laid back person and things I do just happen at the moment.  However, this is a good gauge on if you and that person will get along well – some people opposites attract, but you do need to start off with things in common.  If you love rollercoaster and go every weekend, but the person you are out with only likes to stay in and play video games then that will make things hard at first!

What annoys you about people? I think this question is interesting and FUN.  People with big brains – like The Craig – tend to get annoyed with “normal” brained people, so asking on your date will create a fun conversation, plus it will give you hints on things to try and not do if you really like the person.  When someone is able to bitch about a subject to someone it will break down the guard someone puts up, especially on the first date.  It is like when you have a fight with someone and then make up it, strengths your relationship – same concept.

Try out some of these questions on your first date and write into Giggaheim and tell me how they went! Podcast@giggaheim.com

Pete reviews Free Comic Book Day selections Bongo Comics Free for All, Captain America Thor: The Mighty Fighting Avengers, Young Justice Batman The Brave and the Bold Super Sampler, and Civil War Adventure. After comics news about Amazon Kindle selling more eBooks than books, and Schwartzenegger’s cancelled comics Governator. Dark Knight Rises’ Bane is revealed, Star Tours Reopens, and Craig reviews Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides. Craig then updates us on the return of the Playstation Network and Paypal updates for XboxLive. Without Doug, Pete fills in at the Tech News desk with the Foxconn Explosion at the iPad plant, the first computer to run Google’s Chrome OS, and EA is already developing for the new Xbox. Randis tells us about the best questions to start conversation on a first date, and we answer your questions from our Facebook Page.

Truth is this production is based in Manchester, England (Home of the Manchester United, Duh) and will be touring the world July 19^th. Batman Live will feature Dick Grayson putting on the Robin suite and fighting Joker, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, The Penguin, and other Batman villains Don’t fret, Batman shows up here and there. Look for Batman Live coming to your town in the near future.

Muddycolors.com has a brilliant collection of here work you can view here.

No, it isn’t some crazy comics villain. It’s this crazy video.

Straight from the WHAT THE @#$% DID I JUST WATCH files comes this guy who lost a bet. Nyan Cat Man, you are the Giggaheim’s WTF??? of the Week.

We also feel like this merits a caption contest.So comment below for a winning caption!

The Giggaheim is saddened to hear the Randy “The Macho Man” Savage died today in Tampa, Florida. TMZ is reporting the famed wrestler suffered from a heart-attack and crashed his car headlong into a tree.

The Macho Man (and Elizabeth) was probably one of my favorite wrestlers of all times, and his time in both the WWF (Screw the new WWE name. Suck it pandas.) and his time in the WCW made it a golden era. His flying elbow was an artistic form that no other wrestler has been able to mimic, a truly singular entity. You will be missed Macho Man.

Oooooooooohhhh Yeeeeaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!

An idea launched on TheDarkKnightRises.WarnerBrothers.com that a muffled audio loop would repeated a message that internet sleuths uncovered: #thefirerises.

On to twitter. If you followed or retweeted #thefirerises, small bits of the Bane picture would appear. When the magic number of retweets and followers was reached, the teaser image was revealed.

Viola!

http://www.thedarkknightrises.com/image.html

Kudos for a great campaign WB, looking forward to more!

Spinoff Online confirms that despite the two weeks of shooting in India, Warner Brothers announced that Christopher Nolan as begun “Principle Photography” on the last installment of his Batman Trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises.

Warner Brothers was also good enough to publish a press release with official casting and confirming that the IMAX cameras are back in action:

Principal photography has begun on Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ “The Dark Knight Rises,” the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy.

Leading an all-star international cast, Oscar® winner Christian Bale (“The Fighter”) again plays the dual role of Bruce Wayne/Batman.

The film also stars Anne Hathaway, as Selina Kyle; Tom Hardy, as Bane; Oscar® winner Marion Cotillard (“La Vie en Rose”), as Miranda Tate; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as John Blake.

Returning to the main cast, Oscar® winner Michael Caine (“The Cider House Rules”) plays Alfred; Gary Oldman is Commissioner Gordon; and Oscar® winner Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”) reprises the role of Lucius Fox.

In helming “The Dark Knight Rises,” Christopher Nolan is utilizing IMAX® cameras even more extensively than he did on “The Dark Knight,” which had marked the first time ever that a major feature film was partially shot with IMAX® cameras. The results were so spectacular that the director wanted to expand the use of the large-format cameras for this film.

The screenplay for “The Dark Knight Rises” is written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer. The film is being produced by Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Charles Roven, who previously teamed on “Batman Begins” and the record-breaking blockbuster “The Dark Knight.” The executive producers are Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Kevin De La Noy and Thomas Tull, with Jordan Goldberg serving as co-producer. “The Dark Knight” is based upon characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by Bob Kane.

Behind the scenes, “The Dark Knight Rises” reunites the director with several of his longtime collaborators, all of whom worked together on the “The Dark Knight.” The creative team includes director of photography Wally Pfister, who recently won an Oscar® for his work on Nolan’s “Inception”; production designer Nathan Crowley; editor Lee Smith; and Oscar®-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming (“Topsy-Turvy”). In addition, Paul Franklin and Chris Corbould, who both won Oscars® for the effects in “Inception,” will supervise the visual and special effects, respectively. The music will be composed by Oscar® winner Hans Zimmer (“The Lion King”).

The locations for “The Dark Knight Rises” span three continents and include the American cities of Pittsburgh, New York and Los Angeles, as well as sites in India, England and Scotland.

“The Dark Knight Rises” is a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures, in association with Legendary Pictures. Slated for release on July 20, 2012, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

 

Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by ANDY KUBERT
Variant cover by ANDY KUBERT
Variant cover by IVAN REIS and GEORGE PÉREZ

Well, that went fast (Wokka Wokka, I’ll be here all night).

But seriously folks, The Flash #12 was finally on stands, and just in time to bridge to DC Comics’ cross-over event book of 2011, Flashpoint. Actually, you could skip Flash #12, it doesn’t really illuminate anything on Flashpoint, other than Reverse Flash has figured out a pant-load more powers from the Speedforce than we traditionally know. I just hope Geoff Johns wrote a Thank-you note to Mark Waid.

So, what happened? It’s hard to review this bad boy without spoilers, so sorry kids. Click the plus sign to get the full low-down.

 
So how did I like Flashpoint #1? Well, I’m a bit 50/50 on it to tell the truth. You all know from the podcast that I love, love, love alternate DC Universes and Elseworlds Tales. But this seemed hurried and strange. I don’t have any problems with quality, but I’m indifferent to Flashpoint #2. I’m not anticipating it. I’m a fan of the Flash, but the current series was a great book to snuggle to before bed. Nothing really challenged me or made me want to keep reading. So what’s my problem?

The artwork by Andy Kubert is fantastic. No doubt his pencils are what I was missing with The Flash series. Kolins and Manapul are good artists, but their style doesn’t do anything for me. Back on Flashpoint, Kubert does a fantastic job of illustrating deep panels full of detail that illuminate everything that is going on. What would take another artists to setup in three panels is accomplished in one. And the layouts remind me of one of my favorite “Event Books”, Identity Crisis. Intimate panels of Barry hugging his mother, and high-energy panels of Batman swinging over Gotham are just brilliant. What the real achievement here is the unnerved feeling the reader experiences. I was out of my skin when exploring this strange new world. I wasn’t sure what was happening, much like Barry Allen.

The writing accomplished the same amount of bewilderment. Really Geoff? A cold start in a time-altered story? Well….mission accomplished. I was experiencing this story with cynicism until we reached the part with Batman. Then I realized Johns was playing me, and playing me like a 2-bit fiddle. Crapola. He hit all the right beats. He made a strange world that would make you guess if it came from Morrison, but it was more grounded, and explained it’s nature to you. He crafted an intriguing story that has potential to go the whole distance.

So why don’t I care about issue #2? I think I am actually afraid of issue #2. Hear me out. Johns and Kubert have altered my comfortable world of comics. All those years of reading Teen Titans, The Flash, JLA feel like they were flushed away, and they could very well be altered. There could be a real consequence here. This isn’t the same old bullshit of Batman is dead, Batman is lost in Time, and 9 months later Batman is back.  Hell, DC Comics announced that there is only one title in August, Flashpoint. I think DC Comics grew a pair of chrome-plated balls, and they are committing to this thing. This isn’t the great fake out that Final Crisis was. This could really fuck things up.

Would I recommend this to everyone? I think you have to be a fan of DC Comics. I think you have to pull more than two titles to really enjoy this book. It’s not for the buy who just likes Batman, it’s for the comic reader who enjoys the DCU. And hell, I’ve written more in this review than I have for two issues of Fear Itself.

For some Elfquest was a weird fantasy comic, but this indie comic by Wendy and Richard Pini joins a special group of  followed artwork. The group of fans who love Babylon 5, Dr. Who, and Firefly. Small groups of vehement fans for whom Elfquest hit all the right buttons. Well, now you can read all 65,000 pages of Elfquest online at Elfquest.com. Donations are welcome, but if you want to sample the series, it is free online.

Attention Florida Residents and vacationers! This weekend kicks off the Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s MGM Studios. Here is the official schedule of events:

May 20 to 22
Anthony Daniels (C-3PO)
Daniel Logan (Episode II Boba Fett)
Special Guest: Dave Filoni (Supervising Director, Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

May 27 to 29
Anthony Daniels (C-3PO)
Bruce Spence (Tion Medon)
Voice Talent Guest: Dee Bradley Baker (Captain Rex, Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

June 3 to 5
Ray Park (Darth Maul)
Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett)
Voice Talent Guest: Matt Lanter (Anakin, Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

June 10 to 12
Ray Park (Darth Maul)
Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca)
Voice Talent Guest: Tom Kane (Yoda, Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

Thursday we posted the TV Spots that are running for the return of Star Tours, and sure enough the ride will be relaunched May 20^th. The ride is a simulated 3D experience, so grab your fast pass, your lightsaber (For crowd control), head to Orlando, and May the Force Be With You.

E3 is the world’s largest gaming show, but Valve won’t be there. In an email to bloggers, reporters and other new hounds, Valve stated the following:

“[We] are not showing any titles at this year’s show, so no appointment is needed.”

This comes a disappointing news for fans of Valve’s Games. Anticipation had grown for its upcoming titles DotA 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode 3. Updates on Portal 2, and any other Valve games are now delayed.

Word from Middle Earth is that two BIG celebrities have joined the cast for Peter Jackson’s: The Hobbit. Straight from the annals of geekdom comes Stephen Fry. If you have to google/IMDB his name SHAME ON YOU. But if you must have some sort of resume/CV, he was in V for Vendetta, the narrator of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and star of Fry and Laurie (Brittan’s version of Terrance and Philip) (not really). Fry will be playing the Master of Laketown.

Secondly is a star big in stature: Conan Stevens. The Giggaheim would like to know if all children named Conan are destined to be tall. At 7-feet, Conan Stevens is currently known as Ser Gregor Clegane on Game of Thrones. In The Hobbit, he will be Azog the Orc.

If you want Giggaheim to spoon-feed you the news, we’ll let you, but if you want to eat at the big kid’s table of Fandom, follow Peter Jackson’s Facebook page for the latest updates.

Ty Templeton’s Website is a cornucopia of fantastic pencils and imagination. His art of Batman from the comic series Batman & Robin Adventures, the incredible gallery of cover art, and his Templetoons offer a fun look underneath the hood of the well-oiled comic book publishing machine. Below is a recent entry of Bun Toons that feature the currently popular Norse God of Marvel Comics, Thor. An ingenious breakdown of Thor that cannot go unnoticed.

Thanks, Ty!

Now that certain PSN services have been restored and you’re once again enjoying online gaming, it seems a good time to confirm what is being offered as part of the Welcome Back programme.

Once we restore PlayStation Store, which will be just a little while longer, you will have the opportunity to claim your Welcome Back gifts. Please note that the Welcome Back programme is only available for those countries with access to PlayStation Store*.

All existing PlayStation Network members will be able to access the following from PlayStation Store*:

Two PS3 games from the following list:

• LittleBigPlanet
• Infamous*
• Wipeout HD/Fury
• Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty
• Dead Nation*

For those with PSP accounts, you will also be eligible to download two PSP games from the following list:

• LittleBigPlanet PSP
• ModNation PSP
• Pursuit Force
• Killzone Liberation*

- 30 days free PlayStation Plus membership for non PS Plus subscribers*

- Existing PlayStation Plus subscribers will be given 60 days free subscription.

- For existing Music Unlimited subscribers, you will be given 30 days free subscription.

- We are working on a Welcome Back offer in PlayStation Home and will share that when it is confirmed.

I would like to thank all of the developers and publishers involved in this programme for their support in making this happen. We certainly couldn’t have done it without you.

You will be able to access this content once PlayStation Store comes back online and we are doing everything we can to make that happen as soon as possible.

Thank you for your support and keep checking back on the blog for more information.

1. For eligibility for the welcome back programme consumers must be an account holder on 20 April 2011. Specific details about these offers and eligibility requirements will be posted as the services go live. All existing PSN registrants have 30 days from when the welcome back programme goes live to redeem their content.
2. For the German market, InFamous and Dead Nation will be replace with Super Stardust HD and Hustle Kings in the selection of PS3 games.
3. For the German market, Pursuit Force and Killzone Liberation will be replaced with Everybody’s Golf 2 and Buzz Junior Jungle Party in the selection of PSP games. Killzone Liberation will not offer online gameplay functionality.
4. Access to the 30 days free PS Plus subscription is only available for those countries where PS Plus is offered. You will have access to the PS Plus content planned for May for 30 days. Access to the free games and exclusive features finishes at the end of the 30-day subscription period. Anything you buy with exclusive discounts, dynamic themes and premium avatars are yours to keep forever.

Check out the blog post by Sony by visiting their blog. http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2011/05/16/details-of-the-welcome-back-programme-for-scee-users-2/

The crew come together for podcast 60 to keep you hip. Pete has a dichotomy of comics when he reviews Fear Itself #2 and Irredeemable #25. Then Pete covers the news of a real life Batman, Spider-man Turn Off the Dark, Wonder Woman’s TV rejection, and cheaper BluRays. Craig tells us about a rerelease of Mortal Kombat Classics, answers listener questions about the Playstation Network, and gives us a sneak peek at this year’s largest gaming conference: E3. Pete tries to fill in for Doug on tech with a load of Google Android updates, Netflix’s stance on TV, Hulu’s deals with TV, and Apple’s hardware lockdown. Then Randis tells us about the importance of appearances and the crew answers more of your questions from Twitter and Facebook.

Don’t forget to download the Giggaheim.com mobile iPhone app available now for free on the Apple App Store. Stream eveypodcast straight to your mobile device and stay hip with the latest news and reviews for comic books, video games, technology and dating advice for geeks.

How does the Giggaheim know this? Hell it’s been all over he news, but the City of Petosky released this press release to that effect:

Apparently a man who would be the Caped-Crusader, Mark Williams, got arrested for it. The 31-year old man apparently was going to be vengeance in the night, but didn’t have a permit for it, and wound up going to jail. According to some social media profiles of his, he likes batman, and his interests are comics and action figures. Hope you listen to the show Mark, and we’d love to have you on for an interview.

Smile, it’s Friday! And hey, if life has you down, just remember that things can always be worse. For your viewing pleasure, straight from YouTube, here is the TV spot for the newly revamped Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark. The musical has had a $5,000,000 overhaul and 3 weeks to prepare for its premiere. I certainly hope there won’t be any further news items that we will report on the podcast.

Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasn’t always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn’t stand each other. Monsters University unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends.

An there it is. Not a lot, eh?

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6CQp-gdUzA

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92Lg5ew9xI4

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOt1_G5xQSQ

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqDnAofUgIQ

Seriously. This TV spot has converted me. And what better way to get into X-Men? It’s probably one of the most prolific and convoluted storylines in comics, and in the movies it could get even weirder with sequels a prequels screwing up our perception of Marvel’s mutants. But, this looks like it is in the true spirit of First Class. A young team, and a wide-eyed world that has to accept the ideas of mutants among them.

I’m in.

NBC has turned down David E. Kelly’s Wonder Woman pilot. Test screenings had earned “mixed reviews”, and NBC didn’t see fit to buy it. I guess we will have to wait a while longer to see a live action Wonder Woman again.

Jackson commented:

“The Hobbit is being filmed in 3D. Even wizards have to wear the glasses. Snapped by Peter Jackson in Wellington, 2011.”

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKv3b9Oi4xA

CORUSCANT — Obi-Wan Kenobi, the mastermind of some of the most devastating attacks on the Galactic Empire and the most hunted man in the galaxy, was killed in a firefight with Imperial forces near Alderaan, Darth Vader announced on Sunday.

If you haven’t been reading the Times, and you are a Star Wars fan then shame on you and your house. But, since we at the Giggaheim like to keep you hip, We were glad to share this fun news with you. Check out the Galactic Empire Times regularly. It’s a treat!

~Peter

In the teaser we see:

Abin Sur as a violent Green Lantern

Looks like a crazy Batman is giving Barry Allen the business

Gorilla Grodd looking angry as always

Wonder Woman being militant

A Tidal Wave wiping out Paris

The Seven Soldiers charging into battle

A baby?

X-ray people

Some sort of sorcerer (Comment below)

And the flash in lightning, and with spears pointed at him.

So what do you think? Gonna be good, or a money-sucking vampire event that will leave your wallet empty as your hopes for good comics?

Throw down some comments, and we will read them on the next podcast!

Click for full size.

Click for full size.

It’s Mother’s Day 2011 and the crew get together to talk Comics, Video Games, Technology, and Dating Advice to Geeks. Pete Reviews Avengers issue 12.1, and reviews the top 10 worst and top 10 best mothers in comics. After the crew reviews the first Summer blockbuster, Thor, Craig reveals that the PlayStation Network has missed its relaunch window. He also tells us which video game artwork made it to the Smithsonian, and Xbox Live made it easier for people in the armed forces to sign on. Doug Tells us people are jumping ship from T-Mobile, and you can buy a trip to the Moon. The Randis encourages us all to go outside, and interact with people.

Click for full size.

CNet is reporting that the same group that attacked and successfully took down the Sony Playstation Network will attack it yet again today. Disappointing news for PS3 players since today was the day that the Playstation Network was supposed to be testing to be up again. So I guess we will see if the Sony admins have shored things up, or if they are still venerable. Perhaps we can get TWO whole months of network service, and another mask to go with our free Batman mask for our avatars?

The podcast gets back on schedule after being thrown off by the impending shuttle launch. Pete reviews the end of DC Comics’ Brightest Day series with Brightest Day #24 and Justice League Generation Lost #24. He also reviews Suicide Girls #1 before heading into comics and movies news. Apparently Superman isn’t an American and the Avengers’ script was stolen. Craig updates us on Sony’s Playstation identity theft debacle, EA delays Mass Effect 3, and new maps have been release for Call of Duty Black Ops. Doug gives us tips to prevent identity theft, updates us on Apple’s big brother policies, and gives us news on Nvida’s loss in the chip markets. Then Randis explores the notion of chivalry when courting.

“What I thought was wouldn’t it be funny if I came up with an idea that was like brilliant – and had all these other ideas, kind of, embedded in it…. Hey this is the 21st century people want to expand everything into multiple platforms, into games and all sorts of things, so what if I embraced that, what if I came up with a concept that could spin out into all sorts of things that I believe, in the way that I wanted to… That would be quite diabolical, couldn’t it?

So yeah, I have been along the lines of al sorts of the stuff the you were mentioning.

All part of some kind of mega project which you really will have to wait to hear the rest of. But yeah, there’s possibly going to be some surprising stuff happening in the next twelve months.

But that’s as much as I can say. You didn’t hear it from me.

If you can make it through the thick cockney, and microphone quality you may get some insights here. Good Luck though….

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osWedGKFAQs

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_TppOw4M3E

Press release
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (May 4, 2011) – Bring home the adventure and share Star Wars™ with your whole family – when STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA comes to Blu-ray Disc from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment! To be released beginning on September 12 internationally and on September 16 in North America, the nine-disc collection brings the wonder of the entire Saga direct to your living room, where you can revisit all of your favorite Star Wars moments – in gorgeous high definition and with pristine, 6.1 DTS Surround Sound. Dive deeper into the universe with an unprecedented 40+ hours of special features, highlighted by never-before-seen content sourced from the Lucasfilm archives.

The comprehensive collection also features numerous deleted, extended and alternate scenes, new documentaries and a cross-section of the countless Star Wars spoofs that have appeared in pop culture over the past three decades. Marking the first time ever that the full Saga is available in one complete collection, STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA ON BLU-RAY also features a coveted peek into the making of the Saga with vintage documentaries, audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes moments, interviews, prop and costume turnarounds, retrospectives and more.

Episodes I-III and IV-VI will also be available as distinct Blu-ray Trilogy collections.

Fans will get an exclusive first look at some of the collection´s extensive special features at this year´s San Diego Comic-Con International – which marks Lucasfilm´s 35th anniversary as a Comic-Con presence. In 1976, the fledgling film company was looking for innovative, grass-roots ways to promote its underdog release, a film no one expected to succeed – a space opera known (at the time) only as Star Wars. One of the first film companies to reach out directly to core audiences by way of fan conventions, Lucasfilm will return to the venue to showcase the full evolution of the epic story with a special first look at STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA ON BLU-RAY.

Special Features:

STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA ON BLU-RAY is presented in widescreen with 6.1 DTS Surround Sound. Special features include:

• DISC ONE – STAR WARS: EPISODE I THE PHANTOM MENACE
  • Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, John Knoll, Dennis Muren and Scott Squires
  • Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
• DISC TWO – STAR WARS: EPISODE II ATTACK OF THE CLONES
  • Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, Pablo Helman, John Knoll and Ben Snow
  • Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
• DISC THREE – STAR WARS: EPISODE IIIREVENGE OF THE SITH
  • Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Rob Coleman, John Knoll and Roger Guyett
  • Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
• DISC FOUR – STAR WARS: EPISODE IV A NEW HOPE
  • Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
  • Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
• DISC FIVE – STAR WARS: EPISODE V THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
  • Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
  • Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
• DISC SIX – STAR WARS: EPISODE VI RETURN OF THE JEDI
  • Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
  • Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
• DISC SEVEN – NEW! STAR WARS ARCHIVES: EPISODES I-III
  • Including: deleted, extended and alternate scenes; prop, maquette and costume turnarounds; matte paintings and concept art; supplementary interviews with cast and crew; a flythrough of the Lucasfilm Archives and more
• DISC EIGHT – NEW! STAR WARS ARCHIVES: EPISODES IV-VI
  • Including: deleted, extended and alternate scenes; prop, maquette and costume turnarounds; matte paintings and concept art; supplementary interviews with cast and crew; and more
• DISC NINE – THE STAR WARS DOCUMENTARIES
  • NEW! Star Warriors (2007, Color, Apx. 84 Minutes) – Some Star Wars fans want to collect action figures…these fans want to be action figures! A tribute to the 501st Legion, a global organization of Star Wars costume enthusiasts, this insightful documentary shows how the super-fan club promotes interest in the films through charity and volunteer work at fundraisers and high-profile special events around the world.
  • NEW! A Conversation with the Masters: The Empire Strikes Back 30 Years Later (2010, Color, Apx. 25 Minutes) – George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Lawrence Kasdan and John Williams look back on the making of The Empire Strikes Back in this in-depth retrospective from Lucasfilm created to help commemorate the 30th anniversary of the movie. The masters discuss and reminisce about one of the most beloved films of all time.
  • NEW! Star Wars Spoofs (2011, Color, Apx. 91 Minutes) – The farce is strong with this one! Enjoy a hilarious collection of Star Wars spoofs and parodies that have been created over the years, including outrageous clips from Family Guy, The Simpsons, How I Met Your Mother and more — and don´t miss “Weird Al” Yankovic´s one-of-a-kind music video tribute to The Phantom Menace!
  • The Making of Star Wars (1977, Color, Apx. 49 Minutes) – Learn the incredible behind-the-scenes story of how the original Star Wars movie was brought to the big screen in this fascinating documentary hosted by C-3PO and R2-D2. Includes interviews with George Lucas and appearances by Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.
  • The Empire Strikes Back: SPFX (1980, Color, Apx. 48 Minutes) – Learn the secrets of making movies in a galaxy far, far away. Hosted by Mark Hamill, this revealing documentary offers behind-the-scenes glimpses into the amazing special effects that transformed George Lucas´ vision for Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back into reality!
  • Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi (1983, Color, Apx. 48 Minutes) – Go behind the scenes — and into the costumes — as production footage from Return of the Jedi is interspersed with vintage monster movie clips in this in-depth exploration of the painstaking techniques utilized by George Lucas to create the classic creatures and characters seen in the film. Hosted and narrated by Carrie Fisher and Billie Dee Williams.
  • Anatomy of a Dewback (1997, Color, Apx. 26 Minutes) – See how some of the special effects in Star Wars became even more special two decades later! George Lucas explains and demonstrates how his team transformed the original dewback creatures from immovable rubber puppets (in the original 1977 release) to seemingly living, breathing creatures for the Star Wars 1997 Special Edition update.
  • Star Wars Tech (2007, Color, Apx. 46 Minutes) – Exploring the technical aspects of Star Wars vehicles, weapons and gadgetry, Star Wars Tech consults leading scientists in the fields of physics, prosthetics, lasers, engineering and astronomy to examine the plausibility of Star Wars technology based on science as we know it today.

Hopefully it won’t have the anti-climactic ending that the original did.

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In the wake of their lack fo service and compromised accounts Sony decided now was the best time to announce 2 tablets that would work as both a tablet PC, and a portable gaming system. The S1 and S2 (sexy names) are PlayStation tablets will run Android 3.0 Honeycomb, be WiFi enabled, and have 3G/4G connections. Of course they will connect to the Sony Reader Store, and the new (and annoying) Qriocity music service (has anyone had this thing work?). The S1 (sexy name) tablets will also sport a 9.4″ display, while the S2 (oooh sexy name) model will have folding 5.5″ screens. No news yet on what PlayStation titles will be available, but the estimated time of release is end of 2011.

Alright, with that out of the way Call of Duty Black-Ops has released an awesome video for a new map in their Escalation map pack that has some great bonus material for horror fans. The maps is based on work by the Godfather of Zombies himself, George Romero. And it stars Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Danny Trejo (Machete), Robert Englund (The ONLY Freddy), and Michael Rooker (Walking Dead). Romero even has a cameo in Call of the Dead.

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Robert Kirkman

Robert Kirkman had a great decade. Writing such books as Captain America, Jubilee, and the Incredible Ant-man for Marvel comics would make anyone happy. But Robert was also conscious of an industry that needed more creators. Leading the way for creative-owned storytelling Robert Kirkman created two influential works in his bibliography that would put his name to the top of the list of comic writers, and eventually a partner at Image Comics.

Anyone who listens to the podcast may know that I don’t think much of Superman. He’s a great figure for DC comics, he’s an icon of hope, and all that’s good, but frankly, the stories bore me due to lack of suspense. Invincible is a story of Superboy, told in modern times, and with consequential storytelling that will surprise the reader with its high quality, bold direction, easy accessibility. The story of Mark Grayson quickly became a double-dip title for me, and one that I could easily evangelize as a breath of fresh air into a tired trope. Although Kirkman had the advantage of telling an origin, he quickly proved the idea of the superman had a lot more story to tell.

On the heels of breathing new life into a capes book, Kirkman shared a darker world with a horror zombie book: the Walking Dead. The book follows Rick Grimes in a 28-Days Later scenario, and puts the reader through a journey that grabs a hold of you, and never lets go. The Walking Dead is a zombie book, but it is the human drama that drives the story, and keeps readers interested in the characters as they survive a landscaped willed with reanimated corpses. The relationships, violence, and instincts are all laid bare, and with a realistic world of horror presented with brutal honesty and without gimmicks, Robert Kirkman revitalized a floundering horror genre. The books did so well that they even merited their own TV series on TV.

The crew, hopped up on Easter candy, has a wild episode. Pete reviews Jesus Hates Zombies, updates us on comics news, and a load of movie casting news. Craig Gives us the update on the PS3 network going down, The Gears of War 3 beta, and reviews the new Mortal Kombat for Xbox 360. Doug rejoins the podcast and gives us an update on all the Apple Rumors, celebrates the life of a prominent Sony executive, and gives us the update on current space exploration events. It’s a short one, but packed with lots of fun.

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