Author Archives: Leo Choy

About Leo Choy

Theorizing that one could time travel within his own lifetime, Leo Choy stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished. He awoke to find himself trapped in the past, facing mirror images that were not his own, and driven by an unknown force to change history for the better. His only guide on this journey is Al, an observer from his own time, who appears in the form of a hologram that only Leo can see and hear. And so, Leo finds himself leaping from life to life, striving to put right what once went wrong, and hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home.

Pre-Orders of the Game of Thrones Video Game Bundled with Bonus Art

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Game of Thrones had a game under development before the HBO show came around. However, it seems that a late deal was reached to incorporate some familiar faces and voices into the video game from the television series. So from how things stand now, there will be a mixture of game development that combines the vision of Cyanide Studios; the game developer; ATLUS; the game publisher; and HBO’s vision; the television show adaptation.

The original story for the game was written under the supervision of George R. R. Martin, author of the Game of Thrones book series. The game promises to deliver an interactive role-playing experience for avid fans. Gamers will visit Martin’s world of Westeros, containing within its own plane familiar locations and characters straight from the book. Fans of the intellectual property who can’t get enough just simply reading or watching the story will have a chance to take an active role, immersing themselves in the drama as it unfolds.

But wait, there’s more! Those that pre order the upcoming Game of Thrones RPG will also receive a hardbound art book, Game of Thrones: Visuals from the RPG. This offer is only available from participating retailers while limited supplies last. So those with impulse buying issues or want to have the extra swag, pre-order your game from from Amazon, GameStop, EB Games, or the HBO Shop.

The bonus art book offers sixty-four full color pages that include sketches, concept art, photos, screenshots and renders from the game, complete with DVD Commentary like text from the game’s developers. The package will also include behind the scenes materials, like a special message from Martin; possibly telling us to drink more Ovaltine; and a portrait of the development team. That’s what I’m missing from my life, more portraits of development teams. The bonus book measures at 8.5″ wide and 11″ tall, hardbound and printed on the most premium of stock papers. You know, the hard glossy kind that resists fingerprints and could kill children with paper cuts.

With the collector’s edition quality here in the bonus book, some may just want to get their hands on the art rather than the game. If they do, they’ll have to shell out $60.00 for it like everyone else. Though I’m sure that if you wait long enough online, you’ll be able to find the book being resold somewhere; to offset the cost of games and all. Yes, people will do it. I remember buying the Vampire: The Masquerade video game just for a hardcover Book of Nod. I ended up just giving a friend of mine the game.

In an official press release, The Game of Thrones: The Game, has been described as follows:

“In this 30-plus hour action RPG, players will enter the gritty and medieval fantasy world of Westeros. As one of two original characters with disparate motivations, both former soldiers of Robert’s Rebellion, players will forge alliances and wage battles as they play a pivotal role in the ongoing war for power of the Seven Kingdoms. Their journey will span numerous quests, during which they will interact with many characters and make key decisions that impact the realm.

Standing before the majesty and bitter isolation of the Wall or walking through the streets and alleys of King’s Landing, players will not simply pass by locations and characters integral to the series; they will explore and interact with them, meeting and learning about the people and history that defines them and their importance. Key decisions and major events will have meaningful impact on Westeros, allowing the player to witness how the game world evolves over time based on their actions or inactions. Moreover, “Game of Thrones” introduces an innovative “active slowdown tactical combat engine” in which combat mirrors the series’ thoughtful approach to war and politics: fighting slows but never stops entirely, forcing the player to make quick, pressured choices before their enemy strikes again.”

Isn’t the slowdown tactical combat engine basically Matrix bullet time? I’m pretty sure they did that in the Max Payne video games and Prince of Persia. Either way, it remains to be seen whether or not the game lives up to the acclaim that Martin and HBO have brought to the franchise.

Check out the game trailer below.

True Blood Loses Part of Its Bite: Alan Ball Steps Down

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HBO, the cable network announced on Monday night that writer and television producer, Alan Ball, would not remain the show runner for their hit show, “True Blood.”

Based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries novel series by Charlaine Harris, “True Blood” is about the co-existence of vampires and humans in a fictional world were vampires have revealed themselves to be unliving amongst humans. The American television series, which was created and produced by Ball will have to go without him for the potential sixth season. Yes, the same Ball who’s been recognized in the industry, winning an Academy Award for writing American Beauty and an Emmy for directing the pilot episode of his HBO series Six Feet Under. As much as Six Feet Under annoyed me, I couldn’t look away. It was also impressive to watch Dexter play an impressive such a neurotic role.

HBO states:

“When we extended our MULTI-YEAR overall deal with Alan Ball in July 2011, we always intended that if we proceeded to True Blood’s sixth season that Alan would take a supervisory role on the series and not be the day-to-day showrunner. If we proceed to season six, the show will remain in the very capable hands of the talented team of writers and producers who have been with the show for a number of years. This is the best possible world for both HBO and Alan Ball.”

One slight problem. “True Blood” just completed it’s fourth season and is gearing up for its fifth. HBO has yet to announce a sixth season. Even though it’s almost unthinkable to end a show that’s been lucrative; drawing more than 5 million viewers for new episodes, not including downloads; stranger things have happened. I still miss “Firefly.”

The cable network also went on to mention that Ball “will remain available as executive producer to consult and advise on “True Blood” and he will be free to develop new shows for both HBO and Cinemax. “Banshee”, on which Alan serves as executive producer, is the first in house series for Cinemax and is expected to begin production this spring.” In addition to this, Ball is also in the development process for a new HBO show, a medical drama about an abortion doctor.

“True Blood has been, and will continue to be, a highlight of not only my career but my life,” commented Ball. “Because of the fantastic cast, writers, producers and crew, with whom I have been lucky enough to work these past five years, I know I could step back and the show will continue to thrive as I look forward to new and exciting ventures.”

So what Ball and HBO are saying is that breakup from True Blood is mutual. Which when a couple say that, it’s often never the case. One of them will often be crying, sitting in a darkened room drinking a bottle of Jack. Listening to Linkin Park is optional, but often classic.

It’s sad to think that Ball and “True Blood” are breaking up. Especially when Ball recently casted the role of an ancient Authority vampire to a nine year old child actor. Just think how scarred the child will be if he only lasts a season on the show and never finds work again. Think Macaulay Culkin. No one wins when children are involved.

Frances Fisher Joins The Host

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Frances Fisher joins the cast of Andrew Niccol’s The Host. The project which is being helmed by Open Road Films is based on the 2008 novel of the same name, written by author Stephenie Meyer, of The Twilight Saga fame.

I was crestfallen too when I realized this wasn’t a Hollywood adaptation of Joon-Ho Bong’s 2006 cult classic film, The Host.

Here is a synopsis of The Host from the official Stephenie Meyer website:

“Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away.

Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.

When Melanie, one of the few remaining “wild” humans is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading “soul” who has been given Melanie’s body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn’t expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Wanderer probes Melanie’s thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer’s mind with visions of the man Melanie loves—Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body’s desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.”

Touted by Meyer’s as ‘Science fiction for people who don’t like science fiction’ it again tries to blend in genres from different walks of life. This time turning science-fiction horror into a romance story. It’s the romantic version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Here the parasites in your head will fight with you over the man you love. A far stretch from supernatural creatures fighting over a girl.

So that’s another nerd area of interest that’s been co-opted into teeny romance. First it was vampires, then it was zombies, now it’s science-fiction in general. What’s next? Chainsaw for hands action heroes that treat women with respect? Where will the sub-genre of blood obsessed nerds; which I dub Dark Nerd; take us next? What used to be the realm of socially inept males with no future romantic prospects has slowly turned into the goldmine for the romance infusion. The target demographic of teenage girls. Are these the girls that were raised by their single parent dads? The ones that manned up and took care of their daughters, only to infect them with their nerd values? Somehow I picture a D&D based romance coming on the horizon.

You know what would really bother me? A production company making a romantic bastardization of Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. I can picture it now, teenage girls swooning over goth pretty boys with a unholy preference for knives.

Fisher will play the role of Maggie Stryder, Melanie’s aunt. Included in this film are Jake Abel, Max Irons, Saoirse Ronan, Diane Kruger and William Hurt. The movie is expected to hit theaters a few months after the end of the Vampire era, March 29, 2013.

ABC’s Beauty and the Beast Casts Darius Campbell

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The Scottish platinum-selling, award winning singer and stage performer Darius Campbell lands his biggest gig yet as a lead. The role is for the part of Shiro, a mysterious “beastly” bodyguard in ABC’s upcoming adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. Shiro will join forces with the war ready Princess Grace and her fiance Gorrick. While the leading lady role has not yet been casted, Gorrick however will be played by Australian actor Christopher Egan reports Deadline.

ABC’s version of Beauty and the Beast promises “a fantastical reimagining of the classic fairy tale set in a mythical, dangerous world wherein a beautiful and tough Princess discovers an unlikely connection with a mysterious beast.” Yves Simoneau is directing the show, from a script by Jonathan Steinberg; Jericho.

Yay! Another retelling of the classic fairy tale. In additional to the many literary remixes and reboots, I’m surprised that we haven’t felt the toxic effects of this over saturation yet. Since the hit comic book series Fables debuted and made waves, the entire market has been flooded with novels, television shows and movies. All clamoring to get their piece of the public domain money making venture.

The CW is also making a version of Beauty and the Beast as well. This one will be the remake of Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman’s cat faced beast; he really did look more impressive with the makeup; a series that was on the air from 1987 to 1990. Back when Fox made more compelling fiction than they air now.  It’s weird looking at Sarah Conner and Hellboy beside each other like that.  They don’t seem to be the loving type.

While this pilot for the show is the biggest gig that Campbell has landed in the states, he’s basically an unknown. While on the other side of the pond in the U.K. Campbell already has a reputation that has grown with him over the years. Campbell started out in entertainment notably as a finalist on the English version of Popstars and Pop Idol over ten years ago; he’s a karaoke star! This may have been the low point of his career as there are still some chuckles online about his debut. Over the years he’s transitioned more into theater, starring in a number of West End musicals, such as Chicago, Gone with the Wind, and Guys And Dolls. Campbell’s most recent stint was on a TV drama series in the U.K. This has marked his rise to this new role based on his merit and not the product of karaoke super-stardom. Hopefully this will be the mark of bigger and better things to come for him. Wait… Actually getting married to Natasha Henstridge was the moment things got good for Campbell. It seems his life is just a giant growing snowball of success. Bah!

To feel better about my lot in life, I’m going to watch Campbell in a clip from U.K.’s Popstars. This should at least give me some kind of relief to my jealousy.

The Walking Dead Governor: David Morrissey

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With AMC’s hit television show “The Walking Dead”, the development for season three is well underway. As the mid-season premiere for season two broke cable records as most watched show, it’d be a shame not to capitalize on the momentum. I’m more surprised a season four hasn’t been guaranteed yet; then I remember how “Heroes” turned to dung in the second season before my very eyes. I could have written a better storyline on a napkin while drunk.

So for fans of the comic who’ve been reading ahead in the series, we already have a general idea of what to expect; we’re just really hoping that certain storylines are followed over others. So it turns out we’re not going to be seeing the Governor until season three. That’s okay, they still have to find the prison first. What is awesome though for those hardcore into geek lore is who will play the Governor.

The part will be played by British actor, David Morrissey according to Deadline. Hmmm… British actor you say? If he’s worth his salt in anything, he’d have been in some kind of awesome British television show, right? His IMDB photo didn’t spark any recognition in my old brain matter, but it might be because he wasn’t wearing the costume. In the right set of clothes, Morrissey turns into the Next Doctor!

Hit with a Cyberman InfoStamp; patent pending; Jackson Lake in his fugue state is imprinted with all the factual events and collected observations of the Cyberman enemy known as the Doctor, simply the Doctor. The one, the only and the best!

That right there is all I need to know to be happy with the selection for the Governor. Mostly because I’m a biased because he was in the Doctor Who Christmas Special back in 2008.

Originally the speculation on who would be the Governor was John Hawkes, based on the words of Tom Savini; who really wanted the role. Sorry Sex Machine. You can read about it here in the article The Rise of the Walking Dead Governor.

As Hawkes has the acting chops and Savini had the looks for the part; when compared to the comic book version of the Governor; I’m surprised a third person wasn’t considered who could satisfy both acting and looks. Maybe even some slicing actions for cutting off the hands of the enemy? That’s right, I mean Danny Trejo, the Machete! Oh well.

Savini didn't make the cut.

The Governor who appears in The Walking Dead graphic novel series, written and created by Robert Kirkman, is a twisted man who rules over a fortified township in a zombie plagued world. Not only is the character created as a returning antagonist, rapist and sadist, but has his own novel also penned by Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga as well in, “The Walking Dead: The Rise of the Governor.” The Governor will meet up with Rick Grimes and the rest of the Walking Dead in season three. If the television show remains true to the comic books, it won’t be pretty.

Either way, I’m happy to see David Morrissey get the part. Even if he has to play the despicable Gov.  Allons-y!

Brett Ratner’s Hercules is the Peoples Champion?

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Turns out that Dwayne Johnson, The Peoples Champion, the Rock is in talks with MGM about starring in Hercules. The film which is to be directed by Brett Ratner; who directed the comedians version of the Expendables. I believe it was called Tower Heist.

The film is based on the Hercules comic book by Radical Publishing. They have two series which are called, “Hercules: The Thracian Wars” and “Hercules: The Knives of Kush.” The last one just makes me think there are blades made of marijuana. Both series are written by Steve More with artist Cris Bolsin.

The Thracian Wars is described as follows:

“Fourteen-hundred years ago, a tormented soul walked the Earth that was neither man nor god. Hercules, powerful son of the god king Zeus, received nothing but suffering his entire life. After twelve arduous labors and the loss of his family, this dark, world-weary soul turned his back on the gods, finding his only solace in bloody battle. Over the years he warmed to the company of six similar souls, their only bond being their love of fighting and the presence of death. These men and woman never question where, why, or whom they go to fight; only how much they will be paid. Knowing this, the King of Thrace has hired these mercenaries to train his men to become the greatest army of all time. Hercules begins to question King Cotys’ motives when he takes his army out to battle and sees them practice on innocent men, women, and children of their neighbors. Deep in his soul something stirs, but is it enough to stop a mad king and his army of the damned from marching across Greece – or even Olympus itself?!”

So if I’m to understand this correctly, Hercules roamed the earth in seventh century as an emo, laying the smack down for Kings while the Thracians were being wiped out by Goths. It’s okay, I’ll suspend my belief on this because I too have watched Marvel’s Thor film adaptation. I can’t believe I paid to see that either though.

This might be MGM’s bid to find their own Conan movie for reinvention, but I’m skeptical about Ratner more than I am about The Rock; sure it puts the movie at risk for being associated with the Scorpion King, but “you keep what you kill” and man did that movie die horribly.

So what’s wrong with Ratner? He’s done a great job directing Red Dragon and an X-Men movie, but he’s also been the force behind the Rush Hour movies. While the Radical Comics Hercules title does look serious, it’s still a comic. The comedic moments makes me wonder if if any Rush Hour will leak a bit into the film.  Maybe it’ll just have to take a really good script to really tell.

Hey, is it my imagination or does Hercules on these covers look a little like a time lost Judge Dredd?

Free Harley Quinn Update for Batman: Arkham City Lockdown

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Today Warner Bros. Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced a new update for the Batman: Arkham City Lockdown App for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch is now available. The update will include a brand new level featuring Harley Quinn, a Bruce Wayne skin and achievements, and a Batarang mini-game, all for the low low price of free. It’s strange how consumers will pay top dollar for the latest tech but they’re hesitant for one dollar apps.

As I sat and reviewed the trailer for the new portion of Batman: Arkham City Lockdown I was instantly hit by the realization that Harley Quinn has somehow gone from this cute little thing, to a tarted up sex-pot. Yes, yes, I know that’s what the industry is all about these days but whatever happened to old school costumes and characters? Over the years I’ve watched many comic book characters get the costume overhaul. Some of it just turns way to suggestive. Have you seen the Star Sapphire’s latest costume? When Harley Quinn first debuted, it was in “Batman: The Animated Series”, the costumed started a a modest one piece, traditional harlequin jester outfit, worn by Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel who had some serious nightingale issues.

The popularity of the character prompted DC comics to introduce the Harley into their universe. This time the costume wasn’t so modest and over years became more and more… pronounced.

My initial reaction to the visual of Harley Quinn in the video game was that she looks very much like the Malkavian from Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines, right down to the raccoon make-up and blonde pig-tails. Harley Quinn is supposed to have a one piece outfit with a hat, not some leather outfit and pig-tails. Although I can understand the attraction.

Since then, DC comics seems to have updated Harley’s costume with The New 52 reboot. The basis seems to merge the Arkham City video game attire with her traditional costume. Her hair is dyed half-red and half-blue, similar to the jester cap of her original costume, while the rest of the ensemble is still present day skimpy; but just appropriately color coded now.

Aside from the initial realization of Harley looking all wrong, the graphics on the game look very good. If the trailer is any indication of how the game plays on your iWhatever then it looks like the game runs smoothly and is well designed. Harley Quinn’s voice still sounds like a 60’s era chippy, but it’s what I grew up with and still a classic, right next to Mark Hamill voicing the Joker. The scenery is still wrapped in the darkness of Gotham City and at least Batman still looks like he should. The Dark Knight isn’t sporting any nipples on his costume. So that’s a big plus right there.

The Demonologist: Which Came First? The Movie or the Book?

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In a bold move, Hollywood is going to make movies based on the potential popularity of unreleased books. The film production companies are no longer content with just adapting movies on popular books, they’re going to go the extra step.

Universal Pictures recently has acquired the rights to the upcoming novel The Demonologist, Deadline reports. The story is was written by Canadian author Andrew Pyper; who’s known for his serial-killer thriller The Killing Circle, wilderness drama The Wildfire Season, and haunted-house horror The Guardians. Pyper won the Arthur Ellis award for one of his first novels, the crime story Lost Girls in 1999.

Robert Zemeckis; director and co-writer of Back to the Future, so I’m already impressed because hey, it’s time travel; and his ImageMovers studio are currently in the planning stages of how they will translate the text for film. Remember, the book is unreleased but quite finished. It’s probably for the best, because if the story is as good as they believe it to be, then it won’t give time for religious sects get involved.

Let’s examine the early description for The Demonologist:

“Professor David Ullman is among the world’s leading authorities on Christian religion and myth. Not that he’s a believer. He sees what he teaches as nothing more than entrenched fiction – the “things that go bump in the mind”. It’s why when he’s offered a trip to Venice to be a consultant on a case study based on his expertise as a “demonologist” he accepts, seeing it as a free vacation for his teenage daughter and himself. But what he witnesses in an attic room at an address amidst the decadent splendour of the old city will change what he believes forever. Terrified, David races back to his hotel. But now he has the unshakable feeling that he is no longer alone. And that the voice that passes from his daughter’s lips before she jumps from the hotel’s roof belongs to a being he has long studied, but until now never thought could ever be real…”

Think of the hype over The DaVinci Code, Passion of the Christ, and the Harry Potter series. Now picture a popular novel that makes everyone all a twitter about Christian religion and myth being added to the mix. We’re talking instant money here. If the freakin’ Pope steps in, then it becomes epic money!

If this book and film is to succeed, it’ll need to focus on the translation of learned fear. So in the story, a skeptical man is exposed to the supernatural world. As he’s the foremost educated authority on the matter; just an unbeliever; he’s able to quickly realize how screwed he is. So how will the reader react? If they’re skeptics, will they be able to identify with Ullman’s pragmatic ways enough to also learn his fear? Pyper and Zemeckis will have their work cut out for them to pull this off. If they do, just think how much a pushover those that ‘want to believe’ will be.

Video Game Announced Based on DC Comics Young Justice

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Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and game publisher Little Orbit have announced a video game based on DC comics animated series Young Justice. The game will be called Young Justice: Legacy and feature playable heroes going against villains of the DC universe.

Here is the official release from the Little Orbit website:

Little Orbit, a worldwide game publisher, announced today that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for the Young Justice: Legacy video game set to ship in early 2013 for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Nintendo’s Wii(TM) system, and the Nintendo DS(TM) hand held system.

New episodes of the Warner Bros. Animation series Young Justice will air beginning Saturday, March 3, at 10:30 a.m. ET/PT on Cartoon Network as part of DC Nation, the network’s brand-new one-hour block of exclusive kids’ television programming and shorts based on DC Comics characters. In Young Justice, teenage heroes Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian and Artemis are tasked by the Justice League to act as their covert operations team. Armed with superior skills, weaponry and powers, the team must do battle against a wide array of villains from the DC Universe while trying to prove to themselves, and to their superhero mentors, that they too have what it takes to be a hero. Their journey is further complicated when they face the many unpredictable obstacles that arise in their path from inexperience and youth.

In Young Justice: Legacy fans can look forward to an original storyline set in between Seasons 1 and 2 of the television series, written in collaboration with show writers Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti. The game is packed with fan favorite playable characters, cameo appearances by popular Justice League heroes and villains, and includes online multiplayer as well as local multiplayer modes.

Video games based on movies tend to suck. Video games based on cartoons seem to not suck as much. The slew of Dragon Ball Z games, some Naruto games, and of course Batman games have been good.  There was even a video game that was intentionally released before the cartoon version called Earthworm Jim. Hooray for him!

“The TV series is a fantastic combination of compelling writing, witty humor, iconic art, and exciting action sequences. The creators have done an amazing job blending over 180 DC Comics characters into their show filtered through a new, youthful perspective,” said Matt Scott, CEO of Little Orbit. “The new video game contains a slew of cool features and a large playable cast of familiar heroes, but our core mission is to create a unique experience that fits seamlessly into the world of the show and offers a new way to interact with these popular DC Comics characters.”

So the current Young Justice cartoon series isn’t based on the original DC comics series. It’s more of a reboot, like the Justice League series of animation and The New 52 reboot.

You can read what I have to say about The New 52 here.

DC comics even separates and distinguishes different reboots and continuities by identifying separate universes. The one that this series is set in is the fictional universe of Earth-16, where superheroes seem to be a recent phenomenon.  This is definitely a good thing because between a lot of these young superheroes already have a dark and gritty history.  For example, in some comic book universes Speedy or Red Arrow has been a junkie.  Robin comes from a long and proud tradition of dying sidekicks; they all wear bright colors and distract villains from shooting the Batman.  Then there’s Artemis who was a former homeless girl turned to child prostitution with accompanying STDs.  Those were the ones I thought of off the top of my head.  They can all thank the Last Son; of Krypton; that they didn’t have to grow up in those corrupted universes.

Having watched a few of the episodes, I’m starting to think I’m finally getting too old for this stuff. The Valley Girl voice acting of Miss Martian grates on my ears. The sound of Robin laughing like a child maniac and disappearing into the shadows is still cool though. I hope the video game ends up borrowing from the original comic series and features a playable Li’L Lobo; the magically transformed teenage version of Lobo, or as they would translate it in Khundian, “he who devours your entrails and thoroughly enjoys it.”

The Amazing Spider-Man Viral Hunt Comes to an End

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What began as a viral marketing campaign has ended with cities covered in (authorized) graffiti. It’s lead to websites and Twitter accounts, all wrapped in more riddles and clues. So what was the payoff? Some cool Spider-Man swag and an opportunity to get all meta with the Spider-Man storyline.

You can read about the initial hunt here.

The viral hunt that lead to websites and Twitter accounts, contained more cryptic clues and locations. Then it lead to some pretty cool gifts that fans could take home. Some of the cool stuff included Spider-Man hoodies and cellphones that sent them instructions via calls and texts on what to do next.

I think this is how official supporters got selected to put up the marks of the Spider-Man around the city.

“We’re supporting Spider-Man,” Abigail Flynn told MTV News of the campaign in New York. “We’re putting up the mark of the Spider-Man around the city to spread awareness and spread his message.”

That’s right. Even MTV covered the news in New York about the appearance of supporters for the masked vigilante known as Spider-Man. You know how they’ve always been a reliable news source. Heh. It’s all very meta though and very well done. The idea is that these Spider-Man supporters are needed to remind whoever the Spider-Man is that he’s made a difference. Especially in light of the Daily Bugle constantly thrashing him. I really wouldn’t be surprised if some of this footage appears in the movie; or maybe a reenactment of the graffiti vandalism.

In addition to New York, these events also took place in Atlanta, Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Seattle. To ensure that no one screwed it up or that separate professionally trained graffiti artists weren’t needed for each location, stencils were handed out. Tape up – Spray red – Tear Down – Pose for pictures. Easy enough right? I’m still having problems coloring within the lines.

Just to be sure everyone is on the same page though, the Mark of the Spider-Man official marketing website had this to communicate:

“These activities were conducted by trained and supervised persons acting with all necessary permissions and authorizations. Columbia Pictures does not condone or support the propagation of unauthorized graffiti and must insist that no one attempt to recreate, re-enact or perform such activity without all required permissions and authorizations.”

Which hopefully frees them for legal issues if by chance a street gang adopts the signature as their own. Like the black spiders in “The New Guy.” Actually, I think that was a comic book storyline entitled, “Spider-Island” where everyone in New York gained the power set of Spider man and a bunch of thugs dressed as Spider-Man. They ended up using their great power for great larceny, so other Marvel superheroes crossed over and laid the smack down on everyone; including Peter Parker.

If the Spider-Man supporters ever got out of hand, I’m sure the riot police wouldn’t have problems gassing them all. Just like the superheroes would do! It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Columbia Picture’s The Amazing Spider-Man hits theaters this July 3rd.

If you go to the official viral marketing site and click on the red image of Mark of the Spider, it’ll take you to a trailer.  Check out the trailer below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tnxzJ0SSOw