Dead or Alive: Ayane 02

The half sister of Kasumi and Hayate, Ayane has always lived in the shadow of her sister, causing her much pain and hatred towards Kasumi. She is an expert at Ninjutsu, with a fighting style known as "Female Tengu". Her reason for fighting in the Dead or Alive World Combat championship is to pursue Kasumi, then labeled a traitor of the Mugen Tenshin Clan.

I can't believe the details of this cosplay! It must have taken a lot of time and effort to look for those fabric patterns and put them all together. And she has a gorgeous wig too. Nice work!

Technorati Tags: nanao, cospaly, research, dead, alive, ayane, half, sister, brother, kasumi, hayate, shadow, paine, hatred, ninjutsu, fighting, style, female, tengu, world, combat, championship, pursue, label, traitor, mugen, tenshin, clan, detail, fabric, pattern, wig

Gundam Seed: Lacus Clyne 03

Near the end of the Bloody Valentine War, Lacus leaves the PLANTs in a stolen support ship known as the Eternal. Hers, along with Orb Union's Kusanagi, and the Archangel, form the Three Ships Alliance, dedicating themsleves to stop the war. In the final battle, she tried to persuade both sides to stop fighting, but she unfortunately fails.

Lacus has been known to have the ability to go into SEED mode when she goes to battle. However, only her pupils become dilated, and no symbolic seed explosion has ever been seen.

Another cosplayer from this year's Comiket! Lacus is practically one of my most favorite characters in the series, but she became less prominent in the sequel, Gundam Seed Destiny. I do love this outfit of hers more than the original one. Great work!

Technorati tags: cosplay, cosplayer, holic, role, play, roleplay, costume, gundam, seed, destiny, lacus, clyne, kira, yamato, bloody, valentine, war, support, ship, eternal, orb, union, kusanagi, archangel, three, ships, alliance, peace, dedication, final, battle, persuade, fight, mode, dilated, pupil, explotion, comiket, japan, 2009, favorite, character, anime, original, mobile, suit, , , , , , , , , ,

DC Exec Comes Up With Lame Excuse for No ‘Wonder Woman’ Movie

They couldn't make an Avengers movie without first doing Iron Man, Thor and Captain America, so keeping that in mind, it would make sense that they can't do a Justice League movie without first getting Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman to the big screen. Just one problem: try as they might, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros seem positively unable to get anything Wonder Woman greenlit, whether it's on the big or small screen.

Well, Warner Bros. brand manager for superheroes Diane Nelson has answer as to why no one, from Joel Silver to Joss Whedon to David E. Kelly to Allan Heinberg to Nicolas Winding Refn have succeeded to get Wonder Woman on screen in any form. As she told The Hollywood Reporter:

We have to get her right, we have to. She is such an icon for both genders and all ages and for people who love the original TV show and people who read the comics now. I think one of the biggest challenges at the company is getting that right on any size screen. The reasons why are probably pretty subjective: She doesn't have the single, clear, compelling story that everyone knows and recognizes. There are lots of facets to Wonder Woman, and I think the key is, how do you get the right facet for that right medium? What you do in TV has to be different than what you do in features. She has been, since I started, one of the top three priorities for DC and for Warner Bros. We are still trying right now, but she's tricky.

That sounds nice. Of course waiting to get it right didn't stop Catwoman, Green Lantern, Steel, Batman and Robin, Jonah Hex et al from getting made. I believe these were Joss Whedon's words when he left the project in 2007: "I would go back in a heartbeat if I believed that anybody believed in what I was doing. The lack of enthusiasm was overwhelming." I guess part of getting it right is to drum up at least a degree of enthusiasm.

Anyway, Nelson did have some ideas about what other DC characters we might see on the big screen soon:

Sandman is right on top. I think it could be as rich as the Harry Potter universe. Fables. Metal Men. Justice League. And yes, I'm going to say it: Aquaman.

Hm. Not sure I want to live in a world where we might see a Metal Men or Aquaman movie before a Wonder Woman.

Anything to add Bastards? Sound off below.

Source: Blastr

‘Sandman: Overture’ Issue #1 Cover and Potential ‘Sandman’ Movie Rumors

Good news for fans of Neil Gaiman - The Sandman is back in the news. In addition to the coming of a new comic, The Sandman: Overture (the cover of which you can see above), it looks like there may be a little pull from DC to get Warner Bros. working on a movie adaptation of the original Sandman series. Check the rumormill highlights out below.

Apparently, DC President Diane Nelson, in a recent interview, said that one of the top DC titles on her list of "make these into movies" is Gaiman's The Sandman. It may seem like nothing that the prez of DC said that she wants to see Gaiman's work turned into a big screen flick, but she also happens to be the one at DC with the biggest pull when it comes to pushing Warner Bros. towards new projects.

Given that Warner Bros. already has enough on their plate with the Man of Steel success and their subsequent race to start competing seriously in the super hero movie wars, it could be some time before they get around to it, even if it is on their list. And we certainly don't want a repeat of the first attempt at a Sandman movie, in which the movie execs tried to alter the story by having Morpheus summoned into the world via a group of teenagers doing a ritual at a party. With the popularity of the comic and the rabid nature of fans these days, there would likely be a riot.

Those that want to check out The Sandman: Overture can expect to see it hitting shelves this fall. As for the movie... well, we'll just have to wait and see what happens. MaybeDC has something to say about it at SDCC this year? Make sure to check in with Nerd Bastards to see whatever it is that DC has to say over the weekend, Sandman related or not.

Thanks to BleedingCool and io9 for the heads-up.

BATMAN ARKHAM CITY - DC Direct Series 2 Action Figures

DC Direct just announced that next year they will release the 2nd wave of BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY - SERIES 2 Action Figures! We'll get to hunt down Batman ( Detective Mode ), Catwoman ( Meow! ), The Riddler, Hush, and Jervis Tetch The Mad Hatter! Look for these new toys around April 25th, 2012.

Brand New LEGO DC UNIVERSE SUPER HEROES Batman Toys Out Now!

OK, I've seen these new LEGO BATMAN Toys on eBay so I'm guessing they're starting to hit stores now. LEGO TOYS has a brand new property they call "DC UNIVERSE SUPER HEROES" where they will make play sets that revolve around DC Comics characters. The cool thing is they are mainly putting a focus on BATMAN, ha! We have reported about it here at the Bat-Blog a few times but here are some really great photos of the box packaging. In the 1st wave there will be:

• Lego # 6858 - Catwoman Catcycle City Chase
• Lego # 6883 - Batwing Battle Over Gotham City
• Lego # 6864 - Batmobile and the Two-Face Chase
• Lego # 6860 - The Batcave
• Lego # 4526 - Batman Figure
• Lego # 4527 - The Joker Figure
  

More Incompetent Cartographer from Urk!

More cool forge stuff from Urk - this is the follow up to his map making efforts from yesterday.




Don't be playin' with my emotions!

The first dance went down on Riptide and though there were a few holes shot through her hull, the vessel remains afloat. Sure, Derek said that the submerged walkways were totally confusing and didn't add much to the experience, but who the hell is he to judge? Oh, right. He's a multiplayer designer. Dammit. She's seaworthy (barely), but taking on water.

Okay, so Riptide needs a little more work. A few patches here and there. That's cool. I didn't expect the first version to be a rousing success. I'm just glad it didn't make anyone throw down their controllers in abject disgust.

Lemme set the stage.

First thing first, we only had four players for the inaugural run. This was more of an exhibition match than anything else. Just looking to ensure that the initial spawns work and that we can, indeed, get a game in. (Also confirmed: initial loadout camera from Blue Base works as advertised.)

On the Red Team, Chad and Cameron. With me on the Blues is my man Derek. Well, he's not my man. We're just friends. At least we eat lunch together from time to time. But I don't pick up the check or anything. And then we go back to our desks. Alone.

So yeah, 2v2. Manos y manos.

First stop, DMR. I make the run out to the extended walkway's over watch position thinking I can take the Reds by surprise.

No dice, they've already identified their best firing position and they're using it to pepper my face with hot magnum. Nowhere to run, I drop down into the water below.

Collect the Rocket Launcher.

And run away.

Fortunately for me, the Reds aren't interested in giving chase, or putting rounds into my back, so I make it to the lift below Blue Base unscathed. Going up!

Only to cycle all the way back down and around to sneak in underneath their perch, armed and ready to deliver my explosive payload.

But my splash damage misses the mark. I only succeed in giving Chad's backside a slight burning sensation.

Allowing him to soar into the air like a bird.

Swoop down and around.

And come from behind with his newly acquired Shotgun. Which now seems like a terrible idea on this map. Who the hell put that thing down there, anyway?

Regardless of where the fault lies, Chad turns my upper body into so much bloody chum and my master plan to open the game with a bang ends with us down by a score of 4 to -1. Ouch.

And let it be said that Chad is indeed a gentleman and a scholar. He did drop down to collect his spoils, but he did not defile my moistened corpse with any celebratory crouching.

And the next time I claimed the Rocket Launcher, I decided to take it into the drink instead of dying and leaving it to be claimed by the other team. Head height water did the trick. At this point, Derek and I are desperately down by a score of 5 to 2, but our fortunes are about to change.

I can't upload the full video and I don't have the time to go into any more blow by blow breakdowns of the action, but let's just say that Cameron took to the skies, I took hold of the Rocket Launcher again (this time with much success), and Derek...well, Derek went Death Blossom with the DMR.

By the time it was all said and done, Blue Team turned it around and finished out strong. Blues win, 25 to 15.

The real story is that Riptide isn't really set up for 2v2. It's just too big. And it's not anywhere near ready for prime time, either. But there weren't any game breakers and I think I already have a good way to solve for Derek's feedback. Before I do, though, I want to widen the net and see what comes out of the official round of playtesting. Start building a consensus on what works and what's total crap. As soon as I have that feedback in hand, I'll start thinking about revisions and form my Forge plan of attack, armed (hopefully) with a wealth of invaluable information.

Stay Tuned.