Check out the redux after the jump.

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NOLA

CBR feature on NOLA

advance review @ Comics Bulletin

HuffPo article from earlier this year about post-Katrina New Orleans

This new comic set in the Big Easy is a revenge thriller.

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Also this week:

Azrael #2

Black Lightning Year One TP

War Machine #11

Gold Digger #112, GD Tech Manual #9. By Perry.

President Evil #3

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Also notable:

Dr. Horrible one-shot. Based on the popular web series by Joss Whedon.

Farscape #1. Based on the sci-fi TV series.

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The following DC books are advance-solicited, meaning they’ll appear in the February 2010 Previews but will go on sale in March 2010:

HARDWARE: THE MAN IN THE MACHINE TP
Advance-solicited • On sale March 24 • 192 pg, FC, $19.99 US
Written by Dwayne McDuffie
Art by Denys Cowan, J.J. Birch & others
Cover by Denys Cowan
This first-ever HARDWARE collection, featuring HARDWARE #1-8, introduces inventor/engineer Curt Metcalf whose high tech armor enables him to break free of his corrupt employer, mob connected businessman Edwin Alva.

FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: INK TP
Advance-solicited • On sale March 3 • 144 pg, FC, $17.99 US
Written by Eric Wallace
Art by Fabrizio Fiorentino Cover by Brian Stelfreeze
In this collection of the 6-issue miniseries, the Tattooed Man is considered a hero for the first time in his life. At first, it’s a welcome change, but things go from bad to worse when he finds his body covered in unfamiliar tattoos with lives of their own.

UNKNOWN SOLDIER VOL. 2: EASY KILL TP
Advance-solicited • On sale March 17 • 200 pg, FC, $17.99 US MATURE READERS
Written by Joshua Dysart
Art by Alberto Ponticelli & Pat Masioni
Cover by Dave Johnson
In this second volume, collecting issues #7-14 of the acclaimed series, a militant group makes the Unknown Soldier an offer: To focus the world’s attention on Africa’s problems, kill American celebrity Margaret Wells on Ugandan soil.

(In an unrelated aside, the 11″ x 17.5″ HC edition of Wednesday Comics is also being advance-solicited; it’s due May 26 and costs $49.99.)

Editor Axel Alonso (along with artist Scot Eaton) talk about the DoomWar mini-series, which will feature, among others, the Black Panther and Storm.

Here’s something you don’t see everyday. SOE is giving fans a chance to animate their favorite heroes and villains for the upcoming DC Universe Online MMO. All you have to do is head over to the DCUO fan page on Facebook starting December 7, 2009. All the tools needed to make your own animations can be found there as well a way to view and vote on the entries submitted by others.

“The DCUO/Mass Animation contest takes a part of the game out of the development studio and puts it in the hands of fans, an empowering opportunity for our community,” said John Smedley, president of SOE. “Players will have a chance through qualified contest submissions to be involved with the game’s development at a deeper level than ever before by animating actions for in-game heroes and villains.”

All the tools that animators will need to collaborate on this project, including a special edition of Autodesk Maya 3D Animation software, storyboards, designs and fully-rigged 3-D models will be provided to contest entrants and accessed through the Mass Animation application on the DCUO Facebook fan page. Participating animators will upload their contest submissions back to the application for viewing, voting and sharing with their friends. New to the contest this year will be the Mass Animation iPhone app, which gives people a new way to view and vote on submissions. Qualified contest winners will receive cash or other prizes. Each week, voters and a panel of judges will help determine what shots qualify as the “best” and will be eligible for voter prizes.

It’s been a long time coming, but gamers in the West are only a few short months away from the Final Fantasy XIII release. Square Enix has announced that the title will ship for Xbox 360 and PS3 on March 9, 2010 in both the United States and Europe. Comprised mostly of a team responsible for Final Fantasy VII, X and X-2, Final Fantasy XIII marks the first time since Final Fantasy VII that the series has appeared on a non-Sony console (FF XI and the handheld remakes notwithstanding).

Check out the announcement trailer with new footage and development team interviews after the jump.

FINAL FANTASY XIII marks the dawning of a new era for the celebrated franchise, bringing the series to multiple hi-definition consoles simultaneously for the first time in its history. Expanding upon the rich tradition of the series, Producer Kitase Yoshinori (FINAL FANTASY VII, X, X-2), Director Motomu Toriyama (FINAL FANTASY VII, X, X-2), character designer Tetsuya Nomura (FINAL FANTASY V, VI, VII, VIII, X) and art director Isamu Kamikokuryo (FINAL FANASY X, XII) combine their creative vision to deliver the latest masterpiece in the FINAL FANTASY universe. Additionally, Masashi Hamauzu (FINAL FANTASY X, DIRGE of CERBERUS -FINAL FANTASY VII-) presents a sweeping soundtrack while movie director Takeshi Nozue (FINAL FANTASY VII ADVENT CHILDREN) and his team of artists adorn the game with seamless cinematic sequences of unparalleled caliber.

“We know that our fans have been eagerly awaiting the next installation of the franchise – FINAL FANTASY XIII will exceed all expectations,” said John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix, Inc. “Coming simultaneously to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 for the first time, FINAL FANTASY XIII will be available to all players who are looking for the most immersive gaming experience of 2010.”

Features
· Take Part in a Gaming Experience that Sets New Standards – The first in the series developed for a simultaneous release on multiple high-definition consoles, FINAL FANTASY XIII pushes new boundaries in cinematic presentation, sound and gameplay.
· Experience the Unity of Speed and Strategy with the Ultimate Active Time Battle system – The familiar system has evolved, granting players the freedom of executing numerous commands in a single turn with the multi-slot ATB gauge. Whether inputting singular commands in each slot for consecutive attacks, or expending multiple slots at once to activate a devastating blow, it’s up to the players to respond effectively to the battle conditions at hand.
· Adapt to the Ever-Changing Tide of Battle with Paradigms – A brand-new game mechanic enabling players to assign roles to their party members at any time during battle, shifting between combat paradigms. Consisting of various combinations of the game’s six roles, ranging from Commando, the offensive specialist, to Medic, the quintessential healer, paradigms allow players to respond and adapt instantly to any given situation to turn the tide and seize victory.
· Witness the Battle Scene Transform with an All-New Summon System – Introducing Gestalt Mode, a powerful dimension of the summon system that elevates the action to a whole new level. In Gestalt Mode, characters and their transformed Eidolons fight as one, dealing massive damage to enemies through simple button commands.
· Delve into an Emotional Experience – An immersive storyline connects players to an intriguing cast of characters. Will they have the strength to confront their cursed fates, or will destiny prevail over all that they believe in?

From EA:

About Sims 3 World Adventures:

Take your Sims on the adventure of their lives with The SimsTM 3 World Adventures. Guide your Sims to acclaimed fortune—or potential doom. Take your Sims to exotic destinations to hunt for hidden treasures. Uncover new skills, experience new personality traits and garner rewards, if your Sims succeed. Explore ancient tombs in the pyramids of Egypt, master martial arts in the Far East, and discover rich culture and famous landmarks in France. Go online for additional content and $10 worth of free SimPoints. Adventure is on the horizon — what will your Sims discover?

FEATURES
• Accept challenges, find treasures, discover what’s lurking in hidden caves and more.
• Explore famous landmarks in China, Egypt, and France.
• Learn new skills like photography and pursue new opportunities.
• Meet new Sims from exotic locations and share their cultures.
• Customize your Sims homes with new styles & artifacts from their adventures.
• Get $10 worth of free SimPoints for The Sims 3 Store as well as additional online features soon to be announced.

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If the videogame industry thought they were immune to the economic downturn just a year ago, they’re certainly not still singing that tune today. Electronic Arts posted net losses of $391 million dollars for their second fiscal quarter this year, compared to last year’s loss of $310 million.

One of the measures the firm is going to take is to let go of 1,500 jobs, or roughly 16% of the workforce to save $100 million dollars a year. Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello stated “We are making tough calls to cut cost in targeted areas and investing more in our biggest games and digital businesses.”

The top 5 selling titles for the firm during the quarter were NCAA Football 10, Madden NFL 10, FIFA 10, Need for Speed: SHIFT and The Beatles: Rock Band.

There is powerful imagery at work in Modern Warfare 2. If folks are getting hung up on this scene, they’re kind of missing the forest for the trees.

Anyway, Modern Warfare 2 tells a challenging story, and this is certainly one aspect of it. Game play follows the jump, and you can read our review here.

Though the announcement comes a little later than expected, Bioware and EA shocked no one by confirming a limited Collector’s Edition for Mass Effect 2. The Collectors’ Edition of Mass Effect 2 comes in a premium, tin case and includes the full version of the game, a 48-page hardcover “Art of Mass Effect 2” book, Issue 1 of the Mass Effect Redemption comic book, and a bonus DVD with behind-the-scenes and making-of videos. In addition, the Mass Effect 2 Collectors’ Edition will include unique in-game weapons and armor that can only be obtained by purchasing this version.

Releasing alongside the standard edition of the game on both PC and Xbox 360, gamers can expect to play Mass Effect 2 on January 26, 2010 in North America. With the Mass Effect Collector’s Edition being hard to come by and the recently released Dragon Age: Origins Collector’s Edition being only briefly available for pre-order through traditional retail shops; gamers interested in this special may want to jump on their local stores quickly.

Not that Demon Souls was easy to begin with, Atlus sends word that things will be getting even harder for Halloween. Atlus states that The Old One “…will seek to descend the land in pure blackness on All Hallow’s Eve. His minions will be more powerful, but the rewards for those who seek to challenge them will be greater as well.”

Simply put, it seems that for gamers playing the title online, the entire world will be put into a dark tendency for an undetermined period of time. Though things will be harder, a dark tendency will mean there are pathways that will be opened that weren’t accessible before as well as better loot drops.

It just may be a little too tempting to resist for those already playing.

This specifically caught my eye because the toys are fully articulated and seem to be be pretty close to the artist’s sketch interpretations which you can find on the page. If you’re a toy fan and you’re looking for figures that you can’t find in your retail outlet, you might want to consider giving the growing number of online custom sculptors a shot. More information about Lone Wolf Arts can be found directly via their blogsite.

Tell ‘em PopCultureShock.com sent you!

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The magic words, folks, is that all this coolness comes with a ZERO dollar investment price. Meaning, if you want to try it, it’s totally free. It’s an online game, and the beta is still apparently going on. I haven’t played it myself yet, so I’m not offering any opinion – yet, but the art style looks quite appealing. “Free” is always my magic starting point, so let’s see if I can get this brewing on my Mac. I’ll play around with it and try to figure out their class-based system (you can choose from Gunner, Fighter, Mage, Priest, and Slayer). I missed the whole World of Warcraft craze, so I’ll keep you posted this weekend as to whether this sucker gets its claws into me…

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Bioware and Electronic Arts have announced the ship date for Mass Effect 2. Previously expected to be an early 2010 release, fans may not have known exactly HOW early in 2010 the game was going to hit retail. Today’s announcement points the ship date at January 26, 2010 on both Xbox 360 and PC.

The announcement also carried news that there will be exclusive in-game items made available to those who pre-order the title. Gamestop customers will recieve an armor set with increased run speed and personal shields as well as a weapon, while other retailers will give an armor set that helps with negotiations in dialogue trees.

More info as it breaks.

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Oct. 13 — Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) announced today the North American launch of UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves exclusively for the PlayStation®3 (PS3(TM)). Developed by Naughty Dog Inc., the acclaimed development team that produced UNCHARTED: Drake’s Fortune for PS3 and the Jak & Daxter franchise for PlayStation®2, UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves blends together the art of cinema and gaming to bring players a level of realism never before seen on a game console. With an extensive, story-driven single-player mode and thrilling competitive multiplayer and cooperative modes, UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves demonstrates Hollywood blockbuster moments of roller coaster tension and exhilarating action through environments and characters brought to life by the most advanced graphics currently available on the PS3 system.

Competitive Multiplayer and Cooperative Modes
In addition to the addicting single-player action, UNCHARTED 2 offers robust cooperative and online multiplayer modes that bring the graphical quality of single-player with a wide variety of gameplay options. Competitive multiplayer supports up to 10 players, and offers a wide selection of match types from Deathmatch to Gold Rush across 7 different maps. Utilizing a robust party system, groups of players will remain together in ranked and custom matches while earning currency, which used in combination with currency earned in single player missions, will unlock additional content and upgrades. The competitive multiplayer also includes Cinema and Machinima modes that enable gamers to automatically record gameplay data for any match in any map and game type. Players can then head into Cinema to watch the recorded matches and then replays, screenshots and footage that can be made into videos in Machinima mode. Cooperative mode allows gamers 3 distinct scenarios for up 3 players to progress through a variety of environments by working together to accomplish set objectives.

With that, the launch trailer for Dragon Age: Origins was released today. Dragon Age: Origins releases in North America on November 3 for PC and Xbox 360 with a November 17 release on PS3.

The Web

IMDB listing for Angela Robinson

Wikipedia entry on Red Circle comics

TV writer Angela Robinson makes her comics debut with this DC/Red Circle book this week.

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Also this week:

Zero Killer #5 (of 6)

Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #5 (of 6). Art by Chriscross.

Push TP. Co-written by Bernardin.

Gold Digger Halloween Special 2009. By Perry and others.

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Also notable:

Wednesday Comics #12 (of 12). Final issue.

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So my 24-hour comic is completed, and if you wanna see it before I post it online, come to the Small Press Expo this weekend in Bethesda, MD. I won’t have a table, so I’m gonna try and figure out a way around that. If not, though, then you’ll have to look for me.

My latest review at GBCB is of Sentences.

Nigeria comes out against District 9.