Avengers Academy #39 Review

Another week, another batch of Marvel series coming to an end. In the case of Avengers Academy, however, I never expected the series to last this long in the first place. And though there are plenty of plot points left unresolved or open to continuation, Gage is able to deliver a fitting and mostly uplifting end to the series.

Gage brings the book full circle in more ways than one. The revelation from issue #1 that the Academy recruits are not the best and brightest of a new generation, but rather those most in danger of falling into darkness, comes back into play as the kids finally confront their teachers. But as the issue is titled Commencement, the focus is not on darkness and despair but the excitement and uncertainty that comes as a group of young men and women embrace the next stage in their respective lives. This can be said for the series as a whole, but issue #39 excels in delivering a teen superhero book that eschews cynicism and offers a more positive look at growing up. Gage capitalizes on all the attachment readers have built with these characters as we see romance blossom, friendships endure or unravel, and new opportunities open up. The script is equal parts jubilant, whimsical, and wistful as Gage bids the characters farewell. It's hard to imagine any longtime reader feeling disappointed with the results.

Tom Grummett closes out the series alongside Gage. By now readers should know what to expect from his visuals. The art has a distinctly old school flavor that suits the optimistic tone very well. Certain characters sometimes look younger than they should, but Grummett delivers plenty of heartfelt emotion and a nice visual callback to Mike McKone's issue #1.

It's sad to see this series go, partly because Gage makes it abundantly clear that there's still so much story left to tell with his cast, and partly because Avengers Arena does not appear to be the kind of book that will explore that potential. Regardless, we'll always have these past 40 issues to look back on fondly.

Jesse is a writer for various IGN channels. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

FX Closes Deal to Develop Fargo as a TV Series with Coen Brothers Executive Producing

Back in March, it was revealed that FX were in very early conversations with MGM about a potential TV series based on the Academy Award winning Joel Coen & Ethan Coen film. Now, Deadline reports FX have closed the deal and are actively developing the project, and that the Coen Brothers will be involved -- in title at least -- as executive producers.

Fargo will be written and executive produced by Noah Hawley, the creator of The Unusuals and My Generation, which will be co-produced by MGM and FX Productions.

Frances McDormand won an Oscar for her role as the lead character, police chief Marge, in Fargo, with the Coens themselves winning for best screenplay. It’s expected that Marge will be the main character – though we’ll see just how pregnant she is this time.

Source : ign[dot]com

Avengers Academy #36 Review

Avengers Academy doesn't have much time left on the stands. And Christos Gage doesn't seem to mind twisting the knife as readers prepare to bid farewell to this team. Of course, that's really a good thing, as issue #36 is host to all sorts of great character moments. It just hurts so good.

In this issue, the fractured team begins to come together again in order to combat Jeremy Briggs' attempt to de-power the world's superhumans. Many Academy members are forced to make fateful choices during the course of battle. No scene is more stirring than the one between Mettle and Haz-Mat. If you thought their material in issue #35 was tear-jerking, this issue raises the bar again. But Gage also has strong material in store for characters like Reptil, White Tiger, and X-23. Many of these characters have been severely down and out since Briggs launched his attack, and it's satisfying to see them cast aside teenage doubts and become full-fledged heroes again. My main complaint, as with last issue, is that it's disappointing to see Briggs degenerate into full-fledged villain mode. The character was much more enjoyable when readers were able to sympathize and even side with him and his grand plans.

Andrea Di Vito sticks around to render this issue. While it's a shame we couldn't have one, consistent artist for the entire arc (important as it is to the series as a whole), Di Vito fits in nicely with the general tone established by Tom Grummett and others. There are some fun metaphysical scenes involving characters like White Tiger and Reptil that allow Di Vito to branch out and deliver slightly more surreal imagery.

Much of this character building seems to lay the groundwork for future stories, which of course raises hope that maybe Gage won't be done with these characters just because the series is ending. No doubt there's still a wealth of material to explore in the coming weeks.

Jesse is a writer for IGN Comics and IGN Movies. He can't wait until he's old enough to feel ways about stuff. Follow Jesse on Twitter, or find him on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Paper Mario: Sticker Star, Professor Layton Miracle Mask Release Dates

Nintendo has announced release dates for the 3DS and DS fall line-up. First up is Art Academy: Lessons for Everyone on October 1st, followed by Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask on October 28th and Paper Mario: Sticker Star on November 11th.

Release dates were also revealed for Crosswords Plus, Freakyforms Deluxe and more, as seen on the release calendar below:

• Art Academy: Lessons for Everyone - October 1st
• Crosswords Plus - October 1st
• Sparkle Snapshots 3D - October 18th
• Skylanders Giants - October 21st
• Style Savvy: Trendsetters - October 22nd
• Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask - October 28th
• Freakyforms Deluxe: Your Creations, Alive - November 5th
• Paper Mario: Sticker Star - November 11th
• Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion - November 18th
• Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed - November 20th

Titles without concrete release dates include FIFA 13 in September, Angry Birds Trilogy in October, Scribblenauts Unlimited this holiday and Rayman Origins in the third quarter of 2012. A complete list of planned titles for 3DS and DS - including Imagine Babyz and more - can be found on Nintendo’s full release calendar.

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following him on Twitter or IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

All-Star Cast Revealed for Dishonored

The voice cast for Dishonored has been revealed, and it's quite impressive to say the least.

Academy award-winner Susan Sarandon, appearing for the first time in a video game, plays Granny Rags – a former aristocrat, she's been driven mad from years living on the streets of Dunwall. Chloë Grace Moretz ( Kick Ass's Hit Girl) voices Young Lady Emily, the daughter of the Empress who is kidnapped after her mother's death. Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones) stars as Emily's caretaker Calista.

Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs), Brad Dourif (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy), and John Slattery (Mad Men) also lend their vocal talents to Arkane Studio's first-person action game featuring a supernatural assassin driven by revenge.

And if that wasn't enough, it even stars Princess Leia. Well, Carrie Fisher will be heard throughout the city of Dunwall, broadcasting government propaganda on a speaker system.

“Having such talented actors voice Dishonored's compelling cast of characters adds a rich, powerful element to the game,” said Raphaël Colantonio, president of Arkane Studios. “We want to draw people into this virtual world and make it feel real. This celebrated cast adds wonderful depth and credibility to the overall Dishonored gameplay experience."

Dishonored is set for release in North American on October 9, 2012 and in Europe on October 12, 2012 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

Daniel is IGN's UK Games Writer. His favourite dystopia is the one we live in. Follow him on IGN and Twitter.

Source : ign[dot]com

Jimmy Fallon in Talks to Host the Oscars

Jimmy Fallon is now in negotiations to host the 85th Annual Academy Awards, with Saturday Night Live's Lorne Michaels -- who's also an executive producer on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon -- producing.

According to the Los Angeles Times, who broke the story, ABC has already raised objections to having the late-night talk show host from rival NBC play emcee on its Oscar broadcast. However, according to insiders close to the discussions, the Disney-owned network has no power to veto the decision, should a deal go through with the Academy. Meanwhile, an academy spokeswoman denied that any talks with Fallon and Michaels were even taking place.

Nevertheless, despite ABC's reluctance to showcase Fallon in their awards show, the Late Night comedian has plenty of hosting experience on his resume. Fallon also fronted the 2010 Emmys, which was very positively received.

But what are your thoughts on Fallon hosting the Oscars? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Max Nicholson is a writer for IGN, and he desperately seeks your approval. Show him some love on Twitter and IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

New Art Academy Review

It’s interesting that Nintendo has opted to launch the 3DS XL with two titles aimed at those with a creative bent. In the case of New Art Academy, there’s a fairly obvious logic behind it, as the expanded screens naturally offer a grander canvas on which to sketch or paint your own miniature masterpiece. Consider, too, that the original DS title sold half a million copies in the UK alone – following its debut in two parts on the DSiWare service - and you can imagine this being something of a system-seller for a certain audience. As with the first title, New Art Academy is an accomplished and genuinely educational package that’s just missing one or two features which could have made it even better.

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The lessons are genuinely useful, and there’s even some light art history thrown in to increase its educational value.

Your host, once again, is the genial Vince, a bearded artist whose demeanour is more Bob Ross than his ear-slicing namesake. Fittingly for this 3D update, he’s filled out a little – once a cartoonish sketch, now he more closely resembles an Aardman Animations character (he has a pet dog, too, though the sleepy Bacon is no Gromit). He’ll happily talk you through the basics of composition in a series of step-by-step lessons that take in still life, portraiture, landscapes, architecture and more.

You’ll learn how to build up paintings by blocking out colour before adding highlights and detail, and expand simplistic line drawings into something much more solid with light, shade and hatching to suggest form and texture. Later you’ll be taught about paint mixing and the art of atmospheric perspective – and that’s just in the introductory course. Another set of lessons examines more advanced techniques, and there are bonus mini-lessons that expand upon what you’ve just learned, with Vince offering only brief guidelines before leaving you to get on with it.

The lessons are genuinely useful, and there’s even some light art history thrown in to increase its educational value. With pastels and pencil crayons, you have a broader palette to choose from, and it’s no longer as restrictive about mixing media – though if you do choose to revert to pencils from watercolours to add fine detail, for example, your work so far will be locked in place. Meanwhile, the user interface is more intuitive than the previous game, and the increased resolution helps you produce pictures with slightly finer detail than before. It doesn’t compare to a Wacom tablet, of course, but then it isn’t really meant to: this is a program designed to teach skills that can be transferred to a real canvas.

Perhaps that’s why, unlike the excellent eShop title Colors 3D, you can’t create 3D paintings. It’s still a pity, though, particularly given the beautiful stereoscopic images that serve as your inspiration. It also lacks the incredible feature set offered by its downloadable rival, with no way of undoing mistakes unless you start from the beginning of the step or manually erase them. Another bizarre quirk means you can’t save your image to an SD card once you’ve chosen to end a lesson. Save it to your portfolio and you can hang it a virtual gallery or share it via SpotPass, but there’s no other way to transfer it.

Source : ign[dot]com