Electro Rises in New Amazing Spider-Man 2 Video

When Electro rises, Spider-Man's greatest enemies will unite. Will Peter Parker pay the ultimate price to be the hero he is destined to become?

With barely two months before the grand debut of “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” in Philippine theatres on April 30, Columbia Pictures has revved up its marketing campaign by releasing a new, 3-minute footage called “Rise of Electro.” The video featurette can be viewed here at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OyDon_PpJw

Earth Hour, Spider-Man Join Forces to Save the Planet

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH, 2014: In a first of its kind partnership, Spider-Man will be the first Super Hero ambassador for Earth Hour, the global movement organized by WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature), with a message to inspire individuals to use their power to become Super Heroes for the planet.

Andy Ridley, CEO and Co-Founder of Earth Hour, and Jeff Blake, Chairman, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, Sony Pictures Entertainment, made the announcement in conjunction with the launch of Earth Hour Blue – a radical new digital crowdfunding and crowdsourcing platform for the planet, launched to engage people around the world and participants in the famous lights out event, which this year will be held on Saturday March 29, at 8:30pm.

This year, Earth Hour and the hero of the highly anticipated motion picture The Amazing Spider-Man 2 – along with the film’s stars, Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx and director Marc Webb – are throwing their support behind Earth Hour Blue, which aims to harness the power of the crowd to raise funds for on-the-ground environmental projects from across the world.

“I’m proud Spider-Man is the first Super Hero ambassador for Earth Hour because he shows we can all be Super Heroes when we realize the power we all have,” says Andrew Garfield, who plays Spider-Man in the upcoming film. “Earth Hour is a movement that has created massive impact around the world, so imagine what we can do this year with Spider-Man by our side.”

The crowdfunding section of the new platform will allow participants to help deliver energy efficient stoves to families in Madagascar, help communities in the Philippines build fiberglass boats to withstand climate impacts like Typhoon Haiyan and raise funds to expand and conserve the iconic Table Mountain National Park in South Africa, with many more projects to come.

“Earth Hour gives you the power to inspire anyone, even if you’re just one person, and Earth Hour is much more than an hour. There are great projects from the crowd, for the planet, happening all over the world,” said Emma Stone.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 director Marc Webb is the first celebrity ambassador to announce the Earth Hour Blue project he is backing, which aims to provide better equipment for WWF Rangers protecting Indonesia’s endangered wildlife such as the Sumatran Tiger, Elephant, Rhino and Orangutan and their forest habitat.

“Earth Hour is a movement full of Super Heroes – people harnessing the power of the crowd to inspire change for the good of the planet, imagine the possibilities when we come together and do more,” said Marc Webb.

Earth Hour has grown to involve hundreds of millions of people from all walks of life across 7000 cities and towns and 154 countries and territories. Jamie Foxx who plays the villain Electro in the film said, “Earth Hour isn’t just about lights off; it’s about people across the world coming together throughout the year to join forces to improve the planet. Never underestimate your power, never underestimate what you can do.”

Individuals can also use Earth Hour’s crowdsourcing platform for Earth Hour Blue, which will call for people to add their voice to some of the biggest environmental campaigns across the world; including an Instagram campaign for people to share their love of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, as part of WWF-Australia’s “Lights Out For The Reef” theme for Earth Hour 2014.

Global participants in the movement will also be able to sign the Shark Saver’s “I’m FINished With FINS” pledge, which engages celebrities and public figures throughout Asia to help end shark finning in marine waters for the consumption of shark-fin soup.

“The idea of Earth Hour has grown beyond anything we could have dreamed. This year with the help of Spider-Man by our side, we are taking the movement to the next stage. We hope that Spider-Man will empower individuals to be Super Heroes for the planet, and use their voice or their dollar to support projects or campaigns around the world. It’s about harnessing the power of the crowd. That’s what Earth Hour Blue is all about,” said Ridley.

Sony Pictures Entertainment will join by contributing to a WWF-China and Earth Hour Blue project that provides efficient cookstoves to prevent deforestation in the habitat of the Giant Panda. Through its efforts, the studio will receive Gold Standard carbon offsets that render the entire physical production of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as well as its publicity tour, carbon-neutral.

Expanding on many sustainability efforts over the years, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 became the most eco-friendly tentpole production in the history of Columbia Pictures. These environmental efforts, on set and off, were supported at every level – from producers, studio executives, and cast and crew and began as soon as the film went into pre-production.

“Spider-Man’s always been a very relatable Super Hero. Peter Parker is a hero to all people, and an inspiration, so it seems very fitting that he should join forces with Earth Hour to empower every single individual to help save the planet,” Blake added. “I’m also very proud of the fact that The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is entirely carbon-neutral. We made a commitment to be as eco-conscious as possible during production itself, when we took a special effort to think green and avoid waste; now, completing that process with Earth Hour Blue is a wonderful testament to what we can achieve when we all work together.”

Earth Hour and its Super Hero ambassador Spider-Man remind us that “with great power comes great responsibility,” so get involved and use your power at earthhour.org.



About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global environmental movement of WWF. As one of the first opensourced environmental campaigns, Earth Hour has grown from a symbolic event in one city into a global movement, crowdsourcing actions from individuals, businesses, organizations and governments to generate environmental outcomes. In 2014, Earth Hour Blue sees the movement enter the most exciting stage of its evolution, to be at the forefront of crowdfunding and crowdsourcing for causes, innovation and creativity for the planet.

About WWF
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with almost five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

About The Amazing Spider-Man 2
We’ve always known that Spider-Man’s most important battle has been within himself: the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man. But in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker finds that a greater conflict lies ahead.

It’s great to be Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield). For Peter Parker, there’s no feeling quite like swinging between skyscrapers, embracing being the hero, and spending time with Gwen (Emma Stone). But being Spider-Man comes at a price: only Spider-Man can protect his fellow New Yorkers from the formidable villains that threaten the city. With the emergence of Electro (Jamie Foxx), Peter must confront a foe far more powerful than he. And as his old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, Peter comes to realize that all of his enemies have one thing in common: OsCorp. Directed by Marc Webb. Produced by Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach. Screen Story and Screenplay by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci & Jeff Pinkner. Based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The film will be released in Philippine theaters April 30, 2014, and in the U.S. on May 2, 2014. #SpiderMan

About Sony Pictures
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com.

About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit marvel.com. ©MARVEL

Major Spoiler for Superior Spider-Man # 25

While the Carlie Cooper post wasn't much other than show you what's become of Peter Parker's ex, this post will give you an inkling of how Parker finally gets his body back.

Turns out the Venom symbiote mixed with SpOck is a volatile combination which is partly the reason why The Avengers are battling their teammate. In the thick of the battle Doc Ock spazzes out and thinks that he might not have thought his plan through, all the while trying to fight the symbiote who wants to devour Parker's body and take over for good.

Just when things start to go wrong, Peter Parker's force ghost makes an appearance (last we saw him was back in issue # 9 where Otto thought he had completely erased traces of Peter Parker from his psyche.)

It's got this near Dragonball Z vibe where Son Gokou's ghost appears out of nowhere and helps his friends

And boom! We have Peter Parker back (in one form or another)...

Before Doc Ock even notices, Pete slips back into the subconsciousness while SpOck claims innocence over his actions by telling that he's been a host of a sliver of symbiote for months now.

Emma Stone Introduces New Trailer of Amazing Spider-Man 2

Less than two weeks after the launch of the full trailer of “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” Columbia Pictures has already released a follow-up, new trailer – this time preceded by a personal message from castmember Emma Stone -- which you can watch here at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gNfXf0yCe4.

We've always known that Spider-Man's most important battle has been within himself: the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man. But in “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” Peter Parker finds that a greater conflict lies ahead.



It's great to be Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield). For Peter Parker, there's no feeling quite like swinging between skyscrapers, embracing being the hero, and spending time with Gwen (Emma Stone). But being Spider-Man comes at a price: only Spider-Man can protect his fellow New Yorkers from the formidable villains that threaten the city. With the emergence of Electro (Jamie Foxx), Peter must confront a foe far more powerful than he. And as his old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, Peter comes to realize that all of his enemies have one thing in common: OsCorp.

The film, directed by Marc Webb from a screen story and screenplay by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci & Jeff Pinkner based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, is produced by Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach.

(Opening across the Philippines on April 30, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit www.columbiapictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games. Like us at www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.)

Marvel Teams Up Ultimate Spider-Man with the Howling Commandos for Halloween

The animated series Ultimate Spider-Man will see a surprise visit from the new generation "Howling Commandos" come Halloween.

I still have apprehensions with this series but once you get to sit down and watch a couple of episodes, it kinda grows on you. The operative word being KINDA. There's still a lot of things that's wrong about this series but the humor and the themes are kinda up there with other classic Spidey animated series of yesteryear.

Still I'm a bit annoyed by Marvel not 'honoring' the real Howling Commandos and instead supplanting said Commandos with the Monster Squad (which I last saw back when Frank Castle aka The Punisher was still Frankencastle).

Oh and they didn't have Blade the Vampire Hunter back then.

An Infographic for Marvel Characters Connection

Ever wondered how many connections Spider-Man has to the Avengers before officially joining the team in New Avengers # 1 or which X-Man has the least ties to guys like Thor or The Incredible Hulk. This infographic might just provide the answers to your questions.

Note: The graphic is fricking huge and long. I was looking for a hi-res version but this is as hi-res as it can be given the time on my hands. Still it's an enjoyable piece of information.

Entertainment Weekly's Amazing Spider-Man 2 Cover

Today we get to see our first legit look at Jamie Foxx as Spider-Man villain Electro for Marc Webb's "Amazing Spider-Man 2" from Sony Pictures... (Check out the full cover below)

That's a pretty neat looking Electro. Good job to the production crew for the movie. It's pretty obvious that this version of Electro means business and looks a tad more like the Ultimate Universe version of the villain which I think was a good idea...

Plus he'd be more credible and intimidating as a villain in this form rather than the classic 616 version of the character which looked like this:

The Best Cosplayers from Toycon 2013 Day 2

Continuing the coverage for Toycon 2013 on its second day. I just love the atmosphere and the electricity in the air and the generally good vibes yesterday. Here are some of cutest and most-awesome cosplayers from TOYCON 2013 was awesome.

More photos after the cut.

Amazing Spider-Man 2 Set Photo Features Gwen Stacy Rescue

The latest set of 'leaked' set photos from Marc Webb's Amazing Spider-Man 2 shows Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man swinging with real life girlfriend Emma Stone who plays Gwen Stacy once more. 

What's really interesting here isn't the shot or the action but rather what Emma's wearing. Yes, she's wearing the classic 'Dead Stacy' dress, the one which was shown HERE. 

First Look at Jamie Foxx as Electro for Amazing Spider-Man 2

Here's what Jamie Foxx looks like when he takes on the role of Spider-Man villain Electro for Marc Webb's 'Amazing Spider-Man 2'. 

As my friend and fellow popculture blogger Tim pointed out, this is very much the Ultimate Version of Electro as opposed to the white guy from the Marvel Comics 616 Universe.

Update: Found a couple of additional lo-res photos for Jamie Foxx as Electro:

Three Storyboards for Proposed Spider-Man 4

Sam Raimi had already begun work on the fourth Spider-Man movie when Sony decided to do a revamp which ultimately led to Marc Webb's Amazing Spider-Man. That was that until today, Jefrey Henderson shared three interesting storyboards from the film. Here's what I got off of his website.

  

What in tarnation is that devilish loking thing that Spidey's swinging our way? For a movie that's supposed to feature John Malkovich as Adrian Toomes/ The Vulture and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman Black Cat there's not much to go on with. 

 Wait, maybe that's not MJ, but instead it's Felicia Hardy. That'd be cool... I think...

Check out Henderson's other stuff HERE

New Avengers Annual # 1 Shows How Badass the Iron Legion is

Seen the second trailer for Iron Man 3 with Tony Stark and Jim Rhodes (played by Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle respectively)? Awesome right? Too bad we have to wait till April 25 to see Iron Man 3. To whet your appetite for the so-called Iron Legion, here's some scans from the now hard-to-find New Avengers Annual  #1.

In this tale written by Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel, we get a glimpse of the New Avengers during a down time.

Luke Cage and Jessica Jones at this point isn't married yet. They will be, however, at the end of the issue. Just right after the team fights off the attack of the vengeance seeking Yelena Belova, who also happens to be the second Black Widow. At this point in continuity, the New Avengers have just begun operating and foiled a conspiracy in the Savage Land. Poor, poor Yelena however is burned by Sauron during the encounter with the Avengers. Later, HYDRA offers to graft Super Adaptoid technology into her to get even with Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

Yelena's managed to defeat the team's heavy hitter, The Sentry, by absorbing his powers...

Spider-Man uses his big brain to give Iron Man an idea on how to effectively stop the rampaging Belova...

Stark leaves the battle for a bit and makes a heroic return...

... together with the rest of the armors in his armory...

That's not even the coolest bit, as we find out that the billionaire playboy philantrophist is nowhere in the battlefield but is actually in the comfort of the Avengers Tower controlling the movements and the actions of each and every armor with the help of the Extremis virus in his system.

I also want to point out that Tony Stark here in this particular scene looks so much similar to the Tony Stark we're seeing in the trailer (during the parts where he's testing out the new armor, with the said armor shooting straight towards his hand).

Of course, I'm not going to spoil anything more than what I already know, but it does not end well for Belova. On a lighter note, the team later celebrates the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Luke Cage.

The team even goes and get their picture taken, which is pretty, pretty sad. Sense of nostalgia and all that.

If anybody ever encounters this issue, don't go and think, just bloody the issue.

Joe Madureira and Zeb Wells Locked in Wolverine/Spider-Man Project

Details are still sketchy but Marvel Comics has announced that original Avenging Spider-Man creative team Zeb Wells and Joe Madureira will be returning once again to do a Wolverine and Spider-Man story.

Rumor has it that the project includes a third wheel, Elektra, but that was so long ago. Maybe things have changed and it's just the Canucklehead and the wall crawler that'll star in this new project. Elektra after all is busy kissing the Punisher in the relaunched Thunderbolts.

Age of Ultron # 1 (Review) - Shooting Women with a Crossbow Aint Cool Bendis

Age of Ultron # 1 came out this week with (what I assume) is very lukewarm reception. I mean nobody's talking about it too much and certainly even news sites like CBR and Newsarama are absent in hyping this new event book from Marvel Comics. Regardless of that, I still liked it. Nothing over the top, a bit confusing in terms of story but it's still bearable. Thanks a bunch Brian Michael Bendis and Bryan Hitch.

Age of Ultron has been getting a mix and I can see why. It hasn't been long since AVX ended and we got all these relaunches. The Cyclops story/ saga hasn't even settled down, it's only three issues since the relaunch of Uncanny X-Men and here we are again looking at another threat and the Avengers once again badly beaten. Secondly, this arc/thread/plot/storyline has been branded as 'dated' especially since this was already teased way,way back in Avengers # 5 (with the Marvel Timeline and all that jazz).

The first issue looked gorgeous thanks in no small part to Bryan Hitch's line art. There's really no lack of eye candy here in Age of Ultron # 1 from fallen SHIELD hellicarriers to a headless Statue of Liberty, you'll get your fix.

First Look at Marvel Minimates Wave 50 - the Fan Favorite Winners

Here's the first look at the upcoming minimates from Art Asylum and Diamond Select Toys dubbed as the Marvel Minimates wave 50.

So here's the breakdwon of the characters:

1. Deathlok Spider-Man

2. Danny Ketch Ghost Rider

3. Modern Baron Zemo (Thunderbolts)

4. WWII Baron Zemo 

5. Nova 

6. Songbird (Thunderbolts) 

7. Onslaught

I love the Thunderbolts as much as the next guy but I'm wondering why they even decided to go with a Spider-Man/ Deathlok. I guess it just boils down to what figure will never see the light of day as a "Best Of" after a few years.

Amazing Spider-Man # 697 Review and Spoilers

Here's a review and some major spoilers for Amazing Spider-Man # 697 by Dan Slott and Christos Gage with art by Guiseppi Camuncoli.

The second part of the Hobgoblin vs Hobgoblin story arc continues with Parker and Modell running for dear life while the two Hobgoblins give chase.

The art for the book lead by artist Guiseppi Camuncoli looks nice. Ever since the last Lizard arc, I have to admit that the artwork is starting to grow and now I can say that its really nice. The facial expressions and action sequences are great although, the artist seems to have a hard time doing dynamic motions for the book. 

Slott goes and puts some nice little tidbits in preparation for his next arc which will "change Spider-Man and Peter Parker's lives forever". Its these little quirks that makes Spider-Man such an interesting read every moment. 

Slott's nice writing made it possible to introduce crazy ideas such as Spider-Man taking a note from his archenemy Norman Osborn's secret arsenal...

Slott and company also manages to bring in a couple of loose characters that haven't been seen in ASM for quite some time now including Harry Osborn...

There's this panel which made Harry Osborn look like Hughie from "The Boys"

Slott loves to tease us with a lot of stuff regarding to final issue of ASM which is rumored to be the last time we'll get to see Peter Parker as Spider-Man for the time being. Another returning character that surfaces once again comes in the form of Norman Osborn who emerges from his coma. A coma he suffered in the pages of Avengers and New Avengers.Another Osborn nugget comes when we visit his secret stash...

There are also a number of Octobots running around the city and pointing back to the imminent return of Doctor Octopus next issue. 

Anyway there are a number of things to love in this issue. There's a bit of Osborn's, a little tension about the future of Peter's super powered career and then there's also that moment when we find out that Kingpin has more plans. Oh and then there's also Julia Carter's condition after her breakdown two issues ago.

That Awful Moment when Spider-Man Kissed The Thing

The title was pretty bad but wait till you get a load at that awful moment from Avenging Spider-Man Annual # 1. 

And yes, the humor does not escape me about "spider-man kissing the thing". 

So anyway a bunch of crooks try to steal something which Spider-Man foils but Benjamin J. Grimm aka The Thing goes and spoil everything by following Spidey for that 30 dollars he owed him from the last poker game they did. The result is this:

Ugh. Horrible I tell you.

If you have to burn anybody for this that'd be writer Rob Williams and artist Brad Walker. Although to be honest, the annual's premise seems to harken the goofy, fun-filled days of a good Marvel Team-up. 

If im going to be really honest, it does seem kind of a good annual story. It does follow the formula for Avenging which is Spidey teaming up with a fellow Avenger and doing superhero stuff. 

New Covers for Jonathan Hickman and Jerome Opena's Avengers # 1

Check out the cover for Avengers # 1 which will be written by Jonathan Hickman with art by Jerome Opena. The art for the cover however is done by Dustin Weaver who is also an excellent artist.

Phineas and Ferb Crosses Over with Marvel Comics

Walt Disney flexes their ownership muscle by mashing up cult-favorite series "Phineas and Ferb" together with some of the Avengers.

Apparently the two intellectual properties would cross over thanks to the meddling of Perry the Platypus, which ends with most of the Avengers losing their powers and running to Phineas and Ferb for assistance.

The weird thing here is the fact that they have to depend on the two half-pint geniuses. I mean the Avengers already have Tony Stark, Peter Parker, Hank Pym, Hank McCoy and T'Challa. Not to mention they also have access to Reed Richard's Fantastic Four laboratory.

The Amazing Spider-Man Nendoroid

The web-slinging hero is joining the Nendoroid universe!

The world-famous Spider-Man is joining the Nendoroids as a fully posable figure wearing his newly designed outfit from 'The Amazing Spider-Man'! His entire outfit has both the spiderweb texture and appearance that fans have come to love.