2000AD partners witb Plastic Head for new t-shirt, tote-bag range

With summer fast approaching now is the perfect time to get yourself a funky fresh new look-or some new t-shirts and bags, at least!

Plastic Head, in conjunction with 2000AD have a fabulous line in tees-long and short,hoodies and even tote or shoulder bags,ideal for the beach or town.

Sporting your favourite 2000AD characters by all the top creators,and very high quality,you’ll be the envy of all your friends and family...

Currently ranked the UK’s 10th largest distributor, Plastic Head has come a long way in its 15 year existence. Started from Director Steve Beatty’s bedroom at his parent's house, the company currently employs 40 people, exclusively handles sales and distribution in the UK for 170 record and DVD labels (over 30,000 titles), a range of over 3,000 titles of merchandise and 4,000 titles of specialist vinyl from limited edition 7 inch box sets, picture discs to electronic 12’s.

• Prices start at £7 for cotton tote bag,up to £40 for a heavy cotton hoodie,with t-shirts about £15-so don’t be a grexnix and stand out from all the jealous non-scrots!!

Fishy Fun: Comic Characters sunk to new depths!

Here's a daft but fun item for comic and fish lovers: Custom Fishbowls.

This new, small British operation will take your suggestion for whatever kind of fish bowl or theme of a fishbowl you want and make it - and throw in some fish, too.

One customer asked them to use a Minnie the Minx figure... And this is the result.

It was clearly a commission close to the team's heart, stirring childhood memories of spending pocket money on a pack of Merlin Premier League football stickers, getting a sherbert Dib Dab and buying a copy of the Beano.

"The iconic black and white stripes still evoke childhood memories of reading about Dennis the Menace, Rodger the Dodger and all the gang," says creator Joshua. "So here's Minnie the Minx, the ultimate tomboy, finally caged ready for your goldfish to swim around.

"The Bash Street Kids would be bowled over!"

• If you are interested in purchasing a unique, custom fishbowl, then check out the Custom Fish Bowls Etsy shop or follow them on Twitter. You can also find them on Facebook - although there's not much to see there - or check out their photo gallery on this Tumblr Blog. If you have any requests, suggestions or want to ask us something drop them an email at customfishbowls@hotmail.co.uk

Hard Case Cunningham!

Comics have always been a source of imagery for use in other medium - but suitcases? That's a new one on me. Ace creator Darryl Cunningham (of Psychiatric Tales fame etc) was commissioned to create some eye-catching designs for a range of suitcases for major maker Samsonite, and here's the result.

They aren't available in the UK yet, but you can buy the full set from amazon.com for a tad over $500. (We have tried to contact Samsonite's UK PR agency for info, but no reply as yet).

Speaking as someone who wants to make their suitcase stand out on airport carousels, definitely something to be considered.

Truffle Shuffle launches Thunderbirds t-shirt range

Truffle Shuffle and Peter Black Footwear and Accessories have recently launched Thunderbirds lines either directly or in partnership with retailers.

Truffle Shuffle's "Classic Thunderbirds" inspired line of T-shirts for men and women, and sweaters for men, all featuring various characters from the series. The products are available now exclusively online from www.truffleshuffle.com and include Lady Penelope, Parker and Brains t-shirts and a Virgil Tracy Thunderbirds fancy dress costume.

Peter Black Footwear and Accessories, who also hold licenses for Marvel-related products, Wallace & Gromit and Top Gear, has released a limited edition gift line for men, exclusive to Marks & Spencer, including sound key chains, wash bags, mugs and egg cup sets.

ITV Studios Global Entertainment, which licenses Thunderbirds, is apparently in discussion with a number of other potential licensees as it grows the licensing program for the Classic Thunderbirds brand.

What's intriguing us of course is that the franchise is being defined as "Classic Thunderbirds", suggesting a "New Thunderbirds" is still on its way...

 

Lazy Oaf launches chic Batman clothing range

Image: Viktor Vauthier © Lazy Oaf

East London-based fashion street wear label Lazy Oaf has just launched a very stylish range of Batman-themed clothing, in the run up to the release of The Dark Knight Rises on 20th July.

Image © Lazy Oaf

Promoted at a swish launch party for press in London last night, the range for women features super hero body suits, leggings, oversized shirts, including a unique play on the bat wing and a super cool 1990’s inspired sheer bat crop top.

The men’s collection features hand picked Batman imagery arranged into their instantly recognizable Lazy Oaf prints. These appear on their staple and popular men’s garments including short sleeve shirting, T-shirts and jersey crew neck sweatshirts.

There's also a stylish Batman knapsack on offer.

Online, the range is being helped with a viral video filmed, directed and edited by João Retorta, with a music from punk-style band Throwing Up (see below).

Under the licensing deal with Warner Bros Consumer Products UK, Lazy Oaf has acquired the global rights to the archive of iconic Batman artwork that it will use on clothing and accessories collections for men and women that launches in-store and online in the UK, Japan, Korea and US this month.

• Batman Men's Range

• Batman Womens Range

• Meet Lazy Oaf's very own BatDog




• For the full range, head over to www.lazyoaf.co.uk/Batman/c201/index.html


• Launch party "Catwomen" photos (and no, we didn't get to go): http://lazyoaf.tumblr.com/post/27339768301/catwomen

Images © Lazy Oaf

Win Avengers Assemble merchandise

Marvel licensee Colantotte are giving UK comic fans the chance to win six of their limited edition Neo Legend wristbands, as featured in the new Avengers Assemble film.

Colantotte created the exclusive limited edition MagTitan Neo Legend bracelet as worn by Tony Stark (Iron Man) played by Robert Downey Jr. in Marvel’s Avengers Assemble movie, which opens in the UK today (26th April 2012).

The wristband, which you have the chance to win over on Facebook, is top secret gear Marvel's heroes used to maintain their edge while fighting off arch rivals on a new interactive website, introduces the Earth’s mightiest heroes.

In Avengers Assemble, as with the comic that inspired it, iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow join forces when an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security. Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster.

Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

The film stars  Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and is directed by Joss Whedon.

The Colantotte/Marvel’s Avengers Assemble microsite enables fans old and new to meet the entire superhero team and learn about each of their unique powers through their in-depth profiles. It includes exclusive interactive comics, andthe chance to follow all the Marvel’s Avengers Assemble content from across the web via the Super Social Link List.

Colantotte’s MagTitan Neo Legend bracelet combines a polished pure titanium core with an embellished, sleek, carbon fibre design, to deliver a stylised element of comfort and functionality.  This striking bracelet epitomises the essence of fashion and craftsmanship which makes it the ideal accessory for casual, business, and superhero attire alike.

The MagTitan Neo Legend is approved as a medical device by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare and features a unique Alternating North-South Polarity Orientation (ANSPO) technology to create a larger magnetic field flow.

Colantotte International, Inc is Japan’s leading manufacturer of medically certified devices, Arc Quest Co. Ltd. Colantotte & Trion:Z launched its award-winning range of products in 1997 and is now a leader in providing magnetic ionic gear to the global health and fitness arena, with a presence in over 60 countries worldwide.

Their products are worn by hundreds of professional athletes including those in Triathlon Sports, Cycling, Cricket, Football and Tennis.
“We founded Colantotte in 1997 with the goal of providing the highest quality products to help restore the negative impact today’s lifestyle imposes,” said Katsumi Komatsu, President, Colantotte International Inc.

"After 15 years of doing just that, we are grateful to have been selected by Marvel to be involved in this Hollywood movie. We appreciate the support of our customers over the years and we hope they enjoy seeing the MagTitan Neo Legend in Marvel’s Avengers Assemble film and interacting with the Super Heroes on the website.
 • To win a Neo Legend Wristband Competition, go to www.facebook.com/ILoveTrionZ, click on the competition app, then submit your details and you’ll be rewarded with an exclusive 15% off all Colantotte and Trion:Z products, and have your name added to a prize draw to win one of six stunning Neo Legend wristbands, the same worn by Tony Stark (AKA Iron Man) in the new Avengers movie. 

• More information about the brands is available on http://www.colantotte.eu/ and http://www.trionz.co.uk

• Avengers Assemble URL and Facebook: http://uk.marvel.com/avengers-assemble / www.facebook.com/avengersuk

Planet Replicas extends 2000AD merchandise line with new keyrings

Can't find your Lawmaster keys? Keys to your hab have gone missing? Well, these problems are no more!

Feel the envy of all of Mega City One with the first of a range of new, high-quality 2000AD keyrings from Planet Replicas, the same company making the Judge Dredd costumes (see news story).

Choose either Judge Dredd’s metal badge of office or one of 2000AD’s classic title logo designs.

With the metal replica of Mega City One’s finest, you too can show your support for the Judges as well as keeping your prized keys under constant surveillance. (We could say it’s so chunky that it’s bullet-proof, but we'd rather no-one found out for sure...)

And highlighting 2000AD’s rich and varied history, the other keyring shows the title design from the 1982 2000AD Annual. Made from vinyl and 7mm thick, it’s a real quality piece and totally Zarjaz!

We're told more designs in each of these two ranges are planned, and don’t forget – they’ll make great Christmas presents!

• The keyrings will shortly be available through the Planet Replicas webshop. For more information, sign up for the newsletter at www.planetreplicas.com

tshirtprinting.net delivers on Crucible promo

Recently, British-based company tshirtprinting.net offered us something for free in return for a spot of publicity for their wares on downthetubes.net.

Ever on the blag, we took them at their word and asked them to make up a 'Crucible' t-shirt, featuring artwork from the creator-owned strip I'm writing for publication next year, which is being drawn by Interzone illustrator and former 2000AD artist Smuzz.

We're happy to report to show off the t-shirt "in the wild", with modelling help from artist Smuzz's partner, Eira (who has also developed some amazing glyphs for our new world, by the way).

TshirtPrinting.net have over 20 years experience in the screen printing industry and tell us they take pride in offering an honest, easy to understand way of doing business. "We believe our customers are searching for someone to fulfil their printing needs without stress and with their satisfaction being our main aim," they tell us.

While the design on our lovely, free, one-of-a-kind t-shirt is just A4 size, we're told they can print larger designs on shirts and the company can screen print to A3 and above.

The t-shirt is great and you can check the company out at http://www.tshirtprinting.net/. Or phone them on 0800 046 7633.

• More about the Crucible project here: http://downthetubescomic.blogspot.com/

Planet Replicas launch Dredd costumes - ideal for vigilantes?

Prepare to dispense justice like Judge Dredd and Judge Anderson - officially licensed Judge replica costumes from Planet Replicas are coming.

(We can just see these being snapped up by those 'real life superheroes' the media loves reporting on at the moment).

Faithfully reproduced from 2000 AD’s most famous lawman of the future, the costumes complete with the distinctive helmet, name badge, pads (shoulder, knee and elbow) utility belt, Lawgiver (sadly, not operational) and gloves.

All other items can also be sourced through Planet Replicas. Personal customisation will be available, as well as other options.

With the choice of male and female Judge costumes, outfits for the whole family are a possibility – ideal if you are setting up your own Mega-City One Sector House.

- More info and pics at: www.planetreplicas.com

Art You Grew Up With offers limited edition X-Men prints

British art store Art You Grew Up With is offering some limited edition X-Men prints for sale, to tie in with the launch of X-Men: First Class in UK cinemas.

The selection of limited editions on paper and canvas by some of the hottest talent in illustration and comics today includes 'Visionaries', right, along with other images by Jim Lee, plus an 'Astonishing X-Men' piece by Simone Bianchi, and more.

Beautifully printed, they're superb editions and comic representations although they don't come cheap - the signed 'Visionaries' print will set you back £565 unframed and £655 framed. (Other items aren't as pricey, though).

Art You Grew Up With, which sells a wide range of art featuring children's favourites ranging from 2000AD and The Beano to Paddington Bear and was recently featured in the Express, is also offering Father's Day gifts of Harold's Planet cartoons and Simpsons art. Its prints are sold in a variety of stores across the UK as well as online.

They will also try to track down art for individual prints. “If you want the original art used in the 1970s Spider-Man cartoon, we will find it,” owner  Russell Singler told the Express. “Then again it will be no problem if you suddenly recall a limited edition that you first saw on a trip to Disney World in the 1990s.”

• Art You Grew Up With is based at Catalyst House, Centennial Park, Elstree Village Herts WD6 3SY. Tel: 0800 098 8743 (International: +0044 208 736 5868). Web: www.artyougrewupwith.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArtYouGrewUpWith

Don’t be a mug – obey the law!

A top-quality mug lovingly wrapped in classic Judge Dredd artwork from one of the greats of 2000 AD – the latest merchandise from The House of Tharg is perfect for sitting back and sipping your synthi-caff!

This limited edition Mega-City One Justice Department-approved beverage holder features the stunning wraparound cover from Prog 169 in 1980, drawn by legendary Judge Dredd artist Mick McMahon. It shows Dredd leading a charge of Mega City forces in one of the most iconic images from the early years of 2000 AD.

Exclusive to the 2000 AD online shop for just £7.99, this new mug joins a host of 2000 AD merchandise from t-shirts and action figures to badges and sketch books.

The new mug is available from http://shop.2000adonline.com

Cesar to release Judge Dredd costume, ideal for would-be vigilantes

The new Judge Dredd costume
from Cesar. Solid helmet and
Lawgiver not included!

Costumed vigilante "The Statesman" may be gaining press coverage battling intoxicated baddies and wannabe burglars on the streets of Birmingham, as reported by papers such as the Daily Mail and the Sunday Mercury. But now the real law is coming, and you can patrol your local neighbourhood in the guise of the country's most famous future cop thanks to a new Judge Dredd costume from Cesar, available later this year.

The costume gives you everything you need to get into full law-giving character – a full body jumpsuit with muscle padding, plus utility belt with pockets for your phone and money, knee and elbow pads, detailed shoulder and eagle pads, boot covers, gloves and a shiny PVC helmet.

"You see people dressed in lots of 'superhero' costumes but now everyone can be the lawman of the future, Judge Dredd," enthuses 2000AD Matt Smith (aka Tharg, although we've never seen Matt dressed as old green bonce). “The helmet and shoulder pads make up one of the most iconic costumes in comic books, right up there with Superman's cape and Batman's cowl.

“Dredd is a uniquely British blend of satire, hyper-violence and action that has made him such an icon and a byword for the stern application of the law.


“What's certain is that he is the original British comic book hero – vigilantes spandex-clad superheroes had best beware as the judges take to the streets later this year!”

 Commenting on the new costume, Judge Dredd said: “Impersonating a judge is an offence, punk! Around these parts, I'M the law – 30 years in the iso-cubes, creep!”

Various newspapers, including The Sun, reported how Scott Cooke was patrolling the streets of Birmingham as The Statesman, a masked real-life 'Kick Ass'-inspired vigilante. The Sunday Mercury noted that despite his bravado, the 26-year-old failed to stop failed to stop 99 crimes in his own neighbourhood in the last month alone... plenty for would-be Judge Dredds to deal with, then.


• More Judge Dredd craziness over at www.2000adonline.com

Moleskine Goes Peanuts to mark strip's 60th anniversary

Here's one for fans of Charles Schulz ace comic strip creation, Peanuts, which has appeared in many British newspapers down the years, along with many collections - most recently, The Complete Peanuts series published by Canongate Books. Moleskine, makers of the legendary notebook used by some of the world's most celebrated artists and writers, has just launched new limited edition notebooks to commemorate one of the 20th century's most widely adored artists and help mark the 60th Anniversary of the strip's launch.

Sounds like a nifty Christmas gift for fans of Snoopy and company to me.

Schulz's Peanuts gang are some of the most well-known and internationally popular characters ever drawn - the comic strip now appears in over 2,200 newspapers, in 75 countries and 21 languages. Featuring exclusive cover art, interior art and packaging, these Peanuts Notebooks are available in a variety of sizes and rule types to accommodate every Moleskine and Schulz devotee, aiming to represent some of the best-loved characters particular point of view and their continuous banter and self-expression with the black and white colour scheme reminiscent of the daily comic strips found in newspapers and bookstores all over the world.

Moleskine say the strong personalities which define the Peanuts gang are given top billing on the covers of the large notebooks, which feature upclose shots of Snoopy and Charlie Brown on the paper bands and a side profile embossed in white on the notebook itself.

The inside cover of each notebook features inspiring quotes from favourite characters. In an extra special touch, the iconic Moleskine "In case of loss" section has been customised as Snoopy's house, with the text presented in Schulz's recognisable writing. The back of the notebooks feature a Peanuts family tree and the story of Moleskine and a set of special Peanuts stickers (which incorporate the classic Peanuts "thought bubble") are inserted in the expandable pocket.

All the Limited Edition notebooks are embossed with Peanuts 60th Anniversary, making a must-have collector's item for the many Schulz and Moleskine fans.


Moleskine-style notebooks (which are not made from moleskin, in case you were wondering) are, apparently, almost as collectable as comics for some. They were apparently the favoured choice for note keeping for a diversity of creators for over 200 years and the modern Moleskin notebooks are produced by a  small Milanese publisher who brought the legendary notebook back to life in 1997, describing them as the successor to notebooks used by artists and thinkers such as Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and Ernest Hemingway.

Novelist Bruce Chatwin is credited with naming the little black notebooks 'moleskine" in the 1980s, going out of his way to buy what was then a very scarce item after the manufacturer, a small family-owned company in the French city of Tours, went out of business.

• Check out the new Peanuts books on Moleskine's dedicated Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/moleskine


• Moleskine is at: www.moleskine.co.uk

Dan Dare Ray Guns, Card Games and Radios, Oh My...

Following up on our past stories on new Dan Dare merchandise, a mention for UK toy company Russimco's Dan Dare retro toy line is long overdue here, so let's redress that right now.

All the toys - due for release later this year - are reproductions of Dan Dare products originally released in the 1950s, but have been adapted to comply with modern safety regulations governing toy making.

The toys come complete in boxes that faithfully emulate the originals, some of which fetch sell for a high price on auction sites and collector fairs.

• The Dan Dare Planet Gun Set was originally issued by Merit, made in England by J & L Randall Ltd. This 'space pistol' comes with three propeller disks. Merit released several Dan Dare guns, as did Palitoy and Lone Star. Originals can sell for around £60.

• This Dan Dare Circular Jigsaw puzzle is based on a 1950s jigsaw published by Waddingtons, featuring classic Dan Dare images.

• Possibly one of the most entertaining retro products in the range, this Dan Dare Card Game was originally released in 1953 by Pepys. We suspect most original editions will be pretty dog-eared through plenty of play by now, so I'm sure there will be fans out there keen to get a new set!

• Finally, there's this modern version of Merit's Walkie Talkie Set, first released in 1953. You'll be pleased to hear that Russimco's version is wind-up, rather than battery operated.

• Russimco: http://www.russimco.com/


• Dan Dare Original Merchandise list compiled by Wakefield Carter

• Bear Alley, 4 March 2008: Collector Bob Rothwell's Dan Dare Collection Sale

Dan Dare at 60: Merchandise Update

With the Eagle and its best-remembered character Dan Dare celebrating a 60th birthday this month, fans will be pleased to hear that several items are either in development or already on sale now to mark the event.

• The collectable Dan Dare figure from Day2Day, already featured on downthetubes, looks on course to go on sale later this Spring/Summer.

• Orion Books are producing Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future: A Biography and an Eagle Diary (for 2011, but released this summer).

"It should be in the shops August," says Dan Dare biography author Daniel Tatarsky, who also wrote Eagle Annual of the 1950s and The Eagle Annual of the Cutaways.

"I can't say too much but it should be a nice reminder of the diaries that were issued in the 1950s and will include various highlights from Eagle," says Daniel. "We're going for the retro look again but without the distressed cover."

• As we previously reportedRussimco, best known for its wooden toys, will be launching several toy products this year. The range has yet to be finalised.

• Simon Spicer (who also do the wonderful Ladybird retro paper products) have already launched a range of Dan Dare cards and wrap which have already launched. The full range is on sale at www.simonspicer.com. Notebooks are on their way.

• Titan Books will be releasing Dan Dare: Trip to Trouble/Project Nimbus later this year. Safari in Space is still on sale in all good bookshops, as is Classic Bible Stories Volume 1.

A second Bible Stories collection is in development by the company for Easter 2011 featuring Frank Bellamy's David: The Shepherd King and The Great Adventurer, the story of Saint Paul, which was drawn by Frank Hampson, Jocelyn Thomas and, for much of its run, Norman Williams.

More licenses are in progress, and we'll have more information on these as they near release date. We still haven't heard anything more about the rumoured Dan Dare movie from rights holders the Dan Dare Corporation, but we have our collective fingers crossed!

Hammer Films Update

The official Hammer Films website has today launched a new online shop selling items associated with the vintage British film studio. Items for sale include DVDs, books and T-shirts, along with some new reproduction film posters.

But that's not the only news from the House of Horror because there's quite a lot happening in the world of Hammer at the moment, including a Hammer exhibition at the Opus Gallery in Newcastle, which runs until 21st February.

The 1967 Hammer film The Lost Continent has also just been released on DVD in the UK for the first time and the recent Hammer production Beyond the Rave, which premiered online in 2008, is also available, as a limited edition.

Meanwhile, there are new Hammer films in production. Let Me In, a co-production between Hammer and Overture Films, will be released in the US in October. The Resident, starring Christopher Lee, should also debut this year and the company has also acquired rights to the Susan Hill ghost story The Woman in Black.

Now, if only someone would collect all those classic House of Hammer comic strips...

New Biography of Showbiz Legend Lew Grade

A new biography of British media entrepeneur Lew Grade - without whom shows such as Thunderbirds, UFO and The Muppets might never have been made - is to be published by Aurum Press next month.

All My Shows are Great is the first biography of a giant of British show business and the story of a pioneer of commercial television. A portrait of a genuinely larger-than-life figure legendary for his witticisms, Lew Grade was the last of the old-time media moguls – a genuine show business tycoon. From humble Jewish immigrant beginnings in east London, he became the world Charleston dance champion (and could dance it well into his eighties), from which he drifted into theatrical agenting, at which he discovered he was extremely good.

Soon he was a top impresario, with his brothers Bernard (Delfont) and Leslie Grade putting together variety bills, owning theatres, and eventually booking showbiz’s biggest names from both sides of the Atlantic.

The birth of commercial television saw him win a franchise with ATV, where Grade was a pioneer of popular culture, responsible for such TV hits as Saturday Night at the London Palladium, Robert Powell’s epic portrayal of Jesus of Nazareth and bringing shows like Thunderbirds, Space:1999 and The Muppets to British TV screens. It was his genius that also, then, paved the way for fan favourite comics such as TV Century 21 to reach the news stands.

Grade then went into films, most notoriously with Raise the Titantic! whose cost over-runs inspired his most memorable witticism, that “It would have been cheaper to lower the Atlantic”.

Grade was still working until he died in his early nineties, in the office at dawn, puffing on his trademark giant Montecristo cigars, and never losing his love of a deal. “Some of my shows are good, some are bad,” he once said. “All of them are great”.

Former Sunday Times journalist Lew Chester’s biography – the first to be written, is an entertaining portrait of someone who was truly larger than life.

• All My Shows are Great by Lewis Chester is published by Aurum Press on 18th February at £20 in the UK

Star Trek DVD Release Date Set

The new Star Trek film beams onto DVD and 3 Disc Blu-ray with Digital Copy on 16th November 2009 in the UK.

This visually spectacular, blockbuster prequel from acclaimed director J.J Abrams (Lost, Mission: Impossible III) follows a young James T. Kirk (Chris Pine, Carriers) as a rebellious troublemaker, attempting to prove his superiors wrong and fulfil his potential by enrolling in Starfleet, much to the dismay of his instructor, the young Lt. Spock (Zachary Quinto, Heroes).

Kirk, Spock and the rest of the crew including Scotty (Simon Pegg, Shaun of the Dead), Uhura (Zoe Saldana, Avatar), Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy (Karl Urban, The Bourne Supremacy), Sulu (John Cho, Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle) and Chekov (Anton Yelchin, Terminator Salvation), board the newly commissioned U.S.S. Enterprise to unite in a battle against Romulan ship captain, Nero (Eric Bana, Munich).

The film was a worldwide box office phenomenon on its release, successfully reinvigorating the Star Trek franchise and bringing many new fans to the saga. With a guest appearance from Leonard Nimoy as the original Spock to "pass the torch" to this new crew, it's also been a hit with the vast majority of the show's original fandom.

The Star Trek two-disc special edition DVD and three disc Blu-ray with Digital Copy boasts out-of-this-world special features to take viewers even further into the new universe of the rousing space adventure, starting with a home entertainment first: groundbreaking augmented reality technology. Using a webcam, a Star Trek visual cue will morph into a 3D holographic tour of the U.S.S. Enterprise on the screen, providing a unique and interactive experience.

The special features also include in-depth explorations of the franchise, the phenomenal cast, the spectacular action sequences, the powerful score and the captivating aliens, as well as commentary from J.J. Abrams and a gag reel.

Additionally, the discs feature compelling, deleted scenes that reveal a side story involving Nero with a first-ever look at Abrams’ version of the infamous warrior Klingons.

The Blu-ray version will give audiences a stunning viewing experience, featuring 5.1 Dolby TrueHD and includes a Digital Copy of the film which can be easily transferred to a computer, Video iPod, iPhone and other portable media players.

• Star Trek is available to buy on DVD & 3 Disc Blu-ray with Digital Copy on 16th November 2009 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Buy Star Trek from amazon.co.uk

TECHNICAL DETAILS – SINGLE DISC DVD


Title: Star Trek

Release date: November 16 2009

Discs: 1 Disc Set

RRP: £19.99

Cert 12A

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

Running time – main feature

Approx. 127 minutes

Special features


• Commentary by J.J Abrams, Bryan Burk, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof and Roberto Orci

• A New Vision

• Gag Reel

TECHNICAL DETAILS – 2 DISC SPECIAL EDITION DVD


Title: Star Trek

Release date: November 16 2009

Discs: 2 Disc Set

RRP: £24.99

Cert: 12A

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

Running time – main feature Approx. 127 minutes

Special features


Commentary by J.J Abrams, Bryan Burk, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof and Roberto Orci

• A New Vision

• Gag Reel

• Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary

• Featurettes: To Boldly Go, Casting, Aliens, Score

TECHNICAL DETAILS – 3 DISC BLU-RAY WITH DIGITAL COPY


Title: Star Trek

Release date: November 16 2009

Discs: 3 Disc Set

RRP: £29.99

Cert: 12A

Sound: 5.1 Dolby TrueHD

Running time – main feature - Approx. 127 minutes

Special features

Commentary by by J.J Abrams, Bryan Burk, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof and Roberto Orci

• A New Vision

• To Boldly Go – HD

• Casting – HD

• A New Vision – HD

• Starships – HD

• Aliens – HD

• Planets – HD

• Props and Costumes – HD

• Ben Burtt and the Sounds of Star Trek – HD

• Score – HD

• Gene Roddenberry’s Vision – HD

• Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary

• Starfleet Vessel Simulator

• Gag Reel

• Trailers

Lorenzo Sketch Books Launched

The Etherington Brothers are pushing boundaries again, adding another attraction to their StudioBlinkTwice web site which documents their many fab creations - a new online shop selling Blink Twice professional comic board, Malcolm Magic books and more.

The launch coincides with the publication of sketch books by fab artist Lorenzo Etherington, ranging in theme from robots, to girls, to monsters, machines and more. Each 100-page collection boasts more than 250 original sketches from the artist behind Monkey Nuts, Moon and Malcolm Magic.

The first book, Girls and Monsters, is available now from the Comics Boutique, in two versions: the original volume, and the extra special version including a one-off original sketch from the creator himself.

Beyond Blink Twice, the Etheringtons continue to be busy. Rob has just written a story for Transformers Comic, Megatron's Revenge, for Titan (unfortunately attributed to Simon Furman) which is now on sale in all good UK newsagents.

• Blink Twice are at: www.studioblinktwice.com

Watchmen Gets DVD, Blu-Ray Date

Paramount Home Entertainment has announced that Watchmen will be available to purchase on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK on 27th July 2009.

Directed by Zack Snyder (300), Watchmen is a based on the 1986-1987 comic book limited series Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Listed in Time magazines "All-Time 100 Novels", the film adaptation stars Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Patrick Wilson.

• Watchmen will be available to buy on 1 Disc DVD, 2 Disc Limited Edition DVD & 2 Disc Blu-ray which also includes Digital Copy