WONDER WOMAN BLOODLINES

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided this movie to ageekdaddy.com for free

Marvel Comics have been receiving a lot of fanfare of late for their superhero movies but did you know that DC Comics has also created a dynamic cinematic universe featuring their characters?  No I'm not talking about the live action Batman vs Superman or Justice League movies! But rather the animated motion pictures in the DC Movie Universe.

 I think these DC film's are just as good as the Marvel ones yet haven't gotten as much attention because they are animated instead of live action and straight to home video releases.  In my opinion though Warner Bros. Animation has created a spectacular DC Movie Universe that aren't run of the mill cartoons for young kids but rather combine stories full of depth with great imagery so as to be appealing for more mature audiences. These movies have ratings from PG to R making some family friendly viewing and others more suitable just for moms and dads to watch. So it is important for parents to check the MPAA ratings on these movies. A new addition to the DC Movie Universe, which is one I'm comfortable letting my tweens watch, is WONDER WOMAN: BLOODLINES.  It is now available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital.

WONDER WOMAN: BLOODLINES tells the origin story of this iconic DC Comics heroine. In this animated movie, Amazon princess Diana of Themyscira chooses to save fighter pilot Steve Trevor who has crash landed on her hidden island and return him to his home in America. Fulfilling the role of both ambassador as well as protector, Diana soon earns the name Wonder Woman. Equally strong in body, heart and will, she makes it her mission to help a troubled young girl enlisted by a deadly organization known as Villainy, Inc., whose criminal members have their sights set on invading Diana’s paradise home of Themyscira. If you haven't seen a DC Movie Universe presentation yet, WONDER WOMAN: BLOODLINES is a great jumping in point to start viewing this series of films.



WONDER WOMAN: BLOODLINES is rated PG-13 for sequences of fantasy action and violence and some bloody images. It has a runtime of 83 minutes. The movie features a great cast of vocal talents. Rosario Dawson (Jane the Virgin, Rent, Luke Cage) returns as the voice of Wonder Woman for the sixth time in the DC Movie Universe, leading a sensational WONDER WOMAN: BLOODLINES cast voicing characters that includes Jeffrey Donovan (Fargo, Burn Notice) as Steve Trevor, Marie Avgeropoulos (The 100) as Silver Swan, Adrienne C. Moore (Orange Is the New Black) as Etta Candy, Kimberly Brooks (DC Super Hero Girls, Mass Effect, Winx Club) as The Cheetah & Giganta, Courtenay Taylor (Regular Show, Fallout 4) as Dr. Poison, Constance Zimmer (Entourage, House of Cards, Unreal) as Veronica Cale, Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) as Julia Kapatelis, Michael Dorn (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Arrow) as Ferdinand, Cree Summer (Batman Beyond, Rugrats) as Hippolyta, Mozhan Marno (The Blacklist, House of Cards) as Dr. Cyber, and Ray Chase (Justice League Dark) as Lead Bandit.

In addition to viewing the movie, you'll want to watch the bonus content that comes along with it. Included with the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo packs as well as Digital purchases are the following extras:

DC Showcase: Death (Animated Short) – Inspired by Neil Gaiman’s “The Sandman,” Death is produced & directed by Sam Liu (Justice League vs. The Fatal Five) and written by J.M. DeMatteis (Batman: Bad Blood). In the story, Vincent, an artist with unresolved inner demons, meets a mysterious girl who helps him come to terms with his creative legacy … and eventual death. Leonard Nam (Westworld) provides the voice of Vincent, and Jamie Chung (The Gifted, Big Hero 6) is the voice of Death. The voice cast includes Darin De Paul, Keith Szarabajka and Kari Wahlgren.

The Cheetah: Ferocious Archenemy (New Featurette) – Ferocious. Clever. Deadly. It’s the thrill of the hunt and the prey is Wonder Woman. This is the story of The Cheetah, Diana’s greatest enemy.

A Sneak Peek at the next DC Universe Movie, Superman: Red Son – An advanced look at the next animated film in the popular DC Universe Movies collection.

Pick up WONDER WOMAN: BLOODLINES on 4K Ultra HD or Blu-ray from Best Buy. If you make a purchase using the links above this dad blogger receives a small commission from Best Buy at no additional charge to you. Thanks for your support of ageekdaddy.com!

Wonder Woman Statue Giveaway

My daughter is so excited that we are having a daddy-daughter night out together to go see the new Wonder Woman movie.  Enthusiastic fans of the Amazonian princess like her will want to make sure to enter this great Wonder Woman Giveaway from Sideshow Collectibles before it ends on June 8, 2017 at 10am PDT.

One lucky winner will be randomly selected to win this handcrafted Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure. With austere beauty and fierce determination, Princess Diana of Themyscira dons her iconic costume of stars and stripes, sworn to protect the world and uphold her mantle as Wonder Woman. Granted divine superhuman powers and superior combat skills, the warrior princess is ready to gracefully accept any challenge, armed with her golden Lasso of Truth, indestructible bracelets, and tiara. The Wonder Woman collectible figure carries a long spear across her shoulders, and her iconic shield grasped firmly at her side - but above all, she carries the Amazons’ message of peace and justice.

Fans of the mythic DC Comics heroine are sure to find the Wonder Woman Statue a super collectible item to display in their home or office.  Enter for a chance to win it now --> Wonder Woman Giveaway

WONDER WOMAN PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY

My daughter is really looking forward to going to see the WONDER WOMAN movie while I'm excited to have a daddy-daughter trip to the theater to enjoy a film that will share my enjoyment of comic book superheroes with her. To share our enthusiasm for the movie, I'm co-hosting with my friends from The Hopping Bloggers a giveaway for a super prize pack. This Wonder Woman Prize Pack Giveaway is worth $70 and includes:

• Wonder Woman LEGO set
• Wonder Woman Heat Changing Mug
• Wonder Woman Funko
• Wonder Woman Bracelet
• DC-Comics Battle Ready Wonder Woman Doll

Before she was Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, Diana meets an American pilot (Chris Pine) who tells her about the massive conflict that's raging in the outside world. Convinced that she can stop the threat, Diana leaves her home for the first time. Fighting alongside men in a war to end all wars, she finally discovers her full powers and true destiny. 

Wonder Woman opens in theaters everywhere June 2nd! 

Connect with Wonder Woman

Official Site | Facebook | Twitter | #WonderWoman

Enter to win this Wonder Woman Prize Pack using the form below. GOOD LUCK!

Entry-Form

WONDER WOMAN DAY

In conjunction with the opening weekend of the new WONDER WOMAN movie's theatrical release, DC Entertainment will be partnering with book stores, comic book shops, libraries, and other venues to celebrate the Amazon Princess's 75th birthday on Saturday, June 3, 2017.  Participating locations will be hosting themed activities and distributing free copies of two special edition comic book issues.

WONDER WOMAN DAY SPECIAL EDITION #1 reprints DC Comics Universe's Rebirth Wonder Woman #1 written by Greg Rucka with artwork by Liam Sharp.

For young readers, DC SUPER HERO GIRLS WONDER WOMAN DAY: SPECIAL EDITION #1 will feature a chapter from the upcoming DC Super Hero Girls Vol. 3: Summer Olympus graphic novel written by Shea Fontana with art by Yancey Labat.

In addition to giving out these free comic books, DC Entertainment is also teaming up with an array of retail partners, including Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Walmart, Costco and Amazon for exclusive in-store and digital promotions to take place on WONDER WOMAN DAY.  There will also be cross-divisional promotions taking place during the day by Warner Bros. (which owns DC Entertainment) various entities along with key partners such as Six Flags Theme Parks to spotlight the heroine.  For more information about what is new with the Amazon Princess, visit her official Facebook page.

The Wonder Woman movie debuts in movie theaters on Friday, June 2, 2017.  Starring Gal Gadot who returns as the title character who was introduced in Warner Bros Pictures' Batman vs Superman, this movie provides the backstory of how Wonder Woman became a super hero.  The film also stars Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Connie Nielsen and Elena Anaya.  For more information about the movie, please visit wonderwomanfilm.com

Enjoy a Super Summer of Reading

Don't let all the hard work the children in your life have put into reading over the previous school year stagnate during their summer recess warns Gabrielle Miller, the president and CEO of the non-profit organization Raising A Reader, which is dedicated to helping families develop, practice, and maintain literacy habits for children ages 0-8 that are critical for a child's success in school and life.  Miller notes that with no homework assignments from teachers many of the 50 million plus children that are on summer vacation will stop reading during this break from school impairing their learning abilities when they return in the fall.  She reached out to A Geek Daddy to help spread the message that parents need to incorporate books into summer vacation activities and establish regular reading routines for their children.

"Summer reading should be all about the parent-child experience," Miller communicated to A Geek Daddy. "Rather than having it be a chore, or a list of must-read books, summer is a terrific opportunity to build family reading experiences.  Whether it's as simple as reading with children so they can see how much adults love reading, or visiting places and doing activities tied to a book, there are a host of ways reading can help children enjoy the summer and be ready to start school in the fall."

Here are a  few Raising A Reader tips for parents on helping their children have a super summer of reading:

• Participate in a local public library summer reading program that will often provide fun educational activities during the break from school plus challenge kids to read in order to earn an invitation to a special event like a pizza party or other  rewards or prizes.  Many libraries across the United States participate in the Collaborative Summer Library Program which provides a uniform theme and resources for libraries to use to encourage kids to read.  This year's theme is Wellness, Fitness & Sports.  Check out what your local library has to offer kids to help keep them reading during the summer.




• Invite the family pet to join the book sharing experience. Even if your child can’t read yet, have her ‘read’ the story to you and the pet. Children who can read will be able to practice their skills and children who have not yet learned to read will begin to think of themselves as ‘readers’ which is very important to lifelong learning. 


• Find books that are centered on summer activities he or she enjoys. If your child likes to go horseback riding, for example, find books about horses or stories with horses as an integral part of the plot. This will give a child a welcome change from the types of books read during the school year and better complement their summer. 


• If you are taking a trip, read books about your destination with your child before you leave. Do some research with them on the location and find things in the area they want to do while visiting. And don’t forget to play “I Spy” with road signs or license plates along the way.


• Write a book with your child about them, your family, their favorite foods or toy, their friends or whatever interests them most. Your child can draw pictures or use actual photos. If you’re worried that your child spends too much time watching TV or playing video games, have him or her tell you or write a story about their favorite TV show or video game. You can also use one of many templates available to create and print the book on your computer.


• Create an outdoor reading area so the whole family can enjoy the summer weather and not feel stuck inside. Children generally read indoors, so being outdoors will create a new environment for enjoying a book and boost a child’s enthusiasm for reading. 


• Let your child choose. Books are great, but so are comic books, magazines and even educational websites such as National Geographic Kids. Let them chase their interests and they’ll be reading more than they realize.

My kids love super heroes so we're encouraging them to enjoy a super summer of reading with DC Super Heroes books from Capstone Publishing, which specialized in children's books and digital products specializing in the educational market serving class rooms, libraries and parents looking for good materials for their children to read.  Capstone Publishing has a wide range of DC Super Heroes books to choose from suitable for all ranges of children to enjoy from those in their preschool years having mom or dad read to them to elementary school students just learning to read on their own to teens who are looking for something interesting to read during their high school years. They generously sent A Geek Daddy a free sample of the books in their super hero collection perfectly matched to my kids reading level to help keep my 7 year old twins reading over the summer months.  Easy to read Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman stories written for a children's elementary school aged audience will keep my kids interested in flipping through books all summer long.  My kids also just discovered through these book Capstone Publishing sent us the world of the DC Super-Pets which is a line of books featuring stories about the unique animal companions to the super heroes and villains of the DC Comic book universe.  My kids have fallen in love with the DC Super Pets collection!

My twins also are participating in our local public library's summer program to help keep them reading during their break from school.  Each week they are provided a list of challenges involving reading books and educational activities that if are completed allow them to grab something from a treasure chest of prizes.  Also throughout the summer they'll have the opportunity to spend some time visiting the library and reading to a therapy dog in training.  They are both excited to share their new DC Super Pets books with the therapy dog when they have a chance to read to it this summer.  At the end of summer there is a party for all the kids who participated that includes a magic show and Kohl's department store provides all the children with Kohl's Cares stuffed animals and books as a reward.  Have you checked out what types of summer activities your community public library has to offer?

For more information about all the wonderful books that Capstone Publishing has available for young readers, visit CapstoneKids.com.  Parents can be super heroes by ensuring their children read over the summer.  I hope all of our A Geek Daddy readers have a super summer of reading!

DC Super Hero Girls

My daughter had some allowance money she'd saved up burning a hole in her pocket to be spent and asked if we could go to Target so she could pick out a new toy to play with.  She was really excited to discover in the toy aisle a new type of super hero action figures that cater specifically to the interests of young girls and began jumping up and down holding the toy box yelling out "Daddy can I buy it!"  My little girl hasn't been particularly interested in super heroes because of the rough and tumble nature of many of the characters that includes a big focus on fighting bad guys while she herself has a more gentle side.  On the other hand, my daughter finds the stylish appearance of  the Super Girl action figure we brought home appealing and appreciates how the character's description puts a focus on utilizing her special abilities to solve problematic situations rather than engaging in fist a cuffs battle royal with evil villains.

The Super Girl toy my daughter bought with her allowance money is part of a new effort by DC Comics, a division of Warner Brothers, to get girls aged 6 to 12 genuinely interested in super heroes.  Warner Brothers has created a multi-media / toy product lineup called DC Super Hero Girls featuring teenage versions of popular comic book characters hoping to build a young female fan base for the company's entertainment properties.  The premise of DC Super Hero Girls is that age appropriate for young audiences versions of popular male and female comic book characters such as Bat Girl, Beast Boy, Cheetah, Flash, Harley Quinn, and Wonder Woman interact in light-hearted high school themed adventures.  Warner Brothers has partnered with Mattel to create 6-inch action figures, like the one my daughter bought, as well as 12-inch action dolls depicting the DC Super Hero Girls that are currently available exclusively at Target.  The toy line will be rolled out to other major retailers beginning later in 2016.  Additionally, Warner Brothers has released a series of video shorts to tell the story of the DC Super Hero Girls that can be viewed for free at dcsuperherogirls.com website or on their youtube channel.



In addition to the toys, DC Super Hero Girls will also have an app for mobile devices, a Random House middle-grade reading level novel series, a television show on Turner Broadcasting System's Boomerang cable network, and graphic novels from DC Comics telling stories featuring these young ladies during their formative high school years as they begin to discover their full super power potential.  At this point in their lives Harley Quinn isn't a villain but rather a mischievous class clown, Bat Girl is an A student technology whiz, Super Girl is the kind-hearted girl next door and Wonder Woman is the class president go-getter.



DC Comics will also be telling the Super Hero Girls story on Free Comic Book Day.  They'll be giving out a special free issue on May 7, 2015 during this annual event at participating comic book shops.  It will feature two stories from the upcoming graphic novel DC SUPER HERO GIRLS: FINAL CRISIS. In these stories it is the day before finals...and nothing is going right for the girls. These stories show how the DC Super Hero Girls find out that fun, friendship and hard work are all part of growing up!

DC Super Hero Girls encourage young ladies to get their capes on!  As a dad I like that DC Super Hero Girls promote that super heroes aren't just a genre for the boys to enjoy plus provides the message that girls don't have to choose between being strong or feminine as they can be both. So DC Super Hero Girls gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval.



#Mattel #DCSUPERHEROGIRLS

Capstone Publishing Transports Young Readers Into The World Of DC Comics Super Heroes

 ** A Geek Daddy received the featured products for free to review ** 

Two of the most used words in my son's vocabulary are "why" and "how."  He is very curious always asking about how things work and why things happen or are the way they are.  Though only a first grader he's already demonstrated an incredible interest in math, science and technology and like most boys his age he's really into super heroes.  So to say he was excited when I brought out BATMAN SCIENCE: THE REAL-WORLD SCIENCE BEHIND BATMAN'S GEAR to read with him would be an understatement.

Fans of Batman will know that when it comes to fighting crime unlike other comic book heroes it isn't super power that let the Caped Crusader save the day but rather his technology that often gives him the edge over the villains he is fighting against.  Batman is know for his gadget packed utility belt and tricked out custom vehicles like the batmobile and Capstone Publishing's book BATMAN SCIENCE explores the science behind the hero's really cool technology. This soft-cover 142 page book is divided into four sections:  Batsuits & Capes - The Science Behind Batman's Body Armor, Batarangs & Grapnel Guns - The Science Behind Batman's Utility Belt, Batmobiles & Batcycles - The Engineering Behind Batman's Vehicles, and Batplanes & Batcopters - The Engineering Behind Batman's Wings.  These sections feature a bunch of Batman's cool high-tech crime fighting tools and weapons plus highlight real world applications of similar technology.  By combining the entertaining elements of the comic books, television series, movies and video games with engineering and science examples from the real world this book provides an educational learning experience that is also an enjoyable read for kids.

For example in the Batsuits and Capes section of the book, Batman's ability to withstand fiery explosions is compared to the use of firefighters using a material called Nomex in their suits. It provides a history and overview of Nomex and even provides an example of how family's may regularly use it in their own kitchens on a regular basis -- oven mitts. In Batarangs & Grapnel Guns, the book describes Batman's grappling hook devices and compares them to a tool being used by the U.S. Military called the Atlas Power Ascender which can pull a fully-geared soldier up a rope at about 10 feet per second.  In discussing the engineering behind Batman's vehicle some of the tricks of the trade include stealth mode and the book refers to how today's electric and hybrid car engines make almost no noise.  In fact the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is concerned these modern-day vehicles could present a safety hazard for bikers and walkers who won't hear these vehicles approaching them.  BATMAN SCIENCE shows that there often can be real world applications for the high-tech vehicles and gadgets portrayed in science fiction.

BATMAN SCIENCE is filled with great illustrations of Batman plus chock-full of colorful pictures highlighting the real-world science behind his gear and vehicles.  My son has really been wowed by this book.  I have to admit I've learned a few things and really enjoyed flipping through the pages while reading it to him.  BATMAN SCIENCE has a 3rd - 5th Grade Reading Level and is recommended for children from first through ninth grade.  Obviously with younger children the book will need to be read to them.  In our case that hasn't been a big deal because I've really enjoyed reading through this book with my son and seeing him be so engaged by its content.

In addition to reading to my son most nights, we also have him spend 20 minutes every night reading to my wife or me to help him with his learning to read.  He really enjoys reading Capstone Publishing's Batman -- An Origin Story which is just at the right level for his current reading ability.  The book is filled with colorful illustrations depicting the story of how Bruce Wayne became Batman.  Each page only has two sentences and the vocabulary is at a beginning reader level so reading through this book isn't intimidating.  My son really enjoys reading through this book and as a parent I appreciate it getting him to want to read.  Batman -- An Origin Story is aimed for children 5 to 7 years old in grades Kindergarten through Second Grade.  This Capstone Young Readers line of books also includes origin stores for several other popular DC Comics characters including the Green Lantern, Superman, and Wonder Woman.  Both my son and daughter really like the Wonder Woman book as well.

In addition to BATMAN SCIENCE and their lineup of origin stories, Capstone Publishing also have a couple of other really fun books that transport children into the world of DC Comics Super Heroes.  DC Super Heroes Origami and How To Draw Batman/Superman And Other DC Super Heroes & Villains provide an outlet for children to utilize their artistic and creative talents.  These books provide fun hands-on activities that can keep kids amused for hours and could even inspire someone to become the next generation of comic book artists or animated television show illustrators.

DC Super Heroes Origami provides 46 models that can be shaped out of paper.  These models were meticulously designed by internationally renowned origami master John Montroll.  The book provides clear stet-by-step diagrams and instructions to allow children to transform simple square pieces of paper into Batarangs, Invisible Jets, Green Lanterns and a ton of other DC Comics Super Hero inspired creations.  DC Super Heroes Origami also includes 96 sheets of specially illustrated folding papers designed specifically for kids to bring their creations to life.  Show off your folded models and people will truly believe that you're the one with super powers to be able to build such marvelous creations. DC Super Heroes Origami is 448 pages and recommend for children 8 to 12 years old in grades 3 through 7 at school.


How To Draw Batman/Superman is a great way to inspire kid's artistic side.  Readers will learn to draw popular heroes like Superman and Batman as well as their nemesis Lex Luthor and Joker.  This book provides simple step-by-step instructions for 50 full-color drawing projects.  The book also provides character backgrounds and summaries so readers can learn all about the heroes and villains they are drawing.  This would be a great gift for any aspiring artist who loves to draw.

Capstone Publishing's DC Comics Super Heroes books get A Geek Daddy nod of approval because they are high quality publications that get children enthused about reading.  In addition to super heroes, Capstone has a huge catalog of books that will appeal to girls and boys alike ranging in age from kindergarten to high school which include biographies, fairy tales, mysteries, science fiction and scary stories among other topics. Check out all the great reading materials available for young readers at capstonepub.com. 

Is Superman & Wonder Woman's Romance DOOMED from the Start?

I have to admit that I'd been passing on purchasing DC's Superman/Wonder Woman monthly serial when I've seen it on the stands at the comic book store because I really wasn't interested in reading something that seemed like a soap opera in print.  That was my loss as I learned when reading SUPERMAN / WONDER WOMAN VOLUME 1: POWER COUPLE the graphic novel compilation of the first seven issues of this monthly comic book series.  I found this series to actually be very impressive and enjoyable to read with a tidbit of romantic elements but also very action packed.  It has a storyline that hooks you in complimented with decent artwork that provides nice visuals that have a classic comic book feel to them (not the artsy sketchy work that has a hand drawn feel but often leaves you squinting at drab images nor the CGI visuals that seem too glossy and cartoonish rather this artwork strikes a balance somewhere between those styles that really brings the characters to life off the pages of the book).

I still have a 20th Century mindset when it comes to thinking of Superman (His secret identity works at a newspaper, changes into his costume in a phone booth, Lois Lane is the love interest he longs for but can't have) but this comic book clearly is a 21st Century product for today's generation (Clark Kent is now working at a "blog", there are no more phone booths and people around the world can get obtain information almost instantaneously through smart phones, social media and cable tv...oh and he's not chasing Lois Lane anymore he's hooking up with Wonder Woman now).  This comic book series is part of DC's NEW 52 effort which reset all of their characters stories back to a fresh start in 2011 when they were restarted at Issue #1.  In this new 21st century timeline it's not Lois and Clark but rather Superman and Wonder Woman to provide some romantic angles and twists to the DC Comics universe.

The premise of the story is that Superman and Wonder Woman share a kiss which begins to transform into something more.  Can two of the Earth's mightiest super heroes be boy friend and girl friend? Can they have a romance and relationship without it interfering with their super hero responsibilities or without those responsibilities tearing them apart from one another?  They decide to give a relationship a try but want to keep it a secret, but in today's paparazzi world the secret doesn't last long.  A photo of Superman and Wonder Woman kissing is leaked to a blog and suddenly a post that shows the picture is trending across social media and everyone on the planet knows the big news.  Some people are thrilled, some are scared and others will do whatever it takes to kill this romance.  Of course who breaks the news, it is Clark Kent's own blog when his business partner is mysteriously provided the photo she jumps on promoting it, and the blog, without happening to tell "Superman" in advance...oops!  She of course doesn't know his secret identity and spills the beans on her partner without realizing the connection.

While the romantic elements are a big part of the story they are well balanced with the NEW 52 era of DC Comics introduction of two of Superman's most dreaded foes General Zod and Doomsday who provide a lot of action and suspense.  These villains have escaped from the Phantom Zone and may be too much for Superman to handle.

In a nod to the classic Superman film SUPERMAN II and forty-something fans like me, General Zod and his wife are portrayed in this comic book more like the characters from that 1980 movie compared to other incarnations of the characters such as the recent Man of Steel movie directed by Zack Snyder.  First General Zod escapes the Phantom Zone and Superman doesn't know if he is friend or foe only that the man is from Krypton.  Superman places Zod in a cage within the Fortress of Solitude but doesn't realize in a funny twist that these aren't cages but storage containers that Zod knows the way to easily open.  He than uses the technology in the Fortress of Solitude to help his wife escape to Earth.  The Kryptonian couple than tackle Superman and Wonder Woman in a battle to determine whether Earth will be enslaved by the newest arrivals from Krypton.

Beyond just having to deal with Zod and his wife though Superman and Wonder Woman have to fight off the threat from Doomsday - the character who originally "killed" Superman in a DC Comics storyline back in the 1990s.  Will this villain be the one thing that dooms their love?  Doomsday isn't bundled together with Zod in his involvement in the story which is nice in it expands the script and gives each villain their own time to be in the spotlight.

The only thing I really didn't like is that in this NEW 52 reboot they've given Wonder Woman the ability to fly around in the sky just like Superman (what happened to the great invisible plane) and is painted more like a female superman than an amazonian warrior with her own unique abilities and talents.  That aside, SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN VOLUME 1: POWER COUPLE has this geek daddy's nod of approval.

You can pick up a copy of SUPERMAN / WONDER WOMAN VOLUME 1: POWER COUPLE on Amazon.com or at your local comic book retailer.

DISCLAIMER:  I received a complimentary time limited access reviewers pdf edition of this publication to utilize for this review.

LEGO SHATTERS THE BUILDING BLOCK CEILING

LEGO SCIENTIST PLAYSET SHOWS GIRLS CAN HAVE CAREERS TOO

My children are twins, one is a girl and one is a boy (no they are not identical...wow I can't believe the number of times people ask me if they are identical twins but that is for a post on another day) which puts me in a unique position to see them playing together a lot.  One of their favorite toys is LEGOs and I've noticed that while many of the things that kids can construct could be construed gender neutral most of the playsets that we have in our house tend to include the little yellow action figures that come with them as guys.  My daughter has asked me a few times where all the gals are for the LEGOs and could we buy some more sets with girl characters in them.  The ones we've found tend to be Disney Princess themed or with characters recreating the movie Clueless under the label LEGO Friends.  While I don't mind my daughter being a little girl and enjoying things like princesses, ponies, and dolls, I also don't want her feeling limited to those things being what she feels she is supposed to be playing with.  So I was impressed when LEGO recently came out with a science themed playset that featured a cast of women as the assortment of action figures that came along with it.  I must not have been alone because the toys sold out on the LEGO website in 1 day!

As a father, I want to see my daughter be happy and successful in life at whatever path she wants to pursue whether that be a princess working at a Disney World theme park, an astronaut conducting experiments on the International Space Station, a future Justice of the United States Supreme Court, or a stay at home mother.  I don't want to see her choices limited or biased against her and unfortunately I've witnessed struggles that my wife has had working her way up the management ladder in her career that have demonstrated to me how women often have additional hurdles thrown in front of them. So maybe by confronting stereotypes at younger ages showing that girls aren't all about pink and frilly things it will positively impact both men and women who play with these toys as children when they are adults.  On a more realistic note though these are just toys and they aren't going to change the world, but if they can just subtly show girls that there shouldn't be a gender bias when it comes to professional and scientific careers than it could have a profound impact on some individuals.  Studies have shown that if parents engage in gender stereotypes it creates a lack of confidence for women to pursue an interest in science, technology, engineering and math. So as a dad who would love to see his daughter become an Astronaut, Doctor, Scientist, or did I say U.S. Supreme Court Justice, I want to thank LEGO for breaking the building block ceiling.  Now my little girl is also asking you add a few more female super hero figures to your collection to go along with her Wonder Woman (or as she calls her "Lasso Girl") little yellow action figures.

The new Research Institute playset has everything boys and girls need to explore the world below, around, and above us.  It was created by real-life geoscientist Ellen Kooijman and selected to be brought into production based upon its submission through LEGO Ideas which allows fans of the toys to have a say into future products.  This set of building blocks includes a paleontologist, astronomer, and a chemist minifigures:

Help the paleontologist study the dinosaur fossil with a magnifying glass

Map the skies with the astronomer through her telescope

Assist the chemist in carrying out experiments in her lab

Hopefully one day a toy set like this can be a mix of male and female scientists working together as equals, instead of a concerted effort to make a point about women in the workplace.  This is a nice start to getting there.  I know my son would love playing with this just as much as my daughter making a positive impression on both of them that anybody can do anything if they put their mind to it and apply themselves.

CLICK HERE to visit the product page on the LEGO website for the Research Institute playset.  While it is currently sold out, I'm sure that based on its popularity, and the fact they haven't taken the page selling it offline, that more will be available sooner or later both online and optimistically on store shelves too.  The toy retails for $19.99 which isn't a bad price as anyone who has bought LEGO building blocks knows they can have astronomical price tags.  I was thinking of getting the LEGO Death Star for my kids ... and me ... to build until I saw the $400 price tag - wow!  The Research Institute in addition to the three scientist figures has 165 pieces and is suggested for children 10 years old and older.

Wonder if you can make a difference?

DC COMICS had decided that it’s charitable focus for the company will be through an ongoing campaign called WE CAN BE HEROES which utilizes their Super Heroes to raise money to assist with Hunger Relief efforts in the Horn of Africa.  Throughout the year, DC is holding periodic campaigns which allows fans to donate money to the campaign, receive some unique and interesting swag for their contribution, and get a tax deduction too!  Donations to WE CAN BE HEROES will be used to assist three non-profits: SAVE THE CHILDREN, MERCYCORPS, INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE.

Earlier this year DC hosted campaigns themed around BATMAN and SUPERMAN, and is currently hosting a 6-week fundraiser based upon THE JUSTICE LEAGUE.  Starting September 14, 2013  through the end of October there will be unique items revolving around the members of the Justice League that you can purchase to assist the campaign:

September 24 – Wonder Woman

October 1^st – Green Lantern & Green Arrow

October 8^th – Aquaman, Flash, Cyborg

October 15^th – Batman & Superman

October 22^nd – The Justice League

This week’s theme is Wonder Woman - check out these swag items you can pick up as part of the WE CAN BE HEROES campaign:

$10 – 5 digital comics (Wonder Woman Issues 0 – 5)

$25 – A print edition Superman/Wonder Woman comic with a special WE CAN BE HEROES variant collectable cover.

$30 – A one year print subscription to your choice of either Aquaman, Batman/Superman, Green Lantern, Justice League or Wonder Woman comics

$45 – An exclusive  Superman/Wonder Woman T-shirt

$50- The Wonder Woman Encyclopedia signed by creative talent Phil Jimenez

$150 – A signed lithograph by artist Adam Hughes. Plus you get a $66 dollar tax deduction!!!

$200 – Wonder Woman's famous wrist cuffs, plus they throw in an autographed Adam Hughes lithograph and one of the Wonder Woman/Superman t-shirts

$550 – plated gold Wonder Woman jewelry set – they also throw in the Adam Hughes autographed lithograph and one of the Wonder Woman/Superman t-shirts .  Add in a $180 dollar tax deduction too!

And for the GRAND PRIZE – Meet the original Wonder Woman for a donation of $10,000.

DC COMICS will fly you to New York to meet Linda Carter and throws in everything mentioned above. 

Remember the perks will change each week so if you see something you like don’t wait too long to purchase it and keep looking back for new collectables and interesting superhero items.

To participate in the WE CAN BE HEROES CAMPAIGN, visit:   http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/dc-entertainment-we-can-be-heroes-justice-league-edition

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY: A GOOD DAY TO BE A KID & A KID AT HEART

My son & I had a nice father and son bonding morning on Saturday May 4 as we threw on our Spider Man t-shirts and took a trip to the local comic book store for FREE COMIC BOOK DAY.  Free Comic Book Day is a special event that takes place each year on the first Saturday in the month of May when comic book retailers give out issues to anyone who comes into their shops absolutely for FREE.  This year there were 52 Free Comic Book Day issues to choose from with titles ranging from Superman to Sesame Street that would appeal to everyone from preschool children like my son and daughter to a 40 year old geeky dad like me. 

A big part of the fun of the day was interacting with a wide range of people in line waiting for a chance to grab a bunch of free comic books.  If you enjoy people watching this was the place to be!  There was a very nice lady who stood in line next to us that told us the whole history of the X-Men characters while I tried not to stare out the HUGE butterfly tattoo inked across her cleavage that was very visible due to her very low cut blouse; a group of bikers clad in riding leather that looked like they could have been from the cast of the History Channel’s VIKINGS who of all things were discussing what they liked and didn’t like about that show; guys dressed up as storm troopers from the local 501^st Garrison who everyone wanted to get a picture with; a group of kids wearing their karate uniforms and practicing their moves on the sidewalk after just getting out of their class from the studio that was next door to the comic store; and we can’t forget the friendly little girl in the Wonder Woman costume who came up to my little boy to tell him she loved his Spidey shirt and struck up a conversation with him about which tv show was better on the Disney Channel: Doc McStuffins or Sophia the First. We were having a blast just hanging out in line talking about super heroes and villains with people who were die hard comic book fans as well as parents who had never read a comic but brought their kids up to enjoy the promotion.  My wife and daughter really missed out when they decided to go shopping rather than join us guys on our excursion.

The fun continued as we gawked at all the comics we had to choose from when we reached the front of the line.  The comic store we were at allowed each person to take 10 issues…which is pretty generous as I’ve heard some retailers limit people to selecting 2 or 3 comics…and we had to go through to pick and choose from all the ones available.  We grabbed Disney Fairies and StrawberryShortcake for my daughter.  My son chose Batman& the Teen Titans, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Smurfs, and Teenage Mutant NinjaTurtles.  I picked up for myself TheWalking Dead, Star Wars, Buck Rogers, Prince Valiant, and The Tick.  We also picked up Mouse Guard, the SteamEngines of OZ, and World of Archie Digest for the whole family to enjoy together.

After grabbing a treasure trove of comics we stopped to get some Superman ice cream on the way home.  Than we enjoyed a few hours of just sitting back relaxing and enjoying our haul of goodies.  Free Comic Book Day has two goals, first to reward loyal customers with a fun event that will encourage their continued business and second, to entice new readers to enjoy reading comic books and get them to buy the publishers’ products in the future.  They accomplished their goal when it came to our family!  My kids can’t read yet, but they’ve been going through the artwork in their books over and over again and have been asking me to read the stories to them.  I have a feeling they are going to be future customers!  I am a regular consumer of Star Wars and The Walking Dead comics so they built up some additional brand loyalty with this customer who is going to keep buying these publications by providing me a nice Darth Vader story to read and an exclusive Tyreese comic for my collection this year.  Plus, I was very impressed with the preview of the new comic Steam Engines of OZ which had great artwork and a nicely written dramatic and suspenseful story, so Archana Comics most likely picked up a new customer through their FREE COMIC BOOK DAY issue.  Steam Engines of OZ is set 100 years after Dorothy’s visit in the Wizard of Oz where the Tin Man rules the Emerald City and the “Wicked” Witch of the North is trying to save the land from his dictatorship with the story portrayed in the steam punk genre.   My interest was peeked after reading the first issue of this new series.

If you haven’t enjoyed FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, I highly encourage you to check it out next year.  For more information, visit www.freecomicbookday.com