Wednesday, March 19, 2025

L.A. Strong: A Charity Comic for Victims of the Los Angeles Fires

So, this just came out. L.A. Strong: A Charity Comic for Victims of the Los Angeles Fires, 100% of profits from the comic go to comic creators who lost their homes or were affected by the fires.We've skimmed through it and it's more of a collection of thoughts and hopes from them. You can preview it more here.

It's a nice way to help some of your favorite LA based comic makers for $9.99.

"Featuring contributions from Barbara Kessel, Brian Azzarello, Brian Michael Bendis, Christos Gage, Dan DiDio, Daniel Kibblesmith, Frank Tieri, Greg Pak, Jimmy Palmiotti, Jody Houser, Marv Wolfman, Paul Cornell, Rob DenBleyker, Sina Grace, Stephanie Phillips, Steve Orlando, Alex Cormack, Alison Sampson, Amanda Conner, Christian Ward, Geraldo Borges, Ian Churchill, Michael Avon Oeming, Nico Leon, Rian Gonzales, Salvador Larroca, Sami Kivelä, and many, many more. Together, as a community, we can be L.A. strong for one another! 100% of the profits will be donated for relief efforts."


 

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Flight Risk Bald Cover Reveal: Wtf? Who Made This? Interview With The Artist Behind It

 By Jonathan Bilski
Oh, yeah, this is real.

If you were scrolling last month and started laughing at the above picture, revealing a bald Mark Whalberg, then, I might have some answers for you. I too started laughing and wondered if it was real. I mean it looks like a meme you missed online. Why is him being bald going so hard on this transparent cover? Sure enough, I found it to be real and ready for pre-order as an exclusive steel-book on Amazon. You can pre-order it here.
 
Now, you might be asking wtf is Flight Risk? And, why is Mark Whalberg bald on the cover?
 
It gets weird right away, because I'm telling you it's the latest film from Mel Gibson. Yes, Mel Gibson. He hasn't made a movie since 2016 and that was Hacksaw Ridge with 6 Oscar nominations. Gibson got Michelle Dockery from Downtown Abbey and Topher Grace from That 70's Show in his action thriller about a U.S. Marshall ( Michelle) taking in an informant (Topher) on small airplane over the Alaskan wilderness. Dramatic entrance, Mark Whalberg as the pilot. And a reveal at some point that he is in fact bald. How does this lack of hair impact the story, not very much, but it is hilarious.
 
On that note, the film is classified as an action thriller, but it's also a comedy. I don't care if some higher up doesn't accept it as such. This special cover would make me think the folks at the studio behind it are cool with it being seen as part comedy. And, though mostly played straight (?) too much happens that's just so ridiculous, that it has to be a comedy. I'm unsure if Mel Gibson know how funny it is and maybe tried to make a straight action thriller, but I laughed way too much.
 
There's a very horny flight instructor.
 
Hassan, you horn-dog, son-of-a-bitch. Made me and my friends laugh so much.
 
Without ruining the plot, (don't watch a trailer) I highly suggest getting this 4K Blu-ray or getting it on digital.
 
The interview
 
So, how did we get this Internet gem of a cover? I went ahead and asked Lionsgate and eventually got
to the artist behind the cover, Justin Erickson. Justin Erickson is from none other than, Phantom City Creative, who have done countless posters and art for television, films and games over the years. We've probably featured them in one way or another on this site hundreds of times without even knowing. Justin serves as Creative Director and is a Co-founder of Phantom City Creative.
 
Justin was nice enough to answer my questions about the cover design below and how it came to be. My questions are highlighted in blue, Justin's words are in black.

I just love the cover, I believe I first spotted it on X earlier last month.  Where'd the idea come from? The Whalberg is bald reveal? Was there quite a process to get it done? Like, make sure the dimensions of the hat fit. Dealing with Mr. Whalberg's face being up to snuff, legally with special contracts? Lawyers might be you can make him bald, but not ugly.

 

First off, thanks so much for the kind words! The SteelBook®/Blu-ray™ covers have been so much fun

to do. I’ve been working with Lionsgate on special edition releases for some time now, and we’ve

created some steelbooks with fun uses of the medium. Look up the American Psycho face reveal

and Reservoir Dogs ear gag for example. With those two as precedent and the positive responses they

both received, it was actually the team at Lionsgate that pitched the hat reveal!  

 

Making the hat “fit” wasn’t a huge problem as long as I gave the art enough extra space to account for 

the minuscule amount of wiggle the clear sleeve would have. With any project with a likeness featuring

 an actor like Mark Wahlberg there are going to be multiple parties involved making sure he looks

good. The approval process was very smooth, though! 

 

I just love that this had to be a conversation somewhere while making it: "So, the cover reveals HE'S BALD! Eh!" Was there push back or immediate, go for it from higher-ups? Please tell, if any stories. Or any funny stories creating this specific cover.

 

Since it was the team at Lionsgate’s idea to make the bald reveal: no pushback! I think what helped was 

that the American Psycho SteelBook® had a huge impact when it was released with people adding the 

face-peeling effect to other SteelBooks® in their collection. Once I got to creating the art and had the 

had on a separate layer, I would move the hat up and down that was a constant source of laughter in

the studio.

 

Now, I've seen the movie, the bald reveal doesn't really matter to the plot, it's just a dumb joke that makes Whalberg look ridiculous for the rest of the film, is that why you went so heavy with it? Playing into that dumb joke?

 

It’s not overly important to the plot per se, but it’s an incredibly memorable moment and aspect of the 

film. Someone may see the movie and not recall specific plot points, but they’re not going to forget the 

moment his hat falls off revealing that bald head!

 

I know it might have been hard to do, but I'm missing the Hassan love. The voice of that horny pilot maybe as a waveform spelling out sex or a satellite phone with him sending blocked out pics would have made me laugh even more on the back of the cover

 

Haha! I loved Hassan as well. 

 

Do you know if Whalberg has seen the cover and his thoughts? 

 

I’m not sure! Sometimes the likeness approvals come from agents, but I hope that he’s seen the cover

and enjoys it.

 

Is there any prelim art you can share or other ideas?

 

I can’t share any of the un-used sketches, but I can say that there were some that featured the 

hula-bear!

 

I see Lionsgate showing the love for Steelbook's with the recent release of another favorite film of mine, You're Next. So, I'm wondering if it's the same team making all of these. Wait, did you also help with the Kill-Amazon Exclusive- Steelbook too? I just went back to see that Lionsgate released it as well, it was part of my site's Christmas Wishlist Guide last year.

 

The You’re Next package art was created by a very good friend of mine, Matt Ryan Tobin. He knocked 

that one out of the park! I didn’t work on the Kill Amazon exclusive, but I love how it turned out!

 

End of Interview 

 

So, now you know Lionsgate, loves giving the fans what they want and they know you like these fun covers. Remember to always give the ma shout-out and grab them so they can make more.


Want to thank Spencer Hubbard of Team Click Entertainment for setting this up.

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Weekly What To Do: Butterfly's, Bong Joon Hos, Sailor Scouts, Snakes, Dragons & More


Sapporo Year of the Snake Light Show
The free public light show will run from March 20-23 from 6-10 p.m. on the Far East Building located at 347 1st St. Los Angeles, CA 90012
 -Sapporo invites the public to help raise money for the Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC), a non-profit community coalition working to protect, preserve and promote the Little Tokyo neighborhood.
-Through March 31st, Sapporo U.S.A. will match every dollar donated to LTCC, up to $15,000. Make a tax-deductible gift below and help us reach this exciting goal!
-The community can donate by going to https://littletokyola.org/donate. There will also be posters throughout Little Tokyo with a QR code that will take people straight to the donation site.
 

March 20-21
Vidiots
4884 Eagle Rock Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90041
$9.85 for all screenings day of
 
Well, the poster was a choice...a choice of human skin overlay. It's for the upcoming Milan Machinima Festival MMXXV "presenting a curated selection of 31 machinima and game videos by 35 artists from 16 countries, including Belarus, Canada, China, Colombia, France, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the USA. Spanning nine programs, the festival unfolds online (March 17–23, 2025) and onsite in Los Angeles, California (March 20–21, 2025), showcasing works that challenge storytelling conventions, repurpose game engines as cinematic tools, and interrogate the aesthetics and politics of virtual worlds. "
 
NOIR CITY: Hollywood
Thu. Mar 20 - Sun. Mar 30, 2025
Egyptian Theatre
$

NOIR CITY: Hollywood returns to the Egyptian Theatre with a lineup of 23 films over eight days and nights, shining a spotlight on women whose cinematic legacy is entwined with the rise of film noir. Many of this year's films star the six actresses profiled in Eddie Muller's 2002 book Dark City Dames: The Wicked Women of Film Noir, which is being reissued in April 2025 in a newly revised and expanded edition. Jane Greer, Marie Windsor, Audrey Totter, Evelyn Keyes, Coleen Gray, and Ann Savage are the core cadre of women featured in this year's program, which includes many of their signature films, including, respectively, OUT OF THE PAST (1947), TENSION (1949), THE PROWLER (1951), THE KILLING (1956) and DETOUR (1945) alongside many more.
 
HELL OF A SUMMER
March 20, 2025, 6:30 P.M.
Norris Cinema Theatre at the Frank Sinatra Hall, 3507 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90007

Hell of a Summer follows 24-year-old camp counselor Jason Hochberg (Hechinger), who arrives at Camp Pineway thinking his biggest problem is that he feels out of touch with his teenage co-workers. What he doesn’t know is that a masked killer is lurking on the campgrounds, brutally picking counselors off one by one.

Special Q & A's with some of your favorite shows. The Paley museum in LA might be dead, but PaleyFest lives on. We think they'll have a full crowd for Severance, but big numbers for Cobra Kai too.

For more info on whose showing up and behind the scenes knowledge of how your show is made, check the link below.

March 21 – 29
DOLBY THEATRE 
$$
 
Saturday, March 22, 2025
1:00 PM 4:00 PM 
Chinatown
Free
 
Get ready to party with the Annual Golden Dragon Parade! With over a hundred thousand spectators for this colorful celebration along North Broadway in Chinatown has become the premiere cultural event in the Southern California Asian-American Community.

Check out all the live performances, including Lion Dance, dance troupes, music groups, and participation of government dignitaries, local business leaders, cultural groups, and much more. Perfect for families and friends! 


The wonderfully Engrish titled show Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live is coming to LA! We held off on telling you about in the states as it was going to ever major city, but LA. Now, the totally awkward titled show added two showings to The Music Center's Ahmanson Theatre for March 22 at 2:00pm and 7:30pm. Looks like it might be sold out, but the web-site sucks at conveying that.
 
Saturday, March 22, 2025, from 11 AM to 7 PM on Venice Blvd in Downtown Mar Vista, CA! 
Free

This free community festival brings together an incredible lineup of live music, delicious food trucks, over 400 locally made brands and artists, beer gardens, games, and family-friendly activities.
Giving Back: 100% of the proceeds from our 21+ Social Garden tickets will be donated to support families affected by the fires, in partnership with @nourishl.a.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Embracing Diasporic Art: Portraits of Joan Agajanian Quinn
Exhibition Dates:
March 22 – May 23, 2025
Opening Reception:
Saturday, March 22, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
ReflectSpace / Glendale Central Library
222 East Harvard Street
Glendale, CA 91205
 
Thirty-five original portraits of Quinn made by diasporic, immigrant and culturally diverse artists. Selected works from Quinn’s personal art collection and archive of over three hundred works will be featured in the exhibition, highlighting a distinct part of each artists’ unique story and how they capture Quinn’s vital and enduring presence.
 
 
 
 
March 23 - August 24, 2025 (Member Preview March 21 & 22)
10 AM-5 PM (last group admitted at 4:30 PM)
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
TICKETS & MORE INFO: Timed tickets are for 30-minute sessions and are free for members, $10 for non-members with a general admission ticket.
 
The Butterfly Pavilion will take flight at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) for the spring and summer months starting Sunday, March 23, with previews for members beginning March 21. Visitors are able to walk among hundreds of butterflies in NHM’s outdoor, open-air netted enclosure. The seasonal experience also features colorful native plants and plenty of natural light to help guests see these creatures flutter and fly.

Visitors can expect to see the stages of the butterfly lifecycle — from eggs to caterpillars and chrysalises — for up to 30 different species, including California natives like the Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui). Exotic butterflies like the Malachite (Siproeta stelenes) and Blue Morpho (Morpho peleides) can also be seen fluttering in the pavilion space. Museum educators will also be stationed inside the Butterfly Pavilion to answer visitors’ questions and share what makes these winged creatures so special.

 
Academy Museum
$ Admission

A limited series examining the artistry of genre-bending master Bong Joon Ho whose films have played an integral role in the growth of contemporary Korean cinema.
 
 
Sunday, Mar 23
Vidiots
4884 Eagle Rock Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90041
Free

MUBI and Vidiots present a day of revenge films to celebrate the streaming premiere of Bring Them Down, starring Christopher Abbott and Barry Keoghan. Coming exclusively to MUBI March 28.

Free entry, popcorn, and more fun from our friends at MUBI. Vidiots members can also stream the collection “Sláinte: Contemporary Irish Cinema” free on MUBI for 30 days with a special offer here.
 
 
 
 
 

 A music and Star Wars inspired auction called LA Strikes Back is happening March 23rd. They don't seem to have a site devoted to it, but here's the Insta.
 
Zheng Chongbin: Golden State
March 23, 2025–January 4, 2026
LACMA
$ Admission
 
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) presents Zheng Chongbin: Golden State, which spotlights artist Zheng Chongbin’s explorations of water, light, movement, and California’s natural landscape. This exhibition marks the artist’s largest solo presentation in the U.S. to date and the first major showcase of his work with colored pigments. Where previous presentations have contextualized his practice in the canon of Chinese ink painting alone, LACMA’s exhibition situates Zheng as a distinctly Californian artist.
 
 

Secret Mall Apartment will be in select theaters March 23

Extra:
 
Free Hours at the Autry
Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1-4 p.m.
Update: During this Wildfire season, The Autry closes off, please check day of event

Let the Autry cover your next visit with Free Hours at the Autry. Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1-4 p.m. will be free to all Autry visitors. Enjoy access to all the Autry's exhibitions including Imagined Wests, Reclaiming El Camino and more by reserving your spot today!
 

Thanks to the generous support of the Autry Foundation, Free Hours at the Autry* are every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1-4 p.m.
 
UCB, a cheapo comedy show almost every night, see comedians before they make podcasts and have
stories about the UCB and before they hit the big time.
 


American Cinematheque-A celebrated independent theater group that brings both the talent and catalog of films to make for some of LA's best movie nights.
 

Street Food Cinema-Outdoor cult or recent hits you'll love.

Check out classics and cult movies just a few stories above street level. Rooftop Movies at The Montalbán.


 New Bev-Tarantino owned independent theater with old school style

Cinelounge - Hollywood based tiny theater, showing off indies you've never heard of
 
Brain Dead Studios-manages to fill its schedule almost every night
611 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
 
Vidiots -A one-of-a-kind hub for film lovers, filmmakers, and everyone curious about cinema. A small theater is more than made-up for with the constant content and special screenings.
4884 Eagle Rock Blvd
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Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Hype: Devil May Cry, Hello Sunshine, Cat Petter Game & More

 

Devil May Cry comes out on Netflix April 3rd, it looks fun, but man that story looks generic as heck. I'm sure it'll have some good action, but other than Dante, you might not remember anything.

Just announced Hello Sunshine looks really good

What's it about?

Walk in the shadow of a giant robot during the sweltering days; stay close to keep warm during the cold nights. Scavenge, craft, upgrade — and piece together the broken puzzle of a world ruled by machines that refuse to shut down.

 

The GDC has too many cool things.

Baby Invasion looks like a fun mess to watch. Harmony Korine last movie did bore the heck out of me, so maybe only in theater with a group.

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Monday, March 17, 2025

Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon April 13, 14 and 16

 

If you didn't get to last year's breakout series for kaiju beat-em up action sereis, check it out condensed on the big screen this April. Funny enough, this use to be how the Japanese showed off older anime before VCRs, DVRs and streaming. Condense the show down into a movie so you get the gist of what it was.

"Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment announced today that the upcoming Kaiju No. 8 omnibus film, titled Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon, will release in the United States and Canada starting April 13! The event-style screenings will debut on April 13, 14 and 16, and be available both in Japanese with English subtitles and an English dub. Other international releases will be announced at a later date.

The Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon omnibus will feature a condensed recap of the first season of Kaiju No. 8, followed by an original new episode titled Hoshina's Day Off. The new ending theme song by OneRepublic, titled "Invincible," will also debut in the feature."

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Friday, March 14, 2025

WonderCon 2025 Schedule Is Live

You can finally check out the schedule happening for WonderCon this year. 

SDCC Unofficial Blog has a great breakdown of highlights of the schedule.

We've got agree with the Unofficial Blog, it just isn't the same con with less presence from all the major comic companies and big name movies and TV shows.

Heck, where my video games at?

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Giving Back Events: Let’s Shoot! with Pete Chatmon LIVE, LA Strikes Back & "We ♥ LA" Concert at the Hollywood Bowl

 

Wednesday, March 19, 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. PT
Dynasty Typewriter, 2511 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057
Attendees will also be able to capture memories at the photo booth, grab free exclusive merchandise (while supplies last), and connect with fellow fans in a relaxed, engaging atmosphere. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 on the day of the show, and $15 for the live stream. 
All proceeds will go to the Altadena Community Preservation Fund, which supports families impacted by the California wildfires. 

Join celebrated director Pete Chatmon, Yellowjackets co-creators and executive producers Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, along with executive producer and director Jeffrey W. Byrd, and stars Courtney Eaton (Teen Lottie) and Warren Kole (Jeff Sadecki) for a night filled with Yellowjackets secrets, stories, and unforgettable moments. After the screening, the panelists will discuss their work on the series, share behind-the-scenes insights, and dive deep into the making of the latest episode.
 

 A music and Star Wars inspired auction called LA Strikes Back is happening March 23rd. They don't seem to have a site devoted to it, but here's the Insta.
 
 

 "We ♥ LA" Concert at the Hollywood Bowl April 1st. This is a special concert free to the first responders of the LA Wildfires and those who suffered due to them. Getting tickets requires you to register and enter a lottery at the above link.

"Gustavo Dudamel will lead the Los Angeles Philharmonic and special guests in a program featuring the music of close LA Phil collaborators John Williams and Gabriela Ortiz alongside selections from Mahler, Gershwin, the popular canon and more."

First responders and community members directly impacted by the wildfires must register for a chance to access free tickets. Registrants will be randomly selected and notified beginning March 16. Free tickets will be available for selected registrants on Monday, March 17 at 10am PST

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