The first issue of the ongoing comic book based on the Halo universe is coming in July. Marvel.com has a page up previewing the story and this image, which may be the first cover.

The Eisner Award-winning team of superscribe Brian Michael Bendis and artist extraordinaire Alex Maleev unleash an epic story of mankind’s struggle against the alien threat of the Covenant. Picking up from the conclusion of blockbuster video game Halo 2, the must-read issue reveals how the Master Chief, while onboard a hostile ship headed towards Earth, is battling against Covenant forces! Intertwined with Master Chief’s interstellar one-man-war is the saga of a great American city’s rebellion and downfall, two disparate lives’ collision and shared fate, and the Convenant’s hunt for an ancient relic of untold power and value. With hope dwindling and the fate of humanity hanging by a thread, is there any chance for a future? Read this debut issue to start the journey into the Halo universe!

All this can be yours for only $3.99! Seriously, it’ll be nice to get some more story in before Halo 3 launches, though with any expanded universe stuff, I doubt too much of it will effect the game itself. Theres been lots of Spartan action all over the books and in the graphic novel last year, but Chief is still the only one in the game. Still, with Bendis on board they’re not exactly turning this over to a fanfic writer, so we may get some good stories.

Just my quick kneejerk reactions to the newly released maps to Halo 2. They went up for purchase in the content downloader this morning for $4. Note this is the Halo 2 content downloader, not Xbox Live Marketplace.

This first thing that strikes me about these maps is some of the weapon choices. Tombstone’s default start is the Battle Rifle, and with good reason as its too big to use SMG or Plasma weapons to start. The Sentinel Beam also makes a return appearance in Desolation. 2 Halo mainstays are completely missing from the weapon set: Plasma pistol and Sniper Rifle. This can be changed easily in a custom game, and I’m sure Tombstone will become a popular sniper map, but its kinda odd for them to be missing. Neither map supports vehicles or turrets from what I can tell, which further narrows the gameplay. I think the designers were trying really hard to bring orignal Halo multiplayer into Halo 2

Also, neither map feels like Halo 2. While any of the original maps felt like they were plucked from the single player campaign, these look more like arena maps more common to Quake. Tombstone in particular has lots of hallways and ramps everywhere, and it doesn’t have the organic feel of Halo 2. It is a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s “Hang ‘Em High” map, and its still really fun to play capture the flah, oddball, and King Of The Hill, but the geometric nature and screwy structure choices seperate it from a map like “Turf” where the art style kept you within the Halo universe even in the free for all multiplayer games.

Ultimately the maps appear well worth the money as they will add some new life to the game and its been a good 2 years since I’ve grabbed a flag and had no idea where to take it and thats a fun feeling. Just don’t expect a new classic like Lockout, Terminal, or Relic. The best way to play these maps will be with friends, so send a friend request on Xbox Live to me, and we’ll get in some games in the upcoming Powet.TV Game Night for Halo 2 on April 28-29!

So what do you think of the new maps? Was a throwback to Halo: CE welcome in the last days of Halo 2? Leave a comment below!

Batman-On-Film’s Bill Ramey reports on that the Joker we know now from the comics and as played in films past is not the Joker we should expect in the highly anticipated sequel to Batman Begins.

Sticking to the more realistic take of the first movie, you can expect the purple suit to be gone, the over the top gags might be fewer, and his skin might be a more grey tone than white. Should we be scared of these changes? Maybe. They took a big risk on fans hiring Heath Ledger in the first place, and changing up the Joker’s tone and appearance sounds like like a recipe for disaster. Or at least it might be in anyone else’s hands. Remember, this is the same crew and cast from Begins, which is easily my favorite comic movie ever now. Director Christopher Nolan and Writer David Goyer have earned my complete trust with this franchise and if they can find a way to make the Joker scary and unsettling on film without giving up too much of the goofy elements of the character, we’ll have a real great villain and one that won’t be compared with Jack Nicholson.

We may know soon enough. Superhero Hype reports that a daring bank robbery scene with the Joker is being filmed in Chicago as I type this post. I’m tempted to get in the car right now.

Hi, I’m Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars! I want some candy. I’m not a regular Taxi, I’m fighting a war over fares. Isn’t that CRAZY? Now give me some candy!

Blue Dragon is a game for Xbox 360 I’ve had my eye on for a while. Why?

The original game is the first time that Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, Dragon Quest character designer and Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, and Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu have collaborated since the classic roleplaying game Chrono Trigger. The game debuted in Japan on December 7, 2006, and will arrive in America on August 15, 2007.

Yes, while Chrono Cross never met my expectations for a sequel, and Chrono Break never happened, this is as close to a follow up as I may ever get to one of the greatest games ever made. This is not opinion, this is fact.

Anyway, Blue Dragon is getting fleshed out with a matching anime series thats just started airing in Japan this month. VIZ Media has announced they’re bringing it to the US, though theres no timetable as to when we can expect subs&dubs to be released. I’d imagine that given the Toriyama pedigree this show has and the push Microsoft has already made for the game that TV airings may be possible. I don’t know if this will be more of an afternoon kids show or something we’d have to leave for Adult Swim though.

So do you like anime based on games? Will Blue Dragon possibly meet Chrono Trigger fans expectations? Can the world possible resist more Toriyama character designs? Leave a comment below.

Source: AnimeNewsNetwork.

Look at him, he’s adorable. Doesn’t look like the vile Decepticon leader, but thats because he’s “Robot Hero” Megatron.

These are toys very good for the younger set. You’ve probably seen the similar “Galactic Heroes” with Star Wars characters, and Hasbro has started some small figures with Marvel Comics characters this year as well.

Wave 1 is coming in June with all the other Transformers movie merchandise, and various images have floated around the web of those guys, here and here. Megatron will ship in Wave 2 shortly after. To see some of the other Wave 2 figures click here.

IESB reports that the Disney movie based on the very popular series The Prince Of Persia has a director and a release date: Michael Bay, Summer 2009.

Before the comments below are flooded with cracks about game movies, (or Michael Bay movies), consider this: Jerry Bruckheimer is producing the film, and after 3 gigantic Pirates Of The Carribean movies for Disney, they’re both looking for something that can be that kind of a hit. After all, theres a lot more to work with here for characters, plots, and concepts than Pirates, which was merely a ride. I’ve been on that ride. Its a slow boat passing animatronic pirates. Its nothing special. Sands Of Time is one of the most exciting action games of the last console generation. Loads of potential there.

Breaking news at Variety: Edward Norton has been cast as Bruce Banner in the new movie based on the Marvel Comics character The Incredible Hulk. Bruce Banner, as you may well know, is the man who is also The Hulk, a giant unstoppable creature triggered and controlled only by rage.

Norton takes up the reins from Eric Bana, who starred in the Ang Lee directed The Hulk in 2003. This new movie, as has been stated and re-stated is not a sequel or in anyway related. Marvel Studios got the rights back from Universal and is moving forward with a more traditional vision for the film.

So what do you think? Edward Norton is certainly a great actor, and though he hasn’t been in too many huge movies lately American History X and Fight Club more than prove his worth. Leave us a comment!