Image mirrored from IESB.net

IESB.net has a mole on Iron Man set, and if you don’t mind some pretty minor spoilers, you can go see the pictures that prove it. But don’t worry – we’ll keep this newspost spoiler-free for ye faint of heart. The image we’ve got mirrored on the left is pretty representative of them all anyway – save for the last one, which actually shows off the suit’s eerie, glowing eyes.

Other than the images, the page has a rundown of what they saw on set, including Iron Man facing off against a stand-in for what’s likely to be a computer-generated enemy, a semi-truck with big ol’ holes in the side, and the crew regularly having to fine-tune the suit as it was being worn. They’ve got a few more details than that, like how their guy “was surprised at how agile the Mark 3 suit was. At one point I swear the guy was tap dancing on set.” But mostly, that sums it all up for you.

And even bigger news than the pictures, the page is supposed to have video of the Iron Man suit too (I assume it’s of the same quality as the images), but I looked and I looked, and I couldn’t find a working link for it anywhere. We’ll definitely keep you updated if it turns up.

Following news of Ed Norton cast as Bruce Banner, we now have news that Liv Tyler has been cast as Betty Ross, a role which had been filled by Jennifer Connelly in the previous Hulk movie. Adding this to the Lord of the Rings on her resume is really giving her some solid geek-cred.

According to Marvel, “As Betty Ross, Tyler will take on the lead female role. Ross is a scientist and has been Bruce Banner’s key ally in the quest to rid him of the Hulk. Bruce’s condition has immensely complicated their longtime romance, and has finally forced Betty to try to put the past behind her. The new movie’s story unfolds when the pursuit for The Hulk – the world’s most misunderstood, primal force of fury – heats up, finding Bruce Banner on the run attempting to cure his condition before his pursuers capture him. This chase is something that Betty cannot ignore – sweeping her right back into Bruce’s life and the heart-pounding action that follows.”

So, Liv Tyler as a love interest? Great! Liv Tyler as a scientist? Well, a that’s a little more questionable. What do you think about this casting decision? Leave a comment below!

Ok, when a person mentions the name Alice Cooper to you, what does your mind usually fill with? Monster rock, thrash, and Satanic concerts probably involving virgin sacrifice, right? Or at least something close to that.

But not….golf.

Seems Mr. Cooper has traded up his self proclaimed alcohol addiction for a new addiction, involving a 18-hole green and thwacking little white balls, after battling with alcoholism since the later 70’s and 80’s decades. Not only that, but he’s also written a book on his experiences, “Alice Cooper, Golf Monster”, which explains his apperent epiphany and change of outlook.

“Golf ended up being a good trade-off,” he says. “The thing about this book, is that when I look at the whole juxtaposition of who Alice Cooper is, the golf addiction and the music addiction, still, it’s pretty interesting how they can co-exist.”

More can be read at Billboard.com.

This very well could be a sign of the coming apocalypse, people. Alice Cooper + Golf = Fire and Brimstone raining down. It’s the only logical explination.

May 5th, 2007 marks the sixth time the comic book industry will come together to celebrate the spirit of specialty Comic Book Shops around the world. The titles being given away this year are extremely solid and include selections from every major comic publisher, as well as a number of issues from smaller, independent artists. The sheer number of styles and genres available may make choosing individual comics incredibly difficult. Transformers the Movie Prequel # 1, Amazing Spider-Man Swing Shift, and Justice League of America # 0 are just a few of the almost 30 titles that will be available, so remember to call your local shop and ask if they will be participating in this year’s festivities.

Check out the “Free Comic Book Day” website here

Full list of “Free Comic Book Day” titles

The modern day comic book is one of the few original American art forms. They have been a mainstay of popular culture for close to 70 years, and the lifeblood of the industry is still the neighborhood specialty shop. Show support for your favorite shop by stopping in this Saturday and picking up a free book, (and buying another for yourself).

This reminder brought to you by your Friendly Neighborhood Bloggerman! ‘Nuff said!

Powet Forum member Raistlin brings us news on new Stargate figures:

It seems the Stargate franchise will continue to roll despite the imminent end to the television series. Ten years is a long time, especially for a science fiction show (that isn’t named Doctor Who, and one that’s changed networks). But with two straight to dvd movies already in production, a third spin off television show in the development stages and a MMORPG in the works, it shows this bastion of nerdliness will continue on. Following on this is diamond selects announcement of a somewhat special themed wave 4 of the excellent SG1 action figures. The theme, desert combat, featuring the original SG1 team of Jack O’Neill, Samantha Carter, Daniel Jackson, and everyday badass Teal’c.

While since wave two had featured the desert camo Carter action figure on the back of the packaging, it was never released. Nor was there any plan to do so as of wave two’s release.

 

Also of note is the previews exclusive fifth figure that will be a part of this wave, Jonas Quin. Whether he will sport the desert combat theme or the more standard green fatigues remains to be seen. Jonas Quin replaced Jackson for the sixth season until Jacksons return in
season seven.

Now since there are very few action figure lines that don’t support some kind of build-a-figure type element, we have two such elements. The MALP (Mobile Analytic Laboratory Probe) will be assembled, as well as the ground based Transporter Rings or ring platform. Add these to your Stargate and DHD (dial-home-device) and you’re ready to explore the universe. With this desert combat theme I feel confidant in proposing that a wave five should feature a Black Ops Samantha Carter to finish off that theme. And while I’m at it we need a General Hammond, Master Bra’tac, Apophis and General Landry.

The fifth and final figure in the Botcon 2007 Exclusive set was revealed today. Dreadwind will be a repaint of Classics Jetfire with a remolded head designed by fan club artist Dan Khanna. As always, I have mirrored the images below.

When I first heard that Dreadwind would be one of the exclusives, I hoped that we might get a Darkwing to go along with him. I was a big Darkwing fan when I was younger because I had the toy and he had an unusually cool transformation for the time. If you compare the two G1 characters in jet mode to the jet mode of Classics Jetfire, Darkwing is actually a much closer match. Going by robot mode, though, Dreadwind wins out since he has the cockpit on his chest, while Darkwing’s chest is the underside of the plane.

Source for image of G1 Dreadwind head: TFU.Info.

“We’re Doomed. Not that it matters.”
  

…but just barely. Shigeru Miyamoto comes in at #92 in Time Magazine’s list of the most influence people of 2006. Who can blame them for including the Father of Modern Video games? As one of the main creative forces behind the phenomenally popular Wii, Miyamoto has secured a spot on the list by making video games less threatening and more accessible to everyone, (especially to the senior set, they can’t seem to get enough of the system at assisted living communities).

Although ranked #9 by the public, the fact that a game maker was even included on the list during the newly revived, post Virginia Tech, video game “witch-hunt” really says something about the power of the medium.

Read the feature here

The image above comes from a few weeks back, when Terrence Howard (playing Jim “Rhodey” Rhodes in the movie) came by Edwards Air Force Base in California for some training. Recently, when Howard made a return trip to the base, this time he brought everyone back with him, and director Jon Favreau set up camp to do three days of filming.

The article from Edwards AFB’s actual website talks a bit about locations they used, shares some quotes from Favreau, and even has some personal quotes from the members of the Air Force:

At Edwards AFB, Mr. Stark and his sidekick, Lt. Col. Jim Rhodes, brought their comic book characters to life against a bustling backdrop of high-tech aircraft, a dry lakebed that’s a secondary landing strip for the space shuttle, and stretches of desert to be depicted in the movie as Afghanistan.

“I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal, but my friends who got involved with it had a great time, so I didn’t want to miss out on this one,” he said.

The article continues with a few more quotes from various members of the Air Force who enjoyed their time working on the film, including one man who just wants his son to be able see him in a movie, another who actually did get to work on the Transformers movie, and even one guy who was just happy his Porsche got put in the film.