“Dead Like Me” The Complete Collection Is Also Available For Fans In A Nine-Disc Set

LOS ANGELES, CA – The darkly funny cult favorite is back from the dead when the film Dead Like Me premieres on DVD February 17th from MGM Home Entertainment. Set two years after the critically acclaimed Showtime series ended, the undead reapers are introduced to their new boss, Cameron Kane (Henry Ian Cusick; “Lost,” Hitman), whose new agenda creates disorder within the reaper clan. While Daisy (Sarah Wynter; “24,” “Windfall”) and Mason (Callum Blue; “The Tudors,” “Related”) fall prey to Cameron’s temptations, the infamous Georgia “George” Lass (Ellen Muth; Dolores Claiborne) creates more reaper havoc by breaking an important reaper rule: revealing herself to her Earthly family.

The Dead Like Me DVD bonus features include audio commentary from Ellen Muth and
director Stephen Herek as well as a “Back From The Dead: Resurrecting Dead Like Me”
featurette for a suggested retail price of $26.98 U.S. / $37.98 Canada. Timed to the movie release, MGM is also releasing “Dead Like Me” The Complete Collection which includes the Dead Like Me feature film and the complete television series, a director and cast commentary, deleted scenes, featurettes and more, for the suggested retail price of $69.98 U.S. / $99.98 Canada.

Dead Like Me Synopsis
When George and her colleagues get a new boss whose focus is on moving souls quickly and enjoying life without consequences, the team begins to break the strict reaper rules. While her friends fall victim to their desires for money, success, and fame, George breaks another rule by revealing her true identity to her living family. As the reapers struggle with their roles on Earth,they each find that death can be just as complicated as life. Through its strong storyline, Dead Like Me delves into the intricate mythology and dark comedy created by the TV series and appeals to the show’s legions of fans as well as those new to the world of the reapers.

Dead Like Me Special Features
The Dead Like Me DVD is presented in widescreen with English Dolby Surround 5.1 sound.Bonus content includes:

• Audio commentary from director Stephen Herek and actress Ellen Muth
• “Back From The Dead: Resurrecting Dead Like Me” featurette

мебель в болгарииoptical communications“Dead Like Me” The Complete Collection Synopsis
Dearly beloved, gathered here for the first time on DVD is the feature-length Dead Like Me — Life After Death Movie, plus the entire “winningly eccentric” (LA Daily News) TV series on which the movie is based. Reap the benefits of this Soul Collectors’ Edition that includes four featurettes, audio commentary, deleted scenes and more!

Georgia “George” Lass (Ellen Muth) is young, successful, attractive…and dead. She’s a grim reaper, assigned to escort wayward souls into the afterlife, but it’s not as glamorous as it sounds.

Follow George and her fellow reapers as they navigate teenage “life.” Then join them in the “series’ hereafter” when the grim group gets a flippant new boss with a devil-may-care attitude, leaving George to wonder if she’s really better off dead.
With all its dark humor, innovative science fiction and coming-of-age drama, it’s no wonder that Dead Like Me refuses to die!

Toys R Us

Star Trek Scene It? The DVD Game: The DVD trivia game that goes where no one's gone before with real TV and movie clips from the Star Trek universe! The game features all new clips, puzzles and trivia questions from the TV series and the movies. From Captain Kirk to Captain Picard, Klingons to…

Scene It? The DVD Game: Star Trek Edition

About Time!

Pros: Educational, Fun, Thought Provoking, Entertaining, Easy To Play

Best Uses: Family, Children, Star Trek Fans, Adults

Describe Yourself: Collector, Avid Gamer

Ever since the Scene It games have come on the market I have been waiting for an all Star Trek version. Thank you!

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Hello All You Scifi Slackers out there! We know it has been a long time since you heard from us and it is quite possible that you even forgot you had subscribed to our newsletters. We’re still here and working on getting ScifiSlacker.com cleaned up(that’s right we started our spring cleaning early).

We would appreciate some help in cleaning out dead links and adding new sites to the portal. So if you have seen any dead links on our site or links pointing somewhere they should not PLEASE let us know so we can delete them ASAP! Just send an email with the URL of the page on our site that you found the link and the name of the site to webmaster @ scifislacker.com (just remove those pesky spaces).

We have been hit with quite a bit of spam on the portal lately but have sifted through it to add new sites. If you have a site or know of some good ones please feel free to add them in the appropriate categories. For more info on adding sites please visit: http://www.scifislacker.com/scifi-portal/request.cgi

Thanks for your support!
ScifiSlacker.com

—————————————–
— Newest additions to our Directory —
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TFAW.com
http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=45050&u=163031&m=8908&urllink=&afftrack=

Things From Another World is your Comic, Toy, Video, and
  Collectible Superstore for Sailor Moon, Manga, Dragonball Z,
  Gundam, Comics, Videos, Action Figures, Collectibles, and
  More!

The Unauthorized Handbook and Price Guide to Star Trek Toys by Playmates
http://www.startrektoysbook.com/

Star Trek Toys made by Playmates Toys. Find a complete
  checklist of all toys made from 1992 to the present, search
  the data base of toys and buy the book, The Unauthorized
  Handbook and Price Guide to Star Trek Toys by Playmates
  Toys….a handy reference guide to all that is Trek and made
  by Playmates. The site as expanded to include even more toy
  companies [Mego, Galoob, Art Asylum, Sideshow, Polar Lights]
  and toy types [models, diecast, props]. Always growing so
  check often.

Dallas Comic Con and Sci-Fi Expo
http://www.dallascomiccon.com

Official website for the Dallas Comic Con and Sci-Fi Expo.
  Featuring Star Wars, Star Trek, Firefly and Buffy guests!

Dawid Michalczyk
http://www.art.eonworks.com

The official website of Dawid Michalczyk - a freelance
  illustrator and an artist.

Danaerea - the hidden History of the Universe
http://danaerea.com

There is a single truth behind the myths and legends of
  humanity. Read the hidden history of the universe. In order
  to thwart the Yannoneth’s desire to convert humanity into
  hosts, the Twelve of Danaerea have endowed a small group of
  humans with the power of the g’ru’tnok.

Douglas S. Taylor’s The Chronicles of Caledon Official Web S
http://www.caledonseries.com

Now experience the latest from the vivid mind of the
  creator of the Chronicles of Caledon, Douglas S. Taylor.
  Immediately immerse your senses in the futuristic world of
  black magic, diabolical sorcery, intrigue, epic
  bone-crushing battles, and the rise and fall of great
  kingdoms.

Jada Pinkett Smith
http://www.jadapinkettsmith.org/

Fansite of A Different World fame Jada Pinkett Smith with
  Pictures, Jada Pinkett Smith Pics, Biography, Movies, Quotes
  and Wallpapers

Kim Cattrall Pictures - Fansite
http://www.kimcattrall.net/

The one and only Kim Cattrall Fan listing Site with Kim
  Cattrall Pictures.

Vegetation
http://www.marklaflamme.com/vegetation.html

A pompous man discovers that when you offend the plant
  kingdom, the whole world really is out to get you.

Ikthalion Press
http://www.ikthalionpress.com

A publisher and seller of quality science fantasy adventure
  and nonfiction books about mythology and history, and art
  prints in the science fiction and fantasy genre.

Sci-Fi on the Rock
http://www.scifiontherock.com

Sci-Fi on the Rock is a not-for-profit organization
  dedicated to becoming Newfoundland’s gathering of science
  fiction, fantasy, and horror devotees. This is our second
  year in production, and with the success we were met with
  last year, we are confident that we are going to “live long
  and prosper”. At our coming convention, we have six guests
  scheduled to attend, from science fiction authors, to local
  fan groups, to comic book artists, and even celebrity
  guests.

Claudia Black Online
http://www.claudiablackonline.com

Unofficial australian actress Claudia Black website, news,
  biography, TV Shows, Farscape, Stargate SG-1, filmography,
  multimedia, forums, RSS.

The Graphic Novel Archive
http://www.graphicnovelarchive.com

Trade paperbacks, collected editions, manga, comic strip
  collections, original graphic novels.

Planet Zebidee
http://www.zebidee.net

The site of sci-fi electronica artist Zebidee.

N. D. Hansen-Hill: fantasy, SF, paranormal, horror, romantic
http://www.NDHansen-Hill.com

Book descriptions and excerpts from author N. D.
  Hansen-Hill/Melody Knight.

Teddy and Newt
http://www.webcomicsnation.com/arm/teddy_newt/series.php

Funny and weird sci-fi webcomic in which Teddy Roosevelt
  and Sir Isaac Newton are trapped in limbo.

gagglefrakked - a sci-fi web comic
http://gagglefrak.com/gagglefrakked/

A weekly sci-fi web comic that postulates: “If some famous
  spaceships (Enterprise, Galactica, TARDIS, Death Star) could
  talk to each other, what would they say?”

Ben Chapman
http://www.the-reelgillman.com/

Official site of the Creature from the Black Lagoon, Ben
  Chapman.

Billy Mumy
http://www.billmumy.com/

The Official Bill Mumy Web Site who starred in Lost in
  Space and Babylon 5.

Shitty Horror
http://www.shittyhorror.com

Shitty Horror celebrates all that is weird and wonderful
  about the horror genre - you know those films that are ’so
  bad they’re good’? The B-movie beauties that scrape the
  bottom of the barrel and come up with a salmon in each
  pocket?

Aliens and Elves
http://www.aliensandelves.com

Science fiction and fantasy fiction portal. Read news and
  reviews of sci-fi, fantasy and speculative fiction novels,
  movies, conventions and more, plus find links to science
  fiction, fantasy and horror genre authors, publishers and
  magazines

The Star Trek MIDI Page
http://www.vic-fontaine.com/

Star Trek related MIDI files for download, including themes
  of all movies and series, the songs of Vic Fontaine and many
  more.

DUNGEON Fantasy Message Board
http://www.dungeonfantasy.proboards.com

Fantasy discussion board that spans the entire fantasy
  genre including science fiction and horror. Discuss
  literature, movies, art, role playing games and more.

Sci-Fi Science
http://www.scifiscience.co.uk

The true science behind science fiction

Crazee Comics
http://www.crazeecomics.com/home.html

Publisher of comics and kids books including the critically
  acclaimed sci-fi comedy series “There’s an Alien in my
  Toilet”.

Freelance Editing Services
http://www.geocities.com/wellreaditor/

I provide reasonably priced freelance editing,
  proofreading, and critiquing services specializing in
  fantasy, science fiction, horror, and academic prose (MLA
  and APA styles). Here you can view my complete résumé,
  sample contracts, and all the other details. I encourage
  e-mails!

Julie Adams
http://www.julieadams.biz

The official website for Julie Adams, the actress who
  appeared in Creature From the Black Lagoon, World Trade
  Center, Psychic Killer, and many other movies and television
  shows.

Bookscape’s Domain
http://www.bookscape.net

A collection of fanfiction from several fandoms, including
  Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Lost in Space, Voyage to
  the Bottom of the Sea and Zorro. Factual sections about fan
  events are also contained in the site.

Hot Spots of Paranormal Phenomena
http://www.hotspotsz.com

Resources on everything paranormal from Ancient Mysteries,
  legends & Myths, Science, prophecies, Religions, Mysterious
  locations Around the world, Cryptozoology, UFOs
  Extraterrestrials, Ghosts and hauntings, occults and
  Magick, and paranormal investigations.

Scifi Fanatics
http://www.scifi-fanatics.com

Celebrating science fiction entertainment and culture -
  Scifi Fanatics is an interactive community of writers,
  visual artists, theorists, and everyone else who loves
  Sci-Fi!

Beautiful Mermaid Art
http://www.beautiful-mermaid-art.com/

Collections of mermaid art and mermaid mythology as well as
  legends and folk tales. Also includes myths and stories
  about sea goddesses and water nymphs.

The Sci-Fi Kabbal
http://www.scifikabbal.com

A community based on sci-fi/fanstasy movies, TV, & books.
  Use our checklists to keep track of the books and episodes
  you have seen, which calculates you Star Trek percentage
  rating. Also, forums and a book-of-the-month club.

Futurenoir
http://www.futurenoir.com

Online forums, discussion and community dedicated to all SF
  and fantasy. Pull up a pew and talk about books, comics,
  film and TV, post your own fiction or artwork, or just chew
  the fat.

Twilight Run
http://www.twilightrun.com

This is the official site of the Twilight Run Universe. It
  is home to over one-hundred starship and space vehicle
  profiles.

Dragonsinn
http://dragonsinn.net

Provides dragon multimedia and image resources.

Withywindle Books
http://www.withywindlebooks.com

An independent, virtual bookstore specializing in new, used
  and rare science fiction, fantasy and horror.

USS Haven: Central Florida’s Star Trek Club
http://usshaven.net

The USS Haven is Florida’s busiest Star Trek Fan Club. We
  believe that Gene Roddenberry’s idea of a Universe where
  everyone is encouraged to express their ideas and make a
  contribution is worth preserving and promoting. We attend
  movies and conventions together. We support & assist Space
  Exploration and Science events locally. We believe in an
  exciting future!

ScifiQuest
http://www.scifiquest.com

Scifi News and entertainment. Contains eight independant
  and indepth sites to Stargate SG1, Stargate Atlantis, The
  4400, Firefly, Farscape, Battlestar Galactica, Michael
  Shanks and Richard Dean Anderson. Latest news, transcripts,
  image galleries, forum and much more.

The ScifiSlacker.com - A Universe of Science Fiction Newsletter and all its contents are
©2000-2009 KHoffman and ScifiSlacker.com - A Universe of Science Fiction.
All Rights Reserved. http://www.scifislacker.com/scifi-portal

LOS ANGELES (AP) — He always vowed that he wouldn’t die unless he could take it with him.

But now that Forrest J Ackerman really is gone, the grand old man of science fiction’s memorabilia collection is on the auction block.

Thousands of items, including the Count Dracula ring worn by Bela Lugosi in the 1931 horror classic “Dracula,” the vampire cape Lugosi wore for decades — even the actor’s outfit from the “worst film ever made,” Ed Wood’s cheesy “Plan 9 From Outer Space” — are going up for bid.

So are such notable pieces as a signed, first-edition copy of Mary Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein” and a first-edition copy of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” that was signed not only by Stoker but also Lugosi, Boris Karloff and numerous other horror film notables.

The auction, tentatively scheduled for the last week of April, is expected to raise $500,000, said Joe Maddalena, president of Profiles in History, which is handling the sale.

Ackerman, the science-fiction writer, editor and literary agent widely credited with coining the term sci-fi, spent a lifetime collecting tens of thousands of pieces, ranging from the junky to the very rare. He died last December at age 92.

“I’m holding that stuff in my hand and I’m just like, ‘Wow, these are his most iconic treasurers,’” Maddalena said when he was invited by Ackerman’s estate to auction the collection. He said Ackerman’s will stipulates that his estate’s share of the profits be divided among his friends.

At one time Ackerman had a collection of 300,000 pieces of science-fiction film memorabilia, 50,000 books and the complete sets of 200 science-fiction magazines. During his final years he contributed many pieces to museums and sold some others, but held on to thousands more.

To see some of Forrest J Ackerman’s collection visit ScifiSlacker.com

Toronto, Canada, February 6, 2009

iToys rolls out its first KENKEN handheld electronic game to mass retailers in January 2009.

“KENKEN is a wildly entertaining and thoroughly mind-absorbing puzzle game that already is well on its way to becoming bigger than sudoku,” said iToys Toycoon George Irwin. “With ten levels of difficulty, everyone can play and, no matter what their age, once they pick it up they won’t be able to put it down.”

“We’re delighted iToys is a new partner in the KENKEN family,” said Robert Fuhrer, the New York businessman whose company, Nextoy™, licenses and markets the puzzle worldwide.

iToys’ all-new KENKEN game offers thousands of puzzles on 3×3 to 6×6 grids. Features include:

• Touch screen
  • Removable stylus
  • Backlighting
  • Incredible sound effects
  • Multiple help tools
  • Scoring

Designed for ages eight and up, KENKEN will be offered for a suggested retail price of $19.99.

KENKEN was launched in 2004 by puzzle master and teacher extraordinaire Tetsuya Miyamoto, quickly becoming Japan’s hottest brain game. Mr. Miyamoto was looking for an engaging – and fun – tool to help teach his students, and devised KENKEN, which translates as “wisdom squared” or “cleverness squared.” He believes that conventional teaching has failed and that by concentrating on this novel way of problem-solving, the mind becomes a more potent tool for the rest of one’s life. Newspapers from around the world have added KENKEN puzzles, including such leading dailies as The Times of London, Boston Globe and NYTimes.com.

KENKEN is an arithmetic-based puzzle game that, like sudoku, is played on a grid using numbers. It is “beyond sudoku,” however, by taking the puzzle one step further and incorporating math skills, including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Game play ranges from very easy to extremely difficult. “The hardest ones,“ added Fuhrer, “could challenge even Einstein.”

iToys joins a growing roster of KENKEN licensees, including Harper Collins, St. Martin’s Press, United Features Syndicate, Nintendo, Reader’s Digest, CapCom and Dell Penny Press.

About iToys, Inc.
Formed in 2003, iToys, Inc. recaptures the spirit of the highly respected Irwin Toy moniker with original toys as well as beloved classics with a 21st century spin, including the critically-acclaimed Deal or No Deal electronic games. Led by brothers George and Peter Irwin, toy industry veterans from the venerable Irwin Toy family, iToys is dedicated to recapturing the glory days of Irwin Toy – the Canadian toy company founded by their grandfather – and expanding on the legacy to touch families everywhere. iToys’ all-new generation of cutting-edge toys are designed to dazzle and delight children of all ages.

SCI FI Channel in 2010. Caprica is executive produced by Ronald D. Moore and David Eick (“Battlestar Galactica”) and Remi Aubuchon (“24”). Exclusive bonus features that take viewers behind the scenes of the creation of Caprica make this DVD a landmark event for any fan of “Battlestar Galactica.” The film will also be available at selected online destinations for digital download transactions.

As “Battlestar Galactica” wraps its gripping final season on SCI FI on March 20, 2009, Caprica begins a brand new epic saga that continues the franchise’s commitment to thought-provoking storytelling and extraordinary characters. Set over 50 years before the events of “Battlestar Galactica,” Caprica is a world at the peak of its power, grappling with new science and technologies and the issues they create. The series will star Golden Globe nominee Eric Stoltz (Mask, Pulp Fiction), Esai Morales (“Jericho,” “NYPD Blue”), Paula Malcomson (“Deadwood” “ER”) and Golden Globe® nominee Polly Walker (“Cane,” “Rome”) in a story laced with passion, intrigue and family conflict.

“We are thrilled to take the groundbreaking step of offering the world-premiere of the Caprica feature-length extended pilot episode on DVD prior to the new series’ television debut,” said Hilary Hoffman, Senior Vice President, Brand and Digital Marketing for Universal Studios Home Entertainment. “This innovative distribution model will serve to satisfy ‘Battlestar Galactica’ fans’ appetites for a new content while building excitement for the franchise’s next great adventure.”

“Ever since fans first caught wind of the ‘Battlestar Galactica’ prequel Caprica, they have been eagerly following its development,” said Mark Stern, Executive Vice President, Original Programming for SCI FI & Co-Head Original Content, Universal Cable Productions. “We wanted to give them a chance to see the pilot in its original form and experience the prequel to the BSG story while that series’ finale was still ringing in their ears. It also affords the creative team an unprecedented chance to get viewers feedback before production on the Caprica series begins this summer.”

“If ‘Battlestar Galactica’ offered us a way to shatter the conventions of space opera, Caprica will be a show which will challenge the conventions of science fiction storytelling as a whole,” said Ronald D. Moore, Executive Producer/Writer.

“Part sweeping soap, part meditation on the dangerous moral ramifications of artificial intelligence, this is a truly unique opportunity to continue telling stories which will be as daring and shocking as the best of ‘Galactica’ — and yet will be altogether different from ‘Galactica,’” said David Eick, Executive Producer.

Universal Cable Productions will begin production on the “Caprica” series in the summer of 2009 in Vancouver for a 2010 television premiere on the SciFi Channel. The DVD of Caprica is priced at $26.98 S.R.P.

Now DVICE gives you the opportunity to create Steampunk Cylons to win prizes. There are many examples of steampunk design — contemporary objects re-imagined as if they were built in the Victorian era.

HOW TO ENTER
Design a Steampunk Cylon: Entrants must create an image of what a Cylon from the “steampunk” era would look like. You can use graphical software (such as Photoshop), draw or paint your Cylon, or you can physically build the Cylon and photograph it. You then submit the image(s) of your design to editor@dvice.com. Please do not exceed 1 megabyte per image! Your entry should also include your full name, date of birth, phone number, physical address and a valid e-mail address.

We’ll also accept entries for creations in the general Battlestar universe (steampunk ships, steampunk devices, etc.), although our preference is for Cylons.

“Working with Lionsgate on this end is like coming back full circle for me. I worked on the marketing for “Leprechaun 4: In Space”, said Bluewater publisher Darren G. Davis. “I loved this little character and have always wanted to do something with him. As for “Warlock”, this was another cult film that I enjoyed, so having this opportunity to partner with Lionsgate again is going to great”.

The “Warlock comic series is described as, The Warlock is on a mission to destroy a book that contains a spell which imprisoned six other Warlocks. If the book manages to be destroyed, the dangerous Warlocks would be released back into the world free to cause chaos and destruction. It’s up to a rag-tag group of people to prevent the Warlock from carrying out his plan.

“Warlock will appeal to both fans of the franchise and readers who know nothing about the horror series”, said writer Nick Lyons. The book will be drawn by Jacob Bear and colored by John Hunt. Matt Bellisle will be doing all the alternate covers to this title.

“Leprechaun” will be written by another Lionsgate alum Zach Hunchar, who just finished writing Insane Jane for Bluewater. “Leprechaun” is an immensely popular horror franchise and I’m excited about expanding the mythos. It takes two of my favorite things … Ireland and horror. I’m extremely excited to continue to explore the things that scare me and entertain me. I’m very happy Bluewater chose me for this task.”

“Leprechaun” the comic series is a tale of revenge and mayhem. This is the tale of Lubdan, the king and sole survivor of the Leprechaun. The last of the Leprechauns! A treasure dealer stumbles across his pot of gold and steals it. In this modern age, he finds buyers all over the planet through on-line auctions. Iubdan finds the thief after the gold is shipped to humans across the globe. Unbeknownst to Iubdan, the Cluracan, a war-like race intent on genocide, helped the human find the gold. A new curse is discovered that weakens Iubdan while he is not in possession of the gold and will eventually kill him if he does not recover them all in enough time. He quickly realizes he cannot locate the gold without help. The treasure dealer’s last sale was to a computer expert, who agrees to help Lubdan, in exchange for his life. Together, they race against time to learn of the gold’s locations. Lubdan’s quest takes him all over the planet, across time and space. Battling greed, the genocidal Cluracan and new mystical adversaries, Lubdan must save all life to save himself.

Kris Carter will draw “Leprechaun”. And Micheal Kingston will be writing the 2nd story arch.

“We over printed this book and we could not refill the reorders. This book is unique, nobody has ever seen a comic done with the wood burning medium,” said publisher Darren G. Davis. ” We wanted to tie in a retailer for a promotion for this printing. Comic Evolution is an amazing store and Chuck is a marketing machine, so it was the perfect fit.

Owner of Comic Evolution, Puyallup, Washington Chuck Messinger said, “We at Comic Evolution and the folks over at Bluewater Productions have developed a wonderful cross-promotional relationship in the last year. While promoting Bartholomew of the Scissors both by word of mouth and through the front page of our website we generated so much interested in our area that the book sold out immediately statewide; then sold out just days later nationwide. Being a huge fan of Chad and Daniel’s, we approached Bluewater about doing a second printing. Darren at Bluewater offered to make it a Comic Evolution exclusive which we could not pass up. In our first year we have done some amazing things and developed so many relationships that we were nominated as one of the Best Comic Book Stores in Western Washington. The final result is not in but we are very confident that no matter where we place our customers have spread their satisfaction. What better way to celebrate this event than to have our very own variant cover to what has become a tremendously popular title with our customers.”

About Bluewater Productions:

Bluewater Productions, Inc. is one if the top independent production studios of comic, young adult books and graphic novel titles. In the tradition of great storytelling and cutting edge art, Bluewater storms onto the comic book and graphic novel scene. With more titles than ever, including smash hits such as the 10th MUSE, VSS, and THE LEGEND OF ISIS, Bluewater is poised to continue to produce engaging stories with art from both the top names in the industry alongside with up and coming stars.

As of May 2007, Bluewater Productions, Inc. moved from production studio to publisher, in conjunction with legendary filmmaker, Ray Harryhausen — the genius behind some of the greatest movie magic of all-time while continuing to publish it’s popular superhero line starring it’s flagship character the 10th Muse. Bluewater has also just signed a publishing deal with William Shatner, Roger Corman and Lionsgate.

About Comic Evolution:

Comic Evolution was founded in 2007 by Chuck Messinger, a lifelong comic book fan and collector. Comic Evolution’s priority in retail service is to provide a clean, comfortable, artistic place to shop for customers from all walks of life. In its first year in business, the store has received numerous accolades from publishers, writers, artists, and retailers for helping reinvigorate the comic book industry in Western Washington.

You’ll know you’re in a different galaxy within the first seconds of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” which substitutes the Warner Bros. logo and theme music for the familiar 20th Century Fox searchlight and fanfare.

While anything remotely “Star Wars” potentially is a welcome trek for hard-core fans, however, it will be a mixed thrill given that the saga returns to the big screen as a cartoon.

George Lucas’ prequel trilogy was so overloaded with computer-generated imagery that the digital animation of “Clone Wars” isn’t much of a leap. The somber tone of those three movies — chronicling the downfall of Anakin Skywalker from snotty, brooding teen to black-hearted Darth Vader — is gone, replaced with a variation of the campy humor and camaraderie that characterized the original trilogy.

Still, a “Star Wars” movie should be an event. But whether because of its cartoony format or its relatively lightweight story, “Clone Wars” definitely is not an event.

For fans, it serves as a fairly promising introduction to the “Clone Wars” animated series debuting on Cartoon Network this fall. The movie centers on a fresh adventure of Anakin and his Jedi knight elder Obi-Wan Kenobi during the Clone Wars that have been so pivotal to “Star Wars” since the beginning — but about which we’ve heard so little.

There was a passing reference to this civil strife in 1977’s “Star Wars” and a few glimpses of its onset in “Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones.” The action here and in the TV series takes place between that movie and “Episode III — Revenge of the Sith,” before Anakin goes bad.

The new movie sets up a seemingly bottomless well of story possibilities for the TV show. There are plenty of returning characters, new faces and bit players around which Lucas’ team can build episodes, so the series hopefully won’t be merely another ‘Droids-vs.-Clones battle every week.

“Clone Wars” adapts a story arc director Dave Filoni (also the supervising director of the TV show) and company had been developing for the small screen.

Anakin (voiced by Matt Lanter) and Obi-Wan (James Arnold Taylor) start off in the heat of battle, leading a band of the Republic’s clone soldiers against the comically inept android troops of a separatist movement led by the evil Count Dooku (Christopher Lee, reprising his live-action role).

To show Anakin’s soft, mushy, pre-Vader side, he’s given his own Jedi apprentice, Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein), a spunky alien girl who quickly forges a wisecracking bond with her usually stoic mentor.

The two are assigned to lead a rescue of giant slug crimelord Jabba the Hutt’s squishy, squirmy baby Hutt, who has been kidnapped in a conspiracy that gives all our familiar prequel heroes a part to play.

Among them: Jedi masters Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson, also back from the live-action flicks) and Yoda, Anakin’s future bride Padme Amidala, and androids R2-D2 and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels, who was featured in all six live-action movies).

Filoni, a veteran of the animated series “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” and executive producer Lucas’ team craft a distinct design to set the animated version apart from the live “Star Wars” universe.

The characters have a chiseled, almost harsh look to them (Obi-Wan’s beard resembles a miniature snowplow that’s been grafted to his face). Their movements are a bit jerky, deliberately patterned somewhat after Gerry Anderson’s “Thunderbirds” and his other cult action series featuring puppets.

Why? The best guess is to make good on the promise that this is “Star Wars” as you’ve never seen it. The jerky motions seem at odds with the fluid acrobatics of Jedi warriors, but this probably will be far less noticeable once the “Clone Wars” adventures move to the small screen.

While the movie has a huge body count as ray guns and light sabers flash, “Clone Wars” comes off as rather cute overall. The Shakespearean tragedy of Anakin’s transformation into Vader behind him, Lucas turns his gang loose to be merry, even silly.

Again, that tone probably will work better in the shorter TV installments. In theaters, it makes for a reasonably fun if generally forgettable story, at least in terms of the grand-opera standards of the live-action “Star Wars” films.

Maybe it’s for the best that this movie landed under the Warner Bros. banner. “Clone Wars” simply could not have lived up to that breathless pause of anticipation that always rises in the silence between the Fox fanfare and the first blaring note of the “Star Wars” theme, which also has been modified to let audiences know at the outset that this is a galaxy a bit farther out than they’re used to.

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” a Warner Bros. release, is rated PG for sci-fi action violence throughout, brief language and momentary smoking. Running time: 98 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.