Announcing the Winners of the Crossed C-Day Retailer Contest

Yesterday, both BleedingCool.com and CrossedComic.com broke the news, announcing the three winners of the Crossed C-Day Retailer Contest.? We’re pleased to spread the good word here, and also to share the announcement that all retailers that submitted C-Day post-event contributions will receive a special prize, in gratitude for their awesome efforts.

A little background, and then we?ll have our drum roll to announce the winners!

This past March, the comic retailer community celebrated the launch of Crossed: Badlands #1 with a worldwide event called C-Day (?Crossed Day?). A new Garth Ennis / Jacen Burrows storyline launched this ongoing bi-weekly series, and hundreds of retailers promoted the series heavily in their stores with freebies like Crossed face masks, tattoos, buttons, and the sampler Get Infected comics.

As C-Day approached, Avatar Press announced the Crossed C-Day Retailer Contest, inviting retailers to promote the Crossed: Badlands series in the most innovative and ambitious ways possible. Avatar would judge the results provided in photographs and videos. A few dozen retailers answered the call! Looking through the entries, no one can doubt that the retailer contestants had some truly awesome and oftentimes disturbing in-store promotions! Truly, there were so many great contest entries, it was hard to select just three winners? so we are pleased to announce that Avatar Press will provide a consolation prize to the non-placing retailers that submitted their post-event photo and video evidence, a prize consisting of the Crossed: Badlands #1 C2E2 Retailer Bonus Edition and Get Infected Retailer cover, both signed by Jacen Burrows. Thanks to everyone for their support and efforts!

And so, that being said, Avatar Press and Bleeding Cool are happy to announce the winners!

The winner of the Horse#### Honorable Mention Prize (3rd Place), is? Maximum Comics from Las Vegas, Nevada! Maximum Comics will be receiving a Crossed: Get Infected Retailer-Only Variant, plus a set of Crossed #0-9 Red Crossed incentive cover comics. The total value of the Horse#### Honorable Mention Prize is $150.00!

The winner of the Subject Zero Runner-Up Prize (2nd Place), is? Vigilante Press from Chicago, Illinois! Vigilante Press will be receiving a complete set of Crossed Volume 1-3 Hardcovers, plus one (1) each of the following: the Crossed 3D hardcover, a Crossed: Get Infected Retailer-Only Variant, and a set of Crossed #0-9 Red Crossed incentive cover comics. The total value of the Subject Zero Runner-Up Prize is $300.00!

And now, our GRAND PRIZE WINNER…!

The winner of the Ground Zero Grand Prize (1st Place), is? Jetpack Comics from Rochester, New Hampshire! Jetpack Comics will be receiving a complete set of Crossed Volume 1 Hardcover signed by Garth Ennis and sketched with unique original art from Jacen Burrows, plus one (1) each of the following: Crossed Volume 2 Hardcover, Crossed Volume 3 Hardcover, Crossed 3D Hardcover, a Crossed: Get Infected Retailer-Only Variant, and a set of Crossed #0-9 Red Crossed incentive cover comics. The total value of the Ground Zero Grand Prize is $450.00!

You can find the Jetpack Comics, Vigilante Press, and Maximum Comics entries below! Beware, their videos contain material suited only for mature audiences!

1st Place: JETPACK COMICS

Additional photos from Jetpack Comics’ C-Day event can be found here.

2nd Place: VIGILANTE PRESS

Additional photos from Vigilante Press’ C-Day event can be found here.

3rd Place: MAXIMUM COMICS

Congratulations to our winners! And again, we would like to extend our gratitude to all the contest participants for their support of the ongoing Crossed: Badlands series!

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New Release Preview: STITCHED #5

Available today in fine comic shops everywhere, Stitched #5 features a bloody turning point in the horror combat series created by Garth Ennis and perfectly executed by artist/scriptwriter Mike Wolfer!

In the preceding chapters of Stitched, we’ve followed the crew of a downed American helicopter as they’ve stumbled across the Afghanistan desert, aided by the tattered remnants of a British S.A.S. team. Enemy contacts with the Taliban have been few… but by no means are these soldiers safe. They’ve been dogged every step of the way by shambling zombies, undead weapons of war controlled by black magic. So far, the Americans and Brits have survived relatively intact…

…but Stitched #5 changes everything. Ambushed in a canyon, led astray by their slave-trading hostage, they’re about to learn just how deadly these “Stitches” can be. They may shamble, but they’re durable, powerful, and armed with some grisly, grisly weapons!

For your viewing pleasure, please enjoy the following short preview of Stitched #5:

Stitched #5 brings to life a story originally crafted by Garth Ennis as a feature film script, faithfully adapted to comics by Mike Wolfer. Available in several variant editions all illustrated by Wolfer himself (see below), today’s release of Stitched #5 retails for an affordable $3.99.


Stitched #5 Regular Edition
$3.99 Retail, Diamond Item Code: MAR120794
Cover by Mike Wolfer


Stitched #5 Gore Edition
$3.99 Retail, Diamond Item Code: MAR120795
Cover by Mike Wolfer


Stitched #5 Wraparound Edition
$3.99 Retail, Diamond Item Code: MAR120796
Cover by Mike Wolfer

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June Previews Featured Item – CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE Volume One Graphic Novel

Avatar Press is proud to announce that Diamond Comic Distributors has named Crossed: Wish You Were Here Volume One as a “Featured Item” in the June 2012 Previews catalog. Written by Simon Spurrier with artwork by Javier Barreno, the Wish You Were Here graphic novel is the first-ever collection of Avatar’s popular web comic, never-before-seen in print form.

As described in its Previews solicitation:

The first volume of the most popular horror web comic is finally here! Crossedcomic.com has been delivering weekly installments of this blood-stained epic and now the legion of fans can finally buy it in print! Simon Spurrier and Javier Barreno take us on a fresh journey into pain and misery with a new batch of survivors in the brutal Crossed world. This is the story of a writer who witnessed the downfall of London, and now finds himself in the midst of a new community, a new start, on a barren island off the Scottish coast. Pretending, just for a while, that he?s safe, that he?s useful… that he has a future. It won?t last. There?s no sanctuary. No fighting back. No hope. There?s only the Crossed.

Crossed: Wish You Were Here Volume One features 160 pages of full-color content and is available in three editions, all featuring cover artwork by celebrated Crossed artist Jacen Burrows (Crossed: Badlands, Neonomicon).


Crossed: Wish You Were Here Volume One Softcover Edition
Retail Price: $19.99
Diamond Item Code: JUN120842
ISBN: 9781592911707


Crossed: Wish You Were Here Volume One Hardcover Edition
Retail Price: $27.99
Diamond Item Code: JUN120843
ISBN: 9781592911714


Crossed: Wish You Were Here Volume One Signed Hardcover Edition
Retail Price: $34.99, Limited to 1000 Copies
Autographed by Simon Spurrier and Jacen Burrows
Diamond Item Code: JUN120844
ISBN: 9781592911981

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New This Week: Crossed Badlands, Dan the Unharmable, and Bleeding Cool

Avatar Press has a full docket of new releases for comic shops tomorrow!

First up, get ready for the latest chapter in Jamie Delano‘s “Homo Superior” story arc of Crossed: Badlands #7! In a harrowing tale illustrated by Leandro Rizzo, Delano opens new wounds in the Florida swampland as the creeping tale of Crossed madness and horror reaches new levels of insanity. The #7 issue is available in three cover editions: Regular Edition (by Jacen Burrows), Torture Edition (by Gianluca Pagliarani), and Wraparound Edition (by Raulo Caceres), presented below in clockwise order.

From the twisted mind of David Lapham comes Dan the Unharmable #2, an explosive issue illustrated by Rafael Ortiz! Dan had it all: no worries, no responsibilities, no hassles, no chance of injury. But now he?s got a couple of ankle biters that are counting on him to keep them safe. While he may be tough to hurt, they’re not, and a whole lot of sick, twisted people are going to try! Available in two cover variants: Regular Edition and Wraparound Edition, both illustrated by series artist Ortiz!

Finally, we proudly present our debut issue of Bleeding Cool Magazine! This introductory #0 issue is forty pages in length, and comes with a nice little price point of $1.49! BleedingCool.com‘s founder, Rich Johnston, and a host of contributing writers cover the finest upcoming projects from Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Valiant, Boom, yours truly (Avatar Press, of course), and more! Let this #0 issue whet your whistle while you wait for the full-sized #1 debut later this year!

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Creator Signing Schedule Announced for Phoenix Comicon

Coming to Phoenix Comicon? Eager to meet the likes of Garth Ennis, Jacen Burrows, Rich Johnston, and David Lapham? Want to meet the deranged minds behind such hit comics and graphic novels as Crossed: Badlands, Neonomicon, and Ferals? Of course you do! We proudly present our confirmed signing schedule for this weekend’s exciting convention below. Watch for more updates to come!

Signing All Weekend Along:
– Jacen Burrows (Crossed, Neonomicon)
– Rich Johnston (Bleeding Cool Magazine)

Friday Schedule
2:00pm – 3:00pm: Garth Ennis Signing (Booth #501)
3:00pm – 4:00pm: Get Crossed Panel with Garth Ennis (Room 126B)
4:00pm – 6:00pm: Garth Ennis Signing (Booth #501)
6:00pm: Bleeding Cool Fan Awards (Room 132BC)
7:00pm: Stitched Screening and Panel with Garth Ennis & Cast (Hyatt Regency Phoenix Ballroom – 2nd Floor)

Saturday Schedule
12:00pm – 2:00pm: Garth Ennis Signing
12:00pm – 1:00pm: Avatar Press Panel (Room 126B)
3:30pm – 7:00pm: Garth Ennis Signing
7:30 – 8:30pm – Bleeding Cool Panel with Rich Johnston (Room 126B)

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New Release Preview ? Caligula Graphic Novel

David Lapham has built a home for himself at Avatar Press, mostly out of severed limbs, entrails, and skulls. It’s more like a nice little summer cottage, actually. But in all seriousness, his horror contributions to the company’s output have been numerous and exceptional over the past few years (his three Crossed outings on Family Values, Crossed 3D, and Psychopath, plus the werewolf epic Ferals and distinctly-Lapham crime noir, Dan the Unharmable). The title that debuts today in graphic novel format is Caligula, his supernatural horror title chronicling the depravity of Rome’s most notorious emperor.

The Caligula graphic novel is gorgeously painted by artist German Nobile, and is available in three different cover formats (softcover, hardcover, and special autographed hardcover), all signed by Jacen Burrows (Crossed: Badlands, Neonomicon).


CALIGULA Volume 1 Softcover Edition
$19.99 Retail, Cover by Jacen Burrows
Diamond Item Code: MAR120791



CALIGULA Volume 1 Hardcover Edition
$27.99 Retail, Cover by Jacen Burrows
Diamond Item Code: MAR120792



CALIGULA Volume 1 Signed Hardcover Edition
$34.99 Retail, Cover by Jacen Burrows
Autographed by David Lapham and Jacen Burrows
Diamond Item Code: MAR120793

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New Release Preview – Crossed: Badlands #6

In Crossed: Badlands #6, horror legend Jamie Delano continues to explore the deadly landscape of the Florida Everglades… and the new sinking depths of what humanity lurks in the swamps. In this issue, Leon — the slacker teenager embedded in his abusive father’s racist compound — plans his ultimate, grisly revenge against his abuser and the lowlife degenerates he runs with. Meanwhile, the jailbait twins Ashley and Ashlynn continue on their collision course with Steve and Greg, two groups of damaged survivors whose outlook on survival will turn the dark waters of the swamp blood red.

Crossed: Badlands #6 is illustrated by the talented Leandro Rizzo, and is available in three different variant covers by Jacen Burrows (Crossed: Badlands #1-3, Neonomicon), Gianluca Pagliarani (Crossed 3D, Wolfskin: Hundredth Dream), and Oscar Jiminez (Chronicles of Wormwood: The Last Battle).


CROSSED: BADLANDS #6 Regular Edition
$3.99 Retail, Cover by Jacen Burrows
Diamond Item Code: MAR120802


CROSSED: BADLANDS #6 Torture Edition
$3.99 Retail, Cover by Gianluca Pagliarani
Diamond Item Code: MAR120803


CROSSED: BADLANDS #6 Wraparound Edition
$3.99 Retail, Cover by Oscar Jiminez
Diamond Item Code: MAR120804

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Hero Worship: Zak Penn Interview & Preview

Zak Penn, screenwriter of such big budget films as X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, The Incredible Hulk, and Marvel’s The Avengers, is bringing his own brand of superhero action to Avatar Press with the upcoming series, Hero Worship, co-written with Scott Murphy (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and illustrated by Michael DiPascale (cover artist of Crossed, Lady Death, and War Goddess). We’re happy to provide the below interview with Penn, but first, let’s show you a glimpse of the new series, available now for retailer order and set to debut in July!

Superheroes began on the comic page, but are now big screen mainstays. As a screenwriter and director now launching a new comic book series, you?re almost doing it in reverse. What prompted you to tell your latest tale, Hero Worship, in comic book format?

I?ve always wanted to work in comics, I?ve just been sidelined by my film career. When Scott (Murphy) pitched me the idea for Hero Worship, it seemed like the version that would be closest to the vision we had for it would be in comic book form. Before it got turned into something different, it would be nice to see it executed exactly as we imagined, so that no matter what happened we would have something tangible to hold in our hands and say ?This is what we wanted to create.? Unless you write and direct, movies very rarely afford you anywhere close to that creative control.

How did the idolization of superheroes become the focus of your first comic series?

It?s a clich?, but ideas really do find you. Scott?s idea for Hero Worship fell into my lap at the right time. Also, I have tried in the past to get some comic book work off the ground, but it never seemed to fully come together. Credit William (Christensen) and Avatar for making it happen.

For the films and television shows you?ve developed, the scope has frequently been very far-reaching; ?epic? would fit their description nicely. How would you describe the scope of Hero Worship?

Hero Worship starts on a pretty small, personal level, which is partly what was so appealing about the pitch. The character is a real kid, some of the specific references to his life in Los Angeles are based on the kids that I mentored through the Big Brothers program, and I think that?s a great place to build from. But the story expands in a pretty epic way, so I think we?ll end up on the same scale as some of the stuff I?ve worked on.

How did you choose to bring your new creator-owned series to Avatar?

William Christensen kidnapped my dog. I get him back after I publicize the comic. Also, Avatar has a reputation for giving you unlimited creative freedom, which they did. Plus, Scott and I both really liked the Warren Ellis stuff they were putting out.

How would you describe Zenith, the central figure of the series? idol worship?

I don?t want to give too much away, but Zenith is absolutely not what he appears to be. The book is very much about the way people see what they want, they find the patterns that are comforting to them, but life is much messier than that. Zenith is an example of just how messy life can be.

Who is Adam, the ?everyman? of Hero Worship?

The paradox of creating a good everyman is that you need to make him as singular and unique as possible. Specificity is essential. As I mentioned earlier, we based Adam on some real kids; he is the product of mixed race parentage, street smart because he needs to be, but his life is no picnic. His family life is dispiriting. He?s not socially inept, but his obsession with Zenith is where he has invested all of his emotional energy, and that limits how involved in the day to day world he is. The book has a fairly minimalist style, we want a lot of detail about Adam to come about as the story unfolds, but we really tried to create a character who lives in the real world.

To craft the story, you?re partnered alongside Scott Murphy, a writer of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. How would you describe the collaborative process in putting the story together?

Have you ever seen War of the Roses? Scott is a volcanic personality, prone to fits of rage and madness, and then the next moment, will nurse some abandoned kittens back to health. It was my job to rein him in. Also, we did a lot of brainstorming. Seriously, though, Scott and I are very much on the same wavelength and he?s probably one of the easiest people to get along with you?ll ever meet.

Speaking of collaborations, many of the scripts you?ve worked on have shared credits with other writers. Is the collaborative process something almost mandated by the industry, or is it something that you?ve found helps build a stronger story?

Both. Many times when you are credited on a movie with other writers its because you?ve all been hired separately; you rewriting them or vice versa. But I have also chosen to work with a number of different people ? Mike White, Simon Kinberg, Werner Herzog, and Scott Murphy, of course ? because I thought it would be more fun, and the intersection of our abilities would produce something better.

What are your thoughts on the artwork of Michael DiPascale, whose interior and cover illustrations are bringing the story of Adam and Zenith to life?

We wanted someone who could make the real world feel real, and the action feel big. Michael?s work is crisp, clear, and incredibly naturalistic, but also cinematic. He also is an economic storyteller in his own right, which was essential. One day, I hope to be as adventurous with the form as some of my comic book idols, but this book begged for clarity and focus. Michael brought that to bear.

Have there been particular comic book series, storylines, or creators that particularly influenced your interest in the superhero genre, and if so, which ones?

Obviously, given the work I?ve done, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, (Steve) Ditko, (Chris) Claremont and (John) Byrne; I grew up on Marvel Comics. Frank Miller as much as anyone; that was the first time a comic book seemed truly cinematic to me. There?s so much silence in his work, so little omniscient narrating; his run on Daredevil might have been the first time I started thinking about the form as much as the content. Alan Moore?s Watchmen was one of those books that I read and reread when it came out. Incredible.

But I must say that (Mark) Millar and (Brian Michael) Bendis completely changed my thinking about the superhero genre. Those two made superhero stories seem real to me. Millar?s Ultimates run, and Bendis?s Powers and Alias books reinvigorated my interest in superhero stories. The 90?s were a decade that made me stop reading superhero books. Those guys brought me back.

I?ll just add, as a bit of arcana, that I absolutely loved the What If comic where Korvac destroys the Avengers, and then the universe. I can?t tell you how many people I?ve run into that cite that issue as something they could never get out of their head.

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The Bleeding Cool Fan Awards: How to Show Your Avatar Love

If you’re visiting the Avatar Press website, it’s a pretty safe bet that you’re awesome. Truly, truly awesome.

But beyond that undeniable fact, you’re probably a devout supporter of Avatar Press (and its sister company, Boundless Comics) and would like to see Avatar sweep up a ton of recognition at this year’s Bleeding cool Fan Awards!

And heck, even if you would rather vote for some nominated non-Avatar project as the recipient of a Fan Award, we’d understand. All we want is for comic fans to raise their voices and support the Bleeding Cool Fan Awards, however they might vote! Want to know how? Check out below!

Votes can be cast in two ways, both available through the dedicated award page at Bleeding Cool. You can click off your votes on the website itself, and also Tweet your vote by clicking the “Tweet” link. That’s right — you can vote twice!

The deadline for voting is Tuesday, May 22nd. Once all voting has been tallied, the winners will be announced at Phoenix Comicon on Friday, May 25th, at 6:00pm, in room 132BC of the convention hall.

We hope you exercise your right to vote!

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Bleeding Cool Fan Award Nominess Announced for 2012

Bleeding Cool, the premiere source for breaking news and gossip in the comic book industry (www.bleedingcool.com), announced today the nominees for the second annual Bleeding Cool Fan Awards, to be voted on by the website?s extensive fan community and awarded during the Phoenix Comicon in two weeks.? Selected by site founder Rich Johnston, the nominees for the twenty award categories reflect the website?s most trending topics spanning the first half of 2012, a mixture of topics that range from the industry-shaping to the most controversial and sensational.

The list of categories and nominees can be found below. Please be sure to visit Bleeding Cool’s official announcement for Rich Johnston’s flavorful descriptions of each category!

BEST MONTHLY-ISH COMIC OF 2012 SO FAR
Prophet
Journey into Mystery
Supurbia
Amazing Spider-Man
Ferals

BEST COMIC WRITER OF 2012 SO FAR
Brandon Graham
Dan Slott
Kieron Gillen
Scott Snyder
David Lapham

BEST COMIC ARTIST OF 2012 SO FAR
JH Williams III
Chris Bachalo
James Stokoe
Sara Pichelli
Ivan Reis

BEST GRAPHIC NOVEL OR SIMILAR OF 2012 SO FAR
The Vicar Woman by Emma Rendell
Queen Crab by Jimmy Palmiotti and Artiz Eiguren
Jerusalem by Guy Delisle
Mouse Guard HC FCBD by David Petersen and friends
Goliath by Tom Gauld

BEST PUBLISHER OF 2012 SO FAR
Image
Kickstarter
Avatar
Boom
DC Comics

BEST SWIPE OF THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS
Frank Quitely’s Madman strip (in 20th Anniversary Monster) / Oor Wullie
Paola Di Clement’s Nathan Never and Jim Lee’s Batman
Rorschach Statue and Strutting Leo
X-O Manowar and Reporters Without Borders
Fallen Angel and Ruby Rocket

BEST RELAUNCHED COMIC OF THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS
Wolverine and the X-Men
Daredevil
Batgirl
Animal Man
Prophet

STUPIDEST CONTROVERSY OF THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS
Black Ultimate Spider-Man
Gay Ultimate Spider-Man
Claims of Jack Kirby Having No Screen Credit on Avengers When He Actually Did
Wonder Woman’s Pants
Captain Marvel’s Short Hair

THE PRO WHO SHOULD REALLY STAY OFF THE INTERNET
Ales Kot
Frank Miller
John Byrne
Steve Wacker
Larry of Larry’s Comics

BEST COMICS SELF PROMOTION OF THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS
Sam Humphries
Mark Millar
Renae De Liz
Rich Johnston
Alex De Campi

WORST PORTRAYAL OF AN ESTABLISHED COMIC CHARACTER IN THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS
Batman in Batman: Odyssey
Starfire in Red Hood and the Outlaws
Captain America in Avengers Vs. X-Men
Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad
Batgirl in Batgirl

RACIST, SEXIST OR HOMOPHOBIC COMIC OF THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS
Holy Terror
Red Hood and the Outlaws
Catwoman
Voodoo
Lady Death

GUILTY PLEASURE OF THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS
Frank Miller’s Holy Terror
Grimm’s Fairy Tales
Crossed
Deathstroke #9
Avengers Vs. X-Men

BEST FIGHT SCENE OF THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS
Maggie Chascarillo and Valerie The Frogmouth – Love and Rockets: New Stories #4
Sinister Six Vs The Avengers in Amazing Spider-Man
Bruce Wayne Vs The Owls in Batman
Shang Chi, Sharon Carter and Captain America in Secret Avengers #18
The Remains of The Twelve Vs The Naked Dynamic Man

BEST SEX SCENE OF THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS
Saga #1 and the TV Headed Shagging Robots
Catwoman #1 and #2
The Last of the Greats #3 with Oprah Winfrey
Ferals #1
Namor and Emma Frost in Uncanny X-Men #10

BEST FEUD OF THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS
Glenn Danzig and Henry Rollins – Henry and Glenn Forever and Ever
Steve Wacker and The Internet
Scott Lobdell and Ron Marz
Mark Waid and Phil Boyle
DC Panelists and San Diego Batgirl

MOST ANTICIPATED COMIC FOR THE REST OF 2012
Jupiter’s Children
Happy
Phonogram 3
League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen Century 2009
Fashion Beast

MOST ANTICIPATED BITCHNG ABOUT A COMIC FOR THE REST 2012
Before Watchmen
Brian Bendis’ X-Men
Scott Lobdell’s Superman
Whatever the Hell They Do to the Marvel Universe at the End of AVX
The DC Comics Zero Issues In September

COMIC MOST LIKELY TO NEED DEFENDING BY THE CBLDF IN THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS
Wayward Girls
League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen Century 2009
The Complete Works Of Milo Manara
Random manga with twelve year olds having sex with tentacles
Crossed

COMIC-BASED FILM/TV OF THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS THAT WE COULD WATCH WITHOUT SHAME
X-Men: First Class
The Avengers
The Walking Dead
DC Nation Shorts
Captain America

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