NYCC/NYAF Special Ticket Packages

Special ticket packages for this year's New York Comic-Con/New York Anime Festival go on sale today July 15th at 12 Noon EST. Standard tickets for NYCC and NYAF are available for purchase now at www.nycomiccon.com or www.nyanimefestival.com.



All special packages will include: (1) NYCC/NYAF Weekend Badge; (2) First access to the show floor; (3) separate entrance to the show floor; (4) VIP Lounge; (5) VIP Coat Check; and (6) NYCC or NYAF 2010 poster.

• SPECIAL ACCESS PACKAGE (limited to 350 fans, $150) gets you all of the aforementioned pieces!

• IGN THEATER PACKAGE (limited to 100 fans, $300) gives you guaranteed seating for all events in the IGN Theater/Special Events Hall.

• MINORI CHIHARA CONCERT/MASQUERADE EXPERIENCE (limited to 200 fans, $150) gets you guaranteed, reserved seating for the NYAF concert and the Masquerade on Saturday night in the IGN Theater/Special Events Hall.

• STAN LEE FRIDAY EXPERIENCE PACKAGE (limited to 65 fans, $400) gets you: (1) Meet-and-Greet with Stan Lee on Friday; (2) Autograph from Stan Lee; (3) Stan Lee PopFun Collector’s Glass; and (4) Guaranteed seating in all of Stan Lee’s panels.

• STAN LEE SATURDAY EXPERIENCE PACKAGE (limited to 65 fans, $400) gets you: (1) Meet-and-Greet with Stan Lee on Saturday; (2) Autograph from Stan Lee; (3) Stan Lee PopFun Collector’s Glass; (4) Stan Lee and J. Scott Campbell Lithograph; and (5) Guaranteed seating in all of Stan Lee’s panels.

Okami's Amaterasu Polystone Statue

There's no question how exquisite the art of Capcom's "Okami" is, and even more beautiful is the gorgeous Amaterasu. As shown on GA Graphic, this stunning polystone statue of Okami's Amaterasu will be displayed at this year's International Tokyo Toy Show.

If you can get your hands on this, Amaterasu will set you back 15,540 yen. With the lack of Okami statues available, I'd jump on it! [Source: GA Graphic via Tomopop]

X Japan Details North American Tour, New Album

In a press conference on Thursday, Japanese visual-kei rock band X Japan announced their first North American tour and a new album. Though this merits a bit of deju va (since we've heard this before, this time -- I hope -- it's different as more details arise). The tour will begin on October 1 in California and travel to more than 10 cities, including Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Vancouver, San Francisco, and Boston.

In related news, this fall we will see X Japan's newest album will ship simultaneously in the U.S. and in Japan. The album will have about 10 songs, including the new song "Jade," which will be the first American single. The album will also have "ART OF LIFE" and the English versions of the songs "Tears," "Rusty Nail," and "Kurenai."

X Japan will perform in the U.S. prior to their North American Tour. The band members already appeared at the Yoshiki Foundation launch party with comic creator Stan Lee in Los Angeles on July 1. During the benefit, X Japan performed an acoustic version of "I.V." and then recorded a music video with audience participation. The event also included a fashion show and a masquerade contest. Members of X Japan is set to perform at the Baltimore-based anime convention Otakon this July 31 and at the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago in August. [Source: Sankei Sports via ANN]

ACII Ezio Auditore 1/6 Masterpiece Figure

Honk Kong company Hot Toys boasts an incredible figure that will have every Assassin's Creed fan swooning. In the past, we've been stuck with few choices to show off our AC love, but seems our patience has paid off. Based on the Assassin's Creed II video game, Hot Toys presents a 1/6th scale figure of our very own Ezio Auditore. As part of their VideoGame Masterpiece Series, Ezio is seductively fully poseable and highly detailed from head to toe, from his eyes to his costume to his weapons.

Approximately 30 cm tall, with over 30 points of articulations (sigh), Ezio comes with his fair share of accessories including:

- 3 pieces of interchangeable posing palms
- Real-like hair sculpture with detachable ponytail
- Complete costume (white version)
- Slew of weapons: a long sword, short sword, 2 hidden blades inside forearm gauntlets, and 6 throwing daggers
- Necklace and figure stand with Ezio nameplate

Specially hand-painted, with an incredibly insane amount of detail, you can bet Ezio will carry a hefty price. No specifics yet, but the figure will be released later this year.

*shuffles frantically to rearrange her budget*

Buddha Kuro - SDCC Exclusive

Going to San Diego Comic Con this year? Lucky you. As a huge Camilla d'Errico fan, you bet I'm jealous, as SDCC commemorates the launch of her Giant Buddha Plush!! This "plushzilla" is seriously H-U-G-E. He stands a full 2 feet tall, 60", he's about 1 foot wide and 1 foot deep.

Only 100 Buddha plushes will be available (to be picked-up at the convention, from booth #4920). The price per plush is $125 USD. To pre-order, write to cderricostore@gmail.com to reserve yours! As an added special, if you get yours on PREVIEW NIGHT, Camilla will even be on hand to make an extra special signature/sketch on his giant hang tag! (squeeee)

But for us poor schmucks that won't be going to SDCC, there is a silver lining to this. You can still get on the pre-order list!!

Happy 4th of July!

Minna-san...HAPPY 4th of July!! Hope your day is full of pretty fireworks and good friends.

Things have been hectic on my end, but thanks for all for your patience. Watch this space as I use this time to myself to write...write...write. Updates to include convention coverage, video games reviews, and concert coverage.

My next scheduled convention is Otakon...less than one month away!! Can't wait to see everyone.

Dewa mata ne! And enjoy your day off (hopefully) tomorrow!

Sasuga Books Inventory Sale (till July 5th)

As you may or may not know, Sasuga Japanese Bookstore will be closing its storefront. According to Sasuga, they have "no plans to reopen. A combination of the current economic climate and changes in the international book-selling market have made it impossible for [them] to continue to compete as a small, privately-owned bookstore."

So you've got till July 5th to take advantage of their inventory clearance sale -- 50% off all in-stock products throughout the store. The sale is limited to in-stock products (and as usual, orders over $40 ship for free).

Sasuga has always been a great source of imported manga, artbooks, magazine, and goodies for me! Definitely check them out and find that missing piece in your collection.