Sunday, at the SXSW Interactive Festival, Marvel Entertainment unveiled Marvel AR, the first major augmented reality app from a comic book company. As part of the recently announced Marvel ReEvolution, which brings the world of print and digital media together for a comics experience like never before, the Marvel AR app powered by Aurasma will be released on April 2 for iOS and Android devices.

Fans can first discover the power of this new app in Avengers VS X-Men #1, arriving in comic stores on April 4 and kicking off the comic book event of the year in which the world’s most popular Super Heroes go to war.

By opening this app and scanning select Marvel products featuring the Marvel AR logo, you’ll unlock exclusive content starring the world’s most popular super heroes. Go behind the scenes of your favorite comics, see new footage, hear from creators, get caught up on past events and more.

“It’s time to join the Marvel ReEvolution, as we bring the worlds of print and digital media together for an unprecedented fan experience,” said Peter Phillips, senior vice president and general manager, Marvel Digital Media Group. “Avengers VS X-Men is the biggest story we’ve ever told and teaming with Aurasma allows us to bring our fans a deeper experience when they purchase select Marvel comics and other Marvel products. Just wait till you see what we’ve planned!”

Marvel partnered with Aurasma, the world’s leading augmented reality platform, to create a mobile experience designed to empower fans to discover a new world of content that brings their favorite Super Heroes to life through tablets and mobile devices. Aurasma’s cutting-edge image recognition technology enables the Marvel AR app to recognize images in new Marvel comic books, promotional posters and other merchandise, seamlessly augmenting the images with interactive virtual content such as videos, animations and more.

“Marvel is no stranger to digital media and is once again making history, this time by using Aurasma’s transformative technology to bridge the physical world with the virtual,” said, David Stone, Aurasma’s director of client services. “What better way to excite and engage fans than to give them the power to interact with all of their favorite characters in a new way?”

Aurasma’s free platform unlocks a whole new dimension for partners to creatively enhance the real world. In this case, comic books will reach new depths by unleashing coveted and fan-pleasing content like director and editor commentary and other special features, only accessible through the Marvel AR app.

The Marvel AR companion app, powered by Aurasma, will be available for free in April at the Apple App Store and Android Market.

The article Marvel Augmented Reality Unveiled at SXSW Interactive Festival appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Marvel and MTV Geek have joined forces to produce Avengers VS X-Men: War Journals, an all-new video series going behind the scenes of the year’s most anticipated comic book event. Granted unprecedented access into the Marvel offices, creative retreats, key planning meetings and creator studios, this new documentary from MTV Geek shows just how Avengers VS X-Men was developed by the brightest minds in comics. Each episode will debut exclusively on MTV.com beginning March 28.

“This is the biggest story Marvel’s ever told and we’re excited to partner with MTV for a special look at how Avengers VS X-Men came together,” said Axel Alonso, Editor In Chief, Marvel Comics. “We’ve never shown just what goes on in our top secret meetings—from the development of our best ideas to heated debates—and this is the first time fans will see just how it all goes down, along with new insights into key moments of this series.”

Avengers Vs X-Men #1 arrives in comic shops and the Marvel Comics app on April 4^th, uniting the top talent in the comic industry — including Brian Bendis, Jason Aaron, Matt Fraction, Jonathan Hickman, Ed Brubaker, John Romita JR, Olivier Coipel & Adam Kubert — for the biggest story of the year. This twelve-issue landmark series brings together the world’s most powerful, and popular, super hero teams for a war like the Marvel Universe has never seen before.

“Since launch, MTV Geek has been committed to providing the ultimate access and coverage and can’t wait to present fans this inside look at Marvel’s creative process,” said MTV Digital Executive Producer Tom Akel. “The characters and talent involved in Avengers Vs X-Men are iconic and we’ll be with them every step of the way to chronicle the making of this epic event.”

This March, fans get a unique look at the biggest super hero war of all time in Avengers VS X-Men: War Journals on MTV.com. And on April 4^th make sure to pick up your copy of Avengers VS X-Men #1, in comic shops and on the Marvel Comics app.

Launch Parties breaks records

On April 3^rd, over 1,100 comic shops worldwide will give fans the opportunity to be amongst the first to read Avengers VS. X-Men #1 at special Avengers Vs. X-Men Launch Parties. Do you stand with the Avengers? Or the X-Men? That’s what Marvel asked retailers, and depending on who they picked, fans will be able to pick up exclusive Avengers Vs. X-Men giveaways.

Comic shops are loaded up with either Avengers (or X-Men) themed exclusive mini posters, buttons, variants, lithographs and more that no fan can miss. And with an Avengers VS. X-Men #1 Blank Variant fans will have the chance to add their own heroes to each team’s lineup/

“Avengers VS X-Men is getting the largest mainstream marketing push we’ve ever done,” explains David Gabriel, SVP of Sales, Marvel Entertainment. “With these special launch parties that have the most participants than any we’ve ever done — we want to make sure that this event is the most successful one for us, and retailers alike. When fans see all the cool things we have planned, they’ll definitely be back week in and week out for their Avengers VS. X-Men fix.”

And that’s not all. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet some of the creators behind this mammoth event at these comic shops:

Midtown Comics – Times Square (John Romita Jr, Adam Kubert, Axel Alonso, Tom Brevoort & Nick Lowe)

200 W 40th St

New York, NY 10018

www.midtowncomics.com

Elite Comics (Jason Aaron)

11842 Quivira Rd

Overland Park, KS 66210

www.elite-comics.com

Meltdown Comics (Ed Brubaker)

7522 West Sunset Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90046

www.meltcomics.com

You’ve heard It’s Coming, and this April The War Is Here in Avengers VS X-Men. All your favorite super heroes enter and only one team will emerge victorious!

Which team will reign supreme? Join the conversation on Twitter with #AvX. For more on Avengers VS X-Men, please visit http://avx.marvel.com

The article Avengers Vs X-Men #1: Biggest Comic Book Event 2012? appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Marvel has announced that several critically acclaimed books have sold out at Diamond and will be going back to press. Leading the charge as it hits stands, Scarlet Spider #1 Second Printing Variant brings fans a whole new brand of web-slinging action as Kaine takes up the mantle of the Scarlet Spider and heads to Houston.

But the new Scarlet Spider isn’t the only one fans are clamoring for as The Avengers, the Incredible Hulk, Carnage, the Defenders and Uncanny X-Force also continue to fly off store shelves.

Here’s a full list of blockbuster titles with superstar creative teams going back to press:

• Avengers Annual #1 Second Printing Variant by Brian Michael Bendis & Gabrielle Dell’otto
• Avengers: X-Sanction #2 Second Printing Variant by Jeph Loeb & Ed McGuinness
• Carnage USA #2 Second Printing Variant by Zeb Wells & Clayton Crain
• Defenders #2 Second Printing Variant by Matt Fraction & Terry Dodson
• Incredible Hulk #3 Second Printing Variant by Jason Aaron & Marc Silvestri
• Uncanny X-Force #19 Second Printing Variant by Rick Remender & Robbi Rodriguez

Did you miss the previous issues of these amazing titles? Well Marvel has you covered with these additional printings:

• New Avengers Annual #1 Second Printing Variant by Brian Michael Bendis & Gabrielle Dell’otto
• Avengers: X-Sanction #1 Second Printing Variant A by Jeph Loeb & Ed McGuinness
• Carnage USA #1 Second Printing Variant by Zeb Wells & Clayton Crain
• Incredible Hulk #1 Second Printing Variant by Jason Aaron & Marc Silvestri
• Incredible Hulk #2 Second Printing Variant by Jason Aaron & Marc Silvestri
• Uncanny X-Force #18 Second Printing Variant by Rick Remender & Jerome Opena

With so many red-hot new series quickly gaining steam, Marvel wants to ensure that comic shops have enough copies on hand to meet demand. No fan can miss out on these exciting new titles taking place in all corners of the Marvel Universe.

Finally, exciting news for X-Men and Avengers fan as the biggest superhero brawl in the history of the Marvel Universe begins this April in Avengers Vs. X-Men #1.

Which team will reign supreme? Join the conversation on Twitter with #AvX. For more on Avengers VS X-Men, please visit http://avx.marvel.com.

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