Monthly Archive: June 2008

Vasilis Lolos ‘Last Call’ Headed to Theaters?

  • News
  • June 18, 2008

Last year’s excellent Vasilis Lolos story Last Call looks to be the latest comic-to-movie acquisition, as Variety reports that Universal Pictures has bought up the rights to the Oni Press project.

"The Last Call," written and illustrated by Vasilis Lolos, centers on two teens on a joyride who get hit by a train — an interdimensional soul carrier — and find themselves on a quest to solve a mystery that will allow them to return to their regular lives. Series debuted last year.

Evan Spiliotopoulos, who most recently penned "The Box" for Fox, is adapting the series for the screen.

Last Call is the fourth Oni project to receive such attention from Hollywood, with Scott Pilgrim, Leading Man and Resurrection also optioned over the last few years.

 

(via The Beat)

Exploring Creators’ Rights With ‘The Incredible Hulk’

  • News
  • June 18, 2008

As a footnote of sorts to his recent review of The Incredible Hulk, Tom Spurgeon of The Comics Reporter made an interesting observation about a potential subtext in the Paramount/Marvel Studios blockbuster.

According to Spurgeon, one particular element in the relationship between the characters of Dr. Bruce Banner and Gen. "Thunderbolt" Ross might be worth a little more exploration — but don’t expect the House of Ideas to lead the discussion:

* in case you were wondering, Incredible Hulk continues Marvel’s weird Summer 2008 conversational subtext on creators’ rights issues, as General Thunderbolt Ross demands ownership of Bruce Banner’s body of work and licensing rights, and turns the Super-Soldier formula over to another work-for-hire creator. I can hardly wait for Thor’s exegesis on trademarks and public domain.

Good eye (or ear, in this case), Tom!

New Images of Davros’ Return to ‘Doctor Who’

  • News
  • June 18, 2008

A new pair of images making the rounds online would seem to add some color to recent reports confirming the return of Doctor Who villain Davros to the hit science-fiction television series.

While many Who fans had already guessed that the creator of the Daleks would be making a return (citing the final moments of this Doctor Who Season Four preview as evidence), newcomers should know that the the classic villain’s return is a big, big deal in the Doctor Who universe. It’s a big enough deal, in fact, that the threat is worthy of bringing back Torchwood‘s Captain Jack Harkness, as well as three (maybe four) present and former companions!

The Telegraph recently reported that Davros will make his return in the final two episodes of the season, and be played by Shakespearian actor Julian Bleach.

But, ummmm… what’s up with that red Dalek?

Bill Willingham on New ‘Fables’ Graphic Novel and Rudyard Kipling

  • News
  • June 18, 2008

While Fables creator Bill Willingham is keeping mum about the details surrounding his next original graphic novel set in the Fables universe, he recently mentioned that the first half of the mysterious project was written in the shadow of another famous fantasy scribe: Rudyard Kipling.

According to ReadExpress.com:

"I wrote the first half of it … in the same room, on the same desk, that Kipling invented Mowgli and ‘The Jungle Book.’ I stayed at the Kipling mansion in Vermont, which might have been the two most wonderful weeks of my life," said Willingham. "I think the greatest problem of my time there was the time lost when I just sat there like a dumb idiot saying to myself, ‘Woah, look at where I am.’"

Willingham cautioned not to expect too much of that Kipling inspiration to bleed into the storyline, however.

"The book was outlined pretty rigidly before I got there, so I couldn’t really deviate much, but I definitely wrote one scene in there as a nod to where I was and what my circumstances were."

Willingham goes on to describe his storytelling approach toward many of the characters in his Fables universe, as well as his approach to creating stories with the full collection in mind rather than single issues.

Finally, the writer had this to say about his dealings with the movie industry and Fables‘ long-rumored turn on the big screen:

"My brushes with Hollywood have all been so completely surreal," he said. "I have no idea how anything, even the smallest possible thing, can get made in that town. There has been a growing realization that anything makes it to become a TV show or a movie is some sort of bizarre miracle. Boy, do those people love taking meetings!"

 

(via Journalista)

Battlestar Galactica Interview: Mark Verheiden on Cylon Amnesty and Finding Earth

  • News
  • June 18, 2008

Welcome to the latest installment of Battlestar Galactica Weekly, our recurring Q&A with Mark Verheiden, co-executive producer of the hit Sci-Fi Channel series Battlestar Galactica. Each week, we’ll interview Verheiden about the events of the week’s episode, what those events might mean for both the season and the series, and hopefully unearth some clues about what to expect as the final season of Battlestar Galactica nears its conclusion.

Along with posing our own questions to Verheiden, we’re also taking questions from fans — so be sure to send your questions to me, your official BSG Weekly interviewer, after each episode airs at chris [at] comicmix [dot] com. New episodes of Battlestar Galactica can be seen every Friday at 10 PM EST on Sci-Fi Channel. You can read previous interviews via our BSG Weekly Archive or the links at the end of this article.

This week, Mark is answering questions about Episode #10 of Season Four, "Revelations," which aired June 13, 2008 and is BSG’s mid-season finale. Note: These answers may contain spoilers, so read at your own risk.

bsglastsupper-6328979

COMICMIX (from reader Erica): Is it true that the online streamed version of the episode is longer than the one that aired on Sci-Fi?

MARK VERHEIDEN: As usual, I have to plead ignorance, I simply don’t know, and guess whose TiVo went to the wrong channel when the episode actually aired Friday night?  I’m sure the eagle-eyes in the audience will let us know soon enough!

CMix (from reader Erica): Are we to assume that, in the show’s final shot on Earth, that is Caprica Six who walks up to Tigh and reaches for him?  Was she freed from the brig as part of the amnesty policy Lee announced?

MV: That is Caprica Six and yes, Lee’s amnesty encompassed her as well.

(more…)

Comic Depicts Bear Stearns Implosion

  • Uncategorized
  • June 18, 2008

bearstearns-7526309Comics just keep popping up in new and unexpected places. To wit: Financial publication Portfolio has posted a webcomic of sorts that explains the dramatic fall of investment firm Bear Stearns earlier this year amid the ongoing mortgage crisis.

For those who aren’t especially interested in economics, it’s about as exciting as watching CNBC (maybe a half-step above paint drying and grass growing). But, at the very least, Portfolio’s interactive viewer is quite nice.

Also, the comic doesn’t go into enough detail to explain what landed Bear Stearns in such hot water to begin with.

Oh, and here’s the uninformed and (largely) unintelligible take on comics from a blogger at Blogging Stocks:

Graphic novels are generally targeted toward a market the could best be described as anime freaks: junior high and high school kids who shop at Hot Topic, listen to bad music, and read graphic novels.

Let’s just chalk this up as the latest lesson that comics and finances are oil and water.

Happy Birthday: Mark Gruenwald

  • Uncategorized
  • June 18, 2008

ss-trade-6754626

Born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1953, Mark E. Gruenwald is a rarity in the comc book industry in that he spent his entire professional career with one company.

After graduating with an art degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Gruenwald moved to New York and applied at both DC and Marvel, with no luck. He then switched his focus from art to writing (he had been a Literature minor in school). He self-published a fanzine called Omniverse, which caught the eye of new Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter. Shooter offered Gruenwald a job as an assistant editor in February 1978.

Two years later Shooter promoted Gruenwald to full editor. In the late ’80s he became executive editor there. Gruenwald also wrote for Marvel, and is probably best known for his ten years writing Captain America, and for his work on The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe. He also wrote the Squadron Supreme 12-issue series, which many consider his finest work.

Sadly, Gruenwald suffered a fatal heart attack in August 1996. According to his wishes, he was cremated and his ashes were mixed into the ink used to print the Squadron Supreme trade paperback, thus ensuring that he and his greatest work would always be together.

‘EZ Street’ Nominated for Harvey Award

  • Uncategorized
  • June 18, 2008

ez-street-1-200-9907702The 2008 Harvey Award nominations are out, and ComicMix is proud to have EZ Street nominated for "Best Online Comic." Congratulations to Robert Tinnell and Mark Wheatley!

Sure, EZ Street is up against some tough competition — Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Penny Arcade, Perry Bible Fellowship, and The Surreal Adventures of Edgar Allan Poo — but we think it will do okay.

This year’s Harvey Awards will be handed out at the Baltimore Comic-Con, held September 27-28, 2008.  Convention hours are Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM.  The ceremony and banquet for the 2008 Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, September 27, hosted once again by Kyle Baker.

If you are a comics creative professional and would like to vote, you can download the .pdf Final Ballot or download .txt Final Ballot (for email) and send it to pjcjmc3 [at] sbcglobal.net. Final ballots are due to the Harvey Awards by Friday, August 15, 2008.  Full details for submission of completed ballots can be found on the final ballot.  Voting is open to anyone involved in a creative capacity within the comics field.  Those without Internet access may request that paper ballots be sent to them via mail or fax by calling the Baltimore Comic-Con (410-526-7410) or e-mailing baltimorecomicccon [at] yahoo.com.

The full list of nominees is after the jump.

(more…)

Gainfully Employed, by Elayne Riggs

  • News
  • June 18, 2008

secretary-8425249Kids, it’s been a rough six months for me. Well no, I take that back, it hasn’t. I should start off by saying that I’ve had a lot of advantages to take me through my most recent period of unemployment. I was eligible to collect over $300 a week in unemployment insurance (thank you, FDR!). My former job kept me on COBRA so I also had health insurance, of which I took full advantage during my involuntary extended vacation to get all my medical and dental check-ups out of the way. The premiums rose considerably a couple months ago, but the unemployment payments (which ran out two weeks ago) helped a lot, as long as Robin took care of the rent and bills. Which he did, as fortunately he’s been employed during the entire time (thank you, DC Comics!). Plus, my mom has been there to help out when I’ve needed it.

Even with all that, even with the other built-in advantages (living in a big city, having a college degree, cultivating a pretty solid set of skills), it’s been scary. My heart goes out to people who don’t have that second income, that familial support system, that safety net for when stuff goes wrong. I can’t imagine how they get through it. My stress level was through the roof.

The illusion of job security has always been very important to me. I’m married to a freelancer, but I couldn’t see adopting that lifestyle myself. I’m a creature of habit, I like having set routines; in fact, I like having other people set them. Being a freelancer takes too much self-discipline. I tried catching up on my writing during this last six months, but couldn’t manage more than my usual ComicMix column, weekly roundup, and daily blog post. I was just too consumed with anxiety over my workless state.

Fortunately, I was able to summon up enough wherewithall to undertake an extremely detailed and organized job search, an avocation in and of itself, but the thing about looking for work is, it’s never in the same office from one day to the next, is it? And it’s exhausting, rather like I’d imagine it would be when you’re finishing up an assignment and your brain is busy worrying about where the next assignment is coming from. Nope, one freelancer in the family is quite enough!

(more…)

Battlestar Galactica Weekly: Update!

  • News
  • June 17, 2008

Hey, Battlestar Galactica fans! As always, we want to thank all of you for your interest in our weekly interviews with BSG‘s Mark Verheiden. Every week, you help make these interviews one of the most popular features on ComicMix, and we can’t thank you enough for doing so!

Unfortunately, this week’s interview will be a bit delayed, as big things are brewing in the world of Battlestar Galactica, and Mark is hard at work on a few projects that demand his attention. In the interest of always keeping ComicMix readers in the loop, we anticipate this week’s edition of BSG Weekly going live any minute now — so be sure to keep an eye on the site for your fix of BSG questions from fans and answers from the series’ talented co-executive producer.

Oh, and don’t worry — we’ll be sure to pester Mark for some info about some of those other, super-secret projects he has in the works, too! Remember: you can always send your questions for Mark to me, your BSG Weekly interviewer at chris [at] comicmix dot com.

Remember to check back soon.

Categories

Archives

Everything you need to make great comics!

comicmix-pro-300x69-2

Nucleus X

Bookshop Zaks