Monthly Archive: December 2008

Universal Options ‘Bakugan Battle Brawlers’

  • News
  • December 17, 2008

Bakugan Battle Brawlers has been optioned by Universal Studios and Stuber Productions according to The Hollywood Reporter. The anime series currently is shown on Cartoon Network while toys and game come from Spin Master and Sega.

The series is based on a “strategic game that uses metal cards and magnetic, spring-loaded miniature figures that transform from marble-like balls into toy monsters.

“The show’s story line revolves around creatures called Bakugan and the young human battle brawlers who wield them. The creatures have such names as Pyrus Drago, Haos Tigrerra, Ventus Skyress, Subterra Gorem and Darkus Hydranoid that inform their character and power; they are involved in a battle in a parallel dimension called Vestroia that spills into ours.”

A total of 51 episodes were produced by TMS Entertainment and Japan Vistec and debuted in Japan last year. The English-language version has been handled by Nelvana which has produced 52 episodes.

Universal is currently seeking a writer for what they perceive to be a hot property that will translate well around the world.
 

ComicMix Radio: We Hit 300!

  • News
  • December 16, 2008

We celebrate our Big 300th Broadcast with another run through the comics and DVD Buy Me lists, and then some news on the future of ComicMix Radio , plus:

  • Peter David explains how to add Fallen Angel trades to your gift list
  • William Katt on just what to expect in this week’s Greatest American Hero #1
  • Mark Henke promises more Golden Age Men of Mystery from AC Comics

After all of that, we bring ComicMix Radio to a close for a final time, but before you get too choked up we unveil our plans for a new piece of audio goodness that you will get to sample even before the holidays. We’ll tell you about The Point and how you should watch ComicMix for the first broadcast in just a few days!

Meanwhile, one for time – just Press the Button!

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And remember, you can always subscribe to ComicMix Radio podcasts via badgeitunes61x15dark-6894769 or RSS!

 

‘Ultimatum’ #1 #1 in November

  • News
  • December 16, 2008

ultimatum1-2-3640885The November numbers are in and ICv2 notes that sales of the top 300 titles fell 11% compared with a year ago.  They note that with DC Comics and Marvel Comics skipping issues of Secret Invasion, Final Crisis, New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Astonishing X-Men, and Justice League of America, there’s little wonder.

Only two titles — Marvel’s Ultimatum #1 and DC’s Batman #681 – cracked the 100,000 unit marks based on numbers provided by Diamond Comics Distributors, the fewest since March.

Marvel had 14 of the top 25 titles, DC 10, and Dark Horse one. 

Looking over the list, it’s interesting to note that beyond events and new titles, several mainline books continue to bring in readers because the content seems to be consistently entertaining month after month as exemplified by Amazing Spider-Man and Captain America being in the Top 10. The most popular creators do seem to translate to best sales making it all the more important for creative team consistency month to month.

Here are ICv2’s estimates of the sales by Diamond Comic Distributors to comic stores on the top 25 comic titles in November:

114,230           Ultimatum #1
103,151           Batman #681 (RIP)
  90,776           Hulk #8
  88,910           Wolverine #69
  77,773           Uncanny X-Men #504
  76,625           Amazing Spider-Man #577
  75,493           Captain America #44
  74,202           Buffy the Vampire Slayer #19
  72,862           JSA: Kingdom Come Special Superman #1
  71,355           Justice Society of America #20
  69,522           Batman: Cacophony #1
  68,956           Amazing Spider-Man #576
  66,564           Amazing Spider-Man #578
  64,196           Detective Comics #850 (RIP)
  63,512           X-Men Legacy #218
  61,331           Fantastic Four #561
  58,547           Action Comics #871
  58,279           Dark Tower: Treachery #3
  57,241           X-Force #9
  57,205           JSA: Kingdom Come Special Kingdom #1
  56,931           Final Crisis: Resist #1
  56,224           Avengers / Invaders #6
  55,560           JSA: Kingdom Come Special Magog #1

movie-phantom-5114134

‘Phantom Legacy’ Writer Says New Film a Reboot

  • Uncategorized
  • December 16, 2008

movie-phantom-5114134Garth Franklin at Dark Horizons chatted briefly with Tim Boyle, the man charged with writing the just announced The Phantom Legacy.

“First up this is a reboot ala Batman Begins and not a sequel to Simon Wincer’s 1996 feature film as has been previously reported,” Franklin wrote.

“There are two main villains in this – one from the comic, the other an original but as to which ones they can’t be disclosed for now. The Phantom himself and Diana Walker will be in it of course, ‘oh and their kids… he adds.”

"It will have some elements of the original comic, but we are making it work for the screen" Boyle said.

"Like Batman Begins, where he takes a high tech spelunking suit and turns it into the basis of his costume – we’re looking at making it a real world costume. Think of what Bryan Singer did with the blue and yellow Wolverine costume – that’s what we have to do. Make it accessible to the public without annoying the fans too much."
 

First ‘GI Joe’ One-Sheets Released

  • News
  • December 16, 2008

Following the pattern now employed by studios pushing ensemble films to geeks, Paramount Pictures has released the first four one-sheets for next August’s G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

The pictures seen here spotlight, running clockwise Ray Park as Snake Eyes, Marlon Wayans as Ripcord, Channing Tatum as Duke, and Sienna Miller as Baroness.

Directed by Stephen Sommers (The Mummy), it was written by Stuart Beattie and set a decade from today and is an origin story for the formation of Cobra and GI Joe’s response to the global threat.

The sprawling cast of good guys and bad guys includes:

G.I. Joe

Channing Tatum as First Sergeant Conrad S. Hauser / Duke
Dennis Quaid as General Clayton M. Abernathy / Hawk
Rachel Nichols as Shana M. O’Hara / Scarlett:
Ray Park as Snake-Eyes
Marlon Wayans as Wallace A. Weems / Ripcord
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Lamont A. Morris / Heavy Duty
Saïd Taghmaoui as Alvin R. Kibbey / Breaker
Karolína Kurková as Courtney A. Kreiger / Cover Girl

Cobra

Christopher Eccleston as James McCullen Destro XXIV
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Cobra Commander:
Sienna Miller as Baroness Anastasia DeCobray / The Baroness
Lee Byung-hun as Storm Shadow
Arnold Vosloo as Zartan

Cameos

Larry Hama
Kevin J. O’Connor
Brendan Fraser
 

Review: ‘An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons and True Stories, Vol. 2’

  • Uncategorized
  • December 16, 2008

anthology-23-8414370

An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons and True Stories, Vol. 2
Edited by Ivan Brunetti
Yale University Press, October 2008, $28.00

Two years ago, we saw one of the biggest signs yet that comics had “made it” and were being taken seriously by the academic/literary community: the publication of a big, magisterial teaching anthology of comics, edited by Ivan Brunetti and published by the utterly respectable Yale University Press. That book was [[[An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories]]], and even its unwieldy title seemed to underline just how serious and important it was – the Anthology was the kind of comics collection that could be assigned as reading in English 214: Readings in Contemporary Literature, or some other similarly dull university course.

Inside the Anthology, Brunetti staked out a position for comics much closer to the Art History department than to English, leading off with intensely formalist works and only settling down to things like “Graphic Fiction” and “True Stories” deep into the book. (A lot of the first Anthology – and a lot of this second book as well – must be called “Cartoons” as a default; they’re clearly sequential art, but they’re closer to poems or painting series than they are to any kind of written prose. Not that this is a bad thing; I’m sure Brunetti would argue that those works show the unique abilities of the comics form.) Most impressively, Brunetti produced a book that wasn’t obvious – it wasn’t the book anyone would have expected, or a book anyone else would have compiled. (Not that the obvious anthology of great comics wouldn’t have had a use, and possible been more useful for teaching than Brunetti’s book ended up being.)

But that was two years ago, and now Brunetti, and Yale, are back with a second volume, [[[An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories, Vol. 2]]], to give it its entire ungainly due. (The “An” at the beginning particularly bounces oddly off the “Vol. 2” at the end.) It doesn’t so much take up where the first [[[Anthology]]] left off as replicate the pattern (and, almost exactly, the contributors list) of the first book; it could as easily be a second attempt at the same idea as an extension. It doesn’t stake out any different territory than the first Anthology did; it focuses on mostly the same creators, and the same type of comics, and is organized in a similar, vaguely thematic, free-form fashion.

(more…)

‘Ashes to Ashes’ Coming to BBC America in March

  • News
  • December 16, 2008

ABC has been enjoying the growing success of its adaptation of the BBC’s Life on Mars.  The original program, though, struggled to keep its stories going and wrapped the series after two seasons and 16 episodes. For a glimpse of what happen next, take a look at the BBC’s sequel Ashes to Ashes, which BBC America just picked up for domestic broadcast in March.

Ashes To Ashes is written and created by Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharaoh, two creators of Life on Mars. The eight-episode first season aired in the UK last February and March.

Julie Gardner, BBC Wales Head of Drama, said in a release, "Sam Tyler took us on an amazing journey with Life On Mars but his story always had a definite life span.

"However, fans will be excited to learn that Gene Hunt lives on through Ashes To Ashes and we’re certain they will love his Eighties escapades."

Jane Featherstone, Executive Producer for Kudos, added, "Ashes to Ashes is the next chapter in the life of Gene Hunt, as seen through the eyes of a modern, no-nonsense woman.

"It’s a touch of Moonlighting teamed with a measure of Miami Vice.” (more…)

Headline typo of the day

  • News
  • December 16, 2008

From the UGO list of Top 50 "WTF" moments in comics, discussing Speedy and his drug habit:

Sidekick Shoots Arrows and Heroine

Now that would have been a world-changing story. Roy Harper, jealous of Oliver Queen having lost his fortune (and presumably, Roy’s inheritance) and instead spending all his time with a hot chick a decade younger with a thing for fishnet stockings, decides to get rid of the pretty girl in the middle of a melee– a shot just goes wild, and suddenly it’s back to Green Arrow and Speedy, together again. Play it up as a sort of gender-switched Oedipus.

I mean, as long as you’re going to break the Comics Code anyway.

A rumor I just made up has it Gerry Conway actually had this as a story idea, but he later used it when writing for Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Marvel Teases January ‘Avengers’ Releases

  • News
  • December 16, 2008

Marvel released the following teasers:

Who is the Iron Patriot? And just why has he assembled the Dark Avengers? Enter Dark Avengers #1, kicking off an explosive new era for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, from acclaimed scribe Brian Bendis and superstar artist Mike Deodato!  This star studded creative team presents an all new ongoing series spinning out of Dark Reign, but just who are the Dark Avengers?  Featuring Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hawkeye, Ms Marvel and more like you’ve never seen them before, this is the series that’ll have everyone buzzing in 2009! This issue features variant covers by the red-hot Adi Granov and Marko Djurdjevic, one of the acclaimed Young Guns ‘09 artists! Plus, don’t miss the Blank Cover Variant that you can take to events all year for your favorite writers, artists, or even editors, to illustrate!

Dark Avengers #1. Accept Change.

DARK AVENGERS #1
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils & Cover by Mike Deodato
Variant Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Variant Cover by ADI GRANOV

Rated T+ …$3.99 On-Sale—1/21/09

 

As dark times lie ahead for the Marvel U, a new age of all out Avengers action begins this December in the giant-sized Mighty Avengers #21!  Join the superstar creative team of Dan Slott and Khoi Pham for the next exciting chapter in the lives of Earth’s mightiest heroes!  After the events of Secret Invasion, the landscape of the Marvel U has forever changed – and with that, so comes a new team of Avengers!  And one of the most popular Avengers of all time, makes her long awaited return! Get ready for all of the chaos and action you can handle in this special giant-sized issue! Guest starring: the New Avengers, Dark Avengers, Young Avengers and Classic Avengers!
 
MIGHTY AVENGERS #21
Written by DAN SLOTT
Pencils & Cover by KHOI PHAM
Rated A …$3.99, On-Sale—01/14/09

‘Washington Post’ Lists Top Comics of the Year

  • News
  • December 16, 2008

The Washington Post recently posted their lists of best comics of the year and they include:

The Alcoholic, By Jonathan Ames and Dean Haspiel (Vertigo/DC Comics, $19.99)
Bottomless Belly Button, By Dash Shaw (Fantagraphics, $29.99)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season Eight, Volume Two: No Future for You, By Brian K. Vaughan, Georges Jeanty and Joss Whedon (Dark Horse, $15.95)
The Complete K Chronicles, By Keith Knight (Dark Horse, $24.95)
Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes, By Geoff Johns and Gary Frank (DC Comics, $24.99)
Y: The Last Man #60, By Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra (Vertigo/DC Comics, $4.99)

Among their best DVDs, they included:

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, Not rated (Weinstein, $24.95)
30 Rock: Season 2, Not rated (Universal, $39.98)
The Big Lebowski (10th Anniversary Edition), Rated R (Universal, $19.98)
Control, Rated R (Weinstein, $28.95)
The Darjeeling Limited Rated R (20th Century Fox, $29.99)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Rated PG-13 (Miramax, $29.99)
Flight of the Red Balloon, Not rated (IFC, $24.95)
Iron Man (Ultimate 2-Disc Edition), Rated PG-13 (Paramount, $39.99)
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters, Rated PG-13 (New Line, $19.98)
Lost Highway, Rated R (Universal, $19.98)
No Country for Old Men, Rated R (Miramax, $29.99)
The Office: Season 4, Not rated (Universal, $49.98)
Persepolis, Rated PG-13 (Sony, $29.95)
Spaced: The Complete Series, Not rated (BBC Warner, $59.98)
There Will Be Blood (Two-Disc Special Collector’s Edition), Rated R (Paramount, $34.99)
Trafic, Not rated (Criterion, $39.95)

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