Yearly Archive: 2008

Free Online Alan Moore Documentary, Issue

A few interesting bits of Alan Moore history have found their way online recently, and you won’t have to pay a dime for them.

AlterTube has posted "The Mindscape of Alan Moore," a 78-minute documentary about the creator of Watchmen and V For Vendetta that explores his growth as a storyteller and modern-day, magical… Well, you should probably just read the plot synopsis:

The film leads the audience through Moore’s world with the writer himself as guide, beginning with his childhood background, following the evolution of his career as he transformed the comics medium, through to his immersion in a magical worldview where science, spirituality and society are part of the same universe.

If you like what you see and want to purchase a copy, check out ShadowSnake Films.

DC/Vertigo has also made a full issue of Swamp Thing #21, the start of Moore’s critically-praised reinvention of the character, available online. It’s creepy as heck, but a great example of why Moore is one of comics’ living legends.

 UPDATE: The video no longer seems to be available on AlterTube, but it’s now available on YouTube. Go figure. So here you go: <a href=”

Alan Moore Documentary on YouTube.

‘Cloverfield 2’ Planned

No surprise here: "Cloverfield" will receive a sequel, according to a report in Variety.

Paramount is in "early talks" with "Cloverfield" director Matt Reeves, producer J.J. Abrams and writer Drew Goddard to produce a sequel to the record-breaking, low-budget (if you consider $25 million "low-budget," that is) horror film. The film earned nearly twice its production costs in the first weekend it hit theaters, and set a record for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend.

According to the report, Reeves is also in talks to direct a film titled "The Invisible Woman," but production of that film will likely be held off until after the "Cloverfield" sequel.

 

Scott McCloud: Comics On Comics

"Comics Theorist" Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics) is the subject of this English-language interview by the crew at ComicGate, a German comics news site.

The interview touches on a variety of subjects, from McCloud’s early expectations for Understanding Comics to what exactly his job description is these days. Apparently, it’s not easy to come up with a title when you’re creating comics as a study of comics.

McCloud explains:

When somebody asks me what I do, how do I answer? What words do we put down on the catalogue, or whatever? These days I say cartoonist and author. That pretty much sums it up. I do a lot of public speaking, but I am doing it as a cartoonist and an author. I would like to be a little more cartoonist and a little less author for a little while. I would like to create a graphic-novel next and I plan to spend the next two or three years of my life doing that. I think it is time after writing about how comics work to actually put those ideas into practice and try to create a work of fiction.

It’s a fairly long interview, but certainly worth a read for anyone interested in comics theory and the evolving role of technology in the comics scene.

 

‘Doctor Who’ Dalek For Sale

Inmates at the Woodford Correctional Centre in Queensland, Australia, recently put the finishing touches on a full-size Dalek replica complete with wheels, voice changer and space for a ride-in occupant.

The "Doctor Who" villain took six months to build, and the finished product is currently being auctioned on eBay. Proceeds from the sale will go to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.

Bidding starts at $3,000 and the auction ends on Feb. 8.

A reporter who recently took the Dalek out for a spin had the following to say about her experience:

You climb underneath, and in the back of the Dalek there’s a seat. You lift the seat up. I’m inside the Dalek. And then you look up and it’s got this voice-altering mechanism.

Ex-ter-min-ate! Ex-ter-min-ate!

If you’re tempted to place a bid, keep in mind that you’ll have to travel to Brisbane to pick up your prize. Imagine all the fun you’ll have getting it through airport security, though!

 

Previewing ‘Dark Tower: The Long Road Home’

For those readers who enjoyed Marvel’s first foray into Stephen King’s Dark Tower mythos, Marvel.com has posted a peek at the upcoming sequel to Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born, titled Dark Tower: The Long Road Home.

Plot-wise, The Long Road Home appears to pick up where The Gunslinger Born left off, and writers Robin Furth and Peter David continue to script the miniseries along with artists Jae Lee and Richard Isanove. Marvel Editor-In-Chief Joe Quesada will once again provide the occasional cover.

The plot, according to Marvel.com:

With the Big Coffin Hunters on the trail of Roland and his ka-tet Cuthbert and Alain, plus visions of Susan’s death dancing in Roland’s head, what else could go wrong? Well…Roland’s in a coma and the people who burned Susan are determined to make him their next victim!

The first series, Gunslinger Born, remains one of the few projects I would recommmend picking up for the art alone, as it includes some gorgeous work by Lee and Isanove. The fact that it also contains an interesting, compelling story by David and Furth is just a bonus.

According to Marvel PR, The Long Road Home hits shelves at "12:01 AM, March 5" – so expect a midnight release event on March 4, much like the one that occurred when the first series was launched.

 

Studio Tour: Pia Guerra of Y: The Last Man

It’s been a busy month for Y: The Last Man artist Pia Guerra. Wait, scratch that… It’s been a busy five years.

Now that The Last Man has concluded and Guerra has solidified her reputation as one of the industry’s most popular (and dedicated) modern-day artists, she can finally have some breathing room. Or can she?

In this feature at CBR, Guerra takes readers through a tour of her Vancouver studio, showing off all of the little bits and pieces of her workspace that have contributed to her success.

The whole area is like the Block of Requirement: there’s an artist’s supply store, a comic shop, mailbox outlet, coffee shop, a fabulous bistro, and even an MP’s office just downstairs. The caretaker is the coolest guy in the universe, he’s okay with us being there after hours (our usual work times) and from time to time he brings over fruit to share from his trips to the small market down the street. I really don’t know how we lucked out so well. It’s a great place to work.

Oh, and apparently she’s somewhat of a Doctor Who aficianado.

Suicide Girls Talk To ComicMix!

With the hope of finally something good on TV tonite, ComicMix Radio helps you fill up the rest of the day with a few pop culture tidbits that include:

  • The Suicide Girls weigh in on our Who’s Your Favorite Hero survey — and Meow seems to have a thing for the guy with Bat-Ears
  • New Exiles and Freddy vs Jason vs Ash both go up on the Sold Out List … with variants on the way!
  • Even more American Gladiators invade the airwaves
  • Saturday matinees maybe making a comeback!

There are mere hours left until we go back to the island – fill a bit by Pressing The Button!

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Time-Hopping with Star Wars: Vector

Whether your interests lie in the Old Republic or the New Jedi Order, it’s a good time to be a Star Wars fan. With the kickoff of Star Wars: Vector, Dark Horse Comics’ big Star Wars crossover event, the good times might be getting even better.

The crew at IGN Comics are jumping into the Star Wars mix with this interview of one of the Vector writers, John Jackson Miller. In the interview, Miller provides some explanation as to how the event will touch each of the four Star Wars series in the Dark Horse line, from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic to Star Wars: Legacy – especially without the use of time travel:

It’s been the subject of many, many different theories out in fandom. But I can say this: There is no time travel in the Star Wars universe — not in most of the conventional science-fiction senses — and that remains the case even in light of "Vector." You won’t see Luke hopping in the Tardis to go visit the Old Republic!

Well, I guess that answers my question about the potential for a Doctor Who/Star Wars crossover. sigh

With 4,100 years separating KotOR and Legacy, it looks to be an interesting storyline. As I can personally attest, these series are a great read for even the least Star Wars-savvy comics fan. Here’s hoping The Force is strong with Vector.

 

Video: Joe Quesada on The Colbert Report

As you might have already heard, Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada was a guest on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report this week.

Just as many readers predicted, the topic of discussion was the ascension of former Captain America sidekick Bucky Barnes to official superhero status – and the new wielder of Cap’s red, white and blue shield. Apparently, Stephen Colbert was under the impression he was next in line to be Captain America.

Holy awkward situation, Bat-… Wait, wrong publisher…

Anyways, here’s a video of the segment, just in case you missed it: