Yearly Archive: 2008

The Stories That Informed ‘Batman R.I.P.’

  • News
  • November 26, 2008

batman-076-2-1186780“Criminals are a superstitious cowardly lot. So my disguise must be able to strike terror into their hearts. I must be a creature of the night, black, terrible …a…a…”
 
As if in answer, a huge image of a Caped Crusader flashed across a movie screen. Across monitors throughout space and time and other dimensions.
 
“It’s an omen!” each man, alien and other-dimensional imp declared. “I shall become a Batman!”
 
One of the attractions of Batman was, it’s often been said, the fact that a kid could actually imagine growing up to be the Caped Crusader. No one was ever going to grow up to be Superman but with an extensive training regimen (and a hefty bank account) …well, anything’s possible. Overlay that with the spirit of mainstreaming and conformity of the 1950s and you end up with a universe where there seemed to be a Batman knock-off on every corner and planet.
 
In 1964, editor Julius Schwartz found his arm twisted into taking over the flagging Batman titles. He immediately ditched the extended Batman family and the increasingly prevalent space alien stories for a more contemporary angle grounded in the real world. And as the years rolled on, Schwartz and company refined their approach and gradually, permanently put the Dark back in their Knight.
 

(more…)

Piñata Games Names Operations Manager

  • Uncategorized
  • November 26, 2008

pinata-gamesmd-8337107ICv2 reports that Chas DeLong has been named Operations Manager for newly formed Piñata Games. The company is attempting to  gain control of the HeroClix CMG from Topps.

DeLong has worked in production management and is familiar with the genre gaming field having spent the last ten years at Wizards of the Coast and WizKids. 

According to Jake Theis, CSO of Piñata Games, DeLong “is perhaps the world’s foremost expert in pre-painted plastic minis production,” whose expertise “will be a critical component of rapidly turning back on the HeroClix business.”

Catalyst Games is also bidding on a greater range of WizKids’ properties. ICv2 notes, “ Although Catalyst has successfully worked on a number of licensed properties, the company lacks experience in the production of collectible miniatures games.:
 

‘Sarah Jane’ Back for Third Season

  • News
  • November 26, 2008

The BBC has confirmed a third season of The Sarah Jane Adventures, to air in the fall of 2009.

Their website reviewed their future children’s offerings and said, “Together with her companions Rani and Clyde and her adopted son Luke, Sarah Jane once again comes face to face with a whole host of weird and wonderful alien beings.”

Additionally, they will be transporting Stan Lee’s Who Wants To Be A Superhero? to England and turning it into a new show aimed at younger viewers, hosted by Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes. The show lasted just two seasons on Sci Fi Channel before becoming a ratings victim.

The series wants kid heroes between 9-13 who “will create their own unique, never-seen-before superhero character, including original name, catchphrase and superpowers.

The BBC wrote,” The last super-hero standing receives the ultimate reward – immortality with a starring role in their very own comic book created by the master of the genre, Stan Lee (The Hulk and Superman[sic]).

“The last super-hero standing will fly to Hollywood to meet the legendary creator in person and collect their personalized comic book.

“Over the course of the series the aspiring super-heroes test their abilities and try to overcome their limitations, doing whatever it takes to prove that they are truly super.

“Each week, they face challenges designed to test their courage, integrity, self-sacrifice, compassion and resourcefulness – all the qualities that a true super-hero must possess.

“And each week, one superhero powers down, transforming back into their real identity and returning home.

“Before Sam and Mark begin their quest to find the world’s next great superhero, they are trained in ‘super-hero spotting’ by Stan Lee himself, qualifying them to host auditions for budding heroes across the country – culminating in a final audition in London.

“Eventually, 13 wannabe heroes will leave their normal lives behind and move into a secret lair to face a series of missions as they begin their transformations into real-life super-heroes.”

Archie Introduces ‘Sonic Universe’

  • News
  • November 26, 2008

Archie Comics has declared that February will see a freshening of the sonic the Hedghog brand as they introduce a new title and reboot the others.

Archie has added new characters and situations to the Sonic canon over the last fifteen years.  For many Sonic fans, the Archie Sonic comics are considered the glue that holds the various interpretations of their hero together.    

Archie Comics’ role as definitive guardian of the canon will be truer than ever, as everything comes together in a new series called Sonic Universe..  This series will unify the various Sonic continuities as never before, tying up loose ends and making connections for a cohesive, unified continuity. 

To underscore Archie’s importance to Sonic continuity, there is a major tie-in between the first issue of Sonic Universe and the latest installment of the Sonic Archives reprint series, also shipping in February.  Sonic Universe #1 starts with a bang.  In the story “Living Weapons,” Shadow and Metal Sonic continue their series-spanning fight and wind up in a whole new dimension!  As we continue to re-envision Sonic’s future, fans can also look to the past by picking up Sonic Archives #10 to revisit classic Sonic stories, or read them for the very first time. It truly brings things full circle for fans!   

Meanwhile, things are as chaotic as ever over in the regular monthly Sonic the Hedghog, as issue #197 finds Sonic with his hands full dealing with Scourge the Hedgehog, Sally being accused of treason, a lockdown of zones and a new threat that looms on the horizon.  These events will have an impact upon the events that transpire in Sonic Universe providing a unified and ongoing continuity as the storylines and cast of characters expand. (more…)

Bryan Singer and Warner Premiere to Work Together

  • News
  • November 26, 2008

Warner Premiere is known to ComicMix readers as the source for the cool direct-to-DVD movies featuring the DC heroes but they also produce original fare as well.  This morning, they announced a deal with director Bryan Singer to create a “cyberpunk sci-fi thriller” H+, “which picks up after a terrorist fries the brains of a segment of the population ‘jacking’ into the net”

The series will be written by John Cabrera (Gilmore Girls) and Cosimo De Tommaso, who will also serve as executive producers. They conceived of H+ as a television series but  Warner Premiere’s Head of Digital Content, Lydia Antonini, persuaded them to convert it to a web-based series.

The new series, to debut sometime in mid-2009, will be produced by Singer’s Bad Hat Harry Productions, the outfit that already gives us House.

Warner Premiere is dipping its toe into live action after working on numerous animated efforts including the recently unveiled Peanuts, a full animated comic web series. They have 20 original web series in development, some of which will go to video, some to the recently relaunched TheWB.com.

Hopalong Cassidy Returns to the Screen

  • Uncategorized
  • November 26, 2008

hopalong-cassidy-101-2-7301822Bill "Hopalong" Cassidy is getting the big screen treatment from Mark Canton (300) and Pterodactyl Prods. according to Variety.

The beloved tough cowboy was originally created by Clarence E. Mulford in 1904 and he was a popular staple in fiction before being portrayed on screen by William Boyd. He portrayed the cowpuncher in 66 short films between the 1930s and 1950s. There was also a long-running radio show in addition to comic books.

The comics were initially produced by Fawcett for 84 issues with Dan Spiegel producing a lot of the artwork. When Fawcett ceased publishing, the rights were acquired by DC Comics in 1954 for an additional 50 issues. Editor Julie Schwartz used his regulars on the feature including writer John Broome and artists Gil Kane, Bernard Sachs, and Joe Giella.  The title featured Gene Colan’s first work for the company and he did a long stretch of the title.

There hasn’t been a significant new cowboy hero introduced in decades but suddenly both The Lone Ranger and Hopalong Cassidy are headed for the silver screen once more. Earlier this fall, Jerry Bruckheimer surprised the world with word he was producing a new Ranger film with Johnny Depp on board as Tonto.

"These stories tend to come around again," Canton told the trade. "We’re looking to ring in the modern age with a branded, well-loved hero that we approach in a fresh way," Canton added.

Review: ‘Batman Cacophony’ #1

The eagerly anticipated [[[Batman: Cacophony]]] #1 finally hit shelves this month, and, on many levels, it did not disappoint.  The three-issue series is authored by famous screenwriter/director Kevin Smith, and his signature style is evident.   Smith, as always, manages to weave in a healthy dose of crude, sexual humor, and it is surprisingly successful coming out of The Joker’s mouth.   The tone of the book, however, is not as dark as one would think.  The atmosphere created by the creative minds at work is more a cartoonish, brightly colored Pulp Fiction than the noir-esque Batman of years past.   A color palette of burnt oranges, yellows, and primary colors adorn the pages in the book, and this tone nicely compliments Kevin Smith’s clever, quick witted humor. 

On the topic of art, the book is drawn by illustrator Walt Flanagan, making his DC debut.  Although he shows promise, his style is definitely that of a rookie and not a seasoned veteran.   The drawings lack the stylistic flair that many accomplished comic artists have mastered.   While the absence of pop in the drawings can be distracting, Smith manages to set the stage for what is sure to an interesting story.  He is weaving together a tale that links the Joker to a ring of Greek mobsters and designer drugs which is also peppered by the presence of the always fascinating villain Onomatopoeia, not seen since Smith introduced him during his short run on [[[Green Arrow]]].   Onomatopoeia happens to be one of the characters that is drawn very well by Flanagan, and the story lines are sure to collide and provide solid entertainment for any reader who shows interest.

ComicMix Radio: Comic Shops Stuffed This Week

Good thing you have a little time off this week, there are plenty of things to enjoy coming from the comics & DVD shelves, plus:

  • Catch up with Spawn on MySpace
  • Disney’s 3-D Plans Grow
  • Obama Back To Press

See – we did it all with no turkey jokes. You owe us – so go on and  Press the Button!
 

And remember, you can always subscribe to ComicMix Radio podcasts via badgeitunes61x15dark-3349290 or RSS!

 

Sony to Distribute Japans’ Marvel Heroes

  • News
  • November 25, 2008

To handle international properties for worldwide distribution, Sony has created the Intl. Product Expansion Group according to Variety.

Tony Ishizuka will serve as Vice President of the unit. T. Paul Miller, senior VP of international for home entertainment said the “goal is to recoup its investment in each project in the country in which it was produced or acquired. The unit will then assess each title’s prospects for distribution on home entertainment in other markets.”

A deal has already been signed with Japan’s Madhouse which will involve the previously announced deal to produce Easternized versions of Marvel’s heroes. The shows will be broadcast in Japan on the Animax TV network and then be handled worldwide by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Originally designed as animated fare, the long-range plans call for the Marvel Japanese Universe to be found on mobile devices and comic books.

The first characters to undergo transformation will be Iron Man and Wolverine in thirty-minute anime intended for Japanese television in 2010.

Madhouse was founded in 1972 and is seen as a creative powerhouse in Asia, perhaps best known for its Vampire Hunter D.

Jim Krueger Joins Ardden With ‘The Stand-In’

  • News
  • November 25, 2008

Ardden Entertainment announced The Stand-In, a new title to be written by Jim Krueger (Avengers/Invaders). Described as a four-issue spy thriller mini-series, the project twill be illustrated by Alex Cal (The Amazing Spider-Man Family).

The new title will chronicle the adventures of Dexter Laumb, a talented but troubled and out-of-work actor who’s desperate for money.  When he’s offered a job to "stand in" for a low level Senator who has double-booked two events for the same evening, Dexter is excited by the prospective paycheck and thinks the job will be a breeze.  Hair dye and make-up transform Laumb into a virtual double of Senator Joe Murphy.  However, he soon realizes that he’s bitten off more than he can chew when he’s partnered with one of the Senator’s senior aides, beautiful but acid-tongued Jennifer Forsythe.  The two quietly go at it like cats and dogs while Dexter acts the part of the Senator, schmoozing and boozing as necessary.  However, when a bullet rips through Dexter’s shoulder and the crowd scatters, he soon finds himself on the run with Jennifer, attempting to unravel the truth behind the assassination attempt, and finding himself in the middle of a conspiracy with earth-shattering consequences…

Brendan Deneen, Ardden’s co-publisher, said in a release, "It is a huge honor to be working with one of the most successful comic book writers currently working in the medium.  I’ve known Jim for years and we’ve been trying to find something to work on together that whole time.  The Stand-In is the perfect collaboration and I feel privileged that he’s publishing it through Ardden."

A zero issue will be released at the New York Comic-Con in February.  The issue will feature a story that takes places before the events of the miniseries.

Ardden Entertainment debuted earlier this year with a new take on Flash Gordon, written by Deenan.  Additional titles are expected to be announced between now and the convention.

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