Author: Robert Greenberger

I have no idea how a Superman trivia contest became a discussion over the much-beloved Marx Brothers, but yet it did.

Thanks to our friends at Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, we ran a contest to celebrate the release of Superman: Doomsday on iTunes with Extras.

The goal was to stump me, co-author of the forthcoming The Essential Superman Encyclopedia, with questions related to the Man of Steel. First up was Chuck Williams, who asked, “Clark Kent once asked Ma Kent to make him a second Superboy costume with a different color scheme. What color replaced blue as the primary color of this second costume, and why did it prove to be a mistake?”

A tricky one, but asking me questions of stories written by my pal Bob Rozakis will get you nowhere. Bob told a tale that had Ma make the costume red and yellow only to learn the yellow absorbed the solar radiation, weakening the Teen of Steel.

Mike Weber tried with, “What recent film features a visual reference/homage to the Fleischer animated version’s costume change sequences to introduce the hero?” Okay, Michael, you got me. Name the reference and if I’m convinced, you win the digital download of Superman: Doomsday with Extras.

Kyle Gnepper asked, “What is the mascot for the Smallville High football team?” I presume we’re talking about the television series and their mascot is the crow.

Miles Vorkosigan finally got us back on track with, “Since we’re Supermanning on these questions, I got one for ya, Bob. In the Crisis on Two Earths Justice League movie, what’s the last thing Supes says to Lex before they leave the police station?” My first inclination is to ask, who cares?  By being the second stumper, you get my highest regard or, if Mike’s answer doesn’t please me, you win.

Nebula and Hugo nominated author Michael A. Burstein inquired, “What did red kryptonite do to Superman in its very first appearance in the comic book? (I’m asking this question because I don’t know the answer and I’m curious.)” Well, Michael, the first appearance of Red K was in a Superboy story which saw the hero fall into a delirium,  dreaming that Jor-El, Lara, Ma Kent, and Pa Kent are all alive and well and are taken to a new world. Superboy then watched in horror as a moon crashed into the world, killing his natural and adoptive parents, along with Krypto. The shock woke him up.

Warner Bros. Digital Distribution continues celebrating DC Comics’ 75th Anniversary, and has announced the release of Superman: Doomsday on iTunes with Extras.  This additional bonus content is available for the first time to download customers. For some time now, people have continued to buy DVDs because they like the extra content, which has previously not been available online. That seems to be changing, at least with Warner Bros. properties which we think is a boon to the consumer.

To celebrate this and DC’s anniversary we’re holding a Trivia Tuesday. The first person to ask a Superman and/or Doomsday related trivia question that can stump me, co-author of the forthcoming The Essential Superman Encyclopedia
will win a free digital download courtesy of our friends at WBDD.

In addition to the DC Animation feature, Superman: Doosmday, you will also be receiving the Extras, including: The Making of Superman Doomsday, The Clash of the Juggernauts, and Behind the Voice.

Good luck!

First revealed at Comic-Con International, today, Warner Premiere formally announced the November 9 release of DC Showcase. Here are the details:

BURBANK, CA (August 5, 2010) – Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Home Video have expanded the realm of superhero storytelling beyond the popular DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies with the introduction of the DC Showcase, a series of animated shorts featuring characters from the celebrated DC Comics vault. On November 9, 2010, Warner Home Video will distribute the DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection, the first quartet of animated adventures featuring the never-before-seen Superman/Shazam! The Return of Black Adam, as a Special Edition Blu-Ray™ for $29.99 (SRP) and single disc DVD for $19.98 (SRP).

DC Showcase animated shorts initially appeared as special bonus content on the 2010 slate of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. The 10- to 12-minute films include The Spectre, Jonah Hex and Green Arrow. All three titles will be presented in extended formats along with the first-ever release of Superman/Shazam! The Return of Black Adam. (more…)

DC Comics was born in the fall of 1935 and they are celebrating their diamond anniversary in many ways including a digital iTunes experience with movies such as The Dark Knight or animated features such as Superman: Doomsday available for download complete with extras. You can even experience the previous nine seasons of the WB/CW’s Smallville in HD. See for yourself in this cool clip:

The kind folk over at Warner Home Video have offered us three prizes:

• DC Character Hat
• Batman Under The Red Hood Free iTunes Download
• DC 75-branded toy set

To win one of these, you will have to stump the expert – me.

As writer of DC’s forthcoming new edition of Who’s Who, I will be answering DC Comics-related trivia questions posted in the comments section. The first three to genuinely stump me will be declared the winners. Our definition of trivia is the kind of semi-obscure questions that make you nod in agreement when you see the answer and think: ‘D’oh! I knew that.’ We don’t want obscure, picky questions such as what brand of ketchup was used on page 4, panel 3 of Donut Man #75. That’s not trivia, that’s the sign of having too much time on your hands.

Check out the iTunes offerings and good luck with the challenge.

We started hearing about director Zack Snyder working on adapting Kathryn Lasky’s Guardians of Ga’Hoole as his first foray into animation as his work on The Watchmen was concluding. Legend of the Guardians is finally opening on September 24 and Warner Bros. just released the first one-sheet for the feature.

Here are the other vital stats:
Cast:    Emily Barclay, Abbie Cornish, Ryan Kwanten, Anthony LaPaglia,
Miriam Margolyes, Helen Mirren, Sam Neill, Geoffrey Rush, Jim Sturgess,
Hugo Weaving, Richard Roxburgh, David Wenham  

Writers: John Orloff and Emil Stern

Producer: Zareh Nalbandian

Executive Producers: Donald De Line, Deborah Snyder, Lionel Wigram, Chris DeFaria, Kathryn Lasky, Bruce Berman

Fantasy Adventure.  Acclaimed filmmaker Zack Snyder makes his animation debut with the fantasy family adventure.  The film follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father’s epic stories of the Guardians of Ga’Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owlkind from the evil Pure Ones.  While Soren dreams of someday joining his heroes, his older brother, Kludd, scoffs at the notion, and yearns to hunt, fly and steal his father’s favor from his younger sibling.  But Kludd’s jealousy has terrible consequences—causing both owlets to fall from their treetop home and right into the talons of the Pure Ones.  Now it is up to Soren to make a daring escape with the help of other brave young owls.  Together they soar across the sea and through the mist to find the Great Tree, home of the legendary Guardians of Ga’Hoole—Soren’s only hope of defeating the Pure Ones and saving the owl kingdoms.