Author: Robert Greenberger

Asylum Press Gains Access to Booktrade Through New Deal

  • News
  • December 10, 2008

Frank Forte, publisher of Asylum Press, has signed a deal with Partners Publishers Group for distribution into the booktrade.  Partners Publishers Group has a nationwide customer base and has worked with a number of heavyweight independent comic companies and now adds Asylum Press to its fold.

"We are very excited to be working with PPG to bring our books to an entirely new audience outside the comic book store world," explains Frank Forte, "the graphic novel industry is exploding and we are poised to produce some groundbreaking new titles."

Asylum Press is an independent publisher specializing in original works of graphic horror. Titles available to bookstores are Robert S. Rhine’s Satan’s 3-Ring Circus Of Hell, Deadly Are The Naked, Chestaclese Sketchbook and The Bomb by Steve Mannion.  Coming in 2009 will be the collected edition trade paperbacks of Warlash:Dark Noir, Farmhouse, a graphic novel by Elizabeth J. Musgrave and Szymon Kudranski, and The Asylum Of Horrors collected edition hardcover.

Thanksgiving Week GN Sales Dip 14.7%

  • News
  • December 10, 2008

The graphic novel field saw sales drop 14.7% compared with Thanksgiving week 2007 according to figures released by Nielsen’s BookScan. Total units sold, according to ICv2, were 244,000 compared with 286,000 a year previous. The drop is in contrast to the 6% increase in total book sales. The increase was a blip after many weeks of steady declines which has led to massive layoffs throughout the publishing field in just the last week.

ICv2’s analysis notes that, “First, pieces aren’t dollars.  As the top of the graphic novel bestseller list has become more accommodating to non-manga titles recently, the mix has moved toward higher cover prices, which may mean an increase in the average cover price that could help offset some declines in piece sales.  Second, there’s an increasing amount of graphic novel activity off the graphic novel charts, as publishers seek to group their kids or young adult titles in those departments, rather than in the graphic novel department.  Third, the comic store market appears to be behaving differently from the bookstores.  And last, one week does not a season make.” 
 

‘Dark Knight’ Score Wins Academy Reversal

  • Uncategorized
  • December 10, 2008

dk-score-2-3114660In a reversal that recognized modern day sensibilities, the executive committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ music branch has decided to allow the score to The Dark Knight be considered for Best Original Score. Initially, they disqualified the score, as they did Batman Begins, citing too many names attached to the documentation.

The November 10 decision was revered, according to The Hollywood Reporter after it decided that Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard were the main composers.  Ballots had yet to be mailed to the Academy’s voters so the film is not being adversely affected.
 

IDW Spotlights Dinobots in New Miniseries

  • News
  • December 9, 2008

IDW releases the long-awaited, full-fledged modern day debut of the Dinobot team in The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots arriving in store tomorrow.

Bringing some of the most popular characters from the original cartoon back to life with a fresh take are Transformers über-scribe Simon Furman, artist Nick Roche, and colorist Josh Burcham, with cover art by Marcelo Matere and Roche.

The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots brings together the team for the first time in thousands of years, but it’s far from a happy reunion. And out to spoil the party further is SCORPONOK and his Machination/HEADMASTER army. But he has two AUTOBOTS hot on his trail in SUNSTREAKER and HOT ROD.

The story enhances the rich tapestry of TRANSFORMERS lore for long-time readers, but also is friendly for new readers – anyone can start at Page 1 and not miss a beat according to an IDW release.

The Dinobots have suffered from multiple origins from differing comic book publishers all of which are at variance with the animated incarnation.

At first, the Marvel Comics Dinobots were quite different from their television counterparts. Later, the Dinobots appeared in Dreamwave’s reimagining of the Generation One Universe with yet a different backstory. When Devil’s Due gained the Transformers license, they appeared in the second G. I. Joe vs. the Transformers miniseries.

As the licenses transferred to IDW, the Dinobots made their first reappearance in The Transformers: Megatron Origin #3.

‘We3’ Director Named

  • News
  • December 9, 2008

Horror site Shock til you Drop reports that Kung Fu Panda director John Stevenson has been tapped to direct the live-action adaptation of Vertigo’s We3 miniseries. The comic, written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Frank Quitely, was initially optioned years ago by New Line Cinema, which has since been subsumed by parent company Warner Bros.

Producer Don Murphy told the site, "Even though the film is going to be live-action, we brought on the lead director of Kung Fu Panda. He’s attached to direct We3. We’re doing it as an R-rating. It’s not going to be cutesy. There’s killer rabbits and stuff. We’re in the process right now of trying to figure out where we’re going to make it.

"It was at New Line, but the new New Line doesn’t want to do these kinds of movies. We have two really good prospects. [Producer] Susan [Montford] was able to get this film going just based on the treatment before the comic so we’ve been on this a while."

The official synopsis for the project:

“We3 tells the unforgettable story of three innocent pets — a dog, a cat and a rabbit who have been converted into deadly cyborgs by a sinister military weapons program. With nervous systems amplified to match their terrifying mechanical exoskeletons, the members of Animal Weapon 3 have the firepower of a battalion between them. But they are just the programs prototypes and, now that their testing is complete, they’re slated to be permanently decommissioned” until they seize their one chance to make a desperate run for freedom! Relentlessly pursued by their makers, the We3 team must navigate a frightening and confusing world where their instincts and heightened abilities make them as much a threat as those hunting them but a world, nonetheless, in which there is something called Home. Action-packed and heart-wrenching, We3 is a new high mark from two of comics greatest talents.”

Review: ‘Prince Caspian’

  • Uncategorized
  • December 9, 2008

The biggest problem with the film version of [[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]] is that it cannot escape comparisons with [[[Lord of the Rings]]], much the same way the C.S. Lewis books were frequently measured against his contemporary, J.R.R. Tolkien.

As literary works and now as filmed entertainment, Middle Earth trumps [[[Narnia]]] without question. 

[[[Prince Caspian]]], the second film from Walden Media, ups the ante a bit with a more assured and sumptuous production compared with [[[the Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe]]].  Director Andrew Anderson has grown as a filmmaker and the movie benefits from his surer hand, both in terms of storytelling and scope.

And yet…in look and feel, Narnia feels generic. The sets, the costumes, the New Zealand locations, the score, it just all looks way too familiar. Rather than transport us to something fresh and different, we’re given pretty but bland material.  The Pevensies also come off poorly because we’re told more about their themes and personalities in the perfunctory background extras than we’re given in the finished product.

We pick up a year later in London as the Pevensies are in an underground station before they’re magically summoned to Narnia in the realm’s time of need.  But, before leaving our world, we get a mere hint of what these four kids have experienced since returning home.  When last we saw them, they had grown up, had ruled as Queens and Kings of the land for at least a decade before they returned home and to their natural ages.  Rich material that is ignored.   Lewis ignored such characterization so Anderson follows suit.

Once they arrive in Narnia, they learn 1300 years has passed.  Oddly, while the Telmarines have gained ascendancy, technologically, nothing has changed.  What has occurred in the intervening years to retard such development?  No clue, it’s ignored.  Instead, we get faux European people having a lovely political fight as Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) flees for his life in the wake of his Uncle Miraz (Sergio Castellitto) now in possession of a son, an heir through which he can claim the throne.  When chased, he uses Queen Susan’s horn and summons the old guard.

(more…)

‘Star Trek’ Beams Down from Comics to Apple Products

  • News
  • December 9, 2008

The Original Crew of the Starship Enterprise is roaring to the iPhone and iPod touch from IDW Publishing and iVerse Media.  Available immediately, Star Trek Archives: The Best of Peter David #1 is the first issue of the ongoing digital comics series that reprints some of the best comics from Star Trek’s illustrious history. Peter David is one of the most popular and respected Star Trek writers, known for his mingling of humor and popular culture.
 
“We’re very excited that some of IDW’s Star Trek titles will now available for readers to download from itunes through the App Store. It’s a great way for fans to experience some of the best work in comics,” IDW’s Ted Adams said in a release.

This issue reprints Star Trek #13 (originally published by DC Comics) – "The Return of the Worthy: Part One" by cowriters Bill Mumy and Peter David, illustrated by Gordon Pucell and Arne Starr, and edited by yours truly.  The story stars the Original Series cast, and is set between the 5th and 6th Star Trek feature film, with some familair overtones.

"Star Trek Archives allows us to bring the universe of Star Trek to the iPhone and iPod touch for the first time", said Michael Murphey, owner of iVerse Media. "Through this series we can publish stories throughout the history of Trek, from TOS to TNG and beyond.  Being Trekkies ourselves, we couldn’t be more excited about that."

Star Trek Archives #1 is available now in the iTunes App Store for 99 cents.
 

Publishing Layoffs Hitting Comics Field

  • News
  • December 9, 2008

The layoffs around publishing are starting to seep into the comics field as the various companies tighten their headcount.  Marvel was among the earliest companies to act, trimming in their digital area.  TokyoPop laid off seven people in November. Last week reported that Devil’s Due laid off two and their CEO, PJ Bickett stepped down in addition to trims at Wizards of the Coast and Pocket Books.

Now word is that McFarlane Toys has laid off as many as a dozen people. Also, Casey Seijas, a terrific guy and former editor at Vertigo, was let go from MTV’s Splash Page, just one of 850 leaving Viacom in a wave. Former ComicMixer Rick Marshall remains in place.
 

Christopher Nolan Starting to Plan ‘The Dark Knight’ Sequel

  • News
  • December 9, 2008

With The Dark Knight arriving on DVD today, director Christopher Nolan has been making the rounds of interviews and of course, everyone wants to know about the third film.

Slash Film reports that Nolan is interested in filming the entire third film in IMAX after having success with several sequences shot that way for the current feature. He speculated that a work around to the noisiness of the IMAX cameras would be to shoot the action in IMAX and the dialogue-driven scenes with a 65mm camera.

Nolan also told USA Today that he has been “jotting notes and doing some rough outlines” for a third story. Obviously, Warner will happily green light a third installment just as soon as there’s a story that captivates the director’s mind.

 “It was obvious when the box office was so big ($530 million domestically) that we had underestimated how ready fans were to reboot the franchise,” he said. “The worst thing you could do now that you’ve gotten the plane back in the air is mess up the landing.”

Daniel Craig Says He’s Not Making a Bond Trilogy

  • News
  • December 9, 2008

Actor Daniel Craig told Collider that his Bond series is not meant to be a trilogy as so many other films series are today. “No fucking way. I’m done with that story,” told them. “I want to lie on a beach for the first half an hour of the next movie drinking a cocktail.”

While Quantum of Solace, which broke the $500 million worldwide revenue mark this weekend, was intended as a direct sequel to Casino Royale, a third film would be something else entirely. Director Marc Forster had filmed a scene that would have sent Quantum right into a third chapter but cut it from the final print.

“We’ve finished this story as far as I’m concerned,” Craig said. “We’ve got a great set of bad guys. There is an organization that we can use whenever we want to. The relationship between Bond and M is secure and Felix is secure. Let’s try and find where Moneypenny came from and where Q comes from. Let’s do all that and have some fun with it.”

Although he has said much of the above in other interviews, he admits to not knowing what the producers have in mind.  No screenwriter has been hired and Forster has said he will not come back. "We don’t know when we’re going to do the next Bond. Nobody’s thinking about it at the moment. We’re giving it a rest for the moment. If I can squeeze something in next year I will…but I haven’t figured out what that’ll be yet. But nothing in the cold."

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