Category: News

The99 is a comic book published by Kuwait-based Teshkeel Media about super-powered beings, each also embodying one of 99 global values, hailing from 99 countries, coming together to battle evil. They debuted in May 2006 as a one-shot released throughout the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region, with an ongoing series debuting the following September. North American editions began to see print in 2007. The books appear in seven languages including English, Arabic, Hindi, Malaysian and French

The book is edited by former Marvel Comics editor and colorist Marie Javins and is mostly written by comics veteran Stuart Moore.  Drawn in a Western style, it could pass as a title from most of the major North American publishers. The subject matter, though, is heavily influenced by Islamist values including the number 99, which defines the number of attributes the Quran, says are possessed by Allah.

Forbes named The99 as one of the “Top 20 Trends Sweeping the Globe”. On Monday, Endemol has announced a deal that will have them produce an animated series based on the comic. Additionally, plans call for six The99-themed amusement parks with the first set to open in Kuwait come January.

The animated series will be created in India with post-production done at Endemol’s United Kingdom facilities. Both Endemol and Teshkeel are contributing funds to cover costs until revenues begin flowing. Teshkeel has raised $23 million from private investors and has yet to show a profit according to the Wall Street Journal. (more…)

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has announced a February 24 release date for the fourth and final feature-length Futurama epic Into The Wild Green Yonder.  Joining the standard and Blu-ray DVD saga this time as guest stars are illusionist Penn Jillette, hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg, talk radio superstar Phil Hendrie, and Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane. In addition, fans of the series will be thrilled and relieved to finally discover the truth about “Number 9 Man,” a deeply mysterious character from the earliest days of the series. 

Futurama: Into The Wild Green Yonder is jam-packed with bonus features, including audio commentary from Matt Groening, David X. Cohen, John DiMaggio, Maurice LaMarche, writers and animators, a making-of mockumentary, deleted scenes, How to Draw Futurama, “Bender’s Movie Theater Etiquette,” “Zapp Brannigan’s Guide to Making Love at a Woman” and much more.

The Futurama: Into The Wild Green Yonder DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $29.98 U.S. / $37.98 Canada and on Blu-ray for $39.98 U.S. / $49.98 Canada.

Synopsis:

All the other galaxies will be green with envy! In this all-new Futurama extravaganza, mankind stands on the brink of a wondrous new Green Age.  But ancient forces of darkness, three years older than time itself, have returned to wreak destruction.  Even more shocking: Bender’s in love with a married fembot, and Leela’s on the run from the law – Zapp Brannigan’s law!  Fry is the last hope of the universe… so if you’re in the universe, you might want to think about going somewhere else.  Could this be the end of the Planet Express crew forever?  Say it ain’t so, meatbag!  Off we go, Into the Wild Green Yonder! (more…)

Iron Man 2 screenwriter Justin Theroux told MTV’s Splash Page that the Entertainment Weekly reports as to why Terrence Howard was dropped from the cast in favor of Don Cheadle were not entirely accurate.

“I can’t really speak to the plot stuff and all the rest of it but Rhodes is completely present in a very strong and big way,” Theroux said Tony Stark’s friend and the future War Machine. “He’s completely present.”

“All that stuff that was in the EW article,” said Theroux regarding statements Howard was being dropped when the story being crafted minimized Rhodey’s role,. “I don’t know. I can only tell you what I know which is that from a writing standpoint we didn’t do anything differently [with the character]. It’s not like we were sitting there going, we need less of this or that. We just approached the characters and the story on their own terms.”

Meantime, Spoiler TV found some casting sheets for parts in the sequel which is set to shoot in April 2009 for a May 2010 release.

The parts being cast include:

[MALE LEAD]
30s, Eastern European, brilliant, gritty…

[FEMALE LEAD]
20s, beautiful, speaks several languages fluently and is equally proficient in martial arts…

[BRUISER]
Russian, 20s or 30s, at least 6’2", able to perform own stunts, has the build of a MMA fighter…

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…)

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.