Category: News

Happy anniversary, Return of the King!

  • News
  • October 21, 2007

This day in 1955 brought us the publication of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Return of the King, the last part of The Lord of the Rings series. Had Tolkien been around for recent transformations, or more accurately, annihilations of books into film, he might have perished merely at the thought of his masterpieces being turned into movies. Rest easy, Mr. Tolkien, as director Peter Jackson was a thankful exception to usual butchery, for the large part maintaining the stories’ integrity in film form. Here’s hoping he can resolve that bitter battle with New Line surrounding the compensation on his first three films so that he can get to direct The Hobbit.

Dick Ayers On … Stan Lee!

  • News
  • October 20, 2007

Our Weekend Big ComicMix Broadcast begins our look at the career of Dick Ayers. From the days of Jimmy Durante to the creation of Ghost Rider and the trek toward the Marvel Age Of Comics and his decades-old friendship with Stan Lee.  Plus there’s news updates on:

• A chance to win dinner (for four) with comics legend John Romita Sr.

• Chaotic jumps from Saturday morning TV to the gaming table

• Fox’s Terminator series gets a premiere date

And much more, including a look back at a year when Julia Roberts riled the box office and an overly aggressive British band made political waves.

The spooky guy on the horse says  Press The Button!

Mothership Connection, by Martha Thomases

  • News
  • October 20, 2007

There’s been a lot of conversation lately in the girls’ section of the comics blogosphere about the way women’s lives are depicted in superhero comics. Even so-called strong, independent female characters are little more than an excuse to show tits’n’ass. Some site evidence that female characters are used as plot points, citing the “women in refrigerators” syndrome. More recently, discussions have centered on the premise that married characters are boring.

A lot of this is a reflection of the larger pop culture, which is at least as male-dominated as comics. The people who can greenlight movies, or put a television show on a network, are most likely Penile-Americans. Book publishing tends to be more diverse because there are more women in positions of authority, and (this is related) book publishing tends to pay less than other mass media.

Most of it, however, is lazy pandering to the perceived target audience. It’s assumed that boys find the single life more glamorous and more exciting than marriage. Up to a point, I agree. The thrill of the chase is, well, a thrill. That said, even the new gets old after a while. Dashiell Hammett used Nick and Nora Charles to show that marriage can be sexy and fun. Why can’t comics? (more…)

Happy 61st birthday, Philip Pullman!

  • News
  • October 19, 2007

Today is Philip Pullman’s birthday, who, sad to say, does not yet share the deserved household name status of his colleague, J.K. Rowling. Mr. Pullman was born in 1946 and penned the brilliant and award-winning series, His Dark Materials. The first of the series, The Golden Compass (or Northern Lights if you read it in the U.K.), starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, is being released as a movie this December 7th. Here’s the latest trailer:

Here’s hoping the film does better than the last Kidman/Craig outing, The Invasion… 

Kiwi kast as Dr. McCoy

  • News
  • October 19, 2007

The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed the last of the major castings for J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek prequel, scheduled to begin filming next month.

The role of James Tiberius Kirk will be played by Chris Pine (left), and the plum part of Leonard McCoy goes to New Zealand actor Chris Urban (right), known to genre film fans as Eomer in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Other cast members include John Cho as Sulu, Simon Pegg as Scotty, Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Anton Yelchin as Chekov, and of course Zachary Quinto from Heroes as Mr. Spock.  Eric Bana will also appear as the movie’s antagonist, Nero.

The Casting Couch, by Michael Davis

  • News
  • October 19, 2007

I have not gotten into trouble in a while so because I know I will be in Japan when this article runs, I can be safely away from the crap when it hits the fan.

I love the entertainment business for the most part. That’s for the most part. There are some areas of the business I don’t like and what I don’t like most of all are some in the acting profession.

I just don’t like certain actors. That’s certain actors. Most actors I’m cool with, this rant is not for them.

No, this rant is for the two types of actors I can’t stand. The first type is those who think what they do isn’t a profession, it’s a divine right. These “thespians” think they are involved with an art form of the highest ilk. Those conceited, self centered, cocky, arrogant, little brain, stuck-up creeps don’t take acting seriously and really piss me off. (more…)

DC’s Bunch of Bananas

  • News
  • October 18, 2007

Today’s Big ComicMix Broadcast brings you the story of Mark McKenna from DC’s Countdown series who has branched out (no pun intended) on a new project that includes work from some of his top comic colleagues. Banana Tail isn’t just a children’s book or just a comic book… and we let Mark explain it himself!  Plus we’ve got news updates on:

• The wrap-up of Scud, but the return of Jack Staff from Image

• DC makes a major change right before the launch of Batman & The Outsiders

• Viper Comics’ Middleman gets ready to make the move to ABC Family

And much more including a trip look back a week where 25¢ got you a Batman 80 Page Giant and The Association were all over the radio.

How can you resist a cute monkey?  Press The Button!

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