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April Fools Day 2009 Round-Up, part 2

  • News
  • April 3, 2009

Oh my lord, how did I miss the work at TÖRdötCÖM?

Either let us drag you willingly into the future, or be impaled upon the shiny, metallic spikes of our awesomeness. We will bludgeon all resistance with our second generation Kindles and Sony PRC 505s, slicing and dicing holdouts and naysayers with our sleek, sexy MacBook Airs. Now bow before our awesome new lögö. Note the umlaut—it’s totally Spinal Tap, “but way cooler,” according to our latest focus group, a culturally diverse assortment of popular sixth graders (twelve-year-olds being widely recognized as the eternal harbingers of Cool).

It must be understood that we’re not cutting ties with the geek community—rather, we like to think of ourselves as ultra-modern alchemists, painstakingly turning geek into chic. We would never attempt to trivialize the concerns of fandom. At least the fandom we care about—the kind that hangs out at the Apple Store, and look like those kids from Twilight. Young, pasty, sexy, tech-savvy, secret vampires…yes, that pretty much sums up our new target audience.

Where do we start?

 

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‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ workprint hits Internet a month before release

  • News
  • April 2, 2009

wolverine-poster-3592749And now, all the stories that we couldn’t run yesterday because people would think it’s another prank. I don’t blame them, I barely believe this one myself.

The statement from 20th Century Fox says it all:

"Last night, a stolen, incomplete and early version of X-Men Origins: Wolverine was posted illegally on a website. It was without many effects, had missing and unedited scenes and temporary sound and music. We immediately contacted the appropriate legal authorities and had it removed. We forensically mark our content so we can identify sources that make it available or download it. The source of the initial leak and any subsequent postings will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law – the courts have handed down significant criminal sentences for such acts in the past. The FBI and the MPAA also are actively investigating this crime. We are encouraged by the support of fansites condemning this illegal posting and pointing out that such theft undermines the enormous efforts of the filmmakers and actors, and above all, hurts the fans of the film."

The economic impact cannot be underestimated here, both to Fox and to Marvel, which had pegged May as the month to publish alternate Wolverine covers on every single title. We can assume that word-of-mouth attendance on the film’s opening weekend is going to be hurt. Remember that this was probably going to be Fox’s major money maker for the year– now they have to hope that nobody leaks Night At The Museum 2 or the next Ice Age film.

Between this and a bad batch of Slumdog Millionaire DVDs released without the special features advertised on the box, Fox is not having a good week.

April Fools Day 2009 Round-Up

  • News
  • April 2, 2009

Yep, it was that time of year again. The highlights:

And of course, we have our contributions:

Amazingly, one of those five articles is true. You’ll find out which in less than a month.

Did we miss any? What were your favorites?

Review: ‘To Catch a Thief’ DVD

  • Uncategorized
  • April 2, 2009

Paramount Pictures ends its tour of the 1950s, for now anyway, with the Centennial Collection edition of Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief. Considered a minor work for the director, it actually holds up exceptionally well through the years and the restored print for the DVD, out now, is marvelous. Being the only Hitchcock film that Paramount still has rights to, this is a welcome part of the celebration.

Hitchcock’s 1955 film, based on David Dodge’s 1952 novel, stars Cary Grant and Grace Kelly and was filmed in location in Europe. This was the first of his films shot in Paramount’s VistaVision, a process similar to Cinemascope and used to compete against television for audiences. Despite the arduous process to shoot, he went on to use it five times but the first proved challenging, not that you can tell in the finished product.

John Robie (Grant) is a retired thief known as The Cat but he leaves his French vineyard when a copycat begins a series of crimes that convinces the police he’s back in action. Posing an American businessman, he begins seeking the most valuable jewels in France to outguess his imitator and along the way romances Francie Stevens (Kelly), daughter of a society woman who owns one of the gems on his list. 

The glimpse into French society in fun and the movie moves along with solid pacing and some nice action sequences, notably the first car chase.  Grant and Kelly, in her last film for the director, sparkle on screen together and Hitch does his adept visual innuendo, this time fireworks going off during some serious kissing.

Shot on location makes the film look far different than typical studio fare, aided by Edith Head’s keen eye for costuming the stars, especially Kelly who soon went on to become a princess. The cinematography by Robert Burks deservedly won the Academy Award that year.

Technically, the cleaned print transfer makes this the best edition yet released for home video, with 2.0 Dolby sound lending an assist.
 
The film comes with brand new commentary from Dr. Drew Casper, Hitchcock Prof. of American Film at USC who provides insights into the production. The second disc comes with the usual assortment of special features. The 2007 edition’s extras are included so you’d be buying this mostly for the restored film itself. There’s also the 23-minute [[[A Night with the Hitchcock’s]]], the USC popular class devoted to the director and his works. The surviving family usually comes to chat at least once per semester and the November 2008 visit was recorded for inclusion. Then there’s Unacceptable Under the Code: Film Censorship in America, the 12-minute featurette looking at the state of film censorship during the 1950s, considered one of the most repressive decades in America (see the Comics Code). This focuses on how Hitch worked around the restrictions with glee.

The [[[Behind the Gates]]] featurette is a six minute look at Grant and Kelly as opposed to the physical production of a film. And Edith Head: The Paramount Years makes a return appearance from an earlier part of the collection.

From the 2007 edition are Writing and Casting [[[To Catch a Thief]]] is a nine minute featurette; The Making of To Catch a Thief (17-minutes); Alfred Hitchcock and To Catch a Thief: An Appreciation (seven minutes).

April Fool’s Day Editorial Process, Part 1: Sonic Disruptors

  • News
  • April 2, 2009

Just to prove that we have some editorial process around here, this was a conversation between Mike Gold and myself on a potential article:

GH: So, I want to run a story on April Fool’s Day… ComicMix to publish the complete Sonic Disruptors, including the unpublished last issues.

MG: Don’t do it.

GH: Aw, why not? You’ve even got unpublished art…

MG: Yeah, but Baron might believe it.

GH: …point taken.

Dollar comics

  • News
  • April 2, 2009

Over on his Marvel blog, Tom Brevoort asks:

If you were given the power to make a single change at Marvel to make things better, what would it be? This can involve story, creators, personnel, direction, anything–but you only get one. What would it be?

Here’s mine: for one month, every issue Marvel publishes has a price tag of $1. All ages, Marvel Knights, Icon titles, the works.  If you really want to make it useful, try it around October, when people can buy extra copies to give them out at Halloween.

In that vein, Challengers Comics is throwing a party this Saturday, April 4th, 2009 at 5 pm.  As a way to say thank you to their customers and the city that gave them a home, Challengers is having a party complete with food and drink to celebrate the one year anniversary of the store officially opening.  In addition to the party, all back issues will be $1.00.  The store encourages all interested to swing by and say “hello” or simply search the back issue bins for great deals. Challengers is located at 1845 N. Western Ave #2R, Chicago IL 60647 — and they have a loyal, loyal following at that store.

Glenn Hauman To Leave ComicMix

  • News
  • April 1, 2009

ComicMix co-founder, production manager and news site scribe Glenn Hauman will be leaving his position at the end of the week to focus on his growing career as a male nude model.

"I’ve been offered a stimulating position out in Long Island," Hauman stated, "and like all native Long Islanders I long for the opportunity to return. And I really mean long."

Glenn had been debating this prickly decision for some time. "I enjoy comics and I can tolerate my partners, but let’s face it — I won’t be young and handsome forever, and I owe it to humanity to squeeze every last drop out of my nature-given charms." Word has it he’s in negotiations with the renown Flava-Punisher agency.

In response to this announcement, ComicMix editor-in-chief Mike Gold stated "Are you kidding me? The guy’s 40! He can’t bend over, let alone dance! Good luck with this one, pal!"

 

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Harlan Ellison forms ‘Comic Book Legal Offense Fund’ in wake of Watchmen lawsuit

  • News
  • April 1, 2009

harlan-2-1481881If you thought Harlan was slowing down in his old age, think again.

Earlier this month, Harlan Ellison sued Star Trek for royalties on merchandise derived from his Star Trek script, “City On The Edge Of Forever”. Now, in the wake of Alan Moore’s action to get Watchmen rights back from DC, he’s taken up a new cause and has formed what he’s calling “The Comic Book Legal Offense Fund”.

For years, Harlan has been one of the biggest contributors to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, which fights tirelessly against the forces of censorship against comics. This, however, is a bit more proactive: “The CBLDF is great as a first-response team after you’ve been hit, but as the saying goes, the best defense is a good offense. An offense with hammers and chainsaws and legbreakers named Vinnie and the best lawyers money can get. I’m tired of playing nice with these sewer dwellers.”

Ellison says the new group’s mission will be two-fold.

“First, we’re going after the ignorant, sloppy, mean-spirited, graceless, moronic, self-involved, naive, bigoted, and probably plague-infected pinheads who are looking to make comics their new excuse for a witchhunt, like that blond harpy who thinks if she insults enough comics she’ll get a job on Fox and Friends. Second, we’re going to be working with comics creators and performing random sales audits on books, to see if they’re being shafted out of royalties. There are only a handful of distribution outlets, and the biggest buy the books on a non-returnable basiss. It can’t be that hard to get accurate numbers. If we have any time left over, we’ll also investigate claims of illegal or unethical contracts, work-for-hire violations, evidence of contract violation by editors and publishers, misuse of royalty statements and funds, and other complaints of professional concern.”

“And if I’m lucky, Paramount will start up a comics division that I can go after. Mwah-hah-hah-haaaah!” Then the laughter, and Harlan, vanished in a cloud of smoke.

Other members of the CBLOF board will be Dave Sim, Trina Robbins, Larry Hama, Mike Diana, and Not-So-Friendly Frank.

watchmen12cover-2478589

Alan Moore takes ‘Watchmen’ movie money to sue DC for print rights reversion

  • News
  • April 1, 2009

watchmen12cover-2478589The clock has reached midnight. The unthinkable has happened, and soon, so will the worst case scenario.

In what may go down as the biggest sucker-punch to hit DC Comics since the Superboy lawsuit, Alan Moore has reversed his position on taking money from the film version of Watchmen. The reason is elegant and ironic; he’s using the money to fund a lawsuit against DC, with the intent of forcing a reversion of rights to the print edition of Watchmen.

Watchmen has been the all-time best selling graphic novel for the two decades since its collected release, and has enjoyed a major surge in the last few months with anticipation from the movie, topping bestseller lists and becoming the #1 book sold on Amazon in early March.

It’s unclear, at this point in time, what this will do to DC’s backlist sales, which revolve around the mega-seller. Further complicating the issue is that Moore has filed an injunction against both DC and Diamond preventing the further sale of any additional copies of Watchmen from their inventory. An American judge is expected to rule on the motion later today; a ruling has already come down in England in Alan’s favor, which has caused the suspension of all UK sales. Stores are apparently scrambling for back issues and used copies over there, as it’s the only thing they can legally sell.

Stay tuned, we’ll have more as it develops. We anticipate an announcement from DC as soon as people get into the offices.

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Bendis & Maleev to adapt ‘Waiting For Godot’ for Marvel Classics

  • Uncategorized
  • April 1, 2009

maleev-duo-4624413Waiting For Godot, the classic Samuel Beckett play of futility and alienation, is coming to Marvel Comics, courtesy of writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Alex Maleev.

“It’s a natural,” says editor-in-chief Joe Quesada. “In all my years in the business, I have rarely seen a more natural fit of talent and material.”

Godot, for the edification of comics fans who haven’t heard of it, is the story of two men, Vladimir and Estragon, who wait at length for the arrival of a third, the unseen but much-discussed Godot. Their conversations are circular and repetitive, often ending with exchanges like, “We can’t leave.” “Why not?” “We’re waiting for Godot.” Godot never shows up, and we last see the two leads after they decide to leave, but remain standing in the same spot, doomed to remain there forever.

In an interview, Bendis wrote, “I am tremendously excited about this project. I learned all I know about dialogue and dramatic pacing from the play, and have long done whatever I could to bring its intensity and suspense to the superhero genre.”

(more…)

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