With The Dark Knight earning $465 million overseas, it’s hard to imagine that the world’s most populous country has yet to see the movie. According to Variety, Warner Bros. has decided not to open the film there at all.

"Based on a number of pre-release conditions that are being attached to The Dark Knight as well as cultural sensitivities to some elements of the film, we have opted to forego a theatrical release of the film in China," Warner said in a release on Tuesday.

The Dark Knight’s scenes shot in Hong Kong might be the points of contention. The country remains touchy regarding how they are depicted in films made by other countries.

At present, it remains $4 million shy of $1 billion in worldwide box office, a number likely to be reached by the time of it January 23 re-release.
 

A century ago today, December 26, 1908– ironically enough, Boxing Day in many countries– Jack Johnson beat Tommy Burns to become both the heavyweight champion of the world, and the most notorious black man on the planet.

We’ve been covering his story in The Original Johnson by Trevor Von Eeden. If you haven’t been reading it, you’re missing a treat. Start here to read it from the beginning.

Beginning Monday, while everyone is home from school, kids can catch up on Star Wars: The Clone Wars.  While new episodes return in 2009, the ten aired on Cartoon Network will  be available at both StarWars.com and CartoonNetwork.com. Supervising director Dave Filoni provides commentary.

The online option lasts until January 2 and that evening, the next original episode, "Dooku Captured," will air at 9 p.m. 6

Eartha Kitt died today at the age of 81 from colon cancer.

Known worldwide as a self-proclaimed "sex kitten", famous for her catlike purr, Kitt was an incredibly versatile performer, winning two Emmys and nabbing a third nomination, as well as Tony and Grammy nominations, but probably best known for her role as Catwoman on the 1960’s Batman TV series, replacing Julie Newmar in 1967; and for singing the song "Santa Baby". She was once dubbed the "most exciting woman in the world" by Orson Welles– an assessment that’s hard to dispute.

She said in an interview for Harper’s Bazaar that "a gentleman who wrote [the late 1960s TV series] Batman said he wrote that character especially for me. He said, ‘You are a cat, you look like a cat, you act like a cat.’ "

If only she had eight more lives…

Clearly inspired by Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Marvel is releasing a hardcover graphic novel, Wolverine.  The press note says, “That’s right Bub, Marvel is proud to unveil Todd Nauck’s cover to Wolverine, an all-new hardcover graphic novel presenting the history of Wolverine’s life from his days as wimpy kid to just how he became one of Marvel’s deadliest heroes. In stores this April, experience the most unique look ever inside the mind of everyone’s favorite Canadian in Wolverine!”

The question must be asked: is it right to release a kid-friendly Wolverine book just weeks before the not-kid-friendly Wolverine movie opens?

In today’s edition of The New York Times, the Sports section features an article on our Original Johnson strip. George Gustines does a nice job placing Johnson in American and boxing history.  If you haven’t checked out the story from Trevor Von Eeden, it’s still running with new pages every week here at ComicMix.

Warner Premier provided us with four new images from March 3’s Wonder Woman animated feature. Wonder Woman will also be available OnDemand and Pay-Per-View as well as available for download day and date, March 3.

Wonder Woman will receive a big screen premiere at New York Comic Con on February 6, 2009 in the IGN Theater at the Javits Center. The 8:30 p.m. screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring members of the film’s cast and crew. Ticket information is forth-coming.

Here’s what you’re looking at:

Artemis (center, voiced by Rosario Dawson) takes the lead during a gathering of Amazonians. Princess Diana, later to be known as Wonder Woman, stands immediately to the right of Artemis.

Ares assumes an even more menacing figure in battle as the primary villain, voiced by Alfred Molina.

Wonder Woman gets the upper hand, er, lasso on Ares’ henchman Deimos during a thrilling action sequence.

Steve Trevor, voiced by Nathan Fillion, reacts angrily to Ares’ affront to an American icon.