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.
 

Diablo Cody’s Jennifer’s Body, has been given a September 18, 2009 release date by Fox Atomic.  The movie, directed by Jason Reitman (Juno), stars Megan Fox (Transformers), Amanda Seyfried (Mama Mia), Adam Brody (The OC), and J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man).

The official plot synopsis follows: “When small-town high school hottie Jennifer (Megan Fox) is possessed by a hungry demon, guys who never stood a chance with her, take on new luster in the light of Jennifer’s insatiable appetite.”

The thriller’s competition that weekend will include the Matt Damon/Melanie Lynskey crime thriller The Informant and Sony Pictures’ animated adaptation of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

Depending on which report you read, Stephen Chow is Kato but will not direct The Green Hornet.  Maybe the Shaolin Soccer star will direct but not act in the Sony film, starring Seth Rogen. He may exit altogether, leaving the June 25, 2010 release without a director or co-star with production set to begin in the spring.

Moviehole was among the first to report that Chow is considering not playing Kato. “He’s blaming it on scheduling (saying he wants to film some Jack Black-Superhero film) – but that sounds like a tug,” they note.

An Associated Press story confirms that report, quoting Chow as saying, "If I direct The Green Hornet, the superhero comedy will have to be delayed for two years. The timing might not be right for a superhero comedy in two years. And I want to make a movie based on an original idea."

Stay tuned for post-holiday developments

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Disney has officially withdrawn from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader  just as the film was preparing to shoot in early 2009.  The Hollywood Reporter said Disney and Walden declined to say why but it’s been known for some time that the studio has had qualms about the budget given the lackluster $141 million box office performance of Prince Caspian.

Whole Prince Caspian cost $200 million, Dawn Treader was seen as a $100 million production and recently relocated principal photography from Mexico to Australia as a nod towards keeping costs down. Disney had the film, to be directed by Michael Apted from Steven Knight’s script, pencilled in for a May 2010 release.

Contracts with the returning cast — Ben Barnes, Georgie Henley, William Moseley and Anna Popplewell – may now be in jeopardy if a new studio doesn’t sep in quickly. The trade speculates 20th-Century Fox may step in since not only do they need tentpole pictures, but they release Walden’s other fare.

While the Chronicles of Narnia spans seven books, the films were seen as a trilogy with the hope of getting every one of C.S. Lewis’ book adapted.  For Disney to pull out after two films is quite unusual for a series. It’s not the first though, with New Line abandoning Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials after the poor performance of pricey The Golden Compass.