Navarre Corporation announced Thursday that BCI Eclipse Company, its wholly-owned subsidiary, will shut down its licensing operations in connection with the implementation of a restructuring plan. This restructuring will include a workforce reduction, a write down of assets and the incorporation of BCI’s exclusively distributed DVD business into the company’s distribution segment.

Fans know BCI through their releases of material from Filmation’s vaults including He-Man, She-Ra, BraveStarr, Isis, The Original Ghost Busters, Space Academy, Jason of Star Command and Ark II. Much of the supplemental material was put together by writer/historian Andy Mangels, which earned kudos from around the industry.

The fate of BCI’s recently announced titles, including Andy Barker P.I., Tattletales and What’s My Line? remains unclear.

Cary Deacon, Navarre’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, "To deal with the effect of the recession, we are moving quickly to decrease expenses in all areas of our business. BCI’s operations have been unprofitable for the past two years. Although strides have been made this year to improve operating results, it has been mainly due to the strength of BCI’s exclusive distribution business. Rapidly changing conditions in the licensed and budget DVD markets during this holiday sales season have prompted us to make more fundamental changes. In response, we are closing BCI’s licensing unit in order to position our overall business for enhanced financial results upon the improvement of macro economic conditions."

Deacon continued, "We continue to be very excited about the DVD content that will now be exclusively sold and marketed through Navarre Distribution Services. These changes will allow us to focus our efforts on growing the sales of the DVD content that is most appealing to our retail customers and consumers. Mr. Bob Freese will be the executive in charge of this restructuring and will be responsible for the smooth transition of our BCI distribution partners."

The company indicated that its financial results for the fiscal 2009 third quarter, ending December 31, 2008, will include a significant charge related to the impairment of the carrying value of certain balance sheet assets and in connection with severance costs. This restructuring is expected to be substantially complete by the end of January 2009 and is a part of the company’s strategy to reduce its overall cost structure.

Keith DeCandido is known throughout the fan community as one of the best writers of media-related fiction in both the novel and graphic world.  While primarily recognized for Star Trek, he has also written fiction based on Supernatural, CSI: NY, and Farscape, among others.  His novel of John Crichton’s adventures, House of Cards, was published in 2001.  Recently, BOOM! Studios picked up the rights to publish new Farscape stories and the show’s creator, Rockne S. O’Bannon, will plot the first one with a script by Keith and art by Tommy Patterson.  After some delay, the first issue will be in stores on Wednesday/ ComicMix briefly spoke with Keith about the show and how he got involved in the new stories.

ComicMix: When did you first discover the show, Farscape?  Why were you hooked?

Keith DeCandido: I kept hearing good things about it from people who were watching it—this was in the first season in 1999—and I caught an episode or two and liked it. What hooked me in general was a four-episode marathon Sci-Fi did, and what hooked me in particular was the moment in "A Human Reaction" when Crichton confirmed that he wasn’t home, but in a simulation created from his memory when he threw the women’s room open and it was orange swirly stuff. I was hooked at that point….

CMix: How did you end up writing House of Cards and what sparked the idea for the story?

KRAD: Mine was actually the last of the three Farscape novels commissioned, but the first one released. There were delays with Andrew Dymond and David Bischoff’s books, so they needed a book quickly, and Greg Cox, the American editor of the books (they were published first in the UK by Boxtree) recommended me. Greg and I have worked together many times in the past, and he knew how much of a Farscape fan I was and that I could hit deadlines. As for the story, my brain went to the idea of "Rygel loses Moya in a card game," and I ran with it from there.

CMix: With Farscape over, how did you learn about the comic line and how did you get involved?

KRAD: Honestly, I read the press release about BOOM! getting the rights, and I went to their web site, found a contact e-mail, and said, "Hey! I wrote House of Cards! Henson and Rockne and the fans all like me! Pick me, pick me!" Amazingly, that actually worked (which I think was a first for me….).
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Marvel provided us with the cover and pages from Mighty Avengers #21, written by Dan Slott and drawn by Young Gun artist Khoi. The issue is described as beginning a bold new era for the Mighty Avengers. Spinning out of Dark Reign, the Mighty Avengers have an all-new line up and an all-new missionm, guest starring the New Avengers, Dark Avengers, Young Avengers and Classic Avengers.

 A new team assembles in Mighty Avengers #21!

MIGHTY AVENGERS #21
Written by DAN SLOTT
Pencils & Cover by KHOI PHAM
Rated A …$3.99, On-Sale—01/14/09 (more…)

Criminal investigation meets Greek mythology when current primetime television stars David McCallum and Marg Helgenberger assume the voices of Zeus and Hera, respectively, for Wonder Woman, the next entry in the popular series of DC Universe animated original PG-13 films, débuting March 3 in multiple formats.

McCallum, known to current TV audiences as Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard in the hit CBS series Navy NCIS (Navel Criminal Investigative Service), adds Wonder Woman to an animation resume that already includes the DC Universe movie Batman Gotham Knight and TV series Ben 10 and The Replacements. Animation is but a side gig for McCallum, though, the actor having achieved legendary status for his two best known roles – in film as Lt.-Cmdr. Eric Ashley-Pitt in The Great Escape and on TV as super spy Illya Kuryakin in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. During his 62-year career, McCallum has played many notable characters in fanboy TV favorites like Jeremiah, The Outer Limits (1963-64 & 1997), Babylon 5, SeaQuest DSV, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The A-Team, The Invisible Man and Night Gallery, to name a few.

Helgenberger is an anchor for the patriarch of CBS’ current crime lineup, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. The actress is approaching her 200th episode as Catherine Willows, the series’ female lead.Helgenberger, remembered for her breakthrough, Emmy Award-winning performance in China Beach, is no stranger to the sci-fi genre, having starred in Species and its sequel on the big screen. The 2005 People’s Choice Award winner as Favorite Female Television Star has been seen in a variety of roles ranging from feature films (Erin Brockovich, Bad Boys, Always) to top-rated TV series (ER, thirtysomething, Frasier). (more…)

Pokémon TCG: Platinum will be released on February 11, according to Pokémon USA. Theme decks and boosters packs will let gamers collect all 130 cards which will introduce the never-before-seen Pokémon Shaymin in addition to a new Forme of the Renegade Pokémon Giratina Origin Forme. 

The new release also includes six new Pokémon LV.X, including Giratina and Shaymin, as well as three Shiny Pokémon, which are available as parallel foil cards.

Nintendo of America will release the new Pokémon Platinum Version in March hot on the heels of the cards going on sale. The video game will be linked to the new Pokémon TCG by the character of Giratina.  The new Forme of Giratina is a key character in both the video game and Platinum.

Platinum will contain 60-card theme decks, Rebellion and Flourish, ($11.99) for both beginners and intermediate players of all ages.  The 10-card Pokémon TCG: Platinum Booster Packs, will retail for $3.79.

Pokémon USA is planning Platinum Prerelease Tournaments for the weekends of January 31 to February 1 and February 7-8.

Fritz Leiber’s 1943 Conjure Wife is headed back to the screen from writer/director Billy Ray (Breach). United Artists has acquired the rights to Leiber’s debut novel according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The film will adapt the story of “a New England college professor who discovers that his good fortune is the result of his wife’s secret, magical interference. When he pressures her to stop, dark forces descend on the couple without her protection.”

The trade notes, “Ray’s update will amp up the prurience factor as one woman’s desire to take over a more ideal female body factors into the plot.”

This will be the fourth film adaptation, following Weird Woman (1944), Night of the Eagle/Burn, Witch, Burn! (1962), and Witches’ Brew (1980).

Leiber (December 24, 1910 – September 5, 1992) was a prolific science fiction and fantasy author, best known for his sword & sorcery series featuring Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser.

Fafhrd appeared in Leiber’s first sale, sold in 1939. Leiber become the Science Fiction Writers of America’s 5th Grand Master.

Tokyopop Associate Publisher Marco Pavia told ICv2, “Publishers and booksellers are describing this as one of the worst retailing environments in memory and I don’t know what to add. I think that’s an accurate assessment.  We’re adjusting to this landscape that’s shifting every day.  We need to be as responsive as we can to these new realities just to endure.”

This year alone, the company has had to lay off nearly 50 staffers and reduce their scheduled output for 2009.  “Whenever we lay off someone they’re extremely talented, dedicated people, so it’s hard, especially this time of year,” he said of the eight reportedly laid off this month.