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Universal Moves ‘Wolfman’ to November

  • News
  • December 10, 2008

With The Wolfman needing extra time for its special effects, Universal has adjusted its 2009 genre schedule, moving the Joe Johnston-directed film from April to November 6. How this may effect Johnston’s role in prepping Marvel’s First Avenger: Captain America, which should be in re-production by that time remains uncertain.

Taking the April 3 slot will be Vin Diesel’s return in the fourth Fast and Furious film.

The Wolfman gains the slot Universal had reserved for Ridley Scott’s revisionist Robin Hood film, Nottingham, which will got to 2010.  The Russell Crowe feature may depict Hood as both the deposed noble and the wicked Sheriff who hunts the archer. Production will begin this spring.

Screen Gems also delayed it thriller Obsessed from February 27 to April 24 and Woody Harrelson’s Zombieland will be unearthed on October 9.
 

Cartoonists Blog at NBM

  • News
  • December 10, 2008

NBM Publishing has just launched a blog by many of its star cartoonists.  The bloggers will include Rick Geary, Rall, Neil Kleid (Brownsville), Dirk Schwieger (Moresukine), Naomi Nowak (Unholy Kinship), Jesse Lonergan (Flower and Fade), and David Axe (War Fix).

The blog contains fresh comics and commentary from the artists.  In addition, the blog will replace NBM’s present news page and will announce NBM publications, author appearances, and other news.

"I’d like to think that for the first time anywhere we really are creating a community with this blog instead of just the editors informing their readers,” NBM publisher Terry Nantier said in a release. “Each artist has direct access to posting entries on this blog. You can RSS a specific artist and talk with one or with all and the artists between themselves as if on a panel at a con! Our readers will be able to see snippets of our authors’ new works as they’re coming along. This is the true NBM community coming to our site, and I’m quite excited about it!"

The new works that the artists and writers are previewing on the blog include:

• To the Heights of the Golden Age, Jesse Lonergan’s memoir of life in the bizarre dictatorship of Turkmenistan.

• Naomi Nowak’s eerie graphic novel Graylight.

• Neil Kleid and artist Nicolas Cinquegrani’s The Big Kahn. Kleid says, “It’s the story of what happens when a New Jersey rabbi dies and at the funeral, his family and congregation of forty years discover that he’s been conning them: he isn’t even Jewish.”

Blogging is nothing new to NBM.  The company has published collections of comics blogs such as Trondheim’s Little Nothings and Schwieger’s Moresukine.  NBM has even run selections from these blogs on its website.

The new blog is part of a tradition of innovation dating back to 1976, when NBM (under the name Flying Buttress) became the first American house to publish an ongoing line of graphic novels.

DC Comics Names ‘Origins and Omens’ Line-up

  • News
  • December 10, 2008

This February, nineteen core titles from the DC Universe will feature “Origins and Omens” backup stories. “Origins and Omens” lays the groundwork for the upcoming Green Lantern: Blackest Night miniseries and more in 2009.
 
These “Origins and Omens” issues are solicited in the December Previews and are scheduled to arrive in stores in February. DC Comics will announce the full lineup of writers and artists contributing to these stories soon.
 
Watch for “Origins and Omens” stories in these issues:
 
•           ACTION COMICS #874
•           ADVENTURE COMICS #0 — Specially priced at just $1.00!
•           BIRDS OF PREY #127
•           BOOSTER GOLD #17
•           GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY #17
•           GREEN LANTERN #38
•           GREEN LANTERN CORPS #33
•           JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #30
•           JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #24
•           NIGHTWING #153
•           OUTSIDERS #15
•           ROBIN #183
•           SECRET SIX #6
•           SUPERGIRL #38
•           SUPERMAN #685
•           TEEN TITANS #68
•           TITANS #10
•           VIGILANTE #3
•           WONDER WOMAN #29
 
Also this month, watch for Adventure Comics #0, reprinting one of the cornerstone stories of the DCU with a special price of just $1.00 and featuring its own all-new “Origins and Omens” tale! To celebrate the upcoming Adventure Comics #1, this issue reprints a Silver Age classic from the title’s prior volume — Adventure Comics #247, the first appearance of the Legion of Super-Heroes! Adventure Comics #0 also features a new cover by Aaron Lopresti that’s an homage to the original.

The story also serves as the inspiration for Geoff Johns’ episode of Smallville, scheduled to air on January 15.

‘Farscape’ #1 Finally Coming Christmas Eve

  • News
  • December 10, 2008

BOOM! Studios has announced a December 24 in store date for its Farscape miniseries. 

"We originally solicited this for November, but we pushed back the release because we had to make sure the book was the best product possible for fans awaiting Farscape‘s return,"Chip Mosher, BOOM!’s Marketing and Sales Director in a release. "And let me tell you, it will be worth the wait!"

Farscape #1 is written by television series creator Rockne O’Bannon with script by Keith R.A. DeCandido, interior art by Tommy Patterson and cover art by fan-favorites Dennis Calero and Joseph Corroney!

Picking up directly where the television miniseries Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars left off, fans can look forward to show creator O’Bannon steering their favorite characters into new and original stories, keeping with the existing canon – and then extending it!

Debuting on the Sci-Fi Channel in 1998, Farscape follows the adventures of astronaut John Crichton, who has a freak accident during an experimental space mission that catapults him across a thousand galaxies to an alien battlefield. Suddenly, he’s trapped among alien creatures wielding deadly technology – a battle that 20th century sci-fi pop culture never prepared him for. Hunted by a merciless military race, Crichton begins his quest for home from a distant galaxy.

A groundbreaking award-winning sci-fi production, Farscape from The Jim Henson Company and [Hallmark] has become a global favorite. Named by TV Guide as one of television’s "Best Cult Shows Ever" and most recently named by Empire Magazine as one of the "50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time," Farscape is known for the overwhelming fan-based campaign that led to its miniseries production.  The show has continued to find new audiences as it airs in syndication and is available on iTunes and DVD.

Look for a conversation with DeCandido closer to release.

jsa-791037-2-2093207

Geoff Johns Leaves ‘JSA’ After #26

  • News
  • December 10, 2008

jsa-791037-2-2093207Geoff Johns announced his departure from Justice Society of America, after issue #26, at his forum at Comic Bloc.

He wrote:

There will always be a Justice Society of America book in the DC Universe.

I take a lot of pride in that fact because it wasn’t always true.

It’s hard to say this but officially, I will be leaving the title after Justice Society of America #26, which is a single-issue story entitled “Black Adam Ruined my Birthday.” Following the Black Adam arc with Jerry and I, #26 will be my last issue, Dale [Eaglesham]’s last and our fantastic editor Michael Siglain’s last. I think we’re going out on one of my favorite stories to date and I’m glad we are all going out on this together.

I’ve been writing JSA nearly my entire career. The book has steadily gained new and old fans and, with the re-launch two years ago, fixed itself as one of the staples of the DC Universe. Since then we’ve remained one of the top monthly books at DC alongside Justice League of America and Batman. A book starring characters like Jay Garrick, Stargirl, Mr. Terrific and Citizen Steel. Heroes that, I think, most people had written off. But not all of them did.

We got Dr. Mid-Nite from the talented Matt Wagner. And the new Mr. Terrific first appeared in The Spectre under the pen of one of my favorite writers John Ostrander. I brought in Stargirl, who will always be a character I write in one form or another – no matter if I’m on JSA or not. And, above all, I think James Robinson’s run on Starman opened the door for the JSA on a different level.

How’d I get involved in this? Peter Tomasi and David Goyer.

I was asked by them to come on and co-write JSA back in 1999 right when I got into comics. James had left the book after issue #2. David wrote #3 himself and I came in and wrote #4 with him, but without a credit. I got a special thanks to, but that was enough for me. David then wrote #5 and I came on officially with #6, which featured Black Adam way back when. Over the next two years, I worked with David on the book steadily until he left with #25 and returned later through #51.

The JSA to me represents everything good about life, work and superheroes. In life, generations past, present and future all provide different viewpoints. There can be something magical when it’s past from grandfather to father to son or from mother to daughter or son to grandfather. There’s nothing more important than family – and family means a lot more than just blood relatives. That’s what my very first book, Stars & S.T.R.I.P.E., was about and that’s what JSA, and life, is about.

So why am I leaving?

I have more stories to tell, and the characters are endless, but that’s also true for the DC Universe. I’m ready to move on to some other challenges like returning to The Flash and Superman: Secret Origin. And I am also obsessed with making sure that Green Lantern, Blackest Night and everything around it is the absolute best it can possibly be. …and that’s only part of 2009. There are some new projects on the horizon.

I have to thank Dale Eaglesham, Fernando Parasin, Alex Ross, Steve Sadowski, Leonard Kirk, Don Kramer, Jerry Ordway, Michael Bair, Alex Sinclair, Jon Kalisz, Michael Siglain, Steve Wacker, Harvey Richards, Eddie Berganza, Adam Schlagman, Peter Tomasi, David Goyer, James Robinson, Carlos Pacheco and the creators that inspired me – Paul Levitz, Grant Morrison and Marv Wolfman.

And although he’s never read the book, Roy Thomas. He held the torch for a long time and did a wonderful job. I wish we could’ve done a project together.

I’m sure I’ll return to the Justice Society in some form or another some day, but for now I’m passing them off a new creative team – one who is already working on the book (job’s taken, sorry guys – and it’s someone who’s never worked with these characters before). I really look forward to reading it.

Thanks for all your support and I’ll see you all soon!

2009 Free Comic Book Day Gold Titles Announced

  • News
  • December 10, 2008

2009’s Free Comic Book Day will be Saturday, May 2 and the Gold Sponsor titles have been announced.

A complete listing of FCBD titles, including all Gold and Silver Sponsor comics, can be found in the January issue of Diamond Comic Distributors’ Previews catalog, available on December 24th.

Here are the Gold titles:

Archie Presents – The Mighty Archie Art Players, Archie Comics

The "Mighty Archie Art Players" return.

In this special FCBD09 edition, the Mighty Archie Art Players have a rip-roaring good time in the Old West, put a modern-spin on the classic Snow White fairy tale, tell a "big fish" story — literally — with Betty as a mermaid, and cater to the whims of Veronica, transformed into the ancient Egyptian queen, Cleopatra.

Their curtain-raising performances will leave you laughing in the aisles.

Bongo Comics 2009 Free For All, Bongo Comics

The comic company that brings you The Simpsons and Futurama in the fantastic four-color format joins with retailers to reel in new readers.

This special issue features a comic cornucopia of tantalizing tidbits and a spectacular sampling of the best in humor comics.

(W/A) Matt Groening
  (more…)

‘The Flintstones’ goes from Bedrock to Broadway

  • News
  • December 10, 2008

Marco Pennette (Samantha Who?) is at work on the book for a stage musical based on Hanna-Barbera’s classic Flintstones. According to Variety, the musical has been conceived by Warner Bros. Theater Ventures.  Jeff Marx (Avenue Q) is writing the music and lyrics with Jake Anthony. Gary Griffin (The Color Purple) will direct with no casting as yet.

“Pennette’s script will rely on contemporary issues,” the trade says. “Wilma, for example, mulls leaving Fred because he still acts too much like a caveman and hasn’t adapted to more modern ways. Barney and Betty tackle fertility issues before deciding to adopt. Musical will also tackle global warming — but in this case, as The Flintstones takes place before the ice age, the characters will confront ‘global cooling’."

The Flintstones is not the first television series headed for Broadway. We recently reported about The Addams Family coming next year. And then there’s Julie Taymor’s Spider-Man which continues to develop.

Pannette has also teamed with Brad Meltzer, with whom he worked on the WB’s charming Jack and Bobby, and Steve Cohen to create sThe Romeos, a series not dissimilar to the film That Thing You Do, tracing the careers of a 1960s rock quartet that suddenly hits it big. Marx will pen original songs for the proposed network series.

The trade says the show is set in Ypsilanti, Mich., in 1965, as the “four 22-year-olds at the heart of the show first pick up their instruments. Drama will be told from the modern day, looking back at the band members before they became famous. The plotline will be advanced via documentary-style interviews with characters looking back on the band’s early days.”
 

S. Clay WIlson Update

  • Uncategorized
  • December 10, 2008

bizarre-back-2-4067243The Oregonian  continues to provide updates on the recovering condition of underground comix pioneer S. Clay Wilson. Some weeks back, Wilson was hospitalized after a drunken fall and was in a coma for some time.

He’s up and about, as well as lucid but is having short-term memory issues. "His vocabulary is returning. His sarcasm. His humor. His personality is maddeningly Wilson," Lorraine Chamberlain, his partner, said. "But sometimes it sounds like he’s hallucinating. It’s just the aphasia. ‘Lorraine! I’m at the gas station! Getting the car fixed!’ He’s choosing incorrect words to tell me he’s waiting for me. He still can’t grasp that he’s in a hospital. Every time I tell him that he fell down and he’s been hospitalized, he’s very surprised."

Wilson has been moved to the rehabilitation unit at the California Pacific Medical Center.  "The doctors told me Thursday that he wouldn’t be coming home any time soon," Lorraine told the paper on Sunday night.

His most recent accomplishment was his recognized signature and Anderson is hopeful he will be able to return to his artwork. “Now that I’ve watched him do his signature, it’s really exciting, but it may be many months.

"He can’t be unsupervised for a minute for months to come. Medi-Cal will [only] pay for a health-care worker to come in a few days a week. It will be like taking care of a really humorous toddler." Anyone wishing to send get well cards or cash donations to help his bills can send them to P.O. Box 14854, San Francisco, CA 94114.

‘Wonder Woman’ to Screen at NYCC

  • News
  • December 10, 2008

trevor-tree-2-4499611Animator Bruce Timm has been named a Guest of Honor at the New York Comic-Con in February.

In making the announcement, the convention also said the latest animated feature, Wonder Woman, will be premiered at the con. at 8:30 p.m. on February 6 in the IGN Theater. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Timm and members of the film’s cast and crew.

The DVD, OnDemand, Pay-Per-View, and download are all scheduled for a March 3 release.

Other DC properties with films in development include Batman, Superman, Justice League, Green Lantern and The Flash. The release did not name The Teen Titans project confirming the rumors that it is no longer an active feature.
 

Upper Deck Lands ‘Huntik: Secrets and Seekers’

  • News
  • December 10, 2008

Huntik:  Secrets and Seekers is a brand new fantasy series coming to America in January from producer Big Bocca Productions, which produced the series with Rainbow S.p.A. and m4e AG.

Upper Deck has announced they will be the worldwide Master Toy Licensee launching with a line of 6” and 9” figures in the fall of 2009.  Playmates Toys had previously been announced as the U.S. toy licensee, according to ICv2. A TCG is also in the plans for 2009. 

The series is aimed at boys 6-12 years old with an initial run of 26 half hour animated episodes, debuting on CW4Kids Network on Saturday January 3, 2009.

The series synopsis from the property’s  website:

Long before our times, humanity fought against an evil of unimaginable power. The darkness was broken only by the Seekers, humans able to invoke legendary creatures -the Titans -into their own plane of existence. With the Titans executing their every order, the first Seekers fought against the dark forces of the underworld and against themselves. Centuries went by, and one by one, the Titans were hidden: some were buried following grueling battles, others merely forgotten as time passed. The magical and powerful creatures lie hidden and dormant in the most remote part of the universe, waiting to be awakened by a new and bold group of Seekers.

After centuries, the Seekers divided themselves into chapters in order to find traces and clues of past and extinct populations in order to reveal the mystery of the Titans.

The Huntik reaching for these answers will travel from the tip of the South American continent to Europe, from North America to African terrains. Only the most worthy of Seekers are able to evoke the Titans and benefit from their unbelievable powers. But there are those who plot in the shadows. A secret organization led by the Professor wants to posses the Titan’s powers for his own evil plans.

 

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