UDON Entertainment, the Canadian-based creative studio, has announced a Manga for Kids Website setting the stage for the April release of Tomomi Mizuna’s The Big Adventures of Majoko and Shunshin Maeda’s Ninja Baseball Kyuma.

ICv2 reports these are the first two volumes announced for the new line, to be followed in May by Mera Hakamada’s Fairy Idol Kanon followed by the first volume of Lun Lun Yamamoto’s Swans in Space in June. 

UDON intends to promote its new juvenile Manga line at conferences for the American Library Association, the American Association of School Libraries, and the International Reading Association. 

The four titles are coming to North America from publisher Poplar, a leading kodomo (kids’ manga) publisher.

The Big Adventures of Majoko (Itazura Majoko no Daibouken) is a five-volume series that debuted in 2004 while Ninja Baseball Kyuma (Kyuuma!) is just a three-volume sports manga that also premiered in 2004 as did the four-volume fantasy Manga Fairy Idol Kanon.  The three-volume Swans in Space (Uchuu no Hakuchou) debuted in 2006.

We told you a month back that 20th Century Fox has been quietly developing a remake to Conquest of the Planet of the Apes.  Today, CHUD reports that the project, dubbed Genesis: Ape,  may have some impetus to movce towards the head of the production line.

Fox President Tom Rothman told audiences watching the original five Apes movies on Fox Movie Channel over the weekend, “We are very close at Fox on a new Apes script — this one a kind of prequel story before the first story, with a return to the social thematics that mark the first one, but with an entirely contemporary setting – Earth 2009.:”

Genesis: Ape has been written by the team of Rick Jaffa (The Relic) and Amanda Silver (Eye for an Eye).

CHUD writes, “In this version Caesar is the result of a genetic scientist fooling around with the nature of things. When the baby monkey exhibits intelligence and the ability to talk, he takes the cuddly thing home to his wife, who is unable to bear children. Things go surprisingly well for a number of years until Caesar grows up and sees mommy getting attacked. The dutiful son steps in and accidentally kills the attacker.

“Here’s where it takes off. In a scene paralleling Charlton Heston in the cage in the original Planet of the Apes, Caesar ends up in custody at an Ape Conservatory where he and the other apes are abused mercilessly. Caesar finds himself a primate without a world – he’s as smart as humans but will never be one of them (and is in fact tortured by them) and he’s initially rejected by his monkey brethren.”
 

Marvel’s Bring On The Bad Guys continues next week with all-new villain variant covers to Amazing Spider-Girl #27 by Ron Frenz, War Machine #1 by Mike Deodato, and Guardians of The Galaxy #8, by Brandon Peterson.

Stay tuned to Marvel.Com for more debuts of these sinister villain variant covers!

AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #27 (OCT082390)
AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #27 VILLAIN VARIANT (OCT082391)
Written by TOM DEFALCO
Pencils by RON FRENZ
& COLEEN COOVER
Cover by RON FRENZ
Villain Variant by RON FRENZ
Rated A …$2.99 On-Sale—12/10/08

WAR MACHINE #1 (OCT082347)
WAR MACHINE #1 VILLAIN VARIANT (OCT082348)
Written by GREG PAK
Pencils & Cover by LEONARDO MANCO
Villain Variant by MIKE DEODATO
Rated T+ …$2.99 On-Sale—12/31/08
 

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #8 (OCT082457)
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #8 VILLAIN VARIANT (OCT082458)
Written by DAN ABNETT & ANDY LANNING
Penciled by PAUL PELLETIER
Cover by CLINT LANGLEY
Villain Variant by BRANDON PETERSON
Rated T+ …$2.99 On-Sale—12/31/08

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), has announced a dynamic array of new animated titles scheduled for release throughout the Fourth Quarter.

The new releases include the long-awaited launch of a new series – HUNTER X HUNTER – as well as a variety of DVD Box Sets, Special Editions and single disc editions of popular series including BLEACH, NARUTO, DEATH NOTE, BUSO RENKIN, BLUE DRAGON and much-loved classics like INUYASHA.

New Series Debut:

HUNTER X HUNTER DVD Box Set Volume 1 • Rated “T+” for Teens • MSRP: $49.98 US / $64.99 CAN • Available December 9
Based on the popular HUNTER X HUNTER manga series by Yoshihiro Togashi (also published by VIZ Media), this new fantasy action series introduces audiences to Hunters, a special breed of adventurers dedicated to tracking down treasure, magical beasts, and even humans. But such pursuit requires a license, and less than one in a hundred thousand can pass the grueling qualification exam. Gon might be a country boy, but he has high aspirations. Despite his aunt’s protest, Gon decides to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a legendary Hunter. The journey begins on the long, arduous road to the Exam Hall, where he meets Leorio and Kurapika, two applicants with the same determination. Gon and his two companions must now prove their worth and earn the right to call themselves Hunters! The HUNTER X HUNTER DVD Box Set Volume 1 contains the series’ first 15 episodes on 3 discs. (more…)

The success of Ray Harryhausen Presents; The Pit and the Pendulum, a short stop motion animated film produced by Hand Made Heroes Film & Television has resulted in a comic book deal with Bluewater Productions. When Bluewater President Darren G. Davis and Director Marc Lougee of Hand Made Heroes discovered they were both producing work independently under the Ray Harryhausen Presents banner, Bluewater immediately penned a deal with director Marc Lougee to further develop film & comic book cross-over properties.

Since it’s premiere hosted by Harry Knowles of Ain’t It Cool News at the BNAT Film Festival, The Pit and the Pendulum short film has screened in over 200 film festivals and comic conventions around the world including AFI Dallas and San Diego Comic-Con. Nearly 100,000 visitors logged into the film’s website within two days of the film’s premier in Austin, TX, and has continued to garner a global fan following.

“Seeing the film published as a comic thru a brilliant publisher like Bluewater is the realization of another dream of mine.” said Director, Marc Lougee, “What started as a labor of love, and a once in a lifetime chance to make a film with Ray Harryhausen at the helm, has just continued to expand and reach further than I’d imagined. I’m really excited to have an issue of Ray Harryhausen Presents; The Pit and the Pendulum comic in hand come February 2009.”

Susan Ma, producer on the stop motion adaptation of The Pit and the Pendulum, says the soon to be released comic book is a wonderful extension of the film. “In producing the film, we sought to bring the story to life for a broad audience, while staying as close to the original story as possible. Executive producer Ray Harryhausen was especially keen to see the story develop with a strong visual aesthetic and real storytelling.  In bringing the film version into the realm of comic books, I feel we’re accomplishing the goal of making the story very accessible. We’ve been surprised with wonderful feedback from teachers and professors who are thrilled to have a resource like the film to teach Poe’s works in class.”

Director Marc Lougee adds, “I think between the comic book and the DVD, we’ve got a wonderful package to create interest in great literature thru visual means, starting with E.A. Poe’s The Pit and the Pendulum. Gothic horror, Ray Harryhausen and Edgar Allan Poe- who wouldn’t be thrilled?”

The story in brief:

The Pit and the Pendulum. A victim of the Spanish Inquisition is brought before a tribunal. Condemned and alone, he’s left to suffer a fate worse than death as his captors employ fiendish machinations in their efforts to unhinge him.
 

Celebrated artist Neal Adams will be a Guest of Honor at New York Comic Con (NYCC) this year where he will be available to thousands of fans who are eager to meet the legendary artist.  Adams is best known for helping to create some of the definitive modern imagery of the DC Comics characters Superman, Batman and Green Lantern among others.  In addition to his Guest of Honor appearance, Neal Adams has also created the official artwork for New York Comic Con 2009 which will be highlighted in a unique poster featuring several heroes from DC’s Green Lantern Corps. The Green Lantern series was a breakout hit for DC last year with the "Sinestro War" storyline, and the Blackest Night storyline looks to be another huge success. 
 
New York Comic Con is the second largest popular culture event in the United States and will take place at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City, February 6 – 8, 2009.  Neal Adams will appear on panels as well as participate in autograph sessions throughout the weekend. 
 
“Neal Adams is one of the fundamental forces of comics: he’s helped reshape the visual vocabulary of the field with his illustrative style, improved its business practices as a leading champion of artistic rights, and godfathered an entire generation of new talent as they entered our field,” said Paul Levitz, President and Publisher of DC Comics, “Comics wouldn’t have been the same without him, and he continues to focus on important new work to affect the future of the field.”

“I can’t begin to say how genuinely honored we are to have Neal Adams create this poster for New York Comic Con, to say nothing of having him appear at our show as a Guest of Honor!” notes Lance Fensterman, Show Manager for NYCC.  “At the cusp of the 60’s, Neal and writer Denny O’Neil created some of the best loved comic stories featuring Green Lantern’s Hal Jordan, and the Green Arrow, as they tackled social issues of the day and set new standards with Neal’s photo-realistic artwork. The poster he has created is extraordinary and it allows us to stay at the forefront with original and innovative artwork for New York Comic Con.  We are enormously grateful to Neal who has been a great supporter of our show from day one.  This is a real collector’s item and a huge value for anyone who manages to ‘score’ one of these special posters.”

In commenting on the creation of the poster for New York Comic Con, Neal Adams notes: “Folks ask why I went all out on this poster for the NYCC?  First, I’m a New Yorker, and this is my hometown.  Secondly, I take tremendous pride in these characters.  Especially, Hal Jordan and John Stewart.”    (more…)

Marko Djurdjevic and Gabriele Dell’Otto have drawn a variant cover to Thor #600 which fronts a special issue containing a story by Stan Lee and illustrated by penciller David Aja (Immortal Iron Fist).  The regular team of J. Michael Straczynski and Olivier Coipel kick off the anniversary  with a story pitting Thor against a new opponent. The 100-page super-spectacular has the lead story, the Lee-Aja a tale and a special story by Chris Giarrusso, along with reprints.

THOR #600

Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI, STAN LEE & CHRIS GIARRUSS

Penciled by OLIVIER COIPEL, CHRIS GIARRUSSO & DAVID AJA

Wraparound Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL

Variant Wraparound Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC

Variant Cover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO

Rated T+ …$4.99 ON SALE – 1/21/08

  (more…)