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Fox Unleashes ‘Futurama: The Wild Green Yonder’ in February

  • News
  • November 26, 2008

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has announced a February 24 release date for the fourth and final feature-length Futurama epic Into The Wild Green Yonder.  Joining the standard and Blu-ray DVD saga this time as guest stars are illusionist Penn Jillette, hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg, talk radio superstar Phil Hendrie, and Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane. In addition, fans of the series will be thrilled and relieved to finally discover the truth about “Number 9 Man,” a deeply mysterious character from the earliest days of the series. 

Futurama: Into The Wild Green Yonder is jam-packed with bonus features, including audio commentary from Matt Groening, David X. Cohen, John DiMaggio, Maurice LaMarche, writers and animators, a making-of mockumentary, deleted scenes, How to Draw Futurama, “Bender’s Movie Theater Etiquette,” “Zapp Brannigan’s Guide to Making Love at a Woman” and much more.

The Futurama: Into The Wild Green Yonder DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $29.98 U.S. / $37.98 Canada and on Blu-ray for $39.98 U.S. / $49.98 Canada.

Synopsis:

All the other galaxies will be green with envy! In this all-new Futurama extravaganza, mankind stands on the brink of a wondrous new Green Age.  But ancient forces of darkness, three years older than time itself, have returned to wreak destruction.  Even more shocking: Bender’s in love with a married fembot, and Leela’s on the run from the law – Zapp Brannigan’s law!  Fry is the last hope of the universe… so if you’re in the universe, you might want to think about going somewhere else.  Could this be the end of the Planet Express crew forever?  Say it ain’t so, meatbag!  Off we go, Into the Wild Green Yonder! (more…)

‘Dark Reign’ Teaser Image Unveiled

  • News
  • November 26, 2008

Marvel today released this teaser image for the next big event, Dark Reign, just weeks before Secret Invasion #8 is released, ending the current big event.  New Avengers: The Reunion was mentioned as a new title at an Ireland convention but no details are known.

Justin Theroux Corrects ‘EW’ Reports on Terrence Howard

  • News
  • November 26, 2008

Iron Man 2 screenwriter Justin Theroux told MTV’s Splash Page that the Entertainment Weekly reports as to why Terrence Howard was dropped from the cast in favor of Don Cheadle were not entirely accurate.

“I can’t really speak to the plot stuff and all the rest of it but Rhodes is completely present in a very strong and big way,” Theroux said Tony Stark’s friend and the future War Machine. “He’s completely present.”

“All that stuff that was in the EW article,” said Theroux regarding statements Howard was being dropped when the story being crafted minimized Rhodey’s role,. “I don’t know. I can only tell you what I know which is that from a writing standpoint we didn’t do anything differently [with the character]. It’s not like we were sitting there going, we need less of this or that. We just approached the characters and the story on their own terms.”

Meantime, Spoiler TV found some casting sheets for parts in the sequel which is set to shoot in April 2009 for a May 2010 release.

The parts being cast include:

[MALE LEAD]
30s, Eastern European, brilliant, gritty…

[FEMALE LEAD]
20s, beautiful, speaks several languages fluently and is equally proficient in martial arts…

[BRUISER]
Russian, 20s or 30s, at least 6’2", able to perform own stunts, has the build of a MMA fighter…

Rich Faber needs your help

  • Uncategorized
  • November 26, 2008

buzzbot300-6603006I’m lifting this directly from Johanna Draper Carlson. Yes, again… but in this case, I hope she won’t mind, because Rich Faber, inker on Green Lantern, needs our help:

I first met him ages ago, back in the 90s, when he wanted a copy of a sketch Chris Sprouse did for me, to practice his inking. He’s kept at it, working on Roboy Red and Buzzboy, as well as a lot of other stuff.

Sadly, in August, his wife Traci was diagnosed with cancer, and they’re facing large medical bills. Here’s how he puts it (from the blog link above):

… lately things have gotten a little hairy, financially. While we have health insurance, it’s not covering everything. Medical bills and co-pays can truly be a drag. It’s been tough for us to maintain our regular work schedules between treatments (and Traci’s ensuing fatigue), doctor visits, and caring for our two-year-old son. … So we’re looking for ways to generate more income, in order to keep afloat.

He doesn’t want handouts (although I’m sure he wouldn’t mind any help) — instead, he wants to sell original art, t-shirts, and signed comics. He’s also taking commissions; email rich_faber(at)comcast(dot)net. (That’s also his Paypal account, in case you can donate, regardless of what he says.) They’re not hurting yet — but since Traci will be in treatment for at least a year, he’s planning ahead and trying to be responsible.

I know it’s tough times, and it seems that there’s always a request to help someone. There are plenty of deserving who need help, but if you can, check out Rich’s website and blog to see if there’s something you’re interested in.

So go. Rich has been nothing but a stellar professional and a friend to us here at ComicMix. Here’s his website, here’s his blog.

batman-076-2-1186780

The Stories That Informed ‘Batman R.I.P.’

  • News
  • November 26, 2008

batman-076-2-1186780“Criminals are a superstitious cowardly lot. So my disguise must be able to strike terror into their hearts. I must be a creature of the night, black, terrible …a…a…”
 
As if in answer, a huge image of a Caped Crusader flashed across a movie screen. Across monitors throughout space and time and other dimensions.
 
“It’s an omen!” each man, alien and other-dimensional imp declared. “I shall become a Batman!”
 
One of the attractions of Batman was, it’s often been said, the fact that a kid could actually imagine growing up to be the Caped Crusader. No one was ever going to grow up to be Superman but with an extensive training regimen (and a hefty bank account) …well, anything’s possible. Overlay that with the spirit of mainstreaming and conformity of the 1950s and you end up with a universe where there seemed to be a Batman knock-off on every corner and planet.
 
In 1964, editor Julius Schwartz found his arm twisted into taking over the flagging Batman titles. He immediately ditched the extended Batman family and the increasingly prevalent space alien stories for a more contemporary angle grounded in the real world. And as the years rolled on, Schwartz and company refined their approach and gradually, permanently put the Dark back in their Knight.
 

(more…)

Piñata Games Names Operations Manager

  • Uncategorized
  • November 26, 2008

pinata-gamesmd-8337107ICv2 reports that Chas DeLong has been named Operations Manager for newly formed Piñata Games. The company is attempting to  gain control of the HeroClix CMG from Topps.

DeLong has worked in production management and is familiar with the genre gaming field having spent the last ten years at Wizards of the Coast and WizKids. 

According to Jake Theis, CSO of Piñata Games, DeLong “is perhaps the world’s foremost expert in pre-painted plastic minis production,” whose expertise “will be a critical component of rapidly turning back on the HeroClix business.”

Catalyst Games is also bidding on a greater range of WizKids’ properties. ICv2 notes, “ Although Catalyst has successfully worked on a number of licensed properties, the company lacks experience in the production of collectible miniatures games.:
 

‘Sarah Jane’ Back for Third Season

  • News
  • November 26, 2008

The BBC has confirmed a third season of The Sarah Jane Adventures, to air in the fall of 2009.

Their website reviewed their future children’s offerings and said, “Together with her companions Rani and Clyde and her adopted son Luke, Sarah Jane once again comes face to face with a whole host of weird and wonderful alien beings.”

Additionally, they will be transporting Stan Lee’s Who Wants To Be A Superhero? to England and turning it into a new show aimed at younger viewers, hosted by Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes. The show lasted just two seasons on Sci Fi Channel before becoming a ratings victim.

The series wants kid heroes between 9-13 who “will create their own unique, never-seen-before superhero character, including original name, catchphrase and superpowers.

The BBC wrote,” The last super-hero standing receives the ultimate reward – immortality with a starring role in their very own comic book created by the master of the genre, Stan Lee (The Hulk and Superman[sic]).

“The last super-hero standing will fly to Hollywood to meet the legendary creator in person and collect their personalized comic book.

“Over the course of the series the aspiring super-heroes test their abilities and try to overcome their limitations, doing whatever it takes to prove that they are truly super.

“Each week, they face challenges designed to test their courage, integrity, self-sacrifice, compassion and resourcefulness – all the qualities that a true super-hero must possess.

“And each week, one superhero powers down, transforming back into their real identity and returning home.

“Before Sam and Mark begin their quest to find the world’s next great superhero, they are trained in ‘super-hero spotting’ by Stan Lee himself, qualifying them to host auditions for budding heroes across the country – culminating in a final audition in London.

“Eventually, 13 wannabe heroes will leave their normal lives behind and move into a secret lair to face a series of missions as they begin their transformations into real-life super-heroes.”

Archie Introduces ‘Sonic Universe’

  • News
  • November 26, 2008

Archie Comics has declared that February will see a freshening of the sonic the Hedghog brand as they introduce a new title and reboot the others.

Archie has added new characters and situations to the Sonic canon over the last fifteen years.  For many Sonic fans, the Archie Sonic comics are considered the glue that holds the various interpretations of their hero together.    

Archie Comics’ role as definitive guardian of the canon will be truer than ever, as everything comes together in a new series called Sonic Universe..  This series will unify the various Sonic continuities as never before, tying up loose ends and making connections for a cohesive, unified continuity. 

To underscore Archie’s importance to Sonic continuity, there is a major tie-in between the first issue of Sonic Universe and the latest installment of the Sonic Archives reprint series, also shipping in February.  Sonic Universe #1 starts with a bang.  In the story “Living Weapons,” Shadow and Metal Sonic continue their series-spanning fight and wind up in a whole new dimension!  As we continue to re-envision Sonic’s future, fans can also look to the past by picking up Sonic Archives #10 to revisit classic Sonic stories, or read them for the very first time. It truly brings things full circle for fans!   

Meanwhile, things are as chaotic as ever over in the regular monthly Sonic the Hedghog, as issue #197 finds Sonic with his hands full dealing with Scourge the Hedgehog, Sally being accused of treason, a lockdown of zones and a new threat that looms on the horizon.  These events will have an impact upon the events that transpire in Sonic Universe providing a unified and ongoing continuity as the storylines and cast of characters expand. (more…)

Bryan Singer and Warner Premiere to Work Together

  • News
  • November 26, 2008

Warner Premiere is known to ComicMix readers as the source for the cool direct-to-DVD movies featuring the DC heroes but they also produce original fare as well.  This morning, they announced a deal with director Bryan Singer to create a “cyberpunk sci-fi thriller” H+, “which picks up after a terrorist fries the brains of a segment of the population ‘jacking’ into the net”

The series will be written by John Cabrera (Gilmore Girls) and Cosimo De Tommaso, who will also serve as executive producers. They conceived of H+ as a television series but  Warner Premiere’s Head of Digital Content, Lydia Antonini, persuaded them to convert it to a web-based series.

The new series, to debut sometime in mid-2009, will be produced by Singer’s Bad Hat Harry Productions, the outfit that already gives us House.

Warner Premiere is dipping its toe into live action after working on numerous animated efforts including the recently unveiled Peanuts, a full animated comic web series. They have 20 original web series in development, some of which will go to video, some to the recently relaunched TheWB.com.

Hopalong Cassidy Returns to the Screen

  • Uncategorized
  • November 26, 2008

hopalong-cassidy-101-2-7301822Bill "Hopalong" Cassidy is getting the big screen treatment from Mark Canton (300) and Pterodactyl Prods. according to Variety.

The beloved tough cowboy was originally created by Clarence E. Mulford in 1904 and he was a popular staple in fiction before being portrayed on screen by William Boyd. He portrayed the cowpuncher in 66 short films between the 1930s and 1950s. There was also a long-running radio show in addition to comic books.

The comics were initially produced by Fawcett for 84 issues with Dan Spiegel producing a lot of the artwork. When Fawcett ceased publishing, the rights were acquired by DC Comics in 1954 for an additional 50 issues. Editor Julie Schwartz used his regulars on the feature including writer John Broome and artists Gil Kane, Bernard Sachs, and Joe Giella.  The title featured Gene Colan’s first work for the company and he did a long stretch of the title.

There hasn’t been a significant new cowboy hero introduced in decades but suddenly both The Lone Ranger and Hopalong Cassidy are headed for the silver screen once more. Earlier this fall, Jerry Bruckheimer surprised the world with word he was producing a new Ranger film with Johnny Depp on board as Tonto.

"These stories tend to come around again," Canton told the trade. "We’re looking to ring in the modern age with a branded, well-loved hero that we approach in a fresh way," Canton added.

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