ICv2 spoke with Wizards of the Coast CEO Greg Leeds in the wake of the sudden closing of WizKids.

“The state of the economy is impacting every business right now; however I remain optimistic that our industry can grow and prosper in both the short term and long term,” Leeds said.  “The inevitable changes forced by hard times will leave the remaining companies and brands stronger and better able to serve the gaming community with great product and service at a reasonable price. Gaming is an activity that can have tremendous entertainment value relative to the cost.”

He indicated that retailers are reporting that diehard gamers are giving up other luxuries but maintaining their commitment to favorite games. As a result, their recent efforts to emphasize both Magic: The Gathering ands Dungeons & Dragons comes at a good time.

“We have an array of initiatives and product releases that will get current gamers more involved with our core brands as well as bring new people in.  Particularly in tough economic times, customers will gravitate towards established brands that they trust and have proven play value — a "flight to quality." Then the critical mass effect occurs — more players means more interest by others in playing…and so on.

 “We have plans to enhance every aspect of how we take Magic: The Gathering and Dungeon & Dragons to market.  Our games, as usual, are getting better and better.  The new Pre-Release program is driving incremental revenue to our store base.  We are reaching out to schools and libraries to recruit new players who will go back to stores for product.  Our advertising and promotion programs are driving a new level of cool.  The “Here I Rule” campaign for Magic has just kicked off and early feedback is great.  Our digital initiatives are starting to bite.  D&D Insider has successfully launched with thousands of subscribers and Magic Online has gone through a user interface face-lift.”

ICv2 reports that Image Comics’ Liberty Comics, an anthology benefiting the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, has raised nearly $27,000 for the charity.  The comic, which shipped in July and sold nearly 17,000 copies its first month, was a joint effort of Image, the creators involved, and Diamond Comic Distributors, all of whom donated their revenues.

Liberty Comics, edited and conceived by current IDW editor Scott Dunbier, included top properties and creators:  Hellboy by Mike Mignola, Danger Girl by J. Scott Campbell, The Boys by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, Criminal by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, plus shorts by Mark Millar, Darwyn Cooke, John Paul Leon, Art Adams, Rick Veitch, Sergio Aragones, and Mark Evanier. 

A second printing, featuring a Thor cover by Walt Simonson, will be in store December 3. 

Image Publisher Eric Stephenson explained the company’s involvement.  “We couldn’t be more proud to support the CBLDF and their never-ending battle to defend our medium’s first amendment rights,” he said.  “Considering Image’s place in the industry as a bastion of independent, creator-owned comics, we feel they’re one of the most important institutions in the industry and look to support them at every chance we get.”

FX announced the return dates of two of its award-winning dramas, Nip/Tuck and Damages.  The continuation of the fifth season of Nip/Tuck begins on Tuesday, January 6 at 10 p.m. for eight weeks, while the second season of Damages premieres on Wednesday, January 7 at 10 p.m. with 13 new episodes.

Nip/Tuck revolves around the lives of Dr. Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) and Dr. Christian Troy (Julian McMahon), two plastic surgeons, close friends and business partners who run McNamara/Troy, an overwhelmingly successful plastic surgery practice. 

Earlier this season, Sean and Christian departed Miami for Los Angeles seeking a fresh start for McNamara/Troy in a new city.  As season five continues, Sean tries to re-build his life after surviving a brutal attack from Colleen Rose.  McNamara/Troy faces an unexpected, serious medical crisis. Christian decides to settle down with one woman and Sean discovers a new love in a moment of extreme vulnerability.

Guest stars include Sharon Gless, Portia de Rossi, AnnaLynne McCord, Bradley Cooper, John Schneider, Jennifer Coolidge, Morgan Fairchild and Katee Sackoff.

Damages, fresh off its Emmy wins for Outstanding Lead Actress (Glenn Close) and Outstanding Supporting Actor (Željko Ivanek), follows the turbulent lives of Patty Hewes (Glenn Close), the nation’s most revered and reviled high-stakes litigator and her bright, ambitious young protégé Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne).

After her unprecedented victory over billionaire Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson), Patty Hewes has the legal world at her feet.  Just as she’s pondering her next move, Daniel Purcell (William Hurt), a man from Patty’s mysterious past, storms back into her life, catapulting Patty into a new legal challenge. 

At the same time, Ellen is on a mission to take down Patty.  She’s agreed to act as an informant for the FBI, assisting them in their criminal investigation of Patty and the firm.  As Patty unravels the mystery surrounding Daniel Purcell, she must also negotiate the perilous minefield both inside and outside her office.

In addition to Academy Award winner William Hurt, Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden and Timothy Olyphant join the cast of Damages for its second season. 

Laura Harris (Women’s Murder Club) has been announced by Fox as the female lead opposite Ron Livingston in Defying Gravity.

Her character will be Chloe, “a geologist assigned to the mission alongside former flame” of Livingston’s Maddux. Also announced in the cast is Israeli-born Eyal Podell, playing Dr. Evram Mintz, “a young medical specialist and war-tested surgeon with a degree in psychiatry and a penchant for alcohol.”

The Hollywood Reporter describes Gravity as “set in the near future and revolves around eight astronauts from five countries who take on a mysterious six-year mission through the solar system.”

The proposed series is a coproduction of Fox TV Studios, Canada’s CTV, Germany’s ProSieben and the BBC.
 

As the Xbox transforms itself into an entertainment portal, more and more companies are developing material to be played on the platform in addition to video games.  The latest to announce product is VIZ Media, saying their animated action series Bleach and Death Note (both Uncut and English dubbed) are now available.

Fans will now have the ability to watch these episodes on a Download-To-Own (DTO) basis through Xbox LIVE for 160 Microsoft Points per episode.

Bleach offers episodes 1-41 dubbed in English with more to be added, and Death Note features the full 37-episode series dubbed in English. The two series join Naruto Uncut, which has been offered on Xbox LIVE since November 2007 and currently features episodes 1-52 dubbed in English as well as episodes 1–24 subbed (with English subtitles), with more to be added.

“The anime genre enjoys a huge following among millions of avid Xbox 360 owners and the addition of the Bleach and Death Note series to the Xbox LIVE library will be a big attraction,” Scott Nocas, group product manager for Xbox LIVE, said in a release.

Xbox LIVE provides viewers with easy access to hundreds of full-length TV shows for Download-To-Own and the latest feature films for Download-To-Rent. Xbox 360 is also the first gaming console to offer Standard and High Definition TV shows and movies via digital distribution. Xbox LIVE currently includes a worldwide social entertainment network reaching more than 14 million members and offering 24/7 online access to gaming, movies, music, TV shows and more.

“We are very excited to team with Xbox LIVE to feature episodes of Bleach and Death Note,” says Ken Sasaki, Vice President, Strategy & Business Development, VIZ Media. “The combination of the hottest television and movie programming, video gaming and social networking interaction makes Xbox LIVE a compelling platform to present these smash hit animated dramas. As the convergence of digital technology presents an innovative new way to access and download a wide array of content, we look forward to fans across the United States turning to Xbox LIVE for the latest in online animated programming from VIZ Media.”
 

Sci Fi Wire is reporting that Mike Richardson, founder of Dark Horse Entertainment, that he has struck a renewed partnership with Universal Pictures to develop a slate of movies based on the company’s many comics and graphic novels, including R.I.P.D.

"Actually, we’re quite busy right now," Richardson told reporters at an event celebrating the release of Hellboy II: The Golden Army on DVD. "The most immediate is R.I.P.D. … David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers) is directing. We’re doing it over at Universal Studios. We have a great script by [Matt] Manfredi and [Phil] Hay. R.I.P.D. stands for Rest in Peace Department. It’s based on a graphic novel by Peter Lenkov. It’s about dead cops that died in the line of duty that are sent back basically to get people who don’t want to come peacefully, people who stayed behind. It’s a lot of fun. … It has a few of the elements of something like a Men in Black, except this one has real scares in it. It’s not sort of a cartoon scares. A lot of humor, but real scary stuff going on."

Dark Horse and Universal have several projects predating the new partnership including the previously announced Emily Strange, the character created by Rob Reger and a staple at Hot Topic stores.

Freaks of the Heartland, based on the graphic novel by Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) has been placed with Overture and Richardson said David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express) will direct.

President-elect Barack Obama is apparently closer to our audience than any of his predecessors.  According to “The 50 Facts You Might Not Know” in the London Telegraph, the following information has emerged:

• He collects Spider-Man and Conan the Barbarian comics
• He has read every Harry Potter book
• His favorite films are Casablanca and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
• He enjoys playing Scrabble and poker
• He uses an Apple Mac laptop
• His favorite fictional television programs are MAS*H and The Wire

So the question is this: does he prefer Barry Windsor-Smith or John Buscmea’s depiction of the Cimmerian?