Metatropolis is an audio anthology edited by John Scalzi for Audible.com. Subtitled "The Dawn of Uncivilization", the project can be downloaded October 21.

The book’s contents include:

"In the Forests of the Night" by Jay Lake (read by Michael Hogan, Battlestar Galactica)

"Stochasti-city" by Tobias Buckell (read by Scott Brick, who won the 2008 Audie Award for Dune)

"The Red in the Sky is Our Blood" by Elizabeth Bear (read by Kandyse McClure, Battlestar Galactica)

"Utere Nihil Non Extra Quiritationem Suis" by John Scalzi (read by Alessandro Juliani, Battlestar Galactica)

"To Hie from Far Cilenia" by Karl Schroeder (read by Stefan Rudnicki, who previously read Ender’s Game)

Audible describes the book: "Welcome to a world where big cities are dying, dead, or transformed into technological megastructures. Where once-thriving suburbs are now treacherous Wilds. Where those who live for technology battle those who would die rather than embrace it. It is a world of zero-footprint cities, virtual nations, and armed camps of eco-survivalists. Welcome to the dawn of uncivilization."

Fangoria’s comic book line appears ready for resurrection.

The editors recently posted on their MySpace page:

“That’s right, kiddies. We’ve gotten the band back together! Troy Brownfield, Fangoria Graphix Associate Editor here. I don’t have to tell you all that’s it been a weird couple of years. But Executive Editor Scott Licina, Production Manager Jason Moser, Director of New Media Development James Zahn and I are thrilled to be back where it all started. Ever since Tom DeFeo and The Brooklyn Company took over, we’ve been talking about what new horrible things we could do to all you, er, do together. The logical first step was to put the work that we originally did under the Fango umbrella in its natural place: right here, right in front of you, our most loyal readers.

“SO . . . knowing that, what are you going to see? There will be Bump. There will be the complete Rage and the complete Strangeland: Seven Sins. And in multiple languages. But there will also be new and frightening things in the offing. Like the Death Walks the Streets series. Like Ellium. Like Doubloon. Like online and downloadable comics. Like novels. Like graphic novels. And more.”

At present, the magazine’s website is down for retooling so this is the sole source for information at present.
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Taylor Kitsch is breaking out from under the Friday Night Lights to play on the big screen in next May’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine from 20th Century Fox. Kitsch plays Remy LeBeau, commonly known as the smooth-talking mutant called Gambit. The actor spoke with Media Blvd about his role in the film.

"He’s just another comic book character that has kinetic energy," Kitsch describes of Gambit. "It’s a fun role. You’ll have fun watching it."

Kitsch admits that he was largely unfamiliar with the character before working on Wolverine, but has since gained a fondness for the heart-breaking antihero.

"I love the character, I love the powers, and I love what they did with him," Kitsch says. "I didn’t know that much [about the role], but in my experience, it was a blessing to go in and create my take on him."

At the moment, Kitsch is best known as Tim Riggins on NBC’s Friday Night Lights. That’s bound to change in a few short months when the X-movie is released.

"I haven’t [been] bombarded yet for the X-Men stuff," Kitsch admits. "I’ve been told enough about [X-Men fans] that I’m excited for it. I feel the project went incredibly well, and I’m excited to see the result."

For Kitsch, the biggest perk of filming Wolverine was meeting Logan himself. The actor calls Hugh Jackman a huge influence in his life as both an actor and as a person.

"He’s incredibly disciplined and free," Kitsch describes Jackman. "He’s just this person that’s so grounded and so open that you question whether it’s real or not. I’ve met nobody like him."

Some years ago, Lost‘s Josh Holloway was said to be in talks to play the Ragin’ Cajun in X-Men: The Last Stand. He pulled out due to TV commitments, but was linked to return if a fourth X-Men flick ever got off the ground. The part eventually went to Kitsch.

"The reason we didn’t use Gambit was because in a sense his persona is a bit like Wolverine in that he’s got attitude and his power is not quite as exciting as the others," said Lauren Shuler Donner, producer of both X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men Origins: Wolverine, in an interview in 2006.

"That’s why we went to Nightcrawler," she continues, "because he looked different than everybody else and he had a great power."

For someone who doesn’t speak too kindly about ol’ Remy, it’s a bit surprising that the character wound up in Wolverine‘s solo film. Guess you can only stay away from that sexy gumbo for so long, right?!

A lot of manga take place in high schools – and that’s natural, since the original audience for most of the popular manga series were Japanese teenagers, and it’s hard to find someone more self-obsessed than a teenager. So ignoring high school would almost mean ignoring manga all together, and I wouldn’t want to do that – but I do try to quarantine the very teenager-y books into their own little cliques (they’re used to that, anyway). It’s time for another one of those, so join me for a look at three new series set in the best and worst time of all of our lives:

Papillon, Vol. 1
By Miwa Ueda
Del Rey, October 2008, $10.95

Papillion builds its foundation upon a plotline much beloved in song, story, and Olson twin movies: there are these two identical twin sisters, and they’re completely different! The viewpoint character is Ageha – and, by the way, does that name sound as frumpy and old-ladyish to the Japanese as it does to me? – who grew up in the countryside, and, because of that, is shy, socially inept, unfashionable, and wears glasses. (The equivalent cliché in an America story would have her be a rough, woodsy, outdoorsy kind of girl, great at riding horses and starting fires, but Japanese heroines apparently must always be pretty and decorative, with slim wrists and no obvious skills.)

Ageha’s twin sister Hana – who grew up in the city, because their parents separated them very young (possibly on a whim; this isn’t explained) – is gorgeous and poised and the most popular girl in the school they both attend.

(Oh, and there’s also a nasty fat girl, who seemingly exists in this story only to be Ageha’s only friend – a very, very bad friend at that – and to show that unattractive people are necessarily cruel, vindictive, and rude.) (more…)

Radical Publishing is a relative newcomer to the comic book industry, but they’re already hard at work converting their graphic novels into films.

Variety reports that the publisher "has secured funding from Singapore and will self-finance" adaptations of their comic book properties.

The company already has an excellent working relationship with Singapore-based art studio Imaginary Friends Studios, who supply illustrations for Radical’s Hercules and Caliber.

Radical has put an impressive amount of effort into turning their properties into film projects. Peter Berg (The Kingdom) is attached to direct Hercules, John Woo (Face/Off) is attached to direct Caliber with Johnny Depp’s production house Infinitum Nihil and Bryan Singer will produce Freedom Formula through his Bad Hat Harry Prods.

Two other projects, Aladdin and City of Dust, are also being looked at for adaptation.

Aladdin offers a fresh twist on the classic tale by incorporating new supernatural elements. Siavish Farahani, who scripted The Shadow for Ghost House Pictures, will write the feature.

City of Dust is a futuristic police drama involving crimes of the imagination. The novel is written by Steve Niles (30 Days of Night). Niles will supervise a script from Peter Fedorenko.