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‘Steve Canyon’ TV Series to DVD

  • News
  • October 2, 2008

Steve Canyon is a classic comic strip hero, created by Milton Caniff.  Since his debut in 1947, the hero was a mainstay until Caniff’s death and the strip’s cancellation in 1988.  Interestingly, there was little merchandising done with the character through the years with the notable exception of being part of the personas to be played by Captain Action in the 1960s and the short-lived NBC live action television series from 1958.

Being the series;’ 50th anniversary, the Caniff Estate has authorized a complete restoration and collection of the 34-episode series on DVD. The estate even established a blog to keep fans updated on progress.

According to TV Shows on DVD, work is nearing completion and the prototype package art was recently released. Plans now call for the series to be released in three volumes with the first due out on November 18 (same day as the 75th anniversary DVD collection of The Lone Ranger). Sales are limited to the website at present with no other retailers involved to date.

Volume one will contain the first 12 episodes starring Dean Fredericks as the Air Force plot and adventurer for $24.95.  The second and third volumes will each follow some 60-to 90 days later and the blog says the episodes are being collected in their proper order for the very first time. The final volume will include as an extra the original unaired pilot plus a custom slipcase to hold all three sets.

Brett Ratner Directing ‘God of War’

  • News
  • October 1, 2008

God of War fans have been clamoring for a film adaptation of the hit video game for years now. Honestly, who wouldn’t want to see the God-hunting warmonger Kratos ripping off Medusa’s head on the big screen? If that’s something that might interest you, then get ready, because that movie is on the way.

UGO has the exclusive that Brett Ratner is set to direct God of War. That’s right, the Rush Hour guy. Same dude who drove X-Men: The Last Stand straight into the box office — or straight into the ground, depending on who you talk to.

Though Ratner did confirm his involvement to UGO, no official announcement has been made regarding the project. In their exclusive video, Ratner mentions his upcoming projects in stride.

"[I’m working on] a few movies, waiting for scripts and greenlights to come in," Ratner says. "A few good things… Playboy, Beverly Hills Cop, [and] God of War. Some really cool movies." Ratner’s had his name attached to most genre-related films and some oddities such as Guitar Hero. He’s said to be developing Valiant’s Harbinger as his first super-hero franchise to call his own.  Ratner is also attached as producer on numerous projects including the big screen adaptation of the animated series Hong Kong Phooey.

Fans of the franchise and Ratner’s detractors will likely be up in arms over this announcement. Still, the director knows how to shoot action sequences, which will be a lot more important to a God of War flick than yielding Oscar-worthy performances. Not to say that this film will be any good, but anything that distracts Ratner from working on Beverly Hills Cop is a-OK by us.

God of War focuses on Kratos, a Spartan warrior who pledges servitude to Ares, the God of War. In order to make him a better warrior, Ares deceives Kratos into slaughtering his own wife and child. Kratos is cursed to have the ashes of his wife and child stain his skin, making him look like a ghost warrior. Now, armed with the Blades of Chaos, Kratos vows to avenge his family by killing the God of War.

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Special Effects Guru Talks ‘Watchmen’ Motion-Capture

  • Uncategorized
  • October 1, 2008

dr-manhattan-3-9899349Don’t let anyone tell you that being a superhero is easy. Just look at Billy Crudup who plays Dr. Manhattan in the hopefully upcoming Watchmen. UGO has an interview up with Alan McFarland, the special lighting effects supervisor for Dr. Manhattan, in which he details how Crudup became the big blue atomic man.

"Billy wore a white spandex suit … covered with blue LED [lights] and tracking markers that would be used in post production to reconstruct his performance in the computer," says McFarland. "Billy also had a number of carefully calibrated dots on his face to assist in capturing his expressions and dialogue."

McFarland says that Crudup was very in tune with Dr. Manhattan’s "pathos," noting that "rarely did anything go past a few takes." Nothing like strapping your actor in an uncomfortable suit to get those thespian juices flowing.

As for the most technically challenging scene in the film, McFarland cites the moment in Manhattan’s "laboratory when you see four of him. You see a glimpse of that in the trailer. We had to have Billy plus three other body doubles in identical mo-cap suits to pull that off, and it was very early in shooting Dr. Manhattan, so we were new to the process. It was a real trial-by-fire on that day."

Click here for more of McFarland’s thoughts on the superhero epic, including his predictions for Watchmen‘s potential fashion influences!

Review: ‘Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft’

locke-and-key-cover-3276813Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft
By Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez
IDW Publishing, October 2008, $24.99

Horror in comic books have always been an uneven affair.  These days, horror comics tend to feature zombies or H.P. Lovecraft adaptations but there’s so much more that can explored.  Fortunately, Joe Hill doesn’t mind going where others fear to tread.

His [[[Locke & Key]]] miniseries at IDW was a chilling affair, as much for its fresh take on the supernatural as for the superb art from Gabriel Rodriguez.  The six issues are collected today for the first time in a handsome hardcover volume that comes well recommended.

Too often horror offers you stock characters in a stock situations and how A Meets B is about the only variable.  You tend not to care a whit for the hero or victim and too often gore for gore’s sake overwhelms the storytelling.  Hill, instead, takes his time setting up the characters, the Locke family, and as wee progress through the 158 pages, we learn things.  As a result, we get to care for the three children whose father dies at the story’s beginning.  There’s Ty, the eldest who is conflicted over the father he had come to hate; Kinsey the young teen figuring out her place in the world and young Bode who becomes our focal point.

After their father is killed, Nina takes her children to live with her brother-in-law at Keyhouse in Lovecraft, MA. The large ramshackle property comes complete with a well house and its while visiting there that Bode comes in contact with a spirit. The growing relationship truly begins our story as the secrets of the Locke family and their connections to the other residents of the small island town are doled out in bite-sized chunks. 

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The Many Lives of Supergirl

  • News
  • October 1, 2008

supergirl-35-5013179There’s been a lot of confusion about Supergirl recently. Since her re-introduction by Jeph Loeb in the pages of Superman/Batman, she has had a few conflicting stories concerning her nature and origins. And even then, she (and readers) had to deal with the fact that she wasn’t the first to bear that name. Today, Supergirl #34 was released, featuring the new creative team of writer by Sterling Gates and artist Jamal Igle, who promised they would start a new, interesting direction with the character, clearly establishing who she is and what she’s all about.

People, listen to me. The hype is true. This issue is a fantastic jumping-on point. It is written in a way that if you have never read a Supergirl comic before, you will understand what’s going on and who is up to what. There is a small blurb on the title page explaining that Kara Zor-El is Superman’s teenage cousin who came to Earth and tries to fight for "truth, justice and the Kryptonian way." There is an editor’s foot-note by Matt Idleson telling you exactly when this issue takes place in relation to Supergirl’s appearances in other comics (God bless you, Matt).

And for anyone who hasn’t been reading the comic so far, there are quick conversations characters that bring you up to speed on Kara Zor-El and how, ever since she arrived on Earth not too long ago, she has been making a lot of mistakes and stumbling in her journey to become a hero worthy of the legacy of her cousin Superman. To compliment the impressive writing, Jamal Igle’s art, as always, is clean, pretty and very emotive. You completely understand what’s going through the character’s heads even if you don’t look at the dialogue.

If you have any interest in the character or are curious about a young, fun girl with powers, this issue is a must-read. You even get to learn some Kryptonian insults!

Next month, Supergirl #35 is supposed to recap the basic origin of Supergirl, just to clear up things for anyone who’s still confusing her with the previous incarnations who were running around. As Gates said recently at the Baltimore Comic-Con, "Supergirl should be simple. She’s Superman’s cousin. Boom."

But I know you readers out there are curious about past continuity. Some of you remember a Supergirl who wore a t-shirt and mini-skirt or a Supergirl who had wings of fire and claimed to be an angel. And you’re thinking, "Hey, Jack! What’s the deal here?"

Well, look no further, faithful readers! At ComicMix, we enjoy indulging such questions. So, in the same vein of my Road to a Crisis article, I present to you a rundown of the various Supergirls who have graced the DC Universe. Please note, I will be dealing with the Supergirl characters who actually stayed on through multiple stories. I will not be going into detail about how one time Jimmy Olsen wished a Supergirl into existence, etc. (more…)

‘Sarah Connor’ Targeted for Termination?

  • News
  • October 1, 2008

The fate of mankind hangs in the balance as the Fox network considers canceling Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Ratings for the show have been abysmal this year. A report from SyFy Portal pegs Sarah‘s lowest rating last season at 4.5/7. This season, it’s highest rating is 4.1/6 and is averaging a 3.7, resulting in 34% off its audience average from last year.

The numbers translate to 5.33 million viewers, down 480,000 from last week. Yeowch.

A source close to the situation tells SyFy that there’s some doom and gloom regarding the series’ future. "All I can say is that production will likely stop, and I would think that Fox might try to air some of the episodes already in the can," says the source.

"But I don’t know. They don’t want to lose Prison Break, so there could be some schedule shuffling in the future."

It’s a sad, sad world when a show about breaking in and out of jail over and over again can survive for four seasons, but a freaking Terminator show barely makes it one and a half. Unfortunately, the blame can’t rest squarely on Fox’s shoulders. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles has not only gone down in ratings since the pilot episode, it’s also suffered in terms of quality. Despite some strong moments, this season has lacked story focus, devoting far too much time to characters and plots that are insignificant and/or boring.

The future is uncertain for Sarah Connor, but try and look on the bright side. If the show gets canceled, we’ll probably see Brian Austin Green back on 90210! C’mon folks, gotta look for the silver lining somewhere, am I right!?

Review: ‘Fringe’ Episode #104

Note: Click here for last week’s mystery!

Autopsy Report: "The Arrival"
In Brooklyn, New York, an entirely bald man called The Observer watches in anticipation as a construction site suffers an explosion. The cause is an egg-shaped capsule, sitting perfectly still. The Observer calls someone and says: "It has arrived." Later, the device is delivered to a warehouse in Chelsea, Massachusetts, where Philip Broyles shows it to Olivia Dunham and Peter and Walter Bishop. Walter has an idea of what the object is, and desperately needs it moved to his laboratory. He reveals that he had worked on an experiment involving subterranean torpedos that could go straight through the Earth, but it’s still too early to say whether this is the same cylinder. Olivia is sent to meet with her old friend Jacobsen who was involved in a very similar case several years prior. He warns her to stay away from this assignment.

Later, Jacobsen is assaulted by a man with a strange explosive gun. The gunman uses a telepathic device to translate Jacobsen’s thoughts, learning that Olivia knows where the cylinder is now located. Olivia learns that the warehouse originally holding the capsule has been attacked, by the same man who tortured Jacobsen. On hearing this, Walter tranquilizes Astrid and steals the cylinder away from the laboratory. He later meets up with The Observer, who thanks Walter for relocating the cylinder. Elsewhere, Broyles and Olivia discuss The Observer, who has been spotted at over three dozen incidents tied in with The Pattern. They have no idea who or what he is.

Walter is arrested and questioned by Peter and Olivia. He tells them of The Observer, and yells at Peter for being too narrow-minded all the time. Peter decides that he’s done with this Pattern business and leaves. He’s attacked and tortured by the gunman from earlier. Even though Peter doesn’t know where the capsule is located, the gunman is somehow able to glean the information from Peter’s brain. Olivia tells Walter that Peter’s been abducted, and Walter is worried that the gunman will know how to get the information from Peter. He offers Olivia the location of the capsule.

The capsule is buried at the gravesite of Robert Bishop, Walter’s father. Peter is forced to uncover it, and the gunman runs off with it as Olivia chases him. She shoots him from behind, but before she’s able to uncover the capsule, it torpedos straight down into the ground. The Observer watches from a distance, and calls someone to say "Departure on schedule." Peter attacks The Observer and attempts to question him, but The Observer mimics every word he says as he says it. Finally, The Observer shoots him with some sort of sonic weapon and runs off. Recovering in the hospital, Peter declares to Olivia that he wants to stay and figure out what this Pattern is. Walter reveals to Peter that when he was a boy, they were in a horrible accident where they nearly drowned in freezing water. The Observer pulled them out and saved their life. Somehow, Walter knew that by hiding the cylinder, he was repaying his debt to the bald stranger. He also reveals how Peter was able to know the cylinder’s location: "Ideas can be absorbed by osmosis and proximity."

Olivia finally returns home after days of strange, strenuous work. Waiting for her in the kitchen is Agent John Scott, who Olivia believed to be dead. Looks like bedtime’s gonna have to wait. (more…)

‘Least I Could Do’ Volume Five Available for Pre-Order

  • Uncategorized
  • October 1, 2008

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Ryan Sohmer, creator of the webcomic Least I Could Do, announced that the fifth collection of his strip, titled Yield To Me, is available for pre-order. Four other collections are also available, collecting the first four years of LICD strips: I Have My Moments, My Will Be Done, Because I Can, and I Love This Guy. Limited-edition box sets of all five books are available for pre-order as well, and pre-orders of book 5 will also come with a limited edition key chain.

Least I Could Do follows the adventures of Rayne Summers, the wish-fulfillment Marty Stu of every single man. The comedy is reminiscent of Comedy Central’s The Man Show, with overblown plots that seem to somehow work out and constant sex-based farce. (Sohmer’s original blog post announcing the book also includes a photo of a naked woman tastefully presenting the book. This should give you an idea of his authorial style.) LICD premiered in 2003, created by Sohmer and Trevor Adams. Adams was replaced by Chad Porter later that year, then by current artist Lar deSouza in 2005.

Sohmer and deSouza also produce the fantasy webcomic Looking For Group. Their company Blind Ferret Entertainment produces animated shorts based on their comics, as well as the PvP and Ctrl-Alt-Del animated series.

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‘The Graysons’ Fly to the CW

  • News
  • October 1, 2008

grayson3-4602958Inspired by Clark Kent’s Smallville roots, the CW is launching a new DC hero-turned-angsty teen television series called The Graysons. According to Variety, the show follows the early years of Dick "DJ" Grayson before he becomes Robin. Smallville executive producers Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson are behind the series, as is Supernatural executive producer McG. The CW has committed to a pilot episode.

Variety is calling the show a potential replacement for Smallville should that series end this season as anticipated. The Graysons would also be a solid companion to Smallville should it return next year. Further, the move to bring another DC property onto the CW shows a sign of good faith from Warner Bros., who has a 50% investment in the network.

Fans of the character are familiar with Robin’s origin. Dick, a young acrobat, is orphaned when his parents are murdered by gangsters during their trapeze act. He’s taken in by Bruce Wayne and becomes Batman’s protege. The Graysons takes place before these events. Set in modern times, the hour-long drama will focus on young "DJ" as he faces tasks fit only for a hero of Robin’s caliber: first loves, young rivals and family. Ahem. Guess you can’t say Dick on TV?

Smallville grew out of the oroiginal producers’ desire to tell the story of yourn Bruce Wayne.  When Warner Bros. refused to let television have access to their movie franchise, they shifted gears and set their sights on Clark Kent growing up and discovering his powers.

Since then the eight seasons have seen a variety of DC heroes and villains appear, some with spin-off potential.  Among the characters already seen have been Oliver Queen (Green Arrow), A.C. Curry (Aquaman), Bart Allen (the Flash), Dinah Lance (Black Canary), Cyborg, and the Martian Manhunter.  Coming this season will be Plastique and the Legion of Super-Heroes.

In 2006, a pilot was produced for an Aquaman series much in the same vein as Smallville and the proposed The Graysons, but the CW decided not to air the program. Smart money says that even if The Graysons sees the light of day, the series won’t survive long. Part of Smallville‘s appeal is its unique spin on a superpowered adventure. Considering The Graysons is pre-Robin, it’s hard to imagine little Di–… sorry, "DJ" sharing in Clark’s success. Makes one wonder why they didn’t just go for a Bruce Wayne show. Maybe then Armie Hammer would actually have a job.

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Faith-Based Entertainment, by Elayne Riggs

  • Uncategorized
  • October 1, 2008

x-files-believe1-1-9724808White rabbits, and L’shana tova! My favorite season has finally arrived, and October is probably the best month in that season. There’s a delicious chill in the air, the leaves are already starting to turn, the Yanks have faded and the Mets have blown it (albeit on the last day this year, instead of crashing in the spectacular fashion of ’07), and I don’t much care because the new TV season is in full swing.

Not that I’m watching it much, mind you. I’ve become a not-ready-for-prime-time viewer. I spend about an hour to 90 minutes each weekday evening watching MSNBC (specifically Keith Olbermann then Rachel Maddow) on DVR delay, and the rest of the time trying in vain to catch up on my other DVR’ed programs. Between the food-themed reality shows, a few sci-fi trinkets, a smattering of sitcoms and the obligatory Stewart/Colbert one-two punch, when I finally do get up to date it’s already the weekend. I don’t even seem to have that much time any more for comics reading, considering I’ve been using my public transit commute more for light dozing than for funnybook perusal.

None of this is a complaint, it’s just an observation that, if there are any specific trends afoot, I may be slow to recognize them. But Robin thinks he’s spotted one that has me wondering if it’s not a part of a bigger shift in thinking about our entertainment.

(more…)

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