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‘Schlock Mercenary: The Teraport Wars’ Coming in October

  • News
  • September 9, 2008

Schlock Mercenary: The Teraport Wars is now available for pre-order. The Teraport Wars is the fourth collection of Schlock Mercenary strips to make it into publication; in true George Lucas style, Book 3 and Book 4 were released first. This book fits between The Tub of Happiness and Under New Management, and with it the first 1000 strips are available four hard-copy volumes.

This 228-page volume is in full color on glossy paper, and contains all the strips and footnotes from November 12th of 2001 through March 8th of 2003. It also features some new footnotes, commentary, guest art, concept art, deck plans for the Post-Dated Check Loan, eleven pages of all-new bonus story, and an introduction by Brandon Sanderson. The book is expected to ship October 9.

Schlock Mercenary is a webcomic by Howard Tayler that follows the adventures of a mercenary company aboard a starship in a 31st-century space opera setting. Schlock Mercenary updates daily at http://www.schlockmercenary.com/, and has been doing so continuously since June of 2000, a near-unheard-of feat in webcomics. Schlock Mercenary was previously featured on Keenspot, and is now a member of the Blank Label Comics consortium.
 

‘Dark Reign’ Descends on Marvel Universe

  • News
  • September 9, 2008

Last night, Marvel hosted a presentation during Diamond Comics Distributors’ retailer summit in Las Vegas, Nevada, where their next big crossover was announced. Writer Brian Michael Bendis took the stage and said Dark Reign will shine a spotlight on the Marvel Universe in the wake of Secret Invasion, which concludes in November.

Similar to SI, the titles participating in Dark Reign will carry distinctive trade dress.

With the Skrull invasion of Earth reaching its climax, Bendis took the opportunity to discuss how the Avengers titles, which he writes, will be altered.  He announced his departure from Mighty Avengers after issue #20 to move to yet another spin-off, Dark Avengers. Joining him will be Mike Deodato, who just left illustrating Thunderbolts.

Bendis also promised his next series with artist Alex Maleev, Spider-Woman: Agent of SWORD, was still forthcoming.

Marvel went on to formally announce a new Ultimates title, Ultimate Avengers, from writer Mark Millar, which can be expected during the first quarter of 2009. With the revamping of the Ultimates universe forthcoming, this is likely the replacement for The Ultimates.

Confirming that the black and white teasers that have been around for weeks now are something new, they announced Marvel Noir, a new sub-imprint that will kick off with X-Men and Spider-Man titles. No creative teams, format or scheduling was mentioned.

terminator-season-2-2363631

Review: ‘Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles’

By Allan Lamberti

terminator-season-2-2363631Easily one of the highest anticipated returns for this fall season, Terminator has been a franchise that has kept fans interested since the mid 80’s (despite the backlash against the third film). When the television series was announced, fan curiosity piqued immediately, and we all became hooked to the all-too-short first season. From the clever time-traveling aspect of the pilot (that does in fact work well within the continuity of the films), straight through to the awkward season finale (clearly shortened due to the writer’s strike), they sold the fans on another season to watch the continuing saga of the Connor family.

The first episode of this season, entitled “Samson and Delilah,” gets off to an interesting start. Picking up immediately where the first season ended, a group of men attack Sarah (Lena Headey), John (Thomas Dekker), and terminator Cameron (Summer Glau). The men are killed, but as a result of the battle, Cameron’s chip is damaged and her mission has been altered from protecting John to terminating him. Ms. Glau, doing her best Schwarzenegger impression from the first film, is hunting them through the streets while they are injured and on the run. We also see the return of Derek Reese (Brian Austin Green) who is hiding in Sarah’s former lover’s ambulance hoping to get the Connor’s to safety before Cameron finds them. FBI Agent Ellison (Richard T. Jones) returns, as does the other terminator Cromartie (Garret Dillahunt, who has been promoted to series regular). We also meet Shirley Manson of the band Garbage, seemingly playing an evil corporate version of herself.

The good: the action and effects budget has certainly been amped up for this season, a very good sign that Fox actually has some faith in the show continuing on for a longer run. The actors have also grown into their roles a lot more. Ms. Headey is still very capable in her interpretation as Sarah, while Mr. Dekker is gradually becoming a better future-leader John Connor. Ms. Glau’s Cameron actually behaved far more like a “classic” terminator should, slow-moving and menacing – my guess is that the show runners made the decision to tone down the more comical aspects of her from last season and make her more like the film terminators we’ve come to enjoy. While Cameron’s “panic” and begging while pinned between the two trucks was becoming slightly ridiculous and stupid, thankfully the writers had John do the right thing in not listening to her.
 

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Waiting For The Phone To Ring, by Dennis O’Neil

  • Uncategorized
  • September 9, 2008

money-7756500So here we were, writer/editor Jack C. Harris and myself, caught in a warp of eternity. Had we committed some hideous transgression to be doomed to this Purgatory? Well, no. What we’d done is agree to be guests on a radio call-in program about 30 years ago. Subject, of course: comic books.

We arrived at the small, shadowy studio early, earlier than the host, who breezed in a minute or so before air time and then, without notes, he was speaking into a microphone, introducing Jack and me, urging listeners to ask us questions and giving a phone number they could call if they wanted to speak to one or both of us.

We waited for that ol’ switchboard to light up. And waited. And waited. And waited. It seemed that nobody was interested in comic books, not that night in that city. We waited, and tried to make small talk, which I do not include in my skill set, and waited and waited.

Then there was a call! Hallelujah! Oh joy, oh happiness – a call! For us? Unfortunately, no. Some guy wanted to tout a community event of some sort, and fine, say I – more power to him.

There may have been one or two more calls – as noted, this was 30 years ago and I had no reason to cherish the memories – but basically, Jack, Mr. Radio Man, and I sat in that studio for two hours and then Jack and I left and I got on a train back to New York.

Got on the Amtrak, did I, little knowing that Jack, Radio Man and I were pioneers. What we’d done was fill up airtime without imparting any information, without saying anything anyone wanted or needed to hear

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New ‘Watchmen’ Production Diary

  • News
  • September 9, 2008

In the sixth production diary to be released, director Zack Snyder and his gang reveal some of the techniques utilized in filming Watchmen. In related Watchmen news, DC Comics has printed nearly one million new copies of the collected edition and you can barely enter a retail outlet of any kidn without seeing it on sale.  Speaking of sales, Tower Records is offering it at less than 50% cover price while Things From Another World has it for exactly 50% off. Its sales remain brisk and it remains the number one graphic novel and number two book in Literature & Fiction at Amazon.

 

 

‘Iron Man 2’ Auction to Support Cancer Charity

  • News
  • September 9, 2008

Marvel Comics is continuing its support of Stand Up To Cancer by offering an Iron Man 2 Vip Package over at eBay. Similar to the just concluded Spider-Man 4 auction, the winner and a guest will receive:

A one day visit to the set, a walk on part documented by the unit photographer, tickets to the Los Angeles premiere of the film in April 2010 and a chance to walk the red carpet. 

Earlier today, the bidding was in excess of $5000 and the auction ends on September 15.

Early Review: ‘Fringe’

  • Uncategorized
  • September 9, 2008

FringeLong gone is the time when great science fiction programming came in two categories; Star Trek spinoff and everything else. Today, those categories have been split into dozens more, including things like superheroes, time travel, or even the occasional futuristic evil robot plot. Fringe seems to take just about all of the elements that fans have loved over the years of watching X-Files, Heroes, and Lost and purées them into an hour long drama that will inevitably go over the heads of millions of viewers.

From creator J.J. Abrams (Lost, Alias), Fringe follows the structure of too-curious-for-her-own-good government agent (Anna Torv) and the estranged son who must suffer from his father’s evil schemes (Joshua Jackson) solving mysteries surrounding a string of DNA that could “change humanity as we know it”. While the structure may not sound that boring, the actors make sure to help that point.

Anna Torv’s Olivia Dunham leaves enough room for a tractor to fit in her enthusiasm factor. She, along with everyone in the series, seems to be playing this out like it will be the next Lost, trying not to emote too much, because who knows where their character may lead in a season or two. This is a nice return to primetime TV for Joshua Jackson, seeing as how the last time we saw him, he was hanging around a creek. He plays the cunning-yet-brash son of the evil Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble). There is room for plenty of father-son and even lover-dead lover drama, which eats up about half of the pilot.

The story loses steam when they introduce the stereotypical “evil corporation with a secret that controls the government” subplot. This will more than likely become the center of the entire series, if it even gets the chance to unravel that plot. Throw in a few cameos from Abrams’ other shows, and you’ve got a nice little vehicle to keep naive Lost fans happy until mid January.

The concept of DNA manipulation and secret government cover-ups is no longer flashy and original to an audience of modern primetime television. Add that in with more Lost-esque ambiguity and a very weak leading role, this show doesn’t look to be going too far. Fox has already ordered 13 episodes of the series, but those who know Fox’s M.O. when it comes to new series know that it will take a miracle if Fringe even makes it past three episodes. The network is infamous for dumping shows at the first sign of a bad review or bored expression, and this show is just asking for one-if not both of those conclusions. RATING: 6/10

Fringe premiers on Fox Tuesday, September 9 at 8pm Eastern.
 

Smith Wants Rogen as New Super-Hero

  • Uncategorized
  • September 8, 2008

kevin-smith-heroes-origins-7671124Director Kevin Smith told Sci Fi Wire that he wants to cast Seth Rogen in an original superhero movie.

"First, I’m going to do a 180 turn and do a horror movie called Red State," Smith said while attending the Toronto International Film Festival. His latest film, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, screened their and stars Rogen along with Elizabeth Banks. "It’s going to be a total horror-political-psychological movie without a funny line in it. Then I’m going to do the science fiction super-hero movie. It’s going to be an original super-hero that I’ve created. It’s stewing right now. I want to do it, though, and, God willing, it will star Seth Rogen."

Rogen is also set to cowrite and star in Sony’s The Green Hornet film, coming in summer 2010.

The Wire report also quoted Smith as saying, "I haven’t written a comic book for about three years, but I am going to write a Batman soon." The project, Batman: Cacophony was a surprise announcement during the summer convention season and has already been solicited for release this November.  Artwork is said to be from Walt Flanagan with covers from Adam Kubert and Andy Kubert. The story promises the return of Onomatopoeia, his villain from his run on Green Arrow along with Batman rogues Mr. Zsasz and the Joker. One can only hope he’s actually started writing by now.
 

‘Blackest Night’ stealing ‘Final Crisis’ thunder? by Alan Kistler

  • News
  • September 8, 2008

flash-three-generations-7506952

The major event in DC Comics in 2008 is Final Crisis, written by Grant Morrison. Unlike many summer crossovers, Final Crisis is not its own event so much as the third story of a trilogy (the first two stories being the crossovers The Crisis On Infinite Earths and Infinite Crisis).

The opening premise is that all of the New Gods (celestial beings who inhabit a higher dimension) recently seemed to die, except for Darkseid, leader of the evil New Gods. Darkseid has found a way to survive through human hosts, his power fueled by the faith of his new followers under the prophet Libra. Determined to become ruler of reality, he has been resurrecting his sinister forces (an ability Kirby established decades ago) by placing their life-forces in new bodies as well. And since he has now learned the powerful "Anti-Life Equation", a prize he has sought for centuries, he is able to destroy free will in any who hear the equation, thus creating a new army of slaves.

So evil god-like forces have been freely walking among us and because the super-heroes didn’t realize it, they’ve been vulnerable to sneak attacks and manipulations. In short order, John Stewart, Hal Jordan, Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman were all removed from the game board in one way or another.

But this is a Morrison story so that means there are usually layers to be peeled away. There are other things going on as a result of Darkseid now attempting to break the universe down to serve his will. There is, of course, the matter of the Multiversal Monitors, beings charged with maintaining the structure of the multiverse, one of whom is also living among us as a mortal man, unaware of his true nature. And there is the return of Barry Allen, the second Flash, a hero who became energy and merged with the universe even while saving it during the first Crisis over twenty years ago. Barry’s sacrifice saved the universe during that story and in DC Universe #0, it’s implied that the universe itself has brought him back so that he can save it again. It’s also possible he is here as a reactionary force to Libra, who is his opposite number in the sense that this a villain who also seemingly died years while merging with the cosmos.

And Libra and Barry are not the only dead men to show up in this story.

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NBC Commissions new Muppet Holiday Special

  • News
  • September 8, 2008

The Muppets will be first returning to television before the Big Screen.  NBC has announced the production of Letters to Santa — A Muppets Christmas for this holiday season. This will be the third holiday themed special following a 1970s hour with John Denver and a 1980s effort. They also adapted Charles Dickens’ immortal tale in A Muppet Christmas Carol in 1992.

This one will be set once again on Christmas Eve as Kermit and company discover three errant letters to Santa.  They take it upon themselves to handle the requests so the writers don’t have a spoiled Christmas. Joining in on the fun will be Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Sirico and Steve Schirripa from The Sopranos, Richard Griffiths and Madison Pettis.

Paul Williams will supply news songs according to The Hollywood Reporter.  No airdate has been provided.

As for their feature film careers, Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller are at work on a script which Stoller would direct.  Their story has the Muppets rally to save an old theatre from a greedy oilman. While announced in March, no further details have emerged.
 

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