Don’t you just hate it when work interferes with work? It’s a sure sign that you’re working too hard.
I am rarely accused of this. Nonetheless, it’s late Tuesday, my column goes up early Wednesday, and I’ve got more work stuff I’ve got to do. So, instead of the well-researched, rabid screaming think piece that surgically eviscerates the comic book world as we know it today, I’m going to share with you some stuff I love.
There was a time when comics fans were in touch with related media such as illustration art, pulp magazines, science fiction, old time radio and newspaper comic strips. This was a time that preceded the mega-million dollar superhero motion pictures in which many fans find their legitimacy. No, what we had were movie serials. Most of them preceded comic books per se, but not those media noted above that were our cultural forbearers. Some of these serials were a lot of fun. A couple were brilliant. Most were crap, but, to be fair, Sturgeon’s Revelation – 90% of anything is crap – is as vital today as it was when he stated it around 1958.
Keeping this in mind, and acknowledging one person’s crap might be another person’s holy grail, I want to share with you some of the heroic fantasy serials I deem worthy of attention.
We’ll start with what I regard as the best superhero serial of them all: the above-illustrated Adventures of Captain Marvel. Well acted, well written, fairly faithful to the Fawcett comic book, and featuring special effects that were quite good for their time and minuscule budget.
Whereas we’ve had a lot of other superhero serials, including the surprisingly well-made Spy Smasher (another Fawcett hero), the second-rate The Phantom, the third-rate Batman serials, and the god-it-truly-sucks Captain America serial, my second favorite are the two Superman serials, particularly the second, Atom Man Vs. Superman… Atom Man being none other than Lex Luthor. Superman was played by Kirk Alyn, who later had the lead in the pathetic Blackhawk serial (for one thing, the Blackhawk serial really didn’t have any air fight scenes). Noel Neill, who reprised the role in the 1950s teevee series, played Lois Lane.
A lot of fans dislike these serials because the flying scenes were animated. Animated not like Ray Harryhausen, animated like Hanna-Barbera. I suspect kids in the late 1940s didn’t have a problem with it, as it really isn’t that bad. Ms. Neill was the perfect Lois, and she continues to hold that title to this day. Kirk Alyn was fine as Superman, kind of cute as Clark Kent, and in costume he looked better than anybody save Christopher Reeve. An oddity: Lex Luthor was played by Lyle Talbot, who also played Jim Gordon in the second Batman serial as well as a major part in The Vigilante serial, based on DC’s long-running Action Comics feature. He also appeared in an uncountable number of television shows.
There’s more. A lot more. Really good ones such as The Shadow, The Spider, and the best of the bunch, Flash Gordon.
Next week.
Sega has pulled out all the stops for the new entries in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Not only are there two new games for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, Sonic fans have been treated to a new animated cartoon on Cartoon Network and a new title from Archie Comics, for a total of four if you count the magazine-sized Sonic Super Special. Not bad for a game series that over two decades long.
So you can’t expect me to review just one of them, can you?
The thing I love about voice actors is that even if you don’t know their names or faces, you will “know that voice.” And considering voice actor Eric Bauza was responsible for one of my favorite scenes in the voice actor documentary I Know That Voice, I’m super glad that I not only know that voice, but got to interview it (and the man behind it!) at this year’s New York Comic Con.
Eric, who hails from Canada and began his animation career as a character designer who also did animatics, is now most known for the legacy voice of Marvin the Martian from The Looney Tunes Show and for a myriad of other great voices, including Tiger Claw on the current Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, Foop on The Fairly OddParents, Belly Bag on Uncle Grandpa, Buhdeuce on Breadwinners, Amadeus Cho on Ultimate Spider-Man and Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher, Lord Stingray on Superjail!, and The Bear on Adventure Time.
You can see clips from many of the shows he’s done on his <a href=”
“>demo reel. He also is no slouch intellectually, as his longtime friend told me (while Eric was off looking for coffee or somesuch) that Eric was his high school’s valedictorian (and also a very good and humble friend, and an inveterate prankster). How’s that for a well-rounded, talented guy?
To learn more about the awesomeness that is Eric Bauza, check out our <a href=”
“>super-fun NYCC interview, where we talk about how he got started in the voice acting business, his experiences doing some of his favorite voices, what it’s like working with the voices he’d grown up with (like Rob Paulsen, Maurice LaMarche, Billy West, Grey DeLisle, Jeff Bennett, Jim Cummings, and Tara Strong), the experience of doing a legacy voice, and much more.
And until next time, Servo Lectio!
The image of Icon to the left was on Arsenio Hallâs Facebook page last week. Thereâs a funny story behind that. Well, its funny to me.
I like Arsenio. I like him a lot. Iâve met him a few times but we are by no means boys. Whenever I see him Iâd like to think he remembers me but I think heâs just being polite. Each and every time I run into him, what strikes me is how polite and straight up real the man is.
Polite, straight up and real is raised to another level by a woman of his staff. What level? Putting it as politely as I can, sheâs a straight up bitch, for real.
That level.
I was invited to the Arsenio show some months ago. Guests on the show that day included Don Cheadle and Billy D. Williams. Itâs fair to say each have earned countless distinctive accolades but some praise could easily apply to both. Each is respected as wonderful actors from a legion of fans. They get the sex symbol nod from others and many only see two cool as fuck badass mofoâs.
Every geek and nerd sees little or none of that above noise. They donât see Don Cheadle and Billy D. Williams hardly or at all. Itâs War Machine and the greatest Black Science Fiction character to ever grace the big screen, Lando Calrissian who they see and thatâs who I saw when I made a beeline for Billy Dâs dressing room.
So, there I was talking some, down right, up right, San Diego Comic Con and Black Panel smack to Billy, his manager and agent both who knew of the panel and me.
That was cool.
Billy knew me also, well kind of. Each time I see him at some event or party, I tell him if he attended The High School Of Art & Design, my school, instead of the much inferior High School Of Music & Art, heâd be a successful artist today. Instead of having to fall back on that âactingâ bullshit. No, I never mention I know heâs a successful painter, which would ruin a running joke nearly 20 years old.
But I digress and every time I do, Peter David gets a check a angel gets his wings and more readers get sick of reading that.
Where was I?
Where I was, about to finalize plans to honor Billy D at The Black Panel, was his dressing room, invited in by Mr. Williams himself. Then, she who would have been named but Iâm not without mercy, entered and that, as they say, is all she wrote.
No idea what her title was for the show but she seemed like she was the senior, Self Hating Unhappy Negro â or SHUN. SHUN ignored my backstage credentials, ignored Billy’s agent’s assurances I was invited to be there, and in no uncertain terms told me to leave Mr. Williams alone. I tried to talk to her, Billy’s agent tried even Billy tried. She refused to believe I was not some lowly actor out to sweat Mr. Williams.
Waving a finger a hair away from my face she informed me I was one more sentence away from security being called. She was about one more inch from me becoming that nigger, but I decided against it.
No clue how I walked the fuck away without another word. I was so fucking livid I had to get out of there as my heart was racing and Iâm sure my blood pressure was dangerously high and, honest to god, I felt my head was going to burst a blood vessel.
I left the building but by the time I reached my car someone from the show called my cell hoping I was still on the lot. It seems someone told SHUN who the fuck I was and just what the fuck I was there for in the place. Hint: it wasn’t to stalk Billy D. No idea to this day who I talked to but for their trouble they received a fuck you so loud it shattered the last bit of shield my brain was using to ward off a migraine and I didnât care.
This level of pissed is rare. Even for me.
This was a big deal. You may not see it as such but yes, yes it is. Not for most reasons you would think I think. All my wrath and indignation is not towards this woman, my anger has little to do with her or what she did to me.
My anger is rooted in Black Hollywood and our rush to destroy what little we have.
Many in Black Hollywood, forget we are Black in Hollywood and Iâm about to remind them.
End of Part 1.
There is no shortage of comic properties on network TV this year, but one that may have escaped your attention is NBC’s CONSTANTINE. Executive Producers David S. Goyer and Daniel Cerrone talk about their plans for the future, where it all fits into DC’s New 52 Continuity and how they want to continue to make it the truest comic adaptation ever to hit the small screen.
THE POINT covers it 24/7! Take us ANYWHERE on ANY mobile device (Apple or Android). Just get the free app, iNet Radio in The iTunes App store – and it’s FREE! The Point Radio – 24 hours a day of pop culture fun. GO HERE and LISTEN FREE – and follow us on Twitter @ThePointRadio.
Burbank, CA (November 13, 2014) – In the follow-up to LEGO® Batman, The Movie: DC Super Heroes Unite, the Justice League is newly solidified yet faces a peculiar set of villains when Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation, DC Entertainment and The LEGO Group release LEGO® DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League on Blu-rayTM Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD on February 10, 2015. The Blu-rayTM and DVD releases will include an exclusive Batzarro LEGO Minifigure on-pack, while supplies last.
LEGO® DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League will be available on Blu-rayTM Combo Pack for $24.98 SRP and on DVD for $19.98 SRP. The Blu-rayTM Combo Pack includes a digital version of the movie on Digital HD with UltraViolet.* Fans can also own LEGO® DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League in Digital HD on February 10 via purchase from digital retailers.
Batman has joined the newly formed Justice League in order to keep tabs on Superman, a mistrust that is complicated by Superman’s clumsy – but well-meaning – clone, Bizarro. Bizarro’s creation of the Bizarro League has caused confusion amongst the world’s greatest Super Heroes, but an even greater and mysterious threat may force the Justice League and Bizarro League to band together to defeat evil.
“Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is thrilled to release LEGO® DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League on Blu-rayTM and DVD,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, WBHE Vice President, Family & Animation Marketing and Partner Brands. “Fans of the LEGO® DC Comics Super Heroes movie franchise can experience the Justice League battling all-new foes in this action-packed and hilarious film.”
LEGO® DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League Special Features include:
DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION ELEMENTS
LEGO® DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League will be available for streaming and download to watch anywhere in high definition and standard definition on their favorite devices from select digital retailers including Amazon, CinemaNow, Flixster, iTunes, PlayStation, Target Ticket, Vudu, Xbox and others. Starting February 10, LEGO® DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League will also be available digitally on Video On Demand services from cable and satellite providers, and on select gaming consoles.
Make no mistake – the box says Batman 3, but this is clearly the DC response to the Marvel Lego Super Heroes game from last year. With over 150 heroes and villains, an oncoming storm of DLC, and a sweeping plotline, this is the biggest look at the Lego DC Universe yet.
The title says “Beyond Gotham” and they follow up straight away – the opening video features the six Lantern Corps that aren’t green. Sinestro, Star Sapphire, Saint Walker and Larfleeze start off bickering but are quickly defeated and put under the thrall of the game’s Big Bad, Brainiac. In only the opening levels of the game the narrative moves from an underground battle against Killer Croc to a outer space where Batman and Robin team up with fellow Justice Leaguers Flash, Cyborg and the Martian Manhunter.
All the Lego games bear some common concepts – the characters fight and puzzle their way through various levels based on the narrative of the story the game is based on, a list so far including Star Wars, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean. Everything is awesome destructible, the debris revealing “studs”, the common coin of the Lego realm, which can be used in between levels to purchase new playable characters. Various characters have different powers – some can fly, some can shoot fire – and each power will allow the player access to different parts of the levels. Since many characters and powers are not available at the start of the game, the replay value of the series is impressive, nearly exhausting for those insist on chasing the virtual dragon that is the elusive 100% completion rating.
One of the joys of each successive Lego game is to see what new gameplay is created, and what features are pulled from previous entries in the various series. The interchangeable specialty suits make a welcome return from previous Bat-games, not only for Batman and Robin, but other heroes like Cyborg. The score multiplier from the Marvel game has been added, and quite useful; too – the number of studs needed to fill the “True Hero” bar on most levels are painstakingly high. Where Marvel had Stan Lee hidden amongst the levels for you to save, Batman 3 fills that role with the finest Bat-Actor to ever draw breath, Adam West. Flying characters hake an appearance, including the first large-size mini-figs like the giant true form of the Martian Manhunter and Arkillo of the Yellow Lantern Corps.
The breadth and depth of characters in the game is truly staggering. From the A-list JLA members to the mid-carders like Blue Beetle and Booster Gold, even villains for the other heroes to fight, like The Cheetah and the Rainbow Raider. Guest stars from past the fourth wall are a new addition – DC creators Geoff Johns and Jim Lee get the mini-fig treatment, as do Conan O’Brien and Kevin Smith. In addition to his cameos as a hapless actor in distress, Adam West also voices the Batman from the classic 1966 TV series (now out on DVD) in a special level, complete with retro Batcave and minifig design, and the comic-booky sound effects that have so inextricably affixed themselves to any news media coverage of comics.
But they don’t stop there. This game ties into Batman’s 75th anniversary, and as such pulls in characters and suits from many media. In addition to the Batman suits from the movies, Batman Beyond is featured in the game, along with his villains like Inque. Batman The Animated Series gets a tp of the hat with The Gray Ghost, and of all people, Condiment King, and Brave and the Bold brings us the Music Meister.
In a first, the cast of the WB’s hit series Arrow appear in the game, with voice provided by Stephen Amell. Felicity Smoak, Malcolm Merlyn and the Huntress will be making an appearance in a DLC pack. But if I had to choose the single most WTF-y included character, it’d have to be The Green Loontern, AKA Daffy Duck, AKA Duck Dodgers from the episode of the TV series where Dodgers accidentally got Hal Jordan’s laundry by mistake. THAT’S what I call obscure.
In addition to the common design and base gameplay, surely the most beloved common feature of the Lego games is their wacky sense of humor, and this game does not disappoint. In addition to the wonderful and fun plot and dialogue, be on the lookout for endless throwaway gags in the background. As Hawkman (or is he?) enters the Hall of Justice, he passes various souvenir stands dedicated to the heroes, including an Aquaman booth choked
with unsold merchandise. Or as Princess Diana takes to the air, the classic Wonder Woman TV show theme starts to play.
It is not unreasonable to say that there are those who are playing each and every Lego game because of their love of the series, over and above the licensed property that the latest game based itself on. This game will satisfy both Bat-Fans and Legomaniacs alike.
Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham is available for all current Xbox, Playstation and Nintendo platforms and handhelds.
“Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick.” – Gwyneth Paltrow
“I fought a killer and didn’t even smudge my makeup.” – Rose Pressey, Flip that Haunted House
After a fun time with my grandson – soon to be 14 months old! What’s that saying about time flying? – on Friday at Gymboree, I drove over to Sephora to buy some concealer for my 61 year-old under-eye bags and of course ended up spending too much money on other shit that I probably didn’t need and which I justified by telling myself that I hadn’t splurged on said self in a year so stop worrying and learn to love the bomb, as Kubrick so aptly put it.
Anyway, driving home I got to wondering about what kind of skin care and make-up the superheroes use.
There are dozens – hundreds? – of mascaras that claim to be waterproof (though I’ve never used one that stands up to the pool or the ocean) and that will stand up to the most exhausting and sweat-inducing workouts and ultra-triathlons. There are dozens – hundreds? – of foundations and blushes and lipsticks and eye shadows made by companies, from deluxe department store brands to those found on a drugstore carousel rack, that claim to “lasts all day!,” withstanding everything from a walk in a tropical monsoon in Mumbai to a passionate, epic 24 hour tumble between the sheets. And there dozens – hundreds? – of skin care products promising to turn back the clock and/or replace more invasive products like Botox or Juvaderm or – going all the way – cosmetic surgery.
So what does a superwoman wear while she’s pummeling – and being pummeled by – her equally meta-powered enemy? Surely Superman needs a little styling gel to keep those oh-so-sexy Kryptonian curls and waves mussed in just the right places?
After all, no super hero wants to be seen with puffy, dark-circled eyes and a turkey neck. Doesn’t inspire much confidence in the civilians to be seen looking “tired and drab” when you set out to stop the latest threat to Earth.
WHOOSH! The Flash needs help. Yeah, that – ahem – flashy red suit of his is designed to withstand the friction and wind he creates as he rushes to help, sometimes hitting velocities beyond the sound barrier. But what does he use to prevent the certain skin damage to his wind burned and chapped cheeks, chin, and lips?
Speaking of skin care, here’s some other meta-human types that could some help with their epidermis:
If looking delectable and gorgeous is part of the “brand” of taking on super villains, do ultra-women deliberately choose to look their best as they beat the crap out of some megalomaniac with phasers and lasers or even “old-fashioned” dirty bombs and plans for world domination as a subtle means to throw their villains off their games? Think about it. Wouldn’t, say, Arcade, so taken with Storm’s exotic beauty, deliberately lower the level of “play” in his Murderworld so as the woman wouldn’t be too bruised or battered?
Or, on the other hand, would Diana’s Amazonian beauty, enhanced with the understated mineral powder foundation and bronzer, the finest kohl eyeliner, the warmest clay lipstick offered by the cosmeticians of Themiscrya, only work to throw Barbara Minerva, aka the Cheetah, into a jealous frenzy of the nth degree, giving her even more of an excuse to rip her talons into Wonder Woman’s face?
Maybe the Grecian powerhouse should rethink her look when she’s up against women who hate her.
Yeah, if I lived in the alternate realities of Marvel and DC and Image, et. al., and I was a smart marketing or R&D executive at Lancôme or MAC or Estee Lauder or Maybelline or Revlon or Urban Decay, et.al., I’d convince my bosses to develop a line of skin care products and make-up specifically tailored to the super set.
And if it’s good for them, just think of what it would do for us working slobs.
Talk about product placement!
![BOX 1[1]](https://i0.wp.com/comicmix.com//wp-content/uploads/2014/11/BOX-11-e1416016378211.png?resize=300%2C300&quality=80)
Title: Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Developer: 343 Industries
Format: Blu-ray for the Xbox One video game and entertainment system; Xbox Live-enabled
ESRB rating: M for Mature
Exclusive to the launch event of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Hydro74 created four different designs celebrating the launch of each of the previous Halo titles – Halo CE, Halo 2, Halo 3 and Halo 4.
About the Artist: Hydro74, is a Orlando based designer, otherwise known as Joshua M. Smith who created this poster. Joshua’s unique vector design style is highly recognizable, with a heavy dose of animals, skulls, gothic ornaments, pop culture and lettering. With his “say it how it is” attitude, Hydro74’s career is focused on pushing the boundaries of what is relevant to the market, extracting elements and trends, and offering them up in his personal and client work. His only goal is to be the best in what he does and to own it with a high sense of pride the craft.
Product overview: Halo: The Master Chief Collection offers the complete story of “Halo’s” legendary hero, the Master Chief, for the first time on one console, including an entirely re-mastered version of Halo 2 – Halo 2: Anniversary – in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the fan-favorite classic.*
Halo: The Master Chief Collection brings the ultimate Halo collection together (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary Halo 3 and Halo 4) with a unified Master Menu that features every campaign chapter unlocked, enabling fans to experience the Master Chief’s story and “Halo’s” legendary multiplayer like never before. Play “Halo” your way, with curated playlists from the campaign and more than 100 multiplayer and Spartan Ops maps from across all four “Halo” titles.
Every game in Halo: The Master Chief Collection is visually enhanced for Xbox One, with “Halo 2: Anniversary” featuring a fully re-mastered campaign. All four games will run at 60 frames per second on dedicated servers.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection also includes access to the new live-action digital series, Halo: Nightfall, and the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta, which are launching in late 2014.
Features:
The Complete Master Chief Story – Honoring the iconic hero and his epic journey, the Master Chief’s entire story is brought together in one package, on one console with Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Delivering a total of 45 campaign missions from Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3 and Halo 4, all unlocked from the very beginning, Halo: The Master Chief Collection showcases improved visual fidelity running at 60 frames per second in every game, with Halo 2: Anniversary featuring a graphically re-mastered campaign. Including new prologue and epilogue cut-scenes foreshadowing Halo 5: Guardians, this is the collection “Halo” fans have been waiting for, all on Xbox One.
“Legendary” Halo Multiplayer – Featuring more than 100 multiplayer and Spartan Ops maps from across all four Halo titles (Halo: Combat Evolved maps playable on Xbox Live for the first time) running on their original multiplayer engines, Halo: The Master Chief Collection offers unprecedented choice to enhance your Halo multiplayer experience. Using the Master Menu, select from curated playlists of your favorite Halo multiplayer maps and game types, and then go to battle with your fellow Spartans on dedicated servers.
Halo 2: Anniversary – Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, the iconic fan favorite returns, featuring a visually re-mastered campaign with “Classic Mode,” which allows you to instantly switch between the re-mastered game and the original from 2004, as well as all-new cut-scenes. Uncover new story elements in hidden terminal videos, and utilize all new skulls to experience the campaign in a whole new way. Play the game that defined online multiplayer on consoles with all 25 original Halo 2 multiplayer maps, just as fans remember them, plus 6 completely re-imagined “Halo 2” maps.
Master Menu – Seamlessly navigate the Master Chief’s story and customize your multiplayer experience across more than 100 maps using the all-new Master Menu. Play all four completely unlocked campaigns, beginning to end, or jump from mission to mission across each game in any order you choose. Enjoy cross title themed campaign playlists created by the game’s designers for new fun and challenging experiences, and easily find and play your favorite multiplayer game types from multiplayer and Spartan Ops maps. It’s everything “Halo,” on your terms, simplified.
New Halo: Nightfall Live-Action Digital Series – A strange and treacherous world exposes elite UNSC operatives to a much deeper danger in this live-action series from 343 Industries and Scott Free Productions. Executive-produced by Ridley Scott and Scott Free TV President David Zucker and directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan (Battlestar Galactica Pillars of the Earth, Heroes), Halo: Nightfall”is an exciting new story for Halo fans and new audiences alike.
Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta – Be among the first to experience a new generation of “Halo” multiplayer in the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta. Gear up for the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta by unlocking exclusive content in “Halo: The Master Chief Collection” and Halo: Nightfall. These exclusive items will carry over into Halo 5: Guardians.
Columns / Glenn Hauman / News
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