Category: News

Doctor Who Season To End With The Kitchen Sink?

The two-part finale to the 31st season of Doctor Who will feature The Daleks, The Cybermen, The Sontarans, and the return of River Song, the woman who may or may not be the Doctor’s mother. Or ex-wife. Or bookie. Whatever.

According to Digital Spy UK, producer/overseer Steven Moffet is writing both episodes, entitled The Pandorica Opens and The Big Bang. The Doctor and his assistant Amy Pond have been dealing with a large glowing crack in the space/time continuum all season, along with Amy’s neurotic betrothed. It is expected this two-parter will resolve the former storyline, if not the latter as well. With all those alien bad guys oozing around, there might not be time. Broadcast time, that is: Doctor Who is entirely about time.

The shows will air June 19 and 26th in the United Kingdom and June 26th and July 3 on BBC America. After that, the Doctor zots off to The Sarah Jane Adventures to meet his old friend and former assistant and recurring playmate…. for the first time.

Ghostbusters Bust Ghosts in New York Public Library

ghostbusters-8787806Folks sitting amongst the stacks in the New York Public Library were present for what we artist folks call a “happening”. Patrons using their laptops, searching the shelves, and researching rare facts for their reports in the Rose Reading Room were haunted by a trio of white sheeted ghosts! Who were they gonna call? Given that the NYC Library was haunted in a similar fashion back in 1984, officials were quick to call in the Ghostbusters.

Or they called Improv Everywhere, the virally-famous YouTube clan known for their No Pants Subway Rides, a Fake Ben Folds Concert, and my personal favorite, the Grocery Store Musical, amongst other ‘missions’. Improv Everywhere performed their homage to the Second City’s send-up of the paranormal to help raise awareness for the New York Public Library, which is facing a serious budget cut. A cut to the tune of 37 million dollars.  

We want to give some kudos to library’s marketing department for hooking up some some local talent to help create this viral buzz. Given what a budget cut of this size would do to the New York Public Library System, now’s the time to act. If you’d like to do your part to keep one of the countries coolest library systems in tact, you can visit their site and donate. Or if you live in the area, they are calling for a letter writing campaign as well. So, do your part, lest YOU be haunted by ghosts yourself.

Monday Mix-Up: Super Mega Zelda Contra-Vania Brothers!

<

p style=”text-align: center;”>

The fine folks at Exploding Rabbit should be given an award. What award? Heck, ANY award. Oscar? Sure. Tony? Why not? Grammy? Give em’ two. Why you ask? Because they mashed-up Super Mario Brothers with some of our favorite classic 8-bit heroes. The Rabbits took the Super Mario Brothers game, and through sheer magic (or programming, we’re not entirely sure yet) allow players to choose from Mario (meh.), Link from the Zelda series, Bill from the Contra series, Simon Belmont from the Castlevania series, Mega Man, or Samus from the Metroid series… and rip through the classic game. And folks? They got it all down pat. Each character runs and jumps like they did in their own game, come with special abilities (Samus turns into a ball, Mega Man can charge shot, Bill can shoot in 8 directions, etc.). They even balanced the game play as well, by ensuring that characters with weaponry don’t dispatch goombas and turtles without a few shots a piece. What you end up with is an amazing experience that will make you forget about 3D rendering engines and new-fangled polgyons. 

We’ve already said too much. Just visit mariocrossover.com and enjoy your misspent youth.

2010 Glyph Comics Awards

The 2010 Glyph Comics Awards were handed out Friday night at this weekend’s East Coast Black Age of Comics Con. The awards honor “the best in comics made by, for, and about people of color.”

Jay Potts and his blaxploitation webcomic World of Hurt took three of the ten awards. Aya: The Secrets Come Out and Luke Cage Noir each took two awards, while The K Chronicles by Keith Knight won for best comic strip for the fourth time in five years. Last year’s big winner, Jeremy Love’s Bayou, and our own The Original Johnson by Trevor Von Eeden were nominated for several awards but were shut out. (And yes, it was a honor just to be nominated, particularly against a field like this.)

The complete list of winners includes:

  • Story of the Year: Unknown Soldier #13-14; Joshua Dysart, writer, Pat Masioni, artist
  • Best Writer: Alex Simmons, Archie & Friends
  • Best Artist: Jay Potts, World of Hurt
  • Best Male Character: Isaiah Pastor, World of Hurt; created by Jay Potts, writer and artist
  • Best Female Character: Aya, Aya: The Secrets Come Out; created by Marguerite Abouet, writer, Clement Oubrerie, artist
  • Rising Star Award: Jay Potts, World of Hurt
  • Best Reprint Publication: Aya: The Secrets Come Out; Drawn & Quarterly
  • Best Cover: Luke Cage Noir #1; Tim Bradstreet, illustrator
  • Best Comic Strip: The K Chronicles; Keith Knight, writer and artist
  • Fan Award for Best Comic: Luke Cage Noir; Mike Benson & Adam Glass, writers, Shawn Martinbrough, artist

Can’t make it to the Nebula Awards in Florida? Teleconference from New York! UPDATED

For those in the New York City area who can’t attend tomorrow’s Nebula Awards Dinner in Cape Canaveral, Florida, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America has arranged NYC Nebula Night which will include a large-screen simulcast of the ceremony, along with a full-scale reception and dinner including an open wine bar, rib-eye steak and paella. NYC Nebula Night will be held at The SoHo Gallery for Digital Art at 138 Sullivan St. in New York, NY. Catering will be provided by Sagaponack of Chelsea. (The SGDA is owned by John Ordover, who has spent over 20 years in the science fiction field.)

The New York evening begins with a reception at the gallery from 6pm to 7pm, followed by an upscale banquet. The Simulcast is scheduled to begin between 7:00 and 7:30 as attendees in Florida and New York are being seated for dinner; from then the New York banquet will run in concert with the Florida gathering until the Nebula Awards Ceremony has concluded. Nebula Award Nominee N. K. Jemisin will be attending, her Nebula nominated story “Non-Zero Probabilities” can be read here.

The cost of the evening is $25 for SFWA members, $30 for all others; 30% of the proceeds will be donated to the SFWA Emergency Medical Fund. There are less than fifty seats left. Tickets can be purchased at http://tinyurl.com/nycnebs.

Yes, we really are living in the future now…

UPDATE: Originally had wrong prices. Fixed now. Go order.

jonah-hex-motion-comics-2710915

‘Jonah Hex’ Motion Comics available now

jonah-hex-motion-comics-2710915Before you see this year’s live action film of Jonah Hex starring Josh Brolin and Megan Fox, see the all-new Jonah Hex Motion Comics series that brings the pages of the book phenomenon to life.  Adapting Joe R. Lansdale and Timothy Truman’s Jonah Hex: Two-Gun Mojo, the series is now available on iTunes and Amazon Video with new chapters debuting each Wednesday.

Here are links to Chapter 1, Chapter 2, and Chapter 3 on iTunes, here’s the link to Amazon Video
, and here’s the trailer:

And of course, if you like the artwork of Mr. Truman, we highly recommend both GrimJack: The Manx Cat and The Black Lamb here on ComicMix.

Disney Announces ‘Alice In Wonderland’ Exhibit in Los Angeles

We call this to the attention of those living on the west coast because it sounds kind of neat:

LOS ANGELES, CA, MAY 10, 2010 – In celebration of ALICE IN WONDERLAND’S Blu-ray™ and DVD debut on June 1, 2010, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE), in partnership with Disney Consumer Products (DCP), are unveiling a first-of-its-kind Alice In Wonderland Exhibition in the FIDM Museum & Galleries at FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in downtown Los Angeles.  The exhibition is free to the public and opens on Thursday, May 27 and will run through September 30, 2010.

Fans of the film and fashion alike will find a new appreciation for the craftsmanship, artistry, and design behind the making of the costumes and merchandise at this particular exhibit that is comprised of three distinct parts: (1) Original costumes from the film designed by two time Academy Award® winning costume designer Colleen Atwood (Best Achievement in Costume Design for Memoirs of a Geisha in 2005 and Best Costume Design for Chicago in 2002),  (2) The Edgier Side of Alice inspired clothing and products from DCP and designed by a variety of celebrities, designers and fashion icons (e.g. Sue Wong, Tom Binns, Avril Lavigne, etc.), and (3) Alice inspired gowns created by FIDM designer graduates with FIDM Fashion Mentor and Instructor Nick Verreos.

Colleen Atwood’s work portrays a reinvention of the madcap look of “Alice in Wonderland” for the 21st Century.  Featured on display will be her original costumes from the film, including Johnny Depp’s original Mad Hatter fighter garment, a few of Mia Wasikowska’s Alice dresses and Helena Bonham Carter’s Red Queen Dress, as well as costume sketches, hats and props from the film. 

In addition to the original costumes on display, there will be modern-day “Edgier Side of Alice” inspired clothing, jewelry, accessories and collections designed by fashion icons such as Sue Wong, Tom Binns and Avril Lavigne.  This display by Disney Consumer Products illustrates its collaboration with these renowned designers in order to create an interpretive line that brings the allure and mystery of the film and characters to life.

FIDM will also play an active role in the exhibition. In collaboration with Disney’s fashion team, the college challenged six Designer grads to partake in a FIDM SuperLab project led by Nick Verreos (Star of “Project Runway”, Graduate and Instructor at FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and NIKOLAKI Owner/Designer).  Since the ALICE IN WONDERLAND film is all about discovery, FIDM Fashion Designers were challenged to discover their talents in the world of Alice by designing and producing couture gowns inspired by six iconic characters in the film.  Garments are couture glamour meets the red carpet – unconventional, unexpected, Alice in “Underland” – where nothing is what it seems! Their creations will be on display for all to see alongside Colleen Atwood and DCP’s collections.

Exhibition Gallery Hours & Details:

Admission to the exhibition is free of charge to the public and opens on Thursday, May 27 and runs until September 30, 2010. Gallery is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. FIDM Museum & Galleries Is located at FIDM/Fashion Institute Of Design & Merchandising, 919 S. Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90015. For more information about this exhibition, please visit FIDMmuseum.org or call 213-623-5821.

(more…)

human-target-full-cast-1178189

‘Human Target’ gets second season

human-target-full-cast-1178189With the upfront announcements for the major networks rolling out starting Monday, pick-ups and renewal notes have been arriving all week. This morning, it appears Fox has given a green light to a second season of Human Target.

The series, starring Mark Valley, Chi McBride, and  Jackie Earle Haley, debuted to positive reviews and middling ratings this spring. The first season ended on a cliffhanger with the producers hoping for a positive response. Instead, the origin story garnered the lowest ratings to date but still received the thumbs up.

While the show bears little resemblance to the Len Wein/Carmine Infantino character, it remains an enjoyable hour drama. The show will evolve a bit now that Matthew Miller, formerly co-executive producer of Chuck, will be joining the team as co-showrunner with Jonathan Steinberg.

Fox also announced a new series pick-up to Wilde Kingdom from Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz. The series will star Keri Russell, in her return to series television, alongside Will Arnett. Steve Wilde is a wealthy, self-centered Beverly Hills playboy who falls for a selfless humanitarian and hilarity ensues.

Chuck, one of our favorite series, is on the bubble but all signs point to its return to NBC. On the other hand, Greg Grunberg, one of the stars of that network’s Heroes, tweeted this morning, “The ‘Fat Lady’ is doing her vocal warm-ups!!” There had been talk of a thirteen episode wrap-up mini-season but that seems less likely now.

(more…)

‘Three Musketeers’ 3-D Film Builds Cast

Now that the Robin Hood legend has been mined once more for the screen, attention has pivoted from England to France as director Paul W.S. Anderson has begun casting for The Three Musketeers, a 3-D extravaganza.

To date, he has envisioned Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief) as his D’Artagnan with Ray Stevenson (The Book of Eli), Luke Evans (Clash of the Titans) and Matthew Macfadyen (Robin Hood) as Porthos, Athos and Aramis, respectively.

For the villains, it’ll be Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds) as Cardinal Richelieu and Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale) as Rochefort.  Orlando Bloom (Lord of the Rings) has been offered the role of the Duke of Buckingham. Milla Jovovich, Anderson’s wife, will portray Milady de Winter, Athos’ former lover.

The Alexander Dumas novel has been adapted for movies and television dating back to 1903 and was most recently seen in the crowd-pleasing 1993 Disney attempt. The Alexander Salkind two-film production is being dusted off for a Blu-ray release on June 1 from Lionsgate.

Anderson cowrote the script with Andrew Davies and the filming is expected to begin in September. Summit will release the film domestically but has yet to announce a date, which is likely to be in 2011.

This is the second modern adaptation with the other being mounted by director Doug Liman (The Bourne Ultimatum) and Warner Bros. with a 2012 release planned. No casting has been announced and this too will start shooting in the fall.

(more…)

Categories

Archives

Everything you need to make great comics!

comicmix-pro-300x69-2

Nucleus X

Bookshop Zaks