Christmas | ComicMix

Mark Millar Churns the ‘Superman’ Rumors

News
July 2, 2008

If you read this story in the Scottish Daily Record, you might think the next Superman movie is on the verge. After talking about the success of Wanted and other properties, Mark Millar essentially said he was doing a Superman movie and it was set for 2011.

"Since I was a kid I’ve always wanted to reinvent Superman for the 21st century.

"I’ve been planning this my entire life. I’ve got my director and producer set up, and it’ll be 2011. This is how far ahead you have to think.

"The Superman brand is toxic after that last movie lost $200million, but in 2011 we’re hoping to restart it.

"Sadly I can’t say who the director is, but we may make it official by Christmas.

"But fingers crossed it could work out, that would be my lifetime’s dream."

Kevin Melrose kept tabs on the claim as it spread through Millar’s message board, and seemed a little farther from reality with each passing day, culminating with "it’s not even close to happening yet."

There’s nothing new at all to grandiose claims from Millar that end up as bunk — this is the same guy who claimed Civil War was the best-selling comic of the past 15 years, then didn’t hold up his promise when proven wrong.

But there’s something about all this that really bothers me, as Millar seems to have a nagging habit of being reckless with the truth, if not outright pathological.

Take the claim that he’s "always wanted to reinvent Superman for the 21st century" since he was a kid. Except, he was a kid in the 20th century.

The Religious Implications of ‘Doctor Who’

News
June 6, 2008

Various news sites are reporting that church leaders in England are studying the "religious parallels" between the BBC television series Doctor Who and certain themes of Christianity.

According to Telegraph:

They have been urged to use examples from the programme in their sermons in an attempt to make Christianity more relevant to teenagers.

At a conference last week, vicars watched Doctor Who clips that were said to illustrate themes of resurrection, redemption and evil.

It analysed the similarities between the Doctor and Christ, and whether daleks are capable of change.

The reports mention a few other examples, including The Doctor’s time-travelling TARDIS as a representation of a church and, as Wired blog "The Underwire" pointed out, they both appear in Christmas specials.

Jon Sable, Freelance: Nuke New York?

News
April 8, 2008

Ah, Christmas in New York! The decorations, the good will, the beautiful tree in Rockefeller Center! In today’s brand-new episode of Jon Sable, Freelance: Ashes of Eden, by Mike Grell, the city is all that and more — because the terrorist Bashira has a nuclear weapon, and Jon and Maggie have to find her in time!

Credits:Glenn Hauman (Colorist), Glenn Hauman (Assistant Editor), John Workman (Letterer), Mike Gold (Editor), Mike Grell (Artist), Mike Grell (Writer), Shannon Weaver (Colorist)

More: Jon Sable Freelance: Ashes of Eden

Not-Quite-Random Video: The Muppets Do ‘Danny Boy’

News
March 16, 2008

So there I was, sitting around LunaCon today, wondering when Jameson’s Irish Whiskey became the universal drink of science-fiction fans.

When ComicMix VP Glenn Hauman informed me that Saint Patrick’s Day had been officially moved to today’s date for 2008 instead of March 17, I’ll admit that I was a bit skeptical.

"Sure," I told him, "and Christmas is now in July. I’ll have you know I associate with a very dedicated, hard-drinking, allegedly Irish crew, so I would know about this sort of thing. You’ve clearly been drinking too much of that home-brewed booze sold by the costumed Klingon in room 424."

I stand corrected.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day, folks.

‘Star Trek’ Bumped to Summer ’09 Release

News
February 14, 2008

Paramount Studios has shuffled the release dates for several of its films now that the writers strike is over, including J.J. Abrams’ much anticipated Star Trek.

Star Trek was originally scheduled to hit theaters this year on Dec. 25, but will now be released on May 9, 2009.

While many of the films being rescheduled have been moved due to stalled scripts or other issues related to the strike, Paramount has stated that the situation with Star Trek is actually quite different.

"’Star Trek’ is moving to summer because its has so much boxoffice potential," Par spokesman Michael Vollman said. "It does not need any script tweaks. They’re two-thirds of the way through shooting, and we would have delivered a great movie at Christmas."

The Hollywood Reporter has details on the Star Trek move, as well as other Paramount films likely to be rescheduled.

Snaked, eyed: a review

News
December 28, 2007

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Are you tired of the Christmas spirit? Clifford Meth and Rufus Dayglo’s Snaked is guaranteed to wash all that away.

In one of the more audacious acts of counter-programming in comics, IDW is releasing Snaked today, in the skip-ship days between December holidays. And Snaked is about as far from Christmas treacle as you can get.

If you’re already a Meth addict, you probably suspected no less. Clifford Meth is a man who does benefits for Bill Loebs and Dave Cockrum– but as a storyteller, he would take Harlan Ellison calling him bugfuck and use it as a cover pullquote. Clifford’s stories have often been dark and mean and nasty and this is no exception. His story hints at, in no particular order, violence, politics, mayhem, cannibalism, September 11, the Bush Administration, the Clinton legacy, and prison rape. Rufus Dayglo’s art reminds one of collages compiled from lunatics’ sketches with crayons drawn on newspaper clippings of murder and corruption trials.

Like I said, the feel-good story of the season.

I wouldn’t recommend this book if you’re trying to smile after a few days with the in-laws*– Snaked is a brutal piece of work. But if you’re looking to dispense with plastered on holiday smiles, this book is the comics equivalent of listening to speed metal to get Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer out of your head. And that’s a good thing.

* Unless you’re hoping your in-laws meets the sort of fate that happens to some of the characters. And if so, I don’t want to know about it.

Christmas wrap ups

News
December 26, 2007

It’s winter time, and so I should close these windows, it’s chilly out there:

John Scalzi reprints Chris Roberson‘s thesis on why Mark Gruenwald is the true father of modern superheroes comics.

Steven Bove’s Rock Opera histories.

We’ve been saying that comic books will destroy you— and now we have separate confirmation from Valerie D’Orazio.

Finally, we close out the holiday season with The Adventures of Batman and Robin… and Jesus… at the San Diego Comic Con.

Der Fuhrer Vas A Timelord?

News
December 25, 2007

Ever say something that seemed funny to you but wasn’t quite… right?

According to the London Daily Post, at a screening of today’s Christmas special "Voyage of the Damned," Doctor Who executive producer Russell T. Davies suggested Adolf Hitler might have been a timelord.

For a few, the line was funny. But for most, perhaps recalling Hitler’s V-2 bombings of their nation and the thousands and thousands of their countrymen killed, it was too soon. When asked who could have played the role, Davies responded tongue-in-cheek: "Hitler. He was stern and strong. He would be great."

Oops.

Current Who David Tennant appeared "slightly stunned" and declined to answer the same question.