Tagged: Superman

Diamond Dogs, by Martha Thomases

  • News
  • October 4, 2008

Are you reading James Robinson’s Superman? You should be. They’re amazing stories. The Alex Ross covers should be enough to tip you off that you’re in for a treat.

But the best part is that they prominently feature Krypto, the Dog of Steel.

I’ve been a huge fan of Robinson’s writing ever since The Golden Age, with Paul Smith’s gorgeous, evocative art. It made me nostalgic for an era of comics I never read.

Starman knocked me out. I loved it so much that I had someone make a logo for me so I could have a leather jacket like Jack’s, which I still wear all the time (weather permitting), even though there was a ten year stretch when no one knew what it was about. People still ask me if it means I’m an Aquarius. That’s okay. I’m not, but it gives me a chance to talk about how great the comic is.

Robinson’s best trick, I think, is taking a character and giving him or her an interest in something beyond heroics, or relationships or career. Jack Knight loved antiques, especially Hawaiian shirts and Art Deco ties. Those are not things that interest me, but I loved that he loved them. It made him seem more geeky, more human.

Robinson’s Superman doesn’t seem to collect anything. Clark Kent is a young man, in a young marriage. He and Lois love each other, but, even after a few years, they’re still getting used to sharing their lives. When Clark wants to keep his dog in their apartment, they argue about it.

Clark’s dog is no ordinary mutt, but a dog from Krypton. When he chews on the furniture, it’s a disaster. Lois is reasonably worried for her own safety and that of her neighbors.  (more…)

Rothman Talks ‘Daredevil’ Reboot

  • News
  • October 4, 2008

daredevil100-7771957In an interview with IESB, 20th Century Fox co-chairman Tom Rothman spoke about the possibility of rebooting their Daredevil franchise.

"A Daredevil, to use your words, reboot, is something we are thinking very seriously about," Rothman tells the site, though he adds that "[in] the movie business, nothing [happens] soon."

Fox still retains all the rights to the Daredevil franchise, Rothman claims, and thinks that audiences will be receptive to a relaunch if made to a high standard. Further, Iron Man cemented the fact that a second tier hero done well can make a lot of money.

Asked if a new Daredevil would match the dark tone of The Dark Knight, Rothman wasn’t sure that such a tone was the key to that film’s success.

"[Daredevil] needs a visionary at the level that Chris Nolan [director of The Dark Knight] was," Rothman states. "It needs a director, honestly, who has a genuine vision. What we wouldn’t do is just do it for the sake of doing it. Right?"

Not necessarily. Bryan Singer, director of X-Men and X2: X-Men United, went over to Warner Bros. to helm Superman Returns. Fox later signed Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass) to replace Singer, but Vaughn also left the project due to creative differences. Rather than wait for Singer to become available again, Fox rushed X-Men: The Last Stand into production with Brett Ratner (rumored Guitar Hero adaptation) behind the wheel. In addition, James Marsden, who played Cyclops in the series, was given an extremely limited (and some might add insulting) role due to his decision to participate in Singer’s Superman Returns. In June 2005, Ain’t It Cool News ran a scathing review of the film’s script and included an open letter to Rothman pleading for him to take his time on the film. X-Men: The Last Stand opened less than a year later to lukewarm reviews.

The Mark Steven Johnson directed Daredevil did not fare nearly as well. The film, starring Ben Affleck, Colin Farrell, Jennifer Garner and Michael Clarke Duncan, was panned by critics and fans alike. Released in 2003, the Man Without Fear graced the screen again briefly in the Elektra spinoff, also starring Jennifer Garner. That movie, too, didn’t fare well with the public.

Daredevil – The Director’s Cut was released on Blu-ray last Tuesday. Reviews of the cut call it "a better film, 30 minutes longer than the original." Could it be true? Buy the Blu-ray and find out!

Anyway, who would you like to see takeover the Daredevil franchise? How ’bout a Ben Affleck-directed Casey Affleck-starring reboot? Sound off on your ideas below!

‘Smallville’ Producers Talk ‘Graysons’

  • News
  • October 3, 2008

justice-1-1304924News broke earlier this week that the CW was developing a new series based around the first Robin titled The Graysons. The show, set to focus on Dick "DJ" Grayson in his pre-Robin years, has been reported as a possible replacement for Smallville should Clark Kent’s pre-Superman adventures conclude at the end of this season.

Not so, say Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders, executive producers on Smallville and now hard at work behind the scenes on The Graysons. They issued a statement over at KryptonSite that clears the air of their intentions on developing the new series.

Says the pair:

"As news and rumors swirl around the development of The Graysons for the CW, we have every intention of letting you, our fans, be the first to know the reality. Never have we been so committed to the continuing success of Smallville as we are to seasons 8 and 9. While we are extremely excited to be working hand-in-hand with Wonderland, Warner Bros. and the CW to create the origin story of Dick Grayson, it has never been intended as a replacement for Smallville, as is speculated in some media. The cast, crew, writers and producers are all working full-steam ahead on a story-line for Clark that allows for seasons of further trials and adventures for our favorite hero. As always, we all have you to thank for achieving eight years of this amazing show that Al and Miles created, and we’re looking far beyond!"

This upcoming season of Smallville is sure to have plenty of DC heavy cameos to put any Superman lover into a fangasmic fit. Justin Hartley, who plays Oliver Queen (Green Arrow), has returned to the series as a regular this season, and will be joined once again by Justice League members Aquaman, The Flash, Black Canary, Cyborg and the Martian Manhunter. The Legion of Super-Heroes are set to join the fray this year, along with Plastique, introduced just last night. Most widely reported is the arrival of Doomsday, played by Sam Witwer (Battlestar Galactica). Doomsday famously killed Superman in the best-selling Death of Superman arc back in the nineties, leading to the creation of Superman replacements Steel, Superboy, Cyborg Superman and the Eradicator.

With Peterson and Souders stating they have plans for Smallville beyond season eight, might they be setting up a junior version of the Death of Superman and Reign of the Supermen stories? Holy kryptonite, that would be suh-weeeet.

ComicMix Radio: Mortal Kombat, DC Universe – FIGHT!

mk-7218976It’s just over five weeks until the long-awaited Mortal Kombat vs DCU game gets in our hands, and we’ve got even more fuel on the fire to get you pumped including the real truth why Superman won’t be the strongest character, plus:

  • Johnny Depp as Tonto and a new role for Buffy
  • Dick Grayson TV hunk
  • One more time for The Partridge Family

     

Kill some time before the debate and  Press the Button!

And remember, you can always subscribe to ComicMix Radio podcasts via badgeitunes61x15dark-4556675 or RSS!

 

Robin in Media

  • News
  • October 2, 2008

nightwing-reflections-3881831So if you checked our site yesterday faithful readers, you know that the CW has given the green light to a new live action series to replace Smallville (or join it if it continues for a ninth season). This series, The Graysons, woud focus on the life of young Richard John Grayson (called DJ in the show), who many of us know will grow up to become the first hero called Robin.

Whether you think such a show can work or not, it’s undeniable that Robin is a household name, partly due to his contant appearances in various media.  And that’s not even considering the fact that he’s gone through quite an evolution in comics, uniquely so compared to many other super-heroes.

In DC Comics, Richard John Grayson, known to everyone as "Dick", was a circus acrobat along with his parents. The Flying Graysons were a famous act in the traveling Haley Circus. But during a stay in Gotham City, a protection racket organized by mobster Tony Zucco tried to get money out of the circus owner. When he refused, the trapeze was sabotaged and Dick’s parents fell to their deaths in front of a live audience. The audience included Bruce Wayne, secretly the Batman, who took in the adolescent boy and aided him in bringing Zucco to justice.

Dick was a natural due to his inherent talen and years of training in athletics and acrobatics. This, along with his heart and determination, allowed him to pursuade the Batman that he was worthy of staying on as a full-time apprentice and, later, a partner. Wearing a costume that emulated his old circus outfit, Dick called himself "Robin." Originally, it was said this was because he was styling himself on Robin Hood. In later years, it would be said that "Robin" had actually been his mother’s nickname for him, either because he was born on the first day of spring or because as a child he never sat still and was constantly  "bop-bop-boppin’ around." Part of the reason he was called Robin and not given a serious super-hero name was because back in the 1940s, sidekicks were only given nicknames so that the writers would be able to save any cooler titles only for more serious super-heroes.

Over the years, Dick proved himself to be a formidable hero and a gifted detective, becoming leader of the original Teen Titans. As he entered adulthood, he was no longer satisfied being viewed as Batman’s kid sidekick and believing that the Dark Knight did not give him enough credit, he left Gotham to carve out his own life. Eventually, inspired by a story Superman had told him of a Kryptonian hero, Dick returned to his super-hero role under the new name of "Nightwing", an identity he has kept for nearly twenty five years now. He is well-respected in the hero community and was even made leader of the Justice League for a short time. And whenever Batman needs him, this black-clad acrobatic avenger is willing to return to Gotham to help out.

That’s the comics. What about his appearances in film and television?

(more…)

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…)

Official Roster Announced for MK vs DC

  • News
  • September 30, 2008

943567_20080820_screen007-8040276On the heels of last week’s big release of LEGO Batman: The Videogame, Midway has announced the final characters for their newest game; Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. The story takes place after the two franchises collide during a universal "crisis" (probably not the same one). Now fanboys (and fangirls) can finally their aggression on the Justice League like it’s their job. Here’s the complete list:

      DC Comics Universe:

  •  Batman
  • Superman
  • Catwoman
  • Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)
  • Shazam (Captain Marvel, not wizard)
  • The Flash (Barry Allen)
  • Deathstroke
  • Wonder Woman
  • The Joker
  • Lex Luthor
  • Darkseid

      Mortal Kombat:

  • Scorpion
  • Sub-Zero
  • Sonya
  • Jax
  • Shang Tsung
  • Liu Kang
  • Raiden
  • Kitana
  • Kano
  • Baraka
  • Shao Kahn

The game is currently slated for a November release on the PS3 and XBox 360, and for the real gaming fans, you can see a complete list of achievements to unlock here On the page, there is reference to a character only called "JF". No word on who this can be, possibly another cameo? You decide.

 

 

Baltimore: DC Q & A

  • News
  • September 29, 2008

black-lantern-corps-large-2476224Saturday morning at Baltimore Comic-Con, DC Comics held their usual DC Nation panel featuring Jimmy Palmiotti, Geoff Johns, Sterling Gates, James Robinson, Sean Mckeever and Ian Sattler. The panel was hosted by Dan Didio who actually invited a mustached fan named Brian onto the panel after he praised the weekly series Trinity. Geoff Johns complimented the same fan for being able to “rock the ‘stache.” When the same fan referred to the Green Lantern Corps as “NYPD Green”, Johns stated he would be stealing this title.

After fan Brian spoke highly of Trinity, Didio added that the main focus of the series is the great influence of the three heroes and how important they have been not only to the DCU but to the multiverse as a whole. He commented that this made the series a complete counterpoint to 52, which explored the mainstream DC Earth spending a year without the three icons. In the same vein, he clarified that the current Batman R.I.P. storyline is exploring whether or not Bruce would still operate as Batman "if you took everything away", as well as showing how his absence affects many, not just the Gotham-centric characters but also people like the Outsiders.

DC had several things to announce in terms of upcoming projects.

A few years ago, DC did a fifth-week event called "New Year’s Evil" involving several one-shots that did not relate to each other but all centered villain-centric stories. Operating on a similar note, DC will be release "Faces of Evil", a month-long project launching next spring. Each issue will be a one-shot focusing on a particular villain and the covers will be done in the same style as the recent “anti-inspirational posters” ads. Johns announced that he and artist Scott Collins would be working on a one-shot focused on Solomon Grundy. Other villains who would be focused on include Parasite and Despero. When a fan asked if any of the Rogues (from Flash) were going to have a one-shot, Johns simply said that the future of the Rogues will be set-out at the conclusion of the miniseries Final Crisis: Rogues Revenge.

Geoff Johns also added that Solomon Grundy would become a Black Lantern, though he also said the same thing of any other character mentioned during the panel who is deceased. Concerning the upcoming "war of light" stories in Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps, Johns again spoke about Agent Orange, the leader of the Orange Corps dedicated to Avarice, as a major villain. He also said that the Orange oath was his favorite. Throughout the remainder of the panel, questions about seemingly dead characters usually involved Johns saying , "(Fill-in-the-Blank)’s a Black Lantern."

  (more…)

Maverick Is Their Name, by Martha Thomases

  • News
  • September 27, 2008

 

My friend Stephanie is a proud Texan, even though she’s lived in Manhattan for more than three decades. You can still hear Texas in her voice. She’s about as far from the stereotype as you can get, not a cowgirl,  nor a big-haired society type, she’s a fine artist with a rock’n’roll heart. And, as you can see here, she has an affection for the rock stars of comics as well.

Still, the Texan remains. Stephanie has a pride in her home state that is far deeper and more profound than I feel for mine. She knows her state history. I wasn’t surprised that she knew enough to send me this link. I was just surprised at what it said:

It didn’t bother us when Ford Motor Company used the Maverick family name for their new car. We didn’t care that Tom Cruise’s character in Top Gun was named Maverick, and we were amused when Madonna used our name for her record label. It is part of the American vernacular. But when McCain and the media placed it in a political context, using the maverick label as the centerpiece of his presidential campaign, each and every member of this family was appalled. We continue to be. –Fontaine Maverick

Did you know there were real people with the name “Maverick?” I didn’t. I thought it started in the 1950s with the television show starring James Garner.

And to make this a bit about comics, don’t you think the young James Garner should have starred in a Spirit movie? He looks exactly like Denny Colt.

In fact, this is a lot about comics. Although I’m not current on the specifics of the law, I believe that the Maverick family does not retain legal ownership of their name for commercial use. By allowing it to be used so frequently and generically in the past, they’ve surrendered it to common usage.

However, just because something is legal doesn’t mean it’s right. The contract Siegel and Shuster signed for Superman with DC was legal, and DC had no legal obligation to pay them more money. However, giving them a cut was the right thing to do, and, thanks to the efforts of people like Neal Adams and Paul Levitz, the creators received a portion of what was due to them.

  (more…)

Fingeroth to Speak About Graphic Novels

  • News
  • September 22, 2008

rough-guide-to-gns-2255567Danny Fingeroth, best known today as editor of Write Now!, will be speaking on the topic of graphic novels at the Court street Barnes & Noble in Brooklyn on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m.

Known for his superhero work, Fingeroth may seem like an unorthodox choice to write a guide to non-superhero, "literary" graphic novels such as Maus, Fun Home, etc. But that, he says, is the point. The world of the literary GN is unknown territory to many followers of superheroes. As  a result he wrote the Rough Guide to Graphic Novels, published recently by PenguinPutnam.

This is far from Fingeroth’s first boo, having previously authored Superman on the Couch and Disguised as Clark Kent.  Fingeroth was also previously Spider-Man Group Editor and a Marvel Comics writer.

In his Barnes & Noble presentation, Fingeroth will discuss the world of graphic novels and present his sure-to-be controversial favorites. Q & A and signing will follow, and perhaps a surprise or two will be in store.
 

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