Week of « Prev | Next »
1-20 of 27 articles « Prev | Next »
ComicMix QuickPicks - January 8, 2009
8 January 2009 7:41 PM, PST
Today's installment of comic-related news items that wouldn't generate a post of their own, but may be of interest...
* Heidi MacDonald checks in with comics pros for her annual year end survey: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. The big themes: recession, online comics, comic book movies-- and how gangbuster movie sales don't translate into gangbuster comic sales. (Disclaimer: I'm one of those people included.)
* Asylum Press, having offered free comics for anyone signing up for their online newsletter within the first twelve days of December, has extended their offer. Anyone who signs up at asylumpress@aol.com before Jan. 31 will receive three free comics.
* Brian Cronin says "Comic book writers appear to have more of a presence on the internet than comic book artists." As the webmaster for Peter David's weblog and all the work I've done over here... no kidding.
* Uclick has revealed an all-new mobile Web application for
(more)
Glenn Hauman
ComicMix Six: What you need to know about 'Lone Justice: Crash!'
8 January 2009 10:58 AM, PST
Lone Justice: Crash! is the new graphic novel from the Harvey Award nominated team of Robert Tinnell and Mark Wheatley. It will begin right here on ComicMix on Monday, January 12th. And in the interest of making all things Ez, we present the top 6 essential things you should know before you start reading:
1) Lone Justice: Crash! is a two-fisted, pulp adventure set in the year 1930, just after the big Wall Street crash in 1929. It is a time when there is great uncertainty in life, work and politics. But it was also a time when pulp magazines were introducing vital new characters to the public that we would eventually come to call Super Heroes. So, step aside, Doc Savage, the Shadow, and the Spider - and make way for Lone Justice!
2) Lone Justice: Crash! is the sideways sequel to the Harvey Award nominated Ez Street graphic novel, also
(more)
Glenn Hauman
Fox and Warner go all in on 'Watchmen', will let judge decide instead of jury
8 January 2009 7:01 AM, PST
Here's your latest test for geekdom: On January 20th, are you going to be more excited by Barack Obama's inauguration, or by the court hearing to see if Fox can block Warner Brothers from releasing Watchmen?
The two studios have agreed to let Judge Gary Feess decide whether Fox is entitled to an injunction blocking release of the film, instead of going to a jury trial which would delay the release. The hearing is currently schedule to begin on January 20th, unless the judge grants Warners’ request to move the hearing to an earlier date.
In addition to the agreement that the judge can decide the case, the two have agreed that neither will oppose requests to expedite an appeal.
My take? So it's delayed. You kids today-- you don't even know what a delay is. I remember the months of delays just waiting for Watchmen #11 to come out,
(more)
Glenn Hauman
Entertainment rights on its last financial legs
8 January 2009 6:07 AM, PST
We haven't had a good, depressing, "the economy sucks and it's even affecting my comics!" story in a while, but here's a doozy: ICV2 reports that British company Entertainment Rights, which owns the video rights for Gumby, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Felix the Cat, She-Ra, Ghostbusters, The Lone Ranger, Lassie, Mr. Magoo, Rocky & Bullwinkle, Veggie Tales and a host of other characters, as well as the Filmation archives and the Turok video game, is running out of time to find new investment or an acquirer to avoid going out of business-- and like everybody else, is scrambling. The company loaded up with debt when it bought Classic Media in 2006 and ran into loan trouble last year.
Among options being considered are hitting up existing stockholders for additional investment, a sale of the company, or new loans. It received an infusion of 13 million pounds from its main lender in December, which
(more)
Glenn Hauman
'The Dark Knight' wins five People's Choice Awards, gets WGA nomination
8 January 2009 5:06 AM, PST
The Dark Knight won a total of five People's Choice awards last night, including favorite movie, favorite action movie, and favorite cast. Christian Bale was named favorite superhero and won, along with the late Heath Ledger, the favorite on-screen match up category.The film also was nominated yesterday for outstanding achievement in writing for the screen during the 2008 season by the Writers Guild of America. Winners will be honored at the 2009 Writers Guild Awards held on February 7 at simultaneous ceremonies in New York and Los Angeles.
Other genre friendly wins last night: Heroes won the People's Choice award for favorite sci-fi/fantasy show and "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" won for favorite online sensation.
Glenn Hauman
Disney shanghais McG for '20,000 Leagues Under The Sea'
8 January 2009 4:15 AM, PST
Because Disney has done so well with sea pictures lately, they've just signed a deal with McG (real name Joseph McGinty Nichol, currently at work on Terminator: Salvation) to direct its family picture 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo, according to Variety. Based on the Jules Verne novel, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Disney's first adaptation of the book came out in 1954 with Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Peter Lorre, Paul Lukas and that big old visual effects Oscar winning giant squid. It was the studio's first live-action movie.
But the big question I have is this: since they gutted the original 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride at Walt Disney World to make room for a Finding Nemo ride, what's going to be the next creative demolition at the park? Frontierland better watch its back...
Glenn Hauman
ComicMix QuickPicks - January 7, 2009
7 January 2009 5:09 PM, PST
Today's installment of comic-related news items that wouldn't generate a post of their own, but may be of interest...
* Amazingly, I don't think we've ever gotten around to linking to Mark Ryan's blog. Mark's writing The Pilgrim for us when he's not doing work on Transformers 2, but you should read the other stories he tells. And he gets women like Jenn Korbee (right) to perform with him.
* Recession? How can we be in a recession when we can buy a replica Infinity Gauntlet for less than $310?
* Economic Meltdown Funnies. Because it's all so, y'know, funny. (Actually, it's a very good explanation of the problems, and is pretty painless to read. Go look.)
Anything else? Consider this an open thread.
Glenn Hauman
Review: 'Bottomless Belly Button' by Dash Shaw
7 January 2009 10:10 AM, PST
Bottomless Belly Button
By Dash Shaw
Fantagraphics, June 2008, $29.99
Wrapped up inside Bottomless Belly Button is the realistically-depicted story of a family – aged parents, three grown children, and few others – coming all together for one last time as the parents divorce after forty years of marriage. But Dash Shaw is in no hurry to tell that story; he wraps the three sections of this graphic novel in metaphor and metafiction, graphically depicting the Looney family and their world in various forms – as water, as sand, as maps, as diagrams and lists. Shaw takes the time and space to tell his story slowly, to circle around it from all sides, and to focus on each member of the Looney family in turn.
David Looney is the patriarch: his word has always been law. We see the least of him in Bottomless Belly Button, but he’s clearly diminished from the authoritarian, demanding
(more)
Andrew Wheeler
Licensing the 11th Doctor Who
7 January 2009 8:41 AM, PST
With Matt Smith taking on the role of Doctor Who, BBC Worldwide says the property will be one of its licensing priorities through 2009, series 5 featuring the new Doctor in 2010, and forward. BBC Worldwide has renewed and extended the Doctor Who master toy license with Character Options, which has held the license since 2005. BBC Worldwide is developing new style elements for licensees for series 5 with product expected to be available in summer 2010, probably just in time for the San Diego Comic-Con.
Meanwhile this year will see the release of a range of items, including the launch of Time Squad collectible figures in spring, followed by repackaged and revamped Cyberman Age of Steel products to tie-in with the holiday 2009 special.
So if you're the sort of person who just wasn't satisfied with spending two hundred dollars for a remote control Dalek to terrorize your pet with, you're in luck. And thank you
(more)
Glenn Hauman
'The Prisoner' streams for free on AMC
7 January 2009 7:01 AM, PST
There was never a TV show before like The Prisoner. You could say that there hasn't been a show like it in the forty-two years (!) since.
What? You've never seen it? Dude. I mean, dude. Seriously.
Luckily, now you can see them all. I don't guarantee that you'll understand them, but you can see them.
To promote its new reinterpretation of the show which just wrapped shooting and scheduled to premiere in November, AMC is now streaming the original series in full screen. This marks the online debut of all seventeen episodes of the classic British series starring Patrick McGoohan, which originally aired in England from 1967-1968.
And when you're done with that, go buy the DC Comics trade paperback, which hits the flavor of the original series and yet somehow provides an ending. It was one of the first things I got to work on as a production guy at DC,
(more)
Glenn Hauman
Preview: 'Batman: The Brave and the Bold' with the Outsiders, Wildcat, and... B'wana Beast?
7 January 2009 4:11 AM, PST
We've obtained preview footage of the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode, "Enter the Outsiders" airing this Friday, January 9 on Cartoon Network at 8:00 Pm, guest starring R. Lee Ermey as Wildcat. And yes, that really is Black Lightning appearing in a DC Comics animated series after thirty years. Congratulations to Bl creators Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden.
In this week’s episode Batman and his mentor Wildcat face off against a group of teens-- the Outsiders-- whose violent pranks turn to criminal activity under the control of the evil Slug. Take a look...
Continue reading Preview: 'Batman: The Brave and the Bold' with the Outsiders, Wildcat, and... B'wana Beast? ›
Glenn Hauman
ComicMix QuickPicks - January 6, 2009
6 January 2009 6:26 PM, PST
Today's installment of comic-related news items that wouldn't generate a post of their own, but may be of interest...
* Producers Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy and Pixar's John Lasseter are working to guarantee a huge success for this summer's release of Hayao Miyazaki's new animated movie, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, according to Variety. Their aim is to increase the number of movie screens where Ponyo will open here, and thus the box office receipts, from Studio Ghibli's previous Us record for Spirited Away, which earned $10.1 million on 714 screens according to Box Office Mojo. The English voiceover cast for Ponyo will feature Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, Betty White, Lily Tomlin and Cloris Leachman. Ponyo was Japan's biggest movie of 2008, grossing $165 million.
* Kyle Baker reviews The Spirit.
* Dan Goldman is telling the story of the 2008 election, and has a twenty page preview available as a Pdf.
(more)
Glenn Hauman
New heights in the Rob Liefeld swipe file
6 January 2009 3:34 PM, PST
Okay, let me see if I have this straight. From Rich Johnston:
Rob Liefeld will be putting out a "Smash! Extreme!" #0 re-printing of Smash's previous appearances by Jeph Loeb and Liefeld from Image in April.
Rob says, "This will contain a new story which frees Smash! from his bonds and lead into the multi-part Smash! storyline told in a series of specials pitting Smash! against the Extreme universe. Then in May, we get ‘Smash! Brigade’ from Marat Mychaels and ‘Smash! Youngblood,’ ‘Smash! Prophet’ and ‘Smash! Supreme’ to follow through the year." Smash! apparently is this big, shall we say, hulking individual pictured to the right who has been in exile for a good long time after stealing Elliot S. Maggin's exclamation point, but he returns to wreak havoc on the entire universe in a company-wide crossover-- waging war on the world, as it were.
Psst. Rob. The pants are what's supposed to be purple,
(more)
Glenn Hauman
Are comics really recession proof?
6 January 2009 1:44 PM, PST
The general consensus is that during hard times, people stay at home and turn to cheap entertainment to save money. And various and sundry players across the net have claimed that comics always do well in recessionary times.
Except, it turns out, those two widely held beliefs are in direct conflict.
Aaron Albert at About.com (you can tell he's in comics with alliteration like that) runs the numbers on entertainment bang for the buck per minute, and comics are the worst deal of the bunch:
If we suppose that it takes 15 minutes to read a standard comic book what kind of deal are we getting?
$3.99 Comic - Ecpm's - 27 cents $2.99 Comic - Ecpm's - 20 cents Movie - $10 (Average running time lets say 1hr 30 min.) - Ecpm's - 11 cents Rental Movie - $5 (Same time as above) - Ecpm's - 5.5 cents DVD - $20 (Typical 2 disc with, say, 2 hrs bonus material) -
(more)
Glenn Hauman
'Shazam' movie 'deader than a doornail'
6 January 2009 12:20 PM, PST
Screenwriter John August describes the sequence of events that led up to, shall we say, the death of Captain Marvel the movie:
I took them at their (written) word and delivered what they said they wanted: a much harder movie, with a lot more Black Adam. This wasn’t “Big, with super powers” anymore. It was Black Adam versus Captain Marvel, with a considerable push into dark territory and liminal badlands like Nanda Parbat. It wasn’t the action-comedy I’d signed on to write, but it was a movie I could envision getting made. The producer and director liked it, and turned it in to the studio while I was in France.
By the time I got back, the project was dead.
By “dead,” I mean that it won’t be happening. I don’t think it’s on the studio’s radar at all. It may come back in another incarnation,
(more)
Glenn Hauman
'Jonah Hex' movie gets a new director
6 January 2009 7:02 AM, PST
The Jonah Hex movie is getting a new director, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Jimmy Hayward, who directed Horton Hears a Who, has been signed to direct Hex as his second feature, and his first in live action. Prior to directing Horton, Hayward started as an animator for Reboot and then went on to Pixar.
Josh Brolin is still attached to star in the film-- because after playing an ornery cuss from the south who goes in guns blazing in W., this was a natural.
Hat tip: ICV2.
Glenn Hauman
Wolverine and the X-Men premiering January 23 on Nicktoons
6 January 2009 5:41 AM, PST
The half-hour series Wolverine and the X-Men will finally make its Us premiere on Nicktoons Network with back-to-back episodes on Friday, January 23, 8-9 pm. Produced by Marvel Animation, Wolverine and the X-Men will air regularly Fridays at 8p. The network also launches the new tie-in website, areyouamutant.com, on Tuesday, January 20, where fans can check their DNA for mutant genes, which will let them into the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters where they can visit various rooms, watch replays of the series, and play a game called Wolverine and the X-Men: Sentinel Slash.
Get those kids exposed to slash fiction while they're young, I always say-- then we can move them up to Hellfire Club costumes and really have some fun.
Additionally, content from the series will be available on TurboNick and via Nickelodeon's wireless platforms. The series will also have a dedicated category in Nick's VOD offering from January
(more)
Glenn Hauman
SciFiWire splits off from SciFi.com
6 January 2009 4:26 AM, PST
Sci Fi Channel's SciFi.com has spun off its daily entertainment news section into a standalone site SciFiWire.com. The news blog will continue to focus on pop cultural news related to the Sci Fi and fantasy genres, covering movies, books, television shows, comics, in what appears to be a much more navigable site, although their RSS feed was down at the time I looked. A few familiar names have popped up here and there in the early posts, most notably Scott Edelman, Craig Engler, and Adam Troy-Castro.
If memory serves, SciFiWire was originally the email newsletter published by Engler back in the 90's, when SciFi bought him out and put him in charge of the digital division. Now they're spinning it back out again. You explain it.
The satellite site is the third new launch by SciFi.com during the past year, following the debuts of gadget blog Dvice.
(more)
Glenn Hauman
ComicMix QuickPicks - January 5, 2009
5 January 2009 7:12 PM, PST
Today's installment of comic-related news items that wouldn't generate a post of their own, but may be of interest...
* Missed this one in the holiday wackiness: A federal appeals panel said that child pornography is illegal even if the pictures are drawn, affirming the nation's first conviction under a 2003 federal law against such cartoons. Even though there are no actual children involved. So Dwight Whorley of Richmond is serving 20 years in prison on an anime charge, even though he could just be in jail on the photographs. Time to donate to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund...
* Washington, D.C., library officials have proposed a ban on sleeping at public libraries. Our solution? More graphic novels! No one will sleep through those thrill-packed extravagnz-- oops. Too much Stan Lee there.
* Recession? How can there be a recession when you can pre-order Captain Kirk's chair for $2200 retail?
* That's Sir Terry Pratchett to you,
(more)
Glenn Hauman
Relativity Media buys Rogue Pictures
5 January 2009 2:47 PM, PST
Via Deadline Hollywood: Relativity Media, LLC has purchased Rogue Pictures from Universal Pictures and acquired Rogue’s entire library, its more than 30 projects in development and ownership of its producing deals, including the deal with Wes Craven.
The first picture set for release under this new deal is writer/director David S. Goyer’s (The Dark Knight) new horror film, The Unborn, produced by Michael Bay and his Platinum Dunes production company. The Unborn is a supernatural thriller that follows Casey (Odette Yustman) a young woman pulled into a world of nightmares when a demonic spirit haunts her and threatens everyone she loves. Plagued by merciless dreams and a tortured ghost that haunts her waking hours, Casey learns that the spirit may be the soul of her unborn twin brother and must turn to the only person who can make it stop-- Rabbi Sendak (Gary Oldman). The Unborn opens Friday.
(more)
Glenn Hauman
1-20 of 27 articles « Prev | Next »
