We learned via Twitter and /film (Slashfilm) that visionary director Neil Jordan will write and direct an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Newbery Medal-winning The Graveyard Book.  If you don’t know Neil Jordan by name, then you probably know him by film: The Crying Game, In Dreams, The Company of Wolves, Interview with the Vampire, and Angel, among others.  Jordan is currently in post-production on the mermaid fable Ondine.

[Via /film (Slashfilm)]

I did NOT come up with that “Shell-ebration” bit, as it was actually in the press release. Ubisoft and Game Arts, the development team behind Super Smash Bros. Brawl, are bringing a new Turtle Power infused fighting game to the Wii this year. TMNT: Smash UP looks like it will share more than just a developer and the word “smash” in its title with its cousin, providing a similar gameplay experience in the world of the 25 year old Daredevil parody. Turtles co-creator Peter Laird is writing the single player story, which promises to be all original, “not tied in to any movie, comic, or tv show” storyline. And these are the first two screen shots. Enjoy!

The Hollywood Reporter today is reporting that the newly-formed Death Ray Films is taking Dark Horse’s El Zombo Fantasma to the big screen in partnership with Maya Entertainment.

According to the report, Kevin Munroe will write and direct the feature, with Dark Horse’s Mike Richardson executive producing.

El Zombo Fantasma, published in 2005, was created by David Wilkins and Kevin Munroe. The story follows the murder of a notorious Mexican wrestler who bargains his way out of an Hell by returning to Los Angeles to act as a guardian angel to a troubled teen. He soon discovers that the young Belisa Montoya is actually spiritually linked to him, and has been for a very long time.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, movie execs hope to follow up the feature film with an animated series, and refer to the movie as “a Latin Hellboy.” The film seems poised to be the first comics-to-film adaption to appeal specifically to the Hispanic population.

“Zombo started years ago as just a geeky idea between two friends who worked at the same video game company,” says Munroe. “But Dave and I always knew that the property had a broader appeal than just its publishing roots, and now we’ll see it finally reach an entirely new audience. I’m thrilled to be a part of creating this new breed of superhero for the big screen.”

Death Ray Films is an entertainment production company founded by comic book & film industry veterans Chris Patton, Robert Sanchez and Kevin Munroe. The trio’s diverse backgrounds and extensive experience in all forms of media include: film, TV, Internet, comics and video games. And when combined, they form a giant robot.

Maya Entertainment, created by award winning producer Moctesuma Esparza, is a vertically integrated company and is the only production/distribution/exhibition entity in the United States, dedicated to the constantly growing US Latino Market. The Latino market represents the fastest-growing consumer segment in the U.S. and accordingly offers some of the most exciting growth opportunities for the entertainment industry today. Maya Entertainment is uniquely poised to become the first broad-based Latino-oriented filmed entertainment company.

Though some of Gene Roddenberry’s ashes made the trip a few years ago, the balance of his remains will voyage into space alongside the ashes of his wife, Majel Barrett Roddenberry.  TV Guide indicates that Celestis, Inc. will handle the arrangements.  Roddenberry died in 1991, and a portion of his ashes went into space in 1997.  Majel Barrett Roddenberry passed on December 18th of 2008.  Frankly, I couldn’t imagine a more appropriate final resting place.

By Barry Levine

As someone who’s been a comics fan for decades but only just started my own comic book business last year, I’m always interested to see how all the people I currently work with made their way into the industry. The staggering amount of talent out there makes one thing crystal clear: nobody works in this business because of a shortage of other options. In short, nobody works in comics because they have to; they work in comics because they want to.

I’ve collaborated with people in film, music and photography at some of the highest levels of those fields, and they’re easily matched by the passion that every single comics professional I’ve met has for their craft. My only disappointment is that Radical Publishing can’t realistically hire them all (yet). But since I find it so interesting to compare how others got into the business, it’s probably only fair that I explain my crazy path into this world of high concepts and alternate realities.

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If you like what’s you’ve read so far totally check out more super cute comics at:www.sosuperduper.com!

All Hands, This is the Captain…

Diamond Select Toys is excited to announce by far the largest collectible this side of the Neutral Zone, the classic Star Trek Captain’s Chair replica!  That’s right, Captain Kirk’s instantly recognized command chair from the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise can finally be yours!

This iconic sci-fi release measures an astonishing 3 1/2 feet wide by 3 1/4 feet deep and stands just under 3 1/2 feet tall.  The chair itself is constructed of high-quality fiberglass and features plastic, metal and wooden accents to recreate the legendary original prop.  Highlights include a newly-engineered base to allow full 360° rotation, a leather seat cover, working indicators and switches as well as your favorite sound effects from the classic Star Trek series!

Detailed schematics of the Captain’s Chair supplied by Paramount were used to iron out the various chair designs and create the ultimate Star Trek lifestyle accessory.  The right-hand console includes settings for Yellow and Red Alert, Pod Jettison, Micro Tape and the ship’s Intercom while the left-hand panel features Hailing Frequencies, Viewscreen Activation and Shuttle Operation controls – each with sound effects or light-up details.

This impressive piece can be ordered through any comic book store and will ship in two pieces.  Due to varying shipping costs and the size of this item, we strongly encourage interested customers to request a shipping estimate from their retailer of choice prior to purchasing this item.

GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) has announced its nominees for its 20th annual media awards. Among its comic book nominees are:

The Alcoholic by Jonathan Ames (Vertigo/DC Comics)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Drew Goddard, Jeph Loeb and Joss Whedon (Dark Horse Comics)

Final Crisis: Revelations by Greg Rucka (DC Comics)

Secret Six by Gail Simone and Nicola Scott (DC Comics)

Young Avengers Presents by Ed Brubaker, Brian Reed, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Paul Cornell, Kevin Grevioux and Matt Fraction (Marvel Comics)

Neil Gaiman took home yet another prize this week, this time the American Library Association’s Newbery Medal for The Graveyard Book, his recently-released children’s book.

The NPR story, much to my delight, identifies Gaiman primarily as the author of the Sandman comics, not of Coraline (about to hit the big screen) or Stardust (already did) or any of his other novels.

Gaiman says:

You are on a speakerphone with at least 14 teachers and librarians and suchlike great, wise and good people, I thought. Do not start swearing like you did when you got the Hugo. This was a wise thing to think because otherwise huge, mighty and fourletter swears were gathering. I mean, that’s what they’re for. I think I said, You mean it’s Monday?

The book also has illustrations by our beloved Dave McKean. I don’t know about you, but I still feel it’s a win for comics every time a comics author gets another award, another bit of recognition. And not just because Gaiman started me off on my long addiction to sequential art.

Congratulations, Neil.

Hey folks, this week will be a shorter than usual post because I have a number of jobs I am working on and have a guest at my house that gets my undivided attention before anything. Anyway, here we go…

MARK WAID: I think by now people know I am a huge fan of Mark Waid… the man and the author. At a time I totally lacked any confidence to start writing, mark was always around with advice, encouragement and compliments as well… something other writers tend not to do very much, especially since a lot of other writers looked at me as only an inker or someone that was connected with a lot of players and would just figure I got my work by schmoozing or blackmail. Mark was around when I would pitch a few books a week looking for work.

The funny and cool think about Mark is that one conversation with him about character development will make you a better writer instantly and one of the greatest things I have to look forward to, as a fan, for 2009 is the amount of new characters that Mark will be writing at Boom Studios where he also happens to be the Editor-in-Chief. On the Boom site, they have set up a special section of message boards for Mark and I have to tell you… get in there and have some fun and ask him questions and such, because this is a rare opportunity. When you go there you will notice a few other creators stopping by and throwing their weight around as well, so don’t delay… click on the link and tell them I sent you. Hopefully one day when they do a necessary book on Mark’s career, I will be allowed to contribute to the introduction. Until then, verbally volley with the man at: http://markwaid.boom-studios.net/ (more…)

The Minnesota Independent is following up on a blog post by political cartoonist Tom Tomorrow (creator of This Modern World) that announced Village Voice Media has been forced to suspend all of its syndicated comic strips until further notice. Tomorrow indicated that the suspension would last at least until the end of the first quarter, and possibly beyond if the company continues to suffer financially.

The strips are being seen as slightly more expendable than news content, and so the cuts are intended to do the least damage to the company, ease costs and hopefully be reversed when the economy starts to pick up again. Many of the strips, including This Modern World, are not exclusively distributed by the Village Voice Media, and so will continue to have some presence. Says Tomorrow, “This still leaves me with eighty-odd papers, as well as Salon and Credo, so it’s not a fatal blow. And believe me, I wasn’t so naive as to imagine I was going to get through this economic mess without taking some hits. Nonetheless it’s a serious chunk of major cities to lose in one fell swoop.”

Tomorrow encourages readers to make Village Voice Media aware that they’ll miss the comics, but also emphasizes that “this isn’t a ‘me vs. them’ situation. These are in many cases people who have supported my work and given me an audience for ten or fifteen years; some are personal friends. This is just an unfortunate decision made at the corporate level in response to a very difficult time.”

Eagle One Media made a bold move today with their announcement of a comic digital download store.  From the PR:

Eagle One Media is proud to announce it has teamed with some of the comic book industry’s leading publishers in making available comic digital downloads to readers world-wide. Consumers are now able to purchase and download hundreds of comic book content through the Eagle One Media website at www.eagleonemedia.com. With comics and graphic novels available from such publishers as IDW, Moonstone, Antarctic Press, Alterna, Rorschach, Heroic, and others in simple to use pdf format and for as little as 99 cents an issue.

Each comic available through the Eagle One Media website www.eagleonemedia.com is formatted in easy to use full page pdf files that can be viewed through the free Adobe Reader computer application. Consumers will be able to save the content to multiple machines and even print the issues they purchase (background watermarks applied). The first couple of pages of each comic can also be previewed for free at the website prior to making a purchase.  Each week more comics and graphic novels will be added along with content from newly added publishers wishing to make their content available.

Eagle One Media has an established track record with DVD releases, comics on DVD, and self-described “family-friendly” animated fare (like Dragon Blade: The Beginning).

A quick look at the site shows a number of titles available.  Among those included:

Caliber Comics’ Deadworld (more on the way)
Silent Devil’s Dracula vs. King Arthur (coming soon)
Antarctic Press’s Gold Digger, Twilight X, Darkwood, and more
Heroic Publishing’s Flare, CHAMPIONS®, and more 
IDW’s IGOR, Zombies, and more coming soon
Moonstone’s The Phantom, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Buckaroo Banzai, and more

Given the climate of the economy and the shifting direct market landscape, it’s reasonable to assume that we’ll see more small press publishers gravitate to a service like this.  Expect more on this as new publishers and releases are confirmed.

Can you see the new intro now?  “They came to us with the promise of friendship.  They lied.  They eat people.  And they have a plan.”  That’s right; V is slated for the re-engineering wagon by ABC.

As The Hollywood Reporter tells us . . .

The network has given a pilot order to a reimagining of the 1980s miniseries about an alien invasion . . . Written on spec by “4400″ co-creator/exec producer Scott Peters, the new “V” will center on a female Homeland Security agent . . . Two ABC pilots picked up so far this pilot season are presold titles based on 1980s properties, “The Witches of Eastwick” and “V.”  Both are being produced by Warner Bros. TV.

This could be either terrific or diabolically bad.  Though the original had its moments of brilliance (primarily in the two mini-series, V and V: The Final Battle) and its moments of cheddar (the remaining series that followed), Peters did solid work on The 4400.  It’ll be interesting to see how this one turns out.  At this point though, what science-fiction properties are going to be left to be reimagined? The Man from Atlantis?  Dear Lord, Automan?

One of the many reasons I enjoy working at Newsarama is that the Web media is growing, expanding, and innovating, while the field of print media is dying off.

Newspapers are falling off faster–my professor, an editor at the Philly Inquirer, told us tonight that he doesn’t know if there’ll be an Inquirer there next year–but magazines aren’t doing well either, and the current economy is certainly accelerating the death spiral.

And so today, via Warren Ellis, we have the Magazine Death Pool. Yes, a little schadenfreude with your media-watching. The Magazine Death Pool is a rundown of a bunch of magazines that you never knew existed, and just to scare you (well, if you work in media) some really big names that seemed, er, Too Big To Fail.

If you just can’t get enough of dying media, you can also follow themediaisdying on Twitter.

Japan has all the coolest toys. Whether it’s Transformers that turn into shoes or Hello Kitty… um, “back massagers”… our wacky friends in the east come up with all sorts of neat stuff that puts our toys to shame. For example

Watchmen Kubricks! If you’re not familiar with them, Kubricks are block figures produced by Japan’s Medicom, and can be based on damn near anything from comic books to movies (according to Wikipedia, there was even a series of Kubricks based on the French movie Amelie). Unfortunately for us, Medicom releases the figures strictly to Japan, though they are occasionally licensed to American companies. DC Direct released a few of the Batman Kubricks, so hopefully they’ll pick up the rights to release the Watchmen line. If not, we’ll have to hope that a designer toy shop in the States imports them. (I recommend trying Kidrobot, though a quick scan of their website comes up empty. Maybe someday… )

The rest after the jump . . .

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Spoilers Within

As I was looking through Final Crisis today in preparation for covering the final issue (due this Wednesday), something in particular seemed to stand out in a bit more relief.  While we’ve mostly been focused on things like inter-series-continuity and Batman vs. Darkseid, one thing became apparent: Final Crisis lacks a big moment for Wonder Woman.

If we take a look at the icons of the DCU, this is what they’ve been doing in Final Crisis:

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As part of Blog@’s look at webcomics, may I direct your attention to Voids? Written and drawn by Shayna Marchese, Voids follows twentysomething Sara at the moment her life begins to tailspin into a very odd direction. Within the space of a week, she finds herself without any of the steady, constant things she’d moored herself to… and in scrambling to pick up the pieces, she finds herself surrounded by new people, with old connections and grudges. As Sara gets to know the situation better, it slowly unfolds before the readers’ eyes as well. Shayna Marchese tells us a little more:

Without giving too much away, what is Voids about?

SM: It’s really like most stories: It’s about friendship, relationships, not knowing what you’re doing with your life. The main character is sort of drifting along; she has no real job, no real home, no very strong ties to anyone. The characters are all in some way lost and look to different things try and feel less so. Frances needs to be in a relationship, Andrew drinks, Nika goes through men in order to feel in charge of something. The story is meandering in a way that hopefully will let readers “know” the characters by the end.

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By Filip Sablik

Here at Top Cow, we don’t publish a lot of straight up superhero comics. Most of the stuff we do is rooted more in other genres like horror, supernatural, sci-fi, espionage, and so on. Even the superhero style projects we do like Wanted or Twilight Guardian tend to be a bit left (or right) of center.

I (like almost all fanboys) grew up on a steady diet of superhero comics. My first love was The Uncanny X-Men during the Chris Claremont/Marc Silvestri/Jim Lee era. Years later, the 14-year-old part of me still can’t believe I’m working for one of the guys who initially got me excited about the art form. Thanks to George Perez and Marv Wolfman, I will always have a soft spot for The Teen Titans. But at some point in college I realized that my favorite superhero is Superman. Superman was the first superhero so that automatically makes him special. When was younger I often heard that Superman wasn’t “cool” because of his “truth, justice, and the American way” Boy Scout personality. Or that he was too powerful, so none of his stories had the threat of him failing. For my money, what makes Superman great is Clark Kent. It’s the man behind the power. It’s the idea that a god would choose to be a mere mortal. It’s because I get the impression that Clark Kent would still be “super” even if he wasn’t Kryptonian.

Here’s the thing though, I don’t own a lot of Superman comics. I’ve never really collected the Superman titles on a regular basis. When I look at the Superman books that I’ve read and kept, almost all of them are out of continuity stories like All Star Superman, Secret Identity, Son of Superman, and Red Son. Superman is an icon, a modern day mythological hero; because of that (and the more pragmatic licensing issues), he cannot change. He doesn’t really work for me in a serialized ongoing story. So here’s what I would do if I ran DC Comics – I would only put out stand-alone Superman stories by hit creative teams. If you want to run these stories consecutively in a comic series called Superman, I’m okay with that. But each time a new group of story-tellers comes on board the stage is reset to the basics – Clark Kent grew up in Kansas, he’s a reporter at the Daily Planet, he loves Lois, his boss is Perry White, his buddy is Jimmy Olsen, and he’s the best superhero in the world. Just start there and tell your very best Superman story without worrying about what came before.

What do you think, comic fans? What are your favorite Superman stories?

Take care,

Filip Sablik

Publisher Guy

Filip Sablik is the Publisher of Top Cow Productions, Inc. He’s been in the business for eight years and just officially entered his thirties. Occasionally, he does a bit of writing and drawing. He loves comics. Top Cow Productions, Inc. was founded by Marc Silvestri, co-founder of Image Comics. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades.

Welcome to Quick Questions, the spiritual cousin of The Big Question that I used to do for ShotgunReviews.com (before Matt Brady purchased my soul for beer money and a stack of pogs).  We’re pleased to have as our first guest David Gallaher.  You may know David from his many and varied gigs, including writing projects for Moonstone, Harris (including Vampirella Magazine), and more.  As of late, he’s been working on High Moon, which he co-created with artist Steve Ellis, at Zuda Comics; a trade collection is expected in October.   So then, quick questions with David . . .

Blog@Newsarama: What cemented your interest in comics as a whole?

David Gallaher: The first film my parents took me to see was the 1978 Superman film. While all of the other kids were overdosing on Star Wars, I was overdose on Superman. A couple of years later, my family got a television, which introduced me to the likes of Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Superfriends, Incredible Hulk, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Shazam, and The Greatest American Hero. My fascination for comics and the heroic grew out of that. When I was 14 or so, I started collecting comics on a regular basis with books like Speedball, West Coast Avengers, The Flash, and Captain America. Ten years after that, I started interning and later freelancing for Marvel Interactive, working on digital comics. 
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DC Universe Executive Editor Dan Didio recently noted that an appearance by President Barack Obama in the DCU isn’t quite their thing.

5. Something that is timely given what we’ve seen in comics up to and including Tuesday – when will President Obama be appearing in a DC Comic?: There are no plans at all. The reason why is that over the past ten or more years, we have never gone to any lengths to include actual political figures into any of our books, and see no reason to change that right now. The world that our characters exist in is a fictional world that touches upon ideals and sensibilities of the real world, but we don’t like to mix it to any great level in regards to real people and real events. My feeling on it is that I have always preferred that the President in the DC Universe, if not one of our characters such as Luthor, be a character that reflects the sensibilities and attitudes of the current Administration, without ever featuring individuals in the books themselves. It’s just my opinion. I’m pretty comfortable with how we do it, and even though it seems to be the flavor of the day in a way, I prefer just to concentrate on the books we’re doing and the stories we’re telling now.

DD

However, he didn’t say anything that ruled out this sequence of pages from Final Crisis #7, as seen in the preview on the motherhship front page.  Somewhere, Alex Ross is smiling . . .