Double Feature!

If somehow, you didn’t see, the SPIDER-WOMAN motic came out on the 19th. It snuck up on me, but I have been looking forward to this for some time (actually, since I started writing this column way back when). There were early assertions that this would be the first motic that was made to be a comic and a motic at the same time, that it would be more than just “wiggling”. After giving episode 1 a few viewings, I’m confident in declaring SPIDER-WOMAN a success. I’m sure the proceeding episodes will be even better, as all parties involved became more adept at this relatively new media form.

On the surface, it may not really look too much different than other motics, like WATCHMEN. I think this is mostly because of all the exposition. But look closely at the environment, when you watch it a second time through. Because all elements in the shot were drawn separately, they could lens-blur out the background to achieve a more convincing sense of depth (sad, though, that all at Maleev art is getting blurred, but he has to draw it anyway.) The bus windows effect was a cool touch. Also, the sea on approach to (Spoilerburg) was really nice looking. What really surprised me was the lack of the “paper doll” movement by letting the mind fill in the motion more like a comic would. Thanks for giving the audience credit.

The best advances in this new story form that I noticed was the action at the end. The punches looked really great! And so did the power blast effects. It all goes by so quickly, but it really impressed me.

I look forward to comparing the comic version, seeing if the product stands up as in that media as well. At Chicago Comic Con, I attended a panel in which Maleev said something about if the comic doesn’t look indistinguishable from his other comics, that he didn’t do his job well. Hearing him talk about other aspects of the production of this material instills me with a trust for the quality of all products still to come through this brand. Motics may not be comics, but I still likes ‘em!

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December Deadline ‘09

It has been released that Diamond isn’t shipping any comics at all for the week of December 30th. It’s not just a delay of a day or two, the whole week. No new comics. Fine, I say. It’s a five week month anyway, no huge crisis. But I see opportunity here! What if that week, grass-roots independent, local creators flooded the stores with original material? Think about it, a week where the racks were filled with comics nobody had seen before. No competition with WOLVERINE or BATMAN. It’s like a late Christmas gift, people!

So, I’m telling you now: get writing, get drawing, and get comics done for Dec 30th. You don’t have a better chance than this. The “whole week skip” hasn’t happened in the decade I’ve been reading comics, maybe ever. You may never get a chance like this again! Send your stuff off to the printers and put them up for order on your websites in advance so your issues can be on the shelves in time for Dec 30th. Come on folks, it’s go time!

The product team at Mattel graciously answers questions from journalists and websites on regular basis. This time around, they provided us with answers to three frequent queries that I get from readers. Going forward, we’ll have an open call for questions from you for the product team on things like DC Universe Classics, JLU, Masters of the Universe, and more. While you ponder those possibilities, here are three responses on DC Universe Classics straight from the source.

Newsarama: It’s great to see that the DCUC Doom Patrol is starting! That leads to a two-part question: how viable a Collect and Connect candidate is Elastic Girl, and is there any kind of weirdness over that name, given “The Incredibles”?

Mattel: Elastic Girl would be a great choice for a future Collect and Connect figure, and there are no issues with using her name!

NRAMA: Thus far, we’ve seen DCUC figures from the JLA, the JSA, the Teen Titans, the Outsiders, the Doom Patrol and even the All-Star Squadron (Commander Steel); will we begin to see the Legion in 2010? On a related note, are either Validus or Colossal Boy C+C contenders?

Mattel: We do have some great plans for the Legion of Superheroes, but when and how they will be released has yet to be announced!

NRAMA: When the invidiual figures go online for order, will the variants be available as well? For example, if I can’t find one Wildcat in my area, would I be confident in the ability to go to the website and find the other one?

Mattel: Each Wave will have a 50/50 variant and a chase variant. The 50/50 variant will be available online but the chase variant will not.

There you go, readers. What do you want to learn from Mattel in the September Q&A?

Bleeding Cool has reported that DC might be giving some of its more sci-fi based books a shot in the arm, courtesy of the plethora of Lantern Corps that has come around Blackest Night:

For every 25 copies of Doom Patrol #4, Booster Gold #26, R.E.B.E.L.S. #10, Outsiders ‘24 and  your retailer orders, they can order a bag of fifty Sinestro rings, Agent Orange rings, Indigo Tribe rings and Star Sapphire rings respectively.

And for every 50 copies of Justice League of America#39, Blackest Night #5 and Adventure Comics #4 sees you with a bag of fifty Red Lantern rings, Green Lantern rings and Blue Lantern rings, also respectively.

Rich Johnston makes some speculation about Doom Patrol and R.E.B.E.L.S. shooting up the charts, especially with that Sinestro Corps ring being a fairly coveted item amongst GL fans. That said, Johnston notes, expect for this largesse to result in a price hike, as retailers have to buy a lot of copies of these books in order to be eligible for the rings at all — and that could really hurt them in the long run.

Mmmm…yeah. You might know him as Dr. Cox in Scrubs, or one of the Bobs in Office Space, or even as Sgt. Red O’Neill from Full Metal Jacket, but now you’ll get to know John C. McGinley as something else — Metallo. The Scrubs actor spoke with Warner Home Video about playing the Kryptonite-powered metal man in the upcoming Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, due out September 29.

QUESTION: What were the joys and challenges of getting behind a microphone for a character like Metallo?

JOHN C. MCGINLEY: It’s a real treat to collaborate with the creative folks once you get in the booth.  Ten out of ten times the people on the other side of the glass know the character better than you are ever going to – they have been working on this for months or years. All you can do is try to return serve because you are given all this wonderful, precise direction.  I’ve found over the years it is really, really helpful to just integrate and go. It’s also a treat that the people on the other side of the glass are pretty much the top one percent of their industry, and I get to have this kind of creative input. You get on a lot of film sets and everybody is rolling the dice.  Everybody is guessing their best. The people in that booth are not guessing, they know this stuff backwards. That to me is a huge asset.

QUESTION: What were your impressions of the script for Superman/Batman: Public Enemies?

JOHN C. MCGINLEY: The fun part for me showing up on any set is the preparation.  A lot of times when you are doing a play or a film, things are going to go wrong. You’re going to lose the light or the sound is going to stop working. Even in a controlled environment like that booth, which lends itself to things going right and to things flourishing, there are sometimes things that can go wrong and, thus, compromises will need to be made. So it behooves the actor to come loaded for bear.  If you are 100 percent ready and we have to make 40 percent compromises, then unless you have that other 60 percent ready it is going to kind of just go flat instead of elevating it.  My favorite thing, which may sound a little presumptuous, is to try to elevate the material.

QUESTION: Did you enter the world of super heroes through comic books or otherwise?

JOHN C. MCGINLEY: My earliest memories of Batman are watching the live-action series with Batman and Robin. That was the coolest Batmobile and you had Frank Gorshin as the Riddler and Caesar Romero being the Joker.  As far as Superman goes, it was more about the Christopher Reeve films. I was not a comic book reader.  When we played as kids, we were always acting out stuff we saw Batman doing , or the Green Hornet or Aquaman. But that inspiration came from Saturday morning cartoons and not proper comic books.

QUESTION: As a non-comics reader, does voicing a comic character still lend itself to some child-like thrill for you?

JOHN C. MCGINLEY: Well, of course, it is big fat privilege to work with these characters – and it is really fun now with Hi-Def.  It just kind of jumps off the screen, and the transfers (to Hi-Def) are so beautiful now and perfect. It’s completely thrilling because the state of the art has exceeded anybody’s wildest expectations. It is astonishing. It is not as fun to see my voice come out of a character as it is really rewarding.  To be a tiny component in the evolution of animation as the voice of a character is thrilling.

My son is old enough to hear and recognize my voice coming out of the characters, but it doesn’t resonate with him yet. My daughter will, and that is pretty cool. Not necessarily to be a killer robot, but we will see how things evolve.

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Snikt, snikt, here comes the stabbity!*

If you love your charitable causes short, hairy, and oh-so-Canadian, you’re gonna love the Hero Initiative’s Wolverine 100 project! With this undertaking — which Hero has been doing all summer, by the by — some of the industry’s best and brightest will be taking on Wolverine himself on a blank Wolverine: Weapon X cover, like this awesome looking Chris Bachalo sketch:

But if you think that “the best there is at what I do” means being devastatingly cute, check out Mike Kunkel:

These guys aren’t all of what’s to be offered (click here to see everything thus far), but you’ve got artists ranging from Neal Adams to J. Scott Campbell to Gene Colan to Colleen Coover all on board! These covers will eventually be turned into a book for November, with the proceeds going — natch — to the Hero Initiative, which in turn helps out creators in economic or medical need.

*With apologies to Jason Aaron for stealing that quote.

The epic struggle between Batman and the Joker never reached such a fever pitch… until they started break dance fighting.

In this interactive YouTube game by Patrick Biovin called B Boy Joker, you can control either the Dark Knight or the Clown Prince of Crime in a breakdancing competition. Seeing Batman spin on his head is surprisingly hilarious.

[Via Topless Robot]

It’s an extra-special movie-themed linkblogging day today.  To start things off:

District 9

Reviewed by Spencer Ackerman, we get some thoughts about white anxiety in the film, and also the future of video-game movies. No, District 9 isn’t a video-game film, but Ackerman points out some similarities to video-game structure in the pacing of the movie, and wonders what it means for the future. He also takes on another blogger whose comparison of the movie to US policy in Iraq and Afghanistan, he thinks, is over the line.

At Racialicious, of course, the focus is even more on the racial undertones, with one commentator finding the film uneven and problematic and another writer examines the racist portrayal of black Africans in the movie.

Inglourious Basterds

R.M. Guera of Scalped (the best comic you may not be reading) worked on a comic book from the film, and the results can be seen here.

Splash Page’s Twitter report shows several comics professionals have Tarantino on the brain, too. Glad it’s not just me.

Whiteout

1979SemiFinalist looks at Whiteout‘s promo materials and gender issues. Verdict? Looks pretty, who knows if it’ll be any good.

Twilight

Eclipse, the third Twilight movie, started filming today, apparently. And apparently the werewolf pack likes to hang out and eat muffins? (I swear that’s not sexual innuendo.)

Finally, Scott Pilgrim

Splash Page has some video from the Scott Pilgrim set. You know you wanna see it…

Jim Ottaviani’s true-science comics are among the most interesting and educationally valuable comics being published today. Wire Mothers: Harry Harlow and the Science of Love, a collaboration with artist Dylan Meconis, doesn’t quite measure up to the best of Ottaviani’s efforts, but it’s still a valid peek behind the curtain at how science helps us understand the world around us and, as this book explores, even our human relationships.

Wire Mothers, operating as part of Ottaviani’s “science of the unscientific” series, tracks Harlow’s work with baby rhesus monkeys to discover how infants bond with a mother figure and, ostensibly, how love is formed. Ottaviani couches the story in an interesting framing sequence, enabling Harlow to relate his own academic experiences as he prepares for the biggest presentation of his career. In this case, however, the frame – combined with the juxtaposition of Harlow’s personal and professional life, and his encounters with respected psychologists of the day – adds a layer of confusion to an already jumpy narrative.

Harlow’s theories and his experiments – inhumane as they may have been – are fascinating, as are the telling ways that his own life reflect the need for love and affection that he studied. Illustrator Dylan Meconis does a solid job breathing life into Harlow and the major figures in his life. One sequence, Harlow’s Christmas Eve lock-out, was slightly difficult to follow, but the visual storytelling was effective by and large.

Even if it’s not up to Ottaviani’s usual standards, Wire Mothers remains an intriguing book, and a solid example of comics’ potential as an educational tool. With any luck, we can all read more about the life and research of Harry Harlow at our local libraries.

I just call them “Wednesdays”: Kevin Huizenga proposes a new holiday, “Read Comics All Day…Day.”

It’s not like there aren’t ten million Tezuka pages available: Comics adapting movies (or cartoons) that are themselves adaptations of comics are usually kinda hinky, but when the original source material is the work of one of the greatest cartoonists of all time, well, it just seems weird. It’s definitely cool for IDW and the creators involved that USA Today is promoting their adaptation of the Astro Boy movie, but it sort of bums me out a little that an Astro Boy comic by someone other than Tezuka is getting pushed by USA Today.

Two super-film notes from New York Magazine‘s Vulture blog: There’s some news of a casting change in the animated Ooberman, the plot of which makes me want to reread Mark Waid and Barry Kitson’s Empire, as the synopsis sounds kind of familiar (although I suppose it’s always the details and the execution that makes or breaks a riff on a familiar idea), and word on Spider-Man 5 and Spider-Man 6. Man, if they don’t put the Sinister Six in Spider-Man 6….

“Strapless and In Spandex, Models Strut Their Superhero-Inspired Looks at the Rivoli”: Only one of outfits in this blog post about a fashion show struck me as particularly superhero-esque, and the mask (kind of a sexy Grifter look) was probably meant to be more evocative of a criminal than a hero (the title of the show was “Bandits in Bows”), but using the word “superhero” in the headline did successfully get me to take a look and link to it.

“Actually, it is such a faceless profession that unless a creator has an obviously ethnic last name, a reader has no idea what nationality the writer or artist is”: I don’t really see the appeal of Marvel’s newer Noir books, which seem to focus not on straight-up superhero characters like Spider-Man and the X-people so much as characters who already have one foot or more in the world of regular old crime fiction (Daredevil, Wolverine, Luke Cage). One good thing about the Cage series though? It lead to a nice feature article and interview with Shawn Martinborough here. The quote above is in answer to a question regarding whether he’s frustrated by there being too few African American illustrators in comics. He’s certainly right about the facelessness of the profession, where in all readers really know about the creators is their byline and their work. (I remember, when I first started reading comics, for example, being surprised to learn than Kelley Jones and Cam Kennedy were men). Come to think of it, a creators byline and their work is probably all you need to know about a creator, isn’t it?

TV Guide provides is with the first look at Brian Austin Green (Beverly Hills 90210, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) as John Corben, better known to Superman fans as METALLO. Thanks to this, by way of Smallville, I now have a reason to gladly stay home on Friday nights.

By Sal “The Bagman” Cipriano

After losing to arch nemesis Marvel, DC was determined to turn it around this week. Not only for pride, but for survival. On Thursday, the Bullets did just that as they won one of their more well-rounded games this year, beating NYMSL opponent WNYC to stay in the playoff hunt. The very next day a different kind of challenge presented itself: the good-natured gang of Archie Comics!

Last year, DC walloped a depleted Riverdale team (their only run produced by a lent Bullet!). This year, though, it was DC that put out the depleted team as the game fell on a “Summer Friday” leaving the Bullets with only 4 faithful players: Captain Adam Schlagman, Andrew “Armadilla” Arnold, Neil “Hotfoot” Hiremath, and Sal “Bagman” Cipriano . To make up the difference, the Captain brought down his two roommates, Cipriano brought in teammates from another league, Hiremath coaxed his girlfriend into catching, and Archie lent us two players, returning the favor from last year.

The Archie team, with added players and new team jerseys, looked like a mean bunch this year, causing some worry on the Bullet bench. Archie came out swinging, too, and after a couple of minor gaffs on the Bullets part, pushed across their first run. The DC and friends team was not deterred, however, and sent ten of its twelve players to the plate in the bottom of the inning, scoring six runs in the process! The next two innings saw an additional 11 runs cross the plate sealing the Riverdale gang’s fate for good. Kudos to them, though, for keeping the spirit and fight till the end, as they scored 12 runs to make their case as an improved team! When all was said and done the traditional comic book slugfest ended in a solid 22-12 win for the Bullets.

The teams shared laughs, stories, and beers afterwards showing all that comic book rivalries can be left in the funny books and on the field. Special thanks to our ringers: Miguella Mark-Carew, Ian Parfrey, Bill Vernick, Havelock Hewes, Stanley Fong, Danny Minchala, Suzannah Rowntree, and Danny No.2 for their contributions.

(more…)

This is the week that Archie #600 is finally released. In it,  Archie Andrews proposes to Veronica in the first part of a story entitled “Archie Marries Veronica.” Perhaps you’ve heard something about this one already….?

What else is out this week? Well, it looks like a relatively light week, but here’s what looks really good, really bad or somewhat somewhat noteworthy…

(more…)

If you like what you’ve read so far (c’mon, how can you not?) totally check out more super cute comics at:www.sosuperduper.com!

Breaking news from Marvel’s Twitter feed:

BIG NEWS: Lots of classic Marvel Digital Comics are coming to the PSP! We’ll have the full details on Marvel.com in a little while!

Meanwhile, at a live event in Cologne, Germany announcing the development, Executive Vice President of Marvel’s Global Media Group Ira Rubenstein have said that “hundreds” of Marvel comics will be available in North America and the UK starting in November of this year.

The reader will have autoflow, cycling through the images at a setting of your choice. Sony reps say that additional partners for the PSP distribution will be named later.

If you guys haven’t had a chance to look at Marvel’s November solicits on the Mothership, one particular listing really caught my eye — the fact that Kieron Gillen will be taking on Thor!

According to solicits, Gillen will be teaming up with Billy Tan to create some “STATE-OF-THE-ART SLEDGHAMMER SKY-SCRAPING SUIT-SMASHING SUPERHEROICS,” with the God of Thunder taking on the monarch of Latveria himself — Doctor Doom!

This is a pretty big coup for the guy, who is hitting three Marvel books (Thor, Dark Reign: Ares, and S.W.O.R.D.) all at once, while still working on Phonogram for Image. Of course, Gillen has a tough act to follow, since he will be assuming the reins of the series after Babylon 5 mastermind J. Michael Straczynski. This isn’t the first time that Gillen has hit Asgard, however — he held Stormbreaker earlier this summer, writing Beta Ray Bill: Godhunter. The run is currently listed as six issues. Stay tuned to the mothership for more info soon.

Stan “The Man” Lee will be opening this year’s Long Beach Comic Con, organizers have announced!

The creator of Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Hulk will be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony at this year’s convention, taking place on Friday, October 2nd.

In addition, five fans who buy their tickets in advance will be chosen for a meet-and-greet with Stan himself!

“We could not have asked for a better way to ring in the start of the Long Beach Comic Con. Stan Lee is the most remarkable figure in the comic book industry and we are thrilled that he is going to be a part of our convention,” said event planner Martha Donato, President of MAD Event Management, in a press release.  “The five lucky winners of the private Meet and Greet event are in for quite a treat.  It will certainly be an unforgettable experience for them.”

Tully712 is a god amongst men, as he took the time to trick out his golf cart to make his own Batmobile, or “Tumbler,” if you’re looking for precise terminology.

If you’re a dedicated student of Go-Kart pimping, you can click on Tully’s other videos to see just how he went from start to finish on this beast. That said, perhaps we can be thankful that this version allows you to sit upright, rather than to do that awkward shift-Batman’s-head-forward kinda thing.

[Via Topless Robot]

Sadly, I’m busy as hell this week and there are tons of wonderful comics coming out. Air #12, Batman Streets of Gotham #3 (with Manhunter backup, the real reason I buy it) Doktor Sleepless #13, Hellblazer #258, Wolverine Weapon X #4 AND Brian Azzarello’s inaugural Vertigo Crime OGN and a new James Jean art book! Oh, and the first Unknown Soldier trade. Seriously, I don’t think I have the time or the money for all the good books coming out this week.

But, y’know, just in case, let me know what I’m missing, as always. I’ve heard good things about We Kill Monsters…

by Joel Press

With only weeks to go in the 2009 NY Media Softball League season, the DC Bullets have a lot of rained out games to make up. But none loomed larger than this past Thursday’s must-win game against WNYC Radio. With memories of their 11 inning loss to Manhattan’s NPR affiliate back in June still fresh in their minds, the Bullets took the field under a rare cloud free Thursday, seeking redemption (and a .500 record in league play).

Behind the pitching of Larry “Tim Wakefield’s got nuthin’ on me” Ganem, the Bullets shut down WNYC’s offense in the top of the first. Then in the bottom of the first, the Bullets struck. Getting things started with a leadoff single was coach Adam “I work on Summer Fridays” Schlagman (4 for 4, 3 Runs, 2 RBI) followed by third baseman Mike “I’m off to Cooperstown, someone else do the writeup” Lorah (2 for 4, 2 Runs, 2 RBI). The Bullets drew first blood on a sac fly by outfielder Pat “The Bat” Brosseau (2 for 3, 1 Run, 3 RBI), and second blood (if there is such a thing) on a triple by outfielder Brian “I ain’t lyin’” Cunningham (2 for 3, 1 Run, 3 RBI), giving them an early 3-run cushion to work with.

Ganem and the Bullets would hold WNYC scoreless in their half of the second inning, after which DC struck again, scoring 4 more runs in the bottom of the second behind, all with two outs, behind RBI singles by Schlagman, Lorah, outfielder Jay “Make ‘em pay” Kogan (3 for 4, 1 Run, 1 RBI), and Brosseau, giving the Bullets a comfortable 7 run lead.

WNYC was able to push across one run in the top of the third, but it would prove to be their only run scored in the game, as Ganem and the Bullets would shut down WNYC’s offense with stellar, if not always graceful, defensive plays.

The Bullets managed another 5 runs in the game, scoring 2 in the bottom of the fifth and another 3 in the bottom of the sixth, to notch a 12-1 victory and bring their record to 9-6 (3-3 in NYMSL play). With only 4 league games remaining (2 in each of the next 2 weeks), the Bullets have a tentative grasp on 4th place and the league’s final playoff spot. Next up are some tough customers in Business Week (4-3 in NYMSL play) on Thursday and Wall Street Journal (5-1 in NYMSL play) on Friday.

Game Notes:

by Michael C Lorah

A big hand for Joel Press, stepping in to do the game recap this week, fans!  Anything defamatory in the above can be addressed to the DC Legal department, care of Joel.

As I understand it, the Bullets nailed down another win on Friday evening, topping Archie Comics, and running their mark to 10-6 (yet still 3-3 in NYMSL play).  I was, as Joel stated, touring the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown that day and missed the game, so I have no idea the score or if anybody’s going to hand me a recap of it.  I’ll post it if I get it.

Hasbro’s Mighty Muggs Spider-Man toy

David LaFuente’s Ultimate Spider-Man

Am I the only one who thinks they look pretty similar to each other?