In a week that saw Supergirl as fantastic as it’s ever been (apologies to the Peter David enthusiasts out there), a curious piece was found by way of The Hollywood Reporter this week.

According to the press release…

[Warner Bros. Consumer Products] has partnered with five-time Olympic medalist Nastia Liukin to create Supergirl by Nastia, the first-ever lifestyle merchandise line of its kind for girls available at a major retailer. Supergirl by Nastia will feature trend-right, affordable apparel that encourages a message of empowerment, creativity, strength, intelligence and independence – the symbolic attributes of the iconic Supergirl S-Shield. The collection, created for today’s 8-12-year-old girls, will be available exclusively at JCPenney – in stores and on jcp.com – beginning July 20, just in time for the back-to-school season.

“The Supergirl S-Shield is embraced the world over as a symbol of girl power,” said Brad Globe, president, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “From ‘fashionistas’ to ‘actionistas,’ a Supergirl is today’s girl and we are proud to be partnering with Nastia Liukin and JCPenney to bring the Supergirl by Nastia line, and its message of empowerment, to life at retail for all girls and their parents.

Prior to reading this, I was not aware that WB had been using Supergirl as a brand in this manner anywhere (or the “Supergirl Jam” mentioned further in the press release). Far be it for me to play fashionista, especially for young girls’ clothing, but while I like that there are some tasteful designs here (and we really only get a sampling), it seems more like the El family crest is merely getting incorporated into some graphic designs and not so much Kara Zor-El herself. Just another symbol like the peace sign. Maybe there are some items with Supergirl’s likeness on them in development, I can’t tell. But, hey, whatever works! Not a parent myself, and lord knows it’s been a kajillion years since I stepped inside a JCPenney.

[NOTE: Within the hour of this story breaking, the all-wise Harry Knowles of Ain't It Cool News refuted it, saying that he had direct contact with the head of Legendary pictures who himself said that they are not at this phase in the production yet. Stay tuned, readers.]

It was only two weeks ago that DC Entertainment first gave us signs that they were serious about doing a Superman movie right by bringing in Christopher Nolan, director of The Dark Knight, to serve as a mentor to this other A-list DC property.

Well now another big piece of news courtesy of the oft-reliable LatinoReviews.com has broke that David Goyer (the Blade franchise, Batman Begins) to write the script for a new Superman film.

Having reviewed the bullet points of this alleged done deal, here are my immediate thoughts…
1. This is outstanding. Goyer has proven especially effective with DC’s properties in film and in the comics, so go with a proven talent.
2. The moment Warners went bold with “The Dark Knight” over a film title with “Batman” it, I really wanted to see the same for a Superman movie, so I love the idea of “The Man of Steel.”
3. I do feel bad for Brandon Routh in that he was one of the things they got right in Superman Returns. He’s still got it, as seen lately on NBC’s Chuck.
4. Nic Cage really could use the paycheck.
5. Not sorry to see Bryan Singer go, though I do hope it’s true that he’s getting another shot at the X-Men franchise.

Anything else stick out with you on this breaking news?

Looks like the love for Doc Savage isn’t just with DC and its new First Wave series — the pulp hero is also making his return to the big screen.

Columbia is bringing back the Man of Bronze, who was an influence on pretty much the entire comics way of life, particularly the Man of Steel Superman. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang director Shane Black is set to direct, writing the script with freshmen Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry.

“Doc Savage is an icon, a character with limitless possibilities,” Columbia co-president Matt Tolmach told Variety. “We have had a great experience working with Neal to bring another classic character of the era, the Green Hornet, to a new generation of fans, and we think he and Shane make the ideal team to bring Doc Savage back to the bigscreen.”

There’s an interesting paradox at the heart of the new Planet Hulk animated film. “Planet Hulk” the comic book arc was conceived as a diverting detour from the Hulk’s status quo, not to mention a lead in to a cros-over mega-event. In the comics, with hundreds of issues of prototypical Jekyll and hyde Hulk stories weighing writers and readers down, a riff like the Maximus-meets-John Carter vibe of “Planet Hulk” worked as a novel break, a bit of variety to spice up Hulky’s pulpy life. With “Planet Hulk” fans got a few months of something different knowing fully well that eventually the character would return to something close to his Jekyll/Hyde status quo. (more…)

In the spirit of a topic I brought up a few weeks ago, your friends here at Super Articulate wanted to remind the fine folks at DC Direct that there’s an A-list character they’ve lagged on for far too long. Don’t get me wrong, The Flash has gotten attention in the last year alone. But for a hero who has an array of villains surpassed in the DC Universe by Batman alone, I’m not alone in being astounded at all the missed opportunities over the years. Though DC Direct can no longer ignore the viability of the Rogues Gallery and supporting cast of the Fastest Man Alive, not when the DC editorial and creative hierarchy has placed Barry Allen at such a premium. So it is with that sentiment that we offer up a solid THREE rounds of Flash-based heroes and villains who need to find their way to our shelves faster than… well, the Flash.
(more…)

He’s captained the USS Enterprise. He broke ground on the Xavier School for the Gifted. And now — he’s a member of the Queen’s elite, receiving his very own knighthood.

CNN reports that Patrick Stewart, best known for portraying Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Professor X, will now be referred to as “Sir Patrick,” which will presumably give him the extra boost to finally take out Magneto — or Sir Ian McKellan — once and for all.

I think that this news is awesome, as it reveals that between Stewart, McKellan, and Saruman alter ego Sir Christopher Lee, the Queen is secretly a comics and sci-fi/fantasy fangirl. Could a Sir Robert Pattinson be far behind? How about a Sir Nathan Fillion? Okay, perhaps a stretch, but it’d be awesome if it were true. Either which way, the official ceremony will take place tomorrow.

In the spirit of Newsarama’s own Readers’ Favorites of 2009 Tourney, I thought I’d get a view from my local comics shop and see what my friend in comics, Chris Ureta Casos, the long-time buyer for Comics Dungeon, here in Seattle, had to say about comics in 2009 and much more.

Blog@Newsarama: Chris, with Newsarama’s Readers’ Favorites of 2009 Tourney in mind, tell us your thoughts on what tops your lists of favorites in comics this year.

Chris Ureta Casos: I have a lot of trouble really picking out top favorites for any categories, simply because different creators and titles appeal to me at different times and for numerous reasons. If I had pick on the spot though, my breakdowns would be:

Ongoing Titles: The Boys, the Green Lantern titles

Mini-series: Beasts of Burden, Atomic Robo

Writers: Geoff Johns, Garth Ennis, Peter Tomasi, Gail SImone really shines for her work on Secret Six And Wonder Woman

Artists: Marcos Martin, Darwyn Cooke, Patrick Gleason, Amanda Conner

Covers: Pretty much all the covers Marcos Martin has been cranking out this year. The Cooke covers (regular & variant) for Jonah Hex #50 really stood out for me this month as well.

And just as a general thing I’ve been loving all the great work being put into reprints from Fantagraphics, IDW, and a few others. The newly colored Prince Valiant book was a thing of beauty, as well as the Complete Rocketeer that just came out this month.

Blog@: Moving right along, tell us any thoughts that come to mind regarding trends you’ve observed in 2009.

Chris: Well, the “event” trend along with the nostalgia crawl have been fairly strong for the year. Some events fell on there faces while others actually spiked sales very well and generated a lot of new interest. Then it felt like since we managed to work our way through the bulk of the 80′s nostalgia we for some reason had to immerse ourselves with the ’90′s again which is honestly more than a little bit painful.

Of the more positive trends I would have to go back to the healthy amount of reprinting we’ve seen. Marvel’s finally released the soft cover version of the Marvel Masterworks, which are great if not a few years too late. DC’s Kirby Omnibus collections as well as the Showcase editions and other special hard covers have been fantastic. Then you have Fantagraphics offering such things as Blazing Combat and the Strange Suspense to name a few. Top that off with Dark Horse and IDW really coming up to bat and putting out some impressive collections and it’s just been a dream year for nicely packaged reprint material.

There were plenty of trends I wish we could have avoided. The price bumps, the over saturation of variant covers, and the odd marketing and packaging choices we’ve been seeing from the larger publishers. As a whole, I would think the worse trend is the widening of the gap of communication between consumers, retailers, distributors, and publishers.

Blog@: What can you tell us about your favorite comics from this last decade?

Chris: This is where I really just freeze up because there are just too many things to go on about. I think one of the greatest new titles we’ve seen from the past decade was Atomic Robo, not only for just the actual content (which is amazing) for the actual work ethic of the creators. Joss Whedon’s work on X-Men and his launch of Buffy Season 8 were great in and of themselves but when you factor in the amount of new readership and interest they brought in then you can’t ignore their value.

Geoff Johns has helped to not only resurrect interest in Green Lantern but to push the entire mythology of the creator into being one of the most successful, easily accessible, and expansive properties in the industry.

Pretty much everything Dark Horse has been doing over the past few years has been making me happy, from their production values to their overall content, and they always strike me as one of the if not the most solid publishers.

I don’t think I’ve read a Garth Ennis story I’ve never liked. So, from him launching Battlefields, to returning to Hitman for a few issues, to pinpointing exactly what a Punisher story should be, and to launching The Boys I’ve been a pretty happy camper.

There’s the obvious stuff like All Star Superman, Wednesday Comics, and Scott Pilgrim, which all deserve plenty of praise and attention.

Gail Simone emerging as one of the best writers in mainstream comics has been pleasant to watch. I’m disappointed she doesn’t seem to be doing too strongly on the Newsarama polls.

I was actually one of the minority it seems that really enjoyed Final Crisis and Batman RIP, but hell I thought they were just a lot of fun as experiments.

I feel like I’m neglecting a ton of things….

Blog@: What would you like to share with us about an all-time favorite comic?

Chris: There are two all time favorite books I think need mentioning. First is Mother, Come Home by Paul Hornschemeir. If you want an example of how much emotion can be put into a comic with a very minimal yet expressive style then you need to check this out. This is the only comic I’ve ever written a letter to when it was being published as single issues, and I was incredibly grateful for the reply I got back from the creator. It’s an incredibly sad story, so if you’re a fan of Chris Ware or Craig Thompson you should love it.

The second is Blacksad by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarndio. Pretty much every time I read I realize that this is pretty much the perfect example of the heights the medium can achieve in storytelling and that more people need to know this work so they can understand how high the bar has really been set. The good news is that Dark Horse will be releasing a new compete collection in 2010.

Blog@: How would you describe the experience of reading comics?

Chris: Reading comics for me can range from incredibly transcendent to horribly enraging. I was taught how to read with comics and fortunately (or unfortunately) they’ve stuck with me for the long run, so visual narratives have been engrained into me and I often can get a little too engrossed in what I’m reading.

Blog@: Any quick and easy comment for someone walking in and wanting to read something that will blow their mind?

Chris: I need to talk with the person first and see what type of taste they have. It’s not that easy for me to assume they will like what I think is cool. Considering how excited I get when Starro the Conqueror shows up or Atomic Robo beats up a giant mutant ant with a Buick I think it’s a safe bet not everyone likes the same thing. It’s a little bit more interesting to gauge what a person’s taste is and see if you can find just the right thing for them, which means actually taking the time to expose yourself to different material constantly.

Blog@: What do you see ahead in comics in the new year, or in the future in general?

Chris: This is a hard one, simply because the future of comics really depends on how the economy holds up and how the publishers react. If we continue to see the trend of prices rising and a harder push to online comics, then we may see some really negative and possibly cataclysmic changes to the industry. There are a few things that could really help such as dropping the cost of production and material, but the main concern is that it feels like consumers are being drained of their blood at times and we are in a recession. I have customers who would love to buy more comics, but they can’t even afford 5-10 comics a week.

I was talking with a customer not to long ago, and we were asking the same question about Hollywood and other mainstream outlets and what trends might pop up over the next year. We decided that unless the powers-that-be were complete idiots, they would realize the potential with the increasing amounts of female genre fans with the popularity of Twilight and Firefly. Comics saw substantial new interest from female fans when Buffy Season 8 came out, and there were so many great books coming out at the time to cross-sell such as Runaways, Fables, and Y The Last Man.

Beyond that, I’m personally hoping that the next trend will be a competition between publishers to see who can publish the best reprint material. We’ve already seen both IDW and Fantagraphics release Ditko books of fantastic quality. I see Marvel is finally reprinting the Geoff Johns Avengers run, which, seriously, what’s been the hold up with that? Ideally, DC will now reprint the entire Abnett/Lanning run of Legion as a rebuttal. There are tons and tons of books actually worth reprinting (and no, I’m not talking about the Spider-Clone Saga and X-Men 2099). Books like the Peyer/Morales Hourman, the Jurgens/Epting Aquaman, the Waid/Kubert Ka-Zar, the original Busiek/Bagley Thunderbolts, and much much more. But please please please don’t make them deluxe hard covers. Just make something reasonable so we can easily recommend them to people without forcing them to sell blood to afford them.

Be sure to check out the Comics Dungeon Web site and, for further thoughts from Chris Ureta Casos, read his reviews at the Trusty Henchmen Web site.

If they ever assembled a Justice League: North Pole, the founding members would be pretty obvious. There’s Rudolph and Charlie Brown, Ebenezer scrooge, and Frosty would be on the roster, the Grinch… but the superpower of warm fuzzy holiday sentiment isn’t limited to just the big guns. There’s a whole universe of audiovisual Christmas cheer out there waiting to be found. Pick your favorite TV show or cartoon, and there’s probably a very special Christmas episode for you to enjoy. Even Pac-Man had a Christmas special for crying out loud. The Grinch and Frosty will always be at the top of the holiday heap, but there are still a lot of lesser known Christmas specials that have more to offer than simple kitsch value. Consider these suggestions as a sort of JLA North Pole reserve. The Captain Marvel to Rudolph’s Superman, the Guy Gardner to Charlie Brown’s green lantern. (more…)

In America, now suffering for its excess with the Great Recession, you never know who might look down upon you if you don’t own a house, or a car, or the latest gadget. Western society tends to have a problem with identity and status and capitalism and commercialism are always there to provide a quick fix. Maybe these times are converting more people to cherish a more simple life and appreciate what they already have. That back-to-basics lifestyle is what is at the core of what is one of the most significant do-it-yourself enterprises out there, a self-published zine called, “King-Cat Comics & Stories” by John Porcellino who has grown into a significant artist in his own right.

The current issue of “King-Cat Comics & Stories” marks the 20th anniversary of the little zine that has influenced a generation in comics and much more. John Porcellino’s last visit with Newsarama was a few months ago. With the current leg of his book tour completed, here’s a chance to catch up a bit more with the man called the heart and soul of the small press. Here is further insight into his latest collected work, “Map of My Heart” and “Thoreau at Walden.”

Blog@Newsarama: “Map of My Heart” covers six years, 1996 thru 2002, in your life and “King-Cat.” At the start of this period, you were just beginning to study Zen Buddhism. How would you describe that journey and how it has influenced your comics?

John Porcellino: I always say that when I first discovered Zen, it was like finding an old pair of shoes in your closet, that you’d forgotten you had.  You put them on and they’re worn-in and comfortable.

Zen practice is the practice of everyday life, so eventually it connects to all aspects of your life.  In that way, for me, it connected to comics.  Comics became part of my practice.

In a way, meditation probably helped me to slow down a bit and have the patience to really look into small moments, which was something I was always interested in doing with my comics.

Blog@: You make such wonderful observations about nature. And, often, it’s about little creatures that must coexist with us humans and our suburban sprawl. You find the poetry in that. Tell us more about this.

JP: In one of his writings, Thoreau talked about appreciating more the natural environment in which humans have made an impact.  I feel the same way.  Pure wilderness is amazing, but I was always more attracted to the pastoral, where the fingerprint of human activity is on the land, but it’s not obtrusive, it’s a part of the environment.  So I’ve been interested in the way Nature adapts to humans and vice versa.

I think it’s beautiful, and inspiring, that humans are so self-centered, stomping around blindly on the planet, yet Nature rolls on all around us.

Blog@: I love all your top forty lists. Among movies, I see that the Marx Brothers are all-time favorites. Those guys loved to perform and loved people. What do you think of Charlie Chaplin? I think he shares a quality you have of wanting to give back.

JP: I’ve only seen two Chaplin films, “The Gold Rush”– while in high school, and “Modern Times,” last week…  so I don’t feel knowledgable enough to comment on Chaplin.  As far as giving back, yes, I feel like part of a community, and that we’re all here for each other.

Blog@: What can you tell us about your influences in your work? I’m guessing that James Thurber is one of them.

JP: I’ve read Thurber for years, and I definitely love his work, but I wouldn’t call him an influence.  If he was it was very subconscious.  My main influences I would say were Matt Groening, Lynda Barry, the Chicago Imagists, Kerouac, Thoreau, John Rooney (college painting teacher), Warhol, punk rock, Jenny Zervakis, Jeff Zenick, and various Buddhist poets and writers.

Blog@: “King-Cat” began in 1989 and is unique in having developed this world-wide grass roots following. Can you speak to that?

JP: I don’t know what to say about that.  I appreciate it…  it’s humbling, and motivating.

Blog@: Please tell us about a project I am sure is dear to you, “Thoreau at Walden.” I see that you visited Walden. That cabin is pretty small!

JP: One day Jame Sturm emailed me and asked if I would be interested in doing a book on Thoreau…  as soon as he mentioned it, I thought “Wow–  what a perfect idea!”  Thoreau has been a huge influence on me, perhaps the biggest influence on me as an artist, and it was a real honor to work with his writings in that way.

While on tour I finally got to go to Walden Pond.  It was a clear, cold morning at the beginning of October, so there were very few people around.  It was a joy to walk on those paths.  It felt like American holy ground.

Blog@: What would you like to tell us about your book tour? You’ve completed the East Coast leg and there’s still more to come, right? Any stories come to mind?

JP: I toured the Northeast and Midwest in September/October, and hope to make it out to the Southeast and West Coast next spring/summer.  The tour was great, but exhausting!  I got to see so many new places, and meet so many people, old friends and new.  It was inspiring.  My life isn’t very dramatic, so I don’t know how many interesting stories I have to tell.  It was fun learning how to sleep sitting up in a freezing cold car.

Blog@: Share with us a bit about your own reading of comics. What comics are you currently into? Any thoughts on DC, Marvel, whatever comes to mind.

JP: I’ve been reading mostly some of the great reprints that are coming out nowadays, Little Orphan Annie, Peanuts, Popeye, Walt and Skeezix.  I picked up about two boxes full of books and zines while on tour, so I’m set for a long time as far as reading goes.  Been learning a bit about the alternative Manga artists, and that’s pretty exciting, it’s a whole new world to explore.

Of contemporary cartoonists, I really love Kelly Froh and Max Clotfelter, Jason Martin, Gabrielle Bell, and all the other usual suspects.

As for DC and Marvel, this year I started reading a bunch of the Jack Kirby reprint series, and it’s no exagerration to say that they’ve totally changed my thinking about comics.  They kind of re-inspired me after a long period of self-doubt.  But I’m otherwise unfamiliar with anything those companies have put out since the mid-80′s.

Blog@: You’ve written about how suburban life can be comforting. Do you think that’s sort of a human’s natural habitat?

JP: No, I think suburban life is unnatural.  It’s comfortable in some ways, if you have a car, and don’t expect to have a community experience.  I spent my adolescence in the suburbs, so I have an affinity to them, and a nostalgic kind of longing for them, but in general I think they’re unhealthy and unsustainable.  I appreciate more cities and towns.  I suppose the most natural environment for humans would be a town large enough to have a cultural scene, but small enough to feel human scaled.  By that I would include city neighborhoods.  But there should be access to Nature.  I don’t know!

Blog@: I love the notes you include in the back of “Map of My Heart.” You provide the initial thoughts that led to some of your comics. In “Psalm,” I thought you stayed out of the house to let your cat, Maisie Kukoc, sleep but you say it was the stars that kept you outside, which makes perfect sense. Could you really hear the living ground?

JP: Yes.

Blog@: You’ve had your share of illness and, in the end, you say it has strengthened you. You speak about not fearing death but, at the same time, loving being alive. Would you say that is the theme to “King-Cat”?

JP: Yeah, in a way it is.  Maybe the theme to “King-Cat” is “This is your life, and it’s your job to live it.  No one else can do it for you.”  Find the sanctity in that.

Blog@: You started “King-Cat” as a youth full of dreams and you’ve kept on with it and seen it mature and prosper. Would you say that “King-Cat” is fullfilling your dreams?

JP: I wouldn’t really think of them as “dreams.”  I had something I wanted to pursue, and a way I wanted to pursue it.  To have been able to do that to the extent I have has been gratifying.

I always wanted to be an artist, I wanted to be able to communicate to people through my art.  At some point that became a reality, to one degree or another.  In that way it’s been successful.  It feels good to go on.

“Map of My Heart” is 360 pages and priced at $24.95

Vist the publisher of “Map of My Heart”, Drawn & Quarterly.

Keep up with John Porcellino at the King-Cat Web site.

Map of My Heart

By John Porcellino

Published by Drawn & Quarterly

It is the simple pleasures of life that John Porcellino celebrates in his beloved and influential zine, “King-Cat Comics & Stories.” Porcellino shares with us the most simple and basic pleasures which ultimately leads to sharing the joy of being alive. There is a life struggle too, and Porcellino shares his with you, his heart being broken, his illnesses, but he keeps coming back to the joie de vivre.

“Map of My Heart” is the latest collection of “King-Cat” and covers 1996 through 2002. These are the years that Generation X comes of age. And while a case can be made that John Porcellino is a voice for his generation, he is actually much more than that. He is himself. He’s what all of us from Generation X were suppose to be: authentic. It helps if you believe in something. John Porcellino finds inspiration in Zen Buddhism and it looks like it helps to inform and guide his comics. He often will draw something from his studies like his references to the Zen-Monk poet, Ryokan. He’ll also find inspiration from the Marx Brothers and the Beach Boys. Whatever it might be, he seems to know how to tap into the good stuff.

For example, “Psalm,” is a magical meditation on being in the moment. Porcellino goes out for a walk at night. He lets his cat, Maisie Kukoc, know he’s leaving. He wanders through the neighborhood. When he returns, he sees Kukoc through the window and she might be asleep. The stars inspire Porcellino to stay outside. On the porch, he can hear the living ground beneath his feet. He tunes in to the sounds of worms, “click, click, click.” And the sounds of bugs, “zha, zha, zha.” All is well and good.

Porcellino has a simple and direct drawing style that fits in so well with his clear-eyed vision. It is just one of those things, along with the letters from readers, his extended written narratives, the top forty lists, the research on bugs and animals, all of this you can’t fake. So, brother and sister, enjoy. You too will be moved by something in this book whether it is a discussion on football plays, pill bugs, root hogs or Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” suddenly tuned in on the car radio.

Something will get to you. Maybe it will be the comics essay, “Forgiveness,” which is about Porcellino as a boy from Chicago visiting his aunt down in Prairie City. He’s out of his element but is anchored by the family dog, Duchie, and a new gift, a slingshot. He promises he won’t get into trouble with the slingshot but how can he predict what may happen? Another intriguing comic is “Suburban Dreams,” which finds a man kneeling in front of a television. On the screen is the image of a beautiful woman who stares back at him and sort of sighs. He dreams. She dreams. They may find themselves together at least in a dream.

Among Porcellino’s many celebrations  of life is quite a list of movies, books, music and special moments. You’ll find Annie Dillard’s “The Writing Life,” Frank Sinatra’s “Ring a Ding Ding” and “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.” Here’s one talking about my generation, #9 from Top Forty, Summer 2001:

“Our Band Could Be Your Life” by Michael Azerrad (Little Brown) Yes, it’s a book about Black Flag, Hüsker Dü, Replacements, etc. etc. In other words: my formative years! Worth it for the Minutemen chapter alone. Also: Butthole Surfers, Minor Threat, Sonic Youth, Fugazi, lots more. America’s last great blast of post/pre-corporate rock.

Those top forty lists are about the fun stuff, with a big nod to humanity and authenticity. It is stuff that inspires you to want to share with someone else for whatever reason is peculiar to your own private world view.

So, on one level, John Porcellino is saying he’s just another human being doing his best to live his life. He has his own life struggle, like we all do, and he has his assorted interests and passions, like we all do. He also happens to be someone who does something very special and makes it all look easy. However, much care has gone into it and is not easily emulated.  ”Map of My Heart,” the latest collection of “King-Cat,” from one of the nicest guys you’ll ever know.

Visit Drawn & Quarterly, the awesome publisher of “Map of My Heart,” and buy yourself a copy today.

My lord, has it really been FIVE YEARS since the beyond senseless murder of metal guitar god Dimebag Darrell? The music community was rocked to its core this month in 2004 when a deranged “fan” shot and killed Pantera guitarist “Dimebag/Diamond” Darrell Abbott (along with 3 others) in a Columbus, Ohio, music club while performing with then-current band Damageplan.

In recognizing this tragic event’s 5-year anniversary, Revolver magazine is doing a cover feature in tribute to the accomplished and widely admired guitar legend (of which you can count your Reverend a fan). Of special note to comic book fans is the talent responsible for the original cover to this issue, graphic artist Tim Bradstreet. Along with work on the Punisher, readers are likely familiar with his lengthy run of covers of Vertigo’s Hellblazer series.

From Revolver’s press release:

REVOLVER Magazine has teamed with renowned and award-winning graphic illustrator Tim Bradstreet (The Punisher, Hellblazer, “Vampire: The Masquerade”) for a Pantera Vulgar Display Of Power commemorative issue, celebrating guitarist Dimebag Darrell on the fifth anniversary of his death. The issue–available only on newsstands from December 22 through February 22–captures the defining moment in Pantera’s career and features Bradstreet’s stark and powerful cover illustration of the classic 1992 album cover photo.

The REVOLVER Vulgar Display Of Power issue includes an additional Pantera illustration by Bradstreet, rare photos, as well as exclusive interviews with all surviving Pantera band members (Phil Anselmo, Vinnie Paul, Rex Brown); Dime’s longtime girlfriend Rita Haney; album producer Terry Date; musicians Rob Halford, Rob Zombie, Sean Yseult, Scott Ian, Zakk Wylde, Nick Bowcott; and other key friends and associates. In fact, this marks the first piece to include interviews with both Phil Anselmo and Vinnie Paul since the 2006 VH1 “Behind The Music” on Pantera.

In this issue, REVOLVER Magazine and writer Jon Wiederhorn debunk the myth behind the Vulgar Display Of Power album cover photo shoot and reveal the stories behind how “Diamond Darrell” became “Dimebag Darrell” and the origins of Dime’s signature “Black Tooth Grin” drink.

Each newsstand copy of REVOLVER’s Vulgar Display Of Power issue will include a special memorabilia pack with an authentic replica of a Vulgar Display Of Power tour backstage laminate and concert ticket, a Pantera show flyer, and sticker. In addition, REVOLVER will give away Tim Bradstreet’s original hand-drawn cover art for the issue, an Affliction Pantera Signature Series T-shirt, Dean Dimebag Dimebonics ML Electric Guitar with Case, Dunlop MXR DD11 Dime Distortion Pedal and DB01 Dimebag Signature Wah Pedal, Seymour Duncan Dimebucker Pickup, and ddrum Vinnie Paul Signature Snare. Look for contest details in this issue and enter online at www.REVOLVERmag.com.

Fans can also purchase a highly limited-edition (only 250 printed) Vulgar Display of Power Commemorative T-shirt featuring Bradstreet’s cover illustration at www.REVOLVERmag.com/store.

So, you may have noticed that DC’s kept Superman and his cast of heroes, villains and supporting cast pretty busy since they (re)introduced a hundred thousand Kandorians to Earth over a year ago. By all indications, DC has made hits out of the various Man of Steel books, especially since the main man has been taken out of most of the titles in favor of different characters to take the lead. And as entertaining as “New Krypton” has been, all indications point to even more activity with Superman and New Krypton in 2010.

I’ve been loving it myself, so here’s my question: Why has DC Direct not so much as sniffed at some sort of “New Krypton” action figure line? The characters are there, and then some. DC Direct has never been shy on producing Superman figures, and he’s deeply immersed in his most compelling storyline in years, produced by some of the publisher’s best creatve talent. What’s the holdup? Well, I hope DC Direct’s paying attention, because the Super Articulate team has figured out no less than FOUR 4-figure waves that strike the right balance of A-list heroes (anchors, as they like to call them), villains, and characters that DC Direct really needs to get around to making. Take a look after the jump and let us know what you think!

(more…)

If you consider yourself any kind of loyal fan of Aquaman, Rob Kelly is the most important person to know, next to Arthur Curry. And if you know what F.O.A.M. stands for, well, you’ve come to the right place. Rob is the host and caretaker of the Aquaman Shrine, the most endearingly exhaustive website devoted to the Sea King and founding father of the Justice League of America. Rob, like myself, hasn’t had a whole lot to look forward to on a monthly basis in terms of Aquaman material since his dubious passing in his own title (one I personally gave up on post-”Sub Diego” when the character arguably got the short shrift “One Year Later” following Infinite Crisis). And while Rob and I may not totally see eye to eye on the bigger story, I was personally enthused as to the use of Aquaman and his immediate supporting cast in Blackest Night#2.

My biggest hope is that someone on the creative side of DC has some exciting plans for the woefully underused Aquaman, and one thing that could help send a clear message to their editorial is an effort spearheaded by Mr. Kelly. As you may have seen this week in DC’s solicitations for February 2010, Brave and the Bold #32 will be starring none other than Aquaman and Etrigan the Demon!

Written by J. Michael Straczynski; Art and cover by Jesus Saiz
Terrors of the deep! A horrifying lost city has risen at the bottom of the ocean, and Aquaman must call on the supernatural might of Etrigan, the Demon to stand between humanity and the dark menace that lurks inside that forgotten realm! It’s an undersea chiller like no other!
32pg. Color $2.99 US; On Sale February 17, 2010

In the weeks and months between now and the release of this issue, Rob is going to give extensive coverage to this event, starting now as he’s already published an interview with series writer J. Michael Straczynski! If you or anyone you know supports Aquaman, now’s the time to be heard!

Ouch. This one’s going to be a talker, I’d imagine.

Mad Magazine is bringing up its annual “MAD 20″ list, and the number one dumbest thing of the year? According to them, it’s the beatification of the late King of Pop, who died in June allegedly due to the sleeping medication in his system.

If you check out Comics Alliance, where we found this story from, you’ll see the page in question, a stained-glass image of Jackson with some llamas, a monkey, and some crotch-grabbing. I can’t look at it without a weird mix of horror, awe, and laughter.

Considering how divided people have been over Michael Jackson’s death — one half cracking jokes, the other half mourning over his death, and another half more or less wishing him a not-so-happy afterlife — I’m curious to see how Mad’s issue will play out. There’s certainly a line between hilarious humor and poor taste: has Mad moonwalked over it?

Either which way, the book — which also has Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Kanye West, and Michael Jackson’s doctor on the list — comes out tomorrow. What say you, Rama readers?

For those of you still smarting over the news of Dollhouse’s cancellation, this may be a (slight) silver lining for you.

Sci Fi Wire has posted a casting call for what seems to be an online Buffy the Vampire Slayer Motion Comic, produced by MAXX INITIATIVE, and based on the Season Eight comic by Dark Horse. Here’s just a snippet:

[ FAITH (V.O.) ]
Co-Star / Female / Caucasian / 20 – 25 years
Description: MAXX INITIATIVE is now casting voice over talent for the Buffy the Vampire Motion Comic, upcoming web series. Seeking the role of FAITH – female, early 20′s, a slayer, displays a much darker, dangerously, fun-seeking, approach to both slaying and murder, she is the dark side of a slayer’s personality. Voice to match Eliza Dushku. Send voiceover links/ reels (if possible). Pay provided. Nonunion.

There’s no sign of Buffy anywhere in this casting call — although that may mean she’s already been cast. Interesting note, however, is there is a call for someone to match the voice of actor Daniel Craig. I don’t know what kind of role he might have, but that’s kinda cool.

Even as his new comic on singing supervillain Dr. Horrible comes out this week, Zack Whedon is showing that he has a lot of range — even up to the horrors of 2029.

Indeed, the brother of Joss Whedon announced on Techland last night that he would be taking on a Terminator comic for Dark Horse.

Read on for the goods:

I am currently working on a six issue Terminator series for Dark Horse. I just turned in the first script and I’m very excited about it. I love Terminator. I think that movie is so good. Holy Toledo is it good. Now I get to play in that universe and make up Terminator stories of my own that people will get to read. I am not a big-time, famous dude and yet now I am choreographing action sequences set in a post-apocalyptic future overrun by evil cybernetic organisms hell bent on destroying the human race. How is that possible?! I’ll answer your question, Made-Up Person. It’s possible because in comics it doesn’t cost 150 million dollars to tell that story. They can put an idiot like me in charge!

No word yet over whether or not it’s set in the future, the present, or the past — or how John Connor, his mother Sarah, and his Resistance will play into this. What do you think, Rama readers?

Editor’s Note: Stay tuned to the mothership for our EXCLUSIVE Interview with Zack on the new series, later today!

With yesterday’s news of Dollhouse getting canceled, sci-fi got a little bit lonelier on TV. But Variety has some news that might just change that.

Sci-fi legend Ray Bradbury will be adapting six of his short stories for “The Bradbury Chronicles,” to create a six-hour television event.

White Oak’s Merrill Capps, Todd Klick, Cory Travalena and Dale Olson are said to produce the series, but currently the works to be adapted are still up in the air, and there is no network attached.

Sherlock Holmes is a character whose fame far outstrips the source material that birthed him. People seem to absorb Holmes lore via a sort of pop-cultural osmosis. You don’t have to read a word of Conan Doyle or even watch the movie adaptations to have Holmes indelibly etched on at least a tiny space in your brain. Like Tarzan, or even Superman and Batman, Sherlock Holmes is probably in your head whether you’ve made a conscious effort to put him there or not.

Holmes’ already prodigious profile is definitely on the ascendant these days. He’s featured in a comic series by Dynamite, TV hit House is, if not a straight adaptation, a definite riff on Holmes, and Holmes will even go head to head with zombies in the upcoming VICTORIAN UNDEAD. Most prominently in the zeitgeist, is second string Tarantino Guy Ritchie’s upcoming Sherlock Holmes film adaptation, a buddy action movie that threatens to bend the character out of all recognizable shape. With all of this Buzz floating around one of literature’s most enduring creations, it’s a good time to go back and look at the original legacy of a man who has a legitimate claim on the title “world’s first superhero”.

(more…)

Sheldon L. Dorf’s drive and vision paved the way for the Comic-Con International in San Diego that we know today. As part of the tributes emerging for Shel Dorf is a Web site where his memory can be honored, celebrated and shared with everyone. The photo above of Jack Kirby and Shelf Dorf in 1969 is from the site. Also, is this excerpt from Mike Towry’s observations:

Would there have been a Comic-Con in San Diego without Shel? Probably, someday, sure. Would it have been the one we have today? Certainly not. Comic-Con got its spirit, its positive, non-profit, welcoming vision from Shel. The Con committees throughout the years have done a fantastic job in building the Con into what it is today, but, to paraphrase Isaac Newton, “If they have seen further than others, it is because they stood on the shoulders of a giant.”

Phil Yeh, a long-time participant at Comic-Con International and founder of Cartoonists Across America and the World, has suggested for some time now that a street in San Diego should be named after Shel Dorf to honor the man and for all he’s done to make the San Diego Comic-Con the largest pop culture festival in North America , and one of the largest in the world.

When I contacted Phil Yeh, he said, “It would be great to see a street named for Shel and maybe a park with a mural that would be created by so many of the artists who had their lives changed because of Comic-Con. There is a park in Springfield, Massachusetts  with statues in tribute to Dr. Seuss and his characters. Perhaps San Diego should consider a park with statues celebrating comic characters and the man who brought so many talented creators together.”

Greetings, Blog@teers — have we got some news for you!

For the past six months, a webcomic has been featured by Ain’t It Cool News and CNN, celebrated for its action, characterization, and respect for the blaxploitation films that inspired it. As its creator notes, it’s Super Fly meets The Equalizer, the step-child of Shaft and Rip Kirby, a love letter to the Black action films of the 1970s. For some, it’s street justice like you’ve never seen — and for those on the run, well, all that’s coming their way is a WORLD OF HURT.

And in keeping with our mission to deliver the best and the brightest to you, our readers, we are proud to announce that WORLD OF HURT will be making its second home at Blog@Newsarama, as the latest in our weekly webcomics series. We sat down with writer/artists Jay Potts about the comic, his blaxploitation inspirations, and what the future holds for Isaiah “Pastor” Hurt.

Newsarama: Jay, just to start out with, can you tell new readers a little bit about what World of Hurt is about?

Jay Potts: WORLD OF HURT is a weekly, black & white serial adventure webcomic that is my personal love letter to the Black action films of the 1970s and the Golden Age of newspaper adventure strips.  It is set in the early1970s in the city of Pointe Blanc, a fictional version of San Francisco and Oakland, and follows the exploits of a Black troubleshooter named Isaiah “Pastor” Hurt.

Nrama: In terms of getting to know you a little bit — what’s your background been in terms of comics? Is World of Hurt your first one, or have you been building up this?

Potts: I’ve been drawing since the age of four and have been a comic book fan for just as long.  However, it wasn’t until I entered the graduate program in Sequential Art at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA in 1997, that I received any formal instruction.  What I learned there about storytelling and composition, and the exposure to an incredible range of talent, was truly eye-opening.

(more…)