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Judge Dredd Movie Concept Art

Comic artist Jock (Green Arrow: Year One) has designed some concept art for the forthcoming Judge Dredd movie (2010).

<<Click image at left for more.

As mentioned before on Comic Book News! A new Judge Dredd film is in early pre-production and looking at a release date sometime in 2010.

No casting has been announced yet.

My Weekly Pull-List: 01/09

For the first *Wednesday of the year get ready for the latest edition Wizard Magazine! Get the lowdown on Neil Gaiman's upcoming Batman story arc. And also, if you're a Watchmen fan this is one Wizard issue you don't want to miss!

*Two-Day "Too Much Snow in the rest of Canada except Victoria, but it'll take extra time getting here nonetheless" Delay in the shipment this week!

My Pull-List for January 9, 2008...

DC:
BLACK LIGHTNING YEAR ONE #1 (OF 6)
DETECTIVE COMICS #852
SECRET SIX #5

MARVEL:
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #9
PUNISHER #1

OTHER:
WIZARD MAGAZINE #208

Frank Miller eyes big-screen Buck Rogers

Frank Miller and Odd Lot Entertainment, the creator and production company behind the upcoming comic-book adventure "The Spirit," are close to teaming again on the classic sci-fi property "Buck Rogers."

Odd Lot, the shingle run by Gigi Pritzker and Deborah Del Prete, is in negotiations to option the rights to "Rogers" from Nu Image/Millennium, which obtained those rights this year from the Dille Trust. Millennium is expected to get a credit on the movie but won't be involved in day-to-day production.

John Flint Dille, a friend of Miller's, operates the trust, which may have partly prompted rumors at the time of the Millennium acquisition that the comic auteur-turned-filmmaker might come aboard to direct. But Miller was not attached at the time; he only became involved when Odd Lot entered the picture.

Miller will write and direct his own big-screen take on the comic serial; while the creator has only begun to sketch ideas, it's expected to be a darker take, with many of Miller's signature visual elements and themes, such as corruption and redemption.

It's likely to be a priority project for Miller, though he has been mulling a "Sin City" sequel.

One of the first pop-culture vehicles to tackle the issue of space exploration, the story of Buck Rogers began life as a comic serial in the late 1920's and early '30's and has seen numerous film and television versions over the years.

Battle For The Cowl March Checklist

On March 11, the much-anticipated Battle For The Cowl debuts. Though principally centered on a three issue mini-series written and drawn by Tony Daniel, Cowl will spread into a variety of one-shots and mini-series.

During this time the core Batman and Detective Comics ongoing titles will go on hiatus. Once the Cowl storyline concludes, DC will switch gears into a more traditional publishing format for its Dark Knight books.

So who will be he new Batman? Will there be a new Batman? If so, will it be Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Damien or hmmm... maybe even Ted Grant Wildcat)!

The fun begins March 11. And beginning December 24 you can add the March titles to your pull-list.

So for your convenience download your Battle For The Cowl March Checklist (PDF).

2000 A.D. Goes Digital

Press Release...

Can you name a comic that has run for over 1,600 issues and featured creators like Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Garth Ennis and Grant Morrison?

For over thirty years, 2000 AD has been essential reading to British comic readers, yet the magazine remains unknown to many North American comic fans. Some characters like Judge Dredd are familiar to North American fans, but often more due to the Sylvester Stallone film than from reading the original comics.

Now 2000 AD publisher Rebellion Development has teamed up with DriveThruComics.com to make issues of 2000 AD available to readers world-wide by digital download. To celebrate the release of 2000 AD digitally, issue 1600 is available for free. Fans who have never checked out the weird blend of pop culture, sci-fi and wry black humor in 2000 AD can now expand their comic horizons free of charge.

Further issues of 2000 AD along with graphic novels from Rebellion will also be available for download.

DriveThruComics.com features over 1,000 comics from over 65 publishers and creators available for download.

2000 AD is Britain's cult sci-fi comic, and has been at the cutting edge of contemporary pop culture since 1977. It's a multi-award winning cocktail of explosive sci-fi and fantasy, infused with a mean streak of irony and wry black humour. Imaginative, hard-hitting stories and eye-popping art have made 2000 AD essential reading for its legion of fiercely loyal fans for 31 years now.

2000 AD has been a proving ground for the finest young writers and artists of the generation, and many of the biggest names in comics today honed their skills within its pages. It has become synonymous with the very finest in comics art, and has won the Best British Comic award at the UK Comic Art Awards, National Comics Awards and Eagle Awards too many times to list.

Over a quarter of a century, 2000 AD has created literally hundreds of memorable comic book characters. Their lasting appeal has been proven not only in the ultra-competitive world of comics publishing, but also by numerous merchandise deals including movies, computer games, radio plays, action figures and merchandising.

New Judge Dredd Film Coming

It looks like a re-boot of Judge Dredd is officially on the fast-track. The new project has just been given the green light and is currently seeking a director.

The new film is a joint production between DNA Films and Fox Searchlight. Allon Reich ('28 Weeks Later) is producing. Alex Garldan ('28 Days Later', 'Sunshine').

Ever since 2002, bringing Dredd back to the big screen has failed time and time again. This time it looks like it will finally happen -- it's now just a matter of when!

Judge Dredd is a comics character whose strip in the British science fiction anthology 2000 AD is the magazine's longest running (having been featured there since its second issue in 1977).

Dredd is a law enforcement officer in a violent city of the future where uniformed Judges combine the powers of police, judge, jury and executioner. Dredd and his fellow Judges are empowered to arrest, sentence and even execute criminals on the spot.

Free Comic Book Day - Wolverine

The 8th Annual Free Comic Book Day is set for May 2, 2009 and the first cover has been revealed! Check it out to your left -- a free Wolverine comic will be available! A beautiful cover drawn by Ed MGuiness.

There will be a wide diversity of comics available, from traditional comics' fare like Archie and Disney, super-heroes from Marvel and DC, manga from Tokyopop, as well as work from independent publishers.

Check back soon as more titles are expected to be announced soon.

And don't forget 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' hits theaters the day before Free Comic Book Day... May 1, 2009!

Punisher: War Zone Review

Possible Spoilers...

First of all when you walk into the theater looking to be entertained like Iron Man or The Dark Knight you'll be in for a let-down. However, if you're a fan of the Punisher -- I mean the brutal violent 'Garth Ennis' Punisher portrayed in the MAX comic series -- you probably will love this movie -- like I did.

This is a gritty, extremely violent and sometimes humorous movie... just like it's portrayed in the MAX comic. After Thomas Janes' well-intentioned but faulty Punisher movie, this one is generally better at its portrayal of Frank Castle; Ray Stevenson looks like Frank, talks like Frank and does not hold back in his mission... kill as many bad guys as you can in the most gory way possible... like Frank.

This time around Frank Castle becomes conflicted early on in whether to continue his 'war on crime' or not. With the prodding of his arms supplier Micro (Wayne Knight) he agrees to take on the villain Jigsaw (Dominic West). Let me stop here and say that I thought this was the best portrayal of a villain EVER in a comic book movie. Yes, better than any Joker. Seriously, it was like Jigsaw walked right out of the comic! He was outlandish! West's performance will unfortunately go unnoticed by the general movie-going public, just like what'll happen to this film -- it won't do terribly well at the box office, it'll come to DVD by the time you know it, and will probably eventually go on to become a cult hit.

The MAX series doesn't appeal to every comic fan and neither should the film. I don't think the actors or director tried to pander this into being a box office smash, they made it for the fans. Punisher: War Zone didn't hit it on all marks for me; I don't think it had the right director in Lexi Alexander, but you have to admire someone who was actually able to bring (to the big screen) the most accurate three-dimensional representation of the comic yet.

New Star Trek Comic Series

IDW Publishing has joined with Paramount Pictures, J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions, Kurtzman/Orci Productions and CBS Consumer Products to publish a four-issue limited comic book series tied to next summer's new Star Trek movie, which will be released in theaters on May 8, 2009.

The first comic in the series, "Star Trek: Countdown #1," will be released in January 2009 to the comic book direct market. The story is presented by Abrams and plotted by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. It is written by Mike Johnson ("Superman/Batman") and Tim Jones, and features stunning art by David Messina ("Star Trek: Mirror Images"). Messina also provides covers for the series.

"There was a lot of back and forth about doing this project, how to do it, what it would be about, but what all parties agreed on was that we needed the right story and that it needed to matter. It had to count both on its own merits and when read in conjunction with the new movie," said series editor Andy Schmidt. "I couldn't be happier with the project and what it means to the overall Star Trek franchise!"

"'Star Trek: Countdown' lays the groundwork for what happens in the movie," said Roberto Orci. "It's our way of passing the baton from the 'Next Generation' characters and their movies to the new film."

Batman & Detective to go on Hiatus

After February 2009, DC's long-running series 'Batman' and 'Detective Comics' will go on hiatus. They will return, with their natural numbering, later in the year.

As we all know, Robin, Nightwing and Birds of Prey have been cancelled. However, none of these characters are going to be off the slate for any amount of time – quite the opposite. They will be prominently featured in 'Battle for the Cowl' and a number of series that will be premiering in June once Cowl concludes.

'Battle for the Cowl' (launching in February or March of '09) will be a three-part mini-series, 30 pages each, written and drawn by Tony Daniel, and it features basically every character important to the Batman universe. Appearing will be all the primary villains in the DCU who have been a thorn in Batman's side, and then all the characters and heroes who have been inspired by Batman will show up as well.

DC has said the following about the status of Batman: "The word is out – something has happened to Batman. The villains rise, and all the people inspired by Batman, knowing he's missing or gone or dead, come in to protect his city in his absence."

And, unlike recent speculation, Grant Morrison is expected to return to 'Batman' once the title returns to the shelves.

True Lies 01/05

Through cruising the 'net and my own research I usually dig up some interesting and (sometimes) exciting stuff -- so I'm here to share some 'True Lies' with you!

Be warned -- some of the following may contain SPOILERS.

Archive: Oct 18  Oct 20  Oct 25  Nov 3  Nov 10  Nov 16  Nov 24  Nov 30
            Dec 8   Dec 15   Dec 24

Posted: January 5, 2009...

The new Aquaman look for 2009?
· Check out this proposed Aquaman design by Grant Morrison and J.G. Jones. If there is to be a relaunch of this character this year, chances are this is what he may look like.

Voyager Revisited
· In the Star Trek novel department, there'll be more emphasis on revisiting Voyager throughout 2009. Here's the cover art for the new forthcoming book 'Full Circle' to be released this April.

Steve Englehart Uncredited for The Dark Knight?
· If you're a Batman fan you may be aware that the first Batman film (with Michael Keaton) was heavily influenced by a 1970's tale written by Steve Englehart (and drawn by the late Marshall Rogers). There were of course many alterations, but in the end Englehart was quite happy with the recognition he so rightfully deserved. In 2005 Englehart and Rogers teamed up again, this time for a follow-up limited series called 'Dark Detective'. However this time he is now claiming that Warner Bros. stole many of his ideas from this series for the film 'The Dark Knight'. He is quoted as saying: "It's very satisfying to have created two Batman films, but it would have been nice to be treated like a human being, so I would sincerely hope that it'll never happen again." More here.

Iron Man 2 Plot Details Revealed
· Iron Man 2 will revolve around the nature of identity. This is referring the to the fact that Tony Stark of course revealed to all, at the end of the first movie, that he was Iron Man; the script for Iron Man 2 will revolve around the problems this brings up.

True Lies 12/24

Through cruising the 'net and my own research I usually dig up some interesting and (sometimes) exciting stuff -- so I'm here to share some 'True Lies' with you!

Be warned -- some of the following may contain SPOILERS.

Archive: Oct 18  Oct 20  Oct 25  Nov 3  Nov 10  Nov 16  Nov 24  Nov 30
            Dec 8   Dec 15

Posted: December 24, 2008...

Battle For The Cowl Teaser
· DC has released a teaser image for next March's Battle For The Cowl limited series. Judge for yourself as to what he heck it means and let the speculation begin!

Dr. Light in, Big Three out
· The female Dr. Light will join the Justice League of America, while the big three leave for a while. Of course Batman's gone, Supes is off to space soon and Wonder Woman is off dealing with some problem.

Justice Society gets new scribe
· In light of the departure of writer Geoff Johns from Justice Sociey of America, the unusual choice of Bill Willingham will step in as writer come next spring.

Marvel's 'Exiles' Cancelled or to be Relauched?
· The Final Issue #18: "They WERE the New Exiles…but after last issue’s shocking ending and a loss that will tear them apart, how can our heroes possibly continue? The answers await you here, true believers, along with clues as to what the future holds for our favorite dimension jumpers! Join X-Maestro Chris Claremont for a bittersweet chapter we can only call “BEGIN ANEW”!"

Daredevil Film Relaunch?
· Marvel Studios are strongly considering making a new Daredevil film, not a sequel but a requel -- that seemed to work well like 'The Incredible Hulk'. And, no, Ben Affleck most likely won't return.

True Lies 12/15

Through cruising the 'net and my own research I usually dig up some interesting and (sometimes) exciting stuff -- so I'm here to share some 'True Lies' with you!

Be warned -- some of the following may contain SPOILERS.

Archive: Oct 18  Oct 20  Oct 25  Nov 3  Nov 10  Nov 16  Nov 24  Nov 30
            Dec 8

Posted: December 15, 2008...

Mon-El and Legion to start off in Adventure Comics
· The first arc of the new DC series, launching next spring, will be called 'Mon-El & Legion of Super-Heroes'. So this begs the question... will the Legion be a permanent part of this book or not?

Star Trek Movie... Spoilers?
· If you hadn't guessed by now, next year's Star Trek movie will have a Romulan travelling back in time to in order to battle Kirk and co. A time travel premise in a Star Trek movie again? So this is obviously how they've managed to shoehorn Spock in there.

The Expendables... The Ultimate All-Star Action Hero Movie!
· Sylvester Stallone is set to star in and helm "The Expendables" for Nu Image/Millennium Films. Stallone, who also penned the script, will be joined onscreen by Jason Statham, Jet Li and Dolph Lundgren. The movie is about a team of mercenaries sent on a mission to overthrow a South American dictator. Filming starts in February in Costa Rica and Louisiana.

The Crow Re-Boot?
· Stephen Norrington will write and direct a new version of The Crow, based on the comic created by James O'Barr. The original (which starred the late Brandon Lee) was gloriously gothic and stylized, the new movie will be realistic, hard-edged and mysterious, almost documentary-style," Norrington said.

Spawn Back to the Big Screen?
· In light of the success of recent 'dark' comic book movies, Todd McFarlane wants to bring Spawn back to the big screen again soon.

Gail Simone Has Some Big Plans
· DC writer Gail Simone will be penning a major book or event title next year. It could possibly be DC's next weekly series, beginning a month or so following the conclusion of Trinity.

Some Mike Grell Goodies Uncovered
· Looks like artist Mike Grell is quite ahead on his Warlord (new DC series launching next spring) covers. Check out the covers to issue #4 here, and #5 here.

Battle For The Cowl Release Date
· Battle For The Cowl #1 hits shelves March 11, 2009! The mini-series can be ready to add to your pull-list beginning December 24. And what is Wildcat doing on the cover?! Could he fill the Batman role? Afterall, he did teach Bruce some fighting skills back in the day.

Paul Dini to Write a Zatanna Ongoing?
· It'll either be an ongoing or a mini, but looks like this may launch sometime next year. No artist has been chosen yet.

True Lies 12/08

Through cruising the 'net and my own research I usually dig up some interesting and (sometimes) exciting stuff -- so I'm here to share some 'True Lies' with you!

Be warned -- some of the following may contain SPOILERS.

Archive: Oct 18  Oct 20  Oct 25  Nov 3  Nov 10  Nov 16  Nov 24  Nov 30

Posted: December 8, 2008...

Animated Green Lantern in 2009
· A Best Buy in the states spilled the beans about an animated Green Lantern DVD movie. As you can see by their advertising (for a compilation DC animated DVD) check out the end of the paragraph underlined in red. The mentioned Wonder Woman of course comes out in February.

Ray Stevenson to direct Punisher 3?
· I'm not sure how valid this is at this point, since Punisher: War Zone isn't doing well at the box office, but director Lexi Alexander has mentioned if there is going to be a sequel, she doesn't want to direct it. But the current Frank Castle, Ray Stevenson, has mentioned he'd be glad to be the director.

Smallville Coming To An End?
· The TV show may not last another season apparently. Low ratings are to blame, however maybe the producers are finally realizing that a 29 year-old playing a 21 year-old just isn't quite working anymore.

Cameos Galore
· 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' opens May 1, 2009 and its been confirmed there'll be many character cameos including Deadpool and Gambit. Now the latest addition may be Banshee.

Wally West... Done... For Now
· After Flash #247 (December 24) the title will go on hiatus until Flash: Rebirth is done (when Barry Allen returns). Whether it'll pick back up with that numbering, restart with a new #1, or be a different title all together remains to be seen.

True Lies 11/30

Through cruising the 'net and my own research I usually dig up some interesting and (sometimes) exciting stuff -- so I'm here to share some 'True Lies' with you!

Be warned -- some of the following may contain SPOILERS.

Archive: Oct 18  Oct 20  Oct 25  Nov 3  Nov 10  Nov 16  Nov 24

Posted: November 30, 2008...

Batman 3 To Start Filming in '09?
· Word out of Chicago is that production offices for the Dark Knight sequel are going up in the windy city starting February of next year. Logic would suggest filming would begin sometime in the spring.

Iron Man 2 Villains Uncovered?
· A casting call went out recently for actors with descriptions pertaining to the characters of Mandarin, Crimson Dynamo, and Black Widow.

Barbara Gordon To Return As Batgirl?
· DC Comics' Dan Didio has dropped a hint that Barbara Gordon may return to her role as Batgirl sometime in 2009. Or will she takeover the Batwoman role? Also another motive for this is the fact the proposed All-Star Batgirl series has been scrapped.

Wonder Woman R.I.P?
· With the 'Rise of the Olympians' storyline underway in the Wonder Woman series, this may transpire in the dissapearance or 'death' of Wonder Woman -- at least for a while. As for All-Star Wonder Woman (by Adam Hughes) that is still a 'go'.

New Justice League Series
· The latest Wizard cover sports the new 'Justice League' line-up. This second JL series will be written by James Robinson and will debut next spring. But I'm wondering why Freddy Freeman is in his blue costume when he should be in the red duds? Unless Billy Batson's returning. Hmmm....

Batman Black & White in Color?
· This sorta neat, you ever wonder what those Batman Black & White statues would look like in color? This Neal Adams one was taken apart and repainted by someone. This is what the original black & white one looks like.

And Speaking of Neal Adams...
· Adams is working on a new graphic novel called 'Blood'. Here's a a couple of sketched pages. No word on a release date or publisher yet.

JSA #21 Cover
· No wonder this cover has been hidden. The fate of Jay Garrick revealed? Maybe a Kingdom Come transformation?

True Lies 11/24

Through cruising the 'net and my own research I usually dig up some interesting and (sometimes) exciting stuff -- so I'm here to share some 'True Lies' with you!

Be warned -- some of the following may contain SPOILERS.

Archive: Oct 18  Oct 20  Oct 25  Nov 3  Nov 10  Nov 16

Posted: November 24, 2008...

Zeck's Batman From The Grave
· Does veteran artist Mike Zeck know something we don't know with this cover recreation of Web of Spider-Man #32? I'm talking in relation to R.I.P. of course.

Lost in the 'Verse? Buy a Map!
· It looks like someone's keeping the Serenity universe going with this map now available. Years in the making, this an absolute must-have for players of the Serenity Role Playing Game. For more info click here.

More for Rucka in '09
· Not only will writer Greg Rucka be taking on Batwoman next year, but he'll be doing two or three other DC titles as well.

And Speaking of Batwoman
· Artist J.H. Williams is apparently going to be the artist on the new Batwoman series, beginning spring '09.

Another Beauty
· Another piece of Wonder Woman movie fan art has showed up online. These are so good that last time this guy posted some, he turned some heads at Warner Bros.

Turn that Frown Upside Down
· A lot of comic fans are thinking this is Damien in the Robin costume... not Tim. And the latest rumour is that Dick will dawn the Red Robin persona post R.I.P..

Watch for... The Inner Station!
· Timothy Truman is of course well known for his writing on Conan and other stories. However he's even a better as an artist. In the works from Truman is a graphic novel called 'Inner Station' coming sometime in 2009. For some early design work and sketches click here.

Blog it... 2000 AD Style!
· Cliff Robinson, one of the most popular 2000AD artists, has finally gotten his own blog -- which you can find here. Wow, nice stuff!

Tim Sale gets Noir
· Hmmm... interesting. Not sure if this has been solicited yet. If not, it's definitely a new upcoming project from Tim Sale.

The Man Who Laughs
· Not sure what this is about but I came across a new drawing by Paul Gulacy featuring Batman and the Joker!

Heroes Volume 2
· Artist Gene Ha does the cover art for Heroes Volume 2. Take a look here. And speaking of Gene, he may be going exclusive with DC after a possible deal with Dynamite fell through.

Heath Ledger to be Nominated... well duh!
· No surprise here, as movie studios are wooing the Academy in hopes of scoring nominations. Heath Ledger as Best Supporting Actor anyone?

True Lies 11/16

Through cruising the 'net and my own research I usually dig up some interesting and (sometimes) exciting stuff -- so I'm here to share some 'True Lies' with you!

Be warned -- some of the following may contain SPOILERS.

Archive: Oct 18  Oct 20  Oct 25  Nov 3  Nov 10

Posted: November 16, 2008...

Grant Morrison Writing a Flash Movie?
· The comic writer who brought Barry Allen back to life in the pages of Final Crisis may be involved in the big screen adaptation of the character. He's been quoted as saying "I'm deeply involved in discussions, and it's very exciting."

Early Reviews for Spirit and Punisher
· Punisher: War Zone, due in theaters December 5, apparently is on the mark as a definitive MAX comic book portrayal of Frank Castle (played by Ray Stevenson). The Spirit however, due in theaters December 25, smells of a bomb according to something I came across online but has since been pulled.

Red Sonja Movie Art
· This is either the poster or promo art for the 2010 release starring Rose MGowan. And here's the plot synopsis.

Leaked Art from Secret Invasion #8
· This wound up online. I assume this is the cover to the issue (on sale December 3).

Rucka to Finally Write Batwoman
· The character that Greg Rucka created back in '52', will finally be starring in her own limited series next year, written of course by Rucka.

Jerry Ordway onboard JSA
· It looks like artist Jerry Ordway will be the new regular artist on Justice Society of America starting next February. Just in time for Black Adam's return. The cover to February's issue here.

Speaking of JSA
· Did you happen to see the variant cover for last week's Justice Society of America Kingdom Come Special: Superman? Check out this beauty by Dale Eaglesham.

DC's New Mandate
· DC Comics will be focusing more on their 'core' books in 2009. This doesn't mean more books will be cancelled, but emphasis will be placed on the comics featuring characters like Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman (whomever that'll be), Flash, and Green Lantern. Also there will be more of a continuity-like feel through all the core DC books. DC will go back to what they used to do best when DC first formed... telling great super-hero stories. Oh, and Aquaman will come back and make a big 'splash' (sorry, couldn't resist).

New 11/17: Let the Cover Speak For Itself - Spoilers?
· I came across the variant cover to Batman #686 (on sale in February). You'll see it on the front of the next Previews catalogue (available November 26, the same day the final installment of R.I.P. goes on sale). Judging by the cover it's pretty obvious Batman is 'going away' for a while. Click here if you dare.

New 11/17: Dan Didio Confirms the Return of Adventure Comics
· As mentioned last week, I said Adventure Comics may return next year. Well, it's gonna happen with a shiny new #1 next spring. And yes -- the series will star the Legion of Super-Heroes!

New 11/17: Supes off Action, but into Space?
· As mentioned last week, I said Superman will be taken out of the equation of Action Comics sometime next year. Again Didio's confirmed this as well. But the bizarre thing is Superman will apparently be leaving Earth to now reside in space.

True Lies 11/10

Through cruising the 'net and my own research I usually dig up some interesting and (sometimes) exciting stuff -- so I'm here to share some 'True Lies' with you!

Be warned -- some of the following may contain SPOILERS.

Archive: Oct 18  Oct 20  Oct 25  Nov 3

Posted: November 10, 2008...

DC Comics Canadian Prices to Go Up Soon?
· I got some pretty good comfirmation that DC will be adjusting their canadian prices on their comics very soon. Most likely within the next week or two. Ever since the canadian dollar began sucking again, Marvel raised their canadian prices, so this is not surprising news for DC to follow suit.

J. Michael Straczynski to pen The Brave & The Bold
· DC has just brought writer J. Michael Straczynski onboard the title. Expect his run to begin next spring.
Updated 11/11: Jesus Saiz will be the new full-time artist, with Batman starring in the February and March issues.

An Underwater Rebirth?
· Word is that Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver are throwing some ideas around on how to relaunch Aquaman. They might do what they've successfully done with Green Lantern and the forthcoming Flash: Rebirth limited series. Nevertheless, 2009 will apparently be the year that DC will invigorate the Aquaman 'franchise'.

Ultimatum Delays
· Even though issue 1 just hit the stands, Marvel's highly anticipated Ultimatum is already looking at delays. Issue 2 is bumped from November to December while Issue 3 will be bumped from December to February. Marvel E.I.C. Joe Quesada had this to say: "the honest truth is that our Sales and Marketing folk were too aggressive in our release schedule of this series, so it had nothing to do with the talent. It quickly became apparent that we'd have to shift the schedule a bit to take into account some tie in titles and yes to make way for a new Ultimate Universe. It happens from time to time and for that we apologize."

Dynamite Entertainment snags Green Hornet License
· Dynamite Entertainment has just acquired the Green Hornet license. With a new movie in the works, expect a series to launch next year.

She-Hulk to be Cancelled?
· Marvel's She-Hulk may be next on the chopping block. Maybe Nova soon too.

New 11/11: Adventure Comics to Return?
· One of DC's oldest series may be coming back next spring. Remember Adventure Comics? This beloved series ran for decades and ended in the early 80's I believe. Could this re-lauch be the new home for the Legion of Super-Heroes?

New 11/11: Supes may be getting no Action soon
· Next March, expect Superman to no longer be the star of Action Comics. But whom? That answer will apparently spurn out in the midst of the 'New Krypton' story arc. Action Comics starring Krypto anyone? Nah, kidding.

True Lies 11/03

Through cruising the 'net and my own research I usually dig up some interesting and (sometimes) exciting stuff -- so I'm here to share some 'True Lies' with you!

Be warned -- some of the following may contain SPOILERS.

Archive: October 18, 2008  October 20, 2008  October 25, 2008

Posted: November 3, 2008...

Was DC's Legion cancelled to rid of Jim Shooter?
· Writer Jim Shooter claims DC cancelled the Legion of Super-Heroes series in order to get rid of him. Jim Shooter was recently fired from DC Comics after a short stint writing the series. The final issue (#50) goes on sale in January. Shooter, known for clashing with editors and being loud and opinionated, says there are worse selling titles DC is putting out there (than Legion) in which they are not headed for cancellation. Shooter says he has many offers on the table, just not from DC. Whatever the case, his run was horribly written and the art was lousy -- the Legion hasn't been done right in years.

Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins
· Wanna see the new Terminator: Salvation poster? Click here. This film opens next May and stars Christian Bale as John Conner. Set in post-apocalyptic 2018, John Connor is the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. But the future Connor was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright, a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet’s operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind.

Prescription Drug Abuse appropriate in Joker HC?
· For those who've just finished reading the groundbreaking new hardcover graphic novel 'Joker' (an unofficial sequel to The Dark Knight), you'll notice this Joker surrounded by pill bottles of all sorts. This is creepy, considering what happened to Heath Ledger prior to The Dark Knight's release. Although this book was supposedly 'finished' before the movie's release, it makes you wonder if Ledger didn't die from a prescription drug overdose would the Joker in this graphic novel be shown popping pills?

Not So Fantastic News
· When Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch came onboard Fantastic Four earlier this year, they promised no delays unlike their chronically delayed Ultimates series. Well official word's come in that Fantastic Four #562, originally expected way back on Oct. 22, is now delayed to Nov. 26. That delay has pushed #563, which was originally scheduled to ship on that date, to now be rescheduled to ship Jan. 7, 2009. Don't expect it to improve after this -- if Hitch doesn't have issues 'in the can' ahead of time (like he did well ahead of their run's launch), delays are inevitable. Doesn't bother me too much as I dropped the title weeks ago, but for those people waiting this really sucks I'm sure.

San Diego Comic Con Super-Sized
· It looks like the convention centre in San Diego is getting a major expansion by the year 2013 -- almost double the size! Every year the annual comic-con sells out and is packed to the hilt. This should help out big time.

Buy ' Election Day' Bub!
· Available on Nov. 5 is Peter David's new novel: Wolverine Election Day. I've read some Marvel/Wolverine novels in the past and they've been fairly mediocre. However I'll pick this one up as I like David's writing.

Winnick to Pen Battle For The Cowl
'Batman R.I.P.' ends with quite a big shock. What's more of a shock though is that writer Judd Winnick will be writing 'Batman: Battle for the Cowl', a story arc that'll run through Batman much of 2009. Remember this is the guy who brought back Jason Todd from the dead -- so don't be surprised if Todd don's the cowl near the end of '09. Let the speculation begin! Also Jason Todd wil be a major player in #182 and #183 of Robin. Check out the promo image for Battle For The Cowl.

True Lies 10/25

Through cruising the 'net and my own research I usually dig up some interesting and (sometimes) exciting stuff -- so I'm here to share some 'True Lies' with you!

Be warned -- some of the following may contain SPOILERS.

Archive: October 18, 2008  October 20, 2008

Posted: October 25, 2008...

The Leader to be the next villain in the next Hulk film?
· All indications are pointing towards starting pre-production on the sequel to The Incredible Hulk. Edward Norton is willing and ready and the director himself has said he'd like to see Dr. Stern, who becomes The Leader, be the main villain.

Delays hampered DC Comics September Sales
· Marvel took 55.44% of the total unit sales for the top 300 comics in September 2008 while DC only had 29.57% and all the other publishers only had 14.99%. Much of this was due to the fact Final Crisis, Batman and Justice League of America were not seen on the shelves last month. These are three of DC's best-selling books! This is a huge sales blow to DC. Is DC willing to put up with writer Grant Morrison taking his sweet time? I know I'm beginning to get fed up.

And the new Warlord artist will be
· Although DC hasn't solicited the first issue of the new Warlord series, cover art from Mike Grell is available online. Check it out here. Grell is writing and doing cover art but an interior artist has yet to be officially announced. But due to some detective work of mine, I've dug up the names of it being either Cary Nord or Tomas Giorello -- both have a history of doing Conan art for Dark Horse.

Yo Joe!
· When IDW Publishing announced they had reached a deal with Hasbro to plan a re-launch of the G.I. JOE comic book franchise, they kept their mission plans secret. But now, with the new release of the kick-off issue, October’s specially priced G.I. JOE #0 (on sale now), it’s time to discuss the plans in detail... G.I. JOE #0, debuts three new series launching in early ’09. The first title to come storming out of the gate in January will be the singularly titled G.I.JOE, written by Chuck Dixon and featuring art by Atkins. The first issue features a special wraparound variant cover by superstar artist Gabriele Dell’Otto (Secret War). Then Larry Hama will be heading up G.I. JOE: ORIGINS, a series that re-envisions the G.I. JOE team for a new generation. Hama will be joined on this series by artist/colorist Tom Feister (Ex Machina). This series launches in February. Finally, launching in March will be the third round: G.I. JOE: COBRA, a four-part miniseries written by Christos Gage and Mike Costa, with art by Antonio Fuso, and covers by Howard Chaykin (American Flagg) and Fuso. This series views the sinister COBRA organization from a ground-floor. In addition to these titles, IDW will be launching comics that lead into next summer’s G.I. JOE live-action major motion picture from Paramount Pictures and Hasbro, as well as deluxe reprints of past fan-favorite tales. Issue #0 is getting critical acclaim and this new G.I. JOE relaunch is expected to be very reminicent of the loved 1980's series.

Tomasi heading to the Outsiders?
· Word is that writer Peter Tomasi (Nightwing, Green Lantern Corps) may be the new regular writer on Batman & The Outsiders. He's been asked to "invigorate" the mediocre title in hopes of maintaining interest in light of Batman's dissapearance. Batgirl will be the new leader while recruiting Manhunter (whose series was just cancelled) into the group. Whether Tomasi will have to drop one of his two current books remains to be seen.

McGuiness off of Hulk?
· It looks like Ed McGuiness may not return to Marvel's new and acclaimed Hulk series. He will team with writer Jeph Loeb on the impending next volume of Ultimates. Hulk #7 (on sale now) featured art from Arthur Adams and Frank Cho. This new creative team will be hangin' around for awhile. Too bad because I thought Ed's art was the perfect choice for the Hulk. Funny how he bailed after the issue #6 -- just enough issues for the first trade. What a shocker.

True Lies 10/20

Through cruising the 'net and my own research I usually dig up some interesting and (sometimes) exciting stuff -- so I'm here to share some 'True Lies' with you!

Be warned -- some of the following may contain SPOILERS.

Archive: October 20, 2008

Posted: October 20, 2008...

Sam Jackson: To Cameo or not to Cameo?
· It looks like Sam Jackson will be back for a cameo in the Iron Man sequel as Nick Fury. But don't expect a larger role as the character will of course get more exposure in 2011/2012 Avengers movie.

A New Catwoman candidate?
· Is this actress a frontrunner for the role of Catwoman for the next Batman film? Her name is Rhona Mitra. Take this with a grain of salt as there have been so many rumours concerning whom will play the character -- if Catwoman will even appear is still not even confirmed. She sure looks the part though!

All-Star Wonder Woman in '09
· Adam Hughes is officially attached to the new title and is working on issue #1 right now. However DC wants a few issues 'in the can' before they plan any solicitations. Hopefully the comic will see a Fall '09 release.

Another Legion Run goes bye bye
· The current Legion of Super-Heroes title will be cancelled as of issue #50 (on sale January 28). Low sales are to blame, but internal conflict between writer Jim Shooter and DC concerning the direction of the title have been going on for quite some time. Another botched attempt at relaunching the Legion -- it never seems to end. Some are saying the current continuity-sweeping Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds series will lead into another ongoing in 2009. Could George Perez finally be getting his wish to draw Legion full-time?

New Punisher Series
· A new Punisher series, which is slated to take the place of Matt Fraction's Punisher: War Journal will debut early next year. The creative team on the new series will be writer Rick Remender and former Fear Agent artist Jerome Opena. I also have a sneak peek at the cover to issue #1 - what a beauty, click here.

Thor #600!?
· Marvel will revert the new Thor series back to it's original numbering (to issue #600). Boy, comic book indexers will love this one.

Mike Zeck... so that's what you've been doing
· Ever wonder why acclaimed 80's Punisher and Spider-Man artist Mike Zeck fell off the comics radar after his comic book runs? Well, for the past many years he's worked on numerous licensing projects for DC Comics' animated television shows. Mainly he's worked on style guides (most licensees will choose art for their products from these guides). His latest project is for the upcoming Batman: Brave and the Bold animated series. Check out the Joker from the series.

True Lies 10/18

Welcome to a brand new Feature here on my site -- where I'll talk about the latest 'news tidbits' and developments in the world of comic books and upcoming comic book (or related) movies!

Through cruising the 'net and my own research I usually dig up some interesting and (sometimes) exciting stuff -- that I'd say is about 90% true. So I'm here to share some 'True Lies' with you. Why this corny title (and obvious rip-off from a certain Arnie flick)? Well I think it's explains it perfectly... don't believe everything you read! Well, except from me, right?

Be warned -- some of the following may contain SPOILERS.

Posted: October 18, 2008...

Brolin cast as Hex?
· Actor Josh Brolin is in talks to star in Jonah Hex. The movie's been in development for some time but it's apparently on the fast-track eyeing a 2010 release.

Rob E. Howard Rolls in his Grave
· Director Bret Ratner (X3) may be directing a new Conan film. Yikes, this is not good. A Conan movie will hit theatres sometime in 2010.

Superman Film: To Reboot or Not Reboot?
· Warner Bros. has decided to re-boot the Superman film franchise. After the lukewarm response to Superman Returns, this is probably a good move. But the bizarre thing is that Brandon Routh is still attached. Huh? I say 'graduate' Tom Welling (Smallville) to Superman movie status. But apparently, once he dons the tights in the final episode, that's it. He'll fly off into the sunset leaving the Superman mythology behind him.

Quantum's Early Reviews are in
· Some early reviews of the upcoming James Bond flick Quantum of Solace (November 14) are emerging. It seems the consensus is that it's not as good as Casino Royale, but a lot darker and a bleaker tale and with more emphasis on character. Read one here.

Bring it on Adam!
· Black Adam will return to the pages of Justice Society of America in early 2009.

Batman R.I.P.
· Word is that 'Batman: R.I.P.' actually stands for "Revealed In Public". Batman has already lost his secret identity to Commsioner Gordon and the Joker. Bruce Wayne will go away for a while and 'learn how to become Batman again'. Dick Grayson will take up the mantle of Batman until issue #700 when Bruce will make his return. In case you didn't know, the final issue of R.I.P. ties into Final Crisis and Final Crisis leads us into The Battle For The Cowl (2009). Remember next year is the 70th anniversary of Batman in comics... so big plans are in store.

Double Weekly Doses in '09
· After DC's weekly Trinity wraps up, there will be, not one but two new weekly series launched. But one will run for only 6 months while the other is open for being a potential ongoing series.

Wally West gets Demoted...sort of
· As many know Barry Allen is back in the DC fold. During the upcoming Flash: Rebirth limited series however Wally West will remain a Flash (not killed off) but will be sporting new duds -- no not his old Kid Flash outfit.

On The Chopping Block
· DC's Manhunter will finally be cancelled after DC tried to do that twice before. Fan support kept it alive for a while but sales are too low to keep it going.
· Batman Confidential may not last too much longer. DC may cancel the series if sales don't pick up. However many stories are already 'in the can' already slated for regular release into mid 2009.
· Marvel's Moon Knight has been selling very poorly. Word is it's only a matter of time.

Nightwing, Robin & Birds of Prey Cancelled

Some surprising news just in. DC Comics has just announced that the titles Nightwing, Robin & Birds of Prey will be cancelled as of next February. No details were disclosed as to exactly why. Speculation as to the reasons are either low sales or as a result of the impending conclusion to Batman R.I.P. -- where Robin and Nightwing will be prominent in the Bat titles anyways most of next year.

As for Birds of Prey... most likely cancelled strictly due to poor sales.

The last issues (all on sale in January) are as follows:
Nightwing #152
Robin #180
Birds of Prey #126

Marvel's 70th Anniversary Plans

2009 marks the 70th Anniversary of Marvel Comics.

Beginning in January, Marvel will launch a whole slew of projects including wraparound covers by Marko Djurdvedic on many titles, and the special 70th Anniversary logo you see to your left will be sporting all Marvel covers. Plus much much more!

Also, the Marvel Masterworks series previously only available in hardcover, will be released in softcover editions through out 2009.

Click here for Marvel's promotional ad.

Batman Softcover Collections

A couple of highly anticipated softcover collections featuring reprinted 1970's/1980's Dark Knight stories are coming your way soon!

First up is the 500 page 'Showcase Presents: The Brave and the Bold: Batman Team-Ups Volume 3' (phew!). This one will be a dandy as it features 25 issues of art by the late and legendary Jim Aparo. And Batman teams with dozens of DC favorites including The Demon, Mister Miracle, Aquaman, The Flash and many more! Reprinting classic tales from the first volume of The Brave and the Bold from #109-134, this black and white Showcase edition (cover shown at left) on sale now.

Next is 'Batman: The Many Strange Deaths of Batman' (cover shown at right). A color 160 page softcover with art from John Calnan, Carmine Infantino, Jim Aparo, Curt Swan, Rich Buckler and others. This trade paperback hits stands January 21, 2009.

These books are of great significance due to the fact we are entering an era when great artists from the 70's and 80's -- like Jim Aparo, are finally having their art reprinted. Aparo, who passed away in 2005, was a household name through much of the 70's, 80's and early 90's in terms of being "The Batman Artist." He pencilled as well as inked most of his work on titles such as Batman, The Brave and the Bold and Detective Comics.

Jim Aparo's art style continued the dynamic and dark style in which penciller Neal Adams set before him during the late 60's and early 70's. In 1992, Aparo was given his last regular series assignment for DC as pencil artist for Green Arrow issues 81-100. Following that assignment, Aparo's work appeared infrequently, when Aparo was mostly assigned occasional Batman-related stories and covers in miniseries and specials.

Mike Grell's Warlord to Return!

In early 2009, one of the most beloved DC fantasy heroes will return to DC Comics... The Warlord! Courtesy of the original series artist Mike Grell.

The new series will be written by Grell while at the same time providing painted covers for each issue. An interior artist has not been decided at this time.

Mike Grell cemented his status as a fan-favorite with his best-known creation, The Warlord, one of the first sword and sorcery comics and reportedly the best-selling title published by DC Comics in the late-1970s.

The character first appeared in 1st Issue Special #8 (Nov 1975) and was soon given his own, ongoing title (The Warlord #1, Jan/Feb 1976). In this book, Air Force pilot Travis Morgan crash lands in the prehistoric "hidden world" of Skartaris. The Warlord (original series) ran for a total of 133 issues and six annuals

Back in 2006, an ill-conceived new (second) Warlord series was launched with art by Bruce Jones and Bart Sears -- it did not take up where the old one left off but instead restarted the concept and started with Travis Morgan arriving in Skartaris. This reboot was canceled after 10 issues. The series left a number of story points unanswered as issue nine finished on a cliff-hanger, while issue #10 had a standalone story set sometime in the future. This relaunch has been largely ignored throughout the DC continuity.