Spotlight on Roy Orbison

Getting sick of Smallville

Well, I'm about halfway through tonight's episode of Smallville, and I have to say, the show is really getting on my nerves lately. Hasn't Clark lost the right to burst into Lex's mansion unannounced and accusatory? What exactly is the deal with Clark and Lana? Are they still a couple? Lex and Lana? How many cars has Lana destroyed in 5 seasons? And I'm already tired of Lionel and Martha. I don't like Lionel as the longing puppy dog, ulterior motives or not.

While it's cool that they are bringing in comics characters like Cyborg (and the dual jump during the escape was kind of cool), this show is just treading water. Even with the momentous development of Jonathan's death, nothing new is happening.

Quite frankly, the show is getting boring at best, and cancel-worthy at worst.

I'll keep watching it of course because it is Superman after all, but I sure don't get the enjoyment out of it that I used to.

OK -- the very last scene was cool. And have Clark and Lana finally ended it? God, I hope so.

"Superman Returns" panel at WonderCon

On Saturday at WonderCon, Superman Returns director hosted a panel about the film showed the audience new footage from this summer's film, answered a lot of questions and then introduced Superman himself, actor Brandon Routh.

Singer was asked a lot of questions about the Christopher Reeve films, while Routh was asked a lot of costume questions, as well as what it was like to fill Reeve's boots:

"Say this about Chris and what he means to this film and any actor portraying the role: Superman is a really great character - there have been many incarnations of Superman as actors, artists, and writers have each done their versions of the character - but Superman has grown throughout that past and all creators draw on the past as they create new stories. Chris was the guy for me. He is part of this; my portrayal is based on his as much as his was based on everybody else's."

Another report on the panel, including a description of the footage shown, can be found here.

Announcement: Grant Morrison to write "Batman"

At DC's "The Best is Yet to Come" panel at this weekend's WonderCon in San Francisco, DC announced that Grant Morrison will be writing Batman following the conclusion of James Robinson's 8-part arc running through Batman and Detective. Animated Batman writer/producer Paul Dini was previously announced as the new writer on Detective. Identity Crisis's Rags Morales will be the penciller for Dini's Detective:

Morrison said that he’s already plotted 15 issues, and in his first issue alone, he has 15 ninja man-bats as well as Talia, and the story is called “Batman & Son”. Morrison said Batman coming out of 52 OYL will be a more of a “fun guy, more healthy”, more like the “Neal Adams, hairy-chested, love-god” version of Batman.

The artist joining Morrison hasn't been announced yet, though it's expected to be either Andy or Adam Kubert, who announced they were exclusive with DC at WizardWorld Philadelphia last May, but haven't been attached to any projects yet.

A Grant Morrison spotlight panel was held at the convention. You can read about that here.

Dini writing one-issue mysteries in Detective with art by Morales, and Morrison writing a healthy, sane Batman (not to mention the 8-part Robinson story)? Waiting for the trades is going to be tough!

DC Direct Latest and Greatest at Toy Fair

See a slide show of all the latest acton figures, statues and other collectibles from DC Direct. Among the highlights of course are the items promoting Superman Returns. Click on the pic to see the whole slideshow.