"New Frontier "comic special to Join DVD release

As if the release of Justice League: The New Frontier as a direct-to-DVD animated movie of February 26 weren't cool enough, creator Darwyn Cooke is releasing a 48-page Justice League: New Frontier special a week later, featuring three untold tales set during the time period of the orignal story. As Cooke told Newsarama:

The special will be a special in that old school way. It will have a small connecting story and the conceit is that these are untold events that the government classified back in the early sixties. There are three stories in the special. The main story is something I call Chapter X, and it is the story behind the big Batman/Superman fight hoax referred to in New Frontier. In the book we only deal with that event as a squib in a magazine article along with on shot of them brawling. This 22 page story will tell about what leads up to the two fighting, and how they choose to resolve it. A host of our Frontier cast are in this story, from King Faraday and the Suicide Squad through to Wonder Woman and Hourman. We also get to meet the New Frontier Alfred .... J. Bone and I are tackling Wonder Woman, Black Canary and old school chauvinism in an New Frontier parody along the lines of the old Kurtzman/Wood Mad satires. The director of the NFDVD is a talented young man named David Bullock. He and I are tackling a short that features Robin and Kid Flash up against Red saboteurs.

An animated adaptation of one of the best comic stories in years, and now a comic follow-up. Comics CAN still be good! For more inforamtion on DC's New Frontier-related offerings, click here.

Justice League: New Frontier will premiere at the WonderCon in San Francisco on Feburary 22-24, and arrive in stories on Feburary 26. The New Frontier comic special hits shops on March 5.

"Dark Knight"'s Joker Heath Ledger dead at 28

Actor Heath Ledger, 28, set to appear as the Joker in this summer's The Dark Knight, was found dead in his apartment in New York City today. The death appears to be drug-related, though whether it was a suicide has not yet been determined.

From his obituary from AP:

And in what may be his final finished performance, Ledger proved that he wouldn't be intimidated by taking on a character as iconic as Jack Nicholson's Joker. Ledger's version of the Batman villain, glimpsed in early teaser trailers, made it clear that his Joker would be more depraved and dark.
Curiosity about Ledger's final performance will likely stoke further interest in the summer blockbuster. Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan said earlier this month that Ledger's Joker would be wildly different from Nicholson's.
"It was a very great challenge for Heath," Nolan said. "He's extremely original, extremely frightening, tremendously edgy. A very young character, a very anarchic presence that taps into a lot of our basic fears and panic."

Farewell to a talented young actor.

Boldly Going Where Roddenberry Has Gone Before: New Star Trek Teaser Trailer Online

Debuting in theatres in front of Cloverfield, the teaser trailer for the Star Trek prequel movie is now online.

Director J.J. Abrams talked about the teaser and a little about the movie, which features a new young cast playing Kirk, Spock and the rest of the classic Entrprise crew, in Entertainment Weekly:

The clip shows welders busy on what turns out to be the new starship Enterprise — massive and detailed, an embodiment of space-gazing idealism. Abrams wanted to underscore the fact that he's ''starting from scratch,'' he says. His movie chronicles an early adventure of the original crew, including Kirk (Smokin' Aces' Chris Pine) and Spock (Heroes' Zachary Quinto). Eric Bana plays a villain. Leonard Nimoy returns as an older version of Spock, which could corroborate spoiler reports that the movie has a time-travel twist.

Not in the movie? William Shatner -- and he's not happy about it. See an article and video interview about that here. But Abrams has an explanation for that: "The only reason Mr. Shatner is not in the movie and Mr. (Leonard) Nimoy is, is that his character died on screen."

"Daydream Believer" writer dies

John Stewart, member of the 1960s folk act, The Kingston Trio, and writer of the Monkees' "Daydream Believer," among other pop songs, has died. He was 86.

Here's a clip of the Monkees doing "Daydream Believer":

And here's the Kingston Trio in 1966 on the The Andy Williams Show, singing "Where Have All the Flowers Gone":

Will Smith spoofs superheroes in Hancock

A few weeks after The Incredible Hulk, and a few weeks before The Dark Knight comes Hancock, Will Smith's superhero spoof, opening on July 2 -- a very successful holiday weekend for Mr. Smith. See the trailer here.

See the movie? Finish the book first!

So, last week, I made a rare trip to the movie theatre to see Sweeney Tood: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, the musical directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp. The movie was enjoyable, but the experience continued to remind me why there's little point in going to the theatre anymore -- the cost, the discomfort, the noise. Anyway, the one thing I continue to enjoy about going to the movies is seeing trailers, even though they are readily available online. So, I was hoping to see The Dark Knight, or Iron Man or Cloverfield, to actually see them on the big screen. Instead, I got a bunch of trailers for movies I have no desire to see on screens big or ... not as big (my TV is pretty big) -- movies aimed at kids, and other musicals. But then, there came a trailer that seemed familiar, even though I had never seen it before. It was for a movie called The Ruins.

The reason it seemed familiar is because I have been reading the book by Scott Smith that the movie is based on for months now, but was not getting far. I am so easily distracted by my iPod and DVR, that I rarely make time for reading anymore, unless it includes pictures and word balloons. But for some reason, seeing the trailer has inspired me to finish the book, even though I know I won't go to the theatre to see it when it comes out in April.

It has gotten great reviews, and I enjoyed Smith's first book, A Simple Plan, also made into a very good movie (directed by the Spider-Man film trilogy's Sam Raimi), but I had a hard time getting into The Ruins, and struggled to get past the first 100 pages (the paperback is just over 500 pages).

But since seeing the trailer last Sunday, I have made it a priority, and have read another 200+ pages, and the book has indeed picked up. I haven't touched a TV show or movie on my iPod in several days (haven't given up the DVR though), so I'm reading on the train again. I predict I'll be finished the book within the next week, and will likely be lending it out with high recommendations. But I still won't see the movie in the theatre in April. Only Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and The Dark Knight will do that over the next several months.

Next book for me is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. See the same strategy worked for the first four books in the Potter series -- I read the books by the time the movies came out. But not this time. Now, it's on DVD and will soon be on cable, and I haven't touched the mammoth book yet. So soon that will be on the list over there on the right (the one that has had The Ruins on it for over six months along with Larry Kane's Lennon Revealed).

And Your Bird Can Sing

Smallville is back with new episodes starting January 31, feauring the return of Brainiac (James Marsters). Even better, the following week, Oliver Queen/Green Arrow (Justin Hartley) comes back, and he's bringing a friend:
That's right: The Black Canary, complete with sonic scream. Here's how the episode, called "Siren", is described:

While secretly working for Oliver (guest-star Justin Hartley), Chloe (Allison Mack) intercepts one of Lex's (Michael Rosenbaum) project files, but she is attacked by the Black Canary (guest-star Alaina Huffman), a mystery woman with a subsonic cry. Dinah Lance, Black Canary's alter ego, is a conservative talk show host who is working at the Daily Planet and clashes with Lois (Erica Durance). Lex convinces the Black Canary that the Green Arrow and his team are terrorists so she launches an attack on the Green Arrow and Clark (Tom Welling). Meanwhile, Lois discovers Oliver's secret.

Yay fishnets!

"Iron Man," "Hulk" movie crossovers hint at future Avengers film

This summer's movie season will see both Iron Man (May 2) and The Incredible Hulk (June 13). While both movies have different writers and directors, they are part of the same shared Marvel universe. And both movies are dropping hints about that shared universe and the eventual Avengers movie it will lead to.

Unlike Warners Bros's handling of DC characters, both individually and in a Justice League film, Marvel is looking to launch solo movies starring Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and the Hulk before teaming them up in the same movie with the same actors.

The seeds for the Avengers movie will appear in both 2008 Marvel movies. First up, Samuel L. Jackson will be appearing in Iron Man as Col. Nick Fury. In Marvel's Ultimates series, Nick Fury formed that particular version of the Avengers -- and Fury, as drawn by Bryan Hitch, looks just like Samuel L. Jackson, as you can see here.

Next, in The Incredible Hulk, Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) aka Iron Man, will share a scene with General Ross, played by William Hurt, confirmed this week at Sundance by Hurt himself:

"I don't know how it'll work," Hurt admitted, saying it was a thrill to appear as General Thaddeus Ross during Downey's scene. "I know it's weird [to work with a character from another movie], and to know it's a device. We did something; I don't know what that's going to be like [to watch]."

Hurt seems pretty psyched about the upcoming movie, and notes that it is a separate film from Ang Lee's failed attempt at the depicting the big, green, gamma guy. Iron Man director Jon Favreau is just as excited at the idea of the shared movie universe, and may even want to direct the big team-up movie:

In the case of Marvel they’re pretty clear on wanting to do it with the actors who’ve established the roles or to not do it at all. That’s what they’ve said to me. I think it’s a good idea if you use the characters established in the other franchises that then come together for an event. I don’t think they would do it like they’re doing ‘Justice League’ where it’s a whole different set of actors and a whole different take on the world.”

Sounds promising, but let's how these two movies do this year before we get too carried away. With the writer's strike putting the JLA movie on hold, it could -- and should? -- be a long while before we see a super-ghero team-up movie from any shared universe.

I've Got a Good Feeling About This

Ever want to ride the Millenium Falcon? See Darth Vader's helmet or Luke's landspeeder up close. Well, if you're in Philadelphia you can. Running from February 9 through May 4, "Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination" will be exhibited at the Franklin Institute, and man does it sound cool.

Props from the movie will be on display, including not only the life-size landspeeder, but scale models of X-wings, y-wings and TIE fighters -- not to mention an actual Yoda puppet. The coolest part is that you can simulate a ride in the Millenium Falcon:

Experience a full-size cockpit replica of Episode IV's Millennium Falcon! Visitors watch a multimedia presentation featuring imagery from the Hubble space telescope that explores what we know about our own galaxy in a breathtaking journey to the edge of the Universe. Featuring a proprietary sound system from Bose Corporation, the recreated cockpit debuts the technologies of 3Space™ audio systems, providing visitors with a realistic three-dimensional audio experience.

Of course, it's a science museum, so it's not just entertainment. Visitors can see the history of real-life robots (and meet C3PO and R2D2) and transportation, and build a moisture farm and spaceport.

Ticket prices are $20.50 for adults, $15.50 for kids up to 11, and $16.50 for seniors.

I definitely need to see this.

RIP Sam the Butcher

Allan Mellvin, character actor and and cartoon voice artist, has died at age 84.

Best known as Sam the butcher, housekeeper Alice's sometime-boyfriend on The Brady Bunch, also was the voice of Hanna Barbera cartoon character Magilla Gorilla, among many other characters for the studio.

He was also well known as Archie Bunker's friend Barney on All in the Family.

Melvin's voice appeared in other cartoons, including The Flintstones, The Smurfs and Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends . He also served as a writer on the Beetle Bailey animated series, for which he played Sgt. Snorkle.

Holy Crap! Bat-Mite's Back -- and he's in continuity!

Writer Grant Morrison has returned Bat-Mite to the pages of Batman, in issue #672. Of course, like Batman himself, he has been updated for the times....



I picked the wrong day to quit comics...

The real reason Robin is not in the Batman sequel?

From the second and last Legend of the Superheroes NBC TV special from 1979. I recommend this link for lots of screen shots and good summaries of the horrendously bad plots.

Adam West IS The Dark Knight

Clips from the 1966 Batman movie set to the audio of the latest Dark Knight trailer. Fun stuff...

Scorcese to direct Rolling Stones documentary

Here's a trailer to Shine a Light, a documentary about the Rolling Stones, directed by Martin Scorcese, due in theatres on April 4, 2008

Jack White as Elvis in "Walk Hard"

You wouldn't Like Him when He's Angry

If there was any doubt that the new Incredible Hulk movie, due June 13 and starring Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth and William Hurt, was goingto be taking more cures from the 70s TV show than the 2003 movie, look no further than this photo of norton as Bruce Banner in a remarkkably familiar looking machine. here's how Universal describes the non-sequel The Incredible Hulk:

"The Incredible Hulk" kicks off an all-new, explosive and action-packed epic of one of the most popular superheroes of all time. In this new beginning, scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) desperately hunts for a cure to the gamma radiation that poisoned his cells and unleashes the unbridled force of rage within him: The Hulk. Living in the shadows--cut off from a life he knew and the woman he loves, Betty Ross (Liv Tyler)--Banner struggles to avoid the obsessive pursuit of his nemesis, General Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt), and the military machinery that seeks to capture him and brutally exploit his power. As all three grapple with the secrets that led to The Hulk's creation, they are confronted with a monstrous new adversary known as The Abomination (Tim Roth), whose destructive strength exceeds even The Hulk's own. And on June 13, 2008, one scientist must make an agonizing final choice: accept a peaceful life as Bruce Banner or find heroism in the creature he holds inside--"The Incredible Hulk."

Here's hoping it's better than the Ang Lee-directed travesty.

Spider-Marriage No More

I haven't been reading mainstream Spidey comics for awhile now. In fact, I stopped reading right around the time writer J. Michael Straczynski (JMS) started taking the book too far into the supernatural (Dr. Strange should not be a regular in a Spidey book). After several years of revitializing the title, JMS this week wrapped up his 6+ year run on Amazing Spider-Man with an editorially driven story called "One More Day" that ended with a twist that fans knew was coming, but were outraged nonetheless -- in a deal wth the Marvel version of the devil, Mephisto, Peter and his wife of 20 years (real time -in the 1987 Spidey annual on the left) erased their marriage in order to save the life of old, dying Aunt May. And apparently that's exactly what happened -- some yet-to-be pinpointed moment in the past was changed so that Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson never got married. It apparently has also undone the recent public unmasking of Spider-Man from the recently completed Civil War storyline and took awy the organic web-shooters he had recntly developed to keep him more in line with his movie counterpart. Not to mention probably every other Spidey story JMS wrote. And Civil War, and tons of other stories from the last 20 years, including some non-Spidey title ones.

Why? Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada (who also drew the 4-part storyline) has been complaining for a long time now how bad an idea the marriage was -- that the appeal of Spidey as a character was in his being single and struggling in his personal life, not married to a former super-model/actress. So he got his wish, and while there are many who may agree that the marriage was not a good idea, virtually nobody is happy with the way Marvel chose to end it, including apparently JMS himself, who wanted to have his name removed from the last two parts of the story.

With the conclusion of this story. Marvel will be launching "Brand New Day" in the three-times-a-month Amazing Spider-Man, now the only mainstream Spidey title (as opposed to the Ultimate and Marvel Adventures versions, where it should be noted, he has never been married), which will explore the new status quo with new crators who promise to bring a sense of old school fun back to Spider-Man. How successful this "reboot" turns out to be is still to be determined, but regardless of this new status quo, how they got there is what has fans up in arms -- Spidey made a deal with the devil?! Save his old, decrepit aunt who already said she was ready to die by undoing his marriage?! This is an incredibly stupid idea that puts DC's continuinty-punch (don't ask) storytelling to shame.

Does that mean I'll never buy a Spider-Man or Marvel comic again? Of course not. I'm just joining the throngs of angry readers who recognize that this was a bad story idea that betrays the core concept of the character as a quick easy, deus ex machina fix to restore that core concept of the character.

Lazy storytelling, and another justification for my not buying monthly (or weekly, or thrice-monthly) comics anymore. Boo Marvel! Boo Quesada!

R.I.P. Ike Turner, the First Rock 'n' Roller

Ike Turner died last week, his musical accomplishments overshadowed by his spousal abuse of Tina Turner. on the event of his passing, let's remember Ike for his contribution to what is considered the first rock 'n' roll record, "Rocket 88", from 1951.

From Newsweek:

Among those eulogizing Turner, who died Dec. 13 at age 76, were music producer Phil Spector and rock 'n' roll pioneer Little Richard, who described his friend as "one of the greatest musicians I have ever met in my life." Richard said that Turner's breakthrough rock 'n' roll hit, "Rocket 88," "shook my soul." "I took that same introduction and made `Good Golly, Miss Molly,'" he said. "I took that same thing and made a huge hit."

Rest in peace, Ike, and thanks for helping to create rock 'n' roll.

Hellboy 2 trailer

Here's the trailer for Hellboy II The Golden Army, due in theaters on July 11, 2008.

The Dark Knight Trailer

In case you haven't seen it yet, here's the latest trailer for The Dark Knight, the Batman Begins sequel opening in July 2008. The trailer features Heath Ledger's Joker prominently. No Nicholson impressions here. Getting psyched....