NEWS: Comic related news/comments for July 11, 2001
Ken Dreger
July 11, 2001 - CAPTAIN COMICS: We think NOBODY's in Kansas anymore,
"Attention Mr. and Mrs. America and all the ships at sea! This is your
favorite snoop, Captain Comics, dishing all the dirt and passing on
the news with all the zeal and dedication that you, the reader, so
richly deserve! For example: ITEM! For the last six weeks, the Captain
has been telling you about DC's big summer story line, a mammoth
Superman epic inspired by the blockbuster movie, "Pearl Harbor."
Titled "Our Worlds At War!", the story runs through no fewer than 37
DC titles, from June through August! This month the war has come home,
as the intergalactic no-goodnik Imperiex has blasted through Earth's
first line of defense - the Justice League of America - and wiped
several cities off the face of the map! Of major importance to
Superman is - well, WAS - Topeka, Kansas, now just, ahem, dust in the
wind. I said Kansas, folks - the state in which a certain elderly
couple named Jonathan and Martha Kent live ... or lived? Oops! I'm
afraid wartime censors are preventing me from telling you the full
scope of the tragedies, my friends, as they multiply across the globe.
But I don't think I'm spilling any wartime secrets when I mention that
a certain Scarlet Speedster and Emerald Gladiator have been
hospitalized in (censored) condition - and that (censored) spent an
entire recent issue with his left eye dangling out!"
'Batman' driver irks police, "A Dutch car driver has been fined for
using a device that made his registration number vanish. The device -
which hasn't been fully explained - made his plate disappear while he
was driving, and hence made him unrecognisable by speed cameras, but
could be seen again when he stopped. Dutch traffic officers, who
eventually clocked the man's 'numberless' plate with their own eyes,
say they come across drivers attempting similar tricks to evade speed
cameras once or twice a year. "Once we had a car which could move one
number in front of the other," a police spokesman said. "We also had a
registration number with a contraflash, so it was invisible on
photographs. But we've only seen an invention like this in a Batman
story." The 39-year-old driver was fined 120 Dutch Guilders (£32)
before, erm, disappearing."
QUESADA ADDRESSES 'DARWINISM' FLAP, "Marvel's Joe Quesada recently
spoke out about the ongoing reaction by readers and creators to his
'Comics Darwinism' comments made during a Marvel Press conference this
past June 6th. In a new interview with Barry Wolborsky of Grayhaven
Magazine, Quesada was asked if he felt his original comments - which
were in reply to the question of why Marvel was introducing a 'New
Talent Search' program when many long-time artist were looking for
work - were misquoted, or taken out of context, to which he replied:
"I'm pretty accustomed to my comments getting twisted, but this has
been amazing. I've had 'Darwinism' twisted into to 'Evolution,' which
by the way are two completely different things, and I've noticed that
the majority of what people have been responding to is not so much
what I said but what they think I said or what others have told them
they think I said." You know I read this but didn't blog it yesterday
because I'm bored with the whole issue but then again seeing Newsarama
mention it I thought I'd better blog it just in case someone else
still has the energy to care
Dean Cain is outrunning 'Superman' image, "When Dean Cain rose to
prominence playing the Man of Steel on "Lois & Clark -- The New
Adventures of Superman," he became so closely associated with the role
that some Hollywood insiders wondered if he would be able to escape
being typecast. Apparently, he has managed to establish a new persona,
with his current gig as producer-host of "Ripley's Believe It or
Not!," a syndicated series based on the long-running comic strip. "I
walked into an airport the other day," said Cain in an interview with
United Press International, "and a young kid said to me, 'Hey, aren't
you the guy from Ripley's?'" Most people, of course, still see
Superman when they look at Cain, but being recognized for his current
show is music to Cain's ears." From playing one comic character to
another.. hahah.. ha... sorry.
Thanks to Bendis! SHI MOVIE UPDATE, "Producer Kevin Bernhardt said
three studios are currently expressing interest in the Shi movie,
based on Billy Tucci's character. "We have a script we're very happy
with from Billy Tucci, and interest from three different studios; Tomb
Raider got us a third," Bernhardt said. "So it's all good." At one
point, Tucci said there was talk of rewriting the Shi backstory for a
Caucasian lead such as Mira Sorvino, but that is no longer the case.
"She will be Asian, and a name," Bernhardt said. Bernhardt has been
overseeing the writing for Shi. "I may jump in with Billy and take a
final pass, but have been very busy for some time, and Billy has been
doing a great job," Bernhardt said."
When 'Fantasy' meets reality Animation evolution yields lifelike
results , "But when it comes to reality, Final Fantasy won't be the
final word. As you read this, computer programmers and animators are
working out algorithms that will lead to more detailed, sophisticated
characters that will look exactly like real people. Sakaguchi, who
created all of the Final Fantasy games, compares creating seemingly
real people in computers and putting them on-screen to racing a car up
to 100 mph. He estimates he has just hit 50." and "Katzenberg
stresses, however, that the plot and characters are what make people
like a movie. Technology means little without them. And technology
won't evolve if moviegoers won't pay to watch it.''Final Fantasy may
determine whether computer animation gets more real or more
cartoony,'' says Antran Manoogian, president of the International
Animated Film Society, an organization of animation professionals.
''It's terrific that someone is pushing animation to the next level
and seeing what will happen,'' he says. ''It's one more technique, and
if it works and it's successful, we all benefit.'' But if Final
Fantasy bombs, Manoogian says, it could doom future photo-realistic
animated films. ''The economics will drive it,'' he says. ''It is very
expensive.'' Not just expensive but pointless, some argue. Animation
historian Jerry Beck, who runs www.cartoon research.com, says
proto-real CGI (computer-graphic imaging) animation makes sense only
if you're using it for special effects in live-action movies, such as
the planes and ships in Pearl Harbor or the dinosaurs in the Jurassic
Park films. The only reason to make photo-real actors is to be able to
say, ''We did it!'' he says."
FAN REFUSES TO GIVE UP ON THE METS, IRON MAN, "Joey Hamlyn, 37,
estimates that he has around ten thousand comics in his collection. He
also has at least one copy of every Iron Man published by Marvel
Comics since 1970, when he started reading comics. "When I was real
little, I had them under my bed. Now they take up almost my entire
room. I’ve taken to sleeping on the couch, cause it’s a lot more
comfortable in there; more air, stuff like that." From The Wire spoke
to Hamlyn in his basement apartment, which he rents from his parents
Ed and Martha. The walls are filled with Iron Man posters and various
Mets memorabilia, Hamlyn’s other passion."
As per Toonopedia, "On this day in 1923, cartoonist Dan Barry was
born. At one time or another, he drew stories for DC, Marvel and lots
of other comics publishers — but he's best remembered for his work on
Flash Gordon, which he guided for more than four decades. The man who
devoted more of his professional career than any other to that strip
entered this world 78 years ago today."
As per Dark Horizons, "A few early looks today including the first
publicity stills released from "Ice Age" at FOX Movies. Scooby-Doo:
Our set visit back in May was taped all the way and now the first part
is up in video at 13thStreet.The Tick (TV): Video clips from the new
live action pilot are now up at the official site. Smallville (TV):
There's also a 5-minute promo for the new Superman prequel series up
at Zap2It in three parts." For you Final Fantasy Fans there's an
Interview: Ming Na at Dark Horizons as well.
Astounding Space TV!, "Wolfmill Entertainment, the production shingle
founded by comics veteran Marv Wolfman and Craig Miller, have
announced the acquisition of the rights to Steve Conley's
groundbreaking online strip Astounding Space Thrills. The move follows
the success of Wolfmill's Pocket Dragon Adventures and the
pre-production work on the animated feature Elfquest. Plans are to
develop AST as a television series. Wolfmill provides this description
of the concept: A few short years into the 21st century, there was The
Shift. The laws governing the universe changed - time now flows at a
different angle, space folds against the grain, and positive particles
aren't so sure." Holy crap! Congrats Steve! Also as per Comics2Film,
"Spoon! The website for the Tick TV show is no active. Fans can point
their browsers to TickTV.com for loads of big blue goodies."
As per Kim Thompson of The Comics Journal: Dan Clowes in the new
yorker, "I hear there will be a substantial article on Dan Clowes in
THE NEW YORKER later this month -- along the lines of the Ben Katchor
one a few years back, at least in terms of heft. I know the writer
interviewed a number of people for it, and Dan is drawing an original
strip." I will attempt to get a copy of both the comic strip and
quotes from the article when it comes out.
Thanks to Tony Isabella for this tidbit. COMIC-STRIP CROSSOVER, "The
reprinted PEANUTS strip which appeared in newspapers this July 5
featured a rare crossover from cartoonist Charles M. Schulz. Charlie
Brown is watching the dawn, wondering if the sun will still look like
a baseball. It's a long story; suffice to say, the lad's love of the
great American pastime had gotten a little out of hand in previous
strips. When the sun does come up in the last panel of the strip, it
doesn't look like a baseball."
Daredevil Ready for a Fall Start-, "Producer Gary Foster has advised
Popcorn UK that New Regency's big-screen adaptation of Marvel Comics'
Daredevil is gearing up for a Fall 2001 start. The script is by the
film's director Mark Steven Johnson (Grumpy Old Men) and Oscar-winner
Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential); this is the first I've heard of
Helgeland taking a crack at writing Daredevil. Foster advised Popcorn
that Johnson and Helgeland have crafted "a great script" and that the
production is "just at the point of preparing the movie to start
shooting in November". Foster summarizes Daredevil as being about "a
blind lawyer who by day tries to get justice for the people who need
it, and whatever he can't do during the day – at night he becomes
Daredevil and the vigilante". Foster says Daredevil will "certainly be
different" from other comic book-based films, "more character-driven
... darker ... edgier." The producer leaves DD fans hanging with word
that there won't be any further news on the project for several weeks.
However, when pressed about who might be cast as Matt Murdock a.k.a.
Daredevil, Foster admits that he'd "like to see Edward Norton do this
movie, I'd like to see Guy Pearce do this movie, I'd like to see Matt
Damon. There are a lot of people who would be great – Mark Wahlberg."
Managing Humanoids, "Want to manage some humanoids? Los Angeles-based
Humanoids Publishing, a division of The Humanoids Group, is looking
for a capable individual to fill the position of Managing Editor for
its line of comic books, graphic albums and trade book collections.
Here’s your chance to guide the efforts of comic book professionals!"
Bibleman?!?! How many are there? God, Mammon, and ‘Bibleman’, "Some
directors say a little prayer before they launch a new movie. Matthew
Crouch isn’t taking any chances. He plans to visit 1,900 preachers
before his $20 million film, “Megiddo: Omega Code 2,” hits theaters in
September. That may seem like overkill—or desperation—to most of
godless Hollywood. For Crouch, it is a divine marketing plan.
“Megiddo” is Crouch’s sequel to “The Omega Code,” a film about an evil
media tycoon who steals a secret Biblical code and threatens to take
over the world with it, only to be thwarted at the last minute by a
God-fearing motivational speaker." and "Much of Christian
entertainment, like the “Bibleman” videos featuring a
Scripture-quoting superhero, is designed as a kinder, gentler yet more
searching alternative for an audience that has long felt overlooked by
the prevailing media and entertainment culture" Thanks to David
Gallaher! Finally if you can't get enough of Bibleman check him out in
the comicgeek.ca archive on June 4th.
New ComicGeek.ca comic strip online...yeah yeah but it amuses me!
As per Carl Henderson, There is currently no active US registered
trademark for "MIRACLEMAN.". The question is what will this mean to
the whole Miracleman fiasco and the reprinting of the past issues..?.
Wizard Previews Paradise!, "Wizard Entertainment has joined forces
with Marvel Comics once again to bring fans a special world premiere
of the concluding chapter of Alex Ross` epic Earth X trilogy with the
Paradise X Preview Book, available polybagged with Wizard: The Comics
Magazine #120 this September. The preview book offers an advance look
at the concepts and characters that Ross has created for the Paradise
X maxi-series. The book also includes a special feature on Ross`
process of creating a painting using a live model - from initial
composition, costuming, and photography, to the sketching and
producing the final painting." You know it just dawned on me, I'm
dense somedays, that the whole Earth X thing obviously plays on the
Dante's Divine Comedy structure with Inferno (Earth X), Purgatory
(Universe X) and Paradise (Paradise X). With that in mind I'm
disappointed that I couldn't make it through Universe X and I might
have to buy it just to see what parallels exist. (Is Captain America
the equivalent to Dante's Pilgrim?).
Comics aim to help 'different' children, "CHILDREN as young as four
are to be taught tolerance towards people with mental health and
behavioural problems through the launch of four comic books that
attempt to explain what it is like to be “different”. The Royal
College of Psychiatrists said yesterday that it had decided to publish
the books after research showed that prejudices against the mentally
ill and people with learning disabilities usually set in by the age of
eight. Sue Bailey, the college’s deputy registrar, said the
illustrated books were designed to be read by children aged four to
seven with their teachers and parents. “If we really want to lift the
stigma surrounding mental health and change attitudes, we need to go
for this age range because after this it may be too late,” she said.
The books, written by child and adolescent psychiatrist Anula
Nikapota, aim to help children who have been stigmatised because their
behaviour differs from what is considered “normal”. They also aim to
show other children what it is like to be on the receiving end of
stigma and prejudice." Ironically, the comics should be about comic
readers .
Marvel Books Code Approved--Not!, "When a comic book retailer saw the
Comics Code Seal of Approval on the eye-gouging cover of Wolverine
#165, he couldn't believe that this issue in which Wolvie's left eye
is gouged out and eaten by a cannibalistic sadist was actually
approved by the Comics Magazine Association of America (the CMAA), the
industry association that administers the Comics Code. The retailer
contacted the CMAA and discovered that the organization had not seen
or approved Wolverine #165. The CMAA then contacted Marvel and the
publisher admitted that putting the Code Seal of Approval on Wolverine
#165 was "a mistake" on the company's part. ICv2 has learned that
Marvel has not been submitting books to the CMAA recently and other
current issues that carry the code (e.g., Tangled Web #3)are also
"mistakes." Although understandably upset about this misuse of the
Code Seal, CMAA spokesperson Holly Hunter-Koenig is willing to give
Marvel "the benefit of the doubt," and the organization plans no legal
action against the publisher." hahahah I'm buying this issue!
A short blurb. Japan's Refusal to Revise Textbooks Angers Neighbors,
"South Korea has also threatened to delay or reverse the
liberalization of trade in Japanese cultural items, like films, music
and cartoons. The sale of those items in Korea had long been banned,
in part because of hard feelings over Japan's imperial past, until Mr.
Kim's government began lifting restrictions two years ago."
Where did they find these people??!!? Talk Back: What is your favorite
childhood cartoon and why?, ""I'd have to say I didn't like
cartoons--but I loved 'Full House.' I thought that Uncle Jesse was
really cute and I thought Joey was hilarious." AAAAHHHHHH!
Suitable for grown-ups, "Some pictures tell a symphony of stories. The
central image, a bleak tower block, remains unchanged throughout all
four frames. Above and below we read a rambling, increasingly
hysterical e-mail from Charlie to his friend Paul who has recently
emigrated. To his horror, Charlie has received a kiss-off letter from
Tara who accuses him of losing interest in her. While Charlie protests
his innocence of the charge, Tara pops up in the corner of the page
and, with a glance over her shoulder, assures us she has moved on for
good. Charlie proceeds to tell Paul about the free-form jazz he can
hear in his head and how he has just noticed that he appears barely at
all in his family photograph collection. Meanwhile, the speech bubbles
emerging from the top floor of the tower block fill with the vehement
splutters of mounting panic: Charlie's parents have returned home to
discover their son lying unconscious on blood-soaked sheets. "Call an
ambulance," one screams at the other. Suicide, depression, drug abuse,
existential despair, self-mutilation - business as usual in the
modern-day funny papers. However, what distinguishes Last E-Mail From
Charlie from the run-of-the-millennial angst of the adult comic world
is that it's an Irish strip by an Irish author, Paul Jennings, in an
all-Irish publication, Toenail Clippings."
Originally posted as a jab at Todd McFarlane, the ten million dollar
test. Take and see how ethical you are. I got a 70, "There are a lot
of horrid things you would do for the big Kahuna, but you do have your
limits. Perhaps some things on the test are just too disgusting to
imagine, or you don't want to actually harm anyone else in your quest
for the big bucks. Whatever the case, this likely means that you
appreciate money as much as the next guy, but don't make it the focus
of your existence. While you would do certain things to become
stinking rich, you also realize that it wouldn't buy happiness." This
is after I slept with my best friends wife in a place of worship...
what does a guy have to do nowadays?!?!
ABC'S '20/20' TO REPORT ON PETER PAUL'S CLINTON ALLEGATIONS!, "Stan
Lee Media co-founder, Peter Paul's's lawsuit against Bill and Hillary
Clinton, which so far has gotten little traction in the national
media, is reportedly being covered by ABC News with an investigative
segment scheduled for Friday's edition of 20/20. According to a new
report on NEWSMAX: "ABC News "20/20" is set to give the new Clinton
allegations their first network television exposure in an
investigative report set for broadcast this Friday, July 13. "'20/20'
has gone to Brazil to interview Peter Paul," said (Judicial Watch
lawyer, Russ) Verney. "They have given the Clinton campaign and the
Clinton staff and all the fundraisers an opportunity to give their
side of the story. Not many of them wanted to talk." The Judicial
Watch Dallas bureau chief said ABC had obtained extensive film footage
from the night of Mrs. Clinton's Hollywood fund-raiser, showing Paul
being thanked by the Clintons for his financial help."
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