Fox News is reporting that a federal investigation has been launched into the three fatal accidents occurring in Disney World over thepast seven weeks.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Agents were at the theme park Wednesday. As readers will recall, a cast memebr in the Indiana Stunt Show died during a rehearsal after he broke his neck on a mat. Previously, a cast member died after hitting his head during the Jack Sparrow Pirate Tutorial in the magic kingdom. Over the July 4th weekend, a monorail operator was killed when another train crashed into the one he was driving.
A Disney representative said [the Indiana Jones stuntman] was going over a common acrobatic move that has been part of the show since its inception in which the stuntman jumps into the air, dives over another performer, tucks and then rolls onto the ground.
"There's hydraulics involved, there's explosives involved and everyone is really on top of their game," Vince Rango, a former stuntman with the show, told MyFOXOrlando.com. "It's very hot out there, the costumes are heavy and for my cast alone we did five shows a day, five days a week."
Disney said the park is reviewing its training procedures and investigating Varbanov's death.
Cast members from the show have been injured in the past.
A year after it opened, OSHA fined Disney $1,000 when three people were hurt on stage because of malfunctioning equipment.
There has been a lot of news regarding the future of the Twilight Saga franchise.First, the second trailer for New Moon called Meet Jacob Black is up and you can see it here at comingsoon.net.New Moon opens on November 20.
Next, based on the overwhelming success of the SDCC panel (see a description here), it was only a matter of time before Twilight got its own convention.Apparently, these shows will feature appearances by Twilight celebrities, exclusive footage screenings, panel discussions, themed parties, musical performances, costume and trivia competitions, auctions, autographing, merchandising and photo opportunities. More then 20 stops have already been announced, including New Jersey; Chicago; Miami; Seattle; Nashville, Tenn.; San Francisco; Atlanta; Los Angeles; Arlington, Va.; Charlotte, N.C.; Minneapolis; Phoenix; Boston; Toronto; and Portland, Ore.For more information and the complete calendar, go to www.twilightconvention.com.
The first show is next week (Aug 28-30) at the Parsippany Hilton in New Jersey.Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are already sold out.Guests include CATHERINE HARDWICKE (the Director); JACKSON RATHBONE (Jasper Hale); KELLAN LUTZ (Emmet Cullen, 90210’s George Evans); ASHLEY GREENE (Twilight’s Alice Cullen you you bring one her recent internet pictures to sign—she would love that); MICHAEL WELCH (Mike Newton); JUSTIN CHON (Eric Yorkie).Billy Burke and Peter Facinelli were also scheduled to appear, but unfortunately had to cancel their appearances at the convention due to filming.
And speaking of filming, Summit Entertainment announced that Twilight Eclipse, the third movie, has started filming.In addition to returning favorities: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, the film gets several new actors including Bryce Dallas Howard , Xavier Samuel, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Jack Huston, Julia Jones, BooBoo Stewart and Jodelle Ferland.This film is directed by David Slade.RTE Entertainment has more information.Eclipse will be released June 30, 2010. I'm sure at least one team Edward fan is in line already.
Look Kids, Non-Twilight News, Too:
Diamond announces Skip Week
Comic Book Resources discusses the new policy by Diamond Comic Distributors.They report:
Diamond Comic Distributors informed Direct Market retailers today via email that it would not be shipping comics in the fifth week of December. The final shipping date in December will be the 23rd, and you won’t see new comics until January 6. The holiday season typically comes with some delays – usually one or two days – but it is unusual if not unprecedented for two weeks to pass without new comics in stores
Several months ago, Diamond changed their listing policies (they limited its order threshold to above $2,500), which effectively cut out many independent comic self publishers.Diamond is the world's largest distributor of English-language comics, graphic novels, and related pop-culture merchandise, with a network of strategically-located Distribution Centers throughout the world.
How this will affect retailers remains to be seen. Marvel Superhero Squad may debut early
The mightiest Marvel heroes are ready to save the day with their amazing abilities and super powers. Join in the battle with the Marvel Super Hero Squad!Marvel Superhero Squad is an animated children's show based on toys and figures by Hasbro.The show premiered at Comic-Con International in San Diego last month and was only available there (cough cough youtube.com). At the SDCC, Marvel Animation announced the series would premiere with a four-episode marathon on Saturday, Sept. 19.
However, Comicscontinuum.com is reporting that Marvel's The Super Hero Squad Show will likely be hitting Cartoon Network earlier than originally anticipated.They report:
Sources now tell The Continuum that the series -- which received a warm reception at Comic-Con -- will have at least two episodes on the air before the Sept. 19 marathon
Speaking of Marvel, have you seen the Spider-Woman motion comic, which premiered today on I-tunes? Various Super News
Supermanhomepage.com is posting an interview with John C. McGinley, the voice of Metallo in "Superman/Batman: Public Enemies", the next DC Universe animated original movie to be distributed by Warner Home Video on September 29, 2009.
In addition to being a best selling novel and a major motion picture, the Time Traveler's Wife may be coming to television.
The Wrap is reporting that ABC and "Friends" creator Marta Kauffman are teaming up to produce a pilot, with the idea that it will eventually lead to a weekly series perhaps as early as 2010.The Wrap reports:
ABC executives believe the complex plot of the original novel will work well in series form, since Kauffman will be able to explore the romantic relationship at the core of the story over the course of several seasons.
Return to Outland
Warner Bros. will be remaking the 1981 space Sean Connery Western Outland.The new film will be be written by Chad St. John and directed by Michael Davis.For those too young to remember, Outland featured Connery as Jupiter moon Marshal who investigates mysterious deaths and must face the corporate administrators when the townspeople refuse to help (think Gary Cooper in High Noon in space.)
The new movie will have the same theme, but will take place in a city orbiting around the moon, where a cop uncovers a murderous conspiracy endangering the entire city. The hero, a week before retirement, must decide whether to accept the status quo or to stand up and fight the private army./Film has more details.
The Associated Press is reporting that a 30 year old performer has died in Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly know as the MGM studios) in Orlando, Florida. Anislav Varbanov injured his head while rehearsing a tumbling roll for the "Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular" and was later pronounced dead late Monday at a hospital. This is the third death in seven weeks. Previously, a 47-year-old performer died after hitting his head in the "Captain Jack's Pirate Tutorial" and a 21-year-old monorail driver died when another train crashed into him. A Disney spokeswoman said the company mourned Varbanov's death.
First Picture of Metallo
Brian Austen Green was hunted by robotic assassin in the (sadly) cancelled The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Now, he has become one.TV Guide has the information. Smallville Premiers September 25.
Details about Hancock Sequel
Peter Berg, director of the superhero movie Hancock, has some ideas for a sequel if one ever comes to pass.He shares his ideas with SCI FI Wire. Hancock was released in 2008 and featured Will Smith as a powerful alcoholic and clumsy super powered hero named John Hancock.If you haven't seen the movie, don't read the article it spoils the big twist in the movie involving Jason Bateman and Charlize Theron.
Kick Ass goes to Lions Gate
Hitfix is reporting that Lions Gate has paid 50 million to distribute Kick Ass movie, writer/director Matthew Vaughn's take on the Mark Millar comic.The movie is looking for a 2010 release.I recently reviewed the SDCC clips here.
NBC goes to Midnight Mass
Reuters is reporting that NBC has picked up a live action version of Midnight Mass, based on the Vertigo comic by John Rozum.The book revolves around Adam and Julia Kadmons, a sophisticated, sexy, globe-trotting husband-and-wife team who solve mysteries and crimes of the supernatural.The show is expected to air on WBTV.
Spider-Woman Motion Comic Premiers August 19th
Brian Michael Bendis' and Alex Maleev's much anticipated Spider-Woman Motion Comic will debut tomorrow (August 19th) on Itunes.Spider-Woman will begin as a five issue motion comic series, which will lead into the new Spider-Woman series on on September 23rd. The original Spider-Woman series planned to have her be an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.Given the current fate of that organization, I assume that she will now be an agent of S.W.O.R.D. Check out the preview here. Fittingly, it comes out on a Wednesday.
Virginia Davis (star of the orginal Alice silent shorts) has died at the age of 90.
Davis began working for Walt Disney's Kansas City company, Laugh-O-Gram Studio, in the summer of 1924. She was hired to act in a film called Alice's Wonderland, which combined live action with animation. When Laugh-O-Gram failed and Disney moved to Los Angeles, on the basis of Alice's Wonderland Winkler Pictures signed Disney for a series known as the Alice Comedies, or Alice In Cartoonland. Disney convinced Davis' family to bring her from Missouri to Los Angeles to star in the series. During this time, Davis resided at the La Brea Apartments in Hollywood, California.
Over time, one of the characters named Julius (a Felix the Cat rip off) began to steal the show.And, as Walt Disney focused more on the animation, Alice's (and thereby Virginia's role) was reduced.Eventually, Virginia was replaced by Dawn O'Day, Margie Gay, and Lois Hardwick.Eventually, Disney abandoned the films altogether to focus on Mickey Mouse and his Silly Symphonies.
Davis gave up acting after her roles "Alice" films concluded with "Alice In The Jungle" in 1925. By 1934, she was performing as a dancer. She had uncredited roles as a chorus girl in Murder at the Vanities (1934) and College Holiday (1936), among others.
Davis also did voice testing for a role in Snow White as well as some of the little boys' voices in Pinocchio, but was not hired. She was inducted as a Disney Legend in 1998.
In 2005, Davis was interviewed by Leonard Maltin for the Walt Disney Treasures Disney Rarities. Davis also made a rare final appearance at the annual Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention in September 2007.
Disney Studios spokesman Howard Green says Davis passed away at her home Saturday in Corona, Calif., from natural causes.
She will be remembered as Walt Disney's first actress.
Contact Music has a story about how Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried dreaded their onscreen kiss in upcoming movie Jennifer's Body - because they feared the ensuing media attention would be overwhelming.I will be more than happy to fuel those fears by covering it here. Who am I to disappoint Megan Fox.
In Jennifer's Body, Fox plays a sexy cheerleader who shares a passionate kiss with her geeky best friend, played by Seyfried. Completely unrelated, the movie looks like it will be really good. The movie comes out September 18. District 9 Locks Down Competition
Peter Jackson's District 9 took the top spot of the U.S. box office, taking $37 million. GI Joe still held strong and place second taking in $22.5 million. The Time Traveler's Wife took third place with $19.205 million, behind Other notable movies included G-Force, which took in $6.9 million (fifth place) and Harry Potter, which made $5.16 million (seventh place).Finally, Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo brought in $3.5 million giving the Japanese Anime master his best opening weekend in America (worldwide, Ponto has grossed $187 million).
Vampires are the New Red
The insideris reporting that Tim Burton Johnny Depp want to Dark Shadows, to the big screen.Depp was a huge fan of the show growing up.Burton says that he has already taken step to make this happen.
Meanwhile, Bloody-Disgusting has a rumor that Robert Downey Jr. may play the vampire play Lestat de Lioncourt in a new reboot of the Vampire Chronicles franchise by Anne Rice.Lestat has previously been played by Tom Cruise (in Interview with a Vampire) and Stuart Townsend (in Queen of the Damned).He also was played by Hugh Panaro in the Lestat: the Musical made by the great songwriting team of Elton John and Bernie Taupin.
Bloody-Disgustingis also reporting that Kate Beckinsale has igned to appear in a fourth Underworld movie to be released on Jan. 21, 2011.Not only will this movie start a new trilogy, but it will be in 3-D.
What would Vampire news be with Twilight News?
According to Robert Pattinson, Twitter has ruined his life.He blames social networking for letting obsessive fans know his location.Recently, he was hit by a New York taxi while trying to escape.PR Inside has the story.
Speaking of invasion of privacy, Twilight co-stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart have been caught kissing in Canada.This may confirm the rumor started by Jennie Gartrh (who is married to Twilight's Peter Facinelli) that Pattinson was dating one of the cast.See the pictures and the story atthe Examiner.
Oobermind Gets New Cast
Empire Online says that Brad Pitt, Will Ferrell, and Jonah Hill have signed on to voice the characters in Oobermind.Robert Downey Jr., who was previously attached backed out due to scheduling conflicts.The movie, directed by Tom McGrath, is about a supervillain finds life quite boring without an adversary to battle after he beats his archenemy. The film has a release date in December 2010.
I guess Agents of Atlas got Cancelled
Taking a cue from DC, Marvel has issued a release stating that Agents of Atlas will be added as a co-feature to Incredible Hercules.
And I though the Flash was Racy
Did Green Lantern have a threesome with Huntress and Lady Blackhawk.Comicbycomic summarizes the controversy.
Spider-Man 4, 5 and 6 to get scripts
Variety reports that Sony Pictures has hired screenwriter James Vanderbilt to draft chapters four, five and six of the Spider-Man movie franchise.
Form of Water, Shape of a Shark
Superman Homepageis reporting that that the "Wonder Twins" have joined the sast for "Smallville" Season 9.However instead of Zan and Jayna, they will be Twyla (a Pixie-punk teen aged 19) and Tanner(an 18 year-old hot skater dude.)It is Smallville after all.BSCreview.comalso claims to have discovered that Allison Scagliotti (of Warehouse 13) and David Gallagher (7th Heaven) have been cast in these roles.
Bruce Willis Gets a Surrogate from Disney and Top Cow
There is a new trailer for The Surrogates, a live-action movie from Disney based on the Top Shelf comics.
To view the trailer, CLICK HERE. The film will be released on Sept. 25, 2009.
The story of Ponyo is not very complex.Based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, Ponyo is a goldfish who meets a five year old boy named Sosuke and decides that she wants to be human and uses her ecology minded father's magic to transform into a five year old girl.If this sounds familiar, it is also the basis for Disney's the Little Mermaid.However, Ponyo is not your typical romantic fairy tale.Instead, director Hayao Miyazaki presents an imaginative vision of the power of the ocean and the magic of childhood affection.
Miyazaki was nominated for an Oscar for the 2005 release of Howl's Moving Castle, after winning one for 2002's Spirited Away (He also directed Princess Mononoke). I was at the Disney panel at the Sand Diego Comiccon when he received a standing ovation both when he entered the room and again when a clip of this film was shown (he also received an Inkwell Award from the Con).I watched as fans in anime costumes gushed and fumbled like the tweens in the Twilight panel.In short, the man is an anime legend.For the United States release of Ponyo, he has brought some A-list help.
First, like his other works, the film is distributed by Disney.(John Lasseter has admitted to being a longtime Miyazaki admirer). Second, Melissa Mathison, the screenwriter behind E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial, wrote the film's English-language adaptation. Third, and finally, the film has attracted A-list voice talent (Liam Neeson, Tina Fey, Cate Blanchett, Betty White, Lily Thomlin and Matt Damon.) Also look for Noah Lindsey Cyrus (Miley's sis) and Frankie Jonas (little brother to the Jonas Brother), who do an excellent job voicing the lead characters and, of course, sing the catchy title song--it is a Disney movie after all.).
But, the real reason to see this film is for the incredible visuals.The film features traditional hand drawn cell animation.I don't know for sure, but I would guess that film uses water colors (like 101 Dalmations and Lilo and Stitch) to create the pastels in the animated world.The psychedelic imagery of the water as a living creature is fascinating.Every scene highlights amazing creatures.And while they are not necessary for the story; the presence of these fantastic mythical beasts show the amazing world that Ponyo inhabits without beyond as over-the-top as Miyazaki's other anime.
As a final note, I saw this with my four year old daughter, Elizabeth.She absolutely loved the movie.As you can guess, the overarching themes of ecology and balance were completely lost on her.That being said, all she really needed to know to enjoy this film was that, "Ponyo wants to be with that little boy and he likes her too."I was a little disturbed that Lisa, Sosuke's mother, would leave a pair of five year olds home alone during a natural disaster. But, perhaps my view would be different if I knew one of those kids was a magically transformed goldfish.
I recommend the film (definitely if you have kids). It is also the most mainstream of Miyazaki's work.
Many years ago, an alien spaceship arrived on Earth.These aliens were not invaders, but rather mal-nourished slave workers.They are forced to assimilate into Earth society and are met with prejudice.Forced to live in slums these aliens fight for their rights.But, when Sykes, a human detective if forced to team up withhis Tenctonian counterpart, Sam Francisco, to find the newcomer that murdered his partner, both learn tolerance in this sci-fi thriller.
Wait-a-minute, those are my notes from the 1988 movie Alien Nation.This review is about the new film released by Peter Jackson: District 9.
Thirty years ago, an alien spaceship arrived on Earth.These aliens were not invaders, but rather malnourished shrimp-like creatures.They are forced to relocate to earth and live in slums in South Africa. Well, you get the idea.
The thing that makes District 9 fascinating is the combination of guerrilla style photography (think Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield—but not as shaky) with cutting edge CGI.The aliens are amazingly realistic and lifelike, which makes the film more brutally disturbing.This is not a standard sci-fi/action summer flick.Instead, Neill Blomkamp tells the story of immigration, persecution and prejudice. And while the victims in this movie are the alien "prawns", the extra terrestrials could be merely stand-ins for any number of oppressed groups.Amazingly, almost all of the squalid alien huts in District 9 were preexisting shacks in Johannesburg, which were being vacated to allow the residents move into better government housing (similarly, many of the mutilated animal carcasses in the background were real).
I am going to avoid discussing the specific plot points of the movie since the surprises are part of what makes this enjoyable.In short, thirty years ago, an alien ship filled with refugees appeared over Johannesburg, South Africa. The creatures were sent up in District 9, a refugee camp, as the UN argued over what to do with them. At the beginning of the film, Wikus van der Merwe (played expertly by Sharlto Copley) is put in charge of an operation by Multi-National United (MNU), the world's leading weapon's manufacturer, to evict the prawns from their home.Needless to say, something bad happens.
District 9 is a remake of Blomkamp's Alive In Joberg, a fake documentary film about an alien race that is forced to live on Earth after their ship lands.District 9 retains a lot of its documentary roots.And that is my only complaint about this movie.The movie starts strict by only using "reality" eye witness footage, post incident interviews and expert commentary to tell the story.Unfortunately, the director falls out of his fake documentary world whenever necessary to advance the plot.For example, there is a scene early when two aliens are plotting inside a shack where there could not possibly be on camera yet the film still retains its gritty realism.This inconsistency continues throughout the film, and even to the ultimate ending, which would have been much more powerful if kept as a strict documentary.
On the whole, District 9 is a powerful well done sci-fi movie.The film has enough action and suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat.But, at its core, District 9 is thought provoking without being preachy. After all, isn't that what great sci-fi is supposed to be.
I wrote an article a couple of years ago about who owned Superman for Comics Now Magazine #2 Called Man and Superman.To sum it up, DC Comics purchased the rights to Superman (and later Superboy) for a little over a hundred bucks from Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. As you know, Superman became a sensation in comics, film, television, radio, and video games.And while Jerry and Joe did well for themselves as employees of DC in the early years as employees of DC, the company never paid them royalties for the creation of the Superman character.Over the years, Jerry sued DC to try to get his creations back.He lost in New York state court in 1947.Changes in copyright law allowed him to sue in federal court in 1969, where he lost again.Finally, after being pressured by the comic’s community (and to avoid bad publicity on the Superman movie) DC agreed to give Jerry (who was working as a mail carrier) and Joe (who was legally blind and living in a trailer park) a modest pension.The copyright law was changed again and, after their death of Jerry, his heirs (coincidentally the model for Lois Lane) sued to recover ownership of the Characters in the United States District Court for the Central District of California in 2004 and the case was assigned to Judge Ronald S.W. Lew.On a Motion for Summary Judgment, Judge Lew awarded partial rights to Superboy (including Smallville) to the Siegel heirs.Then the case was transferred to Judge Stephen Larson. Judge Larson reversed the Superboy decision on a Motion for Reconsideration.However, then Judge Larson issued an order in the Superman companion case awarding partial rights in Superman to the Siegel heirs.The parties have been in settlement negotiation and preparing for trial on the remaining rights.
This Wednesday, Judge Stephen Larson determined that the Siegels control the rights to the early comic strips and stories that show Superman’s early history (Krypton, Zor-El and Lara, baby Kal-El and the origin storyline.) I’m not sure how this will affect the Smallville aspect to the case.This means that DC will have to seek permission to use these elements in their publications (and movies).I should also not that the Court has previously ruled that all the remaining rights will transfer back to Joe’s heirs in 2013.DC still owns a lot of the later elements of the Superman universe, including Lex Luthor, most of his powers like flight, super breath, x-ray vision, etc. (when Supes first came on the scene he was a glorified strongman), the term kryptonite, Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, The Daily Planet and others.
Does this mean DC will no longer produce Superman?I doubt it.Superman merchandising is a gold mine and everyone knows DC dug the mine.Most likely, a settlement will be reached whereby DC will pay to license the character from the heirs.At least until Superman enters public domain in 2033 (in his original form).
Here is the link to the Variety article that broke the story.
In 2008, ABC Family Channel debuted a show called The Middleman (based on the Viper Comic written by Javier Grillo-Marxuach with art by Les McClaine). The Middleman is not really a person, but rather a job title that has been handed down from Middleman to Middleman for centuries. "Fighting evil so you don't have to," the Middlemen work for the "Organization Too Secret To Know" (O2STK), who provides each middleman his assignments and super-cool gadgets through a robot named Ida (Mary Pat Gleason). The show introduces the current incarnation Middleman, a square-jawed, milk-drinking, crime-fighting, clean-mouthed, butt-kicking hero played by Matt Keeslar. In the pilot, the Middleman hires Wendy Watson, played by Natalie Morales, an artist by passion and a temp-worker by necessity, as his sidekick and Middleman in training. In many ways, she is the total opposite of the straight laced Middleman. The series focuses on Wendy as she tries to balance her normal life of boyfriends, mothers, and roommates with her more surreal adventures with the Middleman. In the first season alone, Wendy faced monsters, aliens, mad scientists, zombie fish, demons, vampire ventriloquist dummies, malevolent boy bands and evil sorority girls.
The show was a sci-fi geek's dream and was a pop culture palooza. For example, every episode used the Wilhelm scream in some way (The DVD features a compilation of these as a bonus feature), and the phrase "It's sheer elegance in its simplicity," whenever a villain's plan is discovered. A character named Nozer (Jake Smollett) is frequently seen sparring song lyrics with Wendy. Finally, each episode had a pop culture theme. A partial list includes:
Episode two ("The Accidental Occidental Conception") featured the names of characters in Frank Herbert's Dune;
Episode four, ("The Manicoid Teleportation Conundrum") had names from the Back to the Future series.
Episode five ("The Flying Fish Zombification ") contained numerous references to the band The Zombies;
Episode eight ("The Ectoplasmic Panhellenic Investigation") referenced Ghostbusters
Episode eleven ("The Clotharian Contamination Protocol") featured references to Die Hard, the classic Doctor Who characters and a "pan-galactic gargleblaster", a drink from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. In the same episode, the alien message sent to Earth was written in Aurebesh, the Star Wars alphabet
The Season Finale ("The Palindrome Reversal Palindrome") was a tribute to the Mirror Mirror Universe in Star Trek (with all the men sporting Spock beards) and parodied Escape from New York.
A complete list of pop culture references could be found at the Middleblog.
In short, Middleman was a weekly one hour nerdgasm. Sadly, the Middleman only lasted 12 episodes, despite positive critical reviews, before it was abruptly cancelled, leaving several dangling plot threads and mysteries unresolved (such as the Middleman's background and real name and the ultimate plan of villain Manservant Neville (Mark Sheppard).
Fear not dear fans, the Middleman and Wendy have returned to complete their epic saga--this time, in comic form. I was able to pick up The Middleman: The Doomsday Armageddon Apocalypse from Viper Comics while at the SDCC.
The plot of the book picks up right where the show ended. Wendy's boyfriend, Tyler Ford (played by Brendon Hines in the show), is working as the assistant to the villainous Manservent Neville (pronounced "M'nser-vant"), who is spying on the Middle Organization. The Middleman still pines for Wendy's roommate Lacey (played by Brit Morgan) but puts duty first. By the end of this issue, we learn Manservant's plan, discover the Middleman's true name, the identity of his true love, and see Wendy in a Slave Girl Leia costume.
The issue is written with the same wonderful dialogue and pop culture reference that made the show great (the references are even referenced in an index). In fact, the original cast of the show reunited for a table-read of the issue. Clips are available on Youtube.com. But, it is much better to read the book than watch the grainy film. Viper should seriously consider releasing a CD or download of the reading for Middleman completionists.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Armando Mendoza have produced such a quality project book that it will be only a matter of time until they assume enough power to take over the world in no time."It's sheer elegance in its simplicity."
Here is The Cream of the Cup, where I highlight the week's most interesting books (to me at least).
Atomika Issue #10--The art in Atomika is incredible and the book should be bought for that alone (not to mention that the artist is one of the greatest guys in comics).However, the story is great as well (Think Thor as a communist.)I used to only be able to get this at conventions.But, recently this book became available in Previews and therefore you should be able to get it in your local shop.If you can't, you should ask for it to be ordered.This issue features Atomika Koschei the Deathless. Cover by Travis Charest.Writer: Andrew Dabb; Art: Sal Abbinanti
Blackest Night 2—Geoff Johns has been building this serious since Green Lantern Rebirth in 2004 and the plaaning shows.The dead rise across the DC Universe, bringing terror and darkness with them.This month the Black Lanterns get some new members. Witness the birth of a new Black Lantern SuperTeam. Written by Geoff Johns; Art and cover by Ivan Reis and Oclair Albert; Variant cover by Mauro Cacioli; Sketch variant cover by Ivan Reis
Escape from Wonder-land Issue #1
Escape from Wonder-land features the next story in the Wonder-land series from Zenoscope (they also make of the great Grimm Fairy Tales series).I recently picked up Return to Wonderland and found it pleasantly disturbing.These books feature top notch horror and not for the faint of heart. But, if you love your stories dark and disturbing.This is the book for you.I would start with the Return to Wonderland Trade.Then move onto the Tales of Wonderland trades (volume 1 and volume 2)and then the Beyond Wonderland trade before tackling this issue.(Or you can just Wikipedia the story to catch up).Story by Ralph Tedesco, Joe Brusha & Raven Gregory Written by Raven Gregory Art by Daniel Leister
Hero Comics--This 32-page, no-ads comic, features an original American Flagg! story by Howard Chaykin, and original stories by Gene Ha, Bill Willingham, David Lloyd, and Kaare Andrews.( See attachment for cover art). The book also hasoriginal work by Arthur Adams as well as Hero Initiative testimonials from Gene Colan, Bill Messner-Loebs and Josh Medors.Buy this book, it's for a good cause.
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1--Wow, did Ultimate Spider-Man really come out ten years ago.Now that the misery and death of this year very dark Ultimatum is over, this book promises to redefine the status quo of Spider-Man for the next generation! I'm not sure if that is true, but it was a pretty darn good issue. Writer Brian Michael Bendis, Artist David Lafuente
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