Spawn Vs. Batman?

Yet another villain has signed up to open a can of Crime Alley all over Batman in 2008′s sequel to Batman Begins, The Dark Knight.

The lead actor from the 1997 Spawn film, Michael Jai White has been cast as a mob boss named “Gamble”.

Gamble will be one of several bosses trying to take over the streets after the elimination of big boss Falcone in the last film by the caped crusader.

In the opening moments of the film The Commissioner and Gotham’s finest are trying to decide on battling the gang element threat of mob boss Gamble, or to track down the newly emerging clown prince of crime, the Joker.

Looks like Batman will have his hands full next Summer!

Suggested reading:

Spawn Collection Volume 1
Spawn: Batman
Spawn – The Director’s Cut (New Line Platinum Series)

Star Wars Legends Wave 3

Rebelscum just posted the info on Wave 3 of the Star Wars Saga Legends figures.

As a statement of my dependence on Star Wars collectibles, I’m posting this on July 4th (The United States’ Independence Day).

The ‘Saga Legends’ line consists of repacks and repaints of hard to find and popular figures (such as the #1 Fan Choice Dark Trooper).

Each figure comes with a coin to slot into your album (mine is getting full awfully fast) as a reference to the Power of the Force line back in 1985.

Imperial Officer (from A New Hope)- Originally offered in Power of the Jedi in 2000. An army builder, sure, but a well sculpted figure as well. I love the way he can hold a blaster or just casually stand at ease, arms folded behind his back.

The Pit Droids (The Phantom Menace)- Originally offered as a bonus packed in with other figures in 1999. The pesky and slapstick droids are a favorite amongst fans. Since many missed out on getting them when they were first out, it’s a great opportunity to grab a set now.

Dark Trooper (Expanded Universe)- A popular and very hard to find figure from way back in the day (1998′s Expanded Universe line). I wish they had resculpted this character as his blocky build makes him stand out next to his slim super articulated trooper brethren, but still it’s a real treat to finally add this guy to my collection.

Clone Commander- (Revenge of the Sith) As anyone who has ever visited my home will know, I’m a big fan of the troopers. This is probably the best version of the Episode III trooper that we got (originally in the Storm Troopers Evolution Set).

Clone Trooper (Attack of the Clones) – These guys always fly off the shelves. A well sculpted and ‘super articulated’ figure, the Clone Trooper was originally only available as part of the Clone Trooper Builder set found online. This time around, the figure will be made available in blue, red and yellow colorations (no green?).

Sand Trooper (A New Hope)- A popular figure (given that this is the third time it’s been made available), the Sand Trooper is one of my favorites. A super-articulated version of the Stormtrooper with ‘sand’ coloring added and a nasty electro-staff, you’d better help him find those droids he’s been looking for.

All of these figures will be available at your local Target and sometimes Walmart and rarely Toys ‘R’ Us, but you can also buy them at Big Bad Toystore.

Suggested reading/viewing:

Star Wars Vintage Action Figures: A Guide for Collectors
A Universe of Star Wars Collectibles
Star Wars – Clone Wars, Vol. 1 (Animated)
Star Wars – Clone Wars, Vol. 2

Star-Lord

From his premiere in the January 1975 issue of Marvel Preview, Star Lord has been trouble for not only his publisher and creators (they just keep re-introducing and revamping him!) but also for any aliens that get in his way.

Created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne (of Uncanny X-Men fame), the first Star-Lord (Jason of Spartax) was an action adventure sci-fi character. He had a gun that shot out the four basic elements and a ship he could communicate with telepathically.

His successor, Peter Quill, was released upon the comics world in 1977 by Steve Englehart and artist Steve Gan. Quill was a hard drinking fit throwing emotional mess, much more in tune with the edgy underground feel that the Marvel Magazine (Tales of the Zombie, The Incredible Hulk, The Punisher… and more) line wanted to portray.
Creator and genius comic book craftsman Steve Englehart (of Batman, Defenders, Justice League and Avengers fame to name a few) describes his initial take on the character as “… something very large.”

“My hero would go from being an unpleasant, introverted jerk to the most cosmic being in the universe, and I would tie it into my then-new interest in astrology. After his earthbound beginning, his mind would be opened step by step, with a fast-action story on Mercury, a love story on Venus, a war story on Mars, and so on out to the edge of the solar system, and then beyond.”

This is very much in tune with the story which depicted a young man whose parents are taken from him during an alien encounter that looks more like a break-in.

Peter Quill grew up to become a gifted astronaut with a single purpose in life, to kill the damned aliens that took his folks! The first stop along the way was with a strange guru who tried to heal Quill’s temper… but it was like putting a band aid on a volcano.

In 1996, sci-fi author Timothy Zahn created another Star-Lord called Sinjin Quarrell.

Pretty complicated, eh?

It gets better.

This Summer Englehart’s Star-Lord Peter Quill will be coming back to kick more alien hinder.

After taking part in the blockbuster sci-fi epic published last year called Annihilation (collected in handy hardcover editions for those who missed it), Star-Lord is returning in the four issue mini Annihilation: Conquest by Keith Giffen and Timothy Green II.

But this time Star-Lord ain’t alone.

He’s bringing Captain Universe, Mantis, Deathcry, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, and Bug from the Micronauts with him.

Hell, it’s either going to be brilliant or terrible, isn’t it?

Suggested reading:

X-Men: Days of Future Past(by Claremont & Byrne)
Dr. Strange: A Separate Reality (by Englehart)
Essential Defenders, Vol. 1 (by Englehart)
Annihilation, Book 1 (Marvel Comics)
Annihilation, Book 2 (Marvel Comics)
Annihilation, Book 3 (Marvel Comics)