Animated Green Lantern Film Announced

Just after releasing their fourth straight to DVD feature, Warmer Bros has announced that the stage has been set for a Green Lantern animated film. Entitled First Flight, the movie will feature popular ring slinger Hal Jordan in the title role and no doubt retell the classic origin story as he is recruited to join the Green Lantern Corps. As a member of the Corps, he serves under the red-skinned senior officer Sinestro. However, as their friendship grows, Jordan discovers that Sinestro is not who he appears to be and is actually a tyrant ruling over his designated sector rather than protecting it. This leads to an explosive confrontation between the two compatriots.

Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) voices the central role of Green Lantern Hal Jordan. Co-starring in the movie is Battlestar Galactica’s Tricia Helfer as the vivacious Green Lantern Boodikka and Victor Garber (Milk, Titanic) as the Sinestro. Written by all star animation scripter Alan Burnrett and produced by Bruce Timm, First Flight will hit the streets July 28, 2009.

This is all part of a concerted effort on Warner’s part to compete in the super hero movie war waged with its competitor Marvel Comics. As Marvel has blazed a path to success with its Avengers franchise, it has been a decidedly one-side war with only the Dark Knight film making a real impact on movie goers. With Sony’s Spider-Man set to return for two more installments and the X-Men Origins films in full development, Warner really needs to hit one out of the park and the story is that Green Lantern is going to be that magic movie.

Set for a 2010 release date, little is known of the live action Green Lantern project aside from Bond director Martin Campbell being attached. The animated feature should ignite some interest in the galactic adventurer and hopefully win back some of DC Comic’s reputation.

A teaser is attached to the new Wonder Woman straight to DVD film out next week.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold ‘Deep Cover for Batman’

Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Episode 12:
‘Deep Cover for Batman’

The first season of Batman: The Brave and the Bold is nearing its end, but it surely has pulled out all the stops for its finale! The episode opens with The Red Hood facing off against what appears to be Batman and his partners in justice whom we have met throughout the year. Through shadowy glimpse, viewers can just identify Red Tornado, Green Arrow, and the Blue Beetle. However it soon becomes apparent that things are not what they seem as each hero is not only acting out of character but also is in the wrong color-scheme. This is because the Red Hood (AKA The Joker) is fighting the Injustice Syndicate, the ruling villains of a parallel Earth, presided over by the most evil villain of them all, Owl-Man.

An unlikely band of allies

Through a last ditch effort, the Red Hood is able to request help from another parallel world where heroes can be found. His call reaches Batman, but not before Owl-Man finds the Caped Crusader and a battle ensues. After subduing Owl-Man, Batman decides to go undercover and return to the evil counter-Earth to find the source of the threat.

This series has been nothing but wall-to-wall fun and while some episodes have been more cerebral than others (The Deadman episode for instance), this is just plain action from beginning to end. Seeing the evil versions of the world’s greatest heroes attempting to subdue Batman as he evades capture is satisfying, but not half as much as seeing him team up with his greatest foes turned allies in this odd turn of events.

This week’s episode ends with the series’ first cliffhanger as Batman returns to Gotham City in his own dimension to find that he is public enemy #1.

Viewers will have to tune in next week to see the conclusion!

The Defenders/Offenders War

The new Hulk series by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness is nearly a year old now. It suffered some from unfair comparison to the then-recent World War Hulk story line which was very heavy and intense… perhaps more so than the series had ever been before. The new series was met with unsure responses of ‘what the Hell is this??’ as the stories proved to be full of tongue-in-cheek humor and over-the-top violence. The introduction of a new character known only as the Red Hulk (or RULK, as he is sometimes called) only made readers more unsure of what to think.

Thankfully, those feelings have more or less subsided now and the series has found its readers. One of the most uniquely bizarre comics published by Marvel right now, each issue is jam-packed with action and laughs. It’s like the Marx Brothers crossed with a Godzilla movie.

Now the series begins its second major story line, the Defenders Vs. the Offenders and I couldn’t be more pleased.

Combined cover A and B of Hulk #10

The Hulk is approached by the Grandmaster, an Elder of the Universe that even makes Galactus take notice. Offering up a prize that the Hulk cannot deny (to be reunited with his beloved Jarella), the Hulk is allowed to assemble his team for a contest. Hulk chooses his most trusted allies, the Defenders; Dr Strange, Silver Surfer and Namor, the Sub Mariner. However, each hero is chosen at a unique point in time when he has lost a loved one, making the prize for every contestant clear. The good guys (for once) are fighting for true love, how sweet.

After the team is assembled, the Collector emerges with the opposing force that call themselves the Offenders: Red Hulk, Baron Mordo, Terrax the Tamer and Tiger Shark. It’s such a simple yet brilliant plot that readers will find it difficult not to get wrapped up in it.

With many comic collectors suffering from event-exhaustion, this could be the perfect remedy.

Recommended:
Hulk, Vol. 1: Red Hulk (v. 1)
Hulk 2: Red & Green (Incredible Hulk)
Hulk: Gray Premiere HC (Incredible Hulk)

Sam Jackson confirmed as Nick Fury

Introduced in the last moments of Iron Man, Nick Fury has become the linchpin of the Marvel Comics movie franchise. While this may confuse readers of the classic Marvel Comics that depict Fury as a grizzled white guy, the character has been shown as an African American looking almost identical to actor Sam Jackson.

The original Fury (sans eyepatch)

Created as a WWII hero, Nick Fury led his Howling mad Commandos through the war-torn cities of Europe. Readers clamored over the eye-patch wearing cigar-chomping hard-as-nails soldier but after a letter arrived asking what happened to old Nick after the war… wheels began to turn in Stan Lee’s head.

Enter the new Nick Fury, super spy!

Modeling the modern Nick Fury after James Bond with a dash of Stan’s typical Brooklyn tough guy, this new character was perpetually young thanks to the Infinity formula which slowed down the aging process. Fury now headed S.H.I.E.L.D., a kind of worldwide espionage organization and fought power-mad conspirators with all sorts of science-fiction level tech.

Much of these early adventures drawn by Jack Kirby were very successful, but it took the arrival of Jim Steranko to really get things going. An artist who treated his life as an adventure, Steranko was also an escape artist. These later adventures featured mind-blowing double-page spreads, luscious ladies and more explosions than you’d see in the cinema.

Action in the mighty Steranko manner!

In short, Steranko out-did the Bond films at their own game.

When the Ultimate Marvel line was introduced, it was decided to alter the character of Nick Fury by making him African American. After receiving actor Sam Jackson’s consent, the design was further tweaked.

A cult actor, he is sure to bring increased attention to what is being called the Avengers franchise. Having a linking character tie the films together is an inspired idea.

Jackson’s deal is a long-term commitment to play Fury, the leader of the espionage unit the Shield. His deal contains an option to play the character in nine future Marvel superhero films, efforts that are expected to include “Captain America,” “Thor,” “The Avengers” and “The Shield” as well as potential sequels.

The Thor, Iron Man, Captain America and Avengers films we all knew about, but what exactly is “The Shield”? My best guess is that is the working title of a stand-alone Nick Fury film should the franchise prove successful enough.

More as it comes in.

Recommended:
MARVEL MASTERWORKS NICK FURY Vol 1
Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Classic Marvel Figurine Collection Magazine #51 Nick Fury (51)

X-Force Sex and Violence

Once the brainchild of at the time hot artist Rob Liefeld, the new X-Force series by Chris Yost and Craig Kyle has taken up the mantle of the brutal and violent X-series with incredible vigor. A ‘wetworks’ team assembled by Cyclops at the conclusion of Messiah CompleX, X-Force is a dirty secret ops team with clearance to take down hostiles using any means necessary. It’s funny that Cyclops made this move after taking a high moral stand against his one time mentor Charles Xavier.

The new X-Force team is lead by Wolverine and includes his clone/’daughter’ X-23, Warpath and Wolfsbane. More recently Archangel and Domino have joined up in addition to Elixer and villain the Vanisher. The third volume has been a major hit and is headed toward its first crossover with Cable called ‘Messiah War’ (it just struck me how odd that sounds out of context). Christopher Yost recently announced a spin-off 3 part series entitled ‘Sex and Violence starring Wolverine and Domino and gave the juicy details to CBR.com:

Yost said that, while the “Sex and Violence” miniseries stands alone, it will feed into plans for the second year of the ongoing series. “The relationships you see in this book are going to carry over into the main book. We’re not going to ignore it, it’s not going to be the ugly stepchild,” the writer said. “In fact, it’s going to be the beautiful stepchild. It’s not the big Bastion story arc, but it’s going to be part of continuity.”

“What we’re shooting for is maximum number of slashes, maximum number of big spreads and really impactful shots and exciting moments,” Kyle said. “We want every one to really count because that was part of the mandate: what we’re really looking for more than anything else is a way to showcase these characters, and dell’Otto’s work, and the sort of fun moments we can do in the most distilled way. It should be a hell of a ride, and though very reflective of the tone of ‘X-Force,’ unlike anything we’ve done in the last year.

With two “X-Force” series, animation projects including “Wolverine and the X-Men,” and assorted other comic book projects, Kyle and Yost will be keeping busy in the next year.

Gabriele del’Otto’s beautiful art may look familiar to readers as it graced the pages of Secret War (the mini-series that missed many readers due to scheduling problens). While I enjoy Clayton Crain’s art in the main series, the combination of Yost and del’Otto should make for a terribly graphic read.

There is no word currently on a release date

Recommended:
X-Force Vol. 1: Angels and Demons (v. 1)
X-Force Volume 2: Old Ghosts (v. 2)
Secret War (New Avengers)

Janet Van Dyne, Rest in Peace

A founding member of the Avengers, the Wasp has often been discounted on account of her rather silly and unimpressive power to shrink to a barely dangerous insect. However, looked at under a new light, she is one of the more memorable and unhailed great characters of Marvel Comics. She is also one of the only casualties of the Secret Skrull Invasion this past year and her absence will create ripples for years to come in the ranks of the Avengers. While many readers predicted that this past year’s crossover would result in a uniform Avengers team rather than two opposing forces and that has still not occurred, it is certain that whenever the Avengers do manage to get back together, the lack of her presence will be felt.

Introduced in the pages of Ant Man’s Tales to Astonish series, she was experimented on by Hank Pym who implanted adaptive cells in her body. These cells altered when she shrank, developing into small wings and antennae, making her a man-made mutant! Hank clearly had issues even then. The Wasp often played the air-headed ‘I want to go shopping’ role, but it was clear even back in the early days of the Avengers that it was all an act to get Hank’s attention. As the Avengers grew in numbers, so did her role in the team. She returned from time to time and stood by Hank Pym as he changed to Giant Man, Goliath and eventually the unstable Yellow Jacket. It was during this latter persona’s control over Pym’s psyche that the scientist finally broke down and attacked his teammates and even Janet herself, creating a break that never quite healed.

In the late 1980′s it was a surprise to many to see the Wasp acting as chairperson to the Avengers. Presiding over one of the rockier moments in the team’s long history, she even went toe-to-toe with Hercules who had no difficulty in showing his chauvinistic tendencies. A tough yet intelligent and compassionate character, Janet Van Dyne was also drawn as hands down one of the sexiest super heroines in comics. The artistic stylings of veteran Marvel Bullpenners John Buscema and Tom Palmer left an impressive mark upon the Wasp’s identity and I still look upon their version as definitive.

Janet Van Dyne’s death as part of the Secret Skrull Invasion was no doubt a ploy to unhinge the Earth’s heroes and strike at their heart. It has already had a large impact on the Marvel Universe as Hank Pym, still struggling with his identity, has implanted the same cells that he placed in Janet’s body many years back into himself and now calls himself the Wasp in her honor.

Like I said, the man has issues.

At a time where many characters are being killed off and forgotten, it’s important to remember the role that these creations served. As a character that lasted from the mid-1960′s to today, she is also a touchstone of the comic book and its relationship to female characters. It’s no secret that Stan Lee wrote most females the same, but he took the time to state that the Wasp was putting on an act to get a rise out of the man she loved. That has to account for something. Sure, her powers were silly, but she was a vital part of the Avengers team dynamic and at times the glue that held it together.

Recommended:
Essential Avengers, Vol. 1 (Marvel Essentials)
Avengers: Under Siege

Overdue justice for Judge Dredd?

Judge Dredd

The most popular comic book character in the United Kingdom, Judge Dredd is also the most successful mix of sci-fi, horror and comics to date. Created in 1977 by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra, the character is just one of many great strips that ran in 2000 A.D. under the editorial leadership of Pat Mills. Set in a post apocalyptic future where mega cities are overrun with crime, the decision is made to endow the police with special powers to side-step the need for the legal process of a fair trial and actually murder criminals on the spot. A brotherhood unto itself, the greatest of these Judges is Dredd, one of a batch of clones designed to be perfect policemen. Embodying the cynicism and doom-laden outlook on the future, Judge Dredd was full of over the top violence, tough guy cops and horrific villains. In short, the perfect statement on Thatcher’s Britain. It also serves as an interesting statement on urban decay and the nature of modern city dwelling societies.

2000 A.D. # 168

A mega success with young British boys, the comic strip also developed many rising stars of the comic book world of today including Grant Morrison (New X-Men, Batman R.I.P., The Invisibles), Brian Bolland (Batman The Killing Joke), Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Punisher: Welcome Back, Frank) and Mark Millar (Wanted, Kickass, Marvel: Civil War). All that being said, the character has remained more or less a cult hit at best in the United States. An embarrassingly poor film in 1995 has not helped matters. The Sylvester Stallone vehicle butchered the source material and more or less completely missed the point of the comic strip.

Rebellion and DNA Films (the guys behind 28 Weeks Later and Sunshine) have attempted to remount the project and finally bring about justice for Judge Dredd. Aimed at a 2010 release date, there is very little information currently available aside from some early designs by hot comic artist Jock.

Judge Dredd 2010 designs

… wow!

Recommended:
Judge Dredd: Complete Case Files v. 1 (Judge Dredd)
Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth (2000 AD Collector’s Edition 3)

Nite Owls at the Diner

For the most important comic book to be adapted into a feature film, I’m actually surprised that there are not more promotional items to drum up interest like Taco Bell cups, graphic T-Shirts and the like. This could easily be down to the fact that Watchmen is going to be such a niche movie and that the reportedly high level of violence and nudity could make this one of the first comic book movies that is not littered with children. I think the first flash of Dr Manhattan’s nude groin will get many teen boys screaming for the door. However, a limited run of organic coffee has got to be one of the weirdest movie tie-ins I’ve seen in a long long time and speaks volumes as to how different this film is.

Nite Owl Coffee

It’s a small moment in the film WATCHMEN – Dan and Laurie save a group from a tenement fire. Once inside the Owl Ship, the survivors are offered what else? Coffee. Among all that hardware, there’s an airplane-style coffee maker. And Veidt Enterprise’s Nite Owl Dark Roast is the imaginary brand of coffee they brew. What better name for the quintessential caffeinated beverage when served in the context of nocturnal crime-fighting? In truth, this is 100% organic specialty coffee from WATCHMEN unit photographer Clay Enos and his Organic Coffee Cartel.

Designed on one side to resemble something straight out of the WATCHMEN universe, the other side features a striking black & white portrait of Nite Owl as captured by Enos. With just one run of 10,000 cans produced, this is sure to be a distinctive and unusual collectible.

As a coffee aficionado, I’m of course curious, but is it any good? Sure, I bag and board my comics but I’ll be damned if I’m about to leave a canister of coffee unopened! Drink up, The Watchmen opens 3.6.09.

Nite Owl Dark Roast

Lost Doctor Who Episodes Found??

Ah, the tender feelings of a Doctor Who fan, forever at the mercy of the whims of fate.

Mugabe has lost Doctor Who tapes?
Robert Mugabe is reported to own long-lost episodes of Doctor Who.

The President of Zimbabwe apparently possesses tapes of some early episodes of the science fiction series that could be thirty or forty years old, according to The Sun.

Some Doctor Who programmes were deleted by the BBC in the late sixties and seventies to make room in the Beeb’s film library for new shows and Zimbabwe is thought to have bought the first season of the time-travel series when it was still the British colony Rhodesia.

But because of poor diplomatic relations with the country, UK researchers are unable to look in Zimbabwe’s TV vaults and cannot know for sure if President Mugabe owns the missing 1963 and 1964 series starring William Hartnell.

The BBC, which is missing 108 of 752 Doctor Who episodes and wants to recover lost episodes to release on DVD, also suspects that some later programmes not held anywhere else in the world may also be in Zimbabwe.

Over the decades some previously lost episodes have been relocated as far away as Hong Kong and New Zealand.

A BBC source apparently told The Sun: “We have looked all over the world for missing Doctor Who episodes but there are still some broadcasters we have not spoken to. Zimbabwe could prove a problem as there is so much red tape.

“There is a fear that we may never get our hands on the footage and that would be a real shame for fans.”

With 108 episodes still missing after all these years, it’s stunning that possible locations are still popping up.

Mavic Chen consults the Daleks in the missing classic

Fans have been adamant to not lose hope that their children’s children may get to see the Dalek Masterplan in its entirety without relying on telesnaps and scratchy audio and good on them. As unlikely as it sounds that a film canister from the 1960′s will suddenly turn up today, their wishes may indeed come true!

In 1992 the complete Patrick Troughton 1968 classic Tomb of the Cybermen, thought missing for decades, was discovered in Hong Kong and released on VHS.  In 2004 a full episode of Dalek Masterplan was found, last seen in 1966. This monumental find resulted in the release of a DVD box set of ‘orphaned episodes’…  so stranger things have happened.

Recommended:
Doctor Who – Lost in Time Collection of Rare Episodes – The William Hartnell Years and the Patrick Troughton Years

After Watchmen, Now What?

Seeing as how a major motion picture is due out next month based on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen mini-series, DC Comics is anxious to grab any viewers jazzed from the experience. Given the limited nature of the Watchmen comic, however, there’s not exactly much more to read beyond the 12 issues.

So, DC is offering the next best thing, five budget-priced comics that may appeal to a viewer who thoroughly enjoyed Watchmen.

• Saga of the Swamp Thing #21, March 11
• Transmetropolitan #1, March 18
• Planetary #1, March 25
• Preacher #1, April 1
• Identity Crisis #1, April 8

The Saga of the Swamp Thing issue is kind of a no-brainer as it is a classic. The Anatomy Lesson not only stood the entire Swamp Thing series on its head, but it also paved the way for one of the most impressive horror/suspense comics on the market to date. Swamp Thing was such a success that it introduced a new readership that DC could sell on Sandman, Hellblazer and later spawn the entire Vertigo line.

Transmetropolitan and Preacher are frankly ‘also rans’ in the Vertigo line that were once impressive but have not aged well. Both read like stilted juvenile attacks on authority and frankly I cannot see a fan of Watchmen getting interested in either of them. If nothing else, an issue of Preacher may encourage someone to research Bill Hicks. Transmetropolitan will just make readers confused as to why DC published a Hunter S. Thompson sci-fi series.

Planetary was a once hopeful new spin on the super hero/super science genre that became plagued with publishing delays and a lack of original ideas. For every brilliant issue there was the inevitable homage to ‘x’ (be it Godzilla movies, Doc Samson, Wonder Woman or what have you) issue that became tiresome real fast. It’s a shame because the artwork by John Cassiday is stunning.

Identity Crisis may seem like the oddest addition but stacked up against the others it is actually the most appropriate for a fan of Watchmen. The first part of a major event comic written by Brad Meltzer, Identity Crisis took characters that readers had gotten bored with and added new facets to their personae. A gripping tale that really did have a lasting impact on the monthly comics, this could be the perfect read for a novice in the comics field. It also utilizes characters most everyone knows into telling a sophisticated story.

Looking past the obvious problem that in order to sell these issues movie viewers will have to set foot in a comic shop, each copy will only cost a slim dollar. So… maybe it’s the task of the already initiated to buy up these comics and distribute to those unfettered by the Wednesday new release habit?

For more recommendations, I suggest the following for those looking for very well done super hero fare and one book that I just think everyone should read:
The Twelve, Vol. 1
Supreme Power Vol. 1: Contact
Life in the Big City (Astro City, Vol. 1)
Black Hole
Saga of the Swamp Thing, Book 1 (nice new edition)