- Superman Themed Ohio License Plate One Step Closer to Reality May 18, 2012
Krypton Radio Newswire
State of Ohio seeks to honor Superman creators with official license plate
If you live in Ohio and are fan of the world’s oldest boyscout, then you’re in for a treat as the state seeks to honor Superman’s creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Superman who was created by Siegel and Shuster in the 1930′s and published in 1938, has become world famous for his fictional exploits and his unyielding commitment to truth and justice for all. The Siegel and Shuster Society, a group dedicated to preserving and honoring the work of the duo, began a petition in 2011 with the hopes that the State of Ohio would see the historical significance of Superman’s contributions and agree to honor not only the creators but the character as well.
Their wish so far has come true, as H.B. 339 was introduced in Ohio and has so far passed committee without issue and is currently winding its way through the state’s government. State Rep. Bill Patmon (D-Cleveland) said in a statement, “This legislation is, and always has been, about heroism, support, strength and caring for our fellow man, woman or child.” The new license plate once approved, is expected to cost between $25 and $35 above the normal license plate fees.
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- Facebook Game "Monster Galaxy" Coming To Graphic Novels May 17, 2012
Krypton Radio Newswire
Press Release: San Jose, Calif., Gaia Interactive, the world-class social gaming publisher of Monster Galaxy, recently announced a partnership with Yen Press to bring the epic Monster Galaxy video game franchise to life through a new series of graphic novels. Monster Galaxy readers will experience all new adventures with their favorite characters while exploring new worlds, meeting new characters and discovering never before seen monsters.
Kurt Hassler, Publishing Director at Yen Press, said of the adaptation, “Monster Galaxy is a fantastically addictive game — as evidenced by the fact that I can hardly pry our editorial staff away from it since we began discussions of an adaptation! We look forward working with Gaia to introduce both existing fans and new readers to new stories set within this marvelously engaging world in an entirely new medium.”
Readers will be joining over 25 million other users in experiencing the iconic battles, intriguing characters and fantastical world of Monster Galaxy. More details regarding the Monster Galaxy Graphic Novel will be announced at Comic-Con 2012.
“Expanding the world of Monster Galaxy through graphic novels gives readers the unique opportunity to experience new and exciting adventures including new characters, worlds and monsters while still incorporating classic iconic moments from the games,” said Christopher Castagnetto, Senior Marketing Product Manager at Gaia Interactive.
The Monster Galaxy franchise recently achieved a major milestone, crossing 25 million players worldwide, making it among the most widely recognized brands in online gaming. In addition to the upcoming graphic novel, Gaia has teamed up with Radar Pictures to work on an upcoming Monster Galaxy Live Action Motion Picture. Gaia and Radar have partnered with writer Reinhard Denke to develop a unique, fun and action packed script. The Monster Galaxy Motion Picture promises to deliver Gaia’s unique characters and fantastic world while leveraging Radar Pictures’ vast experience in the movie industry to make the project massively appealing to audiences beyond fans of the game. More details regarding the Monster Galaxy Motion Picture will be announced in 2012.
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- "The Hulk" Set To Smash Back On Television By 2013 May 17, 2012
Krypton Radio Newsire
Ready or not – the raging green beast is coming back to television by 2013
It’s been confirmed that Marvel’s The Hulk will be returning to television as a live action series after more than thirty years off the air, which is probably no surprise to fans since the record breaking success of Joss Whedon‘s The Avengers this year. Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno starred in the first successful series which ran for ten-years from 1972-82, and the return of the Hulk is being planned by ABC television and Marvel, in an attempt to cash in on the box office ratings. Few details are known at this point, but The Hulk has beat out a slew of other proposed superhero shows, including a Punisher series and many others.
It’s also unknown if there will be a tie-in between the movie storyline and the series, or if ABC will attempt a fresh approach. It’s more than likely a safe bet that the TV series will feature a CGI Hulk to match the new accepted look of our hero, but to what extent is still unknown. Will The Hulk succeed where others failed? It’s too soon to know, as we saw the attempted Wonder Woman series fail to get out of the starting gate after the filming of the pilot episode. It’s also currently unknown if any other characters from The Avengers movie will be given consideration for a TV series, but there’s always hope.
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- "Argo" The Greatest Science Fiction Movie Never Made May 17, 2012
By Senior Editor, PK
They went to Iran to film a science fiction movie – instead they rescued six people from certain death
This is the best bad idea we have sir – “On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA “exfiltration” specialist named Tony Mendez (Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.”
I’m not into political movies, but I have to admit I’m actually excited to see Argo which is set to premiere in October. This is a wonderful moment in science fiction and comic book history, and while I understand this isn’t a real sci-fi movie, it’s fascinating to me that the pre-text of filming a real movie (especially a sci-fi one) was enough to allow a team of people into the middle of a civil war. It’s not like in World War 2 or Vietnam where reporters and camera-men would tag along with combat patrols, this was a team of fake movie-makers sent by the CIA to rescue American diplomats.
It wasn’t until fairly recently that this incredible tale was declassified by the American government, so for some you’re probably wondering why a CIA operation would involve the science fiction and comic book industries. CIA operative Tony Mendez cooked up what has to be one of the most brilliant plans in the spy trade, which ended up including people like Jack Kirby of X-Men fame, and John Chambers who is an award winning makeup effects artist who worked on the original Planet of the Apes movies. Through their associations, they contributed to the fake movie company that setup the believable back-story to allow Mendez and his team into Iran to begin their operation to liberate the six diplomats.
Wired Magazine did a truly wonderful writeup on this story in 2007, and I highly recommend reading it. So while some Hollywood studios are pumping out the latest “We’re going to blow your mind with this sci-fi story“, I think I’ll slip back into the past come this October and watch a story on one of the most amazing movies never made.
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- Sony Continues Marketing Blitz, Unveils Four Minutes of 'The Amazing Spider-man' May 15, 2012
by Samantha Lowell
Andrew Garfield in the new suit.
In a development which has fandom abuzz, Sony Pictures has released four minutes of film from the most anticipated movie blockibuster of the summer, Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man.
The movie clip shows Andrew Garfield in action as the titular hero,displaying a riveting acrobatic style dramatically different form Tobey Maguire’s efortless aerobatics, yet still failthful to the comics. However, the most talked about part of the clip is the unmasking in front of the small child, a surpsingly faithful representation of Peter Parker’s fundamental humanity. In addition to the much ballyhooed change in the iconic character’s costume, the movie is said to do a partial reboot of Spider-Man’s iconic origin as well, adding to fan criticism and speculation.Additionally, Sony Pictures has unveiled a new viral website the film, this time focusing on the corporate front of Oscorp Industries, the workplace of Peter Parker’s father and Dr. Curt Connors (aka, The Lizard).
Fans can also enjoy a taste of the film’s villain, with a recently released a profile and interview with British actor Rhys Ifans, who plays Doctor Curtis Conners, aka the Lizard.
Marvel Comics hopes to ride the wave of success started by The Avengers, shunting aside lingering criticism for its fascination with reviving the silver age versions of iconic Marvel heroes from the editors’ youth at the expense of contemporary versions. Marvel head of creative development, Joe Quesada, has a lot riding on this film, which may partially account for the most aggressive marketing campaign in years.
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- Superman V The Elite: First Look May 14, 2012
Superman meets Manchester Black's force shield
Superman vs. The Elite, a DC Comics Premiere Movie, looks like it’s going to be a good addition to any collector’s shelf. It’s produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Home Video. The all-new, PG-13 rated film is scripted by award-winning comics writer Joe Kelly and the story is adapted from his original 2001 DC Comics release, “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way?” The single-issue comic, Action Comics #775, was lauded by Wizard Magazine as the “Greatest Superman Story of All Time,” and ranked the epic tale at No. 21 on its list of the “Top 100 Comics of the last 30 years.”
In Superman vs. The Elite, Superman’s effectiveness as a super hero comes into question when a new group of super powerful crusaders, known as “The Elite,” appear on the scene. As super heroes, the Elite know no bounds, and are more than willing to kill, even on a massive scale, to stop villainy — putting them on a collision course with the ever-ethical, yet preferably non-lethal Man of Steel.
Each one of these films has a different look to it, to set it apart from its predecessors as much as for any other reason. While we think the drawing style works for Manchester Black, leader of the Elite, we’re not so sure it works for Superman himself. The style pushes Superman’s visual design in an unaccustomed direction – yet, as a whole, the film still seems to work.
George Newbern (Father of the Bride) reprises his Justice League animated television role as Superman, and primetime television star Pauley Perrette (NCIS) provides the voice of Lois Lane. Downes steps in as Manchester Black. David Kaufman (Justice League: Doom) also reprises his Justice League TV series role as Jimmy Olsen.
The film is directed by Michael Chang (Batman: Brave and the Bold). Bruce Timm (Batman: Year One) is executive producer, and Alan Burnett (Green Lantern: Emerald Knights) is producer.
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- Kick-Ass Sequel Greenlit by Universal May 14, 2012
Universal hopes to have KICK-ASS 2 into production by this coming August.
Writer Mark Millar has confirmed that a deal with Universal has been signed to produce the sequel to the runaway hit film from 2010, Kick-Ass , with the previous film’s director Michael Vaughan returning as producer. He is unlikely to return to direct it since he is expected to be busy with a follow-up to X-Men: First Class. He has apparently chosen Never Back Down helmer Jeff Wadlow to direct in his stead.. Aaron Johnson and Christopher Mintz-Passe are both expected to return, and though Chloe Moretz has been announced as reprising her role as Hit Girl, there’s some doubt as to whether that will actually happen. Moretz is also going to be working on the Carrie remake, so there may be some scheduling conflicts. It’s a lot to take on, and Moretz is just fifteen years old.
Michael Vaughn wrote the script for the project, which adapts not only Kick-Ass 2, the recent comic miniseries, but also the spinoff Hit-Girl, which is due in stores next month. The Hit-Girl storyline will be the first act of the movie, according to sources.
Johnny Romita Jr., artist for the series, has indicated that he hopes to create an animated sequence for the film.
Vaughan self-financed the first film, which took $96 million on a budget of $30 million. . The new film is has a tentative release date sometime in May of 2013.
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- Video of the Day: Avengers, Disassemble! May 14, 2012
Because everybody – everybody – has a bad day once in a while.
This short film was created by Junaid Chundrigar, of imaJunation.com
This is pretty much just plain funny.
Links
Credits
A short by: JUNAID CHUNDRIGAR
Music by: JORIS HERMY
Sound design by: ERIK GRIEKSPOOR
Hulk explosion: THIJS VIEGERSThis animation was not made in collaboration with Marvel
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- Music And Friendship - Ballad Of The Brony: A Video Documentary May 6, 2012
A Krypton Radio Special Review by Producer, PK
Krypton Radio looks at new music additions and finds a surprise in the Brony fandom
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
We’ve heard about the Brony culture before, but for the first time Krypton Radio takes an in-depth look at what we never knew about the show, the music, and the fans.
We’re always looking for new and interesting music that fits in the genres we cater to, primarily Superhero, Comic Book, Science Fiction, Steampunk, Fantasy, and Gaming. But lately we’ve been getting suggestions for music based on a different fandom that was a little surprising. Some of the KR staffers had been bringing up songs from an animated children’s show called My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic which debuted in 2010, and admittedly an initial reaction to what looks like a little girls cartoon was that of skepticism. Although we’re hard pressed to turn down a good song, so when checking out some of the fan made music, it peaked our interest enough to look at the actual show music as well.
I agree, when someone comes to you and says I got some great music from a show featuring brightly colored talking ponies named Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie; it’s a little hard to take seriously at first. But we gave it a chance, and yes not all of the music seems appropriate for the bulk of our audience (although we’re digging the Discord EuroChoas Mix like crazy). Though during our searches on YouTube and related fan sites, we’ve come to develop an appreciation for a fanbase that has many parallels to that of mainstream Science Fiction and Fantasy. Whose fanbase’s have also suffered from ridicule and misunderstandings among some media and the public. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (MLP:FiM) while primarily aimed at young girls in the 7-10 year-old range, has drawn some attention and criticism for attracting many male adult fans, commonly known as Bronies.
Despite its origins and current target audience, the show has displayed that time and time again that it has interesting and engaging characters, humor that even adults can enjoy, and stories that help teach people of all ages important life lessons. From a musical standpoint, which is what attracted us initially, the show’s music is expertly crafted by composers Daniel Ingram and William Anderson. Rivaling and even surpassing some big-budget movie music productions for similar children’s content, with Broadway inspired musical segments of such joyful quality you can’t help but smile. The fan created music has truly blown us away on professionalism, with animated shorts, music videos, and original compositions that look as though they were from a major Hollywood studio.
During our search we came across a documentary on MLP:FiM by a YouTube user called Saberspark,which he created for a school project on the subject of deviant cultures. Saberspark does an excellent job of exploring aspects of the show’s history, characters, and fan culture. Although despite a slightly sarcasm laden fanboy defending his turf approach, the video covers important details to bring non-fans up to speed on why the show has become wildly popular and how it’s impacted pop-culture and people’s lives.
The video was published in December of 2011 and has been updated as of March 2012.
Watch the documentary after the break:
This documentary is a third-party fan production, as such some views expressed in the video are not necessarily shared or endorsed by the staff of Krypton Radio. Video is over one-hour long and contains some brief mild adult language with cartoonish violence from film clips used from works of parody – Parental Guidance is suggested for those under 10 years of age.
Changes since the video was published:
The character of Ditzy Doo/Derpy Hooves was the focus of a small group of people, some being parents of underage fans, who blasted the character as being discriminatory towards the handicap. The normally background character which featured misaligned eyes, eventually had a momentary speaking part in an episode of season-two of the show, and was shown talking in a slow-witted fashion along with being extremely clumsy in a comical way in relation to being called Derpy.
As it was stated in the documentary, the character was named Derpy in season-two as a nod to the fans who spotted the character during the first season and pointed out an animation mistake with the eyes, nicknaming her Derpy Hooves. The character was renamed despite being originally referenced in the first season as Ditzy Doo. The term Derpy traditionally refers to someone who is acting in an asinine or stupid manner, or being generally silly in a dimwitted way.
However some parents and others took the name to be derogatory in nature combined with the character’s antics, and accused the show of depicting mentally handicap people in a negative light. The show’s creators stated this was never the intention and the character was not considered to be handicapped, just silly and slow-witted. A response from the episode’s writer was posted on Equestria Daily, a fan site operated by a member of the show’s production team. Amy Keating Rogers, who wrote the episode, indicated that she received overwhelmingly positive reviews of the way Derpy was depicted, but ultimately it was not her call to make on what was done with her.
Hasbro, the owners of the My Little Pony franchise along with The Hub, the television network the show is carried on, took the unusual approach of pulling the episode from the lineup and re-casting Derpy’s voice. The brief line in the episode where the character’s name is mentioned was edited out for rebroadcast, this lead to many outraged fans calling for the restoration of the character’s season-two name and voice actor. Through various blog posts and other commentary, many fans stated that it was hypocritical to sensor a character that was perceived as handicap, since the premise of the show is friendship and being understanding of others differences.
As a side note, KR staff writers reviewed the entire episode in question, (the unedited version) and we as educated adults who are open minded did not feel offended by the name and the character’s actions. Some pointed out that popular cartoon characters such as Spongebob Squarepants, are much more graphic and potentially offensive than Ditzy/Derpy. It was also pointed out that as a way to restore continuity, the character could be called Ditzy Derpy Doo, since the wording of the name by general acceptance is not offensive and it would allow for the use of both names. Interestingly enough, the character has developed such a fan following, that she has her own music, fan-art, and fiction where she’s many times depicted as being a loving mother to a female foal character created by fans named Dinky.
Saberspark‘s documentary additionally mentioned that Hasbro was not taking action against videos of episodes posted online of the show, however this was proven to be incorrect as Hasbro has been in the process of filing copyright claims against some users on YouTube, to have MLP:FiM videos taken offline. In December of 2011, the same month as the documentary was published, Hasbro initiated a copyright take down of a Sweden based website called PonyArchive, which hosted fully downloadable copies of the MLP:FiM episodes. Many episodes of the show are still available on YouTube, with the recent season-two finale being posted online within hours of its broadcast.
Based on commentary from different fan sites, it is unclear what decision making process Hasbro uses to determine what content they will file a copyright claim on. As some fans seemed to believe they are at times leaving YouTube episodes alone, we have however sent a request for information to the Hasbro/MLP Team to get clarification on what they are targeting with the copyright claims. We’ll update this section as information is made available.
Controversy over the fandom
Like any fanbase, there will always be controversy over its members. This is one unique culture as its movement began primarily online, and has rapidly grown into real life conventions that show creators and stars have attended. It’s also interesting to see how fast the creators and executives of the show embraced feedback from fans, which is not particularly unheard of, but what made this unusual was the fanbase being comprised of a large number of adults. The show makers have even gone so far as to include fan interests in the show from time to time. Some may disagree, but looking at the fandom as a whole, it’s hard to say that the Bronies are any different than a bunch of geeks dressed up as Klingons or a group of fantasy lovers obsessing over elves and warlocks. It comes down to a group of people embracing their love of certain characters or particular storyline, and our being obsessed comic loving geeks ourselves we can’t find fault with that.
So why have Bronies drawn so much criticism from some groups when others go largely untouched? The fandom is looked at from many different points of view, some remember the early days of the fans online movement starting in 4Chan and the site’s dubious reputation. And while I didn’t pay much attention originally, I was introduced to the culture via popular media and those who openly bashed and parodied it. The most vocal detractors of the fandom have associated it with homosexuality, gender identity issues and similar fandoms such as furries, who are fans of anthropomorphic animals and are incorrectly associated with a minority group of people interested in having sexual relations with animals. These stereotypes have been perpetuated by those who haven’t taken the time to sit down and actually explore the back-story to the fandom, and resort to publicly denouncing what they don’t understand.
It’s true that adding an adult element to any kids cartoon risks the wrath of the more prudish, although I see this as being common in any fan-culture. Furries which are arguably related to Bronies in ways, for example are looked down upon by many due to a large segment of their culture embracing a sexualized version of the fandom. It’s just an evolution of natural human desires and well, rule #34 of the internet. The same can be said with some of the, well, overly adult artwork I’ve come across when looking for information on MLP:FiM. A segment of the fanbase does embrace an adult version of the content, but there’s also a significant number of fans who enjoy the show as is and keep their fan contributions family friendly. Those who oppose the fandom are quick to latch on to the adult element and use that as part of the hate speech against adult fans, claiming it shows proof of deviance and a desire to corrupt our youth in some cases. I feel my response to those who bash any fandom without doing some unbiased research first is: As far as I’m concerned, abnormality is the normality around this locality.
What’s the appeal?
Lauren Faust who was the driving force behind the modern adaptation of the show, brought together a talented team which has worked tirelessly to create stories, characters, music, and animation that anyone of any age or gender can appreciate and connect with. And while she may have initially helped create a show that was aimed at the young, regardless of gender, MLP:FiM with its rich storyline and colorful characters (slight pun intended), is followed by a devoted fanbase that embraces the ideals of the show. The ideals of friendship, understanding, and mutual respect.
For me in particular, my first exposure was getting sent some links to the show’s music. I was deeply intrigued by the melodic sounds of the singing, and what appeared to be a distinct Broadway feel to it. I haven’t seen a musical performance in a cartoon like that in a long time, so I decided to check out the show even further. I watched episodes and looked up more music from the show, and was amazed by the quality of it. But then I started to really pay attention to the messages of the episodes, and it made me sit back and think about old friends and how situations could have been handled differently. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, has turned out to be much more than what they intended it to be, it’s a show that can truly speak to people of all ages and demographics. And sometimes in a messed up world like we live in, it’s nice to turn on a show about characters trying to find common ground and solve problems without bloodshed, excessive violence (cartoon or otherwise), or having to swear every other word.
And thanks to the brilliant writers and voice actors used in the show’s production, they’re able convey serious issues with a sometimes twisted but somehow truly innocent sense of humor. I know what some men will think – but liking the show doesn’t mean one is gay or feminine, it means you’re enjoying a quality show and you don’t care what others think of you. Although the show is no longer the single point of inspiration anymore, it’s also the incredible fanbase that has sprung up around it. People from all walks of life coming together not just to share their admiration for a wonderful piece of animation, but also coming together as artists themselves. The show inspires me on many levels, but the fans and their work are what pushed me to really believe in embracing it all. I came for the documentary, but stayed for the music and friends, and if liking the show makes me a Brony, then so be it.
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As lovers of rocking music, we’re proud to play some of the incredible fan-work that has come out of the Pony/Brony community. Stay tuned to Krypton Radio’s stream as we’ll be playing selections from the Brony music community, in addition to our regular and never ending lineup of Superhero, Comic Book, Science Fiction, Steampunk, Fantasy, and Gaming hits.
We do want to caution readers, that if you are not familiar with the Pony fandom, as with any fandom there is adult and sometimes graphic content associated with it. If you decide to explore the fandom on artistic and social sites not endorsed by the show’s creators, you may encounter content that you may find objectionable. Keep in mind that this happens with any fandom, and is not exclusive to the Pony/Brony culture.
Some of the amazing fan made music we’ve come across for My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
The following videos are safe for all ages (other videos not listed on this site by these and other artists may contain objectionable content and have not been reviewed by Krypton Radio) Not all of the music listed below will be added to our station playlist, we just wanted to share some of the creative selections we found.
Links:
Updates
As of April 29, 2012 – Saberspark is in the process of raising funds to create an updated documentary, and if you’re willing to aide him you can get more information here, link.
PS: From a few of the KR Staffers: Long story short, show is awesome, music is unbelievably good, and we’re happy to play some of the best selections. Brohoof!
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- Joss Whedon's The AVENGERS Takes In $80.5M On Opening Day May 5, 2012
Krypton Radio Newswire
Hawkeye, Captain America, Black Widow: Jeremy Renner, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson
We’ve been waiting patiently for months for The Avengers, Joss Whedon’s culmination of the grand Marvel Comics movie story arc that threaded through The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America and Thor. We’re very very pleased to be able to say that the movie lived up to being one of the most highly anticipated films of the year – and that it did an amazing $80.5 million in its domestic debut Friday, the second-best haul ever on opening day, trailing only last year’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 which took in $91.1 million in its first day on the way to a record weekend of $169.2 million. The huge opening day seems to be the overture for what the movie industry expects to be a colossal summer, and revenues were already 14 percent ahead of last year’s going into the weekend.
The Avengers already is more than halfway toward beating the opening weekends of the second and third films on the debut charts.
At No. 2 is The Dark Knight with $158.4 million in its first three days, while this spring’s blockbuster The Hunger Games is No. 3 with $152.5 million.
The Avengers opened a week earlier in overseas markets where it did blockbuster cash in a matter of days. The film added $30.3 million internationally Friday, bringing its overseas haul to $334.3 million. If you add the domestic receipts to that, The Avengers has pulled in an astounding worldwide total of $414.8 million during its first week in release, and the U.S. weekend isn’t even over yet.
And it’s not hard to see why the movie is doing so well. Whedon is clearly in touch with his inner geek, because everything that makes the six heroes who and what they are is all there in plain sight. The other problem Whedon could have had was what to do with all these characters in one film. It could easily have been a disastrous mish-mash of disconnected dissonant sub plots – but it wasn’t. The team itself becomes the seventh “character” of the film and goes through its own character arc, with all the team members going through similar arcs that echo that of the team’s story as a whole. It’s a very clever bit of screenwriting leg-ere-de-main, and Whedon’s directing comes together with the actor’s portrayals to pull it all together into a remarkable whole.
Not everyone agrees with our critical assessment – but to the critics who didn’t like it, we’ll offer this bit of advice: if you don’t understand the genre, don’t review it. We’re the fans – we know what we like.
Directed by Joss Whedon (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), “The Avengers” stars Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Mark Ruffalo as the Incredible Hulk, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye. Samuel L. Jackson plays Nick Fury, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the recruiter who teams them up to fight off an invasion of Earth plotted by Thor’s wicked brother Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston.
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- Free Comic Book Day Is This Saturday May 5 May 5, 2012
Free Comic Book Day Is This Saturday May 5th
by Brittany Gamboa
Free Comic Book Day is amongst us, and the celebration of old school ink and calligraphy on that fine print paper is in the air. With this phenomenon spanning North America and even across the globe in select locations, hardcore comic book buyers recognize this day as if it were a religious holiday – although, for some newer fans, we are just beginning to get a feel for what this day is going to be like. In trying to find out more about FCBD, I was able to speak with various comic book store owners throughout Southern California. I was told what this day means to not only them, but for why they are in the business in the first place. What it means to their loyal, current, and reborn comic book fans. Once my investigation began, I started down at Meltdown Comics, located on Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, inquiring within. Francisco, the clerk working at the time, was more than happy to aid me in my quest. Brittany Gamboa for Krypton Radio: What is your goal in executing FCBD?
Francisco (Meltdown Comics): Getting more customers (chuckles). But no, it’s to hopefully spread the interest of comic books into people again and to keep it alive. And to bring people together.
BG: What does FCBD mean to you as well as old and new fans of comic books?
Francisco: It means a bundle because we want to get comic books into people’s hands. Old or new fans. Especially new people because it’s new readers and it will spark an interest in comic books. We also want to spread the word that comic books are still alive and out there.
BG: What has been the impact of the new distribution media on your store and on comic book artists and writers?
Francisco: It’s good. It brings people in wanting to learn more about the movie or the show they just watched or the game they just played. They want to learn more. They want to see things that they can’t find online, like rare comics. Like the new Avengers movie that is coming out. Sparks interest into new fans and that interest leads them to my store.
Down at Emerald Knights in Burbank, I spoke with the the owner, Jason Enright, and he was able to clue me in a little further on FCBD.
BG: What is your goal with FCBD?
Jason Enright (Emerald Knights): The goal is to remind people that comic books are still being sold and they have been around for a very long time, and are still great to read! Even attracting people who used to read comic books, we want to bring them from the media’s attention back to comics and of course get new readers.
BG: What does this day mean to you, as well as your old and new fans of comic books?
Jason Enright: It means a lot, it means a great deal. You see, nowadays comics may be getting higher in price and people may be hesitant towards purchasing them. But with FCBD, it brings people together, in every comic book store. It doesn’t matter which one, and it’s a chance for people to hang out and meet new friends with the same interests and talk about them. Most importantly, it’s meant to spread the word, to meet people, and to just have a great time.
BG: What do you see has been the most significant impact of the new distribution media?
Jason Enright: Well…comic books are obviously not as popular as before and the media helps out a lot. Writers feel more motivated to keep it up. And when the Iron Man films and THOR came out, it created a new fan base and people wanted to learn more. They wanted to see rare merchandise. And it also helps the comic book industry a lot actually.
I ended the Q&A with Earth World Comics in Albany, New York to give me the final scoop on the subject.
BG: What will happen with comic books in their printed form?
(Earthworld): Probably nothing. Comic books are priceless and there is nothing like holding a book, rather than an electronic device. The battery can always run out, unlike a book.
BG: On that note, where do you see this event taking comic books?
(Earthworld): If anywhere, this is heading towards the longevity of comics books and them having more value than ever before!
It’s all seen differently in everyone’s eyes; as to why it is celebrated, where we see it headed with this plethora of technology, and what exactly is the deal with people giving out FREE comic books in the first place. But hey, who’s complaining right? We all come together to share the great legacy comic books have provided us as well as influencing those movies we see on Friday nights with friends. When Free Comic Book Day continues into the years to come, you and your children, along with your lifelong friends, will always have this day to pull you closer together. There will be memories to last a lifetime. Just like always.
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Krypton Radio Writer Brittany GamboaBrittany Gamboa writes about tech, video games and all things geeky relating to past, current, and future influences on modern society. Incoming search terms:
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- Warner Bros. DARK KNIGHT RISES Trailer Debuts May 1, 2012
Warner Bros. Studios The Dark Knight Rises is part of the rapid fire battering ram of comic book movies due out this summer. Knowing they’re going up against The Amazing Spider-Man and The Avengers, Warner Bros. has some new eye candy for us for the new Christopher Nolan Batman film. Heralded as “the epic conclusion to the Dark Knight legend”, it receives its theatrical debut Friday with Marvel’s The Avengers.
The trailer is epic, filled with portent, large-scale collateral damage, an “adaptable” Selina Kyle and a surprisingly intelligible Bane (“I’m Gotham’s reckoning,” Tom Hardy says, clear as day, through his character’s mask – Nolan had gone back and done a remix after preliminary screenings pointed out the fact that nobody could understand a damn thing he said).
Opening July 20, The Dark Knight Rises stars Christian Bale as Batman, Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle, Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tale, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake, Michael Caine as Alfred, Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox.
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- Comic Book Stores Are Stronger Than Ever! April 30, 2012
by Krypton Radio Staff Writer "Cobranoag"
Ted Petrilli, General Manager of Dreamworld Comics in Simi Valley, California. Dreamworld not only features comics, but the best in toys and collectibles. They also host Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic the Gathering and Hero Clix games each week.
With the economic decline in the United States many small businesses (like comic book stores) have been forced to go out of business. That being said, according to General Manager, Ted Petrilli, of Dream World in Simi Valley, CA, collectable comic books are making a huge comeback. DC Comics has recently released first prints of “The New 52 Reboot” which has ignited a huge interest in the comic book world and fans are rushing back for their classics. This buzz has created a new drive for business in comic book stores, and has brought old fans back along with new ones.Even though DC Comics has made electronic versions of these issues available for purchase, fans are still going into the stores to buy the collectable editions.
Not only is this a great boost for the economy, but it keeps local comic book stores new and exciting. However, comic book “reboots” are not the only reason why fans are running back into the stores. New movies such as The Avengers and The Amazing Spider-man are appealing to new generations and bring new fans into the genre. The comic book world is constantly changing and with the release of new online versions, these reboots are a reminder of why comics are collectables and valuable. They bring people out of their homes and into the stores to experience trading and collecting comics. Whether it is a re-launch of classic comics, or bringing them to life in movies, keeping our favorite characters in the media has brought fans back into local comic book stores.
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- Krypton Radio First Look: 'Amazing Spider-Man' Web Shooters April 28, 2012
by Samantha Lowell
Columbia Ramps Up PR Campaign For Upcoming Movie
Columbia’s Pictures’ viral marketing campaign for the upcoming film The Amazing Spider-Man seems to have the internet abuzz these days and the surprises just keep on coming.
A new viral site, Parker’s POV , the eponymous character’s blog,has emerged that reveals blueprints and a video of Peter Parker’s webshooter designs for the reboot.
The clever, word-of-mouth viral campaign-aimed at the coveted youth demographic-has shifted into high gear in the past months and includes a site called Mark of the Spider-Man, representing pro-Spider-Man views in Marvel’s Comics’New York and an anti-vigilante themed site called webbedmenace.com. Both sites invite reader participation and contain hidden clues about the upcoming film.
Sam Raimi’s movie trilogy had Peter Parker’s webshooters as an organic mutation. Raimi felt it was unrealistic for a teenager, however gifted, to be able to invent such a device, though early takes of the film revealed Maguire’s Peter Parker using a mechanical webshooter-like device to augment his organic webshooters, though these scenes were edited out of the finished film.
Amazing Spider-Man director Mark Webb’s reboot of the franchise has taken a more traditional approach, portraying mechanical devices to create Spiider-Man’s webbing. The newly revealed diagrams show the webshooters as cannibalized from discarded wrist watch parts.
The Amazing Spider-Man opens on July 3rd and stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, and Dennis Leary.
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- Krypton Radio looks at Foto Marvellini April 27, 2012
Krypton Radio Newsire
Art Studio Takes Vintage Photos And Adds A Pop-Culture Touch
Marvellini Brothers
We weren’t sure if we should file this story under silly or just plain cool, but when we came across these Italian comic loving brothers with a talent for photo manipulation, we couldn’t turn away. The Marvellini brothers who operate out of The Saint Mariner Tattoo Parlor in Milan-Italy, use their impressive abilities to take vintage photographs and meld them with varying flavors of Marvel, DC Comics, and other pop-culture sources such as The Nightmare Before Christmas and Freddy Kruger.
While many others have been created photos and paintings based on what they thought superheroes would look like in olden times, the Marvellinis can take photos and add that special masked hero touch with a true touch of artistry.
Find more of the Brother’s photos at: Foto Marvellini
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- Game Maker Cryptic Studios Discovers Breach of Servers From 2010 April 26, 2012
Krypton Radio Newswire
Cryptic Studios, maker of the popular MMO’s Star Trek Online, Champions Online, Neverwinter, City of Heroes, and City of Villians; has issued a press release indicating that they have just recently discovered a serious breach of their security systems from 2010.
IMPORTANT CUSTOMER SERVICE NOTIFICATION REGARDING UNAUTHORIZED ACCESSAt Cryptic Studios, your privacy and security is important. As part of our ongoing efforts to monitor and enhance security, we recently detected evidence of an unauthorized access to one of our user databases. The unauthorized access occurred in December 2010, and evidence of this has just been uncovered due to increased security analysis.
The unauthorized access included user account names, handles, and encrypted passwords for those accounts. Even though the passwords were encrypted, it is apparent that the intruder has been able to crack some portion of the passwords in this database. All accounts that we believe were present in the database have had the passwords reset, and customers registered to these accounts have been notified via e-mail of this incident.
While we have no evidence that any other information was taken by the intruder, it is possible that the intruder was able to access additional account information. If they did so, the first and last name, e-mail address, date of birth (if provided to Cryptic Studios), billing address, and the first six digits and the last four digits of credit cards registered on the site may have been accessed. We have no evidence at this time that any data other than the account name, handle, and encrypted password were accessed for any user.
We are continuing to investigate this incident, and are taking even further action to strengthen our systems and redouble our security vigilance and protections. For your own security, we encourage you to be especially aware of e-mail and postal mail scams that ask for personal or sensitive information. Cryptic will not contact you in any way, including by e-mail, asking for your credit card number, social security number, or any other personally identifiable information. If you use the same password for other accounts, especially financial accounts or accounts with personal information, we strongly recommend that you change them.
While we have no evidence of unauthorized use of personal information as a result of this incident, to protect against any possible identity theft, we encourage you to remain vigilant, to review your account statements and to monitor your credit reports. Further information regarding the prevention of identity theft can be found at the Federal Trade Commission’s website here.
We apologize for any inconvenience this unauthorized access may have caused our customers. Customers with questions about this incident and how it may affect them can contact customer service by submitting a support ticket at https://support.perfectworld.com/app/cs_cryptic/iss/log.
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Stay Tuned to Krypton Radio as we will bring you the latest details as they become available.
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- MTV Voices Showcases New Superhero Web Series Created by American & Syrian Students April 25, 2012
Krypton Radio Newswire
The Hope and Goodwill Superheroes Bring Helps Unite Cultures in Real World
Silver Scorpion
NEW YORK – (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX Press Release) — The Open Hands Initiative, in partnership with Liquid Comics and MTV Voices, announced today the newest rendition of the Silver Scorpion comic book character – an animated web series featuring the world’s first disabled cross-cultural superhero. Silver Scorpion is the brainchild of a group of American and Syrian youths with disabilities who gathered in Damascus a little more than a year ago. The hero they envisioned, an Arab teen that loses his legs in a tragic accident, has the power to not only bend metal with his mind but — the creators hope — to transform his world… and ours.
Created by 26 talented youths with disabilities who convened for a Youth Ability Summit in Syria, the Silver Scorpion will come to life on the web in an animated 4-part series on the MTV Voices global websites, bringing this unique story of courage and perseverance to young people all across Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia. The series is intended to build bridges among the youths of the world while promoting inclusion and equality for people living with disabilities.
Jay T Snyder, American businessman and Co-Founder and Chairman of the Open Hands Initiative, calls the Silver Scorpion comic book “a gift from youths with disabilities from America and Syria to
Cultures Uniting
the world that reflects what can be achieved when the people of our two countries are provided a platform to engage. The story of Silver Scorpion will now be accessible in more places than ever, helping to empower youth with disabilities and encourage cross-cultural understanding.”
He added, “This is not just a comic book; it’s a breakthrough effort in public diplomacy that helps forge lasting bonds and understanding between the youth of the United States and the Middle East.” Despite the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Syria, Mr. Snyder emphasized the importance of cross-cultural exchange and of shining a light on the issue of disability rights despite Syria’s current challenges: “This type of people-to-people diplomacy is as important now as it was a year ago when we brought these creative young people together, and it will be even more important in the years ahead.”
The Silver Scorpion character was developed by participants in the Youth Ability Summit, a meeting of disabled youth that took place in Damascus, Syria. In workshops led by Open Hands and Liquid Comics, the children were asked to work together to create an original superhero that reflected their cross-cultural values and ideals as well as the challenges of living with a disability. By the end of the summit, the wheelchair-bound character of the Silver Scorpion was born. The participants created a character that transcends our differences and emphasizes our common humanity.
As recognition of the students work, at the 2010 Clinton Global Initiative, President Bill Clinton highlighted the Silver Scorpion project, stating that the comic book, ” …will help to establish trust and understanding between cultures, to empower young people with disabilities.”
Silver Scorpion
“This project is unique in the way it empowered students from across the world to be the architects of a new superhero that embodies their worldviews and the role models they would like to see. MTV Voices is the perfect platform to share their character with the world,” added Liquid Comics Co-Founder & CEO Sharad Devarajan. “Great superheroes have always been allegories to larger societal issues and the story of our generation is globalization and our ability to overcome regional and cultural differences to find our common humanity. These students and their experience together speak to the very best of that globalization in the years ahead.”
The Silver Scorpion tells the story of an Arab teenager, Bashir Bari, who loses his legs in a tragic accident. Consumed with anger and grief, Bashir retreats into a world of isolation, resentful of the pitiful looks and whispers of strangers. When he accidentally witnesses the murder of Tarek, a mysterious local metalsmith, Bashir is unwittingly chosen as the new guardian of an ancient power that has remained hidden for centuries. With new abilities allowing him to manipulate the metal around him, Bashir must rise above his personal grief and use this newfound gift to protect the world, while learning firsthand to embrace the values of tolerance and cooperation.
“MTV Voices is all about giving young people a platform to express ideas, aspirations, concerns about the world in a creative manner,” said John Jackson, VP of Social Responsibility, Viacom International Media Networks. “The Silver Scorpion project and how its super hero was conceived absolutely reflects that core value and is a natural fit for MTV Voices. Through the story of the super hero, the young Americans and Syrians involved with the project have found a way of sharing their values with the world, and MTV Voices is delighted to bring that to our audience, encouraging them to engage with us on the narrative, the ideas and the vision.”
The Open Hands Initiative hopes that this project will serve to help American citizens reach out to the Arab world and build connections during what has become a period of dramatic change. The Open Hands Initiative worked with many young people and their families in Syria on the project before the current period of unrest. The Silver Scorpion web series on MTV Voices will also be promoted globally through iEARN (International Education and Resource Network), which reaches 45,000 schools and youth organizations in over 130 countries.
Hamza Jaka, one of the youth participants who helped create the Silver Scorpion, added, “Working on the Silver Scorpion comic taught me a lot of things, the most important of which was that people change can the world. As young people, we often don’t realize the power of our actions, but, no matter how young we are, or where we’re from, if we work together, we can change the world.”
“There is no better time to extend a hand of friendship and compassion to the people of Syria,” said Mr. Snyder.
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ABOUT THE OPEN HANDS INITIATIVE:
The Open Hands Initiative is a US-based non-profit organization by Jay. T and Tracy Snyder, dedicated to improving people-to-people understanding and friendship throughout the world through exchanges and other projects that emphasize our basic shared values and common humanity. It specializes in diplomacy that is by and for ordinary people, emphasizing dialogue and mutual respect between the people of the United States and the rest of the world.
ABOUT LIQUID COMICS:
Liquid Comics is a digital entertainment company focused on creating cinematic and mythic graphic novel stories with filmmakers, creators and storytellers. The company was founded by entrepreneurs, Sharad Devarajan, Gotham Chopra and Suresh Seetharaman and uses the medium of digital graphic novel publishing to develop properties for theatrical live-action films, animation and video games. The Company currently has a number of film and television projects in development based on their properties.
ABOUT MTV VOICES:
MTV Voices is MTV’s new international pro-social platform designed to be the exclusive online space for passionate and thought-provoking content produced by young writers, photographers, and filmmakers around the world. It will also engage viewers around key MTV shows that explore critical issues for the millennial generation: from bullying to sexual health, from personal confidence to breaking down social barriers. Created for the international MTV millennial audience, MTV Voices will inspire young people to share their ideas and engage in stimulating conversation amongst their peers.
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- Marvel Introduces the Marvel Digital Comics Shop April 24, 2012
Marvel Comic's digital store lets you buy your comics once, then read them on anything you own.
(from a Marvel Comics press release:) “The Marvel ReEvolution grows even bigger this month as Marvel is proud to unveil the Marvel Digital Comics Shop, the newest place to find and read Marvel digital comics. This convenient online destination gives fans the chance to purchase all their favorite Marvel comics in one location and have it sync to the Marvel Comics app for Apple® iOS and Android devices. Not only can you read your comics anytime and anywhere – but now you can read them on your desktop or laptop! With all Marvel Universe and Ultimate Comics Universe titles available the same day they hit comic shops, there’s no better time to jump into comics!
“Then, come June – all Marvel super hero comics priced at $3.99 at your local comic shop will include codes for free digital copies of those same issues on the Marvel Comics app for Apple iOS and Android devices, the Marvel Digital Comics Shop and the Comics by comiXology app and web store all at no extra cost! That’s right, the most-talked-about comics in the industry—including Avengers, Captain America, Invincible Iron Man, Mighty Thor, Amazing Spider-Man. Wolverine & The X-Men and more—will come packed with a code to ensure fans have the most critically acclaimed stories with them anytime, anywhere.”
Between the Marvel Comics app and the Marvel Digital Comics Shop, it’s pretty easy to read and enjoy Marvel Comics now. What we observe, though, is that while Marvel may be an early adopter of this business model, they didn’t create the technology. Comixology did. And DC Comics uses them too – so Marvel doesn’t actually have a marketing edge here. The playing field is pretty level.
The shift is going to be towards all digital publication, with only select titles being available as paper, hold-in-your-hand books. The lesser titles will eventually have to go away because it’s getting too expensive for the big publishers to print them. The smaller labels will be running their businesses on a print-on-demand basis, which the big boys simply cannot do. Paper comics won’t go away completely, but there are going to be a lot less of the ones from the big press distributors, leaving more room for the independent publishers. The transformation of the industry has already begun.
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- Video of the Day - STATIC SHOCK: BLACKOUT April 24, 2012
Krypton Radio Newswire
Stefan Denzil as "Static"
It’s hard to ignore the lure of making your own superhero movie if you have the talent, the time, the resources and the team of friends who can help you make it happen. Stefan Dezil, a drama major at Carnegie Mellon University, is in the sweet spot. With some funding provided by friends and family, he’s made a web short based on the Milestone Comics character Static Shock. Dezil jokingly explains “I really wanted to see a superhero who looked like me, and since I didn’t have enough time to buff up to do Black Panther, I thought Static was a good choice.”
Shot for just $5,000 on the RED camera system, Static Shock: Blackout is a truly impressive Static Shock fan film created by Stefan Dezil. The short was created to be released just before the late Static co-creator Dwayne McDuffie’s 50th birthday and follows a version of Daisy Watkins, the comic book love interest of Static Shock, as she seeks to discover the teenage superhero who fights crime in the dangerous Dakota City.
The costume is raw and unfinished. Dezil’s character is more serious and a bit less effusive than Phil LaMarr’s portrayal of him in the Static Shock cartoons done by Warner Brothers. And yet, the acting is solid, the basic production values are very good – and while the effects are understandably limited, they work within the story and move things forward nicely. The end result is very watchable and very pleasing. Diehard fans will quibble with the creative choices, but we think Dezil has made some good choices with the treatment of the material.
A year and a half in the making, the web short has gone viral since hitting the web, racking up nearly 26,000 views and has been featured on the Topless Robot channel on YouTube. Fans of “Static Shock” are now campaigning for a movie adaptation. It was more than just Stefan Dezil working on it, of course – he had a whole team of students from Carnegie Mellon University, The Art Institute, Syracuse University and University of Central Florida. The best news is that episode 2 is already in preproduction.
Enjoy.
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- Heroes for Heroes: The Badass Celebrity Smackdown at Houston's COMICPALOOZA April 23, 2012
“The next best thing to being a sci-fi or action hero has to be shooting a sci-fi or action hero with a gun. Or maybe being shot by one”Contact: John Simons Jim Hoelker Chairman, Comicpalooza Impact a Hero www.comicpalooza.com www.impactahero.org Comicpalooza@gmail.com jhoelker@impactahero.org 832-398-3193 April 23, 2012
(Houston, TX) – “The next best thing to being a sci-fi or action hero has to be shooting a sci-fi or action hero with a gun. Or maybe being shot by one,” says John Simons, founder and Chairman of Comicpalooza, the Texas International Comic Con. At least that’s the premise that led to the Badass Celebrity Smackdown, in which fans attending Comicpalooza May 25 – 27 will get their chance to pit themselves against stars of some of the biggest sci-fi and action franchises in Hollywood while helping US veterans at the same time.
Heroes for Heroes: The Badass Celebrity Smackdown is a charity event held at Comicpalooza that benefits Impact a Hero, a non-profit organization that provides emotional and financial support to severely wounded veterans from post 911 conflicts. In addition to the heroes event, there will be a villain event as well. Celebrities participating in the charity events are:
- Michael Biehn (Terminator, Aliens)
- Claudia Christian (Babylon 5)
- David Della Rocco (Boondock Saints)
- Sean Patrick Flanery (Boondock Saints)
- Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica)
- Christopher Judge (Stargate SG-1)
- Richard LeParmentier (Star Wars)
- Rachel Lutrell (Stargate Atlantis)
- Kevin Sorbo (Hercules, Andromeda)
In the heroes event, fans will have the chance to shoot or be shot by their favorite heroes in a once-in-a-lifetime game of laser tag. There will be two heroes games of laser tag. To qualify for one of the fan teams, a fan may either make a $300 donation to Impact a Hero to reserve one of the fixed spots, or win one of several open spots that will be raffled off at the Impact a Hero booth from among all the fans making donations over the convention weekend.
Richard LeParmentier will be featured in the villains event where he will lead a team of the 501st Stormtroopers against fans. There will be one villain game on Friday and one on Saturday, while the heroes games will both take place on Sunday, May 27. Fans will be able to register for the villain game on site immediately before it takes place. Registration for the Heroes event will be on the Comicpalooza website.
For information about registering for Comicpalooza, go to www.comicpalooza.com. For more information on Impact a Hero go to impactahero.org.
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- The Tale of the Legal Battle For Superman Takes A Strange Twist April 18, 2012
by Gene Turnbow
Happy birthday, Superman! Today marks the 74th anniversary of the first appearance of Superman in Action Comics #1. The now famous cover of the Man of Steel lifting that green car over his head and people running in panic debuted on newsstands on this day in 1938. But the day is marred by more in-fighting over his parentage, between DC Comics (now owned by Time Warner) and the descendents of the original creators of Superman, Jerry Seigel and Joe Schuster. This time it’s the attorney representing the creator’s families who’s in trouble.This law suit has been running for years, and we hear bits and pieces of it. It’s really confusing – but it looks like the familys’ lawyer and business partner, Marc Toberoff, may have been trying to take the rights for Superman for himself.
Around 2006, David Michaels, a lawyer working for Toberoff, “abscond[ed] with copies of several documents from the Siegel and Shuster files,” sending them to D.C. Comics, including “a cover letter, written in the form of a timeline, outlining in detail Toberoff’s alleged master plan”. D.C. Comics gave the allegedly stolen documents over to an outside attorney and began a quest to obtain them through discovery. Toberoff refused to hand them over, saying the documents were protected by attorney-client privilege
because they involved communication with the heirs. A magistrate judge eventually ordered production of some of the documents — including the timeline – and D.C. Comics received them in 2008. Relying on the timeline-cover letter, D.C. Comics filed a 2010 complaint against Toberoff, the heirs and others.Since then, “Toberoff has continued to resist the use of any of the documents taken from his offices, including those already disclosed to D.C. Comics and especially Michaels’ letter,” according to the 9th Circuit.
This basically means that he’s trying to deny that they have any bearing at all. Does it mean he really was trying to do this and he’s trying to bury the fact? Or that the papers are really pointless?
Toberoff asked the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles to subpoena the documents as part of the investigation into the theft – and then DC Comics asked for the same access to clear the path to use the documents since they weren’t supposed to have had them in the first place (since they were stolen in the first place). A judge agreed with DC Comics and gave them the access they wanted. Now Toberoff has lost his attorney-client privilege with respect to the stolen papers, undermining his work with the heir families to protect their interests in the Superman properties, but mostly simply exposing himself to scrutiny about his alleged plot to take the Superman legacy for himself. He had also approached the families to let him manage their preexisting litigation over rights they’d ceded to DC Comics. He formed a joint venture with the families but acted as that partnerships legal representation at the same time. This is legal skunkduggery, and roughly analogous to being your own surgeon. You know, like doing a hernia transplant. From one side to the other. On yourself.
The observation of how wonky this business idea was was made by Judge Diarmuid O’Scannlain of three-judge appelate panel reviewing the case as well: “Having set his sights on Superman, Toberoff approached the heirs with an offer to manage preexisting litigation over the rights Siegel and Shuster had ceded to D.C. Comics. He also claimed that he would arrange for a new Superman film to be produced. To pursue these goals, Toberoff created a joint venture between the heirs and an entity he owned. Toberoff served as both a business advisor and an attorney for that venture. The ethical and professional concerns raised by Toberoff’s actions will likely occur to many readers, but they are not before this court.”
The panel, which included Chief Judge Alex Kozinski, found that “voluntarily disclosing privileged documents to third parties will generally destroy the privilege,” and that this does not change just because the third party is the government.
The film currently in production was launched in a hurry, before the script was finished. This is usually a bad sign, but Casablanca was done that way too, and look how well that one did. The long strange tale of the battle for Superman is nowhere near over. We hope that eventually some sanity is restored, and that the Man of Tomorrow lives on to have many more birthdays. And what if the fight results in the fragmentation of the rights to Superman? We could see a world without a Superman. It’s not especially likely, admittedly. But it’s possible.
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- 'Amazing Spider-Man' Japanese Trailer Teases With A Bit More Footage April 17, 2012
The Amazing Spider-Man, in theaters July 3
If you’re like us, you’ve been pouring over early Amazing Spider-Man trailers to get a better sense of the origin story reboot director Marc Webb will be serving up when the film hits the theaters July 3. A new trailer for the Japanese market gives fans a few new images, and longer cuts of scenes we’ve already seen, so you can geek out a little more.
Peter Parker is played by Andrew Garfield of The Social Network. “We all have secrets,” Parker says. “The ones we keep, and the ones that are kept from us.” The webslinger will be dealing with both in this retelling of the familiar story, as he not only protects his secret identity from loved ones but also looks for answers to the riddle of what happened to his late parents, Mary and Richard Parker.
Most of the trailer is the same as the one for American audiences, but with a little extra footage spotlighting the origin of Rhys Ifans’ the Lizard, the villian of the film. “Ready to play God?” asks the scientist, before injecting himself with a mysterious green potion that turns him into a homicidal reptile. “If you want the truth, Peter, come and get it.”
The film comes just five years after the last successful “Spider-Man” trilogy by director Sam Raimi, in between two superhero heavyweight rivals, “The Avengers” (May 4) and “The Dark Knight Rises” (July 20).
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- Police & Firefighters Grant Wish of 7-Year Old With Leukemia to Be Batman April 15, 2012
The Everyday Heroes of A City Pull Together To Help A Superhero
By Staff Editor, PK
Courtesy: City of Arlington
The greatest battle that any man will face, is his own mortality. For a 7-Year old Arlington-Texas boy named Kye who is suffering from leukemia, that must be the greatest battle he could possibly imagine facing. But thanks to some wonderful volunteer efforts and the a Wish with Wings organization; Kye was able to live out a dream of his, and for one day in his young life, he became the legendary Dark Knight and helped fight evil in the city of
GothamArlington, Texas.Members of the Arlington Police and Fire Departments, along with the Mayor’s Office and several others setup an elaborate day of crime fighting events for Kye. Starring as a Little Batman, he joined forces with the caped crusader himself and helped defeat volunteers dressed as the Joker and the Riddler who were engaged in nefarious plots. With Batman and the Police, Kye stopped the Joker who tried to rob a bank, and with the Fire Department he outsmarted the infamous Riddler who tried to blow up city hall.
After a day of intense crime fighting, a catered chicken lunch and some quality time with Arlington’s men and women in uniform; Kye met with the
CommissionerAssistant Chief of Police who presented him with the Key to the City.
Video after the break.The Texas based a Wish with Wings, is similar to the Make A Wish Foundation, where terminally ill children can get help in making a special wish come true. And in Kye’s case, his wish was to star in a Batman movie, and while the organization couldn’t quite pull off the multimillion dollar budget that a movie requires, they did manage to make his wish come true in a even more special way.
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- 2012 Eisner Awards Nominations Announced April 15, 2012
Nominees Announced for 2012 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards
Selections Reflect Wide Diversity in Industry
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The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards are considered the “Oscars” of the comic book industry. They are handed out each year in a gala ceremony at Comic-Con International: San Diego, the largest and oldest comics convention in the United States.
The Eisner Awards are named for renowned cartoonist Will Eisner (creator of “The Spirit” and several award-winning graphic novels), who, until his death in 2005, always attended the ceremony to personally congratulate the winners. The Awards are given out in more than two dozen categories covering the best publications and creators of the previous year (such as Best Short Story, Best Graphic Album, Best Writer, and so on). The finalists on the ballot are selected by a blue-ribbon committee that considers thousands of entries submitted by publishers and creators. The nominees are then voted on by all parts of the comic book industry: writers, artists, and other creators; publishers; editors; and retailers and distributors.
Comic-Con International (Comic-Con) is proud to announce the nominations for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards 2012. The nominees, chosen by a blue-ribbon panel of judges, reflect the wide range of material being published in comics and graphic novel form today, from nursery rhymes and World War II battles to high school angst and pulp fiction.
Topping the 2012 list with 6 nominations is Marvel’s Daredevil, with nods for Best Continuing Series, Best Single Issue, Best Writer (Mark Waid), Best Cover Artist (Marcos Martin), and Best Penciller/Inker Team (two nominations: Marcos Martin, and Paolo Rivera/Joe Rivera). Close behind with 5 nominations is Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand, an original graphic novel of an unproduced, feature-length screenplay written by Jim Henson and Jerry Juhl, adapted by artist Ramón K. Pérez, published by Archaia. The book is up for Best Graphic Album-New, Best Penciller/Inker, Best Coloring, Best Lettering, and Best Publication Design.
Three titles have 3 nominations: Vertigo/DC’s iZombie (Best Penciller/Inker and Best Cover Artist for Michael Allred, Best Coloring for Laura Allred) and The Unwritten (Best Single Issue, Best Writer for Mike Carey, Best Cover Artist for Yuko Shimizu), and IDW’s Richard Stark’s Parker: The Martini Edition, by Darwyn Cooke (Best Short Story, Best Graphic Album-Reprint, Best Publication Design). Sixteen titles had 2 nominations, and the remaining nominations were spread among nearly 100 books and comics in 27 categories.
Joining Tale of Sand in the Graphic Album-New category are Bubbles & Gondola by French cartoonist Renaud Dillies (NBM), the animation-industry-based Freeway by Mark Kalesniko (Fantagraphics), the critically acclaimed Habibi by Craig Thompson (Pantheon), Ivy by newcomer Sarah Oleksyk (Oni), and the experimental One Soul by Ray Fawkes (Oni).
DC and Marvel tied for the most nominations for a publisher, each having 11 nominations plus 2 shared. For DC, Vertigo had the lion’s share of nominations, led by iZombie and The Unwritten. In addition to the Daredevil nods, Marvel had 2 nominations for Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ Criminal: The Last of the Innocents under the Icon imprint. IDW also had 11 nominations, dominating the Best Archival Collection, Comics-Related Book, and Publication Design categories. Close behind with 10 nominations (plus 1 shared) is Dark Horse, including 2 each for Dark Horse Presents, Jeff Jensen’s Green River Killer, and Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo. Next, with 9 (plus 1 shared) is Fantagraphics, including 3 nominations each in the Archival and International categories.
Other publishers with multiple nominations include First Second and NBM (6); Abrams ComicArts, Archaia, Drawn & Quarterly, and Oni (5); Image (4 plus 2 shared); Candlewick (4); and Pantheon (3). Eleven publishers had 2 nominations: Abstract Studio, Action Lab, Archie, Atheneum, Bongo, BOOM!, Chronicle, Top Shelf, the University of Mississippi Press, VIZ Media, and Yen Press. Another 15 publishers have 1 nomination each.
For more detailed information, see the San Diego Comic-Con Eisner Awards information web page.
List of nominees after the break.
EISNER AWARD NOMINEES 2012
Best Short Story
“A Brief History of the Art Form Known as Hortisculpture,” by Adrian Tomine, in Optic Nerve #12 (Drawn & Quarterly)
“Harvest of Fear,” by Jim Woodring, in The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror #17 (Bongo)
“The Seventh,” by Darwyn Cooke, in Richard Stark’s Parker: The Martini Edition (IDW)
“The Speaker,” by Brandon Graham, in Dark Horse Presents #7 (Dark Horse)Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)
Daredevil #7, by Mark Waid, Paolo Rivera, and Joe Rivera (Marvel)
Ganges #4, by Kevin Huizenga (Fantagraphics)
Locke & Key: Guide to the Known Keys, by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (IDW)
Princeless #3, by Jeremy Whitley and M. Goodwin (Action Lab)
The Unwritten #24: “Stairway to Heaven” by Mike Carey, Peter Gross, and Al Davison (Vertigo/DC)Best Continuing Series
Daredevil, by Mark Waid, Marcos Martin, Paolo Rivera, and Joe Rivera (Marvel)
Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media)
Rachel Rising, by Terry Moore (Abstract Studio)
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli (Marvel)
Usagi Yojimbo, by Stan Sakai (Dark Horse)Best Limited Series
Atomic Robo and the Ghost of Station X, by Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener (Red 5)
Criminal: The Last of the Innocent, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Marvel Icon)
Flashpoint: Batman – Knight of Vengeance, by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso (Vertigo/DC)
The New York Five, by Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly (Vertigo/DC)
Who Is Jake Ellis? by Nathan Edmondson & Tonci Zonjic (Image)Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 7)
Beauty and the Squat Bears, by Émile Bravo (Yen Press)
Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Thinking, by Philippe Coudray (Candlewick/Toon Books)
Dragon Puncher Island, by James Kochalka (Top Shelf)
Nursery Rhyme Comics, edited by Chris Duffy (First Second)
Patrick in a Teddy Bear’s Picnic, by Geoffrey Hayes (Candlewick/Toon Books)Best Publication for Kids (ages 8-12)
The All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold, by Sholly Fisch, Rick Burchett, and Dan Davis (DC)
Amelia Rules: The Meaning of Life … And Other Stuff, by Jimmy Gownley (Atheneum)
The Ferret’s a Foot, by Colleen AF Venable and Stephanie Yue (Graphic Universe/Lerner)
Princeless, by Jeremy Whitley and M. Goodwin (Action Lab)
Snarked, by Roger Langridge (kaboom!)
Zita the Space Girl, by Ben Hatke (First Second)Best Publication for Young Adults (Ages 12-17)
Anya’s Ghost, by Vera Brosgol (First Second)
Around the World, by Matt Phelan (Candlewick)
Level Up, by Gene Yang and Thien Pham (First Second)
Life with Archie, by Paul Kupperberg, Fernando Ruiz, Pat & Tim Kennedy, Norm Breyfogle et al. (Archie)
Mystic, by G. Willow Wilson and David Lopez (Marvel)Best Anthology
Dark Horse Presents, edited by Mike Richardson (Dark Horse)
Nelson, edited by Rob Davis and Woodrow Phoenix (Blank Slate)
Nursery Rhyme Comics, edited by Chris Duffy (First Second)
The Someday Funnies, edited by Michel Choquette (Abrams ComicArts)
Yiddishkeit: Jewish Vernacular and the New Land, edited by Harvey Pekar and Paul Buhle (Abrams ComicArts)Best Humor Publication
The Art of Doug Sneyd: A Collection of Playboy Cartoons (Dark Horse Books)
Chimichanga, by Eric Powell (Dark Horse)
Coffee: It’s What’s for Dinner, by Dave Kellett (Small Fish)
Kinky & Cosy, by Nix (NBM)
Milk & Cheese: Dairy Products Gone Bad, by Evan Dorkin (Dark Horse Books)Best Digital Comic
Bahrain, by Josh Neufeld, www.cartoonmovement.com/comic/24
Battlepug, by Mike Norton, www.battlepug.com
Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant, by Tony Cliff, www.delilahdirk.com
Outfoxed, by Dylan Meconis, www.dylanmeconis.com/outfoxed
Sarah and the Seed, by Ryan Andrews, www.ryan-a.com/comics/sarahandtheseed01.htmBest Reality-Based Work
Around the World, by Matt Phelan (Candlewick)
Green River Killer: A True Detective Story, by Jeff Jensen and Jonathan Case (Dark Horse Books)
Marzi: A Memoir, by Marzena Sowa and Sylvain Savoia (Vertigo/DC)
Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths, by Shigeru Mizuki (Drawn & Quarterly)
Vietnamerica, by GB Tran (Villard)Best Graphic Album – New
Bubbles & Gondola, by Renaud Dillies (NBM)
Freeway, by Mark Kalesniko (Fantagraphics)
Habibi, by Craig Thompson (Pantheon)
Ivy, by Sarah Olekysk (Oni)
Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand, adapted by Ramón K. Pérez (Archaia)
One Soul, by Ray Fawkes (Oni)Best Graphic Album – Reprint
Big Questions, by Anders Nilsen (Drawn & Quarterly)
The Death Ray, by Dan Clowes (Drawn & Quarterly)
Richard Stark’s Parker: The Martini Edition, by Darwyn Cooke (IDW)
WE3: The Deluxe Edition, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (Vertigo/DC)
Zahra’s Paradise, by Amir and Khalil (First Second)Best Archival Collection/Project – Strips
Flash Gordon and Jungle Jim, by Alex Raymond and Don Moore, edited by Dean Mullaney (IDW/Library of American Comics)
Forgotten Fantasy: Sunday Comics 1900-1915, edited by Peter Maresca (Sunday Press)
Prince Valiant vols. 3-4, by Hal Foster, edited by Kim Thompson (Fantagraphics)
Tarpé Mills’s Miss Fury Sensational Sundays, 1944-1949, edited by Trina Robbins (IDW/Library of American Comics)
Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse vols. 1-2, by Floyd Gottfredson, edited by David Gerstein and Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)Best Archival Collection/Project – Comic Books
Government Issue: Comics for the People: 1940s-2000s, edited by Richard L. Graham (Abrams ComicArts)
The MAD Fold-In Collection, by Al Jaffee (Chronicle)
PS Magazine: The Best of Preventive Maintenance Monthly, by Will Eisner (Abrams ComicArts)
The Sugar and Spike Archives, vol. 1, by Sheldon Mayer (DC)
Walt Simonson’s The Mighty Thor Artist’s Edition (IDW)Best U.S. Edition of International Material
Bubbles & Gondola, by Renaud Dillies (NBM)
Isle of 100,000 Graves, by Fabien Vehlmann and Jason (Fantagraphics)
Like a Sniper Lining Up His Shot, by Jacques Tardi and Jean-Patrick Manchette (Fantagraphics)
The Manara Library, vol. 1: Indian Summer and Other Stories, by Milo Manara with Hugo Pratt (Dark Horse Books)
Night Animals: A Diptych About What Rushes Through the Bushes, by Brecht Evens (Top Shelf)Best U.S. Edition of International Material – Asia
A Bride’s Story, by Kaoru Mori (Yen Press)
Drops of God, by Tadashi Agi and Shu Okimoto (Vertical)
Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths, by Shigeru Mizuki (Drawn & Quarterly)
Saturn Apartments, vols. 3-4, by Hisae Iwaoka (VIZ Media)
Stargazing Dog, by Takashi Murakami (NBM)
Wandering Son, vol. 1, by Shimura Takako (Fantagraphics)Best Writer
Cullen Bunn, The Sixth Gun (Oni)
Mike Carey, The Unwritten (Vertigo/DC)
Jeff Jensen, Green River Killer: A True Detective Story (Dark Horse Books)
Jeff Lemire, Animal Man, Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown, Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. (DC); Sweet Tooth (Vertigo/DC)
Mark Waid, Irredeemable, Incorruptible (BOOM!); Daredevil (Marvel)Best Writer/Artist
Rick Geary, The Lives of Sacco and Vanzetti (NBM)
Terry Moore, Rachel Rising (Abstract Studio)
Sarah Oleksyk, Ivy (Oni)
Craig Thompson, Habibi (Pantheon)
Jim Woodring, Congress of the Animals (Fantagraphics), “Harvest of Fear,” in The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror #17 (Bongo)Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
Michael Allred, iZombie (Vertigo/DC); Madman All-New Giant-Size Super-Ginchy Special (Image)
Ramón K. Pérez, Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand (Archaia)
Chris Samnee, Captain America and Bucky, Ultimate Spider-Man #155 (Marvel)
Marcos Martin, Daredevil (Marvel)
Paolo Rivera/Joe Rivera, Daredevil (Marvel)Best Cover Artist
Michael Allred, iZombie (Vertigo/DC)
Francesco Francavilla, Black Panther (Marvel); Lone Ranger, Lone Ranger/Zorro, Dark Shadows, Warlord of Mars (Dynamite); Archie Meets Kiss (Archie)
Victor Kalvachev, Blue Estate (Image)
Marcos Martin, Daredevil, Amazing Spider-Man (Marvel)
Sean Phillips, Criminal: The Last of the Innocent (Marvel Icon)
Yuko Shimizu, The Unwritten (Vertigo/DC)Best Coloring
Laura Allred, iZombie (Vertigo/DC); Madman All-New Giant-Size Super-Ginchy Special (Image)
Bill Crabtree, The Sixth Gun (Oni)
Ian Herring and Ramón K. Pérez, Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand (Archaia)
Victor Kalvachev, Blue Estate (Image)
Cris Peter, Casanova: Avaritia, Casanova: Gula (Marvel Icon)Best Lettering
Deron Bennett, Billy Fog, Jim Henson’s Dark Crystal, Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand, Mr. Murder Is Dead (Archaia); Helldorado, Puss N Boots, Richie Rich (APE Entertainment)
Jimmy Gownley, Amelia Rules! The Meaning of Life … And Other Stuff (Atheneum)
Laura Lee Gulledge, Page by Paige (Amulet Books/Abrams)
Tom Orzechowski, Manara Library, with L. Lois Buholis(Dark Horse); Manga Man (Houghton Mifflin); Savage Dragon (Image)
Stan Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo (Dark Horse)Best Comics-Related Journalism
The AV Club Comics Panel, by Noel Murray, Oliver Sava et al., www.avclub.com/features/comics-panel/
The Beat, produced by Heidi MacDonald et al., www.comicsbeat.com
The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth, and The Comics Journal website, www.tcj.com, edited by Timothy Hodler and Dan Nadel (Fantagraphics)
The Comics Reporter, produced by Tom Spurgeon, www.comicsreporter.com
TwoMorrows Publications: Alter Ego edited by Roy Thomas, Back Issue edited by Michael Eury, Draw edited by Mike Manley, and Jack Kirby Collector edited by John MorrowBest Educational/Academic Work
Alan Moore: Conversations, ed. by Eric Berlatsky (University Press of Mississippi)
Cartooning: Philosophy & Practice, by Ivan Brunetti (Yale University Press)
Critical Approaches to Comics: Theories and Methods, edited by Matthew J. Smith and Randy Duncan (Routledge)
Hand of Fire: The Comics Art of Jack Kirby, by Charles Hatfield (University Press of Mississippi)
Projections: Comics and the History of 21st Century Storytelling, by Jared Gardner (Stanford University Press)Best Comics-Related Book
Archie: A Celebration of America’s Favorite Teenagers, edited by Craig Yoe (IDW/Yoe Books)
Caniff: A Visual Biography, edited by Dean Mullaney (IDW/Library of American Comics)
Drawing Power: A Compendium of Cartoon Advertising, edited by Rick Marschall and Warren Bernard (Fantagraphics/Marschall Books)
Genius Isolated: The Life and Art of Alex Toth, designed by Dean Mullaney (IDW/Library of American Comics)
MetaMaus, by Art Spiegelman (Pantheon)Best Publication Design
Genius Isolated: The Life and Art of Alex Toth, designed by Dean Mullaney (IDW/Library of American Comics)
Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand, designed by Eric Skillman (Archaia)
Kinky & Cosy, designed by Nix (NBM)
The MAD Fold-In Collection, designed by Michael Morris (Chronicle)
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- Sabrina the Teenage Witch To Be A Live Action Film April 14, 2012
Krypton Radio Newswire
Melissa Joan Hart starred as Sabrina the Teenage Witch in the popular ABC TV series in the '90's.
‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch’ is being turned into a live-action film. Writers Andrew Berrer and Gabriel Ferrari have written a screenplay for Sony Pictures for the big screen debut of the good natured witch from the The TV series – which featured Melissa Joan Hart as a young witch learning about her magical powers. This new motion picture will put a new spin on Sabrina, making her more of a magic-based superhero.
Sony seeks to give Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, originally a comic from the 1960?s Archie universe, a makeover that will see her as a teenage superhero in the same vein as Spider-Man, about a teenager coming to terms with awesome powers that they’ve been granted. Producers attached to the project include Don Murphy and Susan Montford, who worked on the Hugh Jackman fim Real Steel.
The character of Sabrina originally came from a spin-off of Archie Comics in the 1960′s, which gained enough popularity to be turned into two animated series, and then finally a sitcom starring Melissa Joan Hart on ABC Television Network. Archie Comics’ Jon Goldwater will act as executive producer for the film – but executive producer is one of those party favor titles that are handed out in Hollywood as a bargaining chip. It probably had something to do with the rights acquisition deal Sony had to cut with Archie Comics. It was director Mark Waters, who previously directed Lindsay Lohan in Mean Girls, who made the initial pitch to Sony and convinced them to do the project.
The film will retain Sabrina’s familiar, a black cat named Salem – but the film version will have him not as comedy relief (comedy relief in a sitcom, there’s a whole separate topic right there). Instead, he will be given a backstory involving his transformation from a prince who will set up “unique love stories for Sabrina.” There is no word yet on other plans for casting, and the reader is cautioned that just because there’s a script written doesn’t mean for certain that it will actually go before the lens. There’s no budget for this thing yet.
No actress has yet been identified for the role of Sabrina, and it is not known if Melissa will have any part in the motion picture.
The Melissa Joan Hart sitcom ran for seven seasons, from 1996 to 2003, when it was axed after waning viewing figures.
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- Transformers Universe MMO Coming 2012 April 13, 2012
KR Staffers Are Eager To Try This One Out
PRESS RELEASE: UK, Cambridge, 12th April, 2012 — Jagex, one of the largest independent games developers and publishers in the world, today announced their plans to attend BotCon 2012, the official Hasbro sponsored TRANSFORMERS fan convention. Members of the TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE development team will be attending the official fan convention at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Dallas, Texas, to unveil further details of the game and offer attendees the exclusive chance to reserve their TRANSFORMERS character name for the upcoming game, due for release in late 2012.
This is the first time fans will be given the chance to reserve their names and will ensure that those attending the event will be able to choose their side, pledge their allegiance, and reserve their TRANSFORMERS character name ahead of everyone else.
In addition, attendees visiting the Jagex booth will have the opportunity to meet with members of the development team, attend a behind closed doors TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE panel discussion, and preview the latest game trailer ahead of its public release.
Representatives from the TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE development, graphics and community management teams will be attending the event, including the following staff who will be taking part in the TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE panel:
Kelly Vero: Principle Writer
As Principle Writer, Kelly provides the story structure and narrative design of the main over arching and multi-nodal stories within the TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE MMO. Kelly is responsible for evolving the TRANSFORMERS storyline and ensuring the game fits into the existing TRANSFORMERS lore.Steve Huckle: Art Director
As Art Director, Steve is responsible for all artistic direction for the game and manages the team of graphic artists, modellers and concept artists. Steve’s primary role is to ensure that the graphics accurately portray the TRANSFORMERS world and offer users an unbeatably immersive experience.Eddy Dew: Community Manager
As Community Manager, Eddy oversees the community engagement team behind the game, acting as the bridge between the development team and the fan base, through social media, TRANSFORMERS forums, 3rd party fansites and events.The TRANSFORMERS BotCon convention runs from the 26th – 29th April at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Dallas, Texas. Those wishing to attend and meet the team can still purchase tickets from the official website: www.BotCon.com.
For more information about the game and to register your interest, simply visit: www.transformersuniverse.com
About TRANSFORMERS
The TRANSFORMERS brand from Hasbro, Inc. has delivered “MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE” action to legions of fans around the world for more than 25 years. As one of the hottest global entertainment properties, TRANSFORMERS captures excitement through action figure play, movies, television, digital gaming, comics, and more.
About Hasbro
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company providing children and families around the world with a wide-range of immersive entertainment offerings based on the Company’s world class brand portfolio. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, digital gaming and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its global customers with well-known and beloved brands such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, PLAYSKOOL, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY. The Company’s Hasbro Studios develops and produces television programming for markets around the world. The Hub TV Network is part of a multi-platform joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), in the U.S. Through the company’s deep commitment to corporate social responsibility, including philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to build a safe and sustainable world for future generations and to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families every year. It has been recognized for its efforts by being named one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies.” Learn more at www.hasbro.com. © 2012 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
About Jagex Games Studio
Jagex Games Studio is a multi-award winning games developer based in Cambridge, England. Jagex specialises in the development of high quality browser-based games and is the largest independent games developer and publisher in the UK.
Jagex has a long-standing reputation for creating the world’s best online games and for developing hugely popular, high quality, accessible, free-to-play games and for providing an unbeatable community experience for millions of players around the world. Jagex has developed and self-published over 40 online titles, including the world’s most popular free multiplayer online game, RuneScape.com.
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- Krypton Radio Reviews: The Legend of Korra April 12, 2012
10 Out of 10 Out of 10 Stars – We Love It!
By Staff Media Critic, PK
As someone who’s usually hard to impress, it’s not everyday a show will make me sit up and go “wow!”. However I was really blown away by the continuation of Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender series by Michael Dante DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko, with the sequel The Legend of Korra. The Last Airbender was Nickelodeon’s break out hit that not only raised story telling to a new level in American animation, but showed that Japan isn’t the only country that can produce award winning anime. The Last Airbender focused on an Pre-Industrialized Asian inspired world, where many people could control the elements through forms of martial arts, called bending. You had Water Bending (North & South Water Nation Tribes), Air Bending (Air Nation), Fire Bending (Fire Nation), and Earth Bending (Earth Nation); with the lead character Aang, being the last surviving Airbender in the world due to a century long world war waged by the Fire Nation.
The adventures focused on characters coming together to help Aang in his quest to right the wrongs of the Fire-Nation’s atrocities and stop the war, through toppling the dictatorship of the Fire-lord Ozai. The legendary Avatar is the only bender alive that has the power to control all four elements at once, where benders are normally constrained to one element. The Avatar is reincarnated into a new body as he or she passes on, Aang was the next in the cycle being that the previous Avatar was a Firebender, the new one must be an Airbender. Aang struggled in his adventures as the Airbenders were pacifists and didn’t believe in violent revolt, which lead to a very impressive, creative, and smartly written storyline that has won the hearts of viewers world wide. The Legend of Korra, which takes place approximately twenty years after Avatar Aang’s passing, features Korra the next incarnation of the Avatar, a 17 year-old water-tribe girl who must master all four elements to stop a new evil rising in the world.
Through Korra’s eyes we see how Aang’s world has grown and begun to embrace technology, putting them in a 1920′s-1930′s era Japan with a touch of Steampunk. Aang and his decedent’s have constructed Republic City, a shining example of how all four nations can live in peace. Much to Korra’s shock and dismay, this symbol of hope has fallen into disarray, being infested with bender run street gangs and a growing movement of anti-benders who are embracing technologically advanced weapons to use against those who they claim are oppressing them. Korra struggles to master her mystical Avatar powers as some look down on her as being obsolete in a world moving forward with innovative technology, she also faces her inner demons as she fights to cope with her violent tendencies. I’ve seen some early reviews already, and I know some fans are booing this significant advancement in the Avatar storyline, but after getting to watch the first episode I have to say that this is a very natural evolution of the story.
Like many fans of the first series, I feared that this sequel may end up a stinker and I was proven wrong on every single level. The Legend of Korra continues the Avatar story with the same beautiful animation, engaging characters, and humor we as fans fell in love with the first time around. Letting us share the journey of a new avatar who must overcome personal struggles and other obstacles that some of us face in real life, although I wish we had in real life the extreme bender sports that Korra’s world offers. I agree that it’s hard to judge a series by it’s pilot episode alone, but it’s pretty hard to ignore the amazing quality of what I saw. Some shows start out struggling, but The Legend of Korra bolts out of the starting-gate with grace and style, and we can only hope that it can keep up this momentum for the rest of the run of the series.
The Legend of Korra debuts on Nickelodeon on April 14, 2012 – Check local listings for exact show times.
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- 'Avengers Vs. X-Men' Is Here! April 10, 2012
The second issue of the new story arc Avengers Vs. X-Men is officially out, and release parties happened all over the country last Tuesday. Fans were waiting in line before the stores opened to get their hands on a copy of the new book captained by writer Ed Brubaker.. Avengers Vs. X-Men is what Brubaker calls an “event” story arc, and this time he’s not working alone – he has a team of writers and artist working with him.
Fans pack Earth 2 Comics in Sherman Oaks, CA, on the eve of the release of AVENGERS VS X-MEN.
To keep anxious fans happy during the hour wait till the official release of Avengers Vs X-Men, there was cake. And what a cake!
For the kickoff event, we attended one of two parties at Earth Two Comics in Sherman Oaks California last week. People poured into the store as soon as the doors were opened, but had to wait an hour until 8PM when the book officially went on sale. People were lined up outside before the store even opened, and the place was jumping and full of happy fans.
Issue #1 of the series sets the stage for the conflict to come, and the cover by Jim Cheung is one of those classic face to face crowd montage covers. We’ve all seen these sorts of covers, and while the idea is nothing new, Jim Cheung does it justice.
Why did we call it the second issue when it’s issue #1? Because the prelude, issue #0, came out last month. It’s still available if you know where to look, and one variant cover is a simple white cover with a logo on it – no cover art at all.
Inside the book it’s clean and direct, and the arrival of the Phoenix force on Earth becomes the pivot point of the entire story to come. The writing is uncomplicated but solid and well articulated, the characters’ portrayals have depth and dimension we’ve come to expect from Brubaker.
The next book is due out in another week – which is probably a good thing. Having ravenously scarfed up the first two, the fans are already getting restless. Us included.
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Links
- Avengers Vs X-Men
- Earth 2 Comics
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- You Too Can Be A Superhero (Action Figure) April 10, 2012
Toy Company Offering ‘Personalized Action Figures’ for $127
"Accurate? It'll be like looking in a teaspoon."
If you’re willing to shell out about $127 (or £79.99) you can have an action figure one of five DC Comic’s classic superheroes with your head on it. Firebox, a U.K. novelty company, is offering the figurines – you just upload a well-lit front and profile head shot of yourself to its website. Firebox will then use your photos to create a 3D-printed head in your likeness for you to place on Batman, Batgirl, Superman, The Joker or Wonder Woman.
“Using advanced 3-D printing technology your photographs will be turned into a fully-formed 3-D version of your noggin – including eye color, skin tone, hair style (or as close as possible) and hair color,” states the company website . “Accurate? It’ll be like looking in a teaspoon.”
The company will send you the action figure and the replica of your head, which together stand about 6 ½ inches tall. The kit enables you to remove the original head and attach your own, either temporarily or permanently.
“The assembly instructions aren’t super high tech (soak the figure in water, yank off head, pack the new one on with putty), which leaves us a little skeptical that the custom head will be the most accurately detailed piece of work in the world,” according to Gizmodo . “It costs a good chunk of change, too, at about $127, but oh goodness do we want to believe in this particular bit of magic.”
Considering that the head is packed on with putty, it’s probably not something you’ll be wanting to give a child to play with, and the product is obviously the head, combined with action figures resold off the shelf – but if you have the cash for something like this, it’s still quite the novelty.
This isn’t the only service offering 3D printed likenesses on figurines, howwever. We also found Sculpteo, ThatsMyFace.com (which also does superhero action figures) and a host of others, most of which are cheaper than Firebox, averaging about $80 to Firebox’s $127. Then there’s FigurePrints, who can print out your build from Minecraft, or your avatar from World of Warcraft or XBox Live.
The machines that do it are expensive enough that they’re purchased by businesses who then sublet time on the machines and/or sell one-off items to consumers.
If it’s out there, there is a toy of it. Even you.
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- Superman Dancers Go For Guinness World Record To Benefit Charity April 5, 2012
Do The Superman!
By Staff Editor, PK
We're doing the Superman, join us!
The 80′s hold a special place in this curmudgeon’s heart; the TV shows, the music, the questionable taste in clothes and the gag me with a spoon references that never seemed to get old. Although if you whip out any of that lingo today, I’ll have to soundly beat you into the ground with the decaying cans of hair spray you have stuffed next to your collection of Swatch Watches. This DeLorean powered trip down memory lane is brought to you by the Superman Dancers of Sleaford, Lincolnshire.
It seems like the UK is awash with Superman themed events this year, as you’ve previously read of the Cats Protection charity holding a Superman themed run, to help raise money for the care of homeless cats throughout the UK. The Superman Dancers of Lincolnshire are trying to not only raise money for a worthy cause, they’re trying to get the side benefit of getting into the Guinness Book of World Records, by holding the world’s largest dance to the song “Superman” by 1980′s band Black Lace.
Aside from dressing up like the Man of Steel and dancing to a really terrible song (in my humble opinion), the main goal is to help raise funds for an important charity. LIVES (Lincolnshire Voluntary Emergency Service), is using the fun community event to raise money to cover its operating budget. The event takes place during the 2012 Sleaford Live Festival, and features music, dancing, side stalls, tombola, raffles and more!
If you happen to be interested in attending both Superman events and don’t mind the travel; Cats Protection & The Superman Dance are both happening in May this year. The Dance happens on May 5Th and the Cats Protection run happens on May 13TH, registration for the dance is open on April 21st, check the websites for the latest details. Who knows, you may be able to take your Superman running buddies to the dance and help create one heck of a Superman themed dance off!Links:
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- Comics Spotlight: THE PEERLESS PRODIGIES OF P.T. BARNUM March 31, 2012
A stupendous graphic novel by Jillian Lerner and Marc Olivent
About the book, and an interview with one of the creators, Dr. Jillian Lerner
The Peerless Prodigies of P.T. Barnum. Click here to buy it from Amazon.com.
The Peerless Prodigies of P.T. Barnum
It isn’t often that we get what we call a “double-play” – something that appeals to us on more than one level of fandom. This time we found a graphic novel by Jillian Lerner and Marc Olivent, called The Peerless Prodigies of P.T. Barnum.
Nicholas Meyer is desperate to invent himself and meet the celebrated inventors of his day. It is 1857 and New York City is awash with young men who are comparably wily and determined. But Nicholas is something of a technical prodigy, with a background in clockmaking and a keen instinct for publicity. He jumps at the chance to work in the studio of celebrity portrait photographer Mathew Brady and acquaint himself with the outlandish attractions of P.T. Barnum’s American Museum. Spurred on by mentors and rivals, talking automatons and bearded ladies, Nicholas explores the emerging forms of photography, robotics, showbusiness and advertising.
A work of historical fiction, this graphic novel explores the technological imagination of the 19th century from the vantage of two extraordinary entrepreneurs. Readers encounter an alternate world that once existed: a bygone world of gaslight, sideshows and horse-drawn cabs to be sure, but also a forward-looking world shot through with experimental media, profit-oriented entertainments for the masses, and grandiose visions of the future. Written by media historian Jillian Lerner and illustrated by Marc Olivent, The Peerless Prodigies of P.T. Barnum entices us to recollect how identities were made and ideas were hawked in a pre-electronic age.
The drawing style isn’t what you’d see in an 1800′s publication. That would have been either truly dreadful or would have read like a Trader Joe’s coupon flyer (for those not in the United States, Trader Joe’s is a chain of alternative grocery stores that feature interesting and/or gourmet food selections). It does, however, handily invoke that era, and the required suspension of disbelief on the part of the reader is managed easily. It’s black and white, but you almost immediately forget this fact and you’re drawn into the story with the feeling that you’re about to go on an adventure. And you’d be right.
It isn’t often a comic book is done by somebody who can put “Dr.” in front of their name and mean it, either. Dr. Lerner is impressively accomplished. She’s been a lecturer on the
History and Theory of Visual Culture at University of British Columbia, did postdoctoral researcher at the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, was an instructor at Barnard College, and was a curatorial assistant at the Guggenheim Museum.
Here are some questions we put to Dr. Lerner:
Krypton Radio: Why this particular subject? What was the attraction of P.T. Barnum as the subject of a graphic novel, and how did the project come together?
Dr. Jillian Lerner: I started with the idea of creating a series about the artist/inventors of new media in the 19th century….people who worked in that murky terrain somewhere between art, science, magic and commerce. There are so many fascinating 19th-century entrepreneurs who were developing new kinds of art and technology and trying to work out how to commercialize them…and they ended up defining new professions and reshaping popular culture in the process.
I chose P.T. Barnum to anchor the first story because he is so recognizable and larger-than-life, as if he is already a caricature rather than a mere person. He is someone around whom the themes of spectacle, invention and self-invention could be gathered in a really legible, accessible way. Barnum is the prototypical self-made man, the founding father of American showbusiness, and a pioneer of hype. Though he wasn’t technically a creator he was a savvy curator of curious goods, people, and ideas. And he was a brilliant promoter; he knew how to wrap stories around things, how to make noise, garner attention, and get people talking. In that sense he was an exemplary man of his times, but also a man for our times… a significant historical touch point for our age of celebrity and ubiquitous publicity, of continual self-fashioning through consumerism and social media, of constant innovation and outmoding.KR: How did you come to a place where you knew you wanted to embark on a project like this? How many people came to that place with you?
Jillian Lerner: I was ready for a new direction, for a lateral move away from academia, where there is a lot of rigidity in the accepted protocols for communicating ideas and advancing one’s career. I wanted to create a more imaginative type of history, to craft a story that non-specialists would want to read, while still drawing upon the specialized knowledge I’d accumulated as a university lecturer and researcher.
What I ended up with was a hybrid between history, speculative fiction, and the graphic novel. Because I prioritized storytelling I wrapped a fictional narrative around the real lives and times of 2 key cultural entrepreneurs, Barnum and the photographer Mathew Brady. The graphic novel format suggested itself for a number of reasons. First because as an art historian I am used to demonstrating my thoughts visually: not just telling but showing how the experiential texture of the past is both radically different and similar to ours. Secondly, because the graphic novel seemed a good gateway to entice young people back to historical understanding and to books. From teaching undergraduates I’d noticed that the oldfangled technologies and entrepreneurial spirit of 19th century visual culture really resonated with the digital generation, but they had lost contact with books and libraries, where most of that knowledge of dead media is still stored. Ultimately I think it’d be even more effective if my book were tethered to an electronic hypertext of further reading (which I hope to build up on my website when my personal bandwidth allows).
So to answer your last question, I embarked on this project with a lot of creative energy, willfully blind optimism, and support from my family. I have the good fortune to be related to a few wonderful people who encourage everyone to create the reality they aspire to.
It’s also worth noting that I chose to self-publish The Peerless Prodigies. Having so recently sidestepped the medieval gatekeepers of academic tenure and publishing, I bristled at the idea of submitting my manuscript to agents and publishers to then wait, wait, wait for a response. The print-on-demand options make the self-publishing route a no-brainer, the benefits being total creative freedom, instant time to market and no up-front costs. The hard bit is that you have to do all the marketing yourself. I was not to keen about the prospect of spearheading a promotional campaign myself. But I’m figuring out how to use Barnum’s example to bring a creative spark to the task. Its easy to get fired up about marketing if you see it as an opportunity to create new content in the form of experiences, events, stunts and above all, controversies. (That’s all I can say about that just yet!)
KR: The drawing style is bold and energetic – how much time and energy went into designing the look of the book, and where were your greatest challenges?
Jillian Lerner: Because I chose the self-publishing route it fell to me to hire an illustrator and dabble in art direction too. I struggled at first to find an illustrator until I stumbled upon a few comics-related networking groups on linked-in. I was surprised at the number of artists I connected with after posting the details of my project there. That’s how I met Marc Olivent and after reviewing his portfolio and an initial skype chat we decided to work together.
I count myself extremely lucky to have connected with Marc, not only because of his mad skills as an illustrator, but also because I relied heavily on his experience with the comics form. Because this was my first graphic novel Marc taught me a lot about how to adapt the manuscript and think through the camera angles and sequential flow. I populated the narrative with characters, contraptions, and locations, but he really took the lead on establishing the look, the graphic style, and the cinematic direction across the panels. I’m thrilled with the result. Each page has its own dynamism and Marc’s inking style is so laden with contrast that it really captures the capricious spirit of the times and amplifies the eerie charisma of the characters.
I’m used to working in isolation (laptop, coffee, books) so I loved the collaborative nature of this project. The script changed for the better along the way as we bounced ideas back and forth about the shape of each page. One might think communication would be a challenge since Marc lives in the UK and I live in Canada. But we got on famously with a few skype chats, a shared dropbox with historical reference images, and a million emails.
This book is on our “must read” list. History, sociology, comics and steampunk, all in one. What could possibly go wrong?
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- Could Romeyka (Ophitic) Greek Be Wonder Woman’s Dialect? March 29, 2012
by Melanippe of Themascyra
What language would Wonder Woman have spoken?
Probably not literally so, but this archaic Greek dialect, preserved in the folds and nooks of the rugged Black Sea side of Asia Minor, may be as close as any living person will get to hearing Themiscyran. After all, only a little over 100 kilometers west of Trabazon, the heart of the Romeyka-speaking area, is Aretias, the island formerly sacred to Ares, where Amazons were alleged to have worshipped; and another 200 kilometers along the coast is the river Thermodon (or more recently, Terme), next to which the original Themiscyra was built.
Dr Ioanna Sitaridou of the University of Cambridge has been studying this small population – only about 5,000 – of Romeyka-speakers. The most distinctive feature of their language, which was preserved by colonial isolation (as Icelandic and Appalachian English also were) is the retention of the infinitive case, long vanished from modern Greek. The dialect also has several pronunciation variants, and other grammatical features not seen in demotic Greek.
The name ‘Romeyka’ itself is from around the 500s C.E. (give or take a few centuries) when the Greeks referred to themselves as Rhomaioi (
)or Romioi (
), virtually all Greeks having become Roman citizens. The name which modern Greeks now call themselves and their language,”Hellene”, developed Byzantine Christian implications of paganism, looked down upon by the Imperial state. Curiously enough, the modern Romeyka-speakers are almost entirely Muslim, having not retained either Olympian worship nor Byzantine faith due to the cultural pressures of the area.Although there is a little debate on the somewhat simplified, popular-news version of Dr Sitaridou’s studies, there is no question that the preservation of yet another modern-civilisation-threatened cultural variation has value and importance. If nothing else, Romeyka provides a glimpse into the evolution of a language that used to rule the Occidental world – a common past for Europe and half the Americas.
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- Ultimate Spider-Man and Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes April 1 on Disney XD March 28, 2012
Can’t wait until April 1st to catch your favorite Super Hero in action? Check out Marvel’s new Ultimate Spider-Man trailer debuting on Marvel.com! Watch as Nick Fury offers Spider-Man the biggest opportunity of his life: to join S.H.I.E.L.D., take on evil villains, and learn what it takes to become the ULTIMATE Spider-Man. Get a fresh look at Spidey’s action-packed adventures, new Spidey Tech, and special guest stars to excite fans and bring everyone’s favorite Wallcrawler to the small screen like never before! The series premieres April 1 at 11am/10c inside Marvel Universe on Disney XD!
The series premiere was shown at WonderCon in Anaheim a couple of weekends ago. If you couldn’t make it there, at least you won’t have long to wait! We think it looks pretty good, and we like the fresh casting of Spider-Man as a brash kid who’s not completely sure of himself yet. He’s not the seasoned, confident hero – he’s only now coming to terms with what it means to be Spider-Man, and has taken a first step into a larger world. Unfortunately that larger world seems to come with built-in toy marketing plugs, and traditionally Spider-Man hasn’t been the vehicle of many gadgets. Hint to Disney – it’s not his gadgets that make him a superhero.
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightest Heroes is back for season two, and while this is welcome, and appears to pick up from where Season 1 left off, we’re looking at this and can’t help comparing it to the Avengers movie – and it’s not holding up well in the comparison. It’s apples and oranges, yes, but there’s no way people aren’t going ot make that comparison anyway. Still, the story lines have been good, and worth the time it takes to watch the episodes. We’re hoping to see better than this trailer, though.
On April 1, we’ll get to see both shows. Of the two, Ultimate Spider-Man rocks more.
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- Warner Bros., Seigel & Shuster Estate Duke It Out over Superman March 27, 2012
Krypton Radio Newswire
Who owns the Man of Steel as a character? Warner Bros. and the estates of Seigel and Shuster duke it out in court. (Illustration by Gene Turnbow)
Warner Bros. access to the iconic Superman comic book character is currently a matter of heated legal debate. Last Friday, Warner Bros., who wholly owns DC Comics, filed a brief before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals explaining why the estate of co-creator Jerry Siegel shouldn’t be allowed to execute a copyright termination notice on the studio’s rights to the iconic hero.
Seigel’s heirs and Warner Bros. have been fighting over this for over five years now. In 2008, a federal judge in California handed Siegel’s heirs a victory by determining that the termination was valid, only with regard to the first editions of the Action Comics that first told Superman’s story. The later works were deemed to be “work for hire”, and that meant that the Superman myth would be torn in half. Siegel (and his co-author Joe Shuster) would reclaim many of Superman’s defining characteristics, including his costume, Clark Kent and the origin story, while Warner (as successor to DC Comics) would keep other elements, such as Kryptonite, Lex Luthor, and some of the special abilities Superman has, such as flight (Superman originally just jumped, like the Hulk does) and heat vision.
The Siegel estate appealed, giving both parties a chance to resubmit their big arguments to a higher court.
Last Friday, Warner Bros filed an appeal with the 9th District Court to reverse earlier rulings in the case and put everything out in open court in a trial. “This long-running dispute should be brought to an end,” Warner Bros wrote in a dense 117-page appeal (read it here) filed Friday with the 9th Circuit Court. According to the studio, the two sides had come to an agreement on “every essential term for a re-grant of rights” when in 2001, the estate was approached by an “intellectual property entrepreneur” — attorney Marc Toberoff — who dangled the prospect of more money. The Siegels fired their law firm at the time, hiring Toberoff, and allegedly contracting agent Ari Emanuel to sell Superman rights.
Warner Bros. claims that when the Siegel family walked away from the negotiating table in 2001, that a deal had been struck – but the family asserted there was no deal without a long form [contract], and the district court agreed. Warner in its brief is trying to claim that this is just how the entertainment industry rolls, and that a deal’s a deal, even though it’s not set down on paper and signed. Warners asks that the 9th Circuit bring this long-running dispute to an end by enforcing the alleged 2001 deal – a deal for which they don’t have a piece of paper that defines exactly what that deal is.
The Siegel estate is predictably pulling in the opposite direction. They asked the justices to determine that the lower court judge had erred by not allowing for the recapture of rights in later Superman comics. According to the appellant, Siegel and Shuster created later comic books in the Superman series “on spec,” at their own expense, without any commitment or engagement by DC. The co-creators are said to have sold rights to the work for $10/page, under the same terms of the initial comic.
The estate thinks this doesn’t meet the definition of “work for hire” because the Warner subsidiaries can’t meet the burdens of the “instance and expense” test, which has previously been defined as a determination that “the motivating factor in producing the work was the employer who induced the creation” and the employer had the right to “direct and supervise the manner in which the writer performs his work.” Instead, Siegel and Shuster purportedly wrote the Superman stories before any relationship with the comic book publisher, and after their deal, were “entitled solely to a contingent profit participation while shouldering the entire cost and financial risk of the strips’ creation.”
The Siegel family wants the 9th Circuit to uphold the essence of the Copyright Act’s termination provisions. This would open the door for them to enjoy the fruits of a longer term copyright.
Much of Warners’ own appellate brief is focused on the question of the 2001 negotiations, but the studio does speak to Siegels’ attempts to expand the scope of its recaptured rights. Warners thinks that the appellant is misapplying the instance-and-expense test and gives an alternative story about what happened in the 1930s/1940s when the first Superman comics were created. They claim that DC possessed complete and total control over the creation of new Superman stories and elements, and that they threatened to take it away from Seigel and Shuster if the work didn’t improve.
A lot depends on the original working relationship Seigel and Shuster had with DC Comics, and Superman had been turned down by other publishers before DC picked him up as a character – and that working relationship seems to be at the core of the dispute. Whatever happens, the Superman movie currently in development will be unaffected, as will probably be the case with any sequels that may arise from it should it do well in the box office.
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- COMIC-CON EPISODE IV: A FANS HOPE Premieres April 4 in Los Angeles March 26, 2012
Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope
Have you ever imagined a place where Vulcans and vampires get along? Where wizards and wookies can be themselves? Welcome to Comic-Con San Diego. What started as a fringe comic book convention for 500 fans has grown into the pop culture event of the year that influences every form of entertainment, now attended every year by over 140,000 people. Artists, creators, fans and more all come together to celebrate the bright flame of popular culture. Hopes and dreams collide with opportunity – and occasionally disappointment – at the world’s largest and most important gathering of geekdom in the entire world.
COMIC-CON EPISODE IV: A FANS HOPE – a film by Morgan Spurlock explores this amazing cultural phenomenon by following the lives of five attendees as the descend upon theultimate geek mecca at San Diego Comic-Con 2010:
- Eric, an aspiring illustrator, is hoping to impress publishers and land a job;
- Holly, a costume and creature designer, hopes her creations will win the big prize;
- Chuck, a long-time comic book dealer, is looking for a big sale to pay off his debts;
- Skip, longtime amateur illustrator wants to be discovered at this year’s event;
- James, a young fan, hopes his girlfriend will accept a dramatic proposal.
One on one interviews with Comic-Con Veterans who have turned their passions into professions include Stan Lee, Joss Whedon, Frank Miller, Kevin Smith, Matt Groening, Seth Rogen, Eli Roth and others are shared throughout the film along with up close and up front coverage of all the panels, parades, photos, costumes, crowds and camaraderie that make up one of the largest fan gatherings in the U.S.
April 5th – Opens Los Angeles (Laemmle Monica 4-Plex), Seattle, San Francisco
April 13th – Opens New York City (Village East Cinema), Philadelphia and Boston
WHO: Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock and producer Joss Whedon, producer Matthew Galkin, producer Thomas Tull with subjects in the film: Seth Green, Robert Kirkman (writer/executive producer “The Walking Dead”).
Additional celebrities include: Hank Azaria (“The Simpsons”), Chris Bauer (“True Blood”), Chris Hardwick (G4 “Attack of the Show”),
WHAT: LA premiere of Morgan Spurlock’s new film COMIC-CON EPISODE IV: A FAN’S HOPE
WHERE: ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood (Cinerama Dome Theatre), 6360 W. Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028
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- San Diego Comic-Con 2012 Second Chance Badge Sale March 26, 2012
From an email sent out to members of the San Diego Comic-Con for 2012 – there have been some issues with the Comic-Con memberships, so there’s going to be a small second chance time window for getting badges. Other sites have been carrying the letter with the link, but most have removed or redacted that. Since unfortunately we missed the window ourselves and are not members, we don’t have the link either, unfortunately. However, if you know somebody who does, this is what the letter said:
As you may be aware, badge sales on March 3rd did not proceed as we had hoped. All of us at Comic-Con have been working on trying to make registration as stress free as possible, even delaying badge sales to accommodate new and updated information. Obviously we still had issues that resulted in some people not being able to purchase the number of badges they had hoped. For those who missed an opportunity to purchase a badge due to the email link delay, we will have a very special second chance badge resale of returned and refunded badges!
The Comic-Con second chance resale will be open only to those who had a valid and confirmed Member ID as of February 29th, 2012. Additionally, anyone who has already purchased a 4-day badge (with or without Preview Night) or a Saturday badge will not be allowed to participate in this resale. This special badge resale is only for those who missed a chance at purchasing a badge, not those who wish to upgrade or change their badge selections.
The purpose behind not allowing anyone who purchased a Saturday badge to participate is that Saturday badges were the first single day badge to sell-out, so those who purchased a Saturday badge had the opportunity to purchase a Thursday, Friday, and/or Sunday badge during the online sale, but voluntarily chose not to. This special second chance resale is only for those who did not already have the option to purchase all 4 days.
The special resale will begin on March 27th, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). There will be no link provided on our website or any social media sites to access the sale directly. Comic-Con cannot however, stop people from posting this link if they receive this email. Posting this link will only decrease your own chances of obtaining a badge by encouraging people to access the waiting room even though they do not have a qualifying Member ID.
Please note, this link will not be active until 8:00 a.m. PDT. If you click this link early, you will receive a “404 – NOT FOUND” error page and you will need to close your browser window and click the link again at or after 8:00 a.m. PDT. We recommend that you bookmark this link prior to the sale, copy and paste it into your browser, or manually type in the URL.
The badge purchase process will be exactly the same as the March 3rd sale, however, you will only be able to register up to TWO people total during your online registration session, and you must have the unique Member ID and last name for each individual.
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- Batman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man Cheer Children at Georgetown Hospital March 25, 2012
Washington, DC (PRWEB) March 24, 2012
The Dark Knight joined Wonder Woman and Spiderman at Georgetown where their superhero powers comforted children fighting life-threatening illnesses.
While the news and speculation about Batman being pulled over by local Maryland county police has been extensively covered by national news outlets, the complete story of the Caped Crusader’s run-in with the law has not been known until now. Batman left his underground cave last Wednesday to travel to Georgetown Hospital in Washington, DC to visit with children with cancer and other serious illnesses as part Hope for Henry’s annual Superhero Celebrations.
“Fortunately, the FAA did not intercept Wonder Woman’s invisible plane and Peter Parker was able to swing ‘under the radar’ to get to the hospital without being accosted,” said Laurie Strongin, Executive Director of Hope for Henry. “Once local law enforcement understood Batman’s critical mission they were quick to get him on his way.”
The kids visited by Batman, Wonder Woman and Spider-Man – hematology/oncology inpatients and outpatients being treated at Georgetown – enjoyed their time with the superheroes, and were treated to time in the Batmobile; gifts of superhero toys and books; caricatures of themselves posed as superheroes; superhero photo booth pictures; and much, much more.
The superheroes return to Washington, DC on Monday, March 26, at 10:30 am to spend time with pediatric cancer patients at Hope for Henry’s Superhero Celebration at Children’s National Medical Center.
About Hope for Henry
Hope for Henry Foundation (HFH) improves the lives of children with cancer and other serious illnesses by providing carefully-chosen gifts, like iPads, and specially-designed programs, like in-hospital birthday parties, to entertain and promote comfort, care, and recovery. To date, Hope for Henry Foundation has served more than 5,500 children at hospitals primarily in Washington, DC.
Hope for Henry brings smiles and laughter, hope and magic into the lives of these children and their families. The organization was founded almost 10 years ago to honor the legacy of Henry Strongin Goldberg, who died at age seven of a rare, fatal disease. Henry’s struggles were featured in a New York Time Magazine cover story in 2001, and more recently chronicled in a best-selling memoir, Saving Henry, penned by Henry’s mother and executive director of Hope for Henry, Laurie Strongin.
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- STOLEN: Avatar Press Trailer With Thousands Of Avatar Comics And Graphic Novels March 22, 2012
We got this from Bleeding Cool. We want to help, so we”re using Krypton Radio to boost the signal.
William Christensen writes for Bleeding Cool;To our retailing and consumer friends :
Avatar Press has suffered a very difficult blow, on Tuesday, March 20th our 5×8 white trailer containing all our convention set-up and inventory returning from Wondercon and heading to Emerald City was stolen from the parking lot of our good friends at Corner Store Comics in Anaheim, CA. In addition to convention display items like wire racks, large back-drop display and signage, loads of books are now gone. Full cases of most of our most popular graphic novels like Neonomicon, Crossed, Freakangels, Night of the Living Dead, and Fevre Dream are gone. Large quantities of World War Z, Zombie Survival Guide and books by author Max Brooks were in that trailer. Some limited editions, created for the conventions, of Ferals #1, Crossed: Badlands #1 and Lady Death #14 and #15 are now much more limited as huge chunks of the entire production run are gone.
We are working with local law enforcement, but we could really use your eyes and ears on the ground.
Retailers on the West Coast in specific, if anyone approaches you with large quantities of Avatar books for sale, please let us know. Diamond is our exclusive distributor, there would be no one else who would have deep inventory on our books who should be trying to sell off the street to you.
Readers and fans, if you see someone at a small local convention trying to dump loads of Avatar books or anything else that seems suspect, do please drop us a line.
Needless to say, this is a significant setback for us in terms of lost inventory, but I want to assure everyone that we have additional inventory of the graphic novels warehoused and available for restock to comic retailers and bookstores. As word of this has spread and people have been asking me what they could do to help, the other thing I’ve been mentioning is to simply keep asking your local retailer for books from Avatar Press. As for upcoming conventions, we will still be attending every con on our schedule, so we hope to see you at upcoming shows as well.
Thank you all for reading and your constant support of Avatar Press.
- William Christensen
Any information about these stolen books can be shared with us at info@avatarpress.net .
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- "BATMAN" Being Used As Symbol of Hope In Crime Ridden Brazil March 22, 2012
Brazilian Police Take Unique Approach at Inspiring Kids to Stay Away From Life of Crime
Krypton Radio Newswire
Batman speaks to eager students in Sao Paulo, Brazil
You may have heard of groups like The Real Life Super Hero Project, where people go forward in the real world dressed as unique superheroes and do what they can to legally fight crime and help their fellow citizens in a myriad of ways. What has to be a truly inspiring twist on this is being done so by the Sao Paolo Police Department in Brazil, who have employed a retired police officer to dress up like Batman and help teach kids about how they can stay safe and help others.
As originally reported by the BBC, Andre Luiz Pinheiro a retired Brazilian Police Officer delighted school children as he was introduced by his fellow officers as Batman while wearing the iconic outfit. And while he doesn’t carry the famous weapons of Batman, he uses the legendary crime-fighter’s wit and charm to engage the children of Sao Paolo in attempts to show that the Police, like Batman, are a force for good. Playing football with kids and holding public speaking events, the caped crusader spreads his message of hope and desire to make Brazil a safer place to live, as more and more children fall victim to gangs and narcotics fueled violence which has gripped the country for far too long.
The local Police have stated they took the novel approach as an attempt to help protect children and prevent them from becoming the criminals of tomorrow, as gangs are actively recruiting kids at increasingly younger ages. It may be too soon to know if Pinherio’s Batman’s message of unity and crime prevention will be heeded by the star struck youths, but it’s safe to say he’s already got a large fan club which is hanging on his every word.
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- DC Nation Powers Up At WonderCon 2012 March 19, 2012
Krypton Radio Newswire
DC Nation - Green Lantern: The Animated Series
The world has changed, and geeks rule it. Proof of that is the new DC Nation lineup on Cartoon Network. Okay, maybe a little overstated. But last Saturday at WonderCon 2012 we got to sit in at a video presentation and panel by the DC Nation people themselves, and we got a sneak peak at what they’re dishing up starting pretty much now. The presentation was hosted by an all-star panel featuring Young Justice producers Brandon Vietti (Batman: Under the Red Hood) and Greg Weisman (Gargoyles), Green Lantern: The Animated Series producers Jim Kreig (Ben 10: Alien Swarm) and Giancarlo Volpe (Star Wars: The Clone Wars), and DC animated short producers Lauren Faust (Powerpuff Girls, My Little Pony:Friendship is Magic) and Ben Jones (Batman: The Brave & The Bold).
DC Nation is a programming block on Cartoon Network, and they begin serving up the good stuff with the new season of Young Justice (“We’re not the Teen Titans – we’re not, we’re not, we’re not”) that starts immediately on the heels of season one with no break or hiatus. They’re not making us wait a single day to begin seeing the new episodes. All in all, 62 new but canon DC characters will be introduced in the new season, including the obvious choice, Blue Beetle. They’d developed him as a character in Batman: Brave & Bold and he’ll be back in blue and working with the apprentice heroes in coming episodes. And yes, he still has some of the same authority issues – and how he works through them will change the fate of the team.
We also got an advance look at what’s coming in the new Green Lantern animated series. Hal and Killiwog are still fighting their way back to Oa, Star Trek: Voyager style, while doing their best to end the threat of the Red Lanterns. We got a great look at a surprise character introduction – none other than the leader of the Blue Lantern Corps, Saint Walker. Giancarlo Volpe commented that he’d been wanted to do a double-eyelid on a character on Star Wars: The Clone Wars but George wouldn’t give him the budget for it – but with Saint Walker he finally got to, and his enthusiasm when he announced this was infectious. And it shows he’s a real fan himself. Walker forms a relationship with Razer, the Red Lantern captured by Hal Jordan in the pilot – yes, Razer is a continuing character.
We also got a great look at a piece of one new upcoming episode set on the warrior planet of Thanagar (the world Hawkgirl came from) – and there are yellow crystals everywhere which render Hal and Killowog’s power rings useless. When asked by a fan if this meant that Sinestro would be making an appearance, producers Jim Krieg and Giancarlo Volpe got big goofy grins on their faces, but wouldn’t directly answer the question. We’re gonna take that one as a “yes”, guys.
We were also treated to some of the short subjects and interstitials they’ve come up with. Laurent Faust and Ben Jones commented that it was really tough coming up with a lot of them, because there were wonderful jokes and stuff they could stick in that they often simply can’t because of the 72 second time constraint to which each clip has to conform. The Aardman clips (Wallace & Gromit, Flushed Away, The Pirates! Band of Misfits) they said they just handed over completely and let Aardman do whatever they wanted, knowing that they’d be fine. But the Super Best Friends Forever short subjects depict Supergirl, Batgirl and Wonder Girl in various comedic situations, emphasizing their central nature as teenage girls who happen to have super powers. They’re a fluffy bit of whimsy and remind one of the Powerpuff Girls – and in fact we think there’s a lot of Blossom, Peaches and Buttercup in the new comedy clips.
Not all the clips are comedic – we also saw a fantastic short of the Doom Patrol. The panelists suggested that if these became really popular, there might – might – be a Doom Patrol series in the offing. So much of what happens depends on what we as fans decide we like best. They’re doing all this for us, and the connection between the production teams and the fans of the stuff is a lot tighter than you’d think.
DC Nation has already begun on Cartoon Network and airs Saturdays between 10-11AM ET/PT. We’ve already got our DVR’s set. It’s gonna be a great season.
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- WonderCon Takes Anaheim By Storm This Weekend March 16, 2012
WonderCon cosplayers
WonderCon, which many have described as Comic-Con’s warm-up act, is taking place this weekend, March 16-18, in the city of Anaheim in Southern California.
This year, along with appearances by legends of the comic, anima and sci-fi worlds, there are also several Hollywood Panels scheduled including 21 Jump Street with Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, Resident Evil; Retribution and The Amazing Spider-Man with Emma Stone. The new DC Universe movie Superman versus The Elite premieres there today as well. Hollywood luminaries like director Damon Lindelof, Ridley Scott and actress Charlize Theron will also be making appearances Saturday to preview the coming film “Prometheus” and other projects.
WonderCon has been held at San Francisco’s Moscone Center since 1986 but building renovations forced organizers to find another venue at the last minute, says David Glanzer, director of marketing and public relations for the nonprofit event. “It was either relocate or cancel the event for this year and it was difficult to find a venue that could accommodate our needs.
Local attractions near the Anaheim Convention Center are offering badgeholders special perks. Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park is giving WonderCon attendees special discounts this weekend, while Ultraluxe Anaheim Cinemas is offering everyone with a WonderCon badge $6.00 admission to their movies.
You can still get badges available for WonderCon 2012, but they’re going fast. 3-Day badges begin at $40.00, one day badges for Friday and Saturday are $20, and Sunday badges are $10. You can register for tickets online at www.comic-con.org. For a compete schedule of this weekend’s WonderCon events, visit http://www.comic-con.org/wc/wc_prog.php. Last year they had 50,000 guests, and this year the venue is a little bigger, so it’s hard to tell how crowded it’s going to be. Still, it’ll be a little cozier than Comic-Con – attendance at those is about 125,000 people every year.
WonderCon has been held at San Francisco’s Moscone Center since 1986 but building renovations forced organizers to find another venue at the last minute, says David Glanzer, director of marketing and public relations for the nonprofit event. “It was either relocate or cancel the event for this year and it was difficult to find a venue that could accommodate our needs.”
The move is good news for fans who couldn’t make it to San Francisco or San Diego but still want a convention to go to. If you can possibly go, go. WonderCon will be back in San Franciso next year.
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- SUPERMAN VS. THE ELITE World Premiere This Friday At WonderCon March 14, 2012
Heads up, everybody – it’s already time for another premiere! Warner Home Video just sent us the inside scoop on Superman vs. The Elite!
Superman vs. The Elite, the next entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe animated original movies, will receive its world premiere as WonderCon’s featured evening event for Friday, March 16 in Anaheim.
Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Home Video, the all-new, PG-13 rated film will screen at 6:30 p.m. in the Anaheim Convention Center Ballroom. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion amongst filmmakers and voice cast members. Award-winning comics writer Joe Kelly and versatile voice actor Robin Atkin Downes (Justice League: Doom) are among the confirmed panelists for Friday. Additional panelists will be announced as they are confirmed.
Kelly has adapted the story from his original 2001 DC Comics release, “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way?” into the taut, thrilling screenplay for Superman vs. The Elite. The single-issue comic, Action Comics #775, was lauded by Wizard Magazine as the “Greatest Superman Story of All Time,” and ranked the epic tale at No. 21 on its list of the “Top 100 Comics of the last 30 years.”
In Superman vs. The Elite, Superman’s effectiveness as a super hero comes into question when a new group of super powerful crusaders, known as “The Elite,” appear on the scene. As super heroes, the Elite know no bounds, and are more than willing to kill, even on a massive scale, to stop villainy — putting them on a collision course with the ever-ethical, yet preferably non-lethal Man of Steel.
George Newbern (Father of the Bride) reprises his Justice League animated television role as Superman, and primetime television star Pauley Perrette (NCIS) provides the voice of Lois Lane. Downes steps in as Manchester Black, leader of The Elite. David Kaufman (Justice League: Doom) also reprises his Justice League TV series role as Jimmy Olsen.
The film is directed by Michael Chang (Batman: Brave and the Bold). Bruce Timm (Batman: Year One) is executive producer, and Alan Burnett (Green Lantern: Emerald Knights) is producer.
In addition to the screening and panel, Warner Home Video and DC Entertainment will co-present an autograph signing session with Superman vs. The Elite panelists on Saturday, March 17 from 11:00am-Noon in the DC Booth at WonderCon.
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- WonderCon 2012: Wide Lantern Digs into Diversity March 12, 2012
Krypton Radio Newswire
Wide Lantern, an entertainment-focused website promoting diverse people and points of view, will present its inaugural Con panel at WonderCon 2012 in Anaheim, California.Wide Lantern’s roundtable discussion kicks off the three-day event Friday, March 16 with its 1:30pm panel, Pitching Diversity. Executives, comic book artists, writers, actors, and producers will delve into how to work within the confines of the Hollywood system to create diverse characters, themes, and storylines, and offer practical advice on how to pitch diverse projects successfully.Moderated by Wide Lantern’s writer Ken Choy, the panelists include Brandon Easton (Shadowlaw creator, Thundercats writer), Randall Park (Supah Ninjas star; writer), Teresa Huang (staff writer on Knight Rider remake), Charles Howard (Producers Guild of America Diversity Committee), Adam Wolman (creative consultant; Wide Lantern co-founder; former network exec), and Frank Gonzalez (Director, Talent Development and Diversity, Disney/ABC Television Group).Some lucky attendees may have a chance to pitch their project to the panel and get valuable feedback.WonderCon 2012 is at the Anaheim Convention Center March 16-18, 2012.Co-founded by Adam Wolman and Curtis Chin, Wide Lantern is staffed by entertainment industry professionals and working artists with a common goal: to go beyond the mainstream by creating a truly diverse site, bringing cross-cultural entertainment, news, politics, and commentary that reflects the face of America today.
Wide Lantern: the World Wide Web in color.
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- RIP Jean Giraud, "Moebius" 1938-2012 March 12, 2012
The cover of the famed Silver Surfer mini-series Moebius illustrated and co-wrote with Stan Lee.
The legendary French artist Jean Giraud, known to most of his fans as Moebius, has died at age 73 after a long battle with cancer.
Giraud’s career spanned more than fifty years. He was one of the founding artists of the French comics magazine Metal Hurlant which debuted in1974, to appear a year later in English in the United States as Heavy Metal.
His most famous creations were the Western anti-hero Blueberry, which first appeared in 1963 in France, and the farcical Jerry Cornelius of The Airtight Garage of Jerry Cornelius. Blueberry was a loner who traveled the post-Civil War American West after being framed for a murder he did not commit. The character started out as a racist but came to oppose discrimination of all kinds. Cornelius was the figure of a British military man who tried to make sense out of his frequently absurd encounters with creatures on an alien world.
He also scripted a two-part Silver Surfer mini-series with Stan Lee, which won an Eisner Award, the comics equivalent of an Oscar, in 1989. Giraud also worked on the concepts and storyboards for numerous science fiction films, including Alien, Tron, The Abyss, and The Fifth Element. In 1982, he also co-created the feature-length animated science fiction film Les Maîtres du temps, which was released in English as Time Masters. In 2009, he provided designs and conceptual art for an arcade in Sony’s Metreon, across the street from San Francisco’s Moskone Center, dedicated to Jerry Cornelius. In 2010 the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art in Paris staged a retrospective exhibition of his work.
Giraud was born in the Paris suburb of in Nogent-sur-Marne in 1938.
“Lieutenant Blueberry is an orphan …,” wrote French newspaper Le Nouvel Observateur. “We’ve lost two great artists,” the French cultural minister said of Giraud and his alter ego Moebius, adding: “Through his influence and his dazzling images, he made comic books the 9th art form that has stayed with me throughout my life.” “France has lost one of its most well-known artists in the world. In Japan, in Italy, in the US, he was an incredible star,” artistic director of the Angouleme comic book festival Benoit Mouchart said. “The whole profession is still in shock, totally collapsed, even if we knew he was gravely ill,” French association of comic book critics the ACBD’s Gilles Ratier said.
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- Video of the Day: Superman Versus The Hulk March 10, 2012
At some point every comics fan either wonders themselves or overhears a conversation about who would win in a fight – Superman, or the Hulk? Amateur animator Mike Habjan decided to take the subject on in a series of animations he created himself. Mike did the modeling, the rigging, the animation, the camera work, the lighting, the compositing and the editing all himself, making him a one man army. The first part was done over a year ago, and you can see the progression in quality as he moves from piece to piece. We think he gets extra points for making this Superman look like Christopher Reeve. Have a look, and enjoy this amazing series of animations. Play them full screen with the sound turned up. It’s epic.
From Mike Habjan’s notes:
As you’ll notice, the models and overall look has evolved and will continue to do so in future sequences. I’m already working on a new look for the Hulk on the next one. I got professional help this time in the music and sound design department, provided by the talented Francois Gratecap, which has made the whole project that much better. So my thanks to him.
Disclaimer : This is not affiliated with Marvel or DC and is just my interpretation on how a fight between these two fictional characters could potentially go down. I’m not basing it on any previous materials such as the comics in which they appear. In this, their powers are not infinite as may have been depicted before. Also, I consider this a work in progress experiment, I’m learning animation as I go so this is far from a polished and finished piece. I welcome all comments but please keep that in mind when commenting.About the project specs : Created on an Intel i7-990X hex core 24 GB RAM, and and i7-920 quad core 12 GB RAM. It took about eight months to do the animation. The models and character puppets have been a work in progress for years prior though.
Autodesk Maya is used for the all 3d modeling, animation, hair and cloth simulation. Z brush is used a bit for additional high detail model sculpting of the characters. Mental Ray is used for rendering. Adobe After Effects is where it’s all composited and sequenced together. I’ve done additional editing and audio track overlays with Sony Vegas. (For questions regarding the sound design and music score creation, contact Francois, his info is below) All these programs are great but you can do similar stuff with similar software.
During this production, I didn’t always have access to both workstations so that is partly why it took a few months longer than it should’ve to complete. Also I’ve been working full time job while making this, and haven’t had the time I’d like to put into it. I hope to be able to take time off work for the next project and have it finished in the summer some time.
Thanks everyone for watching!
-Mike
Visuals and Animation by Michael Habjan, created with Audodesk Maya, Adobe After Effects, Pixologic ZBrush, Sony Vegas
Music and Sound Design created by Francois Gratecap- 30 -
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- Krypton Radio Reviews The Web Series: A Superhero Story March 9, 2012
Webisode Series “A Superhero Story” Shows Real Promise
By Staff Editor and Media Critic, PK
A Superhero Story follows the adventures of The Beacon and Techno G, two hapless wannabe Superheroes who happen to have actual super powers. When not stumbling about in their attempts to protect the city and its inhabitants, they spend their time at The Academy, a school for heroes which attempts to teach young people with powers, how to control them. This in the wake of the once legendary Superhero team The Fearless Five, which has disbanded leaving the city to be protected by a government operated security/police force known as The Patrol, which tries to stop criminals and heroes alike.I happened to come across this on YouTube, and have to say I’m fairly impressed. For a small group with no corporate backing, the creative team of Cory Yee and David Penner have put together an internet based live-action television show that rivals that of some Disney made television series. Ok, so I admit that I have a pretty low opinion of a lot of the Disney and Nickelodeon made live-action TV shows, but watching A Superhero Story showed that this troop had the ability to muster effects and acting talent fairly on par with some big budget networks. That’s not saying much for the big corp networks who over-spend millions to produce shows that are barely watchable, except by those going through puberty. I respect the shows that can be watched by old and young alike, and this show fits the bill perfectly, aside from some mild adult language.
My frigid critic’s heart tells me that I should lambast this internet television attempt over effects, writing, and especially acting. However, since the show was set to be a comedy aimed at lampooning other hero shows, there are at times when I’m unsure if some of the acting is bad on purpose or not. That being said, looking beyond the lack of major funds, and the comparisons in quality to an episode of the Power Rangers. I found A Superhero Story to have what a lot of new start up productions don’t, and that’s true talent, and more importantly, heart. Yes the acting is goofy on purpose, and the dialog seems odd at times, leaving you to wonder if that was really supposed to be part of the scene or not. But from what I’ve seen and read, the team at Kids In Capes Productions, founded in 2010 by Cory Yee and David Penner, feels to have a bright future ahead of them.
This show is billed as a superhero action comedy, and rightfully so. There are currently only two episodes available, which feature the first and second half of the pilot episode. Having watched both, it’s really great to see more independent studios adding to the Superhero genre and not taking it as seriously as others. Cory and David as they say on their website, sought out to make a comedy show because of too many hero shows which were over-dramatic and took themselves way too seriously. And while this web-series may not win any Emmys or Oscars for writing or effects, I’m willing to give it 5 out of 5 Stars for a wonderful pilot episode.
Starring: David Penner as The Beacon, Paul Romero as Techno G, Jeff Ahern as Professor Thompson, Kamila Korz as Seductivolt, Candice Nunes as Allison Bridges, with Andrew Buehler as Tracy Morris.
The crew at Krypton Radio is eagerly awaiting the next episodes of A Superhero Story, and our best wishes to the cast and crew at Kids In Capes Productions, we love your work!
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- Top Selling Marvel Comics To Receive Free Digital Codes March 9, 2012
Marvel is proud to announce that, beginning June 2012, all Marvel super hero comics priced at $3.99 will include codes for free digital copies of those same issues on the Marvel Comics app for iOS and Android devices at no extra cost! That’s right, the most-talked-about comics in the industry—including AVENGERS, CAPTAIN AMERICA, INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, THE MIGHTY THOR, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN and more—will come packed with a code to ensure fans have the most critically acclaimed stories with them anytime, anywhere.“We’re committed to bringing fans the best value in comics. By including codes for free digital copies in all our $3.99 super hero comics, we’re doing just that” said David Gabriel, SVP of Sales, Marvel Entertainment. “We’ve seen a tremendous response to the digital codes in Avenging Spider-Man, our Season One graphic novels and the Ultimate Comics line. The positive reactions from both retailers and fans make it clear that including these codes with our books drives customers into comic stores on a repeated basis.”
Marvel made comic book history in 2011 by announcing all titles in the Ultimate Comics line would include codes for free digital copies on the Marvel Comics app, with unrivaled incentives for comic shop retailers. Then, in 2012, Marvel announced the acclaimed Season One graphic novels would also include similar codes making them the first graphic novels to ever include codes for free digital copies at no extra cost.
“At Marvel, we’re always looking for ways to bring the worlds of print and digital media together to deliver the best comics experience for our fans,” said Peter Phillips, SVP & GM, Marvel Digital Media. “With this next step, fans will soon be able to buy their comics from their favorite retailers but also enjoy them on their mobile devices and tablets, all at no extra charge. Welcome to the Revolution.”
(Via Marvel.com)
Editor’s note: since Marvel is doing this, and Comixology is already digitally distributing DC comics on both IOS and Android, you can bet DC comics will be doing this too.
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- Marvel Universe Returns to Disney XD April 1, With ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN March 9, 2012
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN and THE AVENGERS: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES Tentpole New Marvel Programming Block
This promotional image shows the profound influence Disney-fication has had on Spider-Man. He'd be right at home wearing a pair of mouse ears.
The epic storytelling of Marvel — full of action, adventure and humor, along with complex, courageous and aspirational characters – will be introduced to a new generation of kids and families through a dedicated programming block, Marvel Universe, premiering SUNDAY, APRIL 1 on Disney XD. The new series, “Ultimate Spider-Man,” is written and guided by the most star-studded creative team in Super Hero television history, including some of the most influential names in comic books and pop culture. The programming block will also feature the second season of “The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes,” and new short-form series that take viewers behind the scenes to meet the creative teams and explore the many facets of the Marvel Universe.
Disney promises new energy and excitement in the new Marvel series - “From learning how to draw Marvel heroes, to seeing the real science behind the heroes’ cool gadgets, devoted Marvel fans and new fans alike will find the block to be a great destination,” said David Levine, Vice President and General Manager, Disney XD.
Stan Lee, co-creator of Spider-Man (who also provides the voice of Stan the Janitor in “Ultimate Spider-Man”) said, “It’s a thrill to see that the highest standards in story telling are so perfectly exemplified by Spider-Man leaping from the pages of the comic book onto the screen to be enjoyed by a new generation.”
The amazing team made up of Marvel’s Chief Creative Officer, Joe Quesada, and Marvel’s Head of Television, Jeph Loeb, Supervising Producers/Writers Man of Action (Joe Kelly, Joe Casey, Steven T. Seagle & Duncan Rouleau), Creative Consultant/Writer Paul Dini (“Batman: The Animated Series,” “Lost”), and Consulting Producer/Writer Brian Michael Bendis (Marvel’s Ultimate Comics Spider-Man comic series), “Ultimate Spider-Man” marks firsts for one of Marvel’s most popular characters the world over. In the storyline, a teenage Peter Parker (voiced by actor Drake Bell – there’s your Disney connection, folks, Drake Bell is an actor from the Disney stable) juggles the relatable challenges of high school with the extraordinary challenges of being a Super Hero. Nick Fury (voiced by actor Chi McBride) invites Parker to train with his S.H.I.E.L.D. organization, where Peter’s alter-ego, Spider-Man, will join forces with four other teenage super heroes – Nova, White Tiger, Power Man and Iron Fist, as they strive toward their destinies.
The premiere episode (11:00 a.m., EST/PST) is entitled “Great Power,” and the second episode is “Great Responsibility” (11:30 a.m., EST). The premiere episodes will be available on DisneyXD.com and Comcast platforms via VOD and XfinityTV.com directly following the Sunday, April 1 premiere on Disney XD. On April 2, they will be available on Disney XD Mobile VOD available via AT&T, MetroPCS, MobiTV, Sprint and Verizon; along with iTunes, Xbox Live and Sony Playstation.
Rounding out the Marvel Universe block are exciting new short-form series including (the last three series are hosted by Radio Disney’s Morgan Tompkins):
- “Fury Files” – Top-secret access to S.H.I.E.L.D. video dossiers on key Marvel heroes, including Iron Fist, Power Man, Nova and White Tiger and the villains they face, are animated with mix of traditional animation and motion comic art.
- “Marvel Mash-Up”– The Marvel Universe is turned upside down with these hilarious and unexpected takes on iconic Marvel heroes and villains, featuring classic animation edited with a comedic twist.
- “Animated Reality” – Stunt and special effects experts showcase the epic moves of favorite Marvel Super Heroes including Captain America and Spider-Man.
- “What Would It Take?” – Get a glimpse into the science and modern technology required to create the heroes’ gadgets, abilities and tech in real life, ranging from Iron Man’s jet propulsion boots to Iron Fist’s power-packed punch.
- “Master Class” – Marvel’s Chief Creative Officer, Joe Quesada, explains the artistic vision behind Marvel’s greatest Super Heroes and shows how artists bring them to life.
“Ultimate Spider-Man” – Executive Producers: Alan Fine (“The Avengers, Iron Man, Thor), Dan Buckley (“The Avengers, Iron Man), Joe Quesada (Marvel’s Chief Creative Officer), and Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s Head of Television) (Smallville, Lost, Heroes, Teen Wolf and Commando); Co-Executive Producers: Stan Lee (“Spider-Man”) and Eric Radomski (“Batman Animated, Spawn”); Supervising Producers: Man of Action Studios’ (creators of “Ben 10″ and “Generator Rex”) Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle; other Supervising Producers: Dana Booton (“The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes”) and Cort Lane (“The Super Hero Squad Show”); Creative Consultant (who also wrote the pilot): Paul Dini (“Batman: The Animated Series,” “Lost”): Consulting Producer: Brian Michael Bendis (visionary behind Marvel’s Ultimate Comics Spider-Man comic series). “Ultimate Spider-Man” is produced by Marvel Animation and carries a TV-Y7-FV parental guideline.
“Ultimate Spider-Man” stars Drake Bell (“Drake & Josh”) as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Chi McBride (“Boston Public”) as Nick Fury, Clark Gregg (“Iron Man,” “Thor,” “The Avengers”) as Agent Coulson, JK Simmons (“Spider-Man”) as J. Jonah Jameson, Steven Weber (“Wings”) as Norman Osborn , Greg Cipes (“Teen Titans, Ben 10″) as Danny Rand/Iron Fist, Ogie Banks as Luke Cage/Power Man, Caitlyn Taylor Love (“I’m In The Band”) as Ava Ayala/White Tiger, Logan Miller (“I’m In The Band”) as Sam Alexander/Nova, Tom Kenny (“SpongeBob SquarePants”) as Doctor Octopus, Matt Lanter (“Star Wars: The Clone Wars”) as Harry Osborn/Flash Thompson, Tara Strong (“The Fairly Odd Parents”) as Mary-Jane Watson, Misty Lee (“Batman: Arkham City”) as Aunt May, and recurring guest star Stan Lee (“Spider-Man”) as Stan the Janitor.
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- City of Heroes Launches Issue 22 March 7, 2012
NCsoft and Paragon Studios has launched City of Heroes Issue 22: Death Incarnate. As the first major free update to City of Heroes Freedom, the update introduces new powers and costumes, exclusive VIP content, expanded endgame features and reintroduces Dark Astoria, a zone corrupted by evil magical forces.
Death Incarnate new features:
- Dark Astoria Incarnate Zone: Dark Astoria becomes a Co-op Incarnate Zone in Death Incarnate, allowing level +50 players to participate in the “danse macabre” co-op style gameplay as they traverse the dark, twisted, undead nightmare that has become Dark Astoria.
- Darkness Power Set: A horrifying new Power Set for Controllers and Dominators, Darkness Control allows players to command shadows and spectral minions to terrorise their foes.
- Dilemma Diabolique Incarnate Trial: Heroes and Villains must band together against the evil sorceress Diabolique as she wrests the power from the banished god Mot. If she succeeds in her plans, all of creation will be in jeopardy as she moves to take her “rightful” role as the master of all creation.
- More content for all levels: Fight off the Shivans as they attack Bloody Bay by grouping up in the new PvE Trial Drowning in Blood. Take your Hero or Villain through new Mission Arcs in Steel Canyon and Cap au Diable. Save Talos Island and Sharkhead Isle from Adamastor’s rage as he cuts a wave of destruction across the islands in the new Adamastor Zone Event.City of Heroes Issue 23 is in its final stages of pre-production and Issue 24 is currently in the works, according to the MMO’s new producer Melissa Bianco.
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- The Worst - Yet Possibly Best Fan Made Film of HE-MAN March 6, 2012
Must Travel… Back to 1980′s…And Tell them.. This is… How It’s Done!…
By.. Staff... Editor...PK (Dramatic Pause and stare into camera)
Made by Daniele Spadoni of Spadoni Productions in Italy, there comes an addition to the world of fan made not-for-profit short films. The live action/CGI mix of HE-MAN and The Masters of The Universe: Origins, brings to us the origin story of how HE-MAN came to be.
As big of a critic as I am, I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this, despite the bad English translations for the subtitles, it really was a blast back to the 1980′s, assuming they had Italian actors and good quality CGI for the original HE-MAN cartoon. Since I can’t speak Italian, I can only go by the English subtitles, and one can only hope that the actual words are very different from the translations. If they’re not, then I’m going to laugh even harder, yet still sincerely applaud this fan made masterpiece. I honestly can’t tell if this was meant as a serious fan trailer, or more of a spoof. But either way, I have to give this FIVE STARS for pure awesomeness in it’s level of cheese output.
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Incoming search terms:
- nickelodeon spider
- man waving
- the avengers captain america 2012
- dark horse symbol
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