PREVIEW: J. Michael Straczynski SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE Original Graphic Novel Looks Marvelous

This October, writer J. Michael Straczynski (Superman, Wonder Woman, Babylon 5, “Changeling”) and artist Shane Davis (Green Lantern, Superman/Batman) will take readers on a journey both familiar and new – a story of a last son looking for meaning amidst the skyscrapers and teeming crowds of a great metropolis.
This is a Superman for the 21st century.

With SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE, Straczynski and Davis inject the folk tale and legend that is Superman’s origin with a modern, vital and forward-looking energy that makes for a refreshing, epic and challenging super-hero adventure.

In SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE – the first original graphic novel retelling Superman’s origin — Clark Kent is a man looking for meaning in a new city and an age of failing newspapers, hand-held devices and instant gratification. But when you can fly through the sky and burn objects with a glance – things become a tad more complicated. Doubly so when a fleet of alien ships arrive on your doorstep.

SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE channels the best tales of Superman with a look toward the future, by two of the brightest talents the industry has to offer. We’ve got a first look at the graphic novel below. Prepare to be wowed.

 Source: DC Comic's The Source

Finally, It's Good to Be Me (And Maybe You!)

About time the ladies realized we are the true men of this planet.  All you dicks out there that picked on me growing up for our comic books, lack of interest in sports, good grades, weird t-shirts, packed lunches, obsession with role playing games, Lego craftsmanship, glasses, Commodore 64 and Apple IIe skills, etc. can kiss my ASS!  Plus, I'm wealthy - TAKE THAT!  Well, hello ladies!

AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD Picks Up a Second Season; Executive Producer Frank Darabont Talks Season Two

It was a damn good trailer. So damn good that it got the show a second season.  In spite of the fact that its pilot episode will not air until Halloween night, AMC’s zombie adaptation The Walking Dead (based on Robert Kirkman’s ongoing comic series) has already been picked up for a second season. From Empire [via Fangoria], the follow-up to the show’s six-episode first season will begin filming in February 2011 and will consist of thirteen episodes.

From Comic Book Movie, The Walking Dead Executive Producer Frank Darabont claims that he would love to capture on film “some of the environmental elements from volume 2 of Kirkman’s epic comic,” saying:

“It would be great not just to get out of the heat (season one was shot in Atlanta), but to present a different idea to the audience visually and tonally by having it be winter. There’s some really cool stuff that Kirkman did, where they find the one zombie that’s frozen to the ground. I’d never seen that before and that’s really cool.”

Darabont also discussed his excitement for potentially introducing one of his favorite characters from the comic in season two:

“…Or when Michonne shows up – and boy, is she a character I can’t wait to get to – when she comes striding out of the wasteland like a Clint Eastwood f***ing spaghetti western character cross-melded with some samurai movie, like the Baby Cart character with the f***ing sword, and there’s just a little drift of snow in the air. I would love to put that on film.” said Darabont.

I cannot wait until Halloween night to watch the television adaption of one my favorite books. The trailer, production pictures have all looked wonderful and really capture the spirit of the books.  Now, if we could just Y THE LAST MAN INVINCIBLE, EX MA CHINA and/or FABLES green-lit, television might be worth watching again. 

Source: Collider

Marvel’s RUNAWAYS to Shoot in March; Re-Titled to “SMALL FACES”?

Marvel’s RUNAWAYS is set to begin filming in March 2011. Production Weekly tweets that shooting will take place in Los Angeles, which is where Brian K. Vaughan’s comic is set. The series centers on a group of teenagers who go on the run when they discover that their parents are supervillains. While on the lam, they each learn they’ve inherited particular gifts and abilities.

Interestingly, PW tweets that the movie is called “The Runaways (aka “Small Faces”). If Marvel is choosing to rename the project, it’s likely because they want to avoid confusion with the music biopic starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning that came out earlier this year. However, do you really believe Marvel would allow the title "Small Faces?"

Source: Collider

Mark Millar Announces KICK ASS 2 Movie a Go!

Ain't It Cool News is reporting that KICK ASS 2 has been green-lit.  Apparently UK viewers that heard Mark Millar on Radio 5 announce that due to the crushing success of KICK ASS on DVD - that KICK ASS 2 has been greenlit.

We will have to do some more research to determine of this true, but DVD sales do drive business these days especially given the state of movie theaters (brought on by movie studio and the theaters themselves).

Hopefully the KICK ASS 2 comic will come out sometime in the near future.  On second thought I just want the second part of AMERICAN JESUS to be released sometime before I die.  I can wait on KICK ASS 2.

Apple Makes Sweeping Changes to Entire iPod Line

Apple unveils its updated iPod line today in a special event in San Francisco. The changes are being herald as the most sweeping refresh of the iPod line in years. All three models of the iPod were updated: Shuffle, nano, and Touch.

The nano received the most significant update, jettisoning the current design and collapsing into a small square no bigger than the face of a watch. Of course, this leaves no room for a click wheel, and so the new nano features a multi-touch screen for navigation. The nano also borrows the general navigation of the iDevices, with a scrolling menu interface and icons for accessing your media library – music and photos. The new screen is 1.5-inches with 240x240 resolution.

The nano also comes standard with a clip on the back so it can be snapped anywhere on your person. I was kind of kidding before about the size of the nano resembling a watch face, but I can easily see a market for nano watchbands that turn this elegant little device into a timepiece. The new iPod nanos drop next week. The 8GB model is $149 and the 16GB model is $179. There will be seven color choices, including a (Product) Red model exclusive to Apple Stores.

 The iPod Touch line picked up a host of new features that inch it closer to the iPhone 4. Like the iPhone 4, the Touch now uses Apple's HD-esque Retina display. FaceTime video calling is made possible on the Touch with the inclusion of a front-facing camera, but Apple also placed a second camera on the rear of the device for taking photos and videos. The Touch takes HD video (up to 720P quality), just like the iPhone 4.

But it's not just the exterior of the Touch that changes. The new Touch models now sport the powerful A4 processor found inside the iPhone 4 and iPad, which Apple believes makes it the most powerful portable gaming rig on the planet. And to make sure gaming is very much a core feature of the Touch, it has added the iPhone 4's gyroscope for increased tilt control accuracy. The change in internal architecture allowed Apple to shrink the iPod Touch even more, too. The new Touch is now just 7.2 millimeters thick (the svelte iPhone 4 is only 9.3mm). It retains the curved edge design of the previous iPod Touch and iPhone models – it does not use the flat design of the iPhone 4. The new iPod Touch models are priced at 8GB for $229, 32GB for $299, and 64GB for $399.

Finally, the iPod Shuffle was also updated. The exterior of the Shuffle does not look terribly different from the previous model, complete with a click wheel front and a clip on the rear. The Shuffle uses VoiceOver to tell you the name of the current artist or playlist (because there is no screen) as well as alert you when the Shuffle's battery is running low.

The new iPod Shuffle comes in five colors but only one size: 2GB. When it goes on sale next week, it will be $49.

The new iPods arrive just in time for today's update of iTunes. The new version 10 of iTunes is a major upgrade for the storefront and media manager, which includes an all-new social network for music called Ping.

Source: ign

DC Comics Announces Ongoing BATMAN BEYOND Series!

My prayers have been answered.  Long live Terry McGinnis.  On Saturday morning at Fan Expo in Toronto, DC Entertainment continued their panel schedule with the DC Universe panel, where they announced a BATMAN BEYOND ongoing series after the miniseries. 

Now if we could just get Paul Dini to start developing another Batman Beyond Cartoo, life would be wonderful.

Can you Spot the TWO Clues to the Future of the DCU in this JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST #10 Cover?

DC Comics Blog The Source posted this cover to JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST #10 by Kevin Maguire.  This cover apparently contains two hints about what is to come in the DCU in the year to come.  Can you figure it out?  If so please let us know!

Batman Falls on Hard Times

Poor Batman, regulated to a freakin Best Western.  The days of the Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, W, etc. are long gone.  Dick Grayson and Damien Wayne probably pissed away the fortune while Bruce has been gone trapped in in time.  Poor Tim doesn't know about it since he has been out actually doing something productive with his time, like looking for Bruce.

Although, on the other-hand, it's probably a good hideout because even the Joker wouldn't stay at this dump.

The Effects of the Video Game Recession on Our Favorite Characters

Dorkly put together these hilarious pictures of video game characters reacting to the current recession.  I love the Pac Man picture.  His sign is hilarious!  Which one is your favorite?

Coolest Super Mario Bros. Artwork to Date

LabrenzInk created this marvelous piece of art appropriately entitled, "The Mario Bros."  I love the realism and detail.  The Bowser is by far the best rendition I have seen to date.  Head to his site over at deviantART site to check this and many more wonderful creations.

The Music of the DC Universe - 75th Anniversary Collection Announced

DC Comics has been producing quality entertainment for 75 years now.  But never before have all the essential sounds and songs inspired by their creations been collected in one place. That's all about the change with a new music compilation to be released this fall.


It starts in 1941, with the theme to the classic Fleischer Superman cartoons and moves through the years, including shows and movies like BATMAN, THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, LOIS & CLARK, BATMAN BEYOND, SMALLVILLE, THE BATMAN and a ton more, all on one compact disc – with 21 of the 31 tracks available for the first time ever.

Scroll down for the full track listing.  I'm highly dissapointed that I don't see the song Superman sang at the end of Final Crisis. 



The Music of DC Comics: 75th Anniversary Collection



1. Superman March - Sammy Timberg (1941)

-Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the Academy Award Nominated cartoon series “Superman” produced by Max Fleischer. This was the first Superman cartoon.



2. Theme From Superman (Album Version) - John Williams (1978)

- From the live-action film “Superman.” Digitally remastered.



3. The New Adventures of Superman - John Gart (1966)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the Filmation cartoon “The New Adventures of Superman.”



4. Lois and Clark / The New Adventures of Superman - Jay Gruska (1993)

- From the live-action TV Series “Lois and Clark”. Digitally remastered.



5. The Adventures of Superboy - John Gart(1966)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the Filmation cartoon “The Adventures of Superboy.”



6. Superboy - Kevin Kiner (1988)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the live-action TV series “Superboy.”



7. Smallville Season 8 (End Title) - Louis Febre (2008)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the live-action TV series “Smallville.”



8. Batman: The Electrical Brain - Lee Zahler (1943)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the live-action serial “The Batman.” This was the first filmed appearance of Batman.



9. The Batman Theme (Album Version) - Danny Elfman (1989)

- From the live-action film “Batman”. Digitally remastered.



10. The Adventures of Batman - John Gart (1967)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the filmation cartoon “The Adventures of Batman.”



11. Batman TV Series Theme - Neal Hefti (1966)

-From the live-action TV series “Batman”. Digitally remastered.



12. Batman: The Brave and the Bold - Andy Sturmer (2008)

-From the cartoon “Batman: The Brave and the Bold”. Digitally remastered.



13. Batman Beyond - Kristopher Lee (1999)

-From the cartoon “Batman Beyond”. Digitally remastered.



14. Molossus from Batman Begins - Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard (2005)

-From the live-action film “Batman Begins”. Digitally remastered.



15. Justice League of America - John Gart (1967)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the Filmation cartoon “Justice League of America.”



16. Super Friends - Hoyt Curtin (1973)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the Hanna-Barbera cartoon “SuperFriends.”



17. The All New Super Friends Hour - Hoyt Curtin (1977)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the Hanna-Barbera cartoon “The All-New SuperFriends Hour.”



18. Justice League Unlimited - Michael McCuistion (2004)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the cartoon “Justice League Unlimited.”



19. Legends of the Superheroes - Fred Wener (1979)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the live-action TV special “Legends of the Superheroes.”



20. The Teen Titans - John Gart (1967)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the Filmation cartoon “The Teen Titans.”



21. Aquaman - John Gart (1967)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the Filmation cartoon “Aquaman.”



22. Swamp Thing - Christopher Stone (1991)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the live-action TV show “Swamp Thing: The Series.”



23. Shazam! - Norman Prescott & Yvette Blais (1974)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the live-action TV series “Shazam!”



24. The Flash - John Gart (1967)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the Filmation cartoon “The Flash.”



25. Green Lantern - John Gart (1967)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the Filmation cartoon “Green Lantern.”



26. Green Lantern First Flight - Robert J Kral (2009)

-From the animated movie “Green Lantern: First Flight.” Digitally remastered.



27. The Atom - John Gart (1967)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the Filmation cartoon “The Atom.”



28. Hawkman - John Gart (1967)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the Filmation cartoon “Hawkman.”



29. Plastic Man Comedy Adventure Show - Dean Elliott (1979)

- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the Ruby-Spears cartoon “The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show.”



30. Wonder Woman The Animated Movie End Title - Christopher Drake (2009)

-From the animated movie “Wonder Woman.” Digitally remastered.



31. Wonder Woman - Charles Fox & Norman Gimbel (1976)

-From the live-action TV series “Wonder Woman.” Digitally remastered.

Jim Lee's Designs Yet Another Wonder Woman Costume

Now THIS is the Jim Lee we all know and love.  Let's all just forget about the recent Wonder Woman in pants design he rolled out.  Everyone has a bad day now and then.

But here we see Jim Lee's designs for Wonder Woman in the upcomming DC Universe Online game coming this fall.  This is classic Wonder Woman, and classic Jim Lee. 

"FLASH" CAMERA T-Shirt of the Day is Truly Marvelous

Teefury has the best Flash t-shirt I have ever seen on sale today for $9.00.  Joao Lauro Fonte designed this funny and clever t-shirt.  Head over to Teefury at once and buy this bad boy before it's gone.

SUPERMAN 2: DOOMSDAY Fan Made Live Action Movie Trailer

Kashchei2003 created this awesome SUPERMAN 2: DOOMSDAY Trailer.  It is definitely worth watching.  Kaschei2003 states on YouTube:

This is the second live action teaser trailer for Superman: Doomsday. The full movie trailer is still a work in progress with about 90% of it completed. At over 4:00 minutes long, in this fan-edit you'll get to see the movie that I hope the studios bring to the big screen in a future Superman film. Please no more Lex Luthor centered shenanigans or kryptonite BS... let's see Superman face a real threat...Doomsday!

Batman: Arkham City (Arkham Asylum 2) Box Cover Art is Gorgeous

Earlier this month GameInformer released two covers featuring artwork for Batman: Arkham City, the hotly anticipated sequel to Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment’s bestselling video game Batman: Arkham Asylum. Now comes a preview of the cover for the September issue of PlayStation Official Magazine UK, which sports additional art showcasing the makeover for Harley Quinn.

Developed by Rocksteady Studios, the London-based studio behind 2009′s Arkham Asylum, Arkham City will be available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC next fall.

Source: Robot6

"Calvin and Hobbes", meet "Joker and Lex"

This comic strip has been everywhere over the last few days.  If you've seen, please ignore, but if you have not, please enjoy this wonderful comic entitled, “Joker and Lex,” by Lee Bermejo and writer Brian Azzarello.  This  Calvin and Hobbes-esque contribution to the Superman/Batman all-star 75th-issue spectacular is simply amazing.  This strip would make even Bill Watterson smile.

NY POST Breaks News that DC Comics Will Have Two Batmans (Bat-Men) and Bruce Gets a New Suit

THE NEW YORK POST broke a HUGE comic related story this morning, not only will Bruce Wayne be returning to a new set of Batman duds, but his first sidekick, Dick Grayson, will continue to fight crime on the streets of Gotham as Batman, and under the banner of “Batman Inc.”

But what does that mean for the Batman titles moving forward?

Thankfully for Batman fans, DC's The Source gave us the breakdown.

Starting in November, DETECTIVE COMICS, BATMAN and BATMAN AND ROBIN will feature the ongoing adventures of Dick Grayson as Batman, with Damian as Robin. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne will take center stage in the pages of Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette’s BATMAN INC. and writer/artist David Finch’s BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT.

Batman Group Editor Mike Marts unveiled the Cover from BATMAN INC and told the The Source:

“Just as readers were getting comfortable with the idea of former sidekick Dick Grayson playing the role of Batman, along comes Bruce Wayne’s triumphant return to the Cape and Cowl. Is Gotham City ready for two Batmen? Is the world? And who’s to say the fun will end there?”

I am so pissed about this announcement that I can't even think straight.

Bruce Wayne is Batman.

Bruce Wayne is Batman.

Bruce Wayne is Batman.

Maybe if I say it enough it will come true and everything will be restored to normal in the Batman and DC Comic world and DC won't treat Batman and like Wolverine. 

I will return at some point to rant and rave about the absurdity of this decision, but for now enjoy Dick Grayson fans.

Futurama's 100th Episode Tackles Issue of Illegal Aliens

It’s been a rocky road for gfest’s current favorite cartoon show.  You remember the cancellation, the network changes, the semi-return on DVD, and then the full return. But Futurama is capping is fantastic sixth season with its 100th glorious episode, and, as you can see, someone’s planning a party.


On Thursday, Futurama wraps with “The Mutants are Revolting,” a sharp finale probing the open wounds of illegal aliens. Once ass-kicking space babe Leela is outed as a mutant, she spearheads an underground revolt from the sewers to strike terror into the hearts of the surface dwellers.


Read the episode's official description from Comedy Central:

The Planet Express Crew has been hired to make their 100th delivery and Bender begins planning the party of the millennium. Meanwhile, however, the rest of the crew attends a fundraiser where Fry accidentally outs Leela as a mutant who is illegally living above ground. For that, she is banished to the sewers where her fellow mutants reside in futuristic squalor. Feeling guilty about his slip-up, Fry and the rest of the gang – along with the mutated members of Devo – join Leela in an epic mutant revolution against the surface dwellers.

While this episode sadly marks the end of this fantastic season of Futurama, hopefully Comedy Central will announce soon that we can raise our tankers of Slurm to the next 100 episodes.



Until next season, ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD.

Playboy Launches Grand Theft Auto Like 3D Video Game

With the business of girlie magazines quickly going the way of the CD player, Playboy is desperately trying to find a new business model, and new ways of making money.  Apparently, they've pinned their hopes on putting "Playboy caliber women" into video games. 

Hef's company has partnered with online game company Bigpoint to distribute select titles through Playboy's website, beginning with Bigpoint’s Poisonville, which is a browser-based MMO crime game (in the spirit of Grand Theft Auto) that puts gamers into a fictional U.S. city where crime and corruption rule the streets.

Players must complete a series of missions in order to counteract corruption, regain respect, and rebuild their reputations. Throughout the game, players will encounter beautiful, Playboy-caliber women. In full-3D, players can drive a variety of vehicles, engage in player vs. player combat, and compete in ongoing competitions designed to simulate gang warfare - all through a standard web browser.


Putting Playboy models into video games is an idea that's hard to argue with.  Having said that, Poisonville doesn't exactly look like the greatest video game ever made.  Call us when Playboy releases Womb Raider.