Articles by mike-gold
Tue May 26, 2009 — by Mike Gold
Doctor Tennant Gets Animated - Again
It's A Two-Who Tuesday!
Well, David Tennant is continuing his buyer's remorse by voicing a second Doctor Who animated story.
Dreamland, the seven-part, six-minute per part story, which really isn't a sequel to the animated episode The Infinite Quest as much as a new, separate story, will also feature the voice talent of renown actor David Warner. Like Tennant, Warner participated in several Big Finish Doctor Who audio adventures.
The episode has been written by Russell T. Davies stablemate's Phil Ford, a regular behind both The Sarah Jane Adventures and Torchwood. He also co-wrote the upcoming Doctor Who special, The Waters of Mars, expected to air in November.
Like The Infinite Quest, Dreamland is expected to be released on DVD after initial broadcast. Who might actually be airing the show in the States (pun not intended) remains unknown at presstime.
Tue May 26, 2009 — by Mike Gold
Who's Hanging Around?
David Tennant To Guest With Sarah Jane
Sure, this is David Tennant's last season as the Doctor in Doctor Who. But, clearly, he's not going out quietly.
On the heels of his appearance on John ("Captain Jack") Barrowman's song-and-dance show Tonight's The Night (Glenn's got that one here on ComicMix) comes word that he will guest as the Doctor on a two-part story in the new season of The Sarah Jane Adventures, coming to the BBC this fall -- prior to his terminal closing three-parter.
Executive Producer Russell T. Davies promised it won't be just a cameo. "This is a full on appearance for The Doctor as he and Sarah Jane face their biggest threat ever."
Ah, yes. Biggest threat ever. You'd think both the Doctor and Sarah Jane would be a bit tired of that phrase. Still, it's a living.
Oh, and K-9, now the star of his own Australian-produced teevee series, will be back with Sarah Jane, the kids whose lives she jeopardizes each week, and their big father-figure computer.
Thu May 21, 2009 — by Mike Gold
Upfronts Day Four: Some Cable Stuff
The Palin Kid's Latest Spin-Off
On the heels of the broadcast network’s fall announcements comes the never-ending trickle of cable commitments. As is their wont, many of these shows will debut in the summer months (like, June) when broadcast network series are on hiatus.
TNT will be showing us a hospital series starring Jada Pinkett Smith called Hawthorne, Jerry Bruckheimer’s got a cop show called Dark Blue that stars Dylan McDermott, Mark Burnett’s got a new reality series called Wedding Day, and this December a series with an impressive pedigree called Men of a Certain Age starring Ray Romano, Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula.
truTV has a bunch of “reality” shows that fit square into their format: a behind the scenes show called NFL Full Contact– the sort we used to call a “documentary,” Conspiracy Theory with Governor Jesse Ventura, U.S. Special Ops: Declassified – a program that outs our nation’s terrorist hunters, and Full Throttle, another behind the scenes look at Ballard's Full Throttle Saloon biker bar in Sturgis, South Dakota.
TBS has some inexpensive stuff lined up: a talk show starring George Lopez, an animated sitcom about suburbanites who used to live “down below” called Neighbors from Hell, and, of course, they’ve picked up Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns and The Bill Engvall Show.
MTV has a new series ripped from today’s political headlines called 16 & Pregnant. There hasn’t been a teevee series with a more self-descriptive title since The Jack Paar Program.
Wed May 20, 2009 — by Mike Gold
Upfronts Three-Point-Two: The CW
Hey, They're Still In Business!
The last of the broadcast nets revealed themselves this morning, and in a fit of original thought they’re giving us a lot more of the same.
Angelenos, The Beautiful Life, and The Vampire Diaries are being added. They’re about pretty but dangerous residents of Los Angeles, struggling fashion models, and a family of vampire brothers, respectively. Oh, and they’re bringing Melrose Place back. Holy 90210, Bat-brain!
The Gossip Girl spin-off got spiked, as did the CW’s entire attempt to program Sundays. The night is being returned to the individual affiliates.
On a personal note, the only sitcom I’ve actually enjoyed (non-animated) all century, Everybody Loves Chris, played its last, last Friday. Just like the show’s creator Chris Rock, the titular Chris dropped out of school when forced to take the 10th grade over. He may or may not have passed his GED; the show ended with a wonderful send-up of The Sopranos finale. It went out in style.
Smallville will be back. Now that he’s flying, please give him the big red S. C’mon. The movie sucked. Kal-El’s Superman without the cape, and the “red-blue-blur” is just stupid.
Wed May 20, 2009 — by Mike Gold
Upfronts Day Three-Point-One: CBS
Sty in the Eye?
Here’s what CBS is adding:
Mondays: Accidentally On Purpose (Jenna Elfman sitcom, surrounded by the usual sitcoms)
Tuesdays: NCIS: Los Angeles, (following NCIS and starring LL Cool J), The Good Wife.
Wednesdays: Same old stuff – The New Adventures of Old Christine, Gary Unmarried, Criminal Minds and CSI: NY.
Thursdays: More of the same – Survivor, CSI and The Mentalist.
Fridays: Medium (picking up what NBC no longer wants) will be between Ghost Whisperer and Numb3rs.
Saturdays: Nothing new here.
Sundays: Three Rivers (organ transplant donors).
Wed May 20, 2009 — by Mike Gold
Upfronts Day Three: D.O.A.
In Memorium...
Here’s the list of network shows that will disappear into the black hole of broadcast oblivion. It’s possible that, like Medium, one or more of these shows might get picked up by other broadcast or cable nets.
- According to Jim
- Cupid
- Eleventh Hour
- Everybody Hates Chris
- Kath & Kim
- Kings
- Life
- Lipstick Jungle
- My Name Is Earl
- Privileged
- Reaper
- Samantha Who?
- Sit Down, Shut Up
- Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
- The Game
- The Unit*
- The Unusuals
- Without a Trace
- Worst Week
Tue May 19, 2009 — by Mike Gold
Upfronts Day Two: NBC and Some Guy Named "Leno"
Law & Order Now A Family Show
With Jay Leno sucking up the entire 10 PM (Eastern) block on NBC weekdays, one would think the venerable and ever-mutating Law & Order would be in trouble.
Nope. It dodged the bullet. It’ll be in the family hour on Fridays. Law & Order: SVU (their sex crimes show, not their tribute to gas guzzlers) will be on Wednesdays at 9 PM, preceded by a new “family drama,” Parenthood. Southland will follow L&O, and Jay Leno follows everything.
The Biggest Loser grabs two hours on Tuesday, followed by Jay Leno. Monday will see Heroes return for a while, followed by a new medical drama, Trauma, which will be followed by Jay Leno. Chuck will bump Heroes after the winter Olympics.
A new comedy called Community will start off following The Office on Thursdays. Thursday editions of Weekend Update will take the 8 PM slot for about a month or so, at which time 30 Rock will return and take Community’s valued position. At that time, Community will take the Thursday Weekend Update slot, although Update will return from time to time. Parks and Recreation will take the in-between slot at 8:30, and everything will be followed by the omnipresent Jay “Mr. Overexposed” Leno.
Dateline gets moved to Saturdays to make room for Sunday Night Football on – wait for it – Sundays. Jay Leno will probably guest host both shows.
In NBC’s post-Olympics on-deck circle: the comedy 100 Questions, the reality show The Marriage Ref, and the medical show Mercy.
In a bit of non-network news, HBO has ordered 13 episodes of an animated series starring Ricky Gervais, based on Gervais's podcasts.
Mon May 18, 2009 — by Mike Gold
Upfronts Day One: Fox, ABC and a Bit of CBS
Human Target Returns In Reboot
This is the week the teevee broadcast networks announce their fall schedules at their fabled “Upfront” presentations to advertisers – well, the first drafts of their fall schedules. Starting with Fox.
Len Wein and Carmine Infantino’s DC series The Human Target has been picked up (it was on network a couple decades ago in a forgettable series staring Rick Springfield and Clarence Clemons); it will occupy the coveted spot after American Idol on Wednesdays. Past Life, a series about a psychic detective agency, will hold the same spot on Tuesdays. Slotting after Idol means both will be mid-season shows A new sitcom will be added to Fox’s schedule, Sons of Tucson will be plopped in the middle of their Sunday animation block, replacing King of the Hill. Another sitcome, Brothers, has been given a 13 episode order.
Fox has picked up House, 24, Bones, Fringe, Brothers, ‘Til Death, The Cleveland Show, So You Think You Can Dance and Dollhouse.
In other Upfront news, ABC has approved pilots for a new drama starring Dean Winters and Sam Neill called Happy Town and a comedy starring Courteney Cox called Cougar Town (bet you can guess what that one’s about). They’ve also picked up a second season of Castle as a mid-season replacement, a new V series, along with The Deep End, Jerry Bruckheimer’s The Forgotten (sort of a Without a Trace, but with amateurs), and Eastwick, an adaptation of the hit movie The Witches of Eastwick. They’ve got a comedy going starring Kelsey Grammer called Hank and another sitcom called The Middle. ABC also renewed a version of Scrubs, although much of the ongoing cast is likely to disappear after the first six episodes. True Beauty and Better Off Ted have also been picked up.
CBS has picked up an NCIS spinoff, a medical drama called Three Rivers and The Good Wife starring Julianna Margulies.
Mon Apr 13, 2009 — by Mike Gold
IDW's #3!
ComicMix joins up in the nick of time!
IDW Publishing, home to Star Trek, 30 Days of Night, Transformers, Doctor Who, G.I. Joe, Fallen Angel, Locke and Key, and ComicMix's upcoming line of print graphic novels and comics, today announced the 10 year old company hit the #3 spot in the monthly Diamond sales figures. That places them ahead of Image Comics and Dark Horse Comics, a remarkable achievement for a "back-of-the-catalog" publisher.
"This is a huge milestone for us, and the culmination of a decade of hard work by the many different people to have contributed to IDW over the years," IDW CEO Ted Adams stated. "This is clearly a great beginning to our second decade."
Last week, the company received no less than five Eisner nominations, and is just coming out with their 10th anniversary history. It's been a hell of a week for the San Diego based publisher, and to celebrate the staff went to the Los Angeles Dodgers / San Diego Padres baseball game.
"IDW has always focused on producing quality comics and books, and it's gratifying to see fans enjoying our books so much," IDW publisher and editor-in-chief Chris Ryall noted. "There is definitely a lot more great things to come for the company and our readers," no doubt referring to the upcoming release of GrimJack: The Manx Cat, Jon Sable Freelance: Ashes of Eden, and Demons of Sherwood.
Among other ComicMix projects, of course!
Wed Apr 1, 2009 — by Mike Gold
Glenn Hauman To Leave ComicMix
Focus On Nude Model Career
ComicMix co-founder, production manager and news site scribe Glenn Hauman will be leaving his position at the end of the week to focus on his growing career as a male nude model.
"I've been offered a stimulating position out in Long Island," Hauman stated, "and like all native Long Islanders I long for the opportunity to return. And I really mean long."
Glenn had been debating this prickly decision for some time. "I enjoy comics and I can tolerate my partners, but let's face it -- I won't be young and handsome forever, and I owe it to humanity to squeeze every last drop out of my nature-given charms." Word has it he's in negotiations with the renown Flava-Punisher agency.
In response to this announcement, ComicMix editor-in-chief Mike Gold stated "Are you kidding me? The guy's 40! He can't bend over, let alone dance! Good luck with this one, pal!"
Thu Mar 26, 2009 — by Mike Gold
IDW and ComicMix Join Forces
Renowned comics publisher to distribute online comics in print form
Well, we've been hinting at this for about six months now. Some of you traditionalists have been asking when and how and where and when you can buy printed versions of the ComicMix comics. I'm proud to announce that we have partnered up with our friends at IDW (where GrimJack and Jon Sable Freelance and Mars last appeared) to produce one graphic novel and two comic books each month, starting this fall. Plus hardcovers and omnibuses and such, as the market demands.
O.K., I'm one of those traditionalists as well, and while I love reading this stuff online (particularly on my iPhone), I'm looking forward to seeing them in print. And I'm looking forward to running my typical long-winded introductions in the trades and letter columns -- yet, genuine letter columns! -- in the comics.
So if you'd like to email us a letter for publication, just post 'em as comments to the comics. Oh, yeah, we're starting off with GrimJack: The Manx Cat and Jon Sable Freelance: Ashes of Eden in mini-series format. As if we should start somewhere else? IDW's press release, for the record:
SAN DIEGO, CA (March 25, 2009) – IDW Publishing, a leading publisher of comic books and graphic novels, has begun an innovative partnership with ComicMix.com, a free website offering new and classic comics. Through this multi-year agreement, IDW will publish graphic novels, books and comics for ComicMix.com properties, enabling both companies to expand their offerings to customers and retailers, and combine their audience reach.
“ComicMix has a great line up of original and classic brands that are currently only available online, and despite the shift to the virtual world, there is still something unmistakable about reading a real-life book” said Greg Goldstein, chief operating officer of IDW. “IDW is known for producing some of the highest quality books in our industry, and we are looking forward to offering this to fans of ComicMix properties.”
Beginning in the fall of 2009, IDW will release trade paperbacks of ComicMix comics, as well as monthly comics, including many new stories that have previously been only available online at ComicMix.com. Initial titles will include GrimJack: The Manx Cat by John Ostrander and Timothy Truman, Jon Sable Freelance: Ashes of Eden by Mike Grell, and Hammer of the Gods by Mark Wheatley and Mike Avon Oeming, among others.
“This is a bit of a homecoming for many of us at ComicMix, because we have had a professional relationship with IDW Publishing over the past several years,” ComicMix Editor-In-Chief Mike Gold noted. “We’re honored to be among such first-rate comics and graphic novels. Quite frankly, I don’t think the ComicMix properties could find a better publishing home than IDW.”
The partnership with ComicMix allows IDW to distribute comics via mobile devices, increasing the company's growing digital, downloadable publishing program, which already includes several major titles such as Star Trek: Countdown and Ghostbusters.
About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. As a leader in the horror, action, and sci-fi genres, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including television's #1 prime time series, CBS' “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation;” Paramount's “Star Trek;” Fox's “Angel;” Hasbro's “The Transformers;” and the BBC's “Doctor Who.” IDW's original horror series, "30 Days of Night," was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. In April 2008, IDW released "Michael Recycle," the first title from its new children's book imprint, Worthwhile Books. More information about the company can be found at IDWPublishing.com.
About ComicMix.com
Organized in 2007, ComicMix.com is the free website for brand-new comics, news, opinion and historical research. Organized by comics veteran Mike Gold (DC Comics, First Comics, Image Comics), Internet pioneer Brian Alvey (WebLogs Inc., Blogsmith, AOL, Netscape) and print and online publishing vet Glenn Hauman (Random House, Simon & Schuster, BiblioBytes, DC Comics), ComicMix has been leading the comics industry in the production and online distribution of new comic book stories by major talent.
Wed Mar 4, 2009 — by Mike Gold
Rare Super-Porn Discovered!
To Be Released April Fool's Day - No Kidding!
We just got an email from our old pal, Craig Yoe!. Craig sez:
I'd like to tell you about my brand spanking new book and blog.
I recently discovered incredible, previously unknown, fetish art by the creator of Superman, Joe Shuster. The artist and his writing partner, Jerry Siegel, had sold Superman for 130 dollars. When they sued to get the rights back they lost and got drummed out of the comic book industry and Shuster fell on hard times. It was unknown that to get by and/or because of a personal interest in the subject, Shuster then did S&M porn for under-the-counter booklets called "Nights of Horror," sold in Times Square in the early fifties. The back story I uncovered involves the Mob, showgirls, neo-Nazi Jewish juvenile delinquents, inspired by Shuster's art, known as the Brooklyn Thrill Killers, the famed anti-comic book crusader Dr. Frederic Wertham, Senate investigations, cops on payola, the books being banned by the Supreme Court, teenage girls being horse-whipped in the park, two murders...and dare I say MORE?
I have a full color coffee table art book I wrote and designed coming out April 1 (no fooling!) about all this, Secret Identity: The Fetish Art of Superman's Co-Creator Joe Shuster.The publisher is the number one leading art book publisher in the world, the prestigious Abrams. I'm blogging about the book and revealing lots of rare art and info that didn't fit in "between the covers."
Craig’s too modest to note that his book also sports an introduction by Stan Lee.
Considering the fact that, at the time they purchased Superman, one of DC’s owners had been actively engaged in publishing what was considered by the post office censors “pornography,” this is a rather ironic story.
Sadly ironic.
Wed Mar 4, 2009 — by Mike Gold
Real Dalek Discovered
No Loch Ness Monster, Though
According to the London Daily Telegraph, a long-submerged Dalek was discovered among a ton of rubbish by a team of volunteers who were cleaning out a junk-filled pond.
Well, actually, just the head and neck pieces. The all-important eye-stalk was intact, but one of the dome lights was smashed. They’ve been looking for the rest of the Exterminator amongst the muck and the mould without success so far.
The exact location is being kept secret for reasons of maintaining neighborhood sanity. However, if you’re planning on a soggy vacation, back during Colin Baker’s run in the 1980s the BBC did a lot of exterior filming of Doctor Who in the Hampshire area.
There appears to be no truth to the rumor that a Cyberman has been spotted parking cars in Liverpool.
Tue Feb 10, 2009 — by Mike Gold
ComicMix At Two
Will We Soon See Phase Three?
Well, today ComicMix turns two years old. It’s a tad bittersweet, as the advertising cutbacks that have decimated other media outlets have had their impact upon this young site as well. So – as you’ve no doubt noticed – we’ve hunkered down for the long haul. We ain’t going to give in to this economy; we’re up for the fight.I’m glad to report that, lately, we’ve made some truly significant progress. We’ll be making a major announcement soon, with a touch of luck – meaning the lawyers and number crunchers do what they do in a timely fashion. Most of the folks who’s been working with us and hanging in there are aware of the broad strokes, and there’s been some Twittering and blogging and such, but you’ll get the full story right here as soon as it’s finished.
I’m told we’re getting significantly closer to the launch of the long-awaited Phase Three improvements and additions. This, too, is exciting stuff and has taken an enormous amount of energy from our Tech Team. We all want to get it right the first time, to the extent that’s technically possible.
So hang in there. You’ll be seeing the fruits of these labors very soon. As always, we want to thank all the writers and artists and tech folks who have been part of ComicMix, and we thank you, our worldwide audience, for your continued interest and support.
Tue Jan 20, 2009 — by Mike Gold
Review: Man Of Rock, by Bill Schelly
Let’s say comics fandom congealed in the early 60s, or nearly 30 years after the first comic book was published. That means organized comics fandom has been around more than half again that span. We have our own history, and much of it has been chronicled -- brilliantly -- by Bill Schelly.Now Bill has shifted his sights to a man whose own career has mirrored the growth of the medium: Joe Kubert. One of the first generation of comics artists by virtue of his seeking, and getting, employment when he was 11, he got into comics about the same time that Superman did. Joe has continued to write, draw and edit comics to this day. Best known for his work on Hawkman, Sgt. Rock, Tarzan and his own creation, Tor, Joe has also been a pioneer in the direct sales comics movement (Sojourn) and in the modern graphic novel movement.
Kubert is at least as well-known for his work as America’s primary educator of cartoonists: his Kubert School in New Jersey has given us dozens of first-rate talent – from Timothy Truman to Tom Mandrake, from Alex Maleev to Shane Davis, plus a couple of kids named Kubert.
Swell. Everybody’s got a favorite artist, and Kubert’s mine. I’ve waxed poetic about the man before. So, for Schelly to entertain and educate me, well, that’s quite a task.
One Bill met well in his biography Man of Rock: A Biography of Joe Kubert
We’ve recently been offered excellent biographies of comics masters Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko. Joe Kubert has deserved similar treatment, and he’s received just that in Bill Schelly’s hands. I heartedly recommend it to all fans of the medium, its history, and its masters. It's available through your friendly neighborhood comics shop, through Fantagraphics, and through Bill's own Hamster Press.
