Articles by van-jensen
Sun Jul 20, 2008 — by Van Jensen
New Vertigo Blog
Seven creators form group blog and message board
Vertigo junkies will be happy to know a group of the DC imprint's creators have joined together -- not unlike Voltron -- on a blog.
Standard Attrition is the new blogging home for Jason Aaron, Brian Wood, G. Willow Wilson, Jock, Cliff Chiang, David Lapham and Brian Azzarello.
So far, the site has mostly just news on the group's individual projects and media appearances. There's also some news about what they'll be doing at San Diego this coming week.
If you're curious, that's the cover to Wilson's Air, which debuts from Vertigo next month.
(via The Beat)
Sun Jul 20, 2008 — by Van Jensen
The Dark Knight Project
Fan movie bridges gap between 'Batman Begins' and 'Dark Knight'
What do you do when you desperately want to make a Batman movie, except you have little film-making experience and Warner Bros. doesn't know you exist?
Well, you just go right ahead and make a Batman movie. At least that's the thought of Jerry Vasilatos, a Chicago director. He decided to create The Dark Knight Project, essentially a fan movie set between the two new Batman films.
The story follows some Gotham students who try to get video footage of their city's new vigilante. The expected trouble ensues, as Joker's gang starts to cause problems.
You can watch the film right here. You can also read quite a bit on the background of the project at Vasilatos' blog, which is right here.
That "other" Batman movie opened this weekend.
(via Doomkopf)
Sat Jul 19, 2008 — by Van Jensen
Dan Abnett's Top 10 Movies
'Nova' writer's favorite flicks
Just stumbled across this on the blog of writer Dan Abnett, who's been doing a hellaciously good job on Nova and, to a slightly lesser extent, the new Guardians of the Galaxy.
Here are his top 10 favorite movies of all time, with a surprise atop the list:
1) Singin' in the Rain
2) Casablanca
3) Some Like it Hot
4) This is Spinal Tap
5) A Matter of Life and Death
6) The Empire Strikes Back
7) A Canterbury Tale
8) One Million Years BC
9) Ferris Bueller's Day Off
10) The Magnificent Seven
I can only wonder if that top choice had some influence on the cover of Nova #13 seen at right, wherein Richard Ryder and the Silver Surfer appear to be engaging in some intergalactic tango.
Sat Jul 19, 2008 — by Van Jensen
Harvey Pekar's Next-Door Neighbor
Story, with art by Rick Veitch, is up at Smith magazine
In the remote chance that you've foolishly passed up the opportunity to read the free online Next-Door Neighbor comics project at Smith magazine, here's a reminder that Harvey Pekar's contribution is up now.
The art -- a page of which is posted below -- is by Rick Veitch.
Sat Jul 19, 2008 — by Van Jensen
Superheroes Boost Hat Sales
New Era markets 'Dark Knight'
Back in the day, it was the cool thing to have a New Era cap of a sports team. I had one of the Chicago Bulls.
That trend has fallen off, though, and New Era is coming back by making an array of caps featuring not athletes but superheroes. The company previously had a deal with Marvel, but now they're working with DC, as of this week.
Further evidence that comics is the "in" thing, I suppose.
Part of this latest comics push is connected to this weekend's release of The Dark Knight, the new Batman movie. Over at New Era, they're running a special promotion for the flick.
One can only wonder if people who jump on the superhero apparel bandwagon are also jumping into comics.
Sat Jul 19, 2008 — by Van Jensen
'Dark Knight' Sets Midnight Record
Huge early box office returns for Batman sequel
Extimators are already guessing at Dark Knight's opening take, figuring on an opening north of Iron Man's $100 million-plus first weekend in May. Variety reports:
Based on the enormity of tracking and advance ticket sales, "Dark Knight" has a shot at opening as high as "Dead Man’s Chest," although anything over $100 million would be a big win. "Dead Man’s Chest" presently sports the second-best opening on record after that of "Spider-Man 3," which nabbed $151.1 million over the May 4-6 weekend last year.
It's off to an excellent start after the Thursday midnight opening. According to the main story on CNN.com, the film set a record for midnight openings.
The film already has the biggest midnight debut ever, with tracking firm Media By Numbers reporting "Dark Knight" made $18.5 million at its midnight showings alone. That breaks the record of $16.9 million held by "Star Wars Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith."
During a survey of people who buy tickets through Fandango.com, 38 percent of those who are working said they would be taking either some time or the day off to see the movie.
The movie was expected to be shown on 9,400 screens in a record-breaking 4,366 theaters for its opening, according to its studio, Warner Bros.
Fri Jul 18, 2008 — by Van Jensen
Black Canary Barbie: Offensive?
Some balk at hip-high fishnets
We may finally have the next Mary Jane's exposed thong statue. Apparently some people are getting bent out of shape about the new Black Canary Barbie, which you can see at right.
The Sun, a paper in the UK, ran a story under the header "S&M Barbie is lashed by the public."
Makers Mattel say Black Canary Barbie, out in September, is based on a DC comic superhero of the same name.
But religious group Christian Voice said: “Barbie has always been on the tarty side and this is taking it too far.
A children’s doll in sexually suggestive clothing is irresponsible – it’s filth.”
Let's just go ahead and put the brakes on the outrage train right there. This is one group of people who know nothing of the context of the character and are offering a kneejerk opinion.
Someone please send Christian Voice a copy of All Star Batman and Robin so they can see what actual filth is.
Fri Jul 18, 2008 — by Van Jensen
Alan Moore Talks About 'League,' 'Watchmen'
'Moore simply wants to be left alone'
Alan Moore talks movies over at Entertainment Weekly, and -- surprise, surprise -- he remains not so thrilled about the adaptations of his work.
Here's a particularly good exchange on his falling-out with DC:
Has Warner Bros. tried to contact you about Watchmen?
No, they've all been told not to. They get the message.... I don't want anyone who works for DC comic books to contact me ever again, or I'll change my number.... And I only started to get upset when I found out they [DC Comics] were trying to rob me of a couple thousand pounds. It was over the Watchmen merchandising back in the '80s, and they kind of eventually said, Oh, yeah, I suppose you do deserve this money. But by that time the damage was done. The only reason I ended up working for them again, during the ABC period from '99-'04, [was because] I had already signed the contracts. [Editor's note: DC Comics President and Publisher Paul Levitz responds: ''We've had our disagreements with Alan over the years, but we remain great fans of his talent and would be happy to work with him in the future if he's ever inclined.'']
It's a massive interview, five pages, and covers an array of other topics as well film properties. Here's some background on his upcoming League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century, which will be published next year by Top Shelf:
The first book surrounds the coronation of King George, which was also the time The Threepenny Opera was set, a comet was passing overhead, and there was a general feeling of dread in the air. We're also focusing on the occult fictions written around the time...[like] Aleister Crowley's [1917] book, Moonchild, where the protagonists are attempting to create a magically produced child that is going to usher in a new era. [Protagonist] Mina and her associates are trying to stop this from happening. The second book [revolves around] that sort of peculiar 1960s melding of pop-star psychedelic lifestyles, fashionable interest in occultism, and to some degree, at least in London, crime. We've got it all centered around a big rock concert at Hyde Park. Running all the way through this is the continuing threat of the production of a magical child who, by this time, we are fairly certain, is the Antichrist. That second book ends very badly. And they're not having a lot of luck. The third part is set in 2008 when, basically, the League is in pieces — barely exists anymore — and this turns out to be the time at which the Antichrist project finally pays off, and this magical child finally manifests in quite a terrifying form.
Fri Jul 18, 2008 — by Van Jensen
Work Starts on 'Wanted' Sequel
Producer Marc Platt signs big deal
Word from Variety is that a sequel to the Wanted film is already under development, with producer Marc Platt and director Timur Bekmambetov at work on the property.
And word is he has another couple comics properties in the works. From Variety:
Proceeding at quicker pace is "Wanted 2," though Platt acknowledged that the creative team is still working on the challenge of continuing the story after most of the principal characters -- including Angelina Jolie -- ended the original in no position for an encore. But the film was designed as a potential franchise, Langley said, and it is still performing strongly after grossing $192.6 million worldwide. The intention is to get James McAvoy back into gunslinging mode. ...
That duo also is teamed with Bekmambetov on a Universal adaptation of the Christian Gossett sci-fi graphic novel "The Red Star," which has a script draft by Matthew Sand.
Platt, who just received a contract extension from Universal Pictures, also is reported to be attached to the Scott Pilgrim movie.
Fri Jul 18, 2008 — by Van Jensen
'Watchmen' Trailer *Really* Online
Empire and Apple hosting first look
After yesterday's rush of the possibly accidental early release of the first Watchmen trailer -- followed by a flurry of pirated trailers -- we finally have two official ways to legally watch the trailer. Whew.
As our own Rick Marshall told you yesterday, Empire Online has the video on its Web site, which you can view right here.
Additionally, the Apple movie trailer site has the same video, and for me it was loading quite a bit faster this morning than Empire's version.
You can also check out some stills from the trailer right here at ComicMix.
Meanwhile, over at Slashfilm there's a bevy of Watchmen news, including insights from director Zack Snyder about the trailer. One cool note is how he had to digitally change a gun to a walkie-talkie, an homage to E.T.
They also have the cover to the Watchmen Entertainment Weekly, which you can see above.
What did you think of the trailer?
Fri Jul 18, 2008 — by Van Jensen
A Page from Okla. Pol's Offensive Comic
A county commissioner's last gasp
Earlier today I told you about the Oklahoma County commissioner who was mailing out a pretty offensive comic book to voters in a last-ditch effort to keep his job amid scandal.
Today I bring you a page from his endeavor, which says the commissioner's challengers are in league with homosexuals and Satan, among others. This also might be the first time anyone anywhere has used the phrase "liberal good ol' boy."
The entire comic is available as a pdf at the Tulsa World newspaper's Web site.
Fri Jul 18, 2008 — by Van Jensen
Random Video: 'Dark Knight' Deleted Scene
'Batman blew up my car'
Funny or Die is joining in on the Dark Knight madness, posting the below "deleted scene" from the film. It's pretty funny stuff, and discerning viewers will catch that the two stars both appeared in the first season of Flight of the Conchords.
Fri Jul 18, 2008 — by Van Jensen
Okla. Politician Mails Harsh Comic to Voters
Says 'gays' and Satan out to get him
Here's some bizarre comics news for you: an Oklahoma County commissioner is trying to keep his office amid allegations of financial wrongdoing, and his latest effort is to mail out a comic book to voters.
That comic book, according to this article in the Oklahoman newspaper, alleges that Commissioner Brent Rinehart is being pushed out of office by good ol' boys, homosexuals and the ruler of hell.
The 16-page comic book makes fun of homosexuals and criticizes Rinehart's political opponents. It features a man and woman admiring Rinehart's often-controversial political career.
Other prominent characters are an angel, who supports Rinehart, and Satan, who supports Rinehart's critics.
"It's more or less a story of my experiences of the last four years of being the county commissioner of District 2,” Rinehart said.
Interesting stuff, sure, but the real kicker is this brilliant quote:
"This is one of the strangest things I've ever seen,” said Keith Gaddie, a political science professor at the University of Oklahoma. "I've never seen a comic book with the phrase ‘anal sodomy' in it before. That was a new one for me.”
The newspaper didn't offer any images of the comic, so I have nothing to post. Anyone out there who finds a copy and sends it to me (van [dot] jensen [at] comicmix [dot] com) will be my best friend for life.
Thu Jul 17, 2008 — by Van Jensen
'New Frontier' Earns Emmy Nomination
Adaptation of Darwyn Cooke's comic is among contenders
The Emmy nominations are here, and the Justice League: The New Frontier animated movie is among the contenders.
The direct-to-DVD adaptation of Darwyn Cooke's retro comics series is nominated as an animated program at least an hour long.
Competition is all surprisingly nerd-friendly fare: South Park and Family Guy.
Thu Jul 17, 2008 — by Van Jensen
Review: This Week in 'Trinity' #7
Your weekly dose of DC's big three
This issue is titled "A third symbol now..." but a more accurate one would be "OK, so here's exactly what's going on."
For six issues, Trinity was a fairly opaque book, with several seemingly disparate storylines and a completely mysterious large threat -- the one screaming "Let me out!" in issue one.
What do we know now?
All the "disturbances" from issue two are an unknown form of primal energy. "Creation energies." The heroes quickly put two and two together and check on Krona, that Oan who tried to manipulate the beginning of the universe and accidentally created the multiverse (check out Crisis on Infinite Earths
Later in the book, it's revealed that Krona is in fact the mysterious shouter of "Let me out!" that the trinity has been hearing. And, it's a bit hard to decipher, but it appears that he's getting close to escaping from the cosmic egg, if he hasn't already.
The heroes are gathered to talk about all the goings on. They figure out the rash of museum robberies has all been to obtain wands, swords, pentacles and cups, which happen to be the four suits of the Tarot. Which leads them to Tarot, the girl who was kidnapped last issue by Morgaine Le Fey's monsters.
They also have a third symbol appearing on Wonder Woman's scar. The three are ancient Egyptian symbols: Strength, the high priestess and the world. Three symbols tied to our three heroes.
