Author: Rick Marshall

Networks Tighten Belts, Cut Pilots

Networks Tighten Belts, Cut Pilots

  • News
  • January 23, 2008

Television networks are drastically reducing the number of pilots scheduled for production this year, according to statements issued in the last few days by many of the major networks. An elimination of pilots and reduction in the number of new script orders was announced by several networks recently, with each of the statements citing a need to cut costs due to the writers’ strike.

According to Variety, CBS announced that it had dropped several scripts due to the work stoppage late last week, while 20th Century Fox and CW announced this week that they were each dropping 8-12 pilots from their upcoming production schedules.

"Due to the ongoing work stoppage, the CW will be taking a more targeted approach to what is certain to be a truncated pilot season," the [network] said in a statement released Tuesday. "As a result, we are releasing some scripts that had been in development in order to dedicate our creative energy and resources to those projects we choose to pursue."

 

(more…)

Creating the Annihilation: Conquest Covers

Creating the Annihilation: Conquest Covers

  • News
  • January 23, 2008

Sure, we heard about this whole Civil War thing that was going on in the Marvel Universe a while back, but as far as we’re concerned, that was small potatoes compared with the epic, universe-spanning shenanigans occurring throughout the Annihilation saga.

Okay, so Civil War left Captain America on a slab and Spider-Man unmasked. We’ll give you that, because they were all big deals at the time, but we challenge you to come up with a bigger event than the Annihilation Wave strapping Galactus to a freakin’ spaceship and using him as a gun, people! Seriously!

… But we digress.

Where were we again? Ah, yes, we were about to direct your attention to this great behind-the-scenes peek at the creation of the Annihilation: Conquest covers. The feature includes plenty of art from both cover artist Aleksi Briclot and Conquest editor Bill Rosemann, the mastermind behind the whole Annihilation event, and it serves as a great "director’s commentary" of sorts for both the storyline and the creative process.

"For the first cover, which I created for the Conquest Prologue, Bill gave me a lot of art suggestions (Joan d’Arc in space, a cinematographic and epic feeling, movies references…)," Briclot recalled. "Over time he also sent me new character concept art (all designed by Marko Djurdjevic), work in progress pages and lots of ideas. Then it was the usual process for each of those covers: sharing ideas and notes via e-mail, making some early quick sketches, a new discussion step, choosing the final content of each covers… Then it was up to me, polishing each picture and trying to produce the most impressive and attractive cover illustrations."

J’Onn J’Onzz, Martian Manhunter, Marked For Death?

J’Onn J’Onzz, Martian Manhunter, Marked For Death?

  • News
  • January 23, 2008

After Rich Johnston named J’Onn J’Onzz and Aquaman among the characters slated for termination in DC’s Final (Infinite Countdown to Identity Earths) Crisis event, creator Michael Netzer has begun a campaign to save the green-skinned shapeshifter.

Netzer has drafted a letter to DC and posted it on his website along with a petition to save the character and testimonials from comics fans. He’s even created several banners and other images to promote the cause.

Right around the middle of the letter, he even offers up his creative services as the character’s future caretaker:

And so… in the spirit of the image I produced to illustrate this plea, I’d like to offer my services as an artist to help revive the Martian Manhunter again, as I did back in 1977, and prevent the possibility of his untimely death… and to do it within an upcoming project of your choice for DC Comics.

While neither the certainty of J’Onn’s death nor the ability to halt any existing plans for his demise at this point are certain, there’s something to be said for the support the character is receiving from Netzer and other fans. On the flip side, a quick Google for "Save Aquaman" campaigns doesn’t seem to register any hits.

 

First Photos From the Wolverine Set

First Photos From the Wolverine Set

  • News
  • January 22, 2008

SuperheroHype.com has posted some of the first photos from the set of the upcoming X-Men spin-off project, X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

The two photos depict what looks to be a work-in-progress production office in Queenstown, where filming is taking place, as well as a log cabin overlooking Lake Wakatipu. (Logan’s secluded cabin by the lake, perhaps?)

The 20th Century Fox film is directed by Gavin Hood and stars Hugh Jackman and Liev Schreiber. The film is scheduled to open May 1, 2009.

Jeph Loeb Talks Ultimates 3.2

Jeph Loeb Talks Ultimates 3.2

  • News
  • January 22, 2008

With the second issue of Ultimates 3 set to hit shelves this week, series writer Jeph Loeb spoke with ComicBookResources about what’s to come for  Marvel’s modern-day Avengers and provided a peek at some of the interior art for the issue.

According to the preview art, the tragic events of the second volume of Ultimates might have taken their toll on the psyche of the superteam’s sharpshooter, much to the frustration of Spider-Man.

“I wouldn’t put anything past Hawkeye at this point,” Loeb remarked. “As a far better writer than I once put it, ‘A man without Hope is a Man without Fear!’”

 

 

Interview with Blank Label Comics

Interview with Blank Label Comics

  • News
  • January 22, 2008

Mustachioed maverick Gary Tyrrell over at Fleen.com points us to a fun, insightful roundtable discussion on ComixTalk with the six webcomic creators who make up Blank Label Comics. The interview blends questions from readers with some additional questions from the ComixTalk staff, and touches upon the difficulties of promoting your webcomic, the advantages of forming a collective and the solidarity of going pantsless. (Yes, you read that last bit correctly.) It’s as funny as it is enlightening… seriously.

ComixTalk: If I do the math right (and that’s not necessarily a good bet) BLC will be entering its third year this coming February. What’s different now than when you started this group and are there any lessons you can pass on to others just starting out together.

Greg:I think we’re all just a bit wiser, mostly. We’ve managed to really learn some of the ways we can make this (cartooning) work for us, and we’re helping each other accomplish those goals very well.

Southworth: As I said, there’s always room for more spooning.

Paul T.: I learned not to eat convention hot dogs.

Transformers, Star Trek and Doctor Who: Talking IDW in ’08

Transformers, Star Trek and Doctor Who: Talking IDW in ’08

  • News
  • January 22, 2008

How did we love IDW in 2007? Let us count the ways:

1. The kickoff of their new Star Trek comics

2. The first collection of Terry and the Pirates strips

3. The big-screen debut of 30 Days of Night

4. The announcement that they would be publishing comics based on the BBC series Doctor Who

5. Transformers, Transformers, Transformers

6. …

You know what? We’re probably better off just pointing you to this interview with IDW Publisher Chris Ryall over at ComicBookResources.com, explaining the company’s editorial philosophy and what they have in store for ’08.

Bendis, Brevoort on Marvel’s Secret Invasion

Bendis, Brevoort on Marvel’s Secret Invasion

  • News
  • January 22, 2008

Over at IGN.com, Marvel scribe Brian Bendis and editor Tom Brevoort discuss the House of Ideas’ plans for ’08, including the "trust us, it’s bigger than the  last event" Secret Invasion storyline set to rock the Marvel Universe in a few months.

If you believe the hype,  the real-world frights of Joe McCarthy’s hunt for Closet Communists will pale in comparison to the terror of Secret Skulls in the Marvel U. But just in case you need a little more convincing, the duo provided some covers from the eight-issue miniseries that forms the foundation of the storyline. The covers include an occasional homage to well-known Avengers issues, featuring green-chinned dopplegangers of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

Bendis: It’s definitely the biggest thing I’ve ever written in scope, but if you include the Avengers tie-ins as part of the story (and I do –laughs- ) its also the biggest story I’ve ever written period. It is the same size as Civil War as far as ramifications and amount of characters involved, but it’s a different animal in every other sense. It’s a different type of genre and it’s something we’ve been building to over years.

Middleman Set Photos

  • News
  • January 22, 2008

Javier Grillo-Marxuach has posted some early photos from the set of the The Middleman, the TV adaptation of his Viper Comics series.

The photos were taken during filming of the pilot episode, and feature the cast of much of the film’s lead roles, including Matt Keeslar as "The Middleman."

Ghost Rider, FF Among 2007’s Worst Films?

Ghost Rider, FF Among 2007’s Worst Films?

  • News
  • January 21, 2008

Reuters reports that nominations were announced today for the 28th Annual Golden Raspberry Awards, highlighting the worst performances, pairings and other elements from the list of films released in 2007. Big-screen adaptations of comics found their way into the nomination list once again, with Nicolas Cage earning a nod in the "Worst Actor" category for Ghost Rider, while Jessica Alba received a "Worst Actress" nomination for her portrayal of Sue Storm in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

Also nominated for a Razzie was Bratz, a live-action film based on the popular series of toys and produced by former Marvel Studios chairman Avi Arad. Prior to the film’s release, Arad described Bratz as "X-Men for girls."

Previous recipients of the "Golden Razzie" award include 2004’s Catwoman (seven nominations, four wins) and 2005’s Bloodrayne (six nominations, no wins).

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