New ‘Doctor Who’ for Memorial Day weekend
It’s a holiday weekend, and you know what that means… new Doctor Who!
Okay, it’s an American holiday, not a British one… but that’s okay, we’ve got an American in it. Take look…
Tagged: British
Review: ‘Graphic Classics: Oscar Wilde’
Graphic Classics, Vol. 16: Oscar Wilde
Edited by Tom Pomplun
Eureka Productions, February 2009, $11.95
Graphic Classics has been adapting the work of famous dead authors – from H.P. Lovecraft to Rafael Sabatini – for at least five years, mostly focusing on the more popular (rather than literarily classy) writers. And that’s a good thing, since no one wants to see [[[Graphic Classics: Henry James]]]. (“The Face in the Carpet” is not nearly as exciting as the Lovecraft-style title might indicate.)
So this is the sixteenth volume in the series, which are all in the same vein: about 144 pages of comics adaptations of said dead writer’s work, usually with a few long adaptations and some shorter ones sprinkled in for spice. The creators involved are a mix of semi-familiar names and newer folks on their way up – this kind of project, obviously, doesn’t tend to attract top talent. (And is almost certainly better without the kind of compromises “top talent” requires.) Editor Tom Pomplun usually adapts at least one of the stories himself – and why shouldn’t he? It’s his series – and the adaptations sometimes tend to the talky, perhaps in an attempt to be slightly more educational.
(The series as a whole tries to walk the line between “good for you” and “good fun,” and individual stories fall on one side or the other of that divide, but I’ve found that the books as a whole generally are fun, if wordy. I’ve previously reviewed Bram Stoker, Mark Twain, and Fantasy Classics.)
ComicMix Politics: Zimbabwe’s Mugabe holding missing Dr. Who episodes?
This is a weird one. As you may know, Doctor Who has been running since 1963. A number of the earlier episodes are missing, because some bozo at the BBC decided to save money by destroying some old episodes to make room in their library, including a number of episodes starring the first two Doctors, William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton. Once they realized what had happened, massive searches got under way to find what was lost. But despite years of searching, the broadcaster is missing 108 of 752 episodes.
Well, according to the London Sun, it turns out there’s a place where a bunch of them could be– Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe bought the first season of the show when it was still the British colony known as Rhodesia. The BBC suspects the historic series, together with later episodes not held anywhere else in the world, may still be locked away in a vault.
So what’s the problem? The current leader of Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe, hates hates hates the British. Mugabe still blames their former colonial ruler Britain for its economic chaos, and last year called the British Government “thieving neo-colonialists”. President Mugabe has banned the BBC from setting foot in the country. On the other hand, Mugabe and Zimbabwe needs money, and there would be a lot of money in DVD sales if copies do exist.
So we’ll have to wait and see. One day, he may really come back after all…
ComicMix Quick Picks – February 18, 2009
Today’s list of quick items that don’t fill a full post on their own:
- Cartoon Network has committed to 26 episodes of Marvel Super Hero Squad, to begin broadcasting in late 2009.
- Apparently, the classic romantic comedy of manners is just not considered to be of sufficient interest anymore. First, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy were battling zombies; now, they’re facing an alien invasion. Where’s the reverse of this trend? When do they put “Mars Attacks—and Hosts an Afternoon Garden Party” on the schedule?
- The BBC plans to put Doctor Who on stage. (Wow, and it worked out so well for that other beloved British property, The Lord of the Rings. Heck, maybe Coraline will prove me wrong.)
- Dragonball purists will no doubt be disappointed to learn that Goku will be played by a 26-year-old in the live-action film Dragonball Evolution. However, fans of James Marsters—who’s portraying Goku’s foe, Lord Piccolo—are probably salivating at the slashy opportunities that this choice offers. Let’s face it, slash is a fine manga/anime tradition; plus, that episode of Buffy Season 6, in conjunction with that episode of Torchwood Season 2, suggest that Marsters is making a career of playing characters who confuse fighting with foreplay (and that’s definitely not a bad thing…).
- Cardiologist needed at the Satellite of Love (or its current equivalent), stat! Mike Nelson, formerly of MST:3K, now of RiffTrax, is spending the month of February on an all-bacon diet. He’s not allowed to add any sauces or condiments to the bacon, either, which seems an unwarranted restriction, because how can you go on an all-bacon diet without trying Bacon Explosion?
Anything else? Consider this an open thread.
Amy Goldschlager is an editor for FindingDulcinea.com.
‘No Heroics’ emigrates to US TV
Great, another British comics invasion, only this time it’s on television.
ABC, jazzed from its success transplanting Life On Mars, has okayed a single-camera comedy based on a British series called No Heroics about superheroes with limited powers hanging out in a bar. Jeff Greenstein (Will & Grace) wrote the pilot along with original show creator Drew Pearce. Heidi Macdonald reports:
The UK version is out on DVD for all you all-region peeps, and thanks to Mr. Pearce, we got to sample the show*, which, like many Britcoms, puts its hapless cast into worse and worse social situations where not all their powers can save them. The UK show was quite funny, and featured a zillion in-jokes for anyone who actually reads comics, as well as a dark view of the social pecking order among the long underwear set. Hopefully a Stateside version can retain both elements.
It’s an ABC Studios production. Funny how that works nowadays…
ComicMix Quick Picks – January 30, 2009
- From America’s Finest News Source: Obama Disappointed Cabinet Failed To Understand His Reference To ‘Savage Sword Of Conan’ #24
- This year, the Bunny’s bringing mango juice: Red Dwarf returns for a two-part Easter weekend special on British digital channel Dave.
- If talking mice are more to your taste than a talking Cat, you’ll be glad to know that the next Narnia film (The Voyage of the Dawn Treader), dropped by Disney, has been picked up by Fox.
- In the Unnecessary Sequels Department: “Eagle Eye” co-writer Travis Wright is working on a sequel to Blade Runner, even if no one wants to look at it.
- And speaking of sequels, Angelina Jolie is definitely out of the picture for the “Tomb Raider” reboot; blog rumors tapped Megan Fox to replace her, but she says she doesn’t want the role.
- Earlier this week, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced their noms for this year’s GLAAD media awards, and several sf/fantasy dramas made a proud showing. Both Torchwood and True Blood are up for Outstanding Drama Series; Ghost Whisperer, Supernatural and the American remake of Life on Mars each got a nod for Outstanding Individual Episode (in a series without a regular LGBT character).
Anything else? Consider this an open thread.
Amy Goldschlager is an editor for FindingDulcinea.com.
Entertainment rights on its last financial legs
We haven’t had a good, depressing, "the economy sucks and it’s even affecting my comics!" story in a while, but here’s a doozy: ICV2 reports that British company Entertainment Rights, which owns the video rights for Gumby, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Felix the Cat, She-Ra, Ghostbusters, The Lone Ranger, Lassie, Mr. Magoo, Rocky & Bullwinkle, Veggie Tales and a host of other characters, as well as the Filmation archives and the Turok video game, is running out of time to find new investment or an acquirer to avoid going out of business– and like everybody else, is scrambling. The company loaded up with debt when it bought Classic Media in 2006 and ran into loan trouble last year.
Among options being considered are hitting up existing stockholders for additional investment, a sale of the company, or new loans. It received an infusion of 13 million pounds from its main lender in December, which will carry the company through February. Expenses are also being cut, with a third of the company’s employees let go. Bad debt from the failure of British retailer Woolworths is also weighing on the company.
No word how this would affect the numerous movie deals in place with a number of their characters, including the Masters of the Universe film, or any other licensing deals in place.
Barrowman Warns ‘Torchwood’ Season 3 Softened for America
John Barrowman told the British press that season three of Torchwood, the five-part "Children of the Earth", was being slightly toned down out of concern for its American viewers.
"The next series is about Torchwood fighting the government rather than just aliens and is a lot darker,” Barrowman said. “Jack has to make a decision no parent – that’s a big hint — should have to make.
"We’re not swearing or doing anything close to the bone because it’s been a huge success in the US and the networks won’t accept it with all that stuff in it."
The actor, known for dropping trou at a moment’s notice, reassured listeners that "I’ll still be getting naked and it will still be saucy – but it’s done with taste. We’ll doing everything so it doesn’t have to be heavily edited for the US."
Barrowman added, "I love playing Captain Jack and if I could play him until I’m 90, I would. But I’d rather do a series of 10 or 13 episodes because it’s a lot of work for just five.”
Iris Wildthyme Back for Second Season in February
Big Finish, the British audio producer, announced this week that four new Doctor Who pastiches will be released featuring their own character, Iris Wildthyme. She was created by writer Paul Magrs and she’s described as “Bracing the temporal winds in her trusty bus and accompanied by the ever-loyal Panda (a ten inch tall stuffed bear), Iris travels from the depths of space to the gates of Wonderland and beyond. Iris and Panda will bamboozle and befuddle a host of new friends and enemies while always having time to mix a sharp Gin and Tonic.”
Katy Manning, a former companion of The Doctor, will reprise her role as the voice of Iris in this second season of adventures. David Benson also returns as the voice of Panda.
The new season kicks off in February with The Sound of Fear, written by Mark Michalowski. “Iris and Panda encounter the deadly Naxians aboard space station Radio Yesterday, along with Iris’s ex-husband, Sam.”
The second installment, Land of Wonder, from Magrs, features “Iris exiled to Earth and working with top-secret organization MIAOW to investigate dark happenings in the Underground.”
Simon Guerrier writes The Two Irises and “Panda has not only the return of the Naxians to deal with, but there’s a new Iris aboard the bus – an Iris who is decidedly male…”
The concluding escapade will be Mark Margs’ The Panda Invasion. “As San Francisco celebrates the millennium, Iris must save the world from destruction, while Panda faces his evil twin, and all because somebody spilt their gin and tonic…”
Big Finish intends to release the four dramas as single CDs, available monthly beginning in February, or a single box set.
Liquid Comics Rises from Virgin’s Ashes
In a press release today, Virgin Comics annnounces it has been transformed into Liquid Comics:
"Liquid Comics has completed the management buyout of Virgin Comics led by the founding management team of Gotham Chopra, Sharad Devarajan and Suresh Seetharaman. Liquid Comics will continue to develop innovative digital, film, animation, and gaming projects for its original character, stories and other properties.
"Commenting on the change, Sharad Devarajan said, ‘Virgin Group has been a fantastic partner with whom to work and together we have established a strong foundation of great character properties and media partnerships. We remain fully committed to continuing our mission to provide a home for innovative creators and storytellers across the world.’
Virgin Group senior vice president of corporate development Dan Porter added, ‘The management team has a track record of great relationships with artists and media partners. Under this new ownership structure, the company is well positioned for future growth in the rapidly changing global comic space. As Virgin Group focuses on its core activities in North America, we wish them well in building their exciting business’
Founded in 2005, Virgin Comics is a character entertainment company that has forged partnerships with Warner Brothers, New Regency, Sony Online Entertainment, Sci Fi Channel, Studio 18, UTV and others. Under the new Liquid Comics name, the management team plans to proceed with a number of the projects previously announced as Virgin Comics and will make announcements shortly regarding those projects and the restructured launch dates."
At present, the website merely has a digital version of one of their titles and their press release.
Over at the comics blog of the Los Angeles Times, Geoff Boucher wrote, "I exchanged e-mails this morning with Gotham Chopra (who is the son of author Deepak) and he told me about some other things coming up that I will be able to share with you soon. Essentially, though, my sense is that he, publisher Sharad Devarajan and their team have lost the corporate backing of Branson’s sprawling Virgin empire (which is grappling with the grim financial realities of the day) but that they were in comic-book business before they had Branson as a partner and they will solider now without the British conglomerate."
By relocating operations to Los Angeles, they can more closely follow the film development of properties already optioned while regrouping.
