Tagged: Los Angeles

‘Iron Man 2’ Auction to Support Cancer Charity

‘Iron Man 2’ Auction to Support Cancer Charity

  • News
  • September 9, 2008

Marvel Comics is continuing its support of Stand Up To Cancer by offering an Iron Man 2 Vip Package over at eBay. Similar to the just concluded Spider-Man 4 auction, the winner and a guest will receive:

A one day visit to the set, a walk on part documented by the unit photographer, tickets to the Los Angeles premiere of the film in April 2010 and a chance to walk the red carpet. 

Earlier today, the bidding was in excess of $5000 and the auction ends on September 15.

Canadians in Comics: An A-Z Guide

Canadians in Comics: An A-Z Guide

  • News
  • August 14, 2008

Over at Hypergeek, newly citizen-ized Edward Kaye has decided to celebrate his Canadian residency by profiling comic book creators who also hail from areas north of U.S. border. That in itself is an ambitious project fur sure, but he’s doing it in A-Z form. He kicked it off yesterday with a look at the career of Adrian Alphona, co-creator of Marvel’s teen superteam Runaways.

Adrian Alphona is known for his intricate linework, incredible grasp of the human figure, as well as a good understanding of teen fashion. Many fans of Runaways have commented that the characters actually look like people you could find in Los Angeles, the city which provides the primary setting for the title.

A-Z of Canadian Comic Book Creators looks to continue with 25 more profiles of north-of-the-border comics people, so now it’s time to start taking bets on whether he’ll be able to find that many Canadian creators with the appropriate letters in their names.

No pressure, Edward, no pressure…

The Day The Earth Moved, by Michael Davis

The Day The Earth Moved, by Michael Davis

  • News
  • August 1, 2008

I had a particularly bad day after the San Diego Comic Con was over. I don’t feel like sharing nor do I feel like writing about it. There are times when I don’t trust myself with my Mac and I fear whatever I write at those times would come back to haunt me. It’s like they say, never go shopping for food when you are hungry. I’ve done that and come home with 60 boxes of Twinkies.

I will allow myself to write when I’m mad about some injustice or something stupid, but when I’m sad or remorseful I’d rather just go with something I have in the can. When I first got the ComicMix gig I wrote a bunch of random articles to be used in case I was on vacation, sick or in case I had to deal with something on a personal level that required my time.

So, yesterday there was an earthquake that hit 5.4 on the Richter scale here in Los Angeles. What follows is a now-timely piece I wrote over a year ago when Mike Gold first offered me the ComicMix gig…

Why in the Hell do I live in Los Angeles? I hate it here. I hate the restaurants, I hate the fake people, I hate the what do you do and how much do you make and what car do you drive mentality that seems to resonate in this city. I hate the fact that I joined a gym like a sheep and almost never went. What an idiot I am!

Me, Michael Davis, joining a goddamn gym?? AHHHHHH!! Why the Hell would I join a gym?? I’ll admit it I joined because everyone in L.A. belongs to a gym. I wanted to belong as well.

What the FISH was I thinking? I’m not in shape? Hell yeah I am, ROUND is a shape!

I don’t need a damn gym. If I want exercise I can simply do what any black man does in Los Angeles… run from the police.

When I realized that I was becoming like the very sheep I hated, I quit the gym. In the year I belonged I went MAYBE five times.

Some people think that the weather is what makes people stay in L.A. Let me tell you something: where I live, the temperature hit 116 last summer. It was SO HOT that my dogs don’t want to go outside. They said to me (YES, they actually SPOKE) “Let us use the bathroom inside. We will leave the seat down, we promise… woof.”

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Mystery Writer Gary Phillips Talks ‘High Rollers’

  • News
  • July 10, 2008

When I talked to mystery/crime novelist recently about his upcoming comic book series High Rollers, it came across very quickly just how much Phillips knows about his hometown of Los Angeles, where nearly all of his writing projects are set.

You can read that interview, in Publishers Weekly Comics Week, right here.

Now, Phillips is giving a sort of virtual tour of L.A. courtesy of Comic Book Resources, which has posted a video of Phillips visiting some of his favorite haunts in the city.

If you’re curious about High Rollers, read my review of the book in last week’s installment of the Weekly Haul.

 UPDATE: The video’s now on YouTube, which you can check out below.

George Takei Boldly Goes Where No Men Have Gone Before

George Takei Boldly Goes Where No Men Have Gone Before

  • News
  • June 17, 2008

George Takei, known for his roles on Star Trek and Heroes, as well as co-writing Star Trek comics with Peter David, was the first to pay $70 for a same-sex marriage license in West Hollywood early today. George is expected to marry his partner of 21 years, Brad Altman, on September 14th in Los Angeles. (We won’t know for sure until we get the invite.)

George was quoted as saying "it’s going to be the only day like this in our lives and it is the only day like this in the history of America." He also told reporters and a swelling crowd outside the West Hollywood city auditorium "may equality live long and prosper."

We wish the two of them continued happiness, and we’re calling dibs on being the ones to buy them the toaster oven.

Dreamworks to Adapt ‘The Damned’

  • News
  • April 15, 2008

Oni Press just landed a new movie deal, with Dreamworks picking up the rights to the series The Damned.

The comic, created by Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt, is set in Los Angeles during Prohibition and follows a detective who stumbles onto some supernatural weirdness while investigating a case.

The past couple months have been a Hollywood boon for Oni, with things moving forward on Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (likely starring Michael Cera) and Ben Stiller picking up the option on the upcoming The Return of King Doug.

Things have also been pretty busy for screenwriter David DiGilio. He’s been signed up to adapt The Damned for Dreamworks, and he’s already adapting the movie version of his comic book series North Wind, published by BOOM! Studios.

‘Manhunter’ to Return in June

‘Manhunter’ to Return in June

  • News
  • March 15, 2008

DC Comics’ Manhunter was originally cancelled with issue #25 in 2006. After an outpouring of protest from fans, DC resurrected the series for five more issues with the promise of more if the five were successful.

The series did well enough to extend its life, but the hiatus between issue #30 and #31 has been prolonged to say the least. In the meantime, Kate Spencer has been hanging out with the girls from Birds of Prey.

Following up on our DC Nation panel report, the long wait for Manhunter fans is finally over, as the title will resume shipping in June. Marc Andreyko returns as writer with Michael Gaydos serving as artist.

The recent solicitation for the first issue hints at a few of the new situations Kate Spencer will be getting into when Manhunter resumes:

Los Angeles is Manhunter’s town — so when Kate Spencer learns of the disappearance of hundreds of women along the Mexican border, she’s on the case both as law-breaking D.A. and costumed vigilante.

Meanwhile, Kate’s bloodline tie to the JSA returns to haunt her — and it looks like her sidekick’s most notorious supervillain ex-boss is doing the same to him.

Exclusive pages from the forthcoming issue can be viewed at Newsarama.

 

WGA Strike Cost to Los Angeles: $2.5 Billion

WGA Strike Cost to Los Angeles: $2.5 Billion

  • News
  • February 20, 2008

Today, the Hollywood Reporter has a story highlighting the economic effects the recently settled WGA strike has had on the local Los Angeles economy. Citing an Economic Forcast Report set to be released today by Jack Kyser, noted LA Economist and head of the LA Economic Development Corp, the article paints a somewhat grim picture of the post-strike LA economic situation.

Among the points made by Keyser in the 71-page report is that the strike, which started November 5 and was settled earlier this month, has already cost LA an estimated $2.5 billion in lost revenue. That figure includes lost wages from TV shows that were canceled and films that were put on hold as well as losses by a vast array of support services from, according to the article, "limo drivers to florists."

Kyser also suggested in the report that the cancellation of the Golden Globes alone resulted in a $60 million loss to the LA economy. In addition, other factors will contribute to the economic situation in LA including, according to the article, that leaders of the Screen Actors Guild are "talking tough," so there is growing concern they will go on strike after the union’s labor contract with the studios expires on June 30.

 

 
 

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War on Scientology?

War on Scientology?

  • News
  • February 3, 2008

Anybody who knows their ear from their elbow when it comes to the world and how ridiculous some of us can be knows how creepy the world of Scientology can be. Those who are unaware of this wacky world and missed the episode of South Park that explained it all, it’s a religion based on the writings of famed science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard and is practiced in nearly 5,000 churches by some of the most powerful people in the world in over 100 countries.

And of course, with how open and freely accessible the Internet is, there will always be people with two cents that scream up and down about how evil and/or crazy this religion and its followers may be. While most videos and news pieces posted online against the Church of Scientology can be categorized as hogwash and petty, one-sided arguments, a new group calling themselves “Anonymous” is making quite the ruckus against the church and some of its biggest followers.
 
It all started when a video was “leaked” onto YouTube of Tom Cruise in an interview talking about his beliefs and practices with the church. The video was taken down several times after complaints from the church stating the content infringed upon their copyrights. That didn’t seem to stop some users, case in point here.
 

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The Black Dahlia’s Anniversary

The Black Dahlia’s Anniversary

  • News
  • January 15, 2008

Today in 1947, the the body of Elizabeth Short was found in Leimert Park, Los Angeles. Perhaps unpleasant to admit, the savagely disfigured corpse of the girl, better known as the "Black Dahlia," did indeed provide inspiration for the latest Hollywood storytellers, video game artists and even credible contemporary writers.  Joyce Carole Oates used Short as a character in her novel, Blonde and the late John Gregory Dunne and his wife Joan Didion used the murder in their screenplay for the film, True Confessions.

Spoiler alert: Let’s not ignore the more obvious and well known inspired tale (can we really call it "inspired," though?), the recent flop, The Black Dahlia (starring Hillary Swank, Josh Hartnett and a hilariously creepy Fiona Shaw).  Always bring in the trusty Brits to nail the quirky bad-guy role, right? But seriously, Hillary Swank as a noir vixen? That’s stretching any audience’s suspension of disbelief–yet I digress. Lastly, Black Dahlia was also the name of a video game in which the player had to solve the mysery of Short’s death, and then beat the Nazis. OK, sure. Hey at least Dennis Hopper was a featured voice.

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