Tagged: Universe

Monday Mix-Up: Toy Story / Fight Club

Monday Mix-Up: Toy Story / Fight Club

With Toy Story 3 on it’s way to theaters soon, we thought we’d treat you to a lil’ mashup that puts a new light on our favorite characters. In an alternate universe where Woody just isn’t happy with himself, or the life that he leads, one man can make it all change. Tyler Lightyear, space soap salesmen, helps our hero find his inner strength. How? By hitting the bottom of the toy chest of course. You
buy a toy. You tell yourself, this is the last toy I will ever
need in my life. Buy the toy, then for a couple days you’re
satisfied that no matter what goes wrong, at least you’ve got your toy
issue handled. Then the right set of warrior accessories. Then the perfect videogame. The mint-in-box collectors ring. The Battle Ravaged Chase Variant. Then you’re trapped in your lovely nest, and the things you used to own, now they own you. It’s only after you lose everything that you’re free to do anything.

Now feel free to enjoy the clip!

Crisis On Infinite Archies

 

 

We all know that Marvel has their Marvel Universe and their Ultimate Universe, and we know that DC has 52 different universes all in
constant flux, but did you know that Archie Comics – yes, Archie Comics – started three more brand new universes in the past
several months?

That brings their total up to at least five; six if you count the one that DC has been renting for a while. There’s the ongoing America’s Typical Teen-Ager universe and there’s their new-look more up-to-date and somewhat more realistic universe. To this they have added a universe in which their 1950s characters such as Super Duck and Cosmo The Merry Martian
live – they crossed over into the mainstream universe this past winter – and now they’re adding a universe in which Archie married Betty and another in which Archie married Veronica.

Yep, they’re adding two on-going spinoffs to Michael Uslan’s recent “what if” story arc wherein Archie married each of his long-time girl friends. No, no… separately, kids, separately. The new books are titled (get this) Archie Loves Veronica and Archie Loves Betty. Heck, I used to think Archie loved them both. Separately, kids, separately.

I don’t know if those last two will have legs, although Betty and Veronica certainly do. But right now they’re quite timely.

Over the many years, Archie Comics has shown a many attempts at very creative and sometimes even courageous projects, although most lasted only briefly. Given their newfound editorial prerogatives, can we expect Senator Reggie Mantle, Mister Lodge’s Ponzi Schemes and, ultimately, Archie’s Divorce Comics?… And, as we suggested in our own Munden’s Bar, maybe even Archie Marries Jughead?

Well, progress is one thing, and blasphemy is quite another.

Now I’m an Avenger Too… Part 4

Now I’m an Avenger Too… Part 4

“Finally a universe free of homages! Hi guys, Mark Grayson here, and I’m sure glad to accept this invitation to join the Avengers. I just hope you’re not controlled by the government. I’ve had issues with them in the past. I looked through your previous roster, and it seems like you’re pretty alien friendly too. That’s a good feeling.”

“My buddy Robert didn’t want me to come over here. He said things would be “too easy…”. He said I should stick to playing in my own sandbox (whatever that means…). But he says a lot of stuff that I swear I’ve heard before.”

“Meh. Never mind all that. Show me where I should start punching!”

‘Firefly’ Universe Mapped

‘Firefly’ Universe Mapped

Browncoats are Firefly fans and some fans seem to go to extremes to show their appreciation for the Joss Whedon series which lasted a mere season on Fox.

One group of fans has named themselves the Firefly Ship Works and have devoted countless hours to studying the series in minute detail.  They’ve done schematics for the Firefly-class ship that the cast traveled aboard and now they have unveiled their map of the universe, including all the planets visited and mentioned on the series and the film Serenity.

According to their website, “our goal is to create reliable, flexible and affordable transport for you and yours, as you endeavor to reach vistas unseen and wilderness yet to be tamed. As such, we have put together this Cortex Wave Server (CWS) to keep you informed of our efforts to create the ‘Verse’s first and only screen-accurate Firefly Series 3, the Serenity Artisan Replica.”
 

Crisis on Infinite Mortal Kombat

Crisis on Infinite Mortal Kombat

We’ve seen a lot of cool gameplay footage showing the combat, villainous fatalities, and heroic brutalities for Midway’s upcoming Mortal Kombat Versus DC Universe. But we’ve only heard scattered reports about the story, which was massaged by comic writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray. Well an official trailer has been released.

It bears a striking similarity to DC Comics’ Crisis on Infinite Earths and Infinite Crisis. Mysterious force is causing two universes to merge. Champions and villains team-up to protect their reality but try to figure out what is going on. But really, is there any other way to do an inter-company crossover without the corny ‘pretending they’ve lived in the same universe all along’ route? “I’ve heard of you. Surprised we haven’t crossed paths before.”

Superman addresses the power difference problem some fans questioned. After getting kicked by Scorpion he mutters distastefully, “Magic.”

Also a nice sequence showing Superman laying the smack down on Chinese thunder god Raiden. Best watch your mouth Thor, unless you want some of that.

DeCandido Returns to ‘Farscape’

DeCandido Returns to ‘Farscape’

Saavy readers of Previews may have already picked up on this bit of news, but BOOM! sent out a release to ensure everyone was aware that Rockne O’Bannon was getting som ehelp turning Farscape into a comic book.  Here’s the release:

September 4th, 2008 – Los Angeles, CA – BOOM! Studios and The Jim Henson Company announced today that Keith R.A. DeCandido will be scripting the  Farscape miniseries from an original story by Farscape creator Rockne O’Bannon.

Using O’Bannon’s unique vision and richly detailed story, DeCandido will work with BOOM! Studios and The Jim Henson Company to bring fans the best comic this or any universe has ever seen!

Keith R.A. DeCandido has authored more than 30 novels, among them, the acclaimed  Farscape novel House of Cards, released in 2001. DeCandido also wrote three short stories in that universe for the show’s official magazine and role-playing game.

"Words cannot describe how thrilled I am to be returning to  Farscape. Writing House of Cards was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my career, and I was always sorry I didn’t get to do more work in the universe," said DeCandido.  "Re-immersing myself in the wild and wacky world of FARSCAPE has been a true joy, as the show remains just as brilliant in 2008 as it was at the turn of the century.

(more…)

Tom Cruise Considers “Sleeper” Adaptation

Tom Cruise Considers “Sleeper” Adaptation

The Hollywood Reporter recently indicated that Tom Cruise has taken a fancy to Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ gritty superhero-noir series Sleeper, and seems inclined to set the adaptation project up at Warner Bros. with Sam Raimi tagged as producer. Cruise has been "loosely" attached to star in the big-screen version of the DC/Wildstorm title, which was one of the more adult-fare comics to come out of the publisher in recent years.

However, with all of the hub-bub surrounding the Warner Bros. adaptation of Watchmen these days, THR reports that the studio is being meticulous with its pursuit of the rights to Sleeper.

Even if Cruise opts not to do "Sleeper," his interest in the project is propelling it forward, despite complicated rights issues that must be sorted out. Raimi and Donen have long been fans of the book, and the project could have found homes at Sony and Regency if those issues hadn’t been so complex.

"Sleeper" takes place in the same publishing universe as other Wildstorm books, and integrally featured characters from the company’s flagship title "WildC.A.T.s" as well as characters from another book, "Gen 13."

Here’s an aspect of the story that’s also of note — apparently, Sleeper isn’t the only Wildstorm title being considered for adaptation:

Both "WildC.A.T.s" and "Gen 13" had been set up at different places around town and some of those deals were made before DC bought the imprint in 1999.

It’s a tangled web for sure, but of all the series being optioned lately, this one seems like an entirely viable story for the big screen. Although one has to wonder whether they’ll tone down the high level of violence and sexual themes in the story… and if so, will it still pack the punch that made it a favorite of so many readers (including myself)?

Skrull Marketing Department Invades Twitter

Skrull Marketing Department Invades Twitter

You have to hand it to Marvel Comics’ online marketing crew. From the viral success of their MySpace "Home Invasion" video series to a Twitter presence that seems to grow exponentially every day, the Merry Marvel Marketing team seems to be firing on all cylinders (or whatever the digital equivalent might be) these days. Their latest foray into the online world is a Twitter user going by the name of "Embrace Change" — a very green user, with some distinguishing features around the chin area.

Here are some of the observations offered up by Embrace Change today:

We have traveled across the universe to save you from yourselves.

We’re not here to hurt you. We’re here to save you.

While I applaud the original art that Marvel seems to have created for the Twitter profile of Embrace Change (I’ve posted the user image here), thus far the account doesn’t appear to be much different from the multitude of Twitter-spam marketing ‘bots out there. It features random cryptic remarks about the Skrull’s mission on Earth, and appears to be following every Twitter user whose profile it comes across. Heck, if you substitute the whole "Skrull’s mission on Earth" part of that last sentence with "profitability of an ambiguous moneymaking scheme," you’ve got a pretty good description of the last dozen-or-so spammers I’ve blocked on my own Twitter account.

An "A" for effort, though, Marvel crew… consider my interest piqued.