Tagged: X-Men

New ‘Wolverine’ Set Photos Appear Online

New ‘Wolverine’ Set Photos Appear Online

  • News
  • March 5, 2008

Another day, another photo (or 10) from the upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie. Previously, there’s been the first official photo from the movie, a few set photos and a cool Wolverine pic for you to enjoy. Now, thanks to celeb photographer Just Jared, there’s a lot more behind-the-scene from the film photos to bring you today.

Over at the site you can see some of the fist pics of a bulked-up Liev Schreiber as Sabretooth and, of course, some more shots of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine — all taken during what appears to be a break in filming at the Sydney, Australia set of the movie. There’s also a few pics showing the make-up department touching-up Schreiber’s Sabretooth claws and a close-up of the claws as well.

Seeing these latest pics had me asking some of the same questions as a few of the commentors at the site. For example, how will the movie explain the size difference between Schreiber as Sabretooth in this film and Tyler Mane in X-Men? Also, what’s up with Schreiber’s hair? Isn’t Sabretooth a blonde?

I’m sure these questions will all get answered once the film hits theaters May 1, 2009.

 

Revised Diamond Sales Figures for January Released

Revised Diamond Sales Figures for January Released

  • News
  • March 4, 2008

Computers are one of the greatest inventions of all time. I love ’em. They make so many things possible and help us get things done more easily and efficiently. In fact, if it wasn’t for computers, you woudn’t be able to enjoy all the great content right here at ComicMix.

Unfortunately, computers can also occassionally make mistakes. Case in point the most recent sales figures for comic books, graphic novels and other periodicals for January. Apparently, there was a technical glitch in the Diamond Comics Distributors’ computer system which resulted in elevated sales figures for comics, graphics novels and other periodicals.

According to ICv2, this glitch has now been corrected and the sales figures adjusted. The new figures reveal a much different picture of sales for January. Some of the biggest differences were that instead of the previously reported 7% gain in comic book sales, it was only 1%. Graphic novels had an even bigger discrepency, with actual gains of only 3% instead of the relatively unrealistic 17% previously reported.

Even with the corrected figures, the news wasn’t all bad. Nine comic book titles, including Hulk #1, Captain America #34 and Astonishing X-Men #24, sold over 100,000 copies in January, which was up three from December’s total of six. And, periodical sales were slightly higher than the previously strong figures from January of 2007, which was considered a very successful month at the time.

If you’re curious about how well your favorite comic books and graphic novels actually sold and what the top ones in each category were, check these out:

The "Top 300 comic books in January 2008."

The "Top 100 graphic novels in January 2008."

The "Top 300 comic books in December 2007."

The "Top 100 graphic novels in December 2007."

Looking over these lists, a couple things stood out for me. I find it interesting that Hulk #1 is at the top spot on the comics list for January (I guess red is a good color on him), two titles in the top 20, Astonishing X-Men and Buffy: Season Eight, involve Joss Whedon and a third title in the top 40, Angel: After the Fall, does as well.

Plus, the number three spot on the graphic novel list is also a Whedon creation: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Volume 3. I guess you should never underestimate the power of a great TV show, even one that ended its TV run five years ago — especially if Joss Whedon had anything to do with it.

 

Interview: Fabian Nicieza Talks New ‘Captain Action’ Comic

Interview: Fabian Nicieza Talks New ‘Captain Action’ Comic

  • News
  • March 3, 2008

Writer Fabian Nicieza’s career spans over twenty years with stints at Marvel, DC and Darkhorse Comics. During that time he’s plotted, edited and written some of the most popular comic books around including Thunderbolts, Cable and Deadpool and Uncanny X-Men.

Recently, Nicieza competed against many other accomplished writers for the chance to bring one of the most beloved heroes from the ‘60s, Captain Action, back to the pages of a brand-new comic book series set to hit stores later this year. His pitch was selected and he’s now hard at work bringing Captain Action back to life.

ComicMix caught up with Nicieza to ask him a few questions about the Captain Action comic, his earlier work, his future and if a hero created and deeply-rooted in the ‘60s has a place in today’s comics culture.

COMICMIX: For people who might not know, can you give us a bit of info on your background? How did you get started writing comics? What were your favorites growing up?

FABIAN NICIEZA: I grew up reading comics. Out of college, I interviewed at both Marvel and DC, eventually landing a job at Marvel in 1985. After a couple years of learning the ropes, I started selling some stories to editors. I kept writing and working on staff, eventually, reluctantly, becoming a full-time writer.

I grew up reading Batman and Superman, then gravitated towards Marvel — Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Avengers. Then "offbeat" series like Conan and Captain Marvel. Offbeat for an 11 year old, I guess.

I also got lots of Superman, Justice League, the Engelhart/Rogers Detective run. I bought both Marvel and DC through the early ’80s, until I got the job at Marvel, then I got everything for free for a while.

CMix: Free is nice. How much did you know about Captain Action before you started 
writing the comic? Did you ever read the original?

FN: I read the original DC comic, but only because the toy was my favorite as a kid. I had the figures and lots of the costumes.

(more…)

‘X-Men: Origins’ Recasts Young Logan

‘X-Men: Origins’ Recasts Young Logan

  • News
  • March 3, 2008

There’s a new actor playing the childhood version of Logan in the upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine and his name is Troye Mellet. If that name’s unfamiliar to you, perhaps you should pay more attention to YouTube.

Mellet first attracted the interest of the film’s producers in YouTube clips such as this one, which feature his singing voice. Mellet is no stranger to acting and has received some acclaim for playing the lead in Oliver in Sydney, Australia. If there’s any need for young Logan to break into a rendition of "Hard Knock Life," Mellet has the pipes to pull it off.

The actor originally cast for the role, Kodi Smit-McPhee, has had to bow out of the project due to prior commitments and a change in shooting dates for X-Men Origins: Wolverine. McPhee is attached to the film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, which stars Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron.

(via SHH)

New ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ Still Released

New ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ Still Released

  • News
  • February 29, 2008

Wolverine is the best there is at what he does – looking grizzled and menacing as he pops his claws in a posed publicity still.

IGN has gotten their hands on another shot of Hugh Jackman in his Wolverine duds from the upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine prequel movie. Click on the link to see the Wolvie in all his full-sized splendor.

The shot tells us little about the movie other than the fact that Wolverine has been a fan of leather jackets for a very long time. He also looks pretty pissed off at the guy snapping the picture. Perhaps Wolverine was unhappy with his choice of lens.

Other People’s Sandboxes, by John Ostrander

Other People’s Sandboxes, by John Ostrander

  • News
  • February 28, 2008
 
This column has its roots in Mike Gold’s column this week. While it’s not necessary to read Uncle Whizzy’s Wazoo this week,  it is recommended – as it is every week. Loves my UWW on Monday!
 
I’ve spent a lot of my writing career in other people’s sandboxes and, in general, have had a great time. Sometimes I wonder if I haven’t spent a little too much time in those sandboxes. My career might have been better served with a few more original creations such as GrimJack (and I’m working on some that will appear here on ComicMix eventually) but, as they say, hindsight is 20/20. Hindsight also often sounds as if one is looking out one’s butt – which certainly explains many of the utterings we hear from political pundits these days. However, that’s a different topic for another time.
 
Brother Gold’s column this week was about whether or not a strip or a character or a series should continue after its creator’s death (or their choice to discontinue work on said property). His point was that in many cases we would not have some very fine stories using those properties were that not the case. Nor would we have had some very notable careers. For example, Frank Miller first made his name taking over the very moribund Daredevil book at Marvel and making it the most talked about book in the industry. Alan Moore was known to those us who could get their hands on 2000 AD and/or Warrior (and thus first saw Miracleman, a Captain Marvel rip-off character that he performed surgery on and made into something very new) but his first big American title was when he took over Swamp Thing and re-invented not only the character but its whole mythology.
 

(more…)

Marvel Unveils Ultimate Spider-Man in Spanish

  • News
  • February 27, 2008

Marvel’s PR department just sent over news that Ultimate Spider-Man Ultimate Collection Vol. 1 and Ultimate X-Men Ultimate Collection Vol. 1 will be translated into Spanish and rereleased in late March.

The collections, which retail for $29.99, include the first year’s worth of stories from each series, all redone in Spanish. This is just the latest effort by Marvel to make a play for Spanish-speaking readers, as in recent months the publisher released a special issue of the Fantastic Four in Spanish. Fantastic Four: Isla De La Muerte #1 was released in Spanish and English in January.

It’ll be interesting to hear if anyone tracks sales of those issues by language. Though publishers of all stripes are interested in tapping into the growing Hispanic population in the United States, such efforts are clearly in the early stages.

New ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ Pic Surfaces

New ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ Pic Surfaces

  • News
  • February 27, 2008

 Previously, I brought you some cool set photos and the first pic from the upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie. With that first pic we got a look at Wolverine himself showing off some extra-cool six-taloned action. He looked a bit angry and ready to strike at the people responsible for putting him in what appeared to be a very small cage.

Big mistake on their part. You don’t try to cage Wolverine. Jeez people, didn’t you get the memo?

This latest pic, featured over at Empire Online, carries on the tradition and provides yet-another look at our hero and his famous talons. This time, though, we see in a cool low-angle shot, talons at the ready, about to take care of business.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine concerns, of course, the origin of Wolverine and how he came to be the cigar-chomping, talon-weilding, reluctant hero he is today. The film features Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds and Dominic Monaghan and hits theaters next Summer.

Nebula Nominations Announced, Plus A Comment

Nebula Nominations Announced, Plus A Comment

  • News
  • February 25, 2008

The Science Fiction Writers of America have announced the final ballot for the 2007 Nebula Awards. As a paid-up SFWA member, I’d like to point out two items:

► The movie adaptation of V For Vendetta has been nominated as one of best science-fiction scripts of the year.

► The original comic book on which it’s based is not considered a sufficient work to qualify the authors for membership in SFWA.

In fact, you could combine all of Alan Moore’s comics work — including Watchmen, one of Time‘s 100 Books of the 20th Century — and it wouldn’t be deemed worthwhile. Yet the movie script adapting the work is considered sufficient work to join SFWA.

Nor is this the first time this has happened. Last year, Batman Begins was up for the same award. X-Men was nominated for 2002. The comics on which they were based? Not worthy as membership credentials.

My written response to this logic would trigger a lot of web-filtering software. My preferred response would be seen as deriviative of the movie.

And folks wonder why SFWA is considered a laughing stock by so many people. Let’s not even get started on the candicacy of Andrew Burt…

(Artwork by John C. Worsley. Take a look at his site, there are some very neat illustrations there.)

‘Justice League’ Movie Heads To Canada

‘Justice League’ Movie Heads To Canada

  • News
  • February 25, 2008

Warner Bros.’ Justice League movie seems to be facing far deadlier villains than the Legion of Doom before it even gets off the ground. A rushed script and casting issues supposedly put the film’s status in jeopardy, but a dispute over filming incentives in Australia may damage things further.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that production on the film may be moving to Canada due to a dispute with the Australian Federal Government. The country’s new film incentive program gives a 40-percent rebate to Australian producers, but there is debate as to whether or not it should apply to movies with budgets exceeding $30 million dollars.

Director George Miller wants to keep the production based at Fox Studios in Australia in order to work with the same team responsible for the Oscar-winning Happy Feet.

"One of the reasons for doing Justice League in this country is the opportunity to bring back all the people we lost on Happy Feet who went overseas," Miller said. "We spent four years developing this talent and the cream of them left because they didn’t have another film to go on to …

"The idea is to say come back, start off on Justice League then move onto Happy Feet 2."

Miller described the film’s current state as "precarious" and said that Warner Bros. is looking overseas for filming locations, with Canada being the likeliest destination.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine production is starting in Australia while the Justice League are leaving it and heading for Wolverine’s home country. Don’t superheroes have any national pride anymore?

 

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