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Spider-Man 3 sets new records everywhere

Spider-Man 3 sets new records everywhere

Nikki Finke at Deadline Hollywood reports: "I’m told Spider-Man 3 beat Pirates Of The Caribbean 2 for the biggest U.S. opening day ever in film history. The threequel  Friday shattered the $55.8 million mark set by P2 last year and took in $59 million. Based on the first day’s performance, the studio believes the film will delivers in the +/- range of $135 mil to $145 mil for its first three days of release. A better estimate will emerge Sunday morning when the studio will release its full report with exit surveys and international figures to date.

"In addition, Sony estimated that SM3 grossed approximately $104 million worldwide yesterday, the highest single day gross in global box office history. The film delivered $45 million Friday in overseas ticket sales. This opening weekend, SM3 will definitely make more than SM1 ($114.8 mil) or SM2 ($88.1 mil) at U.S. theaters.

"Peter Parker set house records at several theaters across the country where sell-outs were common throughout the day Friday. The two highest grossing theaters in North America were the Lincoln Square (which includes an IMAX theater) in New York, which took in $158,158, and the Arclight in Los Angeles, which reported $144,926 worth of ticket sales."

No wonder Spidey has such a swelled head.

FCBD: Robert Kirkman in NYC`

Free Comic Book Day started with a bang at Jim Hanley’s Universe in New York City last night – or was it a howl?  Robert Kirkman (Invincible, Marvel Zombies, The Walking Dead) was on hand to launch his new book The Astounding Wolf-Man.  The signing is the first of a series of five appearances across the country this weekend to promote the new book.  “If giving the book away for free doesn’t work, I don’t know what will,” said Kirkman.

Kirkman described his new book as “An action-packed superhero romp.” The crowd that packed the aisles of Jim Hanley’s Universe were certainly eager to pick up the premier issue.  Now that he has a book on zombies and a book on werewolves Kirkman said, “I think I’d like to do mummies.”

With comic book properties especially hot right now Invincible has been optioned by Paramount.  “I’m working on a draft of the screenplay right now.  There’s no casting yet.  No director either,” said Kirkman.  For those with more of a zombie jones Kirkman said, ”There’s interest in a The Walking Dead movie.  My agent is listening to offers all the time.  We’re waiting for the right one to come along.”

We asked him why he thought zombies were so hot these days.  “People like zombie comics when they’re afraid.  The last surge in popularity of zombie comics was at the height of the Cold War.  Now the war on terror has the same atmosphere.  The media is full of fear,” said Kirkman.

As for what’s next, “The Walking Dead and Invincible are both going strong towards issue 50, that’s pretty exciting.  Marvel Zombies 2 is also about to get going,” said Kirkman.

Batgirl’s bid for equal rights

Batgirl’s bid for equal rights

Oh sure, we could link to the Avi Arad interview, or the many mainstream news articles on Free Comic Book Day, but everyone else is doing that, plus due to burnout from another killer work week we aren’t going anywhere today.  Not to our local comic stores, not to the movies, not even outside for any fresh air.  We just can’t justify reading and watching brand-new stuff whilst there’s so much almost-new stuff which we have yet to peruse.

Okay, we cheated a little and read some MySpace Countdown even though we’ve only just finished 52 #48 and won’t even get the last few issues of that title for a few weeks.  (We know 52 is finished because Greg Rucka sounds even more burnt out than we do.)  If we were the impatient type we could probably read them at a comic shop today — but no.  We’re getting a bit old for this.  We actually remember a time, for instance, when women weren’t paid nearly as much as men, as pointed out in this PSA from over 30 years ago which Tom Peyer found:

Ah, nostalgia.  Thank goodness that sort of gender discrimination’s no longer going on!

MARTHA THOMASES: 52-Skiddoo

MARTHA THOMASES: 52-Skiddoo

This is the week that DC’s 52 came to a close. The company’s first attempt at a weekly comic since Action Comics Weekly more than 15 years ago, unless you count Mike Carlin’s interconnecting but freestanding Superman series. It was, by most accounts, a commercial and critical success. 52 re-defined what comics can do, as narrative and as pop culture events.

When I was a kid, a comic event was a much smaller achievement. I started reading comics when I was five (for those of you keeping track at home, that was 1958). My parents would go to the train station on Sunday mornings to pick up the just-delivered New York Times, and I’d get to buy a comic. One comic. Because it had to last all week, I wanted the one with the most story. Eventually, after lots of trial and error, I decided that DC was the best for me.

It’s not that I didn’t sample Marvel. I did. But the book I tried had a story that was continued next month. When I looked for the next issue thirty pulse-pounding days later, it wasn’t there. Newsstand distribution was like that. I was happier getting a DC book, with two – sometimes even three – complete stories in each issue.

(Kids today, they have it easy. They can buy multi-part stories in trade paperback collections. In my day, we had to walk to the convenience store, picking up deposit bottles so we could afford to buy comics that might not even make it to the racks. In the snow! With no shoes!)

This is not to say we didn’t enjoy events. I remember in 1961, when there was a “novel-length” (that meant it took up a whole issue) story, “The Death of Superman,” that made me cry when Krypto said goodbye. There were Wonder Woman stories where she used a Paradise Island computer to imagine what it would be like to have adventures with herself as a baby (Wonder Tot) and a teenager (Wonder Girl). Basically, just being allowed to get a comic was enough of an event.

In those days it was assumed that most kids would read comics for a couple of years in grade school, then discover the opposite sex and go one to other amusements. There was no reason to worry about continuity, because no one expected the readers to stick around long enough to notice.

(more…)

Mickey Mouse Welcomed Back to School

Mickey Mouse Welcomed Back to School

Comic books have had a love/hate relationship with teachers ever since the first titles were published 70 years ago.  These days, with graphic novels and manga filling school and public libraries, they have become a staple in children’s reading.

As a result, Maryland is now formally bringing them back into the classroom.  Superintendent of Schools Nancy Grasmick entered into a relationship with Disney Publishing Worldwide publishing’s education division to craft teaching aids using Mickey Mouse and friends.  Activities include creating their own comic books, something that has captured the kids’ imaginations.

According to reports from Associated Press, the pilot program was begun last year and is being used in eight third grade classes in the state.  Disney was presented Maryland’s reading standards for the grade and then tailored comic book material to meet the guidelines. The program includes lesson plans for the teachers and comic book activities for the students.  Mickey’s adventures will now help children learn how to craft a plot and understand characterization.

"Reading is such an important activity for all children, and using comic book-related lessons offers teachers an important new tool to draw students into the world of words," Grasmick said in a statement. "This project enhances other work that goes on in the reading class. Comic books and graphic novels cannot replace other forms of literature, but they can be an entry point for some reluctant readers."

Teachers interviewed have been supportive and with the program now underway, Disney and Maryland are looking at more modern characters and materials to supplement the curriculum.

"I don’t think that is where I want my 9- or 10-year-old child spending their time in school," Timothy Shanahan, president of the International Reading Association told Maryland’s The Daily Times. "It might be a choice of reading 1,000 words versus 300 words. You don’t want it to replace more substantial reading."

With Disney now owning the CrossGen properties, including Abadazad and Meridian, there are plenty of age-appropriate characters beyond the legendary Mouseketeers to pick from.  It’s also interesting to note that the program is being launched in Maryland, home to Diamond Comics and owner Steve Geppi, who holds the domestic license for the classic Disney comic books.

(Artwork copyright Disney Corporation. All Rights Reserved.)

The Anti-Neil Gaiman

The Anti-Neil Gaiman

Remember Fantastic Four #256, when the FF returned from the Negative Zone and the unstable molecules of their uniforms turned negative? Apparently, the same thing happened to Neil Gaiman…

See? He’s in a spacesuit and everything.

Either that, or Neil was killed by the Kindly Ones, and this is the new Neil. Look at his word balloons and see if they’ve changed.

Superman’s birthmom to Who

Superman’s birthmom to Who

Susannah York, the honored British actress who played Lara in Superman The Movie and Superman II (not to mention such classy movies as They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? and The Killing of Sister George), is a featured player in Big Finish’s 96th regular monthly Doctor Who full-cast drama.

Named "Valhalla", the two-hour original full-cast audio drama is another high-energy science-fiction thriller about a planet that is, well, anything but Valhalla. York joins Sylvester McCoy, who of course is playing the seventh Doctor – the last from the original series.

For more information about this and the approximately 150 original Doctor Who audio adventures, check out Big Finish Productions.

Who’s your daddy, Dagwood?

Who’s your daddy, Dagwood?

They’re about to throw the book at Blondie.

Blondie: The Complete Bumstead Family History by strip writer Dean Young (son of Chic Young, Blondie’s real daddy) and Melena Ryzik have penned the definitive tale of the world’s most heavily circulated newspaper comic strip. Even if you find today’s efforts rather mundane, Blondie started out as a continuity strip: the story of millionaire Dagwood Bumstead and his love for jazz-age flapper Blondie – despite the threat of being disinherited by his family! 

Yep, Blondie’s roots are dark, indeed. Personally, I want to find out what happened to Daisy’s many, many pups. They all disappeared, you know. Hmmmm…

According to Amazon.com: It’s all here in this definitive book for the Blondie fan: Blondie and Dagwood, their children Alexander and Cookie, their neighbors Herb and Tootsie Woodley, the family dog Daisy, Dagwood’s boss Mr. Dithers, the mailman Mr. Beasley, and the neighborhood kid Elmo Tuttle. The book includes early history; Dagwood at work, Blondie’s starting her catering business, favorite cartoon strips, and the story of Chic and Dean Young, the creators of Blondie.

Blondie: The Complete Bumstead Family History comes out this August.

(Artwork copyright King Features Syndicate. All Rights Reserved.)

The FIRST ComicMix VIDEO Podcast!

The FIRST ComicMix VIDEO Podcast!

Well, we said we’d do it, and we’re good for our word!

The very first ComicMix Video Podcast us up and available for you right now! We videotaped the ComicMix panel at the Pittsburgh Comicon – GrimJack artist Timothy Truman, Jon Sable Freelance writer/artist Mike Grell, filmmaker and EZ Street writer Robert Tinnell, Munden’s Bar artist Chris Burnham, and ComicMix E.I.C. Mike Gold. In this first installment, we focus on the two Mikes: Gold’s massive floating head reveals important clues about our future, and Grell sings a cappella. You won’t believe your eyes!

Our first ComicMix Video Podcast is all yours for free, when you press this button:

 

 

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