If a picture paints a thousand words, does digital video paint a million? One way to answer that is to check out CNET’s video coverage of last weekend’s WonderCon. Included are:
Well worth watching, for those who want to relive the experience and for those who didn’t get the chance.
Let’s face it, we live in a hyper-capitalist society. Everything’s a commodity, and the worlds of business and entertainment are so inextricably linked that items about business deals have all but become entertainment in their own right.
And that’s cool when a spinoff of a story is also another form of that story, as with the Superman: Doomsday DVD or the upcoming DVD coming out from Eagle One Media based on the Voltron: Defender of the Universe comics from Devil’s Due and utilizing those books’ content from the comic books from Devil’s Due Publishing. (Apparently Voltron is big business — not only is the "animated digital comic production" DVD due in June, but World Event Productions is developing "a new interactive series and the release of the first-ever OVA," and there’s even talk of a for-really movie.)
But when Marvel Entertainment decides it’s going to "own 2008" with tie-in products for the Iron Man and Hulk movies due out next spring, and signs deals with Hasbrow, Hallmark, Fruit of the Loom and other companies that make all sorts of stuff that isn’t storytelling — well, it just makes one hope that kids (and adults) who buy the stuff are busy making up their own scenarios as they’re being owned.
Heck with the Spider-Man 3 preview. Yes yes, it took forever to download and was more or less worth it because, hey, who doesn’t like James Franco? But what really got me excited was this.
Kyle Baker is interpreting his masterpiece King David into animated form! Check it out before you dot another i! I even forgive him for using Carmina Burana for the background music, because he does it so well.
Must-read blogger and actor Wil Wheaton has an amusing anecdote about almost missing his latest stint doing voice work as Cosmic Boy in the Legion cartoon. He also teases, "Sadly, I can’t say anything specific about the episode. Warner Brothers is incredibly serious about protecting the content of the shows, and I’d really like to keep working on them, so I’ll just say, once again, that the level of talent, commitment, professionalism, and ultra-nerdy love for this show at all levels — writers, producers, directors and actors — is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. [Actor’s name redacted] just blew me away today."
The Sporting News and AP reports that a buyout group that includes former Disney CEO Michael Eisner and Chicago private-equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners LLC. has paid over a third of a billion for the Topps Company, the makers of sports cards, Garbage Pail Kids, Wacky Packages, the classic Mars Attack! series, and even the occasional comic book.
The deal drew immediate opposition from Topps director Arnaud Ajdler, who said Tuesday he had not yet been in touch with other major shareholders. He thought the deal should be abandoned because negotiations did not go through a proper process and that the Eisner-led offer undervalues the company.
The board approved the deal in a 7-3 vote, with Ajdler and two others opposed. The company said it will solicit better offers over the next 40 days. The deal requires regulatory approval and a vote by Topps shareholders.
The Flash gets a new artist, the 2007 24-hour-comics-day is disclosed, this week’s new comics are previewed, Jae Lee is interviewed, IFC’s anime maven speaks… and… where is Buffy hiding?
Mike Raub has the lowdown on ComicMix Podcast #10 — available right now, right here:
The New York Times has a long article on John Lasseter, who has been tapped to become the chief creative officer of animation for the Walt Disney Company after founding Pixar. Good reading, particularly with Lasseter reviving the 2-D animation department – with a strong focus on story.
Yes, story. The New Disney. It ain’t just pretty pictures anymore.
File this under: If the tail wags the dog for long enough, does the tail become the dog? Part I.
But first, a little reminiscence.
I had been in the comic book business less than six months, maybe not much more than one month, when I attended my first comics convention at the invitation of Flo Steinberg, known as “Fabulous Flo” during Marvel’s formative days. The event was held in the gym of the McBurney YMCA on 23rd Street in Manhattan. The guest of honor was Buster Crabbe. I don’t think I’d seen any of his filmed work yet, but somewhere I’d learned that he had done some comics-derived movie serials and that made him a celebrity and I guess I was impressed, not having met many celebrities.
Josh Roberts reports: "Starting today, I’m launching a week-long ComicSpace Fundraiser to help cover hosting costs. It was either this or sell one of my kids, and I’m not convinced I can get a decent price for either of the little brats. All donations generated through this week-long fundraiser will be used to pay ahead on the combined monthly hosting bill for OnlineComics.net and ComicSpace – which, believe it or not, is nearly equal to my mortgage payment."
ICv2 reports that Elfquest creator Wendy Pini has signed with Go!Comi to write and draw an original graphic novel series based on the Edgar Allen Poe short story The Masque of the Red Death, said to feature "Gothic horror, erotica, and yaoi-style gay relationships." The series bows first as a webcomic, to be collected into hard-copy GNs down the line as enough pages are done.
This is the first non-Japanese work and first original series produced by Go!Comi, which made the announcement at NYCC and believes Pini’s style is a good fit for the company. More details at Mangablog.
Columns / Glenn Hauman / News
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