Happy Independence Day!
Be safe, and best wishes to everyone celebrating the American Dream today.
Here’s a pretty good Independence Day quote from Captain America himself in Captain America 250, written by Roger Stern:
“We must all live in the real world…and sometimes that world can be pretty grim. But it is the Dream…the hope…that makes the reality worth living.”
(Image from Captain America 250 via Fantastic Fangirls.)
Captain America: Reborn on the Fourth of July - A look back at Steve Rogers
The original Captain America returns in “Captain America: Reborn,” out this week from Marvel Comics. With the Fourth of July weekend upon us, here’s a look back at some of the greatest story lines featuring Steve Rogers, Marvel’s patriotic superhero.
“Secret Empire/Nomad”
These two story lines, written by Steve Englehart, are among the most famous adventures of Captain America.
Captain America discovers a conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of the U.S. government. He’s disillusioned by what he’s discovered, and gives up the Captain America identity to become Nomad. This Watergate-era Captain America examined what happened to the country’s greatest super-heroic symbol when the government failed to live up to his trust. “Secret Empire” ran in issues 169-176 of “Captain America.” “Nomad” ran in issues 177-186.
Englehart said Captain America is a product of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s rebuilding of the country’s spirit.
“He believes deeply in the ideals of America, the things they taught us all in school about why 
this is the greatest country on Earth,” Englehart said in “Marvel Spotlight” No. 18, the “Captain America” theme issue. “Which is why, when the actual America falls short of that, his first reaction is to try to set things right.”
Marvel Spotlight No. 18 currently is available to read for free at Marvel.com.
Captain America for president
Writer Roger Stern (”Avengers”) and artist John Byrne (”Uncanny X-Men”) had a brief but well-remembered run on Captain America, currently collected in the “War and Remembrance” trade paperback.
Perhaps their best-known story line featured a third party soliciting Captain America as a presidential candidate. Jim Shooter, then Marvel’s editor in chief, suggested Stern and Byrne should consider the story.
“I was still skeptical at first,” said Stern in “Marvel Spotlight” No. 18. “I didn’t think that Cap was the type who would be interested in running for office. But then Jim said that should be the whole point of the story - that we should make it about who Cap is and why he wouldn’t run.”
The story ran in “Captain America” No. 250; the Stern-Byrne run went from issues 247-255.
President fires Cap
In the space of a few years, Steve Rogers went from a chance at becoming president to being 
fired by the president. In “Captain America” No. 332, a government commission demands that Captain America answer solely to it. Rogers refuses, and gives up the costume of Captain America. Writer Mark Gruenwald, who wrote “Captain America” for a record 137 issues, talked to the magazine “Amazing Heroes” in 1988 about ways to create an attention-grabbing story line.
“No. 1, kill somebody important in the book, preferably the lead character. That’ll get the book looked at. Short of that, change the character dramatically. A new uniform might do it. Or get him out of uniform and replace him. Or change his life in some other major way: get him married off or whatever. So, I did three of the above,” Gruenwald said.
In the story line, the government hires its own Captain America, and Steve Rogers continues to fight for liberty while wearing a predominantly black costume and calling himself simply “The Captain.”
The story line ran from Captain America 332-350, and still is remembered fondly today. Gruenwald died in 1996 at age 43 after suffering a heart attack. These issues aren’t available in trade paperback, but can be found in the back issue bins of many comic-book stores.
By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Supergirl’s underwear has internet atwitter
One of the more surprising stories to catch the mainstream media interest is the story of Supergirl’s bike shorts, instituted after editor Matt Idelson decided he was tired of the Girl of Steel showing off her underwear when flying around. Jamal Igle talked about the decision with Newsarama, leading it to be picked up by NPR. Now, Robot 6 has a rundown of the various interested parties, including a few who are upset about not being able to look at the teen’s underpants anymore. (Image from Supergirl Comic Box Commentary, which Supergirl fans should bookmark.)
Tulsa-born writer and OU graduate Sterling Gates is the writer of Supergirl, and is one of the most successful active Oklahoma comic-book writers. His “Supergirl” has been an extremely well-done book that examines her character in an incisive way, while building up a supporting cast and a sense of mystery. It’s somewhat unfortunate that the press the book is getting is instead for the Girl of Steel’s choice of undergarment, rather than the outstanding work done by Igle and Gates. However, I applaud the creators for making the Supergirl book more suited for girls and women to enjoy.
- Matt Price
Comics Q&A: Captain America
Have a great Fourth of July weekend. Feel free to celebrate with classic Steve Rogers storylines. As the original Captain America returns, Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss classic Cap storylines, including “Secret Empire,” “Nomad,” “War and Remembrance” and “President Fires Cap.”
Half-Blood Prince tracking ahead of 4 of 5 Potter films
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince trails only 2005’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in pre-sales at MovieTickets.com at the same point in the sales cycle (15 days prior to release).
Two weeks prior to its release, “Half-Blood Prince” is selling at a pace similar to that of Dark Knight and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, according to MovieTickets.com. It’s selling ahead of the other four previous Harry Potter films at this point.
Fandango.com reported that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince represented 22% of ticket sales on the site as of 12 noon PT Monday.
A Fandango survey of moviegoers planning to see Half-Blood Prince in the theater reveals the following:
· 83% of respondents have seen all of the Harry Potter films in a theater.
· 86% have read all seven Potter books.
· 56% of respondents say Half-Blood Prince’s release date change (from November ‘08 to July ‘09) has not affected their interest in the film, while 32% say they are even more interested in seeing it this month than they were in 2008.
· 40% say they plan to see the movie in both the standard format and in the IMAX presentation.
· 49% of respondents are 18-34 years old; 31% have kids.
Hayden loses her Panettieres
According to People magazine, Hayden Panettiere has no problem with her nude scene in her upcoming film, I Love You, Beth Cooper.
“If I can’t flaunt it at 20, come on!” Panettiere said while promoting the movie, which opens July 10. “I mean I might as well show it now.”
The film is based on the book by Larry Doyle, in which a dorky high schooler (Paul Rust) falls for a popular cheerleader, played by Panettiere.
According to People, in a locker room scene, the actress drops her towel.
“It didn’t bother me much,” Panettiere said. “I think when the person who’s doing it gets all uncomfortable and shy, then it’s other people around who get more uncomfortable because they’re uncomfortable. I mean I was fine — everyone was really professional.”
The New York Daily News quotes a U.K. Sun interview with the “Heroes” star about her exhibitionistic tendencies.
“My dad calls me such an exhibitionist. He always says, ‘God, even when you were little, you were such an exhibitionist!’
“I could be 30 years old and just be like, ‘Screw it - I want to take it all off. I better take a picture of this baby before it all goes.’”
Grease coming to video games
If you’ve got chills, and they’re multiplying, it could be because a video game based on the classic musical Grease is in development. 505 Games announced today it has acquired global publishing rights for the game, working in collaboration with Paramount Digital Entertainment.
The game is slated for the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS. If another singing and dancing game is the one that you want, you’re in luck - the Grease game will allow players to sing and dance alongside Danny, Sandy, The Pink Ladies and the T-Birds.
There are worse things you could do than make use of the Nintendo Wii’s motion-sensing controls and microphone, and the DS’s touch screen, which according to the release, the game will do.
“The ‘Grease’ movie is a timeless pop culture icon, and 505 Games is eager to bring the first interactive experience based on the film to fans around the world,” said Adam Kline, president of 505 Games (U.S.), in a release. “We’re looking forward to working with Paramount Digital Entertainment to put players in the middle of all the fun with this all-new video game.”
Tell me more, tell me more!
“Paramount Digital Entertainment is pleased to be working with 505 Games to develop Grease,” said John Kavanagh, Senior Vice President of Video Games for Paramount Digital Entertainment, in a release. “Grease is the ideal opportunity to reach a broad gaming audience who love to sing, dance and have fun with a party-style game.”
Grease will be released on Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS and co-published by 505 Games and Paramount Digital Entertainment.
While Grease and video games might seem an odd fit, with the popularity of music-based games, you never know. They might go together like ramma lamma lamma ka dinga da dinga dong.
- Matt Price
Brubaker likely to consult on Captain America movie
In news that bodes very well for the upcoming Captain America movie, comic-book writer Ed Brubaker tells MTV that he expects to be brought in as part of the “brain trust” on the film.
“I know Kevin Feige was talking about bringing me in when they put together the ‘Captain America’ brain trust for the movie - like they did for ‘Iron Man’ with Matt Fraction and [Brian] Bendis,” Brubaker told MTV News.
Brubaker’s first issue of “Captain America Reborn” hits comic-book stores today. There’s a free prequel to the series available to view online at www.marvel.com/reborn. Brubaker has written the past 51 issues of the “Captain America” comic-book series.
- Matt Price
Captain America returns: A military perspective
With the return of the original Captain America, Steve Rogers, kicking off today in “Captain America: Reborn,” I was curious about a military perspective on the original Cap. Penny Cockerell pointed me in the direction of Daniel J. Calderón, Senior Public Affairs Specialist with the Army Corps of Engineers - Los Angeles District Phoenix Area Office. His thoughts about Captain America’s return, influence and symbolism are as follows.
Matt Price: What do you think about the return of the original Captain America?
Daniel J. Calderón: Oddly enough, I have mixed feelings. I expected to be deliriously happy
Daniel J Calderón shooting photographs over the border in Calexico. Photo credit: Brooks O. Hubbard IV, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
to hear Steve Rogers would be returning to pick up the shield he’s been carrying for more than six decades. However, when I found out about it, I found myself wondering whether or not the decision to “kill” him was less about story and more about sales - much like the “Death of Superman” story arc that ran a few years ago.
I understand Captain America (the original - not the substitutes given over the years) is a character, a creation, a work of fiction. But, it’s not like James Bond. Cap, within the confines of his universe, is nearly ageless.
Bond, on the other hand, ages with the men who bring him to life on the big screen. Captain America, though, represents an ideal, a notion that people can reach their greatest dreams and that there will be someone to help them in their times of greatest need. It’s cheesy, but people do need heroes.
Right now, I’m hard-pressed to think of a hero that can be lifted above the masses. Naturally, there are the uniformed heroes, but I don’t think the people readily accept them for one reason or another. I think it’s because Americans like to build people up just to tear them down. It’s a strange mindset and one I don’t understand at all.
So, am I happy Steve Rogers is coming back? Yes. Yes, I am. I’m hoping no one tries to kill him off again anytime soon.
Ghostbusters continues to haunt GameFly Top 10
Ghostbusters remains at the top of the the GameFly Top 10 List for the week ending June 29, 2009, continuing its reign for the second straight week. The GameFly Weekly Top 10 reflects gamers’ choices from more than 6,000 titles for the Wii, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS and PSP consoles.
Most Popular Games Cross-Platform:
1. Ghostbusters PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PS2 Action Adventure Atari
2. Prototype PS3, Xbox 360 Action Adventure Activision
3. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PSP Games, PS2 Action Adventure Activision
4. Red Faction: Guerrilla PS3, Xbox 360 Shooter THQ
5. Fight Night Round 4 PS3, Xbox 360 Fighting Electronic Arts
6. Overlord II PS3, Xbox 360 RPG Codemasters
7. Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood PS3, Xbox 360 Shooter Ubisoft
8. Halo 3: ODST Xbox 360 Shooter Microsoft
9. Infamous PS3 Action Adventure Sony Computer Entertainment
10. The Bigs 2 PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PSP Games, PS2 Sports Take Two
More lists after the break.
Read the rest of this entry »
