“newuniversal” returns in May
Warren Ellis’ reworked the “New Universe” concepts from Marvel Comics in his first “newuniversal” miniseries. In May, Ellis and new penciler Steve Kurth create the second “newuniversal” miniseries, “newuniversal: shockfront.”
Marvel sent out preview images today from the first issue of that miniseries, set to release May 14.
– Matt Price
Shaun Toub helps hero in “Iron Man”
From Friday’s The Oklahoman:
By Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
His character assisted Lex Luthor a decade ago in “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” but actor Shaun Toub is on the side of the superheroes, now. Toub plays a key role as Yinsen, who helps Tony Stark become Iron Man in the upcoming film.
“Each of them have their own thing, their own following,” Toub said in a telephone interview. “But I think ‘Iron Man’ is going to be a bit different, and I think people are truly going to enjoy watching it; it’s a really good one.”
Toub, who played Lex Luthor’s assistant Asabi, now plays Yinsen, a doctor and fellow prisoner-of-war who keeps Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) alive as he builds his Iron Man suit.
“The suits are amazing; it makes you want to fly,” Toub said. “I think everybody who sees that film, they’re going to want to get into those suits.”
Toub is perhaps best known to audiences for his role in last year’s “The Kite Runner” or the Oscar-nominated “Crash.”
Toub said he only had passing familiarity with the Iron Man character, but the talent arrayed in the film drew him to the production.
“It was a different genre of film than what I’ve been doing lately; I try to always change it up,” Toub said.
“I’m a fan of Robert’s, I think he’s a wonderful actor,” Toub said. “And then when I met with them, the energy was great. I liked Jon Favreau, and I know he’s an actor so I knew he was going to be fun.”
Toub said Favreau was very open to ideas, and some last-minute wardrobe changes helped Toub nail down the Yinsen character.
“When I got there, doing the rehearsal process, we were rewriting the entire script and inventing the character,” Toub said. “Two days before we shot basically an idea came to mind, which I don’t want to give it away, but Robert was very supportive.”
Toub pitched his idea to Favreau, who was interested.
“To the wardrobe department’s credit they got on it and they went shopping and we came up with a brand new Yinsen. And that was the character that I thought that Yinsen should be, and it was very comfortable for me, and Yinsen was born.”
Toub said the cast — including Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard and Jeff Bridges — make “Iron Man” more actor-friendly than many action films.
“There was plenty of room to work. A lot of the superheroes and the action movies, it’s mostly action-driven and special effects have a lot to do with it and all, but in this case, this is very much a character-driven movie as well,” he said. “What the actors bring to the table really does make a difference and it shows. Jeff Bridges is very good in it, and Robert really does make a difference. I think at first people were surprised at why Robert Downey Jr. would be hired to play Iron Man, but when they see the movie, they will understand why and it totally makes sense.”
Oklahoma’s Sterling Gates at New York Comic Con
Tulsa writer Sterling Gates, now living in Los Angeles, attended the recent New York City Comic Con as a guest of DC Comics.
Gates signed comics for fans, and even did some sketches, though he hasn’t seriously drawn comics in three years.
“I had a line (of fans) before I even got there, and someone must’ve told them I could draw, because I think I had twenty sketch requests while I was sitting there,’ he said.
Gates accommodated their requests, drawing Green Lanterns and other characters for fans. His go-to drawing paired the largest and smallest Green Lanterns, as conceptualized by Dave Gibbons.
“I got really good at drawing Mogo, the Green Lantern that’s a planet, because he’s just this circle with some land masses and a giant Green Lantern symbol on him,” he said.
“Then, as a flourish, I would add his partner, Bzzd, the bug Green Lantern.”
While in New York, Gates visited the offices of comic-book publisher DC Comics.
“I took a tour of DC Comics, which I’d always wanted to see as a kid, and met a lot of the terrific behind-the-scenes people that keep my favorite comics coming out month to month.”
As for news, DC released several interesting tidbits and promotions, including a poster featuring a blue-eyed Flash. The current Flash, Wally West, has green eyes – but Barry Allen, who died in the 1986 “Crisis on Infinite Earths” series, had eyes of blue.
Gates, meanwhile, is staying busy with upcoming projects, though none of them are yet ready to be announced.
“I’ve got something in the works, though,” Gates said.
– Matt Price
“Deal or No Deal” goes “Star Wars”
DEAL OR NO DEAL — Episode 361 — Pictured: Chewbacca, Darth Vader, R2-D2 — NBC Photo: Adam Taylor
“Deal or No Deal” visits a galaxy far, far away with a special two-hour “winner takes all” Star Wars-themed episode on Monday, April 28.
Guest supporters for the show include Carrie Fisher, Chewbacca, R2D2 and Darth Vader as the villainous banker.
Hosted by Howie Mandel, “Deal or No Deal” is a game show where contestants play and deal for a top prize of $1 million in a contest of nerves, instincts and intuition.
I think the 26 models in “Slave Leia” bikinis, if nothing else, should juice “Deal’s” ratings for the night.
– Matt Price
“Wanted” movie poster
Superhero Hype reveals the movie poster for “Wanted,” based on the graphic novel by Mark Millar and JG Jones.
Stan Lee creating new universes, and telling you how to do it, too
Stan Lee has been much in-the-news of late, also announcing a new comics line with Virgin Comics. His new superhero universe for Virgin Comics will focus on the exploits of a ten-superhero team of various backgrounds and origins.
“What a dream assignment!” said Lee in a release. “I can’t wait to start pitting my newest, most exciting superheroes against comicdom’s most powerful, diabolical super villains and then have the fun of tossing them into far-out, thrill-a-minute adventures to challenge the readers’ imagination! And who better to share in the fun, creating wondrous new worlds without limit, than the incredibly talented and dedicated guys at Virgin Comics!”
Lee is best-known for his work at Marvel Comics, where he co-created Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men and more.
Also, Lee’s company POW Entertainment and Biscayne Writers are teaming up to provide four instructional webinars about writing.
The four webinars will be on April 24, 27, 29 and 30 and the cost is $25 each. Lee will discuss topics including characters, plot, and adapting to other media.
Registration is available here: http://www.biscaynewriters.com/stanlee/subscription.php
– Matt Price
EA Sports says Malcolm Kelly at No. 26
AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki
EA Sports conducted a mock draft using the game engine from its upcoming “NFL Head Coach” game. The only player from an Oklahoma college selected in the mock draft, which covered the first round, was University of Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly. The game predicts Kelly going 26th to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The first overall pick in EA’s simulation was offensive lineman Jake Long of Michigan. (Long has, in fact, signed with the Dolphins, who own the first pick, in advance.) Glenn Dorsey, a defensive tackle from LSU, and Matt Ryan, a quarterback from Boston College, were picked second and third in the simulation.
The National Football League draft is Saturday. “NFL Head Coach 09″ is set to ship Sept. 2.
– Matt Price
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Comics shipping 4/23/08
The return of Valiant Comics’ X-O Manowar is this week, with a hardcover collecting his earliest adventures, along with a new story. Josh Howard collects his three Dead@17 miniseries into one compendium with some new artwork. “Countdown” wraps up with “Countdown to Final Crisis” No. 1. And the Winchester brothers return to comics with “Supernatural: Rising Son” No. 1. Full commentary and list after the break.
“Archer and Armstrong” at CBR
Brian Cronin at Comics Should Be Good at Comic Book Resources started a new “Comic Alphabet of Cool,” this time focusing on the Valiant Universe. Really, that’s something dorky enough that I should have come up with it. (Don’t get me started on being jealous of Cronin’s also currently running “100 Greatest Comic Book Runs of all time” which I have some ideas on how to steal for this blog.)
Cronin kicks off the alphabet with “Archer and Armstrong,” a Valiant title that, when it was written and drawn by Barry Windsor-Smith, was one of my favorites.
Cronin writes:
The basic concept of the book is simple to anyone who’s read Chuck Dixon’s Green Arrow – a devoted young martial artist travels the world with a brutish world-weary lout.
In this case, Archer was a young man who was perhaps the world’s greatest martial artist. He had been left for dead by his own parents, who turned out to be majorly evil, so he devoted himself to ridding the world of evil. During his quest to do so, he was suckered into working for a group that was designed to kill off an evil demon, who turned out to be Armstrong.
Armstrong (otherwise known as Aram) was an immortal who had lived since the mid 5400s BC (or around there). He was a lot like Hercules, in that he’s had a ton of battles over the years, but he also enjoys having a good time.The unlikely pair are really locked together when Armstrong has a bag of magical items stolen from him, as a result of Archer’s ignorant meddlings. To make it up to him (and the world), Archer travels with Armstrong to get all the items back (and, of course, along the way, they become good friends).
Cronin is working pretty hard (without his knowledge or anything) on becoming my favorite blogger.
– Matt Price
Spirit trailer: Now with embedding action
I figured after all the talk about it, I might as well embed the thing here.
Still feel good about this, overall. The more Milleresque aspects of it are growing on me. (Except maybe “She is my mother, she is my lover.” That just sounds creepy, even metaphorically.)
– Matt Price
