The book to get behind this week is “Supergirl” #34, the first issue by Oklahoma’s Sterling Gates. Buy two, or more. Full list and somewhat abbreviated commentary after the break.
September 2008
Monthly Archive
Get your daily Sterling Gates fix over at Newsarama, where he talks about “Supergirl,” “Prometheus,” and more. We’re going to try to get Sterling on the horn and have some more info for The Oklahoman readers this Friday, as well.
- Matt Price
Here’s a link to the latest trailer for “The Spirit,” directed by Frank Miller. It made my computer crash twice today (not at that link), so, view at your own risk? Maybe my computer was just confused.
This is Will Eisner through an incredibly heavy filter of Frank Miller; that trailer to me felt even more like “Sin City” than the previous, just with goofy humor running through it.
“The Spirit” certainly has folks talking, and, I’m obviously going to see it - I just don’t know what to think of it, yet. I don’t think it’s the movie that Eisner would have made, and I don’t think it replaces reading the comics — I mean, does anybody get a sense of Gerhard Schnobble out of this thing at all? That’s more what “The Spirit” is, to me.
Thoughts? Where is everybody on this one?
- Matt Price
Lots of movie news and rumors floating around today. First Showing talked to producer Donald De Line, who said the “Green Lantern” film in development, to be directed by Greg Berlanti (”Everwood”) could begin shooting as early as this spring.
The time could be right to make a Green Lantern movie; I’d certainly like to see it if done right. No news on who will fill the boots of Hal Jordan.
– Matt Price
A report over at Newsarama indicates that Marvel and Paramount will expand their current deal. Paramount gains the worldwide distribution rights to Marvel’s next five live-action films: Iron Man 2 (May 2, 2010); Thor (July 16, 2010); The First Avenger: Captain America (May 6, 2011); The Avengers (July 15, 2011) and Iron Man 3, no release date set. Kenneth Branagh is in talks to direct “Thor,” which Marvel says will be a “Lord of the Rings” style movie.
So, what’s missing from this lineup? “Hulk 2,” apparently. Despite what seemed to be better buzz on the second attempt to make a big-screen “Hulk” film, it doesn’t look like a sequel is in Marvel’s immediate plans.
Meanwhile, new “Spider-Man” films are still happening at Sony, and MTV recently reported that a third “Fantastic Four” was unlikely.
– Matt Price
Ain’t It Cool News is reporting that George Clooney is reportedly interested in taking on the role of the Lone Ranger, in a planned film to star Johnny Depp as Tonto. Jerry Bruckheimer is on hand to produce the film, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
These are some pretty top-of-the-A-list stars. Clooney might seem a little older Ranger than what you’d expect, especially if the film is an origin story and anticipates sequels. On the other hand, he’s a great actor who has yet to really land a franchise hero role. (Danny Ocean’s an anti-hero, isn’t he?) (EDIT: It was pointed out I’m leaving out Batman, here. I had meant to say “successful franchise,” which “Batman & Robin” wasn’t, though Batman without Clooney has gone on to do pretty well.)
There is some question in the Hollywood Reporter article that Depp’s casting could offend American Indian groups; the article does point out Depp is of mixed ancestry, including Cherokee.
“The Lone Ranger” doesn’t yet have a director, but is being written by the writers of “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
– Matt Price
DC Comics was a big winner at the 2008 Harvey Awards over the weekend, with “All-Star Superman” taking home three awards. “All-Star Superman” won best single issue, for issue No. 8, and best series. Frank Quietly, the “All-Star Superman” artist, won the best artist award.
Also for DC, Darwyn Cooke was named “Best Cartoonist” for “The Spirit” and Brian K. Vaughan won for “Y: The Last Man.”
Oni Press’ “Scott Pilgrim Gets it Together” was named best original graphic album.
Newsarama has the complete list of winners.
– Matt Price
Newsarama has a report from the Baltimore Comic-Con about the “Superman” books, including “Supergirl.” Tulsa’s Sterling Gates takes over “Supergirl” with issue #34 on Wednesday with artist Jamal Igle.
From the article:
The first issue of Supergirl by the new creative team of Gates and Igle comes out Wednesday and features a media blitz by Cat Grant in a story called, “Why the World Doesn’t Need Supergirl.”
Robinson said Gates is doing a lot for the Supergirl series, including giving Supergirl a rogues gallery. He said Gates’ writing is fantastic and Igle’s artwork is fantastic. “I think they’re going to be one of the greatest combinations that DC has seen for a long time.”
Sterling Gates, new writer of DC Comics’ “Supergirl,” was announced as the writer of the one-shot “Prometheus,” set to ship in January from DC. The announcement was made at the DC Nation panel of the Baltimore Comic-Con, reports Newsarama.
Gates, an OU graduate who grew up in Tulsa, becomes the regular writer of DC’s “Supergirl” with Wednesday’s issue. Prometheus is a Justice League of America villain created by Grant Morrison.
– Matt Price
1810
RIP Paul Newman
Multiple sources are reporting the death of actor Paul Newman, 83, on Friday.
Newman was one of the best actors of his generation, and starred in two of my personal favorite movies — “The Sting” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” But that’s just the tip of the great Paul Newman movie list — “Hud,” “Cool Hand Luke,” “The Hustler.” He won an Oscar later in his career for “The Color of Money,” the sequel to “The Hustler,” in 1987.
Newman was also known for his devotion to charity — his “Newman’s Own” foods raised millions for charity — and to his wife, Joanne Woodward, who he married in 1958.
Our own BAM has more on Paul Newman at her blog.
- Matt Price
