Monday movie quote challenge #67
“When I asked for your advice, I didn’t mean that you should actually speak.”
Identify who said the above quote in what film in the comments!
Planet 46 Comics Podcast: Reaction to Jim Lee, Dan DiDio, Geoff Johns promotions; Watchmen 2 just rumor; reviews of Supergirl 50, Uncanny X-Men 521
Matt Price and Kyle Roberts discuss this week’s big news at DC, as Jim Lee and Dan DiDio are named co-publishers and Geoff Johns becomes chief creative officer at DC Entertainment. More comics and movie news included, as well as reviews of Supergirl 50 and Uncanny X-Men 521.
Oklahoma’s Sterling Gates joins James Robinson in War of the Supermen
WORD BALLOONS
Oklahoma-born comic-book writer Sterling Gates will take the reins of a major Superman project this summer, as he and James Robinson (“Starman”) steer the Man of Steel through the “War of the Supermen.” The first issue of “War of the Supermen,” issue 0, is DC Comics’ entry into Free Comic Book Day this spring, and will be available free of charge at comic book stores across the country May 1.
Gates also celebrates an anniversary issue with this week’s “Supergirl,” as the series reached its 50th issue. Gates has written “Supergirl” since issue No. 34.
“Supergirl 50 is a huge milestone issue, not only for the series but also for the character,” Gates said. “It
Supergirl #50
really delves into a lot of different facets of Supergirl’s life, ranging from what she means to the people of the DC Universe to what her relationship with her friends is like. At its core, it’s about Supergirl’s relationship with Lana Lang and what kind of destruction a friendship between a superhero and a regular person can cause.”
Lana Lang, who hails from Smallville and was among Clark Kent’s best friends in high school, has become a mentor to Supergirl in Gates’ run. The artist of “Supergirl” No. 50 is Jamal Igle, and features a backup story co-written by Helen Slater, who played Supergirl in the 1984 film. The milestone issue also features a cover by the late Michael Turner (“Fathom”), who redesigned Supergirl for the modern era.
In “War of the Supermen,” Gates joins with Robinson to chronicle the war between Earth and New Krypton. The planet New Krypton features 100,000 Kryptonians who had been held captive by Brainiac. Tensions are high between Earth and New Krypton, with General Sam Lane, father of Lois Lane, heading up the anti-Kryptonian forces. New Krypton is led by General Zod, who seeks Earth’s destruction.
“To be a part of an event like this is a huge honor, and James and I have done our best to write a Superman story that really fires people’s imaginations and gets them excited about the Man of Steel,” Gates said. “We wanted to tell a dynamic Superman story, something that would lead in to May’s Superman event, ‘War of the Supermen,’ but still be accessible for anyone who picks it up.”
Gates said despite the back story involved, “War of the Supermen” No. 0 is a good jumping-on point.
“I’m very happy with the issue that James and I wrote, and I think if you know who Superman is, you’ll love it,” he said.
Gates, who has been part of signings and even has worked behind the counter on Free Comic Book Day, is looking forward to creating a book for the comic-themed holiday.
“FCBD is great because it’s everyman’s comic day,” Gates said. “Lots of people who don’t get to experience comics regularly start thinking about comics, and it’s great for the art form.”
- By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
DC selects new executives: Dan DiDio, Jim Lee named co-publishers; Geoff Johns named chief creative officer
Geoff Johns has been named the new chief creative officer for DC Entertainment.
DC Entertainment released the news of who would replace Paul Levitz in the role of Publisher of DC Comics – Dan DiDio, formerly executive editor of the DC Universe, and Jim Lee, editorial director of the WildStorm imprint, will become co-publishers. Writer Geoff Johns was named Chief Creative Officer.
Geoff Johns shares his thoughts about the new job at DC’s Source blog:
“Under the leadership of Jim and Dan, I’ll continue writing and giving my creative input as I have been in comic books,” Johns said. “But expanding onto that, Diane’s asked me to take our comic book world, embrace it (as I do) and use it to lead the creative charge on bringing it all to film, toys, television, video games, animation and beyond. The Justice Society appearing on Smallville was only the beginning.”
DC also named new heads of Sales/Marketing/Business Development and Finance/Administration.
Click more to see the full release:
David Tennant era of Doctor Who closes
Check out today’s Planet 46 for a look at the final episodes of David Tennant’s Doctor Who, and an interview with Julie Gardner recapping why she thinks the relaunch of Doctor Who in 2005 became so successful.
- Matt Price
Superman reboot should keep Brandon Routh
It probably won’t happen – but I hope the Superman reboot being overseen by Christopher Nolan chooses to keep Brandon Routh. I’ll admit, I’m more of a fan of “Superman Returns” than most people, but I think even those who see the film as flawed would have to admit that Routh has the Superman look down.
Things that might work against Routh are his age and his previous experience in the role. If the new “Superman” movie producers want to separate themselves from “Returns,” they will likely bring in a new star. And Routh, while only 30, is two years older than Christopher Reeve was for the release of “Superman II.” But a reboot with Routh still has plenty of time for multiple sequels if successful. I don’t hear anyone clamoring for the removal of Christian Bale, 36, from the Batman franchise. And 33-year-old Ryan Reynolds is just getting started as Green Lantern. So a 30-year-old Routh would fit right in with his Justice League buddies.
Do you think Routh should return in the role? Vote below, and feel free to share your casting ideas in the comments.
Today’s Planet 46: Scott Cooper of Crazy Heart
George Lang talks to director Scott Cooper of “Crazy Heart,” which features Jeff Bridges in the Oscar nominated role of Bad Blake, today at Planet 46. Cooper bought the rights to Thomas Cobb’s novel after being unable to secure the rights to Merle Haggard’s life story. Cobb’s story of a once-legendary singer-songwriter waylayed by booze gave Cooper the opportunity to set a universal tale of redemption against the backdrop of the Texas country music scene, Lang writes.
To get the film made, Cooper called on his friend Robert Duvall, who co-starred with him in “Gods and Generals.”
“He read it quickly and said, ‘Scott, I love this,’” Cooper said. “He said, ‘Let’s make it, and I’ll produce it. What do you need?’ That’s when I said, ‘Bobby, besides you and money, I need T-Bone Burnett and Jeff Bridges.’”
Read the complete article by George Lang at today’s Planet 46.
- Matt Price
The Breakfast Club turns 25
Pop Candy reports the John Hughes classic “The Breakfast Club” turns 25 today. The blog Stuck in the 80s recaps the 25 best moments in the film. While “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” also written and directed by Hughes, is probably the better film, both it and “The Breakfast Club” stuck with me a lot as a teenager.
I recently watched the documentary “Don’t You Forget About Me” as filmmakers tried to track down John Hughes for an interview prior to his death. What stuck with me most about the documentary were the number of teenagers that said John Hughes’ films still appealed to them and reflected their thoughts and concerns. Pretty impressive for a movie made before today’s teenagers were even born.
Hughes fans should also check out Vanity Fair for new articles about Hughes, including interviews with Matthew Broderick and Molly Ringwald.
- Matt Price
Monday movie quote challenge #66
“I gotta make a phone call. I’ll be right back, don’t do anything quaint until I return.”
Identify who said the above quote in what film in the comments!
Marvel reveals variant cover to Mark Millar’s Nemesis
Leinel Francis Yu (“Secret Invasion”) provides a variant cover to “Nemesis” No. 1. “Nemesis is the new Icon series by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven, the creative team behind “Civil War” and “Old Man Logan.”
