Wonder Woman gets new costume: My kids react
Wonder Woman’s new costume was revealed on DC’s Source blog. DC Comics’ Jim Lee redesigned the costume for writer J. Michael Straczynski’s upcoming run on the character.
My wife Annette asked our own focus group – our three daughters – what they thought of Wonder Woman’s new look.
Audrey, age 5: “Yes, yes, YES!!! Very pretty. YESSSS! It makes her look tough. The gold is very pretty. Keep the jacket. Never take off the jacket, but she can if she gets hot.”
Rachel, age 7: “It looks great! I love it, because she has different stuff on her. I like the gold on her feet and on her gloves. The belt makes me feel like she’s royal.”
Miranda, age 2: “I like it… (but) she should wear a dress!”
“Wonder Woman” No. 600, which debuts the new look, is on sale today.
- Matt Price
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows trailer previews final episodes
The two-part finale to the Harry Potter saga, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” nears release, with 
part 1 planned for Nov. 2010, and part 2 set for July 2011. The first trailer for the film, which stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, features a whole lot of action, and Voldemort.
What do you think?
- Matt Price
Yuri Lowenthal, Tara Platt are fans’ choice for actor, actress with geek appeal
Tara Platt and Yuri Lowenthal (photo (c) Boris Kievsky, used with permission
The votes have been counted, and Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt are the fans’ choice for actor and actress with geek appeal!
Nerdage ran a month-long series highlighting which actors and actresses had the most “geek appeal,” based on hits and web searches. Then, fans were given the opportunity to vote for both actor and actress.
The winners were Lowenthal and Pratt, who, in addition to frequently working together, are also married. They co-wrote the book “Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It’s Like Behind the Mic.”
Platt is maybe best known as the voice of Temari on the anime hit “Naruto,” but she has also portrayed superheroes Dream Girl (on “Legion of Superheroes”) and Wonder Woman (on the “DC vs. Mortal Kombat” game). She’s also appeared on “Charmed” and “Gilmore Girls.”
Lowenthal voiced Ben Tennyson aka Ben 10 in “Ben 10: Alien Force” and “Ben 10: Ultimate Alien.” He’s also been the voice of Superman in “Legion of Super-Heroes.” Adding to his superhero resume, he portrays Iceman in the current “Wolverine and the X-Men” animated series and voiced Mister Miracle on “Batman: The Brave and the Bold.”
Congratulations to Lowenthal and Platt, who are very fan-friendly in addition to their many other talents.
Click past the cut for a video of Platt and Lowenthal at Comic-Con International 2009.
- Matt Price
Alice Eve to play Emma Frost in X-Men: First Class
The Heat Vision blog reports that Alice Eve, who recently starred in “She’s Out of My League,” has signed on to play Emma Frost in “X-Men: First Class.” Eve had also been a candidate to play Captain America’s love interest in the “Captain America: First Avenger” film.
The “First Class” film will feature a younger incarnation of the well-known mutants. Michael Fassbender has signed on to play Magneto, and James McAvoy to play Professor X. Matthew Vaughn will direct. 
Emma Frost, aka the White Queen, began as an X-Men villain who was a member of the Hellfire Club and led a group called the Hellions against the New Mutants. But she later became a mentor to the young mutants of “Generation X,” and later became a key member of the X-Men during Grant Morrison’s “New X-Men” run.
She’s a telepath and in the comics is currently involved with Cyclops, aka Scott Summers. And even for a comic-book heroine, she tends not to wear a whole lot of clothes.
- Matt Price
Tommy Lee Jones joins Captain America movie cast as Col. Phillips
Tommy Lee Jones (AP)
Marvel has announced that Tommy Lee Jones will join the cast of “Captain America: The First Avenger” as US Army Colonel Chester Phillips, the military officer who recruits Steve Rogers.
Chris Evans will star as Steve Rogers/Captain America in the film, which is set for release on July 22, 2011. The film also stars Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan and Stanley Tucci and will be directed by Joe Johnston.
In the comics, Phillips recruited Rogers to “Operation: Rebirth,” the super-soldier program which created Captain America.
- Matt Price
Jeph Loeb to head up TV development at Marvel
Jeph Loeb
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, has named Jeph Loeb as Executive Vice President, Head of Television, a new division of Marvel Entertainment.
According to a news release, Loeb will work along with Dan Buckley, Publisher & President of the Print, Animation & Digital Divisions, Marvel Worldwide, Inc., to translate Marvel’s popular characters and stories to the television medium, in both live-action and animation formats.
Loeb will also oversee development and distribution of live-action, animated, and direct-to-DVD series.
Loeb is an Eisner-winning comic-book writer; former writer/producer of “Smallville” and “Lost,” and former co-executive producer of “Heroes.” He wrote the films “Teen Wolf” and “Commando.”
“It’s with tremendous pride that I announce the creation of our Marvel Television division and the appointment of Jeph Loeb as Executive Vice President,” said Alan Fine, Executive Vice President, Office of the President and Chairman of Marvel Studios’ Creative Committee, in a news release.
“His work in the comic book field is in a class of its own, showing his passion and talent for bringing Marvel’s finest characters to life in an innovative manner. Jeph’s work on multiple award-winning television series and popular films has shown fans worldwide his ability to deliver thrilling entertainment in a number of media. With Jeph as our EVP, fans will experience the highest quality and most exciting television projects featuring their favorite Marvel characters.”
Loeb’s work at Marvel includes the miniseries “Spider-Man: Blue” and “Daredevil: Yellow.” For DC Comics, he wrote “Superman for All Seasons” and “Batman: The Long Halloween.” Most recently he’s written “Hulk” and “Ultimatum” for Marvel.
“I couldn’t be happier to accept this new position at Marvel Entertainment, working with both Dan and Alan to deliver exciting, cutting edge television projects,” said Loeb in the release. “Marvel continues to break new ground in storytelling in both their comic book and film ventures, so, along with everyone here, I’m excited to bring the same brand of excitement into homes across the globe.”
- Matt Price
Monday movie quote challenge #85
“He does have some sort of rock-like heart, doesn’t he?”
Identify who said the above quote in what film in the comments!
X-Men/Avengers: Search and Destroy, the Gamma Quest Trilogy book 2 review
X-Men/Avengers: Search and Rescue, book 2 of the Gamma Quest Trilogy
In the second part of Greg Cox’s X-Men/Avengers trilogy, “Search and Destroy,” the Avengers, X-Men and the Hulk put aside their differences following a melee at Niagara Falls at the conclusion of book 1. This 1999 novel continues the “Gamma Quest” story.
The Beast, who has been a member of both teams, appealed to the scientific knowledge of Bruce Banner. While the Hulk in this story is intelligent, he doesn’t like being reminded of Banner. But he agrees to work with the Avengers and X-Men when he determines the Leader, a super-intelligent, gamma-powered longtime foe of the Hulk, is likely behind the disappearance of the Scarlet Witch and Rogue.
After Iron Man repairs the Vision, damaged in the battle with the Hulk, the group again splits up into two factions — the Hulk, now working with the X-Men and Avengers, joins Iron Man, Storm and Wolverine in response to a distress call from Moira MacTaggart in Scotland. (Readers of the first book will remember Wolverine was captured by the Leader in book 1, though neither the X-Men nor Avengers know this. So who is this Wolverine?)
While researching the Legacy Virus, scientist MacTaggart, and friends Nightcrawler and Iceman of the X-Men, come under attack from the Gamma Sentinels, stolen SHIELD developments that can mimic gamma-powered heroes and villains.
Cyclops, Captain America and Vision head to the Leader’s last known location, the hidden city of Freehold, where they come into contact with that city’s defenders, the Riot Squad, and its new leader, Omnibus. While Omnibus is sympathetic to the Leader’s goals, he believes the Leader to be dead.
Scarlet Witch, Wolverine and Rogue are tortured in some pretty difficult scenes; when they attempt an escape, they find the Leader has seemingly planned for every eventuality.
Cox, who has written multiple superhero novels for both Marvel and DC, has a good handle on these characters. His Captain America is heroic and inspiring; Iron Man is tech-oriented and flirtatious; the Beast is brilliant and jovial. George Perez again provides artwork in the chapter breaks; it’s always great to see “Avengers” artwork from Perez, who is one of the best-ever at drawing the team. Julie Bell is the cover artist.
- Matt Price
Review of Book One
Oklahoma State Pokemon master heading to nationals
The Pokemon national championships in St. Louis in 2009.
Oklahoma State student Jonathon Giles is heading to Indianapolis this weekend for the Pokemon national championships. Nathan Poppe talked to the competitive gamer for NewsOK:
Video games have been a part of Giles’ life as long as he can remember. He began with the Italian plumber adventure Super Mario Bros. and the shooting game Duck Hunt and has stayed loyal to Nintendo since. Today, he owns a Wii and the hand-held Nintendo DS.
Giles said he remembers seeing commercials and hearing hype in 1998 for the Pokemon video games. He got Pokemon: Red Version and played nonstop.
Giles, 21, won first place in May at the south regional Pokemon video game championships in Dallas, thanks to his Pokemon monsters Kyogre, Hitmontop and Palkia. About 650 people competed in his tournament bracket.
Giles is heading to Indianapolis for a series of one-on-one rounds with about 190 contestants this weekend for nationals.
Click through for the entire article, and good luck at nationals, Jonathon!
- Matt Price
Marvel Comics’ Hawkeye wasn’t always a straight arrow
The Robin Hood-inspired archer Hawkeye will become more familiar to casual Marvel Comics fans when “The Avengers” movie comes to theaters in 2012. Oscar-nominated Jeremy Renner (“The Hurt Locker”) is reportedly in negotiations to play the character, who was created by Stan Lee and Don Heck in the pages of 1964′s “Tales of Suspense” No. 57.
The character, aka Clint Barton, originally a reluctant villain recruited by the Black Widow after a misunderstanding with Iron Man, eventually became one of the Avengers’ most stalwart members. He joined the team with issue No. 16 of “The Avengers,” and later led the West Coast branch of the team.
Nineteen years after he was introduced, Hawkeye got his first solo starring role, in a miniseries written and drawn by Mark Gruenwald. Gruenwald was perhaps best-known as the writer of “Captain America” and “Squadron Supreme,” and was a Marvel Comics editor from 1978 until his death in 1996. In the introduction to the 1988 collection of the 1983 miniseries, Gruenwald wrote about what made Hawkeye a popular character.
“Hawkeye’s appeal goes beyond the raw charm of his basic, easy-to-understand weapon, the bow and arrow,” Gruenwald wrote. “It was his various character traits that catapulted him beyond the heroic archetype of Robin Hood from which he was derived. First there was his unflagging determination to go head-to-head with folks far more powerful than he.” Gruenwald also credits Hawkeye’s fallibility and occasionally disrespectful demeanor as qualities that made him a fan favorite.
In that miniseries — available in hardcover from Marvel — Hawkeye discovers the great love of his life, Mockingbird, aka spy agent Bobbi Morse.
For a time, Hawkeye was thought dead and took on the identity of Ronin. He was replaced for a time by Kate Bishop, one of the Young Avengers. Following the Dark Reign in the Marvel Universe, when Norman Osborn, aka the Green Goblin, was given control of the Avengers, the villain Bullseye took on the Hawkeye identity. But now, Hawkeye’s back in his original costume in a new series. With Mockingbird, Hawkeye returned to comic-book shelves in June in a new series by writer Jim McCann and artist David Lopez. This series plays upon Mockingbird’s spy background as she heads up the World Counterterrorism Agency.
“First and foremost, I think the thing that everyone loves is that Hawkeye is back,” McCann said at Marvel.com. “Clint Barton has reclaimed his place in the Marvel U, wearing the iconic costume and firing a fistful of arrows into the hearts of fans everywhere. And to top it off, he’s got the one woman who was his true love, the only woman who was ever really his equal in life and love, Mockingbird.”
- By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
