Megamind Comic-Con footage
Check out the footage shown at Comic-Con International for Megamind, an animated 3-D film starring Will Ferrell, Tina Fey and Brad Pitt. The film is directed by Tom McGrath. What do you think? Are you interested in seeing “Megamind”?
- Matt Price
Tina Fey, Will Ferrell and Tom McGrath.
Uncanny X-Men: The Heroic Age #1 goes to second printing
Marvel Comics has announced that “Uncanny X-Men: The Heroic Age” #1 has sold out at Diamond (though copies may still be available at the retail level). A second printing is set for Aug. 18.
The book features three X-Men tales, written by Matt Fraction and drawn by the artists Whilce Portacio, Jamie McKelvie, and Steven Sanders.
Marvel describes the issue as follows: Desperately in need of some downtime after the harrowing events of Second Coming, Cyclops heads to the Savage Land to decompress, except a run-in with one of his personal heroes, Steve Rogers, will have the mutant leader looking at the world through new eyes! Plus, Hank McCoy and Molly Hayes talk science while Hope undergoes observation in the world famous Baxter Building!
- Matt Price
Archie Comics unveils Stan Lee Comics label, multimedia plans
Stan Lee stayed mighty busy in San Diego. “Stan Lee Comics” was announced in San Diego, a collaboration among A Squared Entertainment (A2), a full-service brand entertainment company; Archie Comics, and Stan Lee, founder of POW! Entertainment.
Stan Lee Comics is based on new Stan Lee creations, and the characters will be published in print and digitally, with plans for live action and animated entertainment, licensing and merchandising. The first series, “Stan Lee and the Super Seven,” will also debut with an original made-for-video animated motion picture.
Three new superhero franchises from Stan Lee comics will be debuted in 2010. In “Stan Lee and the Super Seven,” Stan Lee, as a comic book character, befriends seven aliens who find themselves stranded after their spaceship crashes. “Airwalker,” was seen in a recent “Entourage” episode featuring Lee. The third title will be announced in October.
“For many reasons, Stan Lee Comics is an especially important venture for me,” said POW! Chairman and Founder Stan Lee in a news release. “With this new line, I have the chance to be intimately involved with the creation of a new world of superheroes and the opportunities are limitless with the Web, TV, film and more. Although the mediums may change, this proves there will always be a place for superheroes in the world of entertainment.”
Of course, Lee created many of today’s best-known superheroes. With Steve Ditko, he created the Amazing Spider-Man, and with Jack Kirby, he created Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and the X-Men.
According to the news release, A2 will manage the animated and live programming, as well as the global licensing and merchandising of Stan Lee Comics. Archie Comics will be responsible for the publication of the comics, in both the print and digital formats. Lee will be involved with all creation and creative for Stan Lee Comics.
- Matt Price
Guinness World Records Comic-Con roundup
Multiple Guinness World Records were given out at Comic-Con: International in San Diego in 2010. The book’s Editor-in-Chief, Craig Glenday, traveled from the London headquarters to present these achievements in advance of the Guinness World Records 2011 release on Sept. 15.
“Comic-Con remains the premier destination for pop-culture enthusiasts and is host to all of the biggest names in entertainment. That’s exactly the kind of place that Guinness World Records wants to be,” said Glenday in a news release.
Guinness World Records presented the following records at Comic-Con (information from Guinness World Records):
Most Successful Horror Movie Series – SAW – Producers Oren Koules and Mark Burg accepted the Guinness World Record for the ‘Most Successful Horror Movie Series’ with $732 million total global box office sales.
Most Successful Sports Movie Franchise – Rocky – Stars of the upcoming theatrical release The Expendables and co-stars of Rocky IV, Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren, accepted the Guinness World Record for the ‘Most Successful Sports Movie Franchise for Rocky’, grossing $1,251,372,491 throughout its six installments, running from Rocky (November, 21 1976) to Rocky Balboa (December 20, 2006).
Largest Comic Book Convention – Comic-Con International in San Diego, garners over 125,000 attendees, making it the largest comic book convention in the world. David Glanzer, Director of Marketing and Publicity for Comic-Con, accepted the record.
Highest Rated Animated Sci-Fi Television Series – Airing on Cartoon Network, the popular CGI series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, received the record for the ‘Highest Rated Sci-Fi Animation Show on TV’ averaging a viewership of 4 million at its launch. On hand to accept the award were Supervising Director Dave Filoni, CG Supervisor Joel Aron and Lead Designer Kilian Plunkett.
Most Ultimate Fighting Championships Heavyweight Championship Bouts Won – With seven wins between 1997 and 2008, Randy Couture accepted the Guinness World Record for the ‘Most Ultimate Fighting Championship Heavyweight Championship Bouts Won’.
Most WWE Royal Rumble Championships Won – ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin was presented with the Guinness World Record for the ‘Most Wins of the World Wrestling Entertainment Royal Rumble’ with three wins in 1997, 1998, and 2001.
Most Chocolate Bars Eaten in One Minute – The record-breaking bonanza continued with THQ setting the record for the Most Chocolate Bars Eaten in One Minute. The record of 3 Milky Ways was set jointly by Pat Bernaletti and Joey Chestnut to highlight the release of THQs Red Faction: Armageddon.
Highest Rated Animated Series (Current) – Futurama – With a favorable 80% rating on Metacritic.com, FUTURAMA creator Matt Groening (pictured, with John DiMaggio and Lauren Tong) and executive producer David X. Cohen accepted the award for the highest rated animated series currently on television.
Most Eisner Awards in One Category – Todd Klein accepted the record for the most Eisner Comic Award wins in one category. Klein received 15 wins in the Best Letterer/Lettering category from 1993 to 2008.
Tallest Structure Built With Interlocking Bricks – LEGO – Julie Stern, Brand Relations Manager for LEGO, accepted the award for the tallest structure built with interlocking plastic bricks. The structure was 99 ft 1 in high and was constructed by children and adults at an event organized by Lego Norway in Oslo, Norway, on April 24, 2010.
- Matt Price
Monday movie quote challenge #89
“I wish you were still a washing machine!”
Identify who said the above quote in what film in the comments!
Comic-Con International: Saturday and Sunday photo roundup
Photos from the rest of the weekend at Comic-Con International 2010.
Ryan Reynolds recites Green Lantern oath at Comic-Con International
At the Comic-Con panel for “Green Lantern,” star Ryan Reynolds recited the Green Lantern oath for a young 
fan. Reynolds also talks about the energy of Comic-Con and his take on Hal Jordan in this clip. Blake Lively talks about Carol Ferris’ role as someone who both loves, and eventually will battle, Hal Jordan. Other good news from the panel – Kilowog will appear in the Green Lantern film.
- Matt Price
Smallville at Comic-Con: Series to welcome Booster Gold, Blue Beetle in Geoff Johns episode
SAN DIEGO – Geoff Johns announced at the “Smallville” panel in Ballroom 20 of Comic-Con International that he will bring Booster Gold and the Blue Beetle to the series in the final season. The Blue Beetle will be the Jamie Reyes character, and Skeets, Booster’s robot sidekick, will appear, Johns says.
(I wonder if the test Blue Beetle footage shown at DC Nation at Comic-Con, and this news, could mean this Blue Beetle could spin off after “Smallville” ends?)
Johns moderated the panel, which featured Tom Welling and Erica Durance, Cassidy Freeman, and Justin Hartley, along with showrunners Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson. A clip shown at the beginning of the panel showed a brief glimpse of a “Superman” costume, which has been teased for years on “Smallville.” With this being the final season, it appears that wish will finally come true for many Superman fans. Will he fly? Peterson says, “We all know how the comics turn out.”
Fans wondering if Cassidy Freeman, who plays Tess Mercer, will return have good news – Freeman says her appearance today at the panel is a good sign. That’s good, because she’s a Nerdage favorite. Another character who may not be dead? John Schneider, who makes a surprise (to me) appearance, saying “rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”
The villain this year will be Darkseid, which sounds like a fantastic way for the series to go out. Like Doomsday, he’ll be somewhat different from his comics incarnation.
- Matt Price
Linda Hamilton to star as Chuck’s mom
SAN DIEGO — “Chuck” creators/executive producers Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak announced at Comic-Con International that Linda Hamilton (the “Terminator” films) will join the series in season 4. She’ll play Mary Bartowski, the long-missing mother of Chuck (series star Zachary Levi) and Ellie (series star Sarah Lancaster). Hamilton will be a recurring guest star in the program.
Season four of “Chuck” premieres Monday, September 20, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. Chuck: The Complete Third Season will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 7.
- Matt Price
Archie Comics highlights at Comic-Con International include Titans crossover, Archie Babies
Among the upcoming projects discussed at Archie Comics’ Friday panel at Comic-Con International in San Diego were the Archie/Tiny Titans crossover, which will be produced by DC Comics.
Other highlights include:
- Life with Archie, which continues the Archie Marries Betty and Archie Marries Veronica storylines, will be on sale Aug. 10. In addition to direct market stores, the magazine will be on sale in Walmart and Toys R Us.
- Kevin Keller will make his first appearance in Sept. 1′s Veronica #202, and will also appear in “Veronica” 204 and 205.
- Sabrina, Little Jinx and Katy Keene will relaunch with new series. Little Jinx will age up from 7 to 13 and be called simply “Jinx.”
- President Obama & Sarah Palin will come to Riverdale to support candidates for President of Riverdale High.
- A new monthly series, “Archie Babies,” featuring the Archie characters as babies, is set for 2011.
- Michael Uslan will reintroduce Pureheart and the Super Teens.
Archie will also continue its program of high-end reprints in partnership with Dark Horse, IDW, and Abrams.
- Matt Price
