A Smallville Season 10 reading list
The Great Darkness Saga
The 10th season of “Smallville,” based on a young Clark Kent learning to become Superman, begins tonight on CW.
As announced at Comic-Con International in San Diego, the DC Comics villain Darkseid will be the villain for the show’s final season, although like previous villains, he’ll be tweaked somewhat to fit in the “Smallville” continuity.
DC Comics’ Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns will write an episode of this season’s “Smallville,” which will feature DC Comics characters Blue Beetle and Booster Gold. Laura Vandervoort’s Supergirl is also set to make a return appearance this season.
To catch up on the background of these characters, here’s some recommended reading for this season of “Smallville.”
“Superman/Batman: Supergirl” by Jeph Loeb and Michael Turner. Darkseid attempts to brainwash a powerful teenage girl in this reintroduction of Supergirl to the DC Comics mythos. This story, adapted into animated form, will be released Tuesday as “Superman/Batman: Apocalypse” on DVD. Tim Daly will voice Superman; Kevin Conroy will voice Batman. The cast also includes Andre Braugher as Darkseid and Summer Glau as Supergirl.
Superman/Batman Vol. 2: Supergirl
“The Great Darkness Saga” by Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen. In the far future, the heroes of the 30th century must battle a grave evil. Darkseid emerges in the 30th century with plans to acquire mystic artifacts and control a race of 3 billion superpowered beings. The Legion of Super-Heroes call on all members, past and present, to face off against Darkseid, who has yet another plan behind the scenes. A new hardcover edition of this classic story is set for release in November, though the individual issues and earlier softcover printings are findable.
“Cosmic Odyssey” by Jim Starlin and Mike Mignola. Starlin, known for his cosmic tales like “Warlock” and “Infinity Gauntlet,” teams with “Hellboy” creator Mike Mignola for this story of a threat so great, that some of Earth’s greatest heroes are forced to work with Darkseid. Superman, Batman, Green Lantern John Stewart, Martian Manhunter, Starfire, the Demon, plus Orion, Lightray and Forager of the New Gods are called on to halt a being who can destroy galaxies.
“Showcase: Booster Gold” by Dan Jurgens et al. Booster Gold’s original series, primarily written and drawn by Dan Jurgens, is collected in this volume as a time-traveling former football star from the future comes to 20th-century Earth aiming for fame and fortune.
Blue Beetle: Shellshocked
“Blue Beetle: Shellshocked” by Keith Giffen, John Rogers, Cully Hamner et al. The mystical Blue Beetle scarab chooses a new guardian: teenager Jaime Reyes. The El Paso teen becomes a reluctant hero after the alien technology of the scarab bonds with him, allowing him to create a superpowered blue armor.
Also recommended: For the full story on Booster Gold’s return to heroism, check out the four volumes of “52.” For the original “New Gods” saga, including the first appearance of Darkseid, check out “Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus” Vols. 1-4. And for the origin of the Booster Gold-Blue Beetle team-ups, featuring Jaime Reyes’ predecessor, Ted Kord, read “Justice League International” Vols. 1-4.
- By Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Scarlett Johansson “Black Widow” movie being discussed
Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow
In a press conference promoting “Iron Man 2,” Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said a “Black Widow” spinoff from “Iron Man 2″ starring Scarlett Johansson has already been discussed.
“We’ve already started discussions with Scarlett about the idea of a solo movie and have begun putting together concepts,” Feige said, “but The Avengers comes first.”
Look for more from the Feige interview in next Friday’s Weekend Look. And share your thoughts about what you’d like to see in a Black Widow movie in the comments.
- Matt Price
Joe Kosinski will follow ‘Tron’ with ‘Oblivion’
Oblivion from Radical.
Radical Publishing has made inroads in the comic book field with series including “Hercules,” “Shrapnel” and “The Last Days of American Crime.” It also has made Hollywood connections, as several properties have been optioned for film. In 2011, it will expand into illustrated novels with “Oblivion,” based on a science-fiction idea from “Tron: Legacy” director Joe Kosinski.
“Rex Mundi” writer Arvid Nelson writes a science-fiction tale in which the Earth’s surface has been irradiated beyond recognition. Civilization is in ruins and under attack from Scavenger aliens. The remnants of humanity primarily live above the clouds. The preview, released at Comic-Con International, introduced Jak, a surface drone repairman who discovers a mysterious woman in a crash-landed pod. According to Radical, in the hardcover “Oblivion” illustrated novel, that discovery will set off a chain of events that will force Jak to question everything he knows.
“The Joe Kosinski project came up about two years ago, just when Joe got the job to do ‘Tron,’” said Barry Levine, president and publisher of Radical. “He pitched me a couple of ideas … this one high concept, I loved it. It was ‘Oblivion.’ About two weeks later, he sent me about five, six pages, and I said, ‘I’m doing it.’”
The illustrated novel, set to be released next summer, already has been optioned by Disney. According to Deadline, William Monahan (“The Departed”) is attached as a screenwriter.
“I was looking to make a science-fiction film that I could do on a budget,” Kosinski said in a news release about the initial concept. “It’s grown since then, but it’s intended to be a very spare science-fiction film, with a small cast but big ideas and big landscapes.”
Andree Wallin’s art in the preview draws the viewer into the landscapes, spacecraft and alien conflicts. Wallin, a digital painter from Sweden, said at deviantart.com that the art style of “Oblivion” is different from his usual work.
“The art is very different from what I usually do. While most of my personal stuff is very Michael Bay-ish in the style, ‘Oblivion’ is quite the opposite: dark, gritty and sometimes very sparse color palettes to enhance the toxic and dangerous feel to the world, but still extremely varied.”
Radical’s executive vice president, Jesse Berger, says the format of “Oblivion” will allow Radical to explore some new markets, as well,
“It’s also started a new format for Radical, that we’re really looking to explore further, which is doing prose versus just the graphic novel format,” Berger said. “We’re taking it in a different direction … it really allows us to explore different markets.”
Levine said “Oblivion” also would work well on an iPad or digital reader.
“You have two pages, and then you have a fully rendered image.”
- By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Marvel Entertainment moving offices
These things seem to come in pairs — DC Entertainment announces its realignment today, and the New York Observer reports that Marvel is moving too. Though in Marvel’s case, the move will only be a few blocks.
According to the Observer, Marvel has leased 60,000 square feet at 135 West 50th Street for nine years. This building also houses Sports Illustrated.
- Matt Price
DC Entertainment announces bi-coastal re-alignment; comics to stay in New York
DC Entertainment will move its digital and multimedia production to Burbank, Calif., while maintaining publishing offices in New York, it was announced today. DC Comics has been located in New York for its entire 75-year history.
“These organizational changes reinforce the strengths of DC’s greatest legacies – most importantly its people and its creative talent – and offer greater opportunity for maximum growth, success and efficiency in the future,” said Diane Nelson, DC Entertainment president. “Our two offices will stretch and build their respective areas of focus, while prioritizing and aggressively striving to connect and cooperate more strongly than ever before between them and with their colleagues at Warner Bros.”
The relocation process is expected to be finished by the end of 2011. The release states that DCE’s businesses related to the development and production of feature films, television, digital media, video games and consumer products as well as the company’s administrative functions will move to a Warner Bros.-managed property in Burbank, Calif. DC Comics’ publishing operations, which oversee comic books, graphic novels and MAD magazine, will remain in New York.
- Matt Price
Click past the cut for the full press release.
National Punctuation Day is Sept. 24
National Punctuation Day is this Friday, and hundreds have entered a haiku contest to celebrate. Are you a word nerd? See sample haikus, and learn more about punctuation, at www.NationalPunctuationDay.com. Click past the cut for the full release from National Punctuation Day to see how else you can celebrate.
- Matt Price
Tuesday TV quote challenge #5
“If there was any shame in a dude getting a pedicure I don’t think there would’ve been a feature about it in Details magazine.”
Identify who said the above quote in what show in the comments!
Mark Millar to make movie; new Spider-Man excited; reviews of Brightest Day 10, Captain America: Patriot 1, Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine #3
Andrew Garfield pumped to play Spider-Man
Actor Andrew Garfield told MTV he’s a longtime fan of the character.
Captain America Patriot 1
“I’ve always been obsessed with that comic and that character and that symbol and everything he stands for.”
“I think he’s an important figure of mythology for every skinny young boy across the world, myself included,” he added. “Yeah, it’s a dream come true.”
Will Black Panther replace Daredevil?
Beginning this December, T’Challa of Wakanda prowls a new kind of jungle and New York City gains a very different kind of protector as The Black Panther comes to Hell’s Kitchen.
According to Marvel, With issue #513, DAREDEVIL morphs into BLACK PANTHER: THE MAN WITHOUT FEAR under the guidance of writer David Liss and artist Francesco Francavilla as the fallout of Shadowland causes a drastic shift in the landscape of the Marvel Universe.
Mark Millar to direct superhero movie
Mark Millar has plans to direct a superhero movie. As revealed on IGN UK, Millar is directing the independent superhero feature “Miracle Park.”
The movie is being filmed entirely on handheld cameras, and is described as sharing an aesthetic with films like “Paranormal Activity” and “The Last Exorcism.” It also promises lots of violence. A trailer is promised for January 2011.
Also included in this week’s Planet 46 Comics Podcast are reviews of Captain America: Patriot 1, Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine #3, Mystery Society #3 and Brightest Day #10.
- Matt Price
Monday movie quote challenge #97
“Do you mind if my friend sits this one out? She’s just dead.”
Identify who said the above quote in what film in the comments!
Smallville: The Complete Ninth Season DVD review
Smallville Season 9 DVD
The Kryptonian military leader Zod (Callum Blue) is Clark Kent’s opponent in the ninth season of “Smallville,” which brings in more characters from the DC comic books.
At this point, Tom Welling has played Clark Kent longer than Christopher Reeve or George Reeves, though he hasn’t donned the famous red-and-blue suit of Superman. His journey toward becoming the Man of Steel continues in Season 9, as a younger version of Zod (who previously appeared in seasons 5 and 6 of “Smallville”) seeks to regain his powers and take over Earth.
The cyborg Metallo, played by Brian Austin Green (“Beverly Hills 90210), kicks off the season with an appropriate sense of menace. Toyman also gets the spotlight early in the season, as he continues a feud with Green Arrow (Justin Hartley). Surprisingly, the Wonder Twins from the old “Super Friends” cartoons are translated to “Smallville” style reasonably well in the episode “Idol.”
The season highlight is the two-parter “Absolute Justice,” which introduces Hawkman and the Justice Society of America to the “Smallville” mythos.
Erica Durance, who plays Lois Lane, has great chemistry with Welling; the developing romance between Lois and Clark is compelling.
Despite a few clunky episodes (notably “Warrior”), Season 9 finds “Smallville” regaining its footing as it heads toward what’s been announced as its 10th and final season.
DVD extras: deleted scenes; a “Kneel Before Zod” featurette looking at Zod’s appearances in comics, film, animation and live-action TV; a “Justice for All” featurette exploring the adaptation of the Justice Society of America to television; and commentaries on episodes “Idol” and “Kandor.”
— Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
