Smallville season 11 comic-book continuation announced
The world of the TV series “Smallville” will continue in a comic-book series from DC Comics, it was announced today.
The series, which focused on the adventures of a young Clark Kent as he learned how to deal with his origins and amazing powers, ended after 10 seasons. It starred Tom Welling as Clark Kent. At series’ end, Kent had donned a Superman costume and become the familiar Man of Steel. That story will now be picked up in a new comic-book series.
According to DC Comics’ Source blog, the series will be written by former Smallville show scribe Bryan Q. Miller. The series will hit digital first, with an April 13 release, with new chapters weekly.
The online chapters will be offered in a print periodical, along with an episode guide to TV series. The first print issue is set for a May 16 release.
“Six months after Clark Kent donned the cape and took to the skies to save Earth from Apokolips… enter Season 11!” Miller told the Source. “New allies abound! New enemies afoot! And old friends return where they’re least expected! Pere and colorist Chris Beckett have done a fantastic job of capturing the look of the show and the players, and Gary and Cat are knocking it out of the park on covers. I couldn’t be more excited to help give seasoned viewers and new readers an all-access pass to Clark’s first year in the cape.”
- Matt Price
ComicsPRO Annual Meeting 2012 first thoughts
DALLAS — How will the rest of the comics market strike back?
That was one of the questions being asked around tables and in small groups at an informal meet-and-greet prior to the kickoff of the ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting.
Since last year’s ComicsPRO meeting, DC Comics has shaken up the sales charts with its Sept. 2011 relaunch. In January, 5 months into the relaunch, DC Comics claimed all 10 of the top 10 comics in Diamond Comic Distributors monthly sales charts.
Because the comics market is often reactive, some retailers at the meeting openly wondered how DC’s competition might react to DC’s 2011 moves.
In early 2012, one company already seems to be shaking things up: Image Comics. Retailers reported very strong sales for the Image title “Fatale” and also for “Thief of Thieves,” released in comic shops today.
“Thief of Thieves” is co-written by Robert Kirkman and Nick Spencer. Kirkman is the co-creator of “The Walking Dead” comic-book series, which has had great success adapted for television on AMC. Some have suggested there’s a “Walking Dead” spillover effect that’s helping the entire Image line, especially those properties tied to Kirkman.
There was also talk about Marvel’s upcoming “Avengers vs. X-Men” promotion, and the promotional idea allowing stores to sign up as supporting the Avengers or the X-Men.
At last year’s preview night, stores said some of the major problems facing the market were generating excitement, late-shipping books, and the still-lagging economy. This year, many of those problems have been addressed. While the economy overall is still recovering, DC’s relaunch helped generate excitement and prove that a major publisher could stick to a largely on-time schedule. Retailers remain interested in DC’s upcoming plans, including those about DC Comics’ just-announced “Before Watchmen” program. Many retailers are curious about how the series will be marketed in comic-book stores.
Thursday at the meeting will be a day of programming from DC Comics; other sponsors will share their programming on Friday and Saturday, in addition to retail-focused discussion and programming. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund will hold the First Annual Retailer Auction, at the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting at 9 p.m. Friday.
With even more stores expected to attend the meeting than last year, it’s up to the gathered sponsors to get these decision-makers on board with their upcoming projects. With many stores feeling on firmer footing than in 2011, they’re actively looking for the new product or title that will get more people in the door and their money in the register.
- Matt Price
Avengers vs. X-Men #1 preview
Marvel has released a preview of April’s “Avengers vs. X-Men,” written by an all-star cast of Marvel writers with art by John Romita Jr., Adam Kubert and Olivier Copiel.
Here’s how Marvel describes the series, which goes on sale April 3.
This April, prepare for the biggest super hero war in comics history as Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Avengers Vs. X-Men #1! From the powerhouse creative team of Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron, Matt Fraction, Jonathan Hickman, Ed Brubaker, John Romita Jr., Adam Kubert and Olivier Copiel comes a groundbreaking event pitting Earth’s Mightiest against the X-Men with the entire Marvel Universe at stake. Cyclops and his team believe the arrival of the Phoenix Force will save mutantkind, but Captain America is convinced it will destroy the world! But who is right? Don’t miss out on all the action in Avengers Vs. X-Men #1 in comic shops worldwide and on the Marvel Comics app this April!
This 12-issue series will feature many of Marvel’s most popular characters, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm and Magneto.
Click past the cut for the full 7-page preview!
- Matt Price
ComicsPRO Annual Members meeting to kick off in Dallas
The ComicsPRO Annual Members’ Meeting kicks off tonight in Dallas with a meet-and-greet involving comic-book retailers and publishers.
Joe Field, president of ComicsPRO, posted his thoughts prior to the meeting at his store blog at Flying Colors Comics and Other Cool Stuff.
“ComicsPRO promotes advocacy, education and opportunity for our members. We work with our members— all small business owners that have challenges, costs and goals,” Field writes. “By being a ComicsPRO member retailer, we are able to band together and mitigate some of those costs, overcome some of those challenges and help each other attain the goals we seek— more professional, profitable and sustainable comic shops.”
Specific items likely to be discussed include growing the print market for comic books and looking at holiday shipping options.
“This will be our 6th annual meeting and we’ll be talking with publishers, manufacturers, distributors, and our fellow retailers in an effort to increase our profitability, share our concerns and potential solutions with our industry trading partners and learn from each other in ways that expand our vision and make each of us look at businesses with fresh eyes,” Field writes at his blog.
Retailers will likely be looking for information from DC Comics on how to maximize the “Before Watchmen” project, and Marvel will likely be asked how best to capitalize on this summer’s “Avengers” movie.
Many other publishers will be in attendance, including Baker and Taylor, Boom! Studios, Dark Horse Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, IDW Publishing, Image Comics and Papercutz, among others.
Dark Horse’s Mike Richardson will provide the meeting’s keynote address.
- Matt Price
“The Wolverine” set for July 2013 release
20th Century Fox has set a release date for the Hugh Jackman “Wolverine” sequel, titled “The Wolverine.”
The film is now set for a July 23, 2013 release date, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Jackman returns as the title character, based on the Marvel Comics mutant who first appeared in “Incredible Hulk” No. 181 in 1974. Wolverine is considered the most popular of the X-Men, and now appears in the X-Men titles, his own solo series, and Marvel’s Avengers comic books.
Jackman has starred as Wolverine in three previous “X-Men” films and in “Wolverine: Origins.” (And, SPOILER WARNING, perhaps, has a brief, but excellent, moment in “X-Men: First Class.”)
James Mangold is the director of the film, which is said to be loosely based on the Chris Claremont-Frank Miller “Wolverine” miniseries and will be set in Japan.
- Matt Price
New Amazing Spider-Man trailer released
Sony has just released a new trailer for this summer’s “Amazing Spider-Man,” starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. Rhys Ifans’ Lizard also makes an appearance in the new trailer. Marc Webb directs the film, which is set for a July 3 release. I think this shows a little more what type of humor and action to expect in the reboot. What do you think?
- Matt Price
Click past the cut for more images.
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Monday movie quote challenge #166
“If you want me to keep my mouth shut, it’s gonna cost you some dough. I figure a thousand bucks is reasonable, so I want two.”
Identify who said the above quote in what film in the comments!
“Simpsons” arcade game comes to home consoles
To celebrate the 500th episode of “The Simpsons,” which airs Feb. 19, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., in partnership with Gracie Films and Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products, is making the “Simpsons” Arcade Game available for home consoles.
The game is now available for Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. The game will also be available on the PlayStation®Network for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system beginning Feb. 7.
“Of all The Simpsons video games, this demented classic is my favorite,” said Matt Groening, The Simpsons Creator and Executive Producer, in a news release.
In The Simpsons Arcade Game, players take on the role of a Simpsons character to chase Smithers and Mr. Burns on an epic quest to save Maggie.
The game features four-player online and offline cooperative play as well as eight Springfield locations.
As an added bonus, fans can view classic posters made for the game back in 1991.
- Matt Price
From Monday’s The Oklahoman
Top 10 Super Bowl 2012 commercials
This seemed like a good year for Super Bowl commercials — there weren’t nearly as many that I actively hated, and there were quite a few that I liked. When the biggest complaints seem to come from childhood icons selling out (Ferris Bueller, Voltron), well, to me that’s a big improvement over some of the past years’ rampant misogynist tendencies.
GoDaddy of course still went with titillating and lowbrow; eTrade still has the horrific talking babies; but besides that I wasn’t too disgusted by anything.
Here are my top 10 commercials for Super Bowl 46 in 2012.
1. Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood tells everybody how to come back and pull together. Loved it! Great placement at halftime, as well, tying in with the commercial’s theme. Well-done all around.
2. Avengers movie spot
“I still believe in heroes.” How cool was this? I’m already predisposed to like this movie, but I thought the commercial was a home run.
3. The Dog Strikes Back
You can argue it’s trying too hard, you can argue it’s selling out a childhood icon. And while I didn’t like it better than Vader Kid, I did laugh.
4. Kia “A Dream Car for Real Life.”
An overdose of the Sandman’s dust has a man’s dreams going over the top. Maybe the funniest commercial this year.
5. Audi vampires
Clever twist on the Twilight frenzy!
6. Chevy Apocalypse
Good way to play into the Mayan 2012 apocalypse zeitgeist with a car commercial, I thought. Ford apparently was upset about this ad; the whole thing seems so fantastical that it’s an odd choice to me of something to get worked up over.
7. Matthew’s Day Off
I’m ranking this here for memorability, even though I have mixed feelings about both the idea and execution. And no Alan Ruck? Matthew Broderick can still pull off a Ferris-like charm, though, can’t he?
8. Hyundai – Cheetah
Gets across the idea of the car being fast, and gets a little violent humor in, generally a plus for Super Bowl commercials
9. Seinfeld Acura “Transactions”
Jerry Seinfeld really wants the first Acura NSX.
10. MetLife, Everyone
I get that He-Man probably doesn’t need insurance, nor does Voltron, and I get all the sellout arguments that can and maybe should be made. But He-Man’s in a Super Bowl commercial!
Which commercials did you like most and least?
- Matt Price
‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’ 3-D Blu-ray review
If you’ve been holding out for the ultimate edition of “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” it’s available in a four-disc set that includes a 3-D Blu-ray.
This edition contains more than three hours of bonus content.
“Dark of the Moon” may be the most technically adept of the robot-fighting series, and director Michael Bay has proved himself with this film as one of the directors who has a handle on how to use 3-D filmmaking. If you’re looking for a film to show off your new 3-D television with, this could be a good choice, as the movie starts off with a strong 3-D element. Unfortunately, the plot is labyrinthine, and the film’s ending drags on for too long, overshadowing the strong beginning.
