Christian Bale wraps up Batman; Luke Skywalker lunch; Hulk TV plans
Batman 3, aka “The Dark Knight Rises,” has wrapped, and Christian Bale is done. Also: Lunch with a Star Wars legend and Hulk TV news.
LUNCH WITH LUKE
Actor Mark Hammill, who brought Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker to life in the original Star Wars Trilogy, is offering to have lunch in Los Angeles with the highest bidder and a guest to raise funds for The RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights, which provides an ongoing base of support to human rights defenders around the world. Valued at $10,000, the exclusive experience is open for bidding from November 29th through December 15th at:
http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/276455
BAT-FINISHED
The Philippine Daily Inquirer talked with Christian Bale, and he confirmed he was done with Batman. 
“I wrapped a few days ago so that will be the last time I’m taking that cowl off,” he said. “I believe that the whole production wrapped yesterday, so it’s all done. Everything’s finished. It’s me and Chris – that will be the end of that Batman era.”
He also praised co-star Anne “Catwoman” Hathaway.
“I had plenty of scenes with Anne,” he said. “And I was there when we did the screen test for her. The thing that I said to Chris [Nolan] that day was that there were many very accomplished actresses who had read for the role. I’m terrible at auditions, so I’m very impressed when somebody really seems to acquire an ownership of a character without having worked on it or prepared for some amount of time.”
THE INCREDIBLE HULK NEARS
Guillermo del Toro tells io9 that the screenplay is in for the possible upcoming “Hulk” TV show, and the team is waiting for a green light. Del Toro, serving as producer, says he and his team know the essential stories, including “Hulk: Grey,” written by Jeph Loeb, who is involved with the show.
“We know all the iterations of the Hulk pretty good. We’ve read all the essential stories, and we’re then riffing on that. There are so many incarnations and ideas. Jeph Loeb — who did a good run [on Hulk: Grey] — is involved, and I love Peter David’s Hulk. But there’s really no part in that mythos that we don’t know, so we are trying put our own personal spin on it.”
REVIEW FILE: Green Lantern The Animated Series #0, Wolverine #19, Uncanny X-Men #2, X-Men Legacy #259, Archie #627, Flash Gordon Zeitgeist #1.
Comics read in 2011: 1,853. Still to go: 158
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Star Wars Legacy, Archie among reading for comic-book challenge
Catching up on a few more comics read recently as I’m trying to reach 2,011 comics read in 2011.
Archie #30 (1948): If Betty can sew a patch onto Archie’s pants, she can take him to the dance. Did people really do things like this in the 1940s?
Betty and Veronica #192 (Dec. 1971) Veronica ditches the gang, who are cleaning up the river in Riverdale, when she has a chance to appear in a fashion shoot.
Star Wars Legacy vol. 2: Shards: This second volume of “Legacy” does a lot to set up the world of the “Star Wars” universe, 125 years after “Return of the Jedi.” Cade Skywalker, Luke’s grandson, is the series’ main character, though he’s less active in this volume than the first. Collects issues 8, 4, 9, 10, 13, 11, and 12 of the series, originally published in 2007.
The Unknown 1-4 and The Unknown Devil Made Flesh 1-4: Two supernatural-style mysteries by writer Mark Waid and artist Minck Oosterveer. Oosterveer sadly died earlier this year.
In “The Unknown,” from Boom! Studios, master detective Catherine Allingham learns she only has months to live. She chooses to use that remaining time examining seemingly unsolvable mysteries with her ex-bouncer apprentice, James Doyle.
Sanctuary #1: Stephen Coughlin’s digital comic from SLG features a sanctuary for animals with a dark mystery behind it — it reminded me somewhat of “Lost.”
Batman: No Man’s Land Vol. 1: Batman must deal with Gotham City after a terrible earthquake leads to the evacuation of most of the city. This volume includes Batman: No Man’s Land #1, Batman #563-564, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #83-84, Detective Comics #730-731 and Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #116. While the story is in some ways unbelievable, the storytellers do a good job making this altered Gotham and its residents part of a compelling story of Batman and his allies in a new, difficult circumstance.
- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 1,847. Still to go: 164.
Win lunch with Stan Lee for charity!
Stan Lee (AP)
Charitybuzz is providing comics fans some rare opportunities to meet with the people behind their favorite comics.
A fan can win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy a lunch date with Stan “The Man” Lee along with POW! Entertainment co-founder Gill Champion in LA. The lucky diner will also get to take home two autographed comics.
Bidding is open through October 19 at http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/281204 with proceeds going to Communities in School of Los Angeles.
Lee, former publisher of Marvel Comics, co-created a laundry list of characters including Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk and the X-Men.
Own a Commemorative Marvel Encyclopedia Signed by Stan Lee
Another way to get a Stan Lee autograph is to bid on a Marvel Encyclopedia offered by Charitybuzz. A copy of the Marvel Encyclopedia, signed by Stan Lee, is up for bid through October 5 at http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/272716. The book contains new artwork, stats and histories for Spider-Man, the Hulk, Wolverine and more. Proceeds benefit the Young Story Tellers Foundation.
Lunch at Archie Comics Headquarters in NY with the CEO
Two Archie Comics fans could meet the CEO of the company in a special Charitybuzz auction.
Nancy Silberkleit, the CEO of Archie Comics, will meet with the auction winners in New York at the comic book company’s headquarters. Bidding goes through October 5 at http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/283815 with proceeds going to the Plastic Pollution Coalition.
- Matt Price
Click past the cut to find out more about the charities involved.
New Spider-Man coming; Batman 3 cast grows; Jennifer Lawrence gets blue in X-Men First Class
ARCHIE GIVEAWAY
Find out the winner of the Archie Comics AllPosters.com giveaway in this week’s Planet 46 Comics video.
Archie Comics art giveaway, Adrianne Palicki Wonder Woman gets new look, Justice League film in works
ARCHIE COMICS ART GIVEAWAY
Nerdage readers and Planet 46 watchers can win an art print valued at up to $100 from AllPosters.com.
Norm Breyfogle discusses “Life With Archie: The Married Life”
The first issue of "Life With Archie: The Married Life."
Norm Breyfogle broke into comics in the early 1980s, and was a popular Batman artist for six years, on “Detective Comics,” “Batman” and “Shadow of the Bat.” Now, he’s drawing another iconic character — Archie Andrews, the most popular teen humor character in comic-book history. Breyfogle is drawing the follow-up to the popular Archie “wedding” series, “Life With Archie: The Married Life,” in which Archie’s possible wedded future is
Norm Breyfogle
explored. Half of the magazine’s comic stories look at Archie and Betty’s potential future; the other half, Archie and Veronica. Breyfogle answered some questions for Nerdage about the new magazine; issue No. 1 is on sale now.
Matt Price: Norm, thanks for agreeing to do an interview. I’ve enjoyed your work for years, and found the first issue of “LIFE WITH ARCHIE” to be a lot of fun!
Norm Breyfogle: Thanks, Matt. I’m enjoying the experience, too!
MP: The Archie wedding series was a monster hit – does that make it more exciting to come on and do the official continuation of the story?
Norm Breyfogle: Certainly! But then, I’d enjoy it, regardless; I just like to draw. Yes, the publicity revolving around the Archie wedding was definitely a good thing for sales, and it looks like that’s rubbing of on our series, too.
MP: How did Archie come to seek you out for this series?
Norm Breyfogle: After meeting Archie President Mike Pellerito at a New York convention in 2009 (or was it 2008?), I’d drawn one of their “New Look” stories and Victor Gorelick (Archie Comics co-president, Editor-in-Chief) afterward asked me if I’d like to do some Archie work in a more traditional drawing style. I was game, but first they requested I draw a few pages of a sample script they provided, which I did. They liked it, so here I am!
MP: You were known for action with your long association with Batman – do you expect Archie to be facing storylines that cause him to become a man of action?
Life with Archie issue 2
Norm Breyfogle: Haven’t thought much about that. Although I’ve suggested to Archie Comics some springboard ideas (not particularly “action-oriented,” by the way), I’m drawing whatever they want me to draw. I’m really enjoying the writing from Michael Uslan (he wrote a two-year outline and the first two scripts) and Paul Kupperberg (he’s writing all the scripts after the first two, based upon Michael’s outline).
MP: Tell me about bringing your artistic style to the well-known look of the Archie character, and melding both together.
Norm Breyfogle: I was a little worried about how that would work out, since I’d never drawn in such a style before, but once I realized that all that’s really required for a “traditional” Archie drawing style is to follow the formula for the faces and to keep the body proportions at 5-6 heads tall (instead of the 7-9 heads tall used for most all other mainstream adventure stories, especially super-heroes), it came quite naturally to me; I’ve discovered that everything else can be more or less my own established, dramatic drawing style.
MP: You’re drawing two different alternate takes on Archie as a 20-something; as the series progresses, do you anticipate a greater visual distance between Betty’s Archie and Veronica’s?
Norm Breyfogle: I wouldn’t say I’m anticipating that, but I suppose it could happen. Whatever is decided is probably going to be fine with me. It all depends on how much of a change Archie Comics wants to explore, I suppose.
Right now, the biggest changes are happening in the circumstances surrounding Archie, not so much in Archie himself. As a character, I’d say that Archie himself has a pretty stable psychology. He’s got a very strong sense of right and wrong, and I’d think that will keep him more or less on an even keel. It’s one of the main qualities and strengths of the character, and I don’t see that changing. Lots of other things can change, though,
Life with Archie issue 3
and already have.
MP: Although you’re the artist of both series, I have to ask – do you have a Betty or Veronica preference?
Maybe because I’m not from a wealthy or privileged background, I favor Betty. She seems to be the one that’s sweeter, easier to get along with.
MP: Is there anything else you’d like to tell me about the series?
Norm Breyfogle: Since I’m not the writer or editor, I should limit my comments to the artwork (I wouldn’t want to give away too much about what’s coming up, story-wise). I really like the higher quality paper, the coloring, and the two-stories-in-one magazine format, all of which gives it all more a prestigious sense than I’d expected back when it was originally planned as two separate, traditionally formatted monthly titles.
And, the two artists who are inking my pencils, Joe Rubinstein and Andrew Pepoy, are wonderful! BTW, I personally requested Rubinstein as an inker because I’ve always liked his inks on my pencils, ever since our collaboration on DC Comics’ title “ANARKY.”
“Life With Archie” is available at comic shops and newsstands, as well as via ArchieComics.com and at Walmart, CVS, Walgreens and Toys R Us.
- Matt Price
Click past the cut for more “Life With Archie” art.
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
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
Archie meets vampires in Twilight parody
Archie and Friends #146 - "Twilite" part one.
Archie Comics takes a look at the world of Twilight with the parody story “Twilite,” kicking off in “Archie and Friends” #146.
According to Archie’s news release: It’s love at first bite when two new mysterious students arrive in Riverdale. Betty and Veronica are fascinated by the smoldering-hot Ivan, but Jared is warning everyone who will listen that Ivan is really a bloodsucker! Reggie jumps at the chance to help Jared expose Ivan as a vampire, but love… or maybe Ivan… is clouding Betty and Veronica’s vision! Can Archie and the others save the girls from the mysterious Ivan? Is there a greater danger lurking in the darkness?
“Twilite: Part One,” the first of a two-issue storyline that concluded in “Archie and Friends” #147.
“Vampires and the friends and foes of their world surround us every day,” remarks Archie Comics Co-CEO, Jon Goldwater in the news release. “It has been a spectacular treat to bring them to the world of Archie, Betty and Veronica in ‘Twilite.’ I can assure you, Riverdale has never seen a romance quite like this!”
(From that quote, it sounds like Goldwater is saying vampires run around our world every day — but I assume he just means in the worlds of fiction… or does he?)
- Matt Price
Sonic the Hedgehog Free Comic Book Day 2010 edition preview
Archie Comics has provided this preview of the Free Comic Book Day edition of “Sonic the Hedgehog” for 2010. FCBD is Saturday, May 1!
