Actress Kat Dennings says “Thor” movie not just for guys
Kat Dennings in "Thor."
Though the “Thor” film, opening Friday, is about the Norse god of Thunder, co-star Kat Dennings says the film has some female empowerment as well.
Movie review: Paul
In this film publicity image released by Universal Pictures, Paul the alien, voiced by Seth Rogen, left, and Simon Pegg are shown in a scene from the film, "Paul." (AP Photo/Universal Pictures)
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost star as British geeks visiting America in the sci-fi comedy “Paul.” Starting at Comic-Con International in San Diego, the pair plan a cross-country trip in an RV, hitting the highlights of alien encounter sites such as Area 51 and Roswell, N.M.
Comic-Con International to stay in San Diego
Announced via a press release, Comic-Con International, the largest gathering of comics fans in the U.S., drawing about 125,000 to San Diego each summer, has announced it will stay in the same location through 2015. Other cities had made offers to Comic-Con, as its deal with San Diego was expiring. Release below.
- Matt Price
San Diego – Comic-Con International: San Diego (Comic-Con), the largest comics convention of its kind in the world, today announced it will be staying in San Diego for the foreseeable future.
Comic-Con reached a self-imposed attendance limit at the San Diego Convention Center (SDCC) in 2007 and has had to cap attendance at approximately 125,000 people each year since. In looking at ways to better accommodate the growing demand from attendees and exhibitors, the nonprofit organization considered proposals for a move to larger facilities in Los Angeles or Anaheim after the expiration of its SDCC lease in 2012. This decision keeps Comic-Con in San Diego through 2015.
“We are grateful for the tireless efforts all three cities put into to their proposals,” said David Glanzer, Comic-Con’s director of marketing and public relations. “In the end, we feel this decision is the best for all those who attend Comic-Con and for the organization itself. We are happy that the community has worked with us to ensure that we remain here.”
Comic-Con was first held in 1970 at the U.S. Grant Hotel, where it attracted 300 people. As the event grew, subsequent homes included the downtown El Cortez Hotel in the 1970s and the San Diego Convention and Performing Arts Center in the 1980s. Comic-Con moved to the then newly built SDCC in 1991. Comic-Con celebrated its 41st year in 2010.
The San Diego Convention Center Corporation has scheduled a press conference for Friday, October 1 at 11:45 a.m. at Lobby E of the convention center.
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
Jimmy Palmiotti discusses Radical Comics’ Time Bomb
In this video from Comic-Con International, Jimmy Palmiotti, co-writer of “Time Bomb” with Justin Gray, discusses the Radical Comics miniseries with Matt Price. Paul Gulacy is the “Time Bomb” artist.
Video shot by Annette Price and edited by Kyle Roberts.
Time Bomb issue 1
Hitler’s revenge causes ignition of “Time Bomb”
Art from "Time Bomb."
In the action-adventure comic book “Time Bomb,” written by the “Jonah Hex” team of Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, Adolph Hitler may yet have his revenge on humanity.
The book begins in Berlin in the near future, as builders of a subway tunnel discover an underground city built near the end of World War II by Hitler.
“While they’re down there investigating the city, they accidentally trigger a missile launch,” Palmiotti said in an interview at Comic-Con. “And the missile launches through Berlin, blows up in the atmosphere, and they find out that the missile’s payload was a virus, a mega-virus.”
This mega-virus has the potential to destroy all the human life on Earth, and it’s spreading fast. A secret, and abandoned, U.S. project may be humanity’s only hope.
The cover to "Time Bomb" issue 2
“The American government had this operation, a thing called Time Bomb, which would send things back in time, people back in time,” Palmiotti said. “But it cost a billion dollars every time they use it, and the program’s been dumped. Well, now they have to use it.”
A four-person crew is assembled to go back in time a week to prevent the firing of the missile. But something goes wrong.
“It sends four people from now back to the end of World War II, and they have to go into Berlin to take out the city to take out the missile,” Palmiotti said.
The artist on the three-issue miniseries is Paul Gulacy, known for his work on “Sabre,” “Master of Kung-Fu” and “Batman.”
“I’ve been a fan of Paul since I was a kid,” Palmiotti said. “And I’ve worked with Paul a couple of times, doing Batman, as an inker … and I’ve had the pleasure of writing for him on things like ‘Jonah Hex.’”
Palmiotti said Radical asked him who his dream artist would be for “Time Bomb.”
“I said, ‘Well, I would love Paul Gulacy, but show me what you got, and we’ll see,’” he said. “And little did I know, they went and got Paul Gulacy. So, I thought, I like these guys. They’re actually listening to me.”
“Time Bomb” No. 1 is on sale now. The 56-page first issue retails for $4.99.
- By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Avengers movie teaser trailer from Comic-Con
Via CinemaBlend, the teaser trailer for “The Avengers” shown at Comic-Con International in San Diego.
There’s not much to it, but hey, cool Samuel L. Jackson voice-over and confirmation that there will be a Marvel superhero team-up movie.
- Matt Price
Stan Lee, Green Hornet, Thor, Iron Man vs Batman and Action Comics 891 review on Planet 46 Comics Podcast
Stan Lee talks Boom!, and a wrap-up of Green Hornet, Green Lantern, Thor and Avengers news from Comic-Con. Reviews of Batman: Return of Bruce Wayne #4, Uncanny X-Men, and Action Comics 891.
Smallville Season 10 Comic-Con trailer goes online
If you missed the Comic-Con trailer for “Smallville,” it’s now shown up online. Tom Welling as Clark Kent, the return of Jonathan Schneider as Pa Kent, the appearance of a costume, a Lionel Luthor cameo? Are you intrigued? What do you think about the trailer? What do you want to see in Season 10? You can check out more photos from Comic-Con at Smallville’s official Facebook page.
- Matt Price
Green Hornet, Stan Lee and other Comic-Con 2010 highlights [video]
Shot by Annette Price, edited by Kyle Roberts, the above video includes highlights from Comic-Con International 2010 in San Diego. See Stan Lee at the Boom! press conference announcing his new series, the Green Hornet’s car and Green Hornette Mandy Dollar, costumes from the show floor, Scott Pilgrim displays and much more!
- Matt Price
Seth Rogen poses with the Black Beauty car at Comic-Con International 2010.
