The Aquaman Shrine is going all-out in promoting the Aquaman-Demon team up in “Brave and Bold” No. 32, featuring the classic Aquaman teamed up with Etrigan, the Demon.

The issue, written by J. Michael Straczynski and drawn by Jesus Saiz, is set for February release:

Straczynski says at the Aquaman Shrine:

You can draw a line of comparison between Aquaman and the lead character in the Dune books: both royalty of a sort, both commanding vast creatures that live beneath the surface, and both living in an environment hostile to normal humans (with the reverse approach, extremely dry instead of extremely wet). If you look at what they’ve been able to do with the Dune books, you know there has to be more you can do with Aquaman. It just takes the right approach.

How does the “Brave and Bold” issue tie into Blackest Night, and what are Straczynski’s other plans for the character?  Click over to the Aquaman Shrine for answers.

At Newsarama, Dan Didio talked about the upcoming “Kid Flash” series to be written by Sterling Gates.   He revealed Gates will be working closely with Geoff Johns to keep continuity among the “Flash” franchise.
He also revealed (SPOILER WARNING) that Max Mercury would appear in the series.

Didio says at Newsarama:

I think Sterling’s already doing such a great job on Supergirl, and he’ll bring a lot of those same sensibilities to Kid Flash. That’s one of the reasons we chose him for that series. Also, you’ll still see the dynamic between Kid Flash and Max Mercury, if I’m not mistaken. And I think that’s new information, so you did get something out of me. But Max will be featured in this series as well. So if somebody’s a fan of Impulse, they’ll get that relationship back in the Kid Flash series. Because of the Max/Bart relationship, I think they’ll be very pleasantly surprised about what the plans are for the book.

Kid Flash looks to be a great fit for what Gates does well, and I look forward to seeing what’s in store for the series!

- Matt Price

Tulsa-born writer Sterling Gates is joined by two Supergirl superstars for “Supergirl” No. 50.  Artwork from the late Michael Turner will be the cover of “Supergirl” No. 50.  A back-up story will be written by “Supergirl” actress Helen Slater and Jake Black. 

As revealed in the Superman family solicitations at Newsarama.com, the issue is set for release on Feb. 17 and will run 56 pages for $4.99.   Joshua Middleton, the series’ regular artist, will provide a 1-in-10 variant cover for the issue.

It’s the second “Supergirl” news featuring Slater in recent weeks. The actress also provided the introduction to “Supergirl: Who Is Superwoman?,” the collection of “Supergirl” issues by Gates and artist Jamal Igle released this week.

- Matt Price

Doc Savage is making his way back to comics. The once wildly popular pulp character co-stars with Batman in the one-shot “Batman/Doc Savage” this week.

Brian Azzarello (“100 Bullets”) is the writer of the “Batman/Doc Savage” Special, illustrated by Phil Noto.

Doc Savage has a long history in comic books, pulp magazines, radio and even movies.

Moore author Mel Odom said Doc Savage was among his favorites as a youngster.

“I grew up on the character — tougher than Tarzan, braver than Batman,” he said. “(I) took my younger brothers to see the 1975 George Pal ‘Doc Savage’ movie.”

And Doc Savage could return to the silver screen as well. Aintitcoolnews.com recently reported Shane Black (“Lethal Weapon”) was working on a Doc Savage script.

Through his worldwide jaunts, Doc Savage came at least twice to the Sooner State.

“At least two Doc novels take place in Oklahoma, ‘The Secret in the Sky,’ May 1935, and ‘The Derrick Devil,’ February 1937,” said Larry Latham, pulp fiction expert and creator of the “Lovecraft Is Missing” Web comic.

Doc Savage was an adventurer and scientist who had globe-spanning adventures with his band of assistants.

Lester Dent wrote most of the 181 novels featuring Doc Savage, which were released under the Street & Smith “house name” of Kenneth Robeson. And Dent had even closer ties to Oklahoma than his “Man of Bronze” character.

Though Dent was born in La Plata, Mo., Latham said Dent lived and worked in Oklahoma from 1925 to late 1930, in Bartlesville, Ponca City, Chickasha and Tulsa.

“In Tulsa, he worked for The Associated Press office at the Tulsa World,” Latham said in an e-mail. Latham said articles by Will Murray, Dent’s literary executor and biographer and a personal friend of Dent’s wife, Norma, indicated that during this time Dent was an avid reader of the pulp magazines.

“He worked midnight to 8 a.m. and read a lot of pulps,” Latham said. “One of his co-workers, Lester Foster, sold a story, and so Dent took up writing as a way to make some extra money.”

He wrote 13 stories before selling his first to Street & Smith in 1929, living in Tulsa and working at The Associated Press, and also as a telegrapher at a Tulsa stock brokerage until 1930.

Dell Publishing in New York offered Dent a full-time job writing in late 1930, Latham said, and the Dents moved there. Not too long after, Street & Smith hired him to write Doc Savage.

In addition to Doc Savage, Dent wrote a variety of other pulp genres before his death on March 11, 1959. But there was one genre of which he wasn’t particularly fond.

Murray quotes him as saying: “I was raised on a ranch. Now wouldn’t I be crazy to go writing about something I knew all about?”

by Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman ]]> http://blog.newsok.com/nerdage/2009/11/13/character-makes-savage-return-to-comics/feed/ 0 http://blog.newsok.com/nerdage/2009/10/30/dvd-review-ruby-spears-superman/ http://blog.newsok.com/nerdage/2009/10/30/dvd-review-ruby-spears-superman/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:49:52 +0000 nerdblog http://blog.newsok.com/nerdage/?p=5612

The 1988 “Superman” animated series was the first version of the character to come to television since comic-book writer/artist John Byrne’s noted revamp of the character in the 1986 “Man of Steel” miniseries. In the new “Superman” comic-book line, Byrne and writer Marv Wolfman introduced the idea of Lex Luthor as a corrupt industrialist instead of mad scientist. That characterization is followed up here, as Wolfman was the animated series’ head story editor.

Even though the Christopher Reeve film series was over by the time this series aired, after the dismal failure of 1987’s “Superman IV,” the 1988 animated series still paid homage to those films. Luthor’s assistant, Jessica Morganberry, is a version of the film’s Miss Tessmacher, and Luthor, though an industrialist, speaks in a manner consistent with Gene Hackman’s Luthor from the films. Furthermore, the theme song for the Ruby-Spears “Superman” uses a bit of the famous John Williams “Superman” score. The series calls back to Superman’s past in another way, too: The opening narration was the same as the 1950s “Adventures of Superman” television show.

Superman/Clark Kent was voiced by Tulsa-born Beau Weaver, who later voiced Mr. Fantastic in the 1990s “Fantastic Four” animated series.

Each episode of “Superman” featured an 18-minute Superman adventure followed by a 4-minute segment called “Superman’s Family Album,” which touched on his days as a youngster in Smallville.

While “Superman,” produced by Ruby-Spears, only lasted one season, it provided an intermediate step between the silliness of the “Super Friends” of the 1970s and the more modern take of the 1990s series.

— Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

World’s Finest #1, kicking off a miniseries teaming Superman and Batman family characters, is in stores today, written by Tulsa native Sterling Gates.

At DC Comics’ official “Source” blog, Gates is called a “writer to watch.”

“Gates has made a name for himself for his tight plotting and knack for strong and precise characterization,” blogger Alex Segura writes.

Meanwhile, at Newsarama, Vaneta Rogers has an extended Q&A with Gates about the series.

“The Batman universe is so full of change right now. So is the Superman universe,” Gates tells Newsarama. “Bruce Wayne is dead and Superman has left the planet Earth to be with his own people on New Krypton. The world is suddenly without its two greatest heroes. To me, that makes it a very exciting time for the DC Universe. You’re seeing new and different characters come to the forefront and stepping up to fill the void left with Superman and Batman gone.”

Gates talked to Nerdage back in September about the project:

“Each issue focuses on a different Batman-Universe hero and villain teaming up with a different Superman-Universe hero and villain,” Gates said. “So, you’re getting four great characters coming into conflict, and you just have to sit back and watch the fireworks.”

Gates said ” World’s Finest” also has some of his “all-time favorite villains.”

“Catwoman’s in there, Mr. Freeze, Penguin, Kryptonite Man, Toyman,” he said. “It’s gonna take all of these heroes working together to rein these supervillains in!”

- Matt Price

Matt Price and Kyle Roberts provide comic-book reviews for Incredible Hulk 602, Supergirl 46 and Justice League 38 in this week’s NewsOK Comics Podcast. It’s Hulk vs. Wolverine: The Next Generation in “Incredible Hulk” No. 602. The Hunt for Reactron ends in Supergirl 46. And James Robinson (”Starman”) begins his run on “Justice League of America” in issue No. 38.

The Muppets recreate the Robin Hood legend, Marvel’s Dark Reign continues, and Superboy discovers more about himself in this week’s comics.

LOS ANGELES — A U.S. Marshal investigating a murder at the bottom of the world is the premise of “Whiteout,” the graphic novel by Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber, which was adapted into a motion picture starring Kate Beckinsale.

The comic-book limited series “Whiteout” from Oni Press was a big success in late 1990s. The sequel, “Whiteout: Melt,” nabbed the Eisner Award for best limited series.

At the press conference for the film “Whiteout,” Rucka said it’s an honor to see his creation make the jump to the silver screen, as a lot of comic books and graphic novels never make that jump.

“I’m still in awed shock that it made it this far, honestly,” Rucka said. “Steve Lieber and I created a comic to tell the story we wanted to tell. … All you can really be is incredibly flattered that this idea that you created in one format, because that was the format that you were working in, is something that somebody wants to take the time and the effort to translate.”

This month, Rucka’s moving from the icy wasteland of “Whiteout” to the heated action of “The Hunt for Reactron.”

The four-part crossover between “Action Comics” and “Supergirl” follows the “Codename: Patriot” storyline and features Supergirl, Nightwing and Flamebird on the hunt for Reactron, the villain who killed Supergirl’s father, Zor-El.

Supergirl and Flamebird, best friends in childhood, have been at odds since Zor-El’s death. But both want the man who killed Zor-El brought to justice. This Nightwing isn’t Dick Grayson, but is Chris Kent, Superman’s adopted son.

Rucka is co-writing the crossover with “Supergirl” writer Sterling Gates, a University of Oklahoma graduate.

“Sterling is fantastic, he’s a great collaborator,” Rucka said at the “Whiteout” film junket. “I’m loving writing with Sterling. He and I are doing two issues of ‘Action’ (and) two issues of ‘Supergirl’ together.”

The crossover begins in Wednesday’s “Action Comics” 881 and continues in “Supergirl” 45, on sale Sept. 23. The story concludes in October’s issues of “Action Comics” and “Supergirl.”

- By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

On the heels of the Marvel-Disney news, this means both the comic-book direct sales market’s major publishers have undergone huge changes in a matter of days.   This restructuring looks like an effort to more fully utilize DC Comics’ properties in film, television and more, and in fact the success of “Dark Knight” seems to have sped up the desire to act on these properties.  Among DC properties in some stage of development as films are the Western “Jonah Hex,” the intergalactic “Green Lantern” and the brash “Lobo.”

The release states that publishing will remain the core of DC Entertainment, and I’m sure that’s what comics fans want to hear.

Check out the full release after the break.

(Dateline – Burbank, CA) Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI) has created DC Entertainment Inc., a new company founded to fully realize the power and value of the DC Comics brand and characters across all media and platforms, to be run by Diane Nelson, it was announced today by Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, and Alan Horn, President & COO, Warner Bros.

DC Entertainment, a separate division of WBEI, will be charged with strategically integrating the DC Comics business, brand and characters deeply into Warner Bros. Entertainment and all its content and distribution businesses. DC Entertainment, which will work with each of the Warner Bros. divisions, will also tap into the tremendous expertise the Studio has in building and sustaining franchises and prioritize DC properties as key titles and growth drivers across all of the Studio, including feature films, television, interactive entertainment, direct-to-consumer platforms and consumer products. The DC Comics publishing business will remain the cornerstone of DC Entertainment, releasing approximately 90 comic books through its various imprints and 30 graphic novels a month and continuing to build on its creative leadership in the comic book industry.

In her new role, Nelson will report to Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, in order to best capitalize on DC Entertainment’s theatrical development and production activities and their importance to drive its overall business with each of the divisions of Warner Bros.

Nelson will bring her expertise and more than 20 years’ experience in creative brand management, strategic marketing and content development and production to ensuring DC Entertainment’s dual mission of marshalling Warner Bros.’ resources to maximize the potential of the DC brand while remaining respectful of and collaborative with creators, talent, fans and source material. Additionally, Nelson will continue to oversee the franchise management of the Harry Potter property, which she has done since 2000, and also continue to represent the Studio’s interests with the author of the Harry Potter books, J.K. Rowling. Nelson will segue from her post as President, Warner Premiere but maintain oversight responsibilities of that division. (An executive succession plan for Warner Premiere will be announced shortly.)

Paul Levitz, who has served as President & Publisher of DC Comics since 2002, will segue from that role to return to his roots as a writer for DC and become a contributing editor and overall consultant to DCE. This transition will take place as expeditiously as possible without disrupting DC’s business operations.

In his new role, Levitz will be called upon for his deep knowledge and more than three-decade history with DC Comics, both as a comic creator and an executive. Besides serving as a writer on a number of DC Comics titles, he will be a contributing editor and consultant to DC Entertainment on projects in various media. Additionally, he will consult as needed on the transition and integration of the DC Comics organization into DC Entertainment and will utilize his unique experience, knowledge and relationships with the comics industry’s creative community to help achieve DC Entertainment’s goal of maximizing the value of DC properties. Further, Levitz will advise DC Entertainment on creative and rights-holder relationships, in particular regarding the legacy relationships that have been a part of DC Comics for decades.

Widely recognized and respected for his support of writers, artists and creators in the comics industry, Levitz is best known creatively for his work with DC Comics, having written most of the classic DC characters, including Batman, Wonder Woman and the Superman newspaper strip. At Comicon International in 2008, Levitz was awarded the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award as part of the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the only industry executive ever so honored.

“DC Comics and its super hero characters are truly touchstones of popular culture, and the formation of DC Entertainment is a major step in our company’s efforts to realize the full potential of this incredible wellspring of creative properties,” said Meyer. “Diane knows our studio as a creative executive, a marketer and a senior manager, and this varied background will help her effectively and creatively integrate the DC brand and properties across all our businesses. We’re also thrilled that Paul will remain involved with DC and we’ll be able to tap his expertise to help us reach our goals for this new business.”

“It’s no secret that DC has myriad rich and untapped possibilities from its deep library of iconic and lesser-known characters,” said Horn. “While we’ve had great success in films and television, the formation of DC Entertainment will help us to bring more DC properties across additional platforms to fans around the world, while maintaining brand integrity and authenticity. Diane is a terrific choice to lead DC Entertainment, and with Paul in his new role as a valued consultant and contributing editor, both our company and comic fans win.”

“Based on the great success we’ve had working with DC Comics to create some of the most popular and successful super hero films of all time, I’ve long believed that there was much more we could do across all of Warner Bros.’ businesses with this great body of characters and stories,” said Robinov. “The prioritization of DC and the creation of DC Entertainment is a great opportunity that reaches far beyond the film group. There are endless creative possibilities to build upon the many significant successes already achieved by my colleagues Kevin Tsujihara and the Home Entertainment Group in the videogame, home video and direct-to-platform arenas and Bruce Rosenblum and the Television Group in live-action, animated and digital series. Collectively, we have the ability to grow a body of properties highlighting the iconic characters and the diversity of the creative output of DC Comics.”

“The founding of DC Entertainment fully recognizes our desire to provide both the DC properties and fans the type of content that is only possible through a concerted cross-company, multi-platform effort,” said Nelson. “DC Entertainment will help us to formally take the great working relationships between DC Comics and various Warner Bros. businesses to the next level in order to maximize every opportunity to bring DC’s unrivalled collection of titles and characters to life.”

“After so many roles at DC, it’s exciting to look forward to focusing on my writing and being able to remain a part of the company I love as it grows into its next stage,” said Levitz.  “It’s a new golden age for comics and DC’s great characters, and I hope my new position will allow me to contribute to that magic time.”

DC Comics will celebrate its 75^th anniversary in 2010 (NEW FUN COMICS #1, the first DC comic, began publishing in 1935), at which time more explicit details regarding DC Entertainment’s corporate and management structure, film and content release slate, creative roster and business objectives will be unveiled at a multi-faceted anniversary celebration and press conference in the first quarter of the year.

Current DC properties in development and/or production at Warner Bros. Entertainment include:

– “Human Target” is being produced by Warner Bros. Television for a mid-season debut on Fox.

– “Midnight Mass” is in series development at Warner Bros. Television for consideration for the 2010-11 season.

– “Jonah Hex,” Warner Bros. Pictures’ supernatural Western starring Josh Brolin, Megan Fox and John Malkovich, recently wrapped production in Louisiana.

– “The Losers,” Dark Castle/Warner Bros. Pictures’ action-adventure drama starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana and Chris Evans, began principal photography mid-July in Puerto Rico.

– “The Green Lantern,” Warner Bros. Pictures’ next big superhero tentpole release, recently cast Ryan Reynolds as the titular character.  The film has a projected second quarter 2011 release date.

– “Lobo,” based on the DC Comics anti-hero, has Guy Ritchie attached as a director; Joel Silver, Akiva Goldsman and Andrew Rona are producing for Silver Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures.

– Warner Premiere’s direct-to-platform DVD animated release of “Green Lantern: First Flight” debuted July 28.

– Warner Bros. Animation currently produces “Batman: The Brave and the Bold,” which airs on Cartoon Network.

– Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment released “Batman: Arkham Asylum” on August 25, a dark, action packed videogame adventure for Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows.

Prior to being named President, DC Entertainment, Nelson most recently served as President, Warner Premiere since its founding in 2006. Warner Premiere is a Studio-based production company which develops and produces high-quality, direct-to-DVD and short-form digital content, including the highly successful line of DC Universe animated DVD titles, and also pioneered the development of the motion comics category. Under Nelson’s leadership, Warner Premiere functions as a full-service production entity with its own resources and release schedule, furthering the Studio’s mandate of being a destination for both established and up-and-coming talent to create stand-alone properties as well as experiment in new media.

Before that, Nelson served as Executive Vice President, Global Brand Management, Warner Bros. Entertainment, with the primary responsibility of working cross-divisionally and throughout Time Warner to maximize and optimize all the various windows and outlets available to the Studio’s signature franchises, brands and event properties on a global basis. In this post, Nelson’s primary focus was the management of the Harry Potter brand, which she has overseen since the brand’s launch at the Studio in 1999. These efforts have helped drive the success of the brand to become the most successful film franchise of all time, as well as a respected consumer property that has generated billions of dollars for the Studio.

At Global Brand Management, Nelson and her team of more than 15 employees worked in all media and platforms to support a number of other key franchise properties, including “The Matrix Reloaded,” “The Matrix Revolutions,” “Batman Begins,” “The Dark Knight,” “Happy Feet,” “Polar Express” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” among others.

Prior to overseeing Global Brand Management, Nelson had served as Executive Vice President, Domestic Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures. Nelson rose quickly through the ranks, having also served as Senior Vice President, Domestic Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures and prior to that, Senior Vice President, Family Entertainment, Warner Bros. Corporate Worldwide Marketing and Planning. She was also Vice President, Worldwide Corporate Promotions, a post to which she was promoted in March 1998, after joining the Studio in September 1996 as Director of Worldwide Corporate Promotions.

Nelson came to the Studio from Walt Disney Records, where she served as Director of National Promotions. She is a graduate of Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications.

# # #

Things light up with Torch #1, and it’s the end of the world as we know it in Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #2. In Supergirl Annual 1, find out the origin of Superwoman and visit a day in the life of Linda Lang.

- Matt Price

LOS ANGELES — At the press conferences for “Whiteout,” producer Joel Silver talked briefly about another comic-book movie that has been long in development.   When asked what movies might work well in 3-D, he mentioned a new version of the DC Comics property “Swamp Thing.”

“I’ll hopefully do Swamp Thing, which is a movie we’ve had for a long time,” Silver said. “We think that would definitely be great to do in 3-D.”

Silver said some movies do work well in 3-D, and others might not, and it’s still early enough in the development of new 3-D technology that it’s important to pick and choose.

“Certain movies fit really well into that situation, and others don’t need it,” he said.

Len Wein said in 2004 he was working on a script to a “Swamp Thing” film.

“Swamp Thing” was created by Wein and Bernie Wrightson.  Alec Holland was transformed into a crusading force for the swamp in moody, atmospheric comics by Wein and Wrightson in the 1970s.  Writer Alan Moore turned the concept inside out during his influential run on the character in the 1980s.

The character inspired two films and a TV series, in which the muck monster was played by Dick Durock.

- Matt Price

WORD BALLOONS

DC Comics announced this week that it has sold out of “Blackest Night” No. 1, which kicked off the zombie-thriller superhero tale by Geoff Johns.

A second printing will be in stores Sept. 16, along with “Blackest Night” No. 3. “Blackest Night” No. 2 is in stores now. Local stores say the issue is moving well from their shelves as well.

“It’s our bestselling comic,” said Brian “Buck” Berlin of New World Comics in Oklahoma City. He said the black ring promo, which allowed stores to order a plastic “Black Lantern” ring with every issue, helped raise awareness of the series.

“We’ve ordered more of it than any other comic, and we’re still selling out of it,” said Eric Neal, an owner of Second Chance Books and Comics in Warr Acres.

The Black Lanterns are the villains of the series, the zombified versions of some of DC Comics’ greatest heroes, including Aquaman.

Neal said that fans are drawn to this series because it’s happening in the main DC Comics continuity, as opposed to in an alternate universe.

“This is actually in the DC Universe,” he said. “In the first issue, they killed off Hawkman and Hawkgirl, and they instantly became zombies.”

That conclusion was intended to shock, Johns said at Comic-Con International in San Diego.

“That scene pushed the boundaries for sure,” he said. “I felt like ‘Blackest Night’ was a horror superhero story. For me, Hawkman and Hawkgirl, I love those characters. I’ve spent a lot of time with them. They represented a love that was never to be.”

Their deaths and revival as zombies, at the hands of the zombie Elongated Man and his wife, Sue Dibny, was meant to be particularly unsettling.

“The most horrifying Black Lanterns are the lighter ones, the ones like Elongated Man and Firestorm,” Johns said. “I wanted to take the couple that had kind of represented this pure love, like Elongated Man and Sue, and put them against Hawkman and Hawkgirl, who are finally coming to terms with theirs, in the most horrific way I could. … Why Hawkman and Hawkgirl are chosen specifically by Black Hand is part of the bigger story. They are characters who have escaped death over and over and over.”

Berlin said the shocking scene will draw more interest to the characters.

“I think it’s kind of an original way to reinvigorate the flailing characters,” he said.

“Blackest Night” has tied into some other of DC’s titles, including miniseries “Blackest Night: Batman” and “Blackest Night: Superman.”

Johns and artist Scott Kolins will create “Blackest Night: Flash” in November.

“It’s kind of a follow-up to our ‘Flash’ run, as well as a continuation of ‘Flash Rebirth’ and ‘Rogues’ Revenge,’” he said. “Lots of dead rogues coming back to say hello.”

The tie-ins, including “Green Lantern,” where the story began, are also seeing strong sales, stores reported.

“It seems to be building. There are more and more people reading it,” Neal said. “The tie-ins are all doing real well, too. ‘Green Lantern’ is doing just as well as the ‘Blackest Night’ issues.”

- By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Writer/actor Bill Birch and comic book author Geoff Johns have been hired to write a script for a film adaptation of “Shazam!” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“Shazam!” is the story of young Billy Batson, who turns into the superhero Captain Marvel when he says the word “Shazam!”   Shazam, the wizard who gives Billy his powers, is also an acronym for the heroes whose powers Captain Marvel bears: the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles and the speed of Mercury.

Johns was also recently announced as a writer and producer on the film adaptation of DC Comics’ “Flash.”

- Matt Price

Oklahoma’s Sterling Gates gives an in-depth interview about his upcoming plans to Newsarama’s Vaneta Rogers.  Superfans should go check it out, as more hints are revealed about what the Super-team writers are building to in the coming year.

Gates also lets some information slip about the upcoming “Supergirl Annual,” but reminds readers that sometimes it’s best if not everything is spelled out.

“You’ll see a lot of Lucy Lane’s back-story in Supergirl Annual #1, and some — and I said ‘some’ — of the questions about Superwoman’s origin will be answered there,” Gates tells Newsarama. “We won’t answer everything. I think it’s fun not to know everything about a character all at once. I mean, I was obsessed with Wolverine when I was a kid because his back story was this huge mystery, and it was great to just get little bits and pieces as I kept reading.”

- Matt Price

Tiny Wolverine guest-stars as Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss big Wolverine’s absence in other Marvel titles this week. Also: Detective Comics 855 and a Blackest Night tie-in.

SAN DIEGO — An Oklahoma writer is hitting the fast lane.

Sterling Gates, an OU graduate who was born in Tulsa, was named the writer of a new Kid Flash ongoing series at Comic-Con International.  The series will star the character Bart Allen and will tie into Geoff Johns’ Flash series.

“It’s too early to talk about specifics, but I’m really psyched to be working closely with Geoff Johns. We want to make the two Flash universe books as exciting as possible,” Gates said, “and I think we can do it.”

Gates is the writer of “Supergirl” and is writing a “World’s Finest” miniseries featuring characters from the Superman and Batman families of characters.

- Matt Price

Eddie Berganza and Geoff Johns

SAN DIEGO — Blackest Night writer Geoff Johns kept the crowd engrossed during his Spotlight panel at Comic-Con, with tales of his days interning for Superman director Richard Donner and advice to aspiring writers.  Along the way, he dropped some hints and revelations about upcoming DC storylines.  Editor Eddie Berganza was on-hand with Johns to help the discussion along.

Barry Allen, the Flash who returned from the dead to the DC Universe, will be around for a while, Johns said, and is co-starring with Wally West, another Flash, in the Blackest Night: Flash series by Johns and Scott Kolins.

Blackest Night, the zombie-superhero tale currently unfolding from DC Comics, is meant to be dark and scary, Johns told attendees who  might be concerned about the content.   It’s intended to push the boundaries.

“It’s about the dead rising; it’s supposed to be violent … it’s supposed to be horrific,” he said.

“Blackest Night” has Green Lantern Hal Jordan front and center in the DC Comics universe. When asked why he preferred Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern that Johns has returned to the spotlight, over 1990s Green Lantern Kyle Rayner, Johns said he thought the Jordan character was more universal.

“It’s about the theme of overcoming fear,” Johns said. “We’re bombarded by things that are all about scaring us.”  Green Lantern’s ability to overcome fear should resonate with everyone, he said.

Johns has no plans to leave Green Lantern anytime soon, he said, and said the villain Hector Hammond will return to prominence in the future of the title.

A large number of people at the panel thanked Johns for getting them into, or back into comics.  Some wanted his advice on breaking in as a writer.

Johns recommended those looking to break into writing look for internships to hone their craft, and to check out the books The Writer’s Journey and Shot By Shot.

From his own days as an assistant, Johns told a story of wrecking Donner’s car, then calling Donner and saying, “I’m fired, right?”  Johns survived the mishap, and later met with DC Comics execs while Donner worked on the film “Conspiracy Theory.”

Even after that, it took a couple of years for his project “Stars and STRIPE” to get going at DC, Johns said, advising persistence to those in the crowd.

- Matt Price

Sterling Gates and Greg Rucka

SAN DIEGO — A group of all-stars held court on Superman at the Superman: Two Worlds panel at Comic-Con International: Geoff Johns, James Robinson, Ian Sattler, Matt Idleson, Francis Manapul, Tulsa-born Sterling Gates, Jamal Igle, James Robinson and Greg Rucka.

The upcoming Codename Patriot arc is part of the overall plan building into a major Superman storyline in 2010, said Robinson, who is writing “Superman,” currently starring Mon-El.

“General Lane has been a factor in these books, obviously, what we want to make him into is the supreme strategist,” Robinson said.  “He has literally plans, and layers on top of these plans, which are all leading up to this event in 2010. We’ll see how it grows until eventually all the pieces come together and we’ll have an event that you’ll all love.”

OU graduate Sterling Gates will get his name on perhaps the most successful comic book of all time, Action Comics.  He and Greg Rucka will co-write an Action-Supergirl crossover that will feature Kara at odds with her former best friend, Thara, who now wears the Flamebird costume.

Gates also talked about his new miniseries, World’s Finest, which will deal with the issue of Bruce Wayne being missing from Superman’s circle after Batman’s presumed death.  Each issue of World’s Finest will pair a member of the Superman cast with a member of the Batman cast.

- Matt Price

The movie poster for Jonah Hex, based on the DC Comics property, was revealed by Yahoo Movies.

SAN DIEGO — Motion comics are still in an experimental phase, said DC Comics and Warner staffers at Comic-Con for the Motion Comics panel.

New scenes from the motion comics Batgirl: Year One and Superman: Red Son were debuted. Those working on the motion comics said they are trying to maintain the same story in a different medium.
With the exception of Watchmen, all the other motion comics have a full voice cast.

The idea is to take the existing work, and build a “house” on top of it, making it into a motion comic. DC’s Paul Levitz said there’s a pacing to comic-book scripting that’s very specific, and the goal is not to upset that when translating it to this new form.

For a limited time, fans can download a free episode of Red Son, featuring an Elseworlds story in which Superman first landed in the USSR. The episode can be downloaded at itunes/TV/Superman.

- Matt Price

Revealed in the DC Comics solicitations at Comic Book Resources is the latest project from Tulsa’s Sterling Gates.  The four-issue miniseries World’s Finest will be written by Gates with art by Julian Lopez and covers by Phil Noto.   The first issue features a team-up between the Kryptonian Nightwing and Red Robin, former sidekick to Batman.

The book will ship with two covers, one featuring Nightwing, and the other featuring Red Robin.  The book, which retails for $2.99, will go on sale October 28.

Also revealed in the new solicitations is the collection of “Supergirl: Who is Superwoman.”  This first collection of the run of Gates and artist Jamal Igle on “Supergirl” features the mystery of the Superwoman character.

We hope to catch up with Gates at Comic-Con in San Diego later this week to find out more about the “Supergirl” writer’s upcoming plans.

- Matt Price

Matt Price and Kyle Roberts discuss this week’s comics, including Captain America 601, Phantom Generations 3 and Blackest Night 1.  Kyle must deal with his fear of zombies and vampires.

The media spotlight turned intensely on Green Lantern in the past week, as Ryan Reynolds was announced as the star of the upcoming film “Green Lantern,” set for release in 2011. In a bit of good timing, DC Comics this week released its high profile “Green Lantern” miniseries, “Blackest Night.” Hal Jordan, who will be played by Reynolds in the film, stars in “Blackest Night,” an event that features the dead returning to life and facing off against DC’s heroes.

The title “Blackest Night” comes from the oath of the Green Lanterns, an intergalactic peacekeeping force. It begins, “In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight.”

At the ComicsPRO annual meeting in March in Memphis, DC executive editor Dan DiDio talked about the behind-the-scenes effort that went into making the “Blackest Night” event run smoothly. ComicsPRO is a nonprofit organization of direct-market comic store retailers.

To keep the “Blackest Night” series and tie-in issues seamless, “Green Lantern” writer Geoff Johns relocated from Los Angeles to New York to work from the offices of DC Comics.

Johns made the transcontinental journey to replicate the plan the company used on “Infinite Crisis,” a previous Johns-written event that topped sales charts.

“This is the formula we used when we created Countdown to Infinite Crisis,” DiDio said. DiDio said Johns working in the offices with editors and writers kept everyone in the loop, and improved the sense of flow with the tie-ins.

“What Geoff’s been able to do is work with a group of writers who will be working on ‘Blackest Night,’ working with them directly to make sure everybody’s on the same page, and working on the same model so we will have a story that feels very natural in its development,” DiDio said.

DiDio said that it’s paramount to keep the focus on the characters, and that’s what they are trying to do with “Blackest Night.”

“We’ve heard the momentum, we’ve heard the excitement about ‘Blackest Night,’ and this is our one chance to take advantage of it all,” DiDio said.

“I can sit here and face anybody … because I know how good the stuff is ahead of us. I know how big ‘Blackest Night’ could be.”

- by Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

One of the more surprising stories to catch the mainstream media interest is the story of Supergirl’s bike shorts, instituted after editor Matt Idelson decided he was tired of the Girl of Steel showing off her underwear when flying around.   Jamal Igle talked about the decision with Newsarama, leading it to be picked up by NPR.  Now, Robot 6 has a rundown of the various interested parties, including a few who are upset about not being able to look at the teen’s underpants anymore.  (Image from Supergirl Comic Box Commentary, which Supergirl fans should bookmark.)

Tulsa-born writer and OU graduate Sterling Gates is the writer of Supergirl, and is one of the most successful active Oklahoma comic-book writers.  His “Supergirl” has been an extremely well-done book that examines her character in an incisive way, while building up a supporting cast and a sense of mystery.  It’s somewhat unfortunate that the press the book is getting is instead for the Girl of Steel’s choice of undergarment, rather than the outstanding work done by Igle and Gates.   However, I applaud the creators for making the Supergirl book more suited for girls and women to enjoy.

- Matt Price

Kyle Roberts and Matt Price review some of this week’s comics, including X-Men Forever 2, Wolverine Weapon X 3, Berserker 1, Dark Avengers/X-Men Utopia and Detective Comics 854. Note: I talked about Silvestri drawing a “whole comic” in Utopia, when in fact he had assistance from several other Top Cow folks.

Greg Rucka and JH Williams III kick off the Batwoman storyline with a bang in “Detective Comics” 854.  Williams hasn’t lost a step from “Promethea,” and is one of the most interesting artists working today.  If you’re on the fence about this, I suggest you just pick up a copy and look at it.  Rucka’s story is interesting – continuing the “Crime Bible” saga, it appears, and exploring the personality of Kate Kane, first introduced with much fanfare in “52.”  But the obvious selling point of the book is the art.  Williams is brilliant in layout and composition, experimental yet completely clear in his storytelling.

The black and red color palate from Dave Stewart as “Detective” opens draws you into Gotham City; Todd Klein, one of comics’ most prestigious letterers, completes the package.

The backup story, by Rucka and Cully Hamner, follows the new Question, Renee Montoya.   It’s just 8 pages, but sets up what looks to be an interesting yarn.

- Matt Price

The first full issue of Milo Ventimiglia’s Berserker from Top Cow hits stores today, and if you’re a fan of Wanted or some of Top Cow’s other more mature, violent books, this one is probably worth a look.
In other probably violent news, Predator comes back to comics in a new first issue from Dark Horse.

Meanwhile, Marvel has all kinds of high-octane releases, including “Utopia” No. 1 and the first “dark” Wolverine, in issue 75.

DC launches Gotham City Sirens, written by Paul Dini.  Fans of Tulsa-born writer Sterling Gates can get your weekly Gates quota in “Green Lantern: Tales of the Sinestro Corps” trade paperback, which contains his work from the Sinestro Corps Superman Prime Special and the Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps Secret Files.

“Tales of Sinestro Corps” collects Green Lantern Sinestro Corps Special #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Ion #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Parallax #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Cyborg Superman #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Superman-Prime #1, Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps Secret Files #1 and backup stories from Green Lantern #18-20.

Other than “Tales,” not as many trades that I’m as excited about this week, though I imagine the “All-Star Batman and Robin” trade will sell well. The deluxe editions of the Grant Morrison JLA are also quality comics if you don’t already own that material, or if you want it in a higher-end package.
Given my Superman fandom, I’ll at least take a look at the “Tales from the Phantom Zone” collection.
What looks good to you?

- Matt Price

DC Comics announced via its Source Blog today that writer James Robinson and artist Mark Bagley would be the new creative team on the company’s “Justice League” title. Robinson has recent experience with the Justice League, as his Justice League miniseries “Cry For Justice” is scheduled for July release.

“… it is my intention to make the JLA a book that matters again,” Robinson announced via twitter.

We are longtime fans of the “Starman” writer here at Nerdage central, and plan to quickly add “Justice League of America” to our comic-shop pull lists.

- Matt Price

Wired has a writeup on the life and career of George Reeves, who was Superman to a generation of kids.   Reeves was found dead of an apparent suicide on June 16, 1959. While much has been made of the mystery of Reeves’ demise — including the very good film Hollywoodland — what should be remembered is the man’s talent.  While “Adventures of Superman” wasn’t high art, Reeves, along with co-stars Noel Neill and Jack Larson, made a classic kids’ show that is still watchable today, despite the extremely limited effects and budgets.

Watching the shows, recently out on DVD, the first two black and white seasons are darker in tone, similar to Superman’s beginnings in the comics. Superman has no problem dropping criminals atop a high mountain, leaving them to consider their deeds. (They don’t, they fall off and presumably die.)  Clark Kent doesn’t take much guff from anyone throughout the series, but in the first season he’s a particularly hard-charging reporter, aiming at exposing social ills.

As the series goes on, the plots get sillier and the colorful Superman that comes onto the screen eclipses the journalistic push for justice.  But it’s still there; heck, Clark Kent in the 1950s show is often as much the hero as Superman.

- Matt Price