“Vampire Killers” stakes out World Wide Web
Doug Hutchison’s web series “Vampire Killers” features a group of sexy vampires and those who hunt them. An edited version of episode 2 is embedded above from YouTube. To see the complete series, visit www.vampirekillers.tv. See my interview with Doug Hutchison, who currently stars as Horace Goodspeed in “Lost” and recently played Looney Bin Jim in “Punisher War Zone,” in Friday’s The Oklahoman or online at NewsOK.com.
– Matt Price
Japanese Spider-Man episode 2: Mysterious World! The Man Lives to Fate
Marvel.com has posted the second episode of the Japanese Spider-Man television series.
From Marvel:
When a train suspiciously overturns, Takuya, aka Spider-Man, believes Professor Monster and the Iron Cross Army are responsible, while flashbacks reveal the tragic details surrounding Garia’s arrival on Earth and transfer of power to Takuya.
Japanese Spider-Man online at Marvel.com
Marvel.com is streaming episodes of the Japanese “Spider-Man” television series. A new episode will be posted each Thursday.
The late 1970s TV show was produced by Japan’s TOEI Company. According to Marvel, the series follows the exploits of motorcycle racer turned super hero Takuya Yamashiro as he slings and swings, battling the evil Iron Cross Army along the way.
- Matt Price
Captain Planet returns online
The Mother Nature Network, www.mnn.com, has brought back “Captain Planet and the Planeteers.”
The world’s first eco-superhero is featured in classic online episodes, along with special bonus footage, trivia and photos.
“Captain Planet and the Planeteers” aired from 1990 to 1996 in more than 50 countries and featured voices including Whoopi Goldberg, Sting, Meg Ryan, Martin Sheen, Ed Asner, James Coburn, Ed Begley, Jr., LeVar Burton, Tim Curry, Dean Stockwell, Helen Hunt and Jeff Goldblum.
– Matt Price
Kindle a threat to comics?
Sort of a misleadingly titled video from Ad Age asks whether Kindle and iPod devices are a threat to traditional comics publishing. Short answer: Sort of, yes, if the companies can’t find a way to encourage readers to pay for digital content. Not touched on in this video is where the direct market of comic-book specialty shops go under this scenario, or, if they go away entirely. I tend to think the world is a cooler place with comic shops than without, and I hope enough people feel the same way to keep that marketplace viable well into the future.
– Matt Price
Amazon announces Kindle 2
Amazon has announced the second version of its Kindle device, an e-book reader with access more than 230,000 books.
The new version is only 10.2 ounces and only 1/3 of an inch thick. It seems like an improvement over the original Kindle, though its lack of color makes it still an unlikely format for comic books. (Some black and white comics and graphic novels have been adapted to the Kindle.) Still, it seems another positive move forward in the development of a light, handy e-reader.
The Kindle 2 will be released Feb. 24.
– Matt Price
Wolfman joins DC Universe Online project
Comic-book and animation writer Marv Wolfman has joined the creative team behind Sony Online Entertainment’s “DC Universe Online.” The massively multiplayer online role-playing game is set in the DC Comics universe of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.
Wolfman joins writer Geoff Johns (“Green Lantern”) and artist Jim Lee (“Batman: Hush”) as part of the high-caliber creative team for this project.
“Getting Marv on board with DC Universe Online shows just how passionate and determined we are about making sure this franchise delivers for both video game players and comic book fans alike,” said John Smedley, president of SOE, in a release. ”This is a true collaboration between the top talent at DC and SOE, and I believe the result of this creative alliance will be one of the most exciting, memorable online game experiences to date.”
Wolfman is the writer of “Crisis on Infinite Earths” and the creator of Bullseye and Blade. He’s also known for his run as the writer of “New Teen Titans.”
Full release after the break.
– Matt Price
View “The Prisoner” online
AMC TV has launched a site dedicated to the 1967 series “The Prisoner,” and all 17 episodes can be viewed for free online.
AMC describes the show as follows:
A secret agent resigns, is abducted and then awakens in a strange town known simply as The Village. He’s been assigned a new name — No. 6. The man-in-charge of the place seems to be someone called No. 2. Why No. 6 has been brought to The Village is never made clear — except for No. 2′s vague demand for “information.” Which side No. 2 represents is also unclear, especially since the person holding the position is constantly changing. And who and where exactly is the omnipotent No. 1?
“Black Terror” online comics available at Nedor.net
A recent e-mail alerted me to the existence of Nedor.net, which contains downloads of 14 public domain comics featuring the Black Terror, with more to come. The Black Terror has been featured in comics from Dynamite, AC and DC Comics.
– Matt Price
Comixology coming to iPhone
The online site comiXology is adding its functionality to the iPhone. Here’s the release:
comiXology + iPhone…Wednesdays just got better.
comiXology today announced that its native iPhone application will be
on sale from the iTunes App Store Friday, December 5th. It will sell
for $1 off, at $3.99, for the first week only.
See a video preview at http://comixology.com/iphoneapp
Never again wonder which comics are coming out! comiXology provides you
all the shipping information and artwork for comics and merchandise,
including covers, creator and story info — and many preview pages! You
can even save what you want to buy and review the list later.
Browse all shipping comics (Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image, IDW, and all
the other independents – comiXology.com has the most complete listings
on the web) review descriptions and covers for this week, last week and
next week preview pages from many comics each week “Pull” comic books
(free comiXology.com account required) read comiXology’s insightful
articles, listen to comiXology’s weekly interview podcast, It Came Out
on Wednesday, discover new comics by checking out comics pulled by other
people, keep comic listings, covers and your pull list on your iPhone,
even without a network connection.
“I’m thrilled to release this iPhone application to the public,” said
Iconology CEO David Steinberger. “I knew when I got my hands on the
iPhone that it’s the perfect vehicle for comiXology.com, and will be a
great tool for preparing your Wednesday shopping list.”
About Comixology Comixology is the premiere website where comic book
fans can review upcoming comic books, trade paperbacks, toys and
related merchandise. Users can browse the best listings of comics on
the Web, create virtual pull lists, rate and discuss comic books, and
use Comixology’s tools to post covers and descriptions of comics to
their blogs and websites. Comixology aims to transform the relationship
between comic book readers, retailers and publishers. Comixology is
owned by Iconology, Inc.
