Buffy may come to Web; Zack Whedon nabs Terminator comics gig
Two big Whedon-related announcements have come out today.
First, according to SciFi Wire, Joss Whedon’s “Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season Eight” comics could be coming to the Web as motion comics webisodes. For anyone who hasn’t yet read the comics, they are quite good. I’m not completely sold on motion comics as yet (I have, so far, always preferred the original comic), but it should be a good way to share “season eight” with those who might prefer it in this format.
In other Whedon family news, Zack Whedon, one of the writers of “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog,” announced via Techland that he will be writing a new Terminator comic-book series for Dark Horse.
“I am not a big-time, famous dude and yet now I am choreographing action sequences set in a post-apocalyptic future overrun by evil cybernetic organisms hell bent on destroying the human race. How is that possible?! I’ll answer your question, Made-Up Person. It’s possible because in comics it doesn’t cost 150 million dollars to tell that story. They can put an idiot like me in charge!” Zack Whedon writes.
While it’s been a rough month for Whedonites with the cancellation of “Dollhouse,” maybe this will ease the sting somewhat.
- Matt Price
Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse cancelled
According to Entertainment Weekly, Fox will not be ordering additional episodes of “Dollhouse” and will burn off the remainder of the 13-episode order in December. Fox moving it around on the schedule surely didn’t help anything. Hopefully fans will still be able see the promised episode directed by John Cassaday.
I’ll admit, I’m part of the problem. While I love Whedon’s work, I didn’t get into “Dollhouse” after watching the first couple of episodes. I planned to eventually catch up on DVD — and I suppose I still will — but that doesn’t help keep the show on. Overall, I guess it’s a surprise that a nearly naked Eliza Dushku (as seen in the first season promos) didn’t deliver big enough ratings to keep the show going. Those of you who watched “Dollhouse,” feel free to sound off in the comments.
- Matt Price
Former Oklahoman John Cassaday talks Dollhouse directing gig
The Beat talked to comic-book artist and former Oklahoma resident John Cassaday about directing an episode of Joss Whedon’s “Dollhouse.” Cassaday is a comic-book superstar, having drawn “Astonishing X-Men” for Marvel and “Planetary” for DC/WildStorm. After the recent wrap-up of “Planetary,” Cassaday says he’s stepping back from major comics work for the next couple of years.
Here’s an excerpt from the interview; click here for the entire thing, which is well-worth reading.
The Beat: Directing? Why directing? How long has this been going on? Was this your childhood goal?
John Cassaday: Directing has always been half the dream for me, the other half being comics. Friends I had growing up would tell you exactly that. I always knew what I wanted, which was to be a visual storyteller…to tell those stories the way that I saw them… I believe there’s a tangible cross-section of thought here. When I read a comic script, I often see the scenes behind a camera—the shots, the movements and sound, the actors… At times, I’ve read screenplays and see the comic page. These things blend in my mind, so I do my best to shape them into what is needed. I believe in cinematic storytelling, whether it’s on a comic page or on film.
I’m looking forward to seeing what Cassaday brings as a director, though I’ll miss his comic work. However, he says in the interview he won’t give it up completely, so I imagine we’ll still see covers and occasional interiors on projects from Marvel and Dynamite.
Let’s hope Marvel will reprint Cassaday’s currently out-of-print “Captain America” to fill some of the demand for Cassaday sequential art over the next couple of years.
- Matt Price
TheWB.com transitions to open beta
Look for episodes of “Firefly,” “Friends” and more at TheWB.com, moving to an open, public beta starting today. But that’s not all — TheWB.com will have original series as well.
Premiering today are the web series “Blue Water High,” “A Boy Wearing Makeup,” and “Whatever Hollywood.”
The McG-produced “Sorority Forever” launches Sept. 8. “Downers Grove” will debut on September 29, and “High Drama” will bow on October 6.
Full release after the cut.
Dr. Horrible Act III now online
See the conclusion of Joss Whedon’s Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, starring Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion.
- Matt Price
Dr. Horrible Act II is up
The second act of Joss Whedon’s “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” is up! Go check it out.
– Matt Price
Act 1 of Joss Whedon’s “Dr. Horrible” online
The first act of “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” is online at www.drhorrible.com. Starring Neil Patrick Harris and directed by Joss Whedon, “Dr. Horrible” is about a down-on-his-luck supervillain. Act 2 is scheduled to go up Thursday, and Act 3 is scheduled to go up Saturday. The videos will be online until midnight Sunday.
– Matt Price
Dr. Horrible kicks off July 15
Teaser from Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog on Vimeo.
First episode coming online at http://www.drhorrible.com on July 15 from Joss Whedon.
Matt Price’s ten best comic-book titles of the year
Monthly comics remain the backbone of many comic-book stores, and several strong storylines worked their way into fans’ hands in 2007. While some fans suffered from “event fatigue” as last year’s “Civil War” and “Infinite Crisis” were followed by “World War Hulk” and “Countdown,” events done right still drew in fans. While superhero comics remained a mainstay of monthly comic books, slice-of-life tales and science fiction also found a place among the year’s best comics. The following are the ten best comic-book series of 2007.
1. Captain America — All Captain America had to do to have the best comic on the stands was get killed. In “Captain America” No. 25, writer Ed Brubaker drew the attention of the nation by killing Cap. Since the Captain’s death, the story has continued to be compelling, as Captain America’s friends and allies investigate his death. In January, someone new will take the mantle of Captain America.
2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8 — Joss Whedon continues his critically acclaimed television series “Buffy: The Vampire Slayer” in comic-book format. With arcs written by Whedon and Brian K. Vaughan (“Y: The Last Man,” TV’s “Lost”), “Season 8” captures the wit and action of the television series, with a much lower budget.
3. The Sinestro Corps War — Geoff Johns and company showed the world how to do a superhero crossover with “Sinestro Corps War,” which ran through “Green Lantern,” “Green Lantern Corps” and four specials. The Green Lanterns, an intergalactic peacekeeping force, find themselves stretched to their limit when Sinestro, a former Green Lantern, creates his own corps, dedicated to spreading fear throughout the galaxy.
4. Y: The Last Man — Vaughan’s long-running saga about the last male left on earth after a plague remains one of the best science-fiction dramas of recent years. Questions are answered and destinies uncovered as the series, drawn by Pia Guerra, heads toward its finish. (The final issue, No. 60, is set for a January release.)
5. Local — While Brian Wood’s “Local” suffered from some delays, the issues that did hit stores were among the best of the year. With artist Ryan Kelly, Wood explores life across the United States as each issue takes place in a different city. “Local” No. 9, set in Norman, features main character Megan McKeenan dealing with the death of a parent.
6. Strangers in Paradise — Writer-artist Terry Moore, one of the last of the 1990s self-publishers still standing, completed his epic about love and relationships, “Strangers in Paradise,” in 2007.
7. Action Comics — Johns and co-writer Richard Donner (director of “Superman: The Movie”) wrote an epic tale featuring the Kryptonian villains Zod, Ursa, and Non — and introduced a new supporting character to the Superman mythos. With artist Eric Powell (“The Goon”), Donner and Johns reinterpreted the Bizarro World. And, with artist Gary Frank, Johns took Superman to the future to meet up with the Legion of Super-Heroes.
8. Booster Gold — Spinning out of the year-long DC hit “52,” “Booster Gold” brings depth and adventure to a hero created in the 1980s that many would have assumed was played out. Booster Gold was known in his initial incarnation for seeking fast fame and corporate sponsors, but after the events of “52,” Booster is now the only hero who can prevent certain calamities from happening to the timeline. However, he has to continue to most to seem the same cocky jerk he was prior to the events of “52.” The book is co-written by Jeff Katz and Johns, with art by the creator of Booster Gold, Dan Jurgens. Sort of a superhero “Quantum Leap,” Booster is motivated to try to save his best friend from death — but must first work with time-traveler Rip Hunter in his quest to stop disastrous events throughout time.
9. The Brave and the Bold — Writer Mark Waid and artist George Perez create the retro blast of fun that is “Brave and Bold,” teaming up DC heroes to solve mysteries and fight crime.
10. The Immortal Iron Fist — Brubaker and Matt Fraction, with artist David Aja, revamp Marvel’s 1970s martial arts hero Iron Fist. The first storyline examines the history of the power known as the Iron Fist, and how it fell to hero Danny Rand, the latest in a line of warriors to wield it.
– Matt Price
Ten Best Titles of the Year – Elwell Edition
Matt and I have been working on our lists for the best of 2007 and with the New Year rapidly approaching, here’s a look at my uninformed opinions on the matter.
Note: I cheated, as you can clearly see, by grouping a few titles together. But this ain’t rocket surgery, folks. I can do what I want. You’re not the boss of me!
1. Trials of Shazam!
Judd Winick breathes life into a character (Captain Marvel Jr.) that most people couldn’t care less about, making his three-dimensional and captivating.
2. DMZ
In the midst of the Iraq War, this comic book brings war home literally, and the adventures of Matty Roth have as much to do with the world we live in as the fictional world of a New York split apart by civil war.
3. Blue Beetle/ Booster Gold/ Checkmate
Spinning out of Infinite Crisis are three exceptional relaunches of three previously canceled series. These are the little engines that could and desperately must if only to prove that books without Superman or Batman can deliver big on story.
4. Stormwatch PHD
In the WildStorm Universe, heroes aren’t really heroes, so it’s up to normal folks like the Stormwatch Post Human Division to put them in their place. A spiritual successor to “Stormwatch: Team Achilles,” this book is entertaining from whole cloth, creating true characters out of a poorly defined world.
5. X-Factor
While the rest of the X-universe is mired in awful, dreadful continuity, only Peter David’s “X-Factor” enjoys the mutant community. Centered around Jamie Madrox’s detective agency, this book is consistently a source of big laughs and shocking twists.
6. Captain America
Captain America is dead! Long live Captain America! What could have been an unmitigated disaster (a book in which the lead character is dead) was given wings by Ed Brubaker. Add in a character many thought was a huge mistake (Bucky aka The Winter Soldier) and you’ve got a bona fide miracle.
7. Fables/ Jack of Fables
All bow down to Bill Willingham, who took one of the most simple ideas ever (What if storybook characters were real and living in New York?) and created a giant world from it. This year in “Fables” we’ve seen Flycatcher, a joke character, turned into a warrior king. Meanwhile, with Matt Sturges, “Jack of Fables” has become one of the funniest books on the shelves while adding a new layer to an already rich world.
8. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Holy God, do I love this series. Picking up where the TV show left off with creator Joss Whedon at the helm, “Buffy: Season 8″ is a wild ride that goes far beyond the budget of any movie. Dawn is a giant! The army hates Buffy! Next issue right now please!
9. Incredible Hulk
The genius of “Planet Hulk” and the follow-up “World War Hulk” is how much sense it makes. Of course The Illuminati would try to send Hulk somewhere that he would kill anybody. Of course something would go wrong and he’d end up a gladiator. Of course he’d come back, madder than ever before. The results by Greg Pak were astounding.
10. Nova
Much like Blue Beetle and Booster Gold, if you’d told me a couple years back that I’d be reading and loving Nova comics, I’d have called you a moron and questioned your human lineage. Now I have the luxury of reading Abnett and Lanning’s monthly space opera, starring a character who has really come into his own.
