DVD review: Ruby-Spears Superman
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
DVD review – Super Friends: The Lost Episodes
Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and friends are back in “Super Friends: The Lost Episodes,” a group of episodes produced by Hanna-Barbera when the “Super Friends” show was temporarily canceled by ABC in the early 1980s. Most of the episodes weren’t aired in the U.S. until a decade later.
What’s lost is not always treasured. The 7-minute episodes that make up “The Lost Episodes” feature some of the wackiest, most out-there Super Friends storylines. Superman alters his own timeline in a pretty unexplainable – and actually cruel – way in “The Krypton Syndrome.” While that’s the most egregious of the episodes, many of them are odd or downright silly.
Earth is nearly taken over by alien toys in “Invasion of the Space Dolls,” and the Titanic is raised, and then turned into a sea monster, in “Terror on the Titanic.” Bizarro captures the Super Friends inside a 1980s-style video game world in “Video Victims.”
Still, the episodes can be nostalgic fun, if you can ignore occasional lapses of superhero judgment. The set contains all 24 of the 7-minute episodes. The special features are downloadable issues of the “Super Friends” comic. One comic, perhaps ironically, features Wendy and Marvin, the teen sidekicks who were brushed away to make room for the Wonder Twins Zan and Jayna. The Wendy and Marvin “Super Friends” episodes have yet to be released on DVD.
- Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Sweet fan-made Green Lantern trailer
Check out this excellent fan-made trailer of a “Green Lantern” movie that would star Nathan Fillion (”Firefly”). My opinion? They should hire this guy and Fillion both to work on the movie. (I’m sure they’ll go younger, and someone not currently in a TV series for Hal Jordan, but wouldn’t Fillion be great at it?)
– Matt Price
More superhero cakes
So superhero cakes came up as a topic again after Marvel’s Tom Brevoort appeared on Last Cake Standing on the Food Network. I noticed more traffic to this page, where I showed off some superheroic cake designs from my wife, Annette.
Since I’m all about giving the people what they want here at Nerdage, I asked Annette if she had more cakes she’d be willing to show off at the blog. She obliged. The Booster Gold cake shown above is one of my all-time favorite superhero cakes. The following gallery showcases superhero cakes including Aquaman, Rorschach from Watchmen, the Wonder Twins and more. For the non-superhero fan, there’s a Spock from Star Trek and a Tom and Jerry. Enjoy! Feel free to share your own superhero cake pictures of you’ve got ‘em.
– Matt Price
City of Heroes announces Going Rogue expansion
THE NEXT LEVEL
In the City of Heroes, the line between hero and villain will blur.
This week, NCsoft and Paragon Studios announced the development of “City of Heroes Going Rogue.” This is the first major expansion of the “City of Heroes” game franchise since “City of Villains” in 2005.
“City of Heroes” is a long-running massively multiplayer online game featuring comic-book style superheroes. In “Going Rogue,” hero characters can become villains, and villain characters will be able to redeem themselves and become heroes.
This is a long-standing tradition in comic books, which inspired “City of Heroes.” The archer Hawkeye in Marvel Comics, for example, began his career as a villain, before becoming a member of the Avengers and a hero. DC Comics’ Sinestro was a member of the Green Lantern Corps before becoming the most dangerous enemy of the intergalactic peacekeeping force.
In “Going Rogue,” hero and villain characters will enter a parallel universe called Praetoria. Praetoria is governed by Tyrant, who is an evil version of Statesman, the protagonist of “City of Heroes.”
As gamers search for Tyrant, resistance will arise to face them from all sides, causing heroes and villains alike to question their loyalties, the company announced in a release.
The “Going Rogue” game will introduce a new alignment system allowing players to explore shades of gray. Hero archetypes will be able to cross over to the villainous Rogue Isles, and villain archetypes will be able to visit virtuous Paragon City.
Missions, behaviors and decisions will affect the character’s moral compass, which could lead to a change in the character’s alignment.
Going Rogue will also introduce two new fictional characters into the game’s storyline that exemplify the possible changes. Maelstrom is a pistol-wielding hero gone rogue, and a Desdemona is a demon-summoning villain who has been redeemed.
“City of Heroes has brought a fresh new perspective to the MMO stage with its foray into the super-powered hero comic book genre, and we are excited to present gamers with even more innovative content in Going Rogue,” Brian Clayton, general manager and executive producer at Paragon Studios, said in a release. “For years, players could choose between playing as a hero or a villain. Now we will present a third, malleable path where players can be affected by the results of their actions, enabling them to further develop, unveil new perspectives, and overcome new challenges.”
– By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
DVD, special celebrate Powerpuff Girls
Three super-powered kindergarteners are turning 10. The Powerpuff Girls will celebrate their 10th anniversary with a Cartoon Network marathon and special on Monday, and the release of all 78 episodes on DVD on Tuesday.
Creator Craig McCracken said those working on the show were trying to entertain themselves as well, and he thinks that added to the show’s appeal.
“Even though ‘Powerpuff’ kind of gets labeled a kids’ show or a girls’ show, it was always made for all audiences, just like ‘Bugs Bunny,’” McCracken said in a recent phone interview. “We were just making ourselves laugh and trying to come up with entertaining things. I think people pick up on that sincere creative expression of just making fun cartoons.”
Super-powered sisters Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup will return for an all-new animated special, “The Powerpuff Girls Rule!!!,” at 7 p.m. Monday. This will follow the marathon, which includes McCracken’s favorite episodes, airing from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The DVD will include all 78 episodes, and lots of extras, including the Christmas special, the special that airs Monday, and a new documentary.
After “Powerpuff Girls,” McCracken was the executive producer of another show, “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends,” which recently wrapped production. McCracken said he’s glad to be out from the grueling deadlines for a while. He’s working with Cartoon Network on the Cartoonstitute, a program to search out new potential animation projects. He also plans to work on a graphic novel.
“There’s something about doing your own comics or graphic novels or things like that, where it’s your drawings, your words,” McCracken said. “There isn’t the whole big crew and committee and getting stuff approved by everybody. It’s more like an intimate, direct approach to cartooning. I’ve been talking to some publishers and I’ve got some ideas that I want to explore in that medium.”
- by Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Favorite movie superhero?
Who’s your favorite motion-picture portrayal of a superhero? Christopher Reeve as Superman (shown)? Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man? Michael Keaton as Batman? Matt Salinger as Captain America? (OK, probably not that one.)
What are your thoughts?
– Matt Price
Superhero shoes – now available
Got an e-mail recently saying the superhero shoes at www.limitedsoles.com should be available for the holidays. There’s an option of Batman, Superman or the Joker. There are fewer than 2,000 of each pair available, though. Full release and images after the break.
“City of Heroes” comes to Mac
Good news for Mac owners — City of Heroes, the popular superher massively multiplayer online game, will come to Apple Macintosh this year. The Mac version will be available for public beta testing with the release of the game’s thirteenth expansion, Issue 13: Power and Responsibility later this fall.
Full release and artwork after the break.
Green Hornet gets director
According to Superherohype, Stephen Chow, the star and director of “Kung Fu Hustle” and “Shaolin Soccer” will direct and star in “Green Hornet” alongside Seth Rogen.
Green Hornet is set for relase June 25, 2010, and was written by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg.
Chow said: “I’m excited to be taking on ‘The Green Hornet’ — obviously, I’ve been a huge fan of the show since I was a kid. The idea of stepping into Bruce Lee’s shoes as Kato is both humbling and thrilling, and to get the chance to direct the project as my American movie debut is simply a dream come true. I’m grateful to my friends at Sony, who have shown so much faith in me for so many years. I’m looking forward to working with Seth, Evan, Neal, and the team at Sony, and I’m eager to get started.”
– Matt Price
