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

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

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

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

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

Three super-powered kindergarteners are turning 10. The Powerpuff Girls will celebrate their 10^th 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

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

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. 

ACI International releases DC Super Heroes shoes 

ACI International is pleased to announce the creation of its first-ever DC Super Heroes shoes for adults through a partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, on behalf of DC Comics.  This revolutionary line of limited edition shoes is available in three different styles, each featuring one of three DC Comics characters – Superman, Batman and The Joker. The shoes are now available and retail for $110 per pair on the website www.LimitedSoles.com. The Superman shoe is limited to only 1,938 pairs.  This shoe will surely be the centerpiece of any Superman memorabilia collector or sneakerhead’s collection.  Incorporating details from the life of Superman’s alter ego as a mild mannered reporter, the shoe features Daily Planet newspaper print so detailed you can read the words. Rich, full-grain leather is used throughout and the incredible detail on this shoe truly sets it apart.   Each shoe is individually numbered for authenticity and comes with custom packaging and extra sockbed.  On the heels of Warner Bros. Pictures’ release of The Dark Knight, Batman is back with this exclusive shoe from Limited Soles.  Batman has been a fan favorite ever since his first appearance in the pages of Detective Comics.  Limited to only 1,939 pairs, this shoe is a true collector’s item.  Rich, full-grain leather and soft suede are used throughout the shoe.  In addition, incredible detail brings this shoe out of the shadows and into the light; paying homage to the World’s Greatest Detective.  Much like the Superman shoes, each of the Batman shoes is individually numbered for authenticity and comes with custom packaging and extra sockbed. Nobody is safe with The Joker on the loose.  Jealous that Batman was stealing the limelight, The Joker took matters into his own hands and turned the tables on Limited Soles!  With only 1,940 pairs available, this shoe is a must-have if you like the villain more than the hero.  Only rich, full-grain leather is used with The Joker’s personal color accents throughout.  Of course, it also makes a perfect companion to the Batman shoe! As with the other two, each pair is individually numbered for authenticity and comes with custom packaging and extra sockbed.

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.

SEATTLE and TORONTO, Ontario, October 30, 2008 – NCsoft®, the world’s premier publisher and developer of massively multiplayer online games (MMOs), today announced a partnership with TransGaming, Inc. (TSX-V: TNG) to bring their award-winning City of Heroes® franchise to the Apple® Macintosh®. The game has been enabled for the Mac by TransGaming, a leading developer of portability technologies for the electronic entertainment industry. City of Heroes for Mac will be available for public beta testing with the release of the game’s thirteenth expansion, Issue 13: Power and Responsibility later this fall. The official launch will occur pre-holiday this year with a special digital-only Mac edition of City of Heroes, available across all NCsoft West consumer territories.

“Players will soon be able to join the battle of good versus evil in the most popular comic book MMO on both the PC and Mac platforms…and in the same game world,” commented Brian Clayton, executive producer of City of Heroes for NCsoft West. “Given Mac’s fame as a platform for creative people and City of Heroes’ unprecedented character customization options, I think City of Heroes is a perfect fit for the Mac gaming community.”

In City of Heroes, the most popular comic book inspired MMO on the market, players craft their hero or villain identities and join millions of other player created characters in a constantly expanding universe. Unparalleled character customization is a hallmark of the City of Heroes franchise. Players can choose from hundreds of different powers and thousands of costume options, resulting in near limitless personalization. Players may go it alone or band together with others in super groups.

City of Heroes for Mac was made possible using TransGaming’s CiderTM Portability Engine, which acts as a “wrapper” around the game software, enabling it to run seamlessly on Intel-based Macs. The partnership with NCsoft to develop and publish City of Heroes for Mac offers the Mac gaming community its first opportunity to do battle in the streets of Paragon City^TM and the Rogue Isles^TM in a persistent universe with no differentiation between the PC and Mac. “NCsoft’s City of Heroes MMO is an incredible franchise and TransGaming is thrilled to provide Mac gamers the ability to demonstrate their creativity by building their own heroes and villains and immersing themselves in the battle between good and evil,” commented Vikas Gupta, CEO & president of TransGaming. “Through Cider, the Mac version will parallel the developments of the PC version, providing all game updates, new features, and storylines simultaneously on both platforms.”

The City of Heroes Mac Special Edition digital product will be sold at the PlayNC store and at GameTree Online. City of Heroes is rated “T” for Teen. For more information about City of Heroes go to http://www.cityofheroes.com.

 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

If you’re interested in superhero shoes for a Man of Steel, a Caped Crusader or even a Clown Prince of Crime, Limited Soles has a new product line you might want to check out.

These shoes from ACI International are available in three different styles, each featuring one of three DC Comics characters – Superman, Batman and The Joker. The shoes retail for $110 per pair and are available exclusively at www.LimitedSoles.com.The Superman shoe is limited to only 1,938 pairs, to celebrate Superman’s 1938 debut. Batman’s exclusive shoe is limited to 1,939 pairs, for his 1939 debut. If you’re more interested in the bad guys, The Joker’s shoe is limited to 1,940 pairs (also his debut year).

Each pair is individually numbered for authenticity and comes with custom packaging.

– Matt Price

From Friday’s The Oklahoman: 

By Matthew Price
Assistant Features Editor

WORD BALLOONS

Unusual superheroes populate “Who Can Save Us Now?,” a superhero prose anthology from 22 writers, including Will Clarke, Jennifer Weiner and Sam Weller.

The anthology was edited by Owen King (“We’re All in This Together”) and John McNally (“America’s Report Card”).

Heroes include the creepy Silverfish, the cuddly-but-deadly Meerkat and dozens more.

“The idea was that superheroes mean really different things to different people,” King said. “And what we hoped, and we’re very happy with the way it turned out, is that would be reflected in the narratives.”

King’s character in the anthology is the Meerkat, a television producer who gains the powers and abilities of a meerkat.

“I was on the treadmill one day, trying to think about anything other than running,” King said. The show ‘Meerkat Manor,’ which he had been watching regularly, popped into his head.

“All of a sudden I had this idea that it would be funny, and it would also present an interesting conflict, to give a character the powers of a meerkat,” he said. “Because they’re cute and cuddly looking, but if you watch the show, they’re really brutal cold-blooded killers.”

He imagined a character with meerkat abilities who would be associated with a cute animal, and wondered what that would do to the hero’s self-esteem.

“I thought it would be interesting to put a character with self-esteem issues into a city that I thought had some self-esteem issues, which was Cleveland,” he said.

King’s co-editor John McNally created the creepy hero Silverfish for the anthology.

“My interest in superheroes was limited mostly to TV as opposed to comic books, so it wasn’t a genre I felt like I knew intimately,” McNally said, adding that he read “The Dark Knight Returns” and “a few other things in the Frank Miller mode” in college.

“Place is always really important to me in my own fiction, and the first thing I thought was I write a lot about the southwest side of Chicago, which is a very blue-collar place,” McNally said. “And I thought, what if we have a superhero who’s living in kind of a small bungalow on the southwest side of Chicago?”

McNally tells the story of the Silverfish — a hero who takes his namesake seriously, going so far as to survive on hair, glue and other silverfish food. McNally’s tale is told from the point of view of the Silverfish’s butler.

“I have this butler who’s living in small quarters on the southwest side of Chicago with the Silverfish, who’s been called the ‘creepiest superhero,” McNally said. “The title, ‘The Remains of the Night,’ is a play on ‘The Remains of the Day,’ the novel by (Kazuo) Ishiguro from the point of view of the butler.”

Other stories take different points of view, as well: “Girl Reporter” by Stephanie Harrell features the point of view of the “Lois Lane” type character, while other stories feature a sidekick or fan of the superhero of the story.

Both McNally and King (son of writer Stephen King) would like for “Who Can Save Us Now?” to lead to more superhero stories.

“It’s piqued my interest in terms of wanting to do something more,” McNally said. “I felt like there was a certain freedom to that story, that I found myself just having a lot more fun with it.”

King agreed.

“My fondest dream is that this will make enough of an impression that we could do it again,” he said. “I can easily think of another set of writers that I’d love to ask, ‘What’s your superhero?’”

However, there’s an Oklahoman who I think is the best superhero cake maker on the planet.  (Several of you will already know I’m talking about my wife, Annette, so you could say I was biased… but seriously, I think these are the coolest superhero cakes ever.)

Legion of Super-Heroes cake.

Spider-Man bust cake.

Superhero poker hand, starring Golden Age DC Comics heroes.

 Wolverine’s fist breaking through the birthday cake.

A couple non-superhero cakes, after the cut.

The Borg Cube as a birthday cake.

A protest to the missed fumble call in the 2006 Oklahoma-Oregon game, in cake.

 SAN DIEGO — Ran into Matthew “Feedback” Atherton, the winner of the first season of Sci-Fi Channel’s “Who Wants to Be a Superhero?” while walking the hallways of Comic-Con International.  He was about to shoot an online Webisode in full “Feedback” gear, and told me to keep an eye out for it. When I have a link, I’ll post it here.

He’s a gracious and fun guy, and I look forward to continued success for him.  It’s great that the “Superhero” winners so far have been guys who understand and love the comics medium and the superhero genre.

– Matt Price

– Matt Price

Black Voices, an AOL site, follows up AOL’s top superhero movies with their own list, one of the top 25 black superheroes of all-time.  Somewhat timely, with “Hancock” making a ton of money this weekend.  Will Smith’s character from the film nabs a No. 7 spot.   This list isn’t the same one I would make — “Meteor Man” is at No. 5, and “Blankman” tops Geoff Johns’ excellent Mr. Terrific. Still, some classic characters like Luke Cage and Black Panther make the cut, and Todd McFarlane’s Spawn comes in at No. 12.  Black Goliath outranking The Falcon seems misguided, as the Falcon was a much more important character for much longer.  Static, of “Static Shock” and the Milestone Comics, is No.1

Notable omissions: Captain Marvel, from the 1980s Avengers, though she never appeared outside the comics.   I could argue for Hardware, Icon and Rocket, all from the Milestone line.  Black Lightning would have been a nice comics-only choice, and I’d even prefer the SuperFriends Black Vulcan to some of the characters chosen.  Bishop of the X-Men is another well-known omission.  Neither Halle Berry’s or Eartha Kitt’s portrayal of “Catwoman” were named, though Berry’s Storm is listed. Nowhere to be seen on the list, despite an appearance in the summer’s most popular movie thus far, is James Rhodes, AKA War Machine.

Edit: I misread the list earlier, apparently, as Damon Wayans’ “Handi-Man” is listed as “NOT No. 1.” 

– Matt Price

AOL has compiled a list of the best and worst superhero films, by their estimation.

On a few, they are right on, but on several, they miss the mark.

Hard to argue with “Catwoman” as the all-time worst, but “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” also makes the worst list, while 1990’s “Captain America” escapes criticism?  “FF2″ is miles more enjoyable than the “Cap” film. (And I say that with Captain America as my favorite character.)  For that matter, both recent Jessica Alba-starring “Fantastic Four” films are listed in the worst 10, while the 1994 “Fantastic Four” film escapes criticism? (Maybe because it was never officially released, but, it is listed on IMDB.)  I realize I’m one of a minority who like “Ghost Rider” and “Daredevil,” but I enjoyed each of those more than 1993’s “Meteor Man.”  If you think that maybe AOL’s staff just took the 1990s off from watching superhero movies, well, what about 2007’s “Underdog,” a movie that begs for inclusion on any “worst superhero film” list?

It’s a little harder to argue with their top 10, with “Spider-Man 2″ atop the list, but I’d probably reorder much of their top 10, and give a higher placing to “Superman: The Movie.” 

– Matt Price

– Matt Price

Hard-drinking superhero Hancock (Will Smith) finds himself out of favor with the public in “Hancock,” a film directed by Peter Berg.

The 1996 screenplay “Tonight, He Comes,” by Vincent Ngo, was considered one of the great unfilmable screenplays, about a superhero with an existential crisis having an affair with a married woman.

Rewritten by Vince Gilligan and eventually renamed “Hancock,” the movie that viewers see is neither the dark superhero drama of the screenplay or the light Will Smith comedy of the trailers. The jittery, TV-style camerawork keeps the film from feeling epic.

When crusading public relations specialist Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman) is saved from near-death by Hancock, he decides to do the ne’er-do-well superhero a favor: repair his public image.

But when he brings the superhero home for dinner, Ray’s wife, Mary (Charlize Theron) is upset by the hero, and his influence on her young son, Aaron (Jae Head).

There are a few laughs as Ray shows Hancock his career mishaps via YouTube. But halfway through the film, as an uncomfortable chemistry develops between Hancock and Mary, the movie is turned on its head.

A surprising revelation begins a tonal shift into a darker story, possibly more in tune with the original screenplay, but incompatible with the first portion of the film. The exposition comes fast and furious as everyone’s relationships are explained, but by the time it’s done, the audience has stopped caring.

Smith and Bateman are fine in their performances, but the movie is a mishmash of styles and ideas that never comes together. The PG-13 film feels like an R, with constant strong language and drinking; “Hancock” is by no means a superhero film for the whole family.

The film was produced by Akiva Goldsman, who won a screenwriting Oscar for “A Beautiful Mind,” but also stalled the “Batman” franchise for nearly a decade with “Batman and Robin.” He might have been better off staying away from superheroes.

— Matthew Price

Hancock

PG-13 1:32 2 stars

Starring: Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman

(Some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and language.)

From Friday’s The Oklahoman:

The documentary “Confessions of a Superhero” takes viewers into the mind of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Hulk — but not in the way you might think.

The film looks at the superheroes that populate Hollywood Boulevard, outside Graumann’s Chinese Theater. Christopher Dennis, who resembles a thinner Christopher Reeve, portrays Superman, officially licensed by no one, taking pictures for tips. But he follows a strict code of ethics, at one point informing a newcomer posing as Ghost Rider of the rules of being a costumed character. Dennis is obsessed with Superman, and his apartment is crammed with Super-memorabilia.

The other characters aren’t as obsessed with their characters, but they have their own eccentricities.

Maxwell Allan, who plays Batman, has a resemblance to George Clooney and says that has kept him from getting other roles. He battles anger issues and claims a dark past, but his wife says she believes “about 50 percent” of what he says.

Joe McQueen, an aspiring actor who was formerly homeless, wears the sweltering Hulk outfit in 100-plus degree weather. He continues to audition, hoping to land a role that doesn’t have his face covered in a giant green grimace.

Jennifer Gehrt is a Tennessee bombshell who dreamed of making it in Los Angeles. While she attempts commercial auditions and works on her marriage, by day she’s the Wonder Woman of Hollywood Boulevard.

Despite the performers’ baggage and the quirkiness of their profession, the dreams of these four people shared in this visually interesting and compelling documentary are arresting and real.

— Matthew Price

Tor Books brought the Wild Cards universe of George R. R. Martin back this month with “Inside Straight.”  Now, go deeper into the world of the novel with the American Hero Web site, exploring the reality show that provides much of the plot for the novel.

From Tor Books:

Tor Books is proud to present “American Heroes,” the Wild Cards website spin-off blog featuring the characters from Inside Straight, the newest Wild Cards mosaic novel. One of the longest-running series in the shared worlds and fantasy genre, Wild Cards has the superheroes in its latest installment competing in a top reality TV show called “American Heroes.”
 
Now, in addition to the brand new Wild Cards website that launched in December, George R. R. Martin and the authors of Inside Straight have contributed all original narrative and scintillating “behind the scenes” material to a new “American Heroes” blog. Each week, the narrative follows the characters of Inside Straight as they compete–some surviving for another round and others getting voted off the show.
 
Featuring all original artwork by Mike Miller, the “American Heroes” site shows visual profiles of each character and “confessionals” from the individual superheroes.

- Matt

Today, Tor Books relaunches the popular “Wild Cards” series with “Inside Straight.”  Edited by George R. R. Martin, “Wild Cards” were a series of shared-universe anthology novels that examined a world where superheroes were real.  An alien virus was released on Earth in 1946, killing 9 of every 10 exposed to it. Most of those who survive become deformed, but one in 100 is gifted with amazing powers.  These “jokers” and “aces” are at the heart of the “Wild Cards” series.  This was a favorite for me when they debuted in 1987, and I’m glad, 20 years later, to see the series return.  

Info from Tor:  

Launched in 1987, WILD CARDS is the longest-running series in the shared worlds and fantasy genre. A contemporary world of smart, complicated, and incredibly diverse superheroes is brilliantly re-imagined by this group of acclaimed fantasy writers.

Tor Books is proud to present the re-launch of this landmark series with its eighteenth volume, Inside Straight (A Tor hardcover; $24.95; January 22, 2008). Headed up by #1 New York Times bestselling author George R. R. Martin, a top-notch cast of authors introduce a new generation of young, hip, and messed-up superheroes in an interconnected storyline that spans from Egypt to Hollywood.

Meet the girl whose stuffed dragon becomes a fifty-foot, fire-breathing version of itself (and she has a whole bag full of other little stuffies …), the six-armed drummer man most likely to appear on a Rolling Stones cover, and the fox-tailed Japanese guy who uses mythology to create optical illusions.

It is 2007, and the highest rated show on television is American Hero. Earth Witch, Pop Tart, Curveball, Bugsy, and twenty-four other young superheroes—aka “aces”—battle one other in a series of tasks and stunts. On this reality show like no other, alliances form and rivalries explode, as the aces race to make it to the final showdown.

Many years ago, a DNA-altering alien virus was accidentally unleashed, killing 90 percent of those infected. Nine percent of the survivors mutated into “jokers,” tragically deformed creatures—while the other one percent, the “aces,” found themselves transformed with superpowers.

Others still carried the “wild card” within them, never knowing the day when their card would turn . . .

Now a new generation has come of age, a generation born into the world of the wild card. Computer geeks, hip-hop freaks, rock stars, and Bohemian slackers—these are the new aces for the millennium. They don’t really understand what the first generation went through—but they know that the world still needs saving and that their parents didn’t quite do the job.

As intrigue boils on and off the set of the American Hero reality show—with a few surprises, tricksters, and old friends shaking up the act—an incident in the Middle East escalates a worldwide event that will involve all the superheroes . . . no matter which side they’re on.

With cameo appearances by the first generation “aces,” INSIDE STRAIGHT is action-packed dangerous fun with an unforgettable and unpredictable cast of characters. This is only the beginning of a projected triad of volumes—so let the games begin.

In addition, Dabel is prepping a comic-book series for April.  From the release:

“Wild Cards is one of those series in science fiction that many comic book fans have read, because it’s really a sci-fi take on superheroes,” explained Ernst Dabel, President of Dabel Brothers Publishing. “And that’s excellent news, because this story feels right at home in the format. It’s a great way for old fans to enjoy the story in a new way, and it’s also a wonderful introduction to the world of Wild Cards for those who’ve never had a chance to read the books before.”

– Matt Price

Pervs.

Here are some highlights:

THE WALKING DEAD #50
story by Robert Kirkman, art and cover by Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn.

This book has been building up a fan base over time for a good reason — it’s a captivating read. Everything to this point is available in trades (I think) so it’s a good jumping on point.

THE PERHAPANAUTS #1 
story by Todd DeZago, art and cover by Craig Rousseau

Much like “Proof” and “BPRD,” this series deals with “imaginary” creatures living in the world, fighting to keep it safe. Difference is, DeZago and Rousseau have proven over two mini-series and an annual that they can tell a good story with humor and an eye toward the future.

INVINCIBLE UNIVERSE PRIMER #1
stories by Robert Kirkman and Bruce Brown, art by Cory Walker, Jason Howard and Cliff Rathburn.

For those of you looking for a way into the Invincible Universe, look no further. The first issues of three funny and smart series are collected together for $6. For me, if it came down to getting rid of one of the Marvel, DC or Invincible Universes, I’d have to figure out if I like Batman better than Spider-Man, because Invincible is one of my top reads every month (when it comes out).

GØDLAND #23
story by Joe Casey, art and cover by Tom Scioli

Hey, you know what’s really good? GODLAND. So start reading it, you jerks.

If you’d like to see the other solicits, click here.

- Greg

If you want to see what it looked like in its heyday, check out this video.

This is as good of an excuse as any to remind people to check out the Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley.  Curator Kevin Stark has recently added some more exhibits to the museum, at 111 S. Chickasaw St. in Pauls Valley, and it’s worth the trip for fans of superheroes and action figures.