20th Century Fox has set a release date for the Hugh Jackman “Wolverine” sequel, titled “The Wolverine.”

The film is now set for a July 23, 2013 release date, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Jackman returns as the title character, based on the Marvel Comics mutant who first appeared in “Incredible Hulk” No. 181 in 1974.  Wolverine is considered the most popular of the X-Men, and now appears in the X-Men titles, his own solo series, and Marvel’s Avengers comic books.

Jackman has starred as Wolverine in three previous “X-Men” films and in “Wolverine: Origins.”  (And, SPOILER WARNING, perhaps, has a brief, but excellent, moment in “X-Men: First Class.”)

James Mangold is the director of the film, which is said to be loosely based on the Chris Claremont-Frank Miller “Wolverine” miniseries and will be set in Japan.

- Matt Price

Batman 3, aka “The Dark Knight Rises,” has wrapped, and Christian Bale is done. Also: Lunch with a Star Wars legend and Hulk TV news.

LUNCH WITH LUKE

Actor Mark Hammill, who brought Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker to life in the original Star Wars Trilogy, is offering to have lunch in Los Angeles with the highest bidder and a guest to raise funds for The RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights, which provides an ongoing base of support to human rights defenders around the world. Valued at $10,000, the exclusive experience is open for bidding from November 29th through December 15th at:

http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/276455

BAT-FINISHED

The Philippine Daily Inquirer talked with Christian Bale, and he confirmed he was done with Batman.

“I wrapped a few days ago so that will be the last time I’m taking that cowl off,” he said. “I believe that the whole production wrapped yesterday, so it’s all done. Everything’s finished. It’s me and Chris – that will be the end of that Batman era.”

He also praised co-star Anne “Catwoman” Hathaway.

“I had plenty of scenes with Anne,” he said. “And I was there when we did the screen test for her. The thing that I said to Chris [Nolan] that day was that there were many very accomplished actresses who had read for the role. I’m terrible at auditions, so I’m very impressed when somebody really seems to acquire an ownership of a character without having worked on it or prepared for some amount of time.”

THE INCREDIBLE HULK NEARS

Guillermo del Toro tells io9 that the screenplay is in for the possible upcoming “Hulk” TV show, and the team is waiting for a green light. Del Toro, serving as producer, says he and his team know the essential stories, including “Hulk: Grey,” written by Jeph Loeb, who is involved with the show.
“We know all the iterations of the Hulk pretty good. We’ve read all the essential stories, and we’re then riffing on that. There are so many incarnations and ideas. Jeph Loeb — who did a good run [on Hulk: Grey] — is involved, and I love Peter David’s Hulk. But there’s really no part in that mythos that we don’t know, so we are trying put our own personal spin on it.”

REVIEW FILE: Green Lantern The Animated Series #0, Wolverine #19, Uncanny X-Men #2, X-Men Legacy #259, Archie #627, Flash Gordon Zeitgeist #1.
Comics read in 2011: 1,853. Still to go: 158

X-Men and Power Pack #1 (2005)

The 2005 miniseries “X-Men and Power Pack,” written by Marc Sumerak, started off with a Halloween-themed issue, as the Power kids are heading to a Halloween party, with young Jack dressed as one of his favorite heroes, Wolverine.

Jack is sure he’s going to win the costume contest – but when that doesn’t look likely, he takes his frustration out on little sister Katie.  Katie gets upset and runs into the woods.   Older siblings Julie and Alex make Jack come with them to look for her.  (The four siblings together are “Power Pack,” who were granted superpowers during an alien encounter.)

Meanwhile, in the woods, Katie meets the real Wolverine – who she initially thinks is Jack, causing a brief skirmish.   Wolverine is there tracking one of his enemies, and eventually it’ll take Wolverine and Power Pack working together to save the day.

Manga-style art by the Japanese illustration team of GuriHiru is well-done throughout.    This issue kicked off a series of all-ages miniseries featuring Power Pack teamed up with various Marvel heroes.   As a Halloween tale, it’s good – there’s no direct spooky or supernatural threat, but there are costumes and scary things in the woods.  And as an all-ages comic and the beginning of the modern all-ages Power Pack, it’s a charming read.

- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 1,656.  Still to go: 355.

Hugh Jackman (AP)

Splash Page reports that “The Wolverine” filming has been delayed until next year.

While promoting “Real Steel,” Jackman confirmed he’ll be shooting “Les Miserables” next, which will push the filming of “The Wolverine” into 2012.

The film has had a bumpy road, already losing director Darren Aronofsky.   James Mangold (“3:10 to Yuma”) is the director scheduled to helm the project.

- Matt Price

Strictly speaking, it’s non-canonical, but if you want to see how the man who created Wolverine’s “Origin” envisioned his “End,” you could check out the six-issue miniseries “Wolverine: The End,” written by Paul Jenkins and drawn by Claudio Castellini, released in 2003.

Wolverine, more than 200 years old, lives alone in the Canadian wilderness with limited human contact.  His main friend is a man named George, who’s been delivering groceries and the like to Logan for decades.

After the death of his former nemesis Sabretooth, Logan finds himself under attack from an enemy who appears to know all of his secrets.  With ties back to “Origin,” this “End” does tie together some pieces, though it doesn’t necessarily hold with current continuity.

The comic isn’t bad, but I felt like the main thrust of the story was finished after 4 issues, with not much resolved in the final two.  It’s an interesting look into a possible future for the Canadian mutant, but not essential.  There’s obviously an appeal to an older, Eastwoodesque Logan — see “Old Man Logan” for one that did quite well — so some fans may enjoy this take.

- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 1,362. Still to go: 649.

Matt Price and Kyle Roberts discuss Wolverine 2 filming news, the release of the New 52 DC Comics relaunch trailer, and the new Conan the Barbarian film in this week’s Planet 46 Comics Podcast.

WOLVERINE HEADS TO CANADA

The Vancouver Sun reports Hugh Jackman and the cast of Wolverine 2 will be heading to Vancouver in November to film the sequel.

Filming is set to take place Nov. 11 to March 1, 2012 at Canadian Motion Picture Park in Burnaby, where scenes from Twilight, Supernatural and Fantastic Four were filmed. The director of the film — which may still be called “The Wolverine” — is James Mangold (“Walk the Line,” “Knight and Day,” “3:10 to Yuma”).

Another superhero is set to be in Vancouver shortly: The new Superman movie Man of Steel, starring Henry Cavill, will be in Vancouver from Sept. 21 to Jan. 21. Man of Steel will be directed by Zack Snyder.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Hugh+Jackman+heads+Vancouver+film+Wolverine/5269632/story.html#ixzz1VOehNlko

NEW 52 TRAILER HITS NET
The “New 52″ initiative from DC Comics nears release. The first issue of the New 52, Justice League 1 by Geoff Johns and Jim Lee, will be released on Aug. 31. The first trailer for the relaunch of DC’s superhero properties has been released at Hero Complex.
The trailer/commercial includes art from Justice League No. 1, written by Geoff Johns and drawn by Jim Lee; Action Comics No. 1, written by Grant Morrison and drawn by Rags Morales; Batman No. 1 written by Scott Snyder and drawn by Greg Capullo; Wonder Woman No. 1 written by Brian Azzarello and drawn by Cliff Chiang; and Aquaman No. 1, written by Johns with art by Ivan Reis.

CONAN HITS THEATERS
Lionsgate, Nu Image and Paradox Entertainment are behind the latest “Conan the Barbarian” film, reviving the pulp character created by Robert E. Howard in the early 1930′s in Cross Plains, Texas. The $90-million, 3-D movie stars Jason Momoa as the title character.
Read all about Conan’s history in the pulp magazines and comics in Weekend Look and at the Nerdage blog.

REVIEW FILE: Venom 6, Batman Retroactive: The 1990s, X-Men Schism 3
Comics read in 2011: 1,195. Still to go: 816.

As somewhat anticipated, Marvel has announced its plan to reboot the “Uncanny X-Men” series with a new No. 1 issue in November.   The series’ final issue before the relaunch will be October’s No. 544.

Following the X-storyline “Schism,” the X-Men will split into two teams.    The relaunch is being called “ReGenesis.”  (The Chris Claremont-Jim Lee “X-Men” No. 1 in the 199os was part of a storyline called “Mutant Genesis,” so this may be a reflection of that title in some way.)

According to Marvel: Never before have there been TWO teams calling themselves the X-Men and never has anyone had to choose a side. Guided by their different ideologies, each leader has their own mission for saving their species, but is only one of them right?

October will bring “Wolverine and The X-Men” No. 1, with a team lead by Wolverine.   It’s written by Jason Aaron with art by Chris Bachalo.

In November, “Uncanny X-Men” No. 1 will be released, from writer Kieron Gillen and artists Carlos Pacheco and Greg Land.

“Years of X-Men history have been leading to this. X-Men: ReGenesis will affect our entire line leading up to a major conflict coming up in 2012!” said Marvel Editor in Chief, Axel Alonso in a news release. “This is just the start of what we have planned for the X-Men. Next summer all eyes will be on mutantkind – we guarantee it!”

- Matt Price

Milo Ventimiglia (AP)

Perhaps best-known as Peter Petrelli on the now-cancelled NBC series “Heroes,” actor Milo Ventimiglia isn’t done being a superhero — he’s the voice of Logan on the new G4 animated series “Wolverine,” based on the Marvel comic.

Variety recently reported that Sony online viewing service Crackle was considering Ventimiglia’s ”Strand Street,” about a rookie  cop gone undercover in his hometown.

Ventimiglia’s The Divide recently played the Edinburgh Film Festival, and Ventimiglia also has roles in the upcoming “Static” and “Criminal Empire for Dummies.”

Ventimiglia’s partnership with publisher Top Cow, through his Divide Pictures, produced the miniseries “Berserker” and the collection of the comic-book series “Rest,” which at one point was under development from NBC.

- Matt Price

Hugh Jackman (AP)

Wolverine himself, Hugh Jackman, comes in at #19 on Nerdage’s list of actors with geek appeal.

The action star will be seen in the sci-fi film “Real Steel” this October, in which Jackman plays a down-on-his luck boxer begins training  a fighting robot.

His “Wolverine” sequel recently hit a setback with the departure of director Darren Aronofsky.   Producer Bryan Singer tells IGN UK it’s not impossible we might see Wolverine in a sequel to this summer’s “X-Men First Class,” though it’s not completely clear from the quote if the role would be played by Hugh Jackman.

“I think there would definitely be room,” Singer is quoted as saying. “I think it would be a very exciting thing. This universe has to establish itself first, but that would be a very interesting and fun thing.”

Jackman this week is encouraging people to try to live on a $1.50 food budget per day, in order to better understand the lives of those living in extreme poverty, as part of the Live Below the Line campaign.

“It is certainly a challenge to eat and drink off of $1.50 a day for five days, but for 1.4 billion people, $7.50 is all they have not only for food, but also for living costs, clothing — everything! ‘Live Below the Line’ highlights the challenges that over 1 billion people are faced with every day and urges us to do something about it,”  Jackman says at the LA Times.

Click past the cut for more images from Jackman’s film “Real Steel,” set for release on Oct. 7, which co-stars Evangeline Lilly (“Lost”) and Dakota Goyo (“Thor”).

- Matt Price

STEVE ROGERS TO RETURN AS CAPTAIN AMERICA

Marvel has announced Steve Rogers’ return as Captain America in “Captain America” No. 1, the first issue of an all-new ongoing series premiering in July. The writer is Ed Brubaker, joined by artist Steve McNiven.

“Captain America and Bucky,” another series from Brubaker and Marvel, will pick up the “Captain America” numbering with No. 620.

FORMER ‘HEROES’ TO VOICE IRON MAN, WOLVERINE

Marvel’s Head of Television Jeph Loeb announced casting for two of the company’s much anticipated anime

The anime version of Wolverine

Milo Ventimiglia (Gilmore Girls, Rocky Balboa, Heroes), takes on the title role in WOLVERINE, as Logan claws his way through Japan’s criminal underworld.

“Adrian and Milo are perfect as Iron Man and Wolverine,” said Loeb. “It’s extremely exciting to see these talented guys take on two of the most iconic Super Hero roles of all time.”

DOCTOR WHO RETURNS TO AMERICA ON APRIL 23Doctor Who delivered record ratings in 2010 and now returns to BBC AMERICA on April 23 for the first block of the new 13 episode season, which opens in with a two-parter set in the U.S.

The premiere episode is written by Neil Gaiman (The Sandman). Doctor Who premieres Saturday, April 23, at 9/8c.

REVIEW FILE: Axe Cop #2, Nonplayer #1, Fear Itself #1, Superman/Batman Annual #5
Comics read in 2011: 532. Still to go: 1479.

Milo Ventimiglia (AP)

Update from Wondercon: Marvel Television Announces Adrian Pasdar and Milo Ventimiglia for Iron Man and Wolverine Anime Series To Air On G4 July 2011

Marvel’s Head of Television Jeph Loeb announced casting for two of the company’s much anticipated anime series, IRON MAN and WOLVERINE, at its WonderCon panel today in San Francisco to the delight of fans in attendance. Both series will premiere on G4 in July 2011.

Adrian Pasdar (Heroes, Castle, Profit) will lend his voice to the character of Tony Stark in IRON MAN, an all-new series which sees Stark travel to Japan and battle the evil Zodiac Organization.

Milo Ventimiglia (Gilmore Girls, Rocky Balboa, Heroes), takes on the title role in WOLVERINE, as Logan claws his way through Japan’s criminal underworld.

“Adrian and Milo are perfect as Iron Man and Wolverine,” said Loeb. “It’s extremely exciting to see these talented guys take on two of the most iconic Super Hero roles of all time.”

As the exclusive US TV home for the series, G4 will air IRON MAN and WOLVERINE along with the BLADE and X-MEN anime series later this year. The network will premiere an exclusive clip from WOLVERINE on Wednesday’s Attack of the Show at 7 pm ET/PT. For more information, check out g4tv.com/marvel

—

What do you think of the casting?

20th Century Fox confirms for Deadline that Darren Aronofsky will no longer direct the Hugh Jackman-starring “The Wolverine.”

There were plans to start filming in the spring, though since much of the film was planned to be filmed in Japan, the current situation there may have caused things to unravel.

Aronofsky’s statement: “As I talked more about the film with my collaborators at Fox, it became clear that the production of ‘The Wolverine’ would keep me out of the country for almost a year. I was not comfortable being away from my family for that length of time. I am sad that I won’t be able to see the project through, as it is a terrific script and I was very much looking forward to working with my friend, Hugh Jackman, again.”

Twentieth Century Fox’s statement: “While we are of course disappointed that Darren can’t do ‘The Wolverine’, we also understand and respect his reasons. Having done both ‘The Wrestler’ and ‘Black Swan’ with Darren, we know he is an extraordinary talent and we look forward to working with him on other projects in the future. Hugh Jackman and Fox both remain fully committed to making ‘The Wolverine’. We will regroup and move forward aggressively.”

This is disappointing for me – with the source material of the classic Chris Claremont-Frank Miller miniseries and a director of Aronofsky’s caliber, this looked to be a potentially top-notch comics adaptation.  We’ll see what happens going forward.

- Matt Price

In an interview with Hero Complex, Hugh Jackman talks about the upcoming film “The Wolverine,” which will be based on the Chris Claremont-Frank Miller “Wolverine” miniseries.

Jackman said he’d be a bulkier Wolverine to more closely resemble the comic-book character.

“(Director Darren Aronofsky) said that Wolverine, in the comics, is powerful, stocky, you know, he’s short and thick. So he said, ‘I want you to go there, get bigger.’” Jackman told Hero Complex.

Jackman said he’s working out strenuously and taking in 6,000 calories per day.  Check out the whole interview at the LA Times’ Hero Complex!

- Matt Price

The Gold Sponsors and most of the Gold Sponsor books for Free Comic Book Day 2011 have been announced, via Facebook and FreeComicBookDay.com. Ape, Archaia, Archie, Boom!, Dark Horse; DC, Image, IDW, Marvel and Papercutz are the Gold Sponsors.

Titles include Richie Rich/Kung-Fu Panda; Dark Crystal/Mouse Guard; Avatar the Last Airbender/Star Wars; Betty and Veronica; Darkwing Duck; Locke & Key; Spider-Man and the Smurfs.

Additional sponsors and titles will be revealed in the January issue of PREVIEWS, on sale Dec. 29.

NOLAN HANDS OFF SUPERMAN

HitFix reports that Christopher Nolan and David Goyer have handed off their Superman screenplay to Zach Snyder, and he’s now in charge of what happens with the picture. However, it looks as if the John Williams score from the previous “Superman” films won’t return – at the same “Inception” event, Hans Zimmer reports that he’s been retained to score the new film.

BATMAN NEWS BITS

Also at the “Inception” event, Nolan’s producing partner Emma Thomas shot down rumors that the late Heath Ledger would have a cameo in the new “Batman” film, using footage shot for “Dark Knight.”  Ledger will not be in the film, says The Hollywood Reporter. Nolan also confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that “Dark Knight Rises” will be his last Batman movie.

Review file: Action Comics Annual #13, Wolverine the Best There Is #1, Ant-Man and Wasp #2, Heroes For Hire #1, Disney’s Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers #1.

While promoting “The Black Swan,” director Darren Aronofsky confirmed for Hitfix that he’ll be directing the “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” sequel.  Although it won’t be specifically a sequel.

Titled “The Wolverine,” the film is described as a “one-off.” It will be set in Japan, and has previously been described as inspired by the Chris Claremont-Frank Miller miniseries of the 1980s.

Aronofsky (“The Wrestler”) is a fantastic director, and I’m interested to see what he brings to Wolverine.  What do you think of the title “The Wolverine” and Aronofsky as the director?

- Matt Price

WALKING DEAD LAUNCHES BIG

According to various reports, “The Walking Dead” premiere was viewed by 5.3 million people on Sunday night — the largest audience ever for an AMC original series. The pilot episode also managed to pull in 3.6 million adults in the 18-49 age demographic, and became the highest-rated cable series to premiere in 2010.

RED PLAINS INTERVIEW

Want a Wild West read that’s based in the authentic West? Caryn A. Tate’s “Red Plains” is coming to Graphic.ly and MyDigitalComics.com.

Each issue is packed with bonus content like audio commentary by Caryn, script excerpts, and more.

Red Plains: Range War is now available for digital purchase via Graphic.ly.  The 4 part “Range War” storyline includes audio commentary by Red Plains series creator Caryn A. Tate, character information, and script excerpts.

Red Plains is also available at MyDigitalComics.com in pdf, cbz, or simple page-flip format!

Read more from Tate in Friday’s Weekend Look.

WOLVERINE 2 WORKOUT

Bid for the chance to work out next to Hugh Jackman as he prepares for “X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2.”  Jackman is raising funds for The Global Poverty Project.

Bidding is open through November 11th at:

http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/209202?source=carousel

REVIEW FILE

Matt Price and Kyle Roberts review Captain America: Man out of Time 1; Iron Man/Thor 1, Superboy 1 and Batman and Robin 16.

Actor Hugh Jackman attends The Global Poverty Projects launch of their DVD "1.4 Billion Reasons", in New York, on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer)

With filming for “X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2″ around the corner, Hugh Jackman will again be transforming his body into that of the superhero Wolverine. And now a lucky fan can sweat next to him. Jackman is auctioning the chance for one lucky fan to join him for a heart-pounding Wolverine Workout with celebrity trainer Don Scott at a private gym.

Jackman is raising funds for The Global Poverty Project. The GPP has teamed up with charitybuzz to raise funds for its 1.4 Billion Reasons campaign, which inspires everyday people to join the global movement to end extreme poverty through a powerful presentation. Jackman was recently a speaker at the nonprofit’s screening event at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC.

Bidding is open through November 11th at: http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/209202?source=carousel

- Matt Price

Win art!

Allposters.com is giving a NewsOK Comics Podcast watcher the chance to win this framed art –just comment on the video with your favorite Marvel character, and we’ll draw a winner.

X-Men Arcade game coming to consoles

An image of "Amazing Spider-Man" #50 from allposters.com.

According to Marvel.com, Konami Digital Entertainment will release the classic “X-Men” arcade game originally released in 1992 for the very first time outside of arcades.  The game will be available on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network in Fall 2010.

Spider-Man casting news

Sony has announced that Rhys Ifans (“Notting Hill”) has joined the cast of the “Spider-Man” movie reboot. He’ll play the villain in the new movie, but Sony didn’t reveal who that would be.   The Wrap reported that Ifans will play The Lizard, but that hasn’t been confirmed.

Batman and Wolverine updates

Deadline reports Tom Hardy has been selected for a lead role in “Batman 3,” and Darren Aronofsky is likely clearing his plate to take a stab at directing “Wolverine 2.”

Matt Price and Kyle Roberts review Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #5, X-Men #4, and Bruce Wayne: The Road Home one-shots — Batman and Robin, Red Robin, Batgirl and Outsiders.

Deadline reports that Darren Aronofsky has dropped out of directing “Gangster Squad” for Warner Bros., making it more likely he’ll soon be announced as the director of Hugh Jackman’s “Wolverine 2″ film.   According to Deadline, it’s now a matter of making the financial deal work.

The second “Wolverine” film will star Jackman and is expected to be set in Japan, and somewhat based on the Chris Claremont-Frank Miller miniseries featuring the Wolverine character.  Aronofsky, who directed “The Wrestler” and the upcoming “Black Swan” is a very interesting choice for the character.  It’s not his first flirtation with a comics film — he was rumored as a “Superman” candidate for the directorial slot that recently went to Zack Snyder, and he was reported to have been developing a “Batman” film with Miller prior to Christopher Nolan helming “Batman Begins.”

- Matt Price

Zack Snyder to helm Superman

Variety reports that “Watchmen” director Zack Snyder has signed on to direct Warner Bros.’ revamp of the “Superman” property for a film to be released in 2012.   David Goyer (“Batman Begins”) is writing the script, based on a story by Goyer and Christopher Nolan.

Wonder Woman coming to TV

It was recently reported that “Boston Legal” David E. Kelley was developing Wonder Woman as a TV series. The character was the focus of a 1970s TV series starring Lynda Carter.

Comic prices to drop

DC Comics will move most books to 20 pages of content in a 32-page package for $2.99, as announced at the Source blog.  Marvel Comics plans some titles launching in January 2011 to launch at $2.99, but books currently at $3.99 look to be staying where they are.

Help Steve Rude

Artist Steve Rude, co-creator of “Nexus” and “The Moth” and one of the most acclaimed comic-book creators of the 1980s, is facing financial difficulties from the current recession. Check out steverude.com/auctions for all the items available, including sketchbooks, original art, graphic novels and more.

This week, the comic books reviewed by Matt Price and Kyle Roberts are Uncanny X-Force #1, Wolverine #2 and Batman: Hidden Treasures.

Wolverine and the X-Men Final Crisis DVD

The final three episodes of the first season of “Wolverine and the X-Men” come to DVD in the “Final Crisis Trilogy.” With tons of characters packed in, and the culmination of the 26-episode season, this may not be the prime jumping-on point for this series. But “Wolverine and the X-Men” ends with an action-filled epic.

Emma Frost, a telepathic mutant who can encase herself in diamond skin, helps the inner circle of the Hellfire Club, a group of mutant telepaths, to capture Jean Grey. The club has designs on using Jean’s Phoenix powers

Magneto, meanwhile, has taken control of the government’s Sentinel program, initially designed to hunt mutants, and plans to use it to attack Genosha, sparking a mutant-human war. Jean is the only one with the power to stop these sentinels, and without Jean, the dystopian future that Professor Xavier has warned the X-Men about will come to pass.

Wolverine receives a warning from the future saying he should trust — but whom he should trust doesn’t come through.

The writers have taken influence from the “X-Men” films and story lines such as “Days of Future Past” and Grant Morrison’s “New X-Men” to create the most mature look at the X-Men in an animated series. While the show focuses on the Wolverine character, the conceit of his leadership of the X-Men — something that would seem to go against his loner status — is explained well. Steve Blum provides quality vocal work as Wolverine; closer to Clint Eastwood than Hugh Jackman but appropriately flinty.

The show’s creators provide commentary on the three included episodes. “Wolverine and the X-Men” comes to a well-plotted finale. But since this final DVD set includes only three episodes, it may not be a cost-effective way to enjoy the program.

— By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine

He’s hosted the Oscars and the Tony Awards, and even won a Tony Award for “The Boy from Oz.”  But I imagine the reason that Hugh Jackman is #15 on Nerdage’s list of actors with geek appeal has to do with Wolverine, the six-clawed Canadian member of the X-Men played by Jackman in four films.

Jackman played Wolverine for the fourth time in last year’s “Wolverine: Origins” and even exhorted fans to check out Free Comic Book Day at their local comic-book stores in a promotional video.   A sequel to “Wolverine: Origins,” reportedly based on the Chris Claremont-Frank Miller miniseries, is in development.

- Matt Price

Empire Online reports that Bryan Singer has met with Fox about possibly returning to the X-Men franchise.

“I’m still looking to possibly returning to the X-Men franchise. I’ve been talking to Fox about it,” said Singer. “I love Hugh Jackman. I love the cast.”

That indicates that Singer may be more likely to return to an “X-Men 4″ with the original film X-Men versus taking the helm of a reboot or an “X-Men First Class” set in the early days of Xavier’s school.

Click past the cut to vote on whether you think Singer should return to the X-Men.

Katie Couric talked with “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” star Hugh Jackman about the possibility of more “Wolverine” films. Jackman indicates, as he has in the past, that the next film will likely be based on the Chris Claremont-Frank Miller “Wolverine” miniseries. Katie Couric gives the impression that she wouldn’t be able to tell a comic book from a phone book.

See the entire interview after the break.


Watch CBS News Videos Online

Die Hard goes back to the 1970s in “Year One,” while Spider-Man revisits the 1990s in “Clone Saga.” The Guardian stars in Superman 692, and Wolverine Weapon X closes out its first story arc. Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss this week’s comics in the NewsOK Comics Podcast.

Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss how you can’t always judge a comic book by its cover, as they review Supergirl 44, X-Men Legacy 227, Wolverine Weapon X 4 and Archie 600.

The Hero Initiative officially has announced the Wolverine 100 project, which will feature 100 original covers of Marvel Comics’ most famous mutant.   The Hero Initiative is a charity that helps comic-book creators in medical or financial need.

Marvel Comics has donated 100 blank-covered cardstock copies of the Wolverine: Weapon X #1 to Hero.  Artists including Neal Adams, J. Scott Campbell, Frank Cho, Gene Colan, Ron Garney, Dale Keown, Adam Kubert, Leinil Yu, and John Romita Sr. and Jr. will create a cover for the issue.

“Marvel fully supports the Hero Initiative and its mission, and is proud to offer one of our premier characters in Wolverine to help their efforts,” said Marvel Publisher Dan Buckley in a release. “The amazing outpouring of support and creativity we see from the artists in this is a wonder to behold as well.”

All 100 original Wolverine covers will be published in a book set for release in November. A public viewing of all covers will also be held.

“Fasten your seat belts. From what I’ve seen, this is the craziest 100 project to date,” said Hero Initiative Board member Brian Pulido in a release. “The artists are very good at what they do and what they do is very awesome! They are pulling out all stops to deliver the goods on Marvel’s marauding mutant. You won’t be disappointed.”

Marvel is also hosting an informational video on the Hero Initiative, which you can see here.

- Matt Price

Wolverine’s not going to be out of the limelight anytime soon.

Hugh Jackman announced at the recent Teen Choice Awards that work has begun on a second “Wolverine” film, to be set in Japan.

Meanwhile, Wolverine is also very busy in animation. The second DVD of the animated series “Wolverine and the X-Men” arrived in stores last month, and selected episodes are available to watch online at Marvel.com or to download from iTunes. The series airs on Nicktoons.

An anime version of Wolverine is in development to air in Japan and the U.S. Also on the way is “Super Hero Squad,” which will co-star Wolverine, scheduled to air on the Cartoon Network.

“The great thing about Wolverine is that he can be in ‘Super Hero Squad’ and be for young kids, and he can be in ‘Wolverine and the X-Men’ and be like in the middle range, and then he can be in (the direct-to-DVD PG-13 animated film) ‘Hulk Vs. Wolverine,’” said Chris Yost, a writer for “Wolverine and the X-Men.”

“You immediately think, ‘This guy’s got knives on his hands; he’s really inappropriate for children.’ But you know, children respond to it. Children love Wolverine, and there’s a good reason for that. He’s a hero. There’s more to him than just violence.”

In “Wolverine and the X-Men,” Wolverine must take charge of the X-Men after an attack on the X-Mansion scatters the team. “With ‘Wolverine and the X-Men,’ we had an opportunity to show you the X-Men’s world as we know it,” Yost said in an interview at Comic-Con International in San Diego. “We know the mansion, we know the Danger Room. … And then immediately the show’s turned on its head by the events of the first episode.”

The attack on the mansion in the first episode is what resets the world from the X-Men we know into a world that shares similarities with the “Days of Future Past” story line from the comic books.

“Everything blows up, and everything is different,” Yost said. “Wolverine’s now in charge, and Scott’s all brooding, and Jean (Grey) and Xavier are gone. It was a very conscious decision to show normal, and then get into what the show is going to be.”

“Wolverine and the X-Men” follows a long, epic journey in Wolverine’s attempts to reunite the team as they deal with mutant prejudice and the threat of Magneto.

“I believe there are things you can do in animation, like with ‘Wolverine and the X-Men,’ the scope and the epic scale of that story, you’re never going to see that in a movie, ever,” he said.

Yost also co-wrote the “Hulk Vs. Wolverine” script with Craig Kyle, and writes the character in the monthly “X-Force” comic book, also with Kyle. Yost said he considers himself lucky to have been able to chronicle Wolverine’s adventures in various media.

“With the DVDs, with the comics, it’s being able to show different sides of this character,” Yost said. “At the end of the day, he’s always a hero.”

- by Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Five more episodes of the “Wolverine and the X-Men” cartoon series come to DVD with “Deadly Enemies.” Logan still is attempting to re-form the X-Men after an attack left Professor Xavier in a coma.

Fortunately for Wolverine, Xavier now can communicate with him from the future. Xavier’s future gives Wolverine hints to events he must stop with his X-Men crew.

In “Overflow,” the Shadow King takes over the mind of Storm, and the X-Men must prevent the destruction of Africa by the powerful mutant. Cajun mutant Gambit makes his first appearance in “Thieves’ Gambit,” in which he’s hired by an anti-mutant group to steal a power-inhibiting device. And the blue, elfin mutant Nightcrawler comes to the forefront in the swashbuckling episode “X-Calibre,” which pays tribute to comic-book writer Warren Ellis’ take on the character. Bruce Banner and his alter ego guest-star in “Wolverine vs. The Hulk.” Finally, the team must work together to stop a dangerous, exploding mutant in “Time Bomb,” an episode that again brings the X-Men into conflict with the Brotherhood of Mutants.

“Wolverine and the X-Men” pays homage to classic X-Men tales like “Days of Future Past” while making a cartoon modern audiences also can enjoy.

- Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss Wolverine 74, X-Men Forever 1, Toy Story 1 and Unwritten 2 in this week’s comics podcast.