Some details of Sterling Gates’ Kid Flash run revealed
At Newsarama, Dan Didio talked about the upcoming “Kid Flash” series to be written by Sterling Gates. He revealed Gates will be working closely with Geoff Johns to keep continuity among the “Flash” franchise.
He also revealed (SPOILER WARNING) that Max Mercury would appear in the series.
Didio says at Newsarama:
I think Sterling’s already doing such a great job on Supergirl, and he’ll bring a lot of those same sensibilities to Kid Flash. That’s one of the reasons we chose him for that series. Also, you’ll still see the dynamic between Kid Flash and Max Mercury, if I’m not mistaken. And I think that’s new information, so you did get something out of me. But Max will be featured in this series as well. So if somebody’s a fan of Impulse, they’ll get that relationship back in the Kid Flash series. Because of the Max/Bart relationship, I think they’ll be very pleasantly surprised about what the plans are for the book.
Kid Flash looks to be a great fit for what Gates does well, and I look forward to seeing what’s in store for the series!
- Matt Price
TV Guide reveals Smallville’s Hawkman
TV Guide has a first look at Hawkman from the upcoming “Smallville” two-hour event on Feb. 5. Online reaction has been mixed, at best, but I’m OK with it. It looks like the comic-book outfit, pretty much, and I’m ready for Clark to go ahead and get himself into a comic-book outfit. So maybe this will motivate him.
- Matt Price
New Moon sets pre-sales record
Four days prior to release, “New Moon” is the biggest pre-sales title in the 10-year history of ticket-selling site Fandango. A release for the company indicates New Moon broke the record as of Saturday night.
The new Top 5 Advance Ticket-Sellers on Fandango (as of November 15, 2009) are as follows:
1. New Moon (2009)
2. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
4. The Dark Knight (2008)
5. Twilight (2008)
New Moon currently accounts for 86% of ticket sales at Fandango.com.
“For many fans, it’s clearly the year’s most anticipated film event,” said Fandango Chief Operating Officer Rick Butler in a release. “Ever since tickets went on sale on August 31, it’s been among our top five weekly ticket-sellers, as New Moon has a strong pull on audiences. We’re seeing a higher-than-usual number of tickets per transaction for this film, suggesting that moviegoers will show up en masse at theaters this weekend with their friends and family.”
A survey of Fandango users indicates that 10 percent of ticket buyers intend to show up to the film in costume.
Other information from the survey:
* 98% say the action in New Moon looks better than the action in Twilight.
* 72% plan to see the movie with a group of three friends or more.
* 52% of survey respondents say they dream about vampires.
* 22% are mothers and daughters planning to see New Moon together.
* 10% of fans plan to show up at the theater on Thursday night in costume, dressed as characters from the saga.
- Matt Price
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
Monday movie quote challenge #53
“So, yes, I am a dork, and a goofball, and a wingnut, and a Knucklehead McSpazatron!”
Identify who said the above quote in what film in the comments!
NewsOK Comics Podcast: Dark X-Men 1, X-Force 21, Batman/Doc Savage one-shot
Kyle Roberts and Matt Price review Dark X-Men 1, X-Force 21 and the Batman/Doc Savage one-shot on the NewsOK Comics podcast.
Supergirl #50 to feature Michael Turner, Helen Slater
Tulsa-born writer Sterling Gates is joined by two Supergirl superstars for “Supergirl” No. 50. Artwork from the late Michael Turner will be the cover of “Supergirl” No. 50. A back-up story will be written by “Supergirl” actress Helen Slater and Jake Black. 
As revealed in the Superman family solicitations at Newsarama.com, the issue is set for release on Feb. 17 and will run 56 pages for $4.99. Joshua Middleton, the series’ regular artist, will provide a 1-in-10 variant cover for the issue.
It’s the second “Supergirl” news featuring Slater in recent weeks. The actress also provided the introduction to “Supergirl: Who Is Superwoman?,” the collection of “Supergirl” issues by Gates and artist Jamal Igle released this week.
- Matt Price
Marvel to introduce new character on Monday?
Marvel plans to introduce this monkey with guns, apparently drawn by Frank Cho, at Marvel.com on Monday. In the announcement, Marvel asks, “Who is One of the Most Exciting New Characters of the Century?” Since this was the art included, I guess they think it’s this guy. Now, I don’t know if this works like “collector’s item first issue!” where if you have to TELL people it’s a collector’s item, then it’s probably not. In any case, if you like Frank Cho or monkeys in a suit and tie, you may want to tune to Marvel.com on Monday and find out who this fella is.
Update: The character is named Hitman Monkey. He’ll debut in a digital title this December and first appear in print in February’s “Deadpool” No. 20.
- Matt Price
Captain America’s got a gun
There was some controversy over the new Captain America’s choice to carry a gun, back in Captain America #34. Some retailers at the time expressed concern about it. Now, Marvel’s released a provocative new promo, one in their series of promos with the title “What Price Victory?” promoting the upcoming Siege storyline.
Norman Osborn is being held at gunpoint by the new Captain America in the image. Osborn has been responsible for a lot of the bad things that have happened to Marvel’s heroes in the past year, as Osborn himself was lionized following his part in stopping the Skrull invasion. Siege looks to be a return to the classic Avengers lineup of Thor, Captain America and Iron Man. But I wonder if New Cap’s use of a gun might play into his stepping aside from the Captain America role, allowing a return of Steve Rogers?
(Of course, in Reborn right now, Steve Rogers isn’t quite ready to take over anything – but we’ll see how that story progresses, as well!)
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
- Matt Price
Read some creepy comics for Friday the 13th
I completely forgot about it being Friday the 13th today, but as such I can’t let the day pass without a few recommendations of creepy comics to read.
1. Creepy
Might as well go with the comic that has “creepy” right there in the title. The first Creepy Archive features stories by Archie Goodwin, art by Alex Toth and covers by Frank Frazetta! That’s an all-star lineup.
2. Eerie
Creepy’s sister publication. The first Eerie Archive does duplicate some of the stories from the second Creepy Archive, as Dark Horse presents the first five issues of Eerie as they were originally presented. Covers by Frazetta and Gray Morrow.
3. Blackest Night
Odds are good you may already be reading this best-seller from DC Comics, but I’m enjoying it as the equivalent of a superhero zombie movie.
4. Essential Marvel Horror Vol. 2
This is likely to fall more along the lines of “goofy” than “scary.” It’s a mix of characters including Brother 
Voodoo and Gabriel the Devil-Hunter from the 1970s Marvel line. The mixture of one oddball thing after another makes this a fun one to pick up and read in short bursts.
5. House of Mystery
While the original “Showcase” edition is worth a look, I’ll recommend checking out the recent series by Bill Willingham and Matt Sturges. Five characters trapped are trapped in a bar that appears to be in an otherworldly realm. They are trying to find out why they are imprisoned, and along the way they tell their stories. One of the best current series from Vertigo.
