Yep, not a teaser. It’s just gone online, so catch it here at Apple.
Tony Stark being witty, Cap with a machine gun, a few new costumes, and wait for it, even the Hulk. It’s a fairly traditional trailer, but it looks grand, and superheroic. The Joss Whedon directed film doesn’t open until May next year, so expect more epic trailers, and character centred ones I’m sure, to pop up then, but for now this will do very nicely.
3 weeks ago we did a Star Wars special for the Extra Sequential podcast. Well, I saw ‘we’ but I was sick, so my usual co-host Mladen was joined by fellow Perth podcaster Luke Milton. They did a great job talking about all things Star Wars-y, but since I already prepped my notes I thought I’d put them up here. They are a bit ramshackle though, and Mr. Milton has some great thoughts on the Star Wars Blu-Ray at his blog. Ok, here we go…
I’ve only seen the original trilogy and most of the extras on Blu-Ray, but the films look awesome. They’re the best looking SW films I’ve ever seen. In fact, they could be the best looking films I’ve ever seen. From the first second you notice how different they look. This is a great visual upgrade and worth the price just for that. When R2-D2 and C-3PO first appear, they look dirty, lived in – real. The extras are OK, but there’s not a lot of new ones made specifically for this release. In fact, the extras on the DVDs, particularly on the prequel trilogy, are much better. It is very exciting to see the mythical deleted scenes on the original films though, even if they’re not the best quality. Some introductions from George Lucas as to why they were left out would’ve been good, although it’s kind of obvious to anyone who’s seen the films a few times that they would’ve slowed the pace. The three major changes that have received the loudest complaints aren’t actually that bad in the context of the films. Obi-Wan’s weird noise in scaring off the sand people, Vader’s “NOOOO!” cry and the blinking Ewoks are OK. In fact, I think only Wicket now CGI blinks, but it looks fine. Yes, Vader’s cry as he kills the Emperor was unnecessary, as we don’t need his inner turmoil spelled out for us. His original silent reaction was enough, but his first “NOOOO!” in Revenge of the Sith is much more annoying.
HOW I FEEL
Star Wars was the first film I ever saw (on VHS) and one of the first films I saw at the cinema was the Ewoks film Caravan of Courage. The original trilogy are so magical because they comfortably cover so many genres. It’s funny, mainly thanks to Han’s dialogue, ie, “Who’s scruffy looking?”, “We’re all fine here, how are you?” after he blasts the communication panel, and of course there’s healthy elements of adventure, sci fi and fantasy. When Luke swings across the chasm with Princess Leia at his side, and John Williams’ magnificent theme swells – ah, what’s not to love?
A FEW FACTS
The first film debuted in 1977 on 32 screens.
It made over $307 million and held highest grossing film title for next 5 years.
6 films over 18 years, making $4.5 Billion in movie ticket sales, and over $13.5 Billion in merchandising sales.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” and variations thereof has been spoken in every SW film, and even in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Lego SW games have sold over 20 million copies.
WHAT IF?
As I begun compiling my notes and thoughts, I began to wonder, “What if the first film wasn’t a huge success and it was just another forgotten ‘70s film? Where would George Lucas be today?’
No-one expected SW to be a success, even Lucas bet 2.5% of film’s profits against Spielberg that his Close Encounters would make more money, so Spielberg still gets proceeds from the first film.
EXPANDED UNIVERSE
This year is 20th anniversary of the Expanded Universe, which really kicked off with Timothy Zahn’s novel, Heir to the Empire. There have been dozens since in the intervening years and I’ve read a few which feature Luke’s family, and Han and Leia’s kids battling the cruel Yuuzhan Vong, which are now featured in the Invasion series of comics by Tom Taylor and Colin Wilson, which are awesome.
Lucasfilm has to authorize everything, but there’s still continuity errors like Chewie in Episode 3, as he shoulda been a baby, not an adult.
If you like SW, you must read the comics and books of the Expanded Universe. They range form being set 25000 years before Ep. 4 until abt 50 years after, which is the best period.
COMICS
Tag & Bink are Dead in 2001, written by Kevin Rubio (Troops from 1997). The pair caused all the major events in the films via their stupidity. The last one was 2006’s prequel Revenge of the Clone Menace.
Star Wars Infinities – 1 for each of the original films. 4 ish mini done in 2001 and 02. Alternate realities of the film’s events. The first one is written by Chris Warner, with art by Drew Johnson and Al Rio. Opens with the assault upon the Death Star, and Luke’s 2 torpedoes go in the shaft, but malfunction and blow up too early, meaning the Death Star doesn’t blow up and destroys the rebel base on Alderaan. Luke thinks Leia is dead and goes nuts. He goes to Dagobah and continues to wrestle with his anger. 5 years later he learns Leia is alive and has been brainwashed and is now a representative for the Empire. The Emperor wants Vader’s heir to replace Vader as his apprentice, so if he can’t have Vader’s son, he’ll have Vader’s daughter. Yoda uses Force suggestions against Admiral Tarkin, who uses the Death Star to destroy the Empire fleet. C3PO was reprogrammed for the Empire, but he and Leia are eventually redeemed.
Empire Vol. 2 Darklighter – collects issues 8-12 and 15 of Star Wars: Empire. Written by Paul Chadwick with art by Doug Wheatley. It focuses on Biggs Darklighter (seen in the Ep. 4 deleted scenes), his acceptance into flight school in the Empire, forming a small rebellion, and his sacrifice during the Death Star battle. It’s very Star Wars – familiar characters, vehicles, planets. Luke’s not in it much, but we do see their friendship. We also see a Womp Rat (perhaps for the first time?). Superb, dynamic art. A must have for SW fans.
Dark Empire 1. Been 3 volumes so far. Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy. The TPB collects 6 ish mini. Set 6 years after Return of the Jedi. Luke, Han, Leia, and the usual gang are all in it. Light, almost ‘80s art, kinda like Bill Sienkiewicz. It was OK, but I preferred Darklighter. It was first published in 1991 and 92, and is the first Dark Horse series after they got the SW rights. Palpatine is back as a spirit and lives on in a series of cloned bodies. Han, Leia, and Chewie rescue Lando and Luke who were shot down. All pretty intense and epic.
Invasion. As I mentioned, the thirds series of Invasion (subtitled Revelations) is out now, and Trades of the first 2 series are out. Dark Horse pump out some high quality SW comics and you can find them all right here. Their newest one is called Agent of the Empire-Iron Eclipse. It’s a 5 ish mini-series by John Ostrander and Stephane Roux. It’s set inside the Empire and has a James Bond vibe to it. Sold! The first 40 page ish comes out on December 14 and can be ordered form your LCS (local comic shop) now.
64 mins. We wind back the clock to those halcyon days of the 1930s and 40s when comic books and superheroes were brand new. And they were stranger and wilder than you could imagine. Also, Orson Welles. Drunk.
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2:37 NEWS
Beware the Batman – a CG animated series
New episodes of Beavis & Butt-Head
Grant Morrison writing a Rogue Trooper film
The Metal Hurlant Chronicles TV series
New Arrested Development episodes and film! Yay!
Short fan film inspired by Ben Templesmith’s Welcome to Hoxford
15:26 THEME – 1930s AND 40S COMICS
The diversity of genres, crude renderings, strange tales of justice, the crazy work of Fletcher Hanks, radio serials, the abundance of anthologies, superhero precursors and more. What a wild time in which the comics we know and love today were experimenting and finding their feet.
If you want to hear some great, free radio serials go here, and here’s an example of a crazy Captain Marvel comic from the time.
Now, that’s what I call a x-over! Here’s a look at some new movie (and one TV) pics.
The fun Batman: The Brave and the Bold is ending this year, but a new Batman is coming our way, as announced in France on the weekend. I’m kind of over Batman getting all the toon attention, but bigger plans are afoot, including Plastic Man, Doom Patrol and a claymation Batman from the guys behind Wallace and Gromit. Cool. Beware The Batman has Katana instead of Robin as Batman’s sidekick, Alfred becoming a gun toting butler (which he does when necessary in the comics BTW) and the first adaptation of Grant Morrison’s evil Professor Pyg. I wonder how they’ll make him kid friendly. Check out details here.
Russel Crowe is playing Superman’s Kryptonian father Jor-El (played by Marlon Brando in the ’70s film), while Kevin Costner plays his earthly dad. The costume seems to be going for the regal, fantasy look, complete with red cape and blue bodysuit, meaning Zack Snyder’s 2013 reboot will feature a Superman who uses his Kryptonian roots for his costume. I like the connection, but I doubt Crowe has the gravitas to play Jor-El. We’ll see.
Some very cool pics of Marvel’s The Avengers film have been released, showing Black Widow, Captain America, Nick Fury and director Joss Whedon. Check them all out here.
The director of The Fountain and Black Swan tackling Noah? Now that’s interesting.
Aronofsky says “Since I was a kid, I have been moved and inspired by the story of Noah and his family’s journey. The imaginations of countless generations have sparked to this epic story of faith. It’s my hope that I can present a window into Noah’s passion and perseverance for the silver screen.”
Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman costume for The Dark Knight Rises film is pretty bland and impractical. Thanks to Coolvibe though, I spotted a great alternative from artist Sven Juhlin’s blog, which you can see below, along with his interpretations of Captain America and Juggernaut.
75 mins. Put on the jazz and light some candles. It’s time for a look at sex scenes in comics. It’s our raunchiest episode ever! Actually, it’s more funny than raunchy as we realise how disturbing, hilarious and just plain strange sequential art sex can get. Also duck rude bits, cooking chicken and Andrew Ridgley from WHAM!.
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4:18 NEWS
Mladen’s writing for the digital Find Magazine! Woo hoo!
Catwoman’s unimpressive new film costume
Justice League: Doom animated film premieres next year
Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts doco
The hugely negative response to DC’s new version of the sexed up Starfire
Uderzo’s Asterix successors
14:06 SEX SCENES
Catwoman #1
Green Goblin and Spider-Man’s first girlfriend, Gwen Stacy
Superman and Wonder Woman having sex while flying through volcanoes. The earth literally moves.
Watchmen’s 2 scenes, including Dr Manhattan’s multitasking
Dave McKean’s artful “Celluloid”
The amazing hallucination/sex scenes in “Swamp Thing”
“The Boys”, and whether Garth Ennis’ has issues with women in authority
Last Gasp Publishing’s yearly anthologies: “Best Erotic Comics”
Milo Manara’s “Bolero”
Ignacio Noe’s “The Piano Tuner” and “The Convent from Hell”
Caza and Paul Lamontellerie’s “Planet Terror”
Serpieri’s “Druuna”
Vittorio Giardino’s Little Nemo sex romp, “Little Ego”
Hentai, and the troubling subculture of Lolicon
The gratuitous sex in “Gantz”
The mature sex and violence in “Crying Freeman”
The mechanics of mutant sex and superhero kids
The numerous, and disturbing scenes in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen series
Last year’s doco on Scottish comics scribe Grant Morrison was an entertaining insight into the mind of the man. That same team is behind Captured Ghosts, a similar doco about writer Warren Ellis. Here’s the skinny.
Halo-8 Entertainment and the Napa Valley Film Festival are co-hosting a special NYC sneak preview screening of “WARREN ELLIS: CAPTURED GHOSTS” at the downtown theater CINEMA VILLAGE (22 E 12th St NYC 10003) during New York Comic Con on Friday October 14th at 11:15pm.
CAPTURED GHOSTS will have its official World Premiere November 11th at the Napa Valley Film Festival (alongside the premiere of Martin Scorsese’s HUGO and gala screenings of Alexander Payne’s THE DESCENDANTS & Clint Eastwoods J EDGAR), but the NVFF organizers made a special exception to co-present this sneak preview screening for fans attending New York Comic Con.
This is the second year in a row Halo-8 will debut a film by Respect Films partners Patrick Meaney and Jordan Rennert during New York Comic Con, following the packed-house that greeted last year’s GRANT MORRISON: TALKING WITH GODS.
WARREN ELLIS: CAPTURED GHOSTS
NYC Special Advanced Screening
Friday October 14, 2011
11:15pm
CINEMA VILLAGE
22 E 12th Street, NYC 10003
212.924.3363
Advanced tix available from www.halo8store.com or direct at these links:
$11 adult / $8 student / $20 bundle with DVD pre-order
CAPTURED GHOSTS features the most extensive interview ever given by Ellis, whose groundbreaking body of work includes comic books Planetary, Transmetropolitan, Iron Man: Extremis, FreakAngels, The Authority and novel Crooked Little Vein. Spanning from his first memory watching the moon landing as a child to the recent boffo success of RED, Ellis’ acerbic wit and core belief in humanity come across like never before… revealing the unique point of view that has made him such a pivotal and influential figure to his massive audience of artists, journalists, scientists, and fans.
The film features Academy Award-winner Dame Helen Mirren (THE QUEEN), Ben Templesmith (illustrator 30 Days of Night), Matt Fraction (writer Casanova, Invincible Iron Man), Darick Robertson (illustrator Transmetropolitan), Joss Whedon (director upcoming THE AVENGERS), Will Wheaton (STAR TREK), Brea Grant (HEROES, DEXTER, writer Suicide Girls comic), Claudio Sanchez (Coheed & Cambria), Joe Quesada (Chief Creative Officer, Marvel Entertainment), Stoya (adult film star), Andy Hurley (Fall Out Boy), Patton Oswalt (RATATOUILLE), and a Warren Ellis Muppet (!).
“Patrick Meaney and Jordan Rennert have an uncanny ability to tell the stories of cultural visionaries like Warren Ellis and Grant Morrison whose work serves as an epicenter of influence that expands to higher-profile mainstream innovators and subtly changes the world,” said Halo-8 president Matt Pizzolo, who also served as co-producer on the film.
Produced by Patrick Meaney and Jordan Rennert through their Respect Films banner in association with Halo-8 Entertainment and SequArt Publishing, WARREN ELLIS: CAPTURED GHOSTS is the follow-up to Meaney’s 2010 GRANT MORRISON: TALKING WITH GODS docu which Variety said “will intrigue the previously unconverted” and Wired called “an instant classic.”
Here’s the first look at how Catwoman will look in her short film on next month’s Batman: Year One animated film. Cool. She resembles her comic counterpart closley. Hopefully Anne Hathaway in next year’s The Dark Knight Rises will too. Official details below.
Warner Home Video to unveil Catwoman animated short, first Justice League: Doom footage at New York Comic Con
Warner Home Video, Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation proudly present an action-packed hour of first looks at DC Universe Animated Original Movies properties on Friday, October 14 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. at New York Comic Con.
Central to the panel will be the world premiere of the animated short Catwoman, starring Eliza Dushku (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse) as the voice of title character. The 15-minute short will be included on the release of Batman: Year One, which streets October 18 on Blu-ray, DVD, for Download and On Demand.
The panel will also include the very first footage to be seen from Justice League: Doom, the highly-anticipated next entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies.
The panelists, which include the ultimate voice of Batman, Kevin Conroy, DCU executive producer Bruce Timm and casting/dialogue director Andrea Romano, will offer a glimpse into the 2012 DC Universe Animated Original Movies slate, give away some exclusive prizes to inquisitive audience members, and quite possibly welcome a few surprise guests to the stage.
An autograph session with the panelists will immediately follow the panel.
The first episode I’ve missed, due to some stomach bug thingy, but thankfully fellow Perth pop culture podcaster Luke Milton did an awesome job with Mladen. Here’s Mladen’s intro from the show.
Kris is frozen in Carbonite this week, so Mladen is joined by Luke Milton, Perth comic artist/photographer (that’s one of his photos below) and host of the “C-List” and “The Book Was Better” podcasts, to discuss Star Wars! The mythic stature vs the actual quality of the films, blu-ray deleted scenes and changes, the original and prequel trilogies, and the expanded universe and Star Wars Comics. Also: Lando Calrissian, Yaddle, and an awkward story about meeting Jake Lloyd. Your ears can’t repel podcasting of this magnitude!
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You can email us at kris (at)extrasequential(dot)com and befriend us on the NEW ES Facebook page.
As for the comics we mention:
Star Wars: Infinities – The Star Wars version of Elseworlds/What If…
Star Wars Empire: The story of Biggs Darklighter
The Thrawn Trilogy by Timothy Zahn
Star Wars: Droids comics
Dark Empire
Star Wars Tales with Tony Millionaire and Peter Bagge
Archie Goodwin’s 1970s Star Wars comics
Thanks again to Luke. Hopefully we’ll get him on the show again sometime, and I’ll be back with Mladen next week to ramble on about comics stuff.
64 mins. Our maritime message is that you listen to this aquatic adventure for your audio canals, as a tidal wave of seafaring superheroes and stories washes over you. Also, six-packs, Eddie Murphy and arm wrestling and our attempt to mock Aquaman’s harpoon hand, and lustrous hair. He’s the King of the Seven Seas! He demands respect people!
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You can email us at kris (at)extrasequential(dot)com and befriend us on the NEW ES Facebook page.
2:15 NEWS
An old comic from the creators of Asterix comes to life
Chuck Norris and Van Damme in The Expendables 2
Another Beetlejuice film is coming our way
Writer J.M. DeMatteis’ weekend workshop
Fables for Japan charity comic
11:29 THEME – AQUATICNESS
The massively popular One Piece by Eiichiro Oda
The whacky Seaguy from Grant Morrison and Cameron Stewart
Hugo Pratt’s Corto Maltese
Asterix and Obelisk and their battles against pirates
Gestalt’s The Deep – with a sequel now on the way!
Freakangels by Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield
Michael Turner’s Fathom from publisher Aspen
Cartoon Snorks
Tales of the Black Freighter – the pirate story within Watchmen. Also an animated film.
Namor
Aquaman (Read more about him on page 30-37 here at the digital ES mag). Preview of the relaunched #1 here.
Ian Churchill’s Marineman
Jay Piscopo’s The Undersea Adventures of Cap’n Eli and its spinoff Sea Ghost
Abe Sapien
Cursed Pirate Girl
Popeye
Steve Pugh’s Shark Man
Here’s the first, good look at the costume on actor Henry Cavill from the currently filming Superman reboot. Yep, no red undies, some annoying texturing and some kinda interesting black edges. See more right here.
Some very impressive editing here, consisting of clips from a bunch of films showing various characters walking and running and a similar one focused on hallways. Trust me, both are better than they sound.
Now this is how you make a creepy trailer. Starring Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe and opening in February is this remake of a 1989 film (and also a book and stageplay), made by the rejuvenated Hammer Films, who also made the great Let Me In remake.
61 mins. We focus on genre mash-ups in comics. The movie trailer marketing for the DC 52 Relaunch, writer Brian Wood leaving DC, the workings behind film-rights at Vertigo, the Death of Hellboy, and our quick thoughts on the new Conan the Barbarian & Iron Man: Extremis motion comic. Also floating moustaches, zombie cows and Herman’s Head.
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You can email us at kris (at)extrasequential(dot)com and befriend us on the NEW ES Facebook page.
1:19 NEWS
The DC Comics ad at cinemas
Why Brian Wood’s DMZ didn’t become a TV show
Colleen Doran speaking at Sydney in November
Farewell Hellboy! (sort of)
Cola-Con – Comics and hip hop together at last
Ridley Scott directing another Blade Runner film
16:29 THEME: GENRES MASH-UPS
We yak about various properties that either ‘meet’ or ‘vs’ each other. Superman, Batman, Aliens, Predator, Tarzan, Judge Dredd, Frankenstein, Abbott and Costello, zombies, robots and many more.
Image’s Cowboy Ninja Viking
Geof Darrow’s Shaolin Cowboy
Abraxas and the Earthman
Heavy metal film – submit your ideas!
Robots vs Zombies
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Antarctic Press’ Pirates vs Ninja
comicbookjesus 