Now I really want a Blu-Ray player. This 6 disc set comes out on October 26. Complete with the 4 films, plus a massive 60 hours (!) of extra features, this will make you drool indeed. Let’s not forget that Ridley Scott is prepping 2 prequels to the original film too, which won’t star Ripley, and will be set about 30 years before Alien. The first prequel should be out in 2011 or 12.
Days Missing: Kestus Covers
The first Days Missing series from Archaia was a bold, time tripping sci-fi tale (get it now in TPB!). The second series follows again follows the mysterious and powerful Steward in his endeavour to erase dark days from our history, while revealing more about him Official details below about the second volume and its impressive array of cover artists.
FIVE SUPERSTAR COVER ARTISTS ANNOUNCED FOR ARCHAIA AND RODDENBERRY’S ‘DAYS MISSING: KESTUS’
ALEX ROSS, DALE KEOWN AND DAVID MACK AMONG THE ARTISTS ILLUSTRATING THE COVERS TO THE SECONG VOLUME OF THIS HIT MINISERIES
At the Archaia: Black Label panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Archaia Entertainment and Roddenberry Productions proudly announced the all-star lineup of cover artists contributing to the second volume of the critically acclaimed comic book series DAYS MISSING.
A different artist will illustrate each of the five upcoming covers of Days Missing: Kestus, which launches in September. As previously announced, Alex Ross (Kingdom Come, Astro City) will be creating the cover for issue #1. Jorge Molina (Marvel Superhero Team-Up, What If? Spiderman: House of M) will design the cover of issue #2, and Ryan Benjamin (Grifter/Midnighter, New Mutants) will lend his talents to the cover of issue #3. David Mack (Daredevil, Atomika) has signed on to draw issue #4’s cover, and Dale Keown (The Darkness, Pitt), who illustrated all of the covers for Days Missing volume 1, will return to illustrate the cover to issue #5.
“Each talented cover artist brings his own perspective of The Steward and Kestus to the series, which creates a richer, deeper understanding of these multi-layered characters,” said Roddenberry Productions Head of Development Trevor Roth.
Artist David Marquez (Syndrome: The Graphic Novel) will illustrate the pages of all five issues of the continuing epic, which fan-favorite and Eisner Award-nominated author Phil Hester (Firebreather, The Darkness, Green Arrow) will write.
Days Missing: Kestus continues the tale of The Steward, a mysterious being who has the ability to literally “fold” days of time, secretly removing critical days from history. At the end of the first series, hints were dropped that The Steward was not alone in his powers. The second series will focus on his relationship with a new being, Kestus, as well as more days for him to “fold.”
Hester and Marquez joined Archaia’s SDCC panel along with Roddenberry Productions’ CEO Rod Roddenberry. Fans were treated to a limited run, complimentary preview book written by Creator Trevor Roth and drawn by David Marquez.
“Archaia and Roddenberry Productions have assembled five of the best cover artists in the industry today to lend their talents to this exciting franchise,” said Archaia Editor-in-Chief Stephen Christy. “It just goes to show that Days Missing is one of the best science-fiction comics out there, and this new set of issues will not only just add to its popularity, but bring in new fans!”
Days Missing: Kestus will be published under Archaia’s new Black Label line of titles, which specializes in co-developing intellectual properties with prestigious partners who are seeking to flesh out and realize their original ideas through the use of Archaia’s resources.
Issue #1 of Days Missing Vol. 2: Kestus (five-issue miniseries, full color, $3.95, 32 pages, Diamond Order Code JUL10 0764) is set to debut in September wherever comic books are sold.
Future updates on the series, including preview images and other behind-the-scenes material, can be found at www.daysmissing.com.
Marvel’s Tron Comic
It looks like this is the first official collaboration between Marvel and Disney since their new merger, and they’ve picked a good film to partner with. Official details below.
Marvel Announces TRON: THE BETRAYAL
Marvel is proud to announce TRON: The Betrayal, a new two-issue limited series serializing the highly anticipated graphic novel from Disney Publishing Worldwide, tying into Walt Disney Pictures’ high-tech adventure TRON: Legacy, which hits U.S. theaters in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX 3D® on December 17, 2010. The limited two-issue series arrives in October and serves as a prequel to TRON: Legacy. Each extra-sized issue of TRON: The Betrayal features a new cover by superstar artist Salvador Larroca (Invincible Iron Man). Featuring art and stories by some of the top names in comics today, this all-new story extends upon the mythology of the world of TRON.
The storytelling picks up in the aftermath of Walt Disney Pictures’ first film in its franchise TRON. Kevin Flynn is now in charge of Encom, the world’s largest video game company. Kevin, a break-through game developer, has built the Grid, a digital world filled with living programs. This new virtual world is about to develop a life of its own and, in order to control it, Flynn’s going to need to help of an old friend…named Tron.
“Marvel Publishing is excited to bring Disney Book Group’s first TRON graphic novel to comic book fans in this limited series,” said Ruwan Jayatilleke, Marvel Senior Vice President, Development & Planning, Print, Animation and Digital Media. “So whether you’re new to TRON or a longtime fan, TRON: The Betrayal is an action-packed thrill-ride that will not disappoint!”
This October, experience this must-read story in TRON: The Betrayal #1 before TRON: Legacy lights up the big screen!
TRON: THE BETRAYAL #1 (of 2)
Written by JAI NITZ
Plot courtesy STARLIGHT RUNNER ENTERTAINMENT
Pencils by ANDIE TONG
Cover by SALVADOR LARROCA
Rated A…$3.99
ON SALE IN OCTOBER 2010
Sucker Punch Trailer
Opening March 25 next year is the new film from Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen). Starring Aussie Emily Browning, Vanessa Hudgens and other pretty young actresses the’50s set films focuses on a girl confined to a mental institution who escapes in a fantasy world. The wild trailer combines dragons, giant robots, burning zeppelins and a bunch of other cool stuff.
Green Lantern Film Posters
The character posters from Comic Con have now been unleashed upon the internet. They don’t reveal much, but it’s probably wise to have a subtle and slightly intriguing way to initially promote the film to non-fanboys who may be getting sick of superhero films. Below are posters of Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, Blake Lively as Carol Ferris/Star Sapphire, Mark Strong as Sinestro and Peter Sarsgaard as Hector Hammond.
Directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale) the film opens on June 17 next year. Here’s the official synopsis.
In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, a small but powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. A brotherhood of warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him superpowers. But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan.
Hal is a gifted and cocky test pilot, but the Green Lanterns have little respect for humans, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the ring before. But Hal is clearly the missing piece to the puzzle, and along with his determination and willpower, he has one thing no member of the Corps has ever had: humanity. With the encouragement of fellow pilot and childhood sweetheart Carol Ferris (Blake Lively), if Hal can quickly master his new powers and find the courage to overcome his fears, he may prove to be not only the key to defeating Parallax … he will become the greatest Green Lantern of all.
Under the posters is a great video from Comic Con in which Reynolds recites the Green Lantern oath. It can’t be easy to make it sound cool on the big screen, but Reynolds sure does here.
Daomu To The West
Press release below about Image bringing a popular, new Chinese comic to a Western audience. Curiously though, there’s no mention of the creator/s involved, not even on the cover. However it must be pretty awesome if Image swooped on it so quickly.
Image Comics and Concept Art House Bring China’s Best-Selling Daomu Series to the U.S.
First issue to arrive in stores this December
Image Comics and Concept Art House announced plans to release a series of Daomu comics based on one of China’s best-selling novel series. This will be Daomu’s debut in the U.S., following a successful graphic novel launch in China earlier this year. The upcoming comic book series is the first of several Daomu releases planned to include games, an animated series, and a feature film.
Daomu, which translates to “tomb raider,” explores an underground world that has been active in China for thousands of years. After witnessing his father’s violent murder, Sean Liu discovers that his family belongs to a secret society of tomb raiders. Led by his uncle, Sean joins an elite team of Daomu to go deep underground in search of answers. Who are they? Who—or what—killed Sean’s father? And what horrors await beneath the earth’s surface? With a distinctive digital art style and high-energy adventures steeped in Chinese tradition and superstition, the comic series will follow Sean’s coming of age as a modern-day tomb raider and his quest to uncover the truth behind his father’s death.
The Daomu Bi Ji or “tomb raider’s journal” novel series on which the comics are based has become a sensation in China since its debut in 2007, reaching well over 20 million fans. Concept Art House, a leading digital art and entertainment company with a focus on transmedia storytelling, is responsible for the popular novel’s conversion to graphic format. Their first Daomu graphic novel released in Asia in early 2010 and quickly secured the #2 spot on Dangdang.com, China’s leading ecommerce website. Though Western audiences have long embraced Japanese comics and cartoons, Daomu’s arrival in the U.S. is a first for a high-profile Chinese entertainment property.
“The quality of comics in China is exceptional,” says Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson. “Daomu is no exception. Daomu has exemplary digital art and an outstanding story. We’re excited to be bringing this amazing graphic novel to the United States for its first English translation.”
“American comics are extremely popular among Chinese comic book fans due to their great stories and amazing artwork. We believe the American audience will love Daomu for the same reasons,” says James Zhang, Concept Art House’s CEO. “Image is a great partner, not only because they understand quality art and story, but also because they truly respect the creator’s vision. We’re thrilled to be working with Image to introduce Daomu to the U.S.”
Intended for readers ages 13 and up, the first Daomu comic book will release this winter. To learn more, visit Image Comics at http://www.imagecomics.com.
All About The Avengers
That was the focus of events at Comic Con today, apart from an incident in which someone was stabbed in the eye with a pen earlier during the day. Samuel L. Jackson introduced the now official cast of the Avengers film, including new members Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) as archer Hawkeye, Mark Ruffalo (Shutter Island) as Bruce Banner, and fan fave director Joss Whedon. Also below is the new logo for the 2012 film, as well as the Destroyer suit of armour seen on the Con floor that will be seen in next year’s Thor film.
Young Justice Cartoon Sneak Peek
I have to admit, I’m getting more excited about DC’s new animated series and films than I am about most of their comics these days. Just screened at Comic Con was this little gem; a behind the scenes look at the new Young Justice series, with producers Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti. With the new Aqualad, plus less familiar characters to outsiders, such as Artemis, Miss Martian and Speedy/Red Arrow, this looks set to be a ‘toon for older viewers than Batman: The Brave and the Bold. What’s interesting about this series is a 16 strong Justice League, a new DC Universe (Superman has only been around for a decade) and a teen cast, some of whom will die. Plus the sleek designs look similar to those in the recent Crisis on Two Earths film.
New Tron Legacy Trailer
Unveiled at Comic Con is the brand new trailer for Tron Legacy, the sequel to the 1982 classic. The film stars original actors Jeff Bridges (in both current and de-aged forms) and Bruce Boxleitner and opens December 16. The more I see from this film, the more excited I get.
Comic Movie News
It’s no surprise that big reveals of upcoming comic films are being shown before, and as, San Diego Comic Con starts today. Below are pics of Abin Sur from next year’s Green Lantern film. He’s the dying alien that gives his power ring to Hal Jordan, played by Ryan Reynolds. See more photos here.
Here’s a pic of muscular Aussie Chris Hemsworth as Thor in next year’s film, as he retrieves his powerful hammer Mjolnir.
Finally here’s a teaser for The Goon animated film, based on the Dark Horse series from Eric Powell. It stars Paul Giammati (Sideways, Shoot ‘Em Up) as sidekick Frankie and is apparently directed by David Fincher (Fight Club, Panic Room).
DC Teaser Image
DC haven’t released a cryptic teaser image for a while, but here’s one from today, just in time for some Comic Con speculation. Click here to see a much larger version for closer inspection.
Marvel And BOOM! Promotions
First it was Dan Didio, Geoff Johns and Jim Lee who got promotions at DC, followed quickly by Joe Quesada from EIC to CCO at Marvel. Now both Marvel and BOOM! Studios are patting staff on the back. Details below.
MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT PROMOTES C.B. CEBULSKI TO SVP, CREATOR & CONTENT DEVELOPMENT
Marvel Worldwide, Inc announced today that it has promoted C.B. Cebulski to Senior Vice President, Creator & Content Development of Marvel Entertainment. In this new role, Mr. Cebulski will report to Jim Sokolowski, Chief Operating Officer – Publishing, Marvel Worldwide, Inc., C.B. will discover, develop and nurture new talent, brainstorm new initiatives and advise on creative directions for Marvel’s key titles. In addition to these responsibilities, Mr. Cebulski will work on creative aspects of development of larger corporate initiatives. The announcement was made today by Dan Buckley, Publisher & President of the Print, Animation & Digital Divisions, Marvel Worldwide, Inc.
Mr. Buckley stated, “It’s with tremendous pride that I announce C.B Cebulski’s promotion to Senior Vice President, Creator & Content Development. C.B. has been an instrumental part of Marvel’s success, recruiting the top talent in the industry and developing key global relationships. As he moves into this new role, I’m excited to see just what kind of new talent and creative directions C.B. brings to Marvel.”
Having started his career as an editor at Marvel, Mr. Cebulski was one of the driving forces behind the creation of Marvel’s Talent Management department, where he then worked as a talent scout, recruiting international artists for Marvel’s ever-growing stable of premiere pencilers and painters. Mr. Cebulski has also written fan favorite stories featuring all of Marvel’s key heroes, including the X-Men, Avengers, Spider-Man, Runaways, and the Loners. He also served as head writer for Activision’s Marvel: Ultimate Alliance video game, which drew praise from all corners for its nuanced storytelling and faithful adaptation of Marvel’s most popular characters.
“I was first welcomed into the Marvel family almost a decade ago, and the company and I have grown together through all the amazing changes that Marvel has experienced,” said C.B. Cebulski. “I’m thrilled by the prospects and challenges this new position offers and to be working with Joe Quesada, Tom Brevoort and Axel Alonso to expand Marvel’s already amazing line of comics and characters. This marks not only the next step in my personal path at Marvel, but also the next phase in our relationship with our creative partners and talent.”
BOOM! Studios, 2009’s “Best Publisher” and the recipient of 7 Eisner and 5 Harvey Award nominations announced today that Mark Waid has been promoted to Chief Creative Officer.
Matt Gagnon has received a promotion to Editor-in-Chief.
For the past three years, Mark Waid has been serving as Editor-in-Chief of BOOM! Studios and has been one of the leading factors in the amazing growth that’s seen the company increase its market share tenfold. Managing Editor Matt Gagnon has, likewise since his hiring in 2008, been a critical player in the company’s explosive expansion.
“Mark Waid is one of the most well-loved and dynamic personalities in comics,” said Ross Richie, Chief Executive Officer of BOOM!. “When he assumed the editorial reigns at BOOM! in 2007, he had his work cut out for him – I had not run the trains on time, and much of the editorial schedule was wrecked. Mark used his 25 years of experience in the business to methodically put our core titles like ZOMBIE TALES and CTHULHU TALES back on track, added fresh comics creators with fresh voices to our line, and righted our business and helped define our brand. Without that intervention, there’s no way we could have achieved the meteoric growth we’ve enjoyed. He’s been a world-class talent, and it’s a pleasure to commemorate that with this promotion.”
Waid added, “Ross is too kind and perhaps drinks a little much. Let’s save the accolades for Matt Gagnon. He’s got an uncanny eye for talent and a gift for finding diamonds in the dark, secret mineshafts in which freelancers dwell. He’s unearthed breathtaking talents, among them HEXED’s Emma Rios, THE UNKNOWN ’s Minck Oosterveer, and IRREDEEMABLE’s Peter Krause. Moreover, Matt has worked hands-on to make sure that BOOM!’s books are there for readers every month, on time, and that they’re great reads. I am extremely proud of his accomplishments, and we’re overdue in acknowledging them as I shift my responsibilities within the company to focus on our expanding opportunities both inside and outside publishing. Between the upcoming line of comics and graphic novels we’re doing with Stan Lee and POW! Entertainment, our increasing digital-media strategies, and our continued growth in Hollywood, my energies are more dedicated to BOOM! than ever before.”
Waid has been, for over twenty years, one of America’s best-selling comic book authors, having contributed to every major publisher and having written a wider range of well-known comic characters than any comics writer in history, including Spider-Man, The X-Men, Batman, Superman, Archie, and Captain America. The series Waid launched at BOOM! last year, IRREDEEMABLE, was nominated for “Best New Series,” “Best Writer,” and “Best Cover Artist” in the 2010 Eisner Awards and “Best Writer” and “Best New Series” by the 2010 Harvey Awards. This success has been followed up with the critically acclaimed sister title, INCORRUPTIBLE.
Gagnon came to BOOM! from Meltdown Comics in Los Angeles, one of the most influential comic book retail stores in the country. Meltdown is renowned for a cutting-edge approach to retailing and a sophisticated and varied line of products, a philosophy that Gagnon had a hand in shaping at the super-store. He brings that same approach to BOOM!, breaking new ground with a strong editorial voice.
Scott Pilgrim Vol. 6 Release Party
I discovered sadly last week that the final volume of the fun Scott Pilgrim series from Oni Press will not be available in Australia! Man, frustrating. The reason? The movie. Yep, because the long awaited film is due out next month, licensing has changed, meaning not only can Aussie comic shops not order the final Pilgrim volume, they can’t even get the previous volumes. As I can imagine, it must be a real let down to not only Oni but also Oz LCSs. I don’t know if other countries suffer the same fate, but the same thing also happened to the Kick-Ass comics, leading some Oz shops to order multiple copies of the Kick-Ass HC online.
Oni will undoubtedly get a lot of mileage from the film of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s great comic, but us international fans want more! To Amazon, it is then. For those who are in America, you might want to head out to Atomic Comics tomorrow night for an early release. Details below for keen fans.
Not Going To Comic-Con?
Me neither. I’ve been the last 2 years, but it’s not a cheap trip with the flight, hotels and week-long spending frenzy, so I’ll take a rain check until next year. If, however, you want something else to pass the time apart from catching up on all the big announcements, you can check out Puzzle Hub. As the name states, it’s a website with themed puzzles, crosswords and the like. The week of July 21-27 (when the Con is on) the site will be running pop culture and comic themed puzzles for those seeking to dust the cobwebs off their mind, if not their wallet.
If you’re a US resident it gets even better for the Con-absent, as the press release below from Dark Horse states.
On July 24th fifty-five comic book shops across the country will host unique parties in conjunction with ChinaShop Magazine and Dark Horse Comics to celebrate the highly dedicated culture of sequential art during the weekend of San Diego Comic-Con.
Branded #NotAtComicCon, based on the Twitter hash-tag those unable to attend San Diego Comic-Con have been using, fifty-five participating stores will create a fun and creative atmosphere where free drinks and over $200 worth of Dark Horse prizes will be available. In addition, Dark Horse Comics will make an exclusive announcement to fans at participating stores before releasing the special information to crowds in San Diego.
Fans looking to participate in the unprecedented, nation-wide event can find a comic book shop in their area on the following site:
http://www.darkhorse.com/Blog/34/notatcomiccon
Plus, during the week of July 19th, ChinaShopMag.com will feature interviews with well-established comic creators who aren’t attending San Diego Comic-Con to get their insight into the larger community rarely talked about in mainstream news outlets.
Fans are also encouraged to use the hash-tag “#notatcomiccon” when talking about the event to show the world the fun comic fans have even outside the largest pop-culture convention. For more updates, follow @notatcomiccon and @chinashopmag on Twitter.
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