Some very impressive team-ups have been announced in the last day. Marvel is partnering with all 6,800 Starbucks coffee shops across America to give customers free (browsing, presumably) access to their growing Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited library. Good work Marvel! Hopefully this gets newbies in to comics. More info right here. Maybe if they did this last year Starbucks wouldn’t have had to close all those stores! Doubtful.
DC are making the most of their restructuring and desire to grow closer to their film and TV arm, by having their own TV show on the Cartoon Network called DC Nation. It won’t be until next year, with CN also hosting the ThunderCats remake and Green Lantern animated series, but this is a grand idea. I always thought a comics show would work. We don’t know many details, but I guess there would be looks at DC related films and TV shows, plus interviews with writers and artists of their comics. More info here.
After moving house on the weekend, and not having the internet at the new place just yet, I am relying on a pre-paid wireless dongle thingy. It’s been somewhat freeing to have no net access for 3 days though, but when you see stuff like this, it makes you thankful for the joys of the web. All pics below are covers from DC’s June releasing Batman related comics and the last one is J.H Williams III’s cover for April’s Batman Inc. #5.
To see all of DC’s June products go here. There’s heaps of goodies coming up in 2 month’s time including 20 Flashpoint tales, consisting of one-shots (like Grodd of War, and Green Arrow Industries) and 3 ish minis (like Lois Lane and the Resistance, and Deadman and the Flying Graysons). The titles alone have me giddy with Elseworlds-like flashbacks.
At DC’s relatively new digital store you can now purchase all the over 80 issues of New Krypton saga from the Superman series from creators such as Sterling Gates, James Robinson and Pete Woods. With Brainiac, General Zod, Supergirl, the Legion of Super-Heroes and heaps of dramatic action it’s a great entry point to Superman and co. and much more entertaining than the current state of his series.
All the issues are on sale for 99 cents on March 4 and 5, despite what the ad below says.
Arriving just before the live action film in June is this animated anthology, featuring a look at 6 different ring bearers. Of course, Hal Jordan is in there, but curiously Guy Gardner, Kyle Rayner and John Stewart aren’t, which is strange, considering most people know the former from the JLU cartoon, and he’ll be appearing in the live action film. It still looks good though, and seems to be adopting the same look across all 6 stories.
I’m assuming this isn’t a sequel to the animated Green Lantern: First Flight film from 2009, as the voice cast is different, but the look is pretty similar. Perhaps Warner Bros. couldn’t get one of they key cast members from First Flight back, so they started anew. It makes sense, as this will undoubtedly be fairly newbie friendly anyway, seeing as it’s being released a few days before the live action GL film starring Ryan Reynolds.
NATHAN FILLION, ELISABETH MOSS LEAD STELLAR VOICECAST FOR GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD KNIGHTS
ALL-NEW DC UNIVERSE ANIMATED ORIGINAL MOVIE COMING JUNE 7, 2011 FROM WARNER HOME VIDEO
Primetime television stars Nathan Fillion (Castle) and Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men) lead a diverse array of performers as the voices behind Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, the
next entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. Building up to the release of the highly anticipated live action film, Green Lantern, in theatres June 17, Green Lantern: Emerald Knights arrives on Blu-Ray™, DVD, On Demand and for Download June 7 from Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation.
Fillion provides the voice of the animated film’s central character Hal Jordan, the human Green Lantern assigned to Sector 2814 (which includes Earth). Fillion has starred in several primetime television series including Desperate Housewives, Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He has also developed a popular cult following as a pair of Joss Whedon’s heroic captains: Capt. Mal Reynolds in the space-western series Firefly and follow-up film, Serenity; and Captain Hammer in Whedon’s internet sensation Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. Fillion returns to the DC Universe after his successful turn as Steve Trevor in the animated film Wonder Woman,
and has performed voice work on Justice League, Robot Chicken, The Venture Bros., and several Halo video games.
Moss gives voice to Arisia, a young recruit forced into her first mission on just her third day as a Green Lantern. Prior to starring as the ever-evolving Peggy Olson in AMC’s ground-breaking series Mad Men, Moss was featured on The West Wing, Invasion and Picket Fences. Moss has been active in voiceovers for animation with previous roles in
Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs, Freakazoid! and It’s Spring Training, Charlie Brown!.
The voice cast for the animated Green Lantern: Emerald Knights also features actor/spoken word artist Henry Rollins (Sons of Anarchy, The Henry Rollins Show) as Kilowog, Jason Isaacs (the Harry Potter films) as Sinestro, legendary professional wrestler “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (They Live) as Bolphunga, Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy) as Abin Sur, Kelly Hu (The Vampire Diaries) as Laira and Wade Williams (Prison Break) as Deegan. Radio Hall of Fame commentator/talk show host Michael Jackson
voices the esteemed Guardian, Ganthet.
Bruce Timm is executive producer of Green Lantern: Emerald Knights. Directors are Lauren Montgomery, Jay Oliva and Christopher Berkeley.
The full-length animated Green Lantern: Emerald Knights complements the Warner Bros. theatrical release of the highly anticipated live-action major motion picture, Green Lantern. Green Lantern: Emerald Knights will be distributed by Warner Home Video as a Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD, as well as single disc DVD. The film will also be available On Demand and for Download.
Geoff Johns made Green Lantern the centre of the DC Universe for a while, and now it’s time for another superhero he resurrected to take the spotlight in May’s Flashpoint series, which launches 15 mini-series set in an alternate future, or something. The cover by Andy Kubert for Flashpoint #1 is below. DC have also released 5 new cryptic teaser images for the series.
Marvel’s next big event is similarly secretive. Here’s the Steve McNiven cover for Fear Itself #1, the first of the 7 ish mini which launches in April.
Finally, the Captain America film opens in July, but the first teaser trailer (as well as Thor’s) is being launched this Sunday during the Super Bowl, as well as a free digital tie-in comic. The grungy official poster for the film is below.
Earlier this week I was reminded of this great site dedicated to the unseen future of the Super Powers action figures from the ’80s. Now even more unused designs have shown up and you can check them all out here, and man, are they whacky, but if they ever got made, they would’ve been awesome. Wonder Woman with crazy hair, Firestorm with a flaming wrench, Batman with two groin pistols and Superman with a stick! Oh yeah.
So DC Comics are no longer using the Comics Code and are using their own in-house system. Here’s what their blog The Source has to say about it:
As of January 2011, DC Comics titles will no longer carry the Comics Code Authority Seal of Approval. In 2011, DC Comics will employ a rating system consistent with that of the rest of the industry, as well as with our digital releases, which already utilize a rating system. As for our Vertigo comic books, they will not utilize the rating system, because they will continue to be labeled as “For Mature Readers”.
Beginning with our April 2011 titles, all DC comic book covers will utilize the following rating system:
E – EVERYONE
Appropriate for readers of all ages. May contain cartoon violence and/or some comic mischief.
T – TEEN
Appropriate for readers age 12 and older. May contain mild violence, language and/or suggestive themes.
T+ – TEEN PLUS
Appropriate for readers age 16 and older. May contain moderate violence, mild profanity, graphic imagery and/or suggestive themes.
M – MATURE
Appropriate for readers age 18 and older. May contain intense violence, extensive profanity, nudity, sexual themes and other content suitable only for older readers.
It’s not a big deal really, as the Comics Code introduced in 1954 has been redundant for decades, and now it’s officially dead, (even Wiki says so) with The Simpsons comics publishers Bongo doing away with it last year and Archie to be the final user of the Code until they dismiss it next month. Farewell Code. You will be missed. (Not really). As a final farewell here’s a funny look at it.
On a related note, this week’s Young Justice #0 from DC seems to be a potential indicator of Code-free comics for the kids. Based on the upcoming cartoon of the same name it assumes that everyone has seen the pilot, which I’m guessing only Americans have. However it’s a fun enough read, centred on The Flash and Superboy and a trip to a shopping mall, and this following exchange when they run into The Terror Twins.
I hope their in-house system picks up these kinds of errors. Did they really think this was OK in a cartoon tie-in comic, full of Archie and Scooby Doo ads?
Announced late last year was the fact that both Marvel and DC were making some of their comics cheaper, dropping selected titles from $4 to $3, which is a considerable discount when you think about it. DC now have some snazzy promo art, and a catchy tagline for the initiative, as well as an unnecessary website, but basically all 32 page ongoing books will now be $2.99, even though they had to drop 2 story pages to make it happen.
DC are warming up to jaded and nostalgic fanboys with one more scheme too. They’re bringing back letters pages. Yay! This is good news as evidenced by this and more amusingly, this. DC phased them out in 2002 as that internet fad began and fanboys and girls filled up more message boards and forums than you can imagine. DC’s co-publishers Jim Lee and Dan DiDio talk about these initiatives here and you can send in you letter right here.
DC Comics have rejigged their website somewhat and their blog, The Source has has a generous few days focused on Superman.
The final season of Smallville premieres on Jan 29. This teaser image shows the Superman Returns (ugh) symbol and yay, look at that reflection at Tom Welling’s feet!
Action Comics #896 has just been released, which means Action Comics #900 is just 4 months away, and it’s bringing Superman back to the title in which he belongs, as this David Finch cover shows. Here’s what The Source say:
Superman versus (I’ll argue) his greatest villain. How much more apropos can you get for a landmark cover to Action Comics?
But wait – there’s more! In addition to a 50-page lead story by the team that’s been punching this book out of the park for for the last ten issues, Paul Cornell and Pete Woods, the oversized 900th issue will also feature short stories by some very exciting names to be announced soon.
The long awaited DC Universe Online game is so close and next month a tie-in comic will be launched. Here’s a comic preview and here’s that awesome trailer again.
And heads up, PlayStation 3 fans: we’ve been giving away PS3 beta codes from the DC_Nation twitter feed and our Facebook fan pages all week, and will be giving away more today. So if you haven’t already, friend us, follow us, fan us and what have you and keep a sharp eye out for those codes to get an early peek at the game.
DC Universe Online will be available for the PC and PlayStation 3 next Tuesday, 1/11/11.
The first issue of DC UNIVERSE ONLINE LEGENDS hits comic shops in February, and will be available digitally day-and-date for the PSP and at the DC Digital Comics Store.
Lastly, here’s a pic of the Feb 22 releasing animated All Star Superman film, based on the Grant Morriosn and Frank Quitely series.
The pilot aired in the States in November and the first season kicks off on Jan 21. Hopefully, they’ll show it here in Oz too. Here’s a new clip from the show centred on the teenaged superheroes from DC Comics. Yes, it does look awesome.
DC has always had an interesting history when compared to Marvel. Celebrating their 75th anniversary this year, though they’ve kept it quite low key, is this new documentary from the producers of the excellent Spellbound doco. Written and directed by Mac Carter and narrated by Green Lantern actor Ryan Reynolds, this 90 minute look at the publisher’s past and present is entertaining. There are better books out there that offer more exhaustive examinations, including the recent mammoth tome written by Paul Levitz, but considering this is a film made by the very subject it’s about, it was always going to be a cheery look rather than a dirty expose.
It’s no surprise that it’s the best looking doco of its kind, with plenty of pretty pictures from comics new and old and interviewees in professionally lit environments. Speaking of interviewees, the producers have lined up some rather impressive names including the expected writers and artists such as Neil Gaiman, Mark Waid, Len Wein, Louise Simonson, Gerard Jones, Jim Lee, and Dwayne McDuffie, Vertigo editor Karen Berger, designer Chip Kidd fans, head honcho Dan DiDio and fans at San Diego Comic-Con.
Many would expect this to be a glowing account of the awesomeness of DC, but it’s surprisingly frank at times. It does skip over the legal battle between Superman and Captain Marvel, and dismisses Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson’s exit from the company he helped build, but it also has Neal Adams calling Jay Garrick, the original Flash “stupid” and stating that the DC offices in the ‘70s were filled with hippies “ whose hair was longer than their careers.” Classic.
Denny O’Neill, the writer whose output with Adams gave DC a more realistic edge in their ‘70s Green Lantern/Green Arrow tales admits that in the decade previous DC were floundering when compared to Marvel’s much more fresh titles, with Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four and more exploding from the shelves. While Batman and Superman were still having zany sci-fi adventures, a relic from the harsh Comics Code form the ‘50s, Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and co. were creating a new age of superheroes.
I did chuckle at two Wonder Woman anecdotes when O’Neill admitted, “boy did I screw that up” when referring to the depowering/white suit karate phase of the Amazonian’s life and hearing that her TV series ‘ theme tune had lyrics such as, “in your satin tights, fightin’ for your rights.” Seeing all the mania that existed over the past few decades during the TV and film adventures of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman around the world is great too, as is some of the merchandise surrounding those characters. Plus footage of actual events such as comic book burning in the ‘50s and news footage of Superman’s death in 1992 never gets old, and this is also the first time I’ve seen actual interviews with Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman’s creators.
Two other things I did learn however are that Frank Miller is 1 of 7 kids and Neil Gaiman almost gave up his dream of writing comics after a disbelieving career counsellor suggested accountancy instead. Yes, not revolutionary facts, but having read books on DC’s history before, most of the info that Secret Origin presents, I was already aware of. I did still enjoy it though as a well presented documentary on a fascinating few decades of DC Comics and newbies will find a lot of great trivia amongst all the great visuals.
Unfortunately there are no extras, not even trailers for DC’s existing animated films, which all the other DC films have, and the trailer below makes it seem like it’s mainly made up of TV and cartoon adaptations, which it isn’t.
OK, spoilers ahead, though if you haven’t read Batman and Robin #17 yet, you should. It’s been out for a week after all. Anyway, this is the first issue since writer Grant Morrison left to focus on the excellent Batman Incorporated. By Paul Cornell and Scott McDaniel it’s a return to fun, mystery and those intriguing and scary moments that the best Batman comics do so well. The last page, shown below, is the debut of a new villain, or villainess called Uno Nemo. Not related to Finding, I assume the name will mean something, but she has an interesting feature, or lack thereof. Where she keeps her brain, who knows? Maybe she’s an android. She does remind me of Dudley Soames, a crooked cop in Nightwing’s solo series back in the day who had has head twisted around 180 degrees by Blockbuster, survived, changed his name to Torque and went about his criminal business, with his head on the wrong way. Great stuff.
My bet is that the following three things will happen with this new character.
1. At some point she’ll say, “I need (something) like I need a hole in the head.”
2. Batman will deduce her plan and/or motivation and she’ll exclaim, “Ah, Batman, you see right through me.”
3. Robin will throw a small projectile at her face, and it will go right through the hole in her head.
Last week’s issue of The Flash, starring the resurrected speedster Barry Allen battling accusations of murder from future Rogues, had the following error on one of its last pages. It seems someone missed the double up of Barry’s dialogue, or something. Great cover though.
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