DC Entertainment landed a press release in my inbox at around 5:30 A.M. today (Feb 1, 2012) announcing a series of prequel comic titles based on the Watchmen franchise, called “Before Watchmen.” Check out the thoughts and details we have on it, here from the Cinema Static column on Brusimm.
The 2009 Watchmen film, to me, is a wonderfully detailed and gritty movie that takes a look behind the scenes of what it’s like to be a vigilante superhero. It took a look at their lives behind the scenes and introduced us to the idea that not all heroes are perfect. They have their… issues.
Working in an alternate timeline did not hurt the movie at all, but rather, helped the movie going world become a part of what was built up within the franchise of the Watchmen to gain a better foothold on fans’ imaginations.
(And yes, I’m not mentioning the comic book series by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons that came out in 1986/87 that was the source of the movie, Watchmen, because I never read it. My only exposure to the franchise is via the Warner Bros. Pictures movie that was directed by Zack Snyder, and starred Jackie Earle Haley & Jeffrey Dean Morgan, amongst many.
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This piece is a quick chat on Christian Bale hanging up his bat-cowl, and some thoughts on the upcoming Batman reboot and Justice League movie from Warner Bros..
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Christian Bale has confirmed in an interview in “The Philippine Daily Enquirer” that this third Batman film from Christopher Nolan, will be his final take on the Bruce Wayne character, or his alter-ego, Batman.
It makes sense, considering that Christopher Nolan has always said his vision of Batman was a three-film deal, that Christian Bale will also be pulling back from the role. It’s been a wonderful combo of talent that has brought the light of this comic book hero to life, and this particular combo is coming to a close when The Dark Knight Rises hits movie theaters in July of 2012.
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Justice League Movie and Batman Reboot
And I think it’s also a good idea the Bale send this message to Warner Bros., considering that Warner Bros. is looking to move forward with what I consider to be a hair-brained idea of rebooting the Batman movie franchise after Nolan’s third chapter.
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DC Comics took the bull by the horns and revamped 52 titles of theirs and called the project The New 52. They’ve renumbered the titles, starting again at number 1, and mixed up the story lines, giving every single character a fresh new story for readers to learn about.
And with sales in 6 weeks of 5 million copies, it looks like it is paying off.
And that makes sense. Old titles get predictable and can loose their fascination, or curiosity factor. I get that. When something new happens, it sparks the consumer mind into wondering what’s next.
Do you remember when Doomsday showed up in 1992 and killed Superman? I remember a newspaper article (Yea, news. paper.) that talked about sales of the title flat lining and that story arc was slated to be the title’s swan song ending. As sales flourished with this story line, ideas popped and new Superman titles went from there.
Basically, if you think about it, every major change in the (or any other title) was a way to spark sales. IE: When he came out to Lois Lane who he was, etc..
But looking at resources now, there’s no mention of that aspect.
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A Cinema Static Opinion Piece
What started out as a simple little bit on TV show crossovers, mutated into a comparison of TV and comic books. WTH? There I am writing, then I’m suddenly looking up things for comic book crossovers. Dagnabbit. Any how, I was forced to retitle my original pitch and this is it…. Which is more fun for the consumer, TV or comic book crossovers?
The other day I was motivated to think about crossover TV show episodes. I remember not being so enthused about any of them that I can remember. Don’t get me wrong, I like crossover episodes where characters from other TV show series get to visit different realms. I loved when Ray Langston (Laurence Fishburne) pursued a criminal ring across all three CSI TV shows, CSI: NY and CSI: Miami, and finally back to his own series, CSI, just as one example.
But one of my favorite crossovers took place in the comic book universe crossovers when Batman confronted Predator in Batman versus Predator. Now that, was cool for a comic book! But never discredit when Superman got knocked into space by Hulk or when Superman and Spider-Man crossed paths! Again, more coolness.
While I have great memories of comic book crossovers, TV crossovers tend to fall a little short for me. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but when a favorite character of mine shows up somewhere else in a different TV show, they almost seem smaller than life and don’t have the command of the scenario they usually do in their own TV show.
I remember Ray’s character not being quite so large-as-life in the other CSI titles as he usually was in CSI itself. But I presume that this observation might make sense. The characters are only visiting and don’t want to show up the other regular characters, or dilute the show they’re visiting.
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DC Comics new spin on the new Superman title looks pretty interesting to me. But that’s me. Sometimes things get old and stale and when a franchise owner changes something up to make it fresh, it’s a trick course to follow. None-the-less, change is change.
"Action Comics No 1" Superman Cover from "The New 52"
As a past peer once said to me back in the early 90′s: “Life is change. Growth is optional.*”
The new Superman is part of DC Comics “The New 52″ project that is coming out this September. It’s a reimagining and retitling and numbering of some of their biggest characters. And DC has let the fans in on what’s coming down the pipe for our Last Son of Krypton… They call this new chapter, or reimagination of Kal-El a modern, classic and contemporary man who’s younger, brasher and more brooding.
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The newest comic book look of 'Wonder Woman'
Yea, yea, if Wonder Woman hasn’t already graced the silver screen and can’t even survive making it to a pilot movie on TV, I’m not holding my breath either. But I want to be able to say ‘I told ya so’ several years from now when it accidentally happens! And that being that rumors are saying that we might see a Wonder Woman movie in 3013… I mean 2013 in theaters.
Matt Keith over at Killer Film reported what is being denoted as a rumor, that
“A source close to WB” (Aren’t we all?) indicated that “Wonder Woman may finally be making her big screen appearance in 2013.”
Additional details were clear that it was in the very early development stages. Technically, me thinking about a movie makes that an “early development stage,” doesn’t it?
Matt goes on to note that Green Lantern was a test of sorts and that it took a beating from critics and isn’t treading the investment waters too well either. This test could very well have proven to be the doom for a Wonder Woman project.
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While we wait for more details and or news about the upcoming Godzilla reboot movie, IDW has published a new comic title called “Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters.”
If you knew about this Godzilla comic and were planning to hit up the comic book store to pick up the No. 1 issue, you might want to save yourself some time. The first issue sold out in one day.
Don’t worry though, IDW is planning on a second printing. They were expecting a sell-out, but not a one-day sell-out. (Of course they were expecting a sell-out. There are a lot of ‘Zilla fans out there!)
The reprints will hit comic book stores on May 11th, 2011.
IDW Press Release:
“In GODZILLA®: KINGDOM OF MONSTERS, a full-scale apocalypse is brewing. The monsters are a force of nature whose attacks are as sudden and random as a lightning strike. There will be no clean-cut heroes with perfectly chiseled chins and capes billowing in the wind; only ordinary human beings struggling desperately to survive in a world gone mad.”
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For fans of Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead, “Invincible,” “Witch Doctor”), if you’re headed to or thinking about heading to WonderCon 2011, you’re in luck. Robet Kirkman will be making a public appearance at WonderCon for the entire weekend hanging out at several locations throughout the weekend.
He’ll be at primarily two booths throughout the weekend, as he goes back and forth between booth #401 and booth #104. Nope, not typos or number-o’s! He’ll also be in a panel titled “Spotlight on Robert Kirkman.”
In the press release below is his schedule for the WonderCon 2011 weekend:
FRIDAY, APRIL 1st
- 1:00pm-2:30pm – Witch Doctor signing with Brandon Seifert and Lukas Ketner, Booth #401
- 3:00pm-5:30pm – Kirkman Signing, Booth #401
- 5:00pm-6:00pm – Spotlight on Robert Kirkman Room 103
Kirkman, one of the most successful writers in comics today, best known for his work on The Walking Dead, Invincible, Haunt, Image United, Astounding Wolf-Man, Marvel Zombies, and the recent Super Dinosaur, will offer fans some insight into the genius behind their favorite hit comics. After becoming an Image Comics partner in 2009, introducing the internationally renowned hit TV show based on the comic he created with artists Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard, The Walking Dead on AMC, and recently announcing an upcoming video game adaptation of the same series from TellTale Games, he has proven to be an unstoppable creative force. Room 103
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Spider-Man is everywhere these days. He’s in an accident-strewn Broadway musical, he’s coming out in a new Marc Webb directed movie with a new look, and now, Spider-Man is part of a new team in the medium of which he was born, the comic book medium.
On Wednesday Marvel Comics announced that Spider-Man will be joining team formerly known as the Fantastic Four, taking the place of the deceased Johnny Storm aka Human Torch.
The new team will sport new uniforms and a new name, calling themselves the Future Foundation. & the initials for the team remain the same! FF.
With Spider-Man joining Foundation Foundation, this is the ultimate, long-term title cross-over joining two legendary titles, or sets of characters and bringing them under not only one roof / title, but for all intent purposes, starting a new franchise title.
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Bluewater Productions is creating a comic book that will play out Howard Stern’s life story. It will tell the tale of Howard’s climb to the top of the broadcasting industry, doing what few others have done, and that’s make a huge name for himself while always being under fire for effing with the FCC.
The comic is coming out in April and is titled “Orbit: Howard Stern.”
reuters
