Wednesday, June 30, 2010
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5:00 PM
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ManoDogs
Sound like the dumbest fucking thing you've heard today? Hollow-wood knows no bounds, however the live-action Akira director, Albert Hughes (Book of Eli), says he looks at it as a challenge, and plans to ensure the movie feels "like a rated-R movie."
"I get excited about some subversive things you can do with being held down by something like that, or being censored," Hughes told The Kevin and Josh Movie Show. Hughes went on to say he was only directing the first film; there is a second, live-action Akira movie planned. He also said the movie is not yet in production.
Akira is a classic anime based on the manga of the same name by Katsuhiro Otomo. The movie saw a limited theatrical release in America but, along with colorized reprints by Marvel Comics subsidiary, Epic, Akira almost single-handedly jump-started America's obsession with manga and anime. That movement largely hit its zenith in the 1990s.
Not Sarah Silverman. Give-up? It's none other than Robin Williams, who told Empire Magazine that he would love to work with Chris Nolan again "Playing anyone in anything." Williams and Nolan worked together on Insomnia, in which Williams played a creepy, villainous-type quite well. He is, after all, a Juilliard graduate. But does that mean he'd make a good Riddler?
Williams says he's "a little hairy for tights," and though Batman 3 is expected in 2012, The Riddler has not been confirmed as the villain. But Robin Williams told Empire, "I could be a great character - or some weird little man in the background in Arkham Asylum."
Williams also talked about his history with the Batman franchise, noting that he was set to be the Joker before it went to Jack Nicholson, then got passed-over for The Riddler when it went to Jim Carrey. "Don't pump me again, motherfuckers!"
In the anniversary 600th issue of her titular series, new writer, J. Michael Straczynski has given Wonder Woman a new design. Straczynski told the New York Times that changing her outfit was his first priority when taking over the book. "She's been locked into pretty much the exact same outfit since her debut in 1941." He said it was time to bring her into the 21st-Century.
Wonder Woman#600 is on-sale at comic book stores today.
Larry King says, "It's time to hang-up my nightly suspenders." After 25 years, Larry King is ending his CNN talk show. Though critics often accused him of being ill-prepared and, more recently, disconnected from the mainstream, the other side of the talk show host's desk remained a coveted spot. But King's ratings have continued to slip over the years. However, King says he felt no pressure from CNN to vacate those famous suspenders, and he will continue to do specials for the network.
The 76-year old radio veteran said, if it were up to him, Ryan Seacrest would replace him, but the rumor-mill has suggested Piers Morgan and Katie Couric. A CNN spokesperson said there wouldn't necessarily be a replacement host or interview show.
75-year-old I Dream of Jeannie star, Barbara Eden, says she's "it's time to pop the cork." Her autobiography will be released by Crown Archetype, a subsidiary of Random House, next spring. Eden starred opposite Larry Hagman and Bill Daily in the 1960's sit-com. Eden and Daily both reprised their roles in made-for-TV movies based on I Dream of Jeannie in 1985 and 1991. An I Dream of Jeannie movie is set for release in 2012.
Michael Fassbender has been confirmed as Magneto in the upcoming reboot of the X-Men movie franchise, X-Men: First Class. Fassbender also appeared in the comics-based bomb, Jonah Hex, and is reported to have turned-down a villainous role in the upcoming Spider-Man movie franchise reboot for Magneto.
Alice Eve is also said to have turned-down another Marvel Comics movie role for Emma Frost, formerly the White Queen of the Hellfire Club and now Cyclops' love; Eve is said to have been in the running for the love interest in Captain America.
X-Men: First Class hits theaters on June 3rd, 2011.
Megan Fox says she would love to star in a remake of the 1987 horror/comedy classic, Lost Boys, but admits she would hate to see it remade at all. The original starred a bevy of then up-and-coming actors, including Keifer Sutherland and Jason Patric, as well as the Coreys. It was to become the late Corey Haim's best-known role.
Fox says the female character, played by Jami Gertz, "is not really amazing," but says if one of the male leads were changed to a female, she would be interested. However, she goes on to say a remake would "destroy" the original. While I, and I figure pretty much everyone else, agree that a remake is unnecessary and could never do the original Lost Boys justice, I disagree that "Star," the female lead, was "not really amazing." She also got a lot more screen-time than some of the lesser male leads.
Corey Feldman starred in an incredibly poor, direct-to-DVD, sequel entitled Lost Boys 2: The Tribe, which was released in 2008 to deservedly poor reviews -- even Feldman admits "They couldn't get it right." However, he is excited about the second sequel, Lost Boys 3: The Thirst, which is in production and includes deleted scenes featuring Corey Haim. "Corey wasn’t able, at that point in his life, to deliver what we needed," Feldman said. Lost Boys 3: The Thirst, also direct-to-DVD, will be released later this year.
Here is the Rundown on Marvel Comics shipping June 30th, 2010. Check back each week for the complete list!
Comics On-Sale: AGE OF HEROES #1 2ND PRINTING VARIANT (HA) AMAZING SPIDER-MAN PRESENTS: AMERICAN SON #2 ASTONISHING X-MEN #34 ASTONISHING X-MEN #34 DEADPOOL VARIANT CAPTAIN AMERICA #607 (HA) CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE 1940S NEWSPAPER STRIP #1 DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #892 DEADPOOL: WADE WILSON'S WAR #2 DEATH OF DRACULA #1 DOOMWAR #5 HERALDS #5 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN ANNUAL #1 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN ANNUAL #1 IRON MAN BY DESIGN 2.0 VARIANT IRON MAN: EXTREMIS DIRECTOR'S CUT #4 IRON MAN: KISS AND KILL #1 MARVEL ZOMBIES 5 #4 NEW AVENGERS: LUKE CAGE #3 NEW MUTANTS #12 3RD PRINTING VARIANT (XSC) SECRET AVENGERS #2 DEODATO COVER (HA) SECRET AVENGERS #2 DEODATO VARIANT (HA) SKY DOLL SPACE SHIP #32 SPIDER-HAM 25TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1 THE THANOS IMPERATIVE: IGNITION #1 2ND PRINTING VARIANT THOR #611 (HA) UNCANNY X-MEN #523 3RD PRINTING VARIANT (XSC) X-CAMPUS #1 X-CAMPUS #1 MEDRI VARIANT X-FORCE #26 3RD PRINTING VARIANT (XSC) X-FORCE #27 2ND PRINTING VARIANT (XSC) X-MEN FOREVER 2 #2 X-MEN LEGACY #235 3RD PRINTING VARIANT (XSC) X-MEN: CURSE OF THE MUTANTS SAGA X-MEN: SECOND COMING #1 3RD PRINTING VARIANT
Collections On-Sale: DEADPOOL CORPS PRELUDE PREMIERE HC FANTASTIC FOUR BY JONATHAN HICKMAN VOL. 2 PREMIERE HC MARVEL MASTERWORKS: ATLAS ERA STRANGE TALES VOL. 3 HC MARVEL MASTERWORKS: ATLAS ERA STRANGE TALES VOL. 3 HC VARIANT (DM ONLY) MARVEL MASTERWORKS: DAREDEVIL VOL. 1 TPB MARVEL MASTERWORKS: DAREDEVIL VOL. 1 TPB VARIANT (DM ONLY) SECRET WARRIORS VOL. 2: GOD OF FEAR, GOD OF WAR TPB SPIDER-MAN: JACKPOT TPB THE LIST TPB TOMB OF DRACULA VOL. 1 TPB ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS: NEXT GENERATION PREMIERE HC ULTIMATES ULTIMATE COLLECTION TPB X-NECROSHA HC
*HA = Heroic Age tie-in *WWHS = World War Hulks tie-in *XSC = X-Men: Second Coming tie-in
Nicolas Hayek, the creator of the once popular Swatch, died of a heart attack yesterday at age 82. Swatches became extremely popular, particularly among teens and kids, in America in the 1980s. What is not as well-known is that Hayek is credited with actually saving the Swiss watch-making industry, after he was hired to dismantle it!
"Mr. Swatch," as Nicolas Hayek was called, introduced a number of cost-effective shortcuts and established the Swatch brand, which became a worldwide phenomenon. He also instructed existing firms to begin making less expensive models and charge higher prices for "premium" Swiss-made timepieces, as opposed to refusing to make less expensive pieces altogether. He also helped develop the Smart car, now made by a division of DaimlerChrysler AG, saying a city car needed only enough room "for two big adults and a crate of beer." Hayek was a vocal critic of the largest Swiss banks, citing their irresponsibility as a threat to the health of the Swiss economy.
Hayek founded the consultation firm which also worked with/for Nestle and U.S. Steel, among others. He became one of the richest men in Switzerland and retired in 2003. His son succeeded him.
Hayek was known to wear as many as four watches at a time, and publicly declared his love for timepieces many quotable times throughout his life and career.
Monday, June 28, 2010
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4:20 PM
Posted by
ManoDogs
A&E's reality TV series, Female Forces, which follows female police officers in Naperville, Illinois, has generated yet another lawsuit for the channel. A man claims he was humiliated when his arrest for driving on suspended license appeared on an episode, even though he refused to sign a release. Matt Coan says the footage was staged and edited in such a way as to demean him.
A judge just threw-out a suit brought by a prisoner who claimed A&E's Gangland defamed him and put his life in danger when it covered a jailhouse fight between him and another prisoner. A reality production company has filed suit against the network over Steven Seagal: Lawman, which it claims A&E stole. The show is not now in production, due to claims that Seagal sexually harassed a woman. A few years back, a man sued when his capture was shown on Dog the Bounty Hunter, even though is turned out he was the wrong guy. He also claimed he did not sign a waiver.
Last month, A&E became involved in a dispute over a 7-year-old girl's death at the hands of the Detroit police, who deny any wrongdoing. The tragedy occurred while A&E's First 48 was filming.
A lot of people weer counting on Knight and Day to bring in the big bucks, but it clunked into the box office's #3 position with a take of only $20 million. To be fair, Knight and Day opened with about the same take as Cruise's last movie, Valkyrie -- actually, five of the last 10 Cruise releases opened in the $20m range -- and Toy Story 3 maintained its reign, but Knight and Day did not do anywhere near as well as many had hoped.
Fox isn't giving-up on it though, nor are they giving up on Cruise. The $100+ million summer blockbuster may have bombed on its opening weekend, but it still has a long way to go -- Valkyrie wound-up a sound moneymaker. "It's a marathon, not a sprint," Chris Aronson, a Fox studio executive, told E!.
The last Tom Cruise film to hit $100m domestically was Mission: Impossible III. Cruise leapt up and down on Oprah Winfrey's couch that year. "I think Tom Cruise is still the guy," Aronson said.
Ray Bradbury's classic The Martian Chronicles, an anthology of short stories regarding the colonization of Mars, may be headed for the big screen under the FOX banner. The L.A. Times reports that producer, John Davis (Predators; I, Robot), bought the rights to the 1950 classic.
The Martian Chronicles is a collection of loosely-connected stories about Man's fleeing an atomically destroyed Earth to Mars. Many of the tales of the Red Planet's colonization, told from both humans' and martians' point-of-view, occur in 2000 and 2005. A TV adaptation, starring Rock Hudson and Bernadette Peters, was made in the 1980s.
Many are saying FOX is looking to give The Martian Chronicles the Avatar treatment, in hopes that it will prove a cash cow. There is certainly enough source material for a franchise, though I have a feeling The Martian Chronicles might be better-served as a TV series. Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 and The Illustrated Man are also in development.
Marvel Studios has hired 2011 Conan scribes, Thomas Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer, to pen a treatment of Dr. Strange for the big screen. The pair also wrote an early draft of Cowboys & Aliens, and Oppenheimer received thanks in the Mallrats credits.
A Dr. Strange movie has been in the pipeline for years now, with everyone from Wes Craven to Guillermo del Toro attached to various incarnations of the project, but it has stalled every time. Following the news of Marvel's hiring, Grey's Anatomy star, Patrick Dempsey, has reportedly expressed interest in the role -- we already know Dempsey does a pretty good job of portraying a doctor, and this artwork by Arne Starr shows just how much he looks the part, but no casting has been announced or confirmed yet. With a tentative 2012 release date, it appears that Dr. Strange may be the first Marvel movie released under the Disney banner.
Joss Whedon returns to his signature series to write the final, climactic arc of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8. "Last Gleaming" begins September 1st in issue #36. Whedon is writing the entire, five issue run, with Georges Jeanty handling the art. As you may have guessed from the cover, Spike returns to Sunnydale (while simultaneously appearing in his own mini-series from IDW -- The Devil You Know)!
Given the success of Buffy the Vampire: Season 8, I assume there is going to be a Season 9, but Dark Horse is keeping mum on the matter for now. I admit I haven't been reading the series even though I've been collecting it, but that's because I'm still on season five of the TV show; I started collecting about midway into the series and tried reading it, but was completely lost -- then I tripped over a spoiler and decided I needed to watch the rest of the series before I pick up another issue. Still, I've flipped through several of them and I'm literally beside myself, trying to finish-up the series so I can get to the comic!
I have no way of knowing for sure, but they damn well better have some more Buffy headed our way! In the meantime, there is the aforementioned Spike series, as well as IDW's Angel. Still, none of these cats would have their own titles, were it not for little Miss Summers, and we need our Buffy!
Valerie Bertinelli and Australian talk show host, Rove McManus, reportedly filmed a talk show pilot for CBS. CBS is reviewing several possible shows to take over the vacant timeslot As the World Turns will leave behind this September, and Bertinelli's Say It Now (working title) is only one of them. Other contenders include revamped versions of Password and Pyramid, and a View-style talk show featuring Leah Remini, Holly Robinson-Peete, Julie Chen, and Sharon Osbourne.
Valerie Bertinelli currently stars in TV Land's Hot in Cleveland, the pilot for which drew the largest audience TV Land has ever seen, setting the record at 4.8 million viewers. She is engaged to boyfriend, Tom Vitale, whose recent proposal to the former One Day at a Time star made headlines. Both have been married before; Bertinelli was married to rock star, Eddie Van Halen, for 20 years and has one son. Valerie Bertinelli recently turned 50.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
at
6:00 PM
Posted by
ManoDogs
We rarely cover sports-related events here, because I know few of you, like myself, are all that interested in sports, but I wanted to share this story because it has to do with Americans' standing abroad. Maybe.
Greg Couch wonder aloud why it is that Serena Williams, arguably the best tennis player in the game today, is not playing center court where the Queen will be watching. Williams has been moved to a court farther out, where the Queen will not be able to see her, and Couch thinks that a "disservice."
In his article, Couch wonders first if race has anything to do with it, but dismisses the notion (rightly so, I would think), and settles on Serena Williams' profanity-laden outburst at Wimbledon last year. He then points-out that the BBC network admitted that looks factor into deciding who plays center court, which is why some virtual unknowns have played there the last few years. But it's not like the Williams are ugly!
We can't really fault the English for wanting to showcase homegrown talent, and I truly doubt race played any part in this decision, whatsoever, but it does reek of yet another American snub from the Europeans. Yes, I have frequently opined that we do, by and large, deserve some amount of the disdain we are often shown around the world, but in this case, Serena Williams, who was busy practicing her curtsy when she spoke to Couch for his article, does not deserve to be snubbed.
Nor does the Queen. While I'm sure she's there more for appearance than her love for the game, shouldn't she see the best the world has to offer? Shouldn't Wimbledon officials be more concerned with entertaining Her Majesty than they are in punishing the foul-mouthed American? What is really going on here?
Berkeley, CA - 24 June 2010 - Image Comics is thrilled to announce that Jonathan and Joshua Luna, creators of THE SWORD, will appear at the ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition on Saturday, June 26th, 2010 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
Image Comics is exhibiting with Diamond Book Distributors, booth #2453. The Luna Brothers will be at the booth for an exclusive signing from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Complimentary copies of THE SWORD, VOL. 1: FIRE trade paperback will be available during the signing. Image will also distribute copies of various Image Firsts titles throughout the convention.
The Luna Brothers are the creators of ULTRA, GIRLS, and THE SWORD (all Image Comics). Their works also include SPIDER-WOMAN: ORIGIN (Marvel Comics), written by Brian Michael Bendis and Brian Reed. The Luna Brothers were born in California and spent most of their childhood overseas. They returned to the United States in their late teens. Writing and drawing comics since they were children, they both graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with BFAs in Sequential Art.
Don't miss The Luna Brothers during their one-day-only appearance at ALA on Saturday, June 26, 2010 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (801 Mount Vernon Place NW, Washington, D.C. 20001).
In celebration of Superman's 700th issue, DC Comics has put together a unique essay contest, the winners of which will be visited by Superman as he walks across the country, visiting cities and towns along the way. Your town will also be featured in an upcoming issue of Superman during the "Grounded" storyline by J. Michael Straczynski.
To enter, simply write a 75-1000 word essay on why Superman should visit your hometown. Your hometown must be within 50 miles of Superman's trail (following) to be eligible for the contest, and entries must be received by 10:59pm, CST (11:59p, EST).
CHICAGO DES MOINES OMAHA DENVER SALT LAKE CITY LAS VEGAS LOS ANGELES PORTLAND SEATTLE
If you are eligible, send your entry to:
Alex Segura c/o THE SOURCE blog DC COMICS 1700 Broadway, 5th floor New York, NY 10019
Superman's walk begins in Philadelphia. Along the way, he will pass through Illinois, Nebraska, Colorado, and more. For more information, see DC's official blog, The Source.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
at
4:30 PM
Posted by
ManoDogs
You might not know her name, but Noel Neill has been in just about every motion picture featuring Superman since 1950. Neill portrayed Lois Lane in serials, shorts, and movies, but she is best known as Lois Lane from the 1953-1958 half-hour TV show, Adventures of Superman, starring George Reeves. Last Friday, a 9' tall statue of Ms. Neill was unveiled in Metropolis, Illinois.
The mayor called Noel Neill "a living legend." The statue, and area on which it sets, cost $65,000 and was paid for by donations. The 90-year-old Neill last appeared in 2006's Superman Returns. Sculptor Gary Smith also created the Man of Steel display in Superman Square.
The self-proclaimed "Home of Superman," Metropolis, IL also hosts The Super Museum, voted one of the top ten attractions in the state.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a consumer advocacy group out of Washington, DC, has threatened to file suit against McDonald's, alleging the fast food chain is "unfairly and deceptively" targeting children by including a free toy with each Happy Meal. The executive director of the CSPI, Michael Jacobson, likened McDonald's Happy Meal business model to that of a door-to-door salesman who calls on the family everyday and asks to speak privately with the children. Not surprisingly, some consider the Center for Science in the Public Interest an extremist group.
This is not the first time the CSPI has targeted the popular fast-food franchise: In 2004, the group took-out a full-page ad in the New York Times, urging McDonald's and other American chain restaurants to switch to trans-free cooking oils. Though the ad mentions several restaurants, the headline reads, "A Broken McPromise." The flagrant ad shows a heart attack victim receiving CPR. In 2009, CSPI filed a class-action suit against Coca-Cola for making fraudulent claims regarding Vitaminwater, a "health" drink.
It is important to note that the Center for Science in the Public Interest is, despite the name, not a scientific organization. The organization's ostentatious ad campaigns, controversial statements, and numerous lawsuits, have lead many - as noted above - to question the group's tactics, integrity, and actual agenda. But the CSPI insists it is only trying to cast a light on these large corporations' brazen sales and marketing tactics.
Here we go, guys and gals, it's your weekly Rundown of Marvel Comics landing in stores today, June 23rd, 2010:
Comics On-Sale: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #635 FYLES COVER AVENGERS #2 (HA) AVENGERS #2 IRON MAN BY DESIGN 2.0 VARIANT (HA) AVENGERS #2 JRJR CHARACTER VARIANT (HA) DAREDEVIL MGC #26 DRACULA #2 FANTASTIC FOUR #580 (HA) FRANKEN-CASTLE #18 HERALDS #4 HULK #23 (WWHS) HULK #23 KUBERT VARIANT (WWHS) HUSK #2 IRON MAN LEGACY #3 IRON MAN LEGACY #3 IRON MAN BY DESIGN 2.0 VARIANT MARVEL PREVIEWS #83 GATEFOLD COVER NAMORA #1 NAMORA #1 FRADON VARIANT PETER PARKER #4 (MDCU) POWERS #5 S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 3RD PRINTING VARIANT SECRET WARRIORS #17 (HA) SENSE & SENSIBILITY #2 SPIDER-MAN #3 THUNDERBOLTS #145 (HA) ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS 2 #4 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #49 WOLVERINE WEAPON X #14 X-FACTOR #206 X-MEN LEGACY #237 (XSC) X-MEN LEGACY #237 FINCH VARIANT (XSC)
Collections On-Sale: ANITA BLAKE, VAMPIRE HUNTER: THE LAUGHING CORPSE BOOK 2 - NECROMANCER TPB ASTONISHING X-MEN: GIFTED GN-HC WITH MOTION COMIC DVD DEADPOOL & CABLE ULTIMATE COLLECTION BOOK 2 TPB ESSENTIAL CAPTAIN AMERICA VOL. 5 TPB HALO GRAPHIC NOVEL TPB MARVELS: EYE OF THE CAMERA PREMIERE HC NOVA VOL. 6: REALM OF KINGS TPB SPIDER-MAN & THE SECRET WARS GN-TPB X-MEN NOIR: MARK OF CAIN PREMIERE HC X-MEN: S.W.O.R.D. - NO TIME TO BREATHE TPB
Posters On-Sale: DEADPOOL CORPS BY JOHNSON POSTER
*HA = Heroic Age tie-in *WWHS = World War Hulks tie-in *XSC = X-Men: Second Coming tie-in
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
at
5:15 PM
Posted by
ManoDogs
The star of Mallrats, Chasing Amy, and at least a dozen other movies (not all of which involved Kevin Smith), Jason Lee is best known as Earl from the sit-com My Name is Earl. Now, Jason Lee is walking the Memphis Beat on Conan O'Brien's new network, TNT.
Lee says he originally turned down the role because he considered it too much of a workload -- his character, Dwight Hendricks, is far more complex than simpleton, Earl Hickey. The show is also shot on video (as opposed to film), which Lee -- a self-professed photographer who swears he will never go digital - originally opposed, though he now admits he likes the way the production team is handling the medium. Despite its name, Memphis Beat is shot in New Orleans, but Lee said, "You got to have Dwight and Whitehead walking down Beale Street in Memphis, so we're going to sneak-up to Memphis as often as possible to shoot the real stuff."
Memphis Beat premieres tonight on TNT and you can find a sneak-peek, along with behind-the-scenes footage, and more, on the Memphis Beat website. TNT carries full episodes of many of the shows they run on their website, but it does not say whether or not it will carry full episodes of Memphis Beat.
Wendy's fast food chain pulled a disco-themed karaoke CD featuring Donna Summer's hit, "Last Dance," from Kids' Meals, due to Internet rumors which claim the lyric, "I'm so horny," allegedly included in the song, is inappropriate for such young customers (ages 3 and up). The problem is, the lyric isn't actually in the song, according to Donna Summers and others!
It is uncertain if incorrect versions of the lyrics found online started this problem, or if listeners incorrectly interpreted the lyrics on their own, but however the rumors began, they grew loud enough to convince Wendy's to pull the CD from their Kids' Meals. Wendy's spokesperson, Denny Lynch, later claimed, "There are two versions of the song and [Universal/Wendy's] picked the wrong one."
However, Summers herself said there is only one version of the song and all of the allegations surrounding "Last Dance" are "completely false." In the same bulletin, she alluded to defamation, a legal term, but did not threaten to take legal action regarding this dispute.
Many reports say listeners can clearly hear that Summers changed the lyric in the fourth refrain of the chorus in question, but what, exactly, she says is impossible to determine, due to the quality of the recording.
Berkeley, CA - 17 June 2010 - In September, you'll be able to explore the mutable landscapes of LIQUID CITY, VOL. 2, an anthology collecting work from celebrated Southeast Asian creators. Editor, Sonny Liew, promises unforgettable tales of cities and the people who live in them.
LIQUID CITY, VOL. 2 once again brings together creators from Southeast Asia to offer an amazing diversity of stories. From Lat's vignette of a soccer game in Malaysia; to Ivan Song's poignant, near-future tale of childhood memories; to Vietnamese artist, Nguyen Thahn Phong's, account of his adventures in South Korea, this collection showcases an incredible variety of styles and genres. War, fantasy, drama, road trips, and Robot Rabbits -- you'll find it all and more in LIQUID CITY, VOL. 2.
"The name itself -- LIQUID CITY -- is meant to suggest the fluidity and ever-changing nature of cities," relates Liew. "The second volume of LIQUID CITY features both established creators, as well as new voices, offering a fascinating glimpse of the exciting work in comics coming out of Southeast Asia."
LIQUID CITY, VOL. 2, a 312-page, full-color trade paperback from Image Comics, will be on sale for $29.99 on September 29th, 2010.
Monday, June 21, 2010
at
5:15 PM
Posted by
ManoDogs
Around 3am Sunday morning (that's really late Saturday night to most of us), Amanda Bynes tweeted "I don't love acting anymore so I've stopped doing it." Bynes has starred in two TV series since she was 13, appeared in numerous movies, and also found mild success with a singing career, but she says "Being an actress isn't as fun as it may seem."
The (now) former actress has said little else regarding her late-night/early morning weekend revelation and her representative had no comment.
Although the third season of True Blood is just now getting underway, HBO has confirmed that True Blood has been picked-up for a fourth season. The sexy horror series -- featuring vampires and sex, and werewolves and sex, and witches and sex, and vampires and sex (thinking - don't want to leave anything out) and... sex -- is also getting underway in sequential art form, with the release of IDW's 6-issue miniseries, True Blood. The first issue streets next month.
Insiders say there will be two, big "sex shockers" in this week's upcoming episode, but they are just setting the stage for the many more to come this season. This Sunday's episode is the third from the third season, which just got underway. True Blood airs Sundays on HBO; the six-issue miniseries from IDW begins in July.
Avi Arad, executive adviser at Namco Bandai is looking to bring 1980's pop-culture icon and original arcade sensation, Pac-Man, back to TV -- in 3-D. Arad showed a 3-minute teaser at the 2010 E3 and told listeners the new version would be aimed at a different age-group than the classic cartoon, which ran on ABC from 1982-1984.
The new incarnation finds a 3-D Pac in highschool, where he deals with a host of problems normal teenagers face everyday. Such issues may include getting to the bottom of why Pac-Man is "the only yellow one in Pac-Land. What does that mean," Arad asked, "Is it a social statement?"
As a larger theme, Pac is locked in battle with a series of ghosts that are trying to take over Pac-Land. He must rely on family and friends, including Pinky, Inky, Blinky, and Clyde - the original four menaces from the classic arcade game.
The coroner who examined Ted Koppel's son says Andrew Koppel died from acute intoxication, due to a fatal combination of drugs and alcohol, including heroin, Valium, cocaine, and Levamisole, a drug used to cut other drugs to weaken their effects and generate more product.
Andrew Koppel spent May 31st bar-hopping with someone he met the same day. He was dropped-off at a friend's apartment to "sleep it off." The friends say they checked on him once and heard him snoring, but when they tried to awaken him later, he was unresponsive. Medics estimate Andrew Koppel had been dead about four hours before he was discovered.
Friday, June 18, 2010
at
9:45 PM
Posted by
ManoDogs
I apologize for the late-night post, but I just learned that Sir Paul McCartney (that's right, he was knighted in 1996) turns 68 today! Though The Beatles were an English band, "Beatlemania" swept the U.S. in 1964 the way it had the U.K. a year earlier. With historic appearances on TV, including The Ed Sullivan Show, The Beatles cemented their position in pop-culture and music history.
McCartney continues to write and perform, and make the occasional TV appearance. Guinness World Records lists him as the most successful songwriter in pop music history. He is currently working on a ballet.
Mallrats star, Jeremy London, says he fell victim to two men with a gun who forced him to party with them. London claims he was forced to smoke crack, buy booze, and hand-out alcohol to people in a known gang area in Palm Springs, over a five-hour period during which he was held "hostage."
A 26-year-old man named Brandon Adams, aka "Smiley," was arrested and is pleading "not guilty" to a host of charges, including kidnapping. Friends of Adams say he definitely "parties," but stopped short of saying he had a drug problem. They also claim that Adams and London used to do drugs together; while Brandon Adams may have hung-out with London, smoked crack with London, and bought booze and handed it out to gangbangers with London, these sources insist he would not do so while pointing a gun at the actor.
London's own family has expressed their concern for him. His twin brother, Jason, told E! "He's lost. You're 40, grow up! Learn from the mistakes you've made." Jeremy London's sister died in a car wreck when she was only 16. His mother said, "I don't want to bury another child."
Here's what Jeremy London wants us to believe:
Two men stopped under the pretense of helping him change the tire on his car, then one of them - Brandon Adams - casually pulled a gun, or - at the very least - made it know that he had a firearm, then asked the actor to drive them around Palm Springs. During the five-hour ordeal, the two men scored some crack, and Jeremy London - intimidated by the weapon and pressured by the situation, smoked-up because he was trying to appease his alleged kidnappers - and, quite possibly, because he figured, "These guys might shoot me, so... WTF?" They then had London buy booze and hand it out to gangbangers (who most likely had crack). At some point, one of the men took his car, and London was able to escape.
Here's what almost certainly happened:
Brandon Adams and another guy saw London broke-down on the highway and Adams said, "Hey! I know that guy - he parties! Pull over." The three then fixed London's tire and headed-out to party. London observed, "This is a rough area - I dunno about this," at which point Adams indicated he had a gun. London probably was a little intimidated, but went along for the ride. They went to where some guys Adams knows hang-out and scored some dope off them, the got high. London asked if they wanted a hit, and one of the dudes who supplied him with the rock said, "Man, I don't smoke that shit. I could go for a foty, though! Shee-it..." So the threesome went and got some booze, came back, and supplied the dealers with it. At some point, the dudes they were with ran out of dope, so Adams said he could score somewhere else, but London couldn't go because they don't know him, so Jeremy London - who also appeared in Party of Five - let Brandon Adams drive his car, ostensibly to get more crack, and when Adams hadn't returned three or four hours later, London reported his car stolen. Cuz that's what crackheads do; it's one of the oldest tricks in the book.
The Rundown will continue to follow this story as Dr. Drew is about to get involved (mark my words!).
Marvel Knights Animation is proud to announce Black Panther: Who Is The Black Panther?, an all new series debuting on iTunes, Xbox LIVE, Microsoft Zune, and PlayStation®Network on June 23rd. Black Panther: Who is the Black Panther? is a 12-episode series in weekly installments.
Inspired by the acclaimed graphic novel from respected filmmaker/producer Reginald Hudlin and legendary comic book artist John Romita Jr, Black Panther: Who Is The Black Panther? introduces viewers to the Black Panther, the warrior king of Wakanda, a technologically advanced nation in the heart of Africa. As outside forces conspire to plunder this proud nation, the Black Panther faces his greatest threats as he meets Klaw, the man who murdered his father.
“The positive response to news of the show have been so overwhelming, it's great to finally make the Black Panther series available to everyone,” said Hudlin. “Audiences get caught-up on many levels – seeing John Romita Jr’s art come to life, the quality of the voice work by an award winning cast, the boldness of the politics, the music and humor. But see it for yourself!”
Romita Jr added, "The reaction by any person, upon viewing footage of a black panther, is universal: Awe. There is no more elegant a creature on the face of the planet. The creation of the character by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, in a turbulent political time, maintained that quality. Reggie Hudlin's updated version follows that and adds an amazing, cinematic flair to it. In my opinion, reading - and now viewing - the Black Panther series is akin to witnessing a panther in person. Enjoy the elegance of the story, the elegance of the actors, their voices, their words, and... the imagery."
This exciting series also features the voices of major celebrities, including Academy Award-nominee Djimon Hounsou as Black Panther, Jill Scott as Storm, Kerry Washington as Princess Shuri, Alfre Woodard as both Dondi Reese and Queen Mother, Carl Lumbly as Uncle S’Yan, and comics legend, Stan Lee, in a special role.
You can learn more by clicking on the image above.
The coach of a women's softball team in Memphis, TN claims the Bellevue Baptist Church threw her team out of their league when they discovered she is a homosexual. Jana Jacobson said the officials from the Bellevue Baptist Church barred her team from playing because she leads a "deviant lifestyle."
Jacobson says both straight and gay athletes comprise her softball team, and they registered, paid the fees, and attended an orientation (ha!). Bellevue Baptist Church officials later called her for another meeting in which her sexuality was questioned. When she admitted she was gay, she was told her team would not be allowed to play in the Memphis, TN church league.
A Bellevue Baptist Church spokesperson refused to comment on the matter with a reporter from USA Today.
Berkeley, CA - 16 June 2010 - Forget waiting in line for the next game system -- get in line for Ryan Kinnaird's NEXT GEN WARZ, a hilariously satirical take on anthropomorphic video game systems! The first issue of the miniseries from Image Comics hits stands September 22.
"Next Gen Warz is a fun and satirical look at the world of video games," says Kinnaird. "From those who play them, to those who create them, to those who make the machines the games are played on."
In NEXT GEN WARZ, writer/artist Kinnaird (X-Men: Phoenix - Legacy of Fire, PSM) pens a titillating comedic tale. A hardcore gamer replaces his broken console while it is in the repair shop. When he brings home his repaired console to meet his new console, the female-embodied video game consoles battle for supremacy. The greatest conflict for disposable income begins!
NEXT GEN WARZ #1 (of 2), a 32-page, full-color comic book for $3.99, will be in stores on September 22nd, 2010.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
at
5:24 PM
Posted by
ManoDogs
So it looked like it was going to storm and I needed to get the mail. I hopped on the bike and, about halfway to the mailbox, the wind picked-up - really picked-up! So I get the mail and I'm headed back to the house when something behind me goes POP!
No more than five feet in front of me, a live electrical wire falls and falls and falls and coils together. I, on the bike with mail in-hand, mouth agape, am wondering WTF I'm supposed to do - can I walk over the wire, or will the electricity arc out and light me up? I don't need to ride over the wire, especially since the bike is all metal and shit, so do I leave the bike there? Is the phone dead? Can I even get to my house?
Well, I waited for a moment and listened, but heard no hum or crackle, and the wire wasn't moving, so I carefully stepped over the middle of it, as far away from the end of it as I could find, then called the electric company. They just left.
Berkeley, CA - 15 June 2010 - In September, Image Comics brings you fantasy as you like it -- hilarious and action packed -- with SKULLKICKERS, an all-new ongoing series. Written by Jim Zubkavich, with art by Edwin Huang, Chris Stevens, and Misty Coats, SKULLKICKERS promises to turn any fantasy motif on its head.
SKULLKICKERS is fantasy action-comedy. Two mercenaries are entangled in a high-class assassination plot and nothing -- not werewolves, skeletons, or black magic -- will stop them from getting paid! If you love tabletop fantasy RPG, buddy stories involving a big guy and a dwarf, or movies like ARMY OF DARKNESS, SKULLKICKERS is the book for you!
SKULLKICKERS #1, a 32-page, full-color comic book for $2.99, will be in stores September 22nd, 2010. Readers can get a taste of Skullkickers in POPGUN, VOL. 2 (MAY082176) and POPGUN, VOL. 3 (JAN092368).
DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer, Geoff Johns, revealed test footage for a Blue Beetle TV series on his blog. The short clip will be played at the San Diego Comic-Con, and in as many DCU panels as possible, so they can judge a reaction to the footage. The scene being shown is a transformation sequence. With Smallville set to end next season, Blue Beetle could be the next small-screen DC star.
Police have arrested two men in conjunction with Mallrats star, Jeremy London's, kidnapping earlier this month. The two men stopped to help London change a flat tire, then pulled a gun and carjacked him. London says the men forced him to accompany them for some five hours, during which time they forced him to smoke dope and purchase booze to hand-out to people in a known gang area in Palm Springs.
Jeremy London recently did a tour in rehab for an addiction to prescription painkillers.
Cole MacGrath, the ordinary guy caught up in extraordinary circumstances, is getting a second inFAMOUS game thanks to series creator, Sucker Punch Productions.
Unlike the first entry in the series, where he was learning the ropes, Cole starts out as a super-powered force to be reckoned with in inFAMOUS 2. His electrical abilities get more and more powerful as the game goes on, but it doesn't stop there this time! In the new trailer, he is seen altering the temperature of the environment, and even producing ice. The extent of his new abilities are unknown, but Sucker Punch's Ken Schramm stated, "Cole is the electric man. You're not going to be the ice man."
Not only have his appearance and abilities changed, the setting has too. Cole will be traveling to America's deep-south town, New Marais, based on the real southern town of New Orleans.
inFAMOUS 2, a PS3 exclusive, arrives this holiday season.
Berkeley, CA - 15 June 2010 - Half man, half dog and all hero, Science Dog gets his first collection in SCIENCE DOG SPECIAL #1, coming this September from Image Comics. He's INVINCIBLE's favorite comic book character. Soon, he'll be yours as well!
"In the INVINCIBLE universe, Science Dog is a superstar -- comic books, movies, action figures -- the works," says writer, Robert Kirkman. "This is a step toward making him the superstar he should be in our universe!"
"It's exciting to finally see Science Dog in his own book," adds artist Cory Walker. "The character is front and center in SCIENCE DOG SPECIAL #1, where he belongs."
SCIENCE DOG SPECIAL #1 collects the never before reprinted Science Dog back-up stories from INVINCIBLE #25 and #50. This story leads right into the senses-shattering back-up story contained within INVINCIBLE #75. If you're only reading INVINCIBLE in collected form, this is what you've been missing! Don't miss out a second time!
SCIENCE DOG SPECIAL #1, a 32-page, full-color, comic book collecting the Science Dog backup stories from INVINCIBLE #25 and #50, will be available for $3.50 on September 1, 2010.
