Danai Guriri as Michone in The Walking Dead courtesy AMC
I had a thought about Black History Month and zombie fiction. Books and movies about the undead are horrific escapism but serve as social commentaries reflecting the times in which they are created. If you want to find groundbreaking actors and characters of all colors look in the fictional fights against the undead.
George Romero’s classic Night of the Living Dead filmed in stark black and white arrived in 1968 and reflected the horrors of the Vietnam war and racial unrest in the United States. Romero made an African-American man the hero of his film. Duane Jones played Ben, one of five people trapped in a farmhouse as the undead rise and attack. This was 1968. A black man portrayed as the hero and doing such things Continue reading Black History Month and Zombies?
Like Bruce Banner transforming into the Hulk, Emerald City Comicon is getting bigger! The Seattle celebration of comic books, science fiction and gaming takes over the entire Washington State Convention Center this year giving eager fans more celebrities, more panels and more everything!
Sci-Fi legends Sir Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: The Next Generation, X-Men) Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) Walter Koeing (Star Trek) Billy Dee Williams (Star Wars) and Christopher LLoyd (Back to the Future, Star Trek: The Search for Spock) will shine for adoring fans in panels, photograph and autograph sessions where they could how about a real life space traveler? Astronaut Clayton “Clay” Anderson will be appearing in the ECCC Kids! area.
Adam West as Batman, courtesy Emerald City Comicon
Pop Culture Icons Adam West and Burt Ward (Television’s Batman and Robin) are sure to inspire huge lines. Television’s Dynamic Duo will appear at a screening of the Batman film at Seattle’s Cinerama on Thursday night before the con begins and the Mayor will declare Mayor Adam West Day in Seattle in honor of the Walla Walla, Washington native.
The Walking Dead is killing it on television! Stars of the zombie comic book turned smash series Danai Gurira (Michonne) and Michael Rooker (Merle Dixon) will face the hordes of fanatic fans. The Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard will be appearing too. True Blood star Kristin Bauer, Dirk Benedict of Battlestar Galactica, Michael Shanks of Stargate and Misha Collins of Supernatural are among many other television actors shining for the fans.
Uncanny X-Men #135 cover courtesy Marvel.com. Art by John Byrne
Along with the stellar roster of celebrities folks can meet comic book legends who have made uncanny impacts on the heroes we see on the big screen. I’m most excited to meet Chris Claremont, writer of the X-Men series and creator of characters like Gambit, Emma Frost, Rogue, Sabretooth and Kitty Pryde. Claremont wrote my first comic book, Uncanny X-Men #116, and his work on the mutants is the comic book equivalent to the soundtrack of my life! The man gave us The Dark Phoenix Saga and Days of Future Past, inspiration for the upcoming X-Men sequel!
Denny O’Neil is another living legend famous for his runs on the Green Lantern/Green Arrow and Batman series with fellow guest Neal Adams. O’Neil was the Marvel editor of Frank Miller’s classic Daredevil run and returned to DC as editor of the Batman family of books to oversee modern classics Continue reading Emerald City Comicon 2013 Preview
The Armored Avenger’s greatest enemy strikes in Iron Man 3. Will Tony Stark lose everything? Marvel revealed a very ominous poster for Iron Man 3 starring Tony’s great love, Pepper Potts. The poster shows Gwyneth Paltrow holding the damaged Iron Man helmet. If his helmet is in that condition that imagine what the rest of his armor looks like.
The film includes Ben Kingsley as the Mandarin and the debut of the Iron Patriot armor (worn by Don Cheadle’s James Rhodes.)
Robert Downey, Jr reprises his role as Tony Stark. Will this film set the stage for Iron Man joining the Guardians of the Galaxy?
Chris Evans as Captain America in Marvel’s The Avengers courtesy Marvel Films
Chris Evans will suit up again as the Star-Spangled Avenger as part of Marvel’s Phase Two in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The sequel’s title makes fans wonder how closely it will follow the The Winter Soldier arc by Ed Brubaker. Marvel Studios Kevin Feige talks with Variety about the tone of the film and the future of the superhero genre.
“If it is a fad, it’s one that lasts 30 to 40 years, as the Western did, because each one is so different,” he says. “There’s an opportunity to graft almost sub-genres onto them. Our first Captain America film was a World War II picture, and the next Continue reading CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER “A Political Thriller”
Will the OSCARS celebrate sci-fi, comic book or horror ever again? Avatar was the most recent sci-fi film to be nominated for an Academy Award. Looper should have a contender at least for screenplay. Oscar buzz inspired this list of my most anticipated genre movies in 2013. These flicks have not receive Oscars but could be next year’s Geek Oscar contenders:
#10 Sin City: A Dame To Kill For Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller take us back to the notorious haven of crime, corruption and women with dangerous curves! Eva Green as Ava, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Josh Brolin join the hard-core citzens of Basin City! October 29.
#9 Oblivion Tom Cruise is a repairman of the future who finds a clan of humans (led by Morgan Freeman) on what’s supposed to be a scorched Earth! This new film from director Joseph Kosinski looks action packed and thought-provoking. April 19.
#8 Kick-Ass 2 Sadistic, satirical and twisted! More “real” superheroics from the mind of Mark Millar. Jim Carrey as Colonel Stars and Stripes is among the new citizen heroes that follows Kick-Ass’s crusade but the Red Mist is plotting vengeance against the vigilantes! June 28.
#7 World War Z I absolutely love the book by Max Brooks. I already know the film is very different from the novel. It really should have been a cable series like the Band of Brothers of zombies. I choose to believe in the Pitt…Brad Pitt! June 21.
#6 Pacific RimGuillerno del Toro. Giant Robots. Giant Monsters. They had me with del Toro and giant anything! July 12.
#5 Thor: The Dark WorldChris Hemsworth portrays the Odinson again as Thor returns to Asgard! Malekitch (Christopher Eccleston of Doctor Who fame) leads the Dark Elves and the powerhouse Kurse! Will Loki be forgiven of his crimes in The Avengers? This cosmic clash is sure to be action packed and could include more of the Shakespearean family drama as Loki could find a shot at redemption. November 8.
courtesy Marvel
#4 Iron Man 3 Even after The Avengers I still believe fans want to see Robert Downey, Jr solo. Tony Stark’s world is obliterated by his arch-enemy. This third film unleashes the Mandarin (Oscar winner Ben Kingsley) and introduces the threat of Extremis and the Iron Patriot armor. The trailer is dark but I’m excited to see Shane Black direct a great performance out of Downey as a dethroned Tony fights his way back. May 3.
#3 The Wolverine I believe this is the movie that will be the definitive Wolverine story! The X-Man will faces an army of ninjas, the Silver Samurai and the woman who will change his life. Based on the classic series by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller and directed by James Mangold – this could be Continue reading Comic Book & Sci Fi Movies of 2013
Matthew Vaughn is moving from the Children of the Atom to Marvel’s First Family as producer of the Fantastic Four reboot!
Fox’s Marvel Movie Mastermind Mark Millar shared the news via Twitter that the director of X-Men: First Class will produce the FF reboot to be directed by Josh Trank (Chronicle.)
Fox hold the film rights to Marvel’s X-Men and Fantastic Four franchises. Millar was hired as the Creative Consultant to the properties. Vaughn is producing X-Men: Days of Future Past.
When Bryan Singer announced Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) was joining X-Men: Days of Future Past speculation was the actor could be playing everything from Puck of Alpha Flight to Bolivar Trask, creator of the mutant hunting Sentinels to a CGI character.
