The Force behind the Star Wars television series reveals new details. Star Wars: Underworld is the working title of the proposed Star Wars television series according to producer Rick McCallum during an interview with IGN.
McCallum says 50 scripts are ready and awaiting a “economical sound way” to be produced. The scripts are called “timeless” and follow the darker period between Episodes III and IV.
McCallum helped developed the Stars Wars prequels, Clone Wars animated series
AvX Iron Man Vs. Magneto preview art courtesy Marvel.com
New art for the upcoming Iron Man/Magneto battle from AvX Vs #1. Marvel previously announced Jason Aaron and Adam Kubert will be the creative force behind this clash of the Iron Avenger and Master of Magnetism. This art was a Comic Book Resources Exclusive.
Who will win? The edge would seem to go to Magneto but never underestimate Tony Stark’s brilliance and creativity!
Rick Remender had an incredible 2011 with Uncanny X-Force. 2012 sees the writer take on another of Marvel’s covert teams: The Secret Avengers. In today’s Marvel presser Remender and artist Gabriel Hardman revealed their plans for the team.
Secret Avengers 21.1 (with artist Patrick Zircher) will introduce the new Masters of Evil who have set up their own sovereign nation. This issue will be bringing new team leader Hawkeye into the book.
“In Clint’s eyes, he’s the direct approach kind of guy, he doesn’t like spy work, but cap thinks this fits his skill set. An archer or a sniper needs to be covert and deadly. Cap’s only concern is Clint’s temper, so the Point One issue is a test, ” Remember says of Clint Barton.
Secret Avengers #22 interior preview art by Gabriel Hardman courtesy Marvel.com
“The first big story is based around a guy named father, who readers of Uncanny X-Force will be familiar with. He had a hand in creating a race of descendants from all the robots in the Marvel Universe who live in the core of the Earth. The threat is actually much bigger, and we’ll reveal it as we go. It’s something I’ve been working on for some time.” Remender said of the growing mech threat.
“Adaptoids are like Sentinels for Avengers. They have a deep hatred for the Avengers. They view them as the bad guys. They protect humanity at the expense of other species like mutants or these guys” Remender added about the frequent Avenger foes.
Arthur Adams will provide covers. Gabriel Hardman will handle variant covers and interior art. With such a diverse team (Hawkeye, Valkyrie, Venom, Black Widow, Human Torch, Beast, Captain Britain) who is the big challenge?
Secret Avengers #22 interior art courtesy Marvel.com
“It’s fun drawing this characters I’ve never worked with. I need to find individual personalities for these guys. Beast is probably the biggest challenge because the way he is visually interpreted varies a lot and I needed to nail down my way to draw him. I basically draw him as Lemmy from Motorhead, so hopefully that will work,” Hardman said.
Secret Avengers #22 cover Gabriel Hardman courtesy Marvel.com
“I haven’t gotten to draw Venom in action yet, but I love that costume and am excited to do it. I like the more down to earth, gritty look for Hawkeye. It’s more practical…though the fan in me would have had a lot of fun drawing the goofy purple costume,” Hardman continued.
Secret Avengers 21.1 on sale January 25th. Secret Avengers 22 on sale February 8.
Psylocke Versus Black Widow! Marvel kicked off Monday with a fanboy teaser image by Leinil Francis Yu sure to light a fiery debate!
Today on Marvel.com this image is hailed as Avengers Versus X-Men: Round One. The X-Men’s psychic ninja set to battle the most dangerous secret agent in the Marvel universe.
Betsy Braddock is a skilled ninja fighter with telepathic powers. Psylocke demonstrated she can be deadly if necessary as seen in the Uncanny X-Force:The Dark Angel Saga finale.
Natasha Romanoff was trained by the KGB, recruited by Nick Fury for SHIELD and has held her own alongside Earth’s Mightiest Heroes on The Avengers.
Psychic knife versus Widow’s bite? Who are you cheering for? Who will win?
One of my favorite new DC New 52 series is Batman by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo. Batman is plagued by the Court of Owls and the Talon, their enforcer. Snyder’s revealed the entwined dark history of his secret society, Bruce Wayne’s family and Gotham City.
Batman #8 will feature the first of a series of back-up stories exploring the secret group’s past and agenda. The back-up tales will unite Snyder with his American Vampire partner Rafael Albuquerque.
“The first backup, in issue eight will give a sense of the terrifying scope of the Court of Owls’ attack on Gotham. This really will be the first shot in a war for the soul of Gotham City,” said Snyder. “And then, starting in issue nine, we’ll begin a three part story called ‘The Fall of the House of Wayne’ that will investigate the secret history of the Court of Owls and its relationship to the Wayne family – particularly to Thomas and Martha Wayne, Bruce’s parents. The story will be told from the point of view of Jarvis Pennyworth, Alfred’s father, and offer some big surprises and shocks about the forces that shaped the bat-mythology as we know it. Can’t wait for you all to see these stories!”
Batman #8 courtesy DC The Source
Snyder will co-write these stories with James Tynion IV.
“I’m also excited to be co-writing with my friend, James Tynion IV, a young writer I’m extremely excited about. Especially in the spirit of the New 52, it’s a real thrill to get to give someone new and talented a chance to get his foot in the door, and James is a writer to watch and expect great things from!”
The back-up stories will build up to May’s huge cross-over with all the Batman titles, Night of the Owls, which will reveal the impact of the society’s master plan.
You can find more preview images and Snyder’s interview on DC’s The Source.
J.J. Abrams talks Star Trek 2. The four-month shoot starts this Thursday. It will be shot and converted to 3D Abrams tells Collider.
“We’re shooting on film, and the reason for that is I wanted to shoot with anamorphic, and you can’t shoot 3D in anamorphic.”
When asked about why Abrams cast Benedict Cumberbatch as the villain, the director replied “who says he’s our villain?”
“He’s a genius. Honestly, he’s just an incredible actor. If you’ve seen his work in Sherlock, he’s just got incredible skills. He’s an amazing stage actor. He did amazing work (on stage) in Frankenstein. He’s brilliant. You try to cast people who are great. We got lucky.” Abrams added.
Still no word on the villain or plot but in an earlier post I shared how the current comic book series may reveal plot points for the movie sequel.
A co-worker came by my desk to ask, “Seriously, an Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter movie? Is that for real?” in response my earlier post today about the film’s first screen shot.
The question inspired our discussion of vampire mash-ups and made me remember a novel I read years ago that would make an excellent graphic novel series or movie.
In Anno Dracula, Kim Newman created the mashup in 1992 long before the trend. Imagine a Victorian England where Dracula was never defeated. The Count enthralls the Queen. British socialites are willing to become a vampire to rise in social rank. Jack the Ripper is killing vampire prostitutes. A human detective and ancient vampiress team up to solve the mystery that could threaten Dracula’s dark reign.
Anno Dracula cover courtesy Amazon.com
Anno Dracula is daring feat of reimagination that is sexy, thrilling, dark and filled with figures from real and literary history. A bloody good fantasy that would be a great graphic novel and movie.
The great Neil Gaiman said it best, “Kim Newman’s Anno Dracula is back in print, and we must celebrate. It was the first mash-up of literature, history and vampires, and now, in a world in which vampires are everywhere, it’s still the best, and its bite is just as sharp. Compulsory reading, commentary, and mindgame: glorious.”
