Johnny Depp in Dark Shadows courtesy The Hollywood Reporter
The first photos of Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins in Tim Burton’s big screen version of Dark Shadows are hitting the web.
The Hollywood Reporter features two photos and does a Barnabas/Edward Cullen from Twilight comparison.
What popped in my comic geek mind? Depp as Doctor Strange. Some other nerd probably already posted this on the web before. I know some will say Depp is in everything already. In fact, I said that to a friend in an online chat when they suggested Depp for a big screen Doctor Who. I wanted Jude Law for the Time Lord.
Doctor Strange: The Oath cover courtesy Marvel.com
Back to Depp as the Master of the Mystic Arts – pure magic or do you think I’ve been smoking something mystic? I can picture Depp as the arrogant surgeon with a tragic past who finds his destiny fighting demons and rivals to save the Earth.
This is the final year of Brian Michael Bendis on The Avengers, which includes the upcoming Avengers Versus X-Men fight fueled by the return of the Phoenix Force.
The Sentry/The Void could be a key factor in all three of these Marvel events.
Warning: There are potential spoilers of previous Marvel events you may not have read.
Robert Reynolds is one of Marvel’s most powerful and tragic characters. Bendis made the The Sentry (Robert Reynolds) and his evil alter ego The Void a central character of his Avengers run until Bob was struck down by Thor in the finale of Siege. At Bob’s memorial service his computer companion CLOC said he was preparing for The Sentry’s eventual return. A section of The Void was held in Emma Frost’s mind until Cyclops locked it away in a sealed part of his mind.
New Avengers #8 courtesy Marvel.com
Will Bendis bring The Sentry back as part of his final Avengers arc? Can Cyclops use The Void (should he even tap into that evil force?) against the Avengers in AVX? Is The Sentry/The Void possibly the only power that could counter the Phoenix Force? What if the entity bonded with a resurrected Robert Reynolds?
You can read more about The Sentry and The Void at his Marvel.com bio.
Sigourney Weaver is the reigning Queen of Science Fiction with the 4 Alien films, 2 Ghostbusters movies, and Avatar. I personally love her non-genre performances in The Year of Living Dangerously, Death and the Maiden and Gorillas in the Mist. The woman still has many great roles ahead but deserves an honorary Oscar just for this body of work. Back to why I’m posting…
Prometheus still of Noomi Rapace courtesy 20th Century Fox and USA Today
With Prometheus being a prequel to Alien, what does the woman who played Ellen Ripley have to say about Ridley Scott’s return to science fiction, the story of Prometheus and working with the director on Alien. Here’s what Weaver told Movieweb.
“Fox and I disagreed on how the franchise should continue. But I’m glad it’s Ridley Scott doing it, and I’ll be as curious as anyone, or maybe more curious, to see it. I think he took my suggestion. Fox wanted to go to earth and I said: ‘That’s so boring. Who wants to see aliens on earth?’ I said ‘go back to the planet’.”
“We worked very hard together, and I certainly credit him in making Ripley an everyman character, not just a damsel in distress, but a character who is not giving up. James Cameron was also a breath of fresh air. He is a champion of strong women who never thinks in terms of gender characteristics.”
Sigourney Weaver will appear in Avatar 2. For more of Weaver’s interview here’s the Movieweb link.
Logan is an X-Man, an Avenger, Headmaster of a new mutant school. Which side will he choose in AVX? Will his friends and students at the Jean Grey School follow the headmaster’s lead?
Comics Alliance scored this exclusive first look at the cover for Wolverine and the X-Men #9 by Chris Bachalo.
Depending on which side Logan chooses, it could cause a rift at the School given Rachel’s connections to the Phoenix and her friendship with Kitty Pryde.
The Avengers and X-Men go to war in April over the return of the Phoenix Force. Marvel has revealed stunning AVX teaser images of potential fights. We’ve seen matchups based on strength, fighting ability, and mutant powers but what about magic?
I know it may seem unfair to have an older man fight a young woman but since we’ve already seen the Emma Frost versus Hulk teaser, I’m going there. I want Doctor Strange to make Magik vanish…for good!
I envision a scene inspired by Uncanny X-Men #136 in which Professor Xavier psionically threw down with Dark Phoenix. The psi battle lasted a few panels but the way John Byrne illustrated Chris Claremont’s vision for the showdown was epic.
Magik courtesy Marvel.com
The Magik I loved from the early New Mutants and the reborn little snowflake who died from the Legacy Virus is long gone. Magik (after so many reboots) is a member of the Extinction Team in Uncanny X-Men and serves as the teleporter. Given her own dark nature and demonic connections it’s only a matter of time before Illyana will become the Darkchilde again.
Illyana is nearly as dangerous as the host of the Phoenix force. If you’re going to eliminate the threat of the Phoenix, you should excise the evil potential inside Magik.
Defenders #1 courtesy Marvel.com
Doctor Strange lost his mojo and is guilt ridden from events in New Avengers but he’s getting it back in the new Defenders book. Many of Marvel’s cosmic entities consider Strange to be on their level in terms of his power.
Doctor Strange versus Magik would be a mystic battle for the ages but maybe their combined power could tame the Phoenix?
Christopher Heyerdahl must be having a bloody good time playing vamps. The actor played the Volturi Marcus in the Twilight Saga films. Deadline reports Heyerdahl is joining the cast of True Blood as Dieter Braun, a vampire who gathers intelligence of the Authority and enjoys interrogation to secure information. The actor’s resume includes more horror geek cred including Supernatural and Sanctuary.
Christopher Meloni (Law & Order:SVU, Oz) is also joining True Blood next season.
A confession – when I was little kid and saw The Avengers listed in the tv guide I immediately thought it was a television show about Cap, Iron Man and the Scarlet Witch so I stayed up past my bedtime. I was a little disappointed at first but that quickly passed and then I got scared out of my young mind!
I was watching “The Winged Avenger” episode and I thought sure that clawed monster could get in my house! That was the beginning of my love for The Avengers – John Steed and Emma Peel.
Boom Studios released Steed and Mrs. Peel #1 this week, inspired by the classic television series.
Tara King is on the hunt for mole. When Tara vanishes and her last contact turns up dead in a most oddly appropriate way, John Steed is called in to take over the mission. Steed defies orders and recruits Mrs. Peel to help him find the killer, the missing agent and uncover the mole.
Comics Superstar Grant Morrison captures the quirky fun, thrills and chemistry between the one of the greatest duos in television history. Ian Gibson’s art is a perfect fit for the world of fantasy, espionage and danger and his likeness of television stars Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg is excellent.
It’s a testament to Diana Rigg who played Emma Peel. Steed actually had 6 partners during the show but everyone thinks of Emma first!
GLAAD, The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, reveals the nominees for Outstanding Comic Book for 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards:
Avengers: The Children’s Crusade, by Allan Heinberg (Marvel) Batwoman, by J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman (DC Comics) Secret Six, by Gail Simone (DC Comics) Veronica Presents: Kevin Keller, by Dan Parent (Archie Comics) X-Factor, by Peter David (Marvel Comics)
All of these nominated books feature a gay or lesbian lead character or a gay character in the ensemble.
X-Factor's Shatterstar and Rictor courtesy Marvel.com
X-Factor won last year. Rictor and Shatterstar are boyfriends and co-workers at X-Factor Investigations. Rictor is a Mexican mutant who lost his powers but recently was repowered in Avengers: The Children’s Crusade. Shatterstar is a mutant warrior from another dimension – and wants an open relationship. Rictor wants them to stay monogamous.
Batwoman #1 from DC Comics
Batwoman is Kate Kane, lipstick lesbian socialite of Gotham City and caped crusader by night. The fan favorite crime fighter is the star of her own DC Comics New 52 series.
Kevin Keller is the front-runner. Archie Comics showcased an openly gay character in an all-ages book. Kevin is serving openly in the military with an African-American boyfriend. The partners were featured on gay wedding ceremony cover. Archie Comics didn’t just publish the story but gave Kevin’s story a big marketing push and it made huge mainstream headlines.
