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Monday, October, 23, 2000
PAUR TALKS X-MEN: EVOLUTION
Frank Paur, a director and designer on Kids' WB!'s upcoming X-Men: Evolution animated series, told The Continuum that the creators of the show strived to make it look different than the previous series.
X-Men: Evolution, which features the characters as teenagers, debuts on Saturday, Nov. 4. Paur is one of the series' three directors, handling four of the first season's 13 episodes. He also designed the look of such characters as Cyclops and Magneto.
"The last series was very successful for Fox, but we didn't want to do that series again," Paur told The Continuum. "We are dealing with teenagers and we are dealing with a younger audience.
"We still had to keep the hard-hitting action, but we had to satisfy the needs of who our audience was and who the characters themselves were, because the characters are pretty innocent. That innocence reflects a lot in the design of the series. It's kind of a softer feel. I guess you could say it's more kid friendly than some of the stuff that has gone on before. It's a little lighter in tone, but still very serious.
"It captures the innocence of the time when the X-Men first come together. They haven't dealt with a lot of world-menacing aliens or monsters or even the prejudice that the mutants come across. They're still pretty innocent at this time, and we wanted to capture that flavor."
In helping design the look of the show's character, Paur said the creators wanted to get rid of the "jockey shorts" appearance that many of the X-Men have.
"We think that's kind of outdated," Paur said. "When we were putting the character designs and the costumes together, we wanted to keep in the spirit of the original Kirby/Lee X-Men from the comic book, where they had the yellow and blue costumes, which is kind of the school uniform. We started off basically with a black jump suit, which is more of a padded workout suit, if you want to call it that.
"The suit itself is then personalized by each of the characters' individual traits. Cyclops has the big X on his chest, obviously, because he is the leader of the group and traditionally things in the comic have always been centered around him because he is the first X-Man.
"Everybody else came around with their own individual ideas or stylistic touches to give it their own personality. But it all fits together. They are school-like outfits, but they are individual outfits also. They are also geared for fighting and protection as opposed to just putting on a spandex outfit."
Paur's credits include Batman, Spawn, Men in Black and Gargoyles. He also contributed to the Fox Kids X-Men series, where his work included some of the Phoenix episodes.
How does X-Men: Evolution compare to his previous shows?
"Every show has a personality of its own," Paur said. "The job of a producer or a director is to find that personality stylistically. With this show, we wanted it to be kid friendly and fun because our audience is different. I would have never made this series patterned after Spawn, for instance, because Spawn is a completely different audience and a completely different feel than we wanted on this thing. So the two paths shall never cross because it's a different audience and a different sensibility.
"If anything, this show more closely resembles Gargoyles than it resembles any other stuff I've done. Gargoyles again was a character-driven show and it dealt with beings and people coming into their own, discovering themselves in a world that doesn't feel right about them. Stylistically, Gargoyles was probably a little darker-edged because it had some very heavy tones itself. That was more in the afternoon market."
Look for more from Paur as well as other X-Men: Evolution creators as The Continuum provides daily updates leading into the show's premiere.
SPIDER-MAN TV, MOVIE UPDATE
Rick Ungar, president of Marvel Characters, told The Continuum that a new Spider-Man animated series will be made.
"There is a Spider-Man series in development as part of Marvel's deal with Sony on the Spider-Man feature, so that it is in development with Sony," Ungar said.
The new Spider-Man series - which might be computer-generated -- will likely follow X-Men: Evolution as Marvel's next animated series. Spider-Man Unlimited, with 13 episodes completed but only three aired, will likely return to Fox Kids to take advantage of the movie as well.
Marvel's other upcoming TV fare will likely be live-action, Ungar said.
"There's other development going on. There is a lot more hour drama development going on, but nothing I want to talk about yet," Ungar said. "I hate to talk about TV shows before they're announced as TV shows. Otherwise, you kind of set yourself up to fail."
Both Thor (with Artistan Entertainment) and Mutant X (with Tribune Entertainment) have been mentioned as possible live-action fare. Thor currently carries more heat, but it's questionable if the series will be ready for a fall 2001 launch.
In other Spider-Man news:
TOP COW FOR FEBRUARY
Following are Top Cow Productions' solicitations for February, with information the company.
TOMB RAIDER: THE MAGAZINE #1
This over-sized debut issue will feature the first two issues of the Tomb Raider comics book series and a sexy centerfold of Lara Croft. This first issue will also include an in depth interview with Tomb Raider scribe, Dan Jurgens, a visit to the studio of penciler Andy Park and inker Jonathan Sibal and a profile of colorist Jonathan D. Smith.
56 pages, $4.95.
NO HONOR #1
Written by Finona Avery, penciled by Clayton Crain.
View the world through the eyes of a world-class art thief. Witness the theft of an antique katana and the rebirth of an ancient Samurai soul in the body of a thief without honor. Fall in love with someone you could never possibly know, hunt while being hunted, and taste the world again for the first time in 1,300 years. No Honor is Fiona Avery's four-issue tale of one thief who finally runs out of luck and runs into Tannen Yojimbo, the spirit of a Samurai who will change his world forever.
32 pages, $2.50.
MIDNIGHT NATION #1: CLASSIC BLACK AND WHITE ART EDITION
Written by J. Michael Straczynski, penciled by Gary Frank, inked by Jason Gorder.
The classics continue as Top Cow presents the next black and white edition of J. Michael Straczynski's newest creation, Midnight Nation. Telling the story of police detective David Grey on a search for his soul, this supernatural thriller has quickly become one of the most sought after titles of 2000.
32 pages, black and white, $2.95.
FATHOM-TOMB RAIDER- WITCHBLADE CROSSOVER POSTER
Penciled by Michael Turner, inked by Jonathan Sibal, colored by Peter Steigerwald.
The cover to Fathom #12 featuring all three of those amazing women from their crossover event is now available as a full size poster.
24 inches by 36 inches, $2.95.
APHRODITE IX #3
Written by David Wohl, penciled by Dave Finch, inked by Joe Weems V, colored by Steve Firchow.
Arrested for murders that she doesn't even remember committing, Aphrodite realizes she's at the center of a conspiracy that's much larger than she originally thought. Now she's more determined than ever to learn where she's from and who created her--and for what purpose? Unfortunately there also those that don't want her to know. Too bad for them...
32 pages, $2.50.
MIDNIGHT NATION #5
Written by J. Michael Straczynski, penciled by Gary Frank, inked by Jason Gorder, colored by Dan Kemp.
No one has ever succeeded in reclaiming his soul from the Men. That truth, which means the potential demise of David Grey, comes home when Laurel must encounter one of her previous failures.
32 pages, $2.50.
RISING STARS #14
Written by J. Michael Straczynski, penciled by Christian Zanier.
It's the fight everybody's been waiting for: Patriot versus Matthew Bright, Critical Maas goes critical mass, and the final truth behind the murders is revealed at last.
32 pages, $2.50.
DARKNESS #38
Written by Scott Lobdell, penciled by Mark Pajarillo.
Jackie Estacado has barely completed his training with Ripclaw, when the Darkness is forced to battle The Conquistator and his legion of Hostile Cherubs. But will even these two be enough to stem the coming Blood Tide -- or is Jackie going to have to look towards his sister Capris for help.
32 pages, $2.50.
BUTCHER KNIGHT #3
Written by Charles Holland, penciled and inked by Dwayne Turner.
Blood. Gore. Demon waste and dead cops. That's what filled the room where Dolgen's Section X squad found Luther Washington. Dolgen wants answers. But Luther is a question wrapped in an enigma and shows no sign of wanting that to change. Dolgen will not quit. He can't. He is an engine of destruction made flesh who hunts and kills monsters. Dolgen is determined to find out who and what Luther Washington is. He will do this at all costs. Unless Daria has anything to say about it. And she will.
32 pages, $2.50.
TOMB RAIDER #11
Written by Dan Jurgens, penciled by Andy Park, inked by Jonathan Sibal, colored by Jonathan D. Smith.
Through the years, countless people have searched for the epic kingdom of Shangri-La. Finally, Lara Croft, a hunter unequalled by any other, has succeeded where so many others have failed. The only problem is, that no one is ever allowed to leave...alive! Has Lara finally fallen into the one trap even she can't escape?
32 pages, $2.50.
FEAR EFFECT SPECIAL: RETRO HELIX #1
Written by Frank Mastromauro and David Wohl, penciled by Francis Manapul, inked by Livesay.
One of the hottest video games of 1999 is back and Top Cow's ready to introduce readers to it like never before. Retro Helix is the follow-up to last year's blockbuster selling video game which was adapted into a one-shot special. This time though, all bets are off as new players enter the game and the stakes are higher than ever as the lovely Hana Tsu-Vaschel and the rest of her mercenary friends attempt to stay alive in one of the most explosive stories of the year.
24 pages, $2.95.
FAUST MOVIE UPDATE
David Quinn told The Continuum that he said that the Faust movie, based on the comic book by Quinn and Tim Vigil, has a shot at being a theatrical release in the United States.
"I know that Tri-Mark, which is part of Lion's Gate, is going to distribute in the U.S.," Quinn said. "I'm hoping there will be a campaign for it to go theatrical. It will be home video and DVD at least, but because the buzz is kind of good, they're considering theatrical."
The film - written by Quinn and directed by Brian Yuzna -- is not finished yet, Quinn said, but a partial version was screened at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain won an award for its special effects.
"They're showing a video of at least 50 percent of it at European festivals to line up distribution and it's showing very well," Quinn said.
Quinn said he expects the movie to be finished by the end of the year.
The cast of Faust includes Mark Frost, Andrew Divoff, Isabel Brook, Jeffrey Combs and Monica Van Campen.
BLUE MONDAY RETURNS
Oni Press will publish a second Blue Monday mini-series by Chynna Clugston-Major beginning in February. Blue Monday: Absolute Beginners will run four issues.
"I wanted people's first taste of Blue Monday to be something fun, something they'd remember and smile about," Clugston-Major said. "With the second series, I wanted to keep that zany sensibility, while at the same time showing more of the characters' dimensions."
This time around, rather than focusing on Bleu's fascination with '80s popstars, Clugston-Major has decided to bring the emotion down to an attainable level. The plot thread running through Absolute Beginners will have to deal with the two main boys, Alan and Victor, competing for our heroine's affections, and the effects it will have on the group dynamic.
"This is where I think readers will get a good sense of what Blue Monday is really about," Oni Press editor-in-chief Jamie S. Rich said. "At the core of all the outrageous adventures are characters who are friends and who have rich, emotional lives. People really fell in love with Bleu and Clover in The Kids Are Alright. Chynna has a real skill for balancing comedy and drama, and I think you're going to find readers' Blue Monday addiction will only get stronger."
Fanboy Entertainment will be releasing the first in a series of Blue Monday T-shirts, including one featuring the first issue's cover. "Chynna's style is so bold and dynamic, it begs to be put front and center on a T-shirt," said Fanboy publisher C.B. Cebulski. "I am excited to be involved with such a hot property."
In other Blue Monday news, the characters will be making several holiday-themed appearances in the next two months. First up is a Halloween comic strip to run on Oni Press' website, www.onipress.com, which will be available beginning Sunday, Oct. 29, in the Exclusives section.
This will be followed a couple of weeks later by a crossover with Paul Dini's charcter Jingle Belle as part of the one-shot Jingle Belle's All-Star Holiday Hullabaloo.
In December, Oni will release Blue Monday: The Kids Are Alright trade paperback collecting all the Blue Monday stories up until now.
The first 32-page issue of Blue Monday: Absolute Beginners will be 32 pages and will cost $2.95.
FIRST LOOK - BATMAN #584
Batman #584 will ship on Wednesday from DC Comics. The issue is written by Ed Brubaker, with arrt by Scott McDaniel and Karl Story.
Here's how DC describes the issue:
"A documentary film crew plans to get to the bottom of the man or myth, as they hit the streets of Gotham to try and capture Batman on camera. But the young film student and his crew are getting in the way of the Dark Knight's investigations, and Batman isn't too happy about that. Plus, will the Penguin be evicted from his headquarters, which happens to be owned by Wayne Enterprises?"
Batman #584 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.
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FIRST LOOK - ACTION COMICS #772
Action Comics #772 will ship on Wednesday from DC Comics. The issue is written by Joe Kelly, with art by Kano and Marlo Alquiza and a cover by Matt Haley.
Here's how DC describes the issue:
"Part one of a two-part confrontation between Superman and Ra's al Ghul. Lois investigates who tried to kill her husband during 'Critical Condition,' only to wind up on a trail that leads her directly to Talia. Meanwhile, Encantadora's brother has fallen into the hands of Ra's al Ghul - who is prepared to never worry about metahumans again, thanks to the newly enhanced Lazarus Pit. After the events in JLA and Detective Comics, will Ra's finally become unstoppable?"
Action Comics #772 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.
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FIRST LOOK - PROMETHEA #11
Promethea #11 will ships on Wednesday from DC Comics. The issue is written by Alan Moore, with art and cover by J.H. Williams III and Mick Gray.
Here's how DC describes the issue:
"Discover the magic with the latest issue of the multiple-Eisner Award nominated series. It's a new millennium in New York and there's an old-fashioned giant monster wreaking havoc on the streets of the Big Apple. Promethea engages in all-out superheroine-heroics as she battles a decidedly non-Y2K compliant Elasti-Gel -- which ultimately turns into a giant millennium cyber-slug."
Promethea #11 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.95.
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BRIEFLY
Copyright © 2000, The Comics Continuum