Thursday, Nov. 2, 2000

X-MEN: EVOLUTION PREMIERE EPISODE

The X-Men: Evolution animated series premieres this Saturday with an episode called "Strategy X."

Kids' WB! has provided The Continuum a preview tape of the first episode, which airs Saturday at 10:30 a.m. (ET) on Kids' WB!.

The episode is written by story editor Bob Forward from a story by executive producers Avi Arad and Rick Ungar. It is directed by Frank Paur.

The episode starts out with Scott Summers (Cyclops) saving Todd Tolensky (Toad) from a group of football players - and they discover that each other is a mutant. Meanwhile, Professor Xavier and Storm greet their latest recruit, Kurt Wagner (Nightcrawler).

While the X-Men see if Toad is someone that could be included into the group, Toad is investigating the X-Men for Mystique. This results in a scrap between Toad and Nightcrawler that ends up wreaking havoc in the Danger Room.

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"The first episode -- in which Nightcrawler is introduced -- went through a lot of changes in order to establish a consensus of tone for the show," Forward told The Continuum. "Like any introductory episode, there's a certain amount of necessary 'Hi-this-is-who-we-are-and-this-is-what-we-do' stuff going on, which tends to limit plot complexity. It was felt that it was more important to establish characters and relationships and the feeling of 'fun' that the WB wanted from the show.

"We get deeper into Nightcrawler's past in a later episode. But the intro also helps set up Scott and Jean and Xavier, and brings Wolverine into the show as well."

Wolverine is also briefly featured as he returns from the road to the X-Mansion - and is being watched by Sabretooth.

TWIST/MCFARLANE JUDGMENT THROWN OUT

Todd McFarlane Productions announced on Wednesday that Missouri Circuit Court Judge Robert H. Dierker threw out the $24.5 million judgment against Spawn creator Todd McFarlane, originally awarded to Tony Twist in July.

Twist, a former hockey player, had sued McFarlane for unauthorized use of his name in Spawn.

Dierker, who presided over the original case, said that the case lacked "credible evidence that McFarlane at any time intended to injure Twist's marketability, to capitalize on the market recognition of the name Tony Twist, or in fact derived any ... benefit whatsoever."

He added that when McFarlane first used the name Tony Twist, the plaintiff had no market recognition and "was earning precisely zero income from endorsements."

"As I read this judgment, it was plain to me that the judge found the case lacked the credible evidence expected in a lawsuit of this magnitude," McFarlane said. "Mr. Twist with his contingency lawyer spent nothing on this case, while I'm out a half-million dollars and two years of my life defending my name because I knew I was right. Sometimes doing the right thing is the most difficult. I find it amusing that the corporate entities named as defendants in this case took the path of least resistance before the fight was finished."

According to McFarlane Entertainment, he plans to pursue repayment of some costs from Twist.

Dierker said, "The court cannot find a single case, certainly no Missouri case, in which injunctive relief has been granted to prevent the use of a name by a writer or publisher in a work of fiction."

GATECRASHER TV UPDATE

Jimmy Palmiotti told The Continuum that full production on the Gatecrasher animated series at Mainframe Entertainment should begin soon.

The series, which will likely be on Fox Kids, is based on the Black Bull comic book by Palmiotti, Mark Waid and Amanda Conner.

"Amanda finished her trip to fine tune it two weeks ago and they are minutes from closing a deal with a network," Palmiotti said. "She was there for four days art directing the character designs as well as doing some set design and working with the crew there."

Palmiotti said that Gatecrasher will not look like some of Vancouver-based Mainframe's other shows like Reboot and Beast Machines.

"It's a 2D animation with 3D shading on the characters and a 3D backdrop," Palmiotti said. "It looks totally like nothing out there."

Palmiotti said the series won't be animated overseas, though.

"No, Mainframe has over 200 animators and will be doing it as far as I know," Palmiotti said. "Mainframe is huge."

Greg Johnson, whose credits include X-Men: Evolution, Iron Man and Incredible Hulk, is story-editing the series.

"I met with him and his first script is in," Palmiotti said. "It's very loyal to the comic."

On the comics front, Palmiotti said that is he currently inking Essad Rubic's pencils for Uncanny X-Men 2000. He will be inking Steve Dillon on the ongoing Punisher book, which Garth Ennis will write at least the first issues. He also said that he's getting "great" feedback as writer of Deadpool with strong sales.

BUFFY, ANGEL EPISODES CONNECTED

The WB is continuing its November sweeps tradition when the Tuesday Nov. 14 episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel will be connected by one storyline.

Flashbacks haunt the lead characters and take viewers back in time to the very beginning when Darla is sired by the Master and the early days when Angel, Darla, Spike and Drusilla ruled in fear and mayhem.

The Buffy episode is "Fool For Love." In an effort to learn about slayers' final battles, Buffy forces Spike to recount how he was able to kill two slayers. His flashbacks reveal his first meeting with his one true love, Drusilla, and how lovers Angel and Darla joined them.

The Angel episode is "Darla." Angel is desperate to rescue Darla from the clutches of Wolfram & Hart and flashbacks reveal what a dangerous and powerful relationship they shared as history weirdly seems to be repeating itself. The trip down memory lane begins with Darla's sire by the Master and ends with the gang of Spike, Drusilla , Darla and Angel being torn apart when Angel gets a soul.

SUPERBOY'S LEGION/LEGION LOST DETAILS

DC Comics has revealed details about Superboy's Legion, a two-issue mini-series by Alan Davis and Mark Farmer that begins in February.

Here's how DC describes the project:

"A rocketship blasts away from an exploding planet just in time. Inside the ship, the last survivor of an entire civilization sleeps. His destination: 20th Century Earth. Only the Kryptonian ship veers off-course, enduring a thousand-year journey into the 30th century, where it ends up being discovered by billionaire industrialist R.J. Brande.

"The story of the Last Son of Krypton takes a different, yet somehow familiar twist. Brande's now adopted son, Kal, grows up an impetuous teenager with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Alone and without purpose, Kal is regarded by many as a childish boy who dreams about the super-heroes who protected Earth a millennium ago. But certain events prompt young Kal to turn those dreams into reality, as he decides to find other unique teens like himself and form a Legion of Super-Heroes! Unfortunately, their first mission may turn into a nightmare for the young group of heroes, as unseen forces enter the equation and look to strengthen their grip on a universe they already control!"

Superboy's Legion #1, 48 pages, will ship on Feb. 21 and will cost $5.95.

DC also released details on Legion Lost #12, the final issue of the maxi-series:

"If the Legion can't find a way to close a doorway that will lead the Progeny forces to the Lost Legionnaires' universe, then both galaxies are surely lost. Yet the solution may very well result in the Legionnaires not being able to go home...unless someone makes the ultimate sacrifice!"

Legion Quest, the following six-issue mini-series, will answer where the remaining Legionnaires have been all this time.

Legion Lost #12 will ship on Feb. 14.

CABLE'S FUTURE?

Marvel has said it will announce its X-Men title plans next Wednesday. Cable writer Robert Weinberg told The Continuum that he has not heard directly if Cable will be one of the books affected.

"I have not had any contact with anyone at Marvel in several weeks," Weinberg told The Continuum on Wednesday night. "I'm learning everything from the Internet!"

Weinberg forwarded The Continuum this posting he has made on several boards:

"I've been running around lately publicizing my new hardcover, Horror Of The 20th Century, so have not spent much time on the net answering questions and the like. So, I'd like to bring you up to date on what is going on with Cable and what the future holds.

"If you've been keeping up with Cable, you'll know that Rachel Summers has returned to the Marvel Universe. She's back in Cable, and while she will not be appearing every month, Rachel will be a regular in the comic and will be playing a major role in future Cable stories. Equally important, if you read Cable # 86, you know that a new and very mysterious villain was introduced near the end of the issue. That villain will soon be making major trouble in Cable issues for a long time to come. You'll be meeting her in the flesh in Cable # 88. She's as mean and nasty as they come. And, she's not only after Cable, but Rachel as well.

"As always, the Three Witches will be involved with Nathan. And Irene will be continuing her investigation of Cable's early life, trying to learn the truth about his destiny. Look for some astonishing revelations in months to come.

"Let me stress that every issue of Cable from issue # 79 is part of one large plot that continues and continues to unwind. We've not seen the last of Eyla and Princess Sandella. And the entire saga of the timewar has ramifications that extend far beyond the Undying storyline. Though I know there are doubts at times, and I can't blame anybody for having them, hopefully you'll take my word that I do know where every plot thread is going. In time every strand, every mysterious event, every mysterious and strange character is going to come together in a grand conclusion that I think will surprise even the most jaded comic book reader.

"Which does lead to the final point of this letter. As you may have heard, Marvel's CEO, Bill Jemas, and Marvel's Editor in Chief, Joe Quesada, are planning to cut a number of X-titles. The reasons given are many, and I'm not going to delve into them. One fact is clear - they're not doing it because the comics are not making money. Cable, while it has not been one of the top 20 comics for some months, still is quite profitable. But, in recent remarks by Mr. Jemas Cable was mentioned as one of the comics with no real purpose in the Marvel Universe. Needless to say, I disagree with this assessment. If you think so as well, now is the time to make your feelings known. Write or e-mail Marvel now, before the axe falls. I can't say for sure that Cable is slated for cancellation, but it sure doesn't look good. There's no way I'm going to tie up a story I planned to last three years in the next few months. It just can't be done. So if you want to discover the powers behind the Three Witches, the identity of the Dark Mother, and the truth about Blaquesmith, it's time to start writing."

ONI'S KISSING CHAOS

Oni Press will unveil Arthur Dela Cruz's Kissing Chaos, a brand new comics property as part of its Sunday Morning Comics series, this Sunday.

The five-part comic strip - a new installment each Sunday - will provide a first glimpse of the series. The strips will appear on the Oni Press website, www.onipress.com, in the "Web Exclusives" section. The Kissing Chaos comic book series is as yet unscheduled, but is planned for some time in the second half of 2001.

"Arthur is currently best known as a colorist, having done work on Alison Dare and Monster Fighters, Inc.," said Oni Press webmaster James Lucas Jones. "Kissing Chaos will mark his first foray into storytelling. He'll be writing, drawing, and adding gray tones himself, and the results are excellent."

Kissing Chaos is the story of three very different teenagers on the run from the law and a hitman whose property they stole.

"I wanted to do something unique for my maiden voyage," Dela Cruz said. "The simplest way to do that was to take all the types of story I am interested in and combining them into one feature. I gave Oni Press, Joe Nozemack and Jamie Rich, a mini-comic version when we were at WizardWorld in Chicago, and they got in touch with me shortly after to say they wanted to see where I was going to go with the story. We've been working over it ever since, planning the best direction for the series to take."

"This isn't the first time Oni has given fans a glimpse of a project that was still in its early stages," Jones said. "When we began the Sunday series, we kicked it off with Alison Dare, Little Miss Adventures, several months before the one-shot was ready to go. It was an interesting tool to gauge reader reaction and get the word out about a unique book. We hope to replicate that success with Kissing Chaos."

FIRST LOOK: THE AUTHORITY #20

The Authority #20 will ship on Wednesday from DC Comics and WildStorm Productions. The issue is written by Mark Millar, with art and cover by Frank Quitely and Trevor Scott.

Here's how DC describes the issue:

"The Earth-shattering climax to the 4-part 'Earth Inferno.' The team finds itself up against its greatest challenge yet: the planet Earth itself! The population of Earth is being moved to parallel realities, and the Authority is helpless to do anything about it. They've saved us all countless times, but how can the Authority save us from the world?"

The Authority #20 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.50.

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FIRST LOOK: TRANSMETROPOLITAN #40

Transmetropolitan #40 will ship on Wednesday from DC Comics. The issue is written by Warren Ellis, with art by Darick Robertson and Rodney Ramos and a cover by Matt Wagner.

Here's how DC describes the issue:

"Street at Night, the first of three self-contained issues, begins. Spider Jerusalem rediscovers the other half of his personal take on The Fourth Estate -- journalism about the people chewed up by politics and politicians. Broadcasting free and uncensored on The Hole, Spider gets closer to the street than ever before, examining the lives of children who sell all they've got in the mean streets of The City."

Transmetropolitan #40 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.50.

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BRIEFLY