Friday, Dec. 22, 2000

(Editor's note: Look for bonus coverage in The Continuum this weekend as well as a full report on Monday, Christmas Day).

SPIDER-MAN MOVIE UPDATE

Willem Dafoe, who will be playing Green Goblin in the Spider-Man movie, will be making at least two national television appearances next week.

Dafoe will be appearing on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien on Tuesday night. Dafoe will also be appearing on NBC's The Today Show some time between 7-9 a.m. on Friday.

Dafoe will be promoting his new film, Shadow of the Vampire, for which on Thursday he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

In other Spider-Man movie news:

* Columbia Pictures on Thursday officially announced the casting of Cliff Robertson as Uncle Ben and J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson.

Columbia described Jameson as "Peter Parker's gruff but kind-hearted boss" at The Daily Bugle."

Look for more Spider-Man movie news soon here in The Continuum.

BEATTY WRITES BATMAN BOOK

Scott Beatty told The Continuum he is working on an Ultimate Batman book for DC Comics' licensed book division and England's Dorling Kindersely. The book will be released next fall.

Beatty, who is co-writing Robin: Year One with Chuck Dixon, is also co-writing Robin #88-91, which resolves the mysteries surround Tim Drake's Brentwood school mate Danny Temple.

Beatty is team with Dixon on a DC Fifth Week event for next year.

"We really can't say much on it yet," Beatty said.

Beatty is also working with webmaster Scott McCullar (of Dixonverse.com and 2Kcomics.com) on a personal site (scottbeatty.com), which should go up early in 2001.

SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED'S GIT HOSKINS

GIVE'EM A CLICK

Git Hoskins, a mummy-looking member of the Human Revolutionaries, is featured on "Deadly Choices," this Saturday's episode of Spider-Man Unlimited on Fox Kids.

"When we were setting up the series, I came up with the characters of the revolutionaries and designed them," said Spider-Man Unlimited producer Will Meugniot. "Git Hoskins was my favorite of them all. I liked the idea that you didn't know just what, if anything, was inside those bandages, and his quirky details like the lunchbox and the single Christmas mitten."

The episode shows how Git Hoskins acquired his powers and the reason behind his animosity for Sir Ram, one of the Knights of Wundagore.

"Deadly Choices" was directed by Pat Archibald.

"When the first draft storyboard was done, the episode came in a little short, so Roy Burdine staged an elaborate flying car chase sequence to fill it out," Meugniot said.

Although "Deadly Choices" features Git more than any other episode, he will be a recurring cast member of Spider-Man Unlimited as part of the Revolutionaries, along with John Jameson, Karen O'Malley and Bromley.

Look for more on Spider-Man Unlimited, including the first appearance of X-51, next week here in The Continuum.

FIRST LOOK: X-MEN #109

X-Men #109 will arrive in stores next week from Marvel Comics. The issue's lead story is written by Chris Claremont, with art and cover by Leinil Francis Yu and Mark Morales.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"A 100-Page Monster. It's holiday time at the X-Mansion. After so much tragedy, these days represent a time for the mutant family to bond and heal. But Thunderbird is not only shaken by the strange lives his new teammates lead, he is also homesick. Will Neal Shaara remain with the X-Men or return to India? Plus: in keeping with the holiday theme, this 100-Page Monster also reprints Uncanny X-Men #98, #143 and #341... for only $1.25 more."

X-Men #109 will be 100 pages and will cost $3.50.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: WOLVERINE #159

Wolverine #159 will arrive in stores next week. The issue is written by Frank Tieri, with art and cover by Sean Chen.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"Who is Mr. X-and why does he want to kill Wolverine? You've heard the question posed before, but in this case the answer will shock you... and the villain will repulse you."

Wolverine #159 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: X-MEN: BLINK #1

X-Men: Blink #1 will arrive in stores next week. The issue is written by Scott Lobdell, with art by Trevor McCarthy and a cover by Adam Kubert.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"The time? Several years ago. The place? That hellish version of Earth known as the Age of Apocalypse. The star of this story? The young girl known as Blink! The teleporting mutant has only just recently joined Magneto's X-Men and finds that 1. being a rebel fighting insurmountable odds isn't easy; and 2. the team has too many rules. But Clarice finds far more than she could have anticipated when she decides to invade Apocalypse's stronghold-all on her own."

X-Men: Blink #1 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.99.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: X-MEN FOREVER #2

X-Men: Forever #2 will arrive in stores next week. The issue is written by Fabian Nicieza, art and cover by Kevin Maguire.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"Jean Grey, Juggernaut, Mystique, Toad and Iceman have been displaced in time. But to what end? What are the Cataclysm Keys and how do they unlock the secret of humanity's salvation?"

X-Men: Forever #2 will be 32 pages and will cost $3.50.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: SPIDER-MAN: MARROW

Spider-Man: Marrow will arrive in stores next week. The issue is written by Scott Lobdell, art and cover by Ale Garza.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"They first came to blows in Uncanny X-Men #346 -- now Spider-Man and the malicious Morlock meet again! But if Peter Parker was expecting the kindler and relatively attractive Marrow that we last saw, then he's in for a huge surprise."

Spider-Man: Marrow will be 48 pages and will cost $2.99.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: MARVEL KNIGHTS #8

Marvel Knights #8 will arrive in stores next week from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Chuck Dixon, with art by Eduardo Barreto and a cover by Joe Quesada.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"Daredevil, Black Widow and Moon Knight have been sucked into the demented darkness that is Cloak. Can Dr. Strange and Shang Chi rescue their missing teammates? And will Dagger bring herself to fight against her former partner?"

Marvel Knights #8 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.99.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: SPIDER-MAN: THE MYSTERIO MANIFESTO #2

Spider-Man: They Mysterio Manifesto #2 arrives in stores next week from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Tom DeFalco, with art by Lee Weeks and Bob McLeod and a cover by Weeks.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"Mary Jane is alive! Baby May is back! As everything falls into place and all of the tragedies of his life fade into distant memories, Peter Parker must wonder: is this the way things should be-or is this Mysterio's greatest triumph?"

Spider-Man: The Mysterio Manifesto #2 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.99.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: GENERATION X #72

Generation X #72 will arrive in stores next week from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Brian Wood, with art by Steve Pughand a cover by Art Adams.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue, which is the second part of the four-part "Four Days" story arc:

"Monet and Jubilee jump into the spotlight. Temperatures rise as the girls head off to NYC for some intense shopping-but get trapped in the subway with a band of anti-mutant terrorists."

Generation X #72 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

BRIEFLY