Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2001

SPIDER-MAN CASTING/RAIMI TO PLAY CURT CONNORS

A new press release from Sony Pictures Consumer Products indicates that Ted Raimi will be playing Dr. Curt Connors in the Spider-Man movie directed by his brother, Sam Raimi.

It has long been speculated that Ted Raimi would be playing Connors, the research biologist who, in the comics, eventually becomes the Lizard. Raimi is perhaps best known as Joxer in Xena: Warrior Princess and has appeared in many of his brother's movies.

At the Spider-Man press conference earlier this month, Sam Raimi confirmed that his brother was in the film, but didn't specify the role.

"Ted will be taking a small part in the picture. That's my brother. My mother's making me put him in the picture," Sam Raimi joked.

In other Spider-Man movie news:

* Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige has confirmed that Michael Papajohn will play the murderer of Uncle Ben. Papajohn appeared in the 1997 Spawn movie, playing Zack's father, who was killed by the Violator.

* The Sony press release, made available to The Continuum on Tuesday, was put together for Toy Fair and involves the joint enterprise of Sony Consumer Products/Marvel Enterprises for the Spider-Man Merchandising L.P. company.

Spider-Man Merchandising L.P. was established to oversee the expansive licensing and merchandising campaign surrounding the movie. Under the agreement, SPCP and Marvel equally share sales responsibilities, divided by category. Marvel will manage toys, apparel, accessories, collectibles, gift and novelty, and publishing (shared); SPCP will handle back-to-school, food and beverage, health and beauty, home furnishings, domestics, housewares, party goods, stationary, sporting goods, publishing (shared), ancillary toys and video games.

Spider-Man Merchandising L.P. has already signed Toy Biz as master toy licensee.

NEW X-MEN: EVOLUTION EPISODE

A new episode of X-Men: Evolution, "Turn Of The Rogue," airs this Saturday at 9:30 a.m. (ET) on Kids' WB!.

In the episode, Scott and Rogue must survive a Geology Club field trip into stormy mountains, while realizing that the people they trust most have been lying to them.

"Turn Of The Rogue" was written by story editor Greg Johnson, from a story by Johnson and executive producer Rick Ungar, and was directed by Boyd Kirkland.

"First off, let me say that I saw the episode last week, and was very happy with how it turned out," Johnson told The Continuum. "Boyd did a terrific job directing it, the animation was top notch, and Will Anderson's music really sells the mood. Rick Ungar and I worked very hard to develop the initial story into something that dutifully highlights Rogue's quandary. The question of where she wants to belong finally comes to a boil in this show.

"Like many of the episodes, this story looks to early high school relationships by examining 'trust' between teenagers and themselves, as well as with authority figures. And by placing the story within a school geology club trip to the snowy mountains, we get the chance to separate our characters from their daily routine, amp up their environment, and really focus on this aspect of their lives. It's an exciting episode with a few surprises, and I hope the fans enjoy it."

In the episode, look for an involved Danger Room sequence, the first interaction in the show between Professor Xavier and Magneto, a snowmobile race, two revelations involving Mystique and more big-scale action than previous episodes.

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The episode also shows off the devious and violent aspects of Mystique - even toward Rogue.

"She's driven. But I'd like to think of her as someone who isn't inherently evil, but rather flawed," Johnson said. "She's got reasons, as warped as they may be, for behaving the way she does. She's got agendas, and plays those around her in order to reach those agendas -- even her own daughter. But that doesn't mean she's void of maternal feelings for Rogue. She may not realize how much the girl means to her until she loses her."

Even though it's a big episode for Rogue, Johnson said "Turn Of The Rogue" is a turning point for the group as a whole - especially after a revelation from Professor Xavier.

"We see that maybe Xavier doesn't know all the right moves, he's not all-knowing, and he can make mistakes," Johnson said. "He's trying to figure things out on the run, just like everyone else. And once that's brought out, it's a more honest relationship for them all. And there are others going through self-realizations as well, which ultimately elevates everyone into a broader sense of understanding and acceptance."

Kids' WB! has not announced a second season of X-Men: Evolution, but is expected to soon.

Will Johnson be back for another season?

"I can't really comment on that until when and if papers are signed," said Johnson, who is also story-editing the Gatecrasher series for Mainframe Entertainment. "Let's just say discussions are going on."

TOMB RAIDER COMICS PLANS

Although it is still not announced if Top Cow will publish an adaptation of the Tomb Raider movie, the company has announced its Tomb Raider comics plans in months previous to the June 15 release of the film starring Angelina Jolie.

Here's a rundown:

February: The first issue of the Tomb Raider Magazine includes an oversized reprint of the first two issues of the Tomb Raider comic, an interview with series writer Dan Jurgens, profiles of the creative team and a cover by Adam Hughes. Top Cow will also offer -- for the first time -- the Exclusive Tomb Raider #1: Mini-Edition Preview. Once only available with the PC version of the Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation Millennium Edition game, the mini-book includes the introduction of Lara Croft to the Top Cow Universe and a sketch book section by series artist Andy Park.

March: Tomb Raider #12 marks the end of guest-artist Billy Tan's story arc.

April: Park returns as artist in Tomb Raider #13.

May: The second issue of the Tomb Raider Magazine will feature photos from the Tomb Raider movie and a preview of the upcoming two-issue story written and drawn by Hughes. The issue will have a new cover by Park and will also include over-sized reprints of Tomb Raider #3 and #4.

Also in May, Tomb Raider TPB #2: Mystic Artifacts will collect Tomb Raider #5-10.

BUFFY/TELEVISION ROUNDUP

A new episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Crush," will air on the WB network on Tuesday, Feb. 13.

In the episode, Buffy (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar) confronts Spike (played by James Marsters) about his suspected crush and is appalled by his admission of love. Her brutal rejection sends him back into the clutches of Drusilla (played by Juliet Landau), who has returned to Sunnydale intent on returning Spike to his killer ways.

In other TV news:

* Skateboard legend Tony Hawk guest-stars in animated form in the Saturday, Feb. 17 episode of Kids' WB!'s Max Steel. The episode is titled "Extreme."

* Angelina Jolie, who is starring in the Tomb Raider movie, will appear on NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Monday, Feb. 12 and on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien on Wednesday, Feb. 14.

* Sabrina, The Animated Series - based on the Archie Comics character -- will return to ABC's Saturday morning lineup next season.

* Disney's Lloyd In Space, a new animated series from the creators of the award-winning Disney's Recess, will join Disney's One Saturday Morning line-up on ABC this Saturday at 10 a.m. (ET). Lloyd In Space follows the humorous, day-to-day dilemmas of Lloyd, an alien teenager who must - as all teens do - endure the often confusing transition to adulthood. The initial order of 21 episodes is designated as children's educational and informational programming.

MILLAR'S MARVEL MESSAGE

Ultimate X-Men writer Mark Millar forwarded The Continuum a message about his new gig with Marvel Comics.

"This is just a quick one to clarify some rumours kicking around regarding my move to the States this year. There's been a lot of Internet speculation lately and, after a batch of British newspaper profiles at the weekend, I thought it was best to come clean and let everyone know what I'm up to.

"As has been reported, I was made a couple of truly fine offers from Wildstorm and Marvel before Christmas. The WildStorm gig was an exclusive contract where I'd up sticks and move from Glasgow to sunny California and work, in-house, as Head Writer and Brainstormer-in-Chief from WildStorm's offices in La Jolla. The WildStorm guys are old mates of mine and this was incredibly tempting, especially since it hasn't stopped raining here in Scotland since something like 1974.

"However, what Joe Quesada and Bill Jemas at Marvel offered was a chance for my family and I to move to New York and for me to put my money where my mouth is, working on the front-lines and playing my part in Marvel's major play for new readers in 2001. This means I'll be working on staff for Marvel Entertainment over the next couple of years but, contrary to some Net speculation, I won't be working in an editorial capacity. I'll be sitting around a conference table, eating pizza, drinking beer and brain-storming at every opportunity, but my real job will be writing. My commitment to Marvel, for the next two years at least, is to continue writing Ultimate X-Men and to initiate what looks set to be the biggest, most ambitious Ultimate title yet. I wish I could divulge details of this right now (because I'm aching to tell you who the artist is), but I have to bite my lip until my other commitments are finished first and I can get properly started in May.

"In case you haven't noticed, the buzz up at Park Avenue South has been electric these last few months and I just want to play a bigger part in it. My decision was as simple as that. Joe Q has turned the place around a hundred and eighty degrees and Marvel's gone from being the ugly girl on the dance-floor to the girl everyone most wants to shag. It's not about money. You can make ten times as much money in TV. It's about respect for the creators, a level of enthusiasm that's been missing from comics these last few years and a mapped-out mission from Bill and Joe to SAVE this brilliant, little industry we're all so besotted by.

"Another reason I opted for the Marvel proposal was because the unique contract they put together for me actually allowed me to continue working for other people too. I've always enjoyed writing the kind of risky books which give Management both ulcers and heart trouble and the Marvel contract allows me to do some creator-owned material for WildStorm, Humanoids and Matt Hawkins at Top Cow. Essentially, I'm getting the best of both worlds here: Writing big, blockbuster superhero comics at the same time as the small, independent and more personal work.

"As you can tell, I'm excited. I haven't felt this good about comics since 1986 and I honestly reckon that 2001 is going to be even better. Marvel's got Grant Morrison, Brian Bendis, Pete Milligan, Garth Ennis, Steve Dillon, JMS, Paul Jenkins and (many) other people I'd NEVER has expected to see under the Marvel banner. The enthusiasm's infectious."

FIRST LOOK: THE COFFIN #3

The Coffin #3 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Oni Press. The issue is written by Phil Hester, with art by Mike Huddleston.

Here's how Oni describes the issue:

"Beset by a horde of coffin zombies like himself, Ahmad is unable to prevent the abduction of his former partner by the evil corporation that stole his technology. As if killing Dr. Ahmad and pilfering his research wasn't enough, Heller sets out to destroy the scientist's last link to humanityâ¤|his daughter."

The Coffin #3 will be 32 black-and-white page and will cost $2.95.

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