Monday, April 9, 2001

MCNEIL TALKS X-MEN: EVOLUTION

A new episode of X-Men: Evolution airing Saturday on Kids' WB!, "Grim Reminder," features Wolverine - and it is also the favorite of the season for Wolverine voice actor Scott McNeil.

In the episode, written by Len Uhley from a story by Greg Johnson, a dormant, undiscovered computer chip in Wolverine's brain is reactivated, luring him to Canada and to a hidden lab from his past.

"We get to see a little bit of his roots," McNeil told The Continuum. "It's not just him stepping in and saying, 'All right, Charles, what are we going to do about this?' It gives him some back story, and you learn a little bit more about him."

Of course, the episode doesn't answer all the questions about Wolverine.

"I don't like to use other people's quotes, but he's a mystery wrapped in an enigma," McNeil said. "And I quite liked that. He's kind of angry, and he's got a lot of issues going on."

McNeil originally auditioned for all the male roles in X-Men: Evolution, and it was actually his voice for Sabretooth that helped him land the role of Wolverine.

"They liked what I had done for Sabretooth for Wolverine," McNeil said. "I backed off it a little bit, made it a little bit less WWF. I've got that natural smoky, husky voice when I need it."

McNeil said Logan's character is a "tough nut to crack."

"He's good-hearted underneath it all, probably more than he lets on to people," McNeil said. "He definitely has a bit of a soft spot when it comes to those young mutants."

McNeil - who did four voices for Fox Kids' Beast Machines -- is working on the second season of X-Men: Evolution in Vancouver. He will also be featured in Evolution, based on the upcoming summer movie, for Fox Kids. That show is being produced by DIC.

Look for more exclusive X-Men: Evolution news this week here in The Continuum, and McNeil will also be featured in Ultimate Marvel Magazine #7.

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SPIDER-MAN MOVIE UPDATE

Laura Ziskin, producer of the Spider-Man movie, was featured Saturday night in E!'s What Is a Producer? special.

"Because I don't hold this camera, or I don't build the sets or I don't call action and I don't act in the movie and I don't write the script, it's much harder to define what a producer does," Ziskin said.

"I'm responsible for everything. It's such a complex endeavor on all fronts. Movies, they are a unique endeavor. I can't think of any other thing that one can do that uses every part of you. You have to use your taste, your intuition, your diplomatic skills, your stamina - everything."

Ziskin is a consistent presence on the Spider-Man set.

"Once you're shooting, I always feel like I have to be here. Because if I'm not here and then I come to dailies the next day, and it's 'Why they'd do that?'" Ziskin said. "There are little things, little contributions that you make through the day. I actually find it invigorating."

How did she become involved in Spider-Man?

"I said, 'Just give me the biggest mother you got.' I was looking for a challenge. I got one," Ziskin said.

"This is definitely not like anything I've ever done before. I wasn't a Spider-Man geek. I loved what the story was about, the human side of it."

The spot was filmed during shooting at a genetics lab where Peter Parker is bitten by the radioactive spider.

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Ziskin described one of the typical problems with which she has to deal.

"We came in and the spiders in the dialogue were different from a video that we had made to go up on these monitors - didn't match," she said. "So it was like this crisis yesterday. Oh no, what do we do? I go all over the place, so I have to solve these things."

Spider-Man director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire were also interviewed about Ziskin's involvement in the film.

"She's very thorough and make sure what we're going into, like a set, is propped properly according to some new script change," Raimi said. "A lot of work on the script. Supervising the writing and putting in ideas. Supervising the costumes, making sure it's up to the standards she has in her mind for particular scenes. Making sure the spirit of the film is right."

"I see Laura as Sam as pretty much partners in the thing," Maguire said, his arm draped around Ziskin. "And she's very involved with the story and the characters and all that. So, if I have some questions, I'll talk to Laura, as well as Sam, about them."

The special also featured Gale Anne Hurd, who is producing the Hulk movie for Universal.

In other Spider-Man movie news:

* E! News Weekend interviewed Kirsten Dunst about some of the problems plaguing the movie, including the death of a crew member in an accident last month.

"When you're building sets like that and it's rushed, they're very ambitious with their time," Dunst said. "They should just take more time with things and not rush because it's like huge stuff that they're doing.

"But the stunt guys I'm working with I feel completely safe."

POWERS TRADE PAPERBACK SELLS OUT

Image Comics vice-president and publisher Jim Valentino announced that Powers: Who Killed Retro Girl? has sold out of its first printing, becoming the fastest-selling trade paperback in Image Central's history.

"This is fantastic news," Valentino said. "Even though we overprinted this book by a considerable margin, the demand has rapidly exceeded our supply."

Upholding Image's commitment to keeping its backlist available, the book has already been sent back to press for a second printing - with a twist. The second printing will sport a brand new cover by co-creators Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming, and there will be two versions of the book.

"We have a lot of faith in this title and in its authors, so we're not just reprinting the book, we're creating a new Readers' Edition as well," Valentino said.

Retailing at the lower price of $15.95, the Readers' Edition will be stripped down to reprint only the Who Killed Retro Girl story from Powers #1-6.

"Powers has a loyal and growing readership. We think that a less expensive Reader's Edition of its first storyline will be a good tool for winning even more new readers for both the ongoing series and Brian's acclaimed backlist," Valentino said.

The Reader's Edition runs 152 pages. Although the less-expensive version was originally conceived for the mass-market book trade, Valentino said that both versions would be available to the Direct Sales Market.

The Definitive Edition of Who Killed Retro Girl? will have a new cover by Bendis and Oeming and will contain all the extras from the first printing, including Bendis' script for Powers #1 and sketchbook and gallery sections by Oeming. The Definitive Edition of Who Killed Retro Girl? runs 240 pages and still retails for $21.95.

FIRST LOOK: X-MEN #112

X-Men #112 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Scott Lobdell, with art by Leinil Yu and Mark Morales and a cover by Yu.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue, which is part two of the "Eve of Destruction" story arc:

"Wolverine and a mystery partner fight side-by-side in the bowels of Genosha. But sparks always fly between the X-Men-especially when they discover that the Genoshan Underground Resistance has already been wiped out, leaving them completely alone in the most deadly enemy territory."

X-Men #112 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.

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FIRST LOOK: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #30

Amazing Spider-Man #30 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by J. Michael Straczynski, with art by John Romita Jr. and a cover by J. Scott Campbell.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"As Peter Parker gets back into the swing of his life, a sudden encounter with an enigmatic stranger will forever change the way he will look at himself - and his alter ego, the ever-amazing Spider-Man."

Amazing Spider-Man #30 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.

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FIRST LOOK: IRON MAN #41

Iron Man #41 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Frank Tieri, with art and cover by Keron Grant and Rob Stull.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"A new art team arrives to kick off a new direction for the lives of Tony Stark and Iron Man."

Iron Man #41 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.

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FIRST LOOK: CRUX #1

Crux #1 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from CrossGen Comics. The issue is written by Mark Waid, penciled by Steve Epting and inked by Rick Magyar.

Here's how CrossGen describes the issue:

"How does Earth relate to the CrossGen Universe? Who is buried there, waiting to be revived? In a world long dead, warriors lie waiting under the surface for someone to arrive and revive them...except they didn't know when they were put there that they'd be expected to be warriors."

Crux #1 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.95.

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FIRST LOOK: SIGIL #11

Sigil #11 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from CrossGen Comics. The issue is written by Barbara Kesel, penciled by Scot Eaton, inked by Andrew Hennessy and colored by Wil Quintana.

Here's how CrossGen describes the issue:

"The Saurians have gotten word of what's being hidden on Zanni's world, and they'll destroy the planet to get rid of it! Luckily, Sam's there to meet the fleet, but can one man stand against a Saurian attack armada? They don't stand a chance! Meanwhile, the Weaponsmaster is visited by the Saurian warrior goddess who grants him the power to take on Sam."

Sigil #11 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.95.

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BRIEFLY