Monday, April 23, 2001

JUSTICE LEAGUE VOICES

Mark Hamill and Clancy Brown will reprise their roles of the Joker and Lex Luthor for Cartoon Network's Justice League animated series.

The Joker and Lex Luthor will be part of the Injustice Gang on the series.

Recording for the first season of Justice League, under the direction of Andrea Romano, is about halfway completed.

Kevin Conroy, the voice of Bruce Wayne and Batman in the previous Warner Bros. Animation Batman series, returns for Justice League.

The voice cast of Justice Leaguers will also include George Newbern as Superman, Phil LaMarr as Green Lantern, Susan Eisenberg as Wonder Woman, Maria Canals as Hawkgirl, Carl Lumbly as Martian Manhunter and Michael Rosenbaum as the Flash.

Lumbly recently did the voice of the Stalker on Batman Beyond and starred in the series M.A.N.T.I.S. Newbern has been a regular on TNT's Bull series.

For more on the Justice League animated series, check Tuesday's Continuum report.

SKROCE, DARROW TALK MATRIX SEQUELS

Steve Skroce and Geof Darrow, comics artists returning to work on The Matrix sequels, both told The Continuum that they expect the next two movies to easily outdo the first.

"I've seen some footage and it's fantastic," said Skroce, who is again doing storyboards. "The little they've shot so far, over the last month or so, is so sweet.

"I would be very surprised if any of the Matrix fans aren't satisfied with the new ones."

"It's an incredibly coherent piece of work," said Darrow, who is again doing design work. "It's going to be an amazing story. I'm pretty lucky to be working on it, this goofy comic book guy from Iowa."

Both Skroce and Darrow - who can't reveal details about the films -- are still working on them for directors Andy and Larry Wachowski.

"They said it would be 5-6 months, and I'm going on eight," Skroce said. "When I get done in June, it will be more like 12-13 months.

"They don't want anything to be hacked out. It's gotta be right before it's done quickly."

Skroce said he's been working closely with the Wachowski brothers.

"I'll keep doing sketches until the shot is exactly the way they want," he said. "The movie really does come out of their brains. I'm the translator; that's how I would describe it. We go through an immense amount of detail doing the boards correctly."

KABUKI MOVIE UPDATE

David Mack told The Continuum that work continues on the animated Kabuki movie and that "one way or another, something's going to happen in the next couple of months."

Mack renewed his option with 20th Century Fox last November for another 12 months.

"They still send me thing to look over and we have phone conferences where we discuss things and then they fine tune," Mack said. "I get the impression we're near the end of this stage and the next stage is soon upon us."

Filmmaker John Sayles has been brought into the project. "I've never met him face-to-face, but he's a great guy and totally cool," Mack said.

Mack remains optimistic that Kabuki will be made.

"I do know they have put a lot of money into it," he said. "It's been a great learning experience."

For more on Mack's comics work, check The Continuum on Tuesday.

CULLY HAMNER TALKS RED

Artist Cully Hamner is teaming with Warren Ellis on Red, a mini-series due next year from WildStorm Productions' Homage Comics.

The Continuum caught up with Hamner last weekend for insight into the project and his upcoming work.

The Continuum: What's your take on Red?

Hamner: It's about a retired CIA assassin, Paul Moses, who lives a quiet life, being drawn back into operational status ("Red") after an attempt on his life. My take on it will be to tell the story in a very cinematic way. I hear a lot about "widescreen storytelling." To be honest, I don't know what the hell that means; I just tell stories in the most effective way I know how. For me, story dictates method, not the other way around. Suffice to say, Warren and I are going to tell the story like a freight-train. We're going to run you over with it, and because we're nice guys, we might call you an ambulance.

The Continuum: This is a fairly realistic sytle?

Hamner: Probably not. I'm not a realist when it comes to drawing. It'll be slick and commercial, with an emphasis on clear storytelling. I'll probably veer into caricature and exaggeration where I deem it appropriate, but always with serious intent. I just think that sometimes you can get across far more drama and peril with a bit of cartooniness than you can with outright photorealism.

The Continuum: How far along are you?

Hamner: Well, I haven't even started. I'm buried in other projects for DC until October or November, and I haven't seen the first script yet (probably because they don't want me to be distracted until I'm done with my prior commitments).

The Continuum: Are you inking, too?

Hamner: Yes, I'm definitely inking, which is exciting for me. It allows me to pencil much more loosely, and it makes my stuff look a lot more spontaneous, in my opinion. And, you know, it just allows me more control over and freedom with my work.

The Continuum: Is this the first time you've worked with Ellis?

Hamner: Actually, it isn't the first time. I did one of the spreads on Transmetropolitan: I Hate It Here, and there's a short story for WildStorm coming up in August. That one's a bit special, because Warren's writing a character in it that nobody expected him to touch again, and I get to draw it!

The Continuum: Anything else you want to say?

Hamner: Yeah. First off, contrary to previous reports, this is a three-issue series, not a six-issue series. Secondly, it isn't being released in late 2001. I'm working on a 128-page, Prestige Format mini until October; it's called Tenses, it's written by Joe Casey, and it features one of DC's big characters. After that, I start on Red. So, I wouldn't look for it until the first half of 2002 at the earliest.

FIRST LOOK: SIDEKICKS #3

Sidekicks #3 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Fanboy Entertainment. The issue is written by J. Torres, with art and cover by Takeshi Miyazawa.

Here's how Fanboy describes the issue:

"Terry Highland and her father Dave paid a visit to Shuster Academy to see whether or not this 'special school' was for the young powerhouse. During the visit, Terry was invited to test her skills in one of the school's high tech training rooms. The training program unexpectedly short-circuited and Terry was overwhelmed by the robot fighters she sparred against. To everyone's surprise, Ms Sternin, the usually cold and even severe principal of the academy, was the one to jump to Terry's rescue. Despite this close call, however, Terry still decided to attend the school. She quickly made friends in her dorm, joined the staff of the school paper and even tried to bond with the intimidating woman who saved her life. However, Terry also became fascinated with uncovering the identities of the teenage vigilante trio known as Pow, Biff and Bam. Sternin frowned on this extra-curricular activity and Terry's amateur sleuthing got her into some trouble. Now, still traumatized by the Battlebot mishap and trying to shake off the 'new kid in school' stigma, Terry nears the end of her make or break first semester."

Mike Wieringo is also providing a cover for the issue, left, which will cost $2.75.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: HELLBLAZER #161

Hellblazer #161 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from DC Comics. The issue is written by Brian Azzarello, with art by Marcelo Frusin and a painted cover by Tim Bradstreet.

Here's how DC describes the issue, which is the fourth and final part of the "Freezes Over" story.

"The legendary serial killer known as The Iceman reveals himself. Bodies are piling up as fast as the snow outside as Constantine and the other denizens of a tiny roadhouse struggle to survive a murderous blizzard, trapped not only by the weather, but by a madman on a mission."

Hellblazer #161 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.50.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: EL DIABLO #4

El Diablo #4 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from DC Comics. The issue is written by Brian Azzarello, with art by Danijel Zezelj and a painted cover by Tim Sale.

Here's how DC describes the issue:

"Vertigo's twist on a classic DC Western character concludes. Some men will go to extreme and brutal lengths to hide the secrets deep within them. And some...some don't even know they exist. This final chapter brings the miniseries to its fateful ending, as Sheriff Moses Stone comes face to face with not just the outlaw El Diablo, but also a past Stone buried long ago."

El Diablo #4 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.50.

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FIRST LOOK: PROMETHEA #14

Promethea #14 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from America's Best Comics and 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:

"Sophie is reunited with Barbara as her road-trip odyssey into the Imateria continues. Their first port of call: the Lunar Realm of Dreams and Imagination -- a surreal and mystical land where they encounter Sophie's long dead great great grand uncle. Meanwhile, Stacia finds that being the interim Promethea is a bit more than she had anticipated."

Promethea #14 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.95.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

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