Friday, Aug. 10, 2001

MUTANT X TV UPDATE

The Mutant X television series is expected to begin on schedule the week of Oct. 1 despite a court ruling involving 20th Century Fox on Thursday.

Fox had sued the companies involved with the series, saying that Mutant X infringed on its X-Men movie rights.

According to Daily Variety, New York District Court Judge Allen Schwartz turned down an injunction filed by 20th to halt production of the series. At the same time, the court ruled that Tribune's use of the Mutant X title violated 20th's rights - but stopped short of actually forcing the distributor to change the series' name.

Fox issue a release Thursday night concerning the rulings. Here's what the release said:

"Twentieth Century Fox is pleased that the court issued an injunction against Marvel, Tribune and Fireworks, preventing them from violating Fox's rights in its X-Men movie.

"The court also held that Fox can recover monetary damages for Marvel and Tribune's use of Mutant X as the title of their television series, in violation of Fox's contract with Marvel, and that a permanent injunction on the title of the series may later issue. In the court's words, Fox 'demonstrated a clear likelihood of success for a claim of breach of contract grounded in (the) use of the Mutant X name as the title of the proposed series.'

"In this lawsuit, Fox forced the creators of Mutant X to change the content of their series, and the court has now ordered further changes to the logo, used to sell the Mutant X television series, which the court held infringes Fox's rights and can no longer be used. The court rejected Marvel's argument that television series rights were not 'frozen' by the parties' agreement.

"Finally, the court allowed Fox to proceed to a full trial. Fox looks forward to this opportunity to further vindicate its rights."

Tribune CEO Dick Askin told Daily Variety on Thursday that the U.S. District Court "overwhelmingly ruled in our favor … (and dismissed) all of the significant claims against Tribune."

Marvel Studios representatives have told The Continuum that they will not comment on litigation. A publicist for the show did not return requests for information on how the rulings will affect Mutant X's production status. The show is currently in hiatus.

SPAWN: THE DARK AGES CANCELED

Spawn: The Dark Ages writer Steve Niles confirmed for The Continuum that the book is being canceled.

Niles said he wasn't sure what the last issue will be. "Twenty-eight, I think," he said.

Niles said he will be collaborating on a new Image series with Spawn: The Dark Ages artist Nat Jones.

"We're all pretty depressed about Dark Ages getting canned, but we are keeping the entire team together and starting a creator owned book for Image entitled Fused," Niles said.

"It's a shame Dark Ages couldn't sell enough to keep it going, but in the current market, word-of-mouth just doesn't attract enough new readers. I'm very proud of the work we all did on StDA and I hope we can transplant that energy into the new series for Image."

X-MEN: EVOLUTION UPDATE

Udon Studios head Erik Ko provided The Continuum with more details on the artists for Marvel Comics' upcoming X-Men: Evolution comic book.

"The creative team on the X-Men: Evolution monthly is Long Vo, Charles Park and Saka of Studio XD," Ko told The Continuum. "Their other work includes Last Shot, their creator-owned title from Image. Studio XD is well-known in the comic book industry to be one of the best American anime/manga style artists. Their work on X-Men Evolution will be top-notch, with vibrant anime colors loaded cool special effects."

Devin Grayson is writing X-Men: Evolution. "We just got the (first) script in two days ago," Ko said.

Look for news on the second season of the X-Men: Evolution television series here in The Continuum.

FIRST LOOK: SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL #117

Superman: The Man of Steel #117 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from DC Comics. The issue is written by Mark Schultz, with art and cover by Doug Mahnke and Tom Nguyen.

Here's how DC describes the issue:

"Guest-starring the Captain Marvels, the Atom and Wonder Woman. It is perhaps the darkest hour of the War as heroes have fallen and allies have turned against one another. And there is more death to come. Is it any wonder that Superman has fallen into despair? Unable to tell friend from foe, he's about to shed all his humanity to end the war once and for all."

Superman: The Man of Steel #117 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.

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FIRST LOOK: ULTIMATE X-MEN #8

Ultimate X-Men #8 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Mark Millar with art by Adam Kubert and Art Thibert and a cover by Kubert.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue, which is part of the "Weapon X" story arc:

"As the X-Men investigate Logan's past, the team is confronted by another member of the Weapon X Program. And watching from the shadows are two even more dangerous operatives."

Ultimate X-Men #8 will 32 pages and will cost $2.25.

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FIRST LOOK: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #34

Amazing Spider-Man #34 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by J. Michael Straczynski, with art by John Romita Jr. and Scott Hanna and a cover by J. Scott Campbell.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"It's wall-to-wall action as Spider-Man, armed with new knowledge about himself and his powers, squares off against the enigmatic and lethal Morlun."

Amazing Spider-Man #34 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.

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FIRST LOOK: GHOST RIDER: THE HAMMER LANE #3

Ghost Rider: The Hammer Lane #3 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Devin Grayson, with art by Trent Kaniuga and a cover by Kaniuga and Danny Miki.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"His name is Gunmetal Gray, and he's been hired to kill Ghost Rider - but you won't believe who his employer is. And while a supernatural, flame-skulled demon is pretty hard to kill, the ex-stunt rider named Johnny Blaze is totally mortal. Will Ghost Rider's crusade for vengeance run out of gas just as it's begun?"

Ghost Rider: The Hammer Lane #3 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.99.

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FIRST LOOK: ELEKTRA #2

Elektra #2 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Brian Michael Bendis, with art by Chuck Austen, covers by Greg Horn and Bill Sienkiewicz.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"Why has the super secret spy organization called S.H.I.E.L.D. hired the sexy assassin? And has the subversive terrorist cell known as Hydra infiltrated her employers? Surrounded by evil, and left no one to trust, it'll take all of Elektra's 'ninja whamma-jamma' to ferret out the answers and survive this deadly mission."

Elektra #2 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.99.

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