Monday, December 10, 2001

THE TICK EPISODES

Fox will be airing three episodes of The Tick, including two new ones, in the next two weeks.

This Thursday's episode is "Arthur Needs His Space."

Here's how the network describes the episode:

"Arthur runs into a former high school classmate and musters up the courage to ask her on a date. She agrees, and Arthur tries in vain to explain the concept of dating to The Tick, who assumes they'll all go on the date together."

The Thursday, Dec. 20 episode is a rebroadcast of the "Couples" episode.

Here's how the network describes the episode:

"Arthur and The Tick strike up a friendship with another superhero duo, Fiery Blaze and Friendly Fire, and agree to get together for a night out. After seeing how dysfunctional the other duo is, Arthur and The Tick realize the strength of their relationship."

Fox will also show The Tick on Friday, Dec. 21 at 8:30 p.m., pre-empting Dark Angel with "The Big Leagues" episode.

Here's how Fox describes the episode:

"An exclusive superhero club invites The Tick and Arthur to join their ranks. After the duo passes a fraternity-style hazing process, they gain admittance. However, Bat Manuel and Captain Liberty feel left out since they were not offered admittance."

Click below for images from the episodes.

HUGH JACKMAN SPOOFS SUPERMAN, SPIDER-MAN

Hugh Jackman, who played Wolverine in X-Men, dressed up as Superman for a skit during his stint as host of NBC's Saturday Night Live.

The Superman segment parodied the Christopher Reeve/Marlon Brando sequences from the first movie, where Superman uses crystals to lock into the "mystery of my true identity."

After Jor-El tells Superman that he's been dead for many years and that the crystals hold his stored knowledge, the conversation turns awkward between Superman and his parents, where Superman tells his mother about his friendships, like "with Jimmy Olsen, this teenage boy I hang out with." A new crystal brings up Superman's grandmother.

Will Ferrell played Jor-El and Maya Rudolph assumed the role of Lara, originally played by Susannah York.

Earlier in the show during the "Jarrett's Room" segment, Jackman played Stanley, the other kid who stayed in the dorm during the holiday break. His nerdy character made a personal comment to Sam Raimi, director of the Spider-Man movie.

"As you all know, Spider-Man is going to be played by none other than low-key mumbler Tobey Maguire," Stanley vents. "Hey geniuses, why don't you throw in Michael Caine, like it's Captain America, and you can have the entire cast of The Cider House Rules destroy the Marvel Universe in one-fell swoop? I ask you people, what are you trying to do, ruin my life?"

For images from Jackman's appearance, click below.

JERRY ORDWAY ON TOM STRONG, AZRAEL

Jerry Ordway told The Continuum he is drawing an eight-page story for Tom Strong's Terrific Tales #3.

"I'm a huge fan of the Tom Strong stuff, and it's great fun to work with Alan Moore again," Ordway told The Continuum.

Tom Strong's Terrific Tales #3 will reach stores in March.

Ordway is also doing covers for DC's Azrael: Agent of the Bat - over Mike Zeck's layouts - starting with #88, also in March.

"Beyond that, I still in the process of lining up assignments for 2002," Ordway said. "I've got some proposals to pitch, and also a Proton ashcan to produce, for trademark purposes, in the very near future."

ELFQUEST TOYS ARRIVE

Originally announced for earlier this year, the Elfquest Series One action figures have arrived in stores.

Distributed by The Stronghold Group, a Los Angeles-based entertainment brand management company, Elfquest Series One contains four figures: Cutter (the chief of the Wolfrider tribe who is packaged with his wolf, Nightrunner), Leetah (a healer from the Sunfolk tribe and Cutter's lifemate, packaged with Petalwing, a Preserver), Tyldak (leader of the Gliders, a flying character with a 16" wingspan), and Picknose (a troll and one of the most massive action figures ever produced).

Series Two and Series Three, each containing four additional characters, will be released in the spring and fall of 2002.

All of the toys are based on characters in the Elfquest comic book series, created by Wendy and Richard Pini. Stronghold Group will also be doing action figures based on the character designs from the Elfquest feature film being produced by Wolfmill Entertainment. Those toys will be released along with the film, currently scheduled for 2003.

For Series One, a specially designed full-color background diorama by Elfquest co-creator and artist Wendy Pini is available at no cost.

The background diorama depicts the various lands from Elfquest's World of Two Moons where the characters in Elfquest Series One live: Leetah's Sun Village, Cutter's Fathertree, Tyldak's Blue Mountain, and Picknose's Troll Caves. The bases, included with each of the Elfquest Series One action figures, fit together and, when assembled, set each character in front of their appropriate land.

LIBERTY MEADOWS UPDATE

Frank Cho's Liberty Meadows newspaper comic strip from Creators Syndicate will end on a cliffhanger on Dec. 30, but the story will continue.

In January, Cho will address many of the issues left hanging from the strip in a comic book special, The Liberty Meadows Wedding Album, published by Insight Studios Group.

"This was a difficult choice for me," Cho said. "I've enjoyed and appreciated the response from my newspaper readers while at the same time I was growing more frustrated with the restrictions the syndicated comic form put on me."

All through December, Cho will be planting references to the toll-free Comic Shop Locator Service phone number, (888) COMIC BOOK, in the newspaper version of Liberty Meadows.

"After several years of stagnation following a decline in the mid-90s, the comic-book market is enjoying a creative and sales renaissance," said Insight Studios Group's Mark Wheatley. "The comic-book version of Liberty Meadows has been ahead of the trend for its entire life, gaining readers with each passing issue and repeatedly going back to press for new printings. This new comic book exclusive story is Frank's way of making an even bigger push for comic books."

MARVEL KNIGHTS PREVIEWS

Marvel Comics has provided The Continuum with seven pages from its Marvel Knights titles arriving this month.

The pages include:

Pages 11 and 15 from Punisher #7, with art by Steve Dillon, on sale Wednesday.

Pages 18 and 19 from Daredevil #28, with art by Alex Maleev, on sale Dec. 19.

Pages 3, 12 and 13 from Elektra #6, with art by Chuck Austen, on sale Dec. 26.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: GREYSHIRT: INDIGO SUNSET #3

Greyshirt: Indigo Sunset #3 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from America's Best Comics and DC Comics.

The issue is written by Rick Veitch, with art by Veitch and David Lloyd and a cover by Veitch.

Here's how DC describes the issue:

"Out in the real world, Franky Lafayette and Johnny Apollo form a partnership, taking over the rackets in Indigo City. Sometimes crime does pay - but never for very long. Events in this issue sow the seeds of their breakup (which clears the way for one of our rotten eggs to become Indigo's greatest champion). Enjoy the Sunday funnies and the Indigo Sunset newspaper. Artist David Lloyd proves that what you can't see can sometimes still hurt you."

Greyshirt: Indigo Sunset #3 will be 32 pages and will cost $3.50.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: BLACK PANTHER #39

Black Panther #39 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Christopher Priest, with art by Sal Velluto and Bob Almond and a cover by Steve Uy.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"It's Black Panther vs. Iron Fist in 'Nuff Said combat. The karate king of K'un L'un is back, but he's not quite the Iron Fist you remember. Black Panther battles a murderously unhinged Danny Rand while time runs out for Everett K. Ross and, quite possibly, the world. It's super silent fisticuffs between two of the greatest fighters of the Marvel Universe."

Black Panther #39 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.50.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: CRUX #9

Crux #9 will arrive in stores on Dec. 19 from CrossGen Comics. The issue is written by Mark Waid, penciled by Steve Epting, inked by Rick Magyar and colored by Frank D'Armata

Here's how CrossGen describes the issue:

"With Geromi's help, the team has at last found others on Earth who claim some knowledge of what happened to the human race--information that will NOT be given freely."

Crux #9 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.95.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

BRIEFLY