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Friday, January 25, 2002

JUSTICE LEAGUE UPDATE

Part two of the "Paradise Lost" episode of Justice League will air on Cartoon Network on Monday.

The first part of the episode established Felix Faust as the villain and an underling for Lord Hades. In order to save her fellow Amazons, who were turned to stone, Wonder Woman - with help from the Justice League - is forced to retrieve mystical objects.

"I wanted to do a magic-based story as a change of pace from all the sci-fi epics we've been doing on Justice League, so Felix Faust seemed like a natural place to start," Justice League producer Rich Fogel told The Continuum. "I also liked the structure of the original Silver Age Faust story from Justice League of America #10 in which the mad sorcerer forces our heroes to go and retrieve magic relics for him. But something was still missing.

"I talked to several writers about this idea, and Joe Kuhr had a take I really liked. He brought up an idea that relates to the history of Themyscira in the comics, and when we incorporated that into the plot, everything else fell into place. Joe did a great job on this one, and so did director Dan Riba and his crew."

Fogel said the episode will have "amazing" action.

"I've watched it several times, and I still can't believe some of the stuff they pulled off. Incredible!" he said. "We also get a real sense of Diana's background and her Amazon heritage. By the end of this one, I don't think anyone will ever underestimate her again."

John Rhys Davies does the voice of Lord Hades.

Look for more on Justice League soon here in The Continuum.

NEW MUTANT X EPISODE

A new episode of Mutant X, "Whiter Shade of Pale," airs this week in syndication.

The episode, the 11th of the season, is written by Tony DiFranco and directed by Terry Ingram.

For a complete story synopsis, with spoilers, CLICK HERE.

CROSSGEN HIRES TWO INKERS, COLORIST

CrossGen Comics has added three creators, inkers Tom Ryder and Brad Vancata and colorist Chris Garcia, to its staff.

Ryder joins the staff as inker for the May-releasing Way of the Rat, working over the pencils of Jeff Johnson. Garcia will join Johnson and Garcia on the title.

Vancata will work over the pencils of Andy Smith. Initially, Vancata will work with Smith on relief issues, beginning with Negation #6. The two will then move on to their own title sometime in late 2002.

Ryder began inking comics professionally upon his graduation from the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art in 1991. He immediately went to work at Valiant Comics and spent five years there, inking titles such as X-O Manowar, Solar, Man of the Atom and Shadowman. In 1996 he left the comic industry to work on storyboards for animation. He has worked on Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles, Jackie Chan Adventures and Men in Black: The Series.

"With our plans for continued growth, it becomes a necessity to find creators that can not only do a great job, but can fit into the studio environment we have set up," CrossGen art director Bart Sears said. "Tom Ryder is just that person. He'll make a great addition to the team on Way of the Rat and his personality will fit in really well with everyone else here."

Garcia began as a colorist at WildStorm in 1997. After four years, he began a freelance career that brought him work from Marvel Comics, Avalon, Pennyfarthing Press and CrossGen Comics. His work on CrossGen's Mystic and Chronicles got him the offer to join the company full-time.

"Finding colorists that live up to the extremely high standards that have been set by CrossGen's existing coloring corps isn't easy," Sears said. "Chris' work for us in the past showed that he had what it took to fit in talent-wise, and we jumped at the opportunity to bring him on-board full-time."

Vancata is a graduate of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art. Upon graduation in 1989, he went on to work in Marvel Comics' offices in New York City. After working as an inker and colorist during this time, Vancata went freelance, and began working on a variety of titles, such as Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man: Lethal Foes, and various X-Men titles for Marvel Comics, Bloodshot for Acclaim Comics, Stormwatch for WildStorm, and Impulse, Superman, and the mini-series, Aquaman: Time & Tide for DC Comics. Vancata's also done storyboards for various projects, including public service announcements, short films, and video game cinematics. In addition, he also had a major role in doing conceptual design artwork, graphic design and actual ride artwork for the Adventures of Spider-Man multi-media ride in the Islands of Adventure theme park at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Just previous to coming to CrossGen, Vancata worked in the video game industry for Interplay Entertainment, producing level design art, conceptual art, and texture mapping for some of the first generation of video game titles for Sony's PlayStation 2.

"I'm really excited about the opportunity to come and work at CrossGen," Vancata said. "I've been away from comics for a while, successfully working in other venues, and it took a company like CrossGen to bring me back. I've worked for a number of big-name entertainment companies in my career, and CrossGen has the same thing going for it as these others - a commitment to professionalism and quality that you can see in the work produced."

Ryder and Garcia have already relocated to CrossGen's Florida-based studio, and Vancata will make the move in early March.

FIRST LOOK: NINJA BOY #6

Ninja Boy #6 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from DC Comics and WildStorm Productions. The issue is written by Allen Warner, with art and cover by Ale Garza and Dan Norton

Here's how DC describes the issue:

"The conclusion to Ninja Boy's first story arc. For Nakio, death is just another obstacle to overcome. If Mikaboshi's elite assassins and a 'ghost town' of ninja can't stop Nakio, what will? Enter Bishamon: God of War. Will Nakio finally rest in peace...or pieces?

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Jan. 30.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: OUT THERE #8

Out There #8 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from DC Comics and WildStorm Productions. The issue is written by Brian Augustyn, with art and cover by Humberto Ramos and Sandra Hope.

Here's how DC describes the issue, which is part two of the six-part "The Road to El Dorado" story:

"Zach, Casey, Jess and Mark continue searching for some clues to the final fate of their hometown. They just didn't expect to find them so soon. Most disturbing are the human-goblin hybrids that inhabit this quaint little garden spot, the 'picturesque' Purgatory. Sounds like it's time for an exorcism."

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Jan. 30.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: TOM STRONG'S TERRIFIC TALES #2

Tom Strong's Terrific Tales #2 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from America's Best Comics and DC Comics. The issue is written by Alan Moore and Steve Moore, with art by Paul Rivoche, Alan Weiss and Arthur Adams and a cover by Adams.

"The second issue of the latest and greatest from America's Best Comics features a trio of fantastic fables to feast your eyes on! Tom Strong is menaced by a fearsome foe from his past - or is he? Young Tom Strong continues his odyssey of learning as he encounters the fabled thunderbirds of Attabar Teru. And, four billion years from now, Jonni Future sets out on her first - and possibly last - mission, as she confronts one of the most fearsome villains we've ever seen."

Tom Strong's Terrific Tales #2 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.95.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Jan. 9.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: 100 BULLETS #32

100 Bullets #32 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from DC Comics. The issue is written by Brian Azzarello, with art by Eduardo Risso and a painted cover by Dave Johnson.

Here's how DC describes the issue, which is the second part of the six-part "The Counterfeit Detective" story:

"As Private Eye Milo Garret continues to unravel the mysterious circumstances that left his face wrapped in bandages, a larger mystery begins to take shape. Uncovering the person - or persons - responsible is one thing, but when the trail leads to old moneyed corridors, Milo finds he's in over his gauze-covered head."

100 Bullets #32 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.50.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: THE POWER COMPANY: SAPPHIRE

The Power Company: Sapphire will arrive in stores on Wednesday from DC Comics. The issue is written by Kurt Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley and Mark Farmer and a cover by Tom Grummett and Michael Bair.

Here's how DC describes the issue:

"Guest-starring the JLA. In one corner: the forces of the international cult leader and terrorist Kobra! In the other: the modern-day JLA. And caught between them: a teenage runaway desperate to survive. To do this, she'll have to become Sapphire - controlling a hi-tech super-gem that gives her amazing powers. But even if she survives the battle, can she survive Kobra's retribution?"

The Power Company: Sapphire will be 32 pages and will cost $2.50.

GIVE'EM A CLICK





BRIEFLY

  • Kids' WB! has released a new promotional image for the upcoming "Static Shaq" episode of Static Shock guest-starring Shaquille O'Neal.

  • In addition to the return of Forge, the "Shadow Dance" episode of Kids' WB!'s X-Men: Evolution on Feb. 2 will explore Nightcrawler's teleportation abilities.

  • Coming Saturday: Marvel news - and much more!!!
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