Monday, January 28, 2002

SMALLVILLE EPISODES

The WB has released images and loglines for upcoming episodes of Smallville.

Tuesday's episode is "Shimmer." In the episode, a teen girl's (guest-star Azura Skye) obsession with Lex (Michael Rosenbaum) turns life-threatening when invisible attacks in Luthor Mansion pits Clark (Tom Welling) against an undetectable enemy. Meanwhile, Clark is thrilled when Lana (Kristin Kreuk) looks to him for companionship after Whitney (Eric Johnson) inexplicably pushes her away.

"Shimmer" was written by Michael Green and Mark Verheiden and directed by D.J. Caruso. Click below for images from the episode.

The Feb. 5 episode is "Hug." Clark is stunned when a pesticide magnate who has unearthly powers of persuasion somehow convinces Jonathan (John Schneider) to sell the family farm to make way for a new plant. His next chilling move is convincing Lex to take Clark's life.

"Hug" was written by Doris Egan and directed by Chris Long.

The Feb. 12 episode is "Leech." When Clark rescues his classmate Eric (guest-star Shawn Ashmore, who played Bobby Drake in X-Men) from harm during an electrical storm, they are both struck by lightening, resulting in all of Clark's superpowers transferring to Eric. While Eric relishes his new life as 'Superboy,' Clark is torn between his happiness at finally being normal and his growing concern for the town's safety as Eric starts to abuse his powers. Meanwhile, Lex believes he finally has undeniable proof of Clark's superpowers and confronts him."

The episode was written by Tim Schlattmann and directed by Greg Beeman. Click the top thumbnail for an image from the episode.

Look for more on Smallville on Tuesday here in The Continuum.

BENDIS TALKS SPIDER-MAN ANIMATED SERIES

Brian Michael Bendis broke his silence on his work for MTV's upcoming Spider-Man animated series on Monday morning.

Bendis posted a note on his message board, which he shared with The Continuum.

Following are his comments:

"Well, the worst-kept secret in comics, this week, is true. I am writing the new MTV animated Spider-Man series for Sony and Marvel. It’s a very exciting project with some truly inspiring people involved in it.

"Sorry I haven’t spoken of this before but, as people who read Fortune and Glory know, I prefer waiting until things are locked down before I start the yapping.

"It’s too early to go into a bunch of specifics, it's not airing until the fall, but I can tell you that I am one of the executive producers and have written the pilot. I am writing a smattering of episodes in the first season but not all of them.

"Now for a quick-rumors vs. facts...

"This is a CGI series, but you have never seen CGI like this. Forget what you are picturing. It does not look like that. It's using CGI to create a traditional and really spectacular Spider-Man. Great character acting and animation.

"This is not the Ultimate Spider-Man TV show as has been rumored. It is based on movie continuity, if continuity matters to you, but it has the same feel and tone of Ultimate Spider-Man. And no, smart asses, that doesn’t mean that it’ll take eight episodes to finish one story

"What it means is that we are being very reverent to the characters, humor, and situations that make Spider-Man the character that he is. And if we concocted something in Ultimate Spider-Man that we feel worked, like, let's say, Kraven, an adaptation of it might pop up in the series.

"The guys at Sony animation are comic book freaks of the highest degree and are treating this as the gig of a lifetime. As, by the way, am I. It looks as after years of smacking my bald head against the walls, something is actually going to get produced. As MTV announced earlier in the week, the show is greenlit and in physical production.

"What does this mean for my comic book production schedule? Good news is nothing. I’m not storyboarding or animating the thing. And I am not the director. That’s the hard part. With my monthly books already written at least into the summer, if a hard decision has to be made about my workload it won’t be until spring or summer. Comics is my chosen profession, my passion, and my first priority.

"But I do have to put aside all of the future projects I was developing until the season is over, and thankfully there doesn’t seem to be any good movies coming out until May, so… I think I have it all together."

The Continuum will have much more on Spider-Man very soon.

BUFFY FOR FEBRUARY SWEEPS

UPN has announced its Buffy the Vampire Slayer schedule for February sweeps, and it will include Buffy investigating Spike, the return of Riley Finn and a double-dose of repeats.

Following is a rundown:

The Tuesday, Feb. 5 episode is "Dead Things." Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) investigates why Spike (James Marsters) is suddenly able to attack her, despite the chip in his head. Meanwhile, Jonathan (Danny Strong), Warren (Adam Busch) and Andrew (Tom Lenk) try to frame Buffy for murder.

The episode was written by Steven S. DeKnight and directed by James A. Contner.

The Feb. 12 episode is "Older and Far Away." Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg), feeling ignored by Buffy and her friends, makes a wish that, when granted by a mysterious demon, puts Dawn, Buffy and the rest of the Scooby Gang in danger.

The episode was directed by Michael E. Gershman from a script by Drew Z. Greenberg.

On Tuesday, Feb. 19, UPN will show two repeats of Buffy. In the first episode, Buffy does her best to get on with her life while villains Jonathan, Warren and Andrew unwittingly put her through a series of tests to find her weakness. In the second episode, Buffy's friends celebrate Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Anya's (Emma Caufield) engagement while Dawn puts herself in danger when she sneaks out with friends to partake in some Halloween-night mischief.

The Tuesday, Feb. 26 episode is "As You Were." As Xander and Anya prepare for their wedding, Buffy's ex-boyfriend Riley Finn (Marcus Blucas) returns to Sunnydale in search of a renegade demon.

NEIL GAIMAN IN SKETCH MAGAZINE

Neil Gaiman will be featured in Blue Line Pro's Sketch Magazine #14.

"Neil has worked on all kinds of projects. He has done comics, novels, children's books, short stories, TV programs and movies. You name it; he has done it and done it like no one else. I'm awe-struck by the level of his creative imagination," said Bob Hickey, Sketch Creative Director.

"His passion for storytelling continues to surprise us all."

Sketch Magazine #14 will be available in April.

FIRST LOOK: ULTIMATE MARVEL TEAM-UP #12

Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #12 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Brian Michael Bendis, with art and cover by Ted McKeever.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

Stephen Strange is a young man struggling with a legacy he didn't even know he had. See, his deceased father was a true master of magic - and now he's inherited his dad's sorcery... and his enemies! Will the novice adept's mystic might be enough to defeat the dark arts - even with the help of another wall-crawling rookie hero?

Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #12 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

MARVEL MANGAVERSE: ETERNAL TWILIGHT #1

Marvel Mangaverse: Eternal Twilight #1 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Ben Dunn, with art and cover by Dunn.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"The gargantuan Hulk must be stopped at all costs - even if it means that one of our heroes make the supreme sacrifice! What is the true nature of the energy spewing out of the Negative Zone, and will the combined might of the X-Men, the Avengers, Spider-Man, and our entire cast of Mangaverse heroes be enough to put an end to it once and for all? Watch as science and magic go head-to-head in an all-out battle to end all battles! The fate of the world lies in the hands of a single individual - don't miss this, the final chapter in the Marvel Mangaverse."

Marvel Mangaverse: Eternal Twilight #1 will be 48 pages and will cost $2.99.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: CAPTAIN AMERICA: DEAD MAN RUNNING #1

Captain America: Dead Man Running #1 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Darko Macan, with art by Danijel Zezelj and a painted cover by Derek Hess.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"When Captain America responds to a distress call originating from the South American jungle, he discovers a team of U.S. soldiers and group of refugees on the run not just from their common enemy, but from justice itself. Attempting to stay one step ahead of his pursuers, the Super Soldier confronts several troubling questions: What should you do when you discover that the actions of those you are protecting fly in the face of everything you believe? What do you do when you're suddenly an icon of forgotten times, a symbol of ideals no longer revered? And if you're Captain America, how do you keep going - especially if a shield and a strong right cross can no longer save the day?"

Captain America: Dead Man Running #1 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.99.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: DOOM: THE EMPEROR RETURNS #3

Doom: The Emperor Returns #3 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Chuck Dixon, with art and cover by Leonard Manco.

Here's how Marvel describes thie issue:

"Stay in a world totally dominated by your will, but which you knows to be a fabrication, or attempt the perilous journey back to Earth - which will Dr. Doom choose? Or is there some way he can eat his cake and have it too?"

Doom: The Emperor Returns #3 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.50.

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FIRST LOOK: CAPTAIN MARVEL #28

Captain Marvel #28 will arrive in storeson Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Peter David, with art by TBA, cover by J.H. Williams III.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"'Time Flies,' part 2 of 4. Trapped 98 years in the future, Captain Marvel and a certain red-and-blue-clad web-slinger must deal with the escalating threat caused by Starfox's degeneration."

Captain Marvel #28 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.50.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

BRIEFLY