Wednesday, February 13, 2002

SMALLVILLE ACTION FIGURES

Michael Rosenbaum, who plays Lex Luthor in The WB's Smallville, told The Continuum that he's "ecstatic" over DC Direct's upcoming Smallville action figures.

DC debuted the figures on Tuesday at Toy Fair in New York.

"Well, if they look like me - and they're supposed to be my likeness, right? - I'm going to jump through walls," Rosenbaum told The Continuum during its recent trip to Vancouver.

"It's really exciting and at this point in my life it's going to be a trip to see myself as an action figure. I'm definitely going to get a couple and keep them around the house."

The figures will be based on the likeness of Luthor, Clark Kent (played by Tom Welling) and Lana Lang (played by Kristen Kreuk). They are due late this year.

"We're absolutely delighted to be able to offer figures based on such an enormously popular series," said Cheryl Rubin, DC Comics' vice-president - licensing and merchandising.

Here's a rundown of the figures:

CLARK KENT

Clark Kent stands 6.375 inches high and has 7 points of articulation including neck, shoulders, elbows, and wrists, and features thermal chromatic hands that change color to simulate Kryptonite poisoning as seen in the show. Accessories include a backpack, a block of Kryptonite that measures approximately 1.25 inches wide, and a limited edition Inkworks collectors card.

LANA LANG

Lana Lang stands 5.75 inches high and features 11 points of articulation, including neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips and knees. Lana also sports a non-removable cloth skirt, synthetic cheerleader pompoms she can hold, a limited edition Inkworks collectors card, and a toy Kryptonite necklace identical to the one Lana wears on television.

LEX LUTHOR

Lex Luthor stands 6.125 inches high and features 7 points of articulation including neck, shoulders, elbows, and wrists. Featured accessories are a hinged 1-inch wide laptop computer with Luthorcorp logo printed onto the lid, a Luthorcorp annual report, and a limited edition Inkworks collectors card.

Look for more on Rosenbaum in Comics Continuum #1, on sale May 1.

SUPERBOY HITS #100

Superboy #100 hits stores in May with an extra-sized issue that features a painted cover by Bill Sienkiewicz.

"This will be a turning point for Superboy," said Jimmy Palmiotti, who co-writes Superboy with Dan DiDio.

Here's how DC describes the issue:

"Issue #100 finds the friends and foes that Superboy's made over the past six issues all converging at the Calvin Gardens building in Suicide Slum. Destruction and death for one person is all but certain, and when the tragedy results in Superboy asking some hard questions about what's next in his future, a visit from Superman prompts the Kid to go on a journey and do the unthinkable."

The issue will feature an eight-page flashback story by the series' original creative team of writer Karl Kesel and penciler Tom Grummett.

The 48-page issue, with art by John McCrea and James Hodgkins, will arrive in stores on May 29 and will cost $3.50.

DC FIRSTS IN MAY

DC Firsts, four 48-page one-shots, will arrive in stores in May.

The line of one-shots - some never-before-told stories, and some new versions of classic tales - features first encounters, first adventures and first events.

Kevin Nowlan is providing all the covers.

Following are May's four Firsts, with descriptions and art from DC. (Note: The Superman/Lobo art is a work in progress).

DC FIRST: SUPERMAN/LOBO

Written by Keith Giffen with art by Cliff Rathburn and Rob Leigh.

The Man of Steel and the Main Man have a lot more in common than you might expect. They're orphans from space. They live by a rigid code of honor. And after guzzling gallons of space-brew, they both enjoy belching contests. No, waitasecond…only Lobo does that. Actually, this story is one all Superman fans have been hoping we'd never show: the very first encounter between Superman and Lobo! How did their great relationship start off so well? Why does Superman grit his teeth every time he hears the word "frag"? And why does Lobo hate this milksop planet we call Earth? Read it and weep!

48 pages, $3.50, in stores on May 1.

DC FIRST: THE FLASH/SUPERMAN

Written by Geoff Johns, art by Rick Burchett and Prentis Rollins.

It's a whole different kind of "first," as we witness the first race ever between Superman and the Flash. Think you've seen this race before? Think again! While the Man of Steel may have raced Barry Allen and Wally West, he's never raced the original Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick. One of the deadliest Flash foes ever, Kadabra, has forced our heroes to race against the clock to save the life of Wally. Just how is the so-called "Fastest Man Alive" going to get out of this predicament?

48 pages, $3.50, in stores on May 8.

DC FIRST: GREEN LANTERN/GREEN LANTERN

Written by Ben Raab, art by Pete Woods and Rob Stull. A classic tale told in an all-new way: the very first adventure together featuring the Golden Age and Silver Age Green Lanterns! Alan Scott and Hal Jordan team up to face the ancient Oan menace: Krona. Krona seeks to discover the origins of the universe, despite the warnings that it would cause terrible destruction to the universe - and it's up to the pair of ring-slingers to stop him.

48 pages, $3.50, in stores on May 15.

DC FIRST: BATGIRL/THE JOKER

Written by Steven Grant, present-day art by Bill Sienkiewicz.

Everyone who's read Batman: The Killing Joke remembers the chilling and brutal encounter between Barbara Gordon and the Joker. When Oracle recounts her first encounter with the Clown Prince of Crime as the original Batgirl (in a flashback sequence illustrated by upcoming Birds of Prey writer Terry Moore), the current Batgirl gets it in her mind to challenge the Joker to a duel. Uh-oh! Batman would not approve.

48 pages, $3.50, in stores on May 22.

SPIDER-MAN MOVIE UPDATE

Laura Ziskin, producer of the Spider-Man movie, on Tuesday morning said work on the film is almost complete.

Ziskin was interviewed by E! in conjunction with Tuesday's announcement of the Academy Awards nominations. Ziskin is also producing the awards show on ABC.

"We're just at the end of post-production on Spider-Man," Ziskin said. "It's been a big year."

In other Spider-Man movie news:

* Kellogg's Spider-Man cereal isn't available yet, but the movie does have a promotional tie beginning, with a web squirter promotion with such cereals as Marshmallow Froot Loops.

* The third series of Toy Biz's six-inch action figures is scheduled for an August release. The series will include Power Punch Spider-Man, Battle Ravaged Green Goblin and Transforming Wrestler Spider-Man.

ULTIMATE MARVEL TEAM-UP CANCELED

Brian Michael Bendis, writer of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, announced that #16 will be the final issue of the title.

Posted Bendis on his bulletin board:

"UMTU was pitched and conceived as a finite series. Joe (Quesada, Marvel's editor-and-chief) and I discussed very early on that when I run out of characters, innovative artists, or inspiriation, that we would fold it.

"Anthologies are incredibly difficult to produce. And even the series this series was modeled after, Marvel Fanfare, slid in quality after a while. We all agreed that getting off stage before that happened to this book was learning a lesson from the past and very much in tune with what the Ultimate Marvel line is meant to be.

"Truth be told I was going for a 25-issue run, but a LOT of things made that goal impossible for me on this book.

"The first being the work on the (MTV Spider-Man) cartoon. It was a lot of work to get the series in gear. Clearly one of the titles I write was going to have to go on without me for a while.

"Also, and this is a big one, when I was lucky enough to get the mainstream opportunities that I have, my intention was never to be the ‘wow, he can write a lot of comics’ guy, it was never my intention. It just happened to pan out that way because I love comics and I’m not a lazy, alchoholic, video game addict.

"Well, even though I can and do enjoy writing the variety of titles and I think I proved that I can do it, I also enjoy other aspects of comic creation and when my work on the cartoon is done, I will use my free time to get back to drawing and such while focusing my attention on the other books I plan on writing for a long time to come.

"So you’re asking why Marvel is folding Team-Up just because I did not want to continue on it? Especially when it’s a consistently solid performer? Well, it's very flattering on one end. It was my pitch and my taste in comics that launched the series, so Joe said instead of refocusing the book with another writer, it just makes more sense to end it on a high note and make way for another writer to start another type of project with his own voice and criteria. And certainly I agree and am flattered that they held to their word on that,

"But really, this book was a bitch to produce every month, and Marvel knows it. Getting the artists and finding the right character for them, then altering my style to compliment their style while at the same time anchoring the book with my own tastes was a dizzying experience -- and one worth every second of effort that was put forth.

"Basically I think that no one else wanted to do all this work."

Bendis stressed that he is not leaving his other Marvel titles: Ultimate Spider-Man, Daredevil and Alias.

"My goals for these books are still in process and are long-term commitments that I have made to myself," he noted. "Same goes for Powers, but I think that goes without saying; I co-own it."

EARLY MARVEL MAY SOLICITATIONS

Marvel Comics on Tuesday released three early solicitations for its titles in May.

Following is a rundown:

AVENGERS #54

Written by Kurt Busiek, art and cover by Kieron Dwyer and Rick Remender.

The Climax to the Kang War! In the ruins of Washington DC., Captain America battles Kang the Conqueror one-on-one for the fate of the planet -- and in the aftermath of the struggle, only a battered corps of Avengers will be left to pick up the pieces.

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on May 29.

THUNDERBOLTS #64

Written by Fabian Nicieza, art and cover by Patrick Zircher and Al Vey.

From atop a floating city, the quest to save Counter Earth begins -- but in order to save thousands of lives and establish themselves as a force for good on a world gone bad, will Zemo willingly sacrifice his team?

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on May 29.

CITIZEN V & THE V-BATTALION: THE EVERLASTING #4

Written by Fabian Nicieza, art by Lewis Larosa and Jim Royal, cover by Mike Deodato.

With Roger Aubrey dead, who will lead the V-Battalion? Then again, since we're dealing with a villain who absorbs human souls, you can expect a dead Aubrey is going to provide plenty of agita -- even from beyond the grave! What does Citizen V do when the only way to stop the bad guy... is to give him what he wants?

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on May 1.

GHOST WORLD GETS OSCAR NOMINATION

Ghost World and three actors set to star in Marvel films earned nominations for Academy Awards on Tuesday.

Ghost World, the film based on Daniel Clowe's comic book, was nominated for Writing -- Adapted Screenplay. Clowe wrote the movie with director Terry Zwigoff.

Halle Berry, set to return as Storm in X², was nominated as Best Actress for Monster's Ball.

Ian McKellen, set to return as Magneto in X², was nominated as Best Supporting Actor for Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Jennifer Connelly, set to star as Betty Ross in The Hulk, was nominated as Best Supporting Actress for A Beautiful Mind.

BATMAN: MISSION MASTERS 4

Hasbro has announced its first Batman action figure offerings for 2002: Mission Masters 4.

Following is a roundup, with descriptions coming from Hasbro:

MISSION MASTERS 4 BASIC ACTION FIGURES

Batman is ready to fight crime in Gotham City with his Glow-in-the-Dark mission-specific gear. This assortment offers a line of classic Batman figures with specifically developed gear and gadgetry to complete any mission. With new glow-in-the-dark features and accessories, Batman and Robin are prepared to defend Gotham City night or day. Night Shadow Batman, Midnight Hunter Batman, Lunar Attack Batman and Night Fury Robin are available now. Night Spark Joker, Velocity Storm Batman and Lunar Force Batman are due this month.

MISSION MASTERS 4 DELUXE ACTION FIGURES

With more gear and gadgets, these deluxe Batman figures are ready to take on anything. Mission Masters 4 Glow-in-the-Dark features are scheduled to be introduced in the spring. Midnight Pursuit Batman and Shadow Blast Batman are available this month. Shadow Copter Batman and Turbo Force Nightwing are due in May.

BRIEFLY