Tuesday, April 2, 2002

WITCHBLADE TV UPDATE

The second season of Witchblade will air on TNT on Mondays at 9 p.m. (ET).

The time period is the same as the show is currently airing with its first-season reruns. The second season starts on June 10.

The cycle of first-season reruns ends next week with "Transcendence." It appears the show will then be off TNT's schedule until the second-season premiere, but the schedule has not been finalized yet.

In other Witchblade news:

* Witchblade executive producer Ralph Hemecker told The Continuum that the White Bulls will not play a large role in the second season.

* According to the network, "a yet-to-be-named Irish singer/songwriter" is recording an original song for the second season.

* Look for more on the second season here very soon, as well as in Comics Continuum #1, on sale May 1. You can order the magazine by CLICKING HERE.

SPIDER-MAN MOVIE UPDATE

Sum 41's "What We're All About," from the Spider-Man soundtrack, will be featured on MTV's Making of the Video program.

The show will premiere on MTV on Wednesday, April 10.

In other Spider-Man news:

* Kirsten Dunst, who plays Mary Jane Watson, will be a guest on NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Friday, April 12.

* The film has been rated PG-13 for "stylized violence and action."

* Peter David's adaptation of the film is 47th on USA Today's best-seller list.

* A Spider-Man 2003 calendar will be offered through the upcoming Previews.

GHOST RIDER MOVIE UPDATE

David Goyer, writer of Blade 2, told The Continuum that he is not involved with the Ghost Rider movie any more.

"They want to do a PG movie," said Goyer, who wrote an R-rated script. "They may work from my script -- not sure."

Daily Variety reported that Nicolas Cage is still considering the project.

Stephen Norrington, director of Blade, was attached as director, but is now directing League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

According to Variety, it appears Dimension will put the movie into turnaround and it will likely be set up elsewhere as a potential vehicle for Cage.

SUBWAY'S JUSTICE LEAGUE PROMOTION

Subway Restaurants' Justice League promotion, based on Cartoon Network's animated seires, will run from May 20 through July 7.

The toy premium promotion will feature Superman, Batman, the Flash, Wonder Woman, Hawkgirl, Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter.

"We are thrilled to continue our partnership with DC Comics and Cartoon Network by featuring Justice League, one of their most popular comic books and programs, in a Kids' Pak promotion," said Liz Safrey, communications supervisor, SFAFT (Subway Franchisee Advertising Fund Trust). "These classic fun toys will be a big hit in our restaurants."

"We are excited to team with Subway in the first Justice League premium promotion for kids meals," said Joel Ehrlich, senior vice-president, advertising and promotions for Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC Comics. "All eight of the Justice League premiums in the Kids' Paks are guaranteed to be wildly sought after by both kids and collectors."

The Kids' Pak meal consists of a deli-style sandwich, small drink and a cookie. Additionally, one of the following toys will be available in each meal:

* Batman and Superman figurines are formed from a translucent material that is painted from the inside. These two classic heroes are rich in color and come with detachable bases featuring their individual emblems.

* The Flash and Wonder Woman are detachable figurines featured on crazy straws that twist to form the special shield icon of each character. Each toy also includes the character's emblem.

* Hawkgirl, Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter are classic articulated action figures. A detachable Justice League base in also included.

AGENT X IN JULY

Agent X, the book which spins out of Deadpool, will begin in July, editor Mike Marts told The Continuum.

Deadpool #69, the series' last issue, will also ship in July. The new Deadpool creative team, writer Gail Simone and the art squad of Udon, will continue on Agent X.

"It is a brand-new book, but certain story elements and characters will carry over from one book to the next," said Marts, who provided The Continuum with a first look at the art from the series.

Marvel has released the following "business card" from the series:

"AGENCY X

"Jobs Done, Questions None

"Agent Available 24 Hours

"No Moral Judgments Made"

In related news, look for Christina Z to be writing the Marrow book in the upcoming Weapon X one-shots.

J. SCOTT CAMPBELL COVERS ATHENA INC.

To celebrate the launch of Brian Haberlin and Jay Anacleto's all-new Image title, Athena Inc. #1 will feature an alternate cover by J. Scott Campbell.

Retailers will receive one Campbell variant with every five copies ordered. And as a bonus for retailers placing reorders, an additional copy of the Campbell variant will be included with every five copies ordered, at no additional charge.

Due on April 24, Athena Inc. #1 explores a world of secret agents so clandestine that not even the agents realize they're secret. Inspired by tales of the so-called "sleeper agents" operating during the Cold War -- operatives brainwashed by their agencies to become killing machines when a secret word unlocks their programming - Athena Inc. explores the possibilities of agents imprinted with a unique genetic program that makes it capable for an agent to alter his or her facial features, hair color and even fingerprints.

The first issue of the bi-monthly ongoing series also features 29 pages of story and art.

METAL HURLANT RETURNS

Humanoids Publishing in July will reintroduce Metal Hurlant, the comic book that influenced and inspired Heavy Metal magazine.

The first issue of the bi-monthly anthology will team Avengers writer Kurt Busiek with artist Gerald Parel on the new story "Hunter's Moon." The cover feature is the beginning of the serialized "Megalex" story by the TechnoPriests team of Jodorowsky and Fred Beltran.

"Metal Hurlant is really a labor of love for us. We want to do everything right and give the fans a comic that will really be something different, something that lives up to the legacy this title has." said Ian Sattler, marketing manager for Humanoids. "Metal Hurlant is more than just a comic, it's a way of thinking. The stories push the creative limits; and out of the stories in Metal Hurlant we are generating projects like the Pin-Up Girls From Around The World book from Fred Beltran, and the Miss Trade Paperback from Marc Riou and Mark Vigouroux who drew a Jodorowsky story in the first issue. Metal Hurlant is a graphic depiction of the Humanoids philosophy. I can't wait for people to see what we have going on."

Metal Hurlant #1 is 48 pages (32 color / 16 black and white), comic book size and retails for $3.95.

MARVEL RE-ADJUSTS PRICES

Marvel Comics announced on Monday it is restoring the original cover prices for Black Panther, Captain Marvel and Spider-Girl.

Marvel had previously announced that the three titles would undergo a 25-cent price hike to ensure another full year of publication. According to a release from the company, editor-in-chief Joe Quesada has over-ruled the decision in "an effort to save readers their hard-earned money."

The correct prices for the following titles, which were solicited in the April 2002 Diamond Previews catalog, are as follows:

Black Panther #45, $2.50; Black Panther #46, $2.50; Captain Marvel #33, $2.50; Spider-Girl #48, $2.25.

Marvel has released the covers for Black Panther #45-46 and Spider-Girl #48.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

BRIEFLY