Friday, June 14, 2002

SMALLVILLE UPDATE

DC Comics in September will release Smallville: The Comic, a 64-page comic book based on The WB series.

The lead story, "The Beast," is written by television series writer/supervising producer Mark Verheiden and features art by Roy Allan Martinez.

Here's how DC describes the story:

"What do you get when you mix Kryptonite and dinosaurs? A teenage raptor with a taste for Smallville students! Clark's powers are put to the test as he struggles to contain the creature while not revealing his super-abilities to Lana and the rest of Smallville High."

Also inside the issue, Smallville writer/producer Michael Green teams up with artist John Paul Leon for a day in the life of Lex Luthor, as readers go inside the mind of Smallville's richest resident.

Rounding out the issue are exclusive photos, plus interviews with the cast and production team behind the TV series. Also included are an in-depth look at the making of the first-season pilot, and a preview of Season 2.

Smallville: The Comic, edited by Eddie Berganza and Tom Palmer Jr., will arrive in stores on Sept. 18 and will cost $3.95.

SCOTT BEATTY NEW RUSE WRITER

Scott Beatty will be taking over the writing chores for CrossGen Comics' Ruse as of #13, replacing Mark Waid.

Beatty has written extensively for DC Comics, with credits including Joker: Last Laugh, Robin: Year One, Robin, more than 27 issues of Secret Files, and on Batman: Gotham Knights beginning with issue #33.

Beatty will not be relocating to Tampa as he will only be working on this single title, but will be writing from his home in Pennsylvania. He will be making frequent trips to the CrossGen studio to interact with the creative team and discuss the title's direction with head writer Barbara Kesel.

"Obviously, Mark helped to set the bar very high on Ruse," Beatty said. "I'm quite excited to be following him on the book, and I very much look forward to working with Butch, Mike, and Laura in chronicling the continuing exploits of Simon and Emma."

Beatty was CrossGen's choice for replacement based on the recommendation of current CrossGen writer Chuck Dixon. Dixon has collaborated with Beatty in the past and has served as something of a mentor to him.

"The choice of Scott Beatty to take over Ruse was a natural from the start," Dixon said. "From his educational background to his deft grasp of characterization, he has all the requirements needed to chronicle the further adventures of Simon and Emma. He and I have worked together extensively and I was always amazed at his ability to drop in and perfectly nail the tone and 'voice' of any character. He's going to have fun on this book and I think readers will too."

According to CrossGen, "a difference of opinion on the future direction of the title led to Waid's decision to step down."

"I greatly enjoyed working on Ruse during my run," Waid said. "Since the team wanted Ruse to go in a different direction than I did, we decided to part ways. It's unfortunate, but these things happen in a dynamic creative environment. I am pleased that someone I respect, such as Scott Beatty, has been chosen to take over the writing chores. I will very much miss working on Ruse, and I wish the team and CrossGen all the best of luck in the future."

STUART MOORE TO LEAVE MARVEL

Stuart Moore, editor of the Marvel Knights line, will be leaving his staff position in July to concentrate on a writing career.

"When Stuart first came to Marvel Knights I was certain of two things," Marvel editor-in-chief Joe Quesada said. "One, that he was an incredible addition to the company, and two, I knew we were on borrowed time because he is such a talented writer. I knew that keeping him busy with editorial work would eventually keep him away from what it was that he ultimately wanted to do. I'm saddened to see Stuart go, but I, more than anyone, understand his yearning to stretch his wings."

Moore was also one of the initiators of the MAX line of adult comics at Marvel.

"Marvel's been an incredible ride the past two years, but times change and it's time for me to move on," Moore said. "I'm very grateful to Joe and Nanci Quesada and to Bill Jemas for all the support and encouragement in letting me run through the Marvel Universe with big nasty cleats, and I'm confident that I'll be leaving the Knights imprint in good hands. This is a completely amicable split, and I'll still be around at Marvel Knights through late July to make sure the transition to the new editor is smooth."

Zendra, a mini-series written by Moore, was published by Penny Farthing Press, and the sequel begins in July. Another original project by Moore is also in the works.

"A writer I know was once told that his editor was quitting to become a writer," Moore said. "His response was, 'That's like a guy who works in a slaughterhouse deciding he wants to be a cow.' All I can say is, Moo. See you around the ranch."

"And despite what the rumor mill may say, Marvel Knights and MAX are as healthy as ever," Quesada said. "The fun part for fans and industry experts alike is going to be trying to guess whom will be the next person to sit at the helm of Marvel Knights! Keep watching the skies."

NOCTURNALS COLLECTION FROM ONI PRESS

Oni Press' Nocturnals: Unhallowed Eve in October collects the long out-of-print Witching Hour one-shot originally published by Dark Horse Comics.

Presenting Nocturnals Dan Brereton's painted artwork in full color, Witching Hour is joined by 2000's Troll Bridge story, featuring black, white, and orange artwork by artists such as Jill Thompson, Stan Sakai, Joyce Chin, Art Adams and artist Ted Naifeh.

"Troll Bridge was an opportunity to have all my favorite creators come and romp with me through the Nocturnals playground," Brereton said. "And Witching Hour was a chance to play with a different format and palette. Both stories provide a different kind of Nocturnals candy for trick-or-treating comic readers."

"It just doesn't seem like Halloween without the Nocturnals," commented Oni Press editor-in-chief Jamie S. Rich. "Dan's group of horrific heroes, combined with the scary level of talent assembled for this tome, makes Unhallowed Eve an extraordinary Halloween treat."

Here's how Oni describes the book:

"Originally serialized in Dark Horse Presents, Witching Hour focuses on a special All Hallow's Eve which sees young Evening Horror and her nanny/bodyguard the Gunwitch out on the Nocturnals' favorite night of the year. The second story in Unhallowed Eve, Troll Bridge, sees the Nocturnals traveling through time and space in search of Eve, who has been tricked by a mischievous devil lantern. Along the way, Brereton's spooky crew encounters Scary Godmother, Li'l Gloomy, Usagi Yojimbo, and more in this jam session by some of independent comics' best and brightest. An as an added bonus, the black-and-white artwork is enhanced with Halloween orange."

Nocturnals: Unhallowed Eve is a 96-page trade paperback with both a full-color section painted by Brereton and a black-white-and-orange chapter. The book will arrive in stores on Oct. 2 and will cost $9.95.

"The Nocturnals are very important to me," Brereton said. "Bringing these two stories back into print in this sharp new book is the best Halloween treat I could ask for."

WOLFMILL ACQUIRES PONYTAILERS

Wolfmill Entertainment has acquired the rights to Ponytailers, hoping to develop the Internet comic strip property for live-action television.

The comic was created by writer Sarah Byam with artwork by Ric Estrada.

Ponytailers is a series of contemporary adventure stories told from a girl's point of view and presented in comic strip form. It tells the story of Caitlin, Kachina, and M.G., three 12-year-old girls from disparate backgrounds who live in the ranch country of High Sierra Falls, just outside of Yellowstone National Park. Riding their horses through the beautiful Sierra mountains, the stories of Ponytailers are about the adventures these three girls share as they bond and their friendships grow.

Byam has been a professional writer for 14 years, writing comics for Marvel, DC, Disney, Dark Horse and other companies. She is also the founder and creative director of Labor of Love Studio, an art studio dedicated to community service projects.

Estrada has worked in every facet of cartooning, commercial art, and journalism for companies ranging from McGraw Hill to DC Comics including time spent doing animation storyboarding, political cartooning, and artwork for romance comic books, Wonder Woman and Amethyst Princess of Gemworld.

"Girls the world over love horses, which makes Ponytailers a natural," said Marv Wolfman, one of the partners in Wolfmill Entertainment. " Ponytailers combines that love for horses with strong human adventure stories and great, intriguing characters."

Ponytailers has been running on the A Girl's World website since March of this year, receiving more than 6 million hits per month. A Girl's World (AGW) is the most popular internet site for girls that isn't owned by a toy company, according to Alexa, the web information company that maintains archives and activity logs on the millions of websites on the internet.

"Ponytailers works as a comic strip and will work as a TV series because it harkens back to classic children's television," said Craig Miller, Wolfmill's other partner. "These shows, like Fury and My Friend Flicka, were huge hits and ran for years. But Ponytailers isn't just adventure stories. Its contemporary stories show our characters dealing with today's life - school, home, the prospect of dating -- and the building of friendships between people from very different backgrounds."

BRIEFLY