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Saturday, July 13, 2002
BIRDS OF PREY UPDATE
The Continuum has obtained a new promotional photo from The WB's upcoming Birds of Prey television series.
The photo shows the principal cast members, Ashley Scott (Helena Kyle/Huntress), Rachel Skarsten (Dinah Lance/Black Canary) and Dina Meyer (Barbara Gordon/Batgirl). It was taken by Frank Okenfels during a recent shoot.
Click on the thumbnail for a much larger and fuller image.
In other Birds of Prey news:
* A promotional spot for Birds of Prey, airing footage from the pilot as well as Batman Returns, was shown at the DC booth at Wizard World Chicago last week. It was also shown as a bonus during the Trailer Park panel and drew a positive response.
* Birds star Scott turns 25 on Saturday.
* Production on the first season of the show should be starting soon.
NEW JINGLE BELLE IN NOVEMBER
Oni Press and Paul Dini will bring two new Jingle Belle Books, a one-shot special and a trade paperback, in November.
Jingle Belle's Winter Wingding is a new one-shot with a lead story by Dini and Warner Bros. animators Tony Cervone and Spike Brandt, and a back-up story by original Jingle Belle artist Stephen DeStefano. It will be released simultaneously with Jingle Belle's Cool Yule, a trade paperback collection of the last three Jingle Belle one-shots. It will have a new cover by Powerpuff Girls and Samurai Jack character designer, and frequent Jingle Belle contributor, Lynne Naylor.
"It's the holiday season," Dini said, "and we can't let it pass us by without visiting the Claus family again. The last two years, Oni has let me really stretch my legs, and they've granted me the opportunity to work with some very generous, talented creators. I am so excited to bring the many hilarious Jingle Belle stories in under one cover."
The contents of Cool Yule are being culled from Jingle Belle's All-Star Holiday Hullabaloo, Jingle Belle Jubilee, and the JB: The Mighty Elves one-shot, which earned Dini and artist J. Bone an Eisner Nomination. Other collaborators include Jeff Smith, Mark Evanier and Sergio Aragones, Bill Morrison, Dan DeCarlo, Shane Glines, Steve Rolston , Jill Thompson and Chynna Clugston-Major, who hooks her Blue Monday kids up with Santa Claus' Christmas brat in a special Oni crossover.
Capping off the book is an eight-page color section, featuring the story from the first Oni Press Color Special, with art by DeStefano and colorist Laura Allred.
"The fun thing about working with Paul on Jingle Belle stories is you never know what's around the next corner," said Oni Press editor-in-chief Jamie S. Rich. "Each script is like a brand-new present to open, and I never know if it's going to be a gag, something with sentimental value, or blow up in my face. The character has limitless possibilities, and I think the strength of the artists who have rushed to illustrate her speaks to that."
The new one-shot, Jingle Belle's Winter Wingding, is another collection of stories and talent. Starting with a cover by Clugston-Major, it has a lead story illustrated by two of Dini's Warner Bros. Animation colleagues, Tony Cervone and Spike Brandt.
"Though new to comics, they are geniuses at classic, Looney Tunes-style animation," Dini said, "and I knew they had the right kind of skills to bring some really incredible character acting and comedy to the page."
"This story represents a definite departure as we focus on Jing's comically strained relationship with her mom," Dini said. "We've seen Jing get under Santa's skin, and now we'll see a whole new set of sparks fly as she and Mrs. Claus go at it."
Wingding will be rounded out by a new Santa Claus story written and illustrated by Stephen DeStefano.
"I love Stephen's cartooning," Rich said. "Working with him is such a joy. I was a huge fan of 'Mazing Man, and I have been really happy seeing him getting noticed for his latest DC work. I recall showing his layouts for the first ever Jing story to Jill Thompson in San Diego, and it was like watching a little kid reading comics. He just sucked her into the story -- which is the way it should be."
"Appearing from the murk like Dickens' ghost of Xmas yet to come, it's time for me to once again point my jaundiced finger at the holidays," Dini said. "If my cohorts and I can't lampoon the seasonal ceremonies we love -- or, at least, endure -- what's the point of celebrating at all? These comics are my twisted Christmas cards to everyone who feels the same way."
Jingle Belle's Winter Wingding will be 32 pages and will cost $2.95. It arrives in stores on Nov. 13. The Cool Yule trade paperback will be 128 pages and will cost $13.95.
MARVEL, CROSSGEN FIRST LOOKS
For covers and page previews of Marvel Comics and CrossGen Comics titles arriving in stores on Wednesday, CLICK HERE.
Marvel titles include Captain Marvel #34, New X-Men #129 and Ultimate X-Men #20. CrossGen titles include Mystic #26 and Way of the Rat #3.
The Marvel titles feature covers and pages without any lettering, as well as pages not previewed in Thursday's First Looks.
DAVID HASSELHOFF'S NICK FURY
Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D, the 1998 made-for-television movie based on the Marvel Comics character, returns to television for the first time on Saturday night.
The film will air at 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. (ET/PT) on SciFi Channel as part of a "Superhero Scinemathon."
The film starred David Hasselhoff as Nick Fury, Lisa Rinna as Val, Sandra Hess as Viper, Garry Chalk as Dugan and Ron Canada as Gabriel Jones.
The Continuum visited the set of Nick Fury in Surrey, British Columbia, spending a day on the multiple Helicarrier levels.
For a feature on Hasselhoff, including his take on the character and what it was like to wear the eye patch, as well as more than 25 images from the movie, CLICK HERE.
BRIEFLY
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Copyright © 2002, The Comics Continuum