Wednesday, July 17, 2002

ROGER DALTREY'S WITCHBLADE EPISODE

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TNT has provided The Continuum with three images of The Who's Roger Daltrey from his second guest-starring appearance on Witchblade.

Daltrey appears in the Monday, July 22 episode "Hierophant."

Here's how TNT describes the episode:

"Roger Daltrey plays a cross-dressing fortune teller with a unique connection to the Witchblade in an episode in which a powerful mystery figure named V (James Acheson) is forcing the top crime bosses of the city to unite into a single criminal enterprise - but not everyone wants to join. Sara (Yancy Butler), Danny (Will Yun Lee) and Jake (David Chokachi) investigate multiple homicides in the aftermath of a shootout at a meeting of the city's top crime bosses, where crime boss Tommy Gallo (Conrad Dunn) is the only survivor. The investigation takes Sara to see a fortune teller named Madame Sesostris. Sara's palm reading is cut short when an otherworldly force intervenes. Sara is haunted by the mysterious V until his shocking identity is finally revealed."

Look for more Witchblade news soon here in The Continuum.

NEW BIRDS OF PREY TV IMAGES

The Continuum has obtained 11 new previews from The WB's upcoming Birds of Prey television series.

The images feature stars Dina Meyer (Barbara Gordon/Batgirl/Oracle), Ashley Scott (Helena Kyle/Huntress) and Rachel Skarsten (Dinah Lance/Black Canary). Click on the thumbnails for larger complete images.

CLICK HERE for a complete transcription of last weekend's Birds of Prey press conference, including comments from the actresses and executive producers.

And look for more news on Birds of Prey soon here in The Continuum.

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30 DAYS OF NIGHT OPTIONED

Steve Niles' 30 Days of Night, published by IDW Publishing, has been optioned for motion picture release by Senator International.

Spider-Man director Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert will produce, with IDW Publisher Ted Adams serving as co-producer and Mike Richardson as executive producer. The deal, in the "million-dollar range," was repped by CAA's Jon Levin.

"It's huge," Niles told The Continuum. "There was a bidding war, Sam Raimi got the project and I'm the happiest writer on the planet."

30 Days of Night, drawn by Ben Templesmith, tells the story of an isolated Alaskan town that is plunged into darkness for a month each year when the sun sinks below the horizon. As the last rays of light fade, the town is attacked by a bloodthirsty gang of vampires bent on an uninterrupted orgy of destruction. Only the small town's husband-and-wife sheriff team stand between the survivors and certain destruction.

Niles, who has also been working on Spawn 2, will write the screenplay.

"This is such a great opportunity," Niles said. "I'm so excited. Not only will I get a chance to write a screenplay based on 30 Days... but I'm working with Sam Raimi! He's one of the smartest, most creative people in Hollywood and one of the nicest. I can't wait to get started."

"When Steve first approached me, I knew that 30 Days would make a great movie," Adams said. "I'm thrilled that Sam Raimi shared our passion for the project. There's no one we want to work with more. Now that we've got people's attention with this project, we're anxious to show them the other ideas we have in the works."

The second issue of 30 Days of Night will be in comic shops on July 31 and retails for $3.99.

GARY FRANK EXCLUSIVE TO MARVEL

Gary Frank, the recent artist of Midnight Nation, has signed an exclusive agreement to work for Marvel Comics.

Frank is drawing Avengers #61-62, both of which go on sale in December.

"Gary's been doing terrific work throughout the industry the last few years -- notably on Midnight Nation -- so it's great to see him back at Marvel," Marvel editor Tom Brevoort said. "With his strong dramatic sense and his deft hand at characterization, these two issues of Avengers should make for a nice Christmas present to the fans."

"It's great to be working again on the characters that I grew up loving. In the first few weeks I've already had a ball doing characters like Captain America and Iron Man," Frank said. "Besides, it seems that Marvel is the place to be right now. Joe (Quesada) has gathered together some great writers with which to work and it looks like there are exiting times ahead."

BATMAN, SUPERMAN ACTION FIGURES

DC Comics has released details on the upcoming Silver Age Batman & Robin Deluxe Action Figure Set and the line of Superman Action Figures from DC Direct.

"No line of DC action figures would be complete without Superman and Batman," said Paul Levitz, DC's President & Publisher. "I look forward to putting them on my shelves next to the rest of the DC Direct figures, and knowing there are more aspects of their comic book history coming to the same shelves."

"We are very happy with our action figure line, but it's always felt like something's been missing," says Georg Brewer, VP - Design & Retail Product Development. "Now we're starting to fill in those gaps, and it's thrilling to be able to do so with both the powerful, modern Man of Steel and the unforgettable Silver Age Dark Knight Detective."

"When we saw the enthusiastic response to the Silver Age Superman & Lois Lane Deluxe Action Figure Set, we wanted to follow it up with new products that have a retro feel and offer more of the Man of Tomorrow," said Cheryl Rubin, DCs VP - Licensing & Merchandising. "By releasing a classic Batman & Robin set and multiple Superman-related figures, we're catering to fans who are interested in either of these aspects!"

Coming to stores on Feb. 12, the Silver Age Batman & Robin Deluxe Action Figure Set features the Dynamic Duo as they appeared in their 1960s comic-book adventures. Batman stands approximately 6.25 inches tall while Robin stands approximately 5.75 inches tall. Both action figures feature 11 points of articulation. This deluxe set also includes two 1-inch long Batarangs, a 12-inch long Batrope with a suction cup, and a (9.5 inches wide by 4.255 inches deep by 0.75 inches tall) base in the shape of a Gotham City rooftop. Both figures and accessories are packaged in a 4-color window box.

The first wave of Superman Action Figures comes to comics shops on March 19 with Superman, Bizarro and Brainiac 13 Action Figures, all based on the characters' modern-day appearances and sculpted by Tim Bruckner.

Superman stands approximately 6.5 inches tall; Bizarro is approximately 6.575 inches tall; Brainiac 13 is approximately 7 inches tall. Superman and Bizarro come with an incredible 21 points of articulation, a flying string to connect the figures to a clear suction cup to simulate flight, plus an S-shield display base and stand. Brainiac 13 has multiple points of articulation as well as the S-shield display base and stand.

DARK HORSE COMICS FOR OCTOBER

Dark Horse Comics has released its solicitation information for October.

For a complete rundown, CLICK HERE.

JUSTICE LEAGUE ANIMATED UPDATE

Batman will be the first release in the series of Justice League Animated Wall Plaques on Jan. 22.

Batman is represented in a hand-painted, cold-cast porcelain wall relief sculpted by John G. Mathews. The Wall Plaque measures approximately 4.5 inches tall by 8 inches wide by 2.5 inches deep, and is packaged in a 4-color box.

It will cost $39.95.

Future release dates in the line include Wonder Woman on May 18, Flash on July 30, 2003 and Green Lantern on Aug. 13. 2003. The line will also include Superman.

GOTHAM GIRLS' THIRD SEASON

Season 3 of DC Comics' and Warner Bros. Animation's Gotham Girls premiered on Tuesday at Warner Bros. Online at www.warnerbros.com.

The latest Flash episodes follow the continuing escapades of Gotham City's fearless females featuring Batgirl and her felonious foes (Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn), whose respective talents are revealed as they move through crime-laden Gotham City in the exclusive-to-the-web cartoon shorts.

The first installment, "Ms.-ing In Action," finds Batgirl once again in hot pursuit of Catwoman, as together they stumble upon the disappearance of the entire Gotham City male population.

Unlike previous seasons, which featured 10 unconnected web shorts, Season 3's chapters build episode by episode for one season-long whodunit. The mystery unfolds with new cartoons scheduled to debut every other Tuesday as follows:

* July 16 - "Ms.-ing In Action"

* July 30 - "Gotham In Pink"

*Aug. 13 - "Hear Me Roar"

* Aug. 27 - "Gotham In Blue"

* Sept. 10 - "A Cat In The Hand"

* Sept. 24 - "Jailhouse Wreck"

* Oct. 8 - "Honor Among Thieves"

* Oct. 22 - "No, I'm Batgirl!!!"

* Nov. 5 - "Signal Fires"

* Nov. 19 - "Cold Hands, Cold Heart"

Click on the thumbnails above for larger images.

FIRST LOOK: X-TREME X-MEN #16

X-Treme X-Men #16 will arrive in stores on July 24 from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Chris Claremont, with art and cover by Salvador Larroca.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"With the world as the prize, how does the Team X-Treme repulse a dimensions-spanning armada? What weapon do they have capable of defending the Earth from this conflagration? Here's one hint: the outcome will resolve a major subplot regarding Rogue -- and will change the status quo for her and Gambit in ways never before imagined."

X-Treme X-Men #16 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.99.

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BRIEFLY