Thursday, July 18, 2002

SPIDER-MAN: LEGEND OF THE SPIDER CLAN

Spider-Man: Legend of the Spider Clan is a Marvel Mangaverse mini-series by Kaare Andrews and Scott Young starting in October.

"Out of all the Marvel Mangaverse issues that came out originally, Spider-Man was the one that was most well-received," editor C.B. Cebulski said. "We knew we had to do something special with this. Originally, it was planned to be in the Marvel Mangaverse title with issue #7. But it was such a fun character and Spider-Man was so well-received, we're going to give it a special treatment and launch it as its own book."

Andrews, who worked on the original one-shot, returns as writer and cover artist. He is joined by newcomer Young, who did some work with Andrews in X-Men Unlimited #37.

"We're going to take what Kaare Andrews established with the first issue and just build on top of that," Young said. "The concept of making the comic books like an animation, they did it so well in the first one that we can only try to beat that. We're going with the cel-sheeted characters. The painted backgrounds will be out of control."

Cebulski dropped a few hints of what readers will see.

"We're going to be playing around with a lot of the concepts in the Marvel Universe, Manga-izing them," Cebulski said. "A certain black costume will be creeping its way into the Mangaverse, as will a red-horned devil and a sultry cat-character."

LIONS GATE, TIDALWAVE PROMOTE COMIC BOOK VILLAINS

Lions Gate Home Video and TidalWave Studios are cross-promoting the film Comic Book Villains, directed and written by comics writer James Robinson.

TidalWave Studios will lend its 10th Muse comic book property and others to the film' s DVD release. To add a comic book feel to the DVD menus, characters from the TidalWave universe will be featured in the backdrop. There also will be a hidden easter egg that will link to information about current TidalWave comic books. The DVD will be available in stores Sept. 3.

"A lot of the images are from upcoming TidalWave issues. This is a unique project in conjunction with Lions Gate. It should be fun for the public to have this extra added value to the DVD since the film is comic-related," said Darren G. Davis, president of TidalWave Studios.

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Here how the film is described:

"In a sleepy town, full of ordinary people leading ordinary lives, something extraordinary is about to happen⤆ To some, comic books are a hobby, but for Raymond MacGillicuddy (Donal Logue) and Norman Link (Michael Rapaport) they are a way of life. Both men own comic book stores and both men are after the hottest ticket in town - a rare collection of old comics in mint condition - potentially worth millions to the right dealer. However, when the elderly owner won't sell, it becomes a madcap free-for-all with friend turning against friend in a battle for the loot. As the stakes get higher, their antics take a dark turn, and begin spiraling into a dangerous game of greed, betrayal and murder."

The cast also includes Cary Elwes, D.J. Qualls and Natasha Lyonne.

Zachary Hunchar, Director of Worldwide DVD Operations, said, "Lions Gate is excited in the cross-promotion of the services that TidalWave has to offer. I feel like we can share the benefits of each other's media to make this DVD fly off the shelves".

TidalWave Studios is responsible for the DVD menu design titles of such as Natural Born Killers, Halloween H20 and the interactive games in the DVD of Shrek. TidalWave Marketing is a full-service division that offers custom illustration and graphics design.

Lions Gate will be at the International Comic-Con in San Diego Comic, giving away posters, CDs and DVDs at the TidalWave Studios booth.

DC COMICS FIRST LOOKS

For covers and four-page previews of DC Comics titles arriving in stores next week, CLICK HERE.

Titles include JSA #38, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. II #1, Lucifer #28, Superman: Man of Steel #128.

BIRDS OF PREY UPDATE

The WB has released its first promotional photo of Shemar Moore, who plays Detective Jake Reese in the upcoming Birds of Prey television.

Moore makes his move to primetime television after eight years on The Young and The Restless, where he won a Daytime Emmy. He has also been the host of the syndicated Soul Train.

Moore's character, Reese, is described as "a good cop battling New Gotham's villains, as well as his own personal demons."

For comments from Moore and the rest of the cast of Birds of Prey, CLICK HERE.

FIRST LOOK: INCREDIBLE HULK #43

Incredible Hulk #43 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Bruce Jones, with art by John Romita Jr. and Tom Palmer and a cover by Kaare Andrews.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"A drugged and helpless Bruce Banner has beenabducted by the mysterious Agent Pratt -- but to what end? As Sally Riker rushes to the rescue, Pratt offers Banner major clues as to who is after him -- and what they want from him. Can Sally save Banner from Pratt? Or must Banner dig down deep inside himself and tap and old friend for help?"

Incredible Hulk #43 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.

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FIRST LOOK: FUSED! #2

Fused! #2 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Image Comics. The issue is written by Steve Niles, with art by Paul Lee.

Here's how Image describes the issue, which is part two of the four-part "Canned Heat" story arc:

"Enraged by reports of rogue agencies waging private wars, President George W pulls out the big guns. Mortis and Fard must be stopped. In the middle of the power struggle is Mark Haggerty, fused with a robot suit, his life is in ruins. People are starting to die. His wife is in danger. As much a machine as he is a man, Mark Haggerty must rise up and reclaim what has been taken from him."

Fused! #2 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.95.

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CLAYPOOL COMICS FOR NOVEMBER

SOULSEARCHERS #57

By Peter David, Richard Howell, Gordon Purcell and Kim DeMulder, cover by Amanda Conner and Bruce Patterson.

If the rest of the world finds itself embroiled in turmoil caused by people annihilating each other over ancient grudges, imagine how crazed such thinking can become when it hits Mystic Grove, the center of weirdness. Janocz finds himself at the flashpoint of a gypsy inter-tribal grudge match which goes back generations -- and as the only member of his tribe left, it's kill or be-killed. It's all in "Last in Tribe!"

32 pages, black and white, $2.50.

ELVIRA #115

By Richard Howell, Anna-Maria Cool, Steve Leialoah, Frank Strom, Chuck Frazier and Louis Lachance.

Disaster threatens the Broadway opening of the new musical about Ahmenquikstep, the dancing pharaoh, it'll take all of Elvira's show-biz savvy (and witchcraft) to save the day. It's all in "Broadway Sorcery of 2002!" a magical mystery tour extravaganza. Also, Elvira joins up with Leonard Nimrod to solve the mystery of why alien forces are robbing the earth of coffee, in "Trouble Brewin."

32 pages, black and white, $2.50.

BRIEFLY

Here's a first look at covers to Uncanny X-Men #414, Killraven #1 and Black Panther #50.

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