Tuesday, September 24, 2002

TOM WELLING TALKS SMALLVILLE

Smallville star Tom Welling said that an encounter with Red Kryptonite will turn Clark Kent "somewhat evil" in an upcoming episode this season.

Welling was in New York City on Monday, promoting Smallville on MTV's Total Request Live as well as the syndicated Live! with Regis and Kelly. Smallville's second season starts Tuesday on The WB with the "Vortex" episode.

Following are some of Welling's comments from the two appearances.

* On Clark's powers: "There's no flying around - yet. But you never know Right now, he's got X-Ray vision. He gets heat vision. And he can't be hurt and he runs real fast. There will be more to come. This season, we get Red Kryptonite, which turns him somewhat evil. So that will be fun to watch."

* On how he came to take the role: "The audition came around twice and I turned it down because there wasn't much of a description about what the show is. It was basically Superman in high school, which is a bit scary, trying to fill those shoes. But then we got into some conversations about the show was actually about, I read the script and I found there was a lot more than that. I think it's a really good spin on a character that we all know how he turns out, but this is how he gets there."

* On maintaining his physique: "I just stay active, run around a lot and work a lot. That helps, I guess."

* On his Smallville action figure: "I've heard about it, but I haven't seen it, though. … I don't think you ever prepare for when they say, 'Hey, guess what, there's an action figure of you.' It's fun. I hope it's durable. I played with a lot of G.I. Joes when I was a kid and I used to take firecrackers and attach them and see if I could blow them up. So maybe I'll see what I can do with that one and see how durable it is."

* On his character: "It's all about him trying to figure out who he is. At the beginning, he doesn't even have all his super abilities, which we refer to them as. He doesn't know why he has them or what to use them for, so it's a lot of self discovery."

Click on the thumbnails above for three images from "Vortex."

THE CROW: SALVATION ON UPN

The Crow: Salvation, the third movie in the series based on James O'Barr's comic books, will air on UPN on Friday at 8 p.m. (ET/PT).

The movie, filmed in 1999 in Salt Lake City, went straight-to-video after a one-week theatrical tryout in Spokane, Wash. This is the first time it has been on television.

Eric Mabius stars as Alex Corvis, who is wrongly put to death for the murder of his girlfriend (played by Jodi Lyn O'Keefe). He returns as The Crow to figure on the mystery killer.

Kirsten Dunst, who played Mary Jane in Spider-Man, stars as Erin Randall, the sister of the murder victim.

The cast also includes Fred Ward, Grant Shaud and William Atherton.

The Crow: Salvation was directed by Bharat Nalluri from a script by Chip Johannessen.

Look for a behind-the-scenes feature on The Crow: Salvation later this week here in The Continuum.

AVATAR PRESS FOR DECEMBER

Avatar Press has released its solicitation information for December.

For a complete rundown, CLICK HERE.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER UPDATE

UPN has released a logline for "Beneath You," the new episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer set to air on Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Here's how the network describes the episode:

"After her first day as Buffy, The Guidance Counselor, she and the Scooby gang get right back into action, investigating a subterranean monster that is wreaking havoc in Sunnydale.

"Meanwhile, Willow has mixed emotions as she says her good-bye to Giles and leaves England to return to Sunnydale."

In other Buffy new, Alyson Hannigan, who plays Willow, will be a guest on NBC's Late Night wit Conan O'Brien on Wednesday, Oct. 2.

CROSSGEN PROMOTES TEEN READ WEEK

CrossGen Comics is teaming with libraries around the U.S. to help promote Teen Read Week, Oct. 13-19.

The theme of this year's Teen Read Week is "Get Graphic at your Library" and focuses on the use of graphic literature as a tool to promote reading.

As a "Friend of Teen Read Week," CrossGen has already distributed 60,000 Teen Read Week bookmarks featuring CrossGen characters at Comic-Con International: San Diego last month, and will be distributing another 230,000 through comic book shops across the country. CrossGen has also dedicated the back cover of every comic it publishes from the week of Sept. 18 through Teen Read Week to an advertisement promoting the event.

CrossGen is sending comics and other giveaways to dozens of libraries around the country.

"It's great that the Young Adult Librarian Association chose graphic novels as the theme for this year's Teen Read Week, and we're proud to support it," said CrossGen vice president of sales and marketing Chris Oarr. "It demonstrates that librarians are ahead of most of America in discovering what fans have known all along: comics encourage a life-long love of reading."

CrossGen artists are also getting involved by conducting workshops at libraries throughout the state of Florida to educate teens on the production of a comic book and the virtues of reading.

"Just about every creative person at CrossGen learned to read from comic books," said Bart Sears, CrossGen's art director. "When the opportunity arose for some of us to give something back, there was no way we'd ever refuse. Teen Read Week is a very positive event and the fact that graphic novels were chosen as the focus emphasizes America's beginning acceptance of this medium."

DC OVERSHIPS, COLLECTS FABLES

DC Comics on Monday announced a free 50 percent overship of Fables #6 to retailers.

The issue is scheduled to reach comic book stores on Oct. 9. This is based on initial orders only.

Fables #6 is the beginning of the new 5-part story arc "Animal Farm," featuring pencils by Mark Buckingham. Buckingham joins regular writer and series creator Bill Willingham, inker Steve Leialoha and cover painter James Jean for this story.

"With all the great critical buzz and positive word of mouth out there right now, reader interest in Fables is definitely on the upswing," said Vince Letterio, DC's Manager - Direct Sales. "The overship will give retailers the opportunity to introduce more of their customers to the series."

Fables: Legends in Exile is a 128-page trade paperback that collects Fables #1-5, the first four of which are sold out at DC, and arrives on Dec.11. These issues are written with predatory wit by Bill Willingham, with art by Lan Medina, Steve Leialoha and Craig Hamilton, and the original series covers by James Jean and Alex Maleev. This collection also includes a new Fables prose story by Willingham - with picture book-style illustrations also by Willingham - and a new, painted cover by James Jean.

"I'm far too happy with the extra effort the folks at DC/Vertigo are making to support Fables, from promotions to the fast turnaround on the first trade to the overship on issue #6," Willingham said. "They're clearly going above and beyond the usual efforts. Of course there's still room for improvement - they still won't lend me the company jet, even though I promised to promote the book wherever I make them fly me."

FIRST LOOK: FANTASTIC FOUR #61

Fantastic Four #61 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Mark Waid, with art by Mike Wieringo and Karl Kesel and a cover by Kesel.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"If you've followed the adventures of the Fantastic Four over the years, then you know how The Thing and the Human Torch bicker as only family members can. Now, following up on their big 9-cent issue, writer Mark Waid and penciler Mike Wieringo continue to turn what we've come to know about the FF totally upside-down. What is the big twist in the relationship between Ben Grimm and his hot-headed teammate? How will this lead to immediate changes for Johnny Storm?"

Fantastic Four #61 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: FREEMIND #0

Freemind #0 is now available for order from Future Comics. The issue is written by Dave Michelinie, Dick Giorando and Bob Layton.

Freemind launches the Future line, with four total titles planned. The issue can be ordered at futurecomicsonline.com.

Freemind #0 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

ANOTHER FIRST LOOK: MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #1

Masters of the Universe #1 is scheduled to arrive in stores on Nov. 27 from Image Comics. The issue is written by Val Staples, art by Emiliano Santalucia and Marco Failla, covers by Santalucia, J. Scott Campbell and Earl Norem.

The Continuum was provided with higher quality images than ran in Monday's report, along with Santalucia's cover.

Here's how Image describes the issue:

"Skeletor continues his struggle in obtaining the secrets of Castle Grayskull. However, new danger looms when a sinister plot is devised by other evil forces. And it all centers around an object in the possession of the least likely candidate. Will the heroic warriors of Eternia discover the truth before the forces of evil hatch their plans?"

Masters of the Universe #1 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.95.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

BRIEFLY