Monday, September 30, 2002

TEEN TITANS ANIMATED SERIES

Cartoon Network and Kids' WB! on Monday announced the Teen Titans animated series.

The series will feature Robin, Cyborg, Beast Boy, Starfire and Raven Slated to debut on Cartoon Network in 2003, followed by broadcast on Kids' WB!, the half-hour animated action series is being produced by Warner Bros. Animation under the guidance of Emmy Award-winner Glen Murakami.

Here's how the show is described:

"Teen Titans is based on the popular DC Comics comic book characters. Teen Titans, set in a future of intergalactic strife and interplanetary battles, features five teen superheroes each with special powers, led by the Boy Wonder Robin. This group unites to form a defensive force to protect the Earth from a new generation of villains. An eclectic group, their powers complement each other so that when they band together, they become a superb fighting force. Their personalities, on the other hand, often clash. Discovering how to control their powers, these Teen Titans must learn to work and grow as a team while dealing with the trials and tribulations of being teenagers."

"Cartoon Network has experienced great success with Justice League, so we know we have a loyal audience ready to embrace this exciting new show," said Jim Samples, General Manager and Executive Vice President, Cartoon Network. "These DC Comics characters have incredible powers, but struggle with how to use them. Teen Titans will mesh perfectly with our other action-adventure programming and thrill our viewers."

"Teaming up with Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network once again gives us an excellent opportunity to bring our core audience the newest high-adventure series, Teen Titans," said Donna Friedman, Executive Vice President, Kids' WB! "This series will be a perfect addition to our #1 line-up, as it features superhero action-packed adventures, comedy and kid-relatable characters and stories in this exciting new saga."

"The talented individuals producing this series are truly superheroes in the world of animation," said Sander Schwartz, President, Warner Bros. Animation. "Glen and his team will bring Teen Titans to life with all of the excitement and breathtaking quality that our audience has come to expect from Warner Bros. Animation."

DAN JURGENS TALKS THOR

Thor #57, in stores in December, will be a "storybook" issue, with several guest artists.

"It's going to be a very special and unique issue that's told in much the same manner of Norse legends being passed along through the ages," writer Dan Jurgens told The Continuum.

"It will have a storybook feel to it, with the story being visualized by some of the best artists in the business through an array of impressive, large-scale illustrations."

Claudio Castellini provides the cover. Artists confirmed so far include Mike Kaluta, Phil Jimenez, John Paul Leon, Carlos Pacheco, P. Craig Russell, Brian Haberlin and Phillip Tan.

"We're trying to dispel notions of what a Thor comic has to be, and this is just one more step in the process," Jurgens said.

JIMMY PALMIOTTI TALKS BEAUTIFUL KILLER MOVIE

Jimmy Palmiotti told The Continuum that the recently announced deal for a Beautiful Killer movie should benefit the Black Bull comic book.

Beautiful Killer is being developed as a live-action movie Universal Pictures and Strike Entertainment for Dark Angel star Jessica Alba. It is based on the series created by Palmiotti and artist Phil Noto.

Strike Entertainment's Marc Abraham and Eric Newman will produce. Alba and Chris Henze will executive produce.

"Beautiful Killer looks to have a life after issue 3 and the Black Bull guys and I couldn't be happier," Palmiotti told The Continuum. "Writing the book and them going online to read the headline in Variety is pretty surreal to me...exciting and nerve wracking all at the same time.

"Issue 3 wraps up the whole story into one nice clean package and that comes out in November. Phil is doing an amazing job on the book and we are blessed with some of the best production in comics. the Black Bull crew are proving that quality over quantity pays off in the long run."

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: SKINWALKER #4

Skinwalker #4 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Oni Press. The issue is written by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir, with art by Brian Hurtt, and Arthur Dela Cruz and a cover by Durwin Talon.

Here's how Oni describes the issue:

"The chase leads Haworth and Adakai to Washington, where the killer can hide amongst the suits and ties of the Federal Government. Is the trail finally ending at the man really pulling the strings? Will the real killer be revealed? And whose face will he or she be wearing when the truth is uncovered? It's the grand finale of Skinwalker, a truly unique comic book hybrid of horror and crime."

Skinwalker #4 will be 32 black and white pages and will cost $2.95.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: QUEEN & COUNTRY #12

Queen & Country #12 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Oni Press. The issue is written by Greg Rucka, with art by Leandro Fernandez.

Here's how Oni describes the issue:

"Pieces of a major terrorist plot are all coming together in this grand finale of the third Queen & Country arc. Intelligence Agent Tara Chace is off to Cairo to find the group responsible for this potential attack, while her compatriot Tom Wallace is in Sarajevo in an attempt to find another piece to the plan. Will Crocker and his Minders solve the puzzle before the terrorist plot comes to fruition or will the international intelligence community be dealt another devastating blow? It's the thrilling conclusion to the "Operation: Crystal Ball."

Queen & Country #12 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.95.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

BRIEFLY