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Thursday, May 15, 2003DC COMICS FIRST LOOKSFor covers and four-page previews of DC Comics titles arriving in stores on Wednesday, CLICK HERE. Titles include Smallville #2, Batman Adventures #2, Wonder Woman #192, Arkham Asylum: Living Hell #1, Green Arrow #26, Y: The Last Man #11, Lucifer #38 and Beware the Creeper #2.
MARVEL COMICS FIRST LOOKSFor covers and four-page previews of Marvel Comics titles arriving in stores on Wednesday, CLICK HERE. Titles include Amazing Spider-Man #53, New Mutants #1, Exiles #27, The Crew #1 and Daredevil #47.
X2 ROUNDUPMforma Group, a global provider of mobile data solutions for wireless carriers, announced that it has been awarded broad rights to distribute wireless video games based on Marvel's X-Men by Activision. Additionally, Mforma has been granted rights to develop other X-Men-branded content for use in the wireless medium, such as ring tones, wallpapers and screen savers, by Marvel Enterprises. Mforma will distribute up to two X-Men games, and other graphics, comics, and screensavers for wireless phones, coinciding with the release of X2. With the launch of content for the X-Men brand, Mforma is introducing a new distribution channel strategy whereby Mforma, along with its developer partners, will make available various X-Men content, including certain content based specifically on X2: X-Men United and the X-Men comics. Content includes a fighting game for J2ME and BREW handsets as well as downloadable graphics and screensavers for MMS-enabled handsets. Mforma, Activision, and Marvel will work together closely on cross-platform co-marketing activities to leverage the growing popularity and brand awareness of the X-Men character family. * Even though the film is heading into is third weekend, its stars are still on the promotion circuit. Famke Janssen, who plays Jean Grey, appeared on NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly from Las Vegas early on Thursday. (Click image above for larger look). Kelly Hu, who plays Lady Deathstrike, will be a guest on Daly's show from Las Vegas on Tuesday, and NBC has already released an image from her appearance. * X2 figures on being overtaken for the top spot at the box office by The Matrix: Reloaded on Thursday, but the film is being projected for a possible $25 million weekend. Analysts told The Continuum that the PG-13 film could actually benefit from the R-rated Matrix sequel because teenagers will buy X2 tickets and then sneak into The Matrix: Reloaded.
G.I. JOE PROJECTSDreamwave Productions has provided The Continuum with a first look at the three covers to Transformers/G.I .Joe #1, which goes on sale in August. The first issue #1 will feature a triple-gatefold cover by series penciler Jae Lee, a variant wraparound cover by Pat Lee, and a wraparound holofoil cover by character designers Don Figueroa & Dan Norton. The Lee and holofoil covers will also be released as posters. Click on the thumbnails above for larger and fuller images. In other G.I. Joe news: Image Comics announced that G.I. Joe: Frontline #11-14 will feature a special four-part storyline and is being scheduled to ship weekly during August. "Since we started, Devil's Due has worked very, very hard to earn a reputation not only as a studio that puts out quality comics, but puts them out consistently," said Josh Blaylock of Devil's Due. "With G.I. Joe, there's traditionally been a case of 'so many characters, so little time' when it comes to a monthly series, but even after branching out with G.I. Joe: Frontline, it's still a huge challenge to tell all the stories we want to tell. "Offering Frontline #11-14 allows us to highlight our commitment to quality and timeliness while at the same time giving us a chance to tell more stories about the Joes -- and anything that allows to do that is good in my book!" Written by newcomer Brandon Jerwa with art by Eddy Barrow and Cory Hamscher, with covers by Francis Manapul, G.I. Joe: Frontline #11-14 is a four-part story arc entitled "History Repeating." Here's how Image describes the story: "The story revolves around G.I. Joe undercover agent Chuckles -- he's been keeping very busy while out of the spotlight, but unfortunately he's not the only one. A new and deadly foe is lurking on the horizon, putting Chuckles' abilities to the ultimate test. How far is he willing to go to protect his identity, though?" And while comics readers may not be familiar with Jerwa's name now,
Blaylock said he believes this story will put a quick end to that.
"Right now, Brandon Jerwa may be considered the luckiest G.I. Joe fan
in comics," said Blaylock, "After this story debuts, though, I think he'll drop that title in exchange for 'talented writer' -- and one who understands the characters very well. Brandon's original pitch was sent three times, lost twice in day-to-day office shuffling, and not read for four months, yet his persistence and quality storytelling paid off. He has what it takes to break into this business, and people should keep an eye on him."
BLUE MONDAY GETS THIRD TRADEOni Press will release the third volume in the Blue Monday trade paperback series. Inbetween Days, in September. The 112-page book collects the three holiday-themed one-shots from the last year under one cover, as well as various related short stories, all by series creator Chynna Clugston-Major. "When we first started talking about doing these one-shots, it was supposed to be a stopgap before the next big Blue Monday story," said Oni Press editor-in-chief Jamie S. Rich. "What we ended up with were several loosely connected stories that end up having an arc all their own, as the relationships of our characters deepened and grew." "I love holidays, with all the fun they bring," Clugston-Major said. "That includes all the pain, heartache, and ridiculous accidents that make these celebrations such emotional nightmares. Any girl who knows the pain of not getting a card from the guy she's crushing over on Valentine's Day will identify with the Lovecats story, and any guy who has a dark secret from his past will appreciate Victor's fast dancing to cover his shame in his star-turn in Nobody's Fool." Blue Monday fans might have also missed the crossover with Paul Dini's Jingle Belle in that character's own comic. Written and drawn by Clugston-Major, the short story shows that Santa's teenage terror fits right in with the kids from Jefferson High. "Chynna has a keen understanding of the naughty nature of the adolescent mind," Dini said. "Perhaps it's because, like me, she's never let go of that sense of mischief. Given her fabulous cartooning skills, everything she draws is charged with her incredible sense of play." To round out the book, Clugston-Major and Rich have been digging through their archives for special extras, which fans of the series have come to expect in the Blue Monday trades. "I have a manila folder full of goodies I've saved from Chynna's packages," Rich said. "Some of them are even printable." "We have sketches and some online strips I did," Clugston-Major said, "and as usual, I'm going to probably toss together some new drawings and other material just to make the trade paperback an awesome book for everyone." The book will go on sale Sept. 17 and will cost $9.95.
BRIEFLY
E-mail the Continuum at RobAlls@aol.com
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