FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2007
COMING SATURDAY
Movie news -- and much more!!!
Jeph Loeb, co-executive producer on NBC's Heroes, told The Continuum that having Stan Lee appear on the show was "one of the, nah, let's just say it was THE greatest experience I've had making movies and television."
Loeb wrote the episode, "Unexpected," in which Lee appears. It is scheduled to air on Feb. 19.
"This all began when me and a bunch of the writers -- Jesse Alexander, Aron Coleite and Joe Pokaski -- went to that Stan Lee vs. Joe Quesada thing at UCLA that Kevin Smith hosted," Loeb said. "We all were wowed by how quick-witted Stan was and it dawned on us to have him on the show would be such a delight.
"Next morning, we took it to Heroes creator Tim Kring, who loved the idea and said 'Set it up!' I called Stan and he quipped that as long as his part wasn't more than nine hours, he'd do it!
The day of shooting, the entire cast and crew were electrified. After all, ROYALTY was coming to our little town. Stan could NOT have been more gracious. He signed autographs,
did a million interviews and was outstanding as an actor and as a gentleman.
"He did his scene -- with Hiro, Masi Oka, also a huge fan -- and got back into his Fantasti-Car and whisked away into the night.
"Thrilling and fun. Can't beat that!"
Loeb said he was glad he wrote the episode of Lee's appearance.
"Are you kidding? Did you really think I'd let him be in anybody else's episode?" he said. "Excelsior!"
JEPH LOEB TALKS STAN LEE'S HEROES APPEARANCE
GHOST RIDER ROUNDUP
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Producers Gary Foster and Avi Arad introduced a press screening of Ghost Rider Thursday night in Los Angeles.
The screening generated positive response, with applause at the end.
Look for more on the Ghost Rider press junket on Saturday here in The Continuum.
In other Ghost Rider news:
* Sony has released new imagery from the film. Click on the thumbnails above for larger images.
* Kirk Petruccelli, the film's production designer, also worked on Blade and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. He is now working on Marvel's new Incredible Hulk film.
* Raquel Alessi plays the young Roxanne Simpson.
* Sony has released another behind-the-scenes video from the film. This one has comments from stars Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes about Ghost Rider's love story.
Click below to watch the video.
FIRST LOOKS
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For covers and two- to four-page previews of upcoming titles, CLICK HERE.
Titles include The Darkness: Level 2 from Image Comics and Betty & Veronica Double Digest #148 from Archie Comics.
THE BATMAN: "SECONDS"
"Seconds," a new episode of Kids¹ WB!¹s The Batman, is scheduled to premiere on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. (ET).
Here's how the episode is described:
"After a seemingly ordinary criminal continues to get the better of Batman and his partners it is discovered that he has the ability to travel back in time by several seconds. Batman is now faced with the seemingly impossible task of stopping a foe that knows his every move before even Batman himself does."
In other The Batman News:
* During a recent trip to Warner Bros. Animation, The Continuum asked executive producer Alan Burnett to compare The Batman to Batman: The Animated Series since he has worked on both shows.
"I like the old series. It was what it was," Burnett said. "It skewed a little bit older. But I like this version of the series very much because it has a lot of energy to it.
"It's really well-directed, the scripts have been terrific and I don't think it talks down to anybody. Yet we're getting good response from kids and that's an important audience. It's an important audience not just to the network, but to comic books. The show helps introduce that whole arena to kids."
* With the announcement of several Justice League characters, including Superman, Aquaman and The Flash appearing on next season on The Batman, is it possible that The Flash will appear in this season's two part-finale?
"Maybe," Burnett said with a smile. "Maybe."
SMALLVILLE CREATORS AT L.A. CONVENTION
Smallville executive producers Al Gough and Miles Millar are making a rare convention appearance at the Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention on Sunday.
The two are scheduled to appear on stage at 1 p.m. (PT). According to a show representative, it's a possibility, depending on shooting schedules, a cast member might also be featured.
In addition, a poster from Smallville will be given out while supplies last. Click on the image at the right for a larger view of the poster.
The show also features Abadazad's Mike Ploog and J.M. DeMatteis.
For more information, CLICK HERE.
BRIEFLY
* DC Unlimited, the new brand launched by DC Comics to license pop culture characters and stories, has announced the acquisition of a license to release a line of action figures and collectibles based on the Studio Gonzo produced Afro Samurai animated series.
The series debuted on Spike TV on Jan. 4 and will be released on DVD in May by FUNimation Entertainment. The first series of products will debut at the American International Toy Fair.
DC Direct will launch a line of Afro Samurai collectibles that will include fully articulated 6.75" and 14" action figures, resin busts and statues.
* According to Marvel Comics, both regular version and the black and white variant of Wolverine #50 have sold out. It is the first issue by Jeph Loeb and Simone Bianchi.
COMICS CONTINUUM BACK ISSUES
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In case you missed The Continuum's coverage over the past month, here are some links. Click on the date to get the day's full report.
* Sunday, February 4: IDW Publishing for May, The Amazing Screw-On Head and Heroes.
* Saturday, February 3: Stan Lee on Heroes, Legion of Super Heroes and The Batman renewed, Smallville, The Simpsons and First Looks.
* Friday, February 2: Joss Whedon off Wonder Woman and David Goyer off Flash, The Batman's Alan Burnett, WildStorm/Vertigo collections, BlueWater Productions for May, Heroic Publishing for May and Moonstone Books for May.
* Thursday, February 1: Smallville, Civil War #7 variant, DC Universe collections, TwoMorrows Publishing for May and Heroes.
* Wednesday, January 31: Marvel First Looks, Legion of Super Heroes, Image First Looks, Adam Beechen on Teen Titans, Firebreather and Family Guy.
* Tuesday, January 30: KISS, George Perez, Heroes, Marvel First Looks, DC roundup, Krypto the Superdog and BlueWater Productions graphic novels.
* Monday, January 29: From Phoenix Cactus Comicon -- Hellboy's Mike Mignola, Mighty Avengers' Angel Medina and Feedback; plus, DC Comics First Looks, The Simpsons and Stephen Colbert.
* Sunday, January 28: Smallville, Rob Liefeld, Heroes and Archie Comics First Looks.
* Saturday, January 27: Ghost Rider movie, Free Comic Book Day titles and Battlestar Galactica.
* Friday, January 26: Marvel Comics First Looks, Smallville, Painkiller Jane, Hero Initiative's Ultimate Spider-Man covers and Fell trade paperback.
* Thursday, January 25: DC Comics teaser image, TMNT's Kevin Munroe and Tom Gray, 300 goes IMAX, DC's World War III, The Tick, Virgin Comics for April and Heroes.
* Wednesday, January 24: Smallville, Dynamite Entertainment for April, Marvel animation, Image First Looks, DC First Looks and Spider-Man 3.
* Tuesday, January 23: Marvel Animation, Marvel First Looks, 300, Transformers movie images, Kevin Spacey on Superman sequel, Oni Press for April, Avatar Press for April, Smallville and Heroes.
* Monday, January 22: Invincible Iron Man's Marc Worden, Markosia named editor-in-chief, Image Comics' Unravel, Dark Horse First Looks and Battlestar Galactics.
* Sunday, January 21: BlueWater Productions self-publishers, First Looks and HeroClix's Fin Fang Foom.
* Saturday, January 20: Spider-Man 3, Ghost Rider and Spawn.
* Friday, January 19: Smallville, Boom! Studios for April, Fathom: Kiani, 300 and Family Guy.
* Thursday, January 18: Smallville, Legion of Super Heroes, Devil's Due Publishing for April, Image First Looks and Marvel First Looks.
* Wednesday, January 17: Legion of Super Heroes' James Tucker, Image Comics for April, Iron Man's Gwyneth Paltrow, Heroes, Smallville and 300.
* Tuesday, January 16: Marvel Comics for April, Marvel First Looks, The Batman, Legion of Super Heroes, 2006 sales and Dynamite Entertainment First Looks.
* Monday, January 15: DC Comics for April, Archie Comics for April, Doctor Strange animated movie, December sales, Image Comics First Looks, Dynamite Entertainment First Looks and Painkiller Jane.
* Sunday, January 14: Legion of Super Heroes, DC Comics for April preview and Marvel First Looks.
* Saturday, January 13: Painkiller Jane, Smallville, Flash Gordon and Heroic Publishing roundup.
* Friday, January 12: Fantastic Four animated, The Amazing Screw-On Head and Archie Comics First Looks.
* Thursday, January 11: Painkiller Jane, Legion of Super Heroes, Battlestar Galactica, Image Comics First Looks and Marvel Comics First Looks.
* Wednesday, January 10: Halle Berry talks X-Men 4, Smallville, Marvel First Looks and Civil War collections.
* Tuesday, January 9: Dark Horse Comics for April, Civil War #7 delayed, Smallville, Marvel First Looks and IDW Publishing's Tank Girl.
* Monday, January 8: Smallville's Erica Durance, Painkiller Jane, Bloodrayne one-shot and DC First Looks.
* Sunday, January 7: Dark Horse First Looks, Image First Looks and Masterpiece Comics' Wild Boys.
* Saturday, January 6: Aspen Comics for April, Smallville and Battlestar Galactica.
Copyright © 2006, The Comics Continuum