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Collector's items from Buffy at FOXshop - Shop now!
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2008
COMING FRIDAY
Marvel First Looks, movie news -- and more!
ABC Family has released a more detailed description of The Middleman, its new series based on the Viper Comics books by Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Les McClaine.
Here's how ABC Family describes the show, which premieres on Monday, June 16 at 9 p.m. (ET/PT):
"Wendy Watson (Natalie Morales) is a 22 year-old art school graduate struggling to stay afloat at a series of dead-end temp jobs. Living with her best friend Lacey (Brit Morgan) in an illegal sublet, she bounces from one temp job to another while putting off her mother's daily inquiries to what she is going to do with her life.
"Wendy's situation takes a drastic turn during a routine temp assignment at a local laboratory, when she is thrown into the middle of a science experiment gone very wrong. If that weren't bizarre enough, who should show up to save the day, but a mysterious, handsome, gun-wielding stranger who introduces himself only as...The Middleman (Matt Keeslar).
"A covert hero who neutralizes any and all danger humanity isn't prepared to face, the milk-drinking, ruggedly wholesome Middleman is in need of a new colleague in the fight against otherworldly evil and thinks Wendy fits the bill. After a series of tests that would make grown astronauts weep and Navy Seals beg for mercy, Wendy is quickly recruited into the Middleman ranks.
"Now fighting comic book-esque criminals under the guidance of her new boss, Wendy tries to wrap her head around the new and definitely weird situation. But the Middleman is sure she can do the job, even though his cranky robot assistant Ida (Mary Pat Gleason) questions his choice every step of the way.
"Soon Wendy learns that there will always be another unfathomable peril to contain and focusing on her painting will be easier said than done. Now living a double life, can Wendy balance an undercover Middleman mission with 'normal' life in her offbeat circle of artist friends?"
The TV series is created and executive produced by Grillo-Marxuach. The Middleman is also executive produced by John Ziffren and co-executive produced by Hans Beimler. Director Jeremiah Chechik acts as supervising producer, with producer Jon Pare, co-producer Sarah Watson and supervising producer Tracey Stern.
Look for more on The Middleman soon here in The Continuum.
ABC FAMILY'S THE MIDDLEMAN
THE DARK KNIGHT FIRST LOOK
The Dark Knight: HBO First Look will premiere on Thursday, July 10 at 10:45 p.m.
Like all of HBO's recent behind-the-scenes special, The Dark Knight first look will run 13 minutes.
Additional air dates and times include:
Saturday, July 12 at 8:45 a.m.; Sunday, July 13 at 5:50 a.m.; Tuesday, July 15 at 7:45 a.m. and 9:45 p.m.; Friday, July 18 at 4:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.; Sunday, July 20 at 4:45 p.m.; Wednesday, July 23 at 8:45 a.m.; and Tuesday, July 29 at 11:45 a.m.
The film opens on Friday, July 18.
HEROES ACTION FIGURES
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NBC has released images from the first set of Heroes action figures from Mezco Toyz, scheduled for release in June.
Included in the first set of characters are Claire Bennett, Hiro Nakamura, Peter Petrelli, Mohinder Suresh and Sylar. The seven-inch figures will include accessories, and Mezco is planning an assortment of alternate heads and variant figures.
"The drama and intrigue of 'Heroes' has captured the imagination of so many fans around the world and we are really pleased to be able to introduce these special collectibles as part of the growing 'Heroes' brand," said Kim Niemi, Senior Vice President of NBC Universal. "We are certain that the loyal 'Heroes' fans will feel that these figures reflect the action and excitement of the series and we look forward to introducing additional characters in the months to come."
The figures will be available in specialty stores, major retail outlets, online retailers and NBCstore.com, as well as the NBC Experience Store.
ARCHIE COMICS FIRST LOOKS
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For covers and two- to seven-page previews of Archie Comics titles arriving in stores on May 14, CLICK HERE.
Titles include Sonic the Hedgehog #188, Jughead's Double Digest #140 and Betty & Veronica Digest #184.
For previews of Image Comics titles arriving in stores on May 14, CLICK HERE.
IRON MAN ROUNDUP
Director Jon Favreau said he is "very humbled" by the critical and box-office reaction to Iron Man.
"Things just all lined up well," Favreau said during an appearance on NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Wednesday night.
Favreau said pressure built for the film to perform.
"It could have been a big hit at like $60 million(on opening weekend) and made a lot of money, based on what it costs," Favreau said. "But because the expectations were so high, we would have been considered a failure, even if we had put up a big number like that. So it was very intimidating."
Favreau said star Robert Downey Jr. insisted that the film was going to do $100 million.
In other Iron Man news:
* Iron Man brought in $6.5 million on Tuesday to push its dometic total to $115.6 milion.
* In the wake of the film's success, Marvel Studios' chairman David Maisel is now set to continue in the position through 2010, and Kevin Feige has been promoted to president.
JULY SOLICITATIONS ROUNDUP
For previously posted July solicitations, click on the publishers' names below:
* Archie Comics.
* Aspen Comics.
* Avatar Presss.
* Bluewater Productions.
* Bongo Comics.
* Boom! Studios.
* Dabel Brothers Productions.
* Dark Horse Comics.
* DC Comics.
* Desperado Publishing.
* Dynamite Entertainment.
* IDW Publishing.
* Image Comics.
* Marvel Comics.
* Moonstone Books.
* Oni Press.
* Radical Comics.
* Red 5 Comics.
BRIEFLY
* Marvel Comics has released a first look at Michael Turner's variant cover to Ultimate Origins #1.
The five-issue mini-series, by Brian Michael Bendis and penciled by Butch Guice, launches on June 4.
Click on the thumbnail for a larger image.
* Marvel Comics has announced that The Invincible Iron Man #1 has sold out. The publisher has no plans for a second printing.
* According to Variety, Platinum Studios' movie adaptation of Dylan Dog will be called Dead of Night. It will be directed by Kevin Munroe and star Brandon Routh.
* Dracula vs. King Arthur, the graphic novel published by Silent Devil, will be adapted into a role playing game entitled Vampires vs. Knights by Tony DiGerolamo.
Vampires vs. Knights is a d20 role-playing supplement that uses the Dungeons and Dragons system. DiGerolamo has written game material for Kenzer & Company, Goodman Games, West End Games and the Le Games. He also designed his own RPG, Complete Mafia for d20.
Vampire vs. Knights is scheduled for a spring release.
COMICS CONTINUUM BACK ISSUES
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.
* Saturday, May 3: Iron Man, Family Guy and DC Comics First Looks.
* Friday, May 2: Iron Man's Jeff Bridges, Michael Rosenbaum exits Smallville, Batman Gotham Knight's Alan Burnett, The Middleman, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Marvel First Looks and Dark Horse First Looks.
* Thursday, May 1: Iron Man's Robert Downey Jr. and Leslie Bibb, Spectacular Spider-Man's Peter MacNicol, The Batman and Legion get Emmy nominations, Image First Looks, Moonstone Books for August, Archie Comics First Looks and DC Universe 0 second printing.
* Wednesday, April 30: The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man's Terrence Howard and First Looks.
* Tuesday, April 29: Iron Man's Jon Favreau, IDW Publishing's Galaxy Quest, IDW collects Love and Capes, Devil's Due's Drafted and First Looks.
* Monday, April 28: Iron Man's Gwyneth Paltrow, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Smallville and First Looks.
* Sunday, April 27: Iron Man and Smallville.
* Saturday, April 26: DC Comics First Looks and Marvel Comics roundup.
* Friday, April 25: The Spectacular Spider-Man, Marvel First Looks, Iron Man movie and Boom! Studios First Looks.
* Thursday, April 24: Iron Man, Hellboy II: The Golden Army's Selma Blair, The Spectaculer Spider-Man's Vanessa Marshall, Battlestar Galactica, Smallville and Image Comics First Looks.
* Wednesday, April 23: Dynamite Entertainment for July, Desperado Publishing for July, Viper Comics for July, First Looks, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and The Simpsons.
* Tuesday, April 22: The Incredible Hulk, Wanted, Speed Racer, Smallville, Avatar Press for July, Dynamite Entertainment First Looks, DC Comics First Looks, Virgin and Stan Lee team and Marvel roundup.
* Monday, April 21: Iron Man movie, Boom! Studios for July, First Looks, Family Guy, The Simpsons and from New York Comic Con: Vertigo, Top Cow and Boom! Studios.
* Sunday, April 20: From New York Comic Con: Incredible Hulk producers, Marvel's Cop O' Joe and Chesterquest panels; and Red 5 Comics for July.
* Saturday, April 19: From New York Comic Con: The Spirit, The Dark Knight, The Incredible Hulk, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Wanted and Make Mine Marvel panel; Image Comics First Looks, Smallville and Dabel Productions for July.
* Friday, April 18: From New York Comic Con -- DC Nation panel, Secret Invasion panel and Mondo Marvel panel; Marvel First Looks, Image Comics for July, Black Panther animated and The Spectacular Spider-Man.
* Thursday, April 17: Bongo Comics for July, Oni Press for July, Invincible Iron Man variant and Archie Comics First Looks.
* Wednesday, April 16: Platinum Studios' Atlantis Rising optioned, Stan Lee's Legion of 5, Radical Publishing for July, Transformers: Animated in May and Dark Horse First Looks.
* Tuesday, April 15: Marvel Comics for July, The Simpsons, DC Comics' Prototype and First Looks.
* Monday, April 14: DC Comics for July, Archie Comics for July, Smallville, Dynamite Entertainment First Looks and Battlestar Galactica.
* Sunday, April 13: Family Guy, The Spectacular Spider-Man and First Looks.
* Saturday, April 12: Dark Horse Comics First Looks and DC Comics First Looks.
* Friday, April 11: The Spirit, Marvel Comics First Looks, Image Comics First Looks, The Spectacular Spider-Man and Kabillion's Spider-Man.
* Thursday, April 10: Smallville, Batman Gotham Knight, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Comic Book Tattoo and Archie Comics First Looks.
* Wednesday, April 9: The Batman: Brave and the Bold's Diedrich Bader, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Bluewater Productions for August and First Looks.
* Tuesday, April 8: Top Cow Productions for July, The Spectacular Spider-Man and Marvel Comics roundup.
* Monday, April 7: Dark Horse Comics for July, Smallville, Voltron, Battlestar Galactica, The Simpsons, Invincible Iron Man, Freshmen and First Looks.
* Sunday, April 6: Iron Man movie and First Looks.
* Saturday, April 5: IDW Publishing for July, DC First Looks and Dark Horse First Looks.
Copyright © 2008, The Comics Continuum