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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2009

THE MIDDLEMAN FINALE COMES TO COMICS

ABC Family has announced a deal with Viper Comics for the "lost" series finale episode to appear in comic-book form this summer.

The Middleman -- The Doomsday Armageddon Apocalypse graphic novel will be written by creator/executive producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Hans Beimler, with illustrations done by Armando M. Zanker and layouts by Les McClaine. A special collector's edition will be released in July to coincide with Comic-Con International in San Diego.

ABC Family has also teamed with Shout Factory! to produce and distribute The Middleman Season One DVD, containing all 12 one-hour episodes that aired last summer. The DVD, also due in July, will contain extensive bonus material.

The Middleman television series, starring Matt Keeslar and Natalie Morales, was created and executive produced by Grillo-Marxuach, based on his Viper Comics series illustrated by McClaine.

Click for the Warner Bros. Online Shop-WBShop.com


WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN: "X-CALIBRE"

Nightcrawler will be in the spotlight in "X-Calibre," Friday's episode of Wolverine and the X-Men on Nicktoons. Greg Johnson, the series' head writer and co-developer, told The Continuum he will be depicted differently than he was in the previous series, X-Men: Evolution.

"When I took over X-Men: Evolution in its second season, the mandate was already in place to portray Kurt as comedy relief, and somewhat of a goofball. And though I snuck in a few dramatic turns for his character later in the series, I always felt we were missing an opportunity with him," Johnson told The Continuum.

"So when Craig Kyle and I had the chance to revisit his character in Wolverine and the X-Men, we were both eager to explore a different side of him. We could either go with the somber, religious version, or the fun, swashbuckler version. 'X-Calibre' gives you an idea which direction we went.

"With a glimpse of where he came from and how he was treated as a young mutant, we're able to understand why Nightcrawler makes the decisions he does in this episode. And why he chooses to stand up for mutant refugees when they're mistreated, seeing value in them that others do not. Throw in a ship at sea, some pirates, some swords, and a slick use of his powers, and we're introduced to a Nightcrawler that's so fun he carries the entire episode himself. X-Calibre was a real thrill for everyone involved."

Here's how the episode is described:

"Cargo ships have a booming side business -- ferrying desperate refugee mutants to the island of Genosha. But when Nightcrawler realizes the refugees are mistreated, he secretly boards one ship and teaches the captain and crew a lesson. It seems like he has the situation under control until the ship is boarded by pirates. These modern-day marauders have made a practice of scuttling ships and abducting the mutants onboard. It's up to Nightcrawler to defeat the pirates and save the refugees in a battle on the high seas."

"X-Calibre" was written by Christopher Hicks and Francis Lombard and was directed by Nick Filippi.

Liam O'Brien provides the voice of Nightcrawler.

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WATCHMEN ROUNDUP

Billy Crudup, who plays Doctor Manhattan in the upcoming Watchmen movie, will be one of the first guests on NBC's new Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Crudup will be a guest on the series' third show on Wednesday, March 4.

In other Watchmen news:

* To view a clip from the film, featuring Jackie Earle Haley's Rorschach and Patrick Wilson's Nite-Owl, CLICK HERE or on the image above.

* Malin Akerman, who plays Silk Spectre, will be a guest on NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Monday, March 2.

*Look for more Watchmen news later on Thursday here in The Continuum.

ThinkGeek! You'll love this stuff!


ASPEN COMICS FOR MAY

Aspen Comics has released its solicitations for May.

For a rundown, with images, CLICK HERE.

Official Shop of Marvel!


IMAGE COMICS FOR MAY

Image Comics has released its solicitations for May.

For a rundown, with images, CLICK HERE.

Transformers from Entertainment Earth!


BONGO COMICS FOR MAY

Bongo Comics has released its solicitations for May.

For a rundown, with images, CLICK HERE.

StarWarsShop.com - More Product. More Exclusives.


HEROES: "COLD WARS"

NBC has released eight image from "Cold Wars," the Monday, Feb. 23 episode of Heroes.

Here's how the network describes the episode:

"While being held hostage, HRG (Jack Coleman) is subjected to Matt Parkmanšs (Greg Grunberg) unique brand of interrogation, revealing how he became involved with Nathan's (Adrian Pasdar) government plot to capture those with abilities.

"Meanwhile, Matt's discoveries bring Peter (Milo Ventimiglia) face-to-face with The Hunter (guest star Zeljko Ivanek)."

Click on the thumbnails for larger images.



Joker


IMAGE COMICS FIRST LOOKS

For covers and five- to six- page previews of Image Comics titles arriving in stores on Feb. 25, CLICK HERE.

Titles include Dynamo 5 #20, Proof #17, The Astounding Wolf-Man #13 and The Sword #15.



MARVEL COMICS FIRST LOOKS

For covers and a six- page preview of Dark Reign: Elektra #1 from Marvel Comics, CLICK HERE.

Look for more Marvel First Looks soon here in The Continuum.



MAY SOLICITATIONS ROUNDUP

For previously posted May solicitations, click on the publishers' names below:

* Archie Comics.

* Bluewater Productions.

* Dark Horse Comics.

* DC Comics.

* IDW Publishing.

* Marvel Comics.

* Moonstone Books.



BRIEFLY

* Stan Lee will be providing the voice of the Mayor of Super Hero City for Marvel Super Hero Squad, the animated series to debut on Cartoon Network later this year.

Other voice talent will include Tom Kenny, Steve Blum, Charlie Adler, Grey DeLisle, Wayne Knight, LeVar burton, Michelle Trachtenberg, Greg Grunberg, Lena Headey, Adrian Pasdar, Tricia Helfer, Jennifer Morrison, Tamera Towry and Robert Englund.



COMICS CONTINUUM BACK ISSUES

If you missed The Continuum's coverage over the past month, following are links. Click on the date to get the day's full report.

* Saturday, February 14: Heroes, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li and Marvel First Looks.

* Friday, February 13: Watchmen, Marvel Comics First Looks and Image Comics First Looks.

* Thursday, February 12: Batman: The Brave and the Bold, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, John Malkovich joins Jonah Hex cast, January sales and Top Cow Productions First Looks. StarWarsShop.com - More Product. More Exclusives.

* Wednesday, February 11: Archie Comics First Looks, The Human Target and Knight Rider.

* Tuesday, February 10: Wolverine and the X-Men, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Heroes, XIII, Marvel Comics First Looks, DC Comics First Looks and DC Comics roundup.

* Monday, February 9: Dollhouse, Marvel animation roundup, Brett Ratner to direct Youngblood movie, Watchmen, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Battlestar Galactica, The Simpsons, BOOM! Studios First Looks, Dynamite Entertainment First Looks, Marvel Comics First Looks, Amazing Spider-Man: The Short Halloween and Marvel's Cup O' Joe panel at New York Comic Con.

* Sunday, February 8: Michael Chiklis at IDW Publishing, Vertigo titles and XIII's Jay Firestone.

* Saturday, February 7: XIII's Caterina Murino and X-Men Origins: Wolverine video game.

* Friday, February 6: From New York Comic Con -- X-Men, Dark Reign and Wars of Kings, Marvel Comics First Looks, XIII's Stephen Dorff and Wolverine and the X-Men.

* Thursday, February 5: Dark Horse Comics for May, Black Panther voice cast, XIII's Val Kilmer, Radical Publishing's The Last Days of American Crime, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Marvel Comics First Looks.

* Wednesday, February 4: Batman: The Brave and the Bold, The Spectacular Spider-Man, XIII, Top Cow Productions First Looks, Archie Comics First Looks, Marvel Comics First Looks and Family Guy.

* Tuesday, February 3: Heroes, Battlestar Galactica, Marvel Comics First Looks, DC Comics roundup and Vincent Price Presents.

* Monday, February 2: The Middleman, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Spider-Man 4, Knight Rider and Dynamite Entertainment First Looks.

* Sunday, February 1: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Dark Horse Comics First Looks.

* Saturday, January 31: Smallville, Dollhouse, Watchmen, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Bluewater Productions for May and Image Comics First Looks.

* Friday, January 30: X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Heroes, Boom! Studios First Looks, Marvel Comics First Looks and Wolverine and the X-Men.

* Thursday, January 29: Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Necessary Evil, IDW Publishing First Looks, Bluewater Productions page counts and Family Guy.

* Wednesday, January 28: Moonstone Books for May, Wonder Woman's Nathan Fillion, Heroes, Wolverine and the X-Men, BOOM! Studio's Irredeemable, Marvel Comics First Looks, Top Cow Productions First Looks and Archie Comics First Looks.

* Tuesday, January 27: Batman: The Brave and the Bold, DC Comics First Looks, Heroes, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Marvel Comics First Looks, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Knight Rider and El Zombo Fantasma movie.

* Monday, January 26: Avatar Press for April, Antarctic Press for April, Dollhouse, The Simpsons and Dynamite Entertainment First Looks.

* Sunday, January 25: Batman: The Brave and the Bold, BOOM! Studios First Looks, The Simpsons, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Dabel Brothers Publishing for April.

* Saturday, January 24: BOOM! Studios for April, Wonder Woman, Battlestar Galactica, Watchmen, Disney XD schedule and Image Comics First Looks.

* Friday, January 23: Marvel Comics First Looks, Heroes, Zenescope Entertainment for April, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and IDW Publishing First Looks.

* Thursday, January 22: Image Comics for April, Bluewater Productions' Warlock, Heroes, Ape Entertainment for April, Smallville, The Dark Knight's Academy Award nominations, Archie Comics First Looks and Top Cow Productions First Looks.

* Wednesday, January 21: Smallville, Dynamite Entertainment for April, Dark Horse Comics First Looks and The Simpsons.

* Tuesday, January 20: Marvel Comics for April, DC Comics for April, Smallville, DC Comics First Looks and DC Comics' Origins and Omens.



E-mail the Continuum at RobAlls@aol.com



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