THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2009
COMING FRIDAY
Marvel Comics First Looks -- and much more!
Gregory Noveck, senior vice-president -- creative affairs at DC Comics, told The Continuum that plans and characters for Season 9 of The CW's recently renewed Smallville are beginning to formulate.
"They're just starting to have those conversations," Noveck said. "At some point in the next few weeks, they're going to come to us and say, 'Here's our plan. Do you foresee any snags?'"
As part of his responsibilities, Noveck works with the show's creators in approving and incorporating other DC Comics characters. This season has featured such heroes as Green Arrow, Aquaman, Black Canary, Martian Manhunter, Supergirl and the Legion of Super Heroes and such villains as Doomsday, Plastique, Maxima, Persuader and Toyman.
Upcoming are Zatanna, played by Serinda Swan and shown above with Justin Hartley's Green Arrow, and the return of the Legion.
"I feel great about it," Noveck said of the show's increased use of DC characters this season. "The first three or four years the show was on the air, you have to be really specific and clear about what they were using from the mythology, both to establish the correct mythology of the show and to make sure it was in synch with the comic books.
"As the show evolved, though, they really developed their own style -- and their own mythology. It is its own continuity, so at this point, for me to say, 'Well, you can't use Doomsday that way because he's really this mindless beast from space and he must look like this on screen the first time we see him,' I don't think that's fair to the continuity that they're establishing.
"So, in its own way, its no different than New Frontier or from anything else we do in the comics that's almost an Elseworlds title. Fans at the end of the day know what the Superman continuity is from the comic books. This is another version of that continuity, re-told in a different way, moving the chess pieces around the table a little bit.
"I think it's fun. I'd be rather merciless for a show that's still a hit in Season 8 to say, 'Oh no, you can't do that now.'"
GREGORY NOVECK TALKS SMALLVILLE
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While the influx of DC characters reached new heights in Season 8, there are still areas where Noveck has to draw the line, including probably the most-requested character.
"Anything within the realm of the Superman franchise, we're happy to let them figure out how to use them," Noveck said. "We've often had conversations about how to use them and the interpretations. And there have been conversations over time, "Gee, wouldn't it be great if this guy named Hal Jordan showed up, or this kid named Bruce Wayne?' And we just won't go there. It's complicated, not only from a rights perspective, but from the character use.
"Those are the kinds of things that are obvious nos. But in terms of the Superman world, we've pretty much let them use anyone they've wanted within reason and reasonable interpretation of the character."
Look for more from Noveck and more on Smallville soon here in The Continuum.
X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE TRAILER
USA Today has premiered the new trailer for X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
To view the trailer, CLICK HERE.
FAMILY GUY: "FAMILY GAY"
Fox has released a video preview from "Family Gay," this Sunday's new episode of Family Guy.
The episode guest-stars Seth Rogan.
To view the video, CLICK HERE.
Here's how Fox describes the episode:
"To help pay off his incredible debt, Peter participates in medical experiments to make some extra cash. First, he is injected with the ''Seth Rogen' gene that 'gives you the appearance of being funny even though you haven't actually done anything funny.' Then he is injected with a gene that leads him to a new mate, leaving a broken-hearted Lois behind. Although the family is crushed, they quickly realize the most important thing is that Peter is happy."
STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS: "INNOCENTS OF RYLOTH"
Lucasfilm has released a description and image from "Innocents of Ryloth," Friday's new episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars n Cartoon Network.
Here's how the episode is described:
The second in a three-part saga chronicling the liberation of a Separatist-held planet, 'Innocents of Ryloth' looks at the civilians caught in the crossfire of the sweeping galactic conflict. When Obi-Wan Kenobi and his clones are sent to the surface to sabotage a powerful Separatist weapon, they encounter heavy resistance from the droid army -- but they also come face to face with the humanity of those that they are sent to protect. Seeing the 'human' side of the occupation helps to give the clones a new perspective on the war."
"We really wanted to tell a story about troops going into a foreign land, maybe being a little insensitive to the people, but growing fond of them and coming to love them and wanting to rescue them from their plight," said Henry Gilroy, co-writer of the episode. "We saw it as an opportunity to reflect those great World War II stories of the American GIs moving through Europe and encountering the people of those areas, particularly orphans."
For Gilroy and director Dave Filoni, inspiration for the story came from The Guns of Navarone, a classic war film in which a commando team must infiltrate impregnable enemy territory to destroy a gun emplacement. The narrative device proved to be an effective method for getting the Republic behind enemy lines -- and into the occupied homeland of a downtrodden native race.
"The idea is that this cannon is preventing our heroes from arriving to help, to liberate the planet, and basically it's going to come down to one Jedi -- Obi-Wan -- to save the day," Gilroy explains. "Plus, we're able to really emphasize just how evil the villains are as they use the inhabitants of the town as human shields."
THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE: COMIC BOOK EPISODE
Donald Trump's reality show, The Celebrity Apprentice, takes on the world of comic books during its episode on NBC on Sunday.
Here's how the network describes the episode:
"Each team must create and costume a comic book character, and present it to the Zappos.com executive. From the very beginning, the project manager for the men is caught in a battle of wills with one of his teammates. On the women's side, one celebrity is uncomfortable in her role as the costume model, while another member of the team falls ill. On the men's team, personalities clash and the creative process is almost derailed. In the end, the executive chooses the best character, and Trump fires another celebrity."
According to Image Comics, Michael Avon Oeming, Joe Kely, Ivan Brandon and Paul Azaceta will assist the contestants.
* For a clip of the women and a focus group, CLICK HERE.
* For a clip of the men trying to write dialogue, CLICK HERE.
* For a clip of the men visiting a costume designer, CLICK HERE.
MAY SOLICITATIONS ROUNDUP
For previously posted May solicitations, click on the publishers' names below:
* Antarctic Press.
* Archie Comics.
* Aspen Comics.
* Avatar Press.
* Bluewater Productions.
* Bongo Comics.
* BOOM! Studios.
* Dark Horse Comics.
* DC Comics.
* Devil's Due Publishing.
* Dynamite Entertainment.
* IDW Publishing.
* Image Comics.
* Marvel Comics.
BRIEFLY
* Bluewater Productions has announced it will build on its Female Force series with a spin-off title Political Power, a new title that focuses on past and present American politicians. The series will launch in July with an issue featuring former Secretary of State and retired four-star general Colin Powell.
"Like Female Force, Political Power will tell even-handed stories of the individuals responsible for shaping the American way of life," Bluewater publisher Darren G. Davis said.
Future issues of the series will include Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, Alexander Hamilton, Mae Ella Nolan (the first woman elected to the House of Representatives) and Nancy Pelosi.
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 28: From Wonder Con: Green Lantern: First Flight, Image Comics, Black Panther, DC Nation and BOOM! Studios; plus The Spectacular Spider-Man.
* Friday, February 27: Marvel Comics First Looks, Wolverine and the X-Men, Wonder Woman's Rosario Dawson, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Smallville, The Simpsons and Marvel change submissions policty.
* Thursday, February 26: Moonstone Books for June, Batman: The Brave and the Bold and The Simpsons.
* Wednesday, February 25: Samuel L. Jackson's deal with Marvel Studios, Heroes, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Radical Publishing for May, Avatar Press for May, Archie Comics First Looks and Top Cow Productions First Looks.
* Tuesday, February 24: Season 9 for Smallville, Marvel Studios, Dynamite Entertainment for May, Top Cow Productions for May, Legend of Isis, Heroes, DC Comics First Looks, Dynamite Entertainment First Looks and BOOM! Studios First Looks.
* Monday, February 23: Watchmen, Battlestar Galactica, Heath Ledger wins Academy Award, BOOM! Studios for May, Antacric Press for May and Dark Horse Comics First Looks.
* Sunday, February 22: Dollhouse, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Zenescope Entertainment for May, Dabel Brothers Publishing for May, Ape Entertainment for May and Iron Man action figures.
* Saturday, February 21: Devil's Due Publishing for May, BOOM! Studios First Looks, Watchmen's Carla Gugino and Smallville.
* Friday, February 20: Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Marvel Comics First Looks and Oni Press for May.
* Thursday, February 19: The Middleman, Wolverine and the X-Men, Watchmen, Aspen Comics for May, Image Comics for May, Bongo Comics for May, Heroes, Image Comics First Looks and Marvel Comics First Looks.
* Wednesday, February 18: Watchmen's Zack Snyder, Red 5 Comics for May and Archie Comics First Looks.
* Tuesday, February 17: Marvel Comics for May and DC Comics for May.
* Monday, February 16: IDW Publishing for May, Archie Comics for May, Battlestar Galactica, Dynamite Entertainment First Looks and Marvel Universe action figures.
* Sunday, February 15: Hasbro's Wolverine action figures, Marvel Comics First Looks, BOOM! Studios First Looks and Heroes.
* 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.
* 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.
Copyright © 2009, The Comics Continuum