Comics Continuum by Rob Allstetter: Thursday, May 6, 2010

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THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2010

IRON MAN 2 ROUNDUP

According to Fandango, several hundred of Thursday's midnight showtimes of Iron Man 2 are already sold out at theaters across the country.

Midnight sell-outs include including New York City's AMC Loews Lincoln Square Cinemas, San Francisco's Metreon, Chicago's AMC Loews 600 North Michigan, and Los Angeles' Universal CityWalk Cinemas.

The AMC in New York has added a 3:10 a.m. showtime.

In other Iron Man 2 news:

* Robert Downey Jr. had company for his appearance on NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Wednesday night.

Before Downey came on stage, the Ironettes -- eight of the dancers who performed in Iron Man-flavored garb in the film -- performed their dance number to AC/DC's "Shoot to Thrill" and separated to allow for Downey's entrance.

The Ironette dancers in the movie -- some of whom have worked with NBA dance troops -- included Melanie Brown, Krystal Ellsworth, Victoria Parsons, Ginal Cantrell, Renee Herlocker, Jill Ann Pineda-Arnold, Sandra Colton, Annika Ihnat, Jenny Robinson, Linsday Dennis, Jennifer D. Johnson, Lindsay Rosenberg, Harrah Douglass, Brooke Long, Rachelle Brooke Smith, Nadine Ellis and Kylette Zamora.

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To view the segment, CLICK HERE. :

* Samuel L. Jackson, who plays Nick Fury, appeared on ABC's JImmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday

Jackson noted he has a nine-picture deal with Marvel Studios. "Now, I have to stay alive for nine movies," he joked.

* Look for more Iron Man 2 news on Thursday and throughout the weekend here in The Continuum.

APRIL'S SALES CHARTS

DC Comics had the top four titles for April, but Marvel Comics again reigned as the top publisher, according to numbers released by Diamond on Thursday.

Brightest Day #0 was the top-selling book, followed in order in the top 10 by The Flash #1, Green Lantern #53, Batman and Robin #11, New Avengers #64, Uncanny X-Men #523, Invincible Iron Man #25, Green Lantern Corps 347, Ultimate Comics Avengers 2 #1 and Thor #609.

Marvel had 45.0 percent of the univ share to 32.6 percent for DC and 39.3 percent of the dollar share to 30.3 percent for DC.

For a chart of the top publishers, CLICK HERE.

JONAH HEX MOVIE

As part of its summer movie preview, Warner Bros. has released a new image and a description from the Jonah Hex movie.

Here's how the studio describes the movie:

"Jonah Hex (Josh Brolin) is a scarred drifter and bounty hunter of last resort, a tough and stoic gunslinger who can track down anyone...and anything. Having survived death, Jonah's violent history is steeped in myth and legend, and has left him with one foot in the natural world and one on the 'other side.' His only human connection is with Lila (Megan Fox), whose life in a brothel has left her with scars of her own.

"Jonah's past is about to catch up with him when the U.S. military makes him an offer he can't refuse: in exchange for his freedom from the warrants on his head, he must track down and stop the dangerous terrorist Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich). But Turnbull, who is gathering an army and preparing to unleash Hell, is also Jonah's oldest enemy and will stop at nothing until Jonah is dead. Based on the legendary character from the graphic novels, Jonah Hex is an epic adventure thriller about one man's personal quest for redemption against the vast canvas of the battle between good and evil."

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MARVEL COMICS FIRST LOOKS

For covers and five- to six-page previews of upcoming titles from Marvel Comics, CLICK HERE.

Titles include Avengers Academy #1 and Thunderbolts #144.

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

DC COMICS FIRST LOOKS

For covers and five- to six-page previews titles arriving in stores on May 12 from DC Comics, CLICK HERE.

Titles include Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #1, Batman #699 and Dante's Inferno #6.

TOP COW PRODUCTIONS FIRST LOOKS

For covers and six-page preview of Broken Trinity: Pandora's Box #2, arriving in stores on May 12 from Top Cow Productions, CLICK HERE.

And for a video of Top Cow publisher Filip Sablik talking about the issue, CLICK HERE.

ARCHIE COMICS FIRST LOOKS

For covers and five- to seven-page previews of Archie Comics titles arriving in stores on May 12, CLICK HERE.

Titles include Archie Americana Series Volume 10: Best of the Seventies Book 2, Betty & Veronica Digest #204 and Jughead's Double Digest #160.

BRIEFLY

* Cartoon Network will air repeats of The Super Hero Squad Show on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and Sundays at 8:30 a.m. through May.

Saturday episodes include "This Al Dente Earth" on May 8; "This Silver, This Surfer!" on May 15; "To Err is Superhman!" on May 22; "A Brat Walks Among Us!" on May 29; "From the Atom...It Rises" on June 5.

Sunday episodes include "And Lo! A Pilot Shall Come" on May 9; "Hulk Talk Smack!" on May 16; "Enter Dormammu!" on May 23; "Oh, Brother!" on May 30; "Night in the Sanctorum!" on June 6.

* Marvel Comics has released a teaser image for X-Men #1. Click on the thumbnail for a larger image.