Comics Continuum by Rob Allstetter: Thursday, February 10, 2011

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2011

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS TRAILER

20th Century Fox has released the first trailer for X-Men: First Class.

To view the trailer, CLICK HERE.

THE WALKING DEAD TOYS

McFarlane Toys has announced two separate deals concerning the licensing rights of The Walking Dead.

The first is with AMC to create action figures based on the television series that premiered on the network in October of last year. The second is with Robert Kirkman to also create action figures based on the comic-book series. Both lines will be available this fall.

"Kirkman has created a world that is macabre and suspenseful with deeply-drawn characters: both human and zombies," said Todd McFarlane, McFarlane Toys, creative force and CEO. "Working with the creative talents of Kirkman and AMC, we have planned figures lines that authentically represent both the television and comic series -- including mind-blowing details, likenesses and play action. We want to push the envelope so that the true essence of The Walking Dead series is captured."

The first series of 6-inch figures is releasing in September and will include Officer Rick Grimes, Michonne, Zombie Lurker and Zombie Roamer.

The second series of 6-inch figures is scheduled for November, will be based on AMC's series and will include Deputy Rick Grimes, Daryl Dixon, Zombie Walker and Zombie Biter.

Each human figure includes multiple interchangeable accessories and several points of articulation. Each zombie figure features unique, gory, play action such as exploding heads and removable limbs. Figures are expected to sell for around $14.99.

DARK HORSE COMICS FIRST LOOKS

For covers and six-page previews of Dark Horse Comics titles arriving in stores on Feb. 16, CLICK HERE.

Titles include Let Me in: Crossroads #3, Magnus, Robot Fighter #3, Mass Effect: Evolution #2, Mighty Samson #2 and Star Wars: Knight Errant #5.

GREEN LANTERN MOVIE TIE-INS

DC Comics has announced DC Direct and comic-book tie-ins for the Green Lantern movie.

For a rundown, with images, CLICK HERE.

MARVEL COMICS ROUNDUP

Marvel Comics has announced that Secret Avengers will tie into Fear Itself with #13, written by Nick Spencer and drawn by Scot Eaton.

Here's how Marvel sets up the story:

"Steve Rogers, America's super-soldier, is well accustomed to making tough calls, but none may be tougher than the ones he'll have to make to successfully sabotage the abominable threat of Fear Itself. As the Marvel Universe begins to fall like dominoes before one of his bitterest enemies, Rogers will have to recruit a new group of heroes into the fight for freedom of mind, body and soul...and confront the ideals he upheld as the Sentinel of Liberty head-on!"

"I couldn't be happier to have a rising talent like Nick taking the reins of Secret Avengers as we head into Fear Itself," editor Tom Brevoort said. "As evidenced in his THUNDER Agents work, Nick's got a thoroughly modern approach to the espionage tale, and I expect him to do great things with Steve's covert squad."

Spencer and Eaton are also collaborating on Secret Avengers #12.1, due on April 27.

In other Marvel news:

* The publisher has released an image from Fear Itself: Spider-Man #1, a three-issue mini-series that launches in May.

The series is written by Christopher Yost, with art by Mike McKone and a cover by Marko Djurdjevic.

Here's how Marvel describes the book:

"As the entire city stands on the brink of chaos, will he alone be able to defend its citizens from the legions of fear? And can even Marvel's most mettlesome of heroes gaze into the face of Fear Itself without giving into mortal terror?"

Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

DC COMICS NEWS ROUNDUP

DC Comics has released the solicitation information for Flashpoint #1, on sale on May 11.

Here's how DC decribes the book:

"Everything You Know Will Change in a Flash!

"Not a dream, not an imaginary story, not an elseworld. This is a Flash Fact: When Barry Allen wakes at his desk, he discovers the world has changed. Family is alive, loved ones are strangers, and close friends are different, gone or worse. It's a world on the brink of a cataclysmic war -- but where are Earth's Greatest Heroes to stop it? It's a place where America's last hope is Cyborg, who hopes to gather the forces of the Outsider, the Secret 7, S!H!A!Z!A!M!, Citizen Cold and other new and familiar-yet-altered faces.

"It's a world that could be running out of time, if The Flash can't find the villain who altered the time line!

Welcome to Flashpoint!"

The book is written by Geoff Johns, with art and cover by Andy Kubert and variant covers by Kubert, Ivan Reis and George Perez.

DC has also announced that Flashpoint edition Flash rings will be available at comic book shops this June, with the release of Flashpoint #2.

In other DC news:

* The publisher has announced Batman: Noel, an original graphic novel written and drawn by Lee Bermejo. The book is described as a "holiday tale with a twist" and will be Bermejo's first time as a writer.

Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

THE SIMPSONS: "ANGRY DAD: THE MOVIE"

Halle Berry, Ricky Gervais, Russell Brand, JB Smoove and Nick Park are all guest-starring in "Angry Dad: The Movie," the Sunday, Feb. 20 episode of The Simpsons on Fox.

Here's how Fox describes the episode:

"Bart's cartoon about an angry dad is turned into Angry Dad: The Movie and quickly becomes a critics' favorite. When Russell Brand (guest-voicing as himself) presents the Golden Globe to Bart's film, Homer usurps the podium and gives his own acceptance speech. The film's winning streak continues with Homer taking credit at each ceremony, so when Angry Dad receives an Oscar nomination, Bart keeps it a secret.

"With the help of DJ Kwanzaa (guest voice Smoove), Homer and Marge arrive at the ceremony just as Halle Berry (guest-voicing as herself) presents the award. Bart's fellow nominee, Nick Park (guest-voicing as himself), helps him realize that creating a film is a team effort, and Bart gives credit where credit is due."

Click on the thumbnail for a larger image.

BRIEFLY

* Warner Home Video has released the front and back package art for Firebreather, the Cartoon Network movie being released on DVD and Blu-ray on March 22.

Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

* Screenwriters Miles Millar and Alfred Gough attended the premiere of I Am Number Four at The Village Theater in Westwood, Calif., on Wednesday.

For a clip of them talking about working on the movie, CLICK HERE.

* Dark Horse Comics has announced it is collaborating on a publishing program with Nickelodeon for Avatar: The Last Airbender.

The first installment will be released on Free Comic Book Day, May 7, with two introductory short stories -- including the unpublished tale "Relics" and the iconic "Dirty Is Only Skin Deep..." This comic will be packaged with Lucasfilm's Star Wars: The Clone Wars in a flip-book format.

Also planned is Avatar: The Last Airbender -- The Lost Adventures, aw240-page comic book containing more than 70 pages of never-before-seen material in addition to long-out-of-print comics previously published in Nickelodeon Magazine. Dark Horse also will create new Airbender stories that will be published as digest-style original graphic novelsin early 2012. Picking up where the season three finale left off, this new series will follow the further adventures of Aang and his friends, as they help to rebuild a world torn apart by 100 years of war.