Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2001

JLA TO CARTOON NETWORK

Cartoon Network has ordered 26 episodes of Justice League, a new animated series produced by Bruce Timm at Warner Bros. Animation.

"After working on the Superman and Batman series for the last several years, Justice League is a great opportunity to develop those characters a step further and bring more of the iconic DC Comics superheroes to life," Timm said in a release. "I am looking forward to exploring whole new realms of the superhero world."

The TV Justice League will include Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl. Other heroes - such as Aquaman and Atom - will also probably appear.

Justice League marks the first time in more than 15 years that these characters have come together in a television series since Super Friends, which ran from 1973-85 on ABC and later on Cartoon Network.

"We know from our experience of airing Super Friends for years on Cartoon Network here in the U.S. and around the world, that Justice League will have a vast, built-in audience hungry for an exciting new look at these classic characters," said Betty Cohen, president Cartoon Network Worldwide.

"We've built a powerful action-adventure block on Cartoon Network called Toonami that will serve as a showcase for the new series. With Justice League, we're strategically positioning Cartoon Network to attract an even broader audience of tweens, teens and adults who are drawn to the powerful DC Comics brand and are seeking smart, exciting, action-packed animation at its very best."

"I can think of no one more appropriate or qualified to bring the JLA superheroes to life than Bruce Timm," said Jean MacCurdy, president of Warner Bros. Animation. "As he so brilliantly demonstrated with Batman and Superman, he is passionate about creating an entertaining and dynamic series that will thrill the legions of JLA fans everywhere, as well as introduce a whole new generation of fans to these classic characters as they come together in a brand new series."

The Justice League series has been rumored for years. Timm, who also at one time pitched a Kamandi series at Cartoon Network, has said at conventions that one of the major challenges with a Justice League show is the huge scope that such a series would entail. Although a JLA appearance in Superman was scuttled in favor of an Aquaman guest-stint, a futuristic version of the Justice League - called the Justice League Unlimited - appeared in a two-part episode of Batman Beyond late last year.

Who is on Timm's staff for the show was not released.

Paul Dini, another Batman/Superman producer, told The Continuum that he's not involved. "It's not my show," Dini said last month.

Alan Burnett, who is supervising producer of Static Shock and The Zeta Project, and Glen Murakami could not be reached for comment. Both were producers with Timm and Dini on Batman Beyond.

A representative of Cartoon Network said that it won't be releasing an image from the show for a while yet. It is unknown if the show has been cast yet.

Look for more on Justice League soon here in The Continuum.

HESTER TALKS THE COFFIN MOVIE

The Coffin, the Oni Press comic by Phil Hester and Mike Huddleston, has joined the list of comics properties optioned for movies. James Cameron's Lightstorm Productions will produce the film, with Guillermo del Toro slated to direct.

The Continuum caught up with Hester earlier this week for his take on The Coffin - which has its third issue arriving on Jan. 31 -- as a movie.

The Continuum: How involved will you be in the movie?

Hester: That's for Lightstorm and Mr. del Toro to decide. Guillermo has a reputation for involving comic book artists on his films - (Tim) Bradstreet, etc. on Blade, (Mike) Mignola on Hellboy - so Mike and I are hopeful.

The Continuum: How closely will the movie follow the comic?

Hester: Again, I'm not sure. I'm not a filmmaker, so I wouldn't presume to tell these guys how to make it. All we can hope for is that the material is strong enough to make Guillermo keep as much of it intact as possible. All we can do is make the comic. The rest is out of our hands. That said, I'm pretty ecstatic about the hands it's in right now with Mr. Cameron and company.

The Continuum: Why do you feel the comic will translate into a movie?

Hester: Mike's visuals are so compelling, I don't think there's a special effects maven alive who wouldn't relish the idea of translating them to film. The scenes of Hell, souls swirling all over the place, the high-tech machinery, and the cool fight scenes -- just wait until #4 -- just beg to be seen on the big screen. I also think the story has some elements we could touch only briefly in the comic due to lack of space that would be better served in the longer format of a film.

The Continuum: Have you met with the director?

Hester: Not yet. But I dug Mimic and am trying to score of copy of Kronos.

The Continuum: Has any sort of timetable been set?

Hester: I don't think so. Guillermo's in the thick of Blade 2 right now, as I understand.

The Continuum: Any actor you could see for the lead roles?

Hester: Well, I don't want to disqualify anyone. I'm sure any number of actors could handle these roles, but Mike and I have fantasized about George Clooney or Sam Jackson in the lead. Maybe Anthony Hopkins or Sean Connery as the bad guy. Definitely Michelle Yeoh as Keen and Michael Madsen as Blunt. That's all dreaming right now, though.

The Continuum: Anything else?

Hester: I'd like to thank everyone at Oni for taking a chance on the book. It was really out of their normal publishing parameters, and they gambled a bit. Mike and I couldn't be happier with the treatment they've given us and how hard they've worked to get this deal done.

WITCHBLADE, TV ROUNDUP

Filming on TNT's Witchblade television series should begin in late February in Toronto, sources told The Continuum.

TNT has ordered 11 episodes of Witchblade, which will likely air on Thursday nights beginning in June.

The cast from the Witchblade pilot movie returns, including Yancy Butler as Sara Pezzini, William Yun Lee as Danny Woo, David Chokachi as Jake McCarty, Anthony Cistaro as Kenneth Irons and Eric Etebari as Ian Nottingham.

In other TV news, the WB has released images and details of upcoming episodes for the February sweeps.

The Tuesday, Feb. 6 episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is "Blood Ties." As Buffy and friends celebrate her 20th birthday, Dawn is traumatized to learn she is the Key and runs away, but Buffy and the Scooby gang must find her before Glory does.

The Tuesday Feb. 6 episode of Angel is "Happy Anniversary." Angel and The Host must join forces to stop a brilliant, yet twisted, physicist who is determined to stop time in order to keep his girlfriend from breaking up with him.

The Friday, Feb. 9 episode of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch is "Love Is A Many Complicated Thing." Sabrina finds herself with conflicted feelings towards Josh when she lands in the middle of Josh and Morgan's impending break-up.

NEW STATIC SHOCK EPISODE

A new episode of Static Shock, "Bent Out Of Shape," is scheduled to air this Saturday on Kids' WB!.

Here's how Static Shock story editor Chris Simmons described the episode:

"Rubberband Man is back, and he wants to go straight, but it's kinda hard to do that when you break out of prison! So, Ol' Stretchy comes up with an alias, Stringer (a hip-hop musician). Before long, he's got a promising career and a girlfriend, Virgil's sister Sharon.

"But of course, Static discovers who Stringer really is, amd havoc ensues. To make matters worse, two novice Metahumans, Puff and Onyx, aim to make names for themselves by capturing Rubberband Man by any means necessary!"

The episode was written by Milestone's Dwayne McDuffie.

CARTOON BOOKS FOR MAY

Following is Cartoon Books' solicitation for May, with information provided by company.

BONE #43

By Jeff Smith.

Welcome to the Ancient City of Atheia. At long last the heroes reach the sacred walls of the old capital --but what will they find there? Join the Bone cousins as they continue their journey.

24 pages, $2.95.

ONI PRESS REPRINTS LAND OF NOD TREASURY

As the second facet of its new relationship with creator Jay Stephens, Oni Press announce that in May it will be reprinting the long unavailable Land of Nod Treasury.

The trade paperback was originally printed by Black Eye Press and contains the original stories with Stephens' Nod characters.

"We are very excited to be putting this material back in the hands of today's comics readers," said Oni publisher Joe Nozemack. "Jay came into the public eye back in an exciting time for independent comics. While many look at the early '90s and remember the speculator boom, I remember Jay and other great creators like Paul Pope and Mike Allred stepping onto the scene. It was an amazing period of creative growth."

"It's fun looking back and seeing how I got my start," Stephens said. "Other creators shy away from their early work, but I think it provides an interesting perspective. Back then, I didn't draw the same as I do now, nor did I write the same, but you can see the beginnings of where my comics are now. The Land of Nod was always meant to be completely wacky and a lot of fun, and I think that still comes through."

"Jay Stephens is a creator whose art will always remain fresh," said Oni editor-in-chief Jamie S. Rich. "Each time you read it, it feels like it's brand new. And his fans aren't content to just read one Jay Stephens comic and stop. They want it all. The Land of Nod Treasury is perhaps one of the hardest of his books to find. With this new printing, folks can finally complete their collection."

"I have a lot of work that has fallen by the wayside due to the ever-shifting marketplace," Stephens said. "It's fitting that I begin making that work available again with the Treasury, as it is where I began the first time. Oni has offered Nod and the gang a good home, and with any luck, this will just be the beginning of a whole Jay Stephens library."

The Land of Nod Treasury will be 122 black-and-white, arriving in stores on May 4. It will cost $11.95.

FIRST LOOK: THE CRUSADES: URBAN DECREE

The Crusades: Urban Decree arrives in stores on Feb. 7 from DC Comics. The episode is written by Steven T. Seagle, with art and cover by Kelley Jones and Jason Moore.

Here's how DC describes the issue:

"An 11th-century Crusader comes to render a terrible judgment on the citizens of 21st-century San Francisco, setting off a firestorm of moral consequence in the hearts and minds of the people. This special low-priced Prestige Format one-shot of horror leads directly into the ongoing series beginning in March."

The Crusades: Urban Decree will be 48 pages and will cost $3.95.

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