Wednesday, September 3, 2003
SPIDER-MAN ANIMATED UPDATE
The first part of "Mind Games," the two-part season finale of MTV's Spider-Man animated series, airs this Friday at 10 p.m. (ET).
The episode features Stan Lee as a villain. Look for a logline and more details about the episode on Wednesday afternoon here in The Continuum.
The second part of "Mind Games" is scheduled to air on MTV on Friday, Sept. 12.
Although a second season has not been announced yet, sources told The Continuum that Spider-Man has performed well.
THANOS #1 PREVIEW
Marvel Comics on Tuesday provided The Continuum with a preview of Thanos #1, which launches the ongoing series by Jim Starlin on Oct. 1.
Here's how Marvel describes the book:
"He's held ultimate power in his hands, only to see it all slip away time and again. His attempts at conquest and destruction have all been thwarted. So what inner demons drive the mad Titan known as Thanos towards his goals ... and what hidden desires pull at his heart and mind now?
The new series promises never-before-revealed insight into the heart and mind of the villain introduced to a whole new generation of readers with this year's popular Marvel Universe: The End limited series."
Marvel editor Marc Sumerak told The Continuum that Thanos is "Jim Starlin doing what he does best."
"Expect to see Galactus in the first arc," Sumerak told The Continuum. "And he's not exactly happy with the things Thanos has done in the past stemming back to the Infinity series."
Thanos #1 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.99.
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NEW STAR WARS: INFINITIES MINI
The third entry in the Star War: Infinities series from Dark Horse Comics, Return of the Jedi, launches in November.
The four-issue mini-series is written by Adam Gallardo, with art by Ryan Benjamin.
Here's how Dark Horse describes the book:
"What if C-3PO is unable to translate the exchange between a disguised Leia and Jabba the Hutt as Leia tries to infiltrate Jabba's palace and rescue Han Solo? One misunderstanding leads to another, and before you know it, thermal detonators are flying and everybody's shooting! When the smoke clears, Boba Fett has reclaimed Han Solo's frozen body, Leia has commandeered Jabba's sail barge, and Luke is going to be late for an important rendezvous on Dagobah.
"Star Wars Infinities-Return of the Jedi rockets from the failed Han Solo rescue attempt on Tatooine to Dagobah to the dual assault on Endor's forest moon and the Empire's new Death Star. Gallardo is determined to put the familiar Star Wars characters through the wringer as events begin to spiral out of control."
"Watching Star Wars in the theater is my first movie memory," Gallardo said. "As a kid, I also loved the old Marvel What If...? comics. Now I get to do a What If…? comic set in the Star Wars Universe."
Asked about major differences between the official Return of the Jedi and its Infinities incarnation, Gallardo promised "more Lando and fewer Ewoks. I don't want to spoil the rest."
Rodolfo Migliari provides the cover for the first 32-page issue, which goes on sale on Nov. 12 and will cost $2.99.
TUTENSTEIN ON NBC
Tutenstein, an animated series based on Jay Stephens' characters, will premiere on Discovery Kids on NBC on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 10:30 a.m. (ET).
The show will also air on the Discovery Kid Channel beginning on Nov. 3.
Tutenstein is part of a new genre to Discovery Kids known as "RealToons" that also includes Kenny the Shark.
Here's how NBC describes the show:
"Tutenstein comes back to life when lightning strikes his sarcophagus in the International Museum of World History. It's a rude awakening for the pampered boy-King, who learns that the world has changed dramatically during his 3,000-year 'nap.' But Cleo Carter (a 12-year-old girl with a passion for Egyptology) and her cat, Luxor (who believes it is his destiny to serve Tut like his cat ancestors before him) feel responsible for awakening the boy-king, and are constantly trying to hide him and protect him from the modern world (and vice-versa).
"But Tut's mischievous behavior makes keeping him in line very difficult. He summons gods from the Underworld, forbids the sun to rise to stop time from going forward, and redecorates Cleo's room in Egyptian style while his tomb is being renovated (including replacing her hunky boy posters with an image of Nefertiti), and generally makes it hard for Cleo and Luxor to keep the world intact.
"Although Cleo is a volunteer at the museum, she learns a few new things about mummies firsthand: they smell really bad, they store their organs in jars, and their arms have a tendency to fall off! Throughout the series, Cleo and Luxor get into hilarious predicaments as they try to hide the living mummy from other people, but it's hard to keep things under wraps (so to speak) when Walter the security guard and Egyptologists Professor Behdety and Dr. Vanderwheele start sniffing around the crypt.
"And if that weren't enough, Cleo must deal with Tutenstein's entitlement issues. You'd be bossy too if you, like Tutenstein, were once a pampered and praised ancient royal. Cleo tries to reconcile Tut's demands (build me a Pyramid! in the middle of the park!) with the need to keep him on display during the museum's open hours. And Tut is always concerned about keeping his rightful place as ruler of the world. He's eager to join Cleo on a trip to Memphis, Tennessee, not the Capitol of ancient Egypt … which Tut has heard is inhabited by a usurper who calls himself 'The King.'
"Tut does have his plusses, however, such as his efforts to save the world from chaos, disorder and the evil god Set. And, at the end of each episode, Tut does learn life lessons from his mistakes (even though his are often of apocalyptic proportions!) and rises to the occasion to correct what he's done."
Dr. Kasia Szpakowska, an Egyptologist from the University of Wales in the U.K., worked with the series producers to ensure that the written and visual aspects of the series were appropriately informed by Egyptian content.
Tutenstein is produced for Discovery Kids by PorchLight Entertainment. Twenty-six half-hour episodes are being produced.
KOMIKWERKS' SECOND ANTHOLOGY
Komikwerks has the creative lineup for its second print anthology, Komikwerks Volume 2, led by Dave Johnson.
Johnson, is perhaps best known for his covers for DC Comics' 100 Bullets is joined by several other artists who have worked in the animation industry.
They include Glenn Wong, Ricky Garduno, Dennis Woodyard, Cyrus Voris, S.D. Lara, Shannon Denton, Steve Jones, Gabe Swarr, Derrick Wyatt, Caroline Hu, James Baker, Curtis Cim and Ben Jones.
Komikwerks Volume 2 will ship in November. The 116-page, digest-sized book will cost $9.95.
Click on the thumbnails for preview pages from the book.
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THE LEGION ON THE OC
DC Comics' The Legion comic book was featured on Tuesday night's episode of The OC on Fox.
The comic was featured in a scene during "The Outsider" episode involving the characters Seth (played by Adam Brody) and Ryan (Benjamin McKenzie).
During an exchange at a table, Ryan asks Seth's what he's reading and Seth replies, "The new Legion came out Wednesday. Part two of five." Ryan says he liked part one and Seth says he will him borrow it. The comic's cover is shown on the table.
For an image from the episode, click on the thumbnail.
COMICS CONTINUUM BACK ISSUES
In case you missed The Continuum's recent coverage, here are some links:
* For Thursday, Aug. 28, including Smallville season-premiere news, CLICK HERE.
* For Wednesday, Aug. 27, including Mutant X and Batman animated news, CLICK HERE.
* For Tuesday, Aug. 26, including Transformers news, CLICK HERE.
* For Monday, Aug. 25, CLICK HERE.
* For Saturday, Aug. 23, CLICK HERE.
* For Friday, Aug. 22, CLICK HERE.
* For Thursday, Aug. 21, CLICK HERE.
BRIEFLY
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