Quick hits
Author Gerard Jones says the paperback edition of his excellent history of the American comic book history, "Men of Tomorrow," will be updated to include new information he gleaned from Michael Siegel, son of Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel. Michael declined to be interviewed when Jones was at work on the previous edition of the book but has since agreed to talk.
Dial B pays tribute to Neal Adams' "Dead Man."
Here's a nice gallery of Tiki mugs (via PCL LinkDump).
Also via PCL, a visual history of Superman's shield symbol.
Filming on "Fantastic Four 2" is set to begin in June.
Dial B pays tribute to Neal Adams' "Dead Man."
Here's a nice gallery of Tiki mugs (via PCL LinkDump).
Also via PCL, a visual history of Superman's shield symbol.
Filming on "Fantastic Four 2" is set to begin in June.
The Batusi Incident
Last week TIP! posted several different cover designs artist Mike Allred did for his issue of DC Comics' "Solo" title, including the fun, Adam West-ish "Batman doing the Batusi" version shown again here.
Well, as anyone picking up "Solo" last Wednesday knows, we got Wonder Girl doing the Batusi instead. Today, blogger Heidi MacDonald points to Allred telling us why the original cover got spiked:
Until this week I wasn't even completely sure that my SOLO book would come out (it would have been strike three for DC after ELSEWORLDS TEEN TITANS and METAL MEN) since I eventually realized the tension between DC and anything relating to the 60's TV show. And my BATMAN A-GO-Go story makes up 18 of the 48 page book.
I have to say that Mark Chiarello,our editor on the project, is one of the best and most inspiring editors I've ever worked with --and with the exception of the cover and a few minor details this comic is everything I was hoping for. It's one of my favorite things I've ever been a part of.
After "Batusi Batman" was taken from me by (overly?) cautious higher ups, I struggled with a replacement--An impossible task given that the "Batusi" cover is among my top favorite covers I've ever done and, arguably, received the most enthusiastic reaction ever, when released with the soliciation.
So, I did several alternatives hoping I'd come close to an equal replacement.
No such luck. But Wonder Girl was ultimately MY choice--and she comes second only to Batman to represent my "childhood to adolescence" affection for DC comics which my SOLO book largely signifies.
And Heidi points further to this interesting missive from cartoonist Jay Stephens, whose retro-take on the Teen Titans (featuring a script by the late Bob Haney) got spiked last year:
This confirms the not-so-secret policy at Dan Didio's DC. Campy, funny, playful, all-ages or accessable versions of DC Universe characters are forbidden. Didio hates that stuff (I hear he literally HATES Metamorpho and Metal Men), and only wants to push grim & gritty superhero work. I also have it on good authority that clean-line, 'cartoony' art is definately OUT. No more Darwyn Cooke/ Mike Allred-ish stuff for Dan Didio, no siree. Call me when his ass is out the door, thanks.
Interesting. Given the awful grim'n'gritty stuff DC is churning out these days, this seems pretty accurate. But, as Heidi also notes, Darwyn Cooke did get the go-ahead to do a revived version of Will Eisner's "Spirit," so maybe Didio's attitude isn't as hard and fast as Stephens thinks.
My theory is that playful takes on DC's core superhero characters probably are discouraged, but that there's more room for experimentation with other, licensed characters such as the Spirit.
Which is why Cooke's "Spirit" is likely to be a lot more fun and creative than anything we see coming out in DC's mainline superhero titles any time soon.
Well, as anyone picking up "Solo" last Wednesday knows, we got Wonder Girl doing the Batusi instead. Today, blogger Heidi MacDonald points to Allred telling us why the original cover got spiked:
Until this week I wasn't even completely sure that my SOLO book would come out (it would have been strike three for DC after ELSEWORLDS TEEN TITANS and METAL MEN) since I eventually realized the tension between DC and anything relating to the 60's TV show. And my BATMAN A-GO-Go story makes up 18 of the 48 page book.
I have to say that Mark Chiarello,our editor on the project, is one of the best and most inspiring editors I've ever worked with --and with the exception of the cover and a few minor details this comic is everything I was hoping for. It's one of my favorite things I've ever been a part of.
After "Batusi Batman" was taken from me by (overly?) cautious higher ups, I struggled with a replacement--An impossible task given that the "Batusi" cover is among my top favorite covers I've ever done and, arguably, received the most enthusiastic reaction ever, when released with the soliciation.
So, I did several alternatives hoping I'd come close to an equal replacement.
No such luck. But Wonder Girl was ultimately MY choice--and she comes second only to Batman to represent my "childhood to adolescence" affection for DC comics which my SOLO book largely signifies.
And Heidi points further to this interesting missive from cartoonist Jay Stephens, whose retro-take on the Teen Titans (featuring a script by the late Bob Haney) got spiked last year:
This confirms the not-so-secret policy at Dan Didio's DC. Campy, funny, playful, all-ages or accessable versions of DC Universe characters are forbidden. Didio hates that stuff (I hear he literally HATES Metamorpho and Metal Men), and only wants to push grim & gritty superhero work. I also have it on good authority that clean-line, 'cartoony' art is definately OUT. No more Darwyn Cooke/ Mike Allred-ish stuff for Dan Didio, no siree. Call me when his ass is out the door, thanks.
Interesting. Given the awful grim'n'gritty stuff DC is churning out these days, this seems pretty accurate. But, as Heidi also notes, Darwyn Cooke did get the go-ahead to do a revived version of Will Eisner's "Spirit," so maybe Didio's attitude isn't as hard and fast as Stephens thinks.
My theory is that playful takes on DC's core superhero characters probably are discouraged, but that there's more room for experimentation with other, licensed characters such as the Spirit.
Which is why Cooke's "Spirit" is likely to be a lot more fun and creative than anything we see coming out in DC's mainline superhero titles any time soon.
Lennon titles due for remastering
Two John Lennon solo albums, Walls and Bridges and the much-maligned Sometime in New York City are due out in remastered form Nov. 22.
Sometime... features Lennon in full-on topical songwriting mode and the creativity and listenability of the music suffers for it. Still, it's John Lennon and if you're a fan/completist, you'll probably want these tunes in their remixed/remastered form.
Walls and Bridges, on the other hand, is a pretty decent record, featuring the hit single with Elton John "Whatever Gets Your Through the Night." The remaster features a live version of that tune as a bonus track.
Sometime... features Lennon in full-on topical songwriting mode and the creativity and listenability of the music suffers for it. Still, it's John Lennon and if you're a fan/completist, you'll probably want these tunes in their remixed/remastered form.
Walls and Bridges, on the other hand, is a pretty decent record, featuring the hit single with Elton John "Whatever Gets Your Through the Night." The remaster features a live version of that tune as a bonus track.
ZBS offers audio stories for cellphones
ZBS Media, creator of the wildly entertaining (and just plain wild) audio adventures of Jack Flanders
, Ruby and others is now offering 90-second "short stories" for cellphone.
The titles are all penned by Flanders and Ruby creator Meatball Fulton and can be downloaded from the ZBS site. Free sound samples are available there too.
Stories include: "The Okey Dokey Swamp Thingie," "Revenge of the Tooth Fairy," "Hotel Catatonia," "The Sweet Scent of a Succubus," "Frankenstein's Finger," "Don't Eat on Twilight Street," "Zombie Al's Big Night Out," "Doctor Borneo Bob, Head Shrinker," "All My Cells Have Phones!" "Don't Eat at Igor's" and "The X Fillings, Dental Case #122, 'An Odious Extraction'."
, Ruby and others is now offering 90-second "short stories" for cellphone.The titles are all penned by Flanders and Ruby creator Meatball Fulton and can be downloaded from the ZBS site. Free sound samples are available there too.
Stories include: "The Okey Dokey Swamp Thingie," "Revenge of the Tooth Fairy," "Hotel Catatonia," "The Sweet Scent of a Succubus," "Frankenstein's Finger," "Don't Eat on Twilight Street," "Zombie Al's Big Night Out," "Doctor Borneo Bob, Head Shrinker," "All My Cells Have Phones!" "Don't Eat at Igor's" and "The X Fillings, Dental Case #122, 'An Odious Extraction'."
Comic sneak peeks
Mile High Comics has posted first looks at: Batman Gotham County Line #2; Desolation Jones #4; Jonah Hex #1; Seven Soldiers The Bulleteer #1; Swamp Thing #21; Winter Men #3; Captain Universe/Hulk #1; Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #9; Marvel Team-Up #14; Nightcrawler #11; Sentinel #1; Spider-Girl #92; Spider-Man House of M #5; Spider-Man Unlimited #12 and X-Men Colossus Bloodline #3.
Quick hits
Dial B details the 1972 Rutland Halloween comic book stories, which were a first, sneaky attempt to "cross over" Marvel and DC Comics characters.
Examining Teen Titans mania.
Amidst lots of rumors and hype, Marvel Comics announces an adaptation of Stephen King's "Dark Tower" series.
Retrocrush counts down the 100 top horror movies performances of all time.
You can check out four tunes from the new Rubber Soul tribute, This Bird Has Flown here. (The Ben Harper track, for starters, is awful. Dar Williams' isn't bad at all.)
Details on how ABC is using mysterious Web sites to promote "Lost."
Examining Teen Titans mania.
Amidst lots of rumors and hype, Marvel Comics announces an adaptation of Stephen King's "Dark Tower" series.
Retrocrush counts down the 100 top horror movies performances of all time.
You can check out four tunes from the new Rubber Soul tribute, This Bird Has Flown here. (The Ben Harper track, for starters, is awful. Dar Williams' isn't bad at all.)
Details on how ABC is using mysterious Web sites to promote "Lost."
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