The New 52: Out And About

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, DC Comics,

According to news reports, Dan DiDio at DC has announced that one of their major characters will soon come out as gay. Apollo and Midnighter could not be reached for comment.

[Artwork: Apollo and Midnighter from The Authority, © DC Comics]

Read More | Comics Beat

Warner Bros. Comics & Stories

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Movies, Television, DC Comics, Marvel Comics,

Well, at least Batman will still be published out of New York!

I’m no pundit and I’m certainly no reporter or journalist, and I’m not even a DC insider, although I should point out that before Paul Levitz bought Wildstorm, he tried to buy the company I co-founded, Malibu Comics.

I was saddened, though not surprised that Warner Bros. was splitting DC Entertainment into two divisions and keeping all their old school business in Manhattan. My sympathies go out to all DC employees who are getting let go and to all freelancers who are getting their books cut out from under them. This is not an easy time, and it’s not going to get easier.

I think lost in all the discussion and rundown of DC’s recent shift is that the biggest piece of the puzzle has yet to be explained or admitted to. Warner Bros. which folded DC Comics into a new company called DC Entertainment just a year ago, now took DC Comics out of that company and moved DC Entertainment – along with all of the money-making portions of the company – to the West Coast.

DC Comics, the comic book division, is now its own stand-alone entity. An island of old-school publishing left without its support network. This has been hailed as a victory for the comic book people.

It isn’t. It’s a wake up call.

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The Return of Atlas Comics

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Conventions, Editorials, Independent,

Some years ago, in the pre-Ultraverse of Malibu Comics the company had a chance to acquire the old Atlas/Seaboard comic book characters from two guys who claimed to have the rights.

It was very tempting at the time to pursue it – Atlas had a bunch of great characters created by folks like Howard Chaykin, Steve Ditko, Pat Broderick, Gary Friedrich, Mike Ploog, Larry Hama, Michael Fleisher, Ernie Colon, Neal Adams, Alex Toth, John Severin, Russ Heath, Wally Wood, and Mike Sekowsky and many others.

At the time, it would’ve been quite a boost to the company to acquire the characters: they had a certain brand recognition, a lot of sentimental fanboy attachment, and had only been out of the marketplace for less than 15 years or so at the time.

Once acquired, the plan would’ve been to try to round up the original creators – as many as possible - and launch a new Atlas universe that would be separate from the company’s other titles.

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Edward Norton Will Not Reprise His Role as the Hulk

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Movies, Marvel Comics,

Despite his hope to continue his superhero role, Edward Norton has been dropped from The Avengers.

A representative for Marvel Studios confirmed the actor won’t be reprising his role as Bruce Banner and his alter-ego the Incredible Hulk in the 2012 movie, claiming he can’t work as part of a team. President of production Kevin Feige told website HitFix.com:

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Quote of the Day: Robert Kirkman on The Walking Dead TV Set

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Interviews, Television, Image Comics,

“I was telling my manager that I want to walk around on set and look at all the actors and just be like, ‘Oh yeah, I’ve killed you and I’ve killed you and you don’t last very long in the book. Sorry!’ I am seeing a lot of characters who aren’t in the book anymore, and I think that’s kind of cool.”

- The Walking Dead writer Robert Kirkman reflects upon working with old characters on the set of the comic book’s television series adaptation.

(Make sure to check out other notable quotes.)

Read More | USA Today

PHOTO: The Walking Dead’s Rick Grimes Comes to Life

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Television, Image Comics,

As if we’ve let The Walking Dead television series slip out of our thoughts, AMC has consistently

reported on the crew’s production.

Earlier today, the network posted its first image of Andrew Lincoln as the comic book’s troubled hero, Rick Grimes. Although I was really hoping that they’d cast someone who looked a little more like Rick, I must quell such lame fangirl thoughts and put my faith in Frank Darabont and crew (I’m guessing that Lincoln’s acting chops must have compensated for it, though).

Do you think that he’s a believable Rick? Oh and seriously—check out the zombie school video after the jump.

Click to continue reading PHOTO: The Walking Dead’s Rick Grimes Comes to Life

Read More | AMC

Diane Nelson Talks DC

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Interviews, DC Comics, Marvel Comics,

Almost instantly after Warner Bros. announced a restructuring of DC comics, head of the task at hand, Diane Nelson, was the most hounded woman around these comic book parts. She took time out to defend Warner Bros. and her being a girl as well as her guess at how many DC characters exist.

Of the age-old Marvel vs. DC war, Nelson was quick to point out that DC was planning to call for the restructuring before Marvel was eaten up by Disney: “It’s something we’ve been discussing and planning for nearly a year. We wanted it before Labor Day – but then Marvel and Disney announced and thought—It is good. One, my hat is off to them. Bob Iger is great. I have nothing but respect for them. I’m glad we were thinking along the same lines without having to pay $4 billion. I think it’s good for the whole industry.”

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Read More | The Wrap