Weekend Reading: Superman, Archie, Talbot, Niles & Scrooge

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

Is this a superhero-free weekend at the movies? X-Men First Class was last week, next week is Green Lantern. Are we mask-free for a few days?

No, because the powers in Hollywood have decided there can be no nerd gap in the relatively short summer season and have given us Super 8.

Go see it right now, and then come back and click some links:

Superman: If you’re at all interested in the new DC reboot coming up, legal eagle Jeff Trexler at Comics Beat has a fascinating post about the wrangling that’s gone on between the Superman creators and DC’s corporate parent over the years and how it’s affected publishing decisions.

Superman II: And Daniel Best at 20th Century Danny Boy unearths a great selection of early correspondence between various DC Comics people and Jerry Siegel. It’s great reading.

Superman III: Comedy writer Ken Levine (M*A*S*H; Almost Perfect; Volunteers) weighs in on the new Superman.

Click to continue reading Weekend Reading: Superman, Archie, Talbot, Niles & Scrooge

Warner Bros Freezes Superman

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Movies, DC Comics,

Despite the fact that JJ freaking Abrams is practically handing himself on a plate to Warner Bros. for the next Superman movie, the film giant is putting the Man of Steel on hold.

Sources are saying that the studio has halted any production with the character because of a legal dispute concerning co-creator Jerry Siegel’s heirs. Well, there’s also the fact that Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns didn’t fare as well at the box office as the execs were hoping.

With everyone and their mother (Kevin Smith, the Wachowski brothers, Mark Millar, and McG are all rumored to have thrown their hats into the ring) vying for the coveted script and directing positions, it’s considerably understandable as to why Warner Bros. needs some time to process what they’ll do with the franchise.

I say that while still feeling impatient at the same time—solve the legal problems (as if they don’t have enough money) and pick someone already! Well, as long as it isn’t McG; I fear seeing anyone from The O.C. or Charlie’s Angels casted as Lois.

Read More | io9

JJ Abrams Wants in on Superman Movie

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

Hey Warner Bros.—ever consider hiring JJ Abrams? You ought to know that he’s still asking for that Superman gig!

The Star Trek director and Lost co-creator had written a script for the caped crusader way back before his career took off. Despite his vast success with his Star Trek reboot, Abrams is still longing for a shot at revitalizing the Superman franchise. He recently opened up about his relationship with the superhero:

“Writing that script was a long process. It was a very passionate character for me. As a kid growing up it meant a lot to me. It would be wonderful and fun to see that brought back. I don’t know what Warners is thinking or what their plan is. It would be a blast… No one has talked to me about it. Obviously I’m sure Warner Brothers has a plan for what they want to do.”

Did you hear that, higher-ups?

Not only are Abrams fans supporting this collaboration, but apparently so is fellow filmmaker, Kevin Smith—check out the video after the jump.

Click to continue reading JJ Abrams Wants in on Superman Movie

Read More | MTV

Disney Buys Marvel for $4 Billion

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories:

As if Disney didn’t own much of our childhood already, the media conglomerate has now spent an estimated $4 billion to acquire Marvel Entertainment, marking the deal as its largest since attaining Pixar in 2006.

Of the whopping $4 billion the company shelled out to obtain the comic book powerhouse, Chief Financial Officer Tom Staggs points out that any great venture is worth the price tag: “You can’t expect to pay a bargain price for premium assets. Marvel is worth more inside Disney than outside Disney.”

Click to continue reading Disney Buys Marvel for $4 Billion

Read More | CNN

Batman and Robin: Opposing Viewpoints (Part Two)

Posted by David Torres Categories: Movies, Reviews, DC Comics,

I’d like to thank Evan C. Price for contributing to Comix 411 with Part One of this “Batman and Robin” argument. It takes a real man to admit that on some level he liked “Batman and Robin”. I promised him that I wouldn’t bash him and call him an idiot for liking the film because we all have our likes and dislikes. I didn’t like the Lord of the Rings movies. I thought they were long and boring. I’m in the Kevin Smith camp on this one. (If you saw Clerks 2 you know what I’m talking about.)

Well, when I first saw “Batman and Robin,” I hated it. And after viewing it in its entirety after the first time since I saw it in the theaters, I still don’t like it.  Just like other comic fans who have talked about the film over the years I agree that the film is campy, poorly acted, and poorly written.  So I will start off with my short list (and it will be short) of the stuff that I did like about the film.

Click to continue reading Batman and Robin: Opposing Viewpoints (Part Two)

Read More | Wikipedia

DC Comics Review: Batman: Cacophony #1

Posted by David Torres Categories: Reviews, DC Comics,

I wasn’t planning on getting “Batman: Cacophony” (not crazy about the title).  As regular comic readers, we know that the writer of this series Kevin Smith as of late has not been good at meeting deadlines.  His last work over at Marvel was a six-issue mini-series called “Spider-man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do”.  A mini-series which began in 2002 and did not finish until sometime in 2006.  Four years for six issues.  Then there is “Daredevil: The Target”.  Issue one was released and the series was never finished.  So why should I even bother investing money and time to this man?  If I wasn’t writing for this blog, and if I didn’t get 20% off of new books, I wouldn’t have bothered.  I can’t say, “it was worth every penny, thank God I bought this book.”  But I will say, Kevin Smith does a very good job of writing a Batman story.

Click to continue reading DC Comics Review: Batman: Cacophony #1

Read More | DC Comics