What The Phantom !?

The SyFy Channel will be airing a new mini-series based on The Phantom. RHI Entertainment  is producing the mini-series for release in 2010 as a possible pilot for an on going TV series. After I watched the trailer all I can think is, “Yuck.” The trailer tauts this series as being a reimagining of The Phantom, but its hard to imagine  that it will be any good. I know that I shouldn’t judge everything by this one preview, and I will give the show a look when it comes out, but it looks poor. And I have to say that the costume looks awful. I was never a fan of The Phantom’s outfit, and it looks like they came up with something even worse for this TV show.

Created by Lee Falk, The Phantom was an adventure comic strip that first appeared in newspapers in 1936. The Phantom is a legacy character who sees some one new take on the mantle with every generation. He doesn’t have any super powers. Instead he gets by on his wits, strength, and his skill with the twin pistols that are always at hi side. While he may not be the most recognizable of costume crime fighters, The Phantom has enjoyed some popularity over the years. Along with the newspaper strips that are still running, he has appeared in comic books, movies, and cartoons.

This looks like a low budget show that isn’t going to be very memorable. The reimagined costume is awful, and doesn’t look anything like the costume that has been pretty standard in his previous incarnations over the past 70 some years. And I never really understood “Why all the purple?” in the first place. If they are going to totally change the costume for the new TV series, then why not try something different with the color scheme? Watch it when it airs, because it’ll be your only chance to see it. This one will disappear into the jungle.

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Its a Crisis

Ain’t It Cool News has a promo for the next direct-to-dvd animated movie that DC will be producing. The movie will be called Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths. The movie will be coming from Warner Home Video in the spring of next year (that’s 2010 for you time travelers) and it looks to follow the grand tradition of “Crisis” stories that have been a part of the history of DC Comics.

This “Crisis” is an original story from Dwayne McDuffie, an award winning writer who was a screen writer on the incredible Justice League animated tv series, and more recently he finished a run as writer on the Justice League of America comic book series.

Fans of DC animation will be happy to hear that Bruce Timm will be the executive producer on the movie. Timm has been a corner stone of the DC animation department. He has been involved with the recent slate of DC direct-to-dvd animated movies, and was largely responsible for starting the resurgence in DC animation with the incredible animated tv shows that he worked on. Under Timm’s guidance Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, Superman: The Animated Series, Teen Titans, and Justice League became the best comic book shows to ever be produced.

Lauren Montgomery (Wonder Woman, Green Lantern: First Flight) and Sam Liu (Superman/Batman: Public Enemies) are co-directing the movie.

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths finds a Lex Luthor form an alternate Earth arriving on the Earth of the mainstream DC Universe. This alternate Luthor is a good-guy, and he traveled here to recruit the Justice League to help him save his Earth from the Crime Syndicate. The Crime Syndicate is a gang of villains that mirror the heroes of the Justice League. This battle of good vs. evil threatens both realities, and puts all existence in peril.

There are some new comers to the capes and cowls in this movie. Mark Harmon leads the group as Superman, James Woods voices the sinister Owlman, Chris Noth takes on Lex Luthor, Gina Torres is Super Woman, and William Baldwin dons the mantle of the Batman.

The voice acting is a big question mark for me, and it can really make or break the movie. Superman and Batman have had a long history in animation, and its hard to imagine someone new taking over the characters. At this point Kevin Conroy has been so ingrained in my mind as the voice of Batman, that having William Baldwin step into the tights is an instant red flag. And from the little that I hear in this promo, Chris Noth might be a turn off as Lex Luthor. Promo gives us the tiniest of peeks at the movie, so I won’t come down hard on any of the voice choices until I actually see the movie. I love the concept. I’ve always loved DC’s alternate Earth stories, and this one could be a nice part of that history. The story seems a little reminiscent of the Grant Morrison graphic novel JLA: Earth 2, which I also liked. We only get a few quick glimpses of the movies in this promo, but the animation looks amazing. I’m excited about this one. I’m definitely buying it when it comes out.

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R.I.P. Swamp Thing

On September 17th Dick Durock, the actor and stuntman who was best known as the Swamp Thing in both movies and the TV series, passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. From the South Bend Tribune:

‘[Dick's older sister Judy] Schenk said her brother never expressed an interest in acting or stunt work, but she was never surprised by his chosen profession. He was always handsome, she said, and at 6 feet 5 inches tall and about 225 pounds, he had the physique to withstand the physical abuses inflicted upon stunt professionals.

He also had an amazing drive, his brother-in-law said.

“He was single-minded,” Frank Varrichione said, “and when he went after and pursued something, he expected success.”

Dick Durock’s early work included stunts for “The Beverly Hillbillies” and a bit part as “Guard #1″ in an episode of “Star Trek.” He would go on to do stunt work in hundreds of films and television shows, including “The Poseidon Adventure” and “A-Team,” and act in hundreds more, including “The Rockford Files,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Married with Children” and “Stand by Me.”

But Dick Durock’s most memorable work was as the DC Comics character Swamp Thing, a plant-like humanoid charged with protecting the natural world from the abuses of man.

He played the character in two feature films, “Swamp Thing” (1982) and “The Return of Swamp Thing” (1989), and in a subsequent television series, also called “Swamp Thing,” that ran for 71 episodes in the early 1990s.

Dick Durock was practically unrecognizable in the physically taxing role, which required him to don a heavy body suit and endure hours of makeup.

“At the end of the day you’re wearing 80 pounds of wet latex,” Dick Durock said in a 2008 interview for the Web site Mania.com, “plus all the chemicals on your face. It sure isn’t sunglasses and autographs, I’ll tell ya.”

But he enjoyed the work, Schenk said.

“He loved it,” she said. “He loved doing those crazy things.”‘

Swamp Thing is a unique character who stands out in the comic book universe that is dominated by the spandex wearing super heroes. Durock brought that character off the page and helped us to immerse ourselves in another world that we could wonder at and enjoy. He might have worked outside of the panels, but he still became a part of comicdom. He and his contributions will be missed.

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Heirs to “The King”

Heirs to comic book legend Jack “King” Kirby sent 45 notices of copyright termination to Marvel Entertainment, prospective Marvel buyer Disney, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, and others studios that that hold licensed media rights to Marvel characters, this according to a Sunday afternoon report published on the New York Times website.

Kirby was a huge part in creating some of the most popular characters in the Marvel Universe. Characters like the X-Men, The Hulk, and The Fantastic Four, have become icons in the industry, and have become a larger part of our popular culture. According to a statement from Toberoff & Associates, the legal notices expressed an intent to regain copyrights to some of Kirby’s of creations as early as 2014. Toberoff & Associates is a Los Angeles firm that helped win a court ruling last year returning a share of the copyright in Superman to heirs of the character’s co-creator, Jerry Siegel.

Mr. Toberoff declined to elaborate on the statement, and a Marvel spokesperson had no comment, but Disney replied in a statement, “The notices involved are an attempt to terminate rights seven to 10 years from now, and involve claims that were fully considered in the acquisition.” Fox, Sony, Paramount and Universal reportedly had no comment.

Disney’s acquisition of Marvel  must still be approved by Marvel shareholders. Wall Street is apparently already speculating that due to a complicated array of various rights agreements, shareholders may worry that Disney will face difficulty immediately exploiting Marvel’s most valuable intellectual property. For instance, Sony holds the film rights to Spider-Man in perpetuity. The proposed Disney deal could give creators or their heirs new reason to exploit United States copyright law to stake a claim.

Jack “King” Kirby who passed away in 1994, worked with the writer-editor Stan Lee to create many popular super hero characters. Thesee characters have been featured in comic books for decades, and in recent years they have become fertile material for movie adaptations. Bringing super heroes like “The Incredible Hulk,” “The Mighty Thor,” “Iron Man,” “Spider-Man,” and “The Avengers,” to the big screen has been a growing, and profitable trend.

Under U.S. law, an author or his or her heirs can begin a process to regain copyrights a certain period of years after the original grant. While the report did not cite what characters were cited in the termination notices, if Kirby’s family were to gain the copyright to a co-created character like the Fantastic Four or the Incredible Hulk, they could become entitled to a share of profits from films or other properties featuring the character, or obtain the rights to sell characters independently of Marvel, Disney, or the various studios that have licensed the Marvel characters.

Copyright issues have become increasingly difficult for Hollywood, as it continues to trade on characters and stories that were created decades ago, but are now subject to deadlines and expiration dates under federal copyright law.

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By The Power of Grayskull !

DC Comics Becomes DC Entertainment

Following the news of the Disney/Marvel Comics merger comes the news that Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. is morphing DC Comics into DC Entertainment Inc. The purpose of creating the new company is to expand the reach of DC Comics characters from the comic book pages to all media platforms.

DC Entertainment will be handled as a separate division of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., with the purpose of  integrating the DC Comics business, brand and characters into Warner Bros. Entertainment, and all its content and distribution businesses. DC Entertainment will work with each of the Warner Bros. divisions and is looking to use  the Warner studios to build franchises around DC Comics properties. Feature films, television, interactive entertainment, direct-to-consumer platforms, and consumer products are areas that will see growth for DC Entertainment.

Diane Nelson has been charged with running DC Entertainment and will report to Jeff Robinov, President of Warner Bros. Pictures Group. Her primary concern is to capitalize on developing theatrical productions and how they can contribute to the overall business with the different divisions of Warner Bros.

Nelson will brings over  20 years’ experience in creative brand management, strategic marketing and content development and production to DC Entertainment. She will be using the resources of Warner Bros. to maximize the potential of the DC brand, while remaining respectful of and collaborative with creators, talent, fans and source material. Additionally, Nelson will continue to oversee the franchise management of the Harry Potter property, which she has done since 2000, and also continue to represent the Studio’s interests with the author of the Harry Potter books, J.K. Rowling. Nelson will segue from her post as President of Warner Premiere, but maintain oversight responsibilities of that division.

While the multimedia aspects of the company are being restructured, the DC Comics publishing business will remain the cornerstone of DC Entertainment, releasing approximately 90 comic books through its various imprints and 30 graphic novels a month and continuing to build on its creative leadership in the comic book industry.

Paul Levitz, who has served as President & Publisher of DC Comics since 2002, will segue from that role to return to his roots as a writer for DC and become a contributing editor and overall consultant to DCE. This transition will take place as expeditiously as possible without disrupting DC’s business operations.

In his new role, Levitz will be called upon for his deep knowledge and more than three-decade history with DC Comics, both as a comic creator and an executive. Besides serving as a writer on a number of DC Comics titles, he will be a contributing editor and consultant to DC Entertainment on projects in various media. Additionally, he will consult as needed on the transition and integration of the DC Comics organization into DC Entertainment and will utilize his unique experience, knowledge and relationships with the comics industry’s creative community to help achieve DC Entertainment’s goal of maximizing the value of DC properties. Further, Levitz will advise DC Entertainment on creative and rights-holder relationships, in particular regarding the legacy relationships that have been a part of DC Comics for decades.

Widely recognized and respected for his support of writers, artists and creators in the comics industry, Levitz is best known creatively for his work with DC Comics, having written most of the classic DC characters, including Batman, Wonder Woman and the Superman newspaper strip. At Comicon International in 2008, Levitz was awarded the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award as part of the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the only industry executive ever so honored.

“DC Comics and its super hero characters are truly touchstones of popular culture, and the formation of DC Entertainment is a major step in our company’s efforts to realize the full potential of this incredible wellspring of creative properties,” said Meyer.”Diane knows our studio as a creative executive, a marketer and a senior manager, and this varied background will help her effectively and creatively integrate the DC brand and properties across all our businesses. We’re also thrilled that Paul will remain involved with DC and we’ll be able to tap his expertise to help us reach our goals for this new business.”

“It’s no secret that DC has myriad rich and untapped possibilities from its deep library of iconic and lesser-known characters,” said Horn.”While we’ve had great success in films and television, the formation of DC Entertainment will help us to bring more DC properties across additional platforms to fans around the world, while maintaining brand integrity and authenticity. Diane is a terrific choice to lead DC Entertainment, and with Paul in his new role as a valued consultant and contributing editor, both our company and comic fans win.”

“Based on the great success we’ve had working with DC Comics to create some of the most popular and successful super hero films of all time, I’ve long believed that there was much more we could do across all of Warner Bros.’ businesses with this great body of characters and stories,” said Robinov.”The prioritization of DC and the creation of DC Entertainment is a great opportunity that reaches far beyond the film group.There are endless creative possibilities to build upon the many significant successes already achieved by my colleagues Kevin Tsujihara and the Home Entertainment Group in the videogame, home video and direct-to-platform arenas and Bruce Rosenblum and the Television Group in live-action, animated and digital series.Collectively, we have the ability to grow a body of properties highlighting the iconic characters and the diversity of the creative output of DC Comics.”

“The founding of DC Entertainment fully recognizes our desire to provide both the DC properties and fans the type of content that is only possible through a concerted cross-company, multi-platform effort,” said Nelson.”DC Entertainment will help us to formally take the great working relationships between DC Comics and various Warner Bros. businesses to the next level in order to maximize every opportunity to bring DC’s unrivalled collection of titles and characters to life.”

“After so many roles at DC, it’s exciting to look forward to focusing on my writing and being able to remain a part of the company I love as it grows into its next stage,” said Levitz. “It’s a new golden age for comics and DC’s great characters, and I hope my new position will allow me to contribute to that magic time.”

DC Comics will celebrate its 75^th anniversary in 2010 (NEW FUN COMICS #1, the first DC comic, began publishing in 1935), at which time more explicit details regarding DC Entertainment’s corporate and management structure, film and content release slate, creative roster and business objectives will be unveiled at a multi-faceted anniversary celebration and press conference in the first quarter of the year.

Prior to being named President, DC Entertainment, Nelson most recently served as President of Warner Premiere since its founding in 2006. Warner Premiere is a Studio-based production company which develops and produces high-quality, direct-to-DVD and short-form digital content, including the highly successful line of DC Universe animated DVD titles, and also pioneered the development of the motion comics category. Under Nelson’s leadership, Warner Premiere functions as a full-service production entity with its own resources and release schedule, furthering the Studio’s mandate of being a destination for both established and up-and-coming talent to create stand-alone properties as well as experiment in new media.

Before that, Nelson served as Executive Vice President, Global Brand Management, Warner Bros. Entertainment, with the primary responsibility of working cross-divisionally and throughout Time Warner to maximize and optimize all the various windows and outlets available to the Studio’s signature franchises, brands and event properties on a global basis.In this post, Nelson’s primary focus was the management of the Harry Potter brand, which she has overseen since the brand’s launch at the Studio in 1999. These efforts have helped drive the success of the brand to become the most successful film franchise of all time, as well as a respected consumer property that has generated billions of dollars for the Studio.

At Global Brand Management, Nelson and her team of more than 15 employees worked in all media and platforms to support a number of other key franchise properties, including “The Matrix Reloaded,” “The Matrix Revolutions,” “Batman Begins,” “The Dark Knight,” “Happy Feet,” “Polar Express” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” among others.

Prior to overseeing Global Brand Management, Nelson had served as Executive Vice President, Domestic Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures. Nelson rose quickly through the ranks, having also served as Senior Vice President, Domestic Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures and prior to that, Senior Vice President, Family Entertainment, Warner Bros. Corporate Worldwide Marketing and Planning. She was also Vice President, Worldwide Corporate Promotions, a post to which she was promoted in March 1998, after joining the Studio in September 1996 as Director of Worldwide Corporate Promotions.

Nelson came to the Studio from Walt Disney Records, where she served as Director of National Promotions. She is a graduate of Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications.

This is the type of move that Warner Bros. should have made years ago. Up until Warner Bros. rebooted the Batman film franchise, movie productions based on DC Comics properties had been severely lacking. And even though there was new success with Batman another DC icon, Superman, was a flop in his silver screen return. And this came after years of indecision and stalling on what to do with DC characters. I have long thought that a part of the problem was that DC Comics movies were being produced by people who didn’t know the comicbook characters. Watch Batman Forever or Batman and Robin and tell if you think Joel Schumacher had ever read a comic book.

Marvel Comics had some abismal forrays into feature films before they formed Marvel Entertainment Inc. This allowed Marvel to play a larger part in developing movies based on it’s characters, and because of this Marvel saw incredible gains with their movie franchises. For several years I thought that DC should have followed Marvel’s lead, and now they finally are. Its encourageing to hear that DC Entertainment will build a connection with Warner Bros. where DC’s creators will have a part in collaborating in the development of DC Comics properties for new media. After all, who better to create movies based on the comic books then the talented creators who are familar with and respectful of the source material?

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Beam Me Up

I wouldn’t call myself a Trekkie, but I’ve always thought that the equipment from the classic Star Trek series makes for some pretty cool toys. One of the most recent releases is a USB internet phone modeled after the classic Trek communicator. This British import is as exact replica of the communicator from the classic Star Trek TV series. It even has that cool “chirp” when you flip it open. That has to be one of the coolest things ever. Now users of Skype, MSN, AiM, iChat, and other online instant messaging sites will be able to communicate using this geeky cool collectible. The communicator has a metal mesh casing, is the exact size of the prop from the TV show, and features 21 authentic sound effects. Everyone should bring this device aboard when it ships in November.

Its Clobberin’ Time!

Looking through the Previews guide I came across a new action figure of the Thing that Diamond select will be releasing as part of the Marvel Select line of figures. This isn’t the first time that the ever-lovin’-blue eyed-Thing has been rendered in plastic, but this looks to be the best one yet. This is an incredible sculpt of the rocky muscle behind the Fantastic Four. The figure stands over 8 inches tall and is the same size as the Hulk figure that was released earlier in the toy line. I like that point. I’ve always thought that the Thing should be able to go toe to toe with t he Hulk, and that he shouldn’t be lacking in the size department either. The Thing figure comes with a base that looks like some sort of rocket powered flyer that will support the Thing and his $19.99 price tag. Its a bit of money to spend on an action figure, but its worth it. Borrow money from your Aunt Petunia if you have to, because this Thing figure is a must have.

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Pixar Captures Ant-Man?

The news is being circulated that Disney’s Pixar studios is interested in making an Ant-Man movie based on the super hero character from Marvel Comics. Edgar Wright, who is know for his work on Hot Fuzz, Sean of the Dead, and the upcoming Scott Pilgram Vs. The World, wrote a screenplay that he has been pitching for a few years.

In the past Wright has said that his script is “Going to be less overtly comedic than anything else I’ve ever done. It’s more of a full-on action adventure sci-fi film but with a comedic element – in the same spirit of a lot of escapist fare like that. It’s certainly not a superhero spoof or pastiche and it certainly isn’t a sort of Honey I Shrunk The Kids endeavour at all.”

The success of Iron Man, and Marvel’s plan to develop movies around the membership of The Avengers would seem to bold well for Ant-Man. However, After Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, Marvel has green lit Thor, Captain America and an Avengers movie, but the micro wonder, Ant-Man had been left out of the picture. 

Even though Ant-Man is a founding member of The Avengers in the comic books, his movie has sad idly in the development dungeon. All of that seems to have changed when Disney acquired Marvel in a $4 billion dollar deal. Entertainment Weekly has reported that Disney’s Pixar studio is looking at the possibility of producing an Ant-Man animated movie.

Ant-Man is not one of the big names in comic books, and he’s far from being one of the heavy hitters in comics. It’s also likely that people outside of the comic book community won’t know who the character is, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be a good movie. Ant-Man has potential as a character and he is definitely someone that you can work on to develop a movie. If Pixar does indeed produce an animated Ant-Man movie, then I wouldn’t be too worried about the handling of the character. Pixar has done an amazing job of character creation and story telling in their previous movies. Their penchant for telling fun adventure stories should work well for Ant-Man. If one of the best animation houses is behind Ant-Man, then that movie could be big.

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