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By Jon, September 9, 2010 12:44 am

In an interesting tidbit I picked up via Fark, artist Brendan McCarthy let slip that recently he had been in meetings with Marvel & Disney folks regarding their slate of future movies. McCarthy indicated that Pixar is very interested in bringing the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange to the screen.

“I was over in Hollywood earlier this year mooching about, and I had a meeting at Disney and the conversation drifted around to Pixar animating a Doctor Strange movie… Now, wouldn’t that be nice,”

Of the characters that Marvel is pressing to make it to theaters, Doctor Strange is one that would require a tremendous budget and a director like Guillermo Del Toro to do traditionally. I am totally behind letting the fine folks at Pixar have a shake at a character who is steeped in ancient mysticism battling demons from beyond this realm. While this is all but a rumor at this point, I would think that if this were to come to fruition many ‘o comic fans would be pleased.

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By Jon, September 7, 2010 7:10 pm

A Halo movie is still in the works. Possibly, maybe, kinda sorta. [Geeks of Doom]

AMC has released a new trailer for The Walking Dead and it involves a door that Rick Grimes definitely should not open. [Topless Robot]

Batman: Arkham City aims to be “4-5 times bigger” than its ass kicking predecessor. [Comics Alliance]

The more I learn about Juggalos, the more frightened I am for the world I will be bringing my child into. [Film Drunk]

Some really cool concept art for Peter Berg’s Dune that was not meant to be is traveling the Interwebs. [io9]

I’ve been staring at these bikini pictures of Kate Beckinsale for hours. I can’t stop. [WWTDD]

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By Jon, September 3, 2010 6:57 am

After the Internet ran wild with reports that AMC’s The Walking Dead had already been picked up for a 13-episode second season. Executive Producer Frank Darabont told Ain’t It Cool News that the suits have made not such decision yet.

See Internet that’s why you can’t have anything nice! Some asshole with a twitter account fabricates “news” and before you know it puppies are getting thrown into a river by a teen girl in a former Soviet Bloc republic.

The Walking Dead, based on the truly awesome comic by Robert Kirkman premieres October 31st at 10pm on AMC.

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By Jon, August 31, 2010 12:34 am

If there is one thing that I took away from this year’s Baltimore Comic Con is that it was significantly looser than any show I’ve been to in quite some time. All credit must be given to Mr. Marc Nathan who over the years has created an environment where comic creators and fans alike have a venue to truly connect. There are no television or movie stars or broken down wrestlers charging excessive autograph fees.

Unlike other shows, whose producers alienated the bigger publishers *cough cough Wizard*; there was a showing from DC, Marvel, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse, IDW Publishing, & Top Cow. And the biggest booth at BCC wasn’t for a cellphone or a car company, it was for Stylin Online (which I have no issue with at all).

The expansive Artist Alley was almost too much to do in just one day (which was all I had to work with); but I was able to connect with some of my favorite local Philadelphia artists like Scott Derby, Tom Whalen, and Geek Boy Press.

The absolute high for me at BCC was finally getting artist Herb Trimpe to sign some of my GI Joe: Special Missions issues. For about seven minutes Trimpe and I talked about how he felt that he had to frame Larry Hama’s scripts in an “epic light”. He stopped and flipped through #13, whose plot revolves around Dusty & Outback taking two probationary Joes on their final training mission.

The issue ultimately ends with one of the probies, Mangler sacrifice himself so that the other Joes may live. It was then Trimpe said to me, “You know the 90’s were criticized for their violence and dark themes, but Hama was really bringing some heat with these”. I laughed and agreed, and he asked me if Hama was at the show. I replied that he wasn’t, to which Trimpe said “I think he’ll be at New York, I’ll catch up with him then”.

I was taken aback that the guy who penciled The Incredible Hulk during the Silver Age would stop to have a conversation about Larry Hama with me. He was genuinely interested in hearing my take on his work and thanked me for stopping by. I’ve never experienced this before and I’ll never forget it, Trimpe is a class act through and through.

After my encounter I bumped into one of the guys from my local comic shop, Comics & More in King of Prussia, PA. We chatted for a few minutes about how we were enjoying the show and agreed that from a fan perspective, BCC is so far ahead of the pack. And that whatever formula they’ve worked out they ought to keep it the same.

From my experience, Baltimore Comic Con is the show that anyone in the Mid-Atlantic states must attend. Forget Wizard World and mark your calendars for next August … I’ll see you all there.

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By Jon, August 27, 2010 11:14 pm

At this point, I don’t think there is anyone who isn’t on board for this. I’m thrilled beyond belief with the casting and visual style that Frank Darabont brought to this project. I may have been skeptical initially about Andrew Lincoln’s casting as Rick Grimes; but this trailer has me absolutely sold … he is Rick Grimes.

When I have non-nerd friends asking me about the comic, asking if they can borrow some of my trades you can be assured that AMC will have a smash hit on their hands. The Walking Dead premieres Sunday, October 31st at 10:00pm.

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By Jon, August 27, 2010 11:03 pm

My love for the Immortal Iron Fist, champion of the mystical city of K’un Lun, and best buddy to Luke Cage/Power Man is well documented here. The reintroduction of Daniel Rand into the Marvel Universe so beautifully orchestrated by Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction is nothing short of a modern classic.

By all means Iron Fist is probably a C-list character (well maybe B minus) in the grand scheme of things he is far less recognizable to non-comic folk than say Spider-Man or the Fantastic Four.

When it was announced that Disney/Marvel would be exploring the possibility of smaller budget feature films featuring the likes of Iron Fist, Dazzle, & Luke Cage I was very excited. It is well known that an Iron Fist movie was in the works almost ten years ago with Ray Park attached to star.

While the hiring of a screenwriter does not necessarily we will actually see Iron Fist in multiplexes in 2012 or 2013, it is is very encouraging to fans. Even if the screenwriter in question is responsible for xXx, The Jerky Boys, and Airheads.

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By Jon, August 23, 2010 12:07 am

I was working on a legitimate post, but I figured I’d celebrate this landmark post number the only appropriate way … with Iron Maiden

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By Jon, August 22, 2010 11:57 pm

This weekend I’ll be venturing to the Charm City for my second ever Baltimore Comic Con. I’ll be providing a moderate amount of coverage here and through my Twitter. The only other time I attended the show, I really enjoyed myself and found myself a whole lot closer to creators than at the “corporate” shows.

Late last week a presser was sent out outlining the programming in store, while I may not be able to attend every panel I figured I’d highlight some of the more interesting ones (to me at least).

IRREDEEMABLE/INCORRUPTIBLE Panel – Mark Waid’s Harvey and Eisner nominated, best-selling, multiple sell-out IRREDEEMABLE has taken comic fans by storm since its debut, becoming one of the top-selling independent comics published today. Join Mark Waid as he takes a look back at IRREDEEMABLE’s beginnings, the future of the series, and its sister series — INCORRUPTIBLE. A not-to-be-missed panel for any fan of these books! (PSSSSST: Mark will also talk a little bit about his new BOOM! book with Stan Lee called THE TRAVELER. Don’t miss it!)

I’ve only gotten a couple of issues into Mark Waid’s Irredeemable series, and I’ve enjoyed it. More importantly I would like to hear what he has to say about not reading anymore conventional superhero comics. I just hope he stays on with Spider-Man

Spotlight on Thor– With the THOR feature film from Marvel Studios premiering in May, 2011, and his adventures featured across both the Marvel and Ultimate Universes, Thor is one of Marvel’s hottest characters. Chroniclers of the Thunder God’s adventures from the past, present, and future – Walter Simonson, John Workman, Bryan J.L. Glass, and Jonathan Hickman – join Marvel’s Vice President – Executive Editor Tom Brevoort to discuss all things Thor.

Simonson lays claim to probably some of the best Thor stories, c’mon this guy created Beta Ray Bill!

Spotlight on Todd McFarlane – From SPAWN to HAUNT, Image Comics founder and partner Todd McFarlane has been the driving force behind the biggest creator-owned titles in the industry. Join McFarlane for exclusive sneak peeks of his upcoming projects and a Q&A session that shouldn’t be missed!

Say what you will about McFarlane’s many efforts in the comics/entertainment industry, you have to respect his body of work. If only I can track down those Spider-Man foil covers!

IDW ON THE MOVE! – Join IDW Senior editor Bob Schreck, Steve Niles, Bernie Wrightson, Chris Moreno, and Stuart Sayger in this lively look at the company’s current and upcoming releases to be followed by a Q&A session.

Bernie Wrightson and Steve Niles? I’m all over this one. IDW Publishing has done quite a job positioning themselves by licensing solid properties and snapping up some quality talents.

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By Jon, August 22, 2010 11:39 pm

There are few things I love in comics more than the crazy cutaways of secret bases and headquarters. Jack Kirby was well known for working these up, which have been documented rather superbly by the folks over at Comic Book Cartography.

I found this cutaway while leafing through GI Joe Yearbook #1. It’s a Classified File detailing the five subterranean levels of “The Pit” which was the GI Joe’s base that was secretly located underneath the Chaplains Assistant School’s motor pool at Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island, New York.

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By Jon, August 20, 2010 10:52 pm

Warren The Ape is the first show on MTV that I’ve watched since Sandblast. I find great joy in watching the trials and travails in the life of the sexually-addicted, alcohol-fueled, helmet-wearing simian.

In a recent episode, we find that Warren D. Montague has starred in a gritty war drama “Bad Po Fo”, which is perhaps the greatest Grindhouse-esque trailer I’ve seen it quite some time.