Robert Meeks: January 2009 Archives

This is a clip from the upcoming film "Coraline" via MTV Splashpage.  This stop-motion (and what appears to be digitally-assisted) animated film is from director Henry Selick ("THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS"). That familiar voice of the main character is Dakota Fanning who plays a little girl who finds another world with new parents who are quite different from her normal ones. 

There is also a YouTube video peek behind the scenes of the production to "Coraline" which is based on the book by Neil Gaiman and to be released by Focus Features next weekend on Feb. 6.

I know, I know it would blow out a few people's budgets but would it hurt for DC Comics to make an entire TV series with the type of animation in this video game trailer?  Ah, never mind.

Thanks to Comic Book Resources for this trailer clip. The game for Windows, XBOX 360 and XBOX LIVE drops in Summer '09.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shareholders of an ill-fated Stan Lee venture are seeking more than $750 million in profits from films and other works based on Marvel comic characters such as "Spider-Man," ''X-Men" and "Iron Man."

The lawsuit was filed Monday in a Manhattan federal court on behalf of shareholders of Stan Lee Media Inc. Defendants include Lee, his wife, New York-based Marvel Entertainment Inc. and former Marvel chief executive officer Avi Arad.

The suit names four shareholders who live in Florida, California and Canada. Their lawyer, Martin Garbus, said the suit is aimed at reclaiming money for all Stan Lee Media Inc. shareholders.

The lawsuit claims profits from Lee's comic creations belong to the company, which emerged from bankruptcy in 2006. The suit claims Lee, Marvel and others have violated Stan Lee Media's copyright interests and that the firm is due profits from all properties, including blockbuster films that were made after 1998 and based on Lee's creations.

The lawsuit's allegations were immediately rebuffed, with Marvel issuing a statement that said the lawsuit is filled with "ridiculous claims."

Lee's attorney, Mark W. Williams, said: "We look forward to a positive resolution for Stan Lee and his family."

Marvel also claimed the lawsuit features claims that have been pursued in previous cases.

Garbus said Monday's suit differs in that it names Lee, Arad, who produced several of the blockbuster films featuring Marvel characters, and current Marvel CEO Isaac Perlmutter.

"It's a very different lawsuit," Garbus said. "It's different money."

He said he suspects that Lee, who once sued Marvel over profits from his creations, entered into an agreement that deprived Stan Lee Media of the windfall from blockbuster movies such as the "Spider-Man" and "X-Men" trilogies.

"He made a deal," Garbus said of Lee's confidential settlement that led to his reconciliation with Marvel. "That money should have gone to the corporation."

Lee helped found Stan Lee Media, an online comic site in the late 1990s, but the company went into bankruptcy in 2001 and several of its officers were arrested and accused of manipulating its stock price.

Lee was never implicated in the scheme, but the company's meltdown has sparked court actions in New York, Colorado and Los Angeles.

In 2007, Lee sued Stan Lee Media for copyright infringement, cybersquatting, defamation and other claims. In a document filed last year, Lee's lawyers denied he gave the company copyright interests in characters he created during his Marvel career.


Photograph of Stan Lee By Dan Steinberg/Associated Press

Yep... I think I'll be seeing this on opening day. And check out Yahoo for a full gallery of "Watchmen" images.

Say what you will about the shake-tacular camera work in "The Blair Witch Project," that film still has one of the creepiest endings I have ever seen. And I'm not one of those squeamish people who jump at their own shadows. For me "The Exorcist" is like watching "Cinderella," so if I'm freaked out that means something.

How is this latest effort by writer-director and Witch co-creator Daniel Myrick going to be? I don't know yet, but the trailer has me curious.

Let me get this straight...

The dude who did the successful remake of the TV show "Battlestar Galactica" is taking on a remake of writer-director John Carpenter's remake of a horror-science fiction classic?  Did I mess all that up?

That's the word as reported by Variety.  Universal will hire Ron Moore of Galactica to write the script for a new version of "The Thing" that will draw from Carpenter's brilliant film starring Kurt Russell and the short story "Who Goes There."

I am cool with Ron Moore because he has done us proud with "Battlestar Galactica," but some of these remakes of past films are happening faster than even I can handle.  Well, if anyone can find an interesting new angle to take on "The Thing" it would be Moore.  We'll see...

Read more at Variety.

Kim Manners, one of the prominent creative forces behind TV shows "The X-Files" and "Supernatural," died Sunday. He was 58-years old.

Manners directed 50 episodes of "X-Files" and served as co-executive producer. He had a similar role on "Supernatural" as well.

Variety reports that Manners died of complications from lung cancer.  See the rest of the story here.


 

OK, I'll raise my hand and answer that first question -- I say YES, "Heroes" can win its audience back and make us forget the first half of the season.  A little more than a year ago "Lost" managed to find its voice again in the second half and has hooked audiences ever since.

But yeah, you could say shame on you, Robert for even making that comparison.  "Lost" has been better by far.  Anyway, there's an interview on You Tube with "Heroes" creator/executive producer Tim Kring above which is mostly audio. The 'Tube clip gives us the short description of the upcoming season and an idea of his philosophy for the show.

Kring says "Heroes" is meant to be consumed at a fast pace and works better in the serial format. And that it is being re-set to its roots as a show with "real world" characters in extraordinary situations.

And will writer-producer Bryan Fuller's return to the "Heroes" staff after the cancellation of his show "Pushing Daisies" have an impact?  We will see.

My "Heroes Watch" weekly will return next week but it's on a probationary basis.  I'm only gonna give you a tentative TIVO or DVR notice for the first episode only -- if its cool, then season pass.

See a few preview clips from the upcoming episode at Comic Book Resources.

The 'Heroes: Fugitives' volume premieres Monday Feb. 2.

 

Related: Getting ready for round two

              And here we go...

              Series producers make staff changes

              Poll results and it's not pretty

              The villain revealed

              Confused and shocked

              Lots of action and more revelations

              Keeping the story on track

              The Heroes return tonight

              Heroes Watch: Looks like a fun season 

It's not enough that these guys at The Onion are funny when it comes to President Barack Obama's fanboy-ness, they have to toss the Conan details in there to really hammer it home.

Via The Onion...

Obama Disappointed Cabinet Failed To Understand His Reference To 'Savage Sword Of Conan' #24

...Obama, whose upcoming challenges include organizing a massive effort to rebuild the nation's infrastructure, was reportedly unprepared for the confused silence he received upon suggesting that his cabinet "team up with Taurus of Nemedia" to secure the necessary funding from Congress.

"If my inner circle of advisers can't even communicate about the most basic issues, how are we going to tackle the massive problems our nation faces?" Obama said during a press conference. "When I tell my cabinet that getting bipartisan support is exactly like the time Conan got Taurus to help him steal Yara's jewel, they need to understand what I mean."

After receiving no reaction from the assembled reporters, Obama added, "Because a giant spider is protecting this chamber full of precious jewels, just like Congress is protecting its.... God, how are you people not seeing this?"

Read the rest here.

Hello all,

I would like to welcome the first blog contribution for Sundjata Abubakari -- a member of the Comics Club and a man of strong opinions when it comes to comics-related issues (but aren't we all?).  I'll let him take it from here.

--Robert


Excuse me while I whip this out...

Fanboys will have to look elsewhere for validation because it sure ain't coming from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. I hate the Oscars and award shows in general because in most cases they aren't based on merit. George C. Scott once referred to the Oscars as "a meat parade".

Look at how many memorable, classic, oft-quoted, frequently-brought-up-in-conversation films have gotten snubbed in the past and then look at how much more forgettable, craptacular tripe has gone home with wheelbarrows full of those C-3PO-looking statues. Rollo Tomasi getting jacked for the Best Picture prize by the so-called King of the World was one of many Oscar travesties. I'd also wager more than Pascal that no one can quote one memorable line from that cure for my insomnia called "The English Patient". Now we have entered yet another "I say g--damn the Oscars" moment for me.

Dig. Okay, Heath got nominated. Like that wasn't a given. However, despite the Writers Guild, Directors Guild and Producers Guild nods and the genre-crossing audience and critical praise given to "The Dark Knight", Oscar once again allowed us to smell it for what it is when it relegated TDK to the "comic book-science fiction-fantasy-technical nominations-only" ghetto.

I wonder if anyone besides me is having a "Superman: The Movie" or "Alien" or "The Empire Strikes Back" flashback moment here.

After the Guild nominations I had a brief ray of hope that this would be the year at the Oscars that fanboys would be vindicated, but no. Movies of the fantasy, sci-fi, comic book genres--and often comedies--rarely get nominated, let alone win, in the major Academy categories. Oscar is a repeat offender in treating these genres as if they have no validity and it continues to be true with TDK.

"The Lord of the Rings" trilogy is a notable exception, but it had the distinction of being based on a literary classic, so Oscar gave it a pass with all three films getting Best Picture nods and "Return of the King" winning it. TDK's source material, which is sadly and unfairly perhaps the most maligned storytelling medium in the world (comic books--GASP!), undoubtedly was a strike against it when it came to the Academy voting elite who couldn't simply judge the film on its merits as a solid crime thriller.

One can't help but think that TDK might have gotten more love had it not had a hero dressed as a bat and a villain dressed like a clown. Looks like I have another reason to not watch the Oscars.

Clint got snubbed too. Yet another travesty of justice committed by Oscar!

Get off my lawn, AMPAS!

--Djata

Here is an excerpt from an AP story by Christy Lemire....

As expected, Heath Ledger posthumously won the supporting-actor award for his unpredictable turn as the Joker in "The Dark Knight." Ledger, who died a year ago of an accidental drug overdose, drew a standing ovation from his fellow actors. He's already won a Golden Globe for his inspired performance and continues to look unbeatable at the Oscars.

"I'm quite emotional," Ledger's "Dark Knight" co-star Gary Oldman began, speaking in his place. "It is a great honor to be asked to accept this on behalf of Heath. He was an extraordinary young man with an extraordinary talent, and it's wonderful that you have acknowledged that and honored that talent tonight."


Photo By Jae C. Hong/The Associated Press

Writer Neil Gaiman and artist Dave McKean have won the 2009 Newbery Medal for their work on The Graveyard Book. It was announced today and the crew at Robot 6 have a post with more details -- including a humorous Twitter response to the news from Neil Gaiman.

Those of us who were book-pushers at Barnes or Borders or whatever, have long known how talented Gaiman and McKean are... and how cool it is to see books in the young readers section bear that Newbery Medal for children literary excellence.

Congratulations to them both.


Edited for Robert's poor spelling of "Newbery" for gosh-sakes!

To see the trailer click here or on the image above.

I believe the science fiction-fantasy film "9" directed by Shane Acker and produced by Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov (Nightwatch) is geared to start a wave of serious animated films not by Pixar.

It's not like there haven't been others but they either didn't get the profile I believe this one has already, or they delved too deep into Disney-style film tropes that shuffled them in with the rest of the cartoon crowd (starring wisecracking animals).

Focus Features is behind "9" and they are also releasing "Coraline." The film features the voice talents of Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, Crispin Glover and John C. Reilly. Check out the Oscar nominated short film "9" by Acker here.

This film was brought to my attention by way of a friend and I was glad to hear about this. I talk all the time about the power of animation and the role these projects can play for stories that are science fiction and fantasy.  Maybe even producing an animated feature is a direction that can be taken by some filmmakers who cannot get the considerable live-action budget.

It is time consuming, but one day you may get distributed by Focus Features like "9."

By the way... the film will be released 9/9/09.

By the time I arrived at The Comic Bug in Manhattan Beach last Wednesday with my camera on my back I managed to miss the really long lines of customers looking to get their copies of The Amazing Spider-Man #583.

Trust me, there were still plenty of people there and they had their copies of the hard-to-score issue.

If I had any ideas about wanting a copy of the second printing, I could forget it.  I probably wouldn't have been able to get anyone to part with theirs either since there was an opportunity to get it signed by two members of the creative team behind that five-page backup story sensation in Amazing #583 --  writer Zeb Wells and artist Todd Nauck.

Their work on that story featuring President Barack Obama and Spider-Man has fueled a second, third and recently announced fourth printing.

And of course, there was a steady group of customers waiting to meet these guys and I patiently waited my turn as well.

Check out my interview with them in the video above.

Look for more of Wells' work in an Elektra limited series in April. And Nauck said he's got another Spider-Man assignment and a Luke Cage story hitting the stands around the same time.

I would like to thank Wells, Nauck and store honchos Jun Goeku and Mike Wellman for the invite. I didn't have enough time to show you everything me and those guys chatted about on camera but that just means I'll have to hit you with that another day.

Yes, that headline says exactly what you thought it said.

'Super Pimps' writer Richard Hamilton and other comic creators will be at Metropolis Comics in Bellflower Saturday Jan. 24 to sign, sketch and meet.

From the official press release:

On Sat. Jan. 24th from 12-3 p.m., come meet Comic Creators showcasing their ALL NEW COMICS!!! We'll have Andre Owens (Force Galaxia), Richard Hamilton (Return of the Super Pimps, Miserable Dastards), Dale Wilson (Caffeine Dreams), Robert Roach (The Roach,Menthu), Noel Mercado (Dominion:Eulogy), Dani Dixon (13) & more!

Stop on by and meet the comic superstars of the future! Buy a book and get a sketch! AND - come enjoy 50% off select SCI-FI Comics all day long on Jan. 24th as well! It's our first event and sale of the new year! Don't miss it!

Metropolis Comics

16509 Bellflower Blvd

Bellflower, CA 90706

Tel: 562.263.0277

Store Hours: Mon - Sat: 11-8pm, Sun 11-6pm

 
 

I want to start having galleries here with fan art, comics, pin ups, etc. and I am asking readers who are interested to send some of your work for us to show. Please e-mail your artwork to me at robert.meeks@presstelegram.com.

And I'm not one to ask you guys for something I wouldn't do myself. Click the thumbnails below to navigate the gallery if you like.

Contrary to some reports there were a few surprises this morning when the Academy announced its nominees.

For me it was Robert Downey Jr with a Best Supporting Actor nomination for "Tropic Thunder" (which I liked a lot) and writers Andrew Stanton and Jim Reardon for "WALL-E" for Best Original Screenplay.

The nomination for Heath Ledger was expected, especially after the posthumous Golden Globe win, but no love for "The Dark Knight"  in the Best Picture category.

Clint Eastwood was left out of the top categories as well for "Gran Torino."

There were 13 nominations for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

This pits Ledger's performance against Philip Seymour Hoffman's in "Doubt" and Downey Jr.'s (very bold) actor-in-black face role in Tropic. (That's not as bad as it sounds but some other actor's scenes actually made me cringe.)

Anyway, it's Iron Man vs. The Joker?  Game on.

View a complete list of nominees via The Los Angeles Times.





 

I went to a viewing party for the first episode of "Battlestar Galactica: The Final Episodes" and it was everything I wanted in a mid-season premiere.

We'll discuss more about the actual program later... My issue is about the commercials that ran after some pretty dramatic breaks. There would be nothing wrong with these ads if they ran during a football game, but considering the BSG subject matter, some of them seemed a little... disconcerting. And we didn't have it as bad as Valerie D'Orazio over at Occasional Superheroine.

One of those dramatic moments are available on YouTube and she linked to a video example that illustrated what it was like to go from a highly intense scene to... well... you should watch it for yourself.

But DON'T WATCH IT if you are below 18, sitting at work, and haven't seen the first episode of this season's BSG yet.

You've had your warning. Click here to view or on the image below.

This is the one everybody wants a date with.

At least that's the case right now with The Amazing Spider-Man #583. After speaking with three different comic store associates yesterday, I got the impression there will be plenty of copies for readers who aren't concerned with having a first printing of the issue; they just want one as a keepsake.

But that second printing is probably going to move fast too so...

Amazing #583 is going into its third printing so Marvel Comics can meet the overwhelming demand and make sure a copy gets into the hands of just about anyone who wants one. For collectors and fans there's a local signing by some creators who worked on Amazing #583 tomorrow in Manhattan Beach you may wish to attend.
 






For those who didn't know, Erik Larsen's Savage Dragon placed President Barack Obama front and center before Spidey did. Recall that cover where there was an endorsement by the "Dragon?"And now there will be a story with a guest appearance by the President that will push the main character back into active police duty.

More details about issue #145 of Savage Dragon can be read here. And while there will be many who won't care about what goes on behind the scenes in the comics business -- they just want their comics -- there are the happy few who may want to know about the little dustup between Dragon creator Erik Larsen and a Marvel editor over who had their account of the Obama story first. Read the piece in the Robot 6 blog.



I have not read much about this or even the actual comic yet, but Rob Liefeld, creator of Youngblood, is releasing his own segment featuring the 44th President in a six-page story that will appear in Youngblood #8 written and drawn by Liefeld himself.

Liefeld is taking a bit of a beating in the Newsarama comments section for releasing his own Obama guest appearance comic but if other savvy creators are doing it to boost sales and interest then why not get in there? (President Obama even made the cover of Ms. magazine for goodness sakes!) This is part of a Youngblood tradition according to a press release reproduced in part on Newsarama -- apparently former President George W. Bush has appeared in the Youngblood universe as well.






Quietly sticking around (at least when I saw it on the shelves of one retailer) is the IDW published bio-comic Ryan Riley reviewed about Barack Obama written by Jeff Mariotte with art by Tom Morgan.

There was a John McCain comic issued by the same publishers during the election and both were pretty well done. No major super-powered villains, just stories of two human beings leading very incredible and inspiring lives.

One comic store owner told me that President Obama's IDW biography is the best read of this comic book bunch so far.

See 12 pages from Presidential Material: Barack Obama by clicking here.






I have learned that noted artist and writer Kyle Baker will be pulled off his current assignment to work on a biography graphic novel about the 44th President. Baker worked on Truth: Red, White & Black the story about the unknown African American Captain America  -- so this comic will be something to see.

Anything I missed? Drop me a line when you can and we'll put it up here.

   

  

Fans of The Amazing Spider-Man and collectors of the special appearance issue (#583) with President-elect Barack Obama, may want to visit Manhattan Beach this Wednesday because two members of the creative team from that hot Marvel comic will be appearing at Comic Bug from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to sign autographs and meet you all.

That's Zeb Wells (writer) and Todd Nauck (artist) who'll be in the house. I expect those guys'll be very busy if the sales and pre-sales for Amazing #583 (all printings) are any indication.

The comic is going into a third printing since the second printing has reportedly sold out from distributors. Check your local stores today and see of they have or will receive their copies of the second printing of The Amazing Spider-Man #583.

Nauck will also be drawing sketches for donations to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

And please click here for info and directions to Comic Bug in Manhattan Beach.

I wanted to get the ball rolling this year on a regular feature where comic, novel, film creators and others offer advice on breaking in, self marketing, pointers and just the creative process. I would like to provide this as video segments with a little bit of Q&A. It won't always work out that way, but hope springs eternal.

In the case of the gentleman above there was a Q&A with Ryan Riley we ran a little while ago. 

So let us reintroduce you to Long Beach resident Sammy Montana who wrote the graphic novel adaptation of the screenplay for the "Haunted Caves" by Michael Stevens.

Sammy has always wanted to write graphic novels and screenplays. He currently works in the film industry, and as you will see and hear, Sammy used some of that film savvy to promote the "Haunted Caves" graphic novel that was released a couple months ago from Devil's Due Publishing.

He also has some interesting things to say about submitting your work.

Once again check out a more extensive Q&A with Sammy Montana by our own Ryan Riley here.

I can't wait for this.

I place this show with "Lost" as one of my can't-miss-must-TIVO programs. The final episodes are starting tonight for "Battlestar Galactica" on Sci Fi (10 p.m.) -- the series critics call "the best show on television."

Our friends at The Los Angeles Daily News have created a Battlestar Galactica interactive for the show with some background and plot points to help those who haven't kept up. If you are a hater of the new BSG and say there is only room for the first "Battlestar Galactica" series in your life, then allow me to offer you an intervention...

I was once like you.

I loved that theme song and Lorne Greene was the man, but most of those episodes we watched when we were 10-years-old don't compare to the show today. There were some memorable moments (a Cylon blaster duel on a wild west-themed planet, anyone?). Other than some character flashes, those original BSG episodes were not all that awesome -- seriously. This isn't personal, folks I'm just telling you like it is.

I went through a lot of stages when I heard there was gonna be a remake...

There was denial: "How can you make Boomer into a woman...?"

I learned to cope: "Wow, that Boomer really is an extremely attractive woman."

Then there was acceptance: "You mean there are thousands of Boomers?!? That's awesome!"

I was cured and have been a regular viewer ever since.

Seriously, the show is great so please treat yourself and get your Netflix workin' or whatever and catch the heck up.

I will post something about the episodes here and there along the way and maybe we can talk theories with a BIG SPOILER WARNING before we do that, of course.


Grace Park stars as Boomer, Athena and Number 8 on BSG. Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

The studios on opposing sides of the "Watchmen" rights dispute have reportedly reached a settlement.

This is via The Hollywood Reporter...

Warner Bros. and Fox have resolved their dispute over "Watchmen," with the studios scheduled to present a settlement to Judge Gary Feess this morning and request that the case be dismissed.

The lede to the story is "Geeks can rejoice."

Sure, it's good news, but I really hope folks realize that if "comic geeks" were the only ones who wanted to see this flick it would not make enough to justify that $150 Million budget... and the payout to Fox... and the undisclosed amount of boxoffice grosses they are about to get... etc...

This is good news for ALL audiences of filmed entertainment. Once again, the story from Reporter is here.

Pssst! The Carpetbagger Blog at the New York Times says that undisclosed amount is about 8.5 Percent of the boxoffice grosses (estimated at "tens of Millions") and some compensation on any sequels and/or "Watchmen" spinoffs that may result. 

Pulp Fiction in Long Beach still has about 15 copies of The Amazing Spider-Man #583 available that store owner Mike Lerner pulled off eBay and decided to offer in his store instead.

He has the variant edition with the cover of President-elect Barack Obama featured with old web-head in the background. Lerner said he is offering it for $59.99. As I mentioned yesterday, eBay is offering the fast-selling comic for prices ranging from $50 to $150-$200.

The first printing of the regular edition of Amazing #583 (with cover art by John Romita Sr.) flew out the door at Pulp Fiction just as fast as the Phil Jimenez cover edition, said Lerner. The numbers of actual copies of regular Amazing were ordered some time before there was an announcement of the Obama appearance and were based on the usual orders Lerner makes for Amazing Spider-Man every month.

"The regular one is probably going to end up being just as hot, I mean everybody wants the Obama cover if given the choice, but the other one is going to be just as hard to get too," Lerner said.

Most comic store associates I spoke to said they are expecting the second printing to be on their shelves next week.



Cover Image Courtesy Marvel Comics

Private funeral services were pending today for Emmy- winning actor Patrick McGoohan, who rose to stardom in the 1960s British television series "Secret Agent" and became a cult favorite for his starring role in the follow-up surrealistic series "The Prisoner."


McGoohan, 80, died in Los Angeles after a "short illness," according to his son-in-law, producer Cleve Landsberg.

The New York native won two Emmy Awards, both for his work opposite Peter Falk in "Columbo" television movies -- on in 1975 and the other in 1990.

He was perhaps most recently remembered for his role as King Longshanks in actor/director Mel Gibson's Oscar-winning epic "Braveheart."

He also appeared in films such as "A Time to Kill," "Scanners" and "Silver Streak." He also portrayed the hard-nosed prison warden in the 1979 Clint Eastwood thriller "Escape from Alcatraz."

Landsberg said services will be private.

From wire service reports

Actor Ricardo Montalban, best known for his role as Mr. Roarke on "Fantasy Island" and as the genetically engineered villain Khan in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," died today at his home in Doheny Estates, according to Los Angeles City Councilman Eric Garcetti.

Montalban, 88, had been confined to a wheelchair since undergoing spinal surgery in 1993.

The Mexico City native began acting in films in 1942 and rose to stardom in Mexico before making the move to Hollywood in the mid-1940 s. He appeared in a series of musicals and other films, including two installments of the famed "Planet of the Apes" series.

He appeared in dozens of television shows, including "Hawaii Five-O," "Bonanza," "Dr. Kildare" and "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."

In 1977, he was cast as the mysterious Mr. Roarke on a television movie called "Fantasy Island." Mr. Roarke, who wore matching white suits with his faithful diminutive assistant Tattoo, would grant his high-paying island guests the chance to live out their wildest dreams. The movie led to an ABC series that ran for seven years.

In 1967, he made a guest appearance on the original "Star Trek" series as Khan Noonien Singh, a genetically engineered super-villain who escaped capture in the late 20 th century aboard a "sleeper ship." He and his followers are rescued by Capt. James T. Kirk, whom Khan eventually tries to kill while seizing control of the USS Enterprise.

Montalban reprised the role in the 1982 film "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," which is considered by many "Trek" fans as the best of the series' movie installments.

In 1970, he founded the nonprofit organization Nosotros to promote roles of Spanish-speakers in the motion picture and television industry.

His name also adorns a theater in Hollywood.


AP Photo/Tara Farrell

It's been a good day for comic retailers who managed to secure and sell copies of The Amazing Spider-Man #583, which features a cameo by President-elect Barack Obama.

In a very short period of time after opening, only a couple stores in my vicinity had some copies of the regular and variant #583 -- Pulp Fiction comics in Long Beach and Comic Bug in Manhattan Beach. I called Comic Bug and was told they basically sold out by 10 a.m. Amazing Comics in Long Beach only had the regular edition and they sold out by 1 p.m.

I spoke with owner-operator Mike Lerner at Pulp Fiction this afternoon and he said he still had a couple dozen copies of the variant cover by artist Phil Jimenez which has the likeness of the President-elect prominently featured. (Keep in mind that conversation was a couple hours before this post.)

Lerner's price for the variant first printing was about $50 and he was also offering his few remaining copies of the regular edition packaged with the variant for about twenty dollars more.

Bug said they had the variant for around $35 (note: That was the price before they sold out).

On EBay first printing copies of the variant were going from $50 to $150-$200. 

Geoffrey's Comics had no copies of either printing available when I called. I was told that customers can prepay and reserve a copy of the second printing which is expected to be available next Wednesday Jan. 21.

Sales associates with Comic Bug, Amazing and Pulp Fiction all said they expect the second printing in stores next week as well.  

The answer to the above question is "yes," but it could be disappointing.

Geoff Boucher at Hero Complex has an exclusive chat with actor Samuel L. Jackson on the negotiations between himself and Marvel Studios. It appears, based on Jackson's account of his meetings with his representatives, that a deal that would secure him as Nick Fury for the Marvel Studios franchise films is in trouble.

Boucher also mentions Jackson's responses could be a negotiating move to put Jackson's "Nick Fury-ness" out there for the court of public opinion.

OK, let's do it.

Jackson's Nick Fury is a Marvel Comics creation physically based on the character from Mark Millar's "The Ultimates." Ultimate Fury is a cool customer and as hardcore as a Millar-written character can be. His look is even based on Jackson's (and certain bloggers who shall remain nameless, but he writes about comics -- hmmm, who could that be?).

We've also got the Nick Fury of the primary Marvel Comics universe. He's a favorite of mine and this Fury has kicked bad guy butt with the best of Marvel from Captain America to Wolverine.

I don't believe this is an issue of ethnicity, age of character or the number of comics appeared in. Both depictions are from the comics and both of these Furys are pretty cool. I believe this is a matter of which Nick Fury is the face of the character to a newer generation of reader and movie fan?

To readers of "The Ultimates" and the millions who watched "Iron Man" it could be Sam Jackson and to others it's the Fury that David Hasselhoff played in a TV movie that almost turned me off the character forever. (And yet I couldn't stop watching it -- I'm hopeless.)

So answer the bell folks... who's your Fury? You can answer the poll below and if you have an opinion on the next "Iron Man," please let me know if you think the show can go on without Jackson.
  

 

Sure, this is all over ESPN and will be all over the sports pages tomorrow, but I want to tip my hat to Tony Dungy, now the former coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

I knew the retirement was coming but now that it's official it makes me a little bummed. He's the reason I liked his old team the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and while I didn't become a big Colts fan when he arrived there seven years ago (the Wife is a Colts fan), I liked watching Coach Dungy become the first and the only black coach to guide his team to a Super Bowl victory.

This was my first (and possibly last) season participating in a fantasy football league and I named my team the "Dungy Boys." And yes... we did win the championship. I didn't do it with all the grace and class of the man himself, but I'm just me and Tony Dungy is one of the best there is.

Thanks for everything, Coach.


 

 

Still awaiting word of rival studios (Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox) reaching an agreement over the copyrights issue for "Watchmen." I will post that as soon as I hear. But the new ad during the Golden Globes last night (and also during one of the NFL playoff games) is one positive sign we'll see the film March 6.

The other positive sign, as reported in the Carpetbagger Blog at the New York Times, is the friendly interaction between studio chiefs Tom Rothman (Fox) and Alan Horn (Warner Bros.).

You've seen some of this imagery in the commercial above before I believe, but it still looks good enough to watch again.

By now you know the news -- Heath Ledger has posthumously won a Golden Globe for his performance as the Joker in "The Dark Knight" and has increased the odds of an Oscar nod.

'Knight' director Christopher Nolan accepted on behalf of Ledger and here's an excerpt of his speech via MTV.

"After Heath passed on, you saw a hole ripped in the future of cinema -- but with the extraordinary response to his work that we've seen all over the world, I, for one, start to be able to look a bit less at that gap in the future and a little bit more at the incredible place in the history of cinema that he built for himself with his talent and with his dedication to his artistry."

I have championed the fine performance of the late actor almost immediately after I watched "The Dark Knight." Sure, toss me under the over-hyped-fanboy bus, but I know good work when I see good work.

I have been cautioned not to be too optimistic over Ledger's work, but the buzz wasn't only generated here on this blog. The accolades came from numerous publications as 'Knight' was one of this year's best reviewed films.

In other words... I hope the Academy is watching.

 

While some studio "suits" may give Malin Akerman, AKA the Silk Spectre II, a hard time about speaking her mind in the middle of the "Watchmen" legal tussle (or negotiations as the case is now), I would just like to say I dig this actress for telling it like it is.

What do you think about this whole legal thing Malin? "s--- happens," she said to MTV. Check out the video and see the story via MTV Splashpage.

It looks like the rival studio parties are close to negotiating some form of settlement over the "Watchmen" rights issue. I may not address this whole deal in the same colorful way Akerman did, but I do agree with her other points. I'm not really concerned about how this works out, I just want it to work out.

As a fan of the source material I hope to see a "Watchmen" movie adaptation in a theater this March -- not next year, not after the next Harry Potter comes out this summer... MARCH.

And that costume Akerman wears in the movie has nothing to do with it.

By ANTHONY McCARTNEY
AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Moviegoers may get to watch the "Watchmen" after all.

Attorneys for rival studios fighting over the release of the superhero flick told a federal judge on Friday that they're having fruitful settlement talks.

Attorneys for 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. asked the judge to delay a hearing Friday so those discussions can continue over the weekend.

U.S. District Judge Gary Allen Feess agreed to continue the hearing but says a trial over whether to block the film's March release is still set for Jan. 20.

Lou Karasik, who is representing Fox, told Feess that the delay would be "very, very helpful" to settlement discussions he deemed "productive."

Friday's revelation surprised Feess, who noted that Warner Bros. had been seeking to move up the Jan. 20 trial to next week, citing the film's marketing campaign and its March 6 release date.

An injunction barring the film's release also jeopardizes the $150 million Warner Bros. has invested in the "Watchmen" movie, the studio's attorneys argued in court documents filed this week.

Fox sued in February to stop the release of "Watchmen," claiming Warner Bros. violated its interests by filming the tale. Feess agreed last month that Fox appears to have the right to distribute the film.

Since then, the two sides have made concessions and according to court documents, conducted settlement talks last weekend.

Fox claims it never relinquished movie rights it acquired in the late 1980s to "Watchmen," the popular graphic novel of the same name. Warner Bros. has argued Fox lacked the right to stop the movie's release.

Apparently the soon-to-be inaugurated President-elect Barack Obama and comics are a natural fit. Not long ago I posted a link to a story on Erik Larsen's Savage Dragon getting some face time with the future President.

And now... the one and only Spider-Man. Check out the USA Today story -- it also has a preview of some panels from this historic meeting.

...and the astute Ryan Riley dropped by my desk to remind me I should tell everyone it goes on sale next Wednesday — so visit Pulp Fiction, Geoffrey's Comics, Amazing Comics, The Comic Bug or set your sites on any local comics retailer near you to grab yourself a copy before it swings out the door.

Sometimes a casting rumor is a scary thing -- anyone hear about Eddie Murphy as the Riddler for the sequel to "The Dark Knight?"

It usually takes a few days for stuff like that to die out. But once in a while there's a rumor I have to nod my head to and say "I'd buy that if it happened." It's Mickey Rourke as Crimson Dynamo in the "Iron Man" sequel.

A few people I have spoke to are raving about Rourke's performance in "The Wrestler" and though I have not yet seen it, I don't need any special convincing of this actor's talent. (Didn't you guys love him in "Sin City" as Marv?)

Dynamo is the armored Russian counterpart to Iron Man and more rumors have him as the potential villain in the next film which is planned for 2010 release. If this is true does that mean we won't get to see director Jon Favreau's take on the Mandarin?

For more check out Hero Complex and Splashpage.



Cover image courtesy Marvel Comics and the Grand Comics Database / Photo: Getty Images

A fan-made trailer for a "Thundercats" movie caught my eye via MTV Splashpage.  It 's composed of several clips from movies and TV shows (can you ID any?) that are worked over so the actors can look like the 'Cats.

It is not only well done, I'm even thinking it's not a half bad idea for a live-action film. But I'm a "Thundercats" fan and biased.

Of course, I can't imagine a budget for this movie that would accommodate actors Brad Pitt, Vin Diesel and Hugh Jackman. And, if you can catch him in the trailer... there's GARFIELD.

Good work with this one Wormy-T!

I have not seen this flick yet and perhaps I'm missing something by not rushing to the local cineplex to check it out.

However, like 99.9 percent of you out there, I have seen the trailer to "Twilight" and this has a few gags in this for us as well.

Greetings all, I am back from the holiday vacation and happy to be back with you and Modern Mythology in 2009. Let's see... did I miss much in the last weeks of 2008?

"The Spirit" didn't rock the box office and the highly-anticipated  "Watchmen" is in trouble.

The crew of bloggers some of you loved at Blog@Newsarama.com are now at Robot6.comicbookresources.com.

Comic book prices are slowly increasing, as the "event books" at DC Comics and Marvel are $3.99 and not $2.99. (Bottom line is that many more book prices will go up because our economic crisis has publishers needing to balance out what they're investing.)

On that line of thought...  event comics were not that great. If you loved Secret Invasion, that's OK. Some people loved Heroes -- I was one of them, then I saw the light. I'll keep my eye on Final Crisis but man....

Ed Brubaker was hot again. I am a devotee of "Daredevil" and "Criminal" -- but Man, Brubaker even got me buying "Captain America" on a regular basis. I'm not promising that's gonna continue, but for now I'm picking it up.

I blew the call on the next Dr. Who -- it won't be Paterson Joseph. (The Telegraph has the story today and it will be 26-year-old Matt Smith.) I blew that call like the Colts did by not running the ball on that critical 3rd down and 2 last Saturday.

You'll get a far better picture of the best lists from last year everywhere else on the internet but here's my little go at it.
 
The best Television for me included "Fringe," "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," "Lost" and "Battlestar Galactica."

I didn't read everything I wanted to read this year, but my absolute favorite comics were "Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season 8," "All Star Superman," "The Umbrella Academy: The Apocalypse Suite," "Criminal" and "Fables."

There should be an honorable mention roll but I really need to read more stuff. The above list is fairly complete and I am pained that I cannot add any of the "X-Men" titles to my faves-list. How about one X-Man in particular? "Wolverine: Old Man Logan" is straddling '08 and '09 and I love it, but I want to see some story closure before I commit to best of. Is that comic one of the best so far...? Hecks yeah.

In all seriousness, thanks to contributor Ryan Riley, co-web dude Joe Dickson, designer Andres Cardenas, Geoffrey Patterson Jr. and the crew in the Comics Club at Geoffrey's Comics, Mike Lerner at Pulp Fiction comics here in L.B., my wife, the P-T and my editor Chris Berry.

'08 was a nice beginning for Modern Mythology and I expect '09 to kick some major tail. Check out my post tomorrow for a few details on that.