Turok is how old?

Shows how much I know.

I've got that cool foil cover of Turok: Dinosaur Hunter #1 from Valiant floating around in my comics collection. It's not worth anything - you can buy it on eBay right now for about a buck. And I remember playing Turok on my brother's Playstation many moons ago. I always figured it was a cheap comic that was based on the video game. Come to find out, the Valiant comic (1993) came out about four years before the first video game (1997). So I was obviously wrong there.

But now I just found out that Turok's been around since the 50s. How'd I miss that? Spending too much time working and not enough time reading comics, I guess. So, anyway, Turok made his first appearance in 1954 in Gold Key's Four Color Comics #596. He's had several incarnations as well as several video games since then.

What's the point of all this? In February, Genius Products and Classic Media will be releasing Turok: Son of Stone, an animated feature on DVD. Going for about $20, the hour-and-fifteen-minute animated film was supervised by Tad Stone (who is responsible for the Hellboy animated movies - see that blog to the right). It looks interesting, but I'm not sure it'll be worth buying. Here's the trailer.



It looks like it coincides with the release of a new Turok game for Playstation 3 and XBOX 360. This trailer looks a little more interesting.

Watchmen pics, Spirit Blog, Swamp Thing DVDs

In a similar vein to the 300 side-by-side comparisons, here are a few Watchmen pics that compare scenes in the movie to the comics. (Note that it's on Maxim's website, so you may want to wait until you get home from work.)


The Spirit has a production blog (link to the right).


The Swamp Thing series is coming out on DVD (link under Premiers & Releases). I've never seen it, but this is another one of those things I'd be tempted to pick up sight unseen. (On a side note, Amazon finally has Justice League: New Frontier available for pre-order.)

Film Release Updates

Added the new Asterix film, though it doesn't have a US release.

Wanted has been pushed out a few months to the right. I guess I won't have to do a double feature of that and Superhero on March 28.

Punisher: War Zone has a release date of next September.

Thanks to Comics2Film.

November 2007 Previews Pop Culture Crossover

OK, so still don't have the December Previews that came out a couple weeks ago, but I was able to hunt down November's issue outside of Gatlinburg, TN.

Here's a few comics on sale in January, from movies and television. Bones, I finally got around to the comics you've been talking about. Let me know how you like My Name is Bruce.

TV

• Dr. Who #1 (new series, IDW)
  Science fiction buff that I am, I never seemed to get into any of these series. I believe this series is based on the current show running on Sci Fi.
• Star Trek: Alien Spotlight: Borg (one-shot, IDW)
  Ah, the ever-popular Borg. IDW's series continues, spotlighting the alien races from Star Trek.
  

Movies

• Evil Dead #1 (4-part mini, Dark Horse)
  This is Bruce Campbell, returned to his roots. This adaptation comes with some additional scenes.
• My Name is Bruce (one-shot, Dark Horse)
  Continuing with the Bruce Campbell theme, this is based on his movie due out sometime in 2007. I think we're awfully close to that date slipping a bit.
• Star Wars: Vector (crossover, Dark Horse)
  Crossover that seems to run through all of the current Star Wars titles. Every episode is listed in Previews, and probably on Dark Horse's site.

Books/Stories

• Simon Bisley's Paradise Lost (graphic novel, Verotik)
  I actually enjoyed the epic poem in high school. This adaptation should be interesting.

Animation

• Crayon Shinchan Vol. 1 (TPB, CMX (DC))
  You know, I've just never caught the bug on animated, foul-mouthed kids. Apparently, this is the manga the Cartoon Network Adult Swim caroon is based on.
• Gumby: Volume 1 (TPB, Wildcard Ink)
  I love stop motion - I really need to get my hands on some of these episodes. Collects issues #1-3.
• Speed Racer: Chronicles of the Racer #1 (new series, IDW)
  This might be a little before my time, but still, it's something I never really got into. This is based on the cartoon, but watch for the movie adaptation coming soon.
• Voltron Complete Omnibus (Hardcover Collection, Devil's Due)
  It seems to be theme this month, but this is a cartoon from my childhood that I never seemed to watch. This 304-page hardcover collects the entire series - both volumes.

This is the part where you tell me what I missed.

Thanks for the Riddles!

Well, it seems Bones got lucky with that last one. Riddler here again, and this one's a bit tougher, so you cwazy wabbits aren't likely to get it so easily. And since Christmas is approaching, the prize up for grabs is last year's Batman ornament from Hallmark! It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world.

The director rounded up Buffy, the Scorpion King, and Stifler,
But we're not talking about that Tale.
We're talking about a previous story,
The notorious film.
Brother and Sister play Sister and Brother,
Playing with time and space,
The sparrows are flying again.



Once again, one answer per person! No guessing!

Note: The answers to these riddles will always be something I've mentioned in this blog - not necessarily comic-related.

Attempting to answer assumes agreement to the Riddler's rules.

Sonic Boom!

OK, this isn't entirely comic-book-related. Though it's not completely un-comic-book-movie-related since Udon has been releasing comics based on the title. But, as you may know, Capcom is working on a new version of Street Fighter.

But what I wanted to mention here were some hilarious movies I came across - Street Fighter: The Later Years. Zangief and Dhalsim round up the gang to capture some of the old magic. Here's episode 1:



They've got five full episodes up at the link above.

And in case you haven't seen it, here's the trailer for Street Fighter IV.

XIII: The Conspiracy

While looking up some other comic book movie connections in A History of Violence, I stumbled across the fact that a XIII mini-series is in the works. If you're not familiar with it, that's the Belgian comic that the Ubisoft game is based on. Don't know why this is so under the radar (unless it's because it's not a done deal - though that never seems to stop anyone), but after a little hunting, and translating of French web pages, I finally came across some information.

The series is called XIII: The Conspiracy (even if you Google that, there are only 20 hits: second-hand news sources, foreign-language web pages, and the text of a book with a 13th chapter that starts out "The conspiracy..."). The mini is slated to be in production right now, starring Stephen Dorff (as XIII) and Val Kilmer (as Mongoose). The best information came from the British production company Power, which seems to be one of the companies involved in making the XIII mini-series. Here's their October 2007 story. Unfortunately, Google must not crawl their sites - I had to translate a French blog to find this (my French isn't that good - I had to use the Google translator).

The series starts out like the game (and I'm assuming the comic). XIII washes up on the beach with amnesia, only to find out he's being hunted for the assassination of the president. Judging from the cult following, it makes for a great comic book; from personal experience, it makes for an amazing game. If you don't know the story, here's a more complete synopsis of the adaptation from Power's page:

XIII: The Conspiracy opens with the assassination of the first female US President Sally Sheridan who is shot dead by a sniper during her Independence Day speech. Her assassin narrowly escapes the scene with his life, national security hot on his heels – or so it seems.

Three months later, an elderly couple discover the body of a wounded man washed up on a beach. The young man (Stephen Dorff) cannot remember the slightest thing about his own identity. The only clue is a tattoo on his neck, “XIII.” Meanwhile, in the Whitehouse, government intelligence is still conducting the search for the President’s killer. With the elections just weeks away, a confirmed suspect could swing the vote for the administration. Hours after XIII’s location is picked up by covert intelligence, elite special ops forces are swarming the couple’s house in Cape Fear. Running on adrenaline and instinct, XIII tactically takes out the soldiers one by one. Is this who he is – a killer?

On the run, clinging to one desperate clue after another, XIII begins to piece back his life, fragments of his memory returning. Finally captured, he learns that he has been given a stolen identity and placed undercover to flush out a group of conspirators threatening to overthrow the government. Ensconced within the highest echelons of power the conspirators run their own security agency alongside the Government’s. Both are out to find him.

The only way for XIII to get his own life back is to play bait. A dangerous game, especially when you don’t know who you really are.

The official IMDB page lists a number of actors attached to the series (including Greg Bryk from History of Violence), but doesn't include Dorff and Kilmer.

If anyone has any more current info, I'd love to hear about it.

A History of Violence (2005) mini review

based on a comic
[8/10]

A History of Violence is an exploration of the cycle of violence and whether or not, once begun, it can be stopped.

Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) is a small-town diner owner and family man who garners national attention when he foils a robbery in his diner late one night. He also gains the attention of a mobster (Ed Harris, Creepshow) from Philadelphia who mistakes him for a gangster with which he has an old score to settle.

With this kind of subject matter, you can't expect a film made for all ages; but the story is engaging, if you can handle a movie with adult subject matter. Directed by David Cronenberg (best known for 80's thrillers such as Videodrome and The Fly, and the more recent VR experiment eXistenZ), Violence is edgy, intense, and worth a watch.

The film is based on the graphic novel of the same name, written by John Wagner (probably best known for co-creating Judge Dredd). It was published by DC - first under the Paradox Press imprint, then under Vertigo. A History of Violence also includes Sumela Kay (Kittie Pryde, X-Men) and Stephen McHattie (who's had appearances in Birds of Prey, Mutant X, M.A.N.T.I.S., and voiced Shade in Justice League), and Greg Bryk (Mutant X, and an upcoming XIII mini-series (!)).


See it if you can handle a mature insight into the cycle of violence.

Don't see it if you're looking for "family friendly".

Heroes vs. the Shark

For some reason, I haven't been looking forward to watching Heroes as much as I was last season. If I only have time to watch one thing in the evening before I go to bed, and I check the DVR, the latest episode of Reaper or Chuck is likely to beat out Heroes. Being the superhero junkie that I am, this is a bit disconcerting. Especially since it was probably my favorite show last season.

But this past week's episode seemed like it turned a corner (or was at least in the process). I was happy to see that they're going to start giving some answers - just as I'm wondering if this show is going to end up on our cancellation list, it seems they're going to start giving just enough info to keep you watching.

Plus, Krista came across an interview from creator Tim Kring. She was reading the Pop Candy blog when she saw a link to an Entertainment Weekly article. Apparently, even the shows creator realized (with the help of declining ratings) that the show was a tad slow and Hiro was spending too much time in Feudal Japan.


So now I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season. Are you still watching?


You know, in an interesting side note, I probably actually saw that episode of Fonzie jumping the shark, live the first time it aired. Ah, nostalgia...

rock and roll Superhero

Something else that I stumbled across - rock and roll Superhero.

Sounds like a fascinating documentary of the ups and downs of a rock band - and their experimentation with superheroes...

See more at the official website. This'll go on my Christmas list.

Confessions of a Superhero

It's funny how some movies can fly under the radar, so to speak.

I came across the documentary Confessions of a Superhero after stumbling across a post on the blog Comic Alliance. It's the story of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Hulk - about 4 people who dress up daily as these superheroes as they try to make it in Hollywood.

I'll be picking this up when it comes out. Take a look at the website if you want to find out more.

Justice League: The New Frontier

Not available for pre-order, yet, but Justice League: The New Frontier finally has a release date: February 26. I'm looking forward to this - David Boreanaz (Angel, Bones) is Green Lantern, Neil Patrick Harris is The Flash, Lucy Lawless is Wonder Woman.


No word yet on Teen Titans: The Judas Contract.

October 2007 Previews Pop Culture Crossover

I haven't even picked up the November Previews, yet - but here's October a few weeks late. I strayed from more listings of the same. More Warhammar, more Bloodrayne, more Battlestar Galactica, more Highlander, more Transformers, and, yes - more horror movies. There are a few of the same old thing, but I tried to stick with the new and different.

TV

• Dr. Who Classics #1 (new series, IDW)
  Reprints of old Dr. Who comics.
  

Movies

• Darkman #1 (new series, Dynamite Entertainment)
  This superhero makes the film to comics transition, rather than the reverse.
• Indiana Jones Omnibus, vol. 1 (TPB, Dark Horse)
  Good timing with the making of the next movie - contains 3 out of print stories in a 352-page volume.
• Se7en (Hardcover, Zenoscope Entertainment)
  Collecting the seperate issues.
  

Books/Stories

• The Complete Clive Barker's The Great and Secret Show (TPB, IDW)
  This huge 300-page collection comes in 3 different versions, including hardcover, and $125 limited edition hardcover.
• The Iliad (Marvel Illustrated) #1 (8-part mini, Marvel)
  This is different - Homer's classic tale. Helen of Troy - the face that launched a thousand ships.
• Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt (Hardcover, Devil's Due)
  464 pages of Dungeons and Dragon-y goodness - collecting the adaptation of the Forgotten Realms trilogy.
• Shakespeare's Henry V (Graphic Novel, Classical Comics)
  Well, we've got the classic stories this month. This even comes in an unabridged version.
• Tales of Zorro (Anthology, Moonstone)
  Collection of 18 stories - available in TPB and Hardcover.
  

Animation

• GI. Joe vs. Transformers (Hardcover, Devil's Due)
  Massive, nearly 500-page collection of all 4 volumes.
  

Games

• Army of Two (Graphic Novel, Prima Publishing)
  Based on the intense new game from Electronic Arts. Well, it looks intense from the trailer on the EA site. The game is available for preorder.

Other

• The Stranded (mini?, Virgin Comics)
  Not technically a pop culture adaptation, but the first team up between Virgin Comics and the SciFi Channel.
  

From the "Is-This-Really-Necessary" Department. The Kiss 4K Kissmas Special. Written by Chuck Dixon? I think we're stretching here. Did anyone pick up the mini? Was it any good? (Or any "count", as we say here in Alabama).

Bonus: In the October Previews there's also the Smallville Series 2 action figures that were in (from DC Direct - due out in May). It's the Smallville version of the Justice League - yup: Green Arrow, Aquaman, Cyborg, Impulse, and Superman (well, Clark). They look pretty impressive, too. Now, if we could only get whoever is doing these sculpts to redo the current Buffy figures, I'd pick some of those up, too.

Comic Book Movies - Investigative Research

It appears that Pathfinder is similar in it's genesis to The Fountain (which I still haven't seen, dadgummit). I heard recently that Pathfinder (recently released on DVD) was based on a Dark Horse comic. Lo and behold, I do an internet search, and a ton of sites came up saying the same thing. But it doesn't seem to be that simple. Keep searching, and a number of sites (including some info on IMDB), indicate that it's based on the 1987 movie Ofelas.

So what's the truth? Well, aside from discussions about whether or not we can actually know truth, it appears there's a bit in both. According to this article on Movies Online, the producers originally intended to do a remake of the 1987 film. They ended up meeting director Marcus Nispel and the movie took a bit of a different path, so to speak.

As Nispel took the film in a slightly different direction, he was having trouble getting it off the ground, and he describes in this interview with Coming Soon how he decided to make it into a comic, and soon after, the film was greenlit. While it appears there was some synergy between making the comic and making the film, it's not technically based on the comic. More like The Fountain, it was a movie with a troubled production that became a comic, but was finally released as a movie.

There...all better. I can sleep tonight, now that I've got my head wrapped around the unraveling of another comic book movie mystery.

Angelina - From Video Games to Comic Books

Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman can be seen in the Wanted trailer that's up on the new site for the movie - see link to the right (in the Upcoming Films section).

Actually, if the movie is as good as it looks in the trailer, it could kick some serious butt. Here's hoping comic book movies continue to get better.