HOW could this happen? The question springs to mind as 20th Century Fox claims it has the rights to the graphic novel on which Warner Brothers is basing “Watchmen,” its giant superhero movie.

Peer deeper into the murk of Hollywood’s business practices, though, and the question becomes: How could it not?

The film industry was buzzing last week after a federal judge here allowed Fox to proceed with a lawsuit contending that Warner had filmed “Watchmen” without bothering to acquire rights that Fox says it has owned for 22 years. This eagerly anticipated movie is directed by Zack Snyder, of “300” fame, and is based on the illustrated series (republished as a graphic novel) by Alan Moore and David Gibbons.

Warner, of course, begs to differ with Fox. So the studios are squared off for battle. Fox wants an injunction blocking the movie’s planned release on March 6. Warner wants Fox to go away.
Read More…

Posted under Hollywood, WTF

This November, Image Comics, the publisher who brought you hit anthologies like Tori Amos’ COMIC BOOK TATTOO, 24SEVEN, PUT THE BOOK BACK ON THE SHELF and POPGUN, comes a unique collection of comics from Southeast Asia and beyond, LIQUID CITY.

“LIQUID CITY presents the unique visions of artists and writers based mainly in Southeast Asia,” said editor Sonny Liew. “The creators involved range from established figures in the region’s comics communities like Lat and Gerry Alanguilan, to exciting new talents likeNguyen Thanh Pong, kenfoo and Shari Chankhamma.”

Bringing together creators from Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and elsewhere, LIQUID CITY presents an edgy vision of lives in cities past, present and future: from Leong Wan Kok’s distinct post apocalyptic landscapes to Lat’s charming take on Malaysian life in the ’60s, from Mike Carey’s meditation on colonialism to kenfoo’s dark tales of regurgitation and bodily transformations.

Also contributing to the anthology are artists from outside the region, including award-winning illustrator Jon Foster and cover artist Shelly Wan.

Posted under Leaked

via:newsarama.com

Warner Bros. has confirmed long-running rumors that it will reboot the Superman movie franchise.

Jeff Robinov, Warner Bros. Pictures Group President, tells The Wall Street Journal that the Man of Steel will be reintroduced on the big screen without regard to 2006’s Superman Returns.

“Superman didn’t quite work as a film in the way that we wanted it to,” Robinov says. “It didn’t position the character the way he needed to be positioned. … Had Superman worked in 2006, we would have had a movie for Christmas of this year or 2009.”

There’s no mention whether Superman Returns director Bryan Singer will be part of the reboot. Earlier this week, Variety’s Anne Thompson reported “that it is a priority at the studio to find the right direction and if Bryan Singer is willing to do that, fine, but if he gets in the way, he may not stay on the project.”

Taking a page from Marvel, Warner Bros. has reversed its earlier position of using the now-stalled Justice League of America as a launching pad for other DC properties. Instead, it will focus on solo features to build toward a multicharacter film.

“Along those lines, we have been developing every DC character that we own,” Robinov says.

That may sound less like a “strategy” and more like a mad cash-grab. Something else that might not sit right with some fans is Robinov’s determination to explore the darker side of super-heroes: “We’re going to try to go dark to the extent that the characters allow it.”

According to The Journal, Warner Bros. plans to release four comic-book movies in the next three years: the third Batman installment, the Superman reboot, and two focusing on other DC Comics characters. (It’s unclear whether Watchmen is included in that count.) Likely candidates include Green Arrow/Super Max, Green Lantern, Captain Marvel and, perhaps, Jonah Hex.

As Variety reported over the weekend, Warner Bros. is expected to roll out its strategy for its DC Comics movie properties sometime within the next month.

Posted under Hollywood

A fairly interesting-looking game for all you e-combat junkies out there. Watch a preview of it here.

The Joker fatality at the end is certainly fun, but the idea that Sub-Zero (or ANYONE from the MK universe for that matter) could last more than a microsecond in combat against Superman is ludicrous.

Posted under Gamers

Death Star Over San Francisco

Posted under News, WTF, Watch This!

All TPBS in the store 20% off <no books on hold prior to event count.>
All new issues 20% off
All statues 20% off
All close out items will be 75% off.
75% off Selected Manga.

Posted under Sale

Comedy Meltdown 9

Date: Friday, August 22th
Time: 8:30 p.m.
Place: The swanktastic Meltdown Gallery at the rear of the store which is located here:
7522 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046-3408, US

Posted under Comedy Show, Do Something

Edited by celebrated mystery writers Christopher Chambers (Special Interest, Sympathy For The Devil) and Gary Phillips (The Jook, Violent Spring), The Darker Mask is an anthology of original stories focusing on aspects of the superhuman not usually depicted in popular fiction.  Settings range from run-down industrial towns to urban areas about to be gentrified; characters may be non-white or non-male, but every story will thrill superhero and noir fans alike.

Writers included in Darker Mask include Walter Mosley, Ann Nocenti (best known for taking the baton from Frank Miller on Daredevil), Edgar-award winner Naomi Hirahara, and Gary Phillips.  Artwork from top creators such as Shawn Martinbrough (Detective Comics) and Jeff Wang.  Get the book first @ Meltdown–come by Saturday, August 23rd from 3-5 PM for our signing/Q&A featuring Editor & Writer Gary Phillips, and writers Wayne Wilson and Steve Barnes.  Refreshments will be served (as well as justice).

Posted under Signing

Do you remember our War on Terror Tournament from April 2007? (HINT: If not, you can watch the videos here and here)

Well, according to Cambridge News, authorities consider the board game dangerous and criminal and have confiscated it:

War on Terror, similar to games like Risk, revolves around creating empires that compete and wage war.

Each player starts as an empire filled with good intentions and a determination to liberate the world from terrorists and from each other.

In their cardboard version of realpolitik George Bush’s “Axis of Evil” is reduced to a spinner in the middle of the board, which determines which player is designated a terrorist state.

That person then has to wear a balaclava (included in the box set) with the word “Evil” stitched on to it.

Kent police said they had confiscated the game because the balaclava “could be used to conceal someone’s identity or could be used in the course of a criminal act”.

Andrew fumed: “It’s absurd. A beard can conceal someone’s identity. Are the police going to start banning beards?”

All High Street retailers declined to stock the controversial game. But more than 12,000 copies have been sold online or through independent stockists.

You can learn more about War On Terror from their site.

Posted under Gamers, News, WTF, You Tube

For Immediate Release:
Show Title: Prodigal Reality
Where:       Melt Gallery inside Meltdown Comics
September 29th –October 30th, 2008
VIP showing: October 4th, 2008, 5PM - 7PM
Opening reception: October 4th, 2008, 7PM -11PM
7522 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
1.323.851.7223
www.meltcomics.com

About the Show:
Prodigal Reality is a show of art works by alumni of The Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles and is one of a series of citywide events marking the 90th anniversary of the school. Prodigal Reality is curated by renowned Low Brow artist Anthony Ausgang, and artist Hazel Mandujano who chose Otis alumni that use the graphic language of comic books and cartoons in their work. Meltdown Comics, a world famous comic book store, is hosting the Prodigal Reality exhibition and will have the artists’ comic books and other merchandise for sale in the main store.

About the artists:
Andrew Brandou’s (graduated in ‘90) paintings remind us that cute animals can hide evil intention while Bob Dob’s (’01) characters show us our “shadow side” and lets us in on our own dirty secrets. Gideon Boomer (’06) allows humans to play in a world that belongs to the animals as Mia Araujo (’07) concentrates on the complexities of worlds built around women. Mark Dean Veca (’85) takes Dr. Seuss as his starting point for a freeform abstraction of planet Earth and Hazel Mandujano (’03) writes and draws and self publishes her own comics and has founded the company Cakemountain. Anthony Ausgang’s (’83) paintings of psychedelic cats are on a vacation from reality so that David Magdaleno’s (’03) characters can ponder existential questions as they populate a sparse planet. Read More…

Posted under Art