LUCIDMEDIA

Lucid Comics April 22, 2009

Written by Adam A. Donaldson Wednesday, 22 April 2009 10:58

In the News

Scott McCloud coming to TCAF

Scott McCLoud, author of the definitive text on the art form with the groundbreaking graphic novel Understanding Comics has been announced as a special guest at the 2009 Toronto Comic Arts Festival. Since the publication of his book, McCloud has become a celebrated international lecturer presenting to audiences that include Google, MIT, Carnegie Mellon, Adobe Systems, Game Developers Conference, eBay, and Pixar. McCloud is just one of numerous writers, artists, cartoonists and other professionals working in sequential art. TCAF 2009 will take place at Toronto Reference Library, at 789 Yonge St. just North of Bloor Street in Toronto on May 9th & 10th. The Festival will feature over 15,000 square feet of attractions within the Reference Library complex, more than 200 cartoonists, and more than two weeks of programming and events leading up to the two-day exhibition extravaganza! For more information, go to http://www.torontocomics.com/

NYC celebrates 25 years of Turtles

A quarter-century of all things teenage, mutant, ninja and turtles got into high gear this week as New York City, home base of the fictional heroes on the half-shell, celebrates the 25th anniversary of the first publication of TMNT. The “galabunga” will include a screening of the first TMNT movie at the Tribeca Film Festival Thursday night, which will be accompanied by the Empire State Building’s lights being tinted green in honour of the occasion. The Turtles were created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in 1984 as a black and white, self-published comic before it went on to be one of the most successful franchises of the 80s, producing millions in TV shows, movies, action figures and other merchandising. Read the New York Times story on the Turtles anniversary here: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/heroes-n-a-half-shell-turn-the-big-2-5/

Battles Brewin’

It looks like the Marvel Universe is going to have to get ready for a couple of bawlers in the next couple of months. First us is the long awaited thrown down between Spider-Man and the Iron Patriot (AKA: Norman Osborn) in a storyline beginning next month in Amazing Spider-Man #595 called “American Son.” The story is being written by Joe Kelly with art by Phil Jimenez, and will continue through issue #597. Then in July, we’ll get the War of the Marvels, and it appears to involve the long-awaited fight between the Ms. Marvels. Marvel sent along the accompanying teaser art.

Free Comic Book Day Preview

AVENGERS - Brian Michael Bendis and Jim Cheung (Marvel Comics)
Two teams of Avengers, one unstoppable force of nature and the Mighty Thor? Apparently this issue’s going to set up some major stuff about to go down in the Marvel U.

BLACKEST NIGHT #0 - Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis (DC Comics)
The biggest event of the year starts here. Take a look back at how the seven Lantern Corps came about in the wake of the Sinestro Corps War and get a sneak peak at what’s to come with “Blackest Night.”

BONGO COMICS FREE-FOR-ALL! – Various Writers and Artists (Bongo Comics)
A FCBD mainstay, the annual Bongo Special will contain the latest and funniest of Simpsons and Futurama stories.

DISNEY/PIXAR'S CARS #1 - Alan J. Porter and Albert Carreres (Boom! Studios)
Boom! brings another Pixar property to life with the further tales of Lightening McQueen. This issue includes character sketches and other never-before-seen material.

RESURRECTION #0 - Marc Guggenheim and Justin Greenwood (Oni Press)
It’s sci-fi intrigue as the survivors of an alien attack attempt to put life on Earth back together 10 years after the invaders disappeared. BONUS: a preview of another space hero’s latest adventure: Tek Jansen

SAVAGE DRAGON #148 - Erik Larsen (Image Comics)
It’s the perfecting jumping on point for new readers and a perfect way to play catch-up for older fans. Guest-starring President Barack Obama. Kidding, but VP Joe Biden might make a guest appearance. Or not.

SHONEN JUMP PRESENTS: ULTIMO - Stan Lee and Hiroyuki Takei (Viz Media)
Yes, that Stan Lee is taking a crack at mange with the help of Shaman King creator Hiroyuki Takei. Ultimo is part of the annual Shonen Jump preview of what’s new and cool in manga.

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS – Various Writers and Artists (Dark Horse)
This all-ages special features a spotlight on the various heroes of the Clone Wars as they fight to keep the galaxy safe for freedom and merchandising. Other goodies from Dark Horse are included.

THE MIGHTY ARCHIE ART PLAYERS – Various Writers and Artists (Archie)
See the your favourite Archies out of context and out of Riverdale as they go to the Old West, Ancient Egypt and put a “modern spin” on Snow White.

TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED/G.I. JOE – Various Writers and Artists (IDW Comics)
Ever wonder what Optimus Prime was like back in “Autobots Academy?” Well wonder no more, because the answer’s in one of three new tales.

Other Free Comic Book Day Books

ALIENS/PREDATOR
APE CARTOONAPALOOZA #2
ARCANA STUDIO PRESENTS
ATOMIC ROBO AND FRIENDS
ATTACK OF THE ALTERNA-ZOMBIES!
COMICS FESTIVAL! 2009 VOLUME 3
CONTRACT #1
CYBERFORCE/HUNTER-KILLER PREVIEW
DABEL BROS. SHOWCASE
DC KIDS MEGA SAMPLER
FCHS
FIST OF JUSTICE #1
GOLD DIGGER #101/PRINCE OF HEROES
IMPACT UNIVERSITY VOLUME 5
LOVE & CAPES
LOVE & ROCKETS SAMPLER
MERCY SPARX: UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
NANCY & MELVIN MONSTER
NASCAR HEROES: ORIGINS #1
OWLY AND FRIENDS
RADICAL 2009 PREVIEW
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG: EVOLUTION OF A HERO
STUDIO 407 SAMPLER
THE WIZARD HOT LIST
TMNT #1 25TH ANNIVERSARY REPRINT
WARHAMMER FANTASY
WILLIAM SHATNER PRESENTS #1
WOLVERINE: ORIGIN OF AN X-MAN
WORLDS OF ASPEN #4

Comic 2 Film Report

Green Lantern a go for November Down Under

New South Wales premier Nathan Rees confirmed to all that the big-screen adaptation of DC Comics hero Green Lantern will indeed be taking place this coming November at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney. The production is expected to create 500 jobs for the local economy thanks to the film’s reported $150 million price tag. In return, the studio, Warner Bros, is expected to receive a 15 per cent location rebate from the Australian government with other possible tax incentives from the New South Wales government. Pre-production on the film is slated to begin in July, with filming on the film with a script by Greg Berlanti, Michael Green and Marc Guggenheim. Currently, Green Lantern is scheduled to open on December 17th, 2010.

Iron Man 2 goes into production

The cameras started rolling for the sequel to last summer’s smash superhero movie Iron Man last week, and pictures leaked from the set included star Robert Downey Jr. in full Tony Stark mode along with new James Rhodes, Don Cheadle. While doing promotion for his new film The Soloist, Downey was asked about IM2, and filming so far. “Day one I’m doing a Senate hearing where the government is saying the Iron Man tech needs to be turned over to the Senator and the Senator is Gary Shandling,” he said, answering the question about what role the recently added to the cast Shandling would play. The actor also went on to talk about the dangers in making a sequel to the successful film. "The set pieces have to do with things that aren't your typical bad guy conflict. The relationships are very complex and hilarious,” said Downey. "The motivations Tony has and why he turns around and does things has completely to do with his own internal processes... we're kind of trying to tell a story about how a dysfunctional family saves life on Earth as we know it."

Wanted 2 Gets a Writer

Evan Spiliotopoulos has been tapped as the writer for the forthcoming sequel to last summer’s assassin thriller Wanted. If the name “Evan Spiliotopoulos” is unfamiliar, then clearly his work on Pooh's Heffalump Movie remains underappreciated and unacknowledged. Spiliotopoulos will be working from a story by Chris Morgan, who wrote the screenplay for the first film based on the comic miniseries by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones. Timur Bekmambetov is expected to return to the director’s chair for the sequel.

Hellboy 3? Not so fast.

While talking to Sci-Fi Wire about his current slate of projects including The Devil's Tomb and Bubba Nosferatu: Curse of the She-Vampires, actor Ron Pearlman talked about the status of his big, red, demonic alter ego, Hellboy and whether or not there’s a part for him in director Guillermo del Toro’s current project. “Well, Hellboy III, ... Guillermo has turned his attention to the Hobbit movies. I can't tell you yet whether I'll have any place in the Hobbit movies or not. Hellboy III, I think it's a little premature for discussions on that.”