G4 TV - TheFeed - Comics

Fresh Ink Online: Nate “Rock” Quarry

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0800

Ultimate Fighter and ultimate comic book fan Nate “Rock” Quarry guest hosts this special Fresh Ink Online Thanksgiving edition. Nate runs through his favorite comics, some of which influenced his life and mixed martial arts career: Lone Wolf and Cub, Kick Ass, Ultimate Spider-Man, The Walking Dead and Marvel’s Greatest Super Battles. This is one Fresh Ink you don’t wanna miss…’cause if you do, Nate might crush you.

Come on back next week when Blair Butler takes the helm once again. Until then, enjoy your turkey day.

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The Silver Surfer Movie: Dead Or Alive?

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:29:00 -0800

There seems to have been some confusion on the web regarding the status of the long-discussed Silver Surfer solo film. After a recent interview with J. Michael Straczynski, the co-writer of the script in question, speculation was rampant that the film starring Galactus' former herald would be set to join the pile of comic projects that never came into being.

"What happened was when Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer didn't do as well as they hoped it would do, it caused them to call into question a Silver Surfer movie. The script that I wrote picked up right where FF2 left off. So if they do a Silver Surfer film down the road, it'll have to be its own separate thing."

Hindsight being 20/20, it seemed pretty clear that Straczynski was referring to the death of the "old" Silver Surfer script which was set to be a direct follow-up to 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. However, what he probably needed to clarify, was that ANOTHER script is currently in development, which, as he states, will be "its own separate thing." Regardless, reports of the death of the Silver Surfer project (perhaps rooted in a bit of schadenfreude) were precipitously making their way around news circles.

Straczynzski took it upon himself to clear the air on the matter with a statement he sent to IGN, in which he says, among other things:

"When FF2 didn't do as well as hoped for, that script was set aside, but that has NOTHING to do with the Silver Surfer script that is NOW under development at Fox with other folks. As far as I know, that is proceeding apace. So the hysteria that's gripped the nets about 'ohmygod the Surfer movie is dead!' is not correct, as I was again referring to only that one specific script tied into FF2, NOT what's being done now."

Essentially, the lack of success of the last Fantastic Four film has not killed, but rather, merely changed the course of the Silver Surfer movie. I nonetheless cannot imagine that Fox will be in a mad rush to get the project off the ground. With the last Fantastic Four film having been released so recently, and the array of (competing Marvel Studios-produced) Avengers films on the horizon, the box-office field is not looking particularly welcoming. Additionally, we've heard that Fox may already be brewing a reboot of the Fantastic Four franchise itself. While it's certainly not unfeasible to release The Silver Surfer before putting him in context in a Fantastic Four storyline, it would still seem wrong. I'm pretty sure the public would see it that way, as well.

There you have it. Silver Surfer: Second-tier Marvel title, hard-*ss NES game, almost had a thing with Jessica Alba...getting his own movie. (Although not for some time.)

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Jonathan Hickman's New Marvel Series Shield Revealed

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:06:00 -0800

On last night's Attack of the Show, Blair Butler dropped a comic book bombshell: Jonathan Hickman's new Marvel mini-series, Shield, will be on shelves in April 2010.

In Shield, Hickman and artist Dustin Weaver go all the way back to ancient Egypt to chronicle the history of Shield, and detail how heroic historical figures worked to protect the Earth from Galactus, the Celestials and other terrible adversaries. Sounds absolutely epic.

Click the video embedded below for a peek between the Shield covers as well as other comic-book picks.

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Huge Jonathan Hickman Announcement On Attack of the Show Tonight

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:01:00 -0800

Jonathan Hickman is among the most innovative, important artists and writers working in comics today, and we're about to drop a proverbial Hickman bomb on ya. Tonight at 7 PM, exclusively on G4's Attack of the Show, we will reveal something that will "impact the past, present and future of the Marvel Universe."

Want more of a hint than that? Check out the cover below by Gerald Parel for clues... and don't forget to turn on Attack of the Show tonight at 7PM for the big Hickman announcement.

Robert Downey Jr. Wants To Quit Acting? What About The Avengers?

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:26:00 -0800

Robert Downey Jr. really, REALLY wants you see Sherlock Holmes. In fact, based on an interview for the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, he may be banking his career on the film's performance.

Once on the precipice, drug-addicted and close to suicide, he has come a long way in recent years with his health and blockbuster resurgence. Commenting that he had "no set plans for the future," the multi-time Oscar-nominated actor has been aiming for a normal life, free from the hectic structurally-lacking lifestyle of a big-time Hollywood star. For Downey, Sherlock Holmes may be a career crossroad; a failure may induce him to reassess his place in the industry and perhaps take some time away from the spotlight to focus on family. He seems to imply that this decision rests on the shoulders of Sherlock Holmes.

“I’m f—ing really good at what I do — and have been for a long time, so I don’t waver on that,” he says. “But here’s the thing: I can only be a guy on a call sheet probably, I don’t know, maybe a couple more times. It’s something I’m so grateful to have in my palm, and yet I already see its inevitable decay.” Or not. Then again, he says with a weary smile, “If Sherlock Holmes performs well, I could be busy for the next 5 or 7 or 10 years.”

Uh-oh. What will this mean for Iron Man's (assumed) role in mega Marvel movie crossover The Avengers or a potential third Iron Man film? The general understanding about Downey's status is that he is under a multi-picture deal. Marvel Studios seemed to make it an initiative to lock their stars into just that type of situation to avoid having their franchises bear the stigma of actor-swaps. We certainly should not take those comments to represent an absolute admission from Downey about abandoning the franchise. Nonetheless, it could be viewed as a glimpse into his state-of-mind. Sometimes these things give you a look into the unofficial state of the franchise. As some may recall, the general nonchalance displayed by the Spider-Man 3 cast during the array of press junket interviews would serve to foreshadow the disappointment that was generally felt with the film itself.

Will Downey end up making the upcoming Guy Ritchie-directed adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic detective into a referendum on his career? Working against that notion is the fact that the film was promising enough to put its potential sequel into development. The film, at first glance, seem to be a rather pedestrian update in which a Holmes with modern sensibilities battles ninjas, clones, aliens, and cloned-ninja-aliens with bad techno music blaring in the background and Matrix-style camera shots. (Okay maybe that's a bit much.) However, Downey implies that it will actually adhere more faithfully to the original stories, which do make reference to Holmes' abilities in martial arts, boxing, and sword fighting. (We'll just take his word on that one.)

Could we conclude that Robert Downey Jr. is holding Marvel fanboys at gunpoint, forcing them to go see Sherlock Holmes..."or else?" We'll just say "yes" to make it sound more interesting. Kidding aside, in my opinion, his potential exit from the franchise (or acting for that matter) seems to be a premature conclusion to reach. Reading into these things is nonetheless part of the fun, plus it serves as a nice excuse for more Iron Man discussion until the Iron Man 2 trailer hits, possibly next month.

Until then, Sherlock Holmes hits theaters on Christmas Day. If you are an Iron Man fan, perhaps this is the extra incentive you'll need to give it a whirl.

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Fresh Ink Online: Batman, Punisher, Spider-Man

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:50:00 -0800

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Fresh Ink Online host Blair Butler gears up for Thanksgiving with reviews of Invincible, Punisher, Irredeemable, Nola, and Phonogram The Singles Club. But is it Amazing Spider-Man or Batman and Brother Power the Geek that nabs the coveted Pick of the Week title? Watch and find out!

And tune in next week for a Turkey Day guest host spot by ultimate fighter and ultimate comic lover Nate “Rock” Quarry! Woo-hoo!!!

Make sure to visit us on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

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Will The Mandarin Appear In Iron Man 2?

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:05:00 -0800

It seems that a casting rumor (albeit one that no one's talking about) concerning the upcoming Iron Man 2 has been shot down.

What do we know about Iron Man 2?: Robert Downey back in full gear, Scarlett Johansson looking all hot as a redhead in a tight-black suit, and Mickey Rouke in a weird "He-Man" outfit with plumbing snakes attached to his arms. However, one source of early speculation pointed to the question of whether or not Iron Man's primary nemesis in the comics, The Mandarin would make an an appearance. While we may not have gotten a definitive answer on the character's status, we have learned that Faran Tahir will not portray the villain.

Why is that significant? WHO is Faran Tahir? Both valid questions.

Tahir (Captain Robau from Star Trek) portrayed the character Raza in the first Iron Man film. He was the leader of the terrorist group who wounded and kidnapped Tony Stark. Of course, Stark would smoothly deceive them, building the Iron Man Mark I suit, instead of the Jericho missile they tried to force him to make under duress. You know the rest of the story -- Stark breaks out and just mops the floor (as much of a floor a cave can contain, anyway) with the baddies. No Guantanamo for these guys. However, the terrorist group was referred to as the "Ten Rings," which was a clear reference to the 10 rings which serve as the source of the evil Mandarin's powers. It was speculated that Tahir's "Raza" character (whose fate remained up in the air) would return as a reinvented version of The Mandarin himself. (Sounds good, right?) This assertion, however, has now been shot down. In an interview with MovieWeb, Tahir states unequivocally: "No, no I'm not in the film."

There you have it. I feel kind of like a sadist who tells a kid a long, beautiful, and magical story about Santa Claus, only to immediately reveal that HE'S NOT F*****G REAL! (Mwha ha ha haaaaa!!!)

Iron Man 2 will probably be an extremely crowded film. Besides having to pull the duties of carrying its own story, it will have to dish out Avengers cameos, while setting up the general storyline for the other Avengers-related films. That's going to be tough, and the film could fall victim to losing its focus. Will they have room to at least establish Iron Man's biggest enemy? (Not referring to Fin Fang Foom.) At the end of the day, they will likely want to proceed with a third Iron Man solo film at some point. Certainly Mandarin would be a shoo-in.

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Producers Want Anne Hathaway For Spider-Man 4?

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:01:00 -0800

Who is the latest actress to be mysteriously linked to the upcoming Spider-Man 4? Get ready to join the club, Anne Hathaway! With the rumor regarding Rachel McAdams just dying down, you would have thought that there would be a brief, unspoken embargo on Spider-Man 4 casting rumors. They may not always be accurate (well, they're rarely accurate) but if anything, they are consistent.

Deadline's Nikke Finke is reporting that according to her sources, producers have approached Anne Hathaway for a yet-unknown role in the franchise's fourth effort. Besides the fact that she will not replace Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane, that is essentially the extent of the report. Finke herself comes clean in prefacing that she knew very little about comic books or comic-related properties. Clearly, this is not the case of a fangirl spreading wild rumors for attention. According to Finke:

"You know I'm insecure about my geek bonafides which I've been trying to improve in recent years. (Heck, I grew up never reading a single comic book.)"

Nevetheless, the fact that she classifies this tidbit as a "bonafide" may be telling in how much weight it carries. (It's certainly not as outrageous as some other SM4 rumors we've been hearing.)

If the rumor turns out legit, what part do you think the producers have in mind for Anne Hathaway? I know with the Rachel McAdams thing, everyone still has The Black Cat on the brain. That rumor was totally fabricated, but still seems to be influencing our perceptions of the film. Personally, I think the inclusion of The Black Cat would be awkward and counter-productive. (However, when has that ever affected things?)

Here's a wild, purely speculative pitch: Maybe they're bringing Spider-Woman on to the scene. We know that Sony currently holds rights to the Spider-Man franchise in perpetuity (At least until the day Disney flexes some of its muscle.) We can also surmise that it would be prudent to wait a good number of years for things to die down before they go the inevitable "reboot" route. What will they do until then? Perhaps, they may test the waters by introducing Anne Hathaway as future Spider-Woman, Jessica Drew, in a sort of "Trojan-Horse spinoff" strategy. They set her up in a side-story in the film, leading up to her own feature.

She may not be the first actress that comes to mind, but would you go see Anne Hathaway in a tight red suit, fighting criminals? (After all, she dated one, right? What better way to get revenge?)

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NO Rachel McAdams Black Cat For Spider-Man 4

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:11:00 -0800

Ladies and gentleman, I have some sad, sad news to report: A rumor about the upcoming Spider-Man 4 has turned out...NOT to be true!!! (I'll give you a minute to compose yourselves.)

Last week, you may remember a rumor regarding the casting of Rachel McAdams as longtime Spidey nemesis/love interest The Black Cat. Website Mania's "reliable source" said talks were happening for the lovely Ms. McAdams to don the tight, black, white-trimmed cat-suit. (Which I'm sure would have highlighted her various...assets quite well.) However, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, McAdams set the record straight:

“That’s a total rumor, I have to say. I was hanging out in Toronto the other day and someone came up to me and said, ‘I just heard you’re doing Spider-Man 4.‘ And I said, ‘Really? No one told me!’ It’s not true.”

The assertion was also backed-up by a rep for Sony pictures. So either the source was dead wrong, or someone just got thrown under the bus, big time.

Whether or not the character of Felicia Hardy/Black Cat will even be in the flick remains to be seen. However, it seems highly unlikely that the movie will go in this direction, given not only the potential Curt Connors/Lizard storyline, but another late-breaking "way out there" rumor that SM4 will feature Peter Parker and Mary Jane with a child. (Due to a supposed casting call for a red-haired toddler.) The child rumor is far more realistic than any Black Cat involvement, given how much time will have passed since the last film. Unless Sam Raimi's planning to have Peter Parker go all Jon Gosselin in this scenario, I'd say a fling with 'ole Felicia is not happening.

There you have it, then. If you want to get your fix of Rachel McAdams, you can catch her on Christmas Day in the upcoming Sherlock Holmes update, where she will star as Irene Adler opposite Robert Downey Jr.'s Holmes and Jude Law's Dr. Watson. (If words were stock, I'd invest my money in "elementary.")

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Warner To Announce Status Of Batman 3 In January?

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:16:00 -0800

Will we know more about Batman 3 sooner rather than later? A rumor is currently circulating that Warner Bros. will make some sort of official announcement in January on the status of the heavily-discussed sequel to The Dark Knight. The discussion originated from a Batman fansite called Batman-on-Film, that claims the breaking news from their "solid and longtime source."

While Batman 3 may already be the top source of Internet blog chatter, the drama surrounding whether director Christopher Nolan will return for this third film has been a fruitful source in its own right for much of the rumor mills. According to BOF's source, Warner is (understandably) a bit anxious to get this franchise sequel off the ground, and if Nolan drags his heels too long, they may just move on without his directorial talents.

However, as others seem to be accurately pointing out, the rumored announcement would coincide quite conveniently with the beginning of the promotional campaign for the July 16 release of Nolan's film Inception. Nolan (at least, according to imdb) doesn't seem to have any other projects on the horizon, other than his still-rumored attachment to an "Untitled Batman Project." Nonetheless, doubts still linger. According to BOF:

"Our source also confirmed the obvious -- there’s going to be a BATMAN 3 with or without Nolan. And although they’re operating under the assumption that he will return, they do have their ducks in a row -- just in case."

To not have Nolan return would definitely take something away from the series. It could potentially affect the output of the film both creatively and in the performances themselves. As Christian Bale was on record as saying last April regarding his own commitment to the film:

"The fact is, I have to! I've signed up! Chris [Nolan] doesn't. So I'm in a bit of a fix if he says he doesn't want to!"

In the end, I think the film being cast like a shotgun wedding will prove untrue. Given the look of the field, Nolan's return to series seems all but imminent. (And that seems to be the general consensus among writers.) If this bit of news does indeed pan out, it will be nice to finally have something substantive to grasp in regards to Batman 3. For a year and a half now, we've seen this ultra-popular series become the source of some of the most ridiculous BS the Internet and Tabloid press ever produced. Come January which, according to Roland Emmerich, will be 2 years from the apocalypse, we will at least be able to put that subculture to rest. (And enjoy the last few years we have. **sniff, sniff**)

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Thor To Begin Filming In Mid January

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:45:00 -0800

A tweet from Production Weekly reports that Thor will bring down the hammer real soon. According to them, the film is to begin shooting in LA in mid-January (we assume for studio work.) The production will then move to Santa Fe, NM in March up into late April, where principal photography should be wrapped.

It seems that the Avengers blitz will soon take one more step towards realization. With its May 20, 2011 release date, Thor will be followed by First Avenger: Captain America on July 22, followed by May 4, 2012's release of the granddaddy of them all, the groundbreaking, precedence-shattering movie crossover event The Avengers. The artisitic and financial success of each of these movies could hinge on the success of the ones that precede it.

It all starts with the release of Iron Man 2 on May 7, 2010. Of course, the film is guaranteed to be a mega-hit. In fact, it could end up being a 5-minute documentary on badger poop and it would still rake-in huge opening numbers. However, much like the case of Transformers 2, huge box-office numbers do not necessarily make an artistic success. So I think there's a strong possibility that the Transformers franchise may lose a lot of its momentum going into its (guaranteed) upcoming third effort. Now, try to imagine if it had held the weight of THREE distinct spin-off franchises? You might be a bit worried if you were deeply invested.

So the films may share a symbiotic relationship. If Iron Man 2 (which, make no mistake, will generate like a hundred-billion-gagillion dollars,) ends up creatively impotent, it would damage the franchise, which could affect Thor's chances. It's going to take a lot of on-screen pizazz to get the average moviegoer to be excited for some Norse God in some fantasy land, sporting a wing-tipped hat. Momentum from a seriously kick-ass Iron Man 2 would not only help, but may end up being integral.

It's a good thing that director Kenneth Branagh will have a solid year (thanks to a date push) to piece this baby together in a way that might accommodate the movie-going atmosphere in the aftermath of Iron Man 2's release. Even if Thor fails to pull in the kind of money Iron Man 2 will clearly reap, its status as a potential creative success would linger on in the form of Avengers-related buzz going into that summer's Captain America film. Eventually, it all cycles to the big one in 2012.

Make no mistake, once the word "action" is uttered for the first time on Kenneth Branagh's Thor set, it may be the point of no return for MANY MANY MILLIONS of dollars that Disney/Marvel will have invested in not just this, but three mega films to follow in Iron Man 2's wake. No pressure, right?

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Fresh Ink Online: Batman, Daredevil, Booster Gold

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:10:00 -0800

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Host Blair Butler hips you to the latest comics on the stands in this week’s Fresh Ink Online, including Daredevil, Punisher Max: Kingpin, Booster Gold, Luke McBain, Supergod, Crown of Shadows: Locke and Key, and the Batman Doc Savage Special. And please don’t freak out that she didn’t get to pick up this week’s Green Lantern Corps. Blair is already upset enough and you don’t want to make her cry. Seriously. She will cry.

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Rachel McAdams The Black Cat For Spider-Man 4?

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:43:00 -0800

Will The Black Cat be dropping in on 'ole Spidey in the upcoming fourth Spider-Man film?

One can never accuse the production of Spider-Man 4 of failing to feed the rumor mills. It gives Batman 3 a run for its money, and ironically enough, very few people are actually excited for the film. Its rumor mills have become a calorie-loaded artery-clogger of a deep-fried fast food serving that we just can't stop eating. (It would have killed that Super Size Me guy in like a week.) The latest rumor, of course, seems to be no exception.

According to Mania, "reliable sources" (meaning some anonymous party, not the CNN Sunday talk-fest) are telling them that the one and only Felicia Hardy, aka The Black Cat, is set to be in the mix, and that actress Rachel McAdams is in talks to take the role. (Take a second to fight through the grease-related indigestion on that one.) In fact, it is being said that the beautiful Red Eye and Wedding Crashers star has already met with producers and will portray the Black Cat very much as the romantic (or potentially romantic) interest for which the character served in the comics.

According to Mania: "Our sources tell us that the Black Cat's story fits well with Raimi's Spider-Man formula, which always finds the villains troubling not only the costumed hero, but also becoming entangled in Peter Parker's personal life as well."

The Black Cat was originally conceived in the late 70's as a female antagonist for Spider-Woman. However, creator Marv Wolfman was then moved to the main Amazing Spider-Man title, where he decided to implement the character there. While the relationship dynamic between her and Spider-Man often begs the criticism regarding its similarity to that of Batman and Catwoman over at DC Comics, there is a certain nuance that makes it unique. The Black Cat (like Catwoman) is a nocturnal-working cat burglar, who is often depicted as a "tweener" in regards to her good/bad ambiguity. However, she is genuinely more focused on a romantic relationship with Spider-Man and more often finds herself on the side of good. This desire often puts the relationship into a kind of flux where, at times, it is actually reciprocated by Spider-Man (or is one-sided and delves into unrequited "stalker" territory. Ex: Her quest to get real superpowers so that Spider-Man will accept her as an equal. Do I smell a pet rabbit boiling on a stove?)

Exactly how this will factor into a film in which (we can only presume) Spider-Man will deal with his former Professor's transformation into the vicious, iconic villain, The Lizard? (Which is evidenced by Dylan Baker signing on to return to the film series.) Do we need any more anachronistic romantic messes after Spider-Man 3's stunt of bringing Bryce Dallas Howard's Gwen Stacy (Spidey's girlfriend who is famous for being killed in the comics by The Green Goblin) into the mix? I would hope that Sam Raimi will not be pushed into yet another situation where he is forced to take on villains that have no conceivable place whatsoever in the actual script. **cough**Venom**cough**

Obviously, this is but one of a myriad of rumors regarding the film. However, the possibility of a push for multiple villains is a very realistic concern. Given how much will be required for this fourth Spider-Man to redeem the series, let's hope that this (prospectively final) Raimi outing in the franchise will be able to shine and cap-off what will hopefully go in the books as an overall solid series of films.

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Steven Spielberg & Will Smith's Old Boy May Be Dead

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:10:00 -0800

Has the much-maligned Will Smith-starring, Steven Spielberg-produced "remake" of Old Boy bitten the dust? According to Latino Review, that just may be the case. Their sources are telling them that in the rights-securing process, the original Korean production company, Mandate could not come to any kind of agreement with Dreamworks, prompting the latter party to simply walk away from the deal altogether.

As some may remember, it was around this time a year ago that rumors began to surface about a collaboration between Will Smith and Steven Spielberg to westernize the Old Boy mythos. Based on Japanese manga from Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi, South Korean director Chan-wook Park would adopt the story into a highly stylish 2003 film, Oldboy (no space), that remains a huge cult favorite to this day.

The story depicted a man seeking revenge after being inexplicably kidnapped and imprisoned in a sleazy hotel room for some 15 years, where he is sadistically kept alive and prevented from committing suicide. After his release, his quest for revenge for not only his imprisonment, but the death of his wife, leads him through a series of events that culminate in what may be one of the ultimate cinematic "twists" of all time. (In fact, M. Night Shyamalan might end up wanting this one.)

The original intent of Smith and Spielberg was not to simply remake the Park film, but rather, to go back to the source material itself. It was speculated that they would create something that may have been more accessible to American audiences. Exactly what a collaboration of Will Smith and Steven Spielberg could do with a dark, violent story filled with bodily maming, and incest, is something we will probably never know. (Although our very own Stephen Johnson has suggested that Tom Hanks may get a hold of the project. Frankly, my money's on TV's Patrick Duffy.)

The fact remains that, despite being a great fan favorite and big-time summer movie fodder, Will Smith would have had some heavy duty issues to tackle if he were to take on this role. He can really only pull off being a "semi-serious" action hero. Even in the Omega Man-inspired I Am Legend, which depicted a post apocalyptic world where Smith is living life alone amongst a city full of zombies, he still comes off somewhat as a clown. Old Boy, while lacking zombies and the end of the world, is some pretty serious stuff. Westernize it too much, or fill it with "zany one-liners," and it would have been doomed. Besides, the average moviegoer may not be thrilled about exactly WHO Will Smith's character would have been "getting jiggy with." Consider the failure of the negotiations as a blessing in disguise.

It therefore seems that über-leet cult Asian Cinema addicts may be sleeping a little easier knowing that this sacred cow is safe -- for now, anwyay. (There's always the possibility of an Uwe Boll version, right?)

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Check Out Episode Two Of Marvel's Astonishing X-Men Motion Comic

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0800

Prepare to be astonished: Below, for your staring-at pleasure, please find your first look at episode two of Marvel's Astonishing X-Men motion comic!

In the video, based on a story by Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Josh Whedon and Captain America's John Cassaday, the X-Men are faced with a mysterious new villain and a possible cure for the mutant gene. Cyclops, Wolverine and all your favorite muties are on-hand to bring you one of the most whoah-cool moments in Marvel history.

Yes. I'm a fanboy. Enjoy:

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Check out the official site for more details.

Fresh Ink Online: Secret Six, Lobo, Stumptown

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 14:43:00 -0800

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Fresh Ink Online host Blair Butler gives the rundown on this week’s latest and greatest comics, including Secret Six, Age of Reptiles, Stumptown, Cinderella, Lobo: Highway to Hell, and others. Which one will take Pick of the Week? Tune in and find out.

Plus, make sure to check out Blair’s gore-tastic and hilarious animated short series Slasher School at www.g4tv.com/slasherschool. You shall not be disappointed. We promise.

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J.J. Abrams To Produce Micronauts Movie?

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 12:59:00 -0800

Will Lost and new Star Trek mastermind, J.J. Abrams be trying his hand at reviving an old-school toy line with an updated movie? Possibly. It is being reported that Abrams is in talks to produce a film adaptation of late 70's, early 80's toy line, turned Marvel Comics title, Micronauts.

While one does not typically think of The Wall Street Journal as a regular source for breaking news in the entertainment biz, they may have (and I'll stress "may have") done just that. The Journal ran a piece today about the continuing trend of toy franchises being transformed into major blockbuster films. However, in an almost passive way, they briefly drop the bombshell:

"J.J. Abrams, who created the TV show 'Lost' and directed this summer's 'Star Trek' film, is in discussions to produce a movie about Japanese toy line Micronauts, which Hasbro just acquired."

Unless this tidbit is some kind of serious typo that will be retracted at the bottom of tomorrow's edition, this will be a major project. Abrams would actually have quite a bit of raw material to work with. Micronauts was, ironically enough, a rather deep comic title for something that was essentially a monthly commercial for a toy line. (Although the same could be said of Larry Hama's tenure on G.I. Joe.) However, other than Gen-X'ers, I'm sure there are quite a few other generations of people thinking of a rather obvious question: What the hell is Micronauts?

It's time for a Cliff Notes-like history lesson:

It began as a toy line in 1972 from Japanese company, Takara called Henshin Cyborg. It was essentially an 8"-12" humanoid figure like the old stand-alone G.I. Joe, except with an added Japanese touch of a transparent body with visible "circuits" inside the figure. Eventually, Takara decided to continue the line in a miniaturized 3.75" scale, and thus, the birth of the standard scale of action figures, which would eventually be adopted by future legendary lines like Star Wars and G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero was born.

Takara's miniaturized Henshin Cyborg line (redubbed Microman) maintained (and in many ways surpassed) the articulation and movement of the original larger counterparts, and began to feature interchangeable parts which allowed you to transform the figures into different vehicles. In 1976, the Mego Corporation (famous for its legendary line of figures of various TV and comic characters from the 70's and 80's,) released Microman in the United States as Micronauts. The line ran for 4 years, and inspired a Marvel Comics title that continued after the toy line's demise.

After the Micronauts toy line ended in 1980, its remaining ideas and development went towards the creation of a new franchise called -- Transformers. In fact, some of the early releases of Transformers were simply developmental leftovers from Micronauts.

That brings us back to now. Since the initial series ended, Micronauts has experienced a few sporadic relaunch comic titles, however, despite a small, but committed cult fanbase, the franchise has remained rather dormant. While the original toy lines themselves did not carry any sort of context-setting story, the Marvel Comics title depicted a microscopic world called the "Microverse" that was in danger of being exploited and conquered by the evil Baron Karza. Only the Micronauts, consisting of Arcturus Rann, Acroyear, Biotron, Microtron, and Marionette could stand up to his power and stop him.

Could we be in store for a giant (yet shrunk-down,) effects-laden opus of awesomeness? While Micronauts sounds like a directorial project that Michael Bay or Stephen Sommers might be offered, Abrams (if he decides to helm the film) may be able to carry-over much of the Marvel title's depth into the adaptation, while providing plenty of mind-blowing action and scenery.

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Sheldon Dorf, Comic-Con Founder, Dies

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 13:33:00 -0800

Let's have a moment of silence and pour some off the top for Sheldon Dorf. Dorf founded the Comic-Con International comic book convention. He died at 76 of complications related to diabetes.

Dorf was a freelance artist and comic strip letterer, and founded Comic-Con in San Diego in 1970. In the ensuing years, he saw the gathering grow from a small collection of comic book hobbyists to one of the biggest public relations events of the year for movies, TV shows, comic books, video games and other forms of entertainment. Nowadays, Comic-Con draws over 125,000 a year. Although Mr. Dorf ended his involvement with the Con in the mid-1980s, the current owners of San Diego Comic-Con have added a black-bordered tribute of Dorf on the official website.

In memorial of Dorf, please enjoy G4's Comic-Con coverage. R.I.P. Mr. Dorf!

Fresh Ink Online: Punisher, Wolverine, Batwoman

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:42:00 -0700

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In this banzai episode, Fresh Ink Online host Blair Butler blasts through reviews of Detective Comics: Batwoman, Days Missing, The Web, Fantastic Four, and more. But it’s a battle between two Dark Reign The Lists over Pick of the Week that’ll really have you on the edge of your seat. Will Wolverine or Punisher take the crown? Watch and find out.

Make sure to check out Blair's animated frightfest comedy Slasher School too, as it will properly prep you for Halloween scariness. And make you laugh. Enjoy.

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Anthony Hopkins To Play Odin In Thor?

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:55:00 -0700

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the one and only Sir Anthony Hopkins is in negotiations to join the cast of Thor to play Odin, Thunder God and Thor's regal father. While very few details have emerged from this report, it raises questions about the role itself, which was long-rumored to be filled by Shakespearean actor Brian Blessed.

When the rumor (which was ultimately proven false) about Robert De Niro and Jude Law joining the cast initially hit, I took it as a sign that there was some casting scrambling occurring for a film, that while stacked with a solid cast, was without any box-office drawing stars. (Which, while the rumor was false, remains a valid issue.) Whether Brian Blessed's role as Odin was ever actually set, is something that remains to be revealed, although his name was deleted from the cast list on imdb weeks ago. However, IF Blessed was at any point, actually in consideration, only to be edged-out by a more bankable name, it may speak volumes about the obstacles that this film faces.

Unless Thor's Chris Hemsworth becomes a huge star sometime in the next year, either through his work or some other notorious reason, the Thor brand itself is not going to draw masses of people to the theaters. This one's hopes will seemingly rest on the possibility that Iron Man 2 will be AMAZING and that its Avengers lead-in will be so strong that it will drive people towards the Norse God's profile film. It's surely possible, but even if the IM2 is good, it doesn't necessarily guarantee it will happen.

The other glimmer of hope is the possibility of it being the artistic success that some have been speculating it will become. Kenneth Branagh has reportedly boned-up on the source material, and with his vast experience and knowledge in Shakespearean tragedy, that may be the more likely scenario. The film is to take place mostly in the mystical land of Asgard, and will be a tale of Thor, a once spoiled and arrogant prince, who is thrust into a rivalry with an evil half-brother that ultimately results in his being exiled to Earth in human form by his own father, Odin. With Anthony Hopkins (possibly) on board, this one might be the big the sleeper among the slew of Avenger-related films coming in the 2011-2012 era.

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