With the last blockbuster hitting last weekend (Apes), the summer action season is basically over.  And it’s only the beginning of August!  We could have fit one more Marvel movie in there!  Anyway, of the “big” superflicks ,Transformers did the best (I don’t count Pirates or Potter as comic book movies), which was expected.  But what about the “real” comic book movies: 

  • Thor ($450 million).  The first in line did the best, which shows that fatigue does play a role in box office.  Also, this was the probably the most fun and most accessible of the lot, with lots of hunky guys to bring in the chicks.
  • X-Men: First Class.  In my view, the most interesting (and best) superhero movie of the summer clocked in at around $350m.  I hope that’s enough for a sequel—the damn thing cost less than half that to make.
  • Captain America.  Made $250 million so far.  See, it’s heartening that the three best comic book movies also did the best.
  • Green Lantern.  Made just over $160 million, with a production and promotion budget that topped $200m.  Some called it the death blow for superhero movies, but in truth it was just a bad movie.  Not a bad genre.
  • Rise of the Planet of the Apes.  It’s really too soon to tell, but it’s opening week was a lot better than expected (and better than several of the films above it on this list).  It’s clocked $80 mil so far.  And it was way, way, waaaaay better than I expected it to be.
  • Priest.  This was a “smaller” film ($60m budget) so I don’t think you can say it was a flop at $76 million.  And I thought it was actually pretty good.  A B-picture.
  • Cowboys and Aliens.  This was savaged so badly by critics and friends of mine that I’ve avoided it.  Apparently, most other people did, too.  It’s made about $70m so far . . . But cost over $160 million to make.

Now, hit the break for news about upcoming comic book movies and TV shows, including items on the new Marvel TV properties; Amazing Spider-Man 2 (already!); and … IASIP?!?

THOR 2.  The latest rumor is that Brian “Game of Thrones” Kirk is in negotiations to take over as director for the sequel.  It’s unclear what the storyline would be.  But, of course, I’m voting for Frog Thor!  Seriously, though, how cool would a Beta Ray Bill movie be?

Alias: Best comic book soap opera ever.

A.K.A. JESSICA JONES AND HULK.  According to ABC, the pilots for TV shows based on the Alias comic book and the Hulk character are being fast-tracked to a debut in 2012.  Of course, these are just pilots.  Who knows if they will get picked up?

THE VAULT. Sam Sarkar’s Image comic is now in development for a movie.  It’s about deep sea divers who find some scary buried treasure that has some kinda curse on it or something.  Never read it, or heard of it.  Apparently the comic “sold out” its first run.  Of course, the backstory is that Sarkar actually works for Infinitum Nihil films, which is the company that “happened” to option the property, and the print run was relatively small.  Someone’s been taking hype lessons from Stan Lee…

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2.  We haven’t even been disappointed by the 2012 reboot yet, and Columbia Pictures has already staked out May 2, 2014, for the sequel.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY … THE MOVIE?  In their continuing effort to make their most esoteric characters into movie properties, Marvel is starting to talk about a big-screen version of the moderate-to-very-good-selling Guardians of the Galaxy team, which includes such no-namers as Star-Lord, Adam Warlock, Nova, Drax the Destroyer, Gamora, Groot, and, of course, Rocket Raccoon.  This has to be a joke, right?

G.I. JOE 2: RETALIATION.  I seem to recall this had another title at some point, but anyway, Bruce Willis may serve as the “first” G.I. Joe, General Joe Colton.

THE “IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA” COMIC-CON PANEL?!?  Yes, there was one.  No, there’s nothing remotely comic-booky about the show.  But I do love it.  It got a two-season pick-up, which, assuming the season are shot and aired, will make it the longest running basic cable sitcom in history.  In other non-comic-book, good-comedy news, Louie—a vastly underwatched and underrated show—was picked up for a season 3.

THE WALKING DEAD: MORE ON DARABONT.  Apparently, former show runner, director and writer Frank Darabont had fights with AMC over budget issues (AMC recently almost lost Mad Men over similar issues, and reportedly has had issues with the showrunner for Breaking Bad as well) and was fired.  AMC has a few really good shows, but can they really afford to treat talent the way HBO does?  AMC says Darabont couldn’t shoot on a TV show budget.  Robert Kirkman is still affiliated with the show (because, really, where else is he gonna go to get anything close to TV money?).  I smell bad tidings for season two.  They better hurry up and get to the prison before it’s too late.

Come back tomorrow for comic book news!