In this busy news week, I’m posting thoughts about revelations from Chicago and elsewhere about Marvel, DC, and “everyone else.” But just because Spidey and Batman aren’t in this one, don’t let that be a reason not to hit the break! (If you want to read about some of the new DC goings-on, go here.)
After all, you can read gossip and tidbits about a new Robert Kirkman TV project; the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie; and more!
47 RONIN. Stan “Usagi Yojimbo” Sakai will team up with Kazuo “Lone Wolf and Cub” Koike and Mike “President of Dark Horse” Richardson for a new Dark Horse comic adapting the 18th century Japanese legend about 47 samurai who seek vengeance for the death of their lord. Sounds quite promising. Due out in November.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES. Kid Cudi might be one in the Michael Bay reboot of TMNT which was a reboot of the “classic” franchise that starred Corey Feldman and Vanilla Ice which was a live version of a good TV cartoon which has been rebooted several times as well all of which are based on a comic book that was intended to satirize all the various superbooks that were out in the 1980s but that became a target itself of satire (see: Adolescent Radioactive Blackbelt Hamsters, among others) after it started to take itself seriously. Is more rebooting really needed here? So far, this coming iteration of the characters has pretty much gotten nothing but negative press—especially because Bay found it necessary to make the Turtles aliens. Uh, Mikey, do you know what a mutant is? Or a turtle? Making them aliens kinda defeats the entire premise.
POWERS: FBI. The terrific series by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming, which is being developed by FX for television, will relaunch. I trust 
these guys completely with this property. The new book will be a 40-pager, $3.95 an issue, and will focus on Deena Pilgrim.
THIEF OF THIEVES. Robert Kirkman’s latest comic is being developed for TV by AMC.
CABIN IN THE WOODS. It may only be the second-best Joss Whedon film to come out this year, but it’s awesome. If you love horror movies, you really must see it.
STUMPTOWN VOL. 2. Greg Rucka’s mainstream work on Batman books and the current Punisher run represent some of the best writing from the big two of the past 20 years. And his indie work is even better. He and artist Matthew Southworth are promising a sequel to their detective noir, titled “The Case of the Baby in the Velvet Case,”to be released in August on Oni Press.
IRREDEEMABLE. INCORRUPTIBLE. INSUFFERABLE. Mark Waid’s is ending his two ongoing series about “what if superheroes became bad guys and bad guys became superheroes,” which is sad but probably wise. This way, he can end on a high note. He’ll be following up by joining up with the original “Irredeemable” artist, Peter Krause, to craft a comic specifically designed for on-line viewing (4×3 aspect ratio, etc.) titled “Insufferable.” It sounds a little like a superhero version of Entourage, as it will feature a sidekick who grows up and, as an adult, is…Insufferable. So, the superteam has to deal with the ramifications of having to work together but hating each other. Kinda like Aerosmith.
FIRST COMICS RETURNS! First Comics, which was big in the 1980s with a few of my favorite books from that era (American Flagg and Nexus), announced its new lineup of typically eclectic titles by lesser-known talents, but the most interesting part of its presentation was that it intends to distribute its own books—cutting out Diamond Distribution and allowing retailers to keep the fees usually collected by Diamond. The new titles will include several reprints of old First books, eleven new graphic novels, and two new series—all in one year by an indie distributor. Quite a commitment. Sadly, no new Flagg! or Nexus books—because First did the right thing and gave those titles back to their creators. However….New Badger has been promised! And it will be by the character’s creator, Mike Baron. That should be awesome.
SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR. The sequel, to be directed by Robbie Rodriguez, is slated for a 2013 release and should include several folks from the original cast like Mickey Rourke, Rosario Dawson, and Michael Madsen.
CHRIS ROBERSON BOYCOTTS DC. The creator of one of DC’s most acclaimed works, iZombie, has publicly stated that he will no longer work for DC due to the company’s treatment of Alan Moore and Jerry Siegel/Joe Schuster. I wonder if he’d work with Marvel, which has had similar problems with Jack Kirby? The ease of self-publishing and the new rise of indie books may also be a basis for creators to jump ship….
