Iron Man.  The Hulk.  Thor.  After years of lackluster superhero movies (Daredevil, anyone?  Anyone?), Marvel turned the knob up to eleven the past few years, and has kept it there with a string of well thought out films that weave together a shared mythology as well as an ever-growing fan base.  Captain America: The First Avenger builds up that positive momentum and whips it into a frenzy of action, adventure and plain-old fun.

Pity poor Steve Rodgers.  He’s the 98-pound-weakling that the weaklings in the old Atlas ads used to beat up for lunch money.  With a string of health problems as long as his skinny little arm, there’s no way any recruiter during World War II would ever sign him up; Uncle Sam Wants…somebody else.  That doesn’t keep Steve from trying though, and one night he’s overheard talking to his friend Bucky (a Greatest Generation stud muffin in a sharply tailored Army uniform) about how he wants to help fight the good fight.  The man that overhears him is a scientist for the Army, a scientist that is working on a way to create a better, faster, stronger soldier.  You know where this is going, right?  Of course you do.  Soon, Steve is no longer a weakling, but the All-American hero, six-pack abs and all (pity his chinos stretched out along with him.  Where do transforming superheroes shop, Hulk’s Magic Pantsland?)  But — and there’s always a but in the Marvel universe — the scientist’s first attempt at creating the best and brightest is on the side of the Nazis.  And he’s got much more than the Final Solution on his mind.  Da Duuuuuuum!

Captain America: The First Avenger throws everything on the burner, and damn if it doesn’t work beautifully.  It’s got the feel of an old WWII-era USA propaganda film, all rah-rah and red white and blue.  In today’s hipster culture, all the flag waving might have come off as trite or cheesy.  But in Captain America it’s just fuel for the fire, giving the film a fist-pumping shot of adrenaline that propels the movie from scene to scene with a breathless, roller-coaster pace that grabs viewers and doesn’t let go.

Chris Evans, ala The Human Torch from the Fantastic Four films, plays Steve Rodgers as an earnest fella who may not have the strength, but has a whole lotta heart.  When Steve becomes the Captain, it all comes together, and he’s the embodiment of WWII can-do idealism, something that seems all but gone in today’s America (home of the ironic and world-weary).  Hayley Atwell holds her own as gal pal/eye candy Peggy, a gal that can knock a man out with a tight red dress or a killer right hook.  Though the sidekick trophy should really go to Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, I couldn’t help but root for “Dum Dum” Dugan, played by Band of Brothers star Neal MacDonough.  What can I say, I love a man in a bowler.  I also loved Dominic Cooper as a young Howard Stark, every inch the playboy genius his son would ultimately become.

The BFF award in this film goes to Tommy Lee Jones and Stanley Tucci as Colonel Chester Philips and Dr. Abraham Erskine.  Jones, as always, plays military men with a good dash of bootstrap-pulling, and Tucci’s German ex-pat scientist is the perfect foil for all that macho.  The scenes where they butt heads are hilarious, and come thisclose to stealing the movie away from the main action.  As far as the Big Bad goes, Hugo Weaving (Lord of the Rings) plays Red Skull with appropriate mustache-twirling intensity. Y’know, if a skull actually had a moustache.  He’s a touch too intense at times; at the big reveal I couldn’t help but wonder if Jim Carrey would pop out with a “Ssssssssmokin’!”

Are there fanboy/girl moments in this film?  You betcha.  My favorite?  Bucky grabbing Cap’s shield to deflect bullets when the Cap is, well, indisposed.  That’s right up there with the scene in Iron Man when Rhodes looks at the Iron Man suit….  And though Stan “The Man” Lee wasn’t in X-Men: First Class, never fear; you can play Spot The Stan during Captain America.  He’s in here.

Here’s a money-saving tip from me to you; with Captain America: The First Avenger, you can skip the 3D.  The movie is enough of a treat that 3D is guilding the lily, and there aren’t many moments of things flying out at’cha, if you’re trying to decide between bumping up to 3D or upgrading to a large popcorn.  The real jaw-droppers here is the special effects magic from Lola Visual Effects that changes Chris Evans from modern-day stud to 1940’s shrimp, and the amazing battle scenes.  There’s a lot of ‘sploding going on, and it’s visual effects/motion graphis at it’s best.  Shout out to explosives engineer Charles Adcock and pyrotechnician David J. Barker, who really deliver the goods.

As with the other Avengers-related films that have gone before, there’s a post-credits scene at the end of Captain America: The First Avenger that not only hints at The Avengers, it gives viewers a tiny peek behind Nick Fury’s curtain.  It’s a perfect cherry on top of this patriotic superhero confection.  Enjoy!

But why cover comic book awards, you ask? Well, because comic books (aka Graphic Novels) are awesome. Because the award ceremony will be here in Baltimore during the Baltimore Comic Con. And because there are so many movies being made from online and print comics nowadays. So, herewith:

BEST LETTERER

____ Scott Brown, BOX 13, http://www.comixology.com and Red 5 Comics
____ Darwyn Cooke, RICHARD STARK’S PARKER: THE OUTFIT, IDW
____ Dustin Harbin, CASANOVA, Icon Comics
____ Troy Peteri, WITCHBLADE, Top Cow
____ Robbie Robbins, LOCKE & KEY: KEYS TO THE KINGDOM # 1, IDW
____ John Workman, THOR, Marvel Comics

BEST COLORIST

____ Veronica Gandini, MICE TEMPLAR: VOLUME 10, Image Comics
____ Laura Martin, THE STAND, Marvel Comics
____ Ed Ryzowski, GUTTERS, http://www.the-gutters.com
____ Dave Stewart, BPRD, Dark Horse Comics
____ Jose Villarrubia, CUBA : MY REVOLUTION, Vertigo/DC Comics

BEST SYNDICATED STRIP OR PANEL

____ CUL DE SAC, Richard Thompson, Universal Press Syndicate
____ DOONESBURY, Garry Trudeau, Universal Press Syndicate
____ MUTTS, Patrick McDonnell, King Features Syndicate
____ NON SEQUITUR, Wiley Miller, Universal Press Syndicate
____ TOM THE DANCING BUG, Ruben Bolling, Universal Press Syndicate

BEST ONLINE COMICS WORK

____ GUNS OF SHADOW VALLEY, David Wachter and James Andrew Clark,

http://www.gunsofshadowvalley.com/

____ GUTTERS, Lar deSouza, Ed Ryzowski and Ryan Sohmer,

http://www.the-gutters.com

____ HARK! A VAGRANT, Kate Beaton, http://harkavagrant.com/
____ LA MORTE SISTERS, created Tony Trov, Johnny Zito and Christine Larsen,
http://www.LaMorteSisters.com/
____ PVP, Scott Kurtz, http://www.pvponline.com/

BEST AMERICAN EDITION OF FOREIGN MATERIAL

____ AX: ALTERNATE MANGA, edited by Sean Michael Wilson and Mitsuhiro Asakawa, Top Shelf
____ BLACKSAD, Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido, Dark Horse Comics
____ IT WAS THE WAR OF THE TRENCHES, Jacques Tardi, Fantagraphics
____ THE KILLER: MODUS VIVENDI, Matz and Luc Jacamon, Archaia Entertainment
____ TORPEDO VOLUME 2, Jordi Bernet, IDW

BEST INKER

____ Damian Couceiro, HAWKS OF OUTREMER, BOOM! Studios
____ Steve Ellis, BOX 13, http://www.comixology.com & Red 5 Comics
____ Gabriel Hardman, AGENTS OF ATLAS, Marvel Comics
____ Mark Morales, THOR, Marvel Comics
____ Sal Regla, MAGDALENA, Top Cow

BEST NEW SERIES

____ AMERICAN VAMPIRE, Scott Snyder, Stephen King and Rafael Albuquerque,
Vertigo/DC Comics
____ ECHOES, Joshua Hale Fialkov and Rashan Ekedal, Top Cow
____ GUTTERS, Lar deSouza, Ed Ryzoski and Ryan Sohmer,

http://www.the-gutters.com

____ KILL SHAKESPEARE, Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery, IDW
____ SIXTH GUN, Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt, Oni Press
____ THOR: THE MIGHTY AVENGER, Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee, Marvel Comics

MOST PROMISING NEW TALENT

____ Barry Deutsch, HEREVILLE: HOW MIRKA GOT HER SWORD, Amulet Books
____ Comfort Love and Adam Withers, RAINBOW IN THE DARK,

http://www.RainbowintheDarkComic.com

____ Chris Samnee, THOR: THE MIGHTY AVENGER, Marvel Comics
____ Scott Snyder, AMERICAN VAMPIRE, Vertigo/DC Comics
____ Nick Spencer, MORNING GLORIES, Image Comics

SPECIAL AWARD FOR HUMOR IN COMICS

____ Matt Groening, THE SIMPSONS FUTURAMA CROSSOVER CRISIS, Abrams ComicArts
____ Roger Langridge, THE MUPPET SHOW, BOOM! Studios
____ Ryan Sohmer, GUTTERS, http://www.the-gutters.com
____ Shannon Wheeler, I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE FUNNIER, BOOM! Studios
____ Thom Zahler, LOVE AND CAPES, IDW

BEST ORIGINAL GRAPHIC PUBLICATION FOR YOUNGER READERS

____ AMULET # 3: THE CLOUD SEARCHER, Kazu Kibuishi, Scholastic Graphix
____ JINGLE BELLE, Paul Dini, http://www.jinglebelle.com/
____ MEANWHILE: PICK ANY PATH. 3856 STORY POSSIBILITIES, Jason Shiga, Amulet Books
____ READING WITH PICTURES, Josh Elder, Executive Editor, Reading With Pictures
____ SMILE, Raina Telgemeier, Scholastic Graphix
____ TINY TITANS, Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani, DC Comics

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED

____ ART IN TIME, edited Dan Nadel, Abrams ComicArts
____ BEASTS OF BURDEN: ANIMAL RITES, Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson, Dark Horse Comics
____ DAVE STEVENS’ THE ROCKETEER: ARITIST’S EDITION,
designed by Randall Dahlk & edited by Scott Dunbier, IDW
____ THE MARVELOUS LAND OF OZ, Eric Shanower and Skottie Young, Marvel Comics
____ TUMOR, Joshua Hale Fialkov and Noel Tuazon, Archaia

BEST ANTHOLOGY

____ BLAB WORLD #1, Monte Beauchamp and Bill North, Last Gasp
____ CBGB, edited by Ian Brill, BOOM! Studios
____ POPGUN # 4, edited by D.J. Kirkbride, Anthony Wu and Adam P. Knave, Image Comics
____ READING WITH PICTURES, Josh Elder, Executive Editor, Reading With Pictures
____ STRANGE TALES, VOLUME II # 1, edited by Jody LeHeup, Marvel Comics
____ UNIQUES TALES, edited by Comfort Love and Adam Withers, http://www.uniquescomic.com

BEST DOMESTIC REPRINT PROJECT

____ THE DARKNESS, Garth Ennis, Marc Silvestri and Batt, Image Comics
____ DAVE STEVENS’ THE ROCKETEER: ARITIST’S EDITION,
designed by Randall Dahlk & edited by Scott Dunbier, IDW
____ JET SCOTT, Jerry Robinson and Sheldon Stark, Dark Horse Comics
____ LI’L ABNER: THE COMPLETE DAILIES AND COLOR SUNDAYS, edited by Bruce Canwell, IDW
____ SUPERMAN VS. MUHAMMAD ALI, Neal Adams and Dennis O’Neil, DC Comics

BEST COVER ARTIST

____ Darwyn Cooke, RICHARD STARK’S PARKER: THE OUTFIT, IDW
____ Jenny Frison, ANGEL, IDW
____ Marcos Martin, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, Marvel Comics
____ Mike Mignola, HELLBOY, Dark Horse Comics
____ Frank Quitely, BATMAN AND ROBIN, DC Comics

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL OR JOURNALISTIC PRESENTATION

____ 75 YEARS OF DC COMICS: THE ART OF MODERN MYTH-MAKING, Paul Levitz, Taschen Books
____ THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ: THE SECRETS OF LIFE AND DEATH,
edited by Todd Hignite, Abrams ComicArts
____ JERRY ROBINSON: AMBASSADOR OF COMICS, N. C. Christopher Couch, Abrams ComicArts
____ ODDLY COMPELLING ART OF DENIS KITCHEN, Denis Kitchen and Charles Brownstein,
edited by John Lind and Diana Schutz, Dark Horse Books
____ PORTRAIT OF A SEQUENTIAL ARTIST, directed by Andrew D. Cook, Montilla Presentations

SPECIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRESENTATION

____ DAVE STEVENS’ THE ROCKETEER: ARITIST’S EDITION,
designed by Randall Dahlk & edited by Scott Dunbier, IDW
____ ODDLY COMPELLING ART OF DENIS KITCHEN Kitchen, Denis Kitchen and Charles Brownstein,
edited by John Lind and Diana Schutz, Dark Horse Books
____ RICHARD STARK’S PARKER: THE OUTFIT, Darwyn Cooke, IDW
____ SHAZAM! THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE WORLD’S MIGHTIEST MORTAL, Chip Kidd and Geoff Spear,
Abrams ComicArts
____ WEDNESDAY COMICS HARDCOVER EDITION, edited by Mark Chiarello, DC Comics

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM – ORIGINAL

____ DUNCAN, THE WONDER DOG, Adam Hines, AdHouse Books
____ MARKET DAY, James Sturm, Drawn and Quarterly
____ SCOTT PILGRM VOLUME 6: SCOTT PILGRIM’S FINEST HOUR, Bryan Lee O’Malley, Oni Press
____ WILSON, Dan Clowes, Drawn and Quarterly
____ X’ED OUT, Charles Burns, Pantheon

BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES

____ CHEW, John Layman and Rob Guillory, Image Comics
____ DAYTRIPPER, Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba, Vertigo/DC Comics
____ ECHO, Terry Moore, Abstract Studio
____ FANTASTIC FOUR, Jonathan Hickman and Dale Eaglesham, Marvel Comics
____ LOCKE & KEY: KEYS TO THE KINGDOM # 1, Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriquez, IDW
____ LOVE AND ROCKETS: VOLUME 3, Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez, Fantagraphics

BEST WRITER

____ Cullen Bunn, SIXTH GUN, Oni Press
____ Joshua Hale Fialkov, ECHOES, Top Cow
____ Roger Langridge, THOR: THE MIGHTY AVENGER, Marvel Comics
____ Ryan Sohmer, GUTTERS, http://www.the-gutters.com
____ Mark Waid, IRREDEEMABLE, BOOM! Studios

BEST ARTIST

____ Darwyn Cooke, RICHARD STARK’S PARKER: THE OUTFIT, IDW
____ Dean Haspiel, CUBA : MY REVOLUTION, Vertigo/DC Comics
____ Brian Hurtt, SIXTH GUN, Oni Press
____ Ed Ryzowski, GUTTERS, http://www.the-gutters.com
____ Chris Samnee, THOR: THE MIGHTY AVENGER, Marvel Comics

BEST CARTOONIST

____ Darwyn Cooke, RICHARD STARK’S PARKER: THE OUTFIT, IDW
____ Jaime Hernandez, LOVE AND ROCKETS, Fantagraphics
____ Jeff Lemire, SWEET TOOTH, Vertigo/DC Comics
____ Bryan Lee O’Malley, SCOTT PILGRIM’S FINEST HOUR, Oni Press
____ Jeff Smith, RASL, Cartoon Books

BEST SINGLE ISSUE or STORY

____ ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY # 20: LINT, Chris Ware, Drawn and Quarterly
____ DAYTRIPPER, Fabio Moon and Gabiel Ba, Vertigo/DC Comics
____ ECHOES # 1, Joshua Hale Fialkov and Rashan Ekedal, Top Cow
____ LOCKE & KEY: KEYS TO THE KINGDOM #1, Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriquez, IDW
____ LOVE AND ROCKETS: NEW STORIES, VOLUME 3, Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, Fantagraphics
____ POPGUN # 4, edited by D.J. Kirkbride, Anthony Wu and Adam P. Knave, Image Comics
____ WILSON, Daniel Clowes, Drawn and Quarterly

 

Although all nominees are amazing, I’m particularly excited to see that Locke & Key, Mice Templar, The Stand and American Vampire all scored noms.

For futher information, go to The Harvey Awards Web site, or to the Baltimore Comic-Con Web site for info on the awards ceremony.

CONGRATULATIONS to all nominees, and we’ll see you at Baltimore Comic-Con!

Photo © 2010 Getty Images All rights reserved.

Weed Road and Imagine Entertainment are seeking the rights to Stephen King’s seven-book series The Dark Tower.

An intermingling of spaghetti westerns and fantasies like Tolkein’s The Lord of the Rings, The Dark Tower is set in an alternate world which resembles the Old West, but adds magic into the mix. The series focuses on a “gunslinger,” the last of his kind, a member of an ancient order. He is on a quest to find a tower which is a nexus to other universes. The series was published between 1982 and 2004.

Universal Pictures (who owns Imagine Entertainment) and Warner Brothers (who owns Weed Road) are currently competing for the project.  Plans are to begin with a film trilogy and lead into a television series. Right now, both are in the process of development. However, no deals have been made just yet.

Original plans for the film trilogy include the same group of people who adapted Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons from novel to screen. Akiva Goldsman is set to write the script and Brian Grazer to produce, with Ron Howard sitting in the director’s chair.

The Dark Tower has also been published as a five-part series of graphic novels from Marvel Comics. Released from December 2009 through April 2010, there are plans to publish all five parts as a hardcover compilation sometime this year.

King is also involved in the creation of a pilot for the SyFy channel called “Haven.” Adam Kane (The Mentalist, Heroes) is set to direct. They are currently under production in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, which is being used to represent the fictional town of Haven, Maine. Cast members include Emily Rose (of ER fame) who plays an FBI agent trying to solve the murder of a local Maine ex-convict. Lucas Bryant, Eric Balrouf, Richard Donat, and John Dunsworth are also set to appear.

It has been a struggle worthy of the funny books. The casting search for the next Captain America has been well documented the web over, including right here at AP. At one point our little geek hearts leapt up when Jensen Ackles was briefly mentioned, or Chris Pine looked poised to grab the mask and shield. That’s all behind us now, though.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Chris Evans (Push, The Fantastic Four) has been offered the role of Captain America in Joe Johnston’s big screen adaptation of the beloved character. Evans has a couple of projects currently lined up, including one just wrapped called Puncture, and there’s the possibility that if he takes the Captain gig, some of those that have yet to film might fall by the wayside. Let’s not forget that America comes with a deal for 9 options. Pretty heavy.

As for the specifics of the offer and Evans’ response, publicists for both Chris and Marvel have not offered up comment. Something tells me we will hear soon, though.

Evans, best known as The Human Torch in the silly and tepid Fantastic Four films is actually a better and stronger actor than his resume would let on. He may not have hit any particularly resonant notes in last year’s sci-fi trash Push, but check out something like Sunshine or The Perfect Score to see the man supporting a film with all his might.

Captain America seems like a great opportunity for him, and I’m now curious about what he could do with the role given the right script and direction. Better yet, playing Cap will help wash away the taste of those dreadful FF movies, of which he was the best thing.

How about all of you? Does Evans as Captain America tickle your fancy?

Let’s hear your thoughts on this.

Here’s an interesting rumor. Sources over at Cinema Spy has reporting that Chris Pine (Star Trek) may be one of the actors in the running to play Steve Rogers. For those not in the comic-book know, Steve Rogers is the secret identity of Marvel’s Captain America who is heading to the big screen soon in Joe Johnston’s The First Avenger: Captain America.

Just last week, Joe Johnston was mentioning that the role of Cap wouldn’t be going to a big Hollywood name. Several of the actors suggested to be in the running fit this description; Chad Michael Murray, Ryan Partlin, and Supernatural’s Jensen Ackles.

Now though, it appears that Chris Pine is at the forefront of the list. Pine just finished playing another Captain, Kirk, in the summer’s smash hit Star Trek. He’s also showed up in some smaller pics lately like Bottle Shock and the horror thriller Carriers. I’m not sure he would qualify outside of ‘a big Hollywood name’ now, but he’s definitely more of an up-and-comer as opposed to an established presence like Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise.

Personally I can see this happening, but would just as soon prefer it didn’t. Pine’s got the Trek franchise and he’s done a great job making that role his own, despite the definitive spin Shatner had stamped on it. I’m not sure I want to see him juggling two big blockbusters, since it’s quite possible they could interfere with one another.

Of those names mentioned above, I’m most interested in the Jensen Ackles mention. Although he’s got one more contracted season of Supernatural, I think he has the right presence and personality to pull off Steve Rogers. It might also be the break he needs to really come into his own with the general audience of filmgoers. So far, he’s mostly done low budget thrillers like My Bloody Valentine outside of his work as Dean Winchester.

What do you think? Is Pine right for the role? Or would bringing in a lesser known face be the right move for Captain America? For all of you Supernatural fans, how bout Jensen? Think he could cut it?

A few weeks ago DC Comics and Warner Brothers got together and realized that they need to fix their broken comic book to movie formula. Except for 5 movies in 30 years, they have had tons of problems with the rest. Superman: The Movie (1978), Superman II (1983)Batman (1989), Batman Begins (2005), and The Dark Knight (2008) are the only movies to really make money in the box office and do well. Superman III and IV were garbage. Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and Batman & Robin were not nearly as well received as the first. Add to the fact that the last two featuring Robin didn’t have any chemistry between Batman and Robin. Catwoman bombed during the trailer process of the movie. And Steele had a decent plot but with the likes of Big Daddy Shaquile O’Neil as the leading man, you knew this wasn’t going to be a big box office draw.

So over the Summer Marvel Comics made this movie called Iron Man and followed that up with a new take on the Incredible Hulk. Both were leading down the path toward an Avengers movie in the not to distant future.  DC Comics and Warner both realized that this was the coures they wanted to take and the first thing they did was scrap the poorly received Justice League of America film that George Miller was working on.

Why is it that today it comes out that unknown actor Armie Hammer is still saying that he is going to be Batman in the JLA movie?  Dude, get a clue…the movie is dead, done, finished before it started. I know you’re upset that you won’t get to be Batman but move on already. The project is FINISHED! Is that so hard for you to understand?

Here is a quote from Armie to E! Online regarding his future as the next Caped Crusaider.

I would spend hours training with actual guns to prepare me for this stuff. It was very intense. Our workout regimens were so rigorous that most of us would vomit. We weren’t trying to get ourselves aesthetically good looking. We were trying to get ready for the demands of shooting.

The story even goes on to mention that the Batman suit was a workable costume ready for him to step into.

He’s already been fitted for the superhero costume, which he says features functioning equipment, including trademark Batman weapons like spring-loaded titanium Bat-erangs. “I was looking down, and I was thinking, This is the best,” Hammer said of the first time he put on the entire ensemble. “Then I stood up, and they turned me around, and I faced a mirror—there was Batman. But then it hit me like a ton of bricks—it’s not just Batman, it’s me!”

The bottom line is this…the project is dead. Stop trying to drag up a role that won’t get filled till after the Christian Bale movies are finished. The first things fan said when the project was announced last year is the same thing being said now…you can’t make a movie starring a Superman and a Batman while other Superman and Batman movies are in production. Having two actors playing different takes on the same character will make it harder for the average fans to connect to AND will confuse a lot of people as to which version of said character is the one they should follow on the big screen.

Let’s focus on getting a Green Lantern, Flash, and Green Arrow movie out there before we start to build a team movie. Let the audience get to see how the characters came to be before you group them into one big “blockbuster” battle.

Why cook the goose that is laying the golden eggs?

This just in from the Wall Street Journal…Warner Bros to reboot Superman for the big screen. Look for Brian Singer to not be involved with this new take on the Man of Steel as the bad taste that was 2006′s “Superman Returns” is still lingering in the water.

Realizing that Marvel Comics has been hitting home run after home run with film adaptations of their comic book characters, DC and Warner Bros are going to get aggressive with Super Hero movies based off of the DC Comics properties. They will also follow the blueprint setup in Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk from this past summer and build upon the characters that will make up the Justice League.

There has been a rumor floating around for months that comic book scribe Mark Millar has a script and business plan ready to present to the WB and DC in hopes of making Superman the be-all-end-all movie that we were expecting in 2006.  Here is to hoping that this announcement will be made prior to the end of 2008.

“Superheroes are more global than ever in today’s commercial world, existing in 30 languages and in more than 60 countries,” says Paul Levitz, president and publisher of DC Comics. The characters are “a world-wide export,” he says.

With the major box-office sucess that is “Batman Begins” and the follow-up “The Dark Knight” it was only a matter of time that WB would realize they needed to do something to jump start the failing movies based on DC Characters.

The studio is set to announce its plans for future DC movies in the next month. For now, though, it is focused on releasing four comic-book films in the next three years, including a third Batman film, a new film reintroducing Superman, and two movies focusing on other DC Comics characters. Movies featuring Green Lantern, Flash, Green Arrow, and Wonder Woman are all in active development.

As a comic book fan and a movie junkie, I hope they can keep the tidal wave that is the recent comic book adaptation hits going and compliment the work Marvel is doing. We don’t want to have to sit through another “Batman & Robin” or “Superman 4: The Quest for Peace” any time soon.

The summer of 2008 will be known as the starting point for something great. This will be the time we look back and see how Marvel Comics was able to take their properties and move them forward into one big movie universe. Some will say Spider-Man started it, but it didn’t start to merge till now, till Iron Man laid the groundwork of something large. The Incredible Hulk builds on this groundwork giving us a movie that fits in with the rest of the movie Marvel Universe but also is able to stand alone and deliver it’s own themes and ideas. For those of you that don’t know the background of the Hulk, here it is in song form. Catchy, isn’t it? One thing to keep in mind is, this isn’t the Ang Lee 2003 Hulk which was a very stylized movie based off of the comic book. Some liked it, some hated it. I was among those that liked it, even if the Hulk didn’t appear till almost an hour into the movie. This isn’t a continuation or sequel either. It’s a “reboot”, a do over if you would like. Marvel took a chance to re-image the Hulk’s world for the big screen and they delivered on this by getting Louis Leterrier on board to direct. He brings a real world feel to the movie that some thought was missing in the 2003 version. Plus he knows how to stage an action sequence and we get to see plenty of it in the 2008 Incredible Hulk. Here is a quick run down of the plot. Doctor Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) was belted by gamma rays and turned into the Hulk (Lou Ferrigno, providing the voice). During the accident, he injures long time girlfriend Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) and her father General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (William Hurt). Like the TV show, we see Bruce trying to find a cure to remove the Hulk from him. Like the comic book we see Bruce running from the United States military in hope of not being captured and used as a weapon.  Two great tastes that go great together. Assisting General Ross with his quest is Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), on loan to the US from the UK. Blonsky is a warrior that lives for the fight, the adrenalin rush, the thrill of the hunt, and the capture of the prey. He’ll stop at nothing till Bruce Banner/the Hulk is captured. Bruce has help as well in the form of a mystery Mr Blue who is trying to come up with a cure. We later learn that Mr Blue is Professor Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson) and he has plans of his own for Bruce’s blood.

Unlike the previous outing, this movie picks up the action right away and we see the Hulk within the first 30 minutes of the movie. Between a roof top chase in South America, a fight between the Hulk and General Ross’ military forces, and a showdown in New York City we get to see tons of action. So in honor of this movie I am going to debut a new feature called “The Good, The Bad, and The Geeky.” The Good:

• Action and lots of action
• True to both the TV version and the comic version
• Bill Bixby is in the movie, keep your eye out
• Cameo appearances by Lou Ferrigno and Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee
• The HULK seen within the first 30 minutes is a plus
• William Hurt did a great job as General Ross; He was on-par with Sam Elliot’s version in the 2003 Hulk
• Ed Norton showed that he was a fan of the source material and respected both the TV and Comic fans with the script that he helped write