DON RICKLES - COMIC BOOK STAR??

I have to thank Comics Alliance for this one. And what a doozy.

Check out this image of comic Don Rickles in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen (DC, 1971)

It was a strange real-life comic book team-up that saw Jack Kirby, (the King of Comics artists) introducing Don Rickles, (the King of Insult Comics) to the comedian's long-lost costumed twin Goody Rickles, who in Superman's words, "causes more trouble than the villains." And wow... kinda sexist.

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FREE COMIC BOOK DAY ON SATURDAY

Image via Wikipedia

This Saturday, May 2,

Tomorrow, May 2, comic Book stores throughout the country will participate in Free Comic Book Day. Different shops have policies on how many free comics you can receive, but you will receive at least one free comic if you enter a participating shop location. To find a participating comic book store near you, use the Store Locator on FreeComicBookDay.com.

Here's the scoop: This year’s free comic books include Avengers, Disney/Pixar’s Cars #1, Resurrection #0, Savage Dragon #148, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Transformers Animated/G.I. Joe, Aliens/Predator, TMNT #1 25th Anniversary Reprint, William Shatner Presents #1, Wolverine: Origin among many others.

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THE TOP 10 COMIC DOCS

Here in the Lounge, we're suckers for anything comic-related. That said, we're aggregating to this pretty cool post via Crave Online. Being that this is The Silly Season and all, and if you ’re out shopping for the Dork/Nerd in your life and he happens to be consumed (as we are) with the world of comic books, then click HERE to read a neat list of comic book documentaries.

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MORE PROOF THAT MARK MILLAR RULES

Back in July, I waxed poetic about why I thought Mark Millar was the best writer working in comics.

Thanks to Slashfilm for tipping us all off that Millar plans on relaunching Warner Bros. disappointing (and under performing) "Superman Returns."

In an interview with G4, comic book writer Mark Millar revealed his plans for a new trilogy of Superman films, which he would like to be shot back-to-back. He says:

“A director approached me about three months ago,” Millar said. “and he said ‘look, [Bryan Singer's] The Man Of Steel might not be happening. If that doesn’t happen, it has been spoken about the possibility of me coming in, would you like to write it?’ And I was like Yeah.”

Here's the link to the video (cuz the embed code sucks ass)...

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R.I.P: COMIC ARTIST MICHAEL TURNER DEAD AT 37

I just found out this morning that one of the industry's leading and most influential (and most copied) comic book artists has succumbed to his long illness. Here is his obit via the Associated Press

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — Michael Turner, a comic book artist who drew covers for major titles such as "Superman/Batman," "The Flash" and "Civil War,'" has died. He was 37.

Turner died June 27 at a Santa Monica hospital of complications related to cancer, said Vince Hernandez, editor in chief of Aspen MLT, the Santa Monica publishing company Turner founded in 2003. Turner had battled bone cancer for eight years.

Through his company, Turner created online comic adaptations for the NBC series "Heroes" and published his own titles, including the best-selling "Fathom," a deep-sea story about a female superhero.

He also drew covers for large projects such as DC Comics' "Justice League" and Marvel's "Civil War" and was a regular cover artist for "Superman/Batman" and "The Flash."

"He was definitely one of the most popular and influential comic-book artists working right now," said Andrew Farago, curator of San Francisco's Cartoon Art Museum. "He was very, very much in demand as a cover artist on high-profile projects."

Ryan Liebowitz, general manager of the Golden Apple Comics store in Los Angeles, said Turner's name was synonymous with special-edition covers that often became collectibles. The milestone 500th issue of "Uncanny X-Men," due out next week, will feature a special-edition cover by Turner.

Turner was also known for drawing female comic book characters that evoked both innocence and sex appeal and exuded energy.

In 1994, the budding artist was hired by Century City-based Top Cow Productions after an editor saw his work at the Comic-Con convention in San Diego.

At Top Cow, Turner co-created "Witchblade," a comic about a voluptuous female detective who fights evil after discovering a mystical glove. The comic went on to make Top Cow's name and set the standard for Turner's future work.

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MARK MILLAR: THE BEST WRITER IN COMICS

I've always admired Mark Millar. Not only does he seem like a heck of a guy to grab a beer with, but his work on Marvel's "The Ultimates" rivals almost anything by Frank Miller or Neil Gaiman. His writing is highly entertaining without coming off as pretentious. In any case, one of his comics, "WANTED," was recently made into a little action yarn starring an actress named other than Angelina Jolie. Yup... Flash-forward. It was the highest-grossing 'R' rated June opening ever. In any case, check out this great interview. Also check out his fabulous online forum at Millar World.

Scots comic writer Mark Millar is toast of Hollywood after Wanted
By Rick Fulton

Mark is the man behind the story of summer blockbuster Wanted, which hit cinemas last night.

And if Angelina and Scots star James help him to box office glory, Mark knows how he'll celebrate - take a day off and go to Ayr with wife Gill and daughter Emily, nine.

Laughing, the writing wizard, of Glasgow, said: "I can't drive so I won't be buying a flash car. We live in a nice house already and I dress the same as I did at university.

"There's actually nothing to spend it on. If things turn out well at the weekend I'll take Monday off and me and the family will go to Ayr for the day. But I'll be back at work on Tuesday morning."

Life couldn't be much better for Mark right now. Not only is he one of the best-selling comic book writers in the world, Wanted is the first in what could be a long line of film adaptations of his work.

Released in the UK and America yesterday, he knows that across the pond he won't get a No.1 movie as Pixar's latest animated movie, Wall-E, is also released this week.

To read the rest of the story, click HERE.

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HEMINGWAY'S BOOKSHELF - 'THE TEN-CENT SCARE'

Got an advance copy of "Ten-Cent Plague," a really interesting read that delves into the cultural paranoia of the '50s, the Red Scare and how it all ties into the censorship debate over comic books.

During the post-war era of the late '40s and early '50s, the gin-soaked dime-store comic was king -- churned out by legions of boilerplate scribes, illustrators, and editors in the Big Apple for a devoted young audience nationwide.

The glory days were brief. It wasn't long before multitudes of youth groups and civic authorities targeted these publications as gateway reading to moral depravity. After Mad-magazine founder Bill Gaines foundered in a sweaty, Dexedrine-fueled haze in front of televised congressional hearings on the link between juvenile delinquency and horror and crime magazines, virtually the entirety of comic-book publishing disappeared overnight. "The Ten-Cent Plague," written sharply by Hajdu looks back on the passions inflamed by the so-called comics scare.

Look for it in stores or online at Amazon March 18.

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NEW BATSUIT TO COME IN 'THE DARK KNIGHT'

Why do they keep futitzing around with the Batsuit? In every batfilm since Tim Burton brought the Caped Crusader back in the late '80s, we've seen different incarnations of the suit. Why?

In the comic, there isn't a constant need to revamp and tweak. Minor aspects, yes like his bat symbol, etc, but not major costume changes. Ugh ... The suit, iconic in all its vigilante glory, remains a constant.

While I wasn't a big fan of the suit in "Batman Begins," this new version just seems even more like body armor. I understand that the Dark Knight has to be protected, and thus, have a need for body armor, but damn - I love the look of that vintage Batman, sans armor. See below. It's ominous.

So, this weekend comes word that the look of Bale's new Batman is getting tweaked. Entertainment Weekly has released a pic of the new Batsuit in the upcoming "The Dark Knight," due out next summer.

While it's obviously sleeker and high-tech looking, it doesn't say "Batman" to me. Honestly? It sorta says Black-ops paratrooper.

The EW piece also also includes the down low on Bat's new threads: Its made up of 200 individual pieces of rubber, fiberglass, nylon and metallic mesh. His forearm spikes are now both retractable and can be ejected at targets. The most difficult part of the redesign? The cowl which is now modeled more on a motorcycle helmet design which allows the actor (who did look somewhat wooden in the last film) to both swivel and nod.

Check out Superhero Hype for the full shot.

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STAN LEE TO DEVELOP TOON ABOUT PARIS

You won't believe this one, folks...

The Daily News reports that Marvel comics icon and former head honcho Stan Lee will develop an animated series for MTV starring none other than Paris Hilton.

A source told the paper that the new Paris project will be similar in tone to the 'Stripperella' toon Lee developed in 2003 for Pamela Anderson.

The insider went on saying that the project is all but ready to go and would also include a credit for former Hilton boytoy Paris Latsis, who was also on board.

A start date has not yet been determined for the series.

As for the tone, no word on what the toon Paris character would consist of.

We suggest that Paris portray a covert secret agent, black ops kinda stuff. And her cover that would justify jaunts all over the world? A ditsy socialite who can't from a sentence, of course. In between mindless appearances and endorsements, she pulls off the impossible mission or two.

That we can see...

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THE PERILS OF COINCIDENCE

So Spidey racked up over a kabillion dollars. As expected.

Big whoop. It's gonna be a long summer and Jack Sparrow, Harry, that friggin' ogre and those Danny Ocean boys all have Peter Parker in their crosshairs.

Believe it or not, there are those who didn't exactly dig the film. Case in point: Screenwriter John August, scribe of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Big Fish" has posted his take on the webhead's third film on his awesome blog.

He makes sense.

Check it out. Essential reading for fanboys, writers and armchair critics.

johnaugust.com The perils of coincidence

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FINAL 'IRON MAN' SUIT REVEALED (BEAUTIFUL)

My buds at GEEKS OF DOOM posted this and I couldn't resist having The Lounge weigh in.

I'll be the first to admit that Iron Man ain't exactly my favorite hero. But the project is interesting to me, namely for the casting of Robert Downey, Jr. and the helming by Jon Favreau.

Downey is one of our best actors today and Favreau, well, is the brainchild behind "Swingers," one of my favorite films.

So, that said, I'll be giving "Iron Man" a gander or two.

After posting a pic last week (via USA Today), Entertainment Weekly is giving us a look at the hero's cybernetic Mark III suit.

Created by Oscar-winning F/X master Stan Winston, the red and gold armor is the spitting image of the comic-book counterpart.

As usual, though, the star wasn't exactly thrilled with donning the suit. “Robert was very bullish on wearing the suit whenever possible," Favreau says. "Now I don’t know if he’s such a fan of that idea.”

In the film, Downey stars as billionaire industrialist Tony Stark, who creates the high-tech armor to fight villains after suffering a life-threatening heart injury in war-torn Afghanistan.

The tentpole flick will also feature the Marvel superhero’s Mark I gray armor as well as the trademark red and gold suit.

Look for it in theaters May 2, 2008.

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CARNAHAN SEES 'SIN CITY 2' TEASER (LOVES IT)

Get ready Sin City fans. It's sequel is coming.

Recently, "Sin City" director Robert Rodriguez showed his teaser trailer for the comic film's sequel and Joe Carnahan loved it.

For those not-in-the-know, "Sin City" is based on a series of comics by Frank Miller, told in his trademark Neo-noir style. The first story originally appeared in Dark Horse Presents comic book from April 1991 to June of 1992, under the title of Sin City, serialized in thirteen parts.

All the hard-boiled yarns take place in Basin City, with frequent recurring characters and intertwining stories.

For the scoop, check out the link below at Super-hero hype.

Carnahan Sees Sin City 2 Teaser - Superhero Hype!

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WARNER BROS. OPTIONS MILLER'S EPIC 'RONIN'

You can say it's a combo of a couple of things...

While fanboys always bowed to the altar of comic genius Frank Miller, it took the masses a little longer. After years of churning out comic classics, notably "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns," Hollywood fell under the Miller spell when director Robert Rodriguez turned his "Sin City" comic series into a living and breathing work of art.

So, with his newfound fame, you can say the comic guru's hotter than a two buck pistol outside a Western gin mill.

What's more, Warner Bros. know they've got hold of a good thing. After all, their recent release "300," based on Miller's work, performed high above expectations. For an obscure graphic novel adaptation with no bankable stars, the ancient story of 300 Spartan warriors connected. We geeks knew "300" was the shit, but let's face it, the real world had no idea what it was.

So, that all said, the grand dame of Hollywood - The WB - just optioned the rights to Miller's epic DC Comics graphic novel "Ronin," reports Variety.

Hemingway's Lounge isn't referring to the kick-booty Robert De Niro flick the same name, but the tale of a 13th-century disgraced samurai reborn as a cyborg in a corrupt New York City in the year 2064.

The studio will turn to Sylvain White ("Stomp The Yard") to helm the live-action flick. I dunno about this choice. The brutha-from-anotha-mother don't have to much under his belt. We'll keep our eye on him.

In the tale, Miller's hero must find a mystical sword with powers in order to destroy his reincarnated foe, the ancient demon Agat.

Like everything else in La-La Land, "Ronin" has been down this path before. Darren Aronofsky ("The Fountain") was to develop and direct way back when for New Line Cinema. With CGI graphics what they are, let's hope this time out, the project will come to fruition.

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'BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT' NEEDS YOU

As you can tell Hemingway's Lounge looovvves all things Batman. Juvenile? Perhaps...

But at least the Caped Crusader ain't all sqeaky-clean like Big Blue -- that's Superman, for all you non-comic people.

In any event, we'd thought we'd pass along this little note ,via Superhero Hype:
------------------------
More Dark Knight Extras Needed!

More extras casting news for "Rory's First Kiss" AKA The Dark Knight has been posted for Saturday May 5th in Chicago on the Chicago Film Office's website.

Here is what they are looking for:

"Rory's First Kiss" needs you! A Warner Bros. Film requires extras to play as victims and perpetrators within a city besieged by crime and corruption. Take part in the urban action adventure ripping through the streets of Chicago from June to October.

We are searching for males and females, all ages, all ethnicities, to work as paid extras (non-speaking roles).

If you are interested please attend our open call.

Saturday, May 5, 2007
Chicago Academy for the Arts
1010 W. Chicago Ave.Chicago, IL 60622
10:00 am - 3:30 pm (anytime during these hours)
Please bring a recent color photograph and a pen.

You will fill out a registration card. Follow the above link to a ‘print version’ of the casting notice.

"The Dark Knight" hits theaters in 2008!

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JOKER PICS LEAKED (THANK GOD)

This gigantic bunch of Batman/Joker pics seems to be the last batch of "Dark Knight" pics offcially released as of May 10.

Click HERE to check 'em out.



!!! NEWEST JOKER PICS, AS OF APRIL 2 !!!!


!!! NEW 'DARK KNIGHT' IMAX PROLOGUE - LOOKS AWESOME, AS DEC. 16 !!!! Click HERE

!!! NEW TEASER POSTERS - LOOKS AWESOME, AS DEC. 14 !!!! Click HERE

!! A BUNCH OF NEW JOKER PICS AS OF DEC. 3 !!!. Click HERE.

!!! NEW JOKER PIC AS OF NOV. 30!!! Click HERE.

!!! NEW JOKER PIC AS OF NOV. 26!!! Click HERE

-----------------

NEW "DARK KNIGHT PICS" as of 8/17!!

CLICK HERE

Ladies and gents, I give you ... Joker. --- The new Joker that is.

Actually, it's a preliminary shot of actor Heath Ledger in his garb for Warner Bros.' next Batman film, entitled "Batman: The Dark Knight."

Thank the heavens for online film news sites like Harry Knowles' Ain't It Cool News and Garth Franklin's Dark Horizons. AICN is where the original scooper dumped the Ledger pic for all of the web and blogospehere to see. My opinion? Ain't half bad...

A blurry cell phone distance shot was leaked last week and the web was swirling with chatter about Ledger's appearance. Did it look good? Was it real? Was it a stuntman?

Perhaps in an effort to squash some of the pic's initial negative reaction comes the above "newly leaked" photo, courtesy of AICN. On the whole, this new Joker's overall design seems to match the early concept sketches that've been circulating online. And for the most part, pretty good.

But let's be honest. The Joker is a hard villain to pull off. In concept, the clown-like criminal mastermind can be presented on film quite easily. All you need is a purple suit, green hair dye, red lipstick and proverbial clown face. You don't need much. That's as easy as it gets, though. The true effectiveness of any incarnation of The Joker lies with actor. He has to become Joker. I'll go on record - Jack Nicholson made a shitty Joker. Ask any real comic book fan. He sucked. What's more he was FAT. Joker is a lanky, skinny, bony mess. And evil.


Nicholson was Nicholson, not The Joker. Case closed. As for Cesar Romero, who played the villain in the campy '60s TV series? I don't even consider him to be The Joker.

At the core, if played properly, The Joker is one of the most disturbing pop culture villains ever. Period. He's up there with Hannibal Lecter, Darth Vader, Jason, Freddy. You name it.

You want a Joker? I'll give you an awesome Joker. Check out this stupendous Batman fan film by Sandy Collera. It's called "Batman: Dead End" and it centers on the Dark Knight as he tangles with Joker in a dank, damp alley one evening after Joker escapes from Arkham Asylum. This Joker, played with verve by Andrew Koenig (aka Boner from "Growing Pains") was the best representation of Joker I have ever seen. Bar none.

Maybe Ledger will top it. Let's hope so. But until the film comes out next year, this is The Joker as far as I'm concerned.
In this legendary seven-minute short "Batman: Dead End," two visitors just happen to stop by - one Alien and one Predator. Genius. But even more genius is the depiction of Joker. Check it...

As for this newest Heath Ledger-as-Joker shot? Fanboys have to realize that this pic is completely out of context. Christ, it looks like a simple makeup test via a Polaroid or whatever. Please remember that The Joker in Christopher Nolan's final film will be complemented by proper makeup, lighting, effects, score, the whole nine.

And for more Bat Gossip, pages on the script were leaked online. Enjoy.

Until next time,
-- Alfred

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