Comic Book Resources

Nicolas Cage reportedly sold comics collection to stop financial bleed

Nicolas Cage in "Ghost Rider"

Remember back in 2002 when actor Nicolas Cage auctioned off his comic collection for a cool $1.6 million but never said why? Well, now we may know.

Last month the star of Ghost Rider and the upcoming Kick-Ass sued his former business manager for $20 million, blaming him for financial problems that include more than $6 million in tax liens. However, in a countersuit filed last week, Samuel J. Levin claims that by the time the actor hired him in 2001 Cage "had already squandered tens of millions of dollars he had earned as a movie star."

Levin asserts that he advised Cage he would need to earn more than $30 million to maintain his lifestyle, and persuaded him to sell a dozen automobiles and his comic-book collection, which included copies of Action Comics #1, Detective Comics #1 and All-Star Comics #3.

But by the time Ghost Rider was released in 2007, Cage reportedly had fallen back into his old habits: Levin contends that in that year alone the actor purchased three homes worth more than $33 million, 22 cars, 12 pieces of expensive jewelry and 47 pieces of artwork. Within a year, Cage's tally of homes had reached 15. He also owned an island in the Bahamas, four yachts and a Gulfstream jet.

No wonder he's so eager for another Ghost Rider movie.

Jon Favreau's not directing Avengers

Sounds like some other director will be hollering "Avengers Assemble!" to peel a gaggle of high-paid actors away from the craft services table: Jon Favreau confirms to MTV News that he won't be directing Marvel Studios' big movie mash-up of its various superhero franchises. As reported at MTV's Splash Page blog, Favreau says he won't be available to direct the Avengers film, though he is one of its executive producers and will have a hands-on role in that regard. Moreover, Favreau argues that his years-long immersion in Iron Man's "tech-based" milieu might have made him a poor choice to bridge the gap with, say, the Lord of the Rings mysticism and Shakespearean grandeur of Kenneth Branagh's upcoming Thor movie. Which is a good point, now that I think of it: The Avengers movie will most likely include three relatively realistic super-science-based heroes (Iron Man, Captain America, and the Hulk) and a Norse god. That's a tough row to hoe even in the wilder and woollier world of superhero comics.

Anyway, check out more from Favreau, including musings on potential cameos in Iron Man 2, at the link or in the video above.

No character left behind

Grumpy Old Fan

So this is the post where I blend a week's worth of restructured-DC coverage with my own ill-considered thoughts, and try not to sound too naïve and/or obtuse in the process. Should be fun, right?

Yeah.

While it's a little foolish to attempt any real predictions at this early stage, I'm left with a few general impressions. First, I get a good vibe from new DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson. I don't know that we'll be bonding over 'Mazing Man next summer in San Diego, but for now she's not saying anything too worrisome.

Continue Reading »

Steve Lieber talks Whiteout, research and the secret to drawing good snow

"CulturePulp," by Mike Russell

Mike Russell talks at length with artist Steve Lieber about collaborating with Greg Rucka on Whiteout, the just-released film adaptation -- it didn't fare well at the box office -- and what went into making the 11-year-old Oni Press miniseries: "I was a damned troll under a bridge. [laughs] I was just really unpleasant. I was solving new problems, and rather than feeling satisfied that I was solving new problems, I was getting angry because everything wasn't coming out perfect the first time I put a line down. I would spend 10 hours, 11 hours, 13 hours, 14 hours. I wasn't sleeping right. I wasn't treating myself right. But in the end, one decent page after another was coming off my table -- and it was the first time that I could really say that about my career."

Russell also transforms part of the interview into an entertaining comic.

Abin Sur was only a few days away from retirement: A review of Green Lantern: First Flight

Green Lantern: First Flight

The new DC Universe Animated movie, Green Lantern First Flight, is basically a cop movie with a sci-fi setting. Its cast includes a wealth of strange-looking aliens and fantastic action scenes that defy the laws of physics (more on that later on) but the basic plot of the film comes out of a million other TV and movie police procedurals, right down to where the hotshot rookie is blamed for a crime he didn't commit and forced to turn his badge in.

And really, that's as it should be. That basic premise -- "space cop with magic ring" -- is one of the most appealing things about the character (really the most appealing thing if you ask me) so to focus on that aspect makes sense. What's more, it remains a pretty sturdy premise, despite its age. You have to be either really lazy or incompetent to foul it up. Thankfully, the makers of this film are neither, making First Flight an entertaining, if somewhat shallow and unoriginal, film.

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Stark Industries: Changing the world for a better future

Marvel has launched a Stark Industries website to help promote the upcoming sequel to the big screen blockbuster Iron Man. I remember reading about employees from Stark Industries being at the Marvel booth for recruitment purposes, and it looks like they're doing something similar on the web. Head over there and fill out their online employment application, which includes questions like "Please briefly describe your most heroic act" and "What is your greatest hope for human kind?"

You can also check out the site's one sole press release:

SDCC '09 | Scott Pilgrim video game is on the way

Scott Pilgrim

As announced by Oni Press yesterday, and reported by Attack of the Show, Ubisoft is developing a video game based on Bryan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim series.

Described as an old-school, side-scrolling beat-'em-up, the downloadable game will be released next year to coincide with Edgar Wright's movie adaptation Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

Expect details from Ubisoft next week.

(via /Film)

SDCC '09 | Jaime King at tomorrow's Emo Boy panel

Jaime King

I heard from SLG Publishing's Dan Vado this morning that Jaime King will be at the Emo Boy movie panel in San Diego tomorrow. As Kevin mentioned earlier, it was announced yesterday that King would star in the film.

I believe this is King's fourth comic-related movie; she was also in The Spirit, Sin City and Bulletproof Monk.

Here's the panel description:

4:30-5:30 Vanguard Films: Emo Boy— Vanguard Films will announce its slate of new projects including Emo Boy, the big screen adaptation of Stephen Emond's SLG graphic novel, with a special Q&A with the movie's director, Kyle Newman (Fanboys). Other projects to be announced include Illegal Aliens, a new graphic novel/movie franchise being produced by Vanguard and Platinum Comics, and Alien Band, an animated feature set to go into production in the fall of 2009. A preview will also be shown from Vanguard's upcoming film Space Chimps 3D. Room 10

SDCC '09 | Comic-Con Notes

Comic-Con

• This year's convention has been surprisingly (refreshingly?) light on movie announcements. However, one comics-related item reported last night is that Lucas Cruikshank and Jaime King have been cast to star in Emo Boy, the Vanguard Films adaptation of the SLG Publishing series by Stephen Emond.

• The Hollywood Reporter wonders how much Comic-Con actually benefits movie studios.

• Tom Spurgeon files a report from Wednesday's Comics and Media Conference, sponsored by ICv2.com.

• The San Diego Union-Tribune's coverage of yesterday's "Mondo Marvel" panel focuses on the question of whether superheroes should be married.

• Wired.com's Underwire blog chats with cartoonist Jeff Lemire about his Vertigo graphic novel The Nobody.

• The A.V. Club spotlights Love and Rockets as a "Gateway to Geekery," and recommends first comics and graphic novels for new readers.

• Scott Robins has a Thursday photo parade at Good Comics For Kids.

• USA Today's Whitney Matheson posts a video-blog recap from Day One.

SDCC '09 | Jonah Hex movie poster debuts

"Jonah Hex" Comic-Con poster

This morning we got a peek at the Comic-Con banners for the Jonah Hex film, and now Yahoo! Movies delivers the teaser poster.

The Warner Bros. production, which stars Josh Brolin and Megan Fox, is set to open in August 2010.

SDCC '09 | Quote of the day

Geoff Johns

“I think the Green Lantern mythology has the potential to be one of the biggest franchises in the world, superhero or otherwise. It’s as epic as Star Wars and as deep as Lord of the Rings. I think it could rival every other superhero out there if explored, supported and executed right. ... I think the success of films like Iron Man and The Dark Knight has shown us that good comics films can rule the screen. ... I have immensely high hopes for Green Lantern.”

-- Geoff Johns, on the Green Lantern live-action movie

Co-founder sues Radical Comics' parent company

Hercules #4

Just days before Comic-Con, Radical Comics owner Blatant Entertainment was dealt a bit of a blow: a lawsuit from one of its co-founders.

THR, Esq. reports that David Elliott, who was editor-in-chief of Radical until his termination in April, claims the parent company hasn't given him his full salary, failed to properly credit him on several titles (including Hercules), and is exploiting other properties in which he has a copyright stake without receiving his permission. Those, Elliott asserts, include Aladdin, Caliber, Hercules, City of Dust and Freedom Formula.

He also claims that he wasn't compensated for acquiring three properties for Blatant: Hotwire, Cholly & Flytrap and Lords of Misrule.

The lawsuit, filed July 16 in Los Angeles Superior Court, seeks compensatory damages, general damages and "harm to reputation and emotional distress damages" of no less than $1 million. In addition, Elliott asks for, among other things, a reversion of rights to Aladdin and an injunction barring Blatant from using and exploiting Caliber, Hercules, City of Dust, Freedom Formula and other projects "in any and all media and markets."

Blatant's Radical Pictures division already has most of those properties set up for film adaptations.

But, as THR's Eriq Gardner points out, the most interesting and -- if it's true -- potentially damaging aspect of the lawsuit may be this allegation: "Blatant's management failed to have any of its employees sign work-for-hire agreements and/or assignments of copyrights, thereby clouding title to all of Blatant's projects, and making it impossible for Blatant to provide proper chain of title documents and guarantees to investors, production companies, studios, and insurers, to the detriment of its shareholders."

Elliott's departure became public in mid-May when it was announced former Top Cow president David Wohl had replaced him as editor-in-chief. Radical characterized the move as a decision "mutually made" because Elliott was unwilling to move from New York to the company's offices in Los Angeles.

SDCC '09 | Movie news and notes

First Family

• FremantleMedia Enterprise has signed a first-look deal with Liquid Comics -- formerly Virgin Comics -- designed to bring the publisher's properties to other media.

The first two projects in the agreement are based on comics set to be released later this year: Animax, about a boy who can who can absorb the abilities and characteristics of any animals he touches, will be developed as an animated series. The second, First Family, will be turned into a drama about the teen children of a newly elected president who have to grapple with high school.

• Len Wiseman (Underworld, Live Free or Die Hard) will develop and direct the big-screen adaptation of Shrapnel for Radical Pictures.

The comic, from Radical's publishing division, is set in a future where humans have colonized the solar system, leaving Venus as the last rebellious holdout. A self-exiled former Marine teaches the colonists how to fight back against the Solar Alliance.

• Comic artist Kaare Andrews will direct the action film The Hunted, based on his own screenplay. The movie centers on assassin who's hired to kill a young girl but refuses to fulfill the contract.

• The oft-discussed sequel to 300 appears to be slowly making progress. The Hollywood Reporter's Risky Business Blog has word that Frank Miller recently finished a draft of the graphic novel on which the movie will be based.

• Black Beauty, the gadget-filled car from The Green Hornet movie, was revealed during Preview Night by Seth Rogan, writing partner Evan Goldberg and director Michel Gondry.

• ShockTillYouDrop.com has a photo of the Comic-Con banner for Warner Bros.' Jonah Hex movie.

• /Film rolls out a gallery of images from Preview Night, with a focus on movie and TV booths and props.

• Nikki Finke claims Comic-Con opened with "a whimper," at least from a Hollywood perspective. Her correspondent in San Diego is unimpressed with the studio presence at the event.

SDCC '09 | New trailer debuts for Whiteout

Preview Night brings with it a new trailer for the big-screen adaptation of Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber's 1998 miniseries Whiteout, which stars Kate Beckinsale.

The Warner Bros. movie, directed by Dominic Sena, opens on Sept. 11.

SDCC '09 | Quote of the day

Grant Morrison

"I don't care about geeks, you know? Geeks shouldn't be given power. When geeks get power, you get Hitler. There's a lot of weird and angry geeks out there. But what (a comic book movie) does is it opens up comics as a medium. It stops being geekish. There's comic books for everyone. There's comic books for women, there's comic books for kids, there's comic books for teenage Goths. That is the important thing that movies are doing."

-- Grant Morrison, in a roundtable discussion about Comic-Con and the geeks inheriting Hollywood