Spider-Man Relaunch to be Directed by Marc Webb
Sony has wasted no time in moving forward with their relaunch of the Spider-Man franchise! Marc Webb has been tapped to helm the new film series. After a much publicized falling out with director Sam Raimi, who steered the course of the first three Spider-Man films, the company is looking at a grittier reboot of the series, and Webb has been tapped to lead the series in a new direction. Read more
Marvel Announces Spider-Man And Super Heroes All Ages Series
Who says comic books aren’t for kids anymore? While the majority of modern day comic books target older readers, Marvel Comics is doing their part to bring in new comic book readers. Marvel has announced two new ongoing all ages series.
The two new titles are part of the Marvel Adventures line. Spider-Man #1 and Super Heroes #1 will launch with oversized debut issues. Both premiere issues will be packed with full length all-new stories and bonus back up stories and will retail for $3.99. Both issues are scheduled to arrive in comic book stores in April. Later issues will be regular sized and priced at $2.99.
Spider-Man 4: No More! Raimi and Maguire Out!
And things seemed to be working themselves out. News today that hit harder than a punch from Venom, the planned follow-up to Spider-Man 3, Spider-Man 4, will NOT in fact be made, not with the current director, Sam Raimi, or franchise anchor Toby Maguire. Multiple news sources began reporting that Raimi, who had been in disputes with the forces at Sony over the creative direction of the series going back to the last film, walked away from the project. Pressure to meet a 2012 release deadline have been said to be a factor in the decision for Raimi’s split as well, especially with tension over the script. That’s not the only big news that Sony laid out concerning the wall-crawler! Read more
Marvel Heats up Fight with Kirby Family, Seeks to Retain Copyrights
Iconic artist Jack Kirby certainly contributed to some of the most famous battles, scenes and story arcs in comic book history through his storytelling and distinct artwork, but perhaps even he couldn’t imagine the epic battle that’s about to be waged between members of his estate and Marvel Comics! Several months ago, the members of Jack Kirby’s estate served Marvel with notices of copyright termination, stating their intent to reclaim the rights to characters such as The Fantastic Four, The Hulk, Spider-Man and The Avengers. Current law permits creators to seek to reclaim rights to their work after a period of waiting over several years. Read more
Spider-Man’s “Gauntlet” Throws Down Everything but Subtlety
Over the past few weeks, images of Spider-Man lying in a grave surrounded by various pieces and accessories from a list of his classic villains such as Sandman and Mysterio have been shown in the buildup to what began in this week’s issue of Amazing Spider-Man, issue number 612 for those of you keeping score at home! Yes folks, the event known as “The Gauntlet” kicks off here, brought to you by Mark Waid and Paul Azaceta, and big things are promised as Spidey gets put through the wringer by a host of villains. Down on his luck Max Dillon, Electro, kicks things off with this issue, one that pulls on many modern parallels in regards to the economy, fears of Socialism and the cause of the working man. All of this is set against the backdrop of problems at The Daily Bugle (pardon me, The DB), and Electro’s bad case of the blues! Read more
Comic Book Previews for September 30th, 2009
For those who get paid at the end of the month, this Wednesday is your lucky day! Go green and save some gas by running to the back with your check and then head over to your local comic book shop to pick up this week’s latest and greatest new releases! DC this week features an 80-page GIANT special titled Justice League of America, which shows the super team scattered throughout time and battling various foes from across times, locations and forms of combat. Teen Titans reaches a milestone this week with issue #75, and be sure to jump aboard here, as new writer Felicia D. Henderson makes her mark on this DC staple. Also look for Justice Society of America #31, as the traitor in the team’s midst stands revealed! Superman #692 continues a new direction for the title, as the Science Police become more of a force! Read more
Jack Kirby’s Family Seeks to Reclaim Rights From Disney, Marvel
Acclaimed comic book artist Jack Kirby was responsible for co-creating some of the most memorable characters in comic book history, as well as illustrating some of its iconic and classic battles. Now, Kirby’s children are possibly creating an epic battle of their own. According to the L.A. Times, the late Kirby’s four children have filed what has been referred to as “notice of copyright termination” for 45 characters to companies such as Marvel Entertainment, Disney, Universal Pictures, the owners of Hulk distribution rights, and 20th Century Fox, owners of the movie rights to distribute X-Men and Fantastic Four films. Read more
Comic Book Previews for the Week of September 23rd, 2009
The days of summer are slowly waning, soon we’ll break out sweaters and jackets, and pumpkins, hopefully not of the bomb variety, will pop up everywhere. That doesn’t mean we have to slow down our reading of comics, especially THIS week!! Marvel brings the long-awaited, much-ballyhooed, debut of the new Spider-Woman solo series is HERE!! Spider-Woman #1 arrives, courtesy of power team Bendis and Maleev. What will await Jessica Drew as she makes her way in a savage new world? Dark Reign: The List takes aim at the X-Men this week, and also look for the one-shot Dark Reign: Made Men, which will focus on the lesser villains of Marvel and how Osborn’s world has affected them. Amazing Spider-Man #606 brings old flame/nemesis/ally The Black Cat back into Spidey’s life, and look for Ms. Marvel #45 as the battle between the original and current Ms. Marvel reaches its climax! Read more
Spider-Man Big Balloon Returns To Macy’s Parade
The big Spider-Man balloon has been missing from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for a decade, but according to Marvel Comics, the web-slinger is swinging back into the event. More than 3.5 millions spectators and over 50 million viewers nationwide watch the Macy’s Parade every Thanksgiving.
The Spider-Man balloon will be part of the 83rd Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 26, 2009. Spider-Man originally made his Macy’s Parade debut in 1987. Spider-Man was flown in the annual event for twelve years, before his balloon was retired following the 1998 procession.
According to Marvel, the new Spider-Man balloon debuting in the 2009 Macy’s Parade will combines the classic pose of the previous balloon (his arms outstretched in front of him and his legs bent behind in full crawling mode) coupled with a more modern look. The new Spider-Man balloon is scheduled to be a part of the Macy’s Parade through 2011.
Spider-Man Musical Tangled in a Financial Web
Perhaps there are some challenges that are just too big for Peter Parker’s super alter ego. Reports are saying that the production, jointly steered by Bono and The Edge of U2 in writing and Julie Taymor in directing duties, has run aground due to staggering financial problems. According to The New York Post, the Hilton Theater, site of the musical, had operations ceased last week in the preparation for the musical, which was set to begin preview performances on February 25, 2010. Read more
