Batman becomes more of a detective in The Dark Knight, as he deals with the escalation of the situation from the end of Batman Begins as personified by the Joker, portrayed by Heath Ledger. He also deals with the dilemma of his vigilante crusade, and his friendship with district attorney Harvey Dent, played by Aaron Eckhart.

An animated direct-to-DVD anthology titled Batman: Gotham Knight, which takes place between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, will be in stores early July 2008. Batman: The Dark Knight will be released on July 18, 2008 in the U.S. and on July 25, 2008 in the U.K.

Press Release

Marvel is proud to announce that X-Factor #26, featuring Messiah CompleX Chapter 7, has sold out at Diamond (though copies may be available at the retail level). This marks the seventh straight sell-out for the comic book event of the season, which has shocked readers with the appearance of a new mutant, the return of Cable and the formation of an all-new, all-different

To meet the overwhelming demand for this issue, Marvel is going back to press with X-Factor #26 Second Printing Variant, featuring the interior art of fan-favorite Scot Eaton on a new cover!

“I am so proud that Messiah CompleX is doing so well,” said editor Nick Lowe. “The writers and artists have put in so much work to knock your socks off and it seems to be working (though I hope your feet don’t get cold). Trust me when I say, the best is yet to come!”

David Gabriel, Marvel’s Senior Vice-President of Sales and Circulation added, “Sales on New X-Men and X-Factor have more than doubled since this started. With new titles launching out of this event such as X-Force, Cable, X-Men: Legacy and Young X-Men, as well as saying good bye to some old favorites, we'll have an entirely new invigorated X line up for 2008! "

Hailed as am “undeniable success so far” by IGN.Com, and with buzz continuing to grow, Marvel urges retailers to check their orders on X-Factor #26 Second Printing Variant and all chapters of Messiah CompleX. The X-Men have never faced a war like this before and when it’s done, not everyone may survive the x-perience!

Don’t miss a single issue of Messiah CompleX!

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 1 of 13
X-MEN: MESSIAH COMPLEX ONE-SHOT NEW PRINTING (SEP078124)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Penciled by MARC SILVESTRI
Wraparound Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI
Rated T+ …$3.99
On-Sale—11/28/07

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 2 of 13
UNCANNY X-MEN #492 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT (SEP078145)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Penciled by BILLY TAN
Cover by BILLY TAN
Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC—11/15/07, On-Sale—12/05/07

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 3 of 13
X-FACTOR #25 (SEP072234)
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by SCOT EATON
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
Rated T+ …$2.99
On-Sale—NOW!

MESSIAH COMLPEX – PART 4 of 13
NEW X-MEN #44 (SEP072236)
Written by CHRISTOPHER YOST & CRAIG KYLE
Penciled by HUMBERTO RAMOS
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by J.SCOTT CAMPBELL
Rated T+ …$2.99
On-Sale—11/21/07

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 5 of 13
X-MEN #205 (SEP072238)
Written by MIKE CAREY
Penciled by CHRIS BACHALO
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by J.SCOTT CAMPBELL
Rated A …$2.99
On-Sale—11/28/07

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 6 of 13
UNCANNY X-MEN #493 (OCT072133)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Penciled by BILLY TAN
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by JIM CHEUNG
Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC—11/15/07, On-Sale—12/05/07

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 7 of 13
X-FACTOR #26 (OCT072135)
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by SCOT EATON
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI
Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC—11/20/07, On-Sale—12/12/07

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 8 of 13
NEW X-MEN #45 (OCT072137)
Written by CHRISTOPHER YOST & CRAIG KYLE
Penciled by HUMBERTO RAMOS
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI
Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC—11/29/07, On-Sale—12/19/07

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 9 of 13
X-MEN #206 (OCT072139)
Written by MIKE CAREY
Penciled by CHRIS BACHALO
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI
Rated A …$2.99
FOC—12/06/07, On-Sale—12/27/07

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 10 of 13
UNCANNY X-MEN #494 (NOV072179)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Penciled by BILLY TAN
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI
Rated T+ …$2.99
On-Sale—01/04/08

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 11 of 13
X-FACTOR #27 (NOV072181)
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by SCOT EATON
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by JIM CHEUNG
Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC—12/13/07, On-Sale—01/09/08

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 12 of 13
NEW X-MEN #46 (NOV072183)
Written by CHRISTOPHER YOST & CRAIG KYLE
Penciled by HUMBERTO RAMOS
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by MARC SILVESTRI
Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC—12/20/07, On-Sale—01/16/08

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 13 of 13
X-MEN #207 (NOV072185)
Written by MIKE CAREY
Penciled by CHRIS BACHALO
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by JIM CHEUNG
Rated A …$2.99
FOC—01/03/07, On-Sale—01/23/08

X-MEN MESSIAH COMPLEX POSTER (AUG072315)
24x36 Color Poster…$6.99
On-Sale—NOW!

MARVEL SPOTLIGHT: X-MEN – MESSIAH COMPLEX (OCT072141)
Written by JOHN RHETT THOMAS
Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC—12/06/07, On-Sale—12/27/07

X-MEN: MESSIAH COMPLEX - MUTANT FILES (OCT072142)
Written by ERIC J. MOREELS, CHAD ANDERSON, STUART VANDAL, DAVID WILTFONG, SEAN MCQUAID, CHRIS BIGGS, MICHAEL HOSKIN, MIKE FICHERA, RONALD BYRD & MADISON CARTER
Cover by SCOTT KOLINS
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC—12/06/07, On-Sale—12/27/07

ComingSoon.net has learned that "Smallville" star Kristin Kreuk will play Chun-Li in Hyde Park Entertainment's Street Fighter: Legend of Chun-Li! Directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak from a Justin Marks script, the action pic starts filming in Thailand in March, 2008. 20th Century Fox will distribute the live-action feature based on Capcom's video game. The movie is focused on female fighter Chun-Li and her journey for justice.

Get your first look at the all new Spectacular Spider-Man animated series, premiering on Kids WB! February 2nd, 2008.

After nearly 10 years since they last hit the arcades, Capcom says its time for a new Street Fighter (and not SF2THD, which should be hitting the PSN & Xbox Live later this year)! Street Fighter IV is currently in development, and may even reach arcades by late 2008/early 2009. The first two Street Fighter III games were ported to the Sega Dreamcast as a compilation titled Double Impact. Ports of 3rd Strike were released for the Dreamcast, PlayStation 2 and Xbox.

The CW announced late Tuesday it will shut down the nearly 13-year-old Kids' WB! franchise at the end of this season and turn Saturday mornings over to 4Kids Entertainment, which has handled Fox's Saturday morning kids block for the past six years.

Under the five-year pact, 4Kids will program five hours of children's programming between 7 a.m. and noon on Saturdays on the CW starting September 2008. 4Kids will handle all national commercial advertising, and will share in ad revenue with the CW. The CW's share will be applied against a guarantee 4Kids will pay the net.

Kids' WB! repped the last inhouse Saturday morning network block to air original kids' fare. Once a staple of the broadcast nets alongside daytime and latenight, the webs mostly eliminated the timeslot by the turn of the decade. ABC now runs repeats from the Disney Channel, while NBC, CBS and Fox have already farmed out the timeslot to outside licensees.

In an interview with Gamasutra, Marvel's VP of interactive media Justin Lambros says he hopes to see Marvel vs. Capcom make its way to digital download saying, "I'm a huge 2D fighting fan ... the Marvel vs. Capcom stuff has a definite close place in my heart, so we definitely wanna see that stuff live on." He says that there are no deals in place, but they may be considering it. If it's anything like Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, I'm all for it!

Hopefully if it is eventually available for download, we might get these added features like online multiplayer like the Japanese DC version, new/remixed soundtrack and maybe even a few of the secret characters/bosses from the other games (like Evil Ryu, Cyber Akuma, Shadow Lady & Norimaro), add downloadable versions for ALL next gen consoles & it'd be perfect... Capcom are you listening?

Halo 3 is now on sale... GameSpot reported that 4.2 million units of Halo 3 were in retail outlets on September 24, 2007, a day before official release, a world record volume release.

The game features new vehicles, weapons, and gameplay features not present in the previous titles of the series. Halo 3 focuses on the interstellar war between 26th century humanity and a collection of alien races known as the Covenant, who after a decades-long war have begun the invasion of Earth. The player assumes the role of the Master Chief, a genetically enchanced cyborg supersoldier, as he wages war in defense of humanity.

Don't forget there's a $59.99 "Regular Edition", a $69.99 "Limited Edition" and a $129.99 "Legendary Edition" complete with a replica helmet worn by Master Chief (which apparently had some design flaws). Microsoft has stepped up and admitted fault on this issue on their website today. They are offering to replace the faulty disks for free, if you sign up for their disk replacement program.

A new $399.99 Special Edition Xbox 360 with a "Halo"-themed custom paint job — Halo 3 not included. Expect productivity for the next few weeks to drop (just kidding).

The Syracuse Heroes Expo is Central New York's premiere hobby convention. From comics to action figures, anime, sci-fi, manga, action figures, and video games we are dedicated to bringing the very best enthusiast gathering to the CNY region!

This year's guests include Ethan Van Sciver, Daniel Logan, Tony Isabella, Pop Mhan, and Brinke Stevens,Bonnie Piesse & Tom Savini. For more info, check the site! Tickets will be on sale soon.

Hitman is a 2007 film adaptation of the video game series Hitman. The film is directed by Xavier Gens and stars Timothy Olyphant. The script is written by Skip Woods. Hitman is scheduled for release on November 21, 2007. Click here for the trailer.

Looks pretty good... hopefully the background characters won't keep running into each other when it's released sometime next year. Demo footage shown was run on the Xbox 360.

Press Release:

DC Comics announces several changes for the fall 2007 lineup of SHOWCASE PRESENTS titles, including rush solicitations on three new titles, new instore and Final Order Cutoff dates change for two titles, and order cancellations for four titles.

DC Comics rush solicits the following titles:

• SHOWCASE PRESENTS: WORLD’S FINEST COMICS VOL. 1 TP (JUL078179)

• SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SGT. ROCK VOL. 1 TP (JUL078177)

• SHOWCASE PRESENTS SUPERGIRL VOL. 1 TP (JUL078178)

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: WORLD’S FINEST COMICS VOL. 1 TP (JUL0780179) collects stories from SUPERMAN #76 and WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #71-111, written by Edmond Hamilton, Alvin Schwartz, Bill Finger, Jerry Coleman and others with art by Curt Swan, Dick Sprang, John Fischetti, Stan Kay, Charles Paris, Ray Burnley, Sheldon Moldoff and others.

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: WORLD’S FINEST COMICS VOL. 1 is a 552 page black and white trade paperback with a cover price of $16.99 U.S., and is scheduled to arrive in stores on October 17. The Final Order Cutoff date for this title is September 13.

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SGT. ROCK VOL. 1 TP (JUL0780177) collects stories from G.I. COMBAT #68 and OUR ARMY AT WAR #81-117, written by Robert Kanigher and Bob Haney with art by Joe Kubert, Jerry Grandenetti, Irv Novick, Russ Heath, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito.

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SGT. ROCK VOL. 1 is a 544-page black and white trade paperback with a cover price of $16.99 U.S., and is scheduled to arrive in stores on November 14. The Final Order Cutoff date for this title is October 11.

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SUPERGIRL VOL. 1 TP (JUL0780178) collects stories from ACTION COMICS #252-281, SUPERMAN’S PAL JIMMY OLSEN #40, 44, 46, 51 AND 52, ADVENTURE COMICS #278, SUPERBOY #80, SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND LOIS LANE 314, and SUPERMAN #123, 139, 140 and 144, written by Otto Binder, Jerry Siegel, Robert Bernstein and others with art by Al Plastino, Jim Mooney, Curt Swan, Dick Sprang, Kurt Schaffenberger, Wayne Boring and others.

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SUPERGIRL VOL. 1 is a 528-page black and white trade paperback with a cover price of $16.99 U.S., and is scheduled to arrive in stores on November 28. The Final Order Cutoff date for this title is October 25.

In addition, the SHOWCASE PRESENTS: TEEN TITANS VOL. 2 TP which will appear in the September Previews now has a new instore date of October 31. This title may be ordered under its current item code of SEP070225 and has a new Final Order Cutoff date of October 11.

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: TEEN TITANS VOL. 2 is an 512-page black and white trade paperback with a cover price of $16.99. This title collects TEEN TITANS #19-36, BRAVE AND THE BOLD #83 and 94 and WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #205, written by Bob Haney, Mike Friedrich, Neal Adams, Robert Kanigher, Steve Skeates and Marv Wolfman with art by Gil Kane, Neal Adams, Nick Cardy, George Tuska, Carmine Infantino, Sal Amendola, Dick Dillin, Jim Aparo, Wallace Wood and Joe Giella.

Please also note that SHOWCASE PRESENTS: METAL MEN VOL. 1 TP (JUL070211) has a revised instore date of September 26, with a new Final Order Cutoff date of August 30.

Also, current orders for the following SHOWCASE PRESENTS titles are cancelled. These titles will be resolicited at a later date:

• SHOWCASE PRESENTS: CAPTAIN CARROT VOL. 1 (JUN070217)

• SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE GREAT DISASTER FEATURING THE ATOMIC KNIGHTS AND HERCULES VOL. 1 (JUL070210).

• SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE SUICIDE SQUAD VOL. 1 (AUG070283)

• SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER VILLAINS VOL. 1 TP (AUG070284)

• SHOWCASE PRESENTS: JONAH HEX VOL. 2 (SEP070223)

Look for retro-solicitations of SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD: THE BATMAN TEAM-UPS VOL. 2 TP and SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA VOL. 3 TP, both scheduled to arrive in stores in December, in the October Previews.

DC COMICS ANNOUNCES NEW TITLE FOR TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS PRESENTS: THE ANTI-MONITOR #1

TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS PRESENTS: THE ANTI-MONITOR #1 (AUG070223) will arrive in store with the title TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS PRESENTS: SUPERMAN PRIME #1. This issue now will run 48 pages and feature a cover price of $3.99 U.S.

Retailers may adjust orders on this title through the Final Order Cutoff date of October 4.

Press Release:

Marvel is pleased to announce that Thor #1 Second Printing Coipel Variant has sold out at Diamond (though copies may be available at the retail level)…and the issue will return for a third printing! Featuring a black & white sketch version of superstar Michael Turner’s red hot Thor #1 cover (also available as a full color poster), Thor #1 Third Printing Turner Sketch Variant will arrive in stores to meet the overwhelming demand for the God Of Thunder’s return!

“We’re excited to see such a strong response from critics, fans and retailers to this electrifying re-launch of Thor,” said David Gabriel, Senior Vice President of Sales & Publishing Circulation. “Not only was this the number one book in July, but we’ve now sold well over 200,000 copies, reminding fans why Thor is one of the most enduring Marvel characters. And if you’ve enjoyed the series thus far, just wait till Iron Man and Thor battle it out in Thor #3!”

The critics can’t stop raving about the series, with Newsarama.Com’s Troy Brownfield exclaiming, “With intelligent writing, great art, and a renewed sense of vision, Thor is definitely succeeding.”

Superstar writer JMS and red hot artist Olivier Coipel continue their thrilling rejuvenation of Thor in Thor #3, as the titular hero confronts his former ally Iron Man. How will the two deal with the effects of Civil War? Let’s just say that’s neither one is getting out of there without a few scratches! And if you missed the second issue of this series, make sure to pick up Thor #2 Coipel Wraparound Second Printing Variant, revealing just how Asgard returns! And for a special behind the scenes look at Thor, you can’t miss Marvel Spotlight: Thor!

THOR #1 THIRD PRINTING TURNER SKETCH VARIANT (JUL078099)
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Pencils by OLIVIER COIPEL
Cover by MICHAEL TURNER
Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC—09/06/07, On-Sale—09/26/07

THOR #2 COIPEL WRAPAROUND SECOND PRINTING VARIANT (JUN078193)
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Pencils & Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL
Rated T+ …$2.99
On-Sale—09/12/07

THOR #3 (JUL072192)
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Pencils & 50/50 Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL
50/50 Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
Rated T+ …$2.99
On-Sale—09/12/07

MARVEL SPOTLIGHT: THOR (JUL072193)
Written by JOHN RHETT THOMAS
Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC—09/06/07, On-Sale—09/26/07

THOR POSTER (MAY072199)
24X36 Color Poster...$6.99
On-Sale Now!

Just finished a big upgrade as you probably can see, and there's still a little more to do.

I have a small (2,500) comic book collection and about 50 trade paperbacks, graphic novels and the like. I was reading this thread today which made me think: Which collected trades should I get? Here's a ongoing list of stuff I wanna get:

Marvel:
*Planet Hulk Omnibus (Though I'm only missing the last chapter from the story)

DC:
*Heroes - The Graphic Novel (for my girl, she loves that show...)
*New Teen Titans - The Judas Contract TPB
*Batman - Knightsend (Got the Knightfall TPB way back in '93... wonder if it's still in print?)
*Superman - Return of Superman (just to complete the Death of/World Without a Superman TPBs)
*Crisis On Infinite Earths (to help with a future project of mine)
*The Legion of Super-Heroes - An Eye For An Eye TPB (Kinda symbolic for me...)
*Superman - Whatever Happened To The Man of Tomorrow? (best Superman story EVER)

DC/Vertigo:
*Death:The High Cost of Living TPB
*V For Vendetta
*The Witching Hour
*Y The Last Man vol. 1-9

This doesn't look good...

I saw this coming from a mile away, and if this keeps up there will be another comics implosion, similar to the DC Implosion of 1978 & the time right after Superman died. I was surprised back when I first saw it on the news, so the following Saturday I go to my lcs & they had 1 copy left, the only sold-out book in the store... they're just building for the movie which should be out sometime in 2009.

The comics industry lost a luminary this weekend - Mike Wieringo passed away Sunday of a sudden heart attack. Details are still sketchy as of this time, but according to close sources, the acclaimed artist had chest pains at some point during the day and called 911, but the responders did not make it in time.

Mike Wieringo was 44 years old. He was a vegetarian, and "one of the healthiest ones of us in the bunch," as his longtime friend and collaborator Todd Dezago described him.

Rest in peace to Mike & his family, he was a great inspiration to me, drew one of my favorite versions of Spidey & Flash as well as co-crafting the excellent series Tellos. I still have Flash #80, which I believe was his first DC work and his style had me hooked since. He will be missed.

For more info you can check his blog which his brother now maintains.

Mattel Inc. issued its second major recall in less than a month today, recalling about 9.6 million toys within the U.S. that were manufactured in China due to lead paint and loose magnet hazards, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Mattel also launched a national advertising campaign today, assuring consumers it is on top of product safety amid reports of an impending second big recall of its Chinese-made toys.

The full-page ad, which appears in Tuesday's Wall Street Journal, New York Times and USA Today, includes a letter from Mattel Chief Executive Bob Eckert, set above three playing children.



The CPSC said the recall impacted a number of product lines including various "Polly Pocket" dolls, a "Barbie Doll and Tanner" magnet, Batman & One Piece action figure sets and a die-cast car from the Pixar movie "Cars."

Coupled with news of the death of Zhang Shuhong, the head of Lee Der Industrial Co., the company that manufactured lead-tainted Sesame Street toys at the center of a massive U.S. recall, hung himself over the weekend and the fact that recalled products have been on the market as far back as May 2003, this doesn't look good for China or US biz.

Read more on this here

20th Century Fox-based production company New Regency has partnered with the Mark Gordon Company to adapt Voltron: Defender of the Universe into a possible franchise.

Producer Mark Gordon has been developing the film, based on the popular 1980s Japanese animated TV series, comic books and toy line, for some time with Justin Marks writing the script.

But interest in the property hit a high after Transformers turned into a box office juggernaut, raking in nearly $300 million to date.

Marks' take is described as a post-apocalyptic tale of survival set in New York City and Mexico.

In the animated series, five Galaxy Alliance pilots control vehicles shaped like lions that combine and form the massive sword-wielding Voltron robot in order to battle an evil menace.

Gordon is producing with Lawrence Inglee and Jordan Wynn shepherding the project. Mark Costa and Ford Oelman are executive producers.

Marks is also adapting He-Man and the Masters of the Universe for Joel Silver at Warner Bros., as well as the Green Arrow pic Supermax, also at the studio. Marks also has Street Fighter in the works at Hyde Park and Fox.