Countdown (the next weekly comic after 52) starts coming out in a couple of weeks - Paul Dini at its head with assorted other writers and artists - and here's its blurb:

The event of the year is here! This brand-new, year-long weekly series features a cast of hundreds where anything goes! With head writer Paul Dini and a rotating team of some of the industry's best writers and artists, COUNTDOWN will serve as the backbone of the DCU in 2007.

When a character dies in COUNTDOWN 51, it sets off an unexpected ripple that will touch virtually every character in the DC Universe.

The COUNTDOWN is on…so begins the end!

FCBD 2007 is almost here! Click here to see which comics you'll be able to choose from and click here to find the nearest comic shop near you!

Videogame players will have another title to place beside their copies of Lego Star Wars games. According to Variety, Warner Bros. has signed to produce a Lego Batman videogame, to be developed by TT Games, which also developed Lego Star Wars.

According to the trade, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will fully finance and publish the game itself, as well as handle all distribution in North America.

The game will follow the Lego Star Wars model, that is, all the characters and sets will be constructed of Lego pieces. More than likely, the games will follow in the successful footsteps of the two Lego Star Wars installments, which have sold several millions of copies, not only to the younger set, but also to adult gamers, due to the games’ charm, gameplay, and sense of humor.

A 2008 release is planned, more than likely in time with the release of Batman: The Dark Knight, the sequel to Batman Begins, which is due out on July 18, 2008.

Lego currently has a license to produce Batman toys and playsets made from Legos, and is on its second wave of figures and sets.

1) The Xbox 360 Elite will come with a 120GB HDD hard disk, an all black wireless controller (In appearance similar to the original Xbox's controller), an HDMI port, and HDMI and component and composite cables. The system's exterior will be black, but will retain the chrome finish that appeared on the original Xbox 360 Premium system. The Xbox website also states that the Xbox 360 Elite will upscale DVD video out of the box

Other accessories confirmed include black wireless controllers, black play and charge kit and black extra battery pack. A bundle pack will be avalible containing one black wireless controller and one black play and charge kit.

The black-cased console, complete with black joypad and accessories, will feature as a third SKU alongside the Core and Premium bundles and will always be available for purchase, rather than being a limited edition model.The Xbox 360 Elite will have a retail price of $479.99 and is expected to begin arriving in U.S. stores on April 29, 2007.

2) Rumor: 80GB PS3 On The Way?

Sony told Eurogamer that it currently has no plans to produce an 80GB PS3, despite emerging reports that it filed with the FCC for the model.

The one main point here: With the PlayStation 3, you can replace the 60GB hard drive and add almost any drive of your choice.

3) Stardust, based on Neil Gaiman's novel of the same name stars Charlie Cox, Claire Danes & Michelle Pfeiffer. Stardust opens August 10, 2007 in the U.S. You can watch the trailer here.

4) Check out the Spider-Man 3 trailer below!

Marvel Comics on Thursday issued a checklist of upcoming titles involved in the Spider-Man: Back in Black event.

Not all books will be labeled under the "Back in Black" umbrella.

MARCH

* Amazing Spider-Man #539

* Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #18

* New Avengers #28

* Sensational Spider-Man #36

APRIL

* Amazing Spider-Man #540

* Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #17 Granov 2nd Printing Variant

* Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #19

* Marvel Spotlight: Spider-Man

* New Avengers #29

* Sensational Spider-Man #35 Crain 2nd Printing Variant

* Sensational Spider-Man #37

* Spider-Man Family #1 Kirk 2nd Printing Variant

* Spider-Man Family #2

* Spider-Man: Back In Black Handbook

MAY

* Amazing Spider-Man #541

* Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America: Spider-Man

* Friendly Neighborhood

* Spider-Man #20

* Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Annual #1

* New Avengers #30

* Sensational Spider-Man Annual #1

JUNE

* Amazing Spider-Man #542

* Avengers: The Initiative #3 *

* Blade #10

* Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #21

* New Avengers #31

* Sensational Spider-Man #38

JULY

* Amazing Spider-Man #543

* Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #22

* New Avengers #32

* Sensational Spider-Man #39

press release:
Expanding on the experience of controlling the world’s largest army of Super Heroes on the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today plans to release Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Heroes and Villains. The expansion packs feature eight new playable characters: The Incredible Hulk, Magneto, Hawkeye, Sabretooth, Doctor Doom, Cyclops, Nightcrawler and Venom, each complete with new signature powers, skins, dialog, conversations and achievement points. The download will be available in April via the Xbox Live Marketplace online gaming service.

“The signature gameplay of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance has made it a favorite among fans, as well as the best-selling Super Hero game on the Xbox 360 to-date,” said Rob Kostich, vice president of global brand management, Activision, Inc. “By adding some of the biggest names in the Marvel Universe to the roster we’re enabling Xbox 360 gamers to build a variety of all-new teams and enjoy the epic action in brand new ways.”

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is the award-winning action/RPG that allows players to create their Marvel dream team from the largest roster of Super Heroes ever in an epic quest that will determine the fate of Earth and the Marvel universe. With a total of over 140 popular Marvel characters and a playable cast of more than 20 Super Heroes, including Spider-Man, Wolverine, Blade and Captain America, gamers embark on a dangerous journey across exotic terrain and well-known comic book locations like Atlantis, the Shield Heli-Carrier and the Skrull home world in an attempt to defy Dr. Doom and the world’s most notorious Super Villains.

The downloadable content will be released in three packs. The Hero Pack and Villain Pack will each be 500 Microsoft points ($6.25) and the Combined Hero and Villain Pack will be 800 Microsoft points ($10). Heroes and Villains gamer pic packs will also be available for 80 Microsoft points each ($1).

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is currently available for the Xbox 360 for the suggested retail price of $59.99 and rated “T” (Teen – Mild Language, Violence) by the ESRB.

Hmm... looks like things might get interesting in the DCU later this year...