According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Warner Bros. has quietly adopted Marvel's model of releasing a single film for each character, and then using those movies and their sequels to build up to a multicharacter film. And there's also talk that depending on the direction Supeman Returns director Bryan Singer takes the reboot would decide his fate with the franchise.
As quoted from blogger Anne Thompson at Variety:

Fans have been clamoring all over the web—and on this blog—for a complete reboot. And within the halls of Warner Bros. the same debate rages on. They too believe that the last movie didn't break the mold and wound up in some kind of middle limbo. Today I was told that it is a priority at the studio to find the right direction and if Bryan Singer is willing to do that, fine, but if he gets in the way, he may not stay on the project. There are no writers working on a Superman script now. The studio wants to figure it out. "It might be better to start from scratch," one exec admitted.

Studio executive Jeff Robinov plans to have the film released either by 2010 or 2011. Here's what he had to say on it:

"Superman' didn't quite work as a film in the way that we wanted it to," Robinov said of Singer's movie, which made just $215 million domestically. "It didn't position the character the way he needed to be positioned," he continued. "Had 'Superman' worked in 2006, we would have had a movie for Christmas of this year or 2009, but now the plan is just to reintroduce Superman. We're going to try to go dark to the extent that the character allows it."

A movie referred to internally as "Justice League of America," originally said to debut as soon as summer 2009, was planned as one of the studio’s major releases. With that film, starring a superhero team, Warner hoped to spark interest in DC characters like Green Lantern who haven’t yet attained the level of popularity of Batman. But script problems, among other things, have delayed the movie.

The studio is set to announce its plans for future DC films in the next month. For now, though, it is focused on releasing four comic book films in the next three years, including a third Batman film, a new film reintroducing Superman, and two movies focusing on other DC Comics characters. Movies featuring Green Lantern, Flash, Green Arrow, Jonah Hex, Shazam and Wonder Woman are all in active development.

Get ready, True Believers, as the Sentry soars onto shelves this September in an all-new limited series, The Age of the Sentry #1 (of 6)! Join red-hot writers, Jeff Parker and Paul Tobin, along with rising-star artists Nick Dragotta and Ramon Rosanas, as they unveil the secret history of the man with the "power of a million exploding suns!" When the Golden Guardian is severely injured, it is up to Scout, Lindy Lee, and Watchdog to save the day. In order to do so, though, they'll have to travel back in time and learn how Rob Reynolds became the Sentry! PLUS: a startling new story featuring the Tinkerer and the Mad Thinker as they team up to build the ultimate device to steal the Sentry's powers, the parasitic beam! The Sentry is the only thing standing between them and world domination...

Editor Mark Paniccia told Marvel.com, "Jeff and Paul have an amazing respect and understanding of the magic of the Silver Age, and the approach of entertaining and inspiring readers by pushing the limits of the imagination... And Nick Dragotta's got the [Silver Age] style down pat!"

What will happen if the Sentry's alter-ego is exposed? Will the Tinkerer and Mad Thinker's evil scheme destroy the Golden Guardian? Read on, True Believers, and don't miss these breathtaking new tales in The Age of the Sentry #1 (of 6)!

























































THE AGE OF THE SENTRY #1 (of 6) (JUL082344)
THE AGE OF THE SENTRY #1 BULLOCK VARIANT (of 6) (MAY088348)
Written by JEFF PARKER & PAUL TOBIN
Penciled by NICK DRAGOTTA & RAMON ROSANAS
Cover by DAVE BULLOCK & MICHAEL CHO
Rated A ...$2.99
FOC - 8/28/08, On-Sale - 9/17/08

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook

Marvel Comics is a division of Marvel Entertainment, Inc., a leading global character-based entertainment company that has developed and owns a library of more than 5,000 characters, which have entertained generations around the world for over 60 years. Marvel's operations are focused in entertainment and consumer product licensing and comic book publishing. Marvel Studios supports the development of feature films, DVD/video products and TV series. Marvel's creative team also supports the development of video games and toy lines based on its characters as well as for a broad and growing range of consumer products and services including apparel, collectibles, foods and promotions. Marvel's comic book division is a leading publisher in the global marketplace while also serving as an invaluable source of intellectual property. Marvel's Toy Biz division is a recognized creative force and leader in toy design, sales and marketing, developing and overseeing both licensee and in-house toy lines. For additional information visit http://www.marvel.com.

Press Release

The Orlando MegaCon, the largest comic book multi media event in the Southeast is pleased to make its initial announcement of guests for its 2009 convention. The Orlando MegaCon will take place Feb. 27-March 1, 2009 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.

Legendary artist George Pérez will be the Special Guest of Honor at MegaCon 2009. In a 30+ year career in comics, George has illustrated Avengers, Fantastic Four, JLA, Wonder Woman, and a host of other seminal comics titles. He is hard at work on his next project from DC Comics, Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds. This will be George's first scheduled convention appearance in over a year, as he took 2008 off the convention circuit.

In addition, MegaCon is proud to announce additional comic guests including:

* Jimmy Palmiotti, writer of Back to Brooklyn
* Amanda Conner, artist of Green Arrow/Black Canary
* Darwyn Cooke, writer/artist of The Spirit
* Adam Hughes, artist of Wonder Woman and Tomb Raider
* Ethan Van Sciver, artist of Green Lantern
* Paul Pelletier, artist of Guardians of the Galaxy
* Jim Cheung, artist of Young Avengers
* Ron Marz, writer of Witchblade and Dragon Prince
* Steve McNiven, artist of Wolverine and Civil War
* Chuck Dixon, writer of Robin and Nightwing
* Brandon Peterson, artist of Uncanny X-Men
* Greg Land, artist of X-Men
* Nelson DeCastro, artist of Action Comics
* Mark Waid, writer of Flash, Captain America, and Fantastic Four
* Tony Bedard, writer of Birds of Prey and Exiles
* And Chris Claremont, Marvel Comics' legendary X-Men writer, who shepherded the title for over 20 years.

The MegaCon guest list is constantly growing. Check www.MegaConvention.com frequently for more updates.

Press Release

Comics Experience is pleased to announce that Dan Slott (Amazing Spider-Man and Avengers: The Initiative) will be teaching the Introduction to Comics Writing course and that DC Comics Editor Michael Siglain (52, JSA, Batman family) will be teaching the Introduction to Comic Book Art course. Both courses start this September.

"After teaching the classes for a little over a year, I was looking to bring something new to Comics Experience. Then it occurred to me to ask, whom would I want to take these classes from? So, I didn't have to look far to find Dan and Michael," Comics Experience owner Andy Schmidt said. "Dan Slott, much to my surprise, agreed almost right away and Michael Siglain earned my trust over his past guest appearances. He also has an art background that makes him a better choice for the class than I was!"

Both instructors are following the general guidelines that Schmidt set out but they are also bringing new ideas to the classes. The intention is to make these courses different, but more importantly--better.

"Andy Schmidt's Comics Experience class is an invaluable tool for aspiring writers, artists, and editors. I've had the pleasure of speaking at a few of them. Interacting with the next generation of comic book talent and passing along some of the knowledge and tricks of the trade that I've accumulated in my career is a truly amazing--not to mention gratifying--experience," said Michael Siglain. "I wish these classes were around when I was trying to break into the business--they're tremendously helpful and also a helluva lot of fun."

Dan Slott said, "If you're serious about the craft of comics, you can read books about writing or drawing. You can go to a convention and take notes at a panel. Maybe you can go up after, or go to a signing, and get a minute or two with an industry pro. What Andy Schmidt's "Comic Experience" gives you is a chance, in a small class setting, to get access to a writer, editor, or artist and get advice that goes beyond the quick tips and pointers. That is such an incredible resource!"

Courses start September 24th and 25th, meeting on Wednesday and Thursday nights, and are held near Manhattan's Penn Station. Check out www.comicsexperience.com for details. Or email info@comicsexperience.com for more information!

Michael Siglain
Born and raised in New York, DC Comics editor Michael Siglain began his career in film and television as a storyboard artist and location scout. After a brief tour of duty in the NYC film world, Michael became an Associate Producer on video games, audio adaptations, and online webisodes for DC's multimedia department. Michael eventually made his way over to editorial, where he worked on such books as Identity Crisis, JLA, Batman, and Green Lantern. After a stint with Jonah Hex and Firestorm, Michael took over DC's hugely popular weekly book, 52, and is currently holding the reigns on Justice Society of America, Batman: Gotham After Midnight, Nightwing, and Booster Gold, among other titles

Dan Slott
Dan Slott is a writer for Marvel Comics, and is currently writing The Amazing Spider-Man and Avengers: The Initiative.

Dan has worked in the comic industry for close to two decades, writing primarily for Marvel and DC comics, and Acclaim, Top Cow, and Archie as well. He got his start as the writer for Marvel's Ren & Stimpy book. That led to steady assignments on dozens of licensed property titles, including everything from Looney Tunes to Scooby Doo, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Power Rangers, and from Sonic the Hedgehog to Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

In 2001, he switched over to DC's Adventures line, writing for Superman Adventures, Justice League Adventures, and as co-writer for the final volume of Batman Adventures. Work on those super hero titles for younger readers led Dan to more "mature" Batman work in 2003's well received Arkham Asylum: Living Hell.

From there came a steady stream of Marvel gigs including relaunches for She-Hulk and The Thing, as well as the mini-series GLA: Misassembled and Spider-Man/Human Torch.

Writing comics and talking about comics are pretty much all he knows. (Seriously, he can't change a tire, add large sums, or handle raw poultry. He's really all about the comics.). And Dan is ready to bring that focus, intensity, and love of the medium to teaching this semester's "Introduction to Comic Book Writing" class.

Is Apple guilty of censorship? After Infurious Comics' "Murderdrome" comic book was rejected by Apple's iPhone App Store earlier this week, they've asked visitors of their website for support in its request to Apple for a rating system similar to one already used on iTunes.

Apple turned down the comic book claiming that it violated a section of an SDK agreement which states: "Applications must not contain any obscene, pornographic, offensive or defamatory content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, etc.) or other content or materials that in Apple's reasonable judgment may be found objectionable by iPhone or iPod touch users."

Even though the Infurious web site continues to run early episodes, the Murderdrome project has been placed on temporary hold while they focus on other titles "which will be more Apple friendly, artist PJ Holden said in a Q&A with TechRadar UK.

Not much news lately regarding Street Fighter IV, it appears the release date has been pushed back as well. SF4 takes place between Street Fighter II and Street Fighter III.



Parrying has been removed, but a new system called "Focus Attacks" ("Saving Attack" for the Japanese version) will be introduced, as well as Ultra moves. The traditional six-button control scheme returns, with new features and special moves integrated into the input system a classic, great mix of classic & modern styles. Online play has also been announced.



Street fighter IV will launch to PC, PS3 & Xbox360 either late 2008 or early 2009.Home versions will be available in standard edition and Collector's Edition. The contents of the Collector's Edition are yet to be announced, but Capcom is has a survey at the official site as to which collectible items fans would want to see in the Collector's Edition.

Press Release

The New York Anime Festival (NYAF) today announced tickets to its 2008 event are now available at select retailers throughout New York City. Participating comic and anime shops include Manhattan anime landmarks Kinokuniya Bookstore and Image Anime. Tickets are also available online at newyorkanimefestival.com. The New York Anime Festival, an anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture convention from the creators of New York Comic Con, takes place September 26th through the 28th at the Jacob Javits Center in New York, NY.

"We're very happy to be working with comic and anime stores around New York City to offer fans another way to purchase tickets to the 2008 New York Anime Festival," Show Manager Lance Fensterman said. "We've been working with some stores for years now, and this is the first time we're partnering with many more. We're always excited to make local shops part of the New York Anime Festival family!"

NEW YORK ANIME FESTIVAL RETAIL PARTNERS

Anime Castle
35-32 Union St
Flushing, NY 11354

Forbidden Planet
840 Broadway
New York, NY 10003

Image Anime
242 West 30th St
New York, NY 10001

Kinokuniya Bookstore
1073 Ave of the Americas
New York, NY 10018

Midtown Comics
459 Lexington Ave
New York, NY 10017

Jim Hanley's Universe
4 West 33rd St
New York, NY 10001

Friday tickets are $35, Saturday tickets are $40, Sunday tickets are $35, and Weekend tickets -- good all three days -- are $55. Additional retailers will be announced soon at newyorkanimefestival.com. Retailers wishing to join the program can contact the New York Anime Festival's Kyle Marsden-Kish at kmarsdenkish@reedexpo.com.

ABOUT THE NEW YORK ANIME FESTIVAL:
The New York Anime Festival takes place September 26-28, 2008 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan and is organized by Reed Exhibitions, the creators of New York Comic Con. The New York Anime Festival showcases the best of anime pop culture, including the latest anime, manga, Japanese cinema, music, and games, and anime-influenced comics, animation, and films from around the world. The festival features exclusive and extensive screenings, a gala cosplay masquerade, sessions with the some of the biggest names in anime from Japan, Asia, and America, and explores the Japanese cultural experience with displays of both traditional and cutting-edge Japanese life. NYAF's partners include Anime News Network, Bandai Entertainment, BookExpo America, Del Rey Manga, DigitalLife, Free Arts NYC, Japan Society, Karaterice, Kinokuniya Bookstore, New York Comic Con, Samurai Beat Radio, Subway Cinema, TheOtaku.com, TOKYOPOP, VIZ Pictures, and the World Cosplay Summit. Further information can be found at newyorkanimefestival.com.

ABOUT REED EXHIBITIONS:
The New York Anime Festival is operated by Reed Exhibitions, the world's leading events organizer. In 2007, Reed brought together over six million industry professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today, Reed events are held in 38 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia and organized by 39 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc, a FTSE-100 company and world-leading publisher and information provider. In 2006, Reed Elsevier made adjusted profit before taxation of #1,052 million on turnover of #5,398 million.

On the day of its release, Amazing Spider-Man #569 has sold out at Diamond (though copies will be available at retail level)! The second part of the hotly anticipated "New Ways To Die" storyline marks not only the first appearance of Anti-Venom, but also the second straight sell out for Spidey's summer blockbuster, which IGN.Com deemed a, "well-plotted, intelligent superhero story."

Who is Anti-Venom? Why have the Thunderbolts assaulted Peter Parker? And just what does Norman Osborn know about the connection between Peter & Spider-Man? Find out in Amazing Spider-Man #569, in stores now!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #569 (JUN082308)
Written by DAN SLOTT
Pencils & Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
Villain Variant Cover by ADI GRANOV
Rated A ...$2.99
ON SALE NOW!
To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook

Marvel Comics is a division of Marvel Entertainment, Inc., a leading global character-based entertainment company that has developed and owns a library of more than 5,000 characters, which have entertained generations around the world for over 60 years. Marvel's operations are focused in entertainment and consumer product licensing and comic book publishing. Marvel Studios supports the development of feature films, DVD/video products and TV series. Marvel's creative team also supports the development of video games and toy lines based on its characters as well as for a broad and growing range of consumer products and services including apparel, collectibles, foods and promotions. Marvel's comic book division is a leading publisher in the global marketplace while also serving as an invaluable source of intellectual property. Marvel's Toy Biz division is a recognized creative force and leader in toy design, sales and marketing, developing and overseeing both licensee and in-house toy lines. For additional information visit http://www.marvel.com.

Press Release

Top Cow Productions, Inc. announced it will publish the first, complete story arc of William Harms’ Impaler in a new trade paperback that will debut this October, and then will launch a new series for the property in December.

The first three issues of the series were initially published by Top Cow parent company Image Comics in 2006-2007, but was never completed. The Impaler Vol. 1 trade paperback collects those three issues plus the final, three never-before-seen issues of the initial story arc. Top Cow was so excited by this series that it also greenlighted a new ongoing to follow the collection.

In Impaler, a derelict cargo ship is found adrift offshore during a terrible blizzard in New York City. When New York’s Finest is sent to investigate the missing crew, an unspeakable horror is unleashed that quickly spreads all over the snow-covered borough, as a vampire plague quickly moves through the city’s population. The people’s only hope lies in Vlad Tepes, the real-life historical inspiration for the vampire legend, Dracula. Vlad the Impaler arrives to defend the city from the ever-growing vampire horde, but how much can one man do against an army of thousands?

Impaler Vol. 1 boasts a stunning cover by John Paul Leon (Earth X) and features artwork by Nick Marinkovich (Nightwolf), Nick Postic (Underworld) and Francis Tsai (Marvel Comics Presents). The introduction is written by noted science fiction and horror writer F. Paul Wilson, who is responsible for the popular Repairman Jack series of novels and such horror books as The Keep, Midnight Mass and The Touch. Extras in the collection include script pages from unused scenes and bonus artwork.

In December, Top Cow will launch Impaler as an ongoing series, featuring art by British newcomer Matt Timson (Popgun).

“One of the nice things about having the break between the Image series and the new series is that it really gave me time to nail down where the story is headed,” revealed Harms. “I have the next couple arcs already plotted, and I think fans of the book will really dig where things are going.”

“William Harms has managed to put a truly unique spin on ‘the vampire story’ by taking Vlad the Impaler and making him a vampire hunter,” said Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik. “This trade collection gives birth to this original idea but the upcoming ongoing series from Harms and Matt Timson will really keep you up at night!”

Impaler was nominated for an International Horror Guild award and received accolades from Ain’t It Cool News, Rue Morgue magazine, Cinescape and Metro (Toronto).

Tomb Raider: Underworld resume the adventure from where Tomb Raider: Legend left off and address elements of the plot left unexplained in Legend and Tomb Raider: Anniversary. According to Play magazine, Lara "moves as good as she looks [and] no longer moves like a video game character" thanks to being fully motion captured. Olympic gymnast and NCAA Women's Gymnastics champion Heidi Moneymaker was the model used for motion capturing.

Eidos producer Bill Beacham explains more about the development of Tomb Raider Underworld:

"So we've got a next-gen engine. We built it from the ground up, and that just allows us to do so much more with the size of the world, the visual fidelity of the world, how Lara looks, how she moves, and just expanding the gameplay in ways that are true to what you'd expect from a tomb raider game but they are also giving you new ways to explore the environment and deal with the challenges."

Simply breathtaking. This game may just dethrone Uncharted: Drake's Fortune as the PS3's best adventure game! Eidos and Crystal Dynamics will release the game on Windows, Nintendo DS, PS2, PS3, Wii & Xbox 360 in November 2008.

Green Arrow: Escape from Super Max follows a wrongly convicted Green Arrow as he is incarcerated in a super maxim security prison filled with villains (like Luthor, Icicle and the Joker?!) and rogue superheroes. Arrow will also come face to face with some of the people he put in the prison.

LatinoReview.com has a review of the film's status so far:

He’s Green Arrow for the first 10 minutes of the movie, and then he’s arrested and his secret identity is revealed,” Goyer told Wizard. “They shave his goatee and they take his costume and send him to prison for life, and he has to escape. It’s like ‘Alcatraz,’ and he has to team up with, in some cases, some of the very same villains he is responsible for incarcerating in order to get out and clear his name. Of course, tons of people try to kill him while he’s in there. We’ve populated the prison with all sorts of B and C villains from the DC Universe. For the fans, there will be all sorts of characters the hardcore comic book junkies will know, but they’re all going to be there under their human names and no one is wearing a costume, but there will be a lot of characters with powers and things like that.

There are no plans for the Black Canary (Oliver’s wife)to appear in the film.

The comic book blockbuster event of the summer, Secret Invasion, continues to have everyone asking, “Who do you trust?” Marvel is pleased to announce that Secret Invasion #3 will have a third printing featuring a black and white Spider-Woman cover by superstar artist Leinil Yu! Join award-winning writer Brian Michael Bendis as he presents Secret Invasion #3 (of 8) Third Printing Variant, as the epic invasion of the century rages on! It’s time for the new graduates of the Initiative to show the world what they’re made of but they aren’t the only new recruits. Nick Fury has returned and with him a batch of fresh faces. Are Nick’s new Secret Warriors enough to push the Skrull horde back into space?

Marvel urges retailers to check their orders on Secret Invasion and all tie-in issues, as they continue to sell out quickly at Diamond! It’s the series you’ve read about everywhere from Entertainment Weekly to The Wall Street Journal--don’t miss Secret Invasion!

SECRET INVASION #3 3rd PRINTING SKETCH VARIANT (JUL088109)
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU
Rated T+ ...$3.99
FOC - 9/4, On-Sale - 9/24/2008

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook

Marvel Comics is a division of Marvel Entertainment, Inc., a leading global character-based entertainment company that has developed and owns a library of more than 5,000 characters, which have entertained generations around the world for over 60 years. Marvel's operations are focused in entertainment and consumer product licensing and comic book publishing. Marvel Studios supports the development of feature films, DVD/video products and TV series. Marvel's creative team also supports the development of video games and toy lines based on its characters as well as for a broad and growing range of consumer products and services including apparel, collectibles, foods and promotions. Marvel's comic book division is a leading publisher in the global marketplace while also serving as an invaluable source of intellectual property. Marvel's Toy Biz division is a recognized creative force and leader in toy design, sales and marketing, developing and overseeing both licensee and in-house toy lines. For additional information visit http://www.marvel.com.

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is an upcoming video game for the PS3, PS2, PSP, Xbox 360, Windows, Nintendo DS and Wii. The concept involves Venom returning New York to infect the city with an army of symbiotes.

S.H.I.E.L.D. has quarantined Manhattan to prevent the invasion from spreading. Spidey will team up with both heroes and villains from the MU to stop the invasion before he himself is consumed by the symbiote, attached to him once again.

I think the coolest thing about this game is the fact you, the player, will be able to choose the game's outcome, which villain to fight against AND the ability to switch between the original Red and Blue suit, and the Symbiote suit at any time!

Web of Shadows will be released on the mentioned platforms October 21st.

Sony will release a new PS3 SKU, with a 160GB hard drive, which will start shipping to North America this November w/Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and a PlayStation Network voucher for PAIN for $499.99. In related news, the "new" $399.99 80GB version is finally shipping to retailers soon. Unfortunately there's no mention of PS2 backwards compatibility in either model.

Before he was the Master of Magnetism and the most radical mutant rights activist mankind has ever seen - Magneto was just a boy growing up in Nazi Germany. In the Marvel Knights tradition of Spider-Man: Reign and Silver Surfer: Requiem comes X-Men: Magneto Testament #1 (of 5)! Witness the evolution of one of the most popular and controversial X-Men villains of all time! Superstar writer Greg Pak (World War Hulk, Incredible Hercules) is taking fans back to the year 1935 to show the difficulties and horrors Erik Lensherr faced growing up Jewish in Nazi occupied Germany. From award-winning artist Carmine Di Giandomenico (Daredevil: Batllin' Jack Murdock), comes the definitive origin story of the Master of Magnetism! It all begins with a silver chain, a first crush, and a dictator's rise to power...

Pak told Marvel.com, "Like so many classic Marvel characters, [Magneto] has to grapple with the typical problems of any scrawny outsider: family problems, schoolyard bullies, and first crushes...But every little conflict takes on a terrifying, new dimension as the scope and inexorable advance of the Nazi menace becomes clearer."

No X-Men fan can afford to miss X-Men: Magneto Testament #1 (of 5)!

























































X-MEN: MAGNETO -- TESTAMENT #1 (of 5) (JUL082357)
Written by GREG PAK
Penciled by CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO
Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Parental Advisory ...$3.99
FOC - 8/21/08, On-Sale - 9/10/08

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook

Marvel Comics is a division of Marvel Entertainment, Inc., a leading global character-based entertainment company that has developed and owns a library of more than 5,000 characters, which have entertained generations around the world for over 60 years. Marvel's operations are focused in entertainment and consumer product licensing and comic book publishing. Marvel Studios supports the development of feature films, DVD/video products and TV series. Marvel's creative team also supports the development of video games and toy lines based on its characters as well as for a broad and growing range of consumer products and services including apparel, collectibles, foods and promotions. Marvel's comic book division is a leading publisher in the global marketplace while also serving as an invaluable source of intellectual property. Marvel's Toy Biz division is a recognized creative force and leader in toy design, sales and marketing, developing and overseeing both licensee and in-house toy lines. For additional information visit http://www.marvel.com.

Peter Parker's survived a Brand New Day--but now he's about to discover New Ways To Die in the double-sized Amazing Spider-Man #568, on-sale today! Kicking off the hotly anticipated "New Ways To Die" storyline, from acclaimed scribe Dan Slott and legendary artist John Romita Jr, Spider-Man's about to face off against Menace and...the Thunderbolts! Why does Norman Osborn have his eye on Peter Parker? Why has he chosen to re-enter Peter's life now? Now's your chance to get in on the ground floor for the story that introduced the all-new Anti-Venom...but just who or what is it? How is it connected to Venom?

There's only one way to find out, True Believer--swing over to your local comic book store and discover Amazing Spider-Man #568, today! Plus, don't miss variant covers from industry heavyweights Alex Ross, John Romita Sr and John Romita Jr!






















AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #568 (JUN082306)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #568 ROMITA SR VARIANT (JUN082307)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #568 ROMITA JR SKETCH VARIANT (MAY088079)
Written by DAN SLOTT & MARK WAID
Penciled by JOHN ROMITA JR.& ADI GRANOV
50/50 Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
50/50 Cover by ALEX ROSS
Variant Cover by JOHN ROMITA SR.
Rated A ...$3.99
ON SALE NOW!!!

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook

Marvel Comics is a division of Marvel Entertainment, Inc., a leading global character-based entertainment company that has developed and owns a library of more than 5,000 characters, which have entertained generations around the world for over 60 years. Marvel's operations are focused in entertainment and consumer product licensing and comic book publishing. Marvel Studios supports the development of feature films, DVD/video products and TV series. Marvel's creative team also supports the development of video games and toy lines based on its characters as well as for a broad and growing range of consumer products and services including apparel, collectibles, foods and promotions. Marvel's comic book division is a leading publisher in the global marketplace while also serving as an invaluable source of intellectual property. Marvel's Toy Biz division is a recognized creative force and leader in toy design, sales and marketing, developing and overseeing both licensee and in-house toy lines. For additional information visit http://www.marvel.com.

Official Press Release

A new and special manner to present original content to a captive and devoted audience has been created by The New York Anime Festival (NYAF) who today announced that the short story Vampire Hunter D: The Wanderer's Ship by Hideyuki Kikuchi will be published inside its Official Guide Book. Vampire Hunter D: The Wanderer's Ship has never been printed before in any language anywhere in the world. The New York Anime Festival, an anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture convention from the creators of New York Comic Con, takes place September 26th through the 28th at the Jacob Javits Center in New York, NY.

Hideyuki Kikuchi is one of Japan's most prolific horror novelists and one of the New York Anime Festival's Guests of Honor. Mr. Kikuchi is most famous for his Vampire Hunter D novel series, stories that follow "D" -- a half-human, half-vampire swordsman -- through a dystopic future ruled by vampires. The first D novel, penned in Japan in 1983, has been followed by over 15 sequels, with the most recent -- Throng of Heretics -- released in Japan in 2007. Mr. Kikichi is attending NYAF along with Vampire Hunter D illustrator Yoshitaka Amano and translator Kevin Leahy.

Vampire Hunter D: The Wanderer's Ship, a story of D and his encounter with a blood-red battleship, dates back to one of the author's "Talk Live" events. Each year, Mr. Kikichi hosts several "Talk Live" gathering in the Kabukicho section of Shinjuku. At these events, he introduces a younger generation of fans to a wide variety of horror and sci-fi films and brings them face-to-face with guests from the worlds of publishing, animation, and film. The events conclude with drawings that give the audience chances to win signed books, artwork, and other exclusive prizes. The very best is saved for last -- short stories handwritten by Mr. Kikuchi with exclusive publication rights.

To date, three tales set in the Vampire Hunter D universe have come into the possession of lucky fans. Only the first has been published. The third -- Vampire Hunter D: The Wanderer's Ship -- was won by Ms. Hitomi Yasue, a longtime fan of Mr. Kikuchi and a regular attendee of his events. As someone who knew D from the novels before ever seeing the anime, she was surprised to hear the opposite was true overseas. Ms. Yasue has graciously agreed to share this short story with fans at the New York Anime Festival in the hopes of exposing more people to the literary incarnation of her favorite Vampire Hunter. Vampire Hunter D: The Wanderer's Ship has been translated for the New York Anime Festival by Mr. Kikuchi's friend and the translator of his Vampire Hunter D novel series, Mr. Kevin Leahy

"It is with great pleasure that the New York Anime Festival presents Vampire Hunter D: The Wanderer's Ship in print for the first time anywhere, in any language," NYAF Show Manager Lance Fensterman said. "This is a genuinely historic moment, something for Kikuchi's fans around the globe, and it is only possible because of the generosity of Ms. Hitomi Yasue and the hard work of Mr. Kevin Leahy."

The New York Anime Festival Guide Book will be available in the Jacob Javits Center lobby from September 26-28, 2008. Tickets to the New York Anime Festival are now available at newyorkanimefestival.com.

ABOUT THE NEW YORK ANIME FESTIVAL:
The New York Anime Festival takes place September 26-28, 2008 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan and is organized by Reed Exhibitions, the creators of New York Comic Con. The New York Anime Festival showcases the best of anime pop culture, including the latest anime, manga, Japanese cinema, music, and games, and anime-influenced comics, animation, and films from around the world. The festival features exclusive and extensive screenings, a gala cosplay masquerade, sessions with the some of the biggest names in anime from Japan, Asia, and America, and explores the Japanese cultural experience with displays of both traditional and cutting-edge Japanese life. NYAF's partners include Anime News Network, Bandai Entertainment, BookExpo America, Del Rey Manga, DigitalLife, Free Arts NYC, Japan Society, Karaterice, Kinokuniya Bookstore, New York Comic Con, Samurai Beat Radio, Subway Cinema, TheOtaku.com, TOKYOPOP, VIZ Pictures, and the World Cosplay Summit. Further information can be found at newyorkanimefestival.com.

ABOUT REED EXHIBITIONS:
The New York Anime Festival is operated by Reed Exhibitions, the world's leading events organizer. In 2007, Reed brought together over six million industry professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today, Reed events are held in 38 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia and organized by 39 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc, a FTSE-100 company and world-leading publisher and information provider. In 2006, Reed Elsevier made adjusted profit before taxation of #1,052 million on turnover of #5,398 million.

20th Century Fox said on Monday it will seek an injunction to block release of the Warner Bros movie "Watchmen" after a Los Angeles court ruled a copyright lawsuit against Warner can go forward.

"The Watchmen" is directed by Zack Snyder (300), with a budget around $120 million, is based on a 1980s DC Comics graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons. The movie, which has already been shot is slated for release on March 6, 2009. Watchmen stars Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino, Billy Crudup and Jackie Earle Haley as a band of former superheroes who find themselves reclassified as criminal vigilantes in an alternate universe circa 1985. As an unknown assassin begins to hunt them down, the heroes try to unravel a conspiracy and thwart a nuclear war.

Fox argues it acquired motion picture rights to the "Watchmen" graphic novel in the last 1980s, and that even though it relinquished certain rights to the material in 1991 it held onto the right to distribute the first movie. Fox filed its lawsuit against Warner Bros in February. Fox's accusations against its rival studio included copyright infringement, interference with contract and breach of contract.

In his decision released last week, Judge Gary Feess of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California wrote that Fox could hold some of the rights to the material, even if it did not hold all rights.

Fox spokesman Gregg Brilliant said:

"We will be asking the court to enforce Fox's copyright interests in "The Watchmen" and enjoin the release of the Warner Brothers film and any related 'Watchmen' media that violate our copyright interests in that property."

Hopefully this will be resolved by next March when the movie is expected to debut.

He's the Golden Guardian of Good. He's got the power of a million exploding suns. He is -- The Sentry! Coming to you before issue #1 of The Age Of The Sentry flies out of comic shops, Sentry fans everywhere are in for a special treat! Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited is proud to present an all-new EXCLUSIVE eight-page story available right here:

http://marvel.com/digitalcomics/titles/The_Age_Of_The_Sentry.0000.1

Prepare to travel back to the Silver Age and join The Sentry on his adventures and see why he's such an important piece of Marvel history!

Subscribers to Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited get to read The Age Of The Sentry first and exclusively in a "Sneak Week" peek starting today through Wednesday, August 20 after which it will be available for public viewing, for free!

Someone is stealing The Sentry's powers! How long can he last before a duo of villains suck the Golden Guardian of Good dry? This is a Sentry story you don't want to miss, exclusively on Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited right now!

THE AGE OF THE SENTRY #1 (JUL082344)
Written by JEFF PARKER & PAUL TOBIN
Penciled by NICK DRAGOTTA & RAMON ROSANAS
Cover by DAVE BULLOCK & MICHAEL CHO
Rated A ...$2.99
FOC - 8/28/08, On-Sale - 9/17/08

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook

Marvel Comics is a division of Marvel Entertainment, Inc., a leading global character-based entertainment company that has developed and owns a library of more than 5,000 characters, which have entertained generations around the world for over 60 years. Marvel's operations are focused in entertainment and consumer product licensing and comic book publishing. Marvel Studios supports the development of feature films, DVD/video products and TV series. Marvel's creative team also supports the development of video games and toy lines based on its characters as well as for a broad and growing range of consumer products and services including apparel, collectibles, foods and promotions. Marvel's comic book division is a leading publisher in the global marketplace while also serving as an invaluable source of intellectual property. Marvel's Toy Biz division is a recognized creative force and leader in toy design, sales and marketing, developing and overseeing both licensee and in-house toy lines. For additional information visit http://www.marvel.com.

Marvel is proud to announce that Amazing Spider-Man Family #1 has sold out at Diamond! Not getting your dose of web-slinging fun, thricely? Check out Amazing Spider-Man Family #1 for the latest scoop on your friendly neighborhood super hero and the rest of the Brand New Day cast! Everyone knows Spider-Man's origin - but, no one knows what happened the day after Uncle Ben died. Join J.M. De Matteis and the Spanish sensation Alex Cal for "Spider-Man: 48 Hours"! Plus, the Amazing Spider-Girl team of Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz and Sal Buscema show what MayDay was like before she became Spider-Girl! Also, what's up with Aunt May, Agent of F.E.A.S.T.? And a flashback to the birth of one Spidey's greatest nemeses, VENOM!

Please note that Marvel currently has no plans to go back to press on Amazing Spider-Man Family #1 and copies may still be available at the retail level.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN FAMILY #1
Written by MARC DEMATTEIS & TOM DEFALCO
Penciled by ALEX CAl & RON FRENZ
Cover by ADI GRANOV
Rated A ...$4.99
ON-SALE NOW!

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook

Marvel Comics is a division of Marvel Entertainment, Inc., a leading global character-based entertainment company that has developed and owns a library of more than 5,000 characters, which have entertained generations around the world for over 60 years. Marvel's operations are focused in entertainment and consumer product licensing and comic book publishing. Marvel Studios supports the development of feature films, DVD/video products and TV series. Marvel's creative team also supports the development of video games and toy lines based on its characters as well as for a broad and growing range of consumer products and services including apparel, collectibles, foods and promotions. Marvel's comic book division is a leading publisher in the global marketplace while also serving as an invaluable source of intellectual property. Marvel's Toy Biz division is a recognized creative force and leader in toy design, sales and marketing, developing and overseeing both licensee and in-house toy lines. For additional information visit http://www.marvel.com.

Game informer has an exclusive look at the new Batman game called ‘Arkham Asylum.’ Batman: Arkham Asylum is being developed by Rocksteady Studios and co-publishers Eidos and WBIE. The story, co-written by Paul Dini, will explore Gotham’s Arkham Asylum, where the Joker was sentenced to for crimes committed earlier. When the prison has a routine transfer, something goes terribly wrong, and the Joker takes over Arkham with all his evil minions. GI remarks the dark and gritty setting to be reminiscent of Bioshock.

The game takes after the comics (EA owns the rights to the movie license, which means there still may be a game based on 'Dark Knight' the way. GI mentions you will see some of the villains during the gameplay, such as the Joker, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, and Zsasz. The article also noted they saw some concept art of the game and confirmed they saw the Penguin, Riddler, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, and Mr Freeze. More villains are also planned but have not yet been revealed.

Sefton Hill the director of the game said:

“There are a lot of supervillains in this game. This is the first Batman game where you’re going to get to see and fight against all of the big supervillains, and they’re going to be represented in a way you’ve never seen before.”

Game Informer also found out the player can travel anywhere and anytime in Arkham. You are not limited to certain areas, but you can roam the Asylum freely as you please. Think that Arkham Asylum is Batman’s Liberty City. The combat isn’t a traditional stealth game. The developers think a ‘regular’ stealth game makes the player look weak. Something they feel Batman is not.

“If you look at a stealth game, it’s about being weak and hiding…this is about being in a strong positions and them not knowing where you are. It’s a very different fell. Predator gameplay we call it. Picking of the weak people.”

Judging from this, it looks like we may finally get a good Batman game!

update: here is the official press release:

Eidos Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on behalf of DC Comics announce Batman: Arkham Asylum, a dark, action-packed videogame adventure for Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows in 2009.

In Batman: Arkham Asylum, developed by Rocksteady Studios, the player assumes the role of Batman as he delivers The Joker to Arkham Asylum. There, the imprisoned super-villains have set a trap and an immersive combat gaming experience unfolds. With an original script penned by Emmy Award-winning Batman writer Paul Dini, the game brings the universe of DC Comics' detective to life with stunning graphics.

"In Batman: Arkham Asylum Eidos and Warner Bros. are building a true action adventure game experience worthy of gamers and fans," said Phil Rogers, CEO of Eidos Interactive. "Players become Batman, like he has never been seen before in a video game, as he fights through intense circumstances in Arkham Asylum utilizing his intuitive detective skills and aggressive melee attacks."

"Batman: Arkham Asylum offers players the chance to battle Gotham's worst villains with Batman's physical and psychological strength in a graphically distinct and story-driven game," said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "We look forward to working with Eidos on expanding DC Comics' world-renowned character Batman in the game space with a noticeably different feature set in an incredibly dark interactive environment."

Eidos Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will co-publish Batman: Arkham Asylum in North America, Eidos Interactive will publish the game in all other territories.

About DC Comics
DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC Super Heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics' Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.

About Eidos Interactive Ltd
Eidos Interactive is the creator of some of the world's leading videogame properties. Eidos Interactive consists of offices across Europe and the US and several development studios including Crystal Dynamics, IO Interactive, Beautiful Game Studios and Eidos Montreal. The Group has a valuable combined portfolio of intellectual property including: Tomb Raider, Hitman, Deus Ex, Championship Manager and Just Cause. Eidos Interactive is part of SCi Entertainment Group Plc (SEG).

About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including console, handheld and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles. BATMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and (C) DC Comics.

"Dark Knight" Breaks yet another record:

The Warner Bros. Batman flick pulled in $16.8 million to raise its total to $471.5 million. "The Dark Knight" passed the original "Star Wars" ($461 million) and now stands as No. 2 on the all-time domestic charts(not adjusted for inflation), behind only "Titanic" ($600.8 million). Warner Bros. expects "The Dark Knight" to top out at about $530 million domestically.

As of right now worldwide, TDK has made a little over 800 million so far..

Domestic: $471,493,000 58.9%
+ Foreign: $328,600,000 41.1%
= Worldwide: $800,093,000 !

Justice League movie officially cancelled:

Via Filmonic:
“We’re not off the notion of a Justice League,” Robinov says. “There’s a massive interest and knowledge in the comicbook industry and it takes time to sort of catch up and understand the characters and the history, where they’ve intersected with each other and what their worlds are. That’s part of the education that we’re going through.”

“These are big, iconic characters,” [Greg] Noveck says. “So when you make them into a movie, you’d better be shooting for a pretty high standard. You’re not always going to reach it, but you have to be shooting for it. We’re going to make a Justice League movie, whether it’s now or 10 years from now. But we’re not going to do it and Warners is not going to do it until we know it’s right.“

DC’s first solo movie off the blocks will most likely be Green Lantern, which already has a script and is apparently ready to go.

Posts may be sporadic lately as I've moved and still unpacking...things should be back to normal next week hopefully. For now I'm excited over news I've heard over the past week -

-Mike Grell (Jon Sable Freelance) will be returning to his most famous creation at DC, The Warlord, in time for the character's 35th anniversary.

-Milestone is back after a 11 year absence, and will be integrated into the mainstream DC universe!

-Batman: The Dark Knight has broken yet another record - $400 million domestically at the box office in just 18 days, the fastest pace ever.

-Todd McFarlane is returning to Spawn with issue #185, with Whilce Portacio as new series artist.

-Neil Gaiman and Andy Kubert on “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?” Awesome.


Here's the trailer for "Hulk Vs Wolverine" which will be on sale January 2009 for Blu-ray and DVD.