BlackGeekdom Science-Fiction from a Different Perspective

I like the way they try bring back another War Machine title without calling it War Machine.     It does tend to reinforce the fact the character is a Iron man spinoff.    James Rhodes depending on the writer waivers from being just a different guy in the Iron Man armor ( the substitute teacher) to a very complex character (War Machine – Volume 1: Iron Heart (War Machine (Marvel).    That seems to be the problem the character development  disappears  each change in writer or title.    They always reset to “the other guy in the armor” or in another example “the other guy with the ring” aka “John Stewart” who suffers from the same problem.     The problem with constantly starting over is you never get anywhere.   Maybe this time we will get some lasting  character development

Source: Newsarama

“When I was a kid, Rhodey was Iron Man,” Spencer said, referring to the character’s two stints filling in for Tony Stark. “I had always viewed the character as a little bit more of a lead than maybe a lot of other people do.”

Spencer’s prepared to not only defend Rhodey’s place in the Marvel Universe, but also the character’s personality. Instead of seeing him as just Iron Man’s by-the-books buddy, Spencer’s clearly given thought to what makes Rhodes an interesting character on his own.

“Jim is a straight-laced, down-to-Earth, keep a low profile, business is business, kind of guy,” Spencer said. “He’s not a guy who cracks a lot of jokes on a day-to-day basis. He’s not a guy who deals with a whole lot of personal angst in a very loud way.

“In that sense he can be hard to get a handle on for some people. One of the things we’re going to be dealing with here is why he is like that, and why he feels like that’s what he needs to be.”

All of those qualities make Rhodes essentially the opposite of Stark — which is, yep, exactly why Spencer thinks their friendship works.

“Creative geniuses love stable, down-to-Earth people because that’s what they’re not,” Spencer said. “If you look at Rhodey, and you look at Pepper [Potts], that’s what they are. They are pragmatic, realistic, rational people in a way that Tony can never be.”

For Spencer, making readers care about a traditionally low-key character lke Rhodes is a “fun challenge,” one that — though it pained him to admit it — reminds him of a ’90-s chick-lit classic.

“This is a horrible comparison, but this is the Bridget Jones conflict,” Spencer said. “When you meet two people at the same time, and one is outgoing and friendly and funny and has great stories and talks your ear off, and the other person just sits there very quietly, you’re going to immediately walk away with the stronger impression of the one that was so much more charming and more outgoing. That doesn’t tell you anything about how they are as a person.

“At the end of the day, you might want to spend more time with the loud, boisterous type, but when the chips are really down, and you really need somebody to count on, you would want the other guy. And that’s who Jim is.”

Posted under Comics

STEEL #1
Written by STEVE LYONS
Art by SEAN CHEN
Cover by ALEX GARNER

John Henry Irons is a normal human being who managed to overcome all odds and become a hero who Superman considers a peer and colleague. What kind of determination drives a man to reach such heights? Find out here as a battered and bruised Steel defiantly stands as the only thing between Metallo and the destruction of Metropolis! Doctor Who novelist Steve Lyons and artist Sean Chen (ACTION COMICS, SALVATION RUN) deliver a story that shows why Steel is a true DC Universe icon!

ONE-SHOT • On sale JANUARY 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Posted under Comics

Posted under Books, Comics

Source: Comics Alliance

The fury of Black Dynamite is legendary and will not be confined to just one or even two feeble mediums! Following recent news that the blaxploitation parody would make the jump from film to comics (courtesy of Ape Entertainment), it was revealed Thursday that a new Black Dynamite animated series is in the works for Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim.

The story of an ex-CIA agent with vengeance in his heart and uncommonly good luck with women, “Black Dynamite” premiered in limited release in 2009, became an instant success with critics, and has since become a beloved cult home video. Based on the Michael Jai White film, the animated “Black Dynamite” will be Executive Produced by “The Boondocks’” Carl Jones and star much of the live-action film cast in voice-over roles, including White, Tommy Davidson, Kym Whitley, Byron Minns, Clifton Powell and JB Smoove.

Released in 2009, and already a cult smash, Black Dynamite is about to receive the comic book treatment from the folks at Ars Nova and Ape Entertainment. Set to appear in the one-shot, Black Dynamite: Slave Island, everyone’s favorite blaxploitation sensation will bring his kung-fu skills to the sequential page as he seeks to put an end to a mysterious island… where slavery still exists.“Fans of the film will feel right at home with the comic,” states Ape Entertainment founder and co-publisher Brent E. Erwin. “It has all of the elements that made the movie a cultural phenomenon, and Black Dynamite himself is still as much of a bad dude on the page as he is on the screen.”Directed by Scott Sanders, the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2009 and stars Michael Jai White as Black Dynamite, a gun-toting, nunchuck-wielding, ladies man willing to fight all the way from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House.“Although written for film, Black Dynamite was always meant to move beyond the camera,” continues Sanders. “As a medium, comic books seemed like such a logical step in Black Dynamite’s development as a character, and what better way to start than having him bring down the infamous Slave Island.”Black Dynamite: Slave Island is based on a story by Michael Jai White, Byron Minns and Scott Sanders. Written by Brian Ash with pencils by Jun Lofamia, the 48-page one-shot is due in stores in early 2011.

Posted under Animation, Comics

Source: CBR

The answer to who will be the new Man Without Fear was answered this afternoon on G4′s Attack of the Show: “Fresh Ink” host Blair Butler announced that Marvel’s Daredevil will end in November with Issue 512 — of course, we already knew that — to be replaced with Black Panther: The Man Without Fear.

The title, which picks up in December with Issue 513, spins out of the “Shadowland” event, and finds Black Panther as the new guardian of Hell’s Kitchen, “living outside of his kingdom and rebuilding his life” without the aid of advanced Wakandan technology.

Black Panther is written by award-winning novelist David Liss, who penned last year’s Daring Mystery Comics 70th Anniversary Special for Marvel, and penciled by Francesco Francavilla (Zorro), who drew those “Man Without Fear” teasers.

Daredevil returned to its original numbering a year ago with Issue 500. The continuation of that numbering under the new name, a la Incredible Hercules, suggests we’ll see a return to plain ol’ Daredevil before toolong. Meanwhile, the four-issue Daredevil: Reborn, by Andy Diggle and Davide Gianfelice, will launch in January.

We already know Daredevil is coming back in January so how long will this really last.    So T’challa  has destroyed the Wakanda economy ( ok he didn’t have much of a choice)  and left left his younger sister to fix it.    So he can protect Hell’s Kitchen….. .    The writing has to be off the chain to get me to buy this change of venue.

Posted under Comics

Source: USA Weekend

Idris Elba who is most known for his role as Stringer Bell in The Wire is currently starring in Takers, a heist film opening this weekend.  He talked about Takers and Thor in USA Weekend.   Here is an excerpt from that interview:

You just finished your stint filming Thor as the Asgardian warrior Heimdall. How was that?
It was dope. It was an interesting genre of film to make. I had never done comic book stuff, so that was really great.

What was the coolest part?
Just the bigness of the show. It’s so epic, these huge sets were just amazing to look at. And they really pat attention to detail. When you read the comics, you see all the drawings, and to actually see them in real life, it’s like, “Whoa!”

Do you see yourself doing another superhero character or are you good with the crime dramas?
I have a deal with the Marvel Studios team, a four-picture commitment. I’m sure I’ll be back in something cool.

Looks like he’s going to be in more Marvel Entertainment films, but he didn’t spill the beans, or he may not know yet, about what role or roles Marvel has in store for him.  I know that many people like the idea of him playing T’Challa, the Black Panther.  He certainly has the gravitas and the acting chops to pull it off.  Read the rest of the interview here.

Posted under Articles, Comics, Interview, Movies

Make no mistake, Thor is one of my favorite comic book characters and mythological figures.  But once again, Marvel delivers another book that shows the complexity of Thor’s character.  He’s not just a brute powerhouse and this issue highlights that.  It also illustrates the rocky relationship that he has with Odin.  This book isn’t the first one-shot I’ve recommended.  Previously, Thor Ages of Thunder was a pick of the week.  Rage of Thor is actually a better, more emotional book.  Check it out.

Posted under Comics

Source: Comic Book Resources

At Comic-Con International, LeVar Burton spoke about his Dark Horse release Con-CERNed.

Posted under Comics, Conventions

Before reading this, if you haven’t read Batman: A Death in the Family this review will contain POSSIBLE SPOILERS.  If you haven’t read it and you are a fan of Batman or DC’s animated movies then you will enjoy this movie.  For those of you who have read it please feel free to read on.

In stores today, Batman: Under the Red Hood is one of the darker stories in the DC universe.  As everyone knows (so it’s not a spoiler) that the Joker killed Robin, Jason Todd, because of a telephone poll done by DC in 1988.  Subsequently, Jason Todd was “resurrected” in the DC universe.  This movie is the animated version of that story.

Bruce Greenwood (Captain Pike in Star Trek) voices Bruce Wayne/Batman instead of Kevin Conroy, the voice that we all know and love.  Greenwood does a fabulous job.  Neil Patrick Harris voices Dick Grayson/Nightwing and Jensen Ackles (Supernatural) voices the Red Hood/Jason Todd.  Both of them were also very good.  I missed Mark Hamill as the Joker but John DiMaggio did well enough.

The story is not unfamiliar to fans of Batman.  I thought they may have glossed over Jason’s resurrection a little fast in order to put in more action sequences.  I would have thought more interaction between him an Ra’s al Ghul would have made for a great subplot.  I really liked the team up with Batman and Nightwing, and how the writers were able to show how it differed from when Batman and Red Hood teamed up.

The animation to me was not as good as DC’s previous animated films, but the story made up for that.  I say see it and enjoy.  Just a reminder, it has graphic violence even for DC animation; it is rated PG-13. (It really is PG-13 and would probably be an R if it were live action.)

Posted under Animation, Comics, Movies, Reviews

Souce: Hitfix

UPDATE: According to Hitfix, Eva Longoria would love to be a superhero, but she says she won’t be Janet Van Dyne, the Wasp, in an Ant-Man or Avengers movie.  She confirmed that she had discussions with Marvel about a movie, but wouldn’t give details.

I still think she’d make a great Wasp or even Scarlett Witch.  She can’t be Black Widow since Scarlett Johansson has taken that role in Iron Man 2.

Previous Post: Eva Longoria Up for Wasp?

Saw this rumor a couple of weeks ago, and was waiting for some confirmation.  It  was reported that Eva was photographed leaving Marvel’s L.A. office clutching what appeared to be some Avenger comic books.  It was later reported that she was in talks to take the role of Janet Van Dyne, the Wasp, in an upcoming Marvel Movie (Iron Man 2 or Captain America: The First Avenger or The Avengers).  The thing is that this came out a couple of weeks ago, and then everything went silent.  It was reported as  both fact and rumor.  We’ll I think she would do well in any role that they shoved her in, the Wasp, Black Widow, Scarlett Witch.  I just assume that they are going to go for the hot factor regardless of the role.  Unlike the X-Movies where everyone, except Raven, was completely covered from head to toe.

.  Would she make a good Black Widow?  Possibly.

Would she make a good Scarlet Witch?  Maybe.

She pretty much would be worth the price of admission for anything they want her to be in a superhero movie.

Posted under Comic Con, Comics, Movies, Rumors