By the Power of Grayskull, I Have the Power!!

New He-Man Movie Heading To The Big Screen

Cartoon hero He-Man is to be brought to life on the big screen in a new movie. Warner Bros has joined forces with action filmmaker Joel Silver and Kung Fu Panda director John Stevenson to create a live action version of the 1980s series.

Masters of the Universe will tell the story of a prince who transforms into a warrior to challenge the villainous Skeletor and save his magical land.

It's not the first time He-Man has appeared on the big screen; Dolph Lundgren played the hero in a 1987 movie, opposite Frank Langella as Skeletor.

It's unknown who'll take the lead role in the new adaptation.

COWABUNGA!!

TMNT, Archie celebrate the Turtle's 25th anniversary with a collection of their first Archie series

Wolverine and the X-Men debuts tonight

Don't let us down, bub. You can catch us on Nicktoons.

And now, a moment of silence

R.I.P., Ricardo Montalban, 1920-2009

Ricardo Montalban dies at 88

Ricardo Montalban, the Mexican-born actor who became a star in splashy MGM musicals and later as the wish-fulfilling Mr. Roarke in TV's "Fantasy Island," died Wednesday morning at his home, a city councilman said. He was 88.

Montalban's death was announced at a meeting of the city council by president Eric Garcetti, who represents the district where the actor lived. Garcetti did not give a cause of death.

"The Ricardo Montalban Theatre in my Council District -- where the next generations of performers participate in plays, musicals, and concerts -- stands as a fitting tribute to this consummate performer," Garcetti said later in a written statement.

Montalban had been a star in Mexican movies when MGM brought him to Hollywood in 1946. He was cast in the leading role opposite Esther Williams in "Fiesta." He also starred with the swimming beauty in "On an Island with You" and "Neptune's Daughter."

A later generation knew Montalban as the faintly mysterious, white-suited Mr. Roarke, who presided over an island resort where visitors were able to fulfill their lifelong dreams. "Fantasy Island" received high ratings for most of its 1978-1984 span on ABC television and still appears in reruns.

In a 1978 interview, he analyzed the series' success:

"What is appealing is the idea of attaining the unattainable and learning from it. Once you obtain a fantasy it becomes a reality, and that reality is not as exciting as your fantasy. Through the fantasies you learn to appreciate your own realities."

And, Patrick MacGoohan, 1928-2009

'Prisoner' actor Patrick McGoohan dies in LA

Patrick McGoohan, the Emmy-winning actor who created and starred in the cult classic television show "The Prisoner," has died. He was 80.

McGoohan died Tuesday in Los Angeles after a short illness, his son-in-law, film producer Cleve Landsberg, said.

McGoohan won two Emmys for his work on the Peter Falk detective drama "Columbo," and more recently appeared as King Edward Longshanks in the 1995 Mel Gibson film "Braveheart."

But he was most famous as the character known only as Number Six in "The Prisoner," a sci-fi tinged 1960s British series in which a former spy is held captive in a small enclave known only as The Village, where a mysterious authority named Number One constantly prevents his escape.

McGoohan came up with the concept and wrote and directed several episodes of the show, which has kept a devoted following in the United States and Europe for four decades.

Born in New York on March 19, 1928, McGoohan was raised in England and Ireland, where his family moved shortly after his birth. He had a busy stage career before moving to television, and won a London Drama Critics Award for playing the title role in the Henrik Ibsen play "Brand."

He married stage actress Joan Drummond in 1951. The oldest of their three daughters, Catherine, is also an actress.

His first foray into TV was in 1964 in the series "Danger Man," a more straightforward spy show that initially lasted just one season but was later brought back for three more when its popularity -- and McGoohan's -- exploded in reruns.

Weary of playing the show's lead John Drake, McGoohan pitched to producers the surreal and cerebral "The Prisoner" to give himself a challenge.

The series ran just one season and 17 episodes in 1967, but its cultural impact remains.

He voiced his Number Six character in an episode of "The Simpsons" in 2000. The show is being remade as a series for AMC that premieres later this year.

"His creation of 'The Prisoner' made an indelible mark on the sci-fi, fantasy and political thriller genres, creating one of the most iconic characters of all time," AMC said in a statement Wednesday. "AMC hopes to honor his legacy in our re-imagining of 'The Prisoner.'"

Later came smaller roles in film and television. McGoohan won Emmys for guest spots on "Columbo" 16 years apart, in 1974 and 1990.

He also appeared as a warden in the 1979 Clint Eastwood film "Escape from Alcatraz" and as a judge in the 1996 John Grisham courtroom drama "A Time To Kill."

His last major role was in "Braveheart," in what The Associated Press called a "standout" performance as the brutal king who battles Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace, played by Gibson.

In his review of the film for the Los Angeles Times critic Peter Rainer said "McGoohan is in possession of perhaps the most villainous enunciation in the history of acting."

McGoohan is survived by his wife and three daughters.

President-elect Obama on the cover of 'Amazing Spiderman' No. 583

President-elect joining superheroes in comics

Taken from MySanAntonio.com:

As a nation counts down to the inauguration of Barack Obama, some special comic books look to give the next commander in chief a true superhero’s welcome.

Obama meets everyone’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man in Wednesday’s release of “Amazing Spider-Man” #583 by Marvel Comics. In a special bonus story, Spidey faces a baddie looking to scuttle Obama’s swearing-in. Marvel will offer a special variant cover to the comic that features Obama with Spidey snapping the new president’s picture in the background.

Meanwhile, an issue of “Savage Dragon” by Image Comics will also feature Obama — again.

“Savage Dragon” #145, which also has a special Obama variant cover, hits stores Feb. 25. The comic’s title character, a green-skinned superhero who rejoins the Police Department in Obama’s old stomping grounds of Chicago, made news in and out of the comics world when he endorsed Obama back in “Savage Dragon” #137.

Why the Obama-mania in the funny books? Well, the 44th president of the United States did tell Entertainment Weekly last year his favorite comic book heroes are Batman and Spider-Man.

“When we heard that President-elect Obama is a collector of Spider-Man comics, we knew that these two historic figures had to meet in our comics’ Marvel Universe,”

Marvel’s Editor in Chief Joe Quesada said in a release. “Historic moments such as this one can be reflected in our comics because the Marvel Universe is set in the real world. A Spider-Man fan moving into the Oval Office is an event that must be commemorated in the pages of ‘Amazing Spider-Man.’.”

Obama’s no stranger to showing up in comic book panels. Last year, IDW Publishing and San Antonio-based Antarctic Press released comic book biographies of Obama and Republican presidential contender John McCain.

You're Teasing Me, Marvel

An all new Black Panther series will debut in comic book stores on Feb. 4th, and (brace yourselves) it happens to be a female. But, who will it be?

Breaking News: Pat Hingle, Commissioner Jim Gordon from the Batman movie series (89-97) has died

Longtime character actor Pat Hingle, a veteran of early television dramas, Westerns and four "Batman" films, has died at age 84, his family announced Sunday.

Hingle died Saturday evening at his home in Carolina Beach, North Carolina, after a two-year battle with the blood disorder myelodysplasia, his cousin, Lynn Heritage, told CNN.

"He was awake one moment, and in the next breath, he was gone," Heritage said.

Hingle began his acting career in the 1950s, appearing in numerous television theater shows. His first movie role was an uncredited appearance in 1954's "On the Waterfront," which won eight Academy Awards; he played the by-the-book judge opposite Clint Eastwood's vengeful marshal in 1968's "Hang 'Em High," and appeared as Sally Field's father in 1979's "Norma Rae."

In 1989, he appeared as Gotham City's Commissioner Gordon in Tim Burton's "Batman," carrying on the role through three sequels. His last film role was in "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," released in 2006.

He also guest-starred in countless TV series, including a memorable turn as a character named Col. Daniel Webster Tucker in a 1980 "M*A*S*H" episode. In the episode, called "April Fools," Hingle's Tucker antagonized the unit's surgeons -- with surprising consequences.

Hingle's other TV series included "Hawaii Five-O," "The Streets of San Francisco," "Hart to Hart," "St. Elsewhere," "Magnum, P.I." and "Cheers."

Hingle is survived by his wife of nearly 30 years, Julia, and their five children.

Heroes and Dragons relocated to it's new location effective today.

When I moved into my new apartment home last September, I've finally went across the street to the neighborhood mall (The Citadel) and I've checked out the mall's only comic book store, Heroes & Dragons.

Heroes & Dragons had not only comic books, trade paperbacks and back issues, but they have novels, tabletop games, magazines and even RPGs from Wizards, Palladium Books, etc., to make anyone want to spend an entire day in there.

A couple of months ago, I've learned that Heroes & Dragons would be up the street to N. Academy Blvd. This is among those times that I really need to learn to drive.

Now that 2009 has arrived, I have resolved to find a better job, learn to drive, and buy more great stuff from Heroes & Dragons.