Getting Animated: Dedicated to comics, animation, and such.

Happy 4th of July

2011-07-04T00:00:00.012-06:00

To celebrate the 235th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, I have found two patriotic cartoons to get you into the mood.

Tom and Jerry in Safety Second

And

Popeye in Patriotic Popeye

Happy Belated Birthday to Leiji Matsumoto

2011-01-27T12:00:00.012-07:00

On Tuesday, 1/25/2011, the famed creator of Space Battleship Yamato (Star Blazers), Galaxy Express 999, and Captain Harlock, Leiji Matsumoto, turn 73 years young.

As part of his (belated) birthday celebration, here's a YouTube video of Isao Sasaki singing the opening theme song to SPY.

Happy Birthday, Leiji! May your legacy continue on for an eternity.

Happy 70th Birthday, Hayao Miyazaki

2011-01-05T17:52:00.001-07:00

And to celebrate, here are the English and Japanese trailer's to Kiki's Delivery Service.

English:

Japanese:

Allen Swift, 1924-2010

2010-04-19T17:30:00.001-06:00

As reported on Dave Mackey Dot Com, voice actor Allen Swift had passed away at age 86. He did voicework for the Gene Dietch-directed Tom and Jerry shorts during the early 80's.

Play Ball!

2010-04-11T18:07:00.000-06:00

Baseball season's started, and what better way to kick off the season by watching some baseball-related cartoons.

Baseball Bugs

Goofy in "How to Play Baseball"

The Screwball

Batty Baseball

May The Farce Be With You, Always.

2010-04-06T16:09:00.000-06:00

George Lucas and Robot Chicken have announced that there will be a sitcom based on the Star Wars franchise. So, laugh it up furball. :D

April Fools' Day 2010

2010-04-01T00:00:00.003-06:00

This is all I could come up for this year: A Popeye short on April Fools' Day, and that's no joke.

Legendary Inker Dick Giordano Passes Away

2010-03-27T11:30:00.000-06:00

Inker Dick Giordano, who worked on DC Comics including the landmark one-shot, Superman vs. Muhammad Ali, has died. He was 77 years old.

Tezuka Osamu-sensai no Ecchi? Lengendary Mangaka Worked on X-Rated film Cleopatra: Queen of Sex

2010-03-22T16:18:00.000-06:00

NSFW ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Osamu Tezuka's X-Rated 'Cleopatra' Movie

Kamehameha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-03-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

Dragon Ball Kai to debut this Spring.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2 Rumors

2010-03-10T10:15:00.000-07:00

According to io9.com, stars Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) and Liev Schreiber (Sabertooth) are in talks to appear in the sequel to last Spring's X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The sequel will take place in Japan, and that's all I know.

Deadpool Madness

2010-03-08T12:18:00.000-07:00

Rob Liefeld's ever-so-popular "Merc with a Mouth", Deadpool, will debut next month with another series called Deadpool Corps, according to CBR.

Now They Come in White

2010-02-24T14:34:00.000-07:00

Add Another Lantern Ring To Your Collection

The Incredibley True Story on the Short-Lived Ruby-Spears' Superman Saturday Morning Series

2010-02-22T17:54:00.000-07:00

And, IIRC, according to an article posted on Wikipedia, Ruby-Spears' Superman was the first of the DC Superheroes to have a show that took place post-Crisis.

So, here's the article:

Something Old, Something New, Something Ruby, Something Supes

BTW, the entire 13-episode run of RS Superman is now available on DVD: http://www.amazon.com/Ruby-Spears-Superman-Joe-Ruby/dp/B002K0WBDM

Former V.P. Candidate and Alaskan Governor, Sarah Palin, Lashes Out Against Family Guy

2010-02-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

Palin lashes out at 'Family Guy'

By BECKY BOHRER

The Associated Press

JUNEAU, Alaska — Sarah Palin is lashing out at the portrayal of a character with Down syndrome on the Fox animated comedy "Family Guy."

In a Facebook posting headlined "Fox Hollywood — What a Disappointment," the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee and current Fox News contributor said Sunday night's episode felt like "another kick in the gut." Palin's youngest son, Trig, has Down syndrome.

The episode features the character Chris falling for a girl with Down syndrome. On a date, he asks what her parents do.

She replies: "My dad's an accountant, and my mom is the former governor of Alaska."

Palin resigned as Alaska governor last summer.

Palin's oldest daughter, Bristol, also was quoted on her mother's Facebook page, calling the show's writers "heartless jerks."

"When you're the son or daughter of a public figure, you have to develop thick skin. My siblings and I all have that, but insults directed at our youngest brother hurt too much for us to remain silent," she is quoted as saying.

"If the writers of a particularly pathetic cartoon show thought they were being clever in mocking my brother and my family yesterday, they failed," Bristol Palin added in the Monday posting. "All they proved is that they're heartless jerks."

Palin wrote that she'd asked her daughter what she thought of the show and Bristol's reply was "a much more restrained and gracious statement than I want to make about an issue that begs the question: When is enough enough?"

This isn't the first time Palin has spoken out over an attack, real or perceived, on her family. Last year, she condemned a joke David Letterman made about her daughter, for which he later apologized.

A "Family Guy" publicist didn't immediately return an e-mail seeking comment.

Things That Make You Wanna Go Eww! io9's Top Five Most Disturbing X-Men Love Affairs

2010-02-15T19:21:00.000-07:00

Top Five Most Disturbing X-Men Love Affairs

Iowa Man Sentinced to 6 Months in Jail for Possessing 'Obscene' Japanese Manga

2010-02-13T21:42:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to Neil Gaiman who tweeted this article.

Courtesy of Wired.com

‘Obscene’ U.S. Manga Collector Jailed 6 Months

Christopher Handley was sentenced in Iowa on Thursday, (.pdf) almost a year after pleading guilty to charges of possessing “obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children.”

The 40-year-old was charged under the 2003 Protect Act, which outlaws cartoons, drawings, sculptures or paintings depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and which lack “serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.” Handley was the nation’s first to be convicted under that law for possessing cartoon art, without any evidence that he also collected or viewed genuine child pornography.

Without a plea deal with federal authorities, he faced a maximum 15-year sentence.

Comic fans were outraged, saying jailing someone over manga does not protect children from sexual abuse. “I’d say the anime community’s reaction to this, since day one, has been almost exclusively one of support for Handley and disgust with the U.S. courts and legal system,” Christopher MacDonald, editor of Anime News Network, said in an e-mail.

Congress passed the Protect Act after the Supreme Court struck down a broader law prohibiting any visual depictions of minors engaged in sexual activity, including computer-generated imagery and other fakes. The high court ruled that the ban was too broad, and could cover legitimate speech, including Hollywood productions.

In response, the Protect Act narrows the prohibition to cover only depictions that the defendant’s community would consider “obscene.”

The case began in 2006, when customs officials intercepted and opened a package from Japan addressed to Handley. Seven books of manga inside contained cartoon drawings of minors engaged in sexually explicit acts and bestiality.

The Anime News Network says the seven books are:

* Mikansei Seifuku Shōjo (Unfinished School Girl) by Yuki Tamachi (LE Comics)
* I [Heart] Doll by Makafusigi (Seraphim Comics)
* Kemono for ESSENTIAL 3 (THE ANIMAL SEX ANTHOLOGY Vol.3) by Masato Tsukimori et al (Izumi Comics)
* Otonari Kazoku (Neighboring House Family) by Nekogen (MD Comics)
* Eromon by Makafusigi (Seraphim Comics)
* Kono Man_ ga Sugoi! (This Man_ is Awesome!) by Makafusigi (Seraphim Comics)
* Hina Meikyū (Doll Labyrinth) by Makafusigi (Seraphim Comics)

Obscure Superhero Sibiling Returns as A Villain

2010-02-09T16:27:00.000-07:00

Even the posters at CBR's X-Books forum knew it had to happen one day.

CBR: McCann Makes Dazzler Sing Once More

Gigantic Problems for both Olivia Muun and Antarctic Press

2010-02-05T12:47:00.000-07:00

Gigantic Problems for both Olivia Muun and Antarctic Press

Lawyers attempt to stop Olivia Munn comic

* Posted on February 5, 2010 - 11:04 AM by Kevin Melrose

Online retailer Heavy Ink has been targeted by attorneys seeking to stop the release of a comic book starring model/actress Olivia Munn.

As Boing Boing noted on Thursday, the cease-and-desist letter demands that all advertising, distribution and production stop on Antarctic Press' Celebrity Showdown Olivia Munn One Shot #1, a "hilarious spoof" that finds the Attack of the Show co-host swarmed by fans at Comic-Con International.

"Unable to escape," the solicitation text reads, "her gamma-irradiated cells explode and unleash the fury of The 50-Foot Womunn. It's the showdown of the century! Geeks vs Munn!"

The letter states that Munn did not grant permission for her image to be used or exploited, and seeks the destruction of all copies of the comic, which is due for release in April.

Heavy Ink President Travis Corcoran has brushed off the legal threats, clarifying that Celebrity Showdown isn't the retailer's comic -- it's written and drawn by Brian Denham for Antarctic -- and arguing that Munn is a public figure and fair game for parody.

However, as intellectual-property attorney Geoff Gerber points out, this isn't an issue of copyright but of right of publicity, which involves an individual's right to control and profit from the commercial use of her name and likeness.

"There is no absolute defense to a right of publicity claim based upon parody," Gerber writes. "Instead, parody is part of the general defense based upon First Amendment free-speech rights. ... It should also be noted that it is not clear that Celebrity Showdown would be considered a parody."

I've contacted Antarctic Press for comment, and I'll update the post when they reply.

Trailer to Live-Action Space Battleship Yamato (Star Blazers) Film

2010-02-02T09:37:00.000-07:00

The film will be released in Japan later this year.

From Bed to Worse

2010-01-21T16:51:00.002-07:00

The last installment of the Ant and the Aardvark series that came out in 1971 which is heavily based on Fritz Freleng's "Greedy for Tweety", right down to the sore, broken foot gag.

Psylocke Madness

2009-10-20T11:34:00.002-06:00

To celebrate Psylocke's forthcoming appearance for the PS3 and XBOX 360 DLC's for Marvel Ultimate Alliance II, Marvel.com has made a Top Five "What the--?!" Gaming Moments post.

Crying Foul!!

2009-09-01T19:32:00.001-06:00

ADV Films goes out of business.

Disney buys marvel for $4 Billion

2009-08-31T13:14:00.000-06:00

It was bound to happen.

Top 70 Most Iconic Panels in Marvel History

2009-08-11T11:01:00.002-06:00

Top 70 Most Iconic Panels in Marvel History

From now until August 24th, CBR will be posting Marvel's Top 70 Most Iconic Panels. So, come back every day for their latest installments.

The term, 'retcon', explained

2009-07-09T09:39:00.001-06:00

Geek Jargon 101: The Retcon Explained

A Very Special episode of 'Year of Cool Comic Book Moments'

2009-07-09T09:28:00.000-06:00

A Year of Cool Comic Book Moments -- Day 188.

When Brian Cronin first posted this comic book story, Judgement Day, from last week's installment of Comic Book Legends Revealed, it was explained that the astronaunt in question had to be colored as a Caucasian instead of an African-American due to the limits at the time from the Comics Code Authority. After the story was published, it was praised by everyone, including Sci-Fi great Ray Bradbury.

She-Hulk on Benny Hill

2009-06-14T09:10:00.000-06:00

You better believe it.

Captain America #600 to be released on June, 15th

2009-06-05T12:38:00.002-06:00

Which local shops will sell 'Captain America' #600 on Monday, June 15?

More info from Newsrama.

You may want to call your local comic book shop, bookstore, etc., to see if they'll carry Captain America #600 on 6/15/09.

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 Official Playable Character List

2009-05-29T16:39:00.001-06:00

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 Official Playable Character List

Better bookmark that link, folks. There will be more characters to be revealed in the coming weeks leading up to MUA2's release.

Shocker from the forthcoming Archie #600

2009-05-27T11:48:00.000-06:00

Read on to find out who it is.

A sad day for the House of Mouse

2009-05-21T10:10:00.001-06:00

Allwine, voice of Mickey Mouse for 32 years, dies

LOS ANGELES – Wayne Allwine, the actor who voiced Mickey Mouse for more than 30 years, has died.

The Walt Disney Co. says Allwine died Monday of complications from diabetes, with Russi Taylor, his wife of 20 years and the voice of Minnie Mouse, by his side. He was 62.

"Wayne dedicated his entire professional life to Disney," chief executive Robert Iger said in a statement Wednesday. "Over the last 32 years, (he) gave so much joy, happiness and comfort to so many around the world by giving voice to our most beloved, iconic character, Mickey Mouse."

A Southern California native, Allwine joined Disney in 1966 when he took a job in the mail room. He went on to work in the sound effects department and began voicing the company's main mouse in 1977.

His falsetto can be heard in 1983's "Mickey's Christmas Carol," 1988's "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and at Disney theme parks around the world. He won an Emmy Award in 1986 for his sound editing on the NBC series "Amazing Stories."

Allwine was the third man behind Mickey's voice. The first was Disney himself, then Jimmy MacDonald, who became Allwine's mentor and passed him the reins after voicing the mouse for 30 years.

"He said, 'Just remember kid, you're only filling in for the boss,'" Allwine once recalled. "And that's the way he treated doing Mickey for years and years."

"Mickey's the real star," Allwine continued. "You know you just have to love the little guy while you have him, because he won't be yours forever."

Roy E. Disney, director emeritus for The Walt Disney Co., said Allwine did more than give Mickey a voice. He "gave him a heart and soul as well."

"He did an incredible job of bringing emotion, humor and appeal to the character, and superbly carried on the tradition originated by my Uncle Walt, and later by sound-effects wizard Jimmy Macdonald."

Besides Taylor, Allwine is survived by five children from a previous marriage: Erin, Alison, Peter, Christopher and Joshua.

Holy Cow! It was bound to happen one day.

2009-05-18T14:08:00.003-06:00

I've been meaning to post about Archie and his friends since I've started this blog last December, but this news post from CBR gave me a good reason to do so. More of this from the Archie Comics blog.

BTW, Topless Robot has a list of the 10 Most Useless Archie Comics Characters (aw, c'mon now) now posted.

The Evolution of Wolverine

2009-05-12T09:04:00.000-06:00

The Evolution of Wolverine

Pushing Daisies Revived

2009-04-20T14:00:00.001-06:00

Pushing Daisies is now heading to DC Comics, apparently

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

2009-04-11T10:02:00.003-06:00

The 100th installment of A Year of Cool Comic Book Moments puts the spotlight on Marvel's famed wall-crawler, Spider-Man, by including the origin from the famed Amazing Fantasy #15.

In Brightest Day, In Darkest Night, No Evil Shall Escape My Sight

2009-04-07T16:59:00.002-06:00

Trailer for the forthcoming 'Green Lantern: First Flight' direct-to-DVD movie.

Breaking the Fourth Wall: John Byrne and his brief stint on 'Sensational She-Hulk'

2009-04-02T11:51:00.001-06:00

Personal favorite issue is No. 5, 'Saturdaze.'

Looking back at the Sensational She Hulk

I have hired three new moderators for this blog

2009-04-01T00:00:00.003-06:00

Franklin Richards

Bat-Mite and Mr. Mxyzptlk

BTW, April Fools. :P

Brian Cronin has done it! Comic Book Legend Revealed hits the 200th post milestone

2009-03-28T09:14:00.000-06:00

Comic Book Legends Revealed #200 -- Part One

Comic Book Legends Revealed #200 -- Part Two

Comic Book Legends Revealed #200 -- Part Three

Trailer for the upcoming Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2

2009-03-27T19:41:00.001-06:00

ST:TNG cast as themselves on this Sunday's Family Guy

2009-03-26T18:32:00.003-06:00

The episode is titled 'Not All Dogs Go To Heaven'.

Whatever you do, don't call Worf's head a fanny. :P

Phoenix Rising Again

2009-03-23T09:55:00.003-06:00

Rumor has it that Marvel's bringing the X-Men's favorite redhead, Jean Grey, back from the dead, according to a source.

Make sure to have March 24th available on your calendar

2009-03-22T18:41:00.002-06:00

Because TCM's airing a marathon of cartoons made by the legendary, Chuck Jones on Tuesday, March 24th at 8 PM EDT.

To go with the documentary, 'Chuck Jones: Memories of my Childhood', there will be a marathon of his greatest hits ('What's Opera, Doc?', 'One Froggy Evening' and 'The Bear That Wasn't') as well as the 1969 classic, 'The Phantom Tollbooth.'

A Gazillion reasons to love Marvel

2009-03-21T21:19:00.000-06:00

Marvel Signs New MMO Deal

CBR reviews 'Super Capers'

2009-03-21T20:18:00.001-06:00

IMO, the film looks a whole lot better than 'Superhero Movie.'

Super Capers: The CBR Review

Coming to comic book stores this Summer: Wednesday Comics

2009-03-19T20:19:00.003-06:00

Sunday Comics on Wednesday? DC's New 'Wednesday Comics'

EDIT: 3/21/09: BTW, I want to thank CaptianJLS for posting this article on his Facebook account. :D

Superhero Fashion Emergency

2009-03-13T06:29:00.001-06:00

Warning: Entire video's uncensored. Viewer discretion advised.

NY Times adds Graphic Novels to Best Sellers List

2009-03-09T14:56:00.000-06:00

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/693826/Graphic-Books-Added-To-New-York-Times-Best-Seller-List.html

CBR celebrates Watchmen

2009-03-08T10:01:00.000-06:00

During CBR's 'Year of Cool Comic Book Moments', they take a special look at selected scenes from the fabled graphic novel to coincide with the film's 3/6/09 release.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

For Dave Mackey

2009-03-05T19:25:00.000-07:00

A pair of musical Mickey Mouse toons:

The Band Concert

Symphony Hour

Help Out Jill Pantozzi ,a.k.a., The Nerdy Bird

2009-03-02T18:55:00.001-07:00

The Nerdy Bird needs your help!

Chock full of Uncanny X-Men

2009-03-01T15:12:00.000-07:00

It's Uncanny X-Men week at CBR's Year of Cool Comic Book Moments.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

And, at last:

Sunday

SNL's Bill Hader and Seth Meyers on CBR TV at the New York Comic Con 2009

2009-02-26T09:26:00.001-07:00

http://comicbookresources.com/?page=video&show_id=63686

Lucky bastards. Seth's got his head onto Animal Man's body. ::jealous::

10 Fun Facts about Marvel's Wolverine

2009-02-18T17:46:00.001-07:00

Need to Know: 10 Facts About "X-Men Origins: Wolverine."

More Quesada for your Nachos? Joe Quesada Interview Part 2

2009-02-16T17:33:00.001-07:00

Twitter is where it's at: Marvel's EIC Joe Quesada at the NYCC, Part 1

2009-02-14T17:18:00.001-07:00

DC Comics Reveals new Batwoman as it's first-ever Lesbian Superhero

2009-02-12T12:51:00.001-07:00

Yup, she's gay.

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6863152

Remembering a legend 15 years later: Jack Kirby 1917-1994

2009-02-07T20:45:00.001-07:00

From Mark Evanier's blog.

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

2009-01-30T17:44:00.000-07:00

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!!

2009-01-26T18:31:00.001-07:00

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

Wolverine and the X-Men debuts tonight

2009-01-23T17:05:00.003-07:00

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

And now, a moment of silence

2009-01-14T17:14:00.002-07:00

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

2009-01-12T10:07:00.003-07:00

President-elect joining superheroes in comics

2009-01-10T10:32:00.001-07:00

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

2009-01-06T16:42:00.005-07:00

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

2009-01-05T14:10:00.002-07:00

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.

2009-01-01T13:00:00.002-07:00

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.

'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' trailer

2008-12-30T19:59:00.001-07:00

Eartha Kitt, 1927-2008

2008-12-30T18:51:00.000-07:00

Excelsior! Happy Birthday to a legend

2008-12-28T10:55:00.002-07:00

Today is Stan Lee's 86th birthday. Funny? He doesn't look a day over 50 to me.