G4 announces Marvel anime

US cable network G4, Sony and Marvel Television have announced a slate of four new anime series featuring Iron Man, Wolverine, the X-Men and Blade, penned by Warren Ellis (Astonishing X-Men) and produced by Japanese studio Madhouse (Ninja Scroll). Each of the four series will first air on G4 as twelve 30-minute episodes, and while standalone stories will also feature interlinking plots and shared characters.

All-Star Superman gets animated

Warner Bros Animation has announced its next DCU animated project will be an adaptation of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's massively acclaimed All-Star Superman, to be scripted by Dwayne McDuffie.

Nick Cave writing Crow remake

Legendary Australian musician Nick Cave has been tapped to rewrite the screenplay for director Stephen Norrington's forthcoming reboot of the Crow. In addition to his musical work Cave is a critically acclaimed poet and novelist, and penned the screenplay for 2005' award-winning Australian movie The Proposition.

San Diego Comic-Con highlights

Joss Whedon is confirmed to be in the director's chair for Marvel Studios' Avengers movie, slated for release in May 2012. Mark Ruffalo replaces Edward Norton as the Hulk, while Hurt Locker star Jeremy Renner will take the role of Hawkeye.

The 'Brand New Day' era of thrice-monthly Amazing Spider-Man ends with October's issue #647, with the series continuing as a biweekly book from writer Dan Slott and a rotating art team of Humberto Ramos, Marcos Martin and Stefano Caselli. Marvel has also confirmed Spider-Girl will be relaunching with Arana in the title role.

Brian Michael Bendis will write the pilot and serve as a producer for the recently formed Marvel Television's forthcoming Ultimate Spider-Man animated series. The 'Man of Action' quartet of comics creators Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Steven T. Seagle and Duncan Rouleau, best known for creating popular animated series Ben 10, will also write for the series.

Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness will wrap up their collaboration on Hulk with August's issue #24, handing the title over to the Atlas team of Jeff Parker and Gabriel Hardman, but reunite with the forthcoming Avengers 3 featuring Captain America, Iron Man and Thor. In addition, the Red Hulk is set to join the Avengers with issue #7.

Jonathan Hickman and Carlos Pacecho will debut a four-part Ultimate Thor limited series in October.

With Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason set to take the reigns on Batman and Robin, writer Grant Morrison will launch a new ongoing title Batman Inc with artist Yanick Paquette.

Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment is developing a 'hardcore violent' Suicide Squad video game, scripted by Geoff Johns.

John Byrne will launch a new series of his Next Men through IDW in December. IDW is also preparing a four-issue Rocketeer anthology featuring stories by Mike Allred, Kurt Busiek, John Cassaday, Darwyn Cooke, Michael Golden, Gene Ha, Bruce Timm and others, with covers by Alex Ross.

Forthcoming Robert E. Howard projects from Dark Horse include a Kull limited series from David Lapham and Gabriel Guzman, a second Solomon Kane limited series from Bruce Jones and Rahsan Ekedal, and an anthology title Savage Sword combining new and reprinted stories featuring Conan, Kane, Kull and lesser-known Robert E. Howard characters.

The second book of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century is slated for release during 2011.

Boom Studios revealed the first three titles in a new superhero universe created by Stan Lee: Soldier Zero by Paul Cornell and Javier Pina, The Traveler by Mark Waid and Chad Hardin, and Starborn by Chris Roberson and Khary Randolph.

2010 Eisner Award winners

Among the individual winners at the 22nd Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards were Marvel's Ed Brubaker for Best Writer, DC's Detective Comics artist J.H. Williams III for Best Penciller/Inker, and Best Writer/Artist for David Mazzucchelli for his acclaimed graphic novel Asterios Polyp; Williams also took out Best Cover Artist. Image had two series wins with Best Continuing Series going to The Walking Dead and Best New Series to Chew, while as expected Best Graphic Album went to Asterios Polyp and Best Adaptation to Darwyn Cooke's take on pulp classic The Hunter.

Eric Shanower and Skottie Young's adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz had a double win for Best Limited Series and Best Publication for Kids, while IDW claimed both archival presentation nods for its collections of The Rocketeer and comic strip Bloom County. Best Digital Comic went to Cameron Stewart's Sin Titulo. Among the inductees to the Hall of Fame were Steve Gerber, Dick Giordano, Michael Kaluta and Mort Weisinger.

Vertigo to resurrect Ellis' 'Shoot'

DC Vertigo will delve into its archives this October for Vertigo Resurrected, a series of one-shot specials collecting previously unreleased or rare stories leading off with Warren Ellis and Phil Jimenez's controversial Hellblazer story 'Shoot'. Originally scheduled to be published as Hellblazer #141, the single-issue tale of a high school shooting was written and illustrated but following 1999's Columbine High School massacre DC refused to release it without substantial revisions, prompting Ellis to abruptly quit the book.

DC announces various new creative teams

• Tony Daniel has been confirmed as the regular writer-artist of Batman. American Vampire scribe Scott Snyder has signed an exclusive contract with DC and will be the next ongoing writer of Detective Comics as of November. Former Amazing Spider-Man and Wolverine writer Marc Guggenheim is set to take the reigns on JSA this October.
• Australian artist Nicola Scott will join new Teen Titans writer J.T. Krul with October's issue #88.

 

Finch to launch new Batman series

DC exclusive creator David Finch will tackle both writing and art duties for Batman: The Dark Knight, a new ongoing title debuting in November. The series and the return of Bruce Wayne to the mantle of the Bat will be preceded by a Batman: The Return one-shot from Finch and writer Grant Morrison in October, leading into a Bruce Wayne: The Road Home series of eight linked one-shots from creators including Adam Beechen, Fabian Nicieza, Ramon Bachs and Marc Andreyko.

RIP Harvey Pekar

Alternative comics legend Harvey Pekar has passed away aged 70. A lifelong Cleveland resident, Pekar launched the autobiographical series American Splendor in 1976 and during its irregular publication collaborated with artists including Robert Crumb, Gary Dumm, Joe Sacco, Drew Friedman and Dean Haspiel, chronicled his battle with cancer in 1994's Harvey Award-winning Our Cancer Year, and saw his work adapted for the big screen in a critically acclaimed 2003 feature starring Paul Giamatti.

Harvey nominations announced

The nominations for the 2009 Harvey Awards see Jason Aaron, Geoff Johns, Robert Kirkman and Mark Waid vying for Best Writer, while Best Artist has DC heavyweights Frank Quitely and J.H. Williams III up against Mouse Guard creator David Petersen, BPRD penciller Guy Davis and underground comics luminary Robert Crumb. DC has three nods for Best New Series in Batman and Robin, Sweet Tooth and The Unwritten, up against Chew and Irredeemable, while the frontrunners for Best Continuing or Limited Series are DC Vertigo's Scalped and Image's Invincible and The Walking Dead. High-profile graphic novel releases from Darwyn Cooke, David Mazzucchelli and Seth have garnered each a nomination for Best Cartoonist.

Named in honour of MAD Magazine founder Harvey Kurtzman, the Harveys are the only comics industry award nominated and selected exclusively by comic book writers, artists, editors and other creative professionals. The 2009 Harveys will be awarded at the Baltimore Comic-Con in late August.

Andrew Garfield is Spider-Man

Columbia Pictures has announced relative newcomer Andrew Garfield has secured the lead role in its forthcoming big-screen reboot of Spider-Man, helmed by Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer) and slated to hit screens in July 2012. Born in the United States but raised in the UK, Garfield has enjoyed supporting roles in productions including The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Lions for Lambs, the Red Riding trilogy and Doctor
Who, and will next be seen in lead roles in David Fincher's The Social Network and Mark Romanek's Never Let Me Go.

Hercules leads the God Squad

Marvel's next cosmic event kicks off in October with Chaos War, a five-part limited series from the former Incredible Hercules team of writers Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente and artist Khoi Pham. The series features a resurrected Hercules leading a 'God Squad' of Thor, Galactus, Sersi, Silver Surfer and Venus against an alien invasion of Earth headed by the Chaos King.

DC launches iPad and PSP comics apps

DC has entered the digital comics arena with the launch of a comiXology-based app for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch, along with a separate app for the PSP via the PlayStation Network. Both platforms will offer contemporary and classic titles from the DC Comics, Vertigo and Wildstorm imprints priced between $US0.99 and 2.99 per issue, with the biweekly Justice League: Generation Lost to be available 'day and date' with the same release date and price point as the print edition.

 

Al Williamson passes away

Legendary artist Al Williamson has passed away aged 79 following a period of illness. The New York-born Williamson's big break came in the early 1950s when he joined the staff of EC Comics to work on titles including the popular Weird Science, going on to win a National Cartoonist Society award for King Features' relaunched Flash Gordon series before collaborating with writer Archie Goodwin on newspaper strip Secret Agent Corrigan from 1970-80. From the mid-80s Williamson worked almost exclusively as an inker, enjoying extended runs on Daredevil, Spider-Girl and Spider-Man 2099 and picking up nine Eisner and Harvey awards plus induction to the Eisner hall of fame in 2000.

Opera House event to celebrate graphic medium

Comic books, illustration, animation and graphic storytelling will be celebrated in GRAPHIC, a two-day event at the Sydney Opera House on the weekend of 7-8 August. Among the events are a live reading from Neil Gaiman accompanied by artist Eddie Campbell and string quartet FourPlay; a question and answer session with cult filmmaker Kevin Smith; a visual adaptation of Shaun Tan's award-winning graphic novel The Arrival with music by Ben Walsh and the Orkestra of the Underground; and a screening of anime classic Akira with a live re-score by Regurgitator.

Flash, Green Lantern 2 get screenwriters

MTV's Heat Vision reported and Newsarama has confirmed that Warner Brothers has tapped Green Lantern screenwriters Greg Berlanti, Michael Green, and Marc Guggenheim to pen a big-screen adaptation of the Flash, strengthening rumours the project will be officially announced soon, along with a second Green Lantern feature.

Frank Miller confirms 300 prequel

In an interview with the LA Times writer-artist Frank Miller has confirmed Xerxes, a prequel to his seminal graphic novel 300 centred on the titular Persian warrior king, will see release in early 2011 as a six-issue limited series through Dark Horse.

DCU Online to launch in November

IGN has the scoop that hotly anticipated massively multiplayer roleplaying game DC Universe Online will launch this November on PlayStation 3 and PC. Developer Sony Online Entertainment has been working on the game for over two years in partnership with DC, with Jim Lee serving as creative director and Geoff Johns contributing as lead writer. DC has previously announced they will be launching a 52-week series DC Universe: Legends tieing in to the game.

 

Marvel Studios to adapt Runaways

Marvel Studios is moving ahead with a big-screen adaptation of cult teen superhero series Runaways, with previously announced director Peter Sollett (Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist) to be joined by writer Drew Pearce, creator of UK superhero-themed sitcom No Heroics.

DC preps Flash movie, Green Lantern animated series; James McAvoy cast as prequel Xavier

During a presentation on its forthcoming projects Warner Bros head Barry Meyer noted the studio is close to greenlighting a Flash movie, with Geoff Johns previously announced as a producer and potential screenwriter. WB is also still actively developing Wonder Woman and Aquaman films, and Mayer confirmed a July 2012 release for Christopher Nolan's third Batman film and a late 2012 debut for a new take on Superman.Meanwhile, the Cartoon Network has revealed plans to launch a Green Lantern animated series around a year after Hal Jordan takes to the big screen in June 2011's live-action film starring Ryan Reynolds.

20th Century Fox has cast James McAvoy as Professor Charles Xavier in its forthcoming X-Men: First Class prequel/reboot, helmed by Kick-Ass director Matthew Vaughn.

DC shuts down manga imprint

DC has announced it is winding up its CMX manga imprint after six years of operation, with the final volumes of titles including Stolen Hearts and Orfina to be released in July and only original English language series Megatokyo to continue under the main DC Comics banner. The news comes amid other evidence of a shrinking North American manga market, with Viz recently laying off around 40% of its staff and publisher Go Comi apparently shutting down. 

Frank Frazetta passes away

Legendary fantasy artist Frank Frazetta has passed away aged 82 after a lengthy period of illness. Born in Brooklyn, Frazetta broke into the comics industry at the tail end of the Golden Age before moving into the more lucrative world of commercial painting and illustration in the 1960s. In addition to numerous movie posters and album covers, including Wolfmother's 2006 debut, Frazetta is best known for his cover paintings of Conan the Barbarian paperback reprints and his own original creations including the iconic Death Dealer which visually redefined the fantasty genre for several generations of fans and illustrators.

The Phantom returns at Dynamite

The Ghost Who Walks lives again this August in Dynamite's new ongoing series The Last Phantom, with Alex Ross providing covers, character designs and story to writer Scott Beatty and artist Eduardo Ferigato. Taking over the comic book adventures of the pulp hero from Moonstone Books, Dynamite's revamp of the character is centred on the contemporary Kit Walker the 21st and his decision to abandon the family lineage of the Phantom.

 

Kick-Ass director to helm X-Men: First Class; Modesty Blaise creator passes away

20th Century Fox has announced Kick-Ass director Matthew Vaughn will helm X-Men: First Class, with the series reboot to be fast-tracked into production for release in June 2011. Original X-Men series director Bryan Singer will remain in a producer role having been previously linked to the director's chair, with his pitch for a prequel film chronicling the early history of Charles Xavier and Magneto forming the basis of the new production.

Peter O'Donnell, co-creator of pulp heroine Modesty Blaise, has passed away a week after celebrating his 90th birthday. The London-born scribe launched the comic strip adventures of Modesty Blaise with original artist Jim Holdaway in 1963 and continued to pen the strip for the Evening Standard until his retirement in 2001, along with twelve novels and short story collections featuring the titular heroine. O'Donnell also had a parallel writing career penning gothic historical romance novels under the female pseudonym of Madeleine Brent.

 

Nolan's Batman 3 set for July 2012

Warner Bros has announced Christopher Nolan's third and reportedly final Batman film will hit screens on 20 July 2012. The release date places the highly anticipated followup to The Dark Knight in a packed season for 'geek movies' among Marvel's Avengers feature (4 May), Paramount's Star Trek sequel (29 June) and Sony's rebooted Spider-Man (3 July).

Writers and Artists Unite
@ the Grace Emily August 7

Prospective writers and artists, professional scribes and illustrators, curious comic buffs and those up for a great chat or just a relaxing time are all more than welcome to get down to the Grace Emily Hotel, 232 Waymouth St Adelaide on Saturday the 7th of August from 2 p.m. for a monthly gathering of awesome talent!

Yes, the Grace plays host to everyone creatively minded on a sunny Saturday afternoon; kitted out with some snacks and PFC-funded happy hours, how can you possibly go wrong?