MARVEL DIGITAL LAUNCHES 1990’s HIT ANIMATED SERIES

SPIDER-MAN

First episode available on Marvel.com on August 5, 2009

New York, NY (August 5, 2009) –Adding to its ever-growing selection of streaming video, featuring award winning animated TV series and innovative original short-form video, Marvel Comics announced the launch of the 1994 animated series, Spider-Man on Marvel.com, featuring Marvel’s seminal web-slinging Super Hero. This original 65 episode series aired from 1994-1998 and will be available for free starting on Wednesday, August 5th on Marvel.com. A new 30-minute episode will be made available each week. The 1994 Spider-Man series was created and produced by Bob Richardson and Stan Lee. Christopher Daniel Barnes provides voice over for Peter Parker/Spider-Man.

The 1994 Spider-Man series joins other new and classic Marvel animated TV series available free on Marvel.com, including Wolverine and the X-Men, the 1990’s X-Men series, the 1960’s Spider-Man series, X-Men Evolution, Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes and the live-action Japanese Spiderman series.

For more information on Marvel’s video offerings, digital comics, motion comics and more please visit Marvel.com at www.marvel.com

About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.

Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 5,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in licensing, entertainment (via Marvel Studios and Marvel Animation) and publishing (via Marvel Comics). Marvel’s strategy is to leverage its franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world, including feature films, consumer products, toys, video games, animated television, direct-to-DVD and online. For more information visit www.marvel.com.

Last month I did a less than favorable write up of the first installment of Ultimate Spider-Man: Requiem #1 and how it was just a ploy for writer Brian Michael Bendis to rehash some unused USM leftovers from a years back. Unfortunately issue 2 isn’t any better. Book one left off on a great cliffhanger, Robbie Robertson informing reformed Spidey basher, J. Jonah Jameson that he is going to write his eulogy. If there is one thing Bendis is good at it’s writing the layers of a character.  An you’d think this gives Bendis plenty of room to add more to a character he’s already developed from what was a 2 dimensional webhead-hater to a complicated individual.

Well, it starts off that way. The book segues from JJJ’s eulogy to a pretty good Spidey meets Hulk story; but like the last issue, it’s a leftover that would have been good as it’s own 32 page story, and doesn’t really fit into what USM Requiem is trying to do or supposed to do. The book isn’t a total loss; when Bendis actually has JJJ pound out the Spider-Man eulogy the book is amazing: it’s heartfelt and wonderfully written. Issue two is less a requiem for the character and more the book, allowing Bendis to gush over Spidey as Jameson while highlighting art from series regulars Mark Bagley and Stuart Immonen and Ultimate Six artist Trevor Hairsine. Though, the icing on the cake is the last page when amongst the debris and ruins of Manhattan, Captain America and Iron Man find Peter Parker’s body buried. When they dig him out of the ruble, Peter opens his eyes.

Earth 1610’s Spider-Man’s adventures will continue in Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man written by Brian Michael Bendis (woo!) and illustrated by David LaFuente (ugh). Look for it on shelves August 12th.

Revenge is a dish best served at night, and Moon Knight has a fresh serving for Norman Osborn in the extra-sized Vengeance of the Moon Knight #1! The red hot team of writer Gregg Hurwitz and artist Jerome Opeña unleash an all new Moon Knight on the streets of New York City with a flurry of high tech weaponry in his vengeful arsenal! Exiled by Osborn’s rise to power, how does Moon Knight bring law and order to Norman’s Dark Reign? From whom did he acquire his stunning new armor? And does he still kill criminals? One thing’s for sure, there’s something very different about this Moon Knight! Don’t miss covers by Leinil Francis Yu, Alex Ross and Tim Sale!

Marvel urges retailers to check all orders of Vengeance of the Moon Knight as it continues to garner significant buzz from all corners before its release! Marc Spector might be gone, but Jake Lockely is back in town, and he has a bone to pick with Norman Osborn. With new weapons, a new vehicle, and a new attitude, the extra-sized Vengeance of the Moon Knight #1 is a must read!

VENGEANCE OF THE MOON KNIGHT #1 (JUL090555)

VENGEANCE OF THE MOON KNIGHT #1 TIM SALE VARIANT (JUL090556)

Written by GREGG HURWITZ

Penciled by JEROME OPEÑA

50/50 cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU

50/50 cover by ALEX ROSS

Variant Cover by TIM SALE

Parental Advisory…$3.99

FOC–8/13/09, On-Sale—09/02/09

Few people have had a larger or more lasting impact on the Batman mythos than Paul Dini.  From the creation of the Animated Series in the 90s with Bruce Timm, to Batman Beyond and more recently his tenure on Detective Comics and the newly launched Streets of Gotham and Gotham City Sirens.

He’s helped shape the character over the last 20 years in ways that will be felt for the foreseeable future.

Though the purpose of this interview was to discuss Batman: Arkham Asylum, and it was, indeed, discussed. We talked about why Catwoman wasn’t in the game, the development of sub-plots, the way they were able to sneak the back-stories of the villains in the game without disrupting the story, among many other things.

He also spoke to us about the 60s TV series, Superfriends, his relationship to the character and his work on the comics. The topic did turn to Marvel Divas vs. Gotham City Sirens for a bit as well.

All in all, it’s a great interview and you really should check it out.

To listen to this and other interviews like it on iTunes, you need to subscribe to The Geek Show Podcast. Paul Dini isn’t the only interview we got. Kevin Conroy, Steve Sansweet and Anthony Daniels (among others) will be available soon. And The Geek Show is really good, too. Click here for their iTunes feed.

There were two other video interviews in this particular series, click the links to check them out: Kevin Conroy and Game Director Sefton Hill.

Apply here: http://www.starkindustriesnow.com/

Last summer Marvel announced that it would launch a huge event that would alter the Ultimate Universe permanently. This was good news, both Ultimate X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four had been plagued by hack writers and bad artists, which lead to horrible stories and atrocious sales. It also seemed like a good way to give the consistently good Ultimate Spider-Man a much needed kick in the ass to propel the story and it’s characters a little further.

The concept was nothing short of bad ass either; Magneto’s children are murdered, pushing him over the edge and setting a doomsday plan into motion, killing millions of people, heroes and villains alike. Well, it turns out that it’s all part of Dr. Doom’s plan to get the master of magnetism to effectively destroy the populous as to pick up the pieces and rule what’s left of the world. Of course, the heroes team up and fight back. Sounds good right?

Sadly, the project was given to Jeph Loeb to pen and it’s not that he doesn’t know how to write comics; he just doesn’t know how to write comics in the Ultimate Universe. The miniseries doesn’t even start out strong; it’s spread far too thin for something cramming lots of story in what’s supposed to be a 5 issue miniseries. Readers don’t have time to blink; tons of shit goes down in 32 pages with virtually no exposition each issue. It’s like each page is devoted to what should be 10 pages of plot and action. And it seemed to be the running theme by the second issue to replace any bit of story with either action, brutal violence and/or gore.

Key characters are picked off by Loeb without the slightest regard, and you care, but not because you’re drawn in, but because it’s done in the most ambivalent way. Loeb lacks the abilities in storytelling Brian Michael Bendis has honed in crafting drama and relationships amongst the characters or the finesse for action and adventure Mark Millar has atoned with other Ultimate titles, leaving Ultimatum a messy clusterfuck of a story. At least it ends on a good note, Spider-Man lives (sorry, but did you really think Bendis would let Marvel kill his pride and joy?).

The book isn’t a total loss however, David Finch and Danny Miki’s wonderful attention to detail makes it at least fun to look at, even when Blob is munching on Janet Pym’s guts or when Cyclops and Iron Man obliterate Wolverine into adamantium and sinew. If there is one thing Finch can draw well, it’s intensity and chaos. The imagery doesn’t falter, it’s intricate without being too gaudy or overwhelming the reader.

In the long run, Marvel should have entrusted title to Ultimate Marvel godfathers Brian Bendis or Mark Millar. It’s also frustrating that not only did they give Jeph Loeb rein to change Earth 1610 but mutilate it beyond recognition. It seems unnecessary to kill off that many characters when the whole point of the Ultimate Universe was to put a modern day spin on it. There were plenty of concepts left to retool; 70 years of Marvel Comics material to draw from in point of fact. I’d say no use crying over spilt milk, but us comic book nerds do have trouble letting things go.

Marvel unveiled the new logo for the Fantastic Four comic books.  It will make it’s debut on issue #570 which goes on sale 8/26/2009.

Here is the logo incorporated into issue #570.

During Marvel’s Animation Panel on Friday at the San Diego Comic Con the trailer for Plant Hulk debuted. Based on a few of Greg Pak’s issues of “Incredible Hulk.” The story follows the intergalactic exile of Hulk by Iron Man and the rest of the Illuminati as he crash lands on the war planet, Sakaar, and is forced to participate in gladiator-esque combat. You can check out the trailer below!

About a week ago, Paramount announced the release details of JJ Abrams’ Star Trek DVD/Blu-ray. Well, now they have released the artwork that is going to go along with it, pictured above.

Also, the luke-warm to negatively geek-reviewed X-Men outting of X-Men Origins: Wolverine will be seeing DVD/Blu-ray release on September 15. You can check out all the specs on all three editions of the film over at Arse-bot’s Examiner site.

The whole Comic-Con Iron Man panel Line up. (photo by Jason Young)

To be honest I was bored with all the still photos that were released earlier for Iron Man 2, but the trailer they showed at comic-con looks really good and I am officially excited for Iron Man 2 now.

The panel consisted of Jon Favreau, Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle, Sam Rockwell, and Scarlett Johansson.

There wasn’t much for news in the panel, mostly just how awesome the clip was. I can say now for certain that War-Machine is indeed in it and kicking ass. Jon Favreau was asked if he was going to direct the upcoming Avengers movie. He didn’t really sound like he was going to be, but he did say, “It is definitely going to shoot after we are wrapped with Iron Man 2.” Which I guess means maybe.

As stated the trailer was the best part of the panel, besides Scarlett Johansson being really cute, saying she had to do mixed martial arts training for her role.

The trailer started with an image of Tony Stark sitting in a giant donut and getting approached by Nick Fury. They are then seen at a table together where Tony asks Nick if he is real, and Nick assures him, he’s the realist person he knows.

Next scene: Tony Stark is in a senate hearing under a Senator Stern, who is questioning him about possessing ‘the weapon’ Tony plays it really cool, telling him he won’t turn over his personal property, and that he has successfully privatized peace. This continues until the senator is forced to adjourn the hearing, and tells Tony to go fuck himself.

Besides that they showed a little action with Black Widow, (Scarlett is totally going to bust some heads.)

Mickey Rourke, playing Whiplash looked really bad ass. He was showed giving some sinister smiles, and walking down a highway (I believe towards Iron Man) with a Stark repulsor chest power pack, that feeds energy winding around his arms and to his electric looking whips. Which he lashes at the ground tearing it up in front of him, really menacing like.

Finally they showed a scene where Sam Rockwell was selling some weapons to Don Cheadle, and then the trailer ends with War Machine flying unloading all of his newly purchased weapons. One in each hand, and a third mounted on his back on a turret that is firing automatically. It looks amazing, I can’t wait.

The last thing I will mention is the swag that they gave out at the panel, which I almost didn’t get my hands on. They were giving out tickets for a T-shirt that says “Stark Expo ’74” But they were only giving them to people with seats, which was a problem for me because I was standing in the press box, so I had to hustle two of the people handing out tickets to give me one anyway. The first person swiftly said he can’t help me, and wouldn’t listen further. The later said she couldn’t help me until I told her how much my “Son” would appreciate it. Anyway, I had to pull a few pubes from between my teeth, and I got my t-shirt.

A better shot of Scarlett (I think she's hot.) (photo by Jason Young)

Robert Downey Jr. with his head cut off. (I was still looking at Scarlett Johansson) (photo by Jason Young)