Wonder Woman will return to the small screen on NBC this fall– this we knew. And just announced is its main cast, namely Diana herself, Adrianne Palicki. If you watched the couple of episodes of LoneStar that aired (another Fox show cancelled before its time), you may have seen her. Ditto for if you’ve been watching Friday Night Lights.  Want to see her right now? You’re in luck, since Netflix has the first four seasons available for your streaming instant cue needs, as does Hulu have a selection of episodes.

Michael Ausiello’s TV Line blog reported that the character of Wonder Woman will be reimagined (gawd I hate that word) by David E. Kelley (Ally McBeal, Boston Legal) into not just one but three roles:

• The titular crimefighter, “reinvented” here as an L.A.-based vigilante
• Alter ego No. 1: Diana Themyscira, a mega-billionaire CEO
• Alter ego No. 2: Diana’s “plain Jane” assistant, Diana Prince. (Good luck with that one, makeup and wardrobe!)

Other key players to be cast for Wonder Woman include Steve Trevor (now a lawyer for the Justice Department and a onetime paramour of Diana T.’s); Themyscira Industries’ press secretary, Mindy; and Veronica Cale, an eeeevil scientist poised to be WW’s primary adversary.

Ausiello also points out that Palicki at 5′ 11″ will be tall enough to fill the Amazonian princess’s boots, but I’m not so worried about the casting (it actually makes me hopeful! Again, she was GREAT in Lonestar! Everything was great in that show!) as I am worried about this reinvention. This could be bad. Not The Cape bad, but bad enough.There’s a reason this pilot couldn’t find a home, and that’s largely because this has the stink of bad makeover all around it.

Given Kelly’s pedigree and track record, this just sounds much more like Ally McSuperhero than anything I’d want to watch. (As an aside, remember that Robert Downey Jr started his comeback in the final season of Ally McBeal, so not all hope is lost.) But Wonder Woman has never been popular because she’s just “a young girl trying to balance life’s priorities in the big city.”  Every single part of that is antithetical to the ethos of Wonder Woman. She’s a f#$%ing Amazonian princess who when she isn’t defending her home island from mythical creatures of Greek and Roman lore, she’s kicking ass of everyone from Nazis to corporate evildoers to. . .anyone who gets in her way.

But undoubtedly network executives like what they’ve seen before, and they think Ally McSuperhero is going to be better than other failed adaptations like the WB’s gawd-awful Birds of Prey. No matter how hot those girls were, no matter how much I like the comics, I was NOT watching that show after the first three episodes left me annoyed and bored.

The Daily Beast got a look at the script and widely panned it. I can honestly say this is not looking good, but you don’t have to tie me up in the lasso of truth to get me to admit that.

Given fan backlash over a simple costume redesign, will fans have any hope for yet another reboot?

A few weeks ago we introduced you to the newest member of the Big Shiny Robot! podcast family, Laser Brain! Well, after taking a little personal time to find their lost Pube Tube, our favorite morally-retarded trio is back with a brand new episode hot off the digital recording machine thingy and ready for you to enjoy!

If you haven’t checked out the Laser Brain podcast you are missing out on some truly funny – and really, really horrible – stuff! So give them a listen!

Laser Brain Episode 11 – “Papa’s New Guinea”

3 roommates, 2 weeks off, 101 minutes of everything you missed.

Listen on iTunes

Listen on Podbean

While many of us have dreamed of driving George Barris’ classic TV Batmobile, or even one of the movie models, that’s not really been possible unless you have insane wads of cash. But now, with Sasank Gopinathan’s Kinetia LMX Supercar, one day you too, might be able to have a ride that would make Batman proud.

Inspired by F-1 cars, and specifically the Peugeot 908, the LMX is designed to have attractive curves while still having little air resistance. In fact, the car is built in mind for normal roads, rather than race tracks. This makes it highly likely if the car ever hits the mass market, it’ll be street legal out of the box, as it were. With its gull-wing doors and LED running lights, this is one car that may put the fear of the Bat into any shady characters passing by. All it needs is little eye cutouts on the hood!

Sadly, the LMX hasn’t reached the mass-production stage yet, and there is no word on how much it’d cost when it does. Even so, it’ll probably be cheaper than owning one of the other Batmobiles, so let’s all cross our fingers.

Via Geeky Gadgets

CNN is reporting on their wed site that Marion Cotillard is confirmed to be cast in the much anticipated Batman sequel and third installment of the Nolan Batman franchise “The Dark Knight Rises”. The story is notably absent of any mention or speculation as to whom Cotillard may be playing. So it is anybody’s guess. BUT – my guess, as well as others here at BSR is that she will play none other than Talia al Ghul.

Why you ask? Well – personally I think is just plain makes sense – but to further explain I will defer to my 26 year old self and a post I wrote on my Blog in the summer of 2008 when the nerd-sphere was running rampant with speculation of the (unfounded) merits of the Riddler being a villain in the then hopeful sequel. But If you don’t want to jump away or open a new tab, or see my true identity – I understand, and will just sum it up for you real simple like. 1) Think of what kind of character Cotillard played in Inception. 2) THEN remember that at the END of The Dark Knight that the whole world now think that Batman uses LETHAL FORCE. 3) Finally – recall that the very reason why Bruce did NOT become a member of the League of Shadows was that he WAS NOT willing to use lethal force. With these story elements in mind – it is not too far out to imagine that the League of Shadows might want Bruce still – especially if they think that he has come around to their way of thinking.

But enough of my gloating. What say you nerd brethren?!? Am I full of none sense? Being that Catwoman is already cast who is left that Cotillard could likely play? Comment! Discuss!

UPDATE: (1:30 pm, 2/16/2011)

Twitter is reporting that this is fake and we can’t find any more confirmations, but this is the update we found:

DailyBlam is confirming that not only is Cotillard playing Talia al Ghul but that Joseph Gordon-Levitt WILL be playing Roman Sionis a.k.a BLACK MASK!! I know how many of you out there were keeping your fingers crossed for Black Mask to be in this film – But many assumed if it were to be so then Tom Hardy would playing him. So What do you say about the casting of Joseph Gordon-Levitt? Early rumors were for him to play Robin. So the turn around of him playing such a formidable villain is kind of surprising. Tell us here at BSR what you think!!

UPDATE: (1:30 pm MT, 02/16/011)

From DailyBlam:

Warner Bros confirms that this information did not originate from any representatives at the studio and is indeed just a fan-made rumor.

On Monday February 7th, a Detroit citizen tweeted at Detroit Mayor David Bing that if Philadelphia has a statue of Rocky then Detroit needs to get a statue of Robocop who could “kick Rocky’s butt”. The mayor politely responded that there were no plans to build a Robocop statue, but thank you for the suggestion. And from there the internet took over. In 8 days utilizing kickstart.com they have raised $50,769 towards their goal of $50,000. Detroit Company Imagination Station has offered up a piece of land in Michigan Park facing Michigan Central Station for the erection of the statue.

Community support of the project has been huge, Detroit citizen John Leonard started a facebook group simply called build a statue of Robocop in detroit. It currently has 6816 people attending, and i’m sure it’s numbers are growing.

The donations to the cause do not come without rewards. Simply donating $1 gets your name in the credits at detroitneedsrobocop.com, yeah folks bragging rights for $1. Donate $35 and receive a Detroit Robocop pin, the following scenario comes to mind:
Guy at bus stop: “Hey man, cool pin where’d you get it?”
you: I helped build the Robocop statue in detroit”
Guy: “No way”
You: “Pulls out smart phone, sure did here’s my name on the credits list.”
Guy: “Holy Damn that’s awesome!!!”
You two are now fast friends and open a chain of restaurants together, all from Robocop.

And finally, if you donate $50, you will get a Detroit Robocop T-Shirt to commemorate your support of their struggle to bring the hero to life via steel.

If Detroit gets a statue of Robocop this robot will begin idolizing the geeks of Detroit for helping push something incredible forward. There truly is no limit to the power of the internet, and geek love. Every geeky servo in me hopes to see this project completed. You can donate to the cause Here or if you hate clicking links visit Detroitneedsrobocop.com

We will continue updating you with information on this and have contacted the group for opinion.

Sometimes, there are characters that you see that have a unique visual style. You know, the ones that make you go, how the heck is character X end up like THAT!? I happen to like those characters with the oh-so-odd appearances, like Ultra, The Multi-Alien. Today, I am featuring another of those weird-looking guys. Strap yourself into your rocket-powered chair and learn about the Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing, M.O.D.O.K!

He wanted to call himself Uglor, but a Marvel Monster already took it.

As you can see, our tale begins with M.O.D.O.K. getting a bit irate at his A.I.M. (Marvel and their acronyms, amirite?) flunkies. He goes into full-on rant mode, as he kills the men in his immediate vicinity, saying he has no room for mercy after what his life has been like. He then monologues to himself about how much he hates Captain America. How he could destroy him easily, but wants him to suffer. You know, the usual. He goes on to say he hates Cap all the more for being so physically perfect, reminding him of his former life. He destroys his reflection in the mirror and starts to flashback…

I swear I have never seen anyone use "mustn't" outside of comics.

The man formerly known as George Tarleton is brought before the supreme scientist of A.I.M. George has been “volunteered” to be in a special experiment. He is placed into an “alteration chamber”. You might think he was chosen for this “honor” because he was wholly qualified, a paragon of mental acuity… Nope! In fact he was picked because he was a schlub, a nothing. So, in the machine, George is told he’ll become a living, breathing, computer. He is left in the chamber for a full day, but when the opened, it seems the experiment is a success.

"*Sniff* Mental Organisms still have feelings, you know!"

The newly christened M.O.D.O.K. is told his purpose, which is to serve A.I.M. as their greatest weapon. The eggheads at Advanced Idea Mechanics didn’t take one thing into consideration though, what if their greatest weapon doesn’t want to serve them? In fact, what if he’s just plain pissed at what you did to him? Well, the mental power of M.O.D.O.K. is such that he could easily destroy them all, but he settles for the scientist supreme, who honestly sounds like Dr. Strange’s atheist cousin. His story complete, M.O.D.O.K.’s thoughts return to the present.

"But I'm not bitter! I just hate that pretty-boy, Captain America!"

And well, that’s really it for M.O.D.O.K.’s origin. I wont leave you hanging though, the story itself continues. Using his vast mental powers, he pinpoints Cap, who is hanging out with The Falcon. With this, M.O.D.O.K. launches yet another plan for revenge. Using once again those much-vaunted (and vague) mental powers, our “hero” brings life to a massive golem-like monstrosity called the Bulldozer. A couple of A.I.M. flunkies load the Bulldozer into a plane, and through their dialogue learn that M.O.D.O.K.’s plan is to somehow discredit Captain America with a giant monster. Um, OK. Who are we to question the motives of a genius? They drop the Bulldozer off at the Lincoln Tunnel and it proceed to bash its way into Harlem. Cap and the Falcon are discussing a possible partnership, with Cap revealing his identity even! Their discussion is interrupted by the building being shaken to its foundations! Cap and the Falcon leave the scene together. Once they get outside, they realize M.O.D.O.K.’s plan.

I have to admit, that's a pretty clever plan.

Bulldozer even goes so far to say “Power to the People!”, which is laying it on a bit thick, but this is early 70’s Marvel. Amazingly, or maybe because the story needs it to be so, Cap realizes this has to be the work of M.O.D.O.K. Cap takes the fight to the Bulldozer, but this turns out to be the crux of the plan. Since the Harlemites forced to live in the slums, Cap fighting the guy wrecking them makes him out to be the oppressor! And because of these, there is derision in the crowd that has gathered. Everyone seems to be against Cap and the Falcon. The both try a different tack. The Falcon uses his pet falcon, Redwing to try and confuse the beast, but it doesn’t quite work. Cap, however, has a phone call to make… Meanwhile, M.O.D.O.K. is watching the scene, wallowing in his assumed victory. So happy is he that he decides he must be there in person to witness Captain America’s utter defeat!

Because sometimes, a rocket powered chair isn't enough.

While A.I.M.’s “glorious leader” is en route, Cap makes his phone call to one Tony Stark. He asks Tony to whip up a device that will detect the Bulldozer’s power source. Tony, being the Über -genius he is, does just that. M.O.D.O.K. arrives on the scene and starts directing the Bulldozer directly. The battle rages much like it has before, but with some in the crowd wrongly believing that A.I.M. has their best interests at heart. Just then, Redwing shows up with a package from Stark. With the device, Cap figures out that the Bulldozer’s power source is M.O.D.O.K.’s power of mental thinking itself. Apparently, Tony Stark makes some incredibly intuitive gadgets, because Captain America uses the device to jam the mental commands and cause the Bulldozer to do the exact opposite. Conveniently, the Bulldozer makes it way to M.O.D.O.K.’s makeshift lair. The fight between the two is actually going against Cap until the Bulldozer makes the scene. Captain America keeps M.O.D.O.K. distracted enough to keep him from commanding his creature. It causes the Bulldozer to go a bit berserk and the building they are fighting in collapses all around them. Cap gets out alright, but M.O.D.O.K. isn’t so lucky.

Why he doesn't use his mental power to command his golem to save him is beyond me.

And that’s the end. Don’t fret though. Our boy M.O.D.O.K. is undergoing quite a resurgence as of late. He’s had his own mini series, a prominent role in the hierarchy of smartest Marvel villains, and even gets to be a playable character in the new Marvel vs. Capcom 3. So while this may have been a setback for the villain with self-esteem issues, his current success probably has him on Cloud 9.

This story originally appeared in Captain America #133, January 1971 and is reprinted in Essential Captain America Vol. 3

Name: Venom

Year: 2008

Scale: 6in.

Made in China

www.hasbro.com/spiderman

I would like to share today the best looking/affordable Venom toy on the market. Unlike Eddie Brock, Gene Simmons comes with a scorpion tail! Some assembly is required, but not to worry, no tools will be needed in the tail assembly.

The venom symbiote has dropped onto the baby of Gene Simmons/Flex Wheeler and goes by the name Mac Gargan. The well placed black-gloss paint covers the very durable plastic, emphasizing detailed muscle striations and veins. It’s very ribbed for any collector’s pleasure… The hands or “clarz” are very sharp, so I’d avoid those if possible. His hands are very impressive “detail” wise. His fingers are “jointed”, even though there’s no articulation in them, they still look real for the scale of the figure. I can finally understand Shannon Tweed’s reason for love, this incredible tongue! The tongue is longer than Gene’s torso and is colored beautifully with fiery-reds and pussy-pinks.

Venom is packaged traditionally, but the packaging graphics are dog-shit! They should have had themed packaging for every villain in the line to better suit the image of the characters persona. The best thing about it is the back. The image of Gene holding spidey by the waist, mouth-opened, with a scorpion tail that wouldn’t reach past his own head was well worth the purchase!

This was definitely a series you don’t need to collect. The only other tolerable figure is GREEN GOBLIN; the CARNAGE toy had bigger hands then Kate Beckinsale!

In closing, if you want a bomb-ass Venom figure/toy check out the KOTOBUKIYA figure; if you want a body-builder /KISS star, look no further.

Around Valentine’s Day three years ago co-founders Kill-Tacular-Tron and Swank-mo-tron had an idea to start a website for them and their friends to share all the geek stuff they loved with the people of the Interwebs. It didn’t take long before the URL bigshinyrobot.com was snagged and Kill-Tacular-Tron threw together a website – and thus Big Shiny Robot! was born!

Flash forward three years, three redesigns of the site, a more than quadrupled staff size, over two million page views, and monthly visits easily in the hundreds of thousands, and here we are today. Big Shiny Robot! is reaching a world-wide audience now, but we still are proud to maintain our Utah local base.

BSR! would like to thank all of you loyal readers who stop by the site, check out our podcasts and forum, and have just supported us over the years. We all love what we do here, and hope you’ve all enjoyed stopping by BSR! over the years. We have a lot more in store for you as we continue to grow, and we’re looking forward to the ride!

To thank all of you bots out there, we are celebrating our three year anniversary with a FREE event at Brewvies on Sunday, February 20! We will have Marvel vs. Capcom 3 available for everyone to play on the theater screen, a showing of The Iron Giant, and of course some things to give away! All the details you’ll need are listed below along with a link to the Facebook event page. Hope to see you there!

The Details:

When: Sunday, February 20 3PM – 10PM
– Marvel vs. Capcom will be available for play from 3PM – 6:30PM
-“Official” drinking festivities being at 5PM
–The Iron Giant starts showing at 7PM
Stop by any time!

Where: Brewvies Cinema Pub – 677 South 200 West, Salt Lake City, UT

Facebook Event Page: Clicky Clicky

This Sunday is Big Shiny Robot’s 3 year anniversary event at Brewvies! Part of this event is going to include a casual Marvel vs. Capcom 3 tournament – on the movie screen!

All skill levels are welcome to sign up and throw down for a few rounds. To put your name in for the tournament, just fill out the registration form (clicky, clicky)! The winner will take home a 3′ x 4′ Marvel vs. Capcom 3 window poster! Also, all of you that show up between 3pm MT and 5pm MT can enter a raffle to win a copy of Marvel vs. Capcom 3! This raffle will be open to both, tournament players and spectators!

So join BSR! at our 3 year anniversary event at Brewvies this Sunday, February 20, between 3pm-5pm MT for some Marvel vs. Capcom on the big screen!

We have a brand new clip from this week’s The Clone Wars episode. “The Citadel” looks to be a return to form with the action-packed sorts of episodes we were growing used to in Season 2.

This clip looks fantastic and I can’t wait to discover the context in which this is happening. Is this being done to them? Is this voluntary to commit a Trojan Horse maneuver? Only time will tell.

From the press release:

Led by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, an elite rescue team attempts to free a captive Jedi general from an impenetrable Separatist prison. Deep within enemy territory, The Citadel is surrounded by droids and run by a sadistic warden determined to prevent anyone from breaking out – or in. Our heroes stage an action-packed forced entry to “The Citadel,” the first chapter in an explosive three-part storyline – airing at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT Friday, February 18 on Cartoon Network.

“This arc is basically classic Star Wars; we focused on the things that I really remember loving about the Saga from when I was a kid,” says Dave Filoni, supervising director of The Clone Wars. “In the Mortis trilogy, George wanted us to explore some ground that’s never really been covered in Star Wars before. And now with the Citadel arc, we’re going back to some of those essential, classic conventions that have always made Star Wars so fun.”

Action-packed and filled with nods to the live-action saga, the Citadel trilogy finds its heroes behind enemy lines – using an unusual infiltration tactic that fans of the original trilogy will recognize as a twist on a classic Star Wars scene. With the heroes encasing themselves in carbonite to slip past The Citadel’s impenetrable security, the episode explores quintessentially familiar ground in decidedly unfamiliar ways.

“There are a lot of references packed into these episodes,” says Filoni. “Even the basic break-in idea parallels the Death Star rescue from Episode IV. It was really fun to do our version of that, but it’s definitely not the only thing that will feel familiar – though we’ve put our own spin on everything. This whole arc allowed us some fun opportunities to pay homage to the Star Wars that we all fell in love with when we, the older fans, were kids. Pretty much everyone on the crew is a fan, so it’s been fun to revisit some of those classic elements in The Clone Wars.”

Another familiar element come in the form of a classic Star Wars villain – introduced here on the side of the Republic! First appearing in Episode IV as the Imperial officer bold enough to “[hold] Vader’s leash,” Grand Moff Tarkin (now just a captain) will have his fateful first meeting with Anakin Skywalker in this week’s Clone Wars adventure.

“Tarkin was tricky,” says Filoni. “We had to capture his essence, while also aging him down appropriately. Peter Cushing is such a distinguished actor, and Tarkin is such an iconic role. He fills the room with his presence and, aside from the Emperor, he’s the only character who ever orders Vader around. So getting him right was very important to us, because his introduction to Anakin is an important one. And they’ve got a fun relationship that’s been very interesting to explore.”