Journeyman has been canceled

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Journeyman has not been picked up by NBC. This was one of the only new series I was watching and enjoying. Bummer.

New poster for the new Indy movie.

Nice...



I cannot wait.

Comics of Note Out this Wednesday

Bat Lash #1

DC Comics begins a six-issue miniseries focusing on one of their classic Western characters. I love the current Jonah Hex series and am looking forward to checking this one out as well.
Written by Peter Brandvold and Sergio Aragones; Art by John Severin; Cover by Walter Simonson; Variant Cover by Severin Will he save the West – or ruin it? Acclaimed Western novelist Peter Brandvold (Rogue Lawman, .45-Caliber Deathtrap) teams up with Bat Lash co-creator Sergio Aragones (Groo, MAD) to answer that question as BAT LASH begins! This 6-issue miniseries recounts the origin story of the most unusual cowboy of them all as young Bat Lash braves a corrupt sheriff and a greedy rancher just to woo a rancher's lovely daughter. With interior art by the legendary John Severin (DESPERADOES) and beautiful covers by Walter Simonson, BAT LASH is a classic Western high adventure made fresh and exciting for today!

Criminal Vol. 2 - Lawless

The second collection of Ed Brubaker’s and Sean Philips’ excellent crime series. If you haven’t been picking this up in single issues (and if you haven’t, shame on you! You’re missing some great essays in the back), here is your chance to read the Tracy Lawless story.
Twenty years ago, Tracy Lawless traded the crime-ridden streets of the city for a life in the military, and it's a decision he's rarely regretted. But now he's walking out of the deserts of Afghanistan and Iraq and back into the world he grew up in, to find out who killed his brother Rick, and why. But truth is one of the few things uglier than family history, and the only thing Tracy has in his favor as he unravels the twisted strands of the criminal life his brother led, is that no one knows who the hell he is. And what they don't know, just might kill them! Collects Criminal #6-10

Irredeemable Ant-Man Vol. 2 Digest - Small Minded

The second collection of this series wraps up the 12-issue story. It’s a shame this book was cancelled. A good story nonetheless.

Eric O'Grady has found himself in need of a little employment. It costs money to be on the run from the law. Luckily Damage Control is on the lookout for someone who can safely sift through rubble for survivors. Don't worry, though - he'll still have plenty of time to spy on the ladies like the despicable human-being that he is. Plus: Why fight super-villains when you can watch attractive ladies take their clothes off in the privacy of their own homes? Our little Irredeemable Ant-Man has got it made! That is, until he realizes that the current subject of his perverted voyeurism is none other than Carol Danvers - otherwise known as Brian Bendis' and Frank Cho's The Mighty Avengers' Ms. Marvel! Collects Irredeemable Ant-Man #7-12.

Ultimate Iron Man II #1

The follow-up series to the popular Orson Card Scott-penned story. I wasn’t crazy about the first volume but it got some acclaim so it deserves a mention.

The untold origin of Ultimate Marvel’s most eccentric billionaire playboy continues in Ultimate Iron Man II #1! International best-selling author Orson Scott Card returns to Ultimate Universe to reveal how Tony Stark developed his taste for wine, women, and war machines. Card is joined by fan-favorite artist Pasqual Ferry (Ultimate Fantastic Four) and special guest cover artist Gabriele Dell’Otto!When last we saw him, young Tony Stark was nearly blown to bits by his initial Iron Man trial run. How much of him survived -- and where does the young genius go from here? Three words: Ultimate War Machine! Plus, Tony fights to exonerate his father from a murder rap, and reveals his ultimate plan for the perfect fighting machine to Jim Rhodes. If you were shocked by the first series, you ain’t seen nothing yet! “Tony is still on that path to becoming a hero,” said series editor Bill Rosemann. “He took the first steps in the first mini, but the road to glory is a long and painful journey. From James Rhodes to Howard Stark to Obadiah Stane, both longtime and new Shell-Head fans will find many intriguing characters impacting the still-developing hero that one day will lead the Ultimates.”With a clandestine group targeting the young hero and Tony forced to battle his own demons, how can he possibly survive these torturous times in his life? And when he does, who will pay the price for Iron Man’s existence? One thing’s for sure—you can’t miss Ultimate Iron Man II #1, written by World Fantasy Award, two-time Nebula Award and Four-time Hugo Award-winning author Orson Scott Card (Ender’s Game) and featuring jaw dropping interiors by Pasqual Ferry!

Comic That Interest Me This Week

Here is just a sampling of the comics coming out tomorrow (Wednesday) that I think deserve to be mentioned. A complete list can be found here.

Doktor Sleepless #1 Auxiliary and Black Summer #1 Auxiliary

For anyone who missed out on the first issues of Warren Ellis’ new Avatar Press series, both are offered again in what is being called an “auxiliary” issue.

For those that don’t know, Black Summer is the story of a group of super heroes who were once the world’s greatest protectors. Well, what happens to those people if one teammate takes it upon himself to kill the President of the USA because he thinks the President is a corrupt criminal? Anti-American superheroes are right up my alley. It is penciled by the highly meticulous Juan Jose Ryp.

Doktor Sleepless is a futuristic tale about a man who may or may not be a revolutionary figure. It is filled with the standard, crazy ideas for which Ellis is known. If you find the tongue-in-cheek subtitle of the first issue, Future Science Jesus, funny, then you will probably like the series. Pencils by Ivan Rodriguez,

Kong: King of Skull Island #0

Markosia Press releases a zero issue as the first part of their licensed King Kong comics. My friend Chuck Satterlee is writing this one and it is penciled by Dan O’Connor. Pick it up and support Chuck and if your shop doesn’t have it, make them order it.

Casanova #10

One of the best books on the market. Hands down. And it’ll only cast you $1.99. Buy it.

Jack of Fables Vol. 2 – Jack of Hearts

This collects the second arc of the Fables spin-off by Bill Willingham. If you like Fables, you will more than likely like this.

Some News

Really? Was anyone really surprised?

30 Days of Night won the box office this past weekend bringing in around $16 million (that seems pretty low but it might be standard for an October release). It has got less than stellar reviews but I still want to see it. I really loved the comic book when it came out a few years back and Jenn just read it so...seems like a perfect match.

Manga sales are down in Japan? Even though I am not a fan of Japanese comics, I never like to see any negative news about the comic industry.

There's a moustache growing contest over at the Marvel Comics offices. That's fun. I think someone should grow the J. Jonah Jameson Hitler-stache.

Some news

No Battlestar Season 3 DVD until April?? What?? Why would you wait until after season 4 premieres? I really hope this is a rumor.

I love Shannyn Sossamon (and by love I mean I think she is cute) and the potential for her being Wonder Woman in the Justice League of America movie is awesome. Of course, we have already heard about a ton of female actors up for the role. Wait and see.

George Lucas has said a little about the potential Star Wars TV show. Apparently it is going to be about the life of robots. Now I was excited when I first heard about the potential of a Star Wars TV show a few years back. It could be something like a cross between BSG and Lost and Alias and the budget would not need to be that high. Now we are talking robots? Lucas blows.

And here is the cover to the second issue of Comics Now! I will have an article in this issue about the history Pulp Fiction heroes and their popularity throughout the years.

Eric Bana signs on for Star Trek

Variety reports that Bana has joined the cast as the villain named Nero. J.J. Abrams' prequel already boasts such actors as Zachary Quinto as Spock and Zoe Saldana as Uhura.

LOST NEWS

SciFi Wire says the Lost writers/producers have an ending all planned out. Good. Too bad we won't see it until 2010.

And the 3rd season box set is out Dec. 11th.

That's great and all but when the hell is Battlestar Season 3 coming out!!!!!!!!!!

Tee-Vee

I enjoyed the seconcd episode of Bionic Woman last night but not as much as the first one. There is some really cheesy dialogue ("clandestine organization" - ? please...) and I hope the show is more serialized storytelling as opposed to a "mission of the week" kinda show.

Katee Sackoff is still sexy as hell and makes the show for me as Sarah.

It's fun to see all the Battlestar connections that are popping up due to David Eick being the producer. The teacher/principal/guidance counselor in the episode was the priestess Elosha from Battlestar.

And imagine my surprise when Jaime walked into a house in that Paradise town and Battlestar was on the television! Ha!

Jenn and I watched the second episode of Journeyman the night before last and I have to say I am enjoying that show more than I thought I would. It is a little Quantum Leap-y but I loved Quantum Leap so I am glad to see a show like that on television.

I am intrigued to see why our main character time travels and what the hell is up with his "dead" fiancee.

Hulk Script Leaked

IESB.net has posted a spoilery summary of Edward Norton's Hulk script. It sounds entertaining and while I enjoyed Ang Lee's Hulk (I know...i know...most people thought it was too much of an art film and boring), I am looking to the reboot with Edward Norton.

Johnny Dynamite Television Show Coming

According to Variety, Producer Dick Wolf is planning on bringing Max Allan Collins' (Road to Perdition) Johnny Dynamite to telelvision. If it happens, it promises to be the first all greeenscreen television drama. Think Sin City or 300.

New Radiohead Album

Over at radiohead.com you can name your own price for the download of their new album or order the giant box set for only $81.00 USD! Ugh!! So it is not going to be available in stores?? I don't want to pay $81...what do I do???

Comics out this Wednesday

Here are some comics out this week that I think are of note:

Lobster Johnson: The Iron Prometheus #2 (of 5) -



After years of captivating fans from the pages of Hellboy and B.P.R.D., the pulp-style adventures of Lobster Johnson take the limelight in the Lobster's first solo series. Written and with covers by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, and drawn by Jason Armstrong (Ferro City, The Sensational Spider-Man), Lobster Johnson: The Iron Prometheus is a wild ride full of fearsome monsters, mad scientists, and threats from the world beyond.



Action Comics #856



Written by Geoff Johns and Richard Donner; Art and Cover by Eric Powell

The 3-part story "Bizarro World," with art by Eric Powell (The Goon) continues! Thanks to Superman's intervention, the denizens of Bizarro World have turned on the ersatz Superman, and Bizarro is murderously vexed! But Bizarro has Pa Kent as a hostage, which means Superman's just painted himself into a corner — one without a window!


All New Atom #16



Written by Roger Stern Art by Mike Norton & Trevor Scott Cover by Ladrönn

The mysteries of Ivy Town deepen as it appears Ray Palmer may have been more responsible for the bad than the good…and the new Atom is further disillusioned by his former mentor. Featuring guest writer Roger Stern (THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN)!

Exterminators Vol. 3 - Lies of Our Fathers


Written by Simon Oliver; Art by Tony Moore, Mike Hawthorne and John Lucas; Cover by Phillip Bond

In this volume collecting issues #11-16, the Bug-Bee-Gone boys bury one of their own while another member of the team remains missing, but the business of bug-killing must go on.

Jonah Hex #24



Written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti; Art and Cover by David Michael Beck

The return of El Diablo and Bat Lash! Just in time for Halloween, a tale of possession and murder in the Wild West!

Vinyl Underground #1



Written by Si Spencer; Art by Simon Gane and Cameron Stewart; Cover by Sean Phillips

Noted British television writer Si Spencer (Eastenders, Torchwood, Bad Girls) presents a sharp, unforgettable cadence in THE VINYL UNDERGROUND, a 21st century cross between THE INVISIBLES and CSI that brings rich social and political context to the dark, glittering cesspool that is London. Spencer is joined by indie creator/penciller Simon Gane (Paris, Punk Strips) and Eisner-nominated artist Cameron Stewart (the Other Side, SeaGuy) with bold, captivating covers by by Sean Phillips (The Invisibles, Criminal).

In this fast-paced, ultra-cool ongoing crime-noir series, an unlikely quartet of occult detectives secretly solve crimes — from DJ crack bars in Camden to the elegant, high-society ballrooms that make up modern London. The Vinyl Underground is led by Morrison Shepherd, a D-list celebrity darling, soul DJ, and son of an ex-footballer. Fresh out of prison and off a nasty coke habit, Morrison is joined by a fellow ex-con named Perv, whose seizures give him clues to crimes long before the cops, and Leah, a gorgeous morgue assistant who leads a double life online and represents the brawn of the team.

Morrison's ex-flame Abi is reluctantly forced to join the team when her father is implicated for murder. A young boy's head (with diamonds in the eye sockets) washes up on the edge of the Thames and seems to be connected to a series of ritual killings, a drug called Khat, and Muti magic. Can they get to the bottom of it?

Omega The Unknown #1



Written by: Jonathan Lethem & Karl Rusnak
Art by: Farel Dalrymple & Paul Hornschemeier
The story of a mute, reluctant superhero from another planet, and the earthly teenager with whom he shares a strange destiny -- and the legion of robots and nanoviruses that have been sent from afar to hunt the two of them down.

Created in 1975 by Steve Gerber and Mary Skrenes, the original Omega The Unknown lasted only ten issues but was a legend to those who recall it -- an ahead-of-its-time tale of an anti-hero, inflected with brilliant ambiguity. One of Omega's teenage fans was award-winning novelist Jonathan Lethem, who has used the original as a springboard for a superbly strange, funny, and moving graphic novel in ten chapters.

Quick Comic Reviews

The Order #3
This is the third issue of Matt Fraction’s and Barry Kitson’s new superhero book for Marvel Comics and I have yet to be grabbed by it. I bought this book solely to support Matt Fraction because I love his writing but I am finding little to be interested by in this series. I don’t feel like the characterization is there and I see no cohesive story yet. Kitson’s art is also not his greatest work. I will probably stop picking this series up after this storyline ends.


Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite #1



I picked this book the first issue of this book solely for the art. I loved Gabriel Ba’s work on the first seven issues of Image Comics’ Casanova series and wanted to check this out. The writer is Goth/emo/rock band My Chemical Romance’s lead singer Gerard Way and I have never been a fan of his music and had very low expectations for this series. After reading the first issue I could not have been more wrong. Way’s story of a group of exceptional kids with extraordinary powers is wacky and fun. There is a sense of the absurd in his characters, setting and dialogue and I loved every minute of it.



As this is a six-issue series I will not pick up the next five issues and buy the eventually collection. I bet they do a nice hardcover treatment.


Ex Machina #30


This book never disappoints me. Writer Brian K. Vaughan has been weaving a highly intriguing, post 9/11, political story with a touch of science fiction. I’ve loved Tony Harris’ art since his work on DC Comics’ Starman series. This is part one of a four part story titled “Ex Cathedra.” The story takes place a few years ago as our main character, NY Mayor Mitchell Hundred, has been requested to meet with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. Little does he know there is an assassin readying to kill the pontiff. After great stories dealing with such subjects as the legalization of marijuana and censorship, I am curious to see how Vaughan will approach the Roman Catholic religion.

Next Generation turns 20!

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation. So sit back, enjoy a Romulan Ale, play some of that three-dimensional chess and remember the series that brought Star Trek back into the mainstream. It was the only Trek series I ever truly liked.

Smallville Season Premiere

MILD SPOILERS


The 7th season of Smallville premiered last night and I actually watched it. I haven't watched Smallville too much since the 3rd season. I have caught an episode here and there and sometimes watch the premieres and finales. Which is what I did last night.

It was the conclusion to the Bizarro Superman story from last spring's finale. I enjoyed the episode and it was pretty cool seeing a Bizarro. The fight was outstanding, albeit a little short.



It was nice to see them play up the yellow sun's effect on Clark but I felt it was played too straight. I never really thought that Clark's powers are triggered by the sun but rather he is a giant solar battery that stores the energy and that kicks in his powers. Sorry...geekout.


The whole thing with Chloe's death was boring and I wonder how they are going to explain that to the town. "Hey! Isn't that Chloe? I thought she was dead?"


Supergirl...Supergirl...Supergirl...we'll see.


I think I may try to watch a little bit this season since it may be the final one and I would like to see Clark go from Smallville hero to the man who is Superman.

who watches the watchmen?

After years and years of people talking about making it (Terry Gilliam and Darren Arronofsky both tried), it looks like the Watchmen movie is officially happening because the first week of filming has been completed. Director Zach Snyder (300) has posted the first of his production video blogs over at the Watchmen movie site. Exciting.

If you don't know about the highest regarded, literary graphic novel of all time, you can read about it on wikipedia. Just don't read the spoilers if you've never read it.

nananananana....

BIONIC WOMAN

I watched the new Bionic Woman series last night and don't know how I feel about it yet. It is not quite a much watch show but I probably will give it a couple more episodes to see where it goes. I like the way the film is shot and produced and it sure does look pretty. If anything it has Katee Sackoff all glammed up and looking quite different than her normal Starbuck self. And Aaron Douglass (Chief from Battlestar Galactica) as well as Mark Sheppard (Lampkin from BSG) were in it too.

I guess I liked everybody in it except for the main actor, Michelle Ryan. I didn't feel like she had a good enough quality to be a lead character.

And is it too much to ask to put the old sound effect from the original? Nananananana...

KID NATION

I watched the second episode of this show last night and I don't care what anybody says...I love this show! The kids are so cute and they are on this train wreck of a reality program! How can you not watch. Watching them kill chickens - and the little girls with the "Pet Hospital" for other kids' stuffed animals were the 2 highlights of the show for me. And that little Jared kid is absolutely insane and I can tell that the producers absolutely love him.

We could be HEROES

SPOILERS ABOUND

So Jenn and I finished watching the season premiere of Heroes last night. We started watching it Monday night but I fell asleep about 15 minutes into the episode. Already off to a bad start.

I didn’t watch this series when it first started last fall. Despite constant remarks from friends saying that since I am a comic book fan, I would love this show, I never got around to watch it. About half way through I tried to pick up on an episode that was designed to bring readers up to speed. Couldn’t stand it.

Then Jenn borrowed DVD copies of episodes from a guy at work and we trudged through them. Not great but not terribly awful. The acting is pretty poor and the plots and characters are things that I was reading in comics 20 years ago. Nothing new or exciting.

So that is how the new season is for me. Not exciting. I don’t care about the Latino siblings fleeing to America. I don’t care that Captain Sulu is dead. And I saw Peter's amnesia coming from a mile away. I may keep watching just because so many of my comic friends talk about it, but it is not exciting me at all.

When does Lost and Battlestar start? Oh yeah…February… :(

Phonogram: Rue Britannia

Last night I finished Phonogram: Rue Britannia, a comic by Kieron Gillen (writer) and Jamie McKelvie (artist) that approaches the idea that music is magic and it defines who we are.

I passed on the series when it came out in monthly, single issue form but after hearing so many positive things about it, I couldn’t pass up the trade paperback collection of the series. And I am glad I didn’t.

To get an idea for what the book is about - Kieron Gillen’s pitch for the series was thus:

“Music is Magic.
You know this already. You’ve known this from the first time a record sent a divine shiver down your spine or when a band changed the way you dressed forever. How does something that’s just noises arranged in sequence do that? No-one knows. It’s just… magic.
Everyone knows that. It’s just that some realise that it’s more than metaphor.“

The story follows a character named David Kohl, a British man in his early thirties who was big into the Brit Pop music scene of the mid-90s. (Brit Pop was music from bands like Oasis, Blur, Radiohead and The Boo Radleys.) Kohl is a phonomancer, a magician of sorts who use magic to control their lives. It's a modern fantasy.

I was a fan of Brit Pop myself and while I do not get all the references in the story, I do see what Gillen is trying to do. He is saying that music defines who we are as people and, even though our tastes may change on what kind of music we like, it is important to see the importance of our musical histories.

I never liked Kula Shaker either.

Phonogram: Rue Britannia is published by Image Comics. It is 150 pages for $14.99 but you can get it for cheaper on Amazon or InStockTrades.

Recommended For: People who Love Music, Modern Fantasy Fans, Anglophiles

Back in Black...

okay I am going to try this again. I am going to try to get some regular material on here as often as I can. Reviews of movies, TV, comics, books, music. Ramblings about pop culture news. Could we start again please?

Sopranos finale.

So there are probably plenty of people all over the web talking about this today but I feel I need to weigh in with my opinion of The Sopranos series finale.

SPOILERS ABOUND

I was excited for last night’s episode, hoping to be entertained by a continuation of the gang-war bloodbath from last episode. I (and probably most viewers) expected series creator David Chase to provide me with an end to the story of Tony Soprano. Only three things could happen to Tony at the end of the series as far I was concerned: he would be arrested, he would turn to the FBI or he would be dead. I really believe that Tony deserved to be punished for his actions over the course of his life; redemption, I feel, was no longer an option. What I got was a bookend to the beginning of the series, with little change to Tony at all.

After nearly 8 years (six seasons) of the show, Tony is not in too different of a place. He is still leading his Jersey crew and experiencing the same types of psychological and familial problems he was dealing with at the start of the show.

We did get a nice gang killing in the form of New York boss and thorn-in-Tony’s-side, Phil Leotardo. I was thoroughly entertained by the post-headshot skull crush while his wife screamed in terror.

One thing that really bothered me was the overall structure of the finale as it seemed to be a vehicle by Chase to insert as many “classic” Sopranos scenes and locales as possible. Scenes occurred at the Bada Bing and at the little tables outside Satriale’s for what seemed to be no reason other than to give viewers one last look at these places.

Characters seemed to serve this purpose too as we were given final glimpses of the characters we have loved over the course of the series. Absent were Artie Bucco and Melfi (who was given her final send-off last episode). Even one of Meadow’s friends from early on the series made a return for what seemed to be no reason at all.

Throughout the entire show, Jennifer and I were extremely high strung, waiting for something big to happen, remarking throughout the show that “There’s only 25 minutes left” and then “There’s only 10 minutes left.” The end scene was the tensest 10 minutes of television I have experienced in quite some time. Chase certainly was taking from Hitchcock’s playbook, increasing the suspense with each person that walked into the diner. One of them was definitely there to kill Tony, right? Tony was obviously nervous the entire time, watching every person that entered the restaurant, wondering if they were there to end him. Even Meadow having trouble parking her car helped to add to the anxiety of the situation. For this I applaud Chase. The ending itself was unexpected. Tony and Carmella sitting at the diner, waiting for AJ and Meadow to arrive. Tony has selected Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” on the tabletop jukebox. AJ eventually shows up and, after attempting to parallel park several times, Meadow herself heads for the door to the diner. The series ends with the bell on the diner door ringing, signaling someone’s entrance, with Tony looking up toward the door. The music ends and the screen goes black for several seconds before the credits appear. In a very uncharacteristic manner, no music accompanies the credits.

So that was it? The family sits down at dinner? I immediately felt a sense of disappointment. Where was the final shootout? How can Tony get away with all the pain he has caused others throughout his life? But then Jenn pointed something out to me. Maybe it wasn’t Meadow walking in the door. We didn’t see her enter. It could have been anyone. Maybe Tony died right then. Whatever happened, the outcome belongs solely to the viewer.

After talking it over with Jenn, we came up with the idea that Tony will forever be looking over his shoulder as he did in the final scenes. He will never be at rest. This life he has chosen for him and his family has a never ending curse. They will never be safe. Perhaps that is the theme of the series. The path he has chosen is one of anxiety, unrest and the feeling that he can be killed at any moment. That is his punishment. A fate, I feel, that is much worse than death.

Series finale aside, The Sopranos will no doubt go down in history as one of the greatest television shows ever produced. And it should. Even in the times when it stumbled, it was still better written than most other shows on the tube.

-that is all.

Welcome, Welcome

Welcome to the Pop Stop. I figured it was about time that I started a site to talk about all my favorite pop culture goodness. I welcome everyone here and encourage people to contribute . Drop me a line if you want to be involved!

-that is all.