Hollywood versus the Fanboy

I love film, and I love movies. I love comic books. More often than not I do not like movies based on our comic book heroes. I am a fanboy of sorts, but I seldom take issue with the director and or producers need ( their vision) to make the hero more in the NOW, rewriting, recreating, redesigning as they go to make the hero fit into a more marketable package suitable for mass consumption to the biggest demographic.

I think I dont like bad movies. Why spend 100 million bones to make crap? Even if your domestic and foreign market sales are three time that, it is still a turd. It shouldnt be about money, or points, or sequel rights. Fanboys dont care about that... comic writers, inkers, artists, editors probably dont either. Its about the character...the story... the meat.

I just found out about Shazam being in pre-production.. Hollywood has good ideas, but no one to bring them to fruition. Anywho, Bill Goldman had written a script, you know Bill, academy award winner Bill, writer of The Princess Bride, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Marathon Man, Magic, All the Presidents Men, and for you that are unaware Good Will Hunting. I heard they tanked it and got the writer that penned Big Fish. Now that is internet forum rumor, so I am unsure if it has merit.

This is typical Hollywood dementia. Like when John Singleton, got picked up for Luke Cage. What the Hell? Why was he tapped? Tyrese linked to star... ? Just like Smith's ideas for Supes, were tossed, and the Ray Park driven Iron Fist faltered and died out.

The first Superman was good, a relative unknown surrounded by great character actors, (yes Gene Hackman, oh wait, academy award winner, Gene Hackman) and a great story to go along with it, written by Mario Puzo, yes that Mario.. that wrote....what was it... oh yes, The Godfather.

I know its a action flick. But character is first and foremost. A few good, maybe four, action sequences that wow the masses are key. They should stun and stupify the audience, but yet always return to the human element that draws us in. Billy Batson is 13, and he is Shazam. Who hasnt been 13? in love? wishing to be something that they are not? I'd pick Bill to write, and Rob Reiner to direct. He isnt an "action" director, but he does good character study. He should hire a good D.P., and get ILM to help plan his cool factor, and let the characters be themselves.

Tarantino could do the Luke cage bit, since he loves the 70's anyhow. It would be decent... but take the Rock as Cage, or an unknown. I dunno. Just ranting out loud. Cage is no man's bitch.

Check out www.aboutheroes.com for some skinny and everything comicbooky, from action figures, to reviews, and rants, podcasts, and yes interviews with some folks in the biz.

Comic Mysteries

First of all Ron Lim is the shit. He drew alot for the big two, but I can remember most of the "space" titles usually Surfer or Warlock, and my favorite Thanos. Moreover, I just found his blog, and he is one funny guy. Lots of links on his site on a plethora of pinatas, and other fare, from music, politics, art, photography, and so on. Just like the ex-wife, check it out for a good time.

Anywho on another note, I found a site that has a comprehensive list of all the Marvel Value Stamps from when I was a yonker like this one.

We, being my brother (the Human Parasite), and I used to cut these out and save them for some reason I cant recall. Maybe it was to have them all, or maybe Marvel was giving away a keen Marvel oven Mitt.
Sweet Christmas, it's Luke Cage! Here is the link, so you can all jump on it http://www.mvstamps.com/. There are 200 stamps in all according to the site. Dont forget to show Mr. Lim some love at http://www.ronlim.com/.

Duncan is God

I found this one in the stash, and although it is not worth a Ferari, Duncan Rouleau does well, in an all out battle royal against the Zodiac. Dig it.

He is one of kind, to make Alpha Flight worth looking at. And who dont like Puck?

Civil War

I want to read this Marvel Civil War deal, where good guys are fighting each other for some reason, and I am sure it is a good one, but it probably is some sort of moral question, or means to an end issue, but nevertheless I want it.

Anyone with a clue, can clue me in with a why and a who is on what team kinda thing. I am rooting for Cage's team. SWEET CHRISTMAS!

Art here by the way is that MichaelTurner fella from Image, then Marvel. This is his variant cover, which I dont like the idea of variants, because they serve no purpose. Below is regular cover artist Steve McNiven. I never liked Iron Man, and Cap was cool for a spell, but just too good all the time. Idealist usually die messy.

I will wait for the trade paperback. Aint they great.

ohotmu

Yes sportsfans Marvel is putting out the new official handbook of the marvel universe 80's style. Some profiles are going to be 5 pages of hero goodness. I am jazzed about it, and it comes out starting in January 2007. I had these long ago, and yes my brother commandeered them, and they probably lay in ruin on his bedroom floor.

I have hopes that the series will be all I ever dreamed that it could be, exploding with snazzy art and equally compelling writing. I was lucky enough to find Overstreet's in the attic while searching for Christmas presents that we have hidden from my daughter.

Anywho, I was on Jeff's Blog yesterday, as I am every day, and he had a snippet on the naming of heroes, and the DO's and Dont's of the process. I was really unaware of all the bad hero names that one could find if one looked. Overstreet is a good source for that. I will do a ten worst once I give the book a once over.

Captain Canuck will get my favorite Canadian hero award.