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Wednesday, April 11, 2001

X-MEN: EVOLUTION UPDATE

Boyd Kirkland, producer of X-Men: Evolution, will be writing an episode of the second season of the Kids' WB! show, story editor Greg Johnson told The Continuum.

Although Kirkland is best known for his work as an artist/director/producer, he co-wrote (with Randy Rogel) 1998's direct-to-video Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero movie.

Kirkland is involved in all aspects of X-Men: Evolution. He directed a first-season episode, and usually attends or listens to the voice recording sessions of the show. "Boyd will let us know what he wants," said Scott McNeil, who does the voice of Wolverine.

The second season of X-Men: Evolution will include 13 episodes and will feature several new writers, including Steve and Cydne Granat, Doug Molitor, Brian Swenlin, William Cluverius and Nick DuBois. Johnson said he will be writing episodes himself as well.

"Scripts are just about complete through episode 20, with 21 and 22 in outline form," Johnson told The Continuum.

In other X-Men: Evolution news:

* Johnson said that "Grim Reminder," this Saturday's new episode featuring Wolverine returning to the Weapon X lab, didn't start out as a Wolverine story.

"As suggested by one of Marvel's creative executives, it was to be more of a 'day in the life of the young X-Men' kind of story, as Kitty writes a letter home," Johnson said. "It was a great starting point, because while these kind of narrative vignettes might work in the comic books, they just wouldn't fill 22 minutes of air time. So I started focusing the drama more and more on Wolverine, and pretty soon -- it became his episode."

Johnson said that "Grim Reminder" is an atypical X-Men: Evolution episode. "It's definitely a darker story," he said.

* Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Joe Quesada told The Continuum that a comic book based on the television series has not been scheduled yet.

"We're thinking about doing an Evolution comic but haven't moved very far with it," he said, following up his comments last week during the Marvel press conference.

* Look for more on X-Men: Evolution very soon here in The Continuum.

WOLVERINE'S HISTORY TO BE TOLD?

Might Marvel Comics' "secret" event for August be the origin of Wolverine? Internet rumors have been percolating for a week that this might be the case, with an announcement possibly coming soon, according to Continuum sources.

Asked to comment on Tuesday if the publisher was planning such an event, Marvel editor-in-chief Joe Quesada replied, "Now why would we ever tell Wolvie's origin?"

Asked to elaborate if that meant no, Quesada said, "One would have to be retarded to do Wolverine's origin." He didn't elaborate further.

X-Men editor Mark Powers also did not confirm the project and told The Continuum there might be some confusion with a previously announced project.

"A few people have asked me about a project tentatively called Logan: Year Zero, which Larry Hama's writing," Powers said. "Somehow, the leap's been made that this is an origin book, which it's not."

Logan: Year Zero, to be drawn by Jorge Lucas, has been targeted for a 2002 release.

Quesada first hinted about Marvel's "secret" project at the MegaCon in Orlando, Fla., last month.

"Keep your eyes open for August solicitations," Quesada said at the time. "Because, frankly, it's the biggest secret we've ever kept at Marvel Comics. In August, we will be soliciting, without a doubt, what will be the most controversial comic ever in the history of Marvel.

"I guarantee you not a single person in this room will be of the same mind whether we should be publishing it or not publishing it. But that comes in August.

"It's so controversial, as a matter of fact, that we already have major magazines promising us full-page spreads in the magazines to cover this book. So, I'll leave it up to your imaginations."

Look for updates on this story, possibly even later today, here in The Continuum.

SPIDER-MAN MOVIE COSTUMES UPDATE

A Sony Pictures representative told The Continuum that four missing costumes have not caused any interruptions in production of the Spider-Man movie in the past week.

Columbia Pictures is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the prompt and safe return of the Spidey costumes, which were discovered missing last week from the Sony lot in Culver City, Calif.

Theft is suspected, and an officer in the Culver City Police Dept. told The Continuum on Tuesday that the case is still under investigation by Detective Gordon Stevens.

Stevens was not in the police department office to return The Continuum's calls on Tuesday, and the officer answering his phone said it would be unlikely any statements would be coming soon because the case is still under investigation.

Anyone with information regarding the missing costumes is asked to call the Columbia hotline at (310) 244-1044. The hotline is not affiliated with the Culver City Police Dept.

THE LEGION ONGOING ARTISTS

DC Comics' new ongoing series, The Legion, will spin out of Legion Lost and Legion Worlds this fall with two contributing artists.

Olivier Coipel will be the main artist, with Mike McKone filling in on arcs.

"Mike's going to contribute occasionally," editor Mike McAvennie said during a Legion chat on Tuesday. "The idea is for Olivier to take the point and build story arcs where Mike's work will work best."

McAvennie also warned that the art that DC Comics has released for the series was a promotional piece and not necessarily a cover.

"Right now, I'm just telling people that we did the piece for the retailers to see and not all the elements are final," he said.

Andy Lanning and Dan Abnett return to write The Legion.

ACTIVISION'S MARVEL GAMES

Activision has revealed its upcoming line-up of Spider-Man and X-Men video games.

"The Spider-Man and X-Men video games have built on Marvel's 67-year history and expanded these renowned characters beyond traditional comic book fans, introducing them to an entirely new generation," said Ron Doornink, Activision's president and COO. "The latest lineup of games offers new characters, storylines and features that will continue to further the brands' popularity."

Upcoming Spider-Man games include:

SPIDER-MAN/SEGA DREAMCAST

Spider-Man is the first free-roaming, 3D action-adventure game for Dreamcast featuring the character. Players can employ all of Spider-Man's trademark skills, including web-slinging, wall- crawling agility and "Spider-Sense." Players must utilize Spider-Man's super strength and superior wit to battle evil-doers and protect the innocent as they help solve a variety of puzzles and defeat old and new super villains alike. Spider-Man for Dreamcast is scheduled for release this spring.

SPIDER-MAN 2: THE SINISTER SIX/GAME BOY COLOR

Spider-Man 2: The Sinister Six is the sequel to the action-adventure game, Spider-Man. Players use new powers and attacks to thwart Doc Ock and his evil gang's plan to defeat Spider-Man. Other old favorites like Scorpion, Sandman, Mysterio and Vulture join forces with the evil Doc to test Spider-Man's strength, speed and smarts. Spider-Man 2: The Sinister Six is scheduled for release this spring.

SPIDER-MAN 2 ENTER: ELECTRO/PLAYSTATION GAME CONSOLE

The 3D fast-paced action-adventure employs players to use Spider-Man's trademark skills as well as all-new moves, web attacks and fighting combos as they battle their way through all-new levels and training missions. Featuring enhanced fighting and combat sequences, the game challenges players to utilize Spidey's super strength and superior wit to battle evil-doers, solve a variety of puzzles and defeat a whole new lineup of notorious super villains. Spider-Man 2 Enter: Electro is scheduled for release this fall.

SPIDER-MAN: MYSTERIO'S MENACE/GAME BOY ADVANCE

For the first time ever, pocket gamers can live the fantasy of Spider-Man with the enhanced, side-scrolling gameplay and powerful graphics of the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. When Mysterio turns Manhattan into one big illusory nightmare, it is up to players to use Spider-Man's Spider-Sense and amazing web-slinging, wall-crawling abilities to stop the evil plan and restore the city to normal. Spider-Man: Mysterio's Menace is scheduled for release this fall.

SPIDER-MAN/PC

For the first time, computer gamers can live the fantasy of Spider- Man in 3D with Spider-Man for the PC. Players can leap, crawl and swing anywhere in free-roaming, 3D environments while exploring both the tops of skyscrapers and the underbelly of Manhattan. In order to bring justice to a crime-ridden city, players must face off against Spidey's legendary gallery of super villains with a variety of attack combinations and a vast arsenal of webbing including impact, trapping, web spikes and the web dome. The game also features cameo appearances by some of Spidey's greatest allies. Spider-Man for the PC is scheduled for release this fall.

Upcoming X-Men games include:

X-MEN: WOLVERINE'S RAGE/GAME BOY COLOR

This all-new action-adventure game lets players fight as Wolverine in 20 levels. Features include attacks like "Bestial Rage," which must be used wisely in conjunction with Wolverine's mutant healing in order to survive an onslaught of enemies. Players must also battle with such foes as Cyber, Sabretooth and Lady Deathstrike before an evil plan to liquefy Wolverine's adamantium skeleton is carried out. X-Men: Wolverine's Rage is scheduled for release this fall.

X-MEN: MUTANT ACADEMY 2/PLAYSTATION GAME CONSOLE

The sequel to the action-packed favorite X-Men: Mutant Academy lets players take on the role of their favorite mutants. As one of 16 X-Men characters, gamers utilize their special powers as they train with Professor X. X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 features six new X-Men characters, all-new aerial combat, six new arenas, multiple new fighting combos and costumes, set sketches and conceptual character sketches from the X-Men movie. Each character has his or her own unique moves and combos. X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 is scheduled for release this fall.

X-MEN: REIGN OF APOCALYPSE/GAME BOY ADVANCE

The X-Men enter the next dimension when they morph onto the Nintendo Game Boy Advance this fall. Featuring multi-player capabilities, X-Men: Reign of Apocalypse is an exciting new adventure featuring over 40 trademark X-Men characters. For the first time on Game Boy Advance, two different modes provide adventurous side-scrolling fun and fighting game action. In story mode, players must fight their way through hordes of enemies, drawing on their mutant powers as they attempt to find a way out of a strange, alternate universe. As players progress through the game, they are confronted with former friends and foes from their own universe -- all bent on stopping the X- Men from returning home. In versus mode, players can play head-to-head with up to four players.

EISNER AWARD NOMINATIONS

Nominations for the 13th Annual Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards were announced on Tuesday night.

DC Comics and its imprints led the way with more than 26 nomiations, depending on your system of counting, and more than 28 companies were represented.

Ballots will be going out in early May to some 5,000 comics publishers, creators, and retailers. The results will be announced in ceremony at Comic-Con: International: San Diego on the night of Friday, July 20 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Here's a rundown of the nominations:

BEST SHORT STORY

"The Fisherman and the Sea Princess," by David Mazzucchelli, in Little Lit (HarperCollins)..

"The Gorilla Suit," by Sergio Aragonés, in Streetwise (TwoMorrows)..

"Monsieur Jean," by Philippe Dupuy and Charles Berberian, in Drawn & Quarterly, vol. 3 (Drawn & Quarterly)..

"A Prayer to the Sun," by Edvin Buikovic and Darko Macan, in Weird War Tales Special (Vertigo/DC)..

"Prince Rooster," by art spiegelman, in Little Lit (HarperCollins)..

BEST SINGLE ISSUE

Finder #19: "Talisman," by Carla Speed McNeil (Lightspeed Press)..

Hey Mister: The Trouble with Jesus, by Pete Sickman-Garner (Top Shelf)..

Lucifer #4: "Born with the Dead," by Mike Carey, Warren Pleece, and Dean Ormston (Vertigo/DC)..

Paul in the Country, by Michel Rabagliati (Drawn & Quarterly)..

Promethea #10: "Sex, Stars, and Serpents," by Alan Moore, J. H. Williams III, and Mick Gray (ABC)..

Sock Monkey vol. 3 #2, by Tony Millionaire (Dark Horse Maverick)..

BEST SERIALIZED STORY

The Authority #13-16: "The Nativity," by Mark Millar, Frank Quitely, and Trevor Scott (Wildstorm/DC).

Lucifer #5-7: "The House of Windowless Rooms," by Mike Carey, Peter Gross, and Ryan Kelly (Vertigo/DC).

100 Bullets #15-18 : "Hang Up on the Hang Low," by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Rizzo (Vertigo/DC).

Preacher #59-66 : "Alamo," by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon (Vertigo/DC).

The Red Star #1-4: "The Battle of Kar Dathra's Gate," by Christian Gossett and Team Red Star (Image).

BEST CONTINUING SERIES

Age of Bronze, by Eric Shanower (Image).

Berlin, by Jason Lutes (Drawn & Quarterly).

Eagle, by Kaiji Kawaguchi (Viz).

Promethea, by Alan Moore, J. H. Williams III, and Mick Gray (ABC).

Top 10, by Alan Moore, Gene Ha, and Zander Cannon (ABC).

BEST LIMITED SERIES

Blue Monday: The Kids Are Alright, by Chynna Clugston-Major (Oni).

Breakfast After Noon, by Andi Watson (Oni).

Fortune & Glory, by Brian Michael Bendis (Oni).

The Ring of the Nibelung, by P. Craig Russell, with Patrick Mason (Dark Horse Maverick).

Sock Monkey, vol. 3, by Tony Millionaire (Dark Horse Maverick).

BEST NEW SERIES

Eagle, by Kaiji Kawaguchi (Viz).

Lucifer, by Mike Carey and others (Vertigo/DC).

Powers, by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming (Image).

The Red Star, by Christian Gossett and Team Red Star (Image).

BEST TITLE FOR A YOUNGER AUDIENCE

Akiko, by Mark Crilley (Sirius).

Clan Apis trade paperback, by Jay Hosler (Active Synapse).

Little Lit, edited by art spiegelman and Francoise Mouly (HarperCollins).

Louis: Red Letter Day, by Metaphrog (Metaphrog).

Scary Godmother: The Boo Flu, by Jill Thompson (Sirius).

BEST HUMOR PUBLICATION

Fortune & Glory, by Brian Michael Bendis (Oni).

Hey Mister: The Trouble with Jesus, by Pete Sickman-Garner (Top Shelf).

Post-Dykes to Watch Out For, by Alison Bechdel (Firebrand Books).

Snake 'n' Bacon Cartoon Cabaret, by Michael Kupperman (HarperCollins).

Sock Monkey, vol. 3, by Tony Millionaire (Dark Horse Maverick).

BEST ANTHOLOGY

Drawn & Quarterly, vol. 3, edited by Chris Oliveros (Drawn & Quarterly).

Expo 2000, edited by Tom Devlin and others (The Expo).

Little Lit, edited by art spiegelman and Francoise Mouly (HarperCollins).

Strapazin: Bubbles 'n' Boxes and Beyond, edited by Patrizia Crivelli and others (Swiss Institute of New York/Swiss Federal Office of Culture).

Streetwise, edited by Jon B. Cooke and John Morrow (TwoMorrows).

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM--NEW

From Cloud 99-Memories, Part I, by Yslaire (Humanoids).

Last Lonely Saturday, by Jordan Crane (Red Ink).

Louis: Red Letter Day, by Metaphrog (Metaphrog).

Pedro and Me, by Judd Winick (Henry Holt).

Safe Area Gorazde, by Joe Sacco

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM-REPRINT

Clan Apis, by Jay Hosler (Active Synapse).

The Collected Hutch Owen, vol, 1, by Tom Hart (Top Shelf).

Dear Julia, by Brian Biggs (Top Shelf).

Jimmy Corrigan, by Chris Ware (Pantheon).

Julius Knipl: The Beauty Supply District, by Ben Katchor (Pantheon).

Mirror, Window, by Jessica Abel (Fantagraphics).

BEST ARCHIVAL COLLECTION/PROJECT

"Gasoline Alley," by Frank King, in Drawn & Quarterly, vol. 3 (Drawn & Quarterly).

Lone Wolf and Cub, by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima (Dark Horse).

Plastic Man Archives, vol. 2, by Jack Cole (DC).

Playboy's Little Annie Fanny, by Harvey Kurtzman and Will Elder (Dark Horse).

The Spirit Archives, vols. 1 and 2, by Will Eisner (DC).

BEST U.S. EDITION OF FOREIGN MATERIAL

Akira, Book One, by Katsuhiro Otomo (Dark Horse).

Eagle, by Kaiji Kawaguchi (Viz).

The Extended Dream of Mr. D, by Max (Drawn & Quarterly).

From Cloud 99-Memories, Part I, by Yslaire (Humanoids).

Lone Wolf and Cub, by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima (Dark Horse).

The Nimrod, by Lewis Trondheim (Fantagraphics).

BEST WRITER

Brian Michael Bendis, Powers (Image)., Fortune and Glory (Oni)., Ultimate Spider-Man (Marvel).

Mike Carey, Lucifer (Vertigo/DC).

Garth Ennis, Preacher (Vertigo/DC).

Mark Millar, The Authority (Wildstorm/DC)., Ultimate X-Men (Marvel).

Alan Moore, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Promethea, Tom Strong, Top Ten, Tomorrow Stories (ABC).

BEST WRITER/ARTIST

Kaiji Kawaguchi, Eagle (Viz).

Jason Lutes, Berlin (Drawn & Quarterly).

Joe Sacco, Safe Area: Gorazde (Fantagraphics).

Eric Shanower, Age of Bronze (Image).

Yslaire, From Cloud 99-Memories, Part I (Humanoids).

BEST WRITER/ARTIST--HUMOR

Alison Bechdel, Post-Dykes to Watch Out For (Firebrand).

Ben Katchor, Julius Knipl: The Beauty Supply District (Pantheon).

Michael Kupperman, Snake 'n' Bacon Cartoon Cabaret (HarperCollins).

Tony Millionaire, Maakies (Fantagraphics)., Sock Monkey (Dark Horse Maverick).

Pete Sickman-Garner, Hey, Mister (Top Shelf).

Judd Winick, The Adventures of Barry Ween, Boy Genius, 2.0 (Oni).

BEST PENCILLER/INKER OR PENCILLER/INKER TEAM

Michael Avon Oeming, Powers (Image).

Frank Quitely/Trevor Scott, The Authority (Wildstorm/DC).

Eduardo Risso, 100 Bullets (Vertigo/DC).

P. Craig Russell, Ring of the Nibelung (Dark Horse Maverick).

J. H. Williams III/Mick Gray, Promethea (ABC).

BEST PAINTER /MULTIMEDIA ARTIST (INTERIOR ART).

Christian Gossett and Team Red Star, The Red Star (Image).

David Mack, Kabuki #9 (Image).

George Pratt, Batman: Harvest Breed (DC).

Jill Thompson, Scary Godmother (Sirius).

Charles Vess, Rose #1 (Cartoon Books).

Yslaire, From Cloud 99-Memories, Part I (Humanoids).

BEST COLORING

Jeromy Cox, Promethea (ABC).

Lovern Kindzierski, Ring of the Nibelung (Dark Horse Maverick).

Patricia Mulvihill, 100 Bullets (Vertigo/DC), Nightwing (DC).

Lynn Varley, Sin City: Hell and Back (Dark Horse Maverick).

Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library #14 (Fantagraphics).

BEST LETTERING

Todd Klein, Promethea, Tom Strong, Tomorrow Stories, Top 10 (ABC); The Invisibles, The Dreaming (Vertigo/DC); Castle Waiting (Cartoon Books).

Galen Showman, Ring of the Nibelung (Dark Horse Maverick).

Dave Sim, Cerebus (Aardvark-Vanaheim).

Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library (Fantagraphics).

BEST COVER ARTIST

Brian Bolland, Batman: Gotham Knights, The Flash (DC); The Invisibles (Vertigo/DC).

Duncan Fegredo, Lucifer (Vertigo/DC).

Phil Hale, Swamp Thing, Vertigo Secret Files, Flinch #11 (Vertigo/DC).

Dave Johnson, Detective Comics (DC)., 100 Bullets (Vertigo/DC).

Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library (Fantagraphics). Jimmy Corrigan (Pantheon), Drawn & Quarterly vol. 3 (Drawn & Quarterly).

TALENT DESERVING OF WIDER RECOGNITION

J. Bone (artist, Allison Dare; Solar Stella).

Mike Brennan (Electric Girl).

Catherine Doherty (Can of Worms).

Scott Mills (Big Clay Pot).

Alex Robinson (Box Office Poison).

Mark Smylie (Artesia).

BEST COMICS-RELATED BOOK

Comic Book Artist Collection, vol. 1, edited by Jon B. Cooke (TwoMorrows).

Comic Book Culture: An Illustrated History, by Ron Goulart (Collectors Press).

50 Years of Happiness: A Tribute to Charles M. Schulz, by Derrick Bang, with Victor Lee (Peanuts Collectors Club).

Tales of Terror!/The EC Comics Companion, by Fred von Bernewitz and Grant Geissman (Fantagraphics/Gemstone).

Wonder Woman: The Complete History, by Les Daniels (Chronicle Books).

BEST PUBLICATION DESIGN

Drawn & Quarterly, vol. 3, designed by Chris Oliveros (Drawn & Quarterly).

Jimmy Corrigan, designed by Chris Ware (Pantheon).

The Last Lonely Saturday, designed by Jordan Crane (Red Ink).

Little Lit, designed by Chip Kidd and art spiegelman (HarperCollins).

Wonder Woman: The Complete History, designed by Chip Kidd (Chronicle Books).

HALL OF FAME Judges' Choices (will be automatically inducted: Dale Messick, Roy Crane

(voters will choose four from the following nominees).

Gene Colan

Reed Crandall

Dan De Carlo

Will Elder

René Goscinny and Albert Udurzo

Chester Gould

Herge

Frank King

Bernie Krigstein

John Romita

E. C. Segar

Marie Severin

John Stanley

Osamu Tezuka

FIRST LOOK: CABLE #93

Cable #93 will arrive in stores in May from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Robert Weinberg, with art by Tom Derenick.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"Their power is unseen, yet it reaches across the globe. They fight a war in which no shot is fired - and yet the casualties number in the billions. They are the Dark Sisterhood - and they have laid waste to Cable's life. Now, Nathan Summers is taking the war to them... but in order to win, he'll have to be as ruthless as they are. Plus: the identity and motives of the Dark Mother are revealed."

Cable #93 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: LAST SHOT: FIRST DRAW #1

Last Shot: First Draw #1 will arrive in stores in May from Image Comics. The issue is written by Ken Siu-Chong and Studio XD, with art by Long Vo.

Here's how Image describes the issue:

"In the world of Last Shot, death is currency and everyone's a greedy bastard. The only enforced law of the land is this: if you get a price on your head, you die. Thousands of Gunners, bounty hunters who've modified their bodies to kill, are always eager to see to that. Last Shot details the exploits of Revolver, one of these Gunners who's been nicknamed for his weapon of choice, as he travels the continent to complete a job that may be his last. It is a universe where crude cybernetics and gunpowder technology coexist with cowboy-knights, bounty hunters, mystic creatures and gun play." Last Shot: First Draw #1 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.95.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

BRIEFLY

  • The Slush Factory has ended its online production after one year.

  • The three lead actresses from Josie and the Pussycats will appear on the syndicated Rosie O'Donnell Show on Wednesday.

  • Coming Thursday: DC Comics news - and much more!!!
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