Jack Kirby's New Gods

Beginning here, Jack Kirby established the groundwork for all future New Gods (and related) series'. New Gods #1 would mark the first appearance of Orion, Highfather, and Metron, among others, and further issues into the series would mark the first appearance of many other Fourth World characters, as well as explaining key concepts about the New Gods. Of note was issue #7, "The Pact", which sought to explain the backstory of the New Gods. Eleven issues were published before cancellation by the publisher. Simultaneously published during this time were the Forever People and Mister Miracle series, also written and drawn by Kirby. All three series saw reprint in black and white form by DC Comics in 1998. In 2007 and 2008, Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus reprinted the series, along with Kirby's other Fourth World stories, in color and in published chronological order.


The New Gods are natives of the twin planets of New Genesis and Apokolips. New Genesis is an idyllic planet filled with unspoiled forests, mountains, and rivers and is ruled by the benevolent Highfather, while Apokolips is a nightmarish, ruined dystopia filled with machinery and fire pits and is ruled by the tyrant Darkseid. The two planets were once part of the same world, a planet called Urgrund,[2] but it was split apart millennia ago after the death of the Old Gods during Ragnarok.[3] The characters associated with the New Gods are often collectively referred to as "Jack Kirby's Fourth World". The New Gods first appeared in New Gods #1 and Mister Miracle #1 (both titles were published concurrently). The other two "Fourth World" titles were Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen and The Forever People. Various New Gods, notably Darkseid, went on to interact with other denizens of the DC Universe.


The opening sequence of New Gods #1 references the "Old Gods" and the "New Gods" (e.g., "There came a time when the Old Gods died..."). In a "Young Gods of Supertown" back-up story in Forever People #5, the explorer Lonar retrieves a helmet from the rubble of what represents the last battle of the Old Gods. The helmet closely resembles that worn by the Marvel Comics' character Thor, a character whom Kirby drew for several years.


The beings of New Genesis and Apokolips call themselves gods and live outside of normal time and space in a realm called the Fourth World. These New Gods have evolved due to their close proximity to the Source, a primeval energy, believed to be one of the ultimate foundations of the Universal Expression of Energy, along with their superior technology, into beings of genetic stability and evolutionary perfection. The denizens of New Genesis and Apokolips are immortal, stronger, faster, and smarter than Homo sapiens, despite their resemblance.


The New Gods are vulnerable to a substance called Radion. Its source is unknown and its effects are toxic only in sustained amounts or after explosive exposure. The average New God can be slain by an application of Radion from a Radion blaster or bomb.


Writer Peter David introduced the idea that the New Gods were giants and that the Boom Tube would shrink them as they traveled to normal time and space or enlarge beings who traveled to the Fourth World realm.[volume & issue needed] For example, if Superman were to travel to Apokolips under his own power, he would be miniature in comparison to the New Gods.

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Spotlight: Nemesis Plot Synopsis

Nemesis starts in Tokyo as Nemesis blows up a building with a SWAT team in it. He insults the city Inspector saying that "For a man with an impressive reputation, you've got quite a list of failures." He then lets the Inspector get hit by an oncoming train and then crashes the train to increase the death-toll. When asked by his henchmen "What's next", Nemesis replies by saying that his next target is going to be America.


Meanwhile in Washington DC, Chief Inspector Blake Morrow takes down a group of thugs in a supermarket by pretending to be a Hostage. Blake Morrow is then approached by the FBI who tell him that Nemesis is going to target him next. Blake thinks it's a joke at first until he sees the card Nemesis sent the FBI with the time of his death placed on it.

Nemesis eventually hijacks a plane with the US president in it and crashes it into the middle of Washington DC, killing hundreds. Nemesis then publicly tells the world over TV that he wishes to kill Blake Morrow and that he has taken the President hostage saying that "it's time you hailed your new fucking chief"


Nemesis has hired a group of local thugs as his henchmen, and tells them his life story. His name was Matt Anderson and apparently his father committed suicide after Officer Blake Morrow tried to imprison him for a hunting game involving runaway teenagers and rich friends. Matt was robbed of a normal childhood by Blake Morrow and was raised by his uncle. Matt traveled the world to learn the ways about crime, in hopes to complete his mothers dying wish to "Kill that clever police officer Blake Morrow."

Blake interrogates Nemesis' uncle, who reveals that he too wants Nemesis brought to justice. Blake reports this to the men at the Pentagon but everyone in the building is killed by a gas attack created by Nemesis. Blake and his Sergent survive only because Nemesis put the antidote in their morning coffee. Nemesis then reveals to Blake (behind the safety of bullet proof glass) that he has leaked all of the Pentagon's secrets on the internet and that he still plans on killing him March the 12th.


Nemesis is eventually chased by every cop in the city after he steals the donor organ from a dying child. He is eventually surrounded by Blake and his team who reveal that the donor organ is actually a pig heart with a tracking device inside. Nemesis is beaten to the ground and place in police custody, his last words to Blake being "You think I didn't plan all this?"

DC Showcase Collection: Captain Marvel And Black Adam Get Animated For 'Superman/Shazam!'

We're all big fans of DC's series of animated shorts that have accompanied their feature-length animated films lately, and since we're definitely not alone in digging the "DC Showcase" offerings, it's no surprise that all of the shorts will be collected on DVD and Blu-Ray later this year.

What is a surprise, however, is that the collection will come with a brand new, original short featuring Superman, Captain Marvel, and one of my favorite DC characters, Black Adam.

Warner Home Video's "DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection" hits shelves in November and features the previously released shorts focusing on The Spectre and Jonah Hex, as well as the upcoming Green Arrow short and the aforementioned "Superman/Shazam!" short. DC/WB has sent along a pair of screenshots from the "Superman/Shazam!" short that offer the first peek at Captain Marvel and Black Adam.

Jerry O’Connell voices Captain Marvel in the animated short, with George Newbern as Superman, Arnold Vosloo ("The Mummy") as Black Adam, and veteran actor James Garner as The Wizard.


Here's the official release info:

SUPERMAN/SHAZAM! THE RETURN OF BLACK ADAM ANCHORS DC SHOWCASE ORIGINAL SHORTS COLLECTION

THE SPECTRE, JONAH HEX, GREEN ARROW INCLUDED ON COMPILATION DUE NOV. 9 FROM WARNER HOME VIDEO

BURBANK, CA (August 5, 2010) – Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Home Video have expanded the realm of superhero storytelling beyond the popular DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies with the introduction of the DC Showcase, a series of animated shorts featuring characters from the celebrated DC Comics vault. On November 9, 2010, Warner Home Video will distribute the DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection, the first quartet of animated adventures featuring the never-before-seen Superman/Shazam!
The Return of Black Adam, as a Special Edition Blu-Ray™ for $29.99
(SRP) and single disc DVD for $19.98 (SRP).

DC Showcase animated shorts initially appeared as special bonus content on the 2010 slate of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. The 10- to 12-minute films include The Spectre, Jonah Hex and Green Arrow. All three titles will be presented in extended formats along with the first-ever release of Superman/Shazam! The Return of Black Adam.

In Superman/Shazam! The Return of Black Adam, Clark Kent’s latest interview subject is street kid Billy Batson. What Clark doesn’t know is that Billy is more than a feisty kid with a lot of heart – he has been chosen by an ancient wizard to represent the good of man as the World’s Mightiest Mortal just by invoking the name of the wizard, "Shazam!" Billy's powers come none-too-soon, as he also discovers he's being pursued by a centuries' old, murderous villain, Black Adam – a foe so powerful, even Superman can’t stop him alone. The all-star cast of Superman/Shazam! The Return of Black Adam is led by Jerry O’Connell (Crossing Jordan) as Captain Marvel, George Newbern reprising his Justice League role as Superman, Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy) as Black Adam and two-time Emmy Award® winner James Garner (8 Simple Rules) as The Wizard.


Bruce Timm (Superman Doomsday) is executive producer and Joaquim Dos Santos (Justice League, Avatar: The Last Airbender) is director of the first series of DC Showcase titles. Michael Jelenic (Wonder Woman) wrote the 22-minute script.

Other shorts included on the DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection:

The Spectre – A detective story with an ethereal twist featuring an otherworldly character. The short is written by Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), and the voice cast includes Gary Cole (Entourage) and Alyssa Milano (Charmed).


Jonah Hex – The tough-as-nails bounty hunter always gets his man - until someone else gets to him first - in this case a murderous madam who wants to steal more than just his bounty from Jonah Hex. Based on a story from the award-winning Jonah Hex comic series, and scripted by world-renowned author Joe Lansdale. The voice cast is led by Thomas Jane (Hung), Linda Hamilton (The Terminator), Michelle Trachtenberg (Mercy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Michael Rooker (Days of Thunder).


Green Arrow – At the Star City International Airport to pick up his girlfriend, Oliver Queen is forced into action as Green Arrow to protect the 10-year-old Princess of Vlatava from his old nemesis Merlyn the Magnificent and the League of Assassins. Greg Weisman (Young Justice) pens this action-packed tale, which features the voices of Neal McDonough (Desperate Housewives) as the title character and Malcolm McDowell (Entourage) as his foe.


“The DC Showcase once again combines the respective creative talents of DC Comics, Warner Premiere, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Home Video to provide fans with vivid, new experiences alongside characters from within the vast resources of DC Comics,” said Matt Bierman, Senior Vice President Production, Warner Premiere.

“The DC Showcase allows us to expand the DC Universe with short stories based on intriguing characters – from a 1940s comics sensation like The Spectre to a creation of the 1970s like Jonah Hex – just begging to be presented to a very worthy fan base,” said Geoff Johns, Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment.

“Whereas DC Universe films have given fans the broad strokes of superhero entertainment, we know devout comics fans will enjoy seeing the characters in the DC Showcase come to animated life – some for the very first time – and we believe this presentation will open a window for new viewers to experience these unique, textured heroes and villains,” said Amit Desai, WHV Vice President of Family, Animation & Sports Marketing.

DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection 1-Disc Special Edition DVD features more than 1 hour of exciting extra content, including:
• Four animation shorts (est. 62 min)
• Four additional bonus TV series episodes handpicked by Bruce Timm

DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection Blu-Ray™ features more than 2
1/2 hours of exciting extra content, including:
• Four animation shorts (est. 62 min)
• Commentaries by renowned writers Steve Niles, Joe Lansdale, Greg
Weisman and Michael Jelenic
• Four additional bonus TV series episodes handpicked by Bruce Timm
• Digital copy online of the shorts

"DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection" hits shelves November 9.

http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/08/06/captain-marvel-black-adam-animated-superman-shazam-dc-showcase-collection/

Mark Millar Confirms Tony Scott Will Direct Nemesis

The comic book writer confirms that Tony Scott has got the job, talks more about Fox's future plans for the franchise and hints that the lead actor they're planning to cast will, "blow your socks off"... The critically acclaimed comic book writer has released the following statement via his website, MillarWorld, where he goes into detail about Tony Scott as director and shares some new details on the upcoming movie! Below is the main chunk of what he said but f you'd like to read the whole thing, just follow the link at the bottom of the page!

"Bryan Hitch and I would reference Tony on a weekly basis when we were doing The Ultimates. Our dream was an Ultimates movie with Scott directing because he can do the character work and the intensity, but also handle scale and action like practically no other. The idea of a him helming a superhero movie had us giddy and here he is directing the one Steve McNiven and I created."


"We found out last Friday night and managed to keep a secret from all but a few of our closest friends and family. But this is the call I had a couple of weeks back, which I described as the most exciting of my career; Tony on the blower chatting about how he wanted to shoot certain scenes if we gave him the rights."

"He was buzzing about it, describing Steve as the best comic book artist he's seen in over twenty years. We talked casting, we talked budget (and we're talking way more than Wanted and Kick-Ass put together here in terms of money for him to play with) and we talked with Fox about making this into a major franchise, something they're really going to invest their time and energy into."

"As you can imagine, I'm more than excited. Steve is delirious and this puts our books instantly in an entirely different league in Hollywood terms. Tony said this was a very timely project and Fox want to get this moving as soon as possible. Next up is a script and the writer we talked about did one of my top five movies of all time. The actor he's shooting for as the lead character is going to blow your socks off."

"It's incredibly affirming to have people so into the work that they care enough and apologies for the delay in getting this out there, but we hope you agree this is awesome news."

Marvel Animation Officially Unveils Creative Team For "Ultimate Spider-Man"

In a coup for Marvel Entertainment, Jeph Loeb, Head of Marvel TV, revealed the all-star, award-winning creative team for the upcoming Ultimate Spider-Man animated series, premiering on Disney XD. This team includes the most sought-after and acclaimed writers in the comic and television industries, including Eisner & Emmy award-winning scribe Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series, Lost); Eisner award-winning writer Brian Michael Bendis (visionary behind Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man comic series); and the red-hot creative powerhouse Man of Action Studios (creators of hit series Ben 10 and Generator Rex), comprised of lauded creators Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle .

Steering Ultimate Spider-Man as the Creative Consultant, Dini will also write the series pilot; as Supervising Producers, Man of Action Studios will direct the writing staff, generate scripts and story edit; and Bendis, the man who reinvented Spider-Man for a new generation, will oversee the series as Consulting Producer.

"When we first sat down to discuss Ultimate Spider-Man, we put together a wish list of the most exciting talent working in animation who would bring the best voice and creative direction to the show - and I'm proud to say we got them all," said Jeph Loeb. "We want Ultimate Spider-Man to be a showcase for Marvel Animation and Spider-Man is the perfect character to give fans just what they want."

Working in the Marvel Universe for the first time, Dini explained, "As a lifelong fan of the Marvel Universe, I'm excited to tackle these characters in such a bold new series. Ultimate Spider-Man will bring fans a new take on their favorite friendly neighborhood hero- and some surprise cast members-- while staying true to what's always made Spidey so popular. We've got a superb creative team assembled with amazing stories to tell and I can't wait for fans to see what we've cooked up."

Bendis echoed those sentiments, exclaiming, "It's Ultimate Spider-Man, the animated series-and it happened in my lifetime! That's just so cool. I couldn't be more excited to be a part of this and here's to Jeph Loeb for putting it all together!"

Equally thrilled to join Ultimate Spider-Man," the Man of Action team explained, "We're looking forward to having a lot of fun working on Spider-Man. They've brought us in to help provide a unique vision for the show while remaining absolutely true to the character, so that's exactly what we'll be doing. Should be a great ride!"

Cort Lane, Vice-President of Animation Production & Development added, "From The Super Hero Squad Show to the upcoming Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Marvel Animation is focused on making the best super hero shows for fans of all ages. Now, with this tremendous talent signed for Ultimate Spider-Man, we're about to give fans super-powered animation like they've never seen before."

For more news on Ultimate Spider-Man and all the exciting projects from Marvel Television, stay tuned to www.marvel.com

Marvel's Studios Kevin Feige on Possible Movie Adaptions

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Marvel's Studios head honcho Kevin Feige, briefly goes over again about potential movie adaptions for lesser-known characters like Iron Fist, SHIELD & even Guardians Of The Galaxy.
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Marvel's independent slate of films are growing, with two Iron Man films, The Incredible Hulk franchise reborn (and may be rebooted yet again), the debut of THOR, the period-piece Captain America: The First Avenger, the eventual hero team-up with The Avengers, under their belt, but what's next?

In this rather non-news interview with MTV, Marvel's head honcho rehashes the possibility for potential films after Avengers including Iron Fist, Black Panther, and even Guardians Of The Galaxy.

"I think what Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction have done with 'Iron Fist' lately is exciting," Feige told MTV News. "I think 'Black Panther' and Wakanda has some amazing potential to be a feature film. 'Doctor Strange,' as you've mentioned. There are some obscure titles, too, like 'Guardians of the Galaxy.' I think they've been revamped recently in a fun way in the book."

"I think S.H.I.E.L.D. could be it's own franchise. I think, frankly, 'The Avengers' is going to be told from that point of view more so than any of the other films at that point, so we're going to get an inside look [at how S.H.I.E.L.D.] operates."