X-Ray Vision

I think one of the main things that draws pretty much everybody into comics is the artwork. There is such a wide range of styles, from goofy to extra realistic, that there is something to be found for everyone. That is one of the reasons why I like real artistic looks into comic characters.

One of the coolest things I’ve seen in a while is a series of drawings over at Abduzeedo. This guy by the name of Enymy has taken a Marvel character for each letter of the alphabet and done some really great drawings. I especially like the Captain America and Punisher drawings. There’s really not much I can say about these except that they are fantastic. I think it would be better to let the drawings speak for themselves, so hurry up and check them out.

Nickelodeon has bought the rights to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for about $60 million. That’s a good amount of cash, I’ll bet Peter Laird is happy. Now the Ninja Turtles will get the type of marketing and resources a large corporation can provide just like the Marvel and Disney deal.

Unfortunately this deal didn’t work out like that. Mirage Studios will be closed down, Nickelodeon will make a new Ninja Turtles cartoon, and no more trade paperbacks will be made. That blows. Basically Nickelodeon has entirely shut down all forms of the classic Ninja Turtles series, allowing 18 more comics a year that can’t be collected into a trade paperback, and taking the turtles in a new direction. I grew up with the Ninja Turtles, both the comic versions and the old cartoons. This is like watching a little piece of my childhood die. I have officially decided that Disney should destroy Nickelodeon and save Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, and Leonardo.

According to the blog MarketSaw The Lizard will be the villain in Spider-Man 4. Not only that, but he will be the only villain! No more mucking about with 4 different supervillains like in Spider-Man 3. Sam Raimi seems to be doing everything in his power to make us forget that atrocity.

The thing I really like about The Lizard being chosen as the villain is it will allow us to see another side of Spider-Man. It is often overlooked that Peter Parker has a very high IQ, I mean come on he was the nerd stereotype before he got bitten by that radioactive spider. It is about time we see him use his mind along with his brawn to defeat an opponent. The Lizard gives us the perfect opportunity to showcase this aspect of Spider-Man. Not only will he have to beat up The Lizard, he will have to find a cure to revert Dr. Curt Connors to his normal self. I am now officially pumped up for this movie.

Anthony Hopkins has officially been announced as Odin in the upcoming Thor movie. This came as somewhat of a surprise, since there were rumors circulating that Brian Blessed was a lock for the role of Odin. Apparently this was an example of why not all rumors should be heeded.

Hopkins brings some big star power to Thor, the man certainly has some acting credentials. I’m just not sure how well he will fit the role of Odin. I think Blessed has a more Odin esque look to him, but I’m sure Hopkins will do a good job. He is a high caliber actor, I’ll just have to try hard to not picture him as a cannibal or saying anything about Clarice.

As far as Blessed goes, he has seemed to have some sort of connection to the film, so who knows? We might see him as Volstagg since Fandral of the Warriors Three has already been announced to have a role in the film. This is just another rumor, so it is entirely possible the only connection Blessed will have to Thor is watching the movie. I would like to see him as Volstagg though. Mainly I just want Volstagg in the movie.

One of the biggest mysteries in comics involves none other than the world’s greatest detective. Just how does Batman make those stealthy getaways during his conversations with Commissioner Gordon? Well the good folks at College Humor have a new video shining some light on the situation that you should definitely check out. I definitely chuckled when I watched it.

This is a great take on Batman, probably my second favorite joke on his vanishing act. My favorite is in The Coon episode of South Park. The way Cartman can step subtly to the side and have the policemen lose track of him was hilarious. If you have not seen that episode I strongly recommend you fix that situation immediately.

The weather here in Colorado has certainly taken a cold turn in recent days. Luckily there is a new Marvel product out to keep your face warm and make you look extra stylish at the same time. I am of course talking about the new Marvel ski masks available over at 80’s Tees.

There are a variety of masks to choose from depending on your mood. The 6 designs are of Spider-Man, Hulk, Iron Man, Punisher, Captain America, and Wolverine. At only $20 the could also make a cheap and shoddy looking costume for Halloween! Don’t do that though. You’re better than that. I’m a big fan of these ski masks and of 80’s Tees in general. They have some sick gear to choose from at pretty good prices, so do yourself a favor and check them out.

I don’t know if I’ve said this yet, but Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is a fun game. Sure, some of the plot points from the Civil War storyline are lost in the video game translation, but the story is still enjoyable and the action is great. Deadpool has even better lines than he did in the first one!

One thing that I’m not very happy about is the way Activision is going about the extra characters. There is the Juggernaut for those of us who pre-ordered, which I have no problem with, but Activision has announced three new characters they will be releasing. These characters are Cable, Psylocke, and Carnage. They will definitely provide some great playing alternatives, I just don’t like the fact that Activision will be charging an as of yet undisclosed amount for these new characters. I already paid $60 for the game, stop nickel and diming me. It’s annoying. I know a company that released extra content for free would gain me as a loyal customer, but alas, it is not to be. Plus we all know I will shell out the extra money to play as Cable, Psylocke, Carnage, and whatever other characters they end up releasing.

The long awaited second strip has arrived! If you would like to check out Gonzo and Ozzy I would very much appreciate it. Also, if you have any questions, comments, or compliments feel free to let me know. Sorry about the lack of news coverage the past 2 days, I have just been swamped with other work, including getting this strip out. Do not fear! I will be bringing some juicy comic morsels to you fans very soon! Also, Austin, the guy who draws Gonzo and Ozzy, put up a new design in the store if you are feeling generous and would like to look extra suave. Alright that is enough shameless self promotion for today, have a wonderful night. And as a reward for reading through this, or at least scrolling to the bottom of the page, here is a hot Batgirl picture. You’re welcome.

It has already been reported that the upcoming Green Lantern movie ran into some monetary issues and had to move the shooting locations out of Australia. Well the good news is that it seems Green Lantern has a new filming location, New Orleans. It is great to see this film moving forward, I need a new Ryan Reynolds movie.

Some more interesting news is that Green Lantern might be the first of 3 movies leading up to a Justice League movie. If this rumor is in fact true we can expect a Flash movie and a Wonder Woman movie as well. Maybe Ryan Reynolds will play Flash too. Heck, at this point he might be cast as Wonder Woman. After these three movies are released, the characters are expected to team up with Superman, Batman, and, everybody’s favorite, Aquaman. This sounds like a good idea by DC, as long as they execute it well. It definitely seems like a necessary move with Marvel building up to the release of the Avengers movie, we’ll just have to see how it turns out. I know I will not be satisfied until the Martian Manhunter makes an appearance on the big screen.

That’s right, Gonzo and Ozzy has officially started! Check it out at Gonzo and Ozzy and let me know what you think. There’s also a link to the Gonzo and Ozzy store on the webpage in case any of you feel like supporting the comic (which would make you awesome).

For some more traditional comic news, Bruce Campbell has been confirmed as having a significant part in Spider-Man 4. Splash Page , in a talk with Sam Raimi, announced that Campbell would indeed have a prominent role. A lot of speculation has Campbell as Mysterio, but nothing that specific has been confirmed at this point. I hope he ends up as cooler character than Mysterio though.