COMIC BOOK GUYS - The Blog

The GUYS are gearing up for a fresh start with a brand new...

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 18:36:17 -0400

The GUYS are gearing up for a fresh start with a brand new season and a shiny, novel website thecbguys.com — But here are GUYS & CREW in “THE DARK RAPH RISES”

Greetings fans, followers, and casual readers, and May the...

Fri, 04 May 2012 11:35:00 -0400

Greetings fans, followers, and casual readers, and May the Fourth Be With You!!!

Not only is today Star Wars Day, but it is also the day that Marvel’s The Avengers in released in theaters! To prepare you for the adventure, we here at The Comic Book Guys started to wonder…

What if we were in the business of saving the world? Take a look at what happens when Raph and Frank join The Avengers in this new trailer!

By David Trachtman, CBG Blogger

Extremis Rises

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:48:00 -0400

Even though The Avengers is still two weeks away, the Marvel Studios machine has no intention of stopping, as rumors for Iron Man 3 have been circulating, and now new cast members are joining the fray.

As we have previously reported, rumors have pointed to Warren Ellis’ Extremis storyline as a main inspiration for the sequel, need casting has supported that, as actors Guy Pearce and Jessica Chastain have been cast as Aldrich Killian and Maya Hansen, respectively. For those who don’t know much about this particular Iron Man story, Killian and Hansen are the scientists responsible for creating the Extremis virus, and for injecting Tony Stark with the serum to enhance his armored powers.

These rumors are certainly nothing new, as this has been quite the talk that something in The Avengers will push Tony Stark and drive him to want to integrate more into his armor in his next solo outing, and will be interesting to see as director Shane Black is going for a more real-world approach to the character.

More info on Iron Man 3 as it becomes available.

By David Trachtman, CBG Blogger

Here’s the newest cover of Muscle and Fitness magazine,...

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:37:18 -0400

Here’s the newest cover of Muscle and Fitness magazine, featuring everybody’s favorite gamma-radiated muscleman, The Hulk!

The Avengers continues its press dominance, crossing into even magazines of the health and wellness variety to show everyone what I hero’s physique can look like (well, with the help of a gamma bomb anyway).

By David Trachtman, CBG Blogger

At last it is here! Episode 6 of “The Comic Book...

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:13:31 -0400

At last it is here! Episode 6 of “The Comic Book Guys” is now here for your viewing entertainment, as we transition out of Easter and inch closer and closer to the summer months, and the summer movie season.

With Raph still on the run and his fate unsure, Dan offers the Guys the opportunity of a lifetime; the chance to show their stuff at New York Comic-Con. With only a few simple missions, and a new blogger to help the Guys accomplish them, will they be the hit of the Con, or is this the final adventure for The Comic Book Guys?

Stay tuned and find out!

As if marketing for The Avengers couldn’t get any better,...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:00:33 -0400

As if marketing for The Avengers couldn’t get any better, here’s a new ad from Target, showing off the newest Young Avengers fighting off against Loki. It’s these kinds of ads that get me excited for summer movie season, and just the fun and adventure that waits in the theatre and during the summer itself!

By David Trachtman, CBG Blogger

The Racist Games

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:35:40 -0400

“Why does rue have to be black not gonna lie kinda ruined the movie.”

So says one person on Twitter, and apparently a sentiment echoed by many in regards to the casting of the District 11 tributes in The Hunger Games.

For those who are unaware, actors Amandla Stenberg and Dayo Okeniyi have faced a great deal of scrutiny in play the characters Rue and Thresh, respectively in the blockbuster, which made an impressive $155 Million in its opening weekend. Apparently many people on Twitter are not happy with the decision to have the characters played by African-American actors, as these tweets show.

“Why did the producer make all the good characters black?”

“Why is Rue a little black girl? Stick to the book, dude.”

These tweets continue on, including use of the N-word directed towards Stenberg and Okeniyi and rather racist spoiler comments regarding the fate of young Rue in the movie. As a fan of film and literature, this present two major issues. First is the simple fact that in the novel, Suzanne Collins describes Rue and Thresh as having “dark brown skin,” so in reality that invalidates the arguments of the Twitter ignorant, but more than that, this presents an issue that shouldn’t exist anymore.

The fact that there is still so much racism in this country that people can be so ignorant as to say that the race of a character can ruin their experience is beyond disgusting. These people represent the ignorant masses who are so narrow-minded and beyond intelligence that they have such backwards ways of thinking. What does it matter what color certain characters are? Unless in a book there is a very specific description of a character’s race, or the race is a significant part of the plot, what does it matter? If anything, it creates a new experiences and shows the different interpretations of the people who work on different projects, and keeps a sense of creativity and personality in a work, which is what keeps these kinds of books and movies being written.

It is honestly disgusting that this kind of abhorrent behavior is still present, and better yet allowed to go unpunished.

By David Trachtman, CBG Blogger

The Avatar Returns

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:59:41 -0400

From 2005-2008, kids, teens, and all nerds were glued to Nickelodeon, watching the story of Aang and his friends play out in Avatar: The Last Airbender, and many have wondered what the rumored sequel will be. Now, we have a name, plot, and air date for the new story of the new Avatar

Premiering on April 14th, The Legend of Korra will pick 70 years after the end of the original series, with the next incarnation of the Avatar, Korra, learning to master Airbending, her last element with help from Tenzin, the youngest child of Aang and Katara.

Unlike the original series which featured globe-hopping adventures, Korra’s adventures take place in the sprawling Republic City, set up by Aang and Fire Lord Zukko after the war of the original series. The city has a very early 20th century New York or Shanghai vibe to it, and is home to benders and characters of all kinds, among them being the metalbenders, the police force of Republic City.

Korra faces a new threat in the form of The Equalizers, a group who seeks to rid the world of the benders once and for all, using their own unique powers to take control of the world.

Can Korra face The Equalizers and bring balance to Republic CIty? All will be revealed when The Legend of Korra premieres on Nickelodeon on April 14th, and in the meantime check out the new trailer HERE.

Venom Returns

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:30:05 -0400

We all remember Spider-Man 3, and as a result we all remember Venom and his interpretation there. For the maybe 10 of you who enjoyed it, this article may not be for you.

For the rest of the thinking population who now have a hatred for Sam Raimi and Topher Grace, there may very well be good news on the horizon, as it would appear that Venom might be coming back in his own spin-off film, which is beginning to attract some serious star power.

Recently it has been announced that Josh Trank, the director of the recent independent success Chronicle was in talks to helm a project as new writers are found for a script. This would prove to be a step in the right direction with the film, as Trank’s work in Chronicle definitely garnered a lot of intention, making his film a sleeper hit.

Chronicle was without a doubt an amazing film, and that is because of the incredibly directing of Trank, getting the most of his actors and of his shots, making Chronicle more than just a film but more of an entertainment experience.

This would be the first significant step in the project since 2008, when Sam Raimi and Topher Grace were both attached to the project when Raimi was in talks to direct a Spider-Man 4. Grace has since left the project (thank goodness!) and some of the same writers from Zombieland have been in talks for this film, which would be a definite step in the right direction.

We’ll keep you updated on all the Venom news as it becomes available.

Another new trailer for you guys, this time in the form of...

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:30:05 -0400

Another new trailer for you guys, this time in the form of Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, the new film from Timur Bekmembatov from 20th Century Fox. Based on the novel of the same name by Seth Grahame-Smith, which sheds new light on the 16th president, and his secret dealings with vampires during his life.

The original novel was written as a biography, based on secret journals kept by Lincoln and passed down through the years, and it is presumable that the movie will be played seriously, and proves to be an incredible mix of action-horror that makes for a good summer blockbuster!

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter is set to be released on June 22nd, and stars Benjamin Walker, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Dominic Cooper.

By David Trachtman, CBG Blogger

And the Prometheus push continues! Today we have a viral ad from...

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:30:06 -0400

And the Prometheus push continues! Today we have a viral ad from the Weyland Corporation featuring the new David android, which will be played in the film by genre actor extraordinare Michael Fassbender, also known as Magneto from X-Men First Class.

The commercial, though short, creates a very unsettling effect, much like I imagine is the intent, what with the shaking movement near the end of the promo. I think being unsettled during these moments is what will make Prometheus so successful, and makes me look forward to June 8 even more!

By David Trachtman, CBG Blogger

Here’s the newest trailer for Ultimate Spider-Man, the...

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:30:05 -0400

Here’s the newest trailer for Ultimate Spider-Man, the latest animated series featuring the famous web-slinger from Disney XD. Drake Bell stars as the voice of Peter Parker, with Chi McBride as Nick Fury, in an adaptation of the show that features Spider-Man training with S.H.I.E.L.D. to become the best hero he can be.

When I first hear about this series, I was very skeptical. Being a huge fan of the cancelled Spectacular Spider-Man, I wondered if this series could live up to the expectations created after Spectacular, but this trailer has really cemented my love for it. It appears to have a definite humor to it, and at times feels like a nod to old 90’s cartoons, which I grew up on and loved and shaped the way I see superheroes.

This trailer gives us a good look at some new tech Spidey will be using, like his new web shooters, a buck that can ride along his webs, and the appearance of the Iron Spidey suit, most likely created by Tony Stark/Iron Man, who makes an appearance in the trailer as well in a fight with our friendly neighborhood friend.

We shall see what to make of Ultimate Spider-Man when it airs on Disney XD on April 1st.

By David Trachtman, CBG Blogger

Saudi Arabia vs. Mickey Mouse

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 14:30:05 -0400

Mickey Mouse is without a doubt one of the most iconic characters in comics, film, and in general popular culture, and has been meet around the world with mixes of joy and enthusiasm, but sometimes Mickey isn’t so welcome, and can even lead to war.

Recently, leading Saudi Arabian cleric Sheik Muhammad Munajid, in a stroke of almost sheer lunacy, has declared a fatwa, or death sentence, on the head of Disney’s leading character.

Munajid referred to the character as an “agent of satan” and stating that he and other characters like him make anything they touch impure. In the fatwa, all forms of the character are up for execution, and in truth, this is something that I just can’t wrap my head around. The idea that these kind of characters could cause such a stir and be so vilified as agents of satan is just mind-boggling, and sounds from my perspective to be similar to the rantings of the Westboro Baptist Church.

This wouldn’t be the first time that Mickey Mouse had an interesting perception in the Middle East, as a few years ago the radical group Hamas used an almost identical character called Farfour in their television programs. He preached acts of violence and murder against the Isreilis, and was “killed” on-air, allegedly by an Isreili actor trying to take his land.

While this is very different from the Fatwa against Mickey, it only presents another example about how this influential characters have very different lives in other countries, and it almost can be frightening and enlightening, because the entire world might not love Mickey Mouse, but he definitely plays a part in their lives

By David Trachtman, CBG Blogger

Earlier we posted a small glimpse, and now we have the full new...

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 21:35:42 -0400

Earlier we posted a small glimpse, and now we have the full new theatrical trailer for Prometheus, Ridley Scott’s next great science-fiction adventure, and this trailer is the most exciting yet!

I have always been excited for this movie, and this trailer only cements that excitement. The cast looks incredible, everyone from Idris Elba to Charlize Theron and Michael Fassbender all being something new to the mix, and the visuals are all incredible. As a fan of spaceship design, the Prometheus looks absolutely beautiful, and most of it feels like a precursor to the Nostromo and the claustrophobia it created. This creates a tense, unsettling atmosphere, and whether or not this is a direct tie-in to Alien or that universe, one thing is for sure, June 8th can’t come soon enough for the release of Prometheus.

We shall keep you updated on more news as this movie approaches its release date.

Here’s the latest trailer for Prometheus, Ridley...

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 14:30:05 -0400

Here’s the latest trailer for Prometheus, Ridley Scott’s next great sci-fi horror film. While he has vehemently denied any kind of direct connection to his ever-famous Alien, One look at the trailer reveals not only the sinister screech from the original trailers, but also the Derelict spacecraft and the Space Jockeys, leading many to believe there is more of a connection than Scott or anyone else has let on. This trailer reveals a lot of the same footage from earlier trailers, and sows very little new, with the exception of better looks of the ship from which the movie gets its name, and a rather up-close (though short) glimpse of the Space Jockey at the one minute mark. Either way, every time new footage is released, I find myself getting just a little bit more excited for what’s to come in this movie.

Whatever the case may be, excitement is building for Prometheus and its ever approaching June 8th release date.

By David Trachtman, CBG Blogger

Almost Robin

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:46:08 -0400

Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman has become one of the most influential superhero films ever made, and without a doubt played a significant role in shaping The Dark Knight’s on-screen perceptions even today. Because of its significant impact, the production of the film has been highly documented and analysed, and it seemed that we new everything about the film’s production. But recently, a new detail has surfaced, showing what could have been in the original product.

Originally, many other names were lined up to play the Caped Crusader, including Mel Gibson, Tom Selleck, and even Kevin Costner, and some fans may not even know that Robin Williams actively petitioned to play The Joker. None of these suggestions were taken obviously, along with the shockingly large character list for the first treatment of the film.

Comics writer Steve Englehart was first tapped to write the original treatment, and with requests made from Warner Bros., the idea included not only The Joker, but The Penguin, Silver St. Cloud, and Robin the Boy Wonder! Yes, long before Chris O’Donnell put on the green and red, the boy wonder was planned for this film. Eventually, all but The Joker was scrapped from the final draft, but who exactly was tapped to be Robin? None other than Jack Bauer himself, Kiefer Sutherland.

In press for his new TV series Touch, Sutherland revealed that earlier in his career he had passed on the opportunity to be be Batman’s parter-in-justice.

“I’d just finished Stand By Me and Young Guns about the time that Warner Bros. were making the first Batman film with Michael Keaton and I got a call which asked me if I would be interested in playing Robin, I was like: ‘as in Robin with tights? No!’ I didn’t realize they were going to make the coolest movie ever! They didn’t have a Robin in the end, but I was only 19 so my agent could have helped me out a bit on that one.”

I think it would have been interesting to see a young Sutherland as Robin, just to see the dynamic between Michael Keaton and Sutherland, and to see how it may have effected the plot of the film. It’s something we may never see, but as The Dark Knight Rises comes to theatres soon, it leaves a lot of speculation of whether we shall see a Robin, and what exactly he my be like.

Taking an Extreme

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:30:06 -0400

All eyes are on Marvel Studios this summer as their biggest movie to date The Avengers prepares to hit theatres this May, but this doesn’t mean the lean mean movie-making machine isn’t planning for more films in the future. Rumors have already begun to circulate about their first outing, Iron Man 3, and they hint at the potential storyline.

If you’ve seen any of the Avengers trailers thus far, you will have undoubtedly seen the exchange between Captain America and Tony Stark, when Cap asks Tony if you take away his suit of armor, what is he? This has led many to believe and rumors to begin that the third film in the series will borrow heavily from Warren Ellis’ famous Extremis storyline.

In Extremis, Tony uses nanobots to infuse his suit to his body, blending the line between man and machine, and creating a new villain with frightening powers that rival even Irom Man’s capabilities. This is looking like a potential plan, as both former director Jon Favreau and current director Shane Black have cited this as an influence on story ideas thus far.

In addition, rumors have begun that The Mandarin will be featured as the main villain of Iron Man 3, as it has been hinted as early as the first film. When Tony Stark is kidnapped by terrorists, the group calls themselves the Ten Rings, a direct reference to the famous baddie’s most powerful weapons. While it has been stated that this movie will feature more real-world villains, it is easy to surmise that somehow the Extremis virus will factor into The Mandarin’s plans, though all of that is still very far away.

We shall keep you updated on more Iron Man 3 rumors as they are available.

By David Trachtman, CBG Blogger

Hi-ho...Black?

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:30:05 -0400

As we have reported before, Disney and Gore Verbinski are working on a film adaptation of classic hero The Lone Ranger, starring Armie Hammer in the titular role and Johnny Depp as his ever-faithful Native American sidekick Tonto. A new picture has been released, and you can see it after the read more!

The first thing many may notice is Depp’s rather…extreme costuming, but research has shown that this kind go garb is in fact accurate for a Dakota Indian, of which Tonto is a member, and Depp has stated that he is doing extensive research into the culture to bring a true representation to the character.

For me, the most shocking part of the picture is in fact the Lone Ranger’s costume and it’s color, or lack thereof. Call me old-fashioned, but I love the old blue shirt and the red handkerchief around the neck, and this is well, very depressing, and downright boring if I can say. I’m sure that this look is more realistic than the typical look of the character, but at the same time there is a certain suspension of disbelief in a film like this, which makes the choice even more shocking and underwhelming.

I suppose this will excite some and strict others, but based on early production woes, I can say I’m not looking forward to May 31st, 2013 when The Lone Ranger rides into theaters.

By David Trachtman, CBG Blogger

Infinite Memories

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:30:05 -0400

Yesterday, yet another great pioneer in the comic book, science fiction, and fantasy genre has passed away. Jean Giraud, also known by his pseudonyms Gir, or more famously, Moebius, has passed away at the age of 73.

Born Jean Henri Gaston Giraud in 1938, the French artist has had multiple impacts on multiple science fiction fields, notably in comic books and concept art on many genre-defining films, and even the projects whose final products didn’t reflect his designs, the work is still applauded for its beauty.

In the film world, Giraud did concept art for Alien, offering a sharp contrast to H.R. Gieger’s bio-mechanical style that became a standard for the xenomorphs. While this was one of the first major films that he worked on, he had also worked on projects like an adaptation of Dune with Alejandro Jodorowsky which never ended up coming to fruition.

In later years, Giraud would work on some of the great staples of the sic-fi film genre, including Tron, The Abyss, and The Fifth Element, all of which he worked on either a storyboard artist or concept artist, leading many to see him as a visionary in terms of modern sci-fi.

In the comic book world, he is known for French books The Incal and Le Monde D’Edena, alone with the famous book Blueberry, which is his longest-running work. In America, he worked with Stan Lee on the prolific Silver Surfer Storyline in the 1980s for Marvel comics, which faces controversy surrounding his death.

Back in February, Marvel was set to release Silver Surfer: Parables, a new trade paperback of the Stan Lee/Moebius collaboration, but with concessions made that including taking all non-Moebius artwork out of the book, which has been meet with objections from others involved in the project. There is still no response from Marvel yet, but it is expected soon.

Despite controversy, Moebius is one of the greatest artist of the sic-fi genre, and has helped define modern perceptions of the look and feel of that world. He will be greatly missed, and his contributions will live on.

The Future Of Comics

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 15:31:06 -0400

The 21^st century has been marked by great technological advances, but with these advances come questions of oversaturation of technology. Essentially, the argument is based on the idea of “too much of a good thing”, and the comic world has its fair share of these debates.

Since the debut of the digital comic format, many have argued that this is a cheapening of the format, that reading a comic online or on a tablet or similar device takes away from holding the physical book in your hand. This argument has been more prevalent than in the newspaper or book market simply because the argument is that the art that is done for comics is lost and cheapened by these digital formats. Comic companies are again moving into digital techniques for their comics, and it begs the question; is this the future of the industry, or another passing fad?

Comic company Valiant Entertainment is returning from a few years on hiatus, and their first new major release is issue 1 of X-O Manowar, with the initial releases sporting a brand-new interactive feature. The new cover will feature an interactive QR Code, or those weird new barcodes that appear on film posters and almost everything it would seem nowadays.

How this works is with a special QR Code app on any smartphone, the code is scanned and some special feature is unlocked based on the unique qualities of the code. For X-O Manowar, by scanning the code on the cover of issue 1, readers will be able to hear Manowar’s voice, and is places in front of the cover creates the illusion that the character is in fact speaking to you.

In my opinion, this use of the QR Code is awfully gimmicky, and considering neither Marvel or DC have picked up ideas like this, I am of the mind that this is a rather simple ploy for attention. However, there are many who feel the contrary, and see this as a cheapening of the comic book medium. I think this is an awfully extreme idea, and plays more into traditional paranoia than anything else. There is nothing wrong with trying to use some mainstream tactics of promotion to bring more attention to the comic book industry, and now is as good of a time as any.

Comic books are slowly finding their way into the mainstream as an art form and a source of inspiration throughout Hollywood and other media powerhouses. Why now embrace these kinds of promotion and see the art form continue to expand and thrive? Whatever side of the debate you happen to be on, one thing is for sure; the issue will not go away, despite many objections for it to.