I was a bit confused, but very entertained by Issue #1, #2 sucked me into the story and with #3 things should actually start happening… just in time for the 1 month break from the main miniseries as the tie-ins come out.

FINAL CRISIS #3 (of 7) Written by Grant Morrison; Art and covers by J.G. Jones Batman missing in action! Superman immobilized! Green Lantern on trial for his life! A shadow is falling across Earth’s super heroes — and now it’s Wonder Woman’s turn to face the Evil Gods! What bizarre warning from beyond awaits Frankenstein, The Question and the agents of S.H.A.D.E. in the shadows of the Dark Side Club? What grim fate lies in store for The Human Flame? What happens when the Anti-Life Equation hits the internet? Can the Fastest Men Alive outrun The Black Racer — Death himself? And who are the Justifiers? The answers are all here as the unstoppable rise of evil continues in FINAL CRISIS #3 by Grant Morrison and J.G. Jones. DC Universe | 40pg. | Color | $3.99 US On Sale August 6, 2008

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The only fault I found with Dark Knight was the a bit over the top Clint Eastwood style gruff whisper that Christian Bale uses for Batman’s speaking voice. Seems I wasn’t alone.

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2008 has been THE year for Summer comic book movies!

According to figures on boxofficemojo.com, sometime on Friday, the combined box office might of the comic book-inspired The Dark Knight, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Wanted, and Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, eclipsed the $1 billion dollar mark for 2008, standing roughly at $1.01 billion.

I think we can safely say there will be a deluge of silver screen adaptions of more comic book properties from DC, Marvel and even independent publishers in the next few years. Here’s hoping DC can use the momentum from Dark knight and map out a feasible strategy to getting us a blockbuster-level Justice League of America movie in the next 10 years. First we need a well received Superman movie, then Flash, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman movies (with minor cameos for Martian Manhunter and Aquaman in one or two of those movies). Finally, you get the stars of those movies to do the JLA movie and you have a DC equivalent of what Marvel rolled out after Iron Man came out strong.

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Everything old is new again. Warner Brothers has released seven movie posters for The Watchmen. These are directly based upon a series of full page ads that DC Comics ran in their August 1986 issues to tease the then-upcoming 12 issue maxi-series by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Some are commenting that the staging of the drawing is incomplete in that there are small details in the drawings that are clues that foreshadow some important events of the story, but these details have been left out of the photos.

Here are 6 of DC Comics’ original house ads by Dave Gibbons to which the movie posters pay (apparently incomplete) homage.

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The DC Universe is always expanding with new stories and new characters, but this time they are absorbing 2 whole universes of heroes and making them part of current DCU continuity. The universes in question are Milestone and the “Archie heroes” (no not Jughead in tights… there were Superhero comics published by MLJ Comics long before Archie and the gang hit the scene).

These characters will be folded into the current DCU, interacting with all your favorites and even potentially joining the rosters of the Teen Titans and JLA.

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The cast of Watchmen sat down at SDCC for a Q&A. Thank IFC News for the footage!

via IFC News

In some of the biggest news of SDCC, DC Comics has announced that Neil Gaiman, famed English author of novels, comic books and films (including: Neverwhere, American Gods, Anansi Boys, Vertigo’s The Sandman, The Books of Magic and Black Orchid, as well as Stardust and MirrorMask) will team with Andy Kubert to bring us “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?”. The story will told this January in two slightly oversize issues - one issue of Batman and one of Detective Comics.

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The Legion of Super Heroes is coming to Smallville! I for one cannot believe it took this long to get the only superheroes who ACTUALLY did visit Smallville (in comics continuity) on the show! For those who didn’t know the only “superheroes” that visited Smallville, Kansas while Clark was Superboy in DC Comics continuity were Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad and Cosmic Boy, the founders of the Legion of Super Heroes from the 31st century. Geoff Johns (author of the eagerly anticipated Legion of 3 Worlds miniseries with art by George Perez) will be writing the episode!

If you saw Batman: Gotham Knight, then you likely saw the exclusive sneak peek at DC Universe’s Wonder Woman on Disc 1. ComicsContinuum had some news about that movie and a few other animated gems planned from DC Animated. They mention a February release date at a to-be-announced convention and that Wonder Woman is an original story from Gail Simone and Michael Jelenic. The official site has also launched.

ANSWER: Anywhere they want.

I thought the Brainiac arc was heading towards the rescue of the stolen Kryptonian cities, and looks like that is in fact the plan after all. Newsarama managed to corner the team behind the Super books (Supergirl writer Sterling Gates , Action Comics writer Geoff Johns, Superman scribe James Robinson and DC’s “Superbooks” editor Matt Idelson) to discuss the upcoming “New Krypton” storyline. Read all about it here.

No more “Last Son of Krypton.” Superman, Supergirl, Kristen Wells and Krypto will now be part of a much larger group of survivors. In the aftermath of the Brainiac arc, one hundred thousand Kryptonians will be free and ready to declare Earth “New Krypton.” Stay tuned.

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Newsarama recently talked with Grant Morrison about the 2nd issue of DC’s Summer blockbuster series Final Crisis. A similar interview about Issue #1 really explained a lot of the more subtle elements of a VERY complicated story so i though I’d share highlights from this similar commentary of Issue #2.

read the interview to hear Grant talk about…

Big Science Action, the Super Young Team, Superman Beyond, New Earth morale, New Gods reborn, Requiem, super villain’s cars, and the End of the World as we know it, Wonder Woman vs Mary Marvel, Metron the god of science’s unforeseen nature, where Barry Allen’s been, .and Carlos Pacheco stepping in to assist artist J.G Jones as of issue #4…

With an opening weekend box office of $158.3 million, The Dark Knight is already well on the way to surpassing the entire gross of Batman Begins (the Christopher Nolan relaunch of the franchise only grossed $205m domestically). I’m not one to buy the hype hook line and batarang, but in this case I must admit I was REALLY psyched to see this movie. And I want to see it again.

The Dark Knight transcends being a “Comic Book Movie” and draws the viewer into a psychological battle for nothing less than the very soul of Gotham City. (I’m keeping it cryptic so as not to spoil anything.)

Christian Bale returns to bring deeper pathos to the early years of Batman’s fight illuminate the dark streets of Gotham city. I love his Bruce Wayne and his presence as Batman, but his over the top billy goat gruff Bats voice bugs me a bit - that is my only criticism of anything in the movie. Well that and that I think the GCPD would do a better job recognizing and avoiding being corralled by Joker.

Heath Leger’s deeply disturbed Joker is an amazing update of Jack Nicholson’s 1990 far more manic interpretation of the Clown Prince of Crime. I knew from the previews that I approved of the direction the movie was going in, but I have to admit I was surprised at just how good Heath was at being bad. My heart goes out to his family, friends and costars who see this performance in a very melancholy light - I’m sure they expected to see it with him by their side. His Joker is far from your ordinary madman. In addition to being a vicious and completely demented homicidal maniac, he’s a brilliant strategist with a taste for the perversely unexpected.

Aaron Eckhart’s performance as Gotham’s tragic white knight, District Attorney Harvey Dent is as compelling as his later visage is frightening. With only 1/2 a face, Eckhart powerfully expresses the anger and hatred that birthed Two-Face.

Maggie Gyllenhaal is lovely as Rachel Dawes. Screw all the mean spirited alpha bloggers who need to make themselves feel superior by slamming anyone who isn’t a Barbie doll poster girl for plastic surgery. Maggie is a charming actress and a beautiful woman. And for all those who keep asking why Katie Holmes didn’t play her. Katie has been married to/ leased to a religious zealot who probably didn’t want her kissing anyone onscreen who might remind her what a man kisses like.

Veteran actors Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman’s portrayals of Alfred Pennyworth, Lt. James Gordon and Lucius Fox respectively are as every bit as brilliant as you would expect from consummate professionals of their caliber. Caine brings power and emotion to the smallest gestures. With the fate of one small envelope, Alfred shows just how much he cares.

See it today dammit!

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The eagerly anticipated Watchmen trailer at last! “From the visionary director of 300″ comes the silver screen adaption of the “most celebrated graphic novel of our time.” Damn they know how to sling some hype. But it is deserved.

The trailer is just enough to give you a taste of the richness of the world that has been created here. I haven’t looked forward to a movie this much since I heard X-Men 3 was the Dark Phoenix story - but this time I don’t think there will be soul crushing disappointment.

and be sure to check out amazingly well-designed Official Watchmen Site. It is also a thing of beauty.

Can you tell I’m excited for this movie?!

If you aren’t reading this origin of one of the most mysterious women of the DCU, pick it up. If you like magic, Merlin and Morgain Le Fay, this is your bag so buy it already.

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DC’s MMORPG will be out soon and they are starting to release teasers and concept art…

DCUO Concept Art - First Look DCUO Concept Art

Despite their lame name, I’m still interested in what’s going on with the impending 6 issue Terror Titans mini-series. Mostly because I REALLY like Ravager and she’s jumping ship from teen to terror (for awhile at least). Read this CBR interview with Terror writer Sean McKeever. He talks about a number of things, including IS THAT KID ETERNITY??? Who are the mystery 2? Is Ravager joining the Terror Titans? And why is Kid Devil wearing the International Male step-in loungewear from 1987?

I’m hoping things will pick up in issue #2. With the death of Martian Manhunter in #2 we should have some serious fallout this week.

Also in #2 are the Japanese Superheroes we saw unveiled in the Final Crisis Sketchbook - the Super Young Team and their languid leader, Most Excellent Superbat! PLUS - What are the next dastardly deeds perpetrated by the mysterious Libra and his new crew? What’s under the poisoned city of Blüdhaven? Who could murder a God? Can Batman face the fallen of Apokolips? All this and a spectacular return from the dead…

Grant Morrison and J.G. Jones’ multiverse-spanning epic continues with bombshell after bombshell in FINAL CRISIS #2 — “Ticket to Blüdhaven”!

I hope I don’t require the authors notes to make sense of this issue.

The preview interests me tho. I love the Alpha Lantern’s less than flattering characterization of the Justice League as a “local crimefighting club” - she makes it sound like the Scooby Gang. I also wonder about any substance that is not only unidentifiable by a Power Ring, but also seems to interfere with its operation. Hmmm.

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Well known All-Star Squadron and Infinity Inc. artist Jerry Ordway talks to Newsarama about revisiting Earth 2 after 24 years in this Summer’s JSA Annual… Power Girl and a pre-crisis Huntress (Helena Wayne - daughter of Batman and Catwoman) are the central figures as Kara visits the newly recreated Earth-2.

CAN you go home again? I don’t know, but with Jerry Ordway drawing Earth-2 it will sure look like it.

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Newsarama posted this great interview with Gary Frank about the return of Brainiac as a major Superman rogue, the future of Ma and Pa Kent and the reunion of the old gang at the Daily Planet.

I’ve been reading comics a loooong time. The last time someone took over a Superman title and I cared was when John Byrne did it in the 80’s. Don’t get me wrong. I still love the big blue boy scout. He’s a legendary icon. But thats often the problem. It’s not easy to tell an interesting tale with a star as iconic as Superman.

We think we know it all and many creators find it difficult to come up with something new that doesn’t crap all over what went before. Geoff Johns has shown us with his work on Green Lantern that he is NOT one of those writers, and Gary Frank has shown us with his reimagined Legion and now with his take on the Daily Planet bullpen that he is definitely NOT one of those artists either. Action comics has become a beautiful and dramatic story with compelling yet comfortably familiar characters. I didn’t mind the prolonged prologue quality of Action 866, but I can’t wait until something actually happens!

Justice League of America #22: Looks like the Red Tornado is getting a new body. But is over the dead bodies of the JLA? Residual Amazo programming may be a problem. I’m just glad that this story and the subsequent arc about Vixen’s powers (about time to get to that dangling subplot, isn’t it?) involve use of magic and therefore my favorite member of the JLA… ZATANNA!!!!!

I don’t know what it is about her (and it’s not the fishnets - first loved her during the Perez era in her blue and white caped outfit), tho Black Canary is my #2 favorite member so maybe they do play a small part), but I always enjoy her far too rare appearances.

Back to Red Tornado. I think the way they remind us that Red Tornado has been destroyed 8 times is a subtle reminder he’s on his 9th life… How many does he get? I have a feeling we just may find out before the Final Crisis is over and done…

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