You may remember us reporting about an announcement at the 2006 SDCC. Basically, issue 102 of the Fantastic Four had a script re-write which forced Jack Kirby to shelve his already completed art for the book and redraw all the page. This shelved art recently surfaced and Marvel was going to have Stan Lee write a story and dialogue to go with the art and release it to the public. After that announcement, we never really heard anything more about it.

It turns out that the comic appears to have already been released, but not in the way we all expected. Here is the posting from the Blogs@Newsarama:

The story we first heard about a year ago, the lost FF #102 has finally been published. But not as Marvel announced but rather as a digital comic on a DVD as a Best Buy exclusive that comes with a Silver Surfer figurine for $14.99. I picked mine up last night but have not yet watched/read it… Here’s the info on the DVD.

“FANTASTIC 4 — THE LOST JACK KIRBY STORY (digital comic)
The Story Behind The Lost Story:
In 1970, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby talked ove the plot that was going to become FANTASTIC FOUR #102. Jack drew the pencils, but when Stan got them, he didn’t feel that they matched what he had discussed with Jack, so he put them aside. Parts of that story later appeared as flashback scenes in FANTASTIC FOUR issue #108, but the rest remained unpublished, and the pages have neve been put together to appear as a single, complete story in their own right — until now! With the help of Jack Kirby’s estate, Marvel has reassembled most of that story. Stan Lee has rescripted it, and Joe Sinnott has inked the pages that weren’t inked before. Ron Frenz has filled in on pencils for any gaps in the existing material, and worked in Jack’s classic style. Chris Sotomayor colored the story in classic comics style. Now for the first time, experience this Golden Age Fantastic Four story that has never been publiehsed — on your TV using your DVD player!”

I’m pretty disappointed that Marvel chose this as the format for its release. It seems like a bit of a slap in the face to have to pay $14.99 for the digital book. I’m still holding out hope that it will be released in hard copy format at my local comic shop.

It would seem Marvel is attempting to catch up with the times. The entertainment giant is launching it’s digital comic library, for those of us who are too lazy to run out to our local comic book store and grab a copy of our favorite comic ourselves. Yay for perpetuating sloth in Americans even more so!

Starting today, Marvel is offering it’s “unlimited” comic library to the public at a rate of $59.88 a year (don’t know where that odd number comes from), or for $9.99 per month, and plan on showing off 250 of its current 2,500 comics for free to draw the customer in. Comics will be displayed in a high resolution format, that will be fool-proofed so users cannot download the comics to their own computer hard drives.

Because free programs like BitTorrent or Emule can’t do that for you already.

You can’t blame Marvel for trying to capitalize on it’s internet savvy customers. It plans on opening up a larger library of comics ranging from being released months ago to decades ago in the coming future, and I suppose it may have some obscure comics on its network that you may not be able to find elsewhere on the net. (though I doubt it)

CoolToyReview.comhas gotten word from a ‘reliable source’ (grain of salt recommended) for the lineup for the next wave of Marvel Legends. Curiously, the listing also shows UPC numbers. The wave will consist of the following:

• Adam Warlock (UPC # 65356931894)
• Black-suit Spider-man (UPC # 65356931891)
• Silver Savage (UPC # 65356931893 – Silver Surfer from the Planet Hulk storyline)
• Spiral (UPC # 65356931895)
• USAgent (UPC # 65356931890)
• Union Jack (UPC # 65356931892)

And it appears that they have wildly guessed on the Build-A-Figure for the wave so I won’t even mention what it was.

I am ecstatic about a Spiral figure, assuming its done right, but rather apathetic to the rest of the wave. I’m still waiting on a Nimrod Build-A-Figure. Make it happen Hasbro!

A review of the DVD for the pilot episode of Blade the Series.

Thanks to Janine for getting bit to make this video better.

Did you know that the modern X-Men logo was originally designed by Jim Steranko and made its debut in X-Men 50 in November of 1968 (as seen in the above post banner)? In a surprisingly interesting series of articles, Todd Klein, who has done a wide variety of work as a letterer and designer, has assembled an exhaustive analysis of logos for the X-Men related books going as far back as issue 1 of X-Men from 1963. You can see his blog here and for the specific articles, see the direct links below.

Part 9 was particularly interesting because it shows the most recent iteration of the X-Men logo and many of the other designs that were submitted with it all mocked up on the same cover for issue 233 (I suspect this is just filler numbering and lettering because we are currently only on issue 203 at retail and Whedon and Cassaday have never been revealed as the creative team for X-Men that I am aware of. Not sure what the cover art is from or will be.) I kind of liked this one:

Throughout the series, Klein offers up glimpses of logo art samples that could have been. See below for an example of that for the X-Factor logo.

I should also note that Klein designed several X-Men related logos himself, including an X-Factor logo and an Excalibur logo. I found it interesting he noted in several places that when given a choice of logos, the editorial staff often chose the one closest resembling the original Steranko logo.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Update

Let us know what you think in the comments!

The first spinoff of the X-Men movie series will be titled “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” and will star Hugh Jackman in the role that made him famous. The release date is currently set for May 1, 2009.
Variety reports:

“Wolverine” is expected to feature many other mutants — some new to the film franchise and some from one or more of the three “X-Men” films. Liev Schreiber is reportedly in final talks to take on the role of a younger version of nemesis William Stryker, played by Brian Cox in “X2.”

Filming will begin later this year with Director Gavin Hood in Austrailia and New Zealand before moving to New Orleans, leading more than a few comic fans thinking the mutant Gambit may play a role. Victor Creed is mentioned, but no announcement has been made if Tyler Mane would reprise the role of Sabretooth from the first X-men film.

David Goyer’s “Magneto” movie should follow soon after. Its not known at this time if an “X4” will happen, or if the franchise will continue to spin off characters into larger roles.

Today Marvel unveiled the new Captain America, designed by renowned painter of super grandpas heroes; Alex Ross. While the design shares much with the classic Cap design there are some notable changes such as the black pants, the lack of chainmail, and the gat. Writer Ed Brubaker states that this new Cap isn’t Steve Rogers and indeed all signs point to Cap’s former partner and the Winter Soldier; Bucky Barnes. We’ve got more pictures after the jump.
[Read the rest of this entry…]

Because we can’t get enough Iron Man teasers:

Consider me teased! Bring on the movie already!

Via Blogs@Newsarama