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Maybe, just maybe we’ll get a good Marvel animated series in 2008 with the premier of a new Spider-Man series entitled The Amazing Spider-Man. It seems that Marvel dominates the movie box office with their comic adaptations, but when it comes to the small screen they definitely trail behind DC (see JLU, Batman, Superman and the Legion).

The 2006 Fantastic Four cartoon that debuted on Cartoon Network last year disappeared after only 6 episodes. Supposedly it will return in a few months with the release of the Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer movie.

BURBANK, CA (MARCH 1, 2007) – Spider-Man swings back into television action in early 2008 as an animated series from Culver Entertainment to air on Kids’ WB! on The CW, it was announced today by Kids’ WB! Senior Vice President and General Manager Betsy McGowen and Sony Pictures Television Co-President Zack Van Amburg.

Tentatively titled “The Amazing Spider-Man,” the new series is being produced by Culver Entertainment. Greg Weisman (“Gargoyles”, “The Batman”) is supervising producer, Victor Cook (“Hellboy: Blood and Iron” and “Buzz Lightyear of Star Command”) is producer/supervising director. The series will premiere on Kids’ WB! on The CW, the No.1 rated Saturday morning kids broadcast slate.

Toon Zone – Your Source for Toon News!

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Captain Carrot and the Zoo Crew Return

The New York Comic-com was this past weekend and I couldn’t be happier about one surprise announcement made by DC Comics.

Jann Jones announced a new project: Captain Carrot and the Final Ark, a three-issue limited series. "It's a very important year for Captain Carrot," Jones said. The project will be written by Bill Morrison and drawn by Scott Shaw! The villain of the story will be Ra's al-Pica.

I remember reading Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew as a kid and thinking it was just the coolest idea. An entire world that mirrored the DC universe, but populated by talking animals. It's very similar to one of DC's hallmark ideas, the multi-verse. The idea that any number of alternate universes exists, some with minor variations and some with major ones. I've always loved alternate time-line stories and DC has always used them creatively.

Marvel Comics does them as well, but they bounce back and forth with no explanation or connection. They've never attempted to link or explain them. They just use the "alternate time-line/universe" character when it's convenient.

I could go on all day about Marvel vs. DC and maybe one day I will, but for now, I can't wait for some new Captain Carrot.

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Cable - son of Cyclops and Jean Grey

Comic book heroes were "extreme" in the 90's. Superman had long hair, Batman was replaced, Spider-Man was a clone, but the easiest way to make a standard hero "extreme" was to accessorize.

Cable (created by Rob Liefeld) from the New Mutants started this trend with his big shoulder pads, many pockets, and numerous ammo belts. Almost every hero in the 1990's received some sort of extreme makeover which usually involved adding pouches, pockets and belts to their costume. Many people also stopped reading comics at this time and the huge audience that had built up dwindled to almost nothing. Only in the past 2-3 years have comics returned to 1/3 of the number of readers as they had before the 1990's.

Thanks Rob.

Powers and Abilities

Intelligence: Superhuman
Strength: Superhuman Class 10
Speed: Enhanced human
Stamina: Enhanced human
Durability: Enhanced human
Agility: Enhanced human
Reflexes: Enhanced human
Fighting skills: Extensive training in military combat techniques and the martial arts
Special skills and abilities: Highly skilled in devising weaponry and cyborg body parts. He is also an extraordinary combat strategist.
Superhuman physical powers: Cable is believed to be a mutant whose physical abilities and intelligence are enhanced
above the normal human levels. His cyborg left arm and shoulder possess even greater strength than his organic ones. Cable's bionic right eye can see into the infrared portion of the spectrum.
Superhuman mental powers: The psionic ability to control his cyborg body parts
Special limitations: None
Source of superhuman powers: Presumably mutation, cyborg body parts

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I had no idea it was such a problem. Now I understand why they told Carter he couldn’t play superheroes at preschool anymore.

Although the exact number of child fatalities connected to an active imagination is unknown, experts say the danger is very real. According to a 2006 estimate, children who regularly engage in imagination are 10 times more likely to suffer injuries such as skinned knees from mythical quests, or bruises and serious falls from the peak of Bookcase Mountain.

Read the rest of the article on The Onion…

Seriously, I’m still a little upset they told him that a few weeks ago. I know he was probably being too rough, but they should have talked to him and reasoned with him rather than restricted it altogether.

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The Hero Initiative is starting a fund raiser for retired comic creators. More than 80 artists were asked to participate by drawing a custom sketch on the blank cover of a specially produced Ultimate Spider-Man #100, with 100 total custom covers created. Proceeds from the auctions will benefit the Hero Initiative’s efforts to"provide a financial safety net for yesterdays creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life and an avenue back into paying work."

Comic Book Resources has a great gallery of all 100 covers on their site. Almost every single one is good (but I can’t quite figure out why Ed McGuiness drew Wolverine and Hulk). A few of my personal favorites are:

Al MilgromFred Hembeck Frank Quitely

Joe Quesada Matt Wagner Rick Leonardi

But the absolute best one has got to be the John Romita cover.

John Romita

He was the artist on Amazing Spider-Man from 1966-1970 and his art was the basis for the 1966 Spider-Man cartoon. His son John Romita, Jr. was the artist on Amazing Spider-Man from 1980-1984 and again from 2000-2004.