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Mister Fantastic is an inherently cool character (I think). He may be the least powerful member of the Fantastic Four, but he can do so many things with his power, that he’s a fun character to read (or watch). I hope that in the upcoming Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer movie, that the character is played much more like he was at the end of the first film.

His power doesn’t work on film in slow shots. for example, the scene in the first film where he stretched his hand under the door just doesn’t look good. It looks fake. However, in the final battle with Dr. Doom, his stretches and turns into several shapes quickly an rapidly. It was the first time in the film I smiled while watching the character. Hopefully, the new film will feature lots of shapes, bouncing and stretching for Mister Fantastic (read more about the character).

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Buzz Lightyear and Carter

Carter and Buzz Lightyear, originally uploaded by allaboutduncan.

You may have noticed a lack of posts last week. You may have also noticed the large amount of Disney related photos on this Photos page or in the Flickr bar on the right. That’s right, we loaded up the family and went to Florida / Disney on vacation.

We spent two days total at Disney. The first day was in the Magic Kingdom (what most people think of when they think Disney World). While we didn’t get to do everything, we did quite a bit and had a great time.

The second day we split between Disney MGM and Disney Animal Kingdom.

MGM is geared to older kids, but Carter still had fun. He loved the 3D Muppet movie and got very excited when he saw Darth Vader, R2-D2, Luke, and Leia in the parade. He was an inch too short for the Star Wars ride, so we didn’t get to check that out.

Animal Kingdom was great and I’d love to go back there and spend more time. The safari ride was worth the wait and the Festival of the Lion King entertaining as well. Still not a lot of rides for Carter. He was a little short for a few and some were still a bit to scary. He’s decided he would he ready for them when he’s 4.

We spent the rest of our time with some of Jill’s relatives, who made us feel right at home. Add in a day at the beach and it was a fun vacation, but a tiring one (with the driving and walking).

Carter was moping for a day or two about how he missed Disney World, but seems to have snapped back to normal now. I have to say, I can’t wait until he is a little older and we can go back and do even more (Star Tours, Haunted Mansion, Epcot, Dinosuar!).

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Comcast has a Spider-Man 3 site that features the “final” trailer for the film being released on May 4th. Aside from several new shots, a few seconds on the origins of the black costume, and lots of good Spider-Man action, it features the first real good shots of Topher Grace as Eddie Brock (Venom).

It’s looks like Venom will play a large role in the film and could possible be the main villain (and not the Sandman). It’s interesting that Sony has not really released any info about Venom to the “public,” with the only appearances of the character appearing in an NBC.com exclusive clip and this Comcast clip. If it weren’t for the Venom toys that appeared in stores this past Saturday, his appearance would almost be a secret.

Every preview I’ve seen looks better and better and I have no doubts, but I wonder how the public is going to react. I’m glad they’ve used Venom as a villain. Sam Raimi was originally opposed, but the character was a great villain in the comics before he became over-exposed and watered-down. From the few snippets in the trailer, the character of Eddie Brock (Venom) has similar motivations and that should provide quite a few dramatic moments.

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Man-Ape Image from The Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe - Master Edition #03 (1991)

What’s wrong with this picture: you’re a super-villain and you possess the strength and agility of the “rare Wakandan white gorilla,” which means you’ve got enhanced human strength and durability, as well as superhuman stamina and agility. You outweigh Captain America by 100lbs. and have almost a foot height advantage, yet you still manage to get  “overpowered” by him in Avengers #78 and #79. Way to go, Man-Ape and Cap., I still miss you.

Powers and Abilities

Intelligence: Normal
Strength: Enhanced human
Speed: Athlete
Stamina: Superhuman
Durability: Enhanced human
Agility: Superhuman
Reflexes:
Fighting skills: Wakandan Royal Militia training
Special skills and abilities: None
Superhuman physical powers: Superhuman strength, agility, stamina, and durability equal to that of the rare Wakandan white gorilla
Superhuman mental powers: None
Special limitations: None
Source of superhuman powers: Mystical transference of the abilities of the rare Wakandan white gorilla

Paraphernalia

Costume specifications: The Man-Ape wears the pelt of Wakandan white gorilla.
Personal weaponry: None
Special weaponry: None
Other accessories: None
Transportation: Various
Design and manufacture of paraphernalia: Inapplicable

Bibliography

First appearance: AVENGERS #62
Origin issues: AVENGERS #62
Significant issues: AVENGERS #62 (battled the Black Panther in attempt to usurp the throne of Wakanda and return Wakanda to primitive state);
AVENGERS #78-79 (traveled to America, joined Lethal Legion, captured Black Panther, fought Avengers, overpowered by Captain America);
WEST COAST AVENGERS #1-2 (rejoined Lethal Legion, battled Tigra);
VISION AND SCARLET WITCH Vol.2 #2 (abandoned Grim Reaper, accompanied by Black Talon)

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It looks like the original 1966 New Adventures of Superman and Batman cartoons from Filmation will finally be coming to DVD, according to Warner Brothers animation writer Earl Kress.

At the end of a post detailing release plans for more old-school Hanah Barbera animation, Kress drops the following dates:

6/26/07: The New Adventures of Batman
The New Adventures of Superman

Those have not been “officially” announced by WB, so I wouldn’t call it 100%, but it’s a good sign. I would hope that the Batman series they are referring to is the Batman with Robin the Boy Wonder. It’s the one that was paired with the New Adventures of Superman in 1969 when they originally aired together as the Batman / Superman Hour on CBS.

The New Adventures of Batman was the series produced by Filmation in 1977. It’s the one I remember watching as a kid. It aired as part of the Super 7 block that featured Tarzan, Freedom Force, Jason of Star Command, Manta and Moray, Superstretch and Microwoman, and Web Woman. Freedom Force is out on DVD now and Jason of Star Command will be released in May.

These shows are the reason I started making my own DVDs a few years ago and I’m excited to see them finally get the actual release they deserve. If there is one area that DC dominates Marvel in, it’s tv/animation/DVD. With Superman and Batman coming, I hope they follow up with: Adventures of Superboy, the DC Heroes shorts, Aquaman, the 1988 Superman cartoon and the other Batman series (whichever one doesn’t get released). I haven’t completed (actually-just barely started) my Superman set, so it will save me some work.

Kress also states four more of my favorite cartoons will be released on July 17.

On July 17, Warner Home Video will release them in their original configuration as Space Ghost and Dino Boy and Birdman and the Galaxy Trio.

He also teases that a release of the Banana Splits Adventure Hour is pending as well.