That’s right, True Beleivers! Never since the team up of Spider-man and the cast of SNL has a blatant marketing scheme been brilliant comic genius. Stephen Colbert of the popular Colbert Report will be swinging with Spidey in Amazing Spider-man #573.

For awhile Marvel has stated Colbert was a candidate for the presidency in the Marvel Universe, but besides some background Easter eggs this was not anything major. Hopefully now we’ll see Colbert in a more prominent role in Marvel.

Mark Waid, one of the issue’s writers and comics legend, spoke to me about the project:

“It was a blast to write–the best note I ever got on a script was from the Colbert camp, who said simply “We’re having a nerd-gasm!” and asked for zero changes! So, apparently, if you love Colbert as much as I do, we nailed it!”

Pick up this title if you love America!

When “Jokers” Go Wild In A Full House

There’s a point when a comedian stops being funny and starts being crude. In last night’s Roast of Bob Saget, the traditional group of roasters - like Jeff Ross - crossed the line, as they usually do in these shows. Bob Saget has reportedly taken offense to how the Olsen twins were ridiculed by these acquaintances, and I’m inclined to agree with him. Read the rest of this entry »

I made a promise I couldn’t keep. Covering Comic-Con by oneself is impossible. The convention center took days to explore, and each panel had a line so long, you would have had to be there an hour before hand to ensure attendance. I thought I’d have free time, but at night when I thought I’d post, I was occupied by parties.

As far as the Con went, I have mixed feelings. As a comic fan, everyone and everything you’d want to see would be there, and lines in teh comic book area wouldn’t be too horrible. But, the movie and TV and video game and toy stuff really stole comics’ limelight, and filled the con with tourists and kids who admittedly didn’t read. Harold & Kumar were there, for example, and their booth put Marvel’s to shame. But once I stayed out of the entertainment section and kept to the comics area, I had a good time meeting with publishers and creators.

The parties were by far the best part of the Con because I could meet and talk to people one on one. You’d turn around and Joss Whedon or Bruce Campbell would be chilling. I met Mark Waid, Stephen Baldwin, Bill Willingham, the heads of DC and Marvel, Keith Giffen, and Grant Morrison at these parties, and as a professional and a fan boy I had a great time just talking to people.

News: Read the rest of this entry »

In Plain Sight Is In My Sights

Tonight’s episode of In Plain Sight, titled “Who Shot Jay Arnstein”, posed a big problem for continuity buffs. First, let me begin with an aside - Richard Belzer played John Munch on the 90s show, Homicide: Life on the Street. He has also played that role on The Beat, The Wire, The X-Files, all the Law & Order shows and Arrested Development, plus his lesser known appearance on Sesame Street. This means that all these shows, from an übernerd’s perspective, share the same reality - a universe you can call the “Munchverse.”

All subsequent shows that crossover with one of these shows all share the same reality. My main point is that Mary McCormack, who plays U.S. Marshall Mary Shannon, has shown up on Law & Order: CI in the episode “Contract”. This means In Plain Sight, X-Files, Law & Order, Arrested Development, etc all exist in the same world. This also means these shows aren’t shows in the “Munchverse”.

On tonight’s episode of In Plain Sight, a suspect tells Mary she’s been watching too much Law & Order, which of course is absurd because from Mary’s perspective Law & Order isn’t a show, it’s part of real life. Big continuity boo-boo!

But of course, I should realize it’s just a show and a minor slip up like this is no big deal…

images courtesy USA Network

© Fox

As far as Futurama goes, this “film” was decent. The plot and commercial divisions that exist for the transition to TV did draw you out of the action somewhat, but the big concern I had with this latest installment of Futurama was the slow pace of the comedy.

The old shows still survive due to the fast pacing of jokes - they are unrelenting, several popping up every minute. But Beast With A Billion Backs relies too much on what the plot is rather than how the plot is told.

There are constant lulls in the show where there are no comedic bits, but sci-fi plot devices to further the story. While this would be acceptable in another movie, for Futurama you expect fast-paced humor with a sci-fi twist. Many times in the movie humor took a back seat to explanation and events.

Of course, there was enough hilarious jokes to maintain this prolonged episode, but it goes to show that with more time to fill, writers will do things to fill that time, and in Futurama’s case that’s not a good thing. Had this been three individual episodes that didn’t need to pretend itself a DVD movie, the end product would have been much better.

However, fans won’t be disappointed with the inclusion of various characters and easter eggs, well-known and obscure, from the Futurama mythos. There is a lot you will miss if you haven’t seen the show.

That being said, I do look forward to later 2008’s release of Bender’s Game, a spoof of the fantasy genre.

Tuesdays are new DVD days, and every once in awhile there is a DVD worth going to get the day it’s released. I’m talking about the awesome show Burn Notice, which debuted on USA last summer.

Focusing on the character Michael Westen, an international spy, the show follows Michael as he tries to discover why he was “burned” - blacklisted with the U.S. government and taken off the active spy roster. Dumped in his hometown of Miami, Michael has to deal with his former fling and IRA spy Fiona, his buddy Sam (Bruce Campbell) who is spying on Michael for the FBI, and his mother… all while trying to uncover why he’s been frozen out of the intelligence game.

But the show doesn’t stop there. Read the rest of this entry »

Jam-Packed With Venture!

courtesy Jackson Publick

Last night the long awaited Third Season, the one guaranteed to put out, debuted on Adult Swim (the late night version of Cartoon Network).

For those unfamiliar with the show, these 22 minute episodes follow the misadventures of the Venture family - Dr. Venture, a failed scientist living in his brilliant super scientist father’s shadow, bada$$ bodyguard Brock Samson, and Jonny Quest parody children Hank and Dean. They fight all sorts of bizarre creatures, from the butterfly themed villain The Monarch to el Chupacabra.

Last night’s episode, “Shadowman 9: In the Cradle of Destiny”, was about The Monarch and new wife, Dr. Girlfriend, and the consequences of the Season 2 finale, which involved the revelation that David Bowie is in charge of the world’s super villain society. The show maintained it’s unusual brand of humor mixing super hero cliché and Seinfeld-esque common sayings and situations.

There will be 13 episodes this season that will air Sunday nights at 10:30 CST and be available online for download or sponsored viewing.

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one person to complain about a show and expose it for what it is, I find myself compelled to speak on good taste’s behalf.

There is a show that you haven’t heard of called Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! on Adult Swim, randomly aired, for 9 to 11 minutes a few times a week. Basically, Tim and Eric, the hosts, deliver a dozen short skits involving a green screen and some walk-on cameos. The show’s first season is available on DVD and well into it’s second season. Tim and Eric also contribute to the humor video site SuperDeluxe.com.

The show is not funny. Read the rest of this entry »

Cape’s Anatomy

Yes, I’ll admit, I watch Grey’s Anatomy. The LOSTian rule of the most dramatic thing that could happen happening is present, but the writing is solid and I love the character interaction. But there are a lot of things that piss me off, and this is true of other medical shows like House, ER, and Scrubs.

This is why I helped some students at my former high school write a sketch parodying these medical dramas, showing how they are all similar and pointing out their hilarious flaws. Five of those jokes needed to make their way into Cape & Cowl - I felt like I needed to apologize to female readers after two weeks of Spider-man strips!

Cape & Cowl © Matt Knicl 2008
www.shanesmithart.com

Courtesy NBC

The second interview I did for my Scrubs/Writer’s Strike article was on-set costumer Celeste LaChance.

Matt Knicl: What is your position on the show and what does that role entail?

Celeste LaChance: I work on the show as the on-set costumer. I am responsible for continuity, making sure that if we shoot part of scene 1 and then pick that same scene up a few days later, I make sure that they are in the proper change and the buttons or zipper or such matches. I work closely with the actors and the other crew members

Read the rest of this entry »