Man of Steel Will Be Released in 3D

Superman's going to do something Batman's never done before on the big screen: 3D.

Warner Bros. announced today that Man of Steel will be available in 3D in select theaters, as well as in 2D and IMAX, when it opens June 14, 2013.

"The film is going to be a visually exciting experience in all formats: 2D, 3D and IMAX. Anticipating how audiences today embrace 3D, we designed and photographed the movie in a way that would allow ‘Man of Steel’ to captivate those movie goers, while respecting fans who prefer a more traditional cinematic experience. We’ve taken great measures to ensure the film and the story come first, and 3D is meant as an enhancement," said Man of Steel director Zack Snyder in a statement.

Source : ign[dot]com

JLA Movie to Face Off Against Avengers 2?

Now that Warner Bros. has won a decisive court battle involving the rights to Superman, the studio can speed up development on its Justice League movie.

Warner Bros. Wins Big in Superman Copyright Battle

The Man of Steel is, of course, a key member of that superhero team, along with players in spandex like Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and others. According to The LA Times, the studio is expected to "accelerate" development on the JLA project, which will include finding a director and cast. The hope is to shoot next year for a summer, 2015, release. That would put the film squarely against The Avengers 2, don't cha know?

Watch the above video to see Dark Knight co-writer David Goyer discuss bringing Superman's origin story to Man of Steel.

Had Warners lost its legal battle against the family of Superman co-creator Joe Shuster, the use of the character in Justice League or elsewhere would've been restricted after 2013. (And in fact, aspects of that court struggle continue to rage on, though it would seem yesterday's verdict was the start of the litigation saga's endgame.)

"That uncertainty made it difficult for Warner[s] to move ahead with Justice League, which the studio's motion pictures group president, Jeff Robinov, has long wanted to make as a pillar of its big-screen superhero strategy," says The Times. Additionally, the decision reached yesterday allows Warner Bros. to make sequels to Man of Steel (though it remains unclear if that version of Superman will be the one we see in Justice League or not).

So the plan now is to spin-off other heroes into their own movies after Justice League, in a sort of reverse-Marvel methodology. Hey, that works for me.

Talk to Movies Editor Scott Collura on Twitter at @ScottIGN, on IGN at scottcollura and on Facebook.

Source : ign[dot]com

NYCC: Meet the Justice League's Mister Fix-It

It's kind of an obvious question, really, but who takes care of the Hall of Justice? I mean, Batman and Superman are busy saving the universe, so who's changing light bulbs and fixing leaky faucets? DC Comics is debuting a new free comic in a partnership with Craftsman at New York Comic-Con that aims to answer those questions.

Written by Joshua Williamson (Voodoo, Uncharted, Masks and Mobsters), this giveaway comic will feature a new character called the Technician, who is more or less the Justice League's Mr. Fix-It. We talked with Williamson about the development of this new character. If you're swinging by NYCC, be sure to stop by the Craftsman booth (#2046) on Saturday, October 13 at 11 AM to snag a signed copy from Williamson himself.

IGN Comics: First, I love the idea of a mister-fix-it guy that hangs around the Hall of Justice. Honestly, when hearing about a “Craftsman crossover” I scoffed a bit, but this is actually incredibly amusing. What’s the story behind that character?

Joshua Williamson: The Technician is a character that we created just for this story. From the very beginning when Craftsman contacted DC about this project, I knew that I wanted to tell a story about a guy who worked at the Hall of Justice. The place is huge and yet has never really had a caretaker. Sure, there was Snapper Carr but he got into more trouble than took care of things. The Justice Society had Ma Hunkel helping out for a bit… why doesn’t the Justice League have anyone?

But also, I always love those stories where a supporting character gets into their own crazy side adventure that the rest of the cast doesn’t know about. There was the amazing Booster Gold episode of Justice League Unlimited, or the classic Xander episode of Buffy where he saves the school from getting blown up while the rest of the cast saved the world. So we started thinking of having a guy who is proud to be working at the Hall of Justice as a respected partner, knowing that he is the best in his field (he’d have to be to get Batman’s approval!) that gets into a bit of trouble and has to save the day.

The Technician started out as an everyday man who knew his stuff and then transformed into a full-fledged hero. Because you know that that feeling you get when you finish a do-it-yourself project? It can make you feel like a superhero, and Craftsman wanted to bring that to life in a way that was fun and creative.

IGN: You also did the Subway comics that appeared a while back – are there any greater or different challenges in working in a sponsored story like this as opposed to a regular DCU tale?

Williamson: Yes and no. In some ways you get to cut loose and just tell a short story using the amazing DC characters. Something we rarely get to do or see now. But at the same time you have to keep in mind the whole reason the comic exists, which is to help promote product. In this case, it is to introduce the Craftsman brand and their new product, the Bolt On tool, to a new generation of tool user. You have to find that balance.. For me I try to always use a character that I love that I haven’t been able to write in the main DCU yet. So for this story it was Cyborg and The Key.

Honestly the biggest challenge with these things is trying to not take them too seriously and to just have fun with them. Working with Craftsman was great because they had an awesome sense of humor and wanted to have a good time with it. For Craftsman, they wanted to show that tools can be fun. It was all about showing the creative comic book reading community that tools can used to create amazing works.

IGN: As for the Justice League, who’s on the team here? Is this the New 52 incarnation?

Williamson: Yup, New 52 all the way. Couldn’t imagine doing it with any other version. It’s Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash and Cyborg for this short story. Mostly Cyborg takes the main stage. Cyborg because he’s the tech guy and Batman well, y’know… Batman’s the best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be. It’s always fun getting to write the Justice League and the rest of the new DCU.

IGN: Where can we get our hands on this book?

Williamson: Fans can pick up a complimentary copy of the comic book inside the Craftsman booth at New York Comic-Con. For those not attending the show, it can be downloaded as free digital download on the DC Comics app store or available at www.craftsmancomic.com.

Joey is IGN's Comics Editor and a comic book creator himself. Follow Joey on Twitter, or find him on IGN. He loves superhero pets so hard.

Source : ign[dot]com

Superman Fan Wants to Rename Town Smallville

As any good Superman fan knows, Krypton wasn't the only home to DC's Man of Steel. For Clark Kent, it was Smallville, Kansas where Superman really discovered his love for Earth and its people. While this small rural town is a completely fictional place, it may not always be -- at least, that's what one Hutchinson, Kansas native is dead set on achieving.

Christopher Wietrick, who also happens to be a comic book artist, recently started a campaign to have his hometown, Hutchinson, legally renamed Smallville. The story broke on a local news station (via Nerd Approved), where Wietrick made his case for the name change, offering several solid reasons for why Hutchinson should become the official home to Superman.

For one, the town has museums for Superman's Krytonian shuttle and mineral deposits, and it already has a Superman costume up on display. What's more, Hutchinson has roads named "Clark" and "Kent," and is only about an hour away from a major metropolis.

In an attempt to bolster his appeal, Wietrick has created an official Facebook page and is currently working on a comic book that will hopefully catch the attention of DC Comics and Warner Bros., who own the rights to the character.

Hey, Riverside, Iowa is home to the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk, right? Anything's possible. Let us know what you think in the Comments below!

Max Nicholson is a writer for IGN, and he desperately seeks your approval. Show him some love on Twitter and IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Check Out Jim Lee's New Justice League #12 Cover

Since the budding romance of Superman and Wonder Woman is selling like hotcakes, Jim Lee has already crafted a cover for the upcoming second printing of Justice League #12. It's the same general idea, but you'll notice that Wonder Woman seems to be taking the initiative this time around, plus it's more lovey-dovey than the original cover. BuzzFeed debuted the cover earlier today. Take a look:

Check out our review of Justice League #12!

Joey is IGN's Comics Editor and a comic book creator himself. Follow Joey on Twitter, or find him on IGN. He loves superhero pets so hard.

Source : ign[dot]com

Comic Book Reviews for 8/29/12

This week in comics: Superman and Wonder Woman have their much publicized make out session, DC Comics unleashes a boatload of Annuals, Uncanny X-Force continues to depress us while American Vampire rips our hearts out, and Spider-Man teams up with Aunt May (kind of).

DC COMICS

American Vampire #30

Written by Scott Snyder | Art by Rafael Albuquerque

"Ever since Henry and Pearl began their relationship, I knew there would be a time where Pearl’s inability to age would catch up to them and the series  would punch me in the gut with such ferocity that the pain would travel up my body and my heart would shatter to pieces and scatter across the freeway and be obliterated to pieces against the windshields of oncoming traffic like insects. That moment happens in American Vampire #30." -Joey

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

9.5

Aquaman #12

Written by Geoff Johns | Art by Ivan Reis

"Prepare to be enthralled and annoyed with Aquaman #12. Enthralled because Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis deliver yet another memorable chapter of what is easily one of the best books among the New 52. Annoyed because this issue is a bit lacking in forward momentum, forcing us to wait two months before the final clash between Aquaman and Black Manta." -Jesse

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

8.5

Before Watchmen: Minutemen #3

Written by Darwyn Cooke | Art by Darwyn Cooke

"Before Watchmen: Minutemen has been solidly executed from the start, but the first two issues failed to add much to the story of the team that we hadn't seen before. Issue #3 marks the first point where Darwyn Cooke is really able to dive into the psychologies of the characters and offer some genuinely new and interesting material." -Jesse

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

8.5

Detective Comics Annual #1

Written by Tony Daniel | Art by Romano Molenaar & Pere Perez

"Prior to the New 52, much of Tony Daniel's Batman work was centered around establishing a new version of Black Mask, a villain who turned out to be none other than Dr. Jeremiah Arkham. Recently, Daniel has returned to Black Mask in his Detective Comics run, though now Roman Sionis is back under the mask and Arkham is on the right side of the law again. Detective Comics Annual #1 offers Daniel a chance to explore the current status quo of these characters outside the confines of the main series. Though it definitely has its rough patches, this annual isn't a bad way for Daniel to end his writing stint on the series." -Jesse

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

7.0

The Flash Annual #1

Written by Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato | Art by Various

"The Flash Annual #1 uses its extended format to tell a five chapter story that does a nice job of answering some big questions and escalating the conflict to truly outrageous heights. Although Flash has his name on the book, the story has become more focused on Captain Cold. He has a good chunk of page time and must deal with more interesting twists and turns than Flash throughout the book. Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul deliver a fine story, just not for the character they intended." -Joshua

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

7.5

Green Lantern Annual #1

Written by Geoff Johns | Art by Ethan Van Sciver

"Ethan Van Sciver has returned to Green Lantern! Given that he drew Green Lantern: Rebirth and ushered in the new era of Hal Jordan and the Corps, it feels right for him to come back to kick off the next big GL crossover event that has been teased to be an end of sorts for Hal, Rise of the Third Army. At the start of this 48-page issue, things are grim for Hal as he and Sinestro are at the mercy of Black Hand while the Guardians seek out the First Lantern. Geoff Johns opens up a whole new expanse of GL mythology with this status quo-altering bombshell." -Joshua

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

8.0

Justice League #12

Written by Geoff Johns | Art by Jim Lee

"Justice League has been struggling to find its footing because Geoff Johns and Jim Lee seem bent on delivering big action on big splash pages, leaving the story to play catch up as it tries to make sense of it all. This entry starts off with a fair bit of that as the team has their showdown with the underwhelming new villain, Graves. Yet in the wake of the battle, the series finds itself on solid ground thanks to the excellent dialogue and momentous turning points -- not to mention Superman and Wonder Woman totally make out!" -Joshua

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

8.0

Justice League International Annual #1

Written by Geoff Johns & Dan Didio | Art by Jason Fabok

"There are a few things going against the Justice League International Annual right from the get-go: it’s an amendment to a book we know is canned, it’s handled by a new creative team (which isn’t a bad thing in my case, but for the JLI faithful it could be off-putting), and it’s $5. While I can’t proclaim that this annual is worth the money, it does offer up some interesting new threads for the next year or so – though where they will all play out is anybody’s guess. There’s a 'continued in Justice League in 2013' bit at the end here, but I doubt we’ll be continuing the story of August General in Iron and Booster Gold in the New 52’s flagship title." -Joey

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

7.0

National Comics: Looker #1

Written by Ian Edginton | Art by Mike S. Miller

"It’s becoming apparent that the new National Comics done-in-one anthology series has a structure that is both its greatest asset and biggest shortcoming. While last month’s Kid Eternity story was a stellar tale that felt complete (though I was desperate for more), Looker is more of a broad strokes introduction to the revamped Emily Briggs than a satisfying story. We get bits and pieces of some interesting things with the loose framework of a murder mystery, but overall there’s not enough here in this one-shot to deliver anything that we can latch onto in such a short amount of time." -Joey

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

6.0

The New Deadwardians #6

Written by Dan Abnett | Art by I.N.J. Culbard

"When Vertigo showed off all the new series it was launching in 2012, I'll admit that the one I was least excited for was The New Deadwardians. Now, as we near the series finale, I can safely say that it is not only the best new Vertigo book, but quite possibly the best series of the year. Everything about it is near perfection. This issue gives us some of the most brilliant dialogue to be scripted in a comic book, maybe ever. This is shaping up to be a masterpiece." -Benjamin

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

9.5

Phantom Lady #1

Written by Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti | Art by Cat Staggs

"Given the bright colored cover showcasing a busty babe holding a tiny man in her hand, I did not expect Phantom Lady #1 to be so dark. Her parents get set on fire (in true DC origin fashion), her friend gets her face bashed into the hood of a car, and the enforcers from a dangerous crime family try to incinerate her partner. Normally I welcome when a book surprises by contrasting with its cover, like Captain Marvel, but the lack of grace in Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti’s storytelling stops this book from not just defying expectations but exceeding them." -Joshua

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

6.5

Superman Annual #1

Written by Scott Lobdell & Fabian Nicieza | Art by Various

"If Superman Annual #1 were a person, I’d be sure that it was suffering from multiple personality disorder. It’s not a person, though, so I have to wonder what the hell was going on down at DC editorial when they cooked this one up." -Poet

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

4.0

Source : ign[dot]com

Superman Annual #1 Review

If Superman Annual #1 were a person, I’d be sure that it was suffering from multiple personality disorder. It’s not a person, though, so I have to wonder what the hell was going on down at DC editorial when they cooked this one up.

The main plot of this book is fine. Helspont’s back to make a ruckus and to recruit some associates. Great. He’s doing all of this because of all of the emotional baggage he’s been carrying since he was just a lil’ ‘Pont. Even better. Problem is, that only takes up a fraction of the space in this book, only tangentially involves Superman, and doesn’t come close to drawing together the wildly disparate sections of the book.

There is so much wasted space in this book, the creators should be ashamed of themselves. It’s almost as though it was declared that each section must include at least one stunningly unimpressive and uninformative large format shot. Worse, we spend much of the issue being brought up to date on concurrent events happening in such titles as Superman, Stormwatch, Grifter, Red Hood and the Outlaws, and Hawkman. Scott Lobdell and Fabian Nicieza are smart guys. I’m sure they could have brought home the idea they were trying to make without scripting individual fights for each of the characters.

The most disconcerting aspect of this massive convergence of plot threads is the jarring transitions between them. One second I’m seeing Supes getting hit by a cheapshot and the next second I’m staring at some gratuitous Starfire cheesecake. It doesn’t help that the changes in which writer is leading the script at any particular time and penciller/inker team totally changes the tone of the book. Is this Superman the indomitable embodiment of strength or is he the Charlie Brown everyman who enjoys schlepping his way to work on the subway? Is he thickly muscled as depicted during his fight with Biomass or is he the nearly emaciated Clark Kent brushing his teeth? The whole assemblage is so disjointed, it takes a concentrated force of will to identify it as a related whole.

This issue accomplishes its purpose of initiating a massive crossover, but it’s not a fun trip. Visually, the book is a mess, with awkward postures, inconsistent inking, and occasionally confusing visual flow. The script isn’t totally smooth, either, as it teleports suddenly from scene to scene, vacillating between different voices and tones the whole while. There’s no way this book is worth five of your hard-earned dollars, so feel free to pass over this one.

Poet is a freelance writer, mid-core gamer, and frequent IGN contributor. Follow Poet on Twitter, or post a message on his IGN profile.

Source : ign[dot]com

No John Williams Theme in Man of Steel

In an effort to distance itself even further from the previous Superman movies, Zack Snyder's Man of Steel will not feature the classic title theme from composer John Williams.

"We decided to act as if no Superman film had been made -- even though we love the films that have been made," said Snyder. "We had to say this is a Superman movie for the first time and you can't then go 'Oh, now let's steal a little music.' So, yes it's awesome music but Hans Zimmer is going to do something awesome."

In regards to Man of Steel as a whole, the director added, "Superman is a big responsibility but I felt he needed to be reintroduced to a generation and I thought this was a great opportunity. We have great respect for the canon. I would say it is a clashing of stories and ideas. Superman is the king-daddy of all superheroes -- to make him work is a big deal."

Of course, the biggest challenge with any Superman film is making the title character connect on an emotional level with the audience. "'What would you do if you were Superman?' That's what we went out to do as far as we could. Superman's always been this kind of big blue boy-scout up on a throne that nobody can really touch, so we tried to make him relatable."

As for the ever growing rumors surrounding the Justice League of America movie, the director noted, "We know Superman is the jewel in the DC crown. We want to get his house in order. And then? Who knows what's possible?"

Man of Steel is scheduled to hit theaters on June 14, 2013.

Max Nicholson is a writer for IGN, and he desperately seeks your approval. Show him some love on Twitter and IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Kotobukiya Explores the DC Universe

Though DC Comics still has its DC Collectibles branch, we're seeing a number of other collectibles companies increase their focus on characters like Batman and Superman. Kotobukiya is one such company to increase their DC output in recent months, particularly through their Bishoujo line of PVC statues. The company provided us with new pics and details about some of their upcoming DC products.

Justice League ArtFX Statues

Koto first introduced the ArtFX+ format as part of their Star Wars line, and the heroes of the Justice league are the next to make the jump. Compared to the regular ArtFX format, ArtFX+ statues are smaller (1:10 scale or about 7.5 inches tall) and more affordably priced. Koto will focus on the New 52 Justice League first, with statues based on Jim Lee's artwork and character designs.

Superman and Green lantern will be the first two characters out of the gate. Both statues were sculpted by artist Atelier Bamboo. Both will cost $39.99 and are expected to hit stores in January 2013. Koto also had an unpainted Wonder Woman prototype on display at SDCC, so we expect to at least see the core seven League members included in this line.

Huntress Bishoujo Statue

The Bishoujo line continues to be one of Koto's more popular series, expanding to include everything from Tekken to Mass Effect to Star Wars. The next DC-themed Bishoujo statue after Harley Quinn (which we previewed here) will be Huntress. Like the other DC Bishoujos, Huntress is based on her classic appearance rather than the New 52 look. This statue was sculpted by Masahiro Takashi and measures about 9.5 inches tall. She'll retail for $64.99 and is expected to ship in December 2012.

Justice League X Korejanai Mini Figures

Koto's newest DC line is a bit more unusual. The Justice league X Korejanai figures are inspired by the "Korejanai Robot" illustration style. These heavily stylized figurines have limited articulation but can actually transform into cars by adjusting the limbs.

Each figure is about 2.5 inches tall and will retail for $5.99. The first series includes both regular and metallic variants of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Flash. Series 1 is expected to hit stores in November 2012.

Jesse is a writer for IGN Comics and various other IGN channels. Follow Jesse on Twitter, or find him on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com