Christopher Nolan: I don't think of it as a comic book movie...

In light of the recent news that Christopher Nolan, director of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, will be involved in the Warner Bros.' reboot of the Superman film franchise, MTV dug up on old interview they conducted with the acclaimed director.

Highlights:

“I think of it as a film that just exists in the cinematic realm," said Nolan, "I don't think of it as a comic book movie or just a comic book movie — and that's something that in the whole process — where from the screenwriting point of view or the production point of view and with all departments and everything we would never let people off the hook with the notion 'it's a comic book movie.'"



"We just tried to make a movie that stands as a movie," he added. "The fact that it happens to be based on a long history of this comic book character I think is irrelevant — I think it's on us to make a great movie and not rely on the fact that it's a comic book movie or excuse certain things because it's a comic book movie. We didn't want to do either; we just wanted to make as great of a movie that we possibly could.”

I completely agree.  Comic book movies should be movies first and filmmakers need not enslave themselves to the source material.  But they should expect big hate if the final product is awful (Catwoman).

First Issue of The Last Days of American Crime Gets a Second Printing

Press release from Radical Publishing:

THE LAST DAYS OF AMERICAN CRIME #1 SECOND PRINTING TO HIT SHELVES ALONGSIDE #2


Retailers and fans who missed The Last Days of American Crime #1 the first time around now have a second chance to pick up the newest critically acclaimed title from Rick Remender (Punisher, Fear Agent). Radical Publishing is pleased and proud to announce that the second printing of Remender’s newest sold-out crime masterpiece, featuring series artist Greg Tocchini (Marvel 1602: New World), will be hitting shelves again alongside the highly anticipated second issue.

The Last Days of American Crime takes place in the not-too-distant future, where the U.S. government plans in secret to broadcast a signal making it impossible for anyone to knowingly commit unlawful acts as a final response to terrorism and crime. To keep this from the public, the government creates a distraction, installing a new currency system using digital charge cards. Graham Bricke, a career criminal never quite able to hit the big score, intends to steal one of the charging stations, skip the country and live off unlimited funds for the rest of his life. But the media has leaked news of the anti-crime signal one week before it was to go live... and now Graham and his team have just a few days to turn the heist of the century into the last crime in American history.

Critics and fans have raved over The Last Days of American Crime #1:

"From cover art to opening pages, Last Days hits readers with an unflinching dose of pulp noir seediness and doesn't let up." – John Geddes, USAToday.com

“…because there are no new stories, writers must perform a magic act in order to make the reader believe he is reading something new. Well, someone get Rick Remender a top hat and a wand because he accomplishes it in the down and dirty Last Days of American Crime. By infusing a classic noir heist with the tension of modern American politics, Remender gives us a great opening to a comic series – perhaps even on the level of Criminal or 100 Bullets.” – Andy Bentley, IGN Comics

“The Last Days of American Crime” #1 is a good first issue that sets up the world and the crime at hand well. If you enjoy “Criminal” and other crimes books, you’ll probably get a kick out of this.” – Chad Nevitt, Comic Book Resources

“Remender paces this first act with just enough information, bravado, and grizzled noir to keep a hungry reader satisfied.” – Noel Bartocci, Broken Frontier

“This is crime fiction at its best. Remender totally immerses you in their world, and it's a hell of a ride.” – Sebastian Piccione, Project Fanboy

Don’t miss your chance to join the heist of the century! Check out The Last Days of American Crime #1 second printing (Diamond Code: DEC098036) alongside The Last Days of American Crime #2 with covers by Alex Maleev (Diamond Code: DEC090978) and Greg Tocchini (Diamond Code: DEC090979). To find a comic store near you go to www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comic-book. [END]

I Reads You Review: GREEK STREET #1

DC COMICS/VERTIGO
WRITER: Peter Milligan
ARTIST: Davide Gianfelice
COLORS: Patricia Mulvihill
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Kako
40pp, Color, $1.00

Book One: Blood Calls for Blood, Part One “The Monster of Greek Street”

Debuting last summer, Greek Street is a contemporary fantasy series from DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint. Created by writer Peter Milligan and artist Davide Gianfelice, Greek Street re-imagines the ancient Greek Tragedies, setting them on the streets of modern London, on the real Greek Street, in particular.

In the first issue, the hero, Eddie (Oedipus), who grew up in a series of children’s homes, goes looking for his real mother, which has dire consequences. By the end of the first issue, Eddie has drawn the attention of a crime syndicate, The House of Furey (the furies). Meanwhile, a London homicide named Daedalus begins a murder investigation.

This early in the series there is not much to say about the story other than that in terms of quality, it reads quite well. What is ready to have judgment passed upon it is the art by Davide Gianfelice. It’s excellent. Gianfelice has a wonderful pencil line and brush stroke that is nearly perfect for cartooning the human figure. Gianfelice captures both the sultry and clammy natures of strippers and sex with equal aplomb. He even makes violence and the threat of it sexy. With Patricia Mulvihill’s lustrous colors over Gianfelice art, Greek Street has its catchy visual hook.

Fear of a Dark Superman

Over at the Guardian (UK), the "Film Blog" does some fretting over the Christopher Nolan-led relaunch of the Superman film franchise.

The Unknown Captain America

The New York Post is reporting that director Joe Johnston (The Wolfman) wants an unknown to play the title role in "The First Avenger: Captain America," the Captain America movie currently due in July 2011.

June Manga Teaches "How to Seduce a Vampire"

Press release from Digital Manga Publishing:

How to Seduce a Vampire (Yaoi)

ISBN: 1569701377
ISBN13: 9781569701379
Publisher: Digital Manga Publishing
Imprint Name: Juné
Price USD: $12.95
Writer: Nimosaku Shimada
Artist: Nimosaku Shimada
Release Date: January 27, 2010
Page Count : 200
Recommended Age: Young Adult 16+
Genre: Yaoi, Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural

Summary:
Watanabe gathered up Mizuo's battered and bloodstained body, was forced to cooperate with the ensuing blood transfusion, and for his trouble was late for his part-time job, resulting in his termination. The mysterious Mizuo tells the now-unemployed Watanabe that he is a vampire, and offers Watanabe a position at his salon. Despite his feeling that Mizuo is a potentially dangerous partner, for some reason Watanabe cannot bear to be away from him... [END]

20th Century Boys 7 Reveals "The Truth"

I read Naoki Urasawa's 20th Century Boys, Vol. 7

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.