boyajian@akov68.DEC (Jerry Boyajian) (10/08/84)
I'm behind in my news, so some of this may already be old hat, but anyways... from THE COMIC READER #219, SEPTEMBER 1984: (Bad News Department) The proposed one-shot ALPHA FLIGHT/X-MEN book, though it *is* being written by Chris Claremont and drawn by John Byrne, is being plotted by Denny O'Neill, Ann Nocenti, and Mr. Modesty-is-the- greatest-of-my-2000-virtues himself, Jim Shooter. (Good News Department) Nicola Cuti, who with Joe Staton, created E-MAN over 10 years ago for Charlton, was to have done a one-shot script for First's E-MAN #24. This is no longer true. As of #24, he will become the permanent scripter of the book. For those who remember the glory days of Charlton's E-Man, this is terrific news indeed. from THE COMICS JOURNAL #92: One of the many projects that George Perez has got up his sleeve is a six-issue WONDER WOMAN mini-series. Frank Miller has got *two* projects in the works, one for Marvel, one for DC. The former is an Elecktra graphic novel. The latter is a three- issue mini-series featuring Batman, most likely done in the same format as RONIN. It will be about Batman's "last case", so that Miller won't be restricted by present continuity. Continuity Comics (ECHOES OF FUTUREPAST) will be publishing further issues of Neal Adams' MS. MYSTIC [Yup. And if you believe that they'll ever get one out, I've got an oilwell in the Everglades to sell you...] from THE COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE #566, 21 September 1984: Contractual disagreements between Joshua Quagmire and Deni Sim has resulted in Aardvark-Vanaheim *not* publishing CUTEY BUNNY as planned. Quagmire will continue to publish on his own. The long-awaited BATMAN movie may actually happen! Apparently, Warner Brothers wants a biggie for next summer, and they think BATMAN may be what they want. the budget is tentatively set for $20 million. What makes this look promising is that the screenplay (which has already been finished and accepted is by Tom Mankiewicz, who had done, or had a hand in, many of the earlier, better James Bond films. The director is said to be Joe Dante. [This could prove interesting] from THE COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE #567, 28 September 1984: A new line of comics is starting up, and it looks like a doozy! Deluxe Comics will start off with one title and slowly build up. That first title will be WALLY WOOD'S T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS. OK, I know that the recent attempts at reviving the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents has been half- hearted and limp, at best, but look at the line-up scheduled for this one: "T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents" by Steve Englehart and Dave Cockrum! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^ "The Raven" by Dann Thomas and George Perez!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^ "Lightning" by Tom & Mary Biernbaum and Keith Giffen!!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^ A possible second title (if the first does well) may include: "NoMan" by Steve Perry and Steve Ditko. "Menthor" by Perry, Pat Broderick, and Jerry Ordway. "The Iron Maiden" by Roger McKenzie & Stan Drake. (yes, *that* Stan Drake) from AMAZING HEROES #57, 15 October 1984: The new, Marvel-published, edition of THE MARVEL COMICS INDEX, will premiere in December. Barry Windsor-Smith is doing the covers for DAREDEVIL #217, KULL THE CONQUEROR #9, and MARVEL TEAM-UP #150. Joe Staton returns as penciller of GREEN LANTERN, beginning with #189. Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons are working on next year's SUPERMAN ANNUAL, as well as a mysterious "secret project". Elliot Maggin and Judith Hunt are doing a two-part "Mark Thrust" story for AMERICAN FLAGG!. There are some legal battles going on between Deluxe Comics and John Carbonaro over the rights for the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents. Deluxe Comics (D.C.?) maintain that Tower Comics (the original publishers) neglected to copyright their material, and so the characters fall into public domain. --- jayembee (Jerry Boyajian, DEC, Maynard, MA) UUCP: {decvax|ihnp4|allegra|ucbvax|...}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-akov68!boyajian ARPA: boyajian%akov68.DEC@DECWRL.ARPA