[scifinoir2] Comics industry battles grim economic reality
www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon-comics-sales-0126- jan26,0,466942.story chicagotribune.com Comics industry battles grim economic reality By Tiffany Hsu Tribune Newspapers January 26, 2009 Marvel Entertainment Inc. this month released a special edition of Spider-Man, in which the superhero notices two identical Barack Obamas at the presidential inauguration, uses basketball to weed out the phony and is thanked with a fist-bump from the new president. But it may take more than Obama and his illustrated posse to revive business, as the comic book industry nervously trains its spider sense on January, a notoriously feeble sales month. Combine a typically slow month with a bad economy, online piracy, rising costs and changing consumer tastes, it's no wonder the nation's comic book publishers and neighborhood shops are fighting to survive. Comic book sales were down for most of 2008, even at behemoth publisher Marvel. And many small comic stores are closing. Because comics are an escape, they're a little more protected from the economy, said Jonah Weiland, executive producer of the Web site ComicBookResources.com. But I wouldn't say they're recession-proof. Everyone is preparing for a slump. Although some dismissed digital comics as too new to be a threat, others said the applications are siphoning away fans. Programs such as iVerse and UClick or scanner Web sites such as Wowio increasingly are making comic books readable on laptops and iPhones, often at a discount. To compete with electronic comics and illegal uploading, publishers have gone online. Marvel and DC Comics have launched Web-comics divisions, while Dark Horse Comics teamed with MySpace to showcase online comics. There are no statistics for comic books sold to customers, but the number sold to merchants is dropping. For February through November, the number of top comic books sold to shops was lower than the same period in 2007, according to online research group Comics Chronicles. Sales figures in broader comics categories, including magazines and trade paperbacks, increased in the January-through-November period, although by just 0.5 percent compared with the previous year, said John Jackson Miller, a Comics Chronicles researcher. At Marvel, sales and earnings were below year-earlier levels in each quarter of 2008, dragged down by higher artist and writer expenses and the rising cost of paper. In November, Marvel Chairman Morton Handel cited the beleaguered economy when he predicted lackluster performance this year. Some publishers are trimming their release schedules. Oregon-based Dark Horse Comics is hunkering down as a precaution, scaling back its budget, hiring, travel, and trade-show plans, publisher Mike Richardson said. We've pulled the string tight all around, he said. Elsewhere, there were layoffs at Devil's Due Publishing and the failure last summer of Virgin Comics, the 2006 international joint venture between Richard Branson's Virgin Group and India-based comics publisher Gotham Entertainment. Young American Comics, battered by high printing and shipping costs, announced this month that it was closing. Booming gas and airfare expenses kept owners Tod and Corey Marie Parkhill from attending conventions to woo buyers, they said. Small businesses have been especially at risk, and YAC was no exception, they wrote in a letter to fans. We would much rather you spend your money on food and rent than comics, though, so no hurt feelings. At the same time, comics are getting more expensive. Marvel has been testing $3.99 issues, up from $2.99, managers said, and, at those prices, they fear losing casual customers to video games or movie rentals. Fans are skipping special editions for more economical soft covers at Meltdown Comics Collectibles in Los Angeles, manager Chris Rosa said. One weak story line can spark a sales slide for an entire series. Meltdown and other stores are ordering less inventory to avoid being stranded with books they can't sell. A comic book now costs more than a gallon of gas, said David Ryan, 43, a graphic novelist from Los Angeles. There are a lot less fanatic buyers now. But Hollywood might be able to inject some magic back into the market, several retailers said. Last year, hit films such as The Dark Knight helped attract casual readers. When the trailer for the movie adaptation of Watchmen debuted in July, DC Comics had to print 900,000 additional copies of the graphic novel. Store managers hope the boost continues with coming movies such as Wolverine. Los Angeles Times Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune
Re: [scifinoir2] Comics industry battles grim economic reality
One thing that's probably not helping is all the mega events, new runs, and crossovers in recent years. Think of it. In just the last two years, DC gave us Identity Crisis, Infinite Crisis, Omac, 52, Trinity (Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman), and Final Crisis. Marvel during this time came up with Civil War, Secret Invasion, the return of Thor, Annihilation, House of M, and others. Many of these were great runs. I especially liked Civil War, Secret Invasion, and House of M. And titles like Annihilation took older, unused characters and made them relevant (I mean, Nova, finally cool) But it's hard for people in these tough economic teams to commit to buying so many comics. Civil War and Secret Invasion, for example, ran across all the major titles. To really feel up to date, people had to buy everything from Black Panther to Hercules. That's a lot of dough. Even in good times, many fans complain about the events and crossovers that require them to buy so many books. I like them, but I get the complaint. The irony, of course, is that Marvel and DC create these huge events for the express purpose of getting more readers interested. But I wonder, does it work, or does it actually scare away or turn off more people who feel they don't have the time and/or money to commit? And all that being sad, there is the really sad truth that fewer young people are reading books and mags nowadays, opting inside to scan the Net, play video games, or watch too much TV. -- Original message -- From: ravenadal ravena...@yahoo.com www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon-comics-sales-0126- jan26,0,466942.story chicagotribune.com Comics industry battles grim economic reality By Tiffany Hsu Tribune Newspapers January 26, 2009 Marvel Entertainment Inc. this month released a special edition of Spider-Man, in which the superhero notices two identical Barack Obamas at the presidential inauguration, uses basketball to weed out the phony and is thanked with a fist-bump from the new president. But it may take more than Obama and his illustrated posse to revive business, as the comic book industry nervously trains its spider sense on January, a notoriously feeble sales month. Combine a typically slow month with a bad economy, online piracy, rising costs and changing consumer tastes, it's no wonder the nation's comic book publishers and neighborhood shops are fighting to survive. Comic book sales were down for most of 2008, even at behemoth publisher Marvel. And many small comic stores are closing. Because comics are an escape, they're a little more protected from the economy, said Jonah Weiland, executive producer of the Web site ComicBookResources.com. But I wouldn't say they're recession-proof. Everyone is preparing for a slump. Although some dismissed digital comics as too new to be a threat, others said the applications are siphoning away fans. Programs such as iVerse and UClick or scanner Web sites such as Wowio increasingly are making comic books readable on laptops and iPhones, often at a discount. To compete with electronic comics and illegal uploading, publishers have gone online. Marvel and DC Comics have launched Web-comics divisions, while Dark Horse Comics teamed with MySpace to showcase online comics. There are no statistics for comic books sold to customers, but the number sold to merchants is dropping. For February through November, the number of top comic books sold to shops was lower than the same period in 2007, according to online research group Comics Chronicles. Sales figures in broader comics categories, including magazines and trade paperbacks, increased in the January-through-November period, although by just 0.5 percent compared with the previous year, said John Jackson Miller, a Comics Chronicles researcher. At Marvel, sales and earnings were below year-earlier levels in each quarter of 2008, dragged down by higher artist and writer expenses and the rising cost of paper. In November, Marvel Chairman Morton Handel cited the beleaguered economy when he predicted lackluster performance this year. Some publishers are trimming their release schedules. Oregon-based Dark Horse Comics is hunkering down as a precaution, scaling back its budget, hiring, travel, and trade-show plans, publisher Mike Richardson said. We've pulled the string tight all around, he said. Elsewhere, there were layoffs at Devil's Due Publishing and the failure last summer of Virgin Comics, the 2006 international joint venture between Richard Branson's Virgin Group and India-based comics publisher Gotham Entertainment. Young American Comics, battered by high printing and shipping costs, announced this month that it was closing. Booming gas and airfare expenses kept owners Tod and Corey Marie Parkhill from attending conventions to woo buyers, they said.
[scifinoir2] OT: Drug-detecting Police Dog Dies of Nose Cancer
Talk about irony! The picture of Max with the contraption to let him walk is wild... ** http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/01/27/2009-01-27_drugdetecting_police_dog_dies_of_nose_ca.html Drug-detecting police dog dies of nose cancer from sniffing out cocaine BY LAUREN JOHNSTON DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER Tuesday, January 27th 2009, 1:38 PM Court/AP Police drug sniffer dog Max, English Springer spaniel , has died of nose cancer. He knew the perils of police work, but kept on sniffing until the end. Max, a drug-detecting dog in England, has died of a rare form of nose cancer which likely developed during his years sniffing out cocaine in the line of duty, his owner said. It is ironic the wonderful organ that made him successful in his work has been his demise, owner Police Inspector Anne Higgins told the British newspaper the Telegraph. He was a fighter until the end and always very dignified, she said. The nine-year-old Springer spaniel was put down last week after an aggressive tumor developed in his nose, Higgins said. Max had retired for work as a dug-sniffer last year after arthritis in his back legs limited his mobility. He was fitted with a wheeled contraption so he could continue to move on his own. Maxs veterinarian Kate Fairclaugh said death from nasal cancer is rare in dogs and that his police work likely contributed to the illness. Sniffing drugs may well have been a factor. I certainly cannot rule it out, she said. Higgins said it was difficult to let Max go, but she will focus on his legacy of good deeds. He has had a good life and a successful one as a police dog. Just think of all the bad people he managed to put away, she said.
Re: [scifinoir2] Amazing Panaromic and Zoomable Shot of Inauguration Speech
My wife asked if Thomas was simply huddled down against the cold. Heck no! I replied, that's some church sleeping! Buddy is taking a nap just like brothers do it in the church sometime. I bet if you kept watching, he probably woke up confused and shouted Amen! before looking around to see what was going on! -- Original message -- From: Justin Mohareb justinmoha...@gmail.com That's incredible. I'm willing to cut the elder Bushes some slack. The cold is harder on the elderly. And somebody wake up Thomas! Justin On Tue, Jan 27, 2009 at 11:59 PM, keithbjohn...@comcast.net wrote: http://gigapan.org/viewGigapanFullscreen.php?auth=033ef14483ee899496648c2b4b0623 3c This is freakin' amazing! There are so many cool things to see here: Bill Clinton, a stone faced expression, obviously *still* upset that Hillary didn't win. George Bush senior, doing his best Fargo impersonation with that crazy hat! Ruth Bader Gingsburg, all but swallowed up in her coat and cloak. I started to ask why she didn't nudge Thomas, but I see why--she was too cold to move! Chief Justice Roberts, still thinking, I can't believe I screwed that up. I wonder if anybody noticed? Who are the two dudes sitting diagonally to the right behind Chief Justice Roberts, sporting shades like the Blues Brothers? Cheney, glowering, obviously thinking What I wouldn't give for some buckshot right now! Both Bush girls, obviously joining Thomas in slumberland--or did Obama give a prayer I missed? A few people--reporters?--in the audience, typing on laptops barehanded in that weather! I found the celebrities mentioned by the sender below, though frankly, all the other folks in that audience--cowboys, red-faced thousands, even a a Saudi (?)--were far more interesting! How was this done, i wonder? Is it one camera, a bunch of cameras? Is this picture composed from several composite photos put together, the way NASA space probes take pictures? -- Original message -- From: Mr. Everything everything...@nyc.rr.com This is by far one of the creepiest and coolest things I've seen from the Inauguration. http://gigapan.org/viewGigapanFullscreen.php?auth=033ef14483ee899496648c2b4b0623 3c Your assignment is to find: Denzel Washington Puffy Jay-Z Beyonce Clarence Thomas taking a nap. (Long sigh). -- Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy. http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com ---BeginMessage--- That's incredible. I'm willing to cut the elder Bushes some slack. The cold is harder on the elderly. And somebody wake up Thomas! Justin On Tue, Jan 27, 2009 at 11:59 PM, KeithBJohnson@comcast.net wrote: http://gigapan.org/viewGigapanFullscreen.php?auth=033ef14483ee899496648c2b4b06233c This is freakin' amazing! There are so many cool things to see here: Bill Clinton, a stone faced _expression_, obviously *still* upset that Hillary didn't win. George Bush senior, doing his best Fargo impersonation with that crazy hat! Ruth Bader Gingsburg, all but swallowed up in her coat and cloak. I started to ask why she didn't nudge Thomas, but I see why--she was too cold to move! Chief Justice Roberts, still thinking, I can't believe I screwed that up. I wonder if anybody noticed? Who are the two dudes sitting diagonally to the right behind Chief Justice Roberts, sporting shades like the Blues Brothers? Cheney, glowering, obviously thinking What I wouldn't give for some buckshot right now! Both Bush girls, obviously joining Thomas in slumberland--or did Obama give a prayer I missed? A few people--reporters?--in the audience, typing on laptops barehanded in that weather! I found the celebrities mentioned by the sender below, though frankly, all the other folks in that audience--cowboys, red-faced thousands, even a a Saudi (?)--were far more interesting! How was this done, i wonder? Is it one camera, a bunch of cameras? Is this picture composed from several composite photos put together, the way NASA space probes take pictures? -- Original message -- From: Mr. Everything everythingist@nyc.rr.com This is by far one of the creepiest and coolest things I've seen from the Inauguration. http://gigapan.org/viewGigapanFullscreen.php?auth=033ef14483ee899496648c2b4b0623 3c Your assignment is to find: Denzel Washington Puffy Jay-Z Beyonce Clarence Thomas taking a nap. (Long sigh). -- Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy. http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com ---End Message---
[scifinoir2] Stand By Me - check this out
http://www.vimeo.com/2539741
[scifinoir2] Mexican Words of the Day
Mexican words of the day 1. *Cheese* The teacher told Pepito to use the word cheese in a sentence. Pepito replies: Maria likes me, but cheese fat. 2. *Mushroom* When all my family get in the car, there's not mushroom. 3. *Shoulder* My fren wanted 2 become a citizen but she didn't know how to read so I shoulder. 4. * Texas * My fren always Texas me when I'm not home wondering where I'm at! 5. *Herpes* Me and my fren ordered pizza. I got mine piece and she got herpes. 6. *July* Ju told me ju were going to tha store and July to me! Julyer! 7. *Rectum* I had 2 cars but my wife rectum! 8. *Chicken* I was going to go to the store with my wife but chicken go herself. 9. * Wheelchair * We only have one enchilada left, but don't worry wheelchair 10. *Chicken* *wing* My wife plays the lottery so chicken wing . 11. *Harassment* My wife caught me in bed with another women and I told her honey harassment nothing to me. 12. *Bishop* My wife fell down the stair so I had to pick the bishop. 13. * Body wash * I want to go to the club but no body wash my kids. 14. *Budweiser* That women over there has a nice body, budweiser face so ugly?
[scifinoir2] It's snowing on Mars......article from Guardian.co.uk
ahar...@earthlink.net It's snowing on Mars..article from Guardian.co.uk Wonderful stuff! Fascinating article about Mars. It is snowing in the upper atmosphere of Mars. http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/jan/27/mars-snow-space-technology-nasa I have been fascinated about Mars since reading the Edgar Rice Burroughs John Carter of Mars books as a young teenager and of course Ray Bradbury's Martian Chronicles and many other books and stories about the mysterious Red Planet.
[scifinoir2] Tomb Raider Franchise to Get Reboot--Without Jolie?
Sad thing is, I didn't think the Tomb Raider movies were that bad. Forgettable, perhaps, but not junk like what's served up on SciFi. Indeed, there were the basics of good movies here: Jolie's presence (she can play borderline psycho/aggressive like nobody), decent directing, and guest stars a cut above the norm in scifi/adventure movies (Daniel Craig, Jon Voight, Gerard Butler, Djimon Honsou). Indeed, as I've seen a billion times, the second flick made me think Jolie had the chops to start a real spy movie franchise. I always wanted the writers to tweak the stories and make it something more solid. I haven't seen anything to make me think Meagan Fox can act as well as Jolie even in a throwaway action flick, and the directional change worries me. I fear we'll end up with something even more forgettable: complete American-style over-the-top action and violence with crazy camera angles, devoid of anything remotely interesting. In short, something on the level of Resident Evil or the increasingly stupid Transporter movies. Oh well, such is life. I'm more anxious to see Vin Diesel tweak the Chronicles of Riddick thing and bring a sequel movie our way... [ AP ] Angelina Jolie's loss may just be Megan Fox's gain. Warner Bros. has confirmed plans to relaunchand completely overhaulthe hot pants-wearing, artifact-collecting Lara Croft: Tomb Raider franchise, with the first major casualty being Jolie. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the third film will completely reboot the video game-based character, including changing her origin story (most likely shying away from her English aristocracy roots) and introduce new kinds of missions, love interests and villains. And, most notably, a new leading lady. While producers say an actress likely won't be cast until a writer and director have signed on, Fox has emerged as the frontrunner replacement, at least as far as the blogosphere is concerned. While Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and its inconsistently punctuated sequel Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life were produced by Paramount, the rights to the series have since reverted back to video game purveyor Eidos. In December, Time Warner increased its stake in the multimedia company, ensuring in-house studio Warner Bros. first dibs to what has been a lucrative, abeit critically panned, franchise. The first installment, released in 2001, grossed $275 million worldwide, while the 2003 sequel earned $157 million. All told, the video game series, which launched in 1996, has accounted for more than $1 billion. Post your SciFiNoir Profile at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add?fmvn=mapYahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:scifinoir2-dig...@yahoogroups.com mailto:scifinoir2-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: scifinoir2-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [scifinoir2] Tomb Raider Franchise to Get Reboot--Without Jolie?
Megan Fox's management has said she's not involved in this movie at all -- yet. File this under Wonder Woman. The studios are trying to figure out who the hottest actress in Hollywood is. Instead of just asking the bloggers ( they know everybody) they're going through this and reading the results. On Jan 28, 2009, at 2:50 PM, keithbjohn...@comcast.net wrote: Sad thing is, I didn't think the Tomb Raider movies were that bad. Forgettable, perhaps, but not junk like what's served up on SciFi. Indeed, there were the basics of good movies here: Jolie's presence (she can play borderline psycho/aggressive like nobody), decent directing, and guest stars a cut above the norm in scifi/adventure movies (Daniel Craig, Jon Voight, Gerard Butler, Djimon Honsou). Indeed, as I've seen a billion times, the second flick made me think Jolie had the chops to start a real spy movie franchise. I always wanted the writers to tweak the stories and make it something more solid. I haven't seen anything to make me think Meagan Fox can act as well as Jolie even in a throwaway action flick, and the directional change worries me. I fear we'll end up with something even more forgettable: complete American-style over-the-top action and violence with crazy camera angles, devoid of anything remotely interesting. In short, something on the level of Resident Evil or the increasingly stupid Transporter movies. Oh well, such is life. I'm more anxious to see Vin Diesel tweak the Chronicles of Riddick thing and bring a sequel movie our way... [ AP ] Angelina Jolie's loss may just be Megan Fox's gain. Warner Bros. has confirmed plans to relaunchand completely overhaulthe hot pants-wearing, artifact-collecting Lara Croft: Tomb Raider franchise, with the first major casualty being Jolie. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the third film will completely reboot the video game-based character, including changing her origin story (most likely shying away from her English aristocracy roots) and introduce new kinds of missions, love interests and villains. And, most notably, a new leading lady. While producers say an actress likely won't be cast until a writer and director have signed on, Fox has emerged as the frontrunner replacement, at least as far as the blogosphere is concerned. While Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and its inconsistently punctuated sequel Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life were produced by Paramount, the rights to the series have since reverted back to video game purveyor Eidos. In December, Time Warner increased its stake in the multimedia company, ensuring in-house studio Warner Bros. first dibs to what has been a lucrative, abeit critically panned, franchise. The first installment, released in 2001, grossed $275 million worldwide, while the 2003 sequel earned $157 million. All told, the video game series, which launched in 1996, has accounted for more than $1 billion. Post your SciFiNoir Profile at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add? fmvn=mapYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [scifinoir2] Tomb Raider Franchise to Get Reboot--Without Jolie?
Dibs on the wall! -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : Re: [scifinoir2] Tomb Raider Franchise to Get Reboot--Without Jolie? Date : Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:03:15 -0500 From : Daryle Lockhart dar...@darylelockhart.com To : scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Megan Fox's management has said she's not involved in this movie at all -- yet. File this under Wonder Woman. The studios are trying to figure out who the hottest actress in Hollywood is. Instead of just asking the bloggers ( they know everybody) they're going through this and reading the results. On Jan 28, 2009, at 2:50 PM, keithbjohn...@comcast.net wrote: Sad thing is, I didn't think the Tomb Raider movies were that bad. Forgettable, perhaps, but not junk like what's served up on SciFi. Indeed, there were the basics of good movies here: Jolie's presence (she can play borderline psycho/aggressive like nobody), decent directing, and guest stars a cut above the norm in scifi/adventure movies (Daniel Craig, Jon Voight, Gerard Butler, Djimon Honsou). Indeed, as I've seen a billion times, the second flick made me think Jolie had the chops to start a real spy movie franchise. I always wanted the writers to tweak the stories and make it something more solid. I haven't seen anything to make me think Meagan Fox can act as well as Jolie even in a throwaway action flick, and the directional change worries me. I fear we'll end up with something even more forgettable: complete American-style over-the-top action and violence with crazy camera angles, devoid of anything remotely interesting. In short, something on the level of Resident Evil or the increasingly stupid Transporter movies. Oh well, such is life. I'm more anxious to see Vin Diesel tweak the Chronicles of Riddick thing and bring a sequel movie our way... [ AP ] Angelina Jolie's loss may just be Megan Fox's gain. Warner Bros. has confirmed plans to relaunchand completely overhaulthe hot pants-wearing, artifact-collecting Lara Croft: Tomb Raider franchise, with the first major casualty being Jolie. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the third film will completely reboot the video game-based character, including changing her origin story (most likely shying away from her English aristocracy roots) and introduce new kinds of missions, love interests and villains. And, most notably, a new leading lady. While producers say an actress likely won't be cast until a writer and director have signed on, Fox has emerged as the frontrunner replacement, at least as far as the blogosphere is concerned. While Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and its inconsistently punctuated sequel Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life were produced by Paramount, the rights to the series have since reverted back to video game purveyor Eidos. In December, Time Warner increased its stake in the multimedia company, ensuring in-house studio Warner Bros. first dibs to what has been a lucrative, abeit critically panned, franchise. The first installment, released in 2001, grossed $275 million worldwide, while the 2003 sequel earned $157 million. All told, the video game series, which launched in 1996, has accounted for more than $1 billion. Post your SciFiNoir Profile at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add? fmvn=mapYahoo! Groups Links http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds
[RE][scifinoir2] OT: Drug-detecting Police Dog Dies of Nose Cancer
A moment of silence for a great puppy, please... -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : [scifinoir2] OT: Drug-detecting Police Dog Dies of Nose Cancer Date : Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:56:19 + From : keithbjohn...@comcast.net To : scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Talk about irony! The picture of Max with the contraption to let him walk is wild... ** http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/01/27/2009-01-27_drugdetecting_police_dog_dies_of_nose_ca.html Drug-detecting police dog dies of nose cancer from sniffing out cocaine BY LAUREN JOHNSTON DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER Tuesday, January 27th 2009, 1:38 PM Court/AP Police drug sniffer dog Max, English Springer spaniel , has died of nose cancer. He knew the perils of police work, but kept on sniffing until the end. Max, a drug-detecting dog in England, has died of a rare form of nose cancer which likely developed during his years sniffing out cocaine in the line of duty, his owner said. It is ironic the wonderful organ that made him successful in his work has been his demise,� owner Police Inspector Anne Higgins told the British newspaper the Telegraph. He was a fighter until the end and always very dignified,� she said. The nine-year-old Springer spaniel was put down last week after an aggressive tumor developed in his nose, Higgins said. Max had retired for work as a dug-sniffer last year after arthritis in his back legs limited his mobility. He was fitted with a wheeled contraption so he could continue to move on his own. Max�s veterinarian Kate Fairclaugh said death from nasal cancer is rare in dogs and that his police work likely contributed to the illness. Sniffing drugs may well have been a factor. I certainly cannot rule it out,� she said. Higgins said it was difficult to let Max go, but she will focus on his legacy of good deeds. He has had a good life and a successful one as a police dog. Just think of all the bad people he managed to put away, she said. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds
Re: [scifinoir2] Comics industry battles grim economic reality
Exactly, Keith. I just got back from Oxford, and saw an entire shelf dedicated solely to the newest Final Crisis books, three bucks a pop. Never been so happy to have the mental discipline to buy only what I walk in the door to buy, and not to be moved by what's hot. BTB, also saw one copy of a book sure to raise a few eyebrows here. This is absolutely real, and I would've picked it up, had I not pointed it out to a Black gentleman next to me in derision. He bought it. Return of the Super Pimps... -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : Re: [scifinoir2] Comics industry battles grim economic reality Date : Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:52:00 + From : keithbjohn...@comcast.net To : scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com One thing that's probably not helping is all the mega events, new runs, and crossovers in recent years. Think of it. In just the last two years, DC gave us Identity Crisis, Infinite Crisis, Omac, 52, Trinity (Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman), and Final Crisis. Marvel during this time came up with Civil War, Secret Invasion, the return of Thor, Annihilation, House of M, and others. Many of these were great runs. I especially liked Civil War, Secret Invasion, and House of M. And titles like Annihilation took older, unused characters and made them relevant (I mean, Nova, finally cool) But it's hard for people in these tough economic teams to commit to buying so many comics. Civil War and Secret Invasion, for example, ran across all the major titles. To really feel up to date, people had to buy everything from Black Panther to Hercules. That's a lot of dough. Even in good times, many fans complain about the events and crossovers that require them to buy so many books. I like them, but I get the complaint. The irony, of course, is that Marvel and DC create these huge events for the express purpose of getting more readers interested. But I wonder, does it work, or does it actually scare away or turn off more people who feel they don't have the time and/or money to commit? And all that being sad, there is the really sad truth that fewer young people are reading books and mags nowadays, opting inside to scan the Net, play video games, or watch too much TV. -- Original message -- From: ravenadal www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon-comics-sales-0126- jan26,0,466942.story chicagotribune.com Comics industry battles grim economic reality By Tiffany Hsu Tribune Newspapers January 26, 2009 Marvel Entertainment Inc. this month released a special edition of Spider-Man, in which the superhero notices two identical Barack Obamas at the presidential inauguration, uses basketball to weed out the phony and is thanked with a fist-bump from the new president. But it may take more than Obama and his illustrated posse to revive business, as the comic book industry nervously trains its spider sense on January, a notoriously feeble sales month. Combine a typically slow month with a bad economy, online piracy, rising costs and changing consumer tastes, it's no wonder the nation's comic book publishers and neighborhood shops are fighting to survive. Comic book sales were down for most of 2008, even at behemoth publisher Marvel. And many small comic stores are closing. Because comics are an escape, they're a little more protected from the economy, said Jonah Weiland, executive producer of the Web site ComicBookResources.com. But I wouldn't say they're recession-proof. Everyone is preparing for a slump. Although some dismissed digital comics as too new to be a threat, others said the applications are siphoning away fans. Programs such as iVerse and UClick or scanner Web sites such as Wowio increasingly are making comic books readable on laptops and iPhones, often at a discount. To compete with electronic comics and illegal uploading, publishers have gone online. Marvel and DC Comics have launched Web-comics divisions, while Dark Horse Comics teamed with MySpace to showcase online comics. There are no statistics for comic books sold to customers, but the number sold to merchants is dropping. For February through November, the number of top comic books sold to shops was lower than the same period in 2007, according to online research group Comics Chronicles. Sales figures in broader comics categories, including magazines and trade paperbacks, increased in the January-through-November period, although by just 0.5 percent compared with the previous year, said John Jackson Miller, a Comics Chronicles researcher. At Marvel, sales and earnings were below year-earlier levels in each quarter of 2008, dragged down by higher artist and writer expenses and the rising cost of paper. In November, Marvel Chairman Morton Handel cited the beleaguered economy when he predicted lackluster performance this year. Some publishers are trimming their release
Re: [RE][scifinoir2] Underworld The TV Show Is A Possibility
Please do stop, pal... we can't afford to lose genuine talent in these times. -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : Re: [RE][scifinoir2] Underworld The TV Show Is A Possibility Date : Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:57:28 -0800 (PST) From : Wayne badie astromancer2...@yahoo.com To : scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com The thrumming you hear is me banging on the other side...I have visions of Blade: The Series flashijng through my head...They replace the brilliant female lead with someone who has spent a career as a lead bimbo...let me stop before I convulse... --- On Sat, 1/24/09, Martin Baxter wrote: From: Martin Baxter Subject: [RE][scifinoir2] Underworld The TV Show Is A Possibility To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Date: Saturday, January 24, 2009, 6:39 AM Line for the head-banging wall forms behind me... -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : [scifinoir2] Underworld The TV Show Is A Possibility Date : Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:32:24 -0800 From : Tracey de Morsella To : Bloody Disgusting interviewed Les Wiseman on the red carpet about the future of the Underworld TV series. Here's what he had to say: We had always hoped to do a trilogy, now that we completed that trilogy it's kind of open, if people can join us and go back in time - and then leap forward, I'd like to go jump all across the time line. I have yet to see the third one, and truthfully I never finished the second one because I've been burned out on vampire, werewolf and zombie films for a while now. but I've been hearing good things about Rise of the Lycans. Click HERE to read the rest. http://www.latinoreview.com/news/underworld-the-tv-show-is-a-possibility-603 7 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds
Re: [scifinoir2] Dollhouse Preview
By this, Keith, am I to presume that the show *will* actually make it to TV, and not direct-to-DVD as I think? -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : Re: [scifinoir2] Dollhouse Preview Date : Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:18:59 + From : keithbjohn...@comcast.net To : scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com I saw a commercial for it while watching Fringe. It was so quick and so--typical. Had I not already known the plot, i don't think the commercial would have revealed it, or interested me that much. I also didn't get why in the last shot of the commercial, Elisha Dushku is posing lying in what almost looks like a cheesecake shot. What does that have to do with the show? -- Original message -- From: Mike Street Here is a preview of Weldon's Dollhouse. Looks interesting...might give it a try when it airs. Cast is a bit to young looking for my taste though http://www.fox.com/programming/shows/new/dollhouse_video.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds
[scifinoir2] Re: Tomb Raider Franchise to Get Reboot--Without Jolie?
I can see human barbie-doll Megan Fox as Lara Croft. There is something very fetishistic about the whole Lara Croft franchise and Fox brings with her a similar internet based cult of personality. Although Jolie is a good actress (and good actors make good superhero movies), acting has nothing to do with this. More importantly, like Jolie, there is something feral about Fox that is essential for any potential Tomb Raider. ~rave! --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, keithbjohn...@... wrote: Sad thing is, I didn't think the Tomb Raider movies were that bad. Forgettable, perhaps, but not junk like what's served up on SciFi. Indeed, there were the basics of good movies here: Jolie's presence (she can play borderline psycho/aggressive like nobody), decent directing, and guest stars a cut above the norm in scifi/adventure movies (Daniel Craig, Jon Voight, Gerard Butler, Djimon Honsou). Indeed, as I've seen a billion times, the second flick made me think Jolie had the chops to start a real spy movie franchise. I always wanted the writers to tweak the stories and make it something more solid. I haven't seen anything to make me think Meagan Fox can act as well as Jolie even in a throwaway action flick, and the directional change worries me. I fear we'll end up with something even more forgettable: complete American-style over-the-top action and violence with crazy camera angles, devoid of anything remotely interesting. In short, something on the level of Resident Evil or the increasingly stupid Transporter movies. Oh well, such is life. I'm more anxious to see Vin Diesel tweak the Chronicles of Riddick thing and bring a sequel movie our way... [ AP ] Angelina Jolie's loss may just be Megan Fox's gain. Warner Bros. has confirmed plans to relaunchand completely overhaulthe hot pants-wearing, artifact-collecting Lara Croft: Tomb Raider franchise, with the first major casualty being Jolie. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the third film will completely reboot the video game-based character, including changing her origin story (most likely shying away from her English aristocracy roots) and introduce new kinds of missions, love interests and villains. And, most notably, a new leading lady. While producers say an actress likely won't be cast until a writer and director have signed on, Fox has emerged as the frontrunner replacement, at least as far as the blogosphere is concerned. While Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and its inconsistently punctuated sequel Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life were produced by Paramount, the rights to the series have since reverted back to video game purveyor Eidos. In December, Time Warner increased its stake in the multimedia company, ensuring in-house studio Warner Bros. first dibs to what has been a lucrative, abeit critically panned, franchise. The first installment, released in 2001, grossed $275 million worldwide, while the 2003 sequel earned $157 million. All told, the video game series, which launched in 1996, has accounted for more than $1 billion.
Re: [scifinoir2] Tomb Raider Franchise to Get Reboot--Without Jolie?
Agreed. Every time there's a movie role for a young woman nowadays, her name comes up. Now I can't deny she's easy on the eyes, but again, I haven't seen that she's a great actress, even an action type. Jolie, for all her overexposure, is a good actress. As for Wonder Woman, I feel Fox is too slight of build for that role. To play the Amazon queen, they really need a statuesque woman, somehow with a build similar to Gina Torres or Lucy Lawless. Any suggestions you'd have for a new Lara Croft or for Diana Prince? And you know me: the last thing I care about is a name star. A talented newbie is fine for me, even--gasp!--something radical like a real Brit for Croft and a Greek actress for Prince! -- Original message -- From: Daryle Lockhart dar...@darylelockhart.com Megan Fox's management has said she's not involved in this movie at all -- yet. File this under Wonder Woman. The studios are trying to figure out who the hottest actress in Hollywood is. Instead of just asking the bloggers ( they know everybody) they're going through this and reading the results. On Jan 28, 2009, at 2:50 PM, keithbjohn...@comcast.net wrote: Sad thing is, I didn't think the Tomb Raider movies were that bad. Forgettable, perhaps, but not junk like what's served up on SciFi. Indeed, there were the basics of good movies here: Jolie's presence (she can play borderline psycho/aggressive like nobody), decent directing, and guest stars a cut above the norm in scifi/adventure movies (Daniel Craig, Jon Voight, Gerard Butler, Djimon Honsou). Indeed, as I've seen a billion times, the second flick made me think Jolie had the chops to start a real spy movie franchise. I always wanted the writers to tweak the stories and make it something more solid. I haven't seen anything to make me think Meagan Fox can act as well as Jolie even in a throwaway action flick, and the directional change worries me. I fear we'll end up with something even more forgettable: complete American-style over-the-top action and violence with crazy camera angles, devoid of anything remotely interesting. In short, something on the level of Resident Evil or the increasingly stupid Transporter movies. Oh well, such is life. I'm more anxious to see Vin Diesel tweak the Chronicles of Riddick thing and bring a sequel movie our way... [ AP ] Angelina Jolie's loss may just be Megan Fox's gain. Warner Bros. has confirmed plans to relaunchand completely overhaulthe hot pants-wearing, artifact-collecting Lara Croft: Tomb Raider franchise, with the first major casualty being Jolie. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the third film will completely reboot the video game-based character, including changing her origin story (most likely shying away from her English aristocracy roots) and introduce new kinds of missions, love interests and villains. And, most notably, a new leading lady. While producers say an actress likely won't be cast until a writer and director have signed on, Fox has emerged as the frontrunner replacement, at least as far as the blogosphere is concerned. While Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and its inconsistently punctuated sequel Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life were produced by Paramount, the rights to the series have since reverted back to video game purveyor Eidos. In December, Time Warner increased its stake in the multimedia company, ensuring in-house studio Warner Bros. first dibs to what has been a lucrative, abeit critically panned, franchise. The first installment, released in 2001, grossed $275 million worldwide, while the 2003 sequel earned $157 million. All told, the video game series, which launched in 1996, has accounted for more than $1 billion. Post your SciFiNoir Profile at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add? fmvn=mapYahoo! Groups Links ---BeginMessage--- Megan Fox's management has said she's not involved in this movie at all -- yet. File this under Wonder Woman. The studios are trying to figure out who the hottest actress in Hollywood is. Instead of just asking the bloggers ( they know everybody) they're going through this and reading the results. On Jan 28, 2009, at 2:50 PM, KeithBJohnson@comcast.net wrote: Sad thing is, I didn't think the Tomb Raider movies were that bad. Forgettable, perhaps, but not junk like what's served up on SciFi. Indeed, there were the basics of good movies here: Jolie's presence (she can play borderline psycho/aggressive like nobody), decent directing, and guest stars a cut above the norm in scifi/adventure movies (Daniel Craig, Jon Voight, Gerard Butler, Djimon Honsou). Indeed, as
Re: [scifinoir2] Comics industry battles grim economic reality
Yep. Super Pimps? What the hey??? -- Original message -- From: Martin Baxter truthseeker...@lycos.com Exactly, Keith. I just got back from Oxford, and saw an entire shelf dedicated solely to the newest Final Crisis books, three bucks a pop. Never been so happy to have the mental discipline to buy only what I walk in the door to buy, and not to be moved by what's hot. BTB, also saw one copy of a book sure to raise a few eyebrows here. This is absolutely real, and I would've picked it up, had I not pointed it out to a Black gentleman next to me in derision. He bought it. Return of the Super Pimps... -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : Re: [scifinoir2] Comics industry battles grim economic reality Date : Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:52:00 + From : keithbjohn...@comcast.net To : scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com One thing that's probably not helping is all the mega events, new runs, and crossovers in recent years. Think of it. In just the last two years, DC gave us Identity Crisis, Infinite Crisis, Omac, 52, Trinity (Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman), and Final Crisis. Marvel during this time came up with Civil War, Secret Invasion, the return of Thor, Annihilation, House of M, and others. Many of these were great runs. I especially liked Civil War, Secret Invasion, and House of M. And titles like Annihilation took older, unused characters and made them relevant (I mean, Nova, finally cool) But it's hard for people in these tough economic teams to commit to buying so many comics. Civil War and Secret Invasion, for example, ran across all the major titles. To really feel up to date, people had to buy everything from Black Panther to Hercules. That's a lot of dough. Even in good times, many fans complain about the events and crossovers that require them to buy so many books. I like them, but I get the complaint. The irony, of course, is that Marvel and DC create these huge events for the express purpose of getting more readers interested. But I wonder, does it work, or does it actually scare away or turn off more people who feel they don't have the time and/or money to commit? And all that being sad, there is the really sad truth that fewer young people are reading books and mags nowadays, opting inside to scan the Net, play video games, or watch too much TV. -- Original message -- From: ravenadal www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon-comics-sales-0126- jan26,0,466942.story chicagotribune.com Comics industry battles grim economic reality By Tiffany Hsu Tribune Newspapers January 26, 2009 Marvel Entertainment Inc. this month released a special edition of Spider-Man, in which the superhero notices two identical Barack Obamas at the presidential inauguration, uses basketball to weed out the phony and is thanked with a fist-bump from the new president. But it may take more than Obama and his illustrated posse to revive business, as the comic book industry nervously trains its spider sense on January, a notoriously feeble sales month. Combine a typically slow month with a bad economy, online piracy, rising costs and changing consumer tastes, it's no wonder the nation's comic book publishers and neighborhood shops are fighting to survive. Comic book sales were down for most of 2008, even at behemoth publisher Marvel. And many small comic stores are closing. Because comics are an escape, they're a little more protected from the economy, said Jonah Weiland, executive producer of the Web site ComicBookResources.com. But I wouldn't say they're recession-proof. Everyone is preparing for a slump. Although some dismissed digital comics as too new to be a threat, others said the applications are siphoning away fans. Programs such as iVerse and UClick or scanner Web sites such as Wowio increasingly are making comic books readable on laptops and iPhones, often at a discount. To compete with electronic comics and illegal uploading, publishers have gone online. Marvel and DC Comics have launched Web-comics divisions, while Dark Horse Comics teamed with MySpace to showcase online comics. There are no statistics for comic books sold to customers, but the number sold to merchants is dropping. For February through November, the number of top comic books sold to shops was lower than the same period in 2007, according to online research group Comics Chronicles. Sales figures in broader comics categories, including magazines and trade paperbacks, increased in the January-through-November period, although by just 0.5 percent compared with the previous year, said John Jackson Miller, a Comics Chronicles researcher. At Marvel, sales and earnings were below year-earlier levels in each
Re: [scifinoir2] Dollhouse Preview
Looks like... -- Original message -- From: Martin Baxter truthseeker...@lycos.com By this, Keith, am I to presume that the show *will* actually make it to TV, and not direct-to-DVD as I think? -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : Re: [scifinoir2] Dollhouse Preview Date : Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:18:59 + From : keithbjohn...@comcast.net To : scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com I saw a commercial for it while watching Fringe. It was so quick and so--typical. Had I not already known the plot, i don't think the commercial would have revealed it, or interested me that much. I also didn't get why in the last shot of the commercial, Elisha Dushku is posing lying in what almost looks like a cheesecake shot. What does that have to do with the show? -- Original message -- From: Mike Street Here is a preview of Weldon's Dollhouse. Looks interesting...might give it a try when it airs. Cast is a bit to young looking for my taste though http://www.fox.com/programming/shows/new/dollhouse_video.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds ---BeginMessage--- By this, Keith, am I to presume that the show *will* actually make it to TV, and not direct-to-DVD as I think? -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : Re: [scifinoir2] Dollhouse Preview Date : Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:18:59 From : KeithBJohnson@comcast.net To : scifino...@yahoogroups.com I saw a commercial for it while watching "Fringe". It was so quick and so--typical. Had I not already known the plot, i don't think the commercial would have revealed it, or interested me that much. I also didn't get why in the last shot of the commercial, Elisha Dushku is posing lying in what almost looks like a cheesecake shot. What does that have to do with the show? -- Original message -- From: Mike Street Here is a preview of Weldon's Dollhouse. Looks interesting...might give it a try when it airs. Cast is a bit to young looking for my taste though http://www.fox.com/programming/shows/new/dollhouse_video.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds ---End Message---
Re: [scifinoir2] WTF? Mall Cop Leads Box Office for Second Week
OK, lets not get me started on those movie. Started out great and each one just got plain dumb. I mean I guess they thought that they could make them forever and we would just laugh at everything. One laugh for a hour or hour half movie. Just go right to DVD. --Lavender People may lie, but the evidence rarely does. -- From: keithbjohn...@comcast.net Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 10:36 AM To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] WTF? Mall Cop Leads Box Office for Second Week Uh-huh. And people inexplicably pay to see the eleventy-millionth Scary Movie incarnation too... -- Original message -- From: Daryle Lockhart dar...@darylelockhart.com Kevin James was on a #1 TV series for years. Remember, movies with Ray Romano in them do well also. On Jan 26, 2009, at 12:43 AM, keithbjohn...@comcast.net wrote: Are you kidding me? That Mall Cop movie has made over sixty-five million bucks since last week? Wow--must be that syndrome where really hard times make people look for silly escapist fare. What's next: a return of the camp Batman TV series? A new Gilligan's Island? The Love Boat? ** AP News 'Paul Blart: Mall Cop' grabs top box office spot By GREG RISLING Associated Press Writer LOS ANGELES — Paul Blart: Mall Cop wasn't ready to turn over his box-office badge this weekend as the film about a bumbling shopping center security guard earned $21.5 million to nab No. 1 for a second week in a row. The comedy, starring Kevin James as the guard who tries to protect the mall where he works from criminals, has now grossed $64.8 million in its two weeks of release and appears on its way to surpass $100 million. It's just a very funny film, said Rory Bruer, president of worldwide distribution for Sony. It's not only a great family film, it really is a film that everyone loves. The third installment of the Underworld series fared well in its opening weekend. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, a prequel that looks at the roots of a feud between vampires and werewolves, made $20.7 million. Its two predecessors — Underworld and Underworld: Evolution — earned $21.7 million and $26.8 million, respectively, in their opening weekends. The fantasy adventure Inkheart was unable to cast a spell over movie-goers, earning only $7.7 million in its debut. The movie, taken from the best-selling novel by Cornelia Funke, features Brendan Fraser playing a bookbinder with the ability to read characters right out of books and into real life. Unfortunately, families didn't come out in larger numbers, said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros.' executive vice president of distribution. Films that received Academy Award nominations this past week had a strong showing at the box office as studios expanded their release. Slumdog Millionaire, the drama about a game-show contestant from the slums of Mumbai, earned $10.6 million this weekend as the movie appeared in more than 1,400 theaters. Studio executives said the film, which has now made nearly $56 million, has been boosted by its recent haul of awards, including top honors from the Producers Guild of America on Saturday. I think the word of mouth has been very strong since we opened in November, but with the Golden Globes and the Academy Award nominations as well as the PGA, it's the must-see movie before the Academy Awards in February, said Sheila DeLoach, senior vice president of distribution at Fox Searchlight. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button re-entered the Top 10, earning $6 million to boost its total to $111 million. The film, starring Brad Pitt as a man aging backward toward infancy, landed 13 Oscar nominations, including best actor for Pitt. The Wrestler and Frost/Nixon also drew big crowds this weekend. This group has gotten the biggest (Oscar) bump collectively that I've ever seen, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of the box- office tracker Media by Numbers. This lays to rest the argument that Oscar nominations can't help out your box-office numbers. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday. 1. Paul Blart: Mall Cop, $21.5 million. 2. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, $20.7 million. 3. Gran Torino, $16 million. 4. Hotel for Dogs, $12.4 million. 5. Slumdog Millionaire, $10.6 million. 6. My Bloody Valentine 3-D, $10.1 million. 7. Inkheart, $7.7 million. 8. Bride Wars, $7 million. 9. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, $6 million. 10. Notorious, $5.7 million. Post your SciFiNoir Profile at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add? fmvn=mapYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Tomb Raider Franchise to Get Reboot--Without Jolie?
Okay, once and for all, Megan Fox = lips. She pouts well. That's it. She is entirely too skinny. Lara Croft = tight top and shorts with boots. Any actress that can convincingly play a teenager is NOT ready for Lara Croft. I sense that the studio is pulling a Defiant on Jolie (hmmm, and isn't this Paramount we're talking about?), trying to get her to play ball and threatening top get someone just as popular to replace her. Here's hoping Jolie pulls an Avery Brooks and starts making friends with Megan. On Jan 28, 2009, at 4:46 PM, ravenadal wrote: I can see human barbie-doll Megan Fox as Lara Croft. There is something very fetishistic about the whole Lara Croft franchise and Fox brings with her a similar internet based cult of personality. Although Jolie is a good actress (and good actors make good superhero movies), acting has nothing to do with this. More importantly, like Jolie, there is something feral about Fox that is essential for any potential Tomb Raider. ~rave! --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, keithbjohn...@... wrote: Sad thing is, I didn't think the Tomb Raider movies were that bad. Forgettable, perhaps, but not junk like what's served up on SciFi. Indeed, there were the basics of good movies here: Jolie's presence (she can play borderline psycho/aggressive like nobody), decent directing, and guest stars a cut above the norm in scifi/adventure movies (Daniel Craig, Jon Voight, Gerard Butler, Djimon Honsou). Indeed, as I've seen a billion times, the second flick made me think Jolie had the chops to start a real spy movie franchise. I always wanted the writers to tweak the stories and make it something more solid. I haven't seen anything to make me think Meagan Fox can act as well as Jolie even in a throwaway action flick, and the directional change worries me. I fear we'll end up with something even more forgettable: complete American-style over-the-top action and violence with crazy camera angles, devoid of anything remotely interesting. In short, something on the level of Resident Evil or the increasingly stupid Transporter movies. Oh well, such is life. I'm more anxious to see Vin Diesel tweak the Chronicles of Riddick thing and bring a sequel movie our way... [ AP ] Angelina Jolie's loss may just be Megan Fox's gain. Warner Bros. has confirmed plans to relaunch—and completely overhaul—the hot pants-wearing, artifact-collecting Lara Croft: Tomb Raider franchise, with the first major casualty being Jolie. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the third film will completely reboot the video game-based character, including changing her origin story (most likely shying away from her English aristocracy roots) and introduce new kinds of missions, love interests and villains. And, most notably, a new leading lady. While producers say an actress likely won't be cast until a writer and director have signed on, Fox has emerged as the frontrunner replacement, at least as far as the blogosphere is concerned. While Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and its inconsistently punctuated sequel Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life were produced by Paramount, the rights to the series have since reverted back to video game purveyor Eidos. In December, Time Warner increased its stake in the multimedia company, ensuring in-house studio Warner Bros. first dibs to what has been a lucrative, abeit critically panned, franchise. The first installment, released in 2001, grossed $275 million worldwide, while the 2003 sequel earned $157 million. All told, the video game series, which launched in 1996, has accounted for more than $1 billion.
Re: [scifinoir2] Comics industry battles grim economic reality
Super Pimps, with their mighty mutant backhand slaps, I take it. I must have it. On Jan 28, 2009, at 5:12 PM, keithbjohn...@comcast.net wrote: Yep. Super Pimps? What the hey??? -- Original message -- From: Martin Baxter truthseeker...@lycos.com Exactly, Keith. I just got back from Oxford, and saw an entire shelf dedicated solely to the newest Final Crisis books, three bucks a pop. Never been so happy to have the mental discipline to buy only what I walk in the door to buy, and not to be moved by what's hot. BTB, also saw one copy of a book sure to raise a few eyebrows here. This is absolutely real, and I would've picked it up, had I not pointed it out to a Black gentleman next to me in derision. He bought it. Return of the Super Pimps... -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : Re: [scifinoir2] Comics industry battles grim economic reality Date : Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:52:00 + From : keithbjohn...@comcast.net To : scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com One thing that's probably not helping is all the mega events, new runs, and crossovers in recent years. Think of it. In just the last two years, DC gave us Identity Crisis, Infinite Crisis, Omac, 52, Trinity (Superman/ Batman/Wonder Woman), and Final Crisis. Marvel during this time came up with Civil War, Secret Invasion, the return of Thor, Annihilation, House of M, and others. Many of these were great runs. I especially liked Civil War, Secret Invasion, and House of M. And titles like Annihilation took older, unused characters and made them relevant (I mean, Nova, finally cool) But it's hard for people in these tough economic teams to commit to buying so many comics. Civil War and Secret Invasion, for example, ran across all the major titles. To really feel up to date, people had to buy everything from Black Panther to Hercules. That's a lot of dough. Even in good times, many fans complain about the events and crossovers that require them to buy so many books. I like them, but I get the complaint. The irony, of course, is that Marvel and DC create these huge events for the express purpose of getting more readers interested. But I wonder, does it work, or does it actually scare away or turn off more people who feel they don't have the time and/or money to commit? And all that being sad, there is the really sad truth that fewer young people are reading books and mags nowadays, opting inside to scan the Net, play video games, or watch too much TV. -- Original message -- From: ravenadal www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon-comics-sales-0126- jan26,0,466942.story chicagotribune.com Comics industry battles grim economic reality By Tiffany Hsu Tribune Newspapers January 26, 2009 Marvel Entertainment Inc. this month released a special edition of Spider-Man, in which the superhero notices two identical Barack Obamas at the presidential inauguration, uses basketball to weed out the phony and is thanked with a fist-bump from the new president. But it may take more than Obama and his illustrated posse to revive business, as the comic book industry nervously trains its spider sense on January, a notoriously feeble sales month. Combine a typically slow month with a bad economy, online piracy, rising costs and changing consumer tastes, it's no wonder the nation's comic book publishers and neighborhood shops are fighting to survive. Comic book sales were down for most of 2008, even at behemoth publisher Marvel. And many small comic stores are closing. Because comics are an escape, they're a little more protected from the economy, said Jonah Weiland, executive producer of the Web site ComicBookResources.com. But I wouldn't say they're recession- proof. Everyone is preparing for a slump. Although some dismissed digital comics as too new to be a threat, others said the applications are siphoning away fans. Programs such as iVerse and UClick or scanner Web sites such as Wowio increasingly are making comic books readable on laptops and iPhones, often at a discount. To compete with electronic comics and illegal uploading, publishers have gone online. Marvel and DC Comics have launched Web-comics divisions, while Dark Horse Comics teamed with MySpace to showcase online comics. There are no statistics for comic books sold to customers, but the number sold to merchants is dropping. For February through November, the number of top comic books sold to shops was lower than the same period in 2007, according to online research group Comics Chronicles. Sales figures in broader comics categories, including magazines and trade paperbacks, increased in the January-through-November period, although by just 0.5 percent compared with the previous year, said
[scifinoir2] OT: Michelle Obama Getting Some Criticism for Choice of Designers
My take...keith I sympathize and empathize, but one black family can't be everything for all black people. What about her jewelry, her shoes, her hairdo--any of them from black folks? And if not, is that a sin? What about the fact that the family went to a majority-black church for years? That Obama did his community organizer work in the black community, or that his main barber is a black man? That they happen to *be* black people and seem to love and respect their people? That they by their very existence and successes do far more for us than any choice of clothing designer could ever do? This is not at all unexpected, since the Presidency is something no person of color has ever ascended to since the founding of the Republic. And I confess that I have my own criticisms at times about famous stars and leaders who i feel don't support black enterprises enough. But at the end of the day, it's the aggregate of what we as a people do. If the Obama's don't wear black-designed clothes, let's credit them for all the ways they do support blacks, and then each of us do our part to support black people. In a situation where the Obama's literally have to please the entire planet Earth in some way or another, I'm not going to be this hard on Michelle. After all--ever seen her little girls' hair when they're just chilling on vacation or something? If that don't represent support of black haircare products, I don't know what does!! -- Original message -- From: Cinque3000 cinque3...@verizon.net Black Artists Association Co-Founder Slams Michelle Obama's Kumbaya Designer Picks Update 1/27: According to WWD, Black Artists Association co-founder Amnau Eele has received death threats in response to her public criticism of Michelle Obama for not wearing an African-American designer to the inauguration. She told the magazine, We don't represent designers, we represent painters. We spoke up for black designers because we felt it was the right thing to do. Eele is planning a forum on African-American designers and their careers in New York next month. Original post 1/26: The Michelle Obama fashion backlash has begun, as far as the Black Artists Association is concerned. The group is publicly chiding the First Lady for not wearing an African-American designer during any of the inaugural festivities. On inauguration day, Obama wore Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo, and at night she wore a gown by Taiwan-born designer Jason Wu. BAA's founder Amnau Eele, a former model, told WWD: It's fine and good if you want to be all 'Kumbaya' and 'We Are the World' by representing all different countries. But if you are going to have Isabel Toledo do the inauguration dress, and Jason Wu do the evening gown, why not have Kevan Hall, B Michael, Stephen Burrows or any of the other black designers do something too? Eele said.
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Tomb Raider Franchise to Get Reboot--Without Jolie?
Well said, as always. Fox as feral? Hmmm... she certainly can look the part in posing for pics, but never seen it in the acting. I guess the move toward more of a Barbie Doll figure then it already is just bugs me. -- Original message -- From: ravenadal ravena...@yahoo.com I can see human barbie-doll Megan Fox as Lara Croft. There is something very fetishistic about the whole Lara Croft franchise and Fox brings with her a similar internet based cult of personality. Although Jolie is a good actress (and good actors make good superhero movies), acting has nothing to do with this. More importantly, like Jolie, there is something feral about Fox that is essential for any potential Tomb Raider. ~rave! --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, keithbjohn...@... wrote: Sad thing is, I didn't think the Tomb Raider movies were that bad. Forgettable, perhaps, but not junk like what's served up on SciFi. Indeed, there were the basics of good movies here: Jolie's presence (she can play borderline psycho/aggressive like nobody), decent directing, and guest stars a cut above the norm in scifi/adventure movies (Daniel Craig, Jon Voight, Gerard Butler, Djimon Honsou). Indeed, as I've seen a billion times, the second flick made me think Jolie had the chops to start a real spy movie franchise. I always wanted the writers to tweak the stories and make it something more solid. I haven't seen anything to make me think Meagan Fox can act as well as Jolie even in a throwaway action flick, and the directional change worries me. I fear we'll end up with something even more forgettable: complete American-style over-the-top action and violence with crazy camera angles, devoid of anything remotely interesting. In short, something on the level of Resident Evil or the increasingly stupid Transporter movies. Oh well, such is life. I'm more anxious to see Vin Diesel tweak the Chronicles of Riddick thing and bring a sequel movie our way... [ AP ] Angelina Jolie's loss may just be Megan Fox's gain. Warner Bros. has confirmed plans to relaunchand completely overhaulthe hot pants-wearing, artifact-collecting Lara Croft: Tomb Raider franchise, with the first major casualty being Jolie. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the third film will completely reboot the video game-based character, including changing her origin story (most likely shying away from her English aristocracy roots) and introduce new kinds of missions, love interests and villains. And, most notably, a new leading lady. While producers say an actress likely won't be cast until a writer and director have signed on, Fox has emerged as the frontrunner replacement, at least as far as the blogosphere is concerned. While Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and its inconsistently punctuated sequel Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life were produced by Paramount, the rights to the series have since reverted back to video game purveyor Eidos. In December, Time Warner increased its stake in the multimedia company, ensuring in-house studio Warner Bros. first dibs to what has been a lucrative, abeit critically panned, franchise. The first installment, released in 2001, grossed $275 million worldwide, while the 2003 sequel earned $157 million. All told, the video game series, which launched in 1996, has accounted for more than $1 billion. ---BeginMessage--- I can see human barbie-doll Megan Fox as Lara Croft. There is something very fetishistic about the whole Lara Croft franchise and Fox brings with her a similar internet based cult of personality. Although Jolie is a good actress (and good actors make good superhero movies), acting has nothing to do with this. More importantly, like Jolie, there is something feral about Fox that is essential for any potential Tomb Raider. ~rave! --- In scifino...@yahoogroups.com, KeithBJohnson@... wrote: Sad thing is, I didn't think the Tomb Raider movies were that bad. Forgettable, perhaps, but not junk like what's served up on SciFi. Indeed, there were the basics of good movies here: Jolie's presence (she can play borderline psycho/aggressive like nobody), decent directing, and guest stars a cut above the norm in scifi/adventure movies (Daniel Craig, Jon Voight, Gerard Butler, Djimon Honsou). Indeed, as I've seen a billion times, the second flick made me think Jolie had the chops to start a real spy movie franchise. I always wanted the writers to tweak the stories and make it something more solid. I haven't seen anything to make me think Meagan Fox can act as well as Jolie even in a throwaway action flick, and the directional change worries me. I fear we'll end up with something even more forgettable: complete American-style over-the-top action and violence with crazy camera angles, devoid
Re: [scifinoir2] OT: Michelle Obama Getting Some Criticism for Choice of Designers
How about the fact that her hairdresser (Black) now has a TV development deal? This whole you need to wear somebody Black if you're Black and in the public eye has been a thing since the 80s, when people cracked on you for wearing Yamamoto or Calvin Klein instead of Patrick Kelley or Willi Smith (I know, my art school is showing.) It's all a problem until somebody wears an Oswald Boateng tux on the Red carpet, then everybody shuts up. It's ridiculous. One of my good friends from high school designs mens and boys wear for JC Penney. So Nobody ever talks about who's really doing work at these fashion houses, it's always Oh well Ralph Lauren is white so it's not a Black brand. These white companies are, at times, employing people of color, which is at the core of what will be Obama's legacy. Clothes and labels are what you buy, Fashion how you rock it. Any of us can buy Armani and/or Kangol, but not many of us are going to look like Sam Jackson in it. Who else could have worn green leather gloves to an inauguration. Nobody but Michelle Obama. Her STYLE will change the face of fashion for the rest of the administration, and THAT is what we need to focus on. On Jan 28, 2009, at 5:25 PM, keithbjohn...@comcast.net wrote: My take...keith I sympathize and empathize, but one black family can't be everything for all black people. What about her jewelry, her shoes, her hairdo--any of them from black folks? And if not, is that a sin? What about the fact that the family went to a majority-black church for years? That Obama did his community organizer work in the black community, or that his main barber is a black man? That they happen to *be* black people and seem to love and respect their people? That they by their very existence and successes do far more for us than any choice of clothing designer could ever do? This is not at all unexpected, since the Presidency is something no person of color has ever ascended to since the founding of the Republic. And I confess that I have my own criticisms at times about famous stars and leaders who i feel don't support black enterprises enough. But at the end of the day, it's the aggregate of what we as a people do. If the Obama's don't wear black-designed clothes, let's credit them for all the ways they do support blacks, and then each of us do our part to support black people. In a situation where the Obama's literally have to please the entire planet Earth in some way or another, I'm not going to be this hard on Michelle. After all--ever seen her little girls' hair when they're just chilling on vacation or something? If that don't represent support of black haircare products, I don't know what does!! -- Original message -- From: Cinque3000 cinque3...@verizon.net Black Artists Association Co-Founder Slams Michelle Obama's Kumbaya Designer Picks Update 1/27: According to WWD, Black Artists Association co-founder Amnau Eele has received death threats in response to her public criticism of Michelle Obama for not wearing an African-American designer to the inauguration. She told the magazine, We don't represent designers, we represent painters. We spoke up for black designers because we felt it was the right thing to do. Eele is planning a forum on African-American designers and their careers in New York next month. Original post 1/26: The Michelle Obama fashion backlash has begun, as far as the Black Artists Association is concerned. The group is publicly chiding the First Lady for not wearing an African-American designer during any of the inaugural festivities. On inauguration day, Obama wore Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo, and at night she wore a gown by Taiwan-born designer Jason Wu. BAA's founder Amnau Eele, a former model, told WWD: It's fine and good if you want to be all 'Kumbaya' and 'We Are the World' by representing all different countries. But if you are going to have Isabel Toledo do the inauguration dress, and Jason Wu do the evening gown, why not have Kevan Hall, B Michael, Stephen Burrows or any of the other black designers do something too? Eele said.
Re: [scifinoir2] Dollhouse Preview
Fox will destroy this, too, and it will then be an online series. On Jan 28, 2009, at 5:13 PM, keithbjohn...@comcast.net wrote: Looks like... -- Original message -- From: Martin Baxter truthseeker...@lycos.com By this, Keith, am I to presume that the show *will* actually make it to TV, and not direct-to-DVD as I think? -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : Re: [scifinoir2] Dollhouse Preview Date : Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:18:59 + From : keithbjohn...@comcast.net To : scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com I saw a commercial for it while watching Fringe. It was so quick and so--typical. Had I not already known the plot, i don't think the commercial would have revealed it, or interested me that much. I also didn't get why in the last shot of the commercial, Elisha Dushku is posing lying in what almost looks like a cheesecake shot. What does that have to do with the show? -- Original message -- From: Mike Street Here is a preview of Weldon's Dollhouse. Looks interesting...might give it a try when it airs. Cast is a bit to young looking for my taste though http://www.fox.com/programming/shows/new/dollhouse_video.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds From: Martin Baxter truthseeker...@lycos.com Date: January 28, 2009 3:39:37 PM EST To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Dollhouse Preview By this, Keith, am I to presume that the show *will* actually make it to TV, and not direct-to-DVD as I think? -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : Re: [scifinoir2] Dollhouse Preview Date : Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:18:59 + From : keithbjohn...@comcast.net To : scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com I saw a commercial for it while watching Fringe. It was so quick and so--typical. Had I not already known the plot, i don't think the commercial would have revealed it, or interested me that much. I also didn't get why in the last shot of the commercial, Elisha Dushku is posing lying in what almost looks like a cheesecake shot. What does that have to do with the show? -- Original message -- From: Mike Street Here is a preview of Weldon's Dollhouse. Looks interesting...might give it a try when it airs. Cast is a bit to young looking for my taste though http://www.fox.com/programming/shows/new/dollhouse_video.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds
Re: [scifinoir2] OT: Michelle Obama Getting Some Criticism for Choice of Designers
Right on. By the way, my wife has a pair of green leather gloves like that, and she bought them way *before* Michelle Obama sported hers at the inauguration! She's got taste like that, and you're right: sisters--or any women with style--can buy something at K-Mart, Ann Taylor, or Macy's and make it look good. -- Original message -- From: Daryle Lockhart dar...@darylelockhart.com How about the fact that her hairdresser (Black) now has a TV development deal? This whole you need to wear somebody Black if you're Black and in the public eye has been a thing since the 80s, when people cracked on you for wearing Yamamoto or Calvin Klein instead of Patrick Kelley or Willi Smith (I know, my art school is showing.) It's all a problem until somebody wears an Oswald Boateng tux on the Red carpet, then everybody shuts up. It's ridiculous. One of my good friends from high school designs mens and boys wear for JC Penney. So Nobody ever talks about who's really doing work at these fashion houses, it's always Oh well Ralph Lauren is white so it's not a Black brand. These white companies are, at times, employing people of color, which is at the core of what will be Obama's legacy. Clothes and labels are what you buy, Fashion how you rock it. Any of us can buy Armani and/or Kangol, but not many of us are going to look like Sam Jackson in it. Who else could have worn green leather gloves to an inauguration. Nobody but Michelle Obama. Her STYLE will change the face of fashion for the rest of the administration, and THAT is what we need to focus on. On Jan 28, 2009, at 5:25 PM, keithbjohn...@comcast.net wrote: My take...keith I sympathize and empathize, but one black family can't be everything for all black people. What about her jewelry, her shoes, her hairdo--any of them from black folks? And if not, is that a sin? What about the fact that the family went to a majority-black church for years? That Obama did his community organizer work in the black community, or that his main barber is a black man? That they happen to *be* black people and seem to love and respect their people? That they by their very existence and successes do far more for us than any choice of clothing designer could ever do? This is not at all unexpected, since the Presidency is something no person of color has ever ascended to since the founding of the Republic. And I confess that I have my own criticisms at times about famous stars and leaders who i feel don't support black enterprises enough. But at the end of the day, it's the aggregate of what we as a people do. If the Obama's don't wear black-designed clothes, let's credit them for all the ways they do support blacks, and then each of us do our part to support black people. In a situation where the Obama's literally have to please the entire planet Earth in some way or another, I'm not going to be this hard on Michelle. After all--ever seen her little girls' hair when they're just chilling on vacation or something? If that don't represent support of black haircare products, I don't know what does!! -- Original message -- From: Cinque3000 cinque3...@verizon.net Black Artists Association Co-Founder Slams Michelle Obama's Kumbaya Designer Picks Update 1/27: According to WWD, Black Artists Association co-founder Amnau Eele has received death threats in response to her public criticism of Michelle Obama for not wearing an African-American designer to the inauguration. She told the magazine, We don't represent designers, we represent painters. We spoke up for black designers because we felt it was the right thing to do. Eele is planning a forum on African-American designers and their careers in New York next month. Original post 1/26: The Michelle Obama fashion backlash has begun, as far as the Black Artists Association is concerned. The group is publicly chiding the First Lady for not wearing an African-American designer during any of the inaugural festivities. On inauguration day, Obama wore Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo, and at night she wore a gown by Taiwan-born designer Jason Wu. BAA's founder Amnau Eele, a former model, told WWD: It's fine and good if you want to be all 'Kumbaya' and 'We Are the World' by representing all different countries. But if you are going to have Isabel Toledo do the inauguration dress, and Jason Wu do the evening gown, why not have Kevan Hall, B Michael, Stephen Burrows or any of the other black designers do something too? Eele said. ---BeginMessage--- How about the fact that her hairdresser (Black) now has a
Re: [scifinoir2] Comics industry battles grim economic reality
I missed Martin's original post, but the power of Google compelled me: http://www.dialcforcomics.com/comics/super_pimps/index.html Anyone ever see Black Bastard, BTW? Justin On Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 5:12 PM, keithbjohn...@comcast.net wrote: Yep. Super Pimps? What the hey??? -- Original message -- From: Martin Baxter truthseeker...@lycos.com Exactly, Keith. I just got back from Oxford, and saw an entire shelf dedicated solely to the newest Final Crisis books, three bucks a pop. Never been so happy to have the mental discipline to buy only what I walk in the door to buy, and not to be moved by what's hot. BTB, also saw one copy of a book sure to raise a few eyebrows here. This is absolutely real, and I would've picked it up, had I not pointed it out to a Black gentleman next to me in derision. He bought it. Return of the Super Pimps... -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : Re: [scifinoir2] Comics industry battles grim economic reality Date : Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:52:00 + From : keithbjohn...@comcast.net To : scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com One thing that's probably not helping is all the mega events, new runs, and crossovers in recent years. Think of it. In just the last two years, DC gave us Identity Crisis, Infinite Crisis, Omac, 52, Trinity (Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman), and Final Crisis. Marvel during this time came up with Civil War, Secret Invasion, the return of Thor, Annihilation, House of M, and others. Many of these were great runs. I especially liked Civil War, Secret Invasion, and House of M. And titles like Annihilation took older, unused characters and made them relevant (I mean, Nova, finally cool) But it's hard for people in these tough economic teams to commit to buying so many comics. Civil War and Secret Invasion, for example, ran across all the major titles. To really feel up to date, people had to buy everything from Black Panther to Hercules. That's a lot of dough. Even in good times, many fans complain about the events and crossovers that require them to buy so many books. I like them, but I get the complaint. The irony, of course, is that Marvel and DC create these huge events for the express purpose of getting more readers interested. But I wonder, does it work, or does it actually scare away or turn off more people who feel they don't have the time and/or money to commit? And all that being sad, there is the really sad truth that fewer young people are reading books and mags nowadays, opting inside to scan the Net, play video games, or watch too much TV. -- Original message -- From: ravenadal www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon-comics-sales-0126- jan26,0,466942.story chicagotribune.com Comics industry battles grim economic reality By Tiffany Hsu Tribune Newspapers January 26, 2009 Marvel Entertainment Inc. this month released a special edition of Spider-Man, in which the superhero notices two identical Barack Obamas at the presidential inauguration, uses basketball to weed out the phony and is thanked with a fist-bump from the new president. But it may take more than Obama and his illustrated posse to revive business, as the comic book industry nervously trains its spider sense on January, a notoriously feeble sales month. Combine a typically slow month with a bad economy, online piracy, rising costs and changing consumer tastes, it's no wonder the nation's comic book publishers and neighborhood shops are fighting to survive. Comic book sales were down for most of 2008, even at behemoth publisher Marvel. And many small comic stores are closing. Because comics are an escape, they're a little more protected from the economy, said Jonah Weiland, executive producer of the Web site ComicBookResources.com. But I wouldn't say they're recession-proof. Everyone is preparing for a slump. Although some dismissed digital comics as too new to be a threat, others said the applications are siphoning away fans. Programs such as iVerse and UClick or scanner Web sites such as Wowio increasingly are making comic books readable on laptops and iPhones, often at a discount. To compete with electronic comics and illegal uploading, publishers have gone online. Marvel and DC Comics have launched Web-comics divisions, while Dark Horse Comics teamed with MySpace to showcase online comics. There are no statistics for comic books sold to customers, but the number sold to merchants is dropping. For February through November, the number of top comic books sold to shops was lower than the same period in 2007, according to online research group Comics Chronicles. Sales figures in broader comics categories, including magazines and trade paperbacks, increased in the January-through-November period, although by just 0.5 percent compared with the
Re: [RE][scifinoir2] Senate Passes Bill to Delay Switch to Digital TV
Well, the House refused the bill, saying we're too far down the path to turn back now and delay the switch... -- Original message -- From: Martin Baxter truthseeker...@lycos.com I've known about this proposal for a couple of weeks now, and Al Roker just spoke thew truest words on the matter I can conceive of, when Matt Lauer said that the chief reason was that many people weren't prepared for the switch.. This has only been talked about for two years, now. -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : [scifinoir2] Senate Passes Bill to Delay Switch to Digital TV Date : Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:02:40 + From : keithbjohn...@comcast.net To : scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [ Reuters ] Senate passes bill to delay digital TV switch WASHINGTON (Reuters) � The Senate passed a bill on Monday to delay the nationwide switch to digital TV signals, giving consumers nearly four more months to prepare. The transition date would move to June 12 from February 17 under the bill that was fueled by worries that viewers are not technically ready for the congressionally-mandated switch-over. It also would allow consumers with expired coupons, available from the government to offset the cost of a $40 converter box, to request new coupons. The government ran out of coupons earlier this month, and about 2.5 million Americans are on a waiting list for them. Senate Commerce Chairman John Rockefeller said delaying the TV switch is the right thing to do because the United States is not yet ready to make the transition. The Senate acted responsibly to give the Obama administration time to attempt to bring order to a mismanaged process, the West Virginia Democrat said in a statement. Many lawmakers worry that an estimated 20 million mostly poor, elderly and rural households are not ready for the switch, which requires owners of older television sets receiving over-the-air signals to buy a converter box or subscribe to cable or satellite TV. Digital transition delay would cost PBS $22M NEW YORK � Delaying the upcoming digital TV transition for four months would cost public broadcasters $22 million, the PBS system chief estimated on Monday. Paula Kerger, president and CEO of the Public Broadcasting System, said she hopes lawmakers keep that in mind as they consider legislation to delay the switch from Feb. 17 to June 12. The stations will face increased power charges to maintain over-the-air broadcast signals, she said. Many have leases for signal transmitters that were due to expire on the date of the switch over and will have to make new arrangements, she said. This is such a tough situation for our stations because they have just gone through a process where they have raised the money to go through this transition, she said. The Obama administration has sought the delay because the government program to provide coupons for converter boxes needs more money. The boxes are needed for people without cable or satellite TV to continue receiving TV signals after the conversion date. The latest estimate is that more than 6.5 million households are not prepared for the switch over. The National Association of Broadcasters has not taken a position on extending the deadline. The TV stations don't want to suddenly alienate and lose viewers, but they've also sunk money into preparing for the Feb. 17 transition. Kerger said that PBS is not supporting either side, but he doesn't want PBS' hardships lost among potential hardships faced by viewers. At the end of the day, our interest is public service and we want to make sure that people don't go without television, she said. There's a possibility that TV networks would be allowed to choose whether to make the switch over on Feb. 17 or delay it, in which case Kerger said it's likely that PBS would allow its individual stations to choose for themselves. In lobbying for government help to the system, Kerger noted that much of the costs for the digital transition have been paid through fundraising, which in some cases has made less money available for programming. Post your SciFiNoir Profile at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add?fmvn=mapYahoo! Groups Links http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds ---BeginMessage--- I've known about this proposal for a couple of weeks now, and Al Roker just spoke thew truest words on the matter I can conceive of, when Matt Lauer said that the chief reason was that many people weren't prepared for the switch.."This has only been talked about for two years, now." -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : [scifinoir2] Senate Passes Bill to Delay Switch to Digital TV Date : Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:02:40
[scifinoir2] OT: Forbes Lists 25 Most Influential Liberals in the U.S. Media
My take I like some on here, like Krugman, Huffington, and Friedman (was he on?) But... The thing that troubles me about this list is the thing that always troubles me when discussions of intellectualism and liberal movers and shakers come up: where the Black people at? Do you realize that the only black person on this entire list is Oprah Winfrey? That's odd. Okay, I get she's one of the most known celebrities in the world, I get that she's openly spoken of her support for gay rights and other liberal issues. But has Winfrey really pushed and shaped what can be called a liberal agenda? I know a lot of women who've followed her for years, and many can hardly be called liberal. Sure, she was an early supporter of Obama, but come on! Forbes seems to be saying they chose her for her *potential* power to push liberal topics, but Winfrey has been famously hesitant to do so. Outside of her niche of discussing life issues--which can range from spirituality to diet, from intimacy problems with couples to the latest book she loves--I don't consider her a liberal power broker. Winfrey aside, where are the Cornel Wests and Tavis Smiley's, or Donna Brazile? Where are all those black political and social pundits all the network news shows finally deemed worthy to seek out during this recent election cycle? For that matter, where is Tom Joyner, who may be Just a DJ (his words), but who reaches millions of people daily with his TJMS show. Joyner, who was part of the special group allowed access to the Clintons, who's had several interviews with Obama, who raises millions for HBCUs and arguably did as much as any single person to get blacks to vote in November? If the recent focus on blacks in politics brought about by Obama's run for the White House proved nothing else, it's that there are a lot of black people out there who can be deemed to be just as intellectual, just as brilliant in their analyses of not just black issues, but economics, sociology, war, nuclear power and energy, etc., as the whites who get all the press. I know because i watched and listened to a lot of them on everything from Jim Lehrer to MSNBC. Oh, I get it: they said influential liberals. Well maybe these folk need to start listening to some other people so they can have influence too. Maybe who *you* deem influential and who i deem influential needs to be looked at more closely. I despise the term elitist, such as how it was hurled at the Obamas, but lists like this do bring to my mind one definition of that term. It smacks of the in-crowd of who's hip and cool, who's on the blogs and TV programs, who gets the New York Times space for their writings. But it also smacks of a type of insularity, a narrow focus on people who may be intellectual giants, and maybe even be down in some ways, but can't possibly understand me and all my unique viewpoints as a *black* liberal. Seems to me that this is the crux of an issue we've long had in America: this divide between those deemed important and worthy, and what black people deem important and worthy. It reminds me of the divides between blacks and whites in the so-called Feminist Movement, the huge gap that's barely bridged in the Gay Rights push, in the way the Democratic party has often taken us out of the closet during election time, then said okay, we got it now when that's done. This list may be inaccurate. If so it needs to be corrected. Or it may be accurate. If so, it needs to be corrected, and the writers need to do some more active listening to and trumpeting of the other voices out there. I'd hate to think that, with the success of Obama, what will be seen in the final analysis is only some large post-racial movement that's still somehow led by whites, while blacks are minimized again to reliable followers and voters, but not among the intellectuals and thinkers who are helping shape this new world into which we're entering. *** http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/22/influential-media-obama-oped-cx_tv_ee_hra_0122l iberal.html The 25 Most Influential Liberals In The U.S. Media Edited by Tunku Varadarajan, Elisabeth Eaves and Hana R. Alberts, 01.22.09, 04:02 PM EST Listen for their voices during the Obama era. Barack Obama's inauguration was the formal point at which the reigning ideology in Washington changed from conservative to liberal. We use those terms without apology, as they are used in American political discourse. Broadly, a liberal' subscribes to some or all of the following: progressive income taxation; universal health care of some kind; opposition to the war in Iraq, and a certain queasiness about the war on terror; an instinctive preference for international diplomacy; the right to gay marriage; a woman's right to an abortion; environmentalism in some Kyoto Protocol-friendly form; and a rejection of the McCain-Palin ticket. In Depth: The 25 Most Influential
[scifinoir2] AP: Chris Rock�s �Good Hair� documentary hilarious, thought-provoking
This sounds interesting... ** Chris Rocks Good Hair documentary hilarious, thought-provoking By DAVID GERMAIN Associated Press Wednesday, January 28, 2009 Park City, Utah Chris Rock was having a good hair day at the Sundance Film Festival. Hours after President Barack Obamas inauguration, Rock sat down to talk about his Sundance entry, Good Hair, a hilarious examination of the cultural pressures that prod blacks into costly, often painful methods to care for their hair. The idea first hit Rock in the mid-1990s on a standup tour through Atlanta, where he came across the Bronner brothers hair show, a glitzy convention for black stylists. I thought, wow, this would make a great movie, but that was like 15 years ago, and no one was making funny documentaries 15 years ago, Rock said in an interview Tuesday alongside Nia Long, one of many actresses and other celebrities Rock interviews in the film. So you cut to now, and I have daughters, and Im really dealing with them and their hair a lot, and my friends have daughters, and we talk about our daughters hair issues. I kind of saw where to go at it, and now people are making funny documentaries, he said. Good Hair, one of 16 films in Sundances U.S. documentary competition, follows Rock from the Bronner brothers show to neighborhood salons, businesses dealing in hair-care products and the streets of India, where human hair is a huge export industry for hair weaves. I was kind of scared to come to Sundance in a sense, because I think this is the blackest movie ever made, said Rock, a producer and co-writer on the film. So I was kind of scared to come to Utah, because its so white. But Rock said Sundance crowds have given Good Hair an enthusiastic reception, bolstering his hopes that it can find a broad audience. Produced by HBO, Good Hair eventually will air on the cable channel, but Rock and his collaborators are considering a theatrical release first. While loaded with the 43-year-old actor-comedians wisecracking humor, Good Hair also raises serious questions about identity and equality among black women who feel they need long, straight, silky hair to fit into white society. Its this whole thing about approval. That approval is not simply, I want white people to love me. Its like, I need a job. I want to move forward, and if I have a hairstyle that is somewhat intimidating, thats going to stop me from moving forward, said Nelson George, executive producer of Good Hair. Rock interviews women who undergo hair-relaxing treatments with chemicals that burn their scalps and others who pay thousands of dollars for hair weaves. Along the way, he trades witty, insightful observations with such figures as Maya Angelou, the Rev. Al Sharpton, actresses Raven-Symone and Tracie Thoms, and singers Eve and Ice-T. Long talks candidly in the film about her own perms and weaves, but in the interview with Rock, she also speaks hopefully about how Obama, his wife and their two daughters can help blacks overcome the cultural inferiority complex that prompts them to change their hair. Just seeing that family photo and seeing the daughters with their hair in cornrows sometimes, it resonates for me in such a huge way, Long said. I just feel finally we have an image thats the most powerful image in our country that actually is a part of who I am. Rock also reveled in Obamas inauguration, but he joked about another hurdle still facing blacks. Excellent black people have always been compensated for excellence. Always, Rock said. The real equality is when we can have a black president as dumb as George Bush. Thats when were really equal. Thats when the dream has come true. Post your SciFiNoir Profile at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add?fmvn=mapYahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:scifinoir2-dig...@yahoogroups.com mailto:scifinoir2-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: scifinoir2-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [scifinoir2] James Earl Jones is a goat farmer
I wonder does he threaten them in the voice of Darth Vader? --Lavender People may lie, but the evidence rarely does. From: Tracey de Morsella Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 7:23 PM To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com ; 'Cinque3000' Subject: [scifinoir2] James Earl Jones is a goat farmer Jones Is A Goat Farmer 25 January 2009 10:58 PM, PST Movie veteran James Earl Jones has a secret passion for goats. The actor, who picked up a Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement honour in Los Angeles on Sunday night, grew up on a goat farm in Mississippi and admits he still rears the creatures. Jones, the voice of Darth Vader, has a goat farm in upstate New York and admits he'd like to turn his herd into food items. He explains, I threaten to (eat them) but my family says, 'No.' We don't eat pets. http://www.imdb.com/news/ni0658824/
[scifinoir2] A New Test....
Cleaning The Mouse You should do this every few days. More often if you spend a lot of time on computer! I was shocked to see this works! To recalibrate your mouse, click and hold on the S. Then drag the S toward the e. If it doesn't work, you might want to clean your mouse. Stop f uck ing around and go do something constructive
Re: [scifinoir2] Dollhouse Preview
Consider it destroyed. Jeez. I just saw this commercial and already I am planning to euthenize myself (shut up Aub :-D ). There's this one scene that lasts less than to seconds of her in some sort of uniform, flying a helicopter with her hair up and glasses on. All I could think was that someone went low-rent on the Wonder Woman homage. I shudder... then I weep. Grayson Reyes-Cole http://www.graysonreyescole.com Facebook Bright Star When evil is done for the greater good, a price must always be paid... In Print April 6, 2009 Ghost Writer Reviews: Grayson-Reyes Cole is an incredibly imaginative and original writer, and fans of dark fantasy, modern fantasy, and science fiction will enjoy “Bright Star” . Read the full review at http://ghostwriterreviews.com/index.php?main_page=product_infoproducts_id=608 From: Daryle Lockhart dar...@darylelockhart.com To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 4:46:54 PM Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Dollhouse Preview Fox will destroy this, too, and it will then be an online series. On Jan 28, 2009, at 5:13 PM, KeithBJohnson@ comcast.net wrote: Looks like... -- Original message - - From: Martin Baxter truthseeker013@ lycos.com By this, Keith, am I to presume that the show *will* actually make it to TV, and not direct-to-DVD as I think? -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : Re: [scifinoir2] Dollhouse Preview Date : Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:18:59 + From : KeithBJohnson@ comcast.net To : scifino...@yahoogro ups.com I saw a commercial for it while watching Fringe. It was so quick and so--typical. Had I not already known the plot, i don't think the commercial would have revealed it, or interested me that much. I also didn't get why in the last shot of the commercial, Elisha Dushku is posing lying in what almost looks like a cheesecake shot. What does that have to do with the show? -- Original message - - From: Mike Street Here is a preview of Weldon's Dollhouse. Looks interesting. ..might give it a try when it airs. Cast is a bit to young looking for my taste though http://www.fox. com/programming/ shows/new/ dollhouse_ video.htm http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=JQdwk8Yntds From: Martin Baxter truthseeker013@ lycos.com Date: January 28, 2009 3:39:37 PM EST To: scifino...@yahoogro ups.com Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Dollhouse Preview By this, Keith, am I to presume that the show *will* actually make it to TV, and not direct-to-DVD as I think? -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : Re: [scifinoir2] Dollhouse Preview Date : Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:18:59 + From : KeithBJohnson@ comcast.net To : scifino...@yahoogro ups.com I saw a commercial for it while watching Fringe. It was so quick and so--typical. Had I not already known the plot, i don't think the commercial would have revealed it, or interested me that much. I also didn't get why in the last shot of the commercial, Elisha Dushku is posing lying in what almost looks like a cheesecake shot. What does that have to do with the show? -- Original message - - From: Mike Street Here is a preview of Weldon's Dollhouse. Looks interesting. ..might give it a try when it airs. Cast is a bit to young looking for my taste though http://www..fox. com/programming/ shows/new/ dollhouse_ video.htm http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=JQdwk8Yntds
Re: [scifinoir2] OT: Michelle Obama Getting Some Criticism for Choice of Designers
Amen! I'm more worried about Obama managing to work with this partisan Republican Congress... -- Original message -- From: Wayne badie astromancer2...@yahoo.com I just read the original post and I have to give this response to those people: get a life...no one who has one really cares about that... --- On Wed, 1/28/09, keithbjohn...@comcast.net keithbjohn...@comcast.net wrote: From: keithbjohn...@comcast.net keithbjohn...@comcast.net Subject: [scifinoir2] OT: Michelle Obama Getting Some Criticism for Choice of Designers To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 4:25 PM My take...keith I sympathize and empathize, but one black family can't be everything for all black people. What about her jewelry, her shoes, her hairdo--any of them from black folks? And if not, is that a sin? What about the fact that the family went to a majority-black church for years? That Obama did his community organizer work in the black community, or that his main barber is a black man? That they happen to *be* black people and seem to love and respect their people? That they by their very existence and successes do far more for us than any choice of clothing designer could ever do? This is not at all unexpected, since the Presidency is something no person of color has ever ascended to since the founding of the Republic. And I confess that I have my own criticisms at times about famous stars and leaders who i feel don't support black enterprises enough. But at the end of the day, it's the aggregate of what we as a people do. If the Obama's don't wear black-designed clothes, let's credit them for all the ways they do support blacks, and then each of us do our part to support black people. In a situation where the Obama's literally have to please the entire planet Earth in some way or another, I'm not going to be this hard on Michelle. After all--ever seen her little girls' hair when they're just chilling on vacation or something? If that don't represent support of black haircare products, I don't know what does!! -- Original message - - From: Cinque3000 cinque3...@verizon. net Black Artists Association Co-Founder Slams Michelle Obama's Kumbaya Designer Picks Update 1/27: According to WWD, Black Artists Association co-founder Amnau Eele has received death threats in response to her public criticism of Michelle Obama for not wearing an African-American designer to the inauguration. She told the magazine, We don't represent designers, we represent painters. We spoke up for black designers because we felt it was the right thing to do. Eele is planning a forum on African-American designers and their careers in New York next month. Original post 1/26: The Michelle Obama fashion backlash has begun, as far as the Black Artists Association is concerned. The group is publicly chiding the First Lady for not wearing an African-American designer during any of the inaugural festivities. On inauguration day, Obama wore Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo, and at night she wore a gown by Taiwan-born designer Jason Wu. BAA's founder Amnau Eele, a former model, told WWD: It's fine and good if you want to be all 'Kumbaya' and 'We Are the World' by representing all different countries. But if you are going to have Isabel Toledo do the inauguration dress, and Jason Wu do the evening gown, why not have Kevan Hall, B Michael, Stephen Burrows or any of the other black designers do something too? Eele said. ---BeginMessage--- I just read the original post and I have to give this response to those people: get a life...no one who has one really cares about that...--- On Wed, 1/28/09, KeithBJohnson@comcast.net KeithBJohnson@comcast.net wrote: From: KeithBJohnson@comcast.net KeithBJohnson@comcast.netSubject: [scifinoir2] OT: Michelle Obama Getting Some Criticism for Choice of DesignersTo: scifino...@yahoogroups.comDate: Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 4:25 PM My take...keithI sympathize and empathize, but one black family can't be everything for all black people. What about her jewelry, her shoes, her hairdo--any of them from black folks? And if not, is that a sin? What about the fact that the family went to a majority-black church for years? That Obama did his community organizer work in the black community, or that his main barber is a black man? That they happen to*be* black people and seem to love and respect their people? That they by their very existenceand successes do far more for us than any choice of clothing designer could ever do?This is not at all unexpected, since the Presidency is something no person of color has ever ascended to since the founding of the Republic. And I confess that I have my own criticisms
Re: [scifinoir2] Comics industry battles grim economic reality
Bush and the gang... --- On Wed, 1/28/09, keithbjohn...@comcast.net keithbjohn...@comcast.net wrote: From: keithbjohn...@comcast.net keithbjohn...@comcast.net Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Comics industry battles grim economic reality To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 4:12 PM Yep. Super Pimps? What the hey??? -- Original message - - From: Martin Baxter truthseeker013@ lycos.com Exactly, Keith. I just got back from Oxford, and saw an entire shelf dedicated solely to the newest Final Crisis books, three bucks a pop. Never been so happy to have the mental discipline to buy only what I walk in the door to buy, and not to be moved by what's hot. BTB, also saw one copy of a book sure to raise a few eyebrows here. This is absolutely real, and I would've picked it up, had I not pointed it out to a Black gentleman next to me in derision. He bought it. Return of the Super Pimps... -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : Re: [scifinoir2] Comics industry battles grim economic reality Date : Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:52:00 + From : KeithBJohnson@ comcast.net To : scifino...@yahoogro ups.com One thing that's probably not helping is all the mega events, new runs, and crossovers in recent years. Think of it. In just the last two years, DC gave us Identity Crisis, Infinite Crisis, Omac, 52, Trinity (Superman/Batman/ Wonder Woman), and Final Crisis. Marvel during this time came up with Civil War, Secret Invasion, the return of Thor, Annihilation, House of M, and others. Many of these were great runs. I especially liked Civil War, Secret Invasion, and House of M. And titles like Annihilation took older, unused characters and made them relevant (I mean, Nova, finally cool) But it's hard for people in these tough economic teams to commit to buying so many comics. Civil War and Secret Invasion, for example, ran across all the major titles. To really feel up to date, people had to buy everything from Black Panther to Hercules. That's a lot of dough. Even in good times, many fans complain about the events and crossovers that require them to buy so many books. I like them, but I get the complaint. The irony, of course, is that Marvel and DC create these huge events for the express purpose of getting more readers interested. But I wonder, does it work, or does it actually scare away or turn off more people who feel they don't have the time and/or money to commit? And all that being sad, there is the really sad truth that fewer young people are reading books and mags nowadays, opting inside to scan the Net, play video games, or watch too much TV. -- Original message - - From: ravenadal www.chicagotribune. com/business/ chi-mon-comics- sales-0126- jan26,0,466942. story chicagotribune. com Comics industry battles grim economic reality By Tiffany Hsu Tribune Newspapers January 26, 2009 Marvel Entertainment Inc. this month released a special edition of Spider-Man, in which the superhero notices two identical Barack Obamas at the presidential inauguration, uses basketball to weed out the phony and is thanked with a fist-bump from the new president. But it may take more than Obama and his illustrated posse to revive business, as the comic book industry nervously trains its spider sense on January, a notoriously feeble sales month. Combine a typically slow month with a bad economy, online piracy, rising costs and changing consumer tastes, it's no wonder the nation's comic book publishers and neighborhood shops are fighting to survive. Comic book sales were down for most of 2008, even at behemoth publisher Marvel. And many small comic stores are closing. Because comics are an escape, they're a little more protected from the economy, said Jonah Weiland, executive producer of the Web site ComicBookResources. com. But I wouldn't say they're recession-proof. Everyone is preparing for a slump. Although some dismissed digital comics as too new to be a threat, others said the applications are siphoning away fans. Programs such as iVerse and UClick or scanner Web sites such as Wowio increasingly are making comic books readable on laptops and iPhones, often at a discount. To compete with electronic comics and illegal uploading, publishers have gone online. Marvel and DC Comics have launched Web-comics divisions, while Dark Horse Comics teamed with MySpace to showcase online comics. There are no statistics for comic books sold to customers, but the number sold to merchants is dropping. For February through November, the number of top comic books sold to shops was lower than the same period in 2007, according to online research group Comics Chronicles. Sales figures in
