Studio Greed And The God of Thunder!

Image via Wikipedia

Thor battled his way  to the top of the box office this weekend, earning $66 million, according to studio estimates.

But I guarantee there is a studio boss  rolling his beady little eyes because the Marvel hero’s film debut fell short of the $72 million haul some were predicting.  Captain America and X-Men: First Class are the next Marvel Studios productions designed to separate you from your hard-earned money, and you know Thor was intended to test the waters for the “Super Summer of 2011″.

Ticket sales slid back in the doldrums as revenues dropped 11% from the same weekend last year. Brandon Gray, president of Box Office Mojo, called Thor‘s opening “ho-hum as far as summer kick-offs go these days.”

So let me get this straight: $66 million is considered “ho-hum”? Sure, the film cost $150 million, but they’re well on their way to making that back just in North America, never mind world-wide receipts.

A big-budget action flick about a Nordic deity should kick-ass in Iceland!

Personally, I loved it. But then again, the film was loaded with inside references designed to set a fanboy’s pulse racing.

I guess if you’re a studio douchebag in a suit, the only plot point you care about is the “Gross revenue” figure in the Wikipedia entry.

Related articles

• `Thor’ hammers competition with $66M (boston.com)
• Thor’s Opening Day: Mighty or Meek? (eonline.com)
• ‘Thor’ – What Did You Think? (slashfilm.com)

Comic Crossovers Can Be Terrible!

Comic book crossovers are great – in theory.

The epic storylines, the gathering of heroes - it just doesn’t get much better for hardcore fans. Of course, the promise of “Nothing will ever be the same again” never comes true, but no one really cares if the ride is wild enough.

But after the obligatory announcements have been made and the anticipation has risen to a fevered pitch, the other superhero boot drops and reality sets in.

And considering the cost of crossovers these days – reality bites!

Flashpoint titles shipping in May:

FLASHPOINT #1
BOOSTER GOLD #44 (FLASHPOINT)
FLASH #13 (FLASHPOINT)
FLASH #12 (FLASHPOINT)

Flashpoint titles shipping in June:

FLASHPOINT #2
FLASHPOINT BATMAN KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE #1 (OF 3)
FLASHPOINT SECRET SEVEN #1 (OF 3)
FLASHPOINT ABIN SUR THE GREEN LANTERN #1 (OF 3)
FLASHPOINT THE WORLD OF FLASHPOINT #1 (OF 3)
FLASHPOINT EMPEROR AQUAMAN #1 (OF 3)
FLASHPOINT DEATHSTROKE THE CURSE OF RAVAGER #1 (OF 3)
FLASHPOINT FRANKENSTEIN CREATURES OT UNKNOWN #1 (OF 3)
FLASHPOINT CITIZEN COLD #1 (OF 3)
FLASHPOINT WONDER WOMAN AND THE FURIES #1 (OF 3)
FLASHPOINT LEGION OF DOOM #1 (OF 3)
FLASHPOINT LOIS LANE AND THE RESISTANCE #1 (OF 3)
FLASHPOINT THE OUTSIDER #1 (OF 3)
FLASHPOINT KID FLASH LOST #1 (OF 3)
FLASHPOINT PROJECT SUPERMAN #1 (OF 3)
FLASHPOINT HAL JORDAN #1 (OF 3)
FLASHPOINT GRODD OF WAR #1
FLASHPOINT THE REVERSE FLASH #1
FLASHPOINT GREEN ARROW INDUSTRIES #1
FLASHPOINT THE CANTERBURY CRICKET #1

That was Month One of DC Comic‘s Flashpoint crossover event. Focussed on the Flash (Natch!), the story centres on a DC Universe which has been altered by dark forces and is on the verge of destruction. In order to “properly showcase” the changes in their various characters, DC has designed over fifteen mini-series to tie-in with the main book.

Fifteen? In addition to the core book?

Now let’s look at the other ”Big Boy” comic publisher out there, Marvel Comics, and their Fear Itself crossover, shall we?

• Fear Itself # 1 – 7

Mini Series/ Tie-Ins:

• Fear Itself: Sins Past (one shot)
• Fear Itself: Spotlight (one shot)
• Fear Itself: Home Front # 1- 7
• Fear Itself: Spider-Man # 1 – 3
• Fear Itself: Youth in Revolt # 1-6

And that’s not counting the dozens of regular monthly titles Marvel produces, most of which will tie-in with the main book for months!  

To their credit, Marvel has decided to add to the story, which tells of The Worthy, eight powerful men and women — made even more powerful by mythical hammers — that attempt to lay waste to civilization at the urging of an all-powerful being known as the Serpent.

Starting Today, the Fear Itself: The Worthy digital series will be available for free download on the Marvel Comics app for iPhone and iPad, Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited and Marvel Comics on Chrome.

A new member of the Worthy, the group of people who have been empowered by the reawakened Serpent, will be featured each Tuesday for eight weeks with a four-page origin-type story. Still, even with the addition of the free digital content, the story is going to take a deep bite out of fans’ pocketbooks.

If my last name was Trump then I would have no problem with this marketing strategy. However, I am but a lowly bellman who has supported both of these companies for most of my 41 years.

And this is the thanks I get? A blow to the wallet worthy of the Hulk?

Related Articles

• “Flashpoint” and “Fear Itself”: Adding Up the Tie-Ins (techland.time.com)
• Will Marvel’s Fear Itself Really Change Anything? (geeksyndicate.wordpress.com)
• “Geoff Johns Cancels Flash As Part Of Flashpoint? What’s Next For Barry?” and related posts (insidepulse.com)

Ed Norton “Hulks Out” on Marvel Studios!

Image via Wikipedia

Attention security guards at Marvel Studios HQ, if you see a man with glowing green approaching the building, pull the fire alarm and head for the hills!

Actor Edward Norton is STILL ticked at Marvel’s decision to replace him as the Jade Giant in Joss Whedon‘s crown jewel The Avengers.  In a recent interview with the U.K’s Independent,  the Incredible Hulk actor shared his disgust and resentment with the studios’ decision.

“I found it a cheap and unnecessary representation that it was about things other than money,” sighs Norton. “They came to me avidly to talk about it and then at the end of the day it was just flat out a business decision.”

Marvel claims Norton’s replacement, Mark Ruffalo, is a superior player because he is someone “who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members.”

At the end of the day, Norton’s comments don’t serve his cause, they just give Marvel’s PR department a break. You know what they say, any publicity, even if it’s from a disgruntled actor, is good publicity.

Let’s face it, the fans are still going to stand in line to watch the Avengers Assemble no matter who’s on the team.

Image by Boogeyman13 via Flickr

Related Articles

• Edward Norton is still whining (wwtdd.com)
• Joss Whedon 101: The Avengers (Feature) (popmatters.com)
• Edward Norton says he wants to work with Brad Pitt again (celebritytreat.com)

Captain America Leads The Digital Charge!

Image via CrunchBase

The Digital Age is definitely upon us Fan Boys and Girls. Of course, the fact you’re reading this blog is proof enough, right?

Well, here’s some more. I’ve spent virtually my entire life waiting for New Comic Book Day to arrive each week. The tradition remains unmoved by the passage of time.

Until now.

This Sunday — the same day the first full-length trailer for Captain America: The First Avenger premiers during the Super Bowl — will be Captain America: First Vengeance, a new eight-part digital comic book series.            

The first issue will be available free that day, online only, at captainamerica.com, followed by a release Feb. 8 on the Marvel Comics iPad app.

I can’t fully wrap my 40-year-old balding head around the concept of a digital-only new release comic. Has it really come to this?

I’ve written about Archie Comics’ plans for the digital landscape, but Marvel’s plan is slightly more high-profile with the film version sure to draw additional attention to the web comic.

The cover shows the movie’s Cap, Chris Evans, in full superhero garb.Written by Fred Van Lente and several artists, the story is set in Marvel’s “cinematic universe” — the one with Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man and Chris Hemsworth as Thor — and ties in with events of the movie. Each issue focuses on a specific character from the movie and events flow into the film.   

A quick Cap Primer: When he’s declared unfit for military service, frail but courageous Steve Rogers volunteers for a top-secret military research project. One dose of super-soldier serum later, Rogers dons the Captain America garb and becomes a World War II hero.

I guess after you’ve beat the snot out of hundreds of Nazis, conquering the digital world is a piece of apple pie.

Related Articles

• CAPTAIN AMERICA: FIRST VENGEANCE Digital Comic Debuts Super Bowl Sunday (geektyrant.com)
• Dominic Cooper Explains How Howard Stark Fits Into ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ (slashfilm.com)
• Captain America Fights Teen Suicide (joemygod.blogspot.com)
• ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ To Receive Comic Book Prequel (splashpage.mtv.com)