Title: 1st Annual Project Fanboy Awards!
Project Fanboy is host to the coveted Project Fanboy Awards. The Awards began as a monthly honor, bestowing fansites with the "Project Fanboy Award For Website Excellence" but has now grown into accolades on a much broader scale.
Now boasting twenty-five different annual categories, the Project Fanboy Awards are nominated and voted on by fans spanning the globe for such categories as, "Best independent title", "Best character", "Best Writer", and many more.
The Awards annual debut is scheduled for January of 2009 and nominations in all categories are now being accepted. Nominations will cease in November, followed by two months of voting with the winners announced on the 1st of January, 2009.
Click here to submit your nominations for the Project Fanboy Awards. All categories are not mandatory, but your nominations are important to us so please cast nominations in every category possible.
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Posted By: Steven Sykora
Title: Real Life Iron Men?
Well, it's not quite Iron Man level, but it's the best thing we've got apparently. Contractors have develeoped an exoskeleton that U.S. Soldiers can wear which enhances their physical strength and stamina.
The demonstrator in the following video lifts 200 lbs with ease multiple times, only quitting out of sheer boredom. The exoskeleton also allows the wearer to "step out of it" and allowing free movement of your actual limbs if there was something more precise you needed to do. Not to say that the exoskeleton isn't able to perform precise actions, the demonstrator in this video showed that he could pick up ammo cans by the handle, steadily punch a speedbag with just enough strength, even plays ball - deflecting the ball back to his partner and then catching it when the partner throws it back. The exoskeleton even runs, walks up stairs and ramps... boy, what I wouldn't give for one of these! Move over Tony Stark, here comes an Army of Iron Men!
Watch the video here .
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Posted By: Steven Sykora
Title: Platinum's Dylan Dog announcement makes front-page news in Italy!!
Platinum Studios announced the feature film DEAD OF NIGHT via an exclusive feature in one of Italy's largest newspapers, La Repubblica. The feature ran as a full page on the cover of the newspaper's entertainment section. Even the journalist who wrote the exclusive feature was excited by it - and said it was "huge!!!!!!!" See the original piece below and a rough but concise English translation follows.
View the entire article here .
English Translation:
"I can read the Bible, Homer or Dylan Dog for days on end without ever feeling bored," so states Umberto Eco, a fan of the comic created by Tiziano Sclavi in 1986, published by Sergio Bonelli Editore, a comic that has since become a real popular phenomenon (56 million copies sold in 17 countries, translated in just as many languages). "Dylan Dog" is also successful in the United States where, in 1997, Platinum Studios bought the ancillary right to the property, these include TV and Film rights as well as merchandizing.
After many attempts to extract a movie based on the adventures of the fascinating London detective, usually dressed in a black blazer, red shirt, jeans and Clarks shoes, who conquers beautiful women all the while investigating paranormal phenomenon and fights absurd monsters, zombies, vampires, werewolves "Dylan Dog" will be on the big screen next year. This ambitious film project - a Platinum and Hyde Park Productions co-production - has just been announced in Los Angeles. The film, titled "Dead of Night" in the United States, but "Dylan Dog" in the rest of the world, will be realized on a budget somewhere between 30 and 50 million dollars; principal photography is said to begin in early July. The director will be by Kevin Munroe ("Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles") and the lead will see American rising star Brandon Routh ("Superman Returns") in the role of Sclavi's hard-boiled hero. In fact, Dylan Dog had made it to the big screen once before with "Dellamore Dellamorte", a film by Michele Soavi (1994), with Rupert Everett, a film in which, although Dylan Dog was never mentioned, his traits, the situations he usually finds himself in and the overall tone of the comic, were all clearly presented. It also wasn't coincidental for Rupert to play the pseudo-Dylan: Tiziano Sclavi, who had named his hero after his favorite poet Dylan Thomas, also created Dylan Dog in the image of the English actor!
For Scott Rosenberg, president of Platinum Group, and Ashok Amritraj, CEO of Hyde Park (to which we owe a number of discretely successful films and which is now in Los Angeles producing "Streetfighter", based on the videogame) to finally realize "Dylan Dog" is nothing short of a dream come true, especially after previous attempts to set up the movie at Miramax and Dreamworks. To be able to develop the film independently, without the intervention of the major Hollywood studios is what has allowed the producers to faithfully adapt the beloved comic (the project will be looking for international markets sales at the Cannes festival).
"We do not want to compromise the classic representation of Dylan Dog, nor do we want to have to deal with people who do not know the character as well as we do", sustains Rosenberg. "We've been waiting for years for this moment: we really love Dog and his mystery world". "I knew the property but I didn't think it would be possible to make a movie from it until I received a copy of the script from Platinum Studios", adds Amritraj. "I liked it because it's an action movie at the center of which we find a totally original, cool, avant-guard character, he is surrounded by an absolutely interesting world that will be intriguing to all age groups".
The story has been moved to New York in the present day, from London where Sclavi had originally set the world. Dylan Dog is forced back into his nightmare investigation after he is approached by a woman who claims to have seen her father brutally murdered by a mysterious creature. With his street smart, his gun and a set of paranormal weapons- and the help of his sidekick- Dylan seems to be the only one capable to restore order under as well as above ground. "Even though the comic was well known in many countries, it was important to create a story that would also be relevant to those who knew nothing about Dylan", says Kevin Munroe, already on the East coast of the US to scout for a shooting location. "Dylan returns to his investigative specialty because he is not indifferent to humans' problems, he senses that he is needed to protect the living against the monsters that live amongst them". Producers and director affirm that what has set Dylan Dog apart has for long contributed to his success, isn't pure action in a world populated by vampires, zombies and werewolves: "The most exciting journey is an emotional one", continues Munroe, "in our movie, Dylan is dragged back in the darkest side of the human emotional landscape, a place he had resisted. Dylan Dog is not a super hero, nor is he super natural, he is a man who finds himself in extraordinary circumstances: gradually, over the course of the film we discover all these creatures who live amongst us and we slowly come to understand who the real bad guys truly are".
Like in "Men in Black", which curiously was also originally proposed to the same Rosenberg when he was at the helm of Malibu Comics before founding Platinum Studios, the comedic aspect of the story rests on the relationship between Dylan and his sidekick: in the American version of the comic, Groucho's moustaches had been removed to respect the wishes of the Groucho Marx estate, in the movie, the sidekick was replaced by a new fictional character who maintains the bright caustic spirit so much needed by Dylan.
"Dylan Dog is interesting because he is a faulty character, unlike Superman", explains Brandon Routh, who has been tied to the project for two years and who has known about the comic by Sclavi for a while, since he was introduced to it by a friend who had lived in Italy for a long time. "It will be exciting to bring him on the big screen, no one has ever seen a character quite like him. It is nice to think that my presence on the project will attract the attention of both the comic and fantasy worlds, due to my previous roles. For example, Dylan is a man who ends up losing his women, a problem a lot of us can understand. He is sarcastic but also has a god hearth. It is however also clear that this is a movie about escape, but at the same time one has to confront the usual questions surrounding life and death. Some will resist the fact that an American will play the part", admits Brandon, penned in for future sequels of the movie franchize. "But I believe the audiences will be open to our interpretation".
Munroe considers the Dylan Dog series a lot more exciting than the Ninja Turtles: "I'm fascinated by the stories," says the director. "They are populated by classic characters in the likes of Dirty Harry and Die Hard. And like in those movies, you understand that the worst monsters of them all are precisely human beings. It isn't by chance that, since my first meeting with Platinum and Hyde Park, even without knowing the budget, that I said that my idea was to show Dylan Dog in his world as realistically as possible, showing how the paranormal entities coexist flawlessly in a human world. The audience must believe that zombies can exist in New York, that vampires roam free even if they can't be seen, just like in Men in Black. I want a lot of action and very little CGI, more prosthetics and less special effects. I want to make a film that unites comedy and horror, an epic tale of love and horror." And like Indiana Jones, Munroe will end the movie with the possibility for future sequels.
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Posted By: Drake Jondrew
Title: Arcana Comics!
Available this month in Previews, Simon & Shuster collects all seven issues of the original series. O'Reilly, "It's great to work with Simon Pulse and retell 100 Girls in it's entirety. They've been amazing to work with and hopefully this is the first of many to come."
In Previews
This month in Previews, for items shipping July, Arcana will be publishing Burn #3 by Camilla D'Errico, Helen Killer #4, The Wingman one-shot by Sean O'Reilly and Jay Shore and Tales of Penance #1 by Sean Wise and Paul Gilligan featuring a stunning Greg Horn cover.
Shipping This Month
Burn #1 by Camilla D'Errico is literally at the printers now and will be out it in May with a very special 99 cent issue. Also this month is the Grunts Trade Paperback by Keith Giffen and Shannon Denton as well as the Gearhead Trade Paperback by Dennis Hopeless and Kevin Mellon. Lots shipping this month from Arcana Comics so be sure to check your local comic book retailer.
Interview with Marlow's Aaron Nelson
This month I got the chance to interview Aaron Nelson, who Arcana fans may remember from the Dark Horrors anthology. Well, Aaron has another ghoulish tale to tell in the form of Marlow. However, this zombie isn’t your average chud. I spoke with Aaron to get the lowdown.
MP: What can you tell us about Marlow?
AN: Thanks for asking. I suppose from a pretty high level, the story is about a man mutilated by technology who, upon meeting the Doctor who made him, discovers things about his mutilation (and his maker) that brings him to question the decisions he's made in his life. In exchange for medicines that keep him from reverting to a zombie state, Marlow does all the dirty work for the pharmaceutical company that mutilated him out of fear of complete transformation. During this journey, where he meets the Doctor who made him, Marlow wonders if he must simply suffer the consequences of his mutilation and revert to a zombie state in order to truly be free.
MP: Who worked on the book with you?
AN: Dario Carrasco Jr and I have collaborated on a number of other projects, and worked closely together on the characters and story. Mathew Reynolds did some really incredible artwork, and L. Jamal Walton was, as always, brilliant with the layouts and lettering.
To read the rest of the interview, please visit http://www.arcanacomics.com/newsletter/
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Posted By: Steven Sykora
Title: Tim Seeley Signing For Fcbd In Frankfort, Il
TIM SEELEY SIGNING FOR FCBD IN FRANKFORT, IL
Seeley and artist Emily Stone to sign at Chicagoland Free Comic Book Day event
Chicago, IL. (May 2, 2008) – Devil's Due is letting two of its brightest and most twisted minds from Hack/Slash out into the wild for Free Comic Book Day this Saturday, May 3. Creator, writer and artist Tim Seeley will sign from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. this Saturday at Amazing Fantasy Books and Comics in Frankfort, IL.
Seeley will be accompanied by artist Emily Stone (Hack/Slash, Forgotten Realms) at the Chicago area shop. The two DDP creators will be part of a FCBD event also featuring artists Chris Burnham (Nixon's Pals, Kolchak) and Mike Norton (The All New Atom).
Amazing Fantasy Books and Comics is located at 20523 S. La Grange Rd, Frankfort, IL, in the Vineyards Plaza next to the Alsip Nursery. For more information about the event, call Amazing Fantasy at (815) 469-5092 or visit the store's website at http://www.afbooks.com/ff.asp .
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Posted By: Drake Jondrew
Title: Boom! Needs Interns!
BOOM! NEEDS INTERNS!
May 1st, 2008 (Los Angeles, CA) -- Summer Interships Available at BOOM! Unpaid, for college credit (must have letter from school). Email resume, cover letter, references, and availability to: interns@boom-studios.com . Photoshop and html skills a plus. Diverse candidates encouraged.
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Posted By: Drake Jondrew