Marvel @ MindSay 
Source: Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment released their first quarter report to its shareholders this morning to coincide with the announcement about the success this past weekend of Marvel Studios' first production Iron Man, which grossed an estimated $104.2 million domestically and over $201 million worldwide. The announcement included an update of Marvel Studios' feature film slate with the already-rumored Iron Man 2 announced for a release on April 30, 2010, followed by three more movies for the summers of '10 and '11. Matthew Vaughn's Thor is set for a release on June 4, 2010, and The First Avenger: Captain America (the working title) will kick off the summer of 2011 on May 6, followed by the highly-anticipated and foreshadowed The Avengers scheduled for July 2011. (Edgar Wright's Ant-Man is also listed as being in development with no release date set.)
In a conference call this morning, Marvel Studios' David Maisel said that Iron Man 2 will be used to introduce Thor. Regarding more "Hulk" movies, Maisel said "We definitely plan on continuing." He added that development continues on Spider-Man 4. "I can't give any other updates other than to say it's in development and everybody's excited about 'Spider-Man 4,'" he said.
With that in mind, one can start expecting a lot more announcements in the coming months about creative teams and casting for those movies including who might direct the Captain America and Avengers movies. (Whomever plays Steve Rogers AKA Captain America presumably will be making two movies at once.)
The premise is simple: Following the events of Civil War, during which Spider-Man unmasked himself in order to support the Super Hero Registration Act, a hitman was sent by an old foe to claim the life of the wall crawler. A bullet meant for him ended up going through his Aunt May's body.
One More Day narrates the desperate quest of Peter Parker, trying to find a way to help his old aunt survive.
And it gets the ball rolling for the upcoming Brand New Day a follow up which promises many changes in Spider-Man's life.
Personally, I can't wait to see those changes.
In fact, my eagerness to read this particular issue even led to a dear friend sending me a draft of what should have been the cover.
Hey. It may not be Steven McNiven, but it definitely makes more sense than anything Straczynski could come up with.
I kid, I kid. The man is good. Just don't give him too much creative control over a character.
Once I was finally able to read the issue, I managed to enjoy it despite a couple of continuity mistakes. (I'm looking at you, Stark Tower)
Quesada's art was surprisingly good, and the Spider-Man/Iron Man match up was handled pretty well.
It's actually strange to read JMS writing Iron Man as a person with feelings and regrets, and not as a villain with a twirly mustache.
All things considered, I'm definitely counting the days till next issue. (And hopefully, next draft)
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
June 8, 2007 – When the DreamWorks/Paramount Pictures live-action film "Transformers" opens at movie houses nationwide July 4, the scenes with F-117 Nighthawk aircraft, CV-22 Osprey troop transports and airmen running across the scene will look so convincing, viewers will swear they're the real deal. And they'll be right.
Much of the action for the film, in which dueling robots from outer space bring their battle to Earth, was filmed months ago at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. About 300 airmen and soldiers whose images dot the screen will be real servicemembers. And the action will take place alongside real-life military aircraft, including the Osprey and F-22 Raptor, both making their Hollywood debuts.
Based on the animated 1980s TV series of the same name, the "Transformers" movie will showcase the latest in computer-generated imagery -- and a level of realism filmmakers say they couldn't get without Defense Department support.
The 1927 film "Wings" set the standard for that cooperation, Phil Strub, who heads the department's film and TV liaison office at the Pentagon, said. In that classic silent-movie production, filmmakers used actual Army aircraft, soldiers, and real estate to reenact World War I training and combat operations.
The result was so authentic that the picture became a big box office hit and the first movie to win an Oscar for best picture.
The production was a win-win situation, Strub said. As Hollywood got realism, the military got the chance to show the American public something important about military people, equipment and missions.
Strub said that's the same reason filmmakers keep asking for military cooperation to this day and why, in many cases, the Defense Department supports their requests.
In another recent example of that cooperation, Edwards Air Force Base hosted movie director Jon Favreau.
As he spent three days at Edwards filming "Iron Man," which Marvel studio hopes will become its next superhero blockbuster, Favreau raved about the realism the base's dazzling array of aircraft brought to his fantasy story. "This is the best back lot you could ever have," he said. "Every angle you shoot is authentic: desert, dry lake beds, hangars."
Some of the most popular TV series, including the Fox Broadcasting Company thriller "24," tap into this realism, too.
Fans of "24" might remember the scene when a military honor guard attended President Palmer's coffin in the Season 5 finale, or when Jack Bauer frantically worked to foil a terrorist plot involving a nuclear submarine.
Robert Cochran, the program's cofounder, said the military support used to create these and other military-related scenes lends a tremendous dimension to the program. "It makes it bigger. It makes it more interesting. It makes it more real," he said.
Meanwhile, Cochran said, it underscores the "high-stakes" theme of the program. "When you see an F-18 streaking across the sky and dropping a bomb on an enemy helicopter, that visually tells you this is real, this is important, this is big stuff," he said.
Howard Gordon, lead writer for the show, said he's often amazed just how far the military will go to support storylines he and his fellow writers come up with. "I'll say, 'There's no way they are going to do this, but we will negotiate a way to do something like it, but much more modestly'," he said. "Then, they come back with a 'yes.'"
But before giving that "yes," officials from the Pentagon and the military services portrayed get a chance to review the script, Strub explained. They negotiate to increase the realism and historical accuracy of the military scenes, recognizing the leeway needed for artistic license. Sometimes they require script changes as a condition of providing support.
Whether they provide support, and how much, depends largely on what's needed in the production and how available it is in light of real-world requirements, Strub said. Movie and TV producers reimburse the government for the cost of supporting a production. One of the biggest costs comes from reimbursing squadrons for flight operations specifically for a movie production, as in the movies "Top Gun" and "Black Hawk Down."
But Strub said Defense Department support for a production boils down to something less tangible than hardware: how the production portrays the military and the men and women in uniform.
When reviewing a script, Strub said, he tries to put himself in the place of a servicemember who would see the movie. "I try to imagine myself sitting in a theater or the big screen, and how it makes me feel seeing how I'm being portrayed," he said.
Air Force Capt. Christian Hodge, who has served as the Defense Department's project officer on both "Transformers" and "Iron Man," said military people typically enjoy seeing their services on screen. "It's good for morale," he said.
Hodge said there's no way to measure the true impact Hollywood productions have on recruiting. But he said it's hard to dismiss the message a big-screen production like "Iron Man" sends.
"This movie is going to be fantastic," he said. "The Air Force is going to come off looking like rock stars."
Strub said he hopes audiences viewing these programs see past the action and high-tech hardware to fundamentals that make the military stand apart from much of society. "We're talking about self-sacrifice, duty and commitment to something beyond oneself," he said. "These are values that we hope come through."
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
CIVIL WAR
-ONE-
[Throughout History Registration has been a part of human civilization. Documents have been registered, citizens have been registered, soldiers have been registered, and guns have been registered. And now a new registration is rising in the world…]
(Control Room, WTNH-Channel 8):
Producer: Okay, how many super-villains are we TALKING here, Speedball?
(Stamford, Connecticut):
Speedball: Three. No, wait. I think I see Coldheart in the backyard emptying the trash. That’s FOUR of ‘em in total, and all four are on the FBI MOST-WANTED LIST, right?
Producer: Cobalt Man, Coldheart, Speedfreek, Nitro… Yep, they all broke out of Ryker’s three months back, and all of them have record as long as your arm. Coldheart fought Spider-Man a couple of times and—get this—Speedfreek almost took down the HULK.
Night Thrasher: He WHAT?
Microbe: These guys are totally out of our LEAGUE, man. No way we should be going in there.
Speedball: But think about the RATINGS, Microbe. This could be the best episode of the entire SECOND SEASON…maybe even the WHOLE SERIES!
Speedball: Six months we’ve been driving around the Midwest looking for goofballs to fight, and the best we’ve managed so far was a bum with a spray can and a wooden leg. This could be the episode that really puts New Warriors on the map, dude. We beat THESE guys and people stop bitching about NOVA leaving the show to go back into space.
Namorita: So what’s the plan?
Speedball: The plan is you spend five more minutes in makeup, Namorita. You think people wanna see that great big ugly ZIT on your chin?
Speedball: Then we—
Night Thrasher (with binoculars): Uh-oh.
Microbe: Whassup?
Night Thrasher: We’ve been MARKED.
Coldheart (running inside): EVERYONE IN COSTUME! IT’S A RAID!
Speedball: GO!!!
Speedfreek: Holy S#!^!
Speedfreek: OOF!
Speedball: I’d heard the clothes make the man, Speedfreek…
Speedball: And in your case it’s TOTALLY TRUE!
Speedfreek: Ungh!
Cameraman: Sound was off for a second there, bud. Any chance of that last part again?
Speedball: Sure thing. (hitting Speedfreek again): …and in YOUR case it’s TOTALLY TRUE, Chuckles!
Speedfreek: UNGH!
Coldheart(seeing Namorita and Night Thrasher): Wait a minute. I know you guys. You’re those idiots from that REALITY SHOW. I’m not getting taken down by the GOLDFISH-GIRL and BONDAGE QUEEN.
Namorita(punching Coldheart): Beg to differ, Coldheart.
Night Thrasher: Could we cut out the part where she called me the BONDAGE QUEEN?
Microbe: Oh yeah. Because NIGHT THRASHER sounds so much STRAIGHTER. Got my beasties rusting COBALT MAN if anyone wants to track down that old CAPTAIN MARVEL villain.
Speedball(jumping across the lawn and smirking at the camera): Never fear, Speedball’s here!
-Speedball smashes into Nitro and a school bus-
Speedball: On your FEET, Nitro. And don’t try any of your stupid explosions because that’s only going to make me HIT you harder.
Nitro: Speedball, right? Crazy kid from that TV show? Well this isn’t a kid’s game son…
Nitro (exploding): …you’re playing with the BIG BOYS now.
Speedball: NOOOOOOOOOOO—
-Explosion engulfs Stamford including the school, playground, and residences. Then a full page splash of Stamford decimated with heroes moving around, and Iron-Man and Captain America in the foreground-
Reporter’s voice over: If you’re just tuning in, we just received word about a massive explosion which decimated the community of Stamford, Connecticut. Sources say the explosion was caused by super villain, Nitro, the Human Bomb. The so-called super heroes the New Warriors were apparently trying to apprehend a group of criminals when the New Warriors’ leader, Speedball, attacked Nitro, setting off the explosion.
Iron-Man: I’m told they’ve got a lead on Nitro. Word is he sneaked out of town in the back of a PICKUP TRUCK.
Captain America: Does it MATTER? All these CHILDREN, Tony. The F.E.M.A. chief said there could be eight or nine HUNDRED casualties. All dead because of a group of super villains that we failed to apprehend.
Iron-Man: They should have called US Cap. Speedball should have KNOWN the New Warriors were out of their league. The whole country saw the tape where they said they were only chasing ratings. This was irresponsible. If only we had been able to train them… It’s all going to be different now Steve and you know it. They are going to try and stop us from doing what we’re doing… or atleast regulate us somehow. After this, how could they not?
Captain America: Tony, no matter what happens, I’m going to keep doing what I’ve been doing for years now: fighting for JUSTICE and helping those who need help, regardless of what anyone, including the American government, has to say about it.
Iron-Man: But Steve, if we try to go against the government, the hammer is going to fall and they are going to lock us up one by one until there are more villains than heroes. I don’t know about you, but I’m not as used to running as our enemies are.
Captain America: As much as I respect the men in uniform and the government itself, there are some things that it just can’t dictate. And one of those is my freedom to stop super-villains like Nitro from hurting others.
Iron-Man: I don’t know how much I agree with that anymore. After seeing all the destruction here… I can’t help but wonder how many have been hurt in the past… I mean, Hulk’s rampages, Galactus attacking, the House of M and the Kree Skrull War… could we have shown more control? Perhaps if there was a larger initiative of heroes to fight things threatening America and the world, we could change the public’s tune.
Captain America: I don’t give a damn about the public’s opinion Tony. I’m going to do what I think is right to protect the people. It’s all of those events that you mentioned that give us a reason for being. Do you think the government can stop Galactus? Maybe so… but controlling our actions could lead us down a path where I can’t follow. This discussion is over. –Cap walks away from Tony towards some rubble to keep helping and Tony, holding his helmet, glances down at the ground with a sad look on his face-
Firefighter: Marvel Girl! Cyclops! We need some help over here. Motions detectors are picking up something twenty feet down, but we haven’t got our DIGGERS yet.
Firefighter: Everybody back. Clear a little space, huh?
Cyclops: Can you handle this on your own, Rachel?
Marvel Girl: I can HANDLE it, Scott.
Firefighter: Six more survivors over by the school’s north side. Bring blankets and a defibrillator. –Looking at the X-Men- Thanks for your help. You guys have been there for us a lot and despite whatever happens, we still appreciate it.
Wolverine (as Sentinels step forward to monitor): You GOTTA be kiddin’ me.
Little Boy: M-Mommy?
Mom: It’s okay, honey. They aren’t going to hurt you. The Sentinels are only here to keep an eye on the X-Men for us. They’re the GOOD GUYS.
Wolverine: We volunteer to help with a FEDERAL EMERGENCY and you’re STILL following us around?
Jim Rhodes: Just doin’ our JOBS, Wolverine.
Goliath: It won’t just be mutants they’re watching after THIS one, Ms Marvel. This is the straw that broke the CAMEL’S BACK. You mark my words.
Ms Marvel: You THINK?
Goliath: Are you KIDDING me? After PHILLY getting bombed, the Hulk trashing VEGAS… WOLVERINE saying he was gonna kill THE PRESIDENT? This is the start of the WITCH HUNTS, honey. They’ll be coming after us with TORCHES and PITCHFORKS.
Ms Marvel: Yeah, well, maybe this time they’re RIGHT Goliath…
Ms Marvel: …I mean who the hell can justify THIS?
She-Hulk(on Larry King Live): A ban on super-heroes? Well, in world with thousands of super-villains that’s obviously IMPOSSIBLE, Larry… But training them up and making them carry badges? Yes, I’d say that sounds like a reasonable response. But not everyone is gonna like it.
Priest: …and so we ask you, Lord, for your mercy. Not only for the souls of those who perished, but for the super people whose carelessness CAUSED this devastating tragedy.
-People file out of the church-
Miriam Sharpe (off panel): Tony Stark? –She spits in his eye- YOU FILTHY SON OF A BITCH!
Bodyguard: Ma’am, please. We’re gonna have to ask you to leave.
Miriam Sharpe: Leave WHAT? My own son’s FUNERAL? STARK’S the one you should be dragging away!
Tony Stark: Ma’am, I appreciate that you’re upset, but the New Warriors’ RECKLESSNESS had nothing to do with ME.
Miriam Sharpe: Oh, yeah? And who finances THE AVENGERS? Who’s been telling kids for years that they can live outside the law as long as they’re wearing TIGHTS?
Miriam Sharpe: Cops have to TRAIN and CARRY BADGES, but that’s too BORING for TONY STARK. Nah, JOE BILLIONAIRE here says all you need are some powers and a badass attitude, and you can have a place in his private SUPER-GANG.
Bodyguard: Somebody get her outta here…
Miriam Sharpe: You FUND this sickness, Stark. With your dirty billions.
Miriam Sharpe: The BLOOD of my little Damien is on YOUR hands right now.
-Stark looks away, ashamed-
JJJ: I hope you’re GETTING all this Parker.
CNN (“Is It Time for Super Heroes to be Registered?”): …like Speedball, for example. Nobody likes to speak ill of the dead, but here was a boy who, by all accounts, couldn’t even name the President of the United States. Their powers can be as awesome as NUCLEAR WEAPONS, Bill. Shouldn’t they be TESTED before they’re allowed to work in our communities?
(Downtown New York):
-Human Torch flies down to night club-
Torch: Hey, baby, sorry I’m late, but I kinda had to rescue a bunch of cute kids from a burning orphanage on the way over here.
Date: Is that TRUE, Johnny Storm, or are you just making stuff up again so I don’t get MAD at you?
Torch: Well, swap “Orphans” for “Babes” and “Burning Building” for “Signing Autographs” and it’s COMPLETELY true, sweetie.
Torch: CHICO! How’s it HANGING, big man?
Bouncer: Paris and Lindsay are waiting upstairs, Johnny. Chicks couldn’t BELIEVE it when I said you were dropping by.
Girl in Line: Hey! How come that loser’s getting in when we’ve been waiting HOURS?
Torch: Tell you what, Gorgeous: Next time YOU save the world from Galactus, you can borrow my FREE PASS, ‘kay?
Second Girl in Line: What about the next time you blow up a school, jackass?
Guy in Line: Yeah, what about next time you kill some KIDS?
Torch: What?
Big Guy in Line: Man, you got a lot of NERVE swaggering around town after THAT. I was you, I’d be ashamed to GO OUTSIDE.
Torch: Hell are you SHRIEKING about Tubby? I got nothing to do with Speedball or the juvenile New Warriors. Those guys were C-List, TOPS. And I’m a member of the FANTASTIC FOUR.
Skinny Guy in Line: BABY-KILLER!
Date: Johnny, I don’t LIKE this. I want to go home.
-Johnny gets smashed in the head with a beer bottle and is knocked unconscious. Clubbers proceed to beat him close to death.-
Date: JOHNNY!!!
Big Guy in Line: HOLD HIM DOWN! HOLD HIM DOWN!
Bryan Deemer(news reporter): --Human Torch, the latest in a series of attacks on New York’s super-community, but this was the first physical action against our ex-‘heroes.’ More at eleven, plus the growing pressure on THE PRESIDENT in an election year—the people of Stamford ask: What are his PROPOSALS for SUPER HERO REFORM? We have also discovered that one of the many dead includes the wife of Connecticut Senator Christopher Pact, a now staunch supporter of the Registration Act. Here is coverage from an earlier outburst in the Senate Chambers:
Sen. Christopher Pact: --because of these “HEROES” my wife is DEAD! How many COUNTLESS times must we MOURN the loss of loved ones and REBUILD the plethora of businesses and homes DECIMATED by these super-powered FREAKS?! The Registration Act is the first of MANY steps needed to PREVENT these heroes from hurting others and holding those who do RESPONSIBLE for their actions! I urge you to remember those lost in Stamford and throughout the past when you vote on this bill. Thank you. I yield my time.
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