Sinister Scott Derrickson Warns Us To Beware The Night

Scott Derrickson is a man with a few horror films under his belt, each of them approached from his genuine position of Christian faith.

For example, his fairly fun new picture Sinister features an evil demon and, according to writer Robert C. Cargill speaking at Frightfest, Derickson took great pains ensure there was nothing 'authentic' about the demon or any of the occult lore in the movie because he didn't want to 'invite' an actual 'presence' into the film.

More obviously, there was also The Exorcism of Emily Rose, which toyed with, then discounted, rational explanations for the central possession.

And now he's signed on for Beware the Night.

The Wrap describe it like this:

The story is set in a paranormal world and follows a New York police officer investigating real life demon possessions, exorcisms and werewolves after dark.

Derrickson would possibly argue that we live in a paranormal world. Or maybe he wouldn't use that word.

Mark Wahlberg has apparently already passed on the lead role. I don't know who the next in the Mark Wahlberg line is, but I guess we're going to find out. I'm pretty sure it won't be Donnie Wahlberg, mind'

Derrickson is a co-writer on Atom Egoyan's upcoming Devil's Knot, a fictional account of the case of the West Memphis Three. During that case, the prosecution tried to frame the murders as part of a satanic ritual. It's a fascinating, tragic story and I'd recommend checking out the Paradise Lost documentaries for a grounding in it.

DC Zero Issues Roll Out The Legacies

This week is the beginning of DC Comics' Zero Issue initiative, where all their DC New 52 titles publish a flashback issue zero, but one that still has relevance to the ongoing narrative, and more importantly the next issue. You know, like you first read about on Bleeding Cool.

What we didn't tell you (because we had no idea) was that the books wouldn't so much look at the character's origins' but all the characters that came before them. So GI Combat, looks at the Unknown Soldiers from every war. Including ones before they invented head bandages.

Animal Man looks at Red avatars that came before the current Buddy Baker. And with Arcane doing his best Mission Impossible impression

And then doing the exact same thing over on Swamp Thing in the nineteenth century.

And while we know of Jenny Quantum and Jenny Sparks at Stormwatch, in Stormwatch #0 we get to see a bunch of previous Jenny Century babies back to the days of Demon Knights, joining up the dots between the two series, and also giving us, however briefly, Jenny Freedom. Wy do I get the tickling feeling that she'll be back?

But the best legacy character by a long way, has to be in Dial H #0. In which we not only see a Dialer from ancient times, but also exactly what she has to dial.

A Sun Dial.

Which has to be turned at noon every day to dial a new letter.

It takes four days to dial, folks.

For a relaunch that seemed to do away with a lot of legacy characters, it looks like we may be getting a bunch more'

Nineteen Thoughts About Nineteen Comics ' Ultimate Spider-Man, Phantom Stranger, Archer & Armstrong, Action Comics, Invincible Iron Man, Hawkeye, The Boys, Thief Of Thieves, Epic Kill, Detective Comics, Thor, Before Watchmen, Think Tank, Amazing Spider-Man, World's Finest, Earth Two, Green Arrow, Batwing And Action Comics,

In Ultimate Spider-Man, Miles Morales and Captain America seem to be living in a different crossover than the rest of the Divided We Fall Ultimate books, in that civilisation is breaking down around the country, but New York seems fine. Which is, I understand, the opposite of what normally happens. But Ultimate Gwen Stacy saves the day by doing her best 616 Kitty Pryde impersonation.

Phantom Stranger #0 emphasises that this is Judas Iscariot, if we were in any doubt, but again manages not to name him. And while emphasising that Judas himself does not believe his is a bad man, but accepting his expected judgement, has 'avarice' named and linked to the silver coins placed around his neck. Which is an odd one, most modern readings of Judas' actions peg him as a Zionist trying to force the hand of Judas to overthrow the Roman reign, one among the disciples who truly believed Jesus was the Son Of God, and that the payment was more of a peppercorn deal.

 

I'm still enjoying Archer & Armstrong as we get more religious conspiracy, nuns with guns, and our odd couple trying to find some understanding' and yes, Armstrong totally tapped that. The political satire is a bit too blatantly obvious to land any blows, and the fun between the two characters stil is lacking from the original, but there's an ember there. We must blow gently on it, clap our hands, believe in fairies and it may once arise again.

While in The Boys, Wee Hughie and Butcher also come to an understanding. But it's one that puts them in direct opposition, atop the Empire State Building. And friends become downright enemies.

The opposite is happening in Invincible Iron Man, as the book starts to regain the use of that prefix and the Armor Wars provide a different take on that tone' not so much Armor Vs Armor, but Armor teaming up with Armor, even when it's Evil Armor. Morality is out of the door, this is about the survival of the species and odd allegiances are forged. With a rather ring-based foe in mind. It's Armor Wars!!!

In Hawkeye #2 it's' okay, this is a comic book. It is still a superhero comic book. But does anyone, even that bad guys involved possibly think that the above could in any way work. Yes, that's right, don't kill the Avenger now, kill him elsewhere for some reason that is not just apparent but gives Clint a little more wiggle room to find a new target. Seriously now, there are some very stupid super villains around'

See, Black Kiss 2? Thief Of Thieves knows how to still get distributed in Canada and the UK.

Epic Kill continues its Presidential kill spree mission and action adventure car chase and gun chase, that may succeed in this form like no other American publisher has before now, before twisting into a death/life/death/life alternate paths that do everything they can to stop the ending of this series being a terribly obvious disappointing twist. And they pretty much succeed'

Bruce' I am not your father. Say that in a deep husky voice a few times. In Detective Comics #0 it's time for Bruce to go all Karate Kid on us, in a twist on the fate of his actual parents, that seems vry much in keeping with the themes of the Nolan movies. In fact, that's probably the point, this is possibly a perfect Batman comic to pick up after seeing The Dark Knight Rises.

 

Matt Fraction, Kieron Gillen, you are very naughty people. Very naughty people indeed. Tumblr will be all over you for this, a mixture of cheers and boos for the ending of Thor this month. And a slightly better Loki than last issue, which is nice to see. But the ending, oh the ending' seriously. I may have to spoil this later today. Be warned.

 

Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre is the one book that has stuck to the famous Watchmen nine panel grid, which pays off this issue as Laurie gets all loved up on LSD and her world starts to twist and turn. Still, by far, the most beautiful looking book in the project, and it reads at a fast pace too. Outstanding. Warning ' this comic contains a non-blue penis.

Think Tank #2 goes a little neoconspiracy on us this month, showing us that for killing insurgents in Iraq, there really is a App for that. And teaching us that war is bad.

 

As Spider-Man continues not to keep Alpha in control in the new Amazing Spider-Man, he does draw on his own past quite deeply. With a rather prominent reference to Amazing Spider-Man #33' and he has had a lot of experience of that since!

And yes, female Robin-to-be-Huntress one day has her on parental death issues to get past as well in World's Finest #0. I'm starting to see why super villains keep trying to blow up orphanages, it's to try and dispose of as many future superheroes as they can. Playing the long game'

While Earth One #0 brings back the Multiverse' and some very dodgy reason as a result of it. Means justifying the ends time. All very Ozymandias.

 

So who did write Green Arrow #0 then? The cover says Ann Nocenti, the inside says Judd Winick. I'm going to go with the latter, but really it's anybody's guess as we get a rather unpleasant young Oliver Queen, who may have good intentions, but they don't go well. In fact they go very badly indeed. In fact, on the basis of this comic, there's far more scope in making Green Arrow a propr super villain' certainly more than Judas gets blamed for in Phantom Stranger.

 

Whereas Batwing #0 gives us his early origin story as, well, Daredevil. Fighting young kid, check, in a official legal job that doesn't solve the real problems, check, night sticks, check. It's just that in this case, the bad guy has the horns.

At least we were spared a legacy of Batwings going back to tribal African times. Maybe for the Minus One issues next year'

But Action Comics #0 instead, just gives us something' rather sweet. And emphasising not only Superman's alien origins, but highlighting the stuff he carries around with him as well' it's a zero issue for the character, for the brand, for the image, and for his security blanket as well. Super Linus.

This might be the last Thoughts for a while' something different next week, I think.

Nemo: Heart Of Ice By Alan Moore And Kevin O'Neill For February ' Cover And Description

These are the two Midtown Comics exclusive covers for The Walking Dead Magazine, from Titan, coming out in October. I have been told that Diamond orders of this title have been through the roof, and far higher that Diamond have received for, well, any other Titan product ever. Bleeding Cool Magazine #1 comes out the'

Walking Dead Easter Egg: When Zombie Attacks Are Just Not Enough Any More

These are the two Midtown Comics exclusive covers for The Walking Dead Magazine, from Titan, coming out in October. I have been told that Diamond orders of this title have been through the roof, and far higher that Diamond have received for, well, any other Titan product ever. Bleeding Cool Magazine #1 comes out the'

Something' New, From DC Comics In January

For the last couple of months, Bleeding Cool has been reporting that DC Comics may be cancelling a bunch of titles and launching new books in January, as well as giving us a number of creative changes to the books. Grant Morrison announced he is leaving Action Comics with the December issue, we've reported Andy Diggle as picking up the book after him, there's Tony S Daniel's new expected project, Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis are rumoured to be leaving Aquaman with Ivan Reis moving to Justice League, a whole bunch of stuff. But it's not like we've had any hard evidence of such a big change in January.

But I am told that we will have this week. And that in the New 52 Zero issues out on Wednesday, as well as articles in the back detailing a new 'Who's Who In The New 52', with the bok's characters gettinga  profile ahead of a new guide to the New DC Universe, Ian Sattler writes in the back talking about the upcoming DC crossovers and then teasing 'and that's before we get to' something' new in January.'

Well that sounds big. Bigger than I've been rumouring as well.

What could it be?

The Last Page Of Crossed Badlands #12 ' SPOILERS

The Crossed series isn't a big one for continuity. Something happened, people are turning into monstrosities of humanity and destroying each other in increasingly hurtful and disgusting fashions, exhibiting the sickest type of humour when doing so.

But you don't see people from one Crossed series appearing in another. Their stories are separate, often by geography.

Until now.

This is the final page of last week's Crossed: Badlands #12. Those familiar with the series may have had quite a surprise. Others will have just had a mysterious cliffhanger.

Here is that last page. The top two thirds of it at least, there's even more spoilers on the bottom third.

That's Harold. Harold from Crossed: Psychopath, also by writer David Lapham.

Things have got far, far worse'

How Marvel Is Ensuring Marvel NOW Will Dominate Sales

This weekend, I wrote an article showing just how Marvel are ensuring that Uncanny Avengers #1 will outsell Walking Dead #100. But it may not be the only one.

All of Marvel NOW's launches are being supported by a series of discounts and variant covers to those who stock heavy, possibly more than Marvel have ever run before. Here's a breakdown.

The most interesting points are the AVX: Consequences variant getting exponentially rarer with each issue, Joe Quesada drawing plenty of variants, and the amount of limited variants in many cases meaning that the retailers will, after selling them, basically have their stock of the comic for free, so sell or dispose of as they wish.

All this however is dependent on the variant market holding strong. With this much activity,could we be looking at a limited variant glut, retailers not making their money on the variants as expected and stores being stuck with large amounts of unsellable stock? You know what happened last time'

Do you remember when Joe Quesada got rid of variant covers at Marvel? No, me neither'

Marvel NOW Point One

1: 50 Joe Quesada variant

1:150 Quesada sketch variant

Young Baby variant

Uncanny Avengers #1

Discount matched to exceed 200%. 165% and 150% of orders for Avengers Vs X-Men #5 (est 186,555).

1:75 Adi Granov cover

1:50 Acuna cover

1:100 Marc Silvestri cover.

1:300 John Cassaday sketch variant

1:200 Silvestri sketch variant.

The Skottie Young Baby, Deadpool, Uncanny, Avengers, Blank and Sara Pichelli variant covers available if the Avengers Vs X-Men #5 levels (est 186,555) are matched on regular cover.

A + X #1

1:20 variant

1:25 McGuinness variant

1:50 McGuinness Sketch variant

Blank and Baby variants, for those who match sales to AVX VS #2 (est 98,819)

50th Anniversary Cover for those who match sales to AVX VS #4 (est- 86,526)

AVX: Consequences #1

1:20 Rivera variant

AVX: Consequences #2

1:25 variant

AVX: Consequences #3

1:30 variant

AVX: Consequences #4

1:40 variant

AVX: Consequences #5

1:50 variant

Indestructible Hulk #1

1:25 Leinil Yu Design variant

1:50 Walt Simonson variant

1:100 Quesada variant

1:150 Quesada sketch variant

Blank and Baby variants for those who exceed 125% sales of AVX VS #3 (est 94,528)

Uncanny Avengers #2

1: 100 Milo Manara cover

1: 200 John Cassaday sketch cover

All New X-Men #1

1:50 Variant

1:100 Quesada variant

1:150 Quesada sketch variant

Blank and Baby variants for those who exceed 100% sales of Avengers Vs X-Men #10

All New X-Men #2

1:50 variant

Iron Man #1

1:25 Carlo Pagulayan design variant

1:50 Granov variant

1:100 Quesada variant

1:150 Quesada sketch variant

Blank and Baby variants for those who exceed 125% sales of AVX VS #3 (est 94,528)

Iron Man #2

1:25 Carlo Pagulayan design variant

1:50 Granov variant

Thor God Of Thunder #1

1:25 Esad Ribic design variant

1:50 Daniel Acuna variant

1:100 Quesada variant

1:150 Quesada sketch variant

Blank and Baby variants for those who exceed 125% sales of AVX VS #3 (est 94,528)

Thor God Of Thunder #2

1:50 Daniel Acuna variant

Blank and Baby variants for those who exceed 125% sales of AVX VS #3 (est 94,528)

A+X #2

1:20 Variant

1:25 Ed McGuinness variant

1:50 McGuinness Sketch variant

Captain America #1

1:25 Jerome Opena design variant

1:50 Ryan Meinerding variant

1:100 Quesada variant

1:150 Quesada sketch variant

Blank and Baby variants for those who exceed 125% sales of AVX VS #3 (est 94,528)

X-Men Legacy #1

1:50 Kaare Andrews variant

Blank and Baby variants for those who match sales of AVX VS #5

X-Men Legacy #2

1:50 variant

Fantastic Four #1

1:50 Dave Johnson variant

1:100 Quesada variant

1:150 Quesada sketch variant

Bagley Connecting variant for those who match sales of FF #1 against AVX VS #4 (est 86,526)

Blank and Baby variants for those who match sales of AVX VS #4 (est 86,526)

FF #1

1:50 variant

Bagley Connecting variant for those who match sales against AVX VS #4 (est 86,526)

Blank and Baby variants for those who match sales of AVX VS #4 (est 86,526)

Deadpool #1

1:25 Terry Moore design variant

1:50 Chris Bachalo variant

Blank and Baby variants for those who match sales of AVX VS #5

Deadpool #2

1:50 variant

Avengers #1

Blank and Baby variants for those who match sales to Avengers Vs X-Men #10

1: 50 variant

Retailer variant ' details not yet know

Venom Comes To Philadelphia. Local Press Hold A Party.

The local media is getting excited' just not necessary the local media in Philadelphia.

Either way, Marvel comics character, Venom is leaving New York for Philadelphia. Both the writer Cullen Bunn and editor Tom Brennan went to Philadelphia's Drexel University, and they're giving their alumni its own superhero.

Or, at least, something close to it.

Bunn is quoted as saying 'He's surrounding himself with new people ' such as tabloid journalist Katy Kiernan and his new love interest, the Asgardian Valkyrie. He's changing his approach to being a superhero. And he's looking for a change of scenery.'

While Brennan is quoted as saying 'This is a good man with a troubled past who needed a fresh start, and thought the City of Brotherly Love was the perfect place for him to take his next steps in becoming the hero he was born to be.'

The first Philadephia issue will be out in December.

 

 

New Series Of The Thick Of It 'Probably' Last, Iannucci Working On HBO Silicon Valley Show

The Thick Of It returns next week for a new, coalition themed series. The trailer suggests it's going to be no less funny than it ever was.

Perfect time, then, to draw it to a close? That old 'quit while you're ahead' thing we've heard about every monstrously successful British sitcom ever.* It's what sets us apart from the Americans, apparently.

Armando Iannucci has been speaking with The Guardian, and described this new series as 'probably' the last, though:

The door is left open at the end to come back and do specials. But I feel I have explored every crevice now and it's time to take stock and move on.

And on to what?

I'm thinking about the power of the internet' Microsoft, Google, Facebook: you have these twentysomethings who have a way into billions of households' where's the power gone? The power is gravitating towards these companies' I'm also interested in that personal thing of what it does to you when you're 25 and you're a multibillionaire and everyone in the world knows who you are.

Iannucci says that he has completed a script for HBO for this new show set in Silicon Valley. He also has a second series of Veep coming up on the network. I hope they know how lucky they are to have him.

So, next Saturday night, BBC 2, 9:45. See you there. In the meantime, enjoy almost two minutes in preview.

*Okay, Fawlty Towers and The Office.

Grant Morrison ' From Las Vegas To Dundee

So, without even picking up Justice League #12, published today, you have a pretty good idea what's in. The news has told you. Superman and Wonder Woman get it on. It's on the news, DC released the first five pages of the story, and the second-to-last page' and without you knowing it, the last two'

So Why Was Black Kiss 2 Banned In The UK Anyway? (SPOILERS)

As of this week, Black Kiss 2, Howard Chaykin's sequel to his sexually explicit comic book of the eighties, is banned in the UK. But why? And how come issue 1 was allowed in after a brief UK Customs-based delay?

There is a difference between the first and second issues however, and it's one that that UK Customs has been rather sensitive over. While guidelines on the creation and impirtation of pornography have been widely relaxed in recent years, there are two areas that Customs remains sensitive to, that of child pornography and violent pornography. And with issue two, Black Kiss 2 goes firmly into the latter of those territories.

Spoilers, folks.

Because in issue 2, one character, while engaging quite visibly in fellatio, bites the penis off another character. Then spits it across the room, blood still pumping from both stumps.

It is likely, though Customs rarely comment on such things, that it is this scene, quite explicitly shown and similarly expected scenes in subsequent issues, that made Diamond decide not to bother Customs with this or future issues.

Although some people are clearly managing to circumvent the ruling' expect the larger and more service-led comic stores in Britain to go the extra mile and import the comic books in.

Preview: Hypernaturals #3

So, without even picking up Justice League #12, published today, you have a pretty good idea what's in. The news has told you. Superman and Wonder Woman get it on. It's on the news, DC released the first five pages of the story, and the second-to-last page' and without you knowing it, the last two'

Bleeding Cool Vs. Cockneys Vs. Zombies

The 'zombventure' Cockneys vs. Zombies is now on limited release across the UK after its premiere at last week's Frightfest where the crowd, you might not be surprised to hear, absolutely ate it up.

I spoke to James Moran, the Doctor Who and Torchwood writer who finished up this script, and you'll be able to read what he told me later on today. Firstly, though. the director, Mattias Hoene ' and a look at the film's comic book flavoured opening titles.

So, here's what Hoene had to tell me about working with Moran, balancing horror and comedy and the expectations set up by that remarakable title.

With Severance and his work on Torchwood and Doctor Who, James was, to me, the name in horror comedy. He's one of our very few people is really good at it, good at cracking horror and comedy together. The rules of horror and comedy seem to me to be diametrically opposite. Horror is all close up, claustrophobic, dark, visceral, scary; comedy is all about wider shots, brightness, seeing everything. Crafting the two things together, with gory things, character work, is quite a puzzle, but an exciting one.

Comedy needs to work very quickly and what you need to read off an actor's performance is their body language and their expressions, especially the body language. If somebody jumps back scared on a tight shot, if feels visceral but if you're on a wide shot, you can laugh about it.

When I came up with the concept and first mentioned 'Hey, why don't we have zombies and cockneys in a movie?' I was working with a couple of cockney actors at the time, and they were coming up against a supernatural enemy. It was hilarious because of the cockney attitude of never giving a shit about anything, never letting down your facade, always having a funny line on your lips and then just blowing the enemy away with a shotgun. This sort of attitude, which has helped cockneys successfully fight everything from Zulus to the old bill, never really has been seen in a film with a supernatural enemy.

Of course, the title Cockneys vs. Zombies is the high concept that sets it all up, but I felt that tonally, this film had a niche that was unique. All through the development process I had to make sure we didn't lose that cheeky, fun attitude of a bunch of horror protagonists who are not scared. They don't spend half an hour figuring out it's zombies, they just go 'Oh, it's zombies, okay.' I wanted to retain that tone of voice.

I didn't want to make it a comedy as such, I just wanted to observe the situation and see what would happen if you put zombies into the mix. Every funny set piece is just playing with the tropes. We're not making a 'Haha' film, it just happens that the characters are funny and we love going on an adventure with them.
The zombie genre is a genre of its own now, like a thriller or a romantic comedy. I was keen to not just make a zomedy but I wanted a Cockney zombie adventure that I'm going to call my zomventure. It's much more action packed, much more gung-ho.

I didn't want it to be in any way patronising, and I wanted it to be my loving homage to cockney culture. The character played by Alan Ford is fighting to retain that culture, and that means looking after your neighbours, making sure your small community is alright, the values of family. That's kind of the theme of the film ' the fight to retain cockney values in a changing East London landscape, as symbolised by zombies.

Zombies are always a symbol, representing the protagonist's troubles and worries. In this film you can read the zombie outbreak as being a symbol for old traditional values being threatened by an outside enemy.
We played on some of the things you'd want us to play on, like rhyming slang and feisty, foul language, but I think it's key that everyone in the movie has a lot of heart. You can identify with all of the characters which makes them very likeable even while they're swearing, shooting zombies, robbing banks.

The truth is, I always had Alan in mind for the role he is playing. He's so cockney he'll inspire everyone else to be as cockney as he is. I tried to cast really interesting actors, maybe some unexpected choices ' Richard Briers, Rasmus Hardiker, Henry Treadaway. It's a B-movie title but I wanted the audience to go from that to a lot of fun and excitement and quality.

Sure, the title will polarise audiences, but I think it's cheeky and that's how it should be. For us, though, it was the concept, and I feel that if people like that concept then the title should be alright.

Thanks to Hoene for taking the time out for our chat.

With all that talk about balancing tones, it seems right we should look at the mood-setting opening titles.

Michonne And Rick Grimes Exclusive Covers To Walking Dead Magazine

These are the two Midtown Comics exclusive covers for The Walking Dead Magazine, from Titan, coming out in October.

I have been told that Diamond orders of this title have been through the roof, and far higher that Diamond have received for, well, any other Titan product ever. Bleeding Cool Magazine #1 comes out the same month, I think we'll be pushed down to number two with this one'