TVSquad

One question I've had with the Disney acquisition of Marvel is how the House of the Mouse is going to deal with certain un-P.C. franchises. The one which came to mind was the comic series Marvel Zombies, which deals with an alternate Earth in which all superheroes were turned into flesh-eating undead and consumed the rest of the world's populace.

While I don't think I"ll be getting my answer anytime soon (perhaps the zombies will simply get locked in the Disney vault), some animator decided to redo the introductions to the 1960's Marvel Comics television cartoons in the zombie style. The original cartoons were essentially stop-motion comics of the original Lee/Kirby works. It's rather impressive how accurately the animator duplicates and parodies the original intros.

These videos can either be taken with humor or disgust as Zombie Captain America decapitates several soldiers and the heads of Norse Gods are thrown around. I leave it to you to judge for yourself. The videos are after the jump.

[via Topless Robot]

Disneyland hosted its own Disney Convention, called D23, in the style of Comic Con this past weekend. The name comes from the year Walt Disney moved to Hollywood and the event was held at the Anaheim Convention Center across the street from Disneyland . Among other announcements was that of a new Muppet movie called The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made (hopefully it's a working title). There was also a live performance by Miley Cyrus, whom Disney owns the soul of.

Admittedly, it's a pretty good idea which caters to the real Disney enthusiasts out there (having met a few, I know they certainly exist). Disney is one of the few companies that is large enough to have its own version of Comic Con. While the convention had announcements for most of its franchises, I noted the absence of any mention of the recently-acquired Marvel Comics.

On the other hand, the company already has a Disney convention open all year round. It's called Disneyland (or Disneyworld for the East Coast). What do you think of this development?

Being a big fan of Cartoon Network's goofy Batman: The Brave and the Bold, I'm really looking forward to the debut of Marvel's Super Hero Squad. The show premieres Sept. 19 on Cartoon Network, and Marvel has already launched a teaser site featuring a fun video preview that could turn out to be the show's opening montage.

Super Hero Squad is based on the toy line and video game of the same name. It features cute and cuddly versions of Marvel heroes, like Wolverine, Iron Man, and the Hulk, protecting Super Hero City from a pint-sized Dr. Doom and other baby baddies. Judging by the preview video, the show will even make room for kid-sized versions of more obscure characters like Fing Fang Foom and MODOK.

One of Marvel's upcoming projects is a new direct-to-DVD animated movie called Planet Hulk. It's based on the comic story of the same name. It looks to be a pretty faithful adaption. I have read the original story and thought was good.

It's a huge story, though, and I doubt they'll fit all the details in a 90-minute movie (or however long it is). If the DVD has big sales, will Marvel release the sequel story in which The Hulk returns to Earth and fights the other Marvel heroes as a DVD as well?

Even though I liked Planet Hulk, there are other, better stories I'd love to see released as a DVD animated movie. Hey, DC, how about putting The Dark Knight Returns on a DVD (a real movie and not the cheap animotion Watchmen DVD)? Marvel, where's my animated movie of Marvel Zombies?

The trailer is after the jump so you can judge for yourself. Which comic storyline would you be interested in seeing animated?

[via Topless Robot]

I doubt I'll ever grow out of my love for superhero comics or TV shows based on my favorite comic book characters. It's kept me from abandoning Smallville for the past eight years, and it's the reason my DVR is currently clogged up with reruns of Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Wolverine and the X-Men. I might have two new superhero shows to add to that list pretty soon, and both of them are based on Marvel Comics characters.

As I mentioned on SciFi Squad earlier today, Marvel will preview two if its highly anticipated animated TV projects at this year's San Digeo Comic-Con, Marvel Animé and Super Hero Squad.

Outside of art school, I'm not sure how many people are really into both Project Runway and comic books. Marvel, however, seems determined to tap into that audience by including the ever-popular Tim Gunn in its upcoming mini-series, Models, Inc., which features some of the finest ladies in the Marvel Universe taking on the catwalk. I guess if you really think about it, it's not really straying too far from comics about chicks with Gunns.

Ha! Yes! I'm just gonna pat myself on the back for that one because I know no one else will.

First, let me lower your expectations: This is just a rumor started by fanboys at a comic book shop.

OK, for those of you still reading, former Battlestar Galactica actress Katee Sackhoff was recently spotted buying a ton of comics featuring Daredevil character Typhoid Mary. According to MTV, Sackhoff visited Golden Apple Comics in L.A. last week and picked up the books and stunned the shop's staff with her smokin' hotness. This, of course, led the staff to believe that she might be doing research to play Typhoid Mary in a new Daredevil movie.

It's true. You really can't kill Wolverine.

Hugh Jackman is already hitting the gym for a sequel to the just-released X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and Nicktoons just ordered 26 more episodes of Wolverine and the X-Men.

The animated show was a big hit on Nicktoons, helping give the network its highest-ratings ever in key demos. The new eps will kick off May 22.

I know a lot of X-Men fans had problems with Wolverine and the X-Men, but I love the show. Being a Cyclops fan (yes, we do exist), it sorta bugs me that Wolverine is billed as the leader of the X-Men on the show, but that's a minor complaint. The show is fun, packed with cool, somewhat obscure Marvel mutants, and it's pretty entertaining for kids and adults.

The folks at our sister site Cinematical are working hard to give you news and reviews of the best -- and worst -- the silver screen has to offer. Here are some of their musings on the latest blockbusters, indies, and everything in between:

• Do you want to write screenplays for Marvel? Well you may just get your chance. Head over to Cinematical to see how.
• Dreamworks Animation has a rather spotty history, but it's been looking up lately, with the success of Kung Fu Panda. See how Monsters vs. Aliens stacks up.
• If animated monsters and aliens aren't your thing, check out this Cinematical Seven: Monster vs. Alien Smackdowns.
• Have you felt that hole in your life? That's the lack of Evil Dead 4. Well, don't worry: it's coming.
• Cinematical asks the question, "Is the next Harry Potter a Dyslexic New Yorker?" I certainly hope so.

It's not enough to have Spider-Man on The CW, Wolverine and the X-Men on Nicktoons and the upcoming Black Panther on BET. Marvel Comics is now creating a new series for Cartoon Network called the Marvel Super Hero Squad.

Obviously, the show is marketed towards the very young viewer who is first being introduced to the Marvel super hero characters. That way, the company can indoctrinate new zombies into its empire. The cartoon is based on Hasbro's anime-like action figure series of the same name.

I can't help but wonder if Marvel is spreading itself too thin with so many movies and cartoon series. On the other hand, rival DC Comics is already marketing to the kiddies with their Brave and the Bold series on Cartoon Network and one cannot help but wonder if Marvel simply doesn't want to be outdone in that demographic.

In any case, kids watching the show will buy the toys and vice-versa. Marvel is learning the lesson of Disney.

After the Thor movie is released in 2010, Marvel will be doing a follow-up by releasing an animated Thor series on television. The series doesn't yet have a channel where it will be broadcast, but given the big Marvel hoopla nowadays, it probably won't be a problem to find one.

Granted, Thor isn't one of Marvel's top tier, like Spider-Man or the X-Men, but he's easily in the second tier. Given Marvel's current strategy of a shared universe of movies leading to The Avengers movie, the character will only get more popular over time.

To me, the classic Marvel cartoon remains the Spider-Man one from the 60's, but Marvel had a bunch of other cartoons in the 60's of the original Avengers characters, including Thor, based on the Kirby comics of the time. They each had some memorable, albeit brief, opening jingles. After the jump, I've included the one for Thor. Sing it! "Cross the Rainbow Bridge of Asgard..."

Marvel comics icon Stan "The Man" Lee will make a cameo appearance on the Monday, February 19th episode of Heroes. Entitled "Unexpected," Lee will play a bus driver who has an encounter with Hiro Nakamura.

Is it because we have proof positive that Masi Oka was once a nerd supreme - works part-time for George Lucas, on the cover of Time circa 1987 as an Asian-American Whiz Kid - that he gets to have all the geek-out encounters on Heroes? His dad is George Takei. He rides the bus with Stan Lee. Anyone want to start making guesses as to what uber-geek chic run-in Hiro will have next? Frank Miller? Alan Moore? The cast of Firefly? Xeni Jardin? He's got an in with Lucas.

Steve Krantz, the producer who helped bring Marvel characters to the television screen, passed away due to complications from pneumonia on January 4 at the age of 83.

Krantz produced The Marvel Superheroes, a limited-animation series featuring The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and Sub-Mariner. The series used artwork taken directly from the comic books, often from different artists so that the character designs would sometimes change within a single episode. Marvel Superheroes was a major influence on the graphic style of the Adult Swim series Minoriteam.

Krantz also produced the Spider-Man cartoon in the late '60s, and was also a producer for Ralph Bakshi's films Fritz the Cat and Heavy Traffic. Bakshi also worked as a writer on Marvel Superheroes. Krantz's other projects included developing series based on books by his wife, the novelist Judith Krantz. His son is 24 executive producer Tony Krantz.

[via Toon Zone]

Back in June I mentioned that cartoons were being developed based on Marvel characters Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iron Man and The Fantastic Four. At the time, there was not a lot of information available, but a friend of mine sent me a link to Dark Horizons, which gives us just a smidgen more info on these series. Well, if you're a fan of Fantastic Four you know that series hit Cartoon Network a couple months ago, but Wolverine and Ironman are both still in development, and there doesn't seem to be any mention of the new Spider-Man cartoon. However, just because it's not mentioned doesn't mean it's not going to happen. They might have just pushed it back while Marvel works on the plethora of TV, film and straight-to-video projects it has cooking right now. Still, out of all these upcoming cartoons, I was most excited about Spider-Man. I just loves me lonely teenage mutant boys. You know, as friends. Seriously.

Also, if cartoons are too bright and colorful for you, Marvel is also developing three live-action series based on Alter Ego, Moon Knight and Skrll Kill Krew.

In a very short and only somewhat informative interview with iF Magazine, Marvel independent producer Avi Arad listed a few cartoons that the company will have premiering on television sometime in the furture. Fans can look forward to a new cartoons based on Spider-Man; Wolverine and the X-Men; The Fantastic Four; and even an Iron Man cartoon after the movie based on that particular comic is released. I wish there was more information on these new animated series, but at least we know they're in the pipeline. I think I'm most interested in the new Spider-Man cartoon. If I recall, the last attempt made at bringing Spidey back to cartoon land was in 2003, and that series only lasted about one season.

[via Toon Zone]