Introducing the New and Improved Comic Book Blog Update page!

Do to the issues that I was having with Newsgator’s headline script on the old page, I created a new update page using Google technology.

You can see the new page here: New and Improved Comic Book Blog Update page

‘Green Lantern’ to shoot in Sydney – THR.com

‘Green Lantern’ to shoot in Sydney

‘Green Lantern’ to shoot in Sydney
Warners, DC drawn to Oz by federal, state incentives

By Pip Bulbeck

April 16, 2009, 01:51 AM ET
SYDNEY — Warner Bros. and DC Comics’ next big-budget feature, “Green Lantern,” will be made at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney, New South Wales premier Nathan Rees said Thursday.

Director Martin Campbell (“Casino Royale”) will be at the helm of the comic book’s big-screen adaptation, working from a script by Greg Berlanti and Michael Green. Donald Deline will produce with a reported budget of $150 million.

Rees said the film would create about 500 jobs and include a “substantial investment” in digital effects work in Australia.

“Green Lantern” should be eligible to receive the Australian federal government’s 15% location rebate on top of the incentives supplied by the New South Wales government to bring the project to Fox. New South Wales outbid interstate rivals Victoria and Queensland for the work.

“The decision by Warner Bros. to locate the production in New South Wales is tangible evidence that having a competitive incentive scheme in place returns positive results,” Fox Studios Australia CEO Nancy Romano said.

The project is the latest film also to be attracted by the decline in the value of the Australian dollar.

“Green Lantern” is the third Warner Bros.-backed feature being made in New South Wales. “Happy Feet 2″ is in development there, and “Guardians of Ga’Hoole” is in production by Animal Logic.

Preproduction on “Green Lantern” is set to begin in July, and filming is scheduled to start in November. Warners is aiming to release the film in December 2010.

[PRESS] Scott McCloud returns to Toronto for TCAF 2009!

*Toronto** Public Library Presents*

*THE 2009 TORONTO COMIC ARTS FESTIVAL
Saturday May 9, 10am-5pm – Sunday May 10, 12pm-5pm
Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St., Toronto, Canada
**FREE TO ATTEND*

*WWW.TORONTOCOMICS.COM*

*Scott McCloud Returns to Toronto for Comics Fest */Noted “Understanding Comics” author and lecturer casts a spotlight on online comics and authors, courtesy of Toronto Public Library//./

TORONTO, Canada – The 2009 Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF) is proud to announce its newest headline guest, acclaimed international lecturer *Scott McCloud, author of the groundbreaking graphic novel /Understanding Comics/*. Scott McCloud will be appearing at TCAF, being held May 9th and 10th 2009 at Toronto Reference
Library, to participate in panel discussions, presentations, and book signings (details TBA). McCloud will appear at TCAF courtesy of Toronto Public Library, as part of their continuing commitment to the medium of comics and graphic novels, and the Toronto Comic Arts Festival in particular.

Scott McCloud is probably best known for his graphic novel textbook /Understanding Comics/, one of the first long-form attempts to create an overview of the comic medium, which linked contemporary comic books and strips to works of art? and antiquities as various as Egyptian hieroglyphs, The Bayeux Tapestry, and the woodcut novels of the 18th and 19th centuries.? McCloud’s theories on storytelling and visual literacy have found incredible popularity
in the fields of digital content and presentation (as well as comics!), and *since? the publication of /Understanding Comics/ McCloud has become a celebrated? international lecturer presenting to audiences that include Google, MIT,
Carnegie Mellon, Adobe Systems, Game Developers Conference, eBay, and Pixar*.

McCloud’s appearance at TCAF casts a spotlight on the wide range of cutting edge digital comics creators that will be attending TCAF 2009. Digital comics (or “webcomics”) creators including Americans R. Stevens (/Diesel Sweeties/), Jeph Jacques (/Questionable Content/), Meredith Gran (/Octopus Pie/), Jeffrey Rowland (/Overcompensating, Topatoco/), and David Malki ! (/Wondermark/), and Canadians Ryan North (/Dinosaur Comics/), Kate Beaton (/Hark, A Vagrant!/), and Emily Horne and Joey Comeau (/A Softer World/) *all produce comics on the internet with readerships in the tens and hundreds of thousands*. Online artist collectives including Top Shelf 2.0, Dumbrella,
and Toronto’s own Transmission-X Comics will have large presences at TCAF, showcasing their works in digital and “dead tree” editions.

To help further the exploration of digital and online comics, Toronto Reference Library offers a technology-friendly space for TCAF and all of its attendees.? With free wi-fi for the public, dozens of public computer terminals to check
out comics online, and two completely computer-outfitted digital learning? entres that will host two full days of programming during the Festival, *TCAF 2009 will be one of the most forward-looking comics events in North America*.? The 2009 Toronto Comic Arts Festival is completely free to attend.

*ABOUT:*

First held in 2003, The Toronto Comic Arts Festival was conceived to provide interaction between the creative community and the public, and was modeled on similar festivals around the world. TCAF 2009 will take place at Toronto Reference Library, at 789 Yonge St. just North of Bloor Street in the heart of the city. The
Festival will feature over 15,000 square feet of attractions within the Reference Library complex, more than 200 cartoonists, and more than two weeks of programming and events leading up to the 2-day exhibition extravaganza!

Canadian cartoonists are recognized as among the best in the world, particularly in the fields of manga and alternative comics. TCAF is Canada’s opportunity to not only promote and celebrate homegrown artistic talent, but also to broaden its scope and showcase creators from the US and abroad, many in Toronto for the first time.? This prestigious gathering of artists will attract an international and national audience.

*PRESS:*

For more information or press inquiries, please contact 2009@torontocomics.com, or Christopher
Butcher or Peter Birkemoe at 416-533-9168.

Wizard World Chicago here I come!!

All the arrangements are made, and I have the time off. ? Wizard World Chicago here I come!! I can’t wait!!

[Press] Len Wein loses home in fire

From Super Hero News

According to early reports from Harlan Ellison, a fire April 6 at the home of comics writer Len Wein and his wife, Christine Valada, has destroyed at least half the house, along with the original art for the cover of Giant-Size X-Men #1 and the original pages from Incredible Hulk #181, the first appearance of Wolverine. The couple’s dog was also killed in the fire.

A cause has not been officially determined at this time and no announcement of what anyone can do to assist has been made.

That is really sad.? Our thoughts go out to Mr. Wein in this difficult time.

UPDATE:? There is more info here http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/06/len-wein-housefire/

Microsoft MVP again(?)

Well April 1st came and went and I never did receive an official e-mail stating I was re-awarded the MVP award this time around.? On the other hand I was not on a list I saw of people that were not re-awarded either, so I have kind of kept quiet about it up to this point.? An e-mail and phone to my lead has had no response yet.

Today however, I got an e-mail stating that my MVP Award Kit has been shipped, so I guess they want me around for another year.

This will make my fourth consecutive MVP award (unless there was a mistake some where), and once again I am honored to be part of such a talented group.

The Mastering System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2 Book is real!The Mastering System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2 Book is real!!

For those of you that are still interested, I received my copies of Mastering System Center Configuration Manager 2007 after work last Friday!? This book is finally real!

Book out?

Got a call from Ron Crumbaker that he has recieved his copies of the book delivered by ups today, can mine be far behind? :-0

[Press] DC brings back 80s icon Vibe following Flash:Rebirth

Someone PLEASE tell me this is a joke!

Responding to pre-release buzz on Flash: Rebirth, DC has already announced the
next character getting the Rebirth treatment: Vibe from the 1980s “Detroit-
era” Justice League.

Geoff Johns and Ethan van Sciver will pick up the project as soon as they’ve
finished Flash. Dan Didio explains the genesis of the project:

> It was really a melding of events. First of all, with Superman, Batman,
> Wonder Woman, Flash and Green Lantern all leaving the Justice League,
> Dwayne McDuffie wanted to try and bring back some of the feel of the
> Detroit-era League. And what character is most associated with that League?
> Vibe! Plus we had some very positive fan response to his appearances in
> Trinity. And orders for Flash: Rebirth have been phenomenal. We want to
> strike while the iron is hot, so I asked Ethan if he’d be interested, and
> he just jumped at the opportunity. Literally, he jumped. I could hear the
> thump on the other end of the phone.

The writer and artist explain some of their motivation in an extensive
interview.

>GJ: He’s one of DC’s great untapped characters. He was the first Justice
> Leaguer to be killed in the line of duty. He was only around for few years
> and didn’t really get a chance to explore his full potential.
>
>EVS: To me, he’s DC’s #1 under-utilized character.

Further information available in the following articles:

Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver talk “Vibe: Rebirth”
http://tinyurl.com/c97gh4

After Flash, It’s Vibe: Rebirth
http://tinyurl.com/csjrhq