New Futurama Movie - Beast with a Billion Backs

We rented Futurama's second movie, "Beast with a Billion Backs" tonight, and I can tell you after watching the first twelve minutes, I've already laughed more than I did during the whole "Bender's Big Score" movie, which was so bad I ended up watching the math lecture in the special features again and again instead of re-watching the movie.
An early satire of "Steamboat Willie" in "Beast..." was wonderful, and the special features were fun. In other news, the sneak peek at the next movie also looks pretty promising - a satire of LOTR.

Update: Well, sorry to say, it stopped being funny after the first twenty minutes. Then it devolved into an unfunny-tentacle-porn-religion plot thing. Which wasn't really good at all. But, at least the first twenty minutes were funny! Sigh. Futurama is apparently only good when kept to those original running times of a little over twenty minutes.

Links between Mythology and Comic Books: Discuss

Dear Readers,
I'm teaching a creative writing class next week, and one of the main topics is the connection between ancient mythologies (Biblical, Greek, Norse, Japanese...) and comic books, Manga, and graphic novels.
So, I've got some examples (Superman was inspired by stories of Sampson and Hercules, Wonder Woman and her mother, Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, Miyazaki's Nausicca which was inspired by both the character Nausicaa in The Odyssey and the Japanese folk tale, "The Princess who Loved Insects...)
But I'd love to hear about more! Were the X-Men inspired by tales of demi-Gods? What about Batman and the tradition of the samurai? Tell me your favorite (or most obscure) mythology to comic book connections!

What's Your Dream Superheroine Movie?

So, the huge success of Sex and the City has made me optimistic about female comic book superhero movies, perhaps foolishly, given the terrible, terrible treatment given most female superheroines by Hollywood so far...do I need to mention names? Aeon Flux, Catwoman, Underworld, etc...Bad writing, bad budgets, it's like they were trying to sabotage these movies or something!
But the success must mean that girls are desperate to see movies about...gasp...girls! You know, with stars who are female. And stories that are interesting to females.
So, besides the Joss Whedon Wonder Woman movie, what would your dream superheroine movie be? Who would you cast? Who would write it?

NPR and graphic novels?

NPR has a story on the influence of comics and graphic novels on three writers, including Joss Whedon and the new Wonder Woman writer:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87867518

Feminists in Manga

Ain't It Cool news sometimes leads to amazing discoveries, which is why I read it despite the sex-crazed idiots that often post on its talkbacks - and review movies. Like this article that previews a new guide to Manga by Japanese Manga artist and, dare I say, feminist-type grrl Mimei Sakamoto.
Check out her cartoon from Time Asia: "When No Choice is a Good One: A Girl's Guide to Happiness in Japan"
http://www.time.com/time/asia/covers/501050829/manga.html

And here's her scathing comment, as an anime fan or otaku herself, on the young male anime fan-fascination with "moe" (fetishizing innocence and childhood) anime:
"Perhaps it's because 'Train Man' (the story of an otaku who wins the heart of a pretty woman) was such a hit, but recently I've seen all these dorky guys walking around in thick glasses and checkered shirts and it pains my heart to think that they may be hoping to meet some pretty girl who's going to fall in love with them. Sorry guys, the chances of that happening are zero...This fetish you call 'moe' is a pedophiliac fetish and is nothing more than perversion. It's not really something you should be gushing over," the manga artist says, addressing the otaku. "In other countries, they'd call what you're fantasizing over 'child pornography' and you'd all be arrested. I'm ashamed that these 'otaku' who are perpetual criminals have entered the mainstream and started an otaku boom."

Pretty interesting stuff, huh? Here's the whole article on Aintitcool, which includes a lot of other anime news as well.

News - a Live Action Witchblade Movie?

Wow, first the live-action television show is finally out on DVD, now this!

A Witchblade live-action movie, based on the comic book, will start production this fall. I thought it was very promising that several Top Cow guys will be very involved in the movie. Here's the Variety article about the movie (Thanks Aintitcool News for the link!)

Those of you who don't share my enthusiasm for Witchblade yet, I hope the movie will change your minds. Sara Pezzini is the quintessintial ambivalent, tormented female comic book antiheroine.
Now, if only they would make a really cool Wonder Woman movie...Darn you Joss Whedon - why oh why didn't you make it when you had the chance?

Comic Book Saturday!

It sounds too good to be true - but it is! Check out your local independent comic seller this Saturday, May 3, for a free comic book!
Here's the web site for more info: http://www.freecomicbookday.com/

In honor of the day, this person posted some comic-related poetry on her blog, including my own "Female Comic Book Superheroes." Check it out!
http://lisachellman.com/blog/2008/05/poetry-friday-meets-free-comic-book-day