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11/06/13 @ 3:36 pm EST
Arvid Nelson has been in comics a long time having published his first issue of Rex Mundi with Image Comics over a decade ago. Since then he’s worked for Marvel (X-men Unlimited), DC (The Joker Asylum) and Dark Horse (Kull). Now he’s switching form Robert E. Howard to Edgar Rice Burroughs as he takes on John Carter in Lords of Mars for Dynamite Entertainment. Nancy Collins did a quick peer-to-peer interview with Nelson to talk about the new project.
NANCY COLLINS: How old were you when you first became aware of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ work? Was your first exposure Tarzan, John Carter, or one of his other series, like Pellucidar?
ARVID NELSON: Exactly the age when Nick Barrucci first approached me about writing Warlord of Mars! Isn’t that pathetic? But it’s true. Burroughs is one of those things you’re “supposed” to read, I think that’s why I never got around to it beforehand. It felt like homework.
But imagine my delight! The Mars novels are surprisingly accessible and fresh. I read the first three in a span of 48 hours, I literally only put them down to urinate and eat. One of the most amazing things about the Mars books is their universal influence. John Carter is, in my opinion, the world’s first superhero. Star Wars is heavily based on the Mars novels, too.
I went on to read the Tarzan and Pellucidar novels, of course, but the Mars stories will always have a special place in my heart. They launched Burroughs’s career, and they’re the bedrock of modern-day Science-Fantasy.
NC: You’ve cited Robert E. Howard as a literary influence–does the same hold true for Edgar Rice Burroughs?
AN: Absolutely. Burroughs was constantly bursting with ideas and creative energy. Each successive Mars novel is like delving into a new world all over again. But it’s more than that – Burroughs is a great storyteller. He knows how to keep you reading, page after page. He ends chapters brilliantly. He lures you into complacency with what you think is going to be a tired, reheated plot cliché… and then he utterly defies your expectations. There are very interesting, satisfying and complete arcs for his secondary characters – Xodar and Phaidor, for instance. Reading the novels a second time was especially educational for me.
NC: Do you see LORDS OF MARS as science fiction, heroic fantasy or heroic adventure?
AN: I try not to worry too much about genre conventions. That’s one of the best things about the Mars novels – they were written before conventions existed, so there’s a wonderful freeness to them. I mean yes, there are elements of heroic fantasy in Lords of Mars. But it’s mostly a world of science, not magic. And there’s no shortage of adventure! If I had only one word to describe Lords of Mars, it would be “heroic”. John Carter and Tarzan are heroes. They’re the good guys, period. Of the two, Tarzan is darker and more conflicted, but neither of them are cynical or self-serving, they’re not Han Solo. Any other portrayal just wouldn’t do them justice.
NC: You’ve worked on films in the past–how does it compare to working in comics?
AN: Hah! My “work” in film culminated with a glorious tenure as a production assistant on a Woody Allen movie my summer after college, and as a special effects intern on a Troma movie – Small Time Crooks and The Toxic Avenger Part IV, respectively. Film, especially independent, East Coast film, is a real meat grinder. It just wasn’t for me. It’s not like anyone was going to say “Hey, Arvid! You do such a great job fetching coffee and diverting pedestrian traffic, why don’t you direct this next scene?” In fact, Woody Allen dropped out of school to start writing, so I followed his example – I dropped out of film to start writing. It was a scary decision, but I haven’t looked back.
Comics are much more gratifying than film, for the simple fact that the production costs are several orders of magnitude cheaper. Money just screws everything up. Nobody sets out to create a terrible film that nobody wants to watch, but the obscene amount of money it takes to make a movie means you have to play it safe. You can take more risks with comics, and you can make fewer compromises. Dynamite’s goal from the beginning with the Burroughs adaptations was to tell the stories the “right” way, capturing the essence of the originals while maintaining the integrity of what Burroughs “is” and “is not”. Whether or not we succeeded is for readers to judge, but I feel great about what we accomplished.
NC: Do you have anything up your sleeve for 2014 that your fans might like to know about?
AN: I’ve got several things up my sleeve – way, way up my sleeve. Right now I’m in the process of trying to pull them out. It would be premature to say anything else! Suffice it to say I’m really excited about the future.
12/03/24 @ 12:13 pm EST
BOOM! Studios today revealed a first look at THE CREEPING BELOW #2, the next issue of the new original series by Harvey and Eisner-Award winning, New York Times bestselling author Brian Azzarello, along with acclaimed artist Vanesa Del Rey (The Empty Man, Redlands), colorist Hilary Jenkins (Black Badge, Grass Kings), and letterer AndWorld Design (Something is Killing the Children). Discover a revenge story about black metal, magic, and Norse mythology come to life in the beautiful and brutal new series, coming December 2024.
In the primordial forests of Norway, a young photographer investigates a grisly ritualistic murder-- her own. In the black metal occult underground, she discovers gods-- ancient and older, that may be pulling the strings, the puppeteers of humanity. And she may be one of the ancients herself. THE CREEPING BELOW #2 features main cover art by Vanesa Del Rey, and variant covers by highly acclaimed illustrators Brian Level (The Department of Truth), Yanick Paquette (Damn Them All) with Nathan Fairbairn, and Tula Lotay (Hello Darkness). THE CREEPING BELOW is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ eponymous imprint, home to critically acclaimed original series, including BRZRKR by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney; Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera; bestselling horror anthology Hello Darkness; Grim by Stephanie Phillips and Flaviano; Stuff of Nightmares by R.L. Stine and A.L. Kaplan; A Vicious Circle by Mattson Tomlin and Lee Bermejo; Ghostlore by Cullen Bunn and Leomacs; Rare Flavours by Ram V and Filipe Andrade; Underheist by David and Maria Lapham; Animal Pound by Tom King and Peter Gross; Minor Arcana by Jeff Lemire; Vicarious by Ryan Parrott and Eleonora Carlini; and the upcoming Bronze Faces by Shobo, Shof, and Alexandre Tefenkgi; and In Bloom by Michael W. Conrad and John J. Pearson. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties, including Dune: House Corrino from Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Simone Ragazzoni; Power Rangers Prime by Melissa Flores and Michael YG; and The Expanse: Dragon Tooth by Andy Diggle, Rubine, and Francesco Pisa. THE CREEPING BELOW #2 will be available in comic shops December 25, 2024. It is available for pre-order at your local comic shop. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including Kindle, iBooks, and Google Play. Creeping Below, The #2 A Main: SEP240068 Creeping Below, The #2 B Variant: SEP240069 Creeping Below, The #2 C 1:10 INCV: SEP240070 Creeping Below, The #2 D 1:25 INCV: SEP240071 Creeping Below, The #2 E FOC Reveal Variant: SEP240072 Creeping Below, The #2 F Unlockable Variant: SEP240073           
... 12/03/24 @ 12:03 pm EST
A Day to Die and Call Her King filmmaker Wes Miller has set the legal thriller Wildcards as his next feature and has cast Leon (Swarm, Five Heartbeats), Elise Neal (All of Us), Aries Spears (Mad TV), and Stakiah Lynn Washington (Angel City) in lead roles. Blacklight (Call Her King) is financing with Andrew van den Houten, Wes Miller, Joseph O’Connor and Leon producing. Lloyd Watts is co-producing with Jessie Jalee, Chad Ghiron, and Elise Neal serving as executive producers. Also starring in the film are Crew Morrow (The Bold and the Beautiful), Courtney Grace, Samantha Walkes (Orphan: First Kill), and Robert Catrini (Jack Reacher: Never Go Back). Wildcards follows a jury deliberating the case of Theodore Sterling (Morrow), a privileged young man accused of sexual assault of a 20-something African-American woman (Lynn Washington). The prosecution is led by Assistant State Attorney James Jones (Spears), an overworked yet determined prosecutor, who faces off against Greg Sims (Leon), a veteran defense attorney with an unbroken 25-year winning streak. (via Deadline) 12/03/24 @ 11:55 am EST
The new trailer for Disney’s live-action remake of “Snow White” has officially released, showcasing more of Rachel Zegler’s vocals, the seven dwarfs and Gal Gadot’s villainous turn as the evil queen. The film is directed by Marc Webb (“500 Days of Summer,” “The Amazing Spider-Man”) and is the latest Disney remake. Following the 1937 animated classic “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” this newest iteration of the story follows Snow White after the jealous wicked queen, who also happens to be her mother, orders her murder. Snow White runs away into a forest and discovers the magic of the seven dwarfs in a cottage. The film is set to release in theaters March 21, 2025. (via Variety) Trailer: https://youtu.be/iV46TJKL8cU 12/02/24 @ 2:13 pm EST
To celebrate Cyber Monday, BOOM! Studios is launching its last BOOM! Direct Reserve Campaign of the year on Gamefound, celebrating the legacy of Jim Henson’s seminal and final feature film, Labyrinth, with the Complete Jim Henson’s LABYRINTH Graphic Novel Collection campaign. Jim Henson’s visionary musical fantasy starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly has inspired and captivated audiences of all ages for nearly 40 years. Now, for the first time EVER, BOOM! Studios in partnership with The Jim Henson Company proudly presents the beloved original novelization by A.C.H. Smith adapted into a fully illustrated graphic novel written by Kyla Vanderklugt and illustrated by Giorgio Spalletta featuring covers by fan favorite cover artist Miguel Mercado (Magic, Dune: House Atreides). In addition to the new graphic novel adaptation, available in both hardcover and slipcased hardcover editions, BOOM! Studios is also offering all of its’ previously published LABYRINTH sequential stories in a pair of complete deluxe editions with COMPLETE LABYRINTH: CORONATION and COMPLETE LABYRINTH: BEYOND THE GOBLIN CITY. Complete Jim Henson’s LABYRINTH Graphic Novel Collection BOOM! Direct Reserve Campaign will continue from December 2, 2024 and will end December 30, 2024 at 11:00 AM PT. 12/02/24 @ 2:04 pm EST
Hollywood is coming off a record-breaking Thanksgiving weekend, thanks to the winning trifecta of Moana 2, Gladiator II and Wicked Part 1. Can other upcoming releases ride that wave? Perhaps that's why Sony Pictures has released the first eight minutes of its much-delayed Kraven the Hunter, which opens in 10 days. Comic book fans are well acquainted with Kraven as one of Spider-Man's most formidable foes, a founding member of the Sinister Six. He's a Russian immigrant with an aristocratic background who fled his home country when Tsar Nicholas II's reign collapsed in 1917. He's a big-game hunter with enhanced abilities thanks to ingesting a mysterious potion made from jungle herbs. He's very hard to injure and has super-human strength and enhanced sight, hearing, and smell, and he's a good tactician with excellent hand-to-hand combat skills. The film version appears to be an origin story. (via ARS Technica) First 8 minutes of Kraven: https://youtu.be/i-nAetWvYa8 12/02/24 @ 2:00 pm EST
AMC was celebrating Monday morning that the No. 1 circuit pulled in an all-time attendance record of 8.8 million people around the world over the Wednesday through Sunday span due to Disney’s Moana 2, Universal’s Wicked and Paramount’s Gladiator II. As a result of this, the circuit is claiming that they also saw notable highs for admissions revenue and concessions revenue. All these records per the circuit surpassed the previous Thanksgiving records set during the previous Thanksgiving high of 2018. Comscore yesterday reported that the 5-day Thanksgiving holiday in U.S./Canada generated a record $420M, outstripping 2018’s which made $315.6M. Disney’s Moana 2 came in with a 5-day of $225.2M, Universal’s Wicked posted $118.3M, while Paramount’s Gladiator II as of this AM is $44.3M. Of note, Friday, Nov. 29, was AMC’s second highest total revenue day – admissions revenue plus food & beverage revenue – in history (this was behind Avengers: End Game opening weekend Saturday, April 27, 2019). Thursday, Nov. 28 was the busiest Thanksgiving Day in the company’s history, based on attendance and admissions revenue. (via Deadline) 12/01/24 @ 10:28 am EST
Toonami shared a clip from the upcoming Creature Commandos animated series from DC Studios. The scene shows the team on an airplane heading for a mission as Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) tries to address them. The scene includes The Bride ( Indira Varma), Nina Mazurksy ( Zoe Chao), Dr. Phosphorus ( Alan Tudyk), G.I. Robot and Weasel ( Sean Gunn). The scene gives us a bit of their personalities showing Nina is shy and quiet, the Bride doesn’t want to be bothered, Phosphorus is a liar, Robot is obsessed with killing Nazis and Weasel is the same character that appeared in the Suicide Squad as we get a reference to his last mission. The series debuts on Max on December 5th.  12/01/24 @ 10:12 am EST
We’re about to see the debut of the new Disney+ series, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew from Spider-Man: No Way Home director Jon Watts. In a recent interview with TV Line, Watts explained just how the Jude Law led series got started. “It started as just a simple pitch, which is a group of kids that don’t really know that they’re in the Star Wars galaxy, get lost in the Star Wars galaxy and try to find their way home. And I pitched it a long time ago. I pitched it right after the first Spider-Man [ Homecoming] movie. It was initially pitched to Lucasfilm as a film, and then I had to go make two Spider-Man movies, because the first one did all right. Over time, [Jon] Favreau made The Mandalorian and Disney+ came into existence, so it evolved, as the Spider-Man movies were being made, into a show, and that gave us more time to explore the galaxy and get into this world of piracy and have a little bit more fun with it. And once I finished the third Spider-Man movie [ No Way Home], we could finally get to work making it.” Watts went on to share one of the things he loves about the franchise. “What I like about Star Wars — and Andor did so much with this, which I really loved — is you can take any moment or any character in Star Wars, and because it feels like such a dense, complex, real galaxy, you can follow them home. Like, I’m so curious to know the life of everyone in the cantina band. Where did they come from? How did they meet? Do they play any other gigs? Are they there all the time?” Two episodes of Skeleton Crew premiere on December 2nd.  12/01/24 @ 9:50 am EST
It's a wrap on principal photography on Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but the buzz is about a mysterious actor seen on set recently. On the day before Thanksgiving, video of an actor being led to set while covered with a blanket hit the internet leading to a ton of speculation of who it could be. The film already stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Julia Garner, Ralph Ineson, Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne, John Malkovich and Sara Niles… but this appears to be someone different, someone Marvel very much wants to keep secret. But now an image has hit the web, shared by scooper MyTimeToShineHello, showing Pascal at the film’s wrap party along with a mysterious figure whose face is covered. Many speculated that the person could be Robert Downey Jr. playing his upcoming role of Doctor Doom, and while that makes a lot of sense story wise, the person in the image with Pascal has a beer in front of them and it’s known RDJ doesn’t drink. So while speculation continues, we know that the film is moving into post-production and appears on track for its July 25th, 2025 release date.  11/30/24 @ 9:32 am EST
With the recent release of The Penguin, there were a lot of people asking where Batman ( Robert Pattinson) was during the gang war Oz ( Colin Farrell) started. The Batman director Matt Reeves told Digital Spy a bit about where Bruce Wayne’s head is at going into the sequel, which is said to pick up right after The Penguin, which started immediately after the first film. “This was a time of great turmoil in the city, it’s literally the week after what happened. Much of the city is in desperation, so police can’t get everywhere, there’s crime everywhere, it’s a very, very dangerous time. Batman’s out there trying to grapple with the aftermath of everything that happened, which to some degree he blames himself for.” Thanks to a previous interview with SFX Magazine, Reeves had said of the sequel, “It’s going to dig into the epic story about deeper corruption and it goes into places [Bruce Wayne] couldn’t even anticipate in the first one. The seeds of where this goes are all in the first movie and it expands in a way that will show you aspects of the character you never got to see. Batman is constantly battling these forces. But those forces can’t be entirely exorcised. So the next movie delves deeper into that.” The script is still being finalized but the film is slated for release in October 2026.  |
