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I have some fond memories of playing Earthworm Jim with my brothers on the Sega Genesis back in the 90s. That game was a blast! If you were also a fan of the game, you’ll be happy to learn that there’s a new game currently in development that is being created by the original team of the original game!

The game will be released exclusively for Intellivision’s new gaming console that is called the Intellivision Amico. This new console is scheduled to launch on October 10th, 2020. The announcement comes as Earthworm Jim celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Intellivision Entertainment’s CEO and president Tommy Tallarico who was the composer for the original 2 Earthworm Jim games, revealed the first details on the new game telling Variety:

“We have been talking about this moment for many years, it’s a dream come true to finally get the entire team back together.

Matthew Byrd May 1, 2019

There's a new Earthworm Jim game on the way, but it comes with some pretty big catches.

The good news is that the creators of the Earthworm Jim series are teaming up once more to develop a new entry in the franchise. The bad news is that you'll need to buy the upcoming Intellivision Amico in order to play it. 

Let's start with the (somewhat) good news. It sounds like many of the principal members of the Earthworm Jim development team are returning to work on this project. That possibly includes creator Doug TenNapel and composer Tommy Tallarico. That last name is quite significant in this instance as Tallarico is also the current boss of Intellivision. That first name is significant not just because he created Earthworm Jim, but because of TenNapel has attracted quite a bit of controversy in recent years over his radical political views and articles written for Breitbart.

Nnewts: The battle for Amphibopolis

By Doug TenNapel

215 pages, Scholastic Graphix, $19.99/$9.99

Doug TenNapel concludes his most ambitious work yet, the fanciful, energetic world of the Nnewts in this final volume, As with every other series from Scholastic’s Graphix imprint, it provides no synopsis so one hopes readers can keep track of the sprawling story with volumes coming a year apart.

And that’s the biggest concern with this book aimed at 8-12 year olds: it is so large and complex a tale, with so many characters, and a complicated mythology and internal logic that on the surface it’s a confusing mess of kinetic energy.

As introduced in Escape of the Lizzarks, we are introduced to the residents of Nnewtown and its wide assortment of characters. They are being threatened and it falls to young Herk to embark on a journey to save everyone. The Rise of Herk raised...

Nnewts Book Two: The Rise of Herk

By Doug TenNapel

202 pages, Scholastic Graphix, $19.99 (hc)/$10.99 (pb)

I admire Doug TenNapel’s imagination and productivity. A new year and a new book from the cartoonist. This year’s offering is the second instalment in his new Nnewts universe, a follow-up to last year’s Escape from the Lizzarks.

It’s a colorful, imaginative world of varying races and creatures but the basic battle between good and evil remains recognizable to readers. The Nnewts are one of the predominant races and poor Herk was intentionally born with weak legs, all part of some master destiny. He gains magical powers and is called upon to use them to protect Amphibopolis from the threat of the vile Snake Lord.

The story is also about family, the one made from blood and the one made from love. He’s been separated from his brother Zerk, raised...

Bone: Out from Boneville Tribute Edition

By Jeff Smith

192 ages, Scholastic Graphix, $14.95

Bone is a phenomenon that just keeps growing, it seems. Jeff Smith’s self-published debuted in 1991 and charmed readers who discovered the black and white fantasy. However, he found a brand new audience when Scholastic added the series, in color for the first time, to their Graphix imprint. There now are the nine volumes, Rose (with art by Charles Vess), Tall Tales, Bone Handbook and three illustrated prose novels from Tom Sniegoski.

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of this incredibly successful partnership, Scholastic is releasing next week a hardcover Tribute Edition of volume one. The complete, still-charming is on hand but there is also additional material. We start with the 10-page poem “An Ode to Quiche”, written by and critiqued by the monsters who plague the fellow from Boneville. There are nine pinups culled from the other...

New York, NY—January 29, 2015—Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its groundbreaking Graphix imprint in 2015, with a yearlong celebration to include collectible giveaways, special events, and new publishing. Graphix is dedicated to publishing engaging, age-appropriate graphic novels for children and teens. Supported by librarians, teachers, and most important, kids, Graphix titles have become bestsellers around the globe and continue to receive awards and critical acclaim including multiple Eisner Award wins and nominations, a Stonewall Book Award, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor, an Edgar Allan Poe nomination, and 14 New York Times bestsellers to date.

In celebration, twelve Graphix artists have each created original art in honor of the 10th anniversary of Graphix: James Burks, Nathan Fox, Jimmy Gownley, Matthew Holm, Kazu Kibuishi, Mike Maihack, Dave Roman, Greg Ruth, Jeff Smith, Raina Telgemeier, Doug TenNapel, and Craig Thompson. Prints by these...

Nnewts Book One: Escape from the Lizzarks

By Doug TenNapel

186 pages, Scholastic Graphix, $19.99 (hc)/$10.99 (pb)

There is no doubt Doug TenNapel is a highly imaginative and creative storyteller. I look forward to the day when he works with an editor to bring out the very best in his worldbuilding and stories. After a series of one-off stories, including Cardboard, Tommysaurus Rex, Ghostopolis, and Bad Island, he embarks on a series set in a new reality.

In Nnewts, he pits amphibians versus lizards in a realm that is far from Earth and focuses on Herk, a young Nnewt who yearns for being fully amphibious but his weak legs, a product from birth, prohibit that. Still, when disaster strikes Nnewtown, he is the sole person to make it out and embarks on the Hero’s Journey to find help.

At one juncture, he encounters the Lizard God and a few things are...

Fox Animation is giving Doug TenNapel's graphic novel Cardboard another go. The studio has hired Dance of the Dead's Joe Ballarini to write the script.

Back in 2012, Fox announced that it would adapt the graphic novel, with TenNapel as executive producer, but it's been a long process. There was also a rumor that Tobey Maguire would voice one of the main characters, but that remains to be seen.

Cardboard tells the story of a young boy and his father who must battle cardboard monsters that magically come to live. The film is being produced by Gotham Group.

Ballarini previously wrote the script for Atlantic 7. He also sold a spec titled Lockdown at Franklin High to Sony, with Michael Bay producing. He also sold a medieval action fantasy pitch called Merlin to New Line Cinema.

Source: Deadline...

Avatar 2, 3, 4

James Cameron has confirmed which writers worked on which scripts for all three back-to-back "Avatar" sequels. After much work, the first screenplay is expected to be ready within weeks.

"Avatar 2" was written by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, "Avatar 3" was written by Josh Friedman, "Avatar 4" was written by Shane Salerno. James Cameron will score a co-writing credit on all three. Writer Steven Gould has also been involved with the process and has been tasked with writing the novelizations for each movie. [Source: The New York Times]

Idolmaker

MGM has hired Sascha Penn to pen the latest version of "The Idolmaker" remake which has Craig Brewer attached to direct and Justin Timberlake circling to star.

The original 1980 film followed the life of rock promoter/producer Bob Marcucci, who discovered the likes of Frankie Avalon and Fabian. [Source: Deadline]

Cardboard

Joe Ballarini ("Dance of the Dead") has been tapped to pen Fox Animation's upcoming...

Exclusive: Fox Animation is moving again on animated adaptation Cardboard. I’m hearing Dance of the Dead‘s Joe Ballarini has been tapped to adapt the graphic novel written by Earthworm Jim creator Doug TenNapel, which the studio optioned in 2012 with Epic‘s Chris Wedge attached to direct. Story tracks a young boy and his father who must battle cardboard monsters that magically come to life. Gotham Group and Tobey Maguire’s Material Pictures are producing. Ballarini previously scripted Atlantis 7 for Walden Media, Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps, and Gotham Group. He also sold spec Lockdown at Franklin High to Sony with Michael […]...

Studios aren’t just looking to superhero comics for inspiration for their blockbusters; less “super” graphic novels and stories have also been adapted, to varying degrees of success throughout the years. Films like 300, Sin City, Cowboys & Aliens, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World and Red come to mind and now, Universal has set its sights on a story from Image Comics with big box office potential: Tommysaurus Rex.

Universal actually bought the rights to the project a decade ago, when Mary Parent was the co-president of the studio. They even paid $1 million for the rights and tried to make the film happen under David O. Russell’s direction. Unfortunately, it never got off the ground and wound up getting shelved. Now, it seems Universal is blowing the dust off the comic book’s pages and trying again, with news that the studio just hired Win Win director Thomas McCarthy to pen the screenplay and possibly direct.

Box Office Despite the failure of other recent swords-and-sandals movies and the fact that it's been seven years since the original, 300: Rise of an Empire is expected to rule the box office this weekend. In light of its $3.3 million Thursday late-night take and estimated $16 million-plus Friday, the sequel to 300 is predicted to have a $40 million-plus debut at the domestic box office. The movie is also doing well overseas, taking in an estimated $12.1 million in its first two days.

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Reboot Sony Pictures is looking to reboot its Zorro franchise and they've tapped competitive fencer-turned-screenwriter Chris Boal (Old Man's War) to craft "a new backstory" that combines "gritty realism" with an "emotional core." Though the studio wants to avoid making a "traditional swashbuckler," there will be plenty of sword fights and bare knuckle boxing, reports Deadline. Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald, currently...

Grasshopper Jungle

Scott Rosenberg ("Con Air," "High Fidelity") is in talks to adapt Andrew Smith's young adult novel "Grasshopper Jungle" which Sony Pictures has just acquired. Matt Tolmach will produce.

The story follows an Iowa teen trying to come to grips with his own sexuality as he and his friends cause a deadly genetically engineered plague that unleashes an army of six-foot-tall praying mantises with an insatiable appetite for fighting, food, and fornicating. [Source: Deadline]

Fire Sermon

"Guardians of the Galaxy" co-scribe Nicole Perlman has been hired to adapt the first book of Francesca Haig's young adult sci-fi novel trilogy "The Fire Sermon" for Dreamworks.

The story is set centuries into a post-apocalyptic future in which humans are born in sets of twins, one perfect, the other with mutations. The mutations are segregated into separate settlements. This follows a brother-sister pair and what happens when he becomes the leader of one side.

Tommysaurus Rex and Tom McCarthy - sounds like a perfect match. Over at Heat Vision they're reporting interesting development news on a comic book adaptation that's been in the works since 2004. Universal first acquired the rights to adapt Doug TenNapel's graphic novel Tommysaurus Rex back in 2004, ten years ago, for around $1 million. The project has been bouncing around at the studio ever since, but now they've picked up Tom McCarthy, an actor/writer/producer and director who will be co-writing the script and possibly directing the movie, too. Now I actually have some hope this might turn out pretty damn good. Most may recognize Tom McCarthy from the Meet the Parents series, or Michael Clayton, 2012, The Lovely Bones and so on. However, McCarthy is actually an award-winning director, behind the films The Station Agent, The Visitor and Win Win, as well as a writer, credited on the script for...

Actor-turned-filmmaker Tom McCarthy had one of the greatest directorial debuts of the modern age with 2003.s solid comedic drama The Station Agent, and though he only has two other films under his belt since (with one on the way), he.s a storyteller whose work is impossible to get enough of. His next project looks like it will take all the heart and emotion of his earlier works and will scale it up a bit by adding a huge dinosaur. McCarthy has signed on to write Universal.s long-gestating big screen adaptation of Tommysaurus Rex, the 2004 graphic novel from Earthworm Jim creator Doug TenNapel. McCarthy is crafting this story with John Bland while also considering taking over directorial duties, which would make this movie about as credible as it could get. Published by Image Comics, Tommysaurus Rex follows Ely, a young boy who goes to his grandfather.s house for...

Growing up and to this very day, I would Kill to have a dinosaur for a pet. Can you imagine the possibilities? Man, would I love to sic a Raptor on the Jehovah's Witnesses who seem hellbent on waking me up at 7:00 Am on a Sunday morning.

Can you think of a quicker way for them to find God? No matter how you slice it, it's a win-win. In any event...

THR is reporting that Tom McCarthy, the filmmaker known for his indies such as The Visitor and The Station Agent, is writing, with an eye to direct, Tommysaurus Rex, and adaptation of the Doug TenNapel graphic novel. McCarthy will co-write the script with John Bland.

Mary Parent and Cale Boyter are producing via their Disruption Entertainment banner.

Taking cues from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Rex, published by Image Comics in 2004, as the following synopsis:

It tells of a boy who,...

Tom McCarthy, the filmmaker known for his indies such as The Visitor and The Station Agent, is going big for his next movie. How big? Dinosaur big. McCarthy is writing with an eye to direct Tommysauraus Rex, Universal's long-in-the-works adaptation of the Doug TenNapel graphic novel. McCarthy will co-write the script with John Bland. Mary Parent and Cale Boyter are producing via their Disruption Entertainment banner. Elaine Goldsmith-Vein and Lee Stollman of the Gotham Group are also producing. Rex, published by Image Comics in 2004, tells of a boy who, after losing is pet dog, moves

read more...

Normally found, in his writing and directing career at least, working on smaller dramas and comedies, The Vistor/WIn-Win director Tom McCarthy is not opposed to cropping up on big, high concept films as an actor. For a potential future stint behind the camera, however, he’s looking to tackle something with a little more mass. Universal has him writing and potentially directing the adaptation of Doug TenNapel’s comic book Tommysaurus Rex.TenNapel’s book, which hit shelves via Image Comics in 2004, follows a boy trying to get over the death of his beloved pet dog. Moving in with his grandfather, he discovers a T. Rex in a cave, and quickly learns it isn’t the scary beast of legend. Before long, his huge new playmate is helping tackle our hero’s bully problem, but also causing serious concerns among the local townspeople.Universal originally scored the rights to...

Tommysaurus Rex

By Doug TenNapel

Scholastic Graphix, 136 pages, $10.99

The concept of a boy and his canine best friend is nothing new at all and has provided us with countless heartwarming stories through the years. That the dog dies and is resurrected as a tyrannosaurus rex is a fresh spin on the story; one so fresh that in 2004 Universal bid $1million to preemptively option the property. I have no idea what happened with that, but it was based on an earlier version of Tommysaurus Rex, which Doug TenNapel released as a miniseries through Image in 2004 and then a collection in 2008. This month, though, a revised, expanded and apparently recolored version of the story is being released from Scholastic’s Graphix imprint.

Ely is shy, without a lot of friends, except for Tommy, the golden retriever who is his companion, friend, playmate and security blanket. Overenthusiastic in all ways, he pulls free...

Feature Ryan Lambie 7 Jun 2013 - 06:10

Superheroes! Books! Games! A giant head! Here's another batch of worthy, geek-friendly crowdfunding projects for your perusal...

We're now into our second month of these weekly crowdfunding posts, and trundling around the internet has become a really fun weekly ritual. From compelling new ideas to bizarre, 'what were they thinking?' schemes, each trawl through the web's crowdfunding sites turns up a fresh surprise at every turn.

Although some of the things we've stumbled on our downright cheeky - unless we read it incorrectly, one person appeared to have set up a project to fund their overseas holiday - many are perfectly worthy. This makes the task of choosing just three or four projects each week extremely tricky - particularly as we always try to pick lots of varied things, rather than focusing exclusively on, say, movies or games or books.

To this end,...

Doug TenNapel, creator of "Earthworm Jim" and "The Neverhood," has once again partnered with Pencil Test Studios, this time to launch a Kickstarter campaign in hopes of funding a new stop-motion animated game. Dubbed "Armikrog," the PC and Mac title would be a point-and-click adventure following the story of stranded space travelers/drinking buddies Tommynaut and Beak-Beak. Listen to the official pitch in the video above!

The Kickstarter campaign, which began today, is seeking $900,000 to get "Armikrog" made. At the time of writing, the project had already secured over $51,000 from nearly 1,000 backers, and received the support of Double Fine Productions president and CEO Tim Schafer.

"How is that clay moving? Is it witchcraft? Are there bugs inside? I'm frightened! But I have to admit, it looks pretty cool," said Schafer. "I'm going to back this Kickstarter just to make sure I don't make it angry!"

Terry S. Taylor, the award-winning...

Tobey Maguire will lend his voice to Cardboard. The actor has signed up for Fox Animation's adaptation of Doug TenNapel's graphic novel, reports Variety. The film centres around a young boy whose widower dad abashedly gives him a cardboard box for his birthday. The pair decide to make a man out of it, who magically comes to life and attracts the attention of a neighbourhood bully with sinister schemes. WedgeWorks helmer Chris (more)...

Kick Ass 2: Balls to the Wall

6'2 and 200 lbs bodybuilder Olga Kurkulina has apparently scored the role of Mother Russia in the upcoming "Kick Ass" sequel.

The character is a ruthless ex-kbg officer who is now the bodyguard for Red Mist (Chris Mintz-Plasse). Shooting kicks off shortly in Toronto and London. [Source: Comic Book Movie]

Jane Got a Gun

He was already linked but now it's set, Michael Fassbender ("Shame," "X-Men: First Class") has signed on to Lynne Ramsey's western drama "Jane Got a Gun" which begins shooting early next year.

Fassbender would play Natalie Portman's ex-lover who must help her defend her farm and half-dead husband from criminal confederates out to kill them. [Source: Coming Soon]

Red 2

David Thewlis (the "Harry Potter" films) has joined the cast of Dean Parisot's "Red 2" at Summit/Lionsgate. Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren and John Malkovich return as over-the-hill special agents, joined this time by Anthony Hopkins,...

According to a Variety report, former Spider-Man Tobey Maguire is teaming with Fox Animation, WedgeWorks and graphic novelist Doug TenNapel to bring TenNapel's "Cardboard" graphic novel to the big screen, with WedgeWorks' Chris Wedge producing and directing. Maguire's production shingle Material Pictures, TenNapel and Gotham Group will executive produce. Maguire will most likely voice one of the main animated characters. The comic book, which was published at the beginning of the month by Graphix, is, according to the Variety report, about "an impoverished widower who gives a disappointing birthday present to his young son-- a cardboard box. Making the best out of a bad situation, they turn the box into a boxer named Bill that magically comes to life, attracting the attention of a neighborhood bully with evil plans." Sounds pretty cool to us, and the perfect material for Wedge, who directed the first "Ice Age," "Robots," and...

Even as he reignites his acting career (albeit with mixed results), Tobey Maguire is still committed to his work as a producer. He’s dipping his toe into the world of 'toons by developing Cardboard with Fox Animation and Ice Age creator Chris Wedge’s WedgeWorks company.The project will be adapted from Doug TenNapel’s graphic novel, which sees a down-on-his luck widower forced to give his son a disappointing birthday present – a cardboard box. When he tries to make things better by crafting the box into a boxer named Bill, he magically comes to life, and causes trouble with a neighbourhood bully who has evil plans.Though it’s early days for the film’s development, Wedge is considering directing the film and there’s a chance that Maguire might end up lending his tonsil talents to the voice cast.But all that’s in the future for now,...

What a weird few months Tobey Maguire‘s been having. When summer began, we expected two big-scale 3D extravaganzas to bear his name by the year’s end, the sort of great prospect only alleviated by (comparatively smaller) news such as his casting in Labor Day. Some momentum was sucked out of the room when The Great Gatsby fell back about six months, though that unfortunate turn was compensated for by Z for Zachariah, Pawn Sacrifice, and an animal drama produced with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. It was going great!

Oh, but then he lost a role in Life of Pi.

It’s a big mess of things on his front, and I don’t know how much this next item really changes the game. Tobey Maguire is probably happy, though, since Variety have learned he’ll be using his Material Pictures to executive produce Fox Animation and WedgeWorks...

Tobey Maguire is set to voice the leading role in the Fox Animation adaptation of Doug TenNapel's Cardboard , Variety reports. Released earlier this year, the indie graphic novel is officially described as follows: When cardboard creatures come magically to life, a boy must save his town from disaster. Cam's down-and-out father gives him a cardboard box for his birthday and he knows it's the worst present ever. So to make the best of a bad situation, they bend the cardboard into a man-and to their astonishment, it comes magically to life. But the neighborhood bully, Marcus, warps the powerful cardboard into his own evil creations that threaten to destroy them all! Although not a lock as a director, producer Chris Wedge (the upcoming Epic ) is said to be interested in...

The novelty of the fabulous webcomic Axe Cop [now published by Dark Horse] has always been that it’s ‘written by a five year old’ [Malachai Nicolle was five when the story began; he’s now eight years old]. And that tidbit has truly amazing results: in Malachai’s world, gorillas shoot volcanoes out of their tails, all girls are on the ‘dumb list’, and dinosaurs are the answer to everything. Of course, the fact of the matter is that without his brother Ethan Nicolle’s creative and hysterical illustrations, the jumpy, spontaneous narrative would likely fall flat. Axe Cop takes the best of what it means to have the imagination of a child and marries it to the comedic timing of a talented artist. Ethan Nicolle was a very chill, unassuming guy—the kind of person you want to sit down and smoke a cigar with.

Famous Monsters. First of all, love the series. Hilarious. Best thing ever. What can you tell me about the upcoming Axe Cop TV show?...

Sunday July 15th is the last day of Comic-Con 2012, and most of us will be completely worn out looking like Spider-Man in the image above. Chances are he's asleep under that mask. Sunday has always been a cool down day for us, we kind of just try to relax a little bit more and enjoy it. That doesn't mean their isn't anything to see or do though!

We've got a Fringe screening and Q&A, Doctor Who, Buffy the Vampire Slayer 20th Anniversary, Sons of Anarchy, the annual Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical screening, and more! I've always wanted to go the Buffy musical sing-a-long, but am usually trying to leave San Diego before it starts.

Just a little reminder, we will be having our annual GeekTyrant meet up this year to meet our readers, which is something we always enjoy doing! That will take place on Wednesday night, and...

The organizers of San Diego Comic-Con have released the official schedule of events for Sunday, July 15 which you can now view below.

San Diego Comic-Con – Sunday, July 15

10:00-11:00 Comic-Con How-to: Publishing Industry: From Manuscript to Industry — So you have the desire to write a book and get it published, but what does that really mean? Agents, editors, publishers, reviewers, self-publishing, traditional publishing, print on demand, ebooks, foreign language-the list goes on. What does it mean to “write for profit,” and what are the pitfalls to watch out for? Award-winning author Maxwell Alexander Drake gives you some insights into the real world that is the Publishing Industry. Warning: this seminar is not for the weak of spirit. Room 2

10:00-11:00 Spotlight on Jason Shiga — Comic-Con special guest Jason Shiga is best known for his interactive comics, including Meanwhile and Knock Knock. He will present a career retrospective detailing...

If you want to get into anime and don’t know where to start, this episode is for you. Ryan and special guest Natasha Naim discuss many different anime series, movies and manga for those not familiar with the animation genre.

Graphic Novels Discussed:

Fables by Bill Willingham

Blankets and Habibi by Craig Thompson

Creature Tech by Doug TenNapel

Black Hole by Charles Burns

Anime Series Discussed:

Hellsing

Akira

Cowboy Bebop

Samurai Champloo

Cardcaptor Sakura

Revolutionary Girl Utena

Sayonara Zetsubou-Sensei

Neon Dance Evangelion

The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya

The Tatami Galaxy

Time Of Eve

Anime Movies Discussed:

My Neighbor Totoro

Grave Of The Fireflies

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Kiki’s Delivery Service

Princess Mononoke

Howl’s Moving Castle

Spirited Away

Ponyo

Miscellaneous:

Kill Bill

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Hayao Miyazaki

Studio Ghibli

Listen on iTunes!

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Email: SketchyPodcast@gmail.com...

“I’ve got a great story and I’ve been looking for, it’s a ‑‑ it’s a great story and it needs to be a graphic novel and a graphic novel TV show. And I’ve been looking for the right person to write it.” – Glenn Beck on Frank Miller, 2011.

Being a ‘fan’ means many things to many people. To a troublingly large section of the population, it apparently means dressing as Knuckles the Echidna and sobbing alone in front of a mirror, while to others it simply means an interest that goes slightly beyond the causal. One thing common to all fans, from those who carve “Qt Rox U3 Sux” into the side of a burning dog before throwing it through a friend’s window, to those who just happen to know slightly more about Batman than most, is the willingness to let their interest – at least partially – define who they are.

With Hollywood turning more of its attention to the world of graphic novels for inspiration, I'll cast the spotlight on a new comic book each week that has the potential to pack a theater or keep you glued to your television screens. At the end of some "Adapt This" columns, you'll also find thoughts from the industry's top comic creators about the books they'd like to see make the jump from page to screen.

This Week's Book: Creature Tech by Doug TenNapel

The Premise: After brilliant scientist and former preacher Michael Ong is named head researcher at a strange government facility, his life takes a turn for the weird when an alien being attaches itself to his body in a symbiotic relationship that gives him strange new powers. Ong barely has time to register his condition before he finds himself battling slug monsters, demonic cat-beasts, and a mad scientist intent...

Bad Island

By Doug TenNapel

224 pages, Scholastic Graphix, $10.99

Author/artist Doug TenNapel impressed me last year with his Ghostopolis, a fresh graphic novel for young adult readers. He’s back this month with Bad Island and I am less impressed. He has an ambitious story to tell, actually two stories that parallel and intertwine at times, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.

The biggest problem I have is that this family of four castaways on a mysterious island react unlike real people, constantly taking me out of the story to scratch my head and wonder how that happened. The family set out on an enforced bonding vacation that the eldest child, teenage Reese objects to. What aspires to be a three hour tour finds the tiny ship tossed by a storm that leaves the shipwrecked and the crew left on a deserted island.

Their efforts at survival...

2:40: And that’s the way to end the show! Enjoy the after parties, everybody!

2:35: Best Graphic Album-New: Tie! Return of the Dapper Men, by Jim McCann and Janet Lee (Archaia); Wilson, by Daniel Clowes (Drawn & Quarterly)

2:31: Best Graphic Album-Reprint: Wednesday Comics, edited by Mark Chiarello (DC)

2:28: Best Adaptation from Another Work: The Marvelous Land of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, adapted by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young (Marvel)

2:18: Best Continuing Series: Chew, by John Layman and Rob Guillory (Image)

2:13: Best Limited Series: Daytripper, by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá (Vertigo/DC)

2:11: That King fella on American Vampire has talent. Of course, he’s no Joe Hill…

2:08: Best New Series: American Vampire, by Scott Snyder, Stephen King, and Rafael Albuquerque (Vertigo/DC)

2:06: Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award: Nate Simpson for...

Comic-Con International has unleashed the full schedule for Wednesday and Thursday for the San Diego Comic-Con 2011, and there is going to be a ton of stuff to keep you incredibly busy and entertained.

Like I've been saying it's never to early to start planning, and there is a ton of stuff here that we are looking forward to checking out. I've gone through the list and put exclamation points next to all of the events that we are looking forward to attending. What panels and events are you looking forward to?

We will be at Comic-Con in full force this year, bringing you everything you need and want to know about. We will also be having a GeekTyrant meet-up this year, which we announce soon.

See you at the con!

Wednesday July 20th

!!! 6:00-9:00 Special Sneak Peek Pilot Screenings: Alcatraz, Person of Interest, The Secret Circle, and Supernatural...

It’s always amused me that, every few years, someone discovers that the creator of their favorite childhood cartoon character (or current web-comic fave), Doug Tennapel, is a bit of a loon, what with between homophobia, near-Randian worship of the free market, and the intellectual masturbation of “Intelligent Design” and all.

That’s not meant as a dig at Vorpalbunny, who’s peered behind the curtain and seen the wizard for what he is. Mine came with Orson Scott Card, an even more petulant scribe who, like Tennapel, complains about “victimhood” from a wretched suburban prison.

It’ll happen again in a few years, I’m quite sure. In the meantime, I get to watch Tennapel cry “No, you’re oppressing -me-!”, as the SUV pulls away from an Atm, late for a dinner, a meeting, or a flight to some other city, where the loving arms of fans, awards...

Superman made headlines this week with DC Comics' announcement that he will be renouncing his U.S. citizenship in "Action Comics." You'll find countless opinions on Twitter from people who don't read many comics, but Jamal Igle, Gail Simone and Matthew Clark all chimed in to help balance the scales.

And while we're on the subject of "Action Comics," writer Paul Cornell was fun to follow this morning during Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding. Relive the suspense and see what bothered Neil Kleid the most about the whole event after the jump.

I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is the Twitter Report for April 29, 2011.

Superman pt. 1: @TenNapel DC: Our U.S. sales are down for Superman. Marketing: Let's have him renounce his U.S. citizenship! DC: Brilliant!

-Doug Tennapel, Writer/Artist ("Ghostopolis," "Black Cherry")

Superman pt. 2: @Jamaligle All i'm seeing is arguments that have nothing to do...

The nominations for the Eisner Awards were announced yesterday at Wondercon, and publisher DC Comics cleaned house recieving 14 nominations — the most of any publisher. Here is the complete list of nominations. If you’ve been away from comics for a while, or want to try a new addiction, then these are (some of) the best of the best out there right now:

Best Short Story

“Bart on the Fourth of July,” by Peter Kuper, in Bart Simpson #54 (Bongo) “Batman, in Trick for the Scarecrow,” by Billy Tucci, in Dcu Halloween Special 2010 (DC) “Cinderella,” by Nick Spencer and Rodin Esquejo, in Fractured Fables(Silverline Books/Image) “Hamburgers for One,” by Frank Stockton, in Popgun vol. 4 (Image) “Little Red Riding Hood,” by Bryan Talbot and Camilla d’Errico, inFractured Fables (Silverline Books/Image) “Post Mortem,” by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark, in I Am an Avenger#2 (Marvel)

Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)

The Cape,...

The 2011 Eisner Award nominations have just been announced.

Heading the 2011 nominees with five nominations is Return of the Dapper Men, a fantasy hardcover by writer Jim McCann and artist Janet Lee and published by Archaia, with nominations for Best Publication for Teens, Best Graphic Album–New, Best Writer, Best Artist, and Best Publication Design. Two comics series have four nominations: Morning Glories by Nick Spencer and Joe Eisma (published by Shadowline/Image) and Locke & Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (published by Idw). A variety of titles have received three nominations, including the manga Wilson (Drawn & Quarterly), and Mike Mignola’s Hellboy titles (Dark Horse).

The creator with the most nominations is Mignola with five (including cover artist), followed by Spencer and Hill, each with four. Several creators received three nominations: McCann & Lee, Rodriquez, Urasawa, and Clowes, plus writer Ian Boothy (for Comic Book Guy: The Comic Book and...

Here is what I want you to do:

I want you to step away from a glowing screen for a moment. Intimidating, I know, but there’s more. I want you to find something that is anywhere in the geographical region between Goblin’s Roller, Kraftwerk’s Autobahn, Earth 2 and Carpenter’s score for Halloween III: Season of the Witch. I want you to clear a space on the floor and sit in it, get as comfortable as you can, because this could take a while. This is not about achieving zen – please, this is a game review – in fact clearing your mind is the opposite of what you want to do. No, I want all the stuff cluttered about in that noggin of yours remaining, but I want you to re-arrange it. I want your depository of tales, facts, quotes, sounds and colours to sort of create its own stream with the music,...

Creators threw clothing to the wind today as Doug Tennapel contemplated shirtlessness and Brian Michael Bendis made a shocking revelation about his use of pants. Their carefree attitudes were accompanied by sadness, however, in the wake of Activision's "Guitar Hero" cancellation announcement.

Elsewhere, Erik Larsen's convention frustrations, I noted yesterday, continued to grow, and he's now got WonderCon in his crosshairs as well. Today's rundown will let you know why, along with an explanation from Mark Millar about Ultimate Thor's dialect, and a plea for "Glee."

I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is your Twitter Report for February 10, 2011.

@Brianmbendis today i talked to a network president, a true comics legend, and the vp of marvel publishing and i never put on pants. #booyah

-Brian Michael Bendis, Writer ("Ultimate Spider-Man," "New Avengers")

@ErikJLarsen Hey, @WonderCon thanks for f---ing @imagecomics in the a-- by bumping it to the back to make room for Marvel.

This week's snow may have stopped traffic along Lakeshore Drive in Chicago, but it can't stop tweets about who Joseph Gordon-Levitt might play in "The Dark Knight Rises." Brandon Jerwa shared some fine theories last night as the country was getting buried and frozen, and he was probably a bit more on target than Mark Millar was with his thoughts on Egypt.

Check out who's seeing the worst of the mega-storm, what Jon Favreau hopes you'll notice while you're watching the Super Bowl on Sunday and what Groundhog Day is like in the Windy City today. It's all been retweeted after the jump.

I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is your Twitter Report for February 2, 2011.

@Jon_Favreau Cowboys & Aliens #Superbowl commercial is ready to go. Let me know what you think when you see it.

-Jon Favreau, Director ("Iron Man 2," "Cowboys and Aliens")

@mrmarkmillar Just catching up on the riots in Egypt.

Graphic novelist Doug TenNapel (Earthworm Jim, Iron West, Ghostopolis), inspired by Ethan Nicolle’s Axe Cop, has launched his first webcomic, Ratfist.

“It’s been a while since I goofed around with the dorky hero genre of Earthworm Jim,” says TenNapel of Ratfist, “ and I wanted to return to that world and those fans to give them a modern take on absurdist humour.”

The first page, which shows our hero contemplates proposing marriage to his girl while dressing to go out on patrol, may now be consumed. Enjoy!

News that Martin Freeman has officially been cast as Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit" was probably the least controversial thing to hit the comics Twitterverse this week. The same cannot be said for Juan Williams getting fired from NPR thanks to comments he made about Muslims, but most of the creators discussing his termination in our feed kept their posts quite civil.

Elsewhere, Josh Howard's "Chuck" commission that he shared via Twitpic is in no way controversial, and you should check the whole thing out for yourself down below. It's been linked to along with a tease from Mark Millar about an upcoming book, Justin Gray's micro-review of "Splice" and the truest words a freelancer has ever put together as tweeted by Chris Eliopoulos.

I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is the Twitter Report for October 22, 2010.

@joshuahoward Chuck commission http://twitpic.com/2zpe40

-Josh Howard, Writer...

Bryan Singer's revelation that "X-Men: First Class" will draw from James Bond grabbed some attention, and that got Chris Weston thinking about the current state of Bond films. Doug Tennapel, meanwhile, took a trip to see "The Expendables" and posted about that experience.

Elsewhere, Jim Lee shared a picture from a restaurant where some Joker artwork was gifted to him from an artist named Kristian Rowland. You'll find a link to that down below along with Ted Rall's account of being suspected of being a suicide bomber and what it's like to deliver a package to Warren Ellis' home.

I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is your Twitter Report for August 24, 2010.

@westonfront X-Men: First Class to be aesthetically inspired by the 60s Bond films. I wish the Bond films still were.

-Chris Weston, Artist ("The Authority," "The Filth")

@TenNapel I watched The Expendables with 6 pals. It was like going to church.

Ghostopolis

By Doug Tennapel

Scholastic Graphix, 267 pages, $12.99

Doug Tennapel recently wrote on his blog that he cannot begin drawing a graphic novel until he has written the story and worked hard to ensure the story is a good one. He wrote, “It has to be tight, read well enough and come to a point of being finished before I can move on to pencils.”

It could be that emphasis on story that has propelled him to fame as an acclaimed creator of works such as Earthworm Jim, Creature Tech, Tommysaurus Rex, Monster Zoo, and now Ghostopolis. The recently released graphic novel from Scholastic’s Graphix imprint is a well-paced adventure taking familiar themes and ideas and making them feel fresh.

Garth Hale is a terminally ill adolescent who is accidentally transported to the spirit realm known as Ghostopolis. The living doesn’t belong there and Frank Gallows, a Supernatural Immigration...

Edgar Wright must have gotten his wish from yesterday, because because Terry Moore reported a Sigourney Weaver sighting at the "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" premiere last night. Pictures were posted, reactions were tweeted and Wright himself got to talk to Rivers Cuomo.

At some point down the line, we'll likely be seeing an "X-Men: First Class" premiere attended by Edi Gathegi, judging from the news this week that he'll play Darwin in the film. The character's creator Ed Brubaker posted his thoughts on the subject, which you can read after the jump along with news about what Mark Millar's working on, Ben Templesmith's new fashion pledge and a crucial question to contemplate if you ever meet up with Sam Raimi's people.

I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is your Twitter Report for July 28, 2010.

@brubaker I created that X-Man being used in the next movie. Weird.

-Ed Brubaker,...

Although Sundays are known as "Kids' Day" at the San Diego Comic-Con, there's still enough horror oriented content being offered on the final day of the 2010 show to keep fans sticking around "America's Finest City" for at least one more go-around our massive Convention Center.

Sunday – July 25

10:00-11:00 Emily The Strange — Get your last day of Comic-Con off to a strange start with Dark Horse's Emily the Strange panel! Meet Emily's creator Rob Reger and Dark Horse editor Shawna Gore, and come prepared to quench your curiosity about all things Emily. Exciting announcements, wacky wordplay, and tasty news bits are all on the menu for this early bird panel! Room 3

10:00-11:00 Spotlight on Rick Riordan — Comic-Con special guest Rick Riordan discusses his blockbuster book series Percy Jackson & the Olympians as well as his recently released The Kane Chronicles series and the upcoming all-new The Heroes of Olympus series.

Here it is gang! The full schedule for the final day at Comic-Con, Sunday July 25th. There really isn't much happening on Sunday, it looks like it's gonna be a pretty relaxed day. There's a few panels we are going to catch, but I think we'll be playing catch-up on some articles. Sunday is traditionally known as Kids day, which features 27 Special Programs just for Kids. I've highlighted all of the events we hope to attend below. We are also planning a meet-up at Comic-Con with all of our readers. Details on the meet-up will be revealed soon. Check out the full Sunday schedule below and start planning out your day!

Sunday July 25th

Last changed: Sun, Jul 11, 8:51am

10:00-11:00 Emily The Strange— Get your last day of Comic-Con off to a strange start with Dark Horse's Emily the Strange panel! Meet Emily's creator Rob Reger...