Archie Comics: Finally, some respect?

Erika D. Peterman — Special to CNN, Source: CNN.com

They’re as much a part of Americana as Spider-Man, but Archie and his pals don’t always get the respect they deserve.

Think about it: Betty, Veronica, Jughead and Reggie are instantly recognizable characters and archetypes, and I’d wager that most people who grew up reading comics, even casually, cracked open an “Archie’s Digest” along the way.

Some of us never left Archie behind, at least not permanently. While our fellow fangirls and boys might not consider Riverdale to be as relevant as Gotham or Asgard, we know what a special place it still occupies in comics, to say nothing of our personal geek origin stories. Nostalgia is a factor, but there are other reasons why Archie still matters after 70 years.

Chris Carter teases by not telling what new TV project is about

By Don Kaye, Source: Blastr.com

The man who created The X-Files is coming back to television—and, not surprisingly, little is known about his new project.

The proposed show is called Unique, according to the Hollywood Reporter, and it is described as a “mystery police thriller” with a female lead character. But—and this is what grabbed us—the series is also said to have a supernatural element.

What exactly does that mean? No one knows for sure, and Carter isn’t talking, although he is slated to write and executive-produce the show if it gets picked up.

Webisode success leads to a big-screen Mortal Kombat reboot

By Krystal Clark, Source: Blastr.com

Warner Bros. is ready to produce the Mortal Kombat we’ve always wanted. The studio has given Mortal Kombat: Legacy’s Kevin Tancharoen the thumbs-up to direct a big-screen reboot. (In creepy MK announcer voice: Excellent!)

Who do we have to thank for Warner Bros.’ renewed interest in Mortal Kombat? It’s a mix of Kevin Tancharoen and the obsessive fans who tuned in each week to his webseries Mortal Kombat: Legacy. Tancharoen’s vision of a less campy and more gritty MK world pleased viewers who were yearning for a darker adaptation. In other words, there was blood! Lots and lots of blood.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy raked in 15 million viewers after it debuted in April, which was music to the studio’s ears. So they bit the bullet and decided to reinvest in the ’90s property. The good news is Tancharoen will return for the reboot; the bad news is none of the actors from the webseries are involved and it will be based on a new story written by Oren Uziel.

The film is currently in development, so it’s too early to tell if any of the actors would even be open to reprising their roles. But if they do decide to tap into Legacy’s roster, Michael Jai White should be the first to return. He is a perfect Jax!

Are you excited to see Mortal Kombat in theaters again? Who would you like to return?

Wanna Scream some more? Wes Craven says Scream 5 will happen

By Nathalie Caron, Source: Blastr.com

If you thought the Scream franchise was dead following the underwhelming box-office return of Scream 4, then you may be wrong. Wes Craven himself says Scream 5 is gonna happen.

That’s what the big time horror film director revealed in a phone interview with MovieWeb while Craven was in the midst of promoting the 10/4 home video release of Scream 4:

“Yes. The odds are that there will be (a Scream 5). It is something that Bob Weinstein wants to do. He tends to do what he wants to do. So I am inclined to think that there will be (another sequel). Whether I will be a part of it or not? I don’t know. My contract gives me the first look. If they show me something that is really wonderful? Of course I will be a part of it.”

Stephen King hatches a Shining 2: Danny vs vampires!

By Matthew Jackson, Source: Blastr.com

It’s been 34 years since Stephen King published The Shining, the haunted hotel story that remains among his most iconic novels. It took three and a half decades, but King has officially announced a sequel to the book that will pit a grown-up version of his boy hero, Danny Torrance.

King made the official announcement via his website Monday, after a weekend appearance at George Mason University during which he both discussed his ideas for the novel and read an excerpt from it:

“It’s now official—Stephen is working on Dr. Sleep, the sequel to The Shining. This weekend Steve read an excerpt from this at his appearance at George Mason University. They have given us permission to post their taping of the event here on Steve’s site which we will do as soon as we receive the file. Dr. Sleep’s plot includes a traveling group of vampires called The Tribe.”

Doctor Who Confidential axed by BBC

by Patrick Foster, Source: The Guardian

The BBC is to axe Doctor Who Confidential, the BBC3 spin-off from its sci-fi drama, as part of the corporation’s ongoing cuts programme.

Doctor Who Confidential, which features behind-the-scenes footage from the making of Doctor Who as well as interviews with the cast and crew, has aired in an early evening slot on BBC3 since 2005, when the corporation revived the main series with Christopher Eccleston as the ninth Time Lord.

However, with the corporation facing budget cuts of up to 20% across its output as part of its Delivering Quality First initiative, BBC controller Zai Bennett has chosen to axe the show at the end of its current series.

Earth Station One Episode 79: Great Scott, I’m being followed through time by Michael J. Fox!!

This week we hop in the Delorean and join up with Doc Brown and Marty and take a peek at Back to the Future parts 2 & 3. Then we also review the newest episode of Doctor Who as we see the return of one of the Doctors oldest foes in “Closing Time” and if that wasn’t enough; we talk to Marc Ballard to help promote the Nashville Comic and Horror Festival.

Join us for yet another episode of The Earth Station One Podcast we like to call: Great Scott, I’m being followed through time by Michael J. Fox!!

Is Marvel about to match DC with its own company-wide relaunch?

By Dan Roth, Source Blastr.com

While DC’s relaunch has suffered from week after week of controversy, there’s no arguing with the numbers. With several of the new 52 breaking 200,000 copies sold, it seemed like Marvel would inevitably follow suit with a relaunch of its own. Today, it looks like we’re getting the first glimpse of that happening.

Marvel has just announced a one-shot titled Point One that will “set the stage for the biggest stories coming in 2012. Here’s the language the press release uses:

“Point One is a massive one-shot of 64 all-new pages of story by the top creators in the business, setting the stage for the biggest stories coming in 2012. It is the starting point to what’s in store for the world’s most iconic characters and startling events. Point One serves as the launch pad for dynamic new series, the return of fan-demanded characters, and a shocking teaser that will have everyone talking. See how all it comes together in one gigantic epic!”

Point One? Flashpoint? No, those aren’t similar at all.

New Mini-Miniseries Coming For Doctor Who DVD And Blu-Ray

by Brendon Connelly, Source: Bleeding Cool.com

There’s a new Doctor Who miniseries coming our way in November. And by mini, I mean mini.

Written by Steven Moffat especially for the full-series DVD and Blu-ray box sets of this year’s episodes, the five epsisodes of Night and the Doctor aren’t likely to run more than fifteen minutes between them (in fact, we may be lucky if they last ten).

But if the disc-exclusive minisodes in last year’s release are anything to go by, these will be a whole lot of fun.

And whereas last year’s minisodes were just sketches that could have been sandwiched between full episodes, it looks like the five-part Night and the Doctor will have a complete, coherent story of its own – why else be split into five parts?

And it will certainly have it’s own episode of Doctor Who Confidential, A Night’s Tale.

Neil Armstrong: Abandoning space is embarrassing and unacceptable

By Matthew Jackson, Source: Blastr.com

Since instantly becoming the most famous space traveler ever to ride a rocket in 1969, Neil Armstrong has largely avoided the public eye. When he does have something to say, he makes it count, as he did Thursday when he told a congressional committee that the current state of U.S. spaceflight is “embarrassing.”

Speaking as part of a four-person space expert panel appearing before the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, Armstrong lamented the cancellation of the space shuttle program earlier this year and warned that it could cause America to lose its leadership position as a space traveling nation.