A very interesting Documentary is coming out from WB about the history of DC Comics, and it will be narrated by Green Lantern himself Ryan Reynolds.

BURBANK, CA (August 11, 2010) – Warner Bros. Picturespresents an enthralling examination of the creative forces behind the World’s Greatest Super Heroes in Secret Origin:The Story of DC Comics, an all-new documentary that takes viewers behind the scenes of the iconic company with unprecedented access to the Warner Bros. and DC Comics archives. Narrated by Ryan Reynolds, SecretOrigin: The Story of DC Comics will be distributed byWarner Home Video on November 9, 2010 on DVD for $24.98 (SRP). Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics will also be available On Demand and for Download.

Behind the amazing tales of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and a host of other well-known characters is the equally impressive story of the challenges, creativity and triumphs of the company that brought those characters to life. Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics is both a celebration of the best writers and artists in comics and a thoughtful exploration of 75 years of DC Comics history.

Produced by the Academy Award ® -nominated team behind Spellbound (Feature Documentary), Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics combines excerpts from comics, films andtelevision series with the insight of some of history’s most influential comic book creators and editors, among them Neal Adams, Karen Berger, Mike Carlin, Dan DiDio, Neil Gaiman, Geoff Johns, Jim Lee, Paul Levitz, Dwayne McDuffie, Grant Morrison, Dennis O’Neil, Paul Pope, Louise Simonson, Mark Waid, Len Wein, and Marv Wolfman.

Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics is written and directed by Mac Carter. Jeffrey Blitz(Spellbound, The Office) served as executive producer. Producer is Gregory Noveck and co-producer is Ivan Cohen. Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics is produced by Sean Welch and Janet Eckholm.

“From the bans to the breakthroughs, from humble pulp beginnings to the literary rise of the graphic novel, the story of DC Comics holds a mirror to an ever-evolving enterprise and the society reflected in its comic book pages,” said Diane Nelson,President, DC Entertainment. “It’s a true American story – Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics is a riveting, exciting, surprising revelation of that fascinating history and the men and women who forged it.”

Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 (December 1941). Due to her recent re-imagining, I thought it might be fun to collect together a handful of awesome Wonder Woman art.

Wonder Woman by Bruno Auriema

Wonder Woman by Matthew Stewart

Wonder Woman by Keron Grant

Wonder Woman by Erik Jones

Wonder Woman by Facundo Di Muro

Wonder Woman by Stephen Arthur Schaffer

Wonder Woman by Alexandre Tso

Wonder Woman by Noah Whyler

Wonder Woman by Alex Garner

Wonder Woman by Ty Romsa

Summer Glau, the actress from The Firefly and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles star is providing the voice for Supergirl in the upcoming animated movie Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (out September 28 on DVD, Blu-ray, on demand and digital download). In the film, the latest in a Warner Bros.-produced series based on popular DC Comics stories, Glau plays Superman’s cousin Kara, a mysterious survivor of the doomed planet Krypton who shows up on Earth. Tim Daly and Kevin Conroy reprise their roles as Superman and Batman, respectively, from the characters’ animated series in the ’90s and a previous DC movie, last year’s Superman/Batman: Public Enemies.

Apocalypse is based on a 2004 comic book arc, written by former Heroes producer Jeph Loeb, which reintroduced Supergirl into the DC Comics universe. ‘I thought in the comic that Jeph Loeb had done a really good job of sticking to the basics of the origin story, but putting enough twists on it to give it a fresh feel,’; says executive producer Bruce Timm, widely considered the dean of superhero animation. Unlike the rocket that brought her cousin to Earth, Kara’s pod was delayed in its arrival, leaving her in suspended animation until landing. When she wakes up she is not terribly happy to learn that Earth’s yellow sun gives her powers far beyond those of mortal women. Early on in the story she just wants to fit in,” Timm says. “Unlike most people who suddenly attain superpowers, she’s terrified of them. She doesn’t want to shoot lasers out of her eyes and be able to lift buildings with her pinky.”

Glau, an animation novice who is the fifth Serenity star Timm has worked with (following Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin, Gina Torres and Morena Baccarin), quickly got a handle on the role. “It was a fun part for her to play because it wasn’t one-note, Timm says. ‘She could be young and bratty, like a typical teenager, and then show a little bit more maturity, then get feisty, then scared. She’s got quite a gamut of emotions to act out.’

Marvel comic artist J. Scott Campbell gave the Disney girls a hyper-sexualized, comic book reimagining.

Mark Millar (Wanted, Kick Ass) is such a hot property these days that the mere mention of a new project from him has Hollywood-types chomping at the bit. The comic in question is Nemesis, a new series that Millar is working on with illustrator Steve McNiven. The two worked together previously on Civil War, and the post-apocalyptic Wolverine tale, Old Man Logan.

With Nemesis, they’re aiming to turn the handsome and privileged bachelor template (epitomized by the likes of Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark) on its head—by making him a Joker-level super-villain.

Millar describes the idea for the character in a recent chat with Comic Book Resources:

What if this genius billionaire was just this total shit, and the only thing that stood between him and a city was the cops? It’s Batman versus Commissioner Gordon, in a weird way. Or maybe a super-villain version of Se7en. A billionaire anarchist up against ordinary people. The Joker’s the best thing in the Batman movies, so this guy is a bit of an amalgamation of all the stuff we like.

Nemesis is the world’s smartest man, and the bad news for us is that he’s the world’s only super-villain. That means he’s got freeze guns and jump-jets and all these James Bond gadgets and he’s using them against us. To entertain himself, he picks a different cop every year and makes his life a misery. The book opens with him fucking over Japan’s top cop, and then our story, the mini-series, takes place as he shifts his attention to Washington and his first American attacks.

In his “Wanted“ comic book, it was actually about a world where super-villains reigned supreme, after systematically ridding the world of superheroes. This time around there’s just one super-villain, no superheroes, and only every-day cops left to try and stop Nemesis.

Millar also talks a bit about the one Commissioner Gordon-esque American cop that the series will focus on:

I wanted to do a book about the world’s greatest villain up against America’s greatest cop. I just liked the high concept of that – the idea of a villain going around from country to country and having a battle of wits with the best guy that he can get his hands on. And he sends them a little funeral wreath with the date and time of when they’re going to die on it, every one dying at precisely that time. All these cops in the Pacific Rim are dead, and then we come in at the American side of the story and see the struggle of this guy in just trying to stop him.

Millar also mentions that the mere announcement of a title and release date for Nemesis got two Hollywood producers interested. He didn’t take those producers up on their offer, but given the success of Wanted, the fantastic buzz around Kick Ass, and the fact that two of his other titles are being adapted to film (American Jesus and War Heroes), a film version of Nemesis seems like a sure bet at some point.

Nemesis will hit shelves in March 2010. Check out the full interview, which is loaded with more information, over at Comic Book Resources.

Its an interesting phenomenon looking at the numbers and how comic books were the entertainment of choice in a previous age and now they are a niche hobby read. Comics and Graphic novels offer a unique visual into storytelling and is truely an artform.

Comic book artist/writer turned entrepreneur Todd McFarlane tells IESB that he’s got “five offers on the table” for a new Spawn movie, ranging from big studio to smaller scale. Todd says that he’s leaning towards the latter, which would “keep it down, keep it dark, keep it grungy”, comparing his idea to “The Departed with something moving in the shadows.”

“It’s not a comic book movie, it’s just a scary movie, a creepy movie. Everything’s real except for one element, which happens to be the character we know as Spawn. So it’s not going to be super villain vs superhero or any of that stuff, it’s just going to be a ‘tight’ movie.”

A film based on the comic was released in 1997. Despite the special effects, which were impressive at the time, the movie was not well received by fans or critics. 

A new direct-to-DVD animated feature starring the Emerald Crusader. Green Lantern: First Flight is the latest in the Warner Premiere series that also includes Superman: Doomsday, Justice League: The New Frontier,Batman: Gotham Knight and Wonder Woman.  Look for it in stores on July 21st. Check out the trailer below.

Cable network IFC is readying to announce an adaption of a popular vampire novel as its first-ever theatrical-length movie production.

IFC is teaming with Lionsgate for a TV movie based on the “Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter” books. The project is the network’s first-ever feature-length production and could be the basis for more Blake projects if successful.

The 16-books-and-counting Blake novels by Laurell Hamilton includes elements familiar to fans of “True Blood” (vampires are part of regular society) and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (tough young female fights supernatural forces). The project will be adapted by Glen Morgan (“X-Files,” “Final Destination”), who also serves as executive producer along with Courtney Solomon (“Dungeons and Dragons”). IFC is targeting the movie to its core base of men ages 18-34 and plans to air the movie next year. 

“The popularity of the network in this demographic indicates that there is a clear demand for films that delve into provocative topics and nothing is more classically provocative than vampire lore,” said Jennifer Caserta, executive vp and general manager of IFC. “Anita Blake fits perfectly with our successful original programming.”

In the books, Blake is a vampire hunter with a lousy dating life who also works as a police consultant investigating supernatural crimes. She attempts to come to terms with her own abilities, and navigate a romantic and political relationships within the vampire community.

“Laurell has created a fascinating heroine in Anita Blake, and we quickly recognized the onscreen potential for this vivid character,” said Kevin Beggs, Lionsgate’s president of TV programming and production. “We have an outstanding creative team and are excited to be moving forward with IFC, which will allow us to fully explore the complex world of Laurell’s highly intriguing and erotically charged novels.”

The first several titles in the Blake series focus on paranormal action, as will the IFC movie.The later novels have become known for highly sexual content (according to Wikipedia, Blake gets involved in S&M, multiple concurrent relationships and “lycanthropic sexual fantasies”). The most recent title debuted at #1 on the New York Times best-seller list. 

Dabel Brothers Publishing is excited to share not one, but two 5 pg previews
this week. The first is for the fourth issue of C.E. Murphy’s “Take a
Chance,” written by C.E. Murphy and art by Ardian Syaf. The second preview
is for the fifth issue of George R.R. Martin’s “Wild Cards,” written by
Daniel Abraham with art by Eric Battle.

Take A Chance #4 Issue Summary:

After saving an officer’s life by killing a woman, Frankie Kemp struggles to
keep her identity as the vigilante “Chance” a secret, but when super-powered
Crisscross comes after Frankie, she must don the mask again.

Wild Cards #5 Issue Summary:

 Croyd Crenson, better known in Jokertown as “The Sleeper,” has tracked down
the Dog Masked serial killer who framed him for murder. Unfortunately, this
mysterious man is an Ace with the ability to dematerialize at will, which
means he’s impossible to pin down! Will Crenson and Alex be able to stop him
from striking again? Or will one of them be his next victim? Meanwhile,
Simon has tracked down Kira but will he be able to save her in time? More
importantly, does she want to be saved?

“Look for both of these books at your local comics shop in April!”
“Please check our website www.dabelbrothers.com for all the latest news,
updates, and interviews on these books and more!”