Marvel Signs Interim Deal With WGA

Lionsgate and Marvel studios have signed interim deals with the striking Writers Guild of America, the union said.

The deals announced Thursday followed separate guild pacts with other independent production companies such as United Artists, The Weinstein Co. and David Letterman's Worldwide Pants.

The guild said such agreements confirm it is possible for writers to be compensated fairly and for companies to operate profitably.

Lionsgate's new projects include Sylvester Stallone's ``Rambo'' sequel, ``Saw 5'' and the TV show ``Mad Men.''

Upcoming comic-book film projects from Marvel Studios, a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment Inc., include 'Iron Man' and 'The Incredible Hulk.'

The writers guild, on strike since Nov. 5, is in informal talks with studio bosses to reach a contract agreement and end the costly 11-week walkout that has idled much of the entertainment industry.

Bound for glory? Kroll knows his work's explicit, so please don't call it porn

Eric Kroll has no interest in photographing nudes. But show him a woman in fur-lined panties and extreme heels bound to a chair -- with her consent, of course -- and he's all eyes.

Video Captured of Local Superhero

True20 Licensing Fee To Go Away

From the True20 website:

We’ve decided to change the terms of True20 licensing by removing the fees. Starting in May anyone can publish True20 material for free using the current Open Game License. We will be posting information on how that is going to work in a couple of months. This should be good news for True20 fans, as it’ll mean even more settings, adventures, and source material for the game.

and then there's this little tidbit about a new printing. It sounds like they've been listening to the fans:

We’ve decided to release a revised edition of the core rulebook in April. Let me be clear that is not a new edition. The plan is this: The rules content of the book will be unchanged. We will, however, be replacing the sample settings with the entire content of the True20 Companion. This will make the core rulebook a terrific toolkit and a great base for moving forward. The revised rulebook will also incorporate all the errata of both previous books. True20 Adventure Roleplaying, Revised Edition will be a softcover book that retails for only $29.95.

Continuity

New Iron Man Movie Picture

Thompson On Hollywood: Dark Knight's Nolan and DC Comics Pics

This little tidbit was buried in an otherwise interesting blog post about the Dark Knight movie. I don't think it should come as a huge surprise to anyone. I still haven't seen Superman Returns (and I'm not really sure if I am going to) and a lot of what I heard from people who did see it was underwhelming.

Personally, I think that he should have stayed with the X-Men franchise. It would have spared us that god-awful X3 crap.

Speaking of DC Comics pics, it is highly unlikely that Bryan Singer will return to shoot the next Superman movie. (The director is finishing up Tom Cruise's Nazi film Valkyrie, and prepping The Mayor of Castro Street). The next Superman we will see on the big screen will not be Brandon Routh, but a younger Superman among a cast of youthful superheroes in The Justice League. That movie will likely not be shot, however, until after the WGA strike is resolved. Warners is so happy with Dark Knight that their fondest hope is that Nolan will return to do another Batman.

Erick Wujcik Tribute Site

I wanted to pass along word of this as soon as I read the email that I received. He is a great designer, and from what I have heard, an equally great person.

This website is dedicated to Erick Wujcik, game designer, writer, artist, originator of ideas, thinker and kind soul. Friend to countless people and an inspiration to thousands upon thousands more.

He is one of my dearest friends, so it is with a heavy heart that I report Erick Wujcik, age 56, is dying of cancer.

Until a few weeks ago, Erick was healthy and doing fine. He was enjoying his work at Totally Games, a videogame company, when he thought he had come down with the flu. When he couldn’t shake it, he went to the doctors. The prognosis was unexpected, to say the least. Pancreatic cancer that had spread to his liver. There was no advance warning. It was a shock. Erick presses forward with the willful exuberance he has exhibited all his life.

We thought about letting people know after Christmas, but Erick’s time is, all too quickly, running out.

We thought it would be wonderful to give the millions of people who have loved the man and enjoyed his games, the opportunity to express their appreciation for him and his work. I have no doubt your comments and remembrances will put a smile on Erick’s face and help his spirit soar.

While this is sad news that weighs heavily on our hearts, we’d like this website, and the comments posted on it, to be a celebration of Erick’s wonderful life.

Just as you did when Palladium announced its Crisis of Treachery, let Erick know how much you have enjoyed his games and ideas. How Ninja Turtles (or Amber or whatever) turned you on to gaming or opened up your mind to new possibilities, and similar commentaries, thoughts and regards. I know your kind words and warm remembrances will put a smile on his face and warm his soul.

We’ve chosen to go with a blog style. Post as often as you’d like. Share your recollections about encounters with Erick, the first time you heard him speak or met him at a convention, what he and his work have meant to you, funny convention stories, and whatever else feels right.

Quick Notice and Holiday Wishes

Dorkland will be shutting down for the holidays in a couple of days. Thursday I will be heading off to visit the family and in an uncharacteristically non-geeky manner I won't be taking my computer with me.

So, there might be the occasional post whenever I hope online but nothing too dramatic.

I hope that everyone has a great time with their respective holidays. :)

Smallville's Chloe Sullivan to Join Comic Cast

I liked the character of Chloe in Smallville, well at least while I was still interested in watching the show. Is this a good idea? Who knows. At least it isn't being done as a retcon, with Clark suddenly having a long-lost friend from Smallville showing up and having to be explained.

Of course I haven't regularly followed a Superman title in a number of years (I think my picking up the current LoSH story in Action has to be the first time in at least five years).

Longtime Smallville viewers get a treat on March 12th. That’s when Superman #674 hits the streets, and Chloe Sullivan hits Metropolis. For years, the intrepid young reporter has been a favorite of viewers, and though hints had been dropped about her arrival in the DCU, she never materialized. Now, she’s finally joining up with the Man of Steel’s supporting cast in the comics. From the outset, Superman Editor Matt Idelson points the finger at series writer Kurt Busiek for bringing Chloe on board – 'This was all Kurt’s idea, and it’s something we’d first talked about a couple of years ago.'