Robots Beats everyone but Stolen Comic Flick Didn't do Bad

As 2009 comes to a close, Hollywood made out like bandits despite the bad economy. In comic book film news, Fox’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which is currently the #11 movie released in 2009, was the top-grossing comic book based movie with a domestic total of $179,883,157, followed by Warner Bros.’ Watchmen, which earned $107,509,79 and is the #28 top grossing movie of the year. On the general genre movie news Disney’s Surrogates settles at #72 making only $38,577,772 while top properties include the #1 film of the year, Transformers: Revenge of the Fall which earned $402,111,870, The Twilight Saga: New Moon is at #4, earning $281,930,000, Star Trek sits comfortably at #6, with box office earnings of $257,730, 019, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra earned #16, $150,201,498, and Coraline took #39, $75,286,229. Despite stolen films, bad critic reviews, and being mocked by the core nerd market these films helped Hollywood have an increase earnings of $10.4 billion which is an increase from last years $9.68 billion in 2008. Believe it or not the increase in earnings is a result of the rise in 3-D and Imax releases coupled with the higher ticket prices for both.

Episode 129 - Die Hard With a Podcast

Every podcast has got to have a Christmas episode, and for this show we pick Die Hard because it has everything you need for a X-mas movie. Santa, X-Mas songs, parties, wise-cracking cops, a string of fake international terrorists and a franchise. Merry Christmas and enjoy.

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Green Lantern's Light

SuperHeroHype reports that Martin Campbell’s adaptation of Green Lantern will have some Oscar-winners in its roster when it comes to the behind-the-camera work. First up, you have cinematographer Dion Beebe. Also production designer Grant Major and costume designer Ngila Dickson who both won Oscars for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Finally, not an Oscar-winner, art director François Audouy is the guy with the superhero resume in his back pocket having worked in the art department on all three Spider-Man movies and as the art director on Transformers and Watchmen. While we’re still waiting to hear about casting beyond Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern, there’s no denying that Campbell has assembled a stellar line-up of non-actors to get another DC superhero franchise off the ground. Green Lantern is slated to hit theaters on June 17, 2011.

Capt. America Throws That Mighty Shield Starting in June

In an interview with The Wolfman director Joe Johnston, Fangoria reports that his next film, The First Avenger: Captain America is set to go in front of cameras in June. That’s not too surprising when you consider the film has a target release date of July 22, 2011. According to Fangoria, Johnston is currently meeting with the art department. More news on this as we find it.

Episode #128 - WTF

What makes genre stuff their best are those WTF moments. What makes them their worse are the ones that makes you say "WTF were they thinking?" On this episode we discuss WTF moments in a few of our favorite things.

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Stephen King's "N"

In March Marvel Comics will publish the first installment in a 4-issue graphic fiction mini-series adaptation of Stephen King’s N. Writer Marc Guggenheim and artist Alex Maleev, the creative team behind Marvel’s motion comic adaptation of N, will obviously handle the same chores on the traditional comic book version. Maleev will provide both the cover and interior art for the first issue of N, which will go on sale in March with a $3.99 cover price.

At the Movies

Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey, Jr. set a new Christmas weekend box office debut record with an estimated $65.4 million, but it wasn’t enough to win the weekend crown, which went to James Cameron’s holdover Avatar. Avatar dropped a miniscule 2.6% as it brought in a stellar estimated total of $77 million. Fox, which released Avatar, also had the #3 film, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakwell, which brought in an estimated $50.2 million. Add in Universal’s geriatric romantic comedy, It’s Complicated, which debuted to $22.1 million and strong performances from Up in the Air and The Blind Side and the weekend total was north of $285 million, a performance that obliterated the previous record-setting frame when The Dark Knight debuted in July of 2008 and drove the weekend total to $260 million.

Episode 127 - The Chronicles of the Hideout

On this episode we talk about one of the best anti-heroes to come out of genre fiction, Riddick. From the moment you hear his voice in Pitch Black you knew something interesting has been presented and after 2 movies, 3 animations, and just as many video games Riddick has proven an enduring characters. The Hideout discusses Riddick and we go for the sweet spot. Enjoy.

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Bucking Marvel

Marvel Comics has announced the launch of Marvel’s Greatest Comics, a new imprint featuring the first issues of Marvel Collected editions for $1.00, in March. Invincible Iron Man #1, the first title released under the new imprint, will be offered free. The titles planned for release in March are:

Invincible Iron Man #1 on March 3rd
Captain America #1 on March 10th
Wonderful Wizard of Oz #1 on March 17th
Thor #1 on March 24th
Punisher Max #1 on March 31st

One More Ring to Rule Us All

A major Lord of the Rings program will be launched in April, anchored by the release of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy on Blu-ray on April 6th. Also planned for release in April is Ralph Bakshi’s Lord of the Rings animated feature in a new Deluxe Edition on Blu-ray, remastered for the first time with new Dolby 5:1 audio and new content, streeting on April 13th. And Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest, a new videogame for Wii, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, and PSP will also debut after the release of the Blu-ray LotR.

Stargate U Gotta Be Kidding Me

Syfy has renewed Stargate: Universe for a second season, according to Hollywood Reporter. The network also renewed Sanctuary for a third season. The new seasons of the two shows will premiere in the fall. SGU is currently in its midseason break; its first season will resume in April.

Frazetta on a Back Hoe

Alfonso Frank Frazetta, the son of famed fantasy artist Frank Frazetta, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with stealing $20 million worth of paintings by his father, according to the Pocono Record. A backhoe was used to gain entrance to the family-run museum, and the 90 paintings were loaded into a vehicle and trailer with the help of two other men. Frazetta Jr. told the police that his father had given him permission to enter the museum and move the paintings; Frank Frazetta, who was in Florida at the time, told the police he had not.

Bruce is Back - YEAH, BABY, YEAH!!!

Bruce Wayne will be returning as the secret identity of Batman in Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne, a six-issue miniseries launching in April. DC revealed the new series on its blog, and writer Grant Morrison promoted it with an interview with USA Today on Wednesday.

Cameron's Voyage

James Cameron will produce a remake of Fantastic Voyage using the same 3D digital technology he used in Avatar, according to Variety. Cameron also told British journalists that he had worked out stories for two Avatar sequels, which would use the CG world created for the first film. Fox would not confirm plans for the sequels, according to the report. The investment in the new technology for Avatar was substantial, and all concerned are looking for new ways to use it.

Episode 126 - I Am Jack's Podcast

The first rule of listening to this podcast is you must talk about this podcast. Why because this is about Fight Club, as only the hideout can discuss it. This is this weeks show, and it's ending one track space at a time - enjoy.

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Marvel's Maisel Resigns

Marvel Entertainment has announced that David Maisel will resign his position as chairman of Marvel Studios once the Disney deal is approved. Kevin Feige, who became Marvel Studios’ Production Chief in March of 2007, will be the primary Marvel Studios executive reporting to Disney’s Rich Ross, once Maisel leaves. Maisel will remain as executive producer on Iron Man 2, The First Avenger: Captain America, and Thor, all of which are in various states of production and development at Marvel Studios.

The Curious Sales of Floppies and Graphics

Sales of periodical comic books through Diamond Comic Distributors were up 12% over sales in November of 2008, but graphic novels dropped by 26%, when compared with November of 2008 when the graphic novel category was boosted by continuing sales of Watchmen and a number of strong releases including the Heroes graphic novel, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier, and Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born. The steep fall in graphic novel sales marked the category's 8th straight month of declines. Overall combined sales of comics and graphic novels were almost identical with those in November of 2008.

Blackest 10

After one hell of a ring promotion coupled with one of the best event issues DC rules the top ten comics in November sales. (See our top 25 sales breakdown.) Thanks to a combination of special orders that featured the seven rings of the different colored Lantern Corps. and the prior year long promotion of the highly anticipated Blackest Night event not only did Blackest Night #5 show a 5% increase in over all sales (and that does include the five different covers). This promotion was potent enough to push Booster Gold #26 into the top 25 at #19. Four other Blackest Night tie-ins, Green Lantern #48, Justice League of America #39, Adventure Comics #4, and Green Lantern Corps #42 all made the top ten. Go DC!

Episode 125 - Dafixer's Roughnecks

There are some movies that come along and change everything. They set a new standard, give us much to think about, make the world pause and the marvel of something new and different. Starship Troopers isn't one of those movie. But it's a movie that was a lot of fun, action packed and didn't hold back on how much fun wasn't. Here's Starship Troopers from the Hideout perspective. Enjoy.

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