Archive Page 2166
June 2023
John Romita Sr has died
Famed Marvel comics artist responsible for the "alternative' heroic style of Spider-Man art after the original Ditko run in the 1960s.
"John Romita Sr., who drew early Spider-Man comics and Wolverine for Marvel, dead at 93" – MSN Los Angeles Times
John Romita Sr., born January 24, 1930, often referred to as one of the "architects" of the Marvel Universe, alongside Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko. Romita began his career in the 1950s at Atlas Comics, the precursor to Marvel. However, he first gained prominence when he took over the art duties on The Amazing Spider-Man from the series' co-creator and original artist, Steve Ditko, in 1966.
Romita co-created characters like Mary Jane Watson, the Kingpin, the Rhino, and the Punisher, among others.
Romita also made significant contributions to other Marvel titles, including Daredevil and Captain America, and served as Marvel's art director, where he had a hand in designing the look of many other characters and books.
I say this with a heavy heart, My father passed away peacefully in his sleep. He is a legend in the art world and it would be my honor to follow in his footsteps. Please keep your thoughts and condolences here out of respect for my family.
— John Romita JR (@JrRomita) June 14, 2023
He was the greatest man I ever met. pic.twitter.com/Pe2K3ywbWX
Art by Blob Kane
Joker II is a musical! – Variety
Star Zazie Beetz says "I think people will be surprised" - no kidding!
Unused Poster Concept for Batman (1989) done by Poster Artist John Alvin, w/ the film's main players & some cool art of The Batmobile. "Only One will Claim The Night" is a pretty cool tagline, it's a shame it wasn't really used in any of the Marketing outside of that one TV Spot pic.twitter.com/IjBwwKXuwH
— Daily Batman Anthology (@BatmanAnthology) June 15, 2023
Scheduling shake-up for Disney films – Hollywood Reporter
What's happening:
Avengers Kang Dynasty now moved to May 1, 2026
Fantastic Four previously for Feb 2025 release now at May 2, 2025
Thunderbolts now scheduled for December 20, 2024.
Blade reboot moves to February 14, 2025
A live-action Moana now slated for June 27, 2025
20th Century (now a Disney property) announces a new Alien film for Aug. 16, 2024
A Daisy Ridley Star Wars movie was scheduled for December 2025 but now has moved to May 22, 2026, and on top of that another new Star Wars feature has been slated for December 18, 2026
Captain Ameria Brave New World has shifted to July 26, 2024
Legal fight between Marvel and Larry Lieber, Don Heck and Gene Colan comes to an end – MSN Hollywood Reporter
Back in 2021, Marvel filed a series of lawsuits in response to copyright termination notices from Larry Lieber and the estates of Gene Colan, Steve Ditko, Don Heck and Don Rico.
The termination notices were about work that appeared in these Marvel titles: Amazing Fantasy, The Avengers, Captain America, Daredevil, Iron Man, Journey Into Mystery, Marvel Super-Heroes, Strange Tales, Tales to Astonish, Tales of Suspense and Tomb of Dracula and meant reversion ownership claims were being made over characters like Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Hulk, Thor, Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch.
What's different in this settlement (which is sort've reminiscent of the Kirby Estate "11th hour" settlement in September 2014) is that Steve Ditko’s estate isn't part of this settlement.
According to the termination notice sent by Marc Toberoff on behalf of estate administrator Patrick Ditko, the fate of Amazing Fantasy (including the character’s 1962 debut in “Spider-Man!”) and Strange Tales (including the character’s first appearance in 1963’s “Doctor Strange Master of Black Magic!”) is still to be determined.
Dr. Strange is is an interesting twist in the decades-long fight over ownership of superhero properties because Steve Ditko is supposed to have come up with the original story without any contact from Stan Lee (Marvel's lone employee at the time) and the payment to Ditko for the stories featuring the Mystic Magician contains no record of rights transfer or purchase. In short, Ditko's estate may have a winning hand and can enforce the copyright termination rights that are described in the copyright law. Does this domino through other pieces of the Marvel empire wherever Dr. Strange appeared? Don't know.
Related: Copyright wars of the superheroes
Related: Jack Kirby vs Marvel/Disney
Related: Five famous legal battles over comic book copyrights
Headlines that write themselves: Diablo game goes past 666 million in sales – Comicbook
Ezra Miller back in front of the press for The Flash promo – Hollywood Reporter – "Ezra Miller made a public showing for the first time in nearly two years on Monday night, attending the Los Angeles premiere of DC Studios’ The Flash." – Variety
"$2.5 Million in Seed Funding" for digital comics-gaming company Lightning Works – TMCNet
Rolling Stone "The Flash is the Best DCU movie yet made" – MSN Rolling Stone
But they also say the film "must outrun negative press and an actor’s toxicity" and by that they mean Ezra Miller's celebrity history as a negative headline creating superhero.
Closeout This item only - Iron Man and Batman Body Wash Shampoo three in one
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Original page Febraury 14, 2023