On comics and other pop culture topics, including archived Comic Book Commentary posts from 2005-2007.

Fantasticar Revealed

Via USA Today:Translating the flying car from the page to the big screen was no small effort, says Tim Flattery, conceptual artist for the Fantastic Four sequel, which hits screens June 15. He showed several designs to director Tim Story, including one based loosely on the Batmobile, which he designed for 1995's Batman Forever.But Story rejected the designs as "too aggressive," Flattery says. "He wanted something that looked less like a predator and more friendly. That's always been the Fantastic Four theme."That family-friendly tenor helped the original movie rake in $155 million domestically and $330 million worldwide.I've yet to see…

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The CBC Library is Open

The latest update to Comic Book Commentary is now available: the CBC Library, your new one-stop-shop for all of your comic book-related Amazon.com purchases.The Library features an eclectic mix of books, DVDs and games I recommend, as well as select Amazon Listmania lists, in a wide range of categories: Batman, Fables, Artesia, Essential Reading, More Essential Reading, Essential Marvel, Absolute DC, Fantagraphics, No Spandex, Greg Rucka, Charlie Huston, Los. Bros. Hernandez, Pulp Superheroes, Superhero Cartoons and Cult/Noir Movies.I'll have more set up over the next couple of weeks, but between what's there now and the fully functional search feature, you…

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On The Shelves: 11/29/06

Reading is fundamental. Don't waste your time reading bad comics out of habit! My weekly, semi-informed look at select comic books being released Wednesday, 11/29/06 follows. The full shipping is list available at ComicList. [NOTE: Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. If your LCBS offers a pre-ordering service, be sure to take advantage of it. If not, find another one; or try Khepri.com or MidtownComics.com] PICK OF THE WEEK Dark Horse Book Of Monsters HC ARCANA STUDIOOutlaw Scorn 3030 AD #1 (Of 6), $3.95 It's been a while since I've picked up something from Arcana,…

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CBC Quickees: Big Two Roundup

I'm so far behind on reviews these days that in order to jumpstart my critical faculties, I've grabbed a stack of comics from my most-recently read pile and, focusing on some of the floppies I'm still reading from the Big Two, am giving random ones the super-quickee treatment.Criminal #1-2 (Icon/Marvel, $2.99), Captain America #3 (Marvel, $2.99), Daredevil #91 (Marvel, $2.99)Ed Brubaker has officially become one of my favorite comics writers, whether it's working within his own gritty world in Criminal, or making two of Marvel's best-known but least interesting characters immensely readable. The first two issues of Criminal feel like…

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What if Civil War #5 was good?

It might read a little something like this:Check out Tetsubo Productions - Wherein I Show Why I Shouldn't Be Allowed To Use Photoshop for the hilarious remix of the entire issue.I dropped Civil War after the incredibly lame fourth issue, unable to stomach any more of Mark Millar's weak attempts at plotting and dialogue, and after reading several reviews like this one I'm glad I did.Can someone please explain to me why this juvenile hack is one of the top writers in the industry? I mean, I'm no Grant Morrison fan, but at least I can acknowledge and respect his…

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