Batman Begins vs. Fantastic Four: Different Paths to Success

The friendly rivalry between Marvel and DC knows no boundaries. What started decades ago in print has now spilled over onto celluloid. About a month apart in their release dates, the iconic figures of Batman in DC's Batman Begins, and Marvel's Fantastic Four battle it out for comic book supremacy on film. Two different paths, two different beginnings, but ultimately, both will win.Batman Begins got off on the right foot from the start by signing its director, Chris Nolan. The film was the beneficiary of a lot of buzz before its release, followed by positive reviews from critics and fanboys…

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Try Something Different: 6/29/05

Support Independent Comics!Independent comics (and manga) being released tomorrow, 6/29/05, courtesy of ComicList. 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.Recommendations, sometimes blind, in BOLD. Which ones are YOU reading?AAA MILWAUKEE PUBLISHING CO Essential Arsenic Lullaby Vol 1 HC Sgn, $45.99ABOUT COMICS Licensable Bear #1 (AA), $2.95 Licensable Bear #2, $2.95ALC PUBLISHING Rica Tte Kanji GN, $15.00 Yuri Monogatari GN, $15.00ALIAS ENTERPRISES LLC 10th Muse Vol 2 #2, $2.99 10th Muse Vol 2 Photo Cvr Foil Ed #2, $4.99 Elsinore #2 (Of 9),…

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Comment: Handicapping Batman Begins

As of Tuesday, June 21, Batman Begins has made $84,928,817 at the domestic box office, already ranking it as the 20th highest-grossing comic book adaptation ever. The Top 5 on that list are:Spider-Man: $403,706,375Spider-Man 2: $373,585,825Batman: $251,188,924Men in Black: $250,690,539X2: X-Men United: $214,949,694Assuming a typical 50% dropoff this weekend, I'm guessing it'll leapfrog into the 13th spot, just behind The Hulk at #12 with $132,177,234. From there, though, it'll be interesting to see how it plays out, especially with the Fourth of July holiday next weekend which should boost its take despite War of the Worlds opening that weekend.My prediction?…

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Pull List Review: June 2005

Here's what I'm currently buying on a regular basis, and why. What about you?100 GirlsBecause it's a great story, and Adam Gallardo's an interesting guy.15 MinutesBecause it makes C-list superheroes interesting.Action PhilosophersBecause it's smart and funny and takes more than 5 minutes to read each issue.ArañaBecause I really wanted it to be good, and have been hoping it gets there. (Though, honestly, my hope is fading fast.)The AtheistBecause it has an intriguing plot and a brother as a lead character who isn't a stereotype. (Well, not a bad one, at least, because he's definitely a bit of the stereotypical Sam…

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LINK: What’s Next for Marvel Movies?

Avi Arad, Marvel's chairman and CEO, spoke with MTV.com about where several of the companies nearly 5,000 characters stand with regards to movie prospects, ranging from X-men 3 to Captain America to Cloak & Dagger.X-Men 3: Regarding Jean Grey's possible evolution at the end of the last movie, however, Arad says, "Dark Phoenix should not be the centerpiece of the movie."Wolverine: "2007/2008" film with Wolverine ("Totally different, just Wolverine's journey").Ghost Rider: Scheduled for August 2006, Arad refers to it as a "morality tale," and that it will have a PG-13 rating and a "Southern rock" soundtrack and ethos.Spider-Man 3: Due…

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Comment: Synergy, A Summer Blockbuster Staple

With less than a week to go, the full court press is on to promote Batman Begins. I stated in a previous post that my Dad asked me when it comes out. The marketing gurus of DC's prized possession must be grinning ear-to-ear when they can get a 52-year old who was never into comics asking that question.2-3 weeks ago the country had only been treated to a handful of trailers promoting the release of the film, but now they're bringing out the big guns.Synergy is the name of the game, and all companies willing to pay, can play. Verizon…

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Comment: 9 Days and Counting!

Batman Begins opens June 15th, and the reviews are starting to come in. This weekend at Wizard World Philly's DC panel, lucky attendees were selected for an advance screening. Regular folks like you and me will have to wait a little longer to see DC's crown jewel in all its celluloid glory. I'm eager to see BB; hell, everyone I know is eager. Even my Dad, who's 52 years old and rips me for reading comics, asked me when it's opening!I'm sure rambling fanboy reviews will be flooding the net soon enough, but here are two from the pros. Newsweek's…

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