Friday, February 19, 2010

Angelus #5 Cover



Angelus #5 (of 6)

(W) Ron Marz (A) Stjepan Sejic (Cov) Stjepan Sejic

The ARTIFACTS lead-in series reaches its penultimate issue!
Just as Dani and Finch's relationship reaches a turning point, Dani must embrace the role of the Angelus once again, finally facing down an enemy who has lurked in the shadows and plotted her doom. Forced to make a choice between her humanity and her life as the Angelus, what will Dani choose?

Full Color, 32 pages, $2.99, limited series
Expected Ship Date – May 19th, 2010

Friday, February 12, 2010

Episodes Titles for 9x19 & 9x20

Episode 9x19: "Charade"

Written By: Holly Henderson & Don Whitehead
Directed By: Brian Peterson

And

Episode 9x20: "Sacrifice"

The Characters of Broken Trinity: Pandora's Box

THE CHARACTERS OF BROKEN TRINITY: PANDORA’S BOX


With Broken Trinity: Pandora’s Box arriving this month, a preparation of sorts was in order. We went straight to the source, creative team Rob Levin and Bryan Edward Hill, who gave us this handy rundown of the characters at the heart of Pandora’s Box.

Michael “Finn” Finnegan - Ex-gun runner Michael Finnegan grew up on the coldest side of Northern Ireland, learning from a young age that surviving meant combining violence, luck and charm into a way of life. Unaware of the legend of the Witchblade, Finn was hired to follow Sara Pezzini by Jackie Estcado a.k.a The Darkness. Finn quickly found himself in a new world of magic and terror when The Curator gave him the Glacier Stone...and made him the person responsible for serving its legacy in our time. After a violent confrontation with Glorianna Silver, Finnegan now struggles with the power of the Glacier Stone, half curious about its potential -- half resentful that his life was turned upside down because of it.

Glorianna “Glori” Silver - At seven years old, Glorianna Silver was orphaned when marauders invaded her poor Norwegian farmhouse. Just when it appeared she would be another statistic of poverty, she was found by Wulfgar Olafsson. On her eighth birthday, she was given a new purpose: Wulfgar told her it was her destiny to bear the power of the Ember Stone. Since that day, Wulfgar has trained Glori in everything from the highest-level academics to the most brutal fighting arts. Upon finding the Ember Stone, Glori claimed her legacy and set off to fulfill it...by taking the Glacier Stone, uniting the trinity and using its power to remake the world according to her vision. Now Glori commands a multi-million dollar empire given to her by Wulfgar’s lineage. She has charities. Political contacts. Global influence...but she doesn’t have the Glacier Stone, and that’s where her obsession lies.

Wulfgar Olafsson - The Olafsson family line has existed for one purpose: to find and train the bearers of the Ember Stone. Stretching back to the dark ages, they have cultured a multi-million dollar fortune. In the modern day, Wulfgar is the patriarch of the Olafsson’s estate. Wulfgar created the Sons of Ember, a group dedicated to protecting the Olafsson Empire and the bearer of the Ember Stone, Wulfgar’s adopted daughter, Glorianna Silver. A lifetime student of history, literature and philosophy, Wulfgar has been Glori’s teacher, mentor, trainer and protector. Now that Glori possesses the Ember Stone, it is through Wulfgar’s counsel that Glori wages her war to unite the Broken Trinity.

Kenshin Kawakami - Kenshin is a former Japanese military man, but he never talks about it. Something bad happened when he was in the service. He bears the weight of this at all times. He’s burdened by his past because he’s lived, seen, and endured terrible things. He’s even a done some of them himself.

After leaving the military, Kenshin retired to a hillside dojo where he teaches philosophy and sword fighting in the same manner as his ancestor, Miyamoto Musashi. At some point in his past, Kenshin wielded the Blood Sword, one of the 13 Artifacts. It’s unclear how or why he gave it up, but the Curator trusts him enough to send Finnegan to study with Kenshin and learn about the Blood Sword and the rest of the Artifacts.

Elias Legion - Elias is the charismatic prophet of the Disciples of Adam. Born in the Middle East but educated (socially and intellectually) in Europe. He’s not a “warrior;” he’s a leader. A man of tradition. Purpose. He is constantly moving forward.

His followers refer to him as ‘Teacher Elias,’ and he is the only one known to have communicated with Disciple leader Adam. Elias believes in Adam’s wisdom and teachings above all else, and he would bring the world to its knees, even destroy it, if it accomplishes his goals. He’s a zealot, and that’s what makes him so dangerous.

Alina Enstrom - Elias’ personal bodyguard/assassin and second-in-command. Born in a small town but raised in a big city, she’s a woman in a man’s game (violence), so she has precious little time for bullshit. She is, in all things, efficient.

Alina is the daughter of Pavel Enstrom, a black market weapons manufacturer whose wife was murdered. He eventually found the Disciples and believed in Adam’s cause, indoctrinating Alina at a young age. She is the perfect weapon, unencumbered by a conscience because she believes that what she’s doing is for a higher purpose.

The Disciples of Adam - Unlike most dangerous cults, the Disciples aren’t just armed; they’re highly trained and well-funded. The followers Elias has assembled may as well be an elite special ops taskforce, not religious followers. They come from all nations and many walks of life, though most have military or private security backgrounds, and were found by Elias when they fell from the grace of their nations or their loved ones.

Their goal is to bring about the dawn of the New Eden, cleansing the world and starting again without the mistakes of the past. They believe themselves to be both pure and righteous, and the rest of the world to be sinners. Every disciple bears the Mark of Adam—a runic symbol tattooed or branded into his or her flesh, usually on the right palm. Some have added additional marks as a sign of loyalty.

Source: http://www.newsarama.com/comics/Broken-Trinity-Characters-100212.html

Allison Mack Interview With TV Guide

While fans of Smallville have longed to see longtime friends Chloe (Allison Mack) and Clark (Tom Welling) take their friendship to the next level, there's a new relationship coming to light. Oliver (Justin Hartley) and Chloe will develop a spark in the coming episodes, but it's a bond unlike what we've seen between Lois (Erica Durance) and Clark. TVGuide.com spoke with Mack on her second time directing (Friday's episode, "Warrior"), her thoughts on Lois and Clark and much more!

Smallville: Justin Hartley says Chloe-Oliver are a go

TVGuide.com: Let's start off by discussing this week's episode, "Warrior."
Mack: They assign all of the directors numbers ... I was given Episode 13 this year and I was given Episode 13 last year, so apparently 13 is my lucky number because I've ended up with great scripts for both seasons. This one ... I had heard that it was like a little kid in a big body story a few weeks before I actually received the script. I started studying Big, but it wasn't until I actually got the script that I started to understand the real essence of the episode and got really excited about the opportunity to explore it on camera.

TVGuide.com: What kind of relationship are Chloe and Oliver going to have?
Mack: Oliver and Chloe are both coming from very similar mindsets and they're very professional. A relationship that develops out of those types of people is never one of softness or romance. It's a really interesting dynamic because both are aware that the most important thing is their mission in the world, not their relationships. They have a very strained and secretive relationship, which is similar to Clark and Lois, but they don't have the softness or the romance that Clark and Lois have. It's very fun, it's very mature and very secretive, strategic and interesting.

TVGuide.com: What are your thoughts on the Smallville fans that want to see Chloe and Clark together?
Mack: It's lovely that they're keeping the hope alive. [Laughs]

TVGuide.com: How does Chloe feel about seeing Lois and Clark together?
Mack: I don't think she's a very big fan, but I don't think it's coming from a place of jealousy. I think it's coming from a place of practicality. I think that Chloe recognizes, and you'll see this in "Persuasion," that when Clark is distracted, Clark does not do his best work. When Clark is in love is when Clark is distracted. Chloe is very reticent of being supportive of anything that will distract from naturalizing his heroic position in the world. His relationship with Lois is definitely proving to be a distraction just as she expected.

Smallville's Erica Durance: Lois will get to play the hero

TVGuide.com: Will Clark and Chloe's friendship come together more?
Mack: They're working towards the same mission, they have the same ideals, but their journey, their path and their choices to actualize those missions are very different. While they are working together, because they always have and always will need each other, they also, both of them, have projects they're working on the side that don't involve the other, which puts a really interesting divide between the two characters and allows them some great dramatic tension.

TVGuide.com: How will the Justice League now develop or change in the coming episodes?
Mack: I think they become a much more deliberate group of superheroes. They have a system and we have a commitment now, all of them do. All of them are actually out and proactively seeking to fight crime and save the world in a way that was a little more haphazard before. With Chloe at the helm of all of them, I think they're a lot more effective and intentional in what it is they're trying to achieve.

TVGuide.com: What's your take on Dr. Fate's statement that he and Chloe share the same path? Could he mean that she's the next Dr. Fate?
Mack: We have played around with lots of different things. It could mean she's the next Dr. Fate. It could mean that she will soon be ridiculed and put in the hospital for being insane, like her mother, sort of a throwback to Chloe's fear of adopting her mother's mental illness.

TVGuide.com: What role will Chloe play in investigating Checkmate and Agent Waller (Pam Grier)?
Mack: Chloe plays a very proactive role in the relationship between Clark and Amanda Waller, mainly because she's a threat to her league. As part of her duties as Watch Tower, she is very protective of her league and what they represent and stand for. She's very aggressive about trying to figure out who Checkmate is, what it's about and how to stop her.

Ratings: Two-hour Smallville hits season high

TVGuide.com: Will being big brother as Watch Tower come back to hurt her eventually?
Mack: She's definitely experiencing the challenges of being so aggressive with her pursuit to save, especially in her relationship with Clark. She's also starting to understand what it means to put yourself in the line of fire. So her safety is threatened several times and she's starting to recognize that she's in the big kids league now and there's not really any turning back ... At this point in Chloe's life, she doesn't have a whole lot to lose.

TVGuide.com: What is Chloe's driving force and her mindset as we continue through the season?
Mack: I think Chloe is really exploring that question, "Do the ends justify the means?" Because I think Chloe is at a place right now that she sees how bad the world is and sees the need for some really dramatic and drastic decisions. She's struggling to decide whether or not what she needs to sacrifice is worth what she needs to save.

Allison Mack interview with TV Guide Magazine

Allison Mack Talks "Warrior," Chlollie and More!
by Damian Holbrook February 11, 2010 05:25 PM EST

For nine seasons, Allison Mack has been one of Smallville’s most talked-about cast members. Now, the adorable and engaging actress who plays Chloe Sullivan does some talking herself, about directing this week’s comic-book convention episode, being best friends with Clark Kent and where she sees ahead for Miss Sullivan’s love life.

You have been a very busy woman this season.
Yeah, it’s been probably the busiest time of my life actually. The last three months of the year were kind of insane.

I bet! Let’s talk about “Warrior.”
Sure!

So, it’s your second time directing the show, Justin [Hartley, Oliver] and your bosses Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson have nothing but high praise for you…are you starting to prefer directing over acting these days?
I wouldn’t say I prefer it, no, I think it’s a very different skill. And it’s terrifying. [Laughs] But I thoroughly enjoy it and there are elements of it that are incredible. It’s allowed me an understanding of filmmaking and the storytelling process that I would never have received by just purely acting, and it’s given me a perspective and a humility that has helped me explore myself in a way I don’t think I ever would have before. That’s why I love directing. I also love understanding the elements of what it takes to put things together, coming up with the entire style, theme and look of the whole show. It’s an amazing experience.

It sounds it.
That being said, with acting, it’s nice to just go in, do your job and relax. It’s all you, all the time when you’re directing. [Laughs]

And with “Warrior,” you had a lot to deal with. Big crowds, huge set pieces…
This was a challenge in a different way. It is a much bigger episode than the last one I directed [Season 8’s “Power”]. There was a lot more, as far as details and people were concerned. Plus I was involved a lot more in this episode. So it was pretty intense.

How was it, directing and carrying a lot of scene work?
That was probably the most challenging part of this experience. I am really, really lucky…I work with really amazing people. My director of photography Glen Winter, my second assistant director Morgan Beggs, and my mentor—they called him my assistant, he was more like my teacher—Christopher Petry, they were so helpful, so supportive, so beautifully there for me that any time I was in front of the camera, I knew I could come back and ask them what they thought and then move on. I couldn’t have done it if I hadn’t had the support of those three amazing men.

And you also got to direct almost the whole cast, right? I did. The only person I didn’t get to direct this time around was Cassidy [Freeman, Tess].

So I got a ton of questions from the Twitterverse. You know about your fans, right?
My fans are beautiful!

They LOVE you.
I know. They’re so great.

One question that keeps coming up is the direction Chloe’s headed in lately. Is she slipping into the dark side here?
I think Chloe is exploring alternate options for obtaining what she wants. I think she has beautiful, altruistic motivations, but I think she is looking at the idea of ‘do the ends justify the means?’ She’s pro-actively seeking ways to secure the salvation of humanity that might be different from Clark’s…and appearing less heroic than Clark’s.

And this has caused a strain on their friendship, which has people quite upset, as well. Do you think these two will ever regain that bond?
I think you’re seeing these two characters ebb and flow. They’re struggling to grow into a new type of relationship that they don’t understand yet. So it’s sort of one step forward, two steps back as they evolve…they grow apart and come together, then grow apart and come together again. But really, the whole dynamic for the two of them is ultimately that they love each other deeply. They’re family. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that they agree with what the other person is doing, nor does it mean that they feel they can trust each other any more. But I don’t think that love or familial bond will ever go away.

That’s what I have been saying all along! That this mirrors a true friendship.
Yep! It really does. And it’s neat because you have seen the characters grow up together—Tom [Welling, Clark] and I have grown up together—we really get to experience the full dimension of a friendship, which is nice.

And speaking of relationships, watching you and Justin at the end of “Roulette,” I couldn’t help but think ‘what a gorgeous couple they’d make!’
[Laughs] Ha ha!

You guys had so much chemistry in that scene and the characters both come from that same place, the other side of heroism.
Yep. Oliver offers Chloe a lot.

Will he be offering her more?
[Laughs] Their relationship definitely changes. You definitely see their dynamic expanding. In what direction, you’ll have to watch and find out. But you’ll see in “Warrrior” that there is a huge shift between the two of them. They will definitely be spending more time together.

Do you have a favorite Smallville moment?
Yes! The other day, actually, it was Justin’s birthday and we had a cake for him. So I went down to the set, it’s pouring down rain and we have these things called “fly swatters” that shield us from rain when we’re filming outside, but they also basically collect a lot of rain on top. Every now and then you have to dump all of that excess rain and there’s this huge splash of water. We were filming outside, so we had these fly swatters set up and they were filled with water, and as we were singing “Happy Birthday,” one of the crewmembers decided to empty the fly swatter…not knowing I was standing right under it. Before anyone could say anything I was covered in about a gallon of freezing cold rainwater and I just looked at Justin and went (in a little singing voice) “happy birthday to you.” [Laughs] I had to completely redo my hair and makeup, I was wet to the bone, but everyone applauded and it ended being this great moment in Smallville history.

You guys really are a family up there in Vancouver, huh?
It is. It’s rare in this business to spend more than six months with a group of people. It’s a very gypsy-like atmosphere, very nomadic, people go from project to project to project. The fact that we have been together for almost a decade? That breeds a family atmosphere. We can’t help but be close!

Do you and Erica [Durance, Lois] hang out off-camera? Do “girls night” stuff?
We talk about it a lot. [Laughs] But we’ve never actually done it. Erica and I are both incredibly busy and because of our characters, we usually have contrasting schedules. We very rarely get to work together. So unfortunately, our schedules have never aligned where we can hang out together. But we like each other very, very much!

You two do have some cool stuff together in “Persuasion,” though, right?
Oh yeah.

We totally get to see angry Chloe again, like at the prom?
You get to see Nasty Chloe!

Is there an actual fight between you two?
There isn’t a physical fight between Chloe and Lois, but there is one between Chloe and Tess. And it is wicked. It’s a really hardcore fight! [Laughs]

Sounds hot! What do you guys think of Miss Mack and everything she has to say about Smallville?

Thursday, February 11, 2010

GeekWeek Reviews Angelus #2

GeekWeek's Iann Robinson checks out this week's in-store comic, Angelus #2:

Fantasy comics are a tough sell sometimes, especially when they’re steeped in light vs. dark, angels vs. demons and that kind of epic stuff. Done incorrectly these books can come off cheesy or boring. Top Cow’s new fantasy series Angelus scripted by Ron Marz and illustrated by Stjepan Sejic seems to be avoiding those pitfalls with not only an interesting storyline but also some killer art. Let me warn you, Angelus is a comic for those that love fantasy so if you’re an indie guy or a superhero nut it might not be your cup of tea. I dig all comics so if you’re like me Angelus could be something to add to the weekly list.

The story centers on Danielle Baptise a young woman from New Orleans who has been chosen by the Angelus, a primal light force, to be its human embodiment. Along with this new power comes all kinds of problems not the least of which is an army of Angels looking to Danielle to lead them in a battle to end their war against darkness. These new allies of Danielle in her Angelus forms aren’t the kindest bunch and while obedient to her thus far may kill her if Danielle doesn’t come up with a battle plan.

Issue #2 kicks off with a strike squad of angels in the realm of darkness robbing a demon train that’s front car is a large demon head with huge teeth. The train could have graced the cover of any early eighties metal album. Meanwhile Danielle has been brought to her Kingdom Of Light that essentially looks like an Old Testament description of Heaven. Tall gorgeous city in the clouds filled with heavenly deities and all apparently there to serve Danielle. The issue does a great job of balancing the mystery of the train robbery with Danielle’s sudden life changing circumstances, a nice mix of action and melodrama.

The only hokey part of Angelus is that Danielle is having a lesbian affair with a punky wise cracking upstart named Finch. My problem isn’t the lesbian aspect but the fact that the story doesn’t really need it. The whole affair aspect seems thrown in as a taboo that stands against the whole religious idea and I could live to be a thousand years old without ever seeing the “punky wise cracking upstart” character and it still wouldn’t be long enough. Angelus is a really interesting comic and does such a great job of taking cues from religious folklore without favoring any religions that I thought the Linch character and affair was a bit beneath it.

Art wise the book is pretty lush which fits in perfectly with the story. Stjepan Sejic has a great eye for combining these classic fantasy elements of angels and demons with a technological edge giving the whole comic a Blade Runner through the eyes of religion feel. I was also really impressed with how the colors were used here. A lot of fantasy has the colors too bright or to almost watercolor looking. Angelus has gorgeous color but it never overpowers the actual art.

With Angelus showing this much promise on only issue 2 I think we’ll be hearing from it for a while to come.


Source: http://www.geekweek.com/2010/02/fantasy-comics-are-a-tough-sell-sometimes-especially-when-theyre-steeped-in-light-vs-dark-angels-vs-demons-and-that-ki.html

Monday, February 8, 2010

First Angelus #2 review!!

(Seems like another winner everyone! Angelus #2 hits comic bookstores February 10! This one is from Cosmic Book News! My copy was preordered a long time ago, partially paid, so on February 10 I'll pay the rest and then it's off to the apartment of yours truly!)

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ANGELUS #2
Ron Marz, Writer
Stjepan Sejic, Artist & Cover
Troy Peteri, Letters
$2.99

Warning: Contains Spoilers

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In my review of Angelus #1, I admitted I was blown away by artist Stjepan Sejic. In this issue, I am twice as blown away.

I get the feeling that writer Ron Marz and the Top Cow big wigs stepped back and said, “Let him run free!” And what we get is this art that is making painter Alex Ross sweat.

The pictures of the Angelus City are something George Lucas would cry at.

I am sure I am repeating myself, but it is just that good.

This time around, Marz really gets into the head and tells the story. Sabine, who is showing Dani, the bearer of the Angelus power, is just slightly so menacing, yet if you crossed her in a dark alley, you pray all she does is tear out your heart.

Instead, in this issue Marz tells a kick ass story that will come to a point later with an apparent confrontation between Dani, the Angelus bearer, and her buddy Jackie, the bearer of the Darkness armor.

As I have said, Top Cow has some amazing super heroes just steeped in their own mythology.

Just...wow...is all I can say.

Again, worth 10 times the cover price.

Again...wow.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Official Description for Conspiracy

ZOD IS SHOT — Bernard Chisholm (guest star J.R. Bourne), a doctor who died and was brought back to life by the Kandorians so they can experiment on him, escapes and kidnaps some Kandorians in order to prove aliens have invaded Earth. Bernard tries to get Lois (Erica Durance) to write a story validating his claim, but when Lois refuses, he kidnaps her too. In an effort to save his people, Zod (Callum Blue) poses as a reporter from the Daily Planet and uncovers Bernard’s secret lab. Clark (Tom Welling) arrives at the lab just in time to see Zod get shot. Turi Meyer directed the episode written by Al Septian & Turi Meyer (#3XS5265).

Angelus #2 preview!!

It's finally here! Angelus #2 Preview!








Spoiler for Persuasion

Question: I am dying (of boredom) and my final wish is for a juicy Smallville spoiler. —Sarita


Ausiello: I hope you survive long enough to catch the Valentine’s Day-themed episode on Feb. 19, because it features two things no Smallville fan should miss: Lois dancing in a wedding dress and a catfight between Chloe and Tess!