R.B. Propst: April 2006 Archives

Back when CrossGen was on its last publishing legs Chuck Dixon and Greg Land were going to be the creative on a book called American Power which would've dealt with the U.S.'s War on Terror. The only information (beyond the premise) that was ever released about the series was the cover image for the Free Comic Book Day offering (which would be the kick-off issues of the series) showing the seemingly main character punching Osama Bin Laden. The cover created such an uproar that the backers of CrossGen at the time pulled the plug on the series before it even got off the ground.

Now Chuck Dixon is making the first 2 scripts available, along with some artwork (the 2 covers and some finished interior pages), for a donation to the charity Books For Soldiers. Here's how he explains it:

I’ve decided to offer, via download, the scripts for the two issues of American Power that I wrote for CrossGen.

This is the comic that, sight-unseen, caused such deliberation and condemnation in the comics community. Now you’ll have an opportunity to see for yourself what the fuss was all about.

How can you get them? There’s only one way.

Use this link to go to booksforsoldiers.com and make a donation to this fine effort that supplies our fighting men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan with books, CDs and DVDS of their choosing for free.

http://booksforsoldiers.com/

Scroll to the bottom of the page and make a donation in any amount to them via Paypal.
THEN, forward the e-mail confirmation of your donation to dixonverse-AT-yahoo.com

You will then be emailed in return a Word file containing the two completed scripts for both the Free Comic Book Day edition of American Power (a full script for 22 pages of comics) as well as the intended script for what was to be American Power #1. Included in this file will be scans (from the original art) of both covers and several, completed, interior pages. This material has only ever been seen by a few CrossGen staff members and now it can be yours to inspect.

Books For Soldiers is an all-volunteer, charitable organization that basically provides a FREE service to our soldiers on the frontlines of the War on Terror. It allows them to order the same books, CDs and DVDs that you can order right now for FREE. These provide hours of entertainment to break up the tedium or juts take away the loneliness or homesickness for a little while. Like all media product in these combat zones, these paperbacks, comics, movies and music will be shared by countless troops. I highly endorse this charity and its work. I have collected money for it at conventions and store appearances and always found comic fans to be more than generous. We can ALL relate to being stuck somewhere with lots of time to kill and nothing to read, right?

And please, this is an honor thing, don’t share the download. Anyone who wants it can have it for ANY level of donation. Tell your friends but keep the file to yourself.

Thanks in advance from me and our fightin’ folks!

Here's your chance to see exactly how this series would've played out. And you can support a worthwhile charity while doing it.

MICHAEL HUTCHISON ADDS THE FOLLOWING UPDATE

First it was poker. And now video gamers will get their chance at the pros. Major League Gaming, the world's largest organized video gaming league, will soon announce a programming deal with USA Network that will see 7 one-hour episodes this fall.

In a Newsarama interview about the final 4 episodes of Justice League Unlimited series writer Matt Wayne revealed that Bruce Timm isn't done with the animated universe he created. Although Cartoon Network has cancelled JLU Timm will be producing several direct-to-video movies, starting with this summer's Superman: Brainiac Attacks. Wayne mentioned there were also "a couple others I can‘t talk about.”

The first season of the 70's TV series The Incredible Hulk will be released on DVD on July 18. The set will contain the 2 pilot telefilms, the 10 regular weekly episodes and a bonus episode from Season 2.

Don't miss this set because it'll make David Banner angry. And you wouldn't like him when he's angry.

Come July Kurt Busiek will be doubling his Superman duties by co-writing a 3 issue stint on Action Comics starting with issue #841 in addition to his regular gig as writer on Superman. An unexpected delay with Action's new creative team presented Busiek with the opportunity to write a follow-up to his and Geoff Johns's current Super-story Up, Up and Away!. For the 3-parter Busiek will be bringing along Fabian Nicieza as a co-writer and his Up, Up and Away! artist Pete Woods to handle the art chores.

Disney plans to premiere Pixar's latest offering Cars at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, NC, on May 26. At least 30,000 people are expected to watch the movie in Turn 2 of the track on (4) 50 X 115 ft. screens. Tickets are being sold for $10 apiece and the event has nearly sold-out.

Marvel Comics is releasing a "Crayon Butchery" variant of Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. #5 that will allow you to color the entire comic with crayons (apparently not provided).

As far as variants go I will say this one is the most interesting one I've heard of.

FXLabs Studios has announced it will be developing a video game based on the Archie Universe. The game will be called Archie's Riverdale Run and will be available for both PC and gaming consoles. The entire case of Archie characters as well as th entire town of Riverdale will be included in the game. FXLabs Studios is expecting to have the game completed sometime in 2007.

The air date for the final 2 episodes of Justice League Unlimited . Episodes Alive! and Destroyer will air on Saturday, May 6 and Saturday, May 13, both at 10:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

The episodes reveal the powerful force behind the world's villains and features the most unexpected team-up in Justice League history.

Heidi MacDonald's comics blog The Beat is reporting that Alex Toth has been hospitalized and is encouraging people to send him get well messages. Here's a blurb she reprinted from a fan site:

No underachiever, but rather one of the last living comics masters and a tremendous influence on many of the great talents working today in comics and animation, Alex Toth has been in the hospital the past several weeks and can use some words of encouragement, humor and appreciation. This message courtesy of the offical Toth Fans site run by Dave Cook. Please send your kind messages (I would think postcards are the way to go) to:

Alex TOTH, room 407
c/o Belmont Village of Burbank
455 E. Angeleno Ave.
Burbank, CA
91501-3083