Indie Comics News 8/8/11: RL Heroes; The Infinite, and Image & Dark Horse Films!

- "SUPERHEROES", a documentary about real life superheroes who patrol the streets of American cities seeking to stop crime in home made costumes, is set to debut on HBO tonight. Newsarama has an interview with Michael Barnett, director of the film, about his project (http://www.newsarama.com/tv/real-life-superheroes-director-interview-110808.html). From New York to San Diego, the internet has allowed these figures to aid each other and mobilize. Barnett notes that many of them also run non-profit organizations and are little different from NY's own Guardian Angels or the Black Panthers, in terms of community based activists. Stan Lee has also been attached to the project, with Life, a hero from New York, among those profiled. This Examiner once considered such a venture at the end of high school, but then sanity (and a fear of ending up in a body cast) prevailed. Brooklyn even has, apparently, a superhero supply shop (http://www.superherosupplies.com/). Perhaps if the economy gets any worse...

- The first issue of Robert Kirkman and Rob Liefield's first collaboration project for Image Comics, THE INFINITE, has sold out of it's initial print run and will see a second print (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=33787). This is an official announcement and thus it is unknown how many copies it sold; selling out of a print run often means that a company managed to sell every copy that shops had pre-ordered a few months ago, including any extra copies printed in case of damage or demand. It is worth noting that the last collaboration Kirkman had with an Image founder was HAUNT, which debuted within the Top 100 a couple of years ago (and remained there for it's first few issues). It is also worth mention that the edition of this print that sold out was the standard edition; a DELUXE edition which cost about five dollars as well as a "blank cover" variant are still available, for those who want to overpay to read about the adventures of time travel, mangled anatomy and buckles. It will remain to be seen how closely this title sticks to a schedule, as Liefield is also the full time "artist" on HAWK AND DOVE for DC Comics. While Liefield was probably working on THE INFINITE before any DC work came to him, eventually the schedule will catch up. Given Robert Kirkman's own involvement with "THE WALKING DEAD" TV series, his books often run late anyway; SUPER-DINOSAUR with Jason Howard only managed to ship on time as a monthly comics three months before some delay - although to be fair, a Free Comic Book Day "ORIGIN SPECIAL" meant that the two released 4 issues of material in three months time, which would strain any artist/writer duo. The last INFINITE story in this column was roughly a month ago (http://www.examiner.com/comic-books-in-new-york/indie-comics-news-7-11-11-the-infinite-archie-profanity-30-days-of-night-more).

- In further Image Comics news, their three issue mini series THE VAULT is being adapted into a film, according to the comic's creator, Sam Sarkar (http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/168119-image-comics-the-vault-planned-for-feature-film). This is likely because THE VAULT is very much like a film pitch; so much so that one wonders if that was the idea all along, as some creators have taken to doing (cough, Mark Millar, cough). The premise is that a team of treasure hunters is seeking to properly excavate a dangerous pit before a storm hits Sable Island and kills them all - perfectly reasonable popcorn fare. The film is being produced by INFINITUM NIHIL, which is a company owned by Johnny Depp, who has himself appeared in a comic book film ("FROM HELL"). In fairness, it is good to see Hollywood realizing that not all comic book adaptations must be spandex affairs or sci-fi fantasies; however, aside for "ROAD TO PERDITION", "RED", or "GHOST WORLD", such films often underperform.

- NONPLAYER, an Image Comic written and drawn by Nate Simpson which is a sci-fi exploration of the "massive multi-player role playing game" hobby, has been tapped to become a film from Warner Brothers (http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/168115-warner-bros-takes-nonplayer). David Heyman, of the HARRY POTTER franchise, is set to produce this film as well. The comic focuses on Dana Stevens, a low wage worker who lives a double life on WORLD OF JAVARTH, a mythical game realm where she's an elite assassin. She seemingly propels to fame by killing a celebrity player, but that merely makes things more dramatic. The gimmick is that WORLD OF JAVARTH may not be a "game" at all to those within it, but another real realm - and the "game" could be a twisted version of "AVATAR". No date is set, but the studio is naturally seeking out new tentpole franchises with some desperation, since HARRY POTTER is over and "GREEN LANTERN" underperformed (and with the Batman film franchise being a mystery after Chris Nolan departs it).

- Kevin Bacon, who just appeared in a comic book film this summer (Fox's "X-MEN: FIRST CLASS") is in final negotiations to appear in Universal Picture's adaptation of "R.I.P.D.", according to Variety (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118040588), as the villain. Created by Peter Lenkov and Lucas Marongon for Dark Horse in 2003, R.I.P.D. follows a department of dead cops (the Rest In Peace Department) who patrol the underworld for the "big guy". The film will feature Ryan Reynolds - often cursed as a leading man for big budget films - teamed up with Oscar winner Jeff Bridges. The film will ramp up production for a target release date of June 28th, 2012. Mike Richardson, founder and president of Dark Horse Comics, is among the production team.

- In further Dark Horse Comics film adaptation updates, Universal Pictures are also moving on a treatment for EMILY THE STRANGE, hiring Melisa Wallack to pen the script for it (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/snow-white-writer-pen-universals-218214). Mike Richardson of Dark Horse is also involved in the production as well. Given that Dark Horse managed to get their franchises onto the big screen back in the 90's, when Marvel could barely eke out bad TV movies on Fox, it is a positive sign to see Dark Horse refusing to be outpitched by the big boys now. Rob Reger created the gothic character to promote a line of skateboards in 1991 and the character has appeared on a slew of merchandise as well as a line of comics since 2001 (with Dark Horse's monthly comic shipping since 2008). Chloe Moretz is set to star in the film, which will explain how the strange girl developed powers over technology and imagination, as well as on her four weird cats. One may wonder how Tim Burton managed to avoid involvement in such a property.

- Jason Momoa, the star of the upcoming "CONAN THE BARBARIAN" reboot, has announced that he has written a sequel, should it be made (http://www.craveonline.com/film/articles/172223-exclusive-jason-momoa-writing-a-conan-sequel). Work on a sequel film was already announced, as always seems to be the case. Haven't these fellows heard of jinxing things? Just ask the New England Patriots how that worked back in 2007.

- Back on July 11th, it was news that WOMANTHOLOGY, an anthology series highlighting female creators in comics organized by the creator of THE LAST UNICORN, raised over $27,000 (for a $25,000 target goal) towards publishing it on Kickstarter within 24 hours (http://www.examiner.com/comic-books-in-new-york/indie-comics-news-7-11-11-the-infinite-archie-profanity-30-days-of-night-more). Less than a month later, it has now collected over $109,000 (http://www.comicsbeat.com/2011/08/08/womanthology-raises-over-100000/). While many of those donations were in large chunks by some big name comic book creators, some 433 people donated between $60 and $100. If ever there was a sign that the comic industry needs to expand by cultivating female audiences better, this is it.

- October will be BOOM! Studios final month with which it will be able to publish comics based on Disney licenses, such as DARKWING DUCK and DUCKTALES (http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/08/05/booms-disney-era-officially-ends-in-october/). Many PIXAR properties already shifted towards Marvel Comics, which Disney purchased in 2009 and officially owned in 2010. This move was inevitable, but fans of the comics may wonder if any of these series (and their creators) will be published by Marvel. The cult hit MUPPETS comics by Roger Landgridge will be published by Marvel, but the rest are unknown.