David Maybury | Blog

The manic-ness around here continues – so while I count the seconds until take-off here’s a few comic book links.

Tim Walker at the Independent UK ponders the prequel – ’tis the fashion to revisit a superheroes origins:

There are plenty of cynical, commercial reasons to make a prequel like Terminator: Salvation, or to reboot a brand like Star Trek with a much younger, prettier cast. As a rule, the second film in a popular franchise does better at the box office than its predecessor, because it offers a cinema audience the security of a recognised brand.

And speaking of prequels – and seeing as Wolverine is out this weekend – Owen Vaughan at the Times UK catches up with Len Wein and Chris Claremont, the men behind the comic.

Although the film plays with the idea that Sabretooth is Wolverine’s half brother, Claremont said that his original idea was for Sabretooth to be Wolverine’s father, something he is exploring in his new series, X-Men Forever. “You should see Wolverine’s mother.”

And from comics to movies comes the news that Jonathan Rhys Meyers is to play Mandrake the Magician in the silver screen adaptation.

But wait – there’s more!

Our own Windell Comics will launch their very fine Classic Compendium – Superhero Showcase in Dublin on May 8. Ye can visit the Windell Warriors on their site for more details.

Filmbase will be hosting Summer Edition 2009 on July 4 – a Comic, Zine and Artists’ Book Fair. If you fancy yourself as a bit of an exhibitionist then log on and put yer name down. (If you’re more like me and can’t manage a stick figure the event will be open free to the public)

And of course – there is always the latest Comic Cast to be listening to.