The Daily Show (aka my primary source of news) has announced that Barack Obama will appear on Wednesday night’s show.

There’s a new Black Panther leaping onto shelves this February and she—yeah, you heard us—is already making waves in the mainstream. What’s happened to T’Challa, the previous Black Panther? What does it mean for the future of the Black Panther? And just who is under that mask? For some answers and hints, the men behind this new plot twist sat down with the Washington Post in their first interview.

So who’s the woman who will wear the costume? Neither Hudlin nor Quesada would divulge the identity, but judging by their comments, the future of T’Challa — the current Black Panther — is quite bleak.

Read what Marvel Editor in Chief Joe Quesada and series writer Reginald Hudlin had to say here: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2008/10/this_just_in_for_2009_the_new.html

There’s a storm brewing in Wakanda, and it hits this February in the extra sized Black Panther #1!

Check this week’s Entertainment Weekly (hits newsstands October 17) for more photos from the Star Trek flick. Or head over to EW online for their cover story including JJ Abrams’ response to Shatner’s YouTube video.

From EW.com:

After 10 often dismal movies, Star Trek had turned into a pop culture punchline. Even people who’d built their entire careers around Trek could see the writing on the wall. “Star Trek,” says Leonard Nimoy, “had run its course.” But director J.J. Abrams believes he can make the franchise cool again. This week’s issue of Entertainment Weekly has the inside scoop on Abrams’ surprising, idealistic odyssey, which could become next summer’s multiplex juggernaut.

“I don’t think people even understand what Star Trek means anymore,” says Abrams, who saw the first Star Trek film in 1979 with his father at a theater on the Paramount lot. But he feels no warm-fuzzy nostalgia about it. In fact, Abrams can sum up his regard for Trek in two words: Galaxy Quest, the 1999 hit starring Tim Allen that satirized Trek with painful precision. “It’s so ridiculous, so accurate, so sophisticated, it spoils the Star Trek universe,” he says. Plus, at heart, Abrams is still more of a Star Wars guy. “All my smart friends liked Star Trek,” he says. “I preferred a more visceral experience.” Which is exactly why he accepted Paramount’s offer in 2005 to develop a new Trek flick; creative­ly, he was engaged by the possibility of a Star Trek movie “that grabbed me the way Star Wars did.”

Abrams says he was also drawn to the project because he believed in—and wanted to evangelize—Trek’s unabashed ideal­ism. “I think a movie that shows people of various races working together and surviving hundreds of years from now is not a bad message to put out right now,” says Abrams. That ethos may seem cornball to an America darkened by a decade’s worth of catastrophe, but after an election season that has seen both presidential nomi­nees run on “hope” and “change,” Star Trek just may find itself on the leading wave of a zeitgeist shift—away from bleak, brood­ing blockbusters and toward the light. “In a world where a movie as incredibly produced as The Dark Knight is raking in gazillions of dollars, Star Trek stands in stark contrast,” Abrams says. “It was important to me that optimism be cool again.”

Is the world ready again for Trek’s optimistic vision of the future? Some involved with the film suspect the presidential election may have a dramatic effect on how Star Trek will be perceived. “This is a franchise that offers hope for unity—and so does Barack Obama,” says Zachary Quinto, who plays Spock. “When this movie comes out, and Obama is presi­dent, hopefully there will be some parallels.” Perhaps, but the elder Spock knows that moments of unity can be fleeting. “My only regret is that the movie can’t come out sooner,” Nimoy says. “I think the world could use it. Don’t you?”

While Nimoy will be putting on his ears to play a wizened Spock in the new Star Trek, don’t expect a cameo by William Shatner as Captain Kirk. Last month, the 77-year-old actor posted a video on YouTube, complaining about being left behind, and chastising Abrams, even though Shatner’s Kirk died in Star Trek Generations (1994). “I brought him back to life in one of my books, very easily,” Shatner tells Abrams in the video. “I’m just sorry that I’m not in your wonderful movie.”

Abrams has seen the video, of course. “I don’t know how my life has become a thing where William Shatner talks to me through YouTube,” Abrams tells EW. “I was such a huge fan of his, but we wrote a scene for him in the movie and it didn’t feel right. And he said to us—he said publicly—that doing a cameo didn’t interest him. Which I totally appreciate. But we did try.” EW tried to reach Shatner, but he declined to be interviewed. Through a spokesperson he said, “I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to be involved in the Star Trek universe at this point.”

The cast of the Wolverine solo film continues to grow, with Liev Schrieber cast as Sabretooth, and Danny Huston as William Stryker. Now, Variety is reporting that Ryan Reynolds will be playing the Merc’ with The Mouth, Deadpool, while Taylor Kitsch from the series Friday Night Lights, will be playing Gambit. But it’s the casting of rap star/producer Will.i.am that may have a lot of fans scratching their heads. According to IESB, he’ll be playing Weapon X member John Wraith.

The Gavin Hood-helmed X-Men spin-off is currently filming in Sydney, Australia, and is due in theaters on May 1, 2009.

Sexy superstar Jenna Jameson is about to premiere the first issue of her new comic book, Shadow Hunter, on February 20th, 2008. To celebrate the world famous actress and her new comic book series, Virgin Comics is launching the “Family from Hell” contest.

Contest Duration: February 5th, 2008 to March 14th, 2008.

The sexy Shadow Hunter has a family from hell- literally! Tough break. Is your FAMILY FROM HELL?!?

Tell us why your family is from hell. Use words, pictures, videos- whatever you want!

One Grand Prize: Custom sketch by Greg Horn of the badass Shadow Hunter kicking your bad ass!

Ten First Prizes: Limited Edition Greg Horn lithograph signed by Jenna Jameson and a Virgin Comics Trade Paperback Collection

Enter at www.jennacomix.com

Acclaimed poster artist and illustrator, Shepard Fairey has produced a set of poster prints to accompany his endorsement of Senator Barack Obama. He will be selling screen prints of the PROGRESS poster via his website (obeygiant.com) to support a larger statewide poster campaign.

“I believe with great conviction that Barack Obama should be the next President. I have been paying close attention to him since the Democratic convention in 2004. I feel that he is more a statesman than a politician. He was against the war when it was an unpopular position (and Hillary was for the war at that time), Obama is for energy and environmental conservation. He is for healthcare reform. Check him out for yourself www.barackobama.com. Proceeds from this print go to produce prints for a large statewide poster campaign.”

For ordering informaition, media requests and more information please visit his website or contact info@obeygiant.com.

See also: Obama wallpapers!

The cast for the upcoming live-action adaptation of G.I. Joe continues to fill out, with IESB announcing more actors coming on board. The role of Duke has gone to up and coming young actor Channing Tatum (Step Up, A Guide To Recognizing Our Saints), while veteran actor Dennis Quaid will be playing General Hawk. Two major Cobra villains have also been cast, with Arnold Vosloo playing Zartan, and lesser known actor David Murray as Destro. Many fans figured Vosloo would have a role in the film, having worked with Sommers on the Mummy films.

The four actors join the cast which already includes Sienna Miller (The Baroness), Ray Park (Snake Eyes), Rachel Nichols (Scarlett), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Heavy Duty), Said Taghmaoui (Breaker), Marlon Wayans (Ripcord), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Rex) and Byung-hun Lee (Storm Shadow). Filming is to begin next month, with the film set for an August 2009 release.

As confirmed by People magazine. Hayden Panettiere & Uncle Milo Ventimiglia are dating. Apparently the media has dubbed them “HALO”, which I suppose is a lot better than most celeb couple nicknames…

Vidication for the legions of TWOP posters who constantly noted the potentially hot taboo chemistry of a familial Peter & Clair hookup — their fantasies have apparently become reality! No such news for the legions who constantly noted the potentially hot taboo chemistry of a familial Peter & Nathan hookup — their fantasies remain fan-fic, for now.

Thing are picking up with the big-screen adaptation of G.I. Joe, as more cast members join previously announced actors Sienna Miller (Casanova, Factory Girl) and Ray Park (Star Wars: Episode I, X-Men), who will be playing The Baroness and Snake Eyes, respectively.

Latino Review, reports that Korean actor Byung-Hun Lee will play Storm Shadow, while Rachel Nichols (Alias, P2) will be playing Scarlett.

Meanwhile, according to The Hollywood Reporter, two more Joes have been confirmed, in addition to Nichols; Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Lost, Oz) as Heavy Duty, and Said Taghmaoui (Kite Runner, Sleeper Cell) as Breaker.

Scheduled for an August 2008 release, G.I. Joe is based on the popular Hasbro action figures, which have been accompanied by a number of animated series, as well as comic books courtesy of Marvel, and currently Devil’s Due Publishing. Stephen Somers (The Mummy, Van Helsing) is directing.