Longtime DC artist Trevor von Eeden has been putting together a biography of boxer Jack Johnson as a graphic novel. It’s due out next month. Here’s a piece on it from the New York Times.

Huh?

Oh boy, I can hear the fanboy complaints already. But you know what, this is one I have to question as well. The Gods of Asgard are part of Norse mythology. Even if there are black Norwegians out there somewhere (which I doubt, but I suppose anything’s possible), they’ve gotta be the tiniest of minorities.

This isn’t like Michael Clarke Duncan playing the Kingpin in Daredevil (which this will undoubtedly get compared to). Nothing in the Kingpin’s history as a character suggests he absolutely has to be white for the movie version, and plus, there are few good actors who have the size necessary to play the Kingpin. Heimdall, on the other hand, is a character from the mythology of a very specific culture, one known for its pale-skinned, fair-haired natives!

I’m really surprised at director Kenneth Brannagh for choosing political correctness over historical accuracy. I thought he was smarter than that. I’m sure we’ll get some BS in-story explanation about how “Heimdall” is from some obscure Moor-like tribe of Asgardians that live off in the mountains or something. And I’m sure Idris Elba’s a decent actor and will pull the role off competently, but this is nothing but a flimsy excuse to fill a quota.

(Left: “Heimdal,” by Danish artist Johan Lundbye, via Wikipedia.)

Edi Gathegi

the story

I actually have this book. I thought it was just okay, nothing special, when I initially read it and forgot about it afterwards. Looks like I’ll have to give it a reappraisal.

Zoe Saldana

NOLA

CBR feature on NOLA

advance review @ Comics Bulletin

HuffPo article from earlier this year about post-Katrina New Orleans

This new comic set in the Big Easy is a revenge thriller.

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Also this week:

Azrael #2

Black Lightning Year One TP

War Machine #11

Gold Digger #112, GD Tech Manual #9. By Perry.

President Evil #3

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Also notable:

Dr. Horrible one-shot. Based on the popular web series by Joss Whedon.

Farscape #1. Based on the sci-fi TV series.

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The following DC books are advance-solicited, meaning they’ll appear in the February 2010 Previews but will go on sale in March 2010:

HARDWARE: THE MAN IN THE MACHINE TP
Advance-solicited • On sale March 24 • 192 pg, FC, $19.99 US
Written by Dwayne McDuffie
Art by Denys Cowan, J.J. Birch & others
Cover by Denys Cowan
This first-ever HARDWARE collection, featuring HARDWARE #1-8, introduces inventor/engineer Curt Metcalf whose high tech armor enables him to break free of his corrupt employer, mob connected businessman Edwin Alva.

FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: INK TP
Advance-solicited • On sale March 3 • 144 pg, FC, $17.99 US
Written by Eric Wallace
Art by Fabrizio Fiorentino Cover by Brian Stelfreeze
In this collection of the 6-issue miniseries, the Tattooed Man is considered a hero for the first time in his life. At first, it’s a welcome change, but things go from bad to worse when he finds his body covered in unfamiliar tattoos with lives of their own.

UNKNOWN SOLDIER VOL. 2: EASY KILL TP
Advance-solicited • On sale March 17 • 200 pg, FC, $17.99 US MATURE READERS
Written by Joshua Dysart
Art by Alberto Ponticelli & Pat Masioni
Cover by Dave Johnson
In this second volume, collecting issues #7-14 of the acclaimed series, a militant group makes the Unknown Soldier an offer: To focus the world’s attention on Africa’s problems, kill American celebrity Margaret Wells on Ugandan soil.

(In an unrelated aside, the 11″ x 17.5″ HC edition of Wednesday Comics is also being advance-solicited; it’s due May 26 and costs $49.99.)

Editor Axel Alonso (along with artist Scot Eaton) talk about the DoomWar mini-series, which will feature, among others, the Black Panther and Storm.

“…147 is the taxi driver of The Village. He’s the first person that Jim Caviezel’s Six makes contact with, and through the episodes they befriend each other and build up a close friendship that has major effects on both of them. When you first meet 147, he is utterly content with his life in The Village. Then he meets Six, who is utterly discontent with his survival in The Village and his forced imprisonment, and together they have an effect on each other, which leads to some high drama and major changes in both their lives.”

Lennie James

Not that there’s a movie or TV show in the works. But he likes it anyway.

SWEET.

Will Smith may or may not:

- be starring in a new version of the classic sci-fi novel Flowers for Algernon.

- work with Steven Spielberg on an American version of the Japanese film Oldboy.

Absolute Justice

Wikipedia entry on Doug Braithwaite

$99 if you can afford it.

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Also this week:

Stormwatch PHD #24

Black Panther #10

Luke Cage Noir #4 (of 4). Pencils by Martinbrough.

REH’s Thulsa Doom #3

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Also notable:

Batman/Doc Savage Special. The classic pulp fiction character meets Batman.

Green Lantern Corps #42. Blackest Night tie-in.

Casper and the Spectrals #1. The Harvey comics children’s character returns in a new book.

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Mos Def might appear in a film version of this graphic novel.

“So brace yourself for more sacrificial beasts than you can shake a stick at (if that’s your idea of a good time — and if you’re Jacob, it is), along with the grand characters you know and love from Genesis and the high-concept special effects of Exodus.

“It all begins with the beginning…”

Found on Facebook: this forthcoming graphic novel that reinterprets the Torah of the Judaic faith with a number of quirky flourishes. Why does it get a mention here? Because co-creator Aaron Freeman is a brother. Check out his website; the guy’s got quite a history.

Check out more pages from the book here. Looks like a winner to me.

NOW NOW NOW!!!!!!

Also: How Obama led to getting Independence Day 2 off the ground.

Reuniting the original artists = EPIC WIN.