The first trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has been released. If you missed it, either you don’t care about one of the greatest stories in literary history or you were just shoved so far under a rock that the entire world passed you by.

Don’t fret, that’s what you got us for…

Returning to helm the project, Peter Jackson sets the stage to tell the story of Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit who is approached by the wizard Gandalf the Grey to join a crew of dwarves on a quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the dragon Smaug. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first of a two-part movie adaptation of the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. The trailer has all the elements that’ll make the biggest of fanboys giddy.

The HD version of the trailer is available at Apple.

The official synopsis for The Hobbit:

The Hobbit follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever … Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

The official movie poster…

Milestone Forever

5-page preview

Dwayne McDuffie interview @ Comics Bulletin

Wikipedia entry on Milestone Media

The long-awaited mini-series that closes the book on the Milestone Universe (prior to the merger with the DC Universe, anyway).

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Also this week:

Buffy TVS #32. Pencils by Jeanty.

Authority #19. Co-written by Bernardin.

Gold Digger #114, GD Tech Manual #11. By Perry.

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Also notable:

Siege #2 (of 4)

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The submissions period for this year’s Glyph Comics Awards is now over. Thanks to everyone who submitted stuff. We’ll announce the nominees two weeks from today, including the Fan Award, in which you get to vote on the winner.

I totally forgot to post the trailer for Sylvain White’s The Losers, which looks like a lot of fun.

Animator Floyd Norman will be making an appearance at a northern California comic shop later this month. (Thanks to Pam for the tip.)

Darryl Hughes talks about his new webcomic The Continentals, which has landed a publishing deal.

Off-topic: To follow up on last week’s post about performance-capture acting, here’s an actors roundtable featuring a group of probable Oscar nominees for this year discussing the subject. Morgan Freeman calls it “cartoons.”

Not a sci-fi or superhero movie, but after looking at the trailer, I think this could be a lot of fun. It’s a throwback to the blaxploitation films of the 70s, and though it comes across as parody, it looks like it was made with quite a bit of affection for the sub-genre. And here’s your comics connection: it’s co-written by and starring Michael Jai White (Spawn, The Dark Knight). Related: a Los Angeles Times piece about the history of blaxploitation.

Aya: The Secrets Come Out

Amazon link to buy Aya of Yop City, the previous book in the series

my review of the first Aya book @ GBCB

The third book in Marguerite Abouet’s Aya series gets its English language release this week.

Teen Titans #75

IMDB listing for Felicia D. Henderson

interview with Henderson @ CBR

TV writer/producer Felicia D. Henderson makes her comics debut with this month’s Teen Titans.

Icon: A Hero’s Welcome TP

Wikipedia entry for Icon

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Also this week:

Buffy TVS: Predator and Prey TP. Pencils by Jeanty.

Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink #5 (of 6)

Bomb Queen VI #1 (of 4). By Robinson.

Black Panther: Deadliest of the Species HC. Written and penciled by Hudlin & Lashley.

President Evil #2

REH’s Thulsa Doom #2

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Also notable:

Absolute Promethea V1 HC. The first of three oversized collections of the Alan Moore fantasy series.

Astro City Special: Astra #1 (of 2)

Green Lantern #46. Blackest Night tie-in.

High Moon V1 TP. The acclaimed Zuda webcomic available in print for the first time.

Shang-Chi, Master of Kung-Fu Black & White one-shot. The classic 70s hero, back in a black-and-white one-shot.

Best American Comics 2009 HC

Die Hard Year One #1. The adventures of John McClane before he took that fateful flight to LA.

Strangers in Paradise Omnibus HC. I saw this at SPX. It’s huge!

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The Small Press Expo was great, as usual, and my thanks to everyone who bought my hastily put together 24-hour City Mouse comic. I wasn’t planning on selling it at the show, but I’m sure glad I did. Special thanks to Jane and Paul for use of their table. I bought several new black comics at the show that I’ll write about later this week.

New feature at GBCB: Great Covers.

New trailer for The Book of Eli.

An argument in favor of re-releasing Disney’s Song of the South.

New Doctor Voodoo article.