When I saw this oil painting time-laps of Battle Cat by Robert Burden last week, I finally unpacked a couple more boxes, left until the very end since I moved to this new home less than a month ago. What was in them? My 80s toys! I desperately wanted to get my hands back on Battle Cat after seeing it here in epic scale. Unfortunately mine has lost its head armor over the last 2 decades. But at least it’s free again–to adorn one of my library shelves. Yes sir!

[View the Video on YouTube]

He’s done a Voltron time-lapse as well. Ah Voltron… I threw out the Voltron base toy two months ago during the move. Cobwebs and age had finally forced me to just let go of that part of my past. Knowing people like Burden still exist to allow me to re-visit those memories will suffice–as should the movie if it ever actually gets made.

[View Video on YouTube]

Artist Robert Burden goes well beyond the average person’s perception of how much dedication, time and reverence should go into a series of painting based on 80s toys. In truth though, at least across the internet, there are a group of us that DO understand WHY this theme deserves such respect and legendary proportions! These are toys that took over the market when we grew up. Toys that front-lined armies and armies of other attempts to carve a market niche for competitors… before a time when cartoons entered a loud, fast-paced, jarring, manic stage of Japanese-influenced entertainment.

When we return to some of our memorable 80s cartoons, they don’t ring true to our MEMORY of them–but they left a much much longer impression that carries into the generation of children that come from us. A generation of children that can grow up in an age when all OUR childhood dreams are being realized as summer blockbuster films.

I wish much good fortunes on Robert Burden and may he continue to preserve more 80s awesomeness for the future generations to come! Go follow him on YouTube!

Venom

Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese co-wrote two drafts for a Venom script and has been told that the studios along with Marvel Studios are doing what they do and preparing for the next steps.

Ghost Rider 2

David S Goyer, the writer behind the Blade franchise and Batman Begins, is lining up to take on the second installment of Ghost Rider. He is not signed on yet, but movements are already being made to use a script Goyer had written years ago for the next film, once again starring Nicolas Cage as flame-head.

Spawn

That’s right folks, McFarlane still has things to say about the methods of his madness… actually making sense… kinda. In any case, McFarlane wants a R-rated Spawn movie. He needs to keep it low budget in order to escape the big-hittin studios wanting the film to be released PG-13. More money could get thrown into it, but the rewards for him personally “at his older age” would mean less. I have to say, I respect that choice. It’s his character and he should be able to do whatever he pleases with it. The thought of a noir-style detective story with Spawn “in the shadows” seems a bit counter-intuitive for a movie called “Spawn” though–for that I have to agree with the fanbase.

The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft

Well, I love it when an indie gets a shot at the big screen so early in its run! Ron Howard in planning to take on the comic series written by Mac Carter released by Image Comics as one of his next big budget projects. Huge article about it can be read here.

Popeye

First off, I had NO idea Marvel had acquired the rights to the character Popeye, so I figured I’d start with that. Second Avi Arad, Marvel’s head honcho stated that he wishes to reboot the character on screen. Unfortunately, the plan is to reboot the character as an animated CGI feature film.

Daredevil

It is confirmed that a new Daredevil film is a-comin! Marvel is currently developing a reboot for the character on film. Ben Afleck will not be taking on the role again as he feels stung by the fan reaction to his part in the first film. I don’t much care for Daredevil–so why am I so excited to see this become a great film?!

Xombie

DreamWorks is looking to pick up the comic book Xombie, a Devil’s Due comic book by James Farr, which in turn is based on Farr’s online animated series. Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci will produce the screenplay from writer Will Beall. Beall is a former Los Angeles Police Officer who recently became a homicide detective. He still serves the force while writing.

Cowboy Bebop

In an interview Keanu Reeves gave an update as to the status of this film based on the space/western/bounty-huntin anime. Keanu said: “There’s a draft of the script, but the writer did such a great job [that] in order to make the movie, you would need half a billion dollars.” Now the studio is pulling it back and a re-write is happening but is still intended to be fairly faithful. Now we can all just cross fingers and hope that doesn’t mean “mistakes” in executive decisions will be made that compromise the quality of the film in the eyes of fans.

Deadpool

Rob Leifeld met with Lauren Schuler Donner and her team to discuss some details concerning the upcoming Deadpool movie. Leifeld, through Twitter, expresses great enthusiasm, confirming elements about Deadpool that will transfer to the film, one of them being the fact that he breaks the fourth wall. It’s worth mentioning the Leifeld is also excited to discuss the possibilities of Cable in future X-Films. Interesting.

Thor

There is an updated cast list for Marvel Studio’s upcoming Thor feature film: So far Chris Hemsworth is set as Thor, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster and Tom Hiddleston as Loki; new cast members are Jaimie Alexander, who will play Sif, a fierce Asgardian warrior and one of Thor’s love interests and Colm Feore who will play an as-yet-unnamed villain. Jaimie Alexander and Colm Feore are added to the cast of Marvel Studios’ feature film adaptation of its Thor comic book, joining Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster and Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Alexander will play Sif, a fierce Asgardian warrior and one of Thor’s love interests. Feore will play an as-yet-unnamed villain.

Spider-Man 4

A date has been given! May 5, 2011. It’s still far off but at least it’s in motion–and whom do we have as the new Spidey villains? Carnage and the Lizard! I’ve always loved the Lizard, he’s easily my favorite of the Spidey rogue’s gallery so excitement has commenced! Toby Maguire has been locked in for the next 2 films with a whopping $50 million contract.

Justice League: Mortal

With the recent retraction of all DC movie properties in development in order to re-structure and build a stronger organized foundation, Warner Bros is poised to bring on Kieran and Michele Mulroney, to script their tentpole film, Justice League: Mortal. This at least confirms not all is dead on the new DC Entertainment front.

New Mutants

Lauren Shuler Donner, the producer of all the mutant movies so far, has confirmed there are plans brewing for a possible New Mutants movie in the future. X4 may also be in the works.

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Blueprint Magazine is out! Click on the link to read the online version is a cool flash flip-book viewer!

The first installment of what I hope will be a monthly series guided by the magazine’s theme is printed at the end of the magazine. World of Hellmouth: Beholder Series will be a window into the world of the Hellmouth and it’s people, places, monsters and events. I’m really excited about this opportunity to be able to explore small one-shots with Emmanuel Xerx Javier, the series artist.

Great thanks goes out to editor Erin Epp for this amazing opportunity!

Artist Jeffery Thomas on DeviantArt has done a series of female characters presented in a new light… er… or darkness, in a series he titles “Twisted Princesses”. This one in particular seemed appropriate to feature on the LOAH blog!

Come on… a FORK for a hand! Awesome! Flounder as a piranha?! Man, it’s unlikely Disney would make this The Zombie Little Mermaid in any form of media. Seeing that the actual character–like many of their animated film characters–is public domain, maybe it can still one day happen!

Not likely. Weep. Still, “A man can dream. A man–can dream.”

[Watch Video on YouTube]

I’m guessing not enough people have seen the works of Blu, a surreal artist who works in multiple mediums, but the most fascinating and extravagant of them all HAVE to be his stop-motion, real world environment, animations. The animation above, titles “COMBO”, was done in 10 days during Studiocromie’s 2nd annual FAME Festival in Italy. It is a collaborative piece with artist David Ellis which alters the space of an abandoned building–it animates the setting by turning holes and windows into mouths and eyes, it uses pipes like intestines and flattens open windows while at the same time creating flat fake windows to match. It’s just too much to explain properly and just needs to be watched. It does loop once–likely to convey the “full circle” concept that could have this play on and on forever.

This video below, titled “MUTO” was done in Buenos Aires and Baden, was the first environmental stop-motion animation I saw from Blu and it’s still worth watching. Marvel and contemplate in sheer owe at the TIME and IMAGINATION something like this takes to do! It’s no surprise at all that this sucker has turned out over FIVE MILLION views on YouTube!

[View Video on YouTube]

It’s worth saying that Blu also has a pretty rad website design. It’s modeled after a moleskin-style sketch book with handwriting and illustrations integrating with the content. Very cool stuff! Also watch more of his crazy animations on Blu’s YouTube account and subscribe to his account to receive more!

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Time for another Darkhawk commission to get up on this blog! I figured why not start off another round with something completely out of the norm! The above piece was done by a DeviantArt artist that goes by the name “fourbrokenwindows” (DeviantArt gallery). This style was something that intrigued me. The artist was taking commissions so I figured, “Heck, why not give it a shot?” and so, I asked for a Darkhawk of course! What I got back was this great piece–the original piece to on a canvas board–so it made it that much more special to me!

The psychodelic linework allowed Darkhawk to come out more dreamlike or as if looking at his own reflection in water. It’s not to far out there with his continuity though! He DID teamup with Sleepwalker after all a couple times, and he DID teamup with Doctor Strange in order to enter the “cyberspace dimension” in one of his annuals, he DID go up against ‘Cuda, still one of my favorite completely under-used water-based villains in Marvel.

[View Video on YouTube]

You know, when this video became an internet meme and folks all around the world started dancing in leotards with their own rendition of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” I was swept in and amused thoroughly for about 24 hours. Then the amusement of it all faded away… thankfully.

Then I come across this. This needs to one day be my baby. I need a baby that GETS IT early in life. A baby that is comfortable with their sexuality and understands what “15 minutes of fame” means before, well, they know what it means. That kinda baby needs to be MY baby.

My utmost respect goes out to these wonderful wonderful parents for cementing hope into my core.

X-Men: First Class

Tim Pocock, the young Scott Summers/Cyclops in X-Men Origins: Wolverine , stated that he will reprise the role in X-Men: First Class. It is presumed that First Class would start filming after his current gig in Australia which ends 2010.

Kick Ass

The first movie isn’t out yet but Mark Miller already confirms it’s set up to be followed by a sequel as is the ending of the comic series.

Transformers III

Paramount is setting up for another sequel by Michael Bay in the summer of 2011. You know what that means to all the fanboys who hate his films, right? You should all GO SEE THE MOVIE! Then get online and complain about it until your keyboards melt! The studios just love it when they make 3-digit-millions on opening week because of people like you! Don’t let them down!

Ronin

Frank Miller’s Ronin by Vertigo is still in development. Ronin tells the story of a rogue samurai warrior from the feudal Japan era who is reincarnated in a futuristic dystopic version of New York.

Crisis on Two Earths

The new DC Animated movie set for release is due for Spring 2010. In this story a Lex Luthor from an alternate earth comes to the JLA seeking help against the Crime Syndicate; a team on this Lex’s world whose powers are similar to the JLAs.

Superman

Considering the legal issues coming up with the Superman property you’d think after forming DC Entertainment, that Superman would be one of the first properties to get kick started. But nope. No plans for a new Superman film any time soon.

Spider-Man 4

Sam Rami might have larger plans for Bruce Campbell in the next Spider-Man installment. Bruce has already made appearances in the last 3 films–maybe he’s been setup for the next villain? The movie is set to release May 11, 2010 both in standard theaters as well as IMAX simultaneously.

Wolverine 2

The sequel Wolverine film is being written by Christopher McQuarrie, of The Usual Suspects. The next film will take place in Japan. It’s said that this was actually meant to be the direction for the first Wolverine film until Fox demanded an origins story. Fail.

Hancock 2Men

Director Peter Berg has says Hancock 2 will pick up after the events of the first film and delve deeply into a prequel/origin story. Adam Fierro and Glen Mazzara who have written shows for The Shield and Dexter are helmed to write the sequel. Later in the week it was confirmed that Peter Berg has been signed on to direct another film first: Battleship, based on the Hasbro board game. Cool… but still… no Hancock 2 yet so simmer down.

Deadpool

It’s possible that Deadpool will be done as a prequel and separated from the continuity of the Wolverine film (thank goodness). The attempt will be to keep him closer to the Deadpool of the comics.

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