Congratulations to Brandon Dixon who was chosen as the winner of the December contest for one (1) 2006 Limited Edition "Superman Returns" watch. Your prize is on it's way to you!

For our December contest, we have teamed with Fossil to give away one (1) DVD copy of "Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths".

Official Description:
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is an original story from award-winning animation/comics writer Dwayne McDuffie (Justice League) rooted in DC Comics’ popular canon of “Crisis” stories depicting parallel worlds with uniquely similar heroes and villains. Bruce Timm (Superman Doomsday) is executive producer. Lauren Montgomery (Wonder Woman, Green Lantern: First Flight) and Sam Liu (Superman/Batman: Public Enemies) are co-directors.

In Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, a “good” LEX LUTHOR arrives from an alternate universe to recruit the JUSTICE LEAGUE to help save his Earth from the Crime Syndicate, a gang of villainous characters with virtually identical super powers to the JUSTICE LEAGUE. What ensues is the ultimate battle of good versus evil in a war that threatens both planets and, through a diabolical plan launched by OWLMAN, puts the balance of all existence in peril.

The movie features an all-star voice cast led by Mark Harmon (NCIS) as SUPERMAN, James Woods (Ghosts of Mississippi) as OWLMAN, Chris Noth (Sex and the City, Law & Order) as LEX LUTHOR, William Baldwin (Dirty Sexy Money) as BATMAN, Gina Torres (Serenity, Firefly) as SUPERWOMAN and Bruce Davison (X-Men) as the President.

The city best known for its super hero connection will be the site of a Comic Book and Toy Show on Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7. The event will be held at the Riverfront Event Center inside Harrah’s Hotel, 100 Front St. in Metropolis.

For the second year in a row, the show is being produced by Marc Ballard, the owner of Comic City in Nashville, Tenn. Ballard says that those who enter the doors of the Riverfront Event Center will see a variety of vendors showcasing comics from the 1940s to present-day, vintage Star Wars toys, autographed celebrity items, games, t-shirts, western items and more.

Admission into the show is $5 each day. All attending will receive a free poster and will be eligible for door prizes. Also, all who attend the Comic Book and Toy Show will receive free admission into the Super Museum and Americana Hollywood in Metropolis that weekend. Hours for the show are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday.

The featured guest for this year’s show is Mark Goddard, who is best known as Major Don West in the cult 1960s television series, Lost in Space. Goddard, now a special education teacher in Middleboro, Mass., attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and received his first acting role as “Cully” on the television series, Johnny Ringo in 1959. He went on to act in The Detectives, Lost In Space, Perry Mason, Adam 12, The Fall Guy, Mod Quad and the movie, Blue Sunshine. He also appeared in One Life to Live, The Doctors and General Hospital as well as on Broadway in The Act with Liza Minnelli. Goddard made a cameo appearance in 1998 in the movie, Lost in Space, as the general in charge of the Jupiter Mission, and superior officer to his former character, Major Don West.

Other guests scheduled to appear at the Metropolis Comic Book and Toy Show include: Jacob Rougmont, a writer of Marvel Comics Handbook and Index; Jason Craig, artist of Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash and Grim Fairy Tales; Gary Freidrich, creator of Ghost Rider; John Dugan, Grandpa from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie; Mike Nicolosi, actor from The Untouchables; and Tojo Yamamoto Jr., wrestler and owner of Renegade Pro Wrestling in Metropolis, and the son of the world famous wrestler Tojo Yamamoto.

Regional artists, Will Woods, Jay Chuppe and Sean Dulany will be a part of the show as well as the Paducah Imperials Star Wars Fan Club. Celebrity guests and artists will be featured both days.

A popular part of the show is sure to be the costume contest. Anyone wishing to enter should attend the show in costume on Saturday and must be present at 4 p.m. in order to be eligible to win. The person chosen with the best all-around costume will be awarded a convention prize package consisting of passes to Nashville Comic Con, Fright Night Film Festival, Cincinnati Comic Con, next year’s Metropolis Con and a San Diego exclusive certified graded comic (only 10 made, valued at $200.)

A Saturday evening event is being planned, but details are not yet available.

For information about the Metropolis Comic Book and Toy Show, visit www.comiccitytn.com or call Marc Ballard at 615-573-4537. For information about attractions and other happenings in the Metropolis area, visit www.metropolistourism.com, call 877-424-5025 or visit Metropolis Tourism on facebook.

TV Guide reports that prior to the Justice Society of America's arrival on the two-hour Smallville television movie "Absolute Justice", the team of superheroes will be making an animated appearance on the Cartoon Network:

An animated version of the JSA — The Flash, Hourman, Hawkman, Dr. Mid-Nite and Wildcat — shows up on the January 15 episode of Cartoon Network’s "Batman: The Brave and the Bold." "They were basically Batman and Black Canary’s mentors," says producer Michael Jelenic. "We see a little bit of them of from their heyday — in our world about the 1940s, although it’s not specifically stated. There’s a villain named Per Degaton, who they defeated [back then], who suddenly reappears in the present. And the aged Justice Society, with the help of Batman and Black Canary, now have to take him down before he dominates the world."

The episode, "The Golden Age of Justice!," also shows the role the Society played in Batman’s development. "These guys were his mentors, they taught him and brought him up in the ranks," Jelenic says. "They’re sort of his extended parents and they treat him as such. They’re always hard on him; nothing he ever does is quite good enough. He can save the world, but their attitude is, 'Ah, you could have done it a little bit better.'"

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation announced today that Paul Teutul Sr. and the crew from Orange County Choppers (OCC) have built a custom wheelchair-accessible motorcycle specifically to raise funds for the Reeve Foundation. A first of its kind, this trike bike allows someone living with paraplegia the opportunity to ride a motorcycle without having to transfer from their wheelchair.

The American Chopper episode featuring the Reeve Foundation/Life Rolls On bike is scheduled to air on TLC on Thursday, January 7 at 9PM ET/PT.

"Earlier this year, we approached the OCC team with the idea of creating a fully accessible, custom chopper, like only Paul's team at OCC could design and produce. Not only did they jump at the opportunity, but they embraced it and took it to a level we could have only imagined," said Peter T. Wilderotter, president and CEO of the Reeve Foundation.

Paul Teutul Sr., founder of Orange County Choppers based in Newburgh, New York, remarked, "This bike represents freedom and independence to someone living with paralysis. It provides a paralyzed individual the opportunity to partake in an activity they love doing, regardless of the chair. This chopper was by far the biggest challenge of any bike we've ever created, however, it was our honor and pleasure to participate."

Orange County Choppers, a leading manufacturer of custom motorcycles, built the custom chopper in about eight weeks. It was unveiled at the Reeve Foundation's annual signature gala, "A Magical Evening" in New York. The bike is designed so someone can operate it without assistance. It includes a five speed, hand-controlled transmission with reverse, a built-in electric ramp that rises and declines at the touch of a button, so the wheelchair can easily roll into place, automatically lock in and then roll out and can travel up to 110 MPH.

To spread awareness and raise funds for the Reeve Foundation's critical mission of Care and Cure, American Chopper fans and Reeve Foundation supporters are encouraged to host viewing parties on January 7th. "We are inviting people to gather their friends and make a small donation to join the party. Please check your local viewing times and tune in January 7th," added Wilderotter.

As further incentive, the party that raises the most money for the Reeve Foundation will win a special "behind-the-scenes" VIP tour of the OCC facility for four people. For more information, to host or attend a Reeve Foundation American Chopper viewing party, please visit www.ChristopherReeve.org/OCC.

Dan DiDio has announced the first story-arc in Paul Levitz's forthcoming, Legion of Super-Heroes-starring run on Adventure Comics.

Levitz recently stepped down as president and publisher of DC Comics following the announcement of the creation of DC Entertainment, and is making a return to writing Legion stories after more than 20 years.

DiDio confirmed to Newsarama that Levitz would be taking over the writing of Adventure Comics following the conclusion of the 'Brainiac and the Legion of Super-Heroes' crossover.

"There's going to be a lot of Legion news coming out in the new year," said DiDio, "but the one thing I can tell you is that Paul is working on right now, for Adventure Comics, 'Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes: Secret Origin'."

DC has used the 'Secret Origin' subtitle to refresh and redefine the origins of characters - including Green Lantern and Superman - over the last few years.

DC Comics has announced that its 1978 special Superman vs Muhammad Ali is to be reprinted for a modern audience.

According to the publisher's blog, two versions of the story will be released in 2010. One is a deluxe hardback featuring a new cover from artist Neal Adams and additional sketch material dating back to the original book's publication.

The other will be a special edition one-shot which repackages the original story at its original treasury size. Prices for the hardcovers are yet to be announced.

DC had several legal hurdles to overcome before reissuing the book, due to the 1978 edition featuring the likenesses of major celebrities, including Frank Sinatra and Christopher Reeve.

Superman vs Muhammad Ali will arrive in Autumn 2010.

DCU executive editor Dan DiDio has promised that the consequences of the forthcoming 'War of the Supermen' storyline will reach out beyond the main Superman titles.

Announced earlier in the month, 'War of the Supermen' will continue to explore the consequences of the founding of New Krypton by the Kryptonian survivors of Kandor.

"This storyline is still being fleshed out as it goes along," DiDio told Newsarama. "The good part about the 'War of the Supermen' is that it plays across the Superman line of books.

"We're also going to see some of the 'War of the Supermen' played out a little bit in The Outsiders, with the changes that will be taking place with the team starting in the new year, and there will be other twists and turns along the way.

"This is not just the straightforward cut-and-dry story that most people think it is."

The story debuts on Free Comic Book Day with War of the Supermen #0 and continues with a miniseries and confirmed tie-ins to Superman, Action Comics and Supergirl.

Warner Brothers Home Video has released the following screen captions from the upcoming animated movie "Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths".

Mania.com has officially shot down the rumor that Taylor Swift was lined up to play Supergirl in a new movie.

Although the story rang absurd enough to really need no debunking, we asked a source at DC Entertainment if there was any truth to the Swift talk.

"None," our source said of the report. "Pretty funny though, but no truth whatsoever. I'd love to know who the 'hollywood insider' is because that's as clueless a thing as I've heard all year."

Back in September, Warner Bros announced it was reorganising DC Comics into a new company called DC Entertainment which would oversee the adaptation of comic book characters into other media such as film, TV and games.

Since then, we've heard nothing apart from rumours that Christopher Nolan is working on a follow-up to The Dark Knight and suspect pieces of gossip claiming we're getting a new Supergirl movie and a big-screen version of Hawkman.

It turns out that news from Warner Bros might not be very far away.

Producer Dan Lin has revealed that: "They're unveiling their DC strategy in January so you'll hear more about that and they'll speak about that in the new year."

In an interview with Collider, Lin described the shelved Justice League Mortal as a "dream project".

He explained: "I'll say it's the reason I started my company. You know, I thought that was the ultimate project.

"I was a fanboy. For me to work with all those characters together on a team and kind of the themes of that movie; that's my dream. It's on-hold right now as DC sorts out its strategy but it seems like they're building to Justice League instead of going with the team movie first and doing individual movies after that.

"The only other one besides Justice League that I'm working on is the Suicide Squad. That's a different kind of superhero movie. For us that's a supervillain movie. It's almost Dirty Dozen set in the world of supervillains. That's the only one for me that's on the front burner.

"I would say what is easier in general is to pitch something with source material. So the first layer is it's easier to set something out with source material so it's something tangible that executives and even producers can discuss. The next layer is if they have a fan base. So, that's certainly comic books would qualify as that. And I would say the next layer on that if we're looking at this like a cake - the next layer would be a real brand name.

"So not only do they have a fan base like Bone but I'd say Justice League is the next layer up where I'm in the street....you talk about Batman, Superman, that's really well known. So those are the three things that really factor in.

"The business model has been proven but there's a glut of them in the market place now. So the question now is how do you differentiate the comic book you bring to the studio or even the comic book movie you bring to the studio makes it different.

"You mentioned Losers, Avengers, Justice League - even in the area of team movies there are already a lot of comic books. You have to figure how do you differentiate yours."

On whether the forever-in-development Wonder Woman movie will ever be made, Lin added: " I don't know. Just as an outside observer I know they talk about it as a movie and also a TV show. I don't know if they've figured out which way to go or is it better to put her in a team movie first and then have her come off that. Truth is, I don't know."

The CW have released the following new promotional commercial for the upcoming episodes of "Smallville" in 2010:

William Baldwin recently took time after his recording session as the voice of Batman in "Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths" to chat about visualization techniques in the sound booth, his children’s influence on his choice of roles, the super hero roughhouse role play by the Baldwin brothers (particularly Alec Baldwin) in their youth, and his very nearly being cast in the live-action role of Batman. Here's an excerpt from the interview:

Question: What are your thoughts about joining the list of actors from Adam West and Michael Keaton to Val Kilmer and George Clooney to Kevin Conroy and Christina Bale – that have played Batman?
Baldwin: I almost did join that group – I was one of Joel Schumacher's top choices when Val Kilmer wound up playing Batman. Tim Burton and Michael Keaton had left, so Joel had the luxury of replacing Michael Keaton and he told me that his four choices – which was an eclectic, diverse array – were Daniel Day Lewis, Ralph Feinnes, Val Kilmer and me. I didn’t even know it at the time – he told me when I had a meeting with him later. The next time, when George Clooney did it, (Schumacher) said, “You were on my original short list with those other three actors, but the studio went with Val and this time I'd like to go with you.” And that Friday afternoon, I thought I was playing Batman – and then Monday morning, the headlines in the trades said that George Clooney had gotten the part. So apparently, I did actually come very close.

I was very excited to do this. I wasn't really thinking about any past Batmans, but more of letting the material sort of dictate the choices that I make as an actor. What's happening physically, what's happening emotionally, what's happening in the writing. That’s what really drives your performance.

Question: How did you choose to interpret the character? And was there anything you wanted to do differently than what had preceded you.
Baldwin: I was mostly influenced by whom I perceive Batman to be, with the possible exception that I think sometimes I allow a certain sensitivity or an emotional dynamic to give (the character) maybe a likeability or an accessibility. That's almost an insecurity of mine as an actor – to want to breathe a little bit of those types of emotions into characters. I think I find them more appealing and more likeable and more human. What I didn't choose to do is to go towards the darkness of the way the original Batman series was intended. Because Batman, in the original comic series, was a lot darker than the character that was brought to life in television.

Question: Did the Baldwin brothers play super hero games growing up?
Baldwin: You’ll have to get my brother Alec in here sometime – he's got the scars to prove it. Back in the early ‘60s, he tied a bathroom towel around his neck as a cape and was doing his Superman (impression), and he went through a plate glass sliding door. He ran right through it. He has these big V-shaped scars under his bicep and his forearm from all the stitches that he took when he was five or six years old.

So yeah, we did play super hero games. And my family was pretty rough. I mean, when we were playing super heroes, if there was a cartoon where somebody got thrown off the roof and they landed on the ground with a thud, then Stephen or I got thrown off the roof – into a pile of leaves, or into somebody's swimming pool.

FanCast.com has posted a few spoilers from Britt Irvin (Stargirl) about the February 5th "Smallville: Absolute Justice" television movie. Here's an excerpt:

"I can't say too much about this, but there is a death that occurs at the beginning of the episode," Britt Irvin tells me. "And that brings [the JSA] together with Clark and his team."

Clark's "team" refers to the Justice League, which is comprised of the Blur, Green Arrow and… well, others. (I must leave it at that.) And to put it mildly, not all of these heroes get on superbly when they first cross paths.

"Stargirl has a bit of friction with Green Arrow at the beginning, as does Hawkman," Irvin says, echoing that which Justin Hartley revealed in a recent Fancast Q&A.

Irvin's acrobatic avenger, however, quickly establishes herself as one of the Blur's biggest fans. "She has a special connection with Clark because he reminds her a lot of her mentor," says the actress. What's more, when the JSA gets wind (via Dr. Fate) of Clark's destiny, Stargirl realizes "he's very important for mankind."

MattyCollector.com is now taking orders for Mattel's 12-inch Movie Masters General Zod figure exclusively from MattyCollector.com.

All kneel before Zod! Straight from the classic movie Superman II comes this truly incredible version of the wicked-to-the-core, and ultimately doomed, General Zod. This highly-articulated 12" figure arrives dressed in a film-accurate cloth replica of his uniform, complete with these accessories:
- 2 "Crude Noisemaker" weapons
- Extra hands
- Stand

'Batman: Under the Red Hood' looks to be the title of the next DC Universe animated feature film, following February's 'Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths'.

A feature at Blu-Ray.com unveiling the contents of the 'Crisis' Blu-Ray release, lists of preview of the next DCU release and thereby drops the name of the film. Interestingly, press materials on the Warner Home Video site keep the name under wraps listing only a "A First Look at next DC Universe Movie".

There's no info about the plot of the movie. Fans know well that the villain who becomes the Joker, first enjoyed a life of crime as The Red Hood. The identity has been revived several times over the years and is currently appearing in Grant Morrison's 'Batman and Robin' comics.

'Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths' special features will include:

DC Showcase: The Spectre
A First Look at 'Batman Under the Red Hood'
Green Lantern First Look
Superman/Batman Public Enemies First Look
Wonder Woman: The Amazon Princess "
The New World" - Extended Cut
Bruce Timm's Top Picks
A Better World, Parts 1 and 2 (previously on Justice League Unlimited S2 DVD release)
Twilight, Parts 1 and 2 (previously on Justice League Unlimited S2 DVD release)
DC TV pilot episodes (live -action)
Wonder Woman (previously on Wonder Woman S1 DVD release)
Aquaman (never before released)
Trailers
Digital Copy Online (DCON) – no fee, no second disc required

MattyCollector.com has great news for fans and collectors of the 8" cloth-style action figures from the 1970s and 1980's.

Mattel has gone back in time for design inspiration and come up with heroes based on the look of those vintage figures for a brand-new line called Retro-Action DC Super Heroes!

The new figures are not recreations, but updates lovingly based on the old style. In some cases, improvements have been made on iconic features like a more accurate belt buckle for Green Arrow, or an "s" curl in the hair of Superman.

Green Arrow is up first, and he'll be offered at MattyCollector.com on December 15th. This will be followed by a line at Toys "R" Us and select online retailers in the spring.

There will be three waves of four figures in 2010, starting with Superman, Sinestro, Lex Luthor, and Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) in Wave 1.

"Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths" co-directors Lauren Montgomery and Sam Liu recently paused from their current DCU projects to discuss their thoughts on the creation of the new animated feature. Here's an excerpt from the interview:

Question: How did you two go about co-directing Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths?
Montgomery: We kind of just went over the whole film together and it was really good to get two different points of view as a check and balance for each other. If we disagreed, we found compromises that would work. If one of us felt strongly about something, we just traded off – Sam would take a sequence he felt strongly about, then I’d take one I wanted. But for the most part, we agreed. We both work in such different ways, it was interesting to see how someone else works and learn from it.
Liu: We went through the film front to back, and if we ran into a problem or an area where either of us had an issue, usually where we thought it could be stronger or could be playing better, we usually solved it right on the spot. If we got to a section that was requiring a lot more revisions, one of us would jump on it and the other would move the rest of the film forward until we hit another rough spot. So that was our process.

Question: Do you have a favorite scene in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths?
Montgomery: There’s a fight between Wonder Woman and Olympia that I thought was really beautifully animated. That’s always fun to watch. It was boarded well, but the overseas animators took the drawings from the boards and really plussed it out. I think they just enjoy animating girl fights overseas because those scenes always come back looking good.
Liu: More than one scene, I like the overall relatability of the Justice League characters. There was great character interaction. When I watch movies, I like something that has an emotional connection, and this film definitely does.

Specifically, I think the spectacle of these evenly matched supers fighting was really cool. Superman versus Ultraman. Flash fighting someone equally as fast. Strengths against strengths. Jay Oliva boarded the last fight sequence and the Superwoman-Wonder Woman fight is great. They’re both strong, super powerful women and I think it was brutal enough as is, but the way Jay made Wonder Woman use the lasso to slam Superwoman to the ground is pretty amazing.

The battle between Owlman and Batman is awesome, too, because it’s sort of this weird intellectual standoff. Owlman is so far into his psychosis as to how the universe operates, it’s very existential. His concept is crazy, but the way he reasons out the technology of how things work and the way he thinks, it gave us great room to improvise Batman’s reaction. And then when they actually fight, it’s brutal. They do these gadget fights, sort of a modern ninja battle. The sound effects on the planet, the colors, the way it’s animated, it all works really well. And James Woods’ voice is perfect – most of the Crime Syndicate is very thuggish, they’re all about stealing money. But Owlman has created the ultimate plan to annihilate everybody, and James Woods does this great build-up. It’s great acting. He plays Owlman as a little bit off and kind of creepy, but not sinister creepy. His cadence is great, and his voice is almost charming in a way. It was a good mix of all the things I thought we’d have a problem with if we went too far one way or the other. It’s a great, tight sequence and I’m very happy the way it all came together.