August 25, 2011 | 11:30 am

The ‘Unincorporated’ Rabbi

Posted by Adam Wills

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In Dani and Eytan Kollin’s 2009 novel, “The Unincorporated Man,” religion was all but extinct on Earth. In their 2010 sequel, “The Unincorporated War,” we find faiths like Islam and Christianity growing throughout the off-world Outer Alliance. But with the release this month of their third book in the “Unincorporated” universe, “The Unincorporated Woman,” the Kollin brothers revive Judaism through a new side character, Rabbi – a Moses-like figure who reluctantly takes charge of the Alliance refugees, known as the Diaspora.

“Islam and Christianity got a really big flag waving in book two, and we got some heat from that. Like, ‘What happened to the Jews, man?’ ” said Dani, who will appear with his brother, Eytan, 7 p.m. tonight at The Grove’s Barnes & Noble.

As “Unincorporated Woman” opens, the United Human Federation (UHF) decimates the 200-year-old, asteroid-bound Jewish community of Aish Ha Torah, leaving Gedalia Wildman, a rabbi/propulsion specialist, as the only person able to lead the Jewish people. Following the attack, he is known thereafter only as Rabbi.

The novel is essentially an Exodus story, Dani said. “[Rabbi’s] primary concern through the entire book – and even into the fourth [book] – is whatever Jews are left who want to be observant, how the hell am I going to keep them going and save them?”

Dani and Eytan, sons of Rabbi Gil Kollin, rabbi emeritus of Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, pepper Jewish themes throughout the book, explaining Orthodox Jewish traditions (e.g., not shaking hands with members of the opposite sex) and delving into Jewish law. During one discussion, Rabbi clarifies why Jews in the 24th century can’t alter the Tay-Sachs gene. “For all I know, that one gene saves humanity fifteen generations from now,” he says.

And since this is science fiction, expect Jewish snark.

When Agent Agnes Goldstein—an atheist maybe-Jew – talks with Rabbi about the complex process of Jewish conversion, she says, “Are you guys trying to become extinct?” And when UHF President Hektor Sambianco and his minions struggle to understand the threat posed by Rabbi, his recommended reading: “A book called Protocols of the Elders of Zion seems as good a place as any to start.”

As the war drags on, adherents of the growing religious faiths wrestle with their differences as well as their temptations to engage militancy.

“The message of the book, in terms of religion is, ‘Don’t you dare go back to where you were. How dare you reinterpret or try to bring back jihad or the Crusades?’ It’s so disheartening to see what happens in the name of religion, and it’s nice to be able to have a world in which we believe we can, to a certain extent, stem that,” Dani said. 

The “Unincorporated” books are Heinlein-style tales of personal freedom and responsibility. In the first novel, the Prometheus Award-winning “Unincorporated Man,” 21st century billionaire Justin Cord, secretly frozen in cryostasis before the economic catastrophe known as the Grand Collapse, awakens 300 years later to encounter a society built around personal incorporation, where people struggle their whole lives to achieve a majority share in themselves in order to gain control. His rejection of the system serves as an example for others unhappy with their lot, which leads to civil war between the corporate-friendly UHF and the rebellious Alliance.

As “Unincorporated Woman” opens, the Alliance struggles for its survival following Cord’s death. Janet Delgado (J.D.) Black – a corporate lawyer turned fleet admiral – is loathe to give up her post and turns to another human in cryostasis: Dr. Sandra O’Toole, the woman who created the technology to freeze Cord. However, O’Toole isn’t about to be Black’s puppet wartime president and insists on power.

The brothers say the third book demanded effective female characters.

“A lot of people assumed that J.D. would become the main protagonist of the third book. We even set up the beginning, for those who hadn’t read the spoilers, to make it almost appear as such. And it was with delight that we introduced Sandra and allowed J.D. to go on and kick universal ass,” Dani said.

Eytan says that writing Sandra O’Toole was easier than writing Justin Cord in the second book. “Writing Justin was being ground to pieces because the circumstances had changed so much, which, by the way, happens historically,” he said.

While the brothers freely admit J.D. Black is essentially a “guy with boobs,” they studied a variety of female leaders, including Eleanor of Aquitaine, Elizabeth I and Margaret Thatcher, when they went to write Sandra O’Toole.

“Mom to a certain degree poked through [with Sandra],” Eytan said. “But it’s not like we wrote our mom.”

As far as the “Unincorporated” universe’s other major female character, Eytan and Dani say fans were more upset (2 to 1) over how Neela Harper-Cord—Justin Cord’s wife—had been psych audited and turned into Sambianco’s sexual plaything than they were over Cord’s death.

“What we did to Neela was a lot crueler,” Eytan admitted.

“Neela became marginalized … and there’s not a lot left for Neela to do,” Dani said, adding that her predicament will be resolved in book four.

In the next book, which the brothers are currently writing, they say the war becomes even more desperate and brutal, and Sandra O’Toole asserts greater control over the Alliance.

“The society can’t exist as it was before, and it’s literally destroying itself. This all comes down to: is it worth it? Is this idea of freedom and liberty worth everything that is going on, worth this destruction, worth this schism?” Dani said.

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July 14, 2011 | 12:27 pm

Mila Kunis: Trekkie

Posted by Adam Wills

“Black Swan” star Mila Kunis has come out of the closet ... as a “massive” Trekkie.

In the latest issue of GQ, Kunis confesses to having an autographed photo of Leonard Nimoy as well as vintage Star Trek action figures, and ranks Treks in order of preference:

Mila Kunis: I was too young to fully understand the importance of working with Hulk Hogan. I just thought he was this huge man. Shatner was di­fferent. I’m a massive Trekkie, so that was crazy. He’s exactly what you think he is.

GQ: When did you get into Star Trek?

Mila Kunis: I got into it in my late teens—18, 19, 20. Something like that. I got into it later than most people. But let’s not talk about it in the past tense. I’m still a Star Trek fan. You never stop being one. Let me give you my rundown of the series in order of most favorite to least favorite.

GQ: I definitely have my answer to this. Let’s hear it.

Mila Kunis: Okay. You should know this list is an ongoing argument between Seth MacFarlane and myself. But I have it: The Next Generation; the original series; then Voyager—

GQ: Okay, you’re already wrong.

Mila Kunis: Fuck. You and I are in trouble already. This always happens with Star Trek fans. After Voyager, then I have Deep Space Nine. Then last is Enterprise.

GQ: Did your Star Trek fandom extend further than just watching the show?

Mila Kunis: Uh, I went a little bit further.

GQ: How so?

Mila Kunis: I went to the Star Trek Experience in Vegas maybe five years ago. I hung out with a bunch of fake characters inside Quark’s bar. [Ed note: Quark was the name of the Ferengi bartender on DS9.] There were all these actors there pretending to be the different characters from the different shows. Yes, I loved it.

GQ: Please tell me you didn’t go by yourself.

Mila Kunis: No! I went with friends. I’m not that big of a loser. But I also have a signed Leonard Nimoy photo in a little frame that a girlfriend gave to me for my 21st birthday. And I’ve got a bunch of vintage Star Trek figurines given to me by Jason Segel. God, it’s so embarrassing.

Then again, this isn’t totally shocking. In 2008, she told Jimmy Kimmel that she was a World of Warcraft addict:

“The problem is, if anyone plays Warcraft… I’m really good, I’m a really kick ass Mage… We’ll you’re your own person and you can get into a guild… You gotta be in a guild, because you gotta do raids that require thirty or forty people. But now with the expansion pack, they’re gonna have raids that require only like ten people. So that’ll really make things a lot easier… Oh my god, it’s such a good game. I love it.”

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July 11, 2011 | 11:35 am

GeekHeeb’s top Comic-Con picks

Posted by Adam Wills

Comic-Con’s full schedule is up and the Tribe will be well represented at the San Diego Convention Center (July 20-24): “Big Bang Theory” co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady as well as actors Simon Helberg and Mayim Bialik, zombie writer Max Brooks, “Cowboys & Aliens” director Jon Favreau, “Spider-Man” star Andrew Garfield, “Buffy’s” Sarah Michelle Gellar, Seth Green, Stan Lee, Lost’s” Damon Lindelof, Jeph Loeb, Ron Perlman and the original captain himself … William Shatner. Also, be sure to save some time on Sunday for Arlen Schumer’s presentation on Jews ‘n’ Comics.

The following are some don’t-miss events. Feel free to add your own Comic-Con recommendations in the comments section at the end.

THURSDAY, JULY 21

10:30-11:30
Spotlight on Joyce Brabner
Is she the glacial, humorless activist as portrayed in the film American Splendor or just the person who published the first comic on the Internet? Come hear Comic-Con special guest Joyce Brabner talk about her latest projects, including finishing the work of her late husband Harvey Pekar and dealing with his legacy. Room 8

12:30-1:30
Dumbrella
Artists from Dumbrella, one of the most popular online comic collectives, discuss webcomics, independent publishing, and subverting popular culture. Feel free to quiz Andrew Bell (The Creatures in My Head), Meredith Gran (Octopus Pie), Jon Rosenberg (Goats), and Chris Yates (Chris Yates Studios) about anything your Internet heart desires. Room 4

1:45-2:45
Ringer
Sarah Michelle Gellar makes her highly anticipated television return in the gripping new thriller Ringer, as a woman who, after witnessing a murder, goes on the run, hiding out by assuming the life of her wealthy identical twin—only to learn that her sister’s seemingly idyllic life is just as complicated and dangerous as the one she’s trying to leave behind. Be the first to see an exclusive sneak peek at the new series about family secrets and stolen identities, followed by a panel discussion with series stars Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four), Nestor Carbonell (Lost, The Dark Knight), Kristoffer Polaha (Life Unexpected), executive producer Pam Veasey (CSI:NY), and co-executive producers Nicole Snyder (Supernatural) and Eric Charmelo (Supernatural). Ballroom 20

5:30-6:30
Spotlight on Paul Levitz
Marv Wolfman (Teen Titans, Superman) and Mark Evanier (Kirby: King of Comics) interview fellow comics fan, writer, and editor—and Comic-Con special guest—Paul Levitz about his life, from The Comic Reader to DC Comics president & publisher, and now beyond as he returns to writing Legion of Super-Heroes and makes his debut as a historian with the Eisner-nominated 75 Years Of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Myth-Making. Room 8

6:00-7:00
The Visionaries: A discussion with Jon Favreau and Guillermo del Toro on the Future of Pop Culture
Entertainment Weekly moderates an in-depth conversation with Jon Favreau (Cowboys & Aliens) and Guillermo del Toro (Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark), two filmmakers at the forefront of bringing geek culture to the masses and making blockbuster art out of pulp fiction. They will discuss their inspirations, their current work, and how they strive to put a personal stamp on blockbuster entertainment. Plus: How is new technology changing the way stories are produced and viewed? And what do they think the pop culture universe will look like a decade from now? Moderated by Jeff “Doc” Jensen. Hall H

7:00-8:00
History of the Modern Zombie
Experts discuss the history and evolution of the modern zombie, from its first appearance in George Romero’s 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead to the most recent work being done in zombie science, survival, and pop culture today. Panelists include Max Brooks, bestselling author of World War Z and Zombie Survival Guide; Matt Mogk, head of the Zombie Research Society and author of Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Zombies; Steven Schlozman, M.D., Harvard Medical School psychiatrist and author of The Zombie Autopsies; Scott Kenemore, bestselling author of Zen of Zombie, Z.E.O., and Zombie, Ohio; and Bradley Voytek, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley neuroscientist and author of Scanning the Zombie Brain. Room 7AB

FRIDAY, JULY 22

10:15-11:15
Star Trek: The Captains
William Shatner is joined by fellow Star Trek captain Avery Brooks to present a preview of the EPIX Pictures original documentary produced and directed by Shatner, in which he travels the world to interview all the actors who’ve played Starfleet captains. This lively discussion and Q&A session is moderated by Comic-Con fave Kevin Smith. Room 6BCF

12:30-1:30
The Big Bang Theory Screening and Q&A
Dr., Dr., Dr., Dr., Dr., Mr., Miss… See everyone’s favorite scientists (and engineer and waitress) from The Big Bang Theory as the show’s producers and stars return to San Diego with a special screening and Q&A. Executive producers Chuck Lorre (Two and a Half Men), Bill Prady (Dharma & Greg), and Steve Molaro (iCarly) join stars Johnny Galecki (Roseanne), Jim Parsons (Garden State), Kaley Cuoco (Charmed), Simon Helberg (Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog), Kunal Nayyar (NCIS), Mayim Bialik (Blossom), and Melissa Rauch (True Blood) for a fun and lively discussion. From Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television, The Big Bang Theory airs Thursdays at 8/7c on CBS, and The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Fourth Season will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 13. Ballroom 20

2:00-3:00
Writing Seminar with Marv Wolfman and Neo Edmund
Marv Wolfman (God of War, Teen Titans, Crisis on Infinite Earths) and Neo Edmund (Solitary—The Movie, Windy Hollows, Discovery Channel’s Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Predators), return to basics in this annual writing seminar as they discuss the building blocks of putting together a story, creating tension, and what the “three act structure” really means. There will also be time for a Q&A session. Room 30CDE

2:45-3:45
DreamWorks: Fright Night
Colin Farrell (The Way Back), Anton Yelchin (Star Trek), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad), Imogen Poots (Jane Eyre), Dave Franco (Charlie St. Cloud), director Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl), and screenwriter Marti Noxon (I Am Number Four) take the dais to give fans a taste of the horrific fun to come in DreamWorks Pictures’ 3D reimagining of the classic horror film. Hall H

3:30-4:15
Adult Swim: Robot Chicken
Seth Green (co-creator, Robot Chicken), Matthew Senreich (co-creator, Robot Chicken), and Tom Root (head writer, Robot Chicken) discuss the popular Adult Swim series. The series uses stop-motion animation to bring pop culture parodies to life in a modern take on the variety/sketch show format. In Robot Chicken, no pop culture target is safe. Legions of action figures are used to spoof everything from reality television and Star Wars to past presidents. Moderated by Keith Crofford, vice president of production, Adult Swim. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

4:00-6:30
Sony returns to Hall H with a stellar lineup of films and talent, including:

The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man is back on the big screen, shot in 3D for the first time, and will be swinging into your neighborhood on July 3, 2012. Starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, and Martin Sheen, as well as Sally Field, and directed by Marc Webb, The Amazing Spider-Man’s new creative team will be taking a whole new direction in the unfolding saga of everyone’s favorite web-slinger. Appearing in person are producers Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach, director Marc Webb, and our own Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy—Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.

SATURDAY, JULY 23

10:00-11:00
Spotlight on Jerry Robinson
Comic-Con special guest Jerry Robinson, creator of the Joker, will discuss his legendary career from Batman to Broadway and beyond with the publisher of Dark Horse Comics and Emmy Award winner Mike Richardson in this one-on-one interview and Q&A session. Room 9

10:30-11:30
Marvel Television
Marvel’s head of TV Jeph Loeb brings the inside scoop on Marvel’s latest series that take your favorite heroes from page to screen. Get a first look at the premiere of The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes season two, a sneak peek at a certain ultimate webslinger, and a few other surprises from Marvel Television. Room 6BCF

11:00-12:00
MTV Comics
Join executive editor Tom Akel to hear about new and ongoing titles with MTV creators. Marc Silvestri will discuss the new MTV/Top Cow collaboration September Mourning, a multiplatform project blending comics and music through video, comic books, and live events. And the legendary Stan Lee will reveal the story behind MTV Comics’ upcoming digital book The Seekers and let artists and writers know when to start sending submissions to collaborate with Stan on the comic! Room 7AB

11:00-12:00
Will Eisner: Visionary
Will Eisner —artist, storyteller, entrepreneur—played a central role in comics from the Golden Age to the Computer Age. During his career, Eisner reinvented sequential art and himself to overcome obstacles and create new media. A combination of idealist and realist, he led the way and helped create the comics and graphic novels that we know today. Learn about Will Eisner from those who personally knew and worked with him. Join moderator Charles Brownstein (executive director of the CBLDF, author of Eisner/Miller), Denis Kitchen (artist, author, publisher, Eisner’s agent and longtime friend), Paul Levitz (writer, former president/publisher of DC Comics), Scott McCloud (artist, author, theoretician about comics and sequential art), Diana Schutz (executive editor, Dark Horse Comics), and Jeff Smith (writer/cartoonist, Bone, Rasl) to learn more about the “Father of the Graphic Novel.” Room 9

12:00-1:00
Comics Arts Conference Session No. 10: The Wit, Whimsy, & Wisdom of Weisinger
Comic book historian and illustrator Arlen Schumer (The Silver Age of Comic Book Art) presents the work of Mort Weisinger, editor of the Superman line for 30 years (1940-1970), told in Weisinger’s own words and artist Curt Swan’s images. Room 26AB

12:15-1:00
Futurama
Futurama is back! Again! On stage will be creator/executive producer Matt Groening, executive producer David X. Cohen, and stars Billy West (Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Dr. Zoidberg), Katey Sagal (Leela), John DiMaggio (Bender), and Maurice LaMarche (Kif Kroker, Calculon, Morbo). Get a sneak peek at never-before-seen footage of Futurama reincarnated as Japanese anime, along with a thrilling preview of this summer’s new season on Comedy Central. Moderated by Bill Morrison. Ballroom 20

1:00-2:00
Remembering Harvey Pekar
The legendary Harvey Pekar died in July 2010, leaving behind a huge legacy of work with a veritable who’s who list of comics collaborators on his American Splendor and graphic novels. Joyce Brabner and Danielle Batone join editor Charles Kochman and moderator Jeff Newelt to talk about Harvey’s life and comics career. This is an open invitation to anyone whoever worked with Harvey or cared about him to come and share their memories. Room 7AB

1:30-2:30
Spotlight on Peter Kuper
From MAD to World War 3 Illustrated, Comic-Con special guest Peter Kuper (Spy vs. Spy) has for three decades been blowing up spies and politicians and creating graphic novels ranging from Franz Kafka adaptations to autobiographies that would scare Kafka. Get an inside look at how he comes up with Spy vs. Spy ideas and his other idiotic projects! Room 8

2:00-2:35
Family Guy
Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Adam West (Batman), and executive producers Mark Hentemann, Steve Callaghan, and Kara Vallow present a sneak peek at the new episode Stewie Goes for a Drive, featuring voice guest star Ryan Reynolds, followed by a Q&A session. Ballroom 20

3:15-4:15
Calling all Lost Fans: Once Upon a Time
Moderator Damon Lindelof (co-creator, Lost) introduces you to the magical story of two parallel worlds: one in a distant fairytale land, the other in a present-day reality. Following the exclusive screening of Once Upon a Time, join co-creators and executive producers Edward Kitsis (Lost, Tron: Legacy) and Adam Horowitz (Lost, Tron: Legacy) along with Ginnifer Goodwin (Big Love), Jennifer Morrison (House), Robert Carlyle (SGU: Stargate Universe), Lana Parrilla (24), and Josh Dallas (Thor), for a Q&A about this modern fairytale turned on its head. All attendees will get a limited-edition Comic-Con giveaway! Room 6DE

SUNDAY JULY 24

10:00-11:15
The Annual Jack Kirby Tribute Panel
As always, we gather to remember the man some still hail as The King of the Comics, Jack Kirby. If you don’t know who that is, you have no business being at this convention. Moderator Mark Evanier discusses the life and times of Kirby with Walt Simonson (Thor), Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon), Richard Kyle (Graphic Story World), and Mike Royer (inker of lots of Kirby comics). Room 5AB

10:00-11:00
Glee
Creator/executive producer Ryan Murphy, creator/executive producer Brad Falchuk, and stars of Glee present a sneak peek at Glee The 3D Concert Movie featuring never-before-seen footage, behind-the-scenes secrets, and Q&A session. Hall H

12:00-1:00
Jews ‘n’ Comics: A Past & Present History
From Ben Grimm to The Golem and more, comic book historian and illustrator Arlen Schumer (The Silver Age of Comic Book Art) surveys the specifically Jewish creation of the American superhero and its antecedents in older, ancient myths, as well as the significant contributions Jews have made to the evolution of comic book art in the 20th and 21st centuries—including his own superhero creation, Captain Israel! Room 24ABC

2:00-3:00
Max Brooks: Zombie Survival 101
Max Brooks, screenwriter and author of bestselling books The Zombie Survival Guide, World War Z, and The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks, is the world’s leading authority on the defense against a ghoulish uprising! Renowned for his campus and convention lectures nationwide, Brooks comes to Comic-Con to share his insight into the rotting minds of the undead, reveal how the Zombie Survival Guide came into existence, and field questions from zombie-phobic fans. You dare not miss this lecture—your very life may depend on it! Room 7AB

2:15-3:15
Cartoon Network Action: Ben 10/Generator Rex
Two of action animation’s biggest stars collide in one explosive panel! The voice talent and creators behind Ben 10 and Generator Rex give fans a sneak peak into the future of these two series, including an exclusive first look at the upcoming Ben 10/Generator Rex: Heroes United crossover special event. Yuri Lowenthal (Ben) is on hand for some fun surprises, as well as series creators and writers for the inside scoop on two of Cartoon Network’s biggest Friday Night Action hits. And Ben 10 fans won’t want to miss the exclusive world premiere unveiling of footage from the new Ben 10 CGI movie!  Room 6BCF

3:30-4:00
Sons of Anarchy
Get an inside look into the world of FX’s highest-rated series ever, Sons of Anarchy, with creator Kurt Sutter (The Shield) and stars Charlie Hunnam (Children of Men), Katey Sagal (Married…With Children), and Ron Perlman (Hellboy). Hall H

 

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July 1, 2011 | 9:37 am

Holographic singer makes U.S. debut at Anime Expo

Posted by Adam Wills

Downtown will see its fair share of samurai and soldiers, demons and vampires this holiday weekend. Yes, Anime Expo is back, and the cosplaying masses are taking over the L.A. Convention Center July 1-4.

About 125,000 otaku are expected to turn out for North America’s largest anime and manga con. Fans get to meet and hear from some of the most famous anime, manga and musical artists and get into the action through everything from cosplay, karaoke and video competitions to exclusive screenings and video gaming competitions.

Oddly enough, the most anticipated guest at this year’s AX isn’t even a real person. Japanese virtual pop star Hatsune Miku—a 3D hologram created by Crypton Future Media—makes “her” U.S. debut with a concert on Saturday, July 2, at the Nokia Theater. (Alas, it’s sold out.)

From NPR:

Hatsune Miku is an anime girl with kiddie-pool sized eyes and flowing teal pigtails. She stars in a new Toyota Corolla commercial aimed at the Asian-American market.

Miku is huge back home in Japan. Originally invented to sell synthesized voice software, the character’s featured in a video game, she’s released hit pop songs and she sells out live concerts. (If “live” is the right word.)

“They use twelve different projectors to project her in 34D space,” explains Justin Sevakis, of the Anime News Network. “She towers. She’s a good twenty feet tall in those concerts.”

...

Cartoon bands for kids are nothing new, but Japanese anime has taken them to slick, sophisticated new levels — and created adult demand for them.

In addition to Miku, Akihabara singer Maon Kurosaki will perform along with Kalafina, Nirgilis and Vic Mignogna. And on Sunday, watch as people compete in the con’s own AX Idol, a singing and voice acting competition.

Other highlights include the debuts of “Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing,” “Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: Awakening of the Trailblazer,” “Onigamiden” and an English-language adaptation of “Supernatural: the Anime Series”; the AX Anime and Manga Studies Symposium (topics include “Between Yasashii and Bushido: The Balancing Power of Warrior Mothers in Anime,” “Open-Source Culture and the Cult of Hatsune Miku” and “Writing About Otaku: Lessons From Fandom, Academia and Beyond”); as well as Magic: The Gathering tournaments.

And while there’s nothing particularly “Jewish” about AX this year (no Seth Green with “Robot Chicken” or “Titan Maximum” clips), you can do a mitzvah while you’re there by supporting survivors of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March. Proceeds from this year’s AX Charity Auction, held on July 4, will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society. The auction will feature rare anime and manga art, autographed collectibles and other items donated by AX guests, sponsors and other industry professionals.

“The money raised will help people in the disaster-affected prefecture as they reconstruct their lives,” said Sayaka Matsumoto, a spokesperson for the Japanese Red Cross Society.

AX 2011 will be held July 1-4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. $45 (single day), $75 (4-day pass). To register or for more information, visit anime-expo.org or call (805) 654-0171.

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June 8, 2011 | 7:01 am

When Mutants Matter

Posted by Adam Wills

“To those who said X-Men First Class was good, I want to stab you in the face.”

My friend Jason posted this to Facebook yesterday. Hyperbole aside, I understand his frustration.

Fox was in spin mode this past weekend trying to explain a lower-than-expected opening for the fifth film in the “X-Men” franchise ($55.1 M—the lowest since the first film debuted in 2000 at $54 M … $79 M today if adjusted for inflation). The studio blamed the lack of bankable stars, the lack of a big-name director and the film’s 1960s setting.

But is there another problem? For Jason and other longtime fans of the best-selling comics, a heavily revised origin story for a franchise that’s older than “Star Trek” is a slap in the face from Hollywood.

“I thought they were gonna make changes…I didn’t realize they were rewriting everything…and I mean everything,” Jason writes.

Based on the feedback Jason’s getting from his friends, it seems most are content to wait until the film hits the rental market or television. One responder writes that she’s ignoring “First Class,” looking on it as a “money-making ‘place card’ ” until the next “X” film, “The Wolverine,” which is being adapted from the phenomenally popular Chris Claremont and Frank Miller miniseries.

For me, I became a “First Class” fence-sitter once I saw that the featured mutant characters weren’t based on the original 1963 lineup created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby.

Instead of Scott Summers as the Professor X’s first student, we get the villain Mystique. (((((facepalm)))))

There’s no Jean Grey (Marvel Girl/Phoenix/etc.), Bobby Drake (Iceman) or Warren Worthington III (Angel). Hank McCoy (Beast) is the only original X-Man in the film, but even Silver Age X-Men side characters Alex Summers (Havok) and Sean Cassidy (Banshee) get more prominent roles than good ol’ Beast.

To better understand why the lineup change for a film called “First Class” would be frustrating to a longtime X-Men fan: imagine a “Harry Potter” film without Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Instead, the filmmaker taps Neville Longbottom and Draco Malfoy to be Harry’s best friends. It would be, in a word, wrong.

“First Class” conflates storylines, timelines and characters, including turning Sebastian Shaw, leader of the Hellfire Club, into a Nazi who becomes a target of Magneto’s post-Holocaust rage a la “Inglourious Basterds.” (My colleague Naomi Pfefferman declared “First Class” the “most Jewish superhero movie ever” on her blog, The Ticket. But it could have been even Jewier had the filmmakers stayed true to the comic and shown Professor X and Magneto meeting for the first time in in 1950s Israel, where they started debating whether mutants could co-exist with normal humans.)

Die-hard fans who want to enjoy the film without being bothered by its inaccuracies can easily look on “First Class” as a story set on an alternative Earth in the Marvel multiverse. But others, like those who responded to Jason’s post, aren’t taking the bait. The summer is stocked with plenty of geek fare: “Green Lantern,” “Captain America,” “Cowboys & Aliens,” “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” and “Conan.”

Some fans might be thinking: Why settle?

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June 7, 2011 | 2:49 pm

Leonard Nimoy’s Vulcan logic: A two-state solution

Posted by Jay Firestone

Anyone mildly familiar with “Star Trek” may recall that the character Spock—half-alien, half-human—struggles to purge his emotions and embrace the logical, detached disposition of the Vulcan people.

What would the logical, yet emotionally torn Spock have to say about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? (Aside from maybe ... “Beam me up, Bibi.”)

In an open letter, posted on the Web site of Americans for Peace Now, actor Leonard Nimoy, who played “Spock” in the original television series and films, has released a statement voicing his support for an Israeli-Palestinian two-state solution.

In the letter, Nimoy calls for “a secure, democratic Israel as the Jewish State alongside an independent Palestinian state.” 

Drawing a parallel between a Star Trek episode entitled “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Nimoy writes:

Two men, half black, half white, are the last survivors of their peoples who have been at war with each other for thousands of years, yet the Enterprise crew could find no differences separating these two raging men.

But the antagonists were keenly aware of their differences—one man was white on the right side, the other was black on the right side. And they were prepared to battle to the death to defend the memory of their people who died from the atrocities committed by the other.

The story was a myth, of course, and by invoking it I don’t mean to belittle the very real issues that divide Israelis and Palestinians. What I do mean to suggest is that the time for recriminations is over. Assigning blame over all other priorities is self-defeating. Myth can be a snare. The two sides need our help to evade the snare and search for a way to compromise.

Interesting point, though I’m surprised Nimoy didn’t reference his own character when drawing this parallel, since the argument between logic and emotion is a consistent theme in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

While we can’t really know for sure whether or not Spock would have supported a two-state solution, Nimoy hints that Vulcan logic plays a clear role.  In the letter, he signs off with, “Dare I say it? It’s the logical thing to do.”

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March 11, 2011 | 4:21 pm

‘Battle: LA’ sticks to Corps values

Posted by Adam Wills

If you like your Marine recruiting films dressed up with sci-fi action and lots of ’splosions, you’re going to love “Battle: Los Angeles.”

Don’t get me wrong—“Battle: LA” is a guilty geek pleasure that will have military aficionados either salivating or jotting down inaccuracies to blog about later. However, its genius marketing campaign belies the picture’s stark, simplistic script.

A cross between “Black Hawk Down” and “War of the World,” “Battle: LA” follows a Marine battalion engaging in urban warfare with evil ETs during a mission to rescue trapped civilians. Although director Jonathan Liebesman attempts an alien-invasion tale with a global scale, the focus on the survival of one unit – the Second Battalion, Fifth Marine – dooms the picture to a narrative scope more befitting a first-person shooter, like “Call of Duty.”

Without as much as a “We come in peace” (a la “Mars Attacks!”) the squid-like invaders in body armor begin a genocidal campaign to rid the planet of its pesky humans (why? to steal our water, of course). Cities around the globe are falling to the aliens, and the 2/5 out of Camp Pendleton is deployed to Los Angeles, pulling just-retired Staff Sgt. Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) along for the ride. This doesn’t sit well with the young troops, who blame Nantz for the deaths of servicemen during an Iraq deployment. We get minimal backstories on the 2/5 Marines – one is expecting a baby, another is getting married, one had a brother killed under Nantz’s command – before the body count begins. Along the way, the dwindling platoon picks up civilian survivors (Bridget Moynahan, Michael Peña), straggler Marines and Air Force Tech Sgt. Elena Santos (Michelle Rodriguez), whose information could help provide Earth’s forces with the edge it needs to repel the invaders.

Marine camaraderie and the technical aspects of warfare holds “Battle: LA” together. But this leaves viewers with a jerky, bleak combat film without a larger message. (What happened to epic film the trailers promised?!)

After prolonged claustrophobic skirmishes – including a nod to Ripley taking command of the armored personnel carrier in “Aliens” – the cliché ending comes a little too fast, too furious.

And while the film could have used some “Independence Day” levity (apart from the unintentional humor), this macho apocalyptic ride does manage to pack in more than enough action for fanboys weaned on Michael Bay and XBox to make up for some of its deficits.

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March 8, 2011 | 10:46 am

Magicians vs. Hitler in Chabon’s ‘Hobgoblin’

Posted by Adam Wills

Authors Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman are in the early stages of developing a show for HBO that revolves around a motley crew of con men and magicians who use their skills at deception to battle Hitler during World War II, according to Variety.

Dubbed “Hobgoblin,” the project might seem a little far-fetched, but Blastr reports that the concept is based on historical fact:

Jasper Maskelyne was one such prestidigitator, who used sleight-of-hand techniques and stagecraft to aid the Allied forces by, among other things, disguising tanks inside plywood-and-canvas constructs.

The idea seems like something Joe Kavalier and Sam Clay might have dreamed up. The fictional comic book creators featured in Chabon’s Pulitzer-winning 2000 novel “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay,” developed a Golden Age character called The Escapist, which Chabon later spun off into a real-world comic book series for Dark Horse in 2004.

And considering its upcoming adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s fantasy novel “Game of Thrones” and its continuing support of “True Blood,” HBO seems to be developing a taste for fanboy projects. Here’s to hoping this trend continues.

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