As many of us know, DisneyXD has begun airing Marvel’s newest cartoon, Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes on Wednesdays at 8:30pm est. The team includes Iron Man, Ant-Man, Wasp, Thor, and The Incredible Hulk. So far we’ve had cameos from Avenger favorites like Hawkeye, Captain America, Black Panther, Nick Fury, and a slew of villains ranging from The Abomination to Grim Reaper. I’ve been watching it for a while and I was enthused at first, but five episodes in and it doesn’t feel like anything we haven’t seen before. There’s Hulk vs. everyone, which is always fun, Hulk gets drafted, and then Hulk gets tricked into a rematch of Hulk vs. everyone, which is still entertaining, but gets old at this point. The art direction leaves much to be desired as it comes off as childish and tones down the action. Hopefully, as the show continues, we’ll see some the great story elements that we know Marvel is capable of, until then I give this three shields out of five.

In a story that’s just too interesting not to post, Computerworld has a story about a man who hacked into Washington State University television feed to broadcast a message about breaking out of the norm and the ‘comforts of the everyday routine, the security of the familiar, the tranquility of repetition’ and to also rise up against squirrels on campus, all while dressed as V from Alan Moore’s V for Vendetta and he did it last Friday, on Guy Fawkes Day.

The IT department at WSU said the hack was actually quite advanced, to the point were Google has apparently offered the hacker a job. Overall, the hacking wasn’t very serious and no personal information was harmed. V wanted everyone to ‘generate their own list of problems which they are passionate about. If everyone only realized we are all surrounded by the same small common problems, we might just be able to solve them. From there, who knows where we could go.’

We’ve included WSU 1812′s full video below. Overall, the video’s intentions don’t seem to be that malicious and the fact he used V for Vendetta as inspiration speaks to the legacy of Moore’s work, but what are your thoughts? Sound off in our comments!

Source: Computerworld

On top of this morning news, DC Entertainment announced today that WildStorm and ZUDA will end as separate imprints and will be rolled into other aspects of DC Entertainment. Here’s the full letter from Dan DiDio and Jim Lee:

The changes happening behind the scenes this week are part of a greater campaign to reshape DC Comics and build a company for the future. Our responsibility as Co-Publishers is to find a balance between short term opportunities and long term vision; between our strengths in traditional print formats and the infinite potential beyond print; between our characters’ rich legacies in the past and the bright promise for the future they hold.

As we’ve said before, there’s much to celebrate about DC. The foundation for long-term success is already here.

The DC Universe features the modern adventures of the World’s Greatest Superheroes, as envisioned by an exciting mix of new and fan favorite comic book creators. Vertigo is committed to publishing cutting edge, creator owned comic books and graphic novels by a wide array of creative voices.

One of our first decisions of the Co-Publishers was to up the publication of MAD Magazine from a quarterly periodical to a bimonthly one. In the wake of that decision, the magazine has seen increased sell-through growth. And we’re thrilled that MAD’s brand of madcap humor now stretches across media, with a highly-rated television show on Cartoon Network. The Usual Gangs of Idiots are an important part of this company and pop culture.

As we move forward, we also have to acknowledge the need for change.

After taking the comics scene by storm nearly 20 years ago, the WildStorm Universe titles will end this December. In this soft marketplace, these characters need a break to regroup and redefine what made them once unique and cutting edge. While these will be the final issues published under the WildStorm imprint, it will not be the last we will see of many of these heroes. We, along with Geoff Johns, have a lot of exciting plans for these amazing characters, so stay tuned. Going forward, WildStorm’s licensed titles and kids comics will now be published under the DC banner.

After this week, we will cease to publish new material under the ZUDA banner. The material that was to have been published as part of ZUDA this year will now be published under the DC banner. The official closing of ZUDA ends one chapter of DC’s digital history, but we will continue to find new ways to innovate with digital, incorporating much of the experience and knowledge that ZUDA brought into DC.

We’ll be further expanding our digital initiative and making a lot more news in this space. As part of that transformation, the WildStorm editorial team will undergo a restructuring and be folded into the overall DC Comics Digital team, based in Burbank, which will be led by Jim Lee and John Rood. With nearly two million free downloads and hundreds of thousands of paid downloads, our digital foray is already reaching a new audience worldwide. We could not be more excited by the successful launch of our Digital Publishing products in June, which exceeded all sales forecasts and will be building on our early success with new applications for DC material on all major formats and hardware, partnering with Warner Bros Digital Distribution. It has extremely been rewarding to hear anecdotal stories of lapsed readers returning to the art form and of brick and mortar stores gaining new customers who sampled digital comics.

We remain, as ever, dedicated to working with the greatest creators this industry has to offer, while inspiring generations of creators and readers to embrace this medium that we all love.

Jim Lee and Dan DiDio
DC Comics Co-Publishers

Via: The Source

Breaking news out of DC Comics today as the company announced plans to move DC Entertainment out to Los Angeles and keep DC Comics stationed in New York, making the company a bi-coastal affair. Here’s the full press release from DC’s The Source Blog:

DC ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES  BI-COASTAL REALIGNMENT STRATEGY

MULTI-MEDIA AND DIGITAL BUSINESSES RELOCATE TO LOS ANGELES WHILE DC COMICS PUBLISHING TO REMAIN IN NEW YORK CITY

(September 21, 2010 – New York) DC Entertainment, as part of its ongoing strategy to integrate the DC Comics business, brand and characters into Warner Bros. Entertainment’s content and distribution operations, will relocate its business functions related to and supporting multi-media and digital content production to Burbank, California. DCE’s publishing operations will remain in New York, continuing DC Comics’ 75-plus year legacy of leadership in the comic book arena. These announcements were made today by Diane Nelson, President, DC Entertainment.

“These organizational changes reinforce the strengths of DC’s greatest legacies – most importantly its people and its creative talent – and offer greater opportunity for maximum growth, success and efficiency in the future,” said Nelson. “Our two offices will stretch and build their respective areas of focus, while prioritizing and aggressively striving to connect and cooperate more strongly than ever before between them and with their colleagues at Warner Bros.”

“This strategic business realignment allows us to fully integrate and expand the DC brand in feature films as well as across multiple distribution platforms of Warner Bros. and Time Warner,” said Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, to whom Nelson reports.  “We are creating a seamless, cohesive unit that will bring even more great characters and content to consumers everywhere.”

The relocation process is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2011, with DCE’s businesses related to the development and production of feature films, television, digital media, video games and consumer products as well as the company’s administrative functions relocating to a Warner Bros.-managed property in Burbank, CA. DC Comics’ publishing operations, which have been the bedrock since the company’s inception with an annual output of over 1,100 comic books, 300 graphic novels and MAD magazine, will remain in New York. The bi-coastal business units will work more closely together to continue elevating the powerful DCE brand.

DC Entertainment was founded in September 2009 to fully realize the power and value of the DC Comics brand and characters across all media and platforms. The senior management team responsible for shepherding DCE through this reorganization is comprised of Nelson, Geoff Johns, Chief Creative Officer; John Rood, Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Business Development; and Jim Lee and Dan DiDio, Co-Publishers of DC Comics.

DC announced today that Grant Morrison’s Eisner Award Winning Series, All-Star Superman, will be the next comic to receive an animated adaptation. Superman will be voiced by James Denton, Lois Lane will be voiced by Christina Hendricks, and Lex Luthor by Anthony LaPaglia. Bruce Timm wills serve as executive producer and Dwayne McDuffie will write the script. The feature is scheduled to be released next spring.

Source and Image Credit: Heatvision

Fox now has a commitment to Joe Hill‘s Locke & Key comic series. It is reported that Josh Friedman, of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles fame, will be responsible for this television adaptation. The series, as described by IDW‘s website,

“tells of Keyhouse, an unlikely New England mansion, with fantastic doors that transform all who dare to walk through them…. and home to a hate-filled and relentless creature that will not rest until it forces open the most terrible door of them all…”

source: NYMag