Ghost Pre-Con: Future Mega-line-Mongler

They say a picture speaks a thousand words and with San Diego Comic Con just around the corner (Wednesday for us press/pros, Thursday officially), this Rev ain’t got much time for a talkin’. So here are some of the week’s “news” that might mean a little somethin’ somethin’…

[Yeah, we’re reaching here. But so are the rest of you. Really.]

Bob Backlund returns! While not quite the headline of either of Sycho Sid’s “Powerbombing” or DDP’s “Diamond-Cutting” return performances on Heath Slater the past couple of weeks, the legendary mat wrestler still found enough chicken in that wing to tap out the “One Man Band” last night on RAW. I mean, who could forget this man’s politically-mental lapse during the WWE’s famed Attitude Era?  Or even more importantly, THIS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGoQWNElahg

 

So the big news out of Marvel today is more about their NOW program. Basically, nine of Marvel’s finest titles are shutting down in favor of the new titles that were announced on Monday, such as the Uncanny Avengers (a cross between Uncanny X-Force and Secret Avengers — maybe we’ll now get the Secret X-Force. Oh, wait..), All-New X-Men (all new.. yet, it’s the original 5) and Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers (World building! World building!). But we know damn well that Invincible Iron Man, Fantastic Four, The Mighty Thor, Uncanny X-Men and Captain America will all return once again with even more #1 issues.

Right. To think the company made fun of their Distinguished Competition for their refresh…

 

Oh yes. That’s the Clown Prince of DC Comics Crime himself on the cover of Batman #13, and the newest typewriter mits of the Dark Knight finally gets his shot at tackling him. I know Scott Snyder’s done about 11 or 12 interviews about this particular return of Joker ala “Death of the Family,” but one thing had always remained clear from the get-go: this is going to be horrifyingly tasteful. If my man can make an ancient owl invasion interesting, then what can his brilliance do with the agent of pranking terror?

I was actually one of those here-and-there pundits for Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel’s take on the last relevant Joker stuff, that be Batman R.I.P. ‘Cause, widely accepted or not, their take was the closest to the insanely sick and legendary rendition of Heath Ledger (other than Brian Azzarello’s Joker graphic novel, of course). Seeing how Snyder and his wonderful artist, Greg Capullo, have the opportunity to make their own Joker — using the very best of all the comic, graphic novel, animated, video game, and Hollywood street peddler takes on Mistah J with Snyder’s own horrific twist — this arc has a chance to be legendary.

As if the creative team’s ratings weren’t high enough.

And….. just a few more notes before we start packing our bags for San Diego:

• X-Men: First Class and Prometheus star Michael Fassbender will star in and also produce an Assassin’s Creed movie. Despite this announcement, it probably won’t be any good. Why? Ubisoft is great at making games (that’s what you get for not inviting me to the party, Saturday, peoples).

 

• There’ll be a free Aliens: Colonial Marines comic handed out at Comic Con if you visit the Dark Horse booth. It’s only 10 pages, so you can probably read it while you’re in line to play the awesomely difficult multiplayer at Sega. Actually you could read about 2 omnibus waiting in that line. It’ll be worth it, though.

 

• Our thanks to a couple of creative stalwarts, Emma Fyffe (Confessions: My Icey-Hot Song O’ Thrones) and Joe Ross (Are you there God? It’s me, Marvel), for a dosage of bad-ass pieces this week. I only wish that both were joining the Rev at Comic Con; though, it’s only apparent the Holy Word of GHG will spread thick enough to get the entire clergy down there next year. In the meantime, I can only pray for afterparties that don’t involve “soft” drinks and pretentious PC gamers …