Publishers

Guess who's got a comics app? Disney has been rolling out a whole line of kids digital books with its DigiBooks for a while, and a few selected comics on iPhone, but now they have their own app selling comics from the range of their 80 years history -- from Donald Duck to High School Musical. According to the pr, Disney comics have over 1 billion readers worldwide.

While there are some things we can complain about with the system Marvel Studios has in place for its movie assembly line, there are some thing they do really well. Like release trailers that continually build excitement. And the new one for CAPTAIN AMERICA -- while telling the whole story of the movie -- also includes some awesome action shots that have everyone on the net raving.

Continuing their moves into the e-world, SLG will be doing digital demos at their Comic-Con booth. Nothing too revolutionary in the means, but another example of how everything is going:

The rejected Wonder Woman pilot, starring Adrianne Palicki as Wonder Woman, is making the rounds on the mysterious black market of such things in Hollywood. But until the omerta it is being supplied with is lifted, we'll have to do with these dribs and drabs. Thoughts: Palicki loooks fine. The costume looks okay. Maybe this could have worked?

Did Rich Johnston get burned on one of the most outrageous stories of the month? Or is DC really afraid of Superman saving kittens?

For people who liked the historical setting for X-MEN FIRST CLASS, Marvel is rolling out some similar treats in comics form. When it comes to retro comics that capture the feeling of past decades, Howard Chaykin is one of your go-to guys, and he's been tapped to write and draw AVENGERS 1959 which will feature Sabretooth, Kraven the Hunter and Namora. The book spins out of Avengers continuity and features a historical superteam trotting the globe for adventures.

Today's slam dunk interview is Alex Dueben's chat with Fantagraphics' publisher Gary Groth, probably just because on the internet a frank discussion with a knowledgeable comics publishing figure is about as common as a humble moment from LeBron. Throw in that he has stellar vocabulary skills, and you have a winner.

A growing body of comics observers have jumped on the bandwagon for Naoki Urasawa as the best genre cartoonist currently working with his layered, dynamic storytelling. But not everyone has gotten the religion! His 21st CENTURY BOYS is currently coming out from Viz, but with 15 volumes in print it could be a bit daunting to jump into. For those who prefer a video introduction, MONSTER, based on the manga of the same name, just began streaming from Netflix. The 74-episode series deals with Dr. Kenzo Tenma and his efforts to stop an insane killer whose life he saved as a boy.

In all the uproar over DC's relaunch, what was once a somewhat robust program for original graphic novels seems to have been lost: no talk of any more Earth One books, and Vertigo's OGN line is limping along in purgatory. Thus an Amazon listing for WONDER WOMAN: HAND OF THE GODS by Margaret Weis, Lizz Baldwin, Justiniano and Walden Wong is of some interest.

Well, you didn't have to have a degree in forensics to figure out that a storyline called "The Death Of Spider-Man" might involve....the death of Spider-Man. Hoping to jump on the same rampaging death-wagon that led to huge sales for the deaths of Johnny Storm and Captain America, Marvel allowed MASSSSSSSIIIIVVVVVVE spoilers in THREE mainstream media stories that broke this morning for TOMORROW's issue of ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #160: The Associated Press, USA Today, and the the NY Post which had a story title so incendiary we're putting it in spoiler text!

Via PR, confirmation that Image is adapting a ratings system based on DC's ratings, which are similar to manga and video game ratings system implemented over the years. With the death of the Comics Code, publishers are now voluntarily submitting to labeling systems, perhaps reflecting the widening audience for comics in bookstores and chain stores. The brief PR makes no mention of who will implement these ratings: the creators or someone on the Image staff. WE've fired off an email to Image and will report any responses.

David Goyer, co-creator of Flash Forward and the regular story collaborator with Chris Nolan on DARK KNGHT and THE DARK KNIGHT RISES is looking to produce 100 BULLETS as a TV series for Showtime.