Entertainment

Do we have a new holiday classic on our hands? Just about. Tom Neely and some friends have made this 6-minute cartoon based on his Henry and Glenn characters -- any resemblance to rockers living or dead strictly coincidental, even when characters named John and Daryl show up. This will seriously make your spirits bright and metal at the same time.

Well, we were wondering how Spider-Man musical previews were going. Former Marvel editor and DC editor, now writer, Steve Bunche went a few days ago and turns in the most detailed review yet, expressed as only he can. Be forewarned the review includes ALL the major plot points, so spoilers ahoy. However, he and his date were unimpressed but may perhaps be able to tell their grandchildren that they saw something beyond imagining all right. Some excerpts:

The never-ending story of the Spider-Man musical continues: • Director Julie Taymor is out and about promoting her film THE TEMPEST, and also answering questions about the musical. As many have pointed out...it's still a work in progress. Maybe that book -- the script -- does need a bit of work:

Over at tropical toxic, the blog of artist twins Asaf and Tomer Hanuka, they share some concept art for an animated version of HARD APPLE, a crime series based on the work of Jerome Charyn.

While comics and graphic novels being optioned for film are practically a daily occurrence around here, there's one movie that we would REALLY like to see get made, and that the planned BRAT PACK film from Ars Nova (BLACK DYNAMITE). A stunningly dark look at the superhero universe, it's one of the most disturbing — and pointed — takes on the genre ever. Now, we hear from the grapevine that the adaptation has a director -- Tarik Saleh is on board to direct a live action version that is faithful to the tone of the source. Saleh, whose background is as a graffiti artist, is known for Metropia, an innovative animated Swedish film with a script by Saleh, Fredrik Edin and the late Stig Larsson.

Last night the mini first season of AMC’s smash insta-hit, The Walking Dead went out with a great big zombie plague origin story bang. Among the casualties were a couple of non-comic book canon characters who won’t be missed and lots of precious plot cohesion, plausibility or originality. I love the sheer, unadulterated page turn-ability of the Walking Dead comics and the first two episodes of the television show were incredibly good with the promise of even more great things to come. So it is with great regret that one of the only nice things I have to say about how the first chapter of the TV adaptation wrapped up is that new survivor Daryl and his crossbow will be around next season.

The Walking Dead wrapped up its brief 6-episode "first season" last night, and while we haven't seen the ratings yet, it's safe to say that AMC can't get the second season on fast enough. Meanwhile, the creative team has been out in force. Producer Gale Ann Hurd went to EW to pooh-pooh talk of writer firings, saying that folks were just moving on to other projects. The surviving cast has been resigned for season two. Even Hurd is surprised by how well the show has done.

With Smallville wrapping up, the WB is firing up the oven to cook up another DC-themed TV show. Now in development, rather surprisingly, Raven, the demon-spawned empath created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez for the Teen Titans. Diego Gutierrez (V) is developing the concept for the CW. Raven previously appeared on TV as a Goth-type character on the Teen Titans cartoon.

Every year the producers of the best cartoon of the 21st century, The Venture Brothers, unleash a new Christmas single -- here's a handy link to all of them to date Including Venture-Aid 2006 and The Monarch singing The Christmas Song. There are rumors of a new song for 2010, but until then, enjoy the mellow sounds of Venture-mas past.

While an earlier Deadline report set tongues twittering, you've got to like how Robert Kirkman has deflected some of the freak-outs over changes at The Walking Dead's writing staff by frankly addressing them. In an interview with TV Guide he explains that things aren't how they look. "It's kind of unfortunate that it's being reported that our writing staff has been fired because that's not the case." Writer Chic Eglee left of his own volition, Kirkman explains:

The cycle of "the new things is awesome!" to "we are so over it!" has accelerated to mere minutes. Case in point: The Walking Dead. Only last week it was on the cover of EW with a triumphant story:

Scroobius Pip is one half of UK indie hip hop duo dan le sac vs Scroobius Pip. Their songs tackle issues including suicide, domestic...