No Need For New Plates: James Bond's Finest Drive Is Up For Sale

If you're a dabbler in need of new wheels, look no further. James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 from the original Goldfinger movie is now up for sale to the highest bidder.  And it's already been outfitted with everything an abbracadabbling spy guy would need: hidden machine guns that pop out from the side, revolving license plates that actually work, oil slickers and smokescreen makers and even a bullet proof windshield.  The car's original ejector seat comes standard, too; it just doesn't work. Still, when it comes to automotive safety, there's not a car out there that could hold a candle -- or a sub machine gun - to this baby. Of course, this is 007 we're talking about, and the Aston won't come cheap. The estimated final sale price -- over five million. [via]

Aussie Cosplayers Set New World Record In Honor Of DC Comics 75th Anniversary

Avengers assemble! No, wait...how about, Superhero dragsters and comic-con cosplayers unite! And that they did, too -- in the land Down Under (Underoos?)  over the weekend. According to the Australian, 1,245 people dressed as Superman, the Hulk and plenty of other superheroes gathered in Federation Square in Melbourne, Australia, earning their rightful place in Guinness' Book by breaking the  previous UK-held record of 1,091 for the most people wearing superhero costumes in one place.  Of all the costumed attendees,  Superman was the most popular costume, followed closely by Batman, Robin, Spider-Man, and Wonder Woman.  Warner Bros sponsored the event in honor DC Comics' 75th Anniversary this year. For an entire online photo gallery from the event, go [here].  

A Few Words About GARY COLEMAN

Getting DC Comics' Titans: Villains For Hire Special on the comicsblog is proving to be more of a challenge than we thought.  Never fear, dabblers, it's up next.  Before we get to the comics and the controversy, though, we take a time-out to pay our respects to  Gary Coleman, who passed away at the age of 42 on Friday from a brain hemorrhage. [infolink]

Aside from being the guy who almost - almost - tempted us to make a Cash Call, we'll remember Coleman not for his child actor's star or how it fell or even any of the punchlines, but because he, along with 135 other candidates, ran in our home state's wacky recall election to replace our then-governor, Gray Davis.   Many people probably aren't even aware Coleman's political moment, but  when you vote in an election like that, it's a sort of craziness that's tough to forget. 

Long story short, Coleman didn't win -- Arnold Schwarzenegger did.  Looking back, it's pretty clear that he wasn't expecting or wanting to, either.  As he placed eighth in the election, with 12,488  votes (0.2 percent),  that's probably a good thing.  He wasn't unrealistic, and he wasn't trying to get to Sacramento. But he did run with intention. Gary Coleman just needed, once again, to try something different for himself.  In that, at least, there's a lesson for us all.

Michael BAY Of Pigs: Shia LeBEOUF and Megan FOX Vs TRANSFORMERS and The Hollywood INTEGRITY BOMB

No, we're not gunning for Perez Hilton's job. That said, read on... At Cannes last week, Shia LeBeouf manned-up in a surprising way and apologized for not having the acting skills to deliver on his last genre film, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.  He also stated that his wasn't the only flaw with the film,  admitting that while he has a good relationship Steven Spielberg, the movie's director, he felt that Spielberg also dropped the ball with Jones.  

But LeBeouf, 23, didn't stop with Jones; he made similar apologies for Transformers 2 - the Michael Bay-directed sequel of which Spielberg is an Executive Director - and promised a much better film for the franchise's third installment, set to be released 01 July 2011.

Like a great many other fans, we completely agree with LeBeouf's comments  -- as well as his stated reasons for making them: owning up to past mistakes so as to maintain future credibility with the movie-going public. However, we can't shake the notion that LeBeouf may have commented as he did and when he did in an effort to show some kind of solidarity with his former Transformers co-star, Megan Fox.  After months of heated exchanges between herself and Michael Bay, Fox was fired from the sequel by Bay last Thursday.

While few would disagree with LeBeouf's remarks or motives, Fox's verbal fire-fight with Bay has heaped a world of hurt on her. Our initial purpose for today's blog was, in a way, to take a fun comicsblog stab at her, too. But a bit of consideration and further research has made us change our minds.  Why? Simply, there's a lot more to this story than even the most gossip-ridden websites are mentioning. Some it would, we're sure, qualify as scandal; but ,we believe, the rest might border on the blasphemous.

Blasphemous by Hollywood's standards, at least. Since Thursday, both Fox and LeBeouf have drawn sharp criticism for their recent words, and their careers may even be in jeopardy for not 'towing the Hollywood line.' (The Los Angeles Times features an amazing article on this subject which you can read here). Hollywood is a business like any other large corporation, and if you've worked for one as we have, you already know that the penalties are severe - sometimes immeasurably so - for speaking the truth, or even coming close to it.  If you dare to do so, beware the Integrity Bomb that's sure to fall.

Unlike LeBeouf's comments and as an Google search will reveal a million times over, Megan Fox's public ridicule of Michael Bay and of Transformers has, frankly, seemed bitchy, whiny, and immature.  It's also been extreme: in her Wonderland interview, she compared Bay to Adolph Hitler, saying that he's "endearing to watch, but a tyrant on the set". (Odd, don't you think?). Bay's responses have been more level-headed, chalking up Fox's behavior and comments to her age and lack of experience.  We'd expect any corporate executive to have a similar retort, and it seems sound, at that. But when you consider that Bay chose to chastise her in an unrelated interview with The Wall Street Journal, his professional posturing plummets to pieces. And one must really stop and ponder: what is up ??

It's possible that we're being sexist here, but it's hard not to draw the conclusion we have. The intense feuding and the allegations and irrational behaviors that have been non-stop between Bay, an adult  and Fox, whom Bay points out many times over to be, basically, a child (and a very attractive female one at that), has all the ingredients of a spat between jealous ex-lovers. It's the drama we'd expect to find - and have found -as posts on Craigslist's Casual Encounters.  So the elephant on our table remains: Did Bay and Fox do the 'Horizontal Hokey-Pokey'?

There's not much love for Michael Bay on the internet; we've seen gigolos who pose for pictures with less exposed chest hair and wearing more clothes than Bay. He's made no secret that he's the one who made Megan Fox a star (which is true), and we wonder what she may have done to get that chance in the first place. If she did get nasty with Bay, maybe she didn't want to do it anymore? For all her promiscuous photography, and while we're not saying that she's  (much of) an actress, she is a woman in a relationship. 

That doesn't, of course, mean that Bay shouldn't have fired Megan Fox.  Whatever may have really happened, neither Bay nor Fox have come completely clean, and Fox chose to remain 'employed' as Bay's cast member. As such, and although it does take two to tango, her words were out of line and Bay acted within his right. Given that much of the Transformers crew had little use for Fox either, her absence will undoubtedly be better for the next film's overall morale. Bay has already benefited from his actions, too; he's hired  supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley to replace Fox in the next film. 

It's a decision that's right in line with Michael Bay's character (and a mid-life crisis?) but that to us makes NO sense -- unless perhaps you're trying to pour salt in the would of an unhappy ex-lover, likely one who did the rejecting in the first place. Huntington-Whiteley has absolutely zero acting experience in her career, but she's probably been on Bay's mind (if she also hasn't been on some of his other body parts) ever since he completed filming a video for Victoria's Secret last December. Will she, like Fox, become America's next 'Pop Model?'

Both Fox and LeBeouf have said that the 'human factor' was missing from Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. Whether or not that's simply because of a poor script's emphasis on robotic action and SFX, or if it's a symptom of a lack of humanity on set isn't clear, but we'd wager it's the unfortunate result of both.  With Huntington-Whitely on board for the sequel, cast and crew may be in for stiller waters -- but, as Transformers by their very nature teach us, appearances can be very, very deceiving.

EXCLUSIVE: NBC Cancels HEROES -- And JAY LENO Is Seriously To Blame

We can't say we didn't see it coming - and you probably did, too.  So it was no surprise   Friday when NBC announced that their long-struggling Heroes won't be returning for  Season Five. Apparently, the network seriously mulled bringing the show back for a shortened final season, but ultimately Heroes' poor record of keeping its twisty narrative on track  - and the cost of the hour-long comic book-inspired drama - failed to provide a truly compelling reason for NBC to do so. 

NBC cited both reasons when they canceled Heroes last week, although they didn't make any secret of Heroes' constantly-declining ratings also being a factor in their decision. While we won't delve into numbers analysis of the beleaguered series, we're of the opinion that Heroes was strong enough and likely would have returned to its 9pm time slot if not for the biggest prime time disaster in recent memory - The Jay Leno Show. 

It wasn't NBC as much as its nationwide network of affiliates that Leno's abysmal performance hurt, as the show's ratings resulted in 'bleeding' viewers - and advertising dollars - from late local newscasts across the country. The affiliates 'revolted,' prompting the cancellation of the Leno Show and, subsequently, the debacle between NBC and Conan O'Brien. 

Trying to build the muscle necessary to carry viewers into their NBC-affiliated newscasts is the  unfortunate goal of the network's new fall slate, which was announced in its entirety earlier this morning. All together, the early 2010 line-up includes seven new series, with five of those (one each weekday) filling the 9pm lead-in slot.  Another five new series are being primed for mid-season.

In a Leno-free world, or one where he didn't bomb, Heroes likely would have survived -- at least long enough to bring closure and perhaps a bit of clarity to the series, which had regained a good measure of its storytelling legs in Season Four.  Unfortunately, our world is not the Leno-less one we'd like, and in it, neither Heroes nor the comic-booky-named Conan O'Brien had the power to pound the 'Joker' that is Jay Leno.

 Must be the chin...

Our conclusion is mostly us reading between the lines, but it's more than that, too. With their announcement today, NBC also reasserted that they've left the possibility open for Heroes to return next season, not as a series but as a television movie, to wrap up loose threads.  This makes complete sense - probably as a 'Sweeps Week' event - and stands as evidence that Heroes likely lingered on the network's precipice of decision rather than being summarily discounted. While we'd be the first to admit NBC's  horrendously poor judgement obliterating O'Brien from their late-night laugh-in, the final fate of Heroes wasn't similarly decided. 

We should mention that the Clown Prince of the Peacock also put the official toe-tag on Law & Order, ending the series after a full twenty seasons.  That may have caught a few fans of that series off-guard, although ABC's cancellation of Flash Forward most certainly didn't - despite the rather awesome ads they pulled too late from their Tarot deck. 

What's your dabbling determination on Heroes? Did the 'Joker of Late Night' condemn Peter and Claire to oblivion or did they do themselves in?? And are there really any Jay Leno fans out there at all??? We want to hear from you before the new season rolls around, so get us your Back Issues now!

BREAKING! JOSS WHEDON Is Directing AND Writing 'The AVENGERS'

Hollywood's biggest buzz is once again the sound of Marvel.  Joss Whedon,  most-recognized as the creator of the long-running TV series Buffy The Vampire Slayer,  will both direct and write The Avengers,  Marvel Studios' fast-tracked superhero team movie that will unite the rest of their upcoming film slate under one celluloid roof.

Rumors and speculation have been circulating for months about who Marvel might select to helm their Avengers,  a film that is unquestionably the studio's coup-de-grace and the all-important culmination of everything Marvel Entertainment has been working towards since 2008 and the release of Jon Favreau's first Iron Man and Louis Leterrier's remake of The Incredible Hulk.  Whedon was identified by IESB.com as a contender on Marvel's 'short list' of directorial picks just two weeks ago, and the story - which coincidentally broke on 01 April - was regarded as joke by many and its circulation was low as a result.

Understandably, then, Whedon's confirmation as The Avengers director, which hit the net late Tuesday and took the comicsblogosphere by storm Wednesday morning, came as a huge surprise to literally everyone. But the news, while shocking,  has been welcomed across the board by critics and fans alike a Christmas present. For legions of fans that span the spectrum from comics to horror to sci-fi, Whedon's a household name:  other than his flagship creation Buffy, Whedon is also the creator - as well as writer and director of many episodes - of Angel, Firefly, and the recently-canceled cult-favorite, Dollhouse. 

But Whedon, who turns 47 in June, has only directed one feature film, Serenity, the  2005 big screen adaptation of his science fiction series, Firefly.  Serenity grossed just $25.5 million at the box office, and if any question exists about Whedon's credentials as The Avengers best choice, it resides here. 

Marvel, however, seems to be anything but worried. In an unprecedented move, one to which even Thor's Kenneth Branagh and Iron Man 2's Jon Favreau cannot attest, the company announced last night that Whedon control of The Avengers won't be limited to directing the film; he'll be writing it, too. 

More accurately, Whedon will be re-writing The Avengers.  Screenwriter Zak Penn delivered the film's initial script, which itself became an event of no minor importance after Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada announced via Twitter that he'd received it on 03 March.   

To what extent Whedon will be tweaking Pen's screenplay is anyone's guess, but nobody's worried.  Confidence in Whedon, noted to possibly be the world's first third-generation television writer, and his writing talent is unilateral. After graduating with a film degree from Wesleyan, Whedon's first writing gigs were on the writing staffs of Roseanne and Parenthood (1990).  His Buffy The Vampire Slayer episode "Hush" was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2000 for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series, and, though uncredited, Whedon wrote a script for Twister ad the final draft screenplay for Speed.  Most recently, Whedon wrote the screenplay for The Cabin in the Woods, a horror/thriller due early 2011.

Despite his impressive resume, Marvel's decision to go with Whedon likely stems less from his previous accomplishments in either TV or film and more from just one simple fact: Joss Whedon loves comics. He knows comics, he understands superheroes, and he's written his fair share of them Marvel Comics. 

Dabblers following the periodic appearances of abbracadabbling's mysterious Time Traveler will be pleased to see the dude's back on the comicsblog today. We pleaded with him to not interrupt our hot coverage of Joss Whedon's ascendancy to The Avengers director's chair, but after having the same argument twenty-three times in a row, we finally gave in to the disarmingly suave chronal bully.  Of course, we agree that picking up today on the promise he blogged back on 31 March - namely, to tell y'all about Clash of The Titan's director Louis Leterrier future aspirations and bring 'em full circle- really is good timing.   We love good stories, and while assume Leterrier does, too, the tale of his Marvelous tomorrow doesn't have a happy ending.


Since the premiere of his first Marvel movie, The Incredible Hulk,  Leterrier made no secret of his desire to direct The Avengers - and while making the rounds to promote Clash of the Titans, took every opportunity to remind Marvel that he's the guy for the big job.  He also tossed several of his ideas for the film out into the public arena - making Avengers a quadrology, being one - and admitted that, while at the bottom of it,  his name was on Marvel's short list of directorial choices.

Time Traveler saw the writing on the wall, but our dude knows not to say a peep lest the time stream become distorted and our reality cease to exist. That'd be a major bummer for all involved, and in this case, even the Traveler's mad time-hopping talents weren't needed to predict the outcome of Leterrier's self-hyped Avengers quest.   It's possible Leterrier was in the game until recently (he's still contracted to direct one more feature for Marvel), but if he was, he forfeited it two weeks ago with the first showing of Titans.  We can only hope that his future endeavors meet with more success, and that Leterrier reads plenty of comic books before he's behind the camera of his next Marvel movie  -- or, for that matter, a Warner Bros./DC Comics movie.  Leterrier is reportedly in talks to direct a film adaptation of the Award-winning comic book series, Y The Last Man.

Feeding his comic geek might be Leterrier's best bet - if not for tomorrow, then for that glorious day after.  Comic books have clearly been the secret of Joss Whedon's success, and the style and substance of his romance with Marvel Comics. 

One of the best examples of that romance, and Marvel's high regard of Joss Whedon, came in mid-February, when the publisher announced their new Astonishing line of comic books, so named after the incredibly successful series Astonishing X-Men that Joss Whedon and artist John Cassaday launched in 2004.  Though the dynamic duo helmed the Eisner-award winning comic for two years, Astonishing overshadowed and overtook Uncanny X-Men in less than a year to became the flagship title of the X-Men franchise.  Astonishing's  initial storyline was also used as the premise for X-Men: The Last Stand, the third X-Men feature film, in 2006.

After departing his Astonishing X-Men with the series' twenty-fifth issue, Whedon wrote six issues of the comic Runaways before turning his full comics attention to the launch of his next ongoing Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season Eight  series, published by Portland's Dark Horse Comics.  Marvel Comics, however, didn't fully let their "superstar scribe" go; Whedon returned to Marvel to adapt the initial story-arc from his series for The Astonishing X-Men: Gifted, the first of Marvel's motion comics, which debuted on iTunes last October. Here's the preview:

 More info on Marvel's motion comics can be found [here].

The Avengers is scheduled to hit theaters in summer of 2012, the ten-figure payoff that teams Marvel Studios' franchise superheroes in an Ocean's Eleven-sized all-star cast clad in Spandex. Headlining Whedon's eventual super roster are Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson.) Ed Norton, who played The Hulk in Leterrier's 2008  movie, is also a possibility for the film. 

Whedon's absolutely no stranger to ensemble casting - he astonished with his X-Men and did the same weekly for years with the cast of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel.  But making the The Avengers  work - and work well - would be an unbelievable task for any director.  With the stories of three different films culminating in The Avengers, not to mention  the three different yet relatively new superhero celebrities whose respective egos will be vying for screen time,  the newbie Whedon will need to find a way to make a great comic book film while still staying true to the storylines and characters already developed by Favreau and Branagh. 

Placing The Avengers script into Whedon's hands proves Marvel knows what they're doing,  and by playing to his strengths, they've already taken their first, best step to ensure success for the most ambitious and important film the Studio has (or has plans to) produced.

No matter how big a success The Avengers proves to be, that it succeeds is critical- not just   for Marvel, but for the future of superhero cinema. The Avengers marks  a brave, new world for comics coming to the big screen. The film will be a litmus test of the viability of incorporating the demands, strengths, and complexities of comic book continuity into a brand new medium. It won't be an easy fit, but if all goes well, Whedon will  be the author of  Hollywood's next 'gold standard.' And while superheroes may reap the early benefits,  The Avengers might just be the first in a long line of films from any genre to embrace tomorrow's newest model of storytelling.

* * * * *

Check out everything from Joss Whedon on Whedonesque [here]. Avengers movie and related Marvel Comics events can be found [here].  And full episodes of The Astonishing X-Men motion comic are available for download via iTunes, and can be watched free online at Hulu.com [here].

CHRIS EVANS is THE FIRST AVENGER: CAPTAIN AMERICA...NEW of the BLOG

Unlike all -- and we mean all -- of our fellow comics blogs -- not to mention every Hollywood rumor site and film blog that deigns to venture into the realm of superhero cinema -- your favorite comicsblog - namely, abbracadabbling -- has spared its loyal dabblers from the  embarrassing grist and grind that comes with being a part of the Great Rumor Mill. We expressed our outrage over the way these same supposedly authentic web destinations did everything quite in-authentically when covering the Sony Pictures / Spider-Man 4 debacle, and we weren't about to do the same with Captain America.  

Today, we're ready to throw our far-more honest hat into the ring, as by all reports, actor Chris Evans has not only been cast as the starring lead in The First Avenger: Captain America - - but as of today, according to both Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, he's accepted.  Tonight, we explore all The First Avenger -- as NEWS of the BLOG continues!

That Chris Evans has accepted his destiny to play Marvel's oldest superhero property, Captain America, is a decision the actor no doubt did not accept lightly. To be cast as a World War II - era super soldier turned super hero is certainly a part Evans can just a certainly play with physical perfection, but it's a nine-film deal that will see the actor committed to Marvel Studios' movie machine for quite some time. By taking the role, Evans is agreeing to star in a trilogy of Captain America movies, as well as the much-discussed Avengers film and a bevvy of other Marvel films yet to be announced, where he more than likely will find himself portraying Cap in a cameo. That's 9 films, dabblers, and not an easy stunt for any actor to do, or commit to, either. 

That Evans did commit solves two huge problems for Marvel: (a) continuity, or replicating the unity of comic book storytelling on the Silver Screen, which when dealing with Hollywood star power and ego isn't as easy as doing with characters of pencil, ink, and color on a comic book page and (b) the cost associated with making the hope of continuity a reality. With their goal of making the ensemble Avengers movie actually happen, snagging and keeping  (by which we mean, affording) the stars they wanted becomes a tricky situation; Samuel L. Jackson, for whom the reoccurring role of S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury was basically modeled on, has apparently bowed out of a similar 9-film contract because Marvel couldn't meet his high price tag.  Glitches like that have made some critics of this comics-to-film model already criticize the process of being potentially unachievable, where actors - and audiences - may view films like Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor as merely lead-ins for something bigger and better yet where they won't be the singular star.

Much to his credit, Evans has apparently, on the one hand, over-looked that aspect; the deal he's struck with Marvel offers him below $1 million (per film, we're supposing.)  That's pocket change for someone like Jackson, but we think his decision places Evans into a far-different caliber of actor: a super one.  Moreover, casting Evans in the first place is another affirmation of how the Studio is taking yet another step away from two practices that have been the hallmark of superhero cinema casting: (1) finding big-name, top-dollar stars to fill don the capes and tights (see any of the first four Batman movies or even Marvel's three Spider-Man films) and (2) finding an unknown yet very hunky actor, putting them into the tights, and seeing if they can fly...or, um, act (like Brandon Routh in Superman Returns).  As we all know, even if we may not want to admit it, neither approach worked that well.

The Evans' choice follows the formula of Warner Bros. and Marvel's more recent approach, finding a lesser-known yet proven actor and seeing how they fare as a super hero.  This move took Marvel to great places when they cast Robert Downey, Jr, as their Iron Man, and earned Warner Bros and DC Comics a billion dollars when they did likewise by asking Christian Bale to become Batman.  Evans, however, may be a safer bet than Downey or Bale. Though Marvel's success taking this third and alternative route for casting didn't pay the dividends they'd hoped for either of their Fantastic Four films, those two films did place the words 'Marvel' and 'superhero' onto his more modest by comparison resume. 

A review of the other actors whose names have been filling the columns of news sites and comics blogs for weeks -- each the falsely-prophesied heir to the shield of Captain America  since casting for the part began in late January - helps to clarify Evans' appropriateness for his new part.

On the star-power side, actors who likely had payday demands exceeding their value to the film, were studs like Ryan Phillipe -- who confirmed just last week at Austin's SXSW that he was up for the part yet also responded to questions about such with the same vague 'see the web' references that John Malkovich did last December when denying Spider-Man rumors -- and Phillipe's Stop-Loss co-star, GI JOE franchise leading man and fellow stud, Channing Tatum.  Marvel sought Tatum out themselves, and while the actor is not going to be their Cap, the possibility is there, we believe, for Tatum to find his chiseled chin in some kind of costume beyond the fatigues he'll be wearing as 'Duke' in the GI JOE sequel.

Although their names mean little now that the hoopla and speculation have come to an end, we don't want to be remiss in getting to the other side of the equation we tossed your way earlier -- the 'unknown yet very hunky actor' side of superhero casting.  John Krasinski, star of The Office, did four readings and two screen tests for the part; Mike Vogel (Cloverfield), Wilson Bethel (The Young and The Restless), Garrett Hedlund, and John Krasinski, an early favorite to play Cap, were also among the candidates for First Avenger.

Of course, none of them will have that chance.  Chris Evans quickly moved to the front of the audition line, and as of today, has safely assured his part in the history of superhero cinema. Not that he hadn't already done so.  Even before coming to Captain America, Evans has tucked plenty of 'comic books on the Big Screen' experience beneath his belt, whether he's wearing a shirt or not. Aside from his twice-playing on-screen hot-head and hottie Johnny Storm, the Fantastic Four's Human Torch, Evans also starred in the superhero-like Push and did voice-over for the 2007 remake of TMNT.

And those films speak only of his past; Evans' will be seen on screens twice this year as two more comic book adaptation movies make their way into theaters. abbracadabbling will have a full-on report of the first of those films, Warner Bros' The Losers, on the blog this week.  In The Losers, a DC Comics / Vertigo Comics story of ex-CIA operatives out to clear their names by wreaking havoc on the insiders who sullied them, Evans plays Jensen, one of the titular gang, and will be joined by other fan favorite actors including Star Trek and Avatar's Zoe Saldana and Watchmen's Jeffrey Dean Morgan.   Interestingly, Evans now is billed second, following Saldana, for The Losers on the Internet Movie Database. Prior to today's Captain America announcement, Evans found himself billed (if memory serves us correctly) as fifth -- maybe sixth.

On the slightly-distant heels of The Losers which opens nationwide on 23 April, Evans next comics movie is Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, a Hollywood remake of more alternative comic book fare, but one with a significant fan-following nonetheless.  As Lucas Lee in Pilgrim, Evans will be playing against the main character as one of his new girlfriend's seven evil ex-boyfriends.  More to come on Pilgrim, too, but as the movie won't be here until 13 August 2010, we figure we've got some time.

And by the time we get around to our reviews and reports of all-things Pilgrim (or maybe not, who's to say, really?) and especially by the day it debuts on the big screen, Chris Evans will be hard at work on Captain America.  With filming set to begin shortly, questions like who's the bad guy? and what's the film going to be about? are burning questions in many dabblers minds, even with all the good news we've brought you tonight. 

So Dabblers, take heart; you'll be stoked to know that we've got all those answers -- and so much more Captain America info -- to bring your way.  But you'll have to  stick around the comicsblog all this week to find out.  As for this evening, we've just got one thing left to say: Congratulations, Christopher Evans. You're going to make one hell of a Captain America.  

The First Avenger: Captain America is set to debut on 22 July 2011.

Breaking News: Sin City's BRITTANY MURPHY (1977-2009)

Comics fans are among the great many people today mourning the death of actress Brittany Murphy, who suffered full cardiac arrest in her home last night and was declared dead at 10:04am PST upon her arrival to Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center early this morning, Sunday. She had just turned 32 year old on November 10th.

Aside from her role as 'Shellie' in Sin City, most of us, including myself, were probably first introduced to her in Clueless. But Murphy's list of credits, which included acting, writing, and production, are extensive. A few of her other notable works include four films still in post-production and scheduled for 2010 release, as well as 8 Mile, Spun, and the cult-fave, Freeway. She also appeared in television sci-fi series, SeaQuest DSV and one of my old personal favorites, Parker Lewis Can't Lose.

Murphy was an actress well-known by my generation, X, but clearly had fans and admirers both young and old. And the news of her death has been received my most of her fans not as just a shock, but a disturbing shock. While celebrities like her ex-boyfriend Ashton Kutcher, Lindsay Lohan, and former Buffy The Vampire Slayer and current Dollhouse star Eliza Dushku have been tweeting their condolences and memories of Brittany Murphy throughout the day, The San Francisco Examiner reported not two hours ago that the Los Angeles has launched a full-scale investigation into the cause of her death.

Immediately -- and I'm sure I'm not alone in this -- thoughts of Heath Ledger as well as Michael Jackson's investigation spring to mind, and I'm just as sure they've crossed the minds of LAPD's medical examiners, too. It's an odd fact that Murphy's husband, screenwriter Simon Monjack, has stated he doesn't want an autopsy performed, but the LAPD Coroner's Office is moving ahead despite his wishes. Apparently, the latest news is her autopsy will happen by Tuesday.

Rumors of alleged drug use have been circulating all day, and they're likely at least part of the motivation behind the LAPD's moves this afternoon. I recall Murphy was thought to have an eating disorder several years ago. That bit of gossip came to a head in 2005, when she accused of cocaine abuse. Regarding that, Radar Online quoted Murphy as saying: "I have never tried it in my entire life. I've never even seen it...I am also way too high-strung. I can't even take a Sudafed. Can you imagine? My God. I think my heart would explode."

It's disturbing to think that might be exactly what happened. But news and answers of any kind will be coming fast and furious all night, it seems. Right now, for example, the newsfeeds are gushing all kinds of updates, from foul play not being suspected and Murphy's death being attributed to natural causes, to revelations that she had a history of Type I diabetes, to her heart attack being the result of a diabetic condition made severe by the use of drugs.

Meanwhile, Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, the working title of the 2005 Sin City sequel, has been moving steadily but slowly toward production. MTV reported last March that creator Frank Miller and director Robert Rodriguez had already completed the film's script, and that the cast was all set to reprise their comic book characters. Brittany Murphy's 'Shellie' didn't survive the first Sin City, but it seemed likely that she, along with co-stars Jessica Alba and Michael Clark Duncan, would return nevertheless for the sequel.

By the time the next Sin City arrives - if it does - the speculation surrounding Brittany Murphy's death will be over, no matter the cause. Instead, only fond remembrances will remain. In the words of Sin City's John Hartigan, "Sometimes the truth doesn't matter like it ought. But you'll always remember things right."