DID YOU STAY UNTIL AFTER THE CREDITS?

Did you see it? What did you think? Leave a comment.

Also, bring in an Iron Man ticket stub between now and closing on Friday, May 9th and get an additional 10% off any trade with Iron Man in the title.

Paramount's summer-launching Robert Downey Jr. starrer "Iron Man" rocketed to the top of the domestic boxoffice with an estimated $100.8 million in first-weekend grosses and a $104.3 million cumulatively since bowing Thursday night.

The outsized performance by the Marvel Studios-produced film represented the second-biggest opening ever by a non-sequel, after the $114.8 million bow by "Spider-Man" in May 2002. An estimated $96.8 million from 57 foreign territories further underscored the sense that an important new movie franchise had been born.

BWAH HA HA

There's nothing we love, here at Dreamland, more than comics-related humor...and quality barbecue.

So take a look at this, and if you so much as snicker, you really should come on in (or if you're a club member, email us at clubchanges at dreamland-comics dot com) and pre-order Mini Marvels. It's an inexpensive digest-sized fat little compendium of Mini Marvel's strips culled from all over the place. Print and online.

Why? Because if you don't, Marvel will never publish them again. Seriously. They're not big sellers, but they're a laff-a-lympics of geektastic fun.

MY CITY SCREAMS...AND SO WILL YOU...

...in a good way.

• MTV
• Music Videos
• MTV Shows
• Entertainment News

10% off on all in stock Spirit Archives until closing on 4/25. Mention this post to receive discount.

DREAMLAND SPECIAL FEATURE: MONSTER ZOO

Douglas TenNapel began his career as an animator and illustrator, but when he created Earthworm Jim, the mid-90s video game character that spawned a small multimedia empire, TenNapel began to draw acclaim and name recognition. Over a decade later, TenNapel has settled into the role of a solidly consistent graphic novelist whose work routinely draws the attention of Hollywood filmmakers. TenNapel discusses his most recent graphic novel, “Monster Zoo,” which comes out from Image Comics on May 7th.

“It’s about three kids who are trapped in a zoo where the animals are turning into monsters,” TenNapel said of the graphic novel’s plot. Specifically, “Monster Zoo” tells the tale of a failing Los Angeles zoo that seizes upon a promotional opportunity in an effort to boost attendance. That opportunity comes in the form of the mysterious Ungabe idol. Within the idol lurks a cursed animal spirit that, once unleashed in the zoo’s confines, promises to bring about a veritable “animal apocalypse.”

Said TenNapel. “The main character is a skinny high school kid named Ty. He wants to be a hero like his father who was a soldier recently killed in Afghanistan.” It’s Ty and his friends that are trapped in the zoo and become the last defense against the Ungabe-created monsters that the zoo’s denizens are becoming.


While the premise of Monster Zoo promises exciting action, there’s more to the story. TenNapel talked about the inspiration for the gawky Ty. “I love animals so I made the hero an animal lover who gets the opportunity to be a hero on his own terms. I think a lot about today’s youth and wonder if my generation has something to worry about regarding the ability to fight. This story goes into some of that.”

TenNapel expects that fans of his previous work will likely find more of what they enjoyed in “Monster Zoo,” Asked how the book differs, the creator responded, “I don’t think it really does. It fits well on the shelf with my other books. The thing that sticks out the most in my mind is that I think this story has more poop and fart jokes than all of my previous books combined...and that’s a LOT of poop and fart jokes.”

The consistency of quality found in TenNapel’s work can likely be traced to the consistency exhibited in how he approaches each project. “I approach my projects the same way,” he said, “starting on note-cards and sketches. I tighten them into a formal comic script then execute the illustration of the comic. I do a lot of reference photography in pre-production so I don’t have to stop while drawing a page to find out what a zoo tram looks like. I have a stack of reference sitting on my art desk that I generated from the script.”

“Boys 8-12 years old,” TenNapel answered when asked about his target audience for “Monster Zoo.”. “In other words, your average 40 year old comic book fan.”

“Just kidding,” he added. “I actually made this book for everyone. Other than the haters, I don’t see why readers wouldn’t find something to like about this book. It’s probably my most accessible to date. I’m always trying to open up my audience instead of exclude readers. I think comics in general has a problem with leaving too much of the audience behind only to turn around and complain about low book sales.”

It’s “Monster Zoo’s” accessibility that likely led to its speedy acquisition by Hollywood. “I can only tell you that it was optioned by Sam Raimi and Paramount, “TenNapel said of the recent development. “I’m involved as an executive producer and a writer if they need me.”

After working in animation, television, and involvement in his graphic novels’ adaptation into film, the writer and artist has not veered from releasing a steady stream of original graphic novels to the marketplace. Said TenNapel, “Graphic novels are my favorite medium of all the ones I work in. It’s simply the greatest medium available to the writer/artist. I guess I’d rather do movies but come on, if I waited to do a movie before I told these stories I don’t think any of them would have reached the public by now. I’m here to tell stories no matter what. Graphic novels enable me to tell those stories so I have a special place in my heart for this valuable medium.”

Does TenNapel have plans to revisit any of his past graphic novel properties? “No plans,” he said.

“I dream of doing more ‘Earthboy Jacobus,” TenNapel said of the tale of a boy from a parallel universe who comes to Earth in the mouth of a flying whale and learns to battle insect monsters from his own dimension.”

I’m torn,” he continued, “because I could expand that world or go create a new one and it’s always funner for me to make something new than expand something old. But ‘Earthboy Jacobus’ has an epic prequel and sequel and I hope I get to it before I die some day. But in the end I’m not especially fond of going back into conquered territory.”

Given TenNapel’s steady stream of work, it should come as no surprise that the stream will remain unbroken. “I’m writing my next graphic novel that will probably come out in 2009 and I just got a new pilot picked up at Cartoon Network. “

THIS TIME, IF HE SAYS "I WANT YOU TO HIT ME AS HARD AS YOU CAN," DON'T DO IT.

New Hulk trailer. Already looks MUUUUUCH better than the Ang Lee one.

SHINY!

Yeah, it's been a while since we had an interview 'round these parts.

We now return to form in high future/western style with the writer of the Serenity mini-series, Brett Matthews.

Dig it here.

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

Due to circumstances beyond the control of the Macro Monkeyhead, the listing of last week's comics will be discontinued.

Sorry, cowboy.

THIS IS BY NO MEANS AN ENDORSEMENT

Dreamland does not undertake to support political candidates at any level.

We learned our lesson when we supported Luthor in his 2000 bid for the White House.

We share this only in the interest of it being a clever application of Neil Gaiman's dialogue between Choronzon and Dream in Sandman #4 (available in the Preludes and Nocturnes TPB).



If somebody want to do something like apply an exchange between Doom and Reed Richards to a banner featuring McCain and Huckabee, we'll run that too.

Equal time and what-not.

...OR SHOULD I JUST CALL YOU BATMAN?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WARREN ELLIS...PRESENT FOR DREAMLANDERS

Warren Ellis. Cranky old dude? Not until Saturday, when he goes over the hill and hits 40.

To celebrate the birth of the guy who gaves us such awesomeness as NextWave, Fell, and that thing that uh...oh, yeah...PLANETARY...hailed as the favorite comic of Dreamland ev-ar...as we were saying, to celebrate...anything written by Warren Ellis is ten percent off (that's an additional 10 for club members) on Saturday, February 16, 2008.

Tell the counter-monkey you saw it here to get the discount.

WANTED!

So yesterday was that annual event where they show cool commercials and movie trailers with bits of football crammed in-between. Here, directly from that event, is the teaser trailer for Wanted, based on the Top Cow mini-series by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones.

What say you?

WILD WEST AND WOLVES

Peoples can get a little skitchy about trying indy comics. We know. You don't know the names or what you're getting into. It can be a risk. So here, for you, is a substantial preview of Strangeways: Murder Moon from Highway 62 Press. Click on the pic to download.

Strangeways: Murder Moon by Matthew Maxwell, Luis Guaragna, and Gervasio/Jok
It’s 1868, and former army officer Seth Collins seeks to escape the horrors of the Civil War by traveling the frontier. Answering an urgent letter from his estranged sister, Collins finds himself under attack by a strange creature that is neither man nor wolf. When his friend and partner Webster is accused of being the beast, Collins must track down the real threat. But which will kill him first: the Wolf, or the secret that the sheriff of Silver Hand is trying to keep buried?

Strangeways: Murder Moon is written by Matthew Maxwell (Highway 62, EATERS) and is illustrated by Luis Guaragña. Cover and chapter illustrations by Steve Lieber (CIVIL WAR, WHITEOUT). Interior gallery pages by Guy Davis (BPRD, THE MARQUIS, SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE), Fábio Moon (CASANOVA, SMOKE AND GUNS) and Gabriel Bá (CASANOVA, THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY.)

IRON MAN: THE TV SHOW

Not really, but it looks cool and it's got Black Widow and Ms. Marvel.

So, yeah...and extra ten percent off on all trades with "Iron Man" in the title until closing on 1.19.08.

NOTABLE NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

SPIDER-MAN: "Find a nice girl and finally settle down and get married. That'd be a nice change."

HULK: "Me tied of green. Me make change for new year."

BATMAN: "Listen to more musical soundtracks. Maybe some Sondheim."

HELLBOY: "Less swearing. Might hafta go downtown and legally change my name to Heckboy."

SINESTRO: "Yes. Name changing. That's a good idea. I think the name has been a problem. Maybe I'd get less people on my case if I change my name to Coolio. What? That's taken?"

BOB THE MONITOR: "Less TV"

BIZARRO SUPERMAN: "Me am spend more, me am eat more and me am try to be horribler person."

BIZARRO DAN DIDIO: "I'll try not to bury the fans in ridiculously huge crossovers that take months and months and have rushed art and writing that only serves to set up more crossovers."

DREAMLAND COMICS: "We're going to get out of the dishwasher manufacturing business and concentrate on something new. We're thinking comics and games might be the way to go in the new economy."

EVERYTHING WILL COST LESS IN 2008!!!

...for a day.

Dig it! 20% off everything (unless otherwise marked or already discounted) on New Year's Day from 11AM to 4PM!

Hurry on in and spend some of that pre '08 money before it expires.

DAY LATE, DOLLAR SHORT

Though it's never too late for the Venture Bros.

Here's the 2007 X-mas song. Just rewrap your presents and pretend it's still Tuesday.

YOU'RE JUST A FREAK...LIKE ME

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

SOLVING YOUR GIFT-GETTING PROBLEMS

Chances are your relatives don't get this comic book thing you do. Or maybe it's the Warhammering. They don't know what to get you for those things, so you're getting something from the softer side of Sears. Maybe a nice pair of slacks.

Stop!

Hint to them that Dreamland Comics happily serves up gift certificates, in literally any amount asked for. Want to commemorate the year, get one for $20.07. We'll do that.

How you drop the hint is your problem. But we'll be here to hook them (and you) up.

WE WATCH THE WATCHMEN

Have you seen the Watchmen set pics?

Hi, Rorschach.

Nice, huh? So nice we'll put the Watchmen trade on sale until 6PM Saturday (that's the 8th of December). It;s an extra 10% off. Mention this web special to the counter monkey when you check out.

If you haven't read Watchmen, uying it now is the only way to retain your geek cred.

Buy it for X-Mas for your friends. they will soon join you for your trips to Dreamland. We're sure of it.

MY KINGDOM COME, CHARLIE'S WILL BE DONE

OK, we originally meant to do this a couple of weeks ago, but the internet was broken. Trust us. Broken.

Charlie wants you to know that if you in any way shape or form liked Kingdom Come by Alex Ross and Mark Waid, there is no reason why you shouldn't be reading Justice Society of America.

There's sort of a KC sequel going on there, and unlike the last time such a thing was attempted (The Kingdom), this one's actually good.

If you haven't yet read Kingdom Come, then you need to turn in your geek card, cuz' you got no cred.

We can fix that for you.

All this week, the Kingdom Come trade and all JSA trades are an extra ten percent off.

Let the counter monkey know you saw it on the website when you check out. Offer expires on Dec 1 at closing time.