The Comics Wizard

So I popped into town today and nabbed the newest issue of Wizard. I get it every month, or at least every month my local comic store gets it in. Usually I leaf through the pages, stopping occasionally to stare at the pretty pictures. All in all, I "read" the magazine in a half hour or so.

But this issue has tonnes of interesting tid-bits!! It's just full of useful information. Pity none of it counts towards my college degree.

I've been excited about the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie since they put up the first teaser trailer. Actually, I've been interested in it since long before that. Since the first rumours of a John Woo, CG movie were circulating. That's a while ago. Anyway, Wizard revealed some of the cast I had never thought to look up! Sarah Michelle Gellar as April O'Neill, which helps explain why she's a kick ass ninja herself now! Fantastic Fours Chris Evans (not the ginger one!) has been perfectly matched to the voice of Casey Jones. Nice. And Patrick "Professor Charles Jean-Luc Xavier Picard" Stewart will lend his distinctive voice talents to the main villain of the piece, Max Winters. I had already heard that Mako, voice of Uncle Iroh in Avatar: The Last Airbender as well as tonnes of other roles, had recorded his dialog for the Turtles sensei, Splinter. He passed away just days after they made the announcement of his involvement.

This next bit of news is for my good friend, Sharon. I would say that she'll be shocked to read this, but I texted her about it as soon as I found out, so reading it here will be nothing new. New York Times best-selling author Jodi Picoult is taking the helm of the Wonder Woman comic. Yeah, ok. I've never read anything by her, but Sharon swears by her, so she must be good. I trust her choice of authors, because she's the one who told me to read "Five People You Meet in Heaven" by Mitch Albom, and that's awesome.

Ian McShane, of Deadwood and Lovejoy fame will be voicing Captain Hook in the third outing for the Shrek series. That's far more exciting than Justin Timberlake as Prince Artie.

Sounds like Marvel is taking things to a new level in the aftermath of Civil War. Wizard lists 50 ways that these events have forever changed the face of Marvel comics. And these aren't insignificant trivialities to take up a few pages. All 50 are important changes, and if Marvel live up to the potential, it could change the way their universe is written. That's a big "if" though.

There is lots more cool stuff in the magazine. It makes an interesting change from just "all the pretty pictures".