A New Animated Project to Chew On

Tony Chu in Chew #1 (Image Comics)

In 2009, a truly different comic book entered the scene, published by Image Comics. Written by John Layman with art by Rob Guillory, Chew tells the tale of Tony Chu- a cibopath- a person with the ability to see the past-depending on what he ate. Tony works for the American Food and Drug Administration in their ongoing war to rid the world of poultry meat. More FBI than FDA, Chew is a zany comedy with surprising links to the human condition. The series won two Eisner Awards (Best New Series; Best Continuing Series) and two Harvey Awards (Best New Series; Best New Talent) and multiple collected editions have appeared on the New York Times Bestsellers List.

The series had a deal in 2011 to film a live-action pilot for Showtime but the series did not get picked up. Now, through Heavy Metal Entertainment, the ongoing comic series will have an animated adaption. Representing Heavy Metal is David Boxenbaum and Jeff Krelitz(Torchwood: Web of Lies; Peter Panzerfaust). Rob Guillory and John Layman are executive producers, with Layman the project’s scriptwriter. BBC exec Dan Tischler is also attached to the product. The animated project(not yet clarified as a movie or series) is projected for digital broadcast(perhaps through Netflix, Amazon, or Hulu) and DVD/Bluray release.

The Walking Dead’s Steven Yuen (Glen) will voice Tony Chu and Felicia Day, creator of The Guild webisodes, his love interest: Amelia Mintz. Amelia is a Saboscrivner with the ability to convey tastes (good or bad) in her articles about cuisine. Other characters in the comic include Tony’s astronaut twin sister (who can see the future when she eats food (Cibovoyant)), his crooked chef brother, angsty teenage daughter, and chicken craving FDA partner. These characters should all follow the same adequate casting. The comic series is illustrated in a cartoony and the food powers are so creative and crazy that Chew is made for animation.

Amelia Mintz in Chew # 39 (Image Comics)

Check out collected editions of Chew at your local library or download Chew #1 for free at ComiXology.

(via Multiversity and The Hollywood Reporter)

Grant Morrison's Robin returns in new animated feature

In 2006, DC Comics made waves contracting Grant Morrison to take the reigns of Batman.  The  world renowned Scottish author, scribe of such works as All Star Superman, JLA, The Invisibles, We3, New X-Men, The Authority and countless other works started his Dark Knight tenure by introducing an illegitimate son,  Damian, the lovechild of Bruce Wayne and a terrorist’s daughter, Talia al Ghul.

Much of Morrison’s off and on story line involves Damian coming to terms with who he is as a human as well as who he is within the Batman family, forming strong bonds with Bruce and the original Robin, Dick Grayson. Damian assumes the role of the fifth in continuity Robin. The Bat-family saw many changes over the years, but Grant Morrison welcomed and referenced the changes, culminating in his two volume, Batman Incorporated- a celebration of the varied cast that Batman has met over his 70+ years as the caped crusader.

In 2011, DC editorial decided to revamp their whole universe, relaunching fifty two new series with unstable ties to the past. Grant Morrison (promoted to Action Comics(Superman) writer), was given mostly free reign when he restarted his Batman Incorporated series, picking up almost seamlessly from the past continuity. His 7 year tenure ended this past  July with Inc.’s issue 13, effectively taking his toys and going home. For now, Damian Wayne is out of service (save for the four issue miniseries taking place in an uncertain future…comics are complicated).

 Damian was a breath of fresh air in the sidekick position. More cunning, rebellious and dangerous than his wide eyed teen counterparts, the child quickly grew on readers. It came as no surprise when DC Animation announced an animated adaptation of Morrison’s first Bat-tale, Batman and Son- featuring the introduction of Damian. This Direct to DVD movie will be available this Spring. The cast has been announced but the production crew is still unknown.

If this movie is anything like the two-part The Dark Knight Returns adaptation of Frank Miller’s  1986 classic reinventing the art of the graphic novel…it will do well. But, I have a feeling most of the public will buy this while asking the question, “Batman has a son?”

In the meantime, I recommend checking out “Batman and Son” available at bookstores, comic book stores or on Amazon. I am waiting for an omnibus that will collect the whole Batman, Inc series; no doubt DC will release it this year in the absence of new Morrison Batman stories.

Check out the trailer for the movie here!
Update 1/22/2014
Warner Bros Animation has confirmed that the DVD is to be released on  Tuesday May 6, 2014. This will be following Free Comic Book Day weekend and the opening of The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Seems to be a great time to be a comic book fan! Check out the cover art!

Warner Bros Animation/DC Entertainment