BY ADAM KOPPEL
Hello and welcome to SATURDAY MATINEE. I'll be writing a regular column on the latest superhero movie news, recent DVD releases and projects that I think need the green light.

Okay pop culture warriors, here’s the random superhero/comics related news of the week:


Cartoon Network announced a new Transformers animated series for 2008, featuring a radical new look for the robots in disguise. Providence Business News had some pics of the toys from the series. PBN noted, "The series is to include 26 half-hour episodes plus a 90-minute special. Matt Youngberg will be supervising director, Derrick Wyatt is to provide the character designs and Sam Register will serve as executive producer."


Sam Raimi’s not sure he wants to direct any more Spider-Man movies. According to MTV.com, he may change his mind if he can recruit Electro and the Vulture. What would PULSE fans think of Electro and the Vulture as villains in Spider-Man IV? Which version of the Vulture do you think they'd go for?

Missy Peregrym, who played the shape shifting villainess on NBC’s Heroes is joining the new CW series “Reaper”. The Hollywood Reporter noted she's replacing actress Nikki Reed in the supernatural workplace dramedy about a bounty hunter from Hell.
(And you thought your boss was tough).


Once more…with popcorn? The LA Times reports that the Buffy Musical Big Screen Extravaganza is doing a national tour, featuring the Joss Whedon written and directed Buffy Season 6 musical episode. Full of clever songs, dance numbers and plenty of Whedonesque humor, this is one event to share with your fellow Scoobies.

Wolverine breaks up the band. Metro.Co.UK reports that the X-Men spin off movie “Wolverine” starring Hugh Jackman is slowly coming together. Screenwriter David Benioff has finished the script and tentative director Len Wiseman (Live Free or Die Hard) has some good things to say about the project.

WOW! “World of Warcraft” the movie? Thomas Tull, producer on the successful live action adaptation of the Frank Miller comic “300”, and Chairman of Legendary Pictures announced that there is a movie in the works based on the popular World of Warcraft fantasy online video game. Gaming Today has more news on the story. Which WoW characters would PULSE readers like to see in the movie?


The Kid’s WB unveiled the look for the new Spectacular Spider-Man animated series scheduled for 2008. SuperheroHype! said the new series, which is supposed to debut in early 2008, "picks up the world-renowned web-slinger's mythology at the beginning of his hero's journey as a not-so-typical 16-year-old with new-found powers engaging the multi-leveled pressures of teenage life while combating bigger, badder super-villains in the real world. Greg Weisman (Gargoyles, The Batman) is supervising producer on The Spectacular Spider-Man. Victor Cook (Hellboy: Blood and Iron) is producer/supervising director. The series is produced by Culver Entertainment."


Is Superman Routh ready for the Big Leagues? Actor Brandon Routh, star of 2006’s Superman Returns, tells the Malaysia Sun that he’s interested in working on the Justice League feature film from Warner Bros. He’s also getting ready for the Superman movie sequel which will get underway sometime in 2008. Director Bryan Singer is rumored to return for the second installment, but that has not been confirmed. No director or cast has yet been announced for the Justice League film.


AND NOW, ONE I CAN'T WAIT FOR ....


I was excited to learn that Warner Bros had ordered a live action Teen Titans movie with veteran comic book and television screenwriter Mark Verheiden (Smallville, Battlestar Galactica) as writer/ producer. Nightwing rather than Robin will lead the group of teenage heroes, with the rest of the team still to be determined. It's a good start, and I am cautiously optimistic about the chances of the film being made (quality of said film is something else) because Cartoon Network's Teen Titans Go animated series was hugely popular and its characters fairly recognizable. Throw in HIVE and Deathstroke and you've got a solid super hero action film. And unlike previous announcements for DC's Justice League and Marvel's Avengers live action movies, most of the Teen Titans team members from the classic Marv Wolfman/George Perez run aren't caught up in potential solo film deals that could bog down production. Verheiden is an excellent writer, able to balance high concept with strong characterization. Complement him with a director who understands that a good comic book film is more than just CGI and a cast of actors who can act and you've got a potential Summer blockbuster complete with merchandising tie-ins.


IN STORES NOW ...


Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron is out on DVD this month. Previously released on Cartoon Network, it is the second in a proposed Hellboy animated trilogy produced by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and Hellboy live action writer/director Guillermo Del Toro. The story follows Hellboy's adopted father, Professor Broom, (voiced by John Hurt) investigating the return of a monster he first encountered in 1939. Hellboy, Liz Sherman and Abe Sapien also star. The animation is solid and the writing and voice acting are sharp. With buckets of blood, action, violence, language and demonic characters, it definitely earns its TV-14 rating. It’s also full of dark humor. Ron Perlman, Selma Blair and Doug Jones (all from the live action Hellboy) head up the talented voice cast. While Blood and Iron does fall short of the first animated feature (the brilliant Hellboy: Sword of Storms) it is definitely a worthwhile addition to your DVD collection, (And the surprise cameo at the end hints at some exciting things to come for Hellboy fans).

MY WISH LIST ....

Writer/producers Bruce Timm and Paul Dini created the quintessential Batman animated series. Drawing inspiration from the best Batman comic book stories, they crafted an intelligent and thrilling crime noir superhero series that challenged its audience and was beloved by young and old alike. Eventually the series paved the way for Superman, Batman Beyond and Justice League Unlimited (JLU), each series pushing the boundaries of the TV-Y7 rating, bringing two dimensional DC Comics characters to life in refreshingly intelligent fashion.


Now, why haven't we seen something similar from Marvel Comics? Sure, over the last 15 years we've seen several versions of the X-Men, Spider-man and Fantastic Four, all but the 2003 MTV Spider-man series being aimed mainly at younger viewers, with tame stories and somewhat shaky animation. Where the heck is Marvel's Justice League Unlimited? Picture a revolving cast of Marvel classic heroes teaming up to take down super villain threats 13 episodes a season. Call it Marvel Team-Up. Call it Avengers Assemble. Call it Marvel Comics Presents. Just get it done already. The popularity and critical acclaim of JLU and the Marvel Ultimate Alliance video game should prove that fans love to mix and match their superheroes: Imagine Ghost Rider, Silver Surfer and Spider-man throwing down with Loki, Abomination and the Frightful Four. Personality conflicts, love triangles, a traitor in the ranks. A hero on trial with Matt Murdock defending them. The possibilities are huge. (I'm sure there's a potential toy line in there somewhere too).

Of course Marvel has their direct to DVD animated films with the Ultimate Avengers, Iron Man and the upcoming Doctor Strange, but the stories barely scratch the surface. There is so much more creative potential and fan excitement to be had with a well crafted cartoon series starring the bulk of the Marvel Universe.