Wouldn’t it be fantastic if instead of Disney’s wussification of Marvel’s characters, the tables were turned and instead Marvel turned the Disney princesses into Skrull invaders and zombies like this Dark Little Mermaid? All the images are by illustrator Jeffrey Thomas, who’s as twisted as he is brilliant. Please oh please can’t we at least get a comic book out of these images?

Aren’t these illustrations fantastic? I love mashing up characters like this … seeing the Disney Princesses in a more dark light only highlights their personalities, I think. Some of them look evil (ie. Ariel the Little Mermaid) but some of them just look more realistic and strong (ie. Pocahontas). I LOVE these illustrations. I urge you to visit Thomas’s website HERE to see these illustrations in higher resolution … they’re really amazing. One can only hope that the marriage between Disney and Marvel might bring to fruition an alliance like this … my guess is that it won’t really happen but it’s nice to wish … upon a star.

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If there’s anyone suited to fight a crime involving fashion, it’s style guru Tim Gunn. This fall, the Project Runway fashion mentor will shed his designer suits for an edgier look in Loaded Gunn, the first of four comics in Marvel’s limited edition fashion-themed comic series, Models, Inc. “Isn’t it just utterly and totally surreal?” says Gunn, who is thrilled with his likeness as a superhero. “This is one of those make-a-wish things that could never happen.” In the story, when a special museum retrospective of superhero style is attacked, Gunn comes to the rescue — with a little help from Iron Man. (”It’s because I don’t have any superpowers of my own!”) “There are lots of debates about how much it looks like me,” says Gunn, who chose to leave the creative process to the experts at Marvel. “I said, ‘Gentleman, this is your business. This is not what I do. I do not even want to remotely weigh in on it or micromanage it.’ ” Gunn’s comic-book likeness sounds like him as well, and Runway fans will recognize catchphrases such as “Gather ’round, everyone” woven into his polite way of speaking. Could a superhero-themed design challenge be in Runway’s future? “You never know,” Gunn says. “I think it would be wonderful to do.” As for ratings, Runway’s first season in Los Angeles — and on Lifetime — drew a record 4.2 million viewers for its premiere. “People seem to love it,” Gunn says. “I honestly haven’t heard anything negative. If they did hate it, then I’d like to know.” Gunn says he has loved comic books since childhood. If he were to choose a favorite based solely on style, it’s Gotham’s own Batman, “the most debonair of superheroes.” “He’s sort of the James Bond of superheroes,” Gunn says.

Is there anything that Tim Gunn cannot do? Not only has he caught the hearts of Project Runway designers AND viewers alike but now he’s teaming up with one of the most iconic superheroes of all time to feature in a fun new comic book? Seriously, I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t like Tim Gunn and, to be honest, I don’t think I’d want to even be friends with such a person. Tim just emanates pure positivity and bends over backwards to pass along that positivity to everyone he encounters. I was fortunate enough to meet Tim Gunn at a GLAAD event here in SoCal a couple of years ago (you can see a pic HERE) and he is truly as nice as he seems on TV. As for Project Runway, I agree that people who are watching seem to love it. It’s the same great show we’ve come to love over the years, I’m totally hooked again!! I love to support Gunn’s endeavors whatever they may be. As a comic book fan, I’ll deffo be picking up Loaded Gunn when it becomes available. If you would like to order this issue online, you can do so HERE.

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The Walt Disney Co. says it is acquiring Marvel Entertainment Inc. for $4 billion in cash and stock, bringing characters like Iron Man and Spider-Man into the Disney family. Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of 5,000 Marvel characters. Disney said Monday that Marvel shareholders will receive $30 per share in cash plus 0.745 Disney shares for every Marvel share they own. It said the boards of Disney and Marvel have both approved the transaction, but it requires an antitrust review and the approval of Marvel shareholders.

This is terrible news! While I’m sure Disney plans on acquiring Marvel Comics for the sole purpose of keeping it the way it is, I can’t help but wonder if they will start tinkering with the way Marvel operates its comics and/or movie biz somewhere down the line if they successfully gain control. I had no idea that Marvel was in a position where they would want to sell … to anyone … let alone Disney! Says Ike Perlmutter, Marvel’s Chief Executive Officer:

“Disney is the perfect home for Marvel’s fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses.”

And here’s a quote from Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company:

“This transaction combines Marvel’s strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor with Disney’s creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories.”

I can’t help but feel deep in the pit of my gut that this is a terrrrrrrribly horrible idea … one that will adversely affect Marvel comics fans down the line. I mean … right? Does this sound like a good idea to anyone out there??

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Warner Bros. Pictures has hired X-Men Origins: Wolverine and The Proposal star Ryan Reynolds to play the title role in the anticipated Green Lantern, scheduled for a June 17, 2011 release. Based on the DC Comics hero, the action-adventure will be directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, GoldenEye) and produced by Donald De Line and Greg Berlanti. Berlanti wrote the script with Marc Guggenheim and Michael Green. The Hollywood trades say that Reynolds and his camp entered negotiations for the part Friday, after the studio held two rounds of screen tests, along with actors Bradley Cooper and Jared Leto. Justin Timberlake also did a screen test. The studio had holding options on the actors, but, except for Reynolds, those expired Monday. Reynolds’ option would have expired end of day Friday. Production is expected to begin in January. The “Green Lantern” was created in 1940 by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell. Introduced in 1959, Hal Jordan is a second-generation test pilot, an ordinary man who was given the power ring and battery (lantern) by a dying alien named Abin Sur. When Abin Sur’s spaceship crashed on Earth, the alien used his ring to seek out an individual to take his place as Green Lantern: someone who was “utterly honest and born without fear.” Reynolds recently starred in Fox’s “Wolverine,” in which he played Wade Wilson/Deadpool. The character is now being developed for a spin-off to which Reynolds is attached. He also played Hannibal King in Blade: Trinity.

As much as I LOVE Ryan Reynolds, I was really pullin’ for Bradley Cooper to get the part. I can totally see Hal Jordan in Cooper … and I was really lookin’ forward to seeing Coop in those tight superhero spandex. Ah well, I guess I’ll just have to settle for Ryan Reynolds squeezin’ his goodies in those superhero spanx. Wait … why was I all upset for again?? On second thought, WOOT!! What do y’all think … is this good news or bad news?

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We got to hang out for a bit with the guys before making our way to Mercedes-Benz in Beverly Hills, CA so that David could test drive their new GLK350:

He’s been in the market for his first car so he is getting down to the decision-making phase.

After we were finished tooling around BH, we came back home so that I could lay out by the pool:

Lemme tell you … twas nice. I’m trying to get my work done as quickly as possible today so that I can get down by the pool again.

Tonight Kirsten, Darion and I are going to be celebrating our Friend Anniversary. It’s gonna be a very nice Sunday, methinks.

Celebrating their 70 years on August 11, 2009, Marvel will be spicing up the aniversary by releasing alternate covers to many of its super-heroes magazines, inspired in Music Idols from the 80’s and 90’s. Four covers will be released on June 17 of the 90’s Decade Variant cover of X-Men: Legacy #225 designed by Brazilian artist Adriana Melo features Rogue – one of the mutants’ most controversial characters – striking a pose…

Does Madonna’s pop culture reach know no bounds? I mean, it does make sense that if you’re looking for an icon from the 80’s or 90’s for inspiration, you really need look no further than to he Madgesty herself. I have to say … Rogue looks pretty cool as Maddy. She’s even got Maddy’s monstrous hands, too!! This comic book cover looks pretty sweet … I wonder what other icons of the 80’s and 90’s they’ll be paying homage to as well.

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THE heroes of Marvel Entertainment have foiled everything from bank robberies to alien invasions — usually with their fists. But when a young set designer is murdered during New York Fashion Week, solving the crime falls to more delicate hands. On Aug. 26, Marvel will release the first issue of “Models Inc.,” a sartorially minded mini-series that unites some of its fashion-friendly supporting characters and pushes them into new starring roles. The runway divas include Millicent Collins (a k a Millie the Model), Patsy Walker, also known as the superheroine Hellcat, and Mary Jane, the model-turned actress who is the sometimes wife of Peter Parker, the Amazing Spider-Man. The women team up to clear Millicent, who is the prime suspect in the murder of the set designer. Think of it as “Charlie’s Angels” set in the fashion world. But what would the angels be without someone to guide them? Enter Tim Gunn of “Project Runway.” In the debut issue’s second story, Mr. Gunn becomes an action figure — jumping into Iron Man’s suit of armor to save a fashion exhibition from evildoers. It’s certainly a departure from Mr. Gunn’s usual role as a mentor to aspiring designers, but there is a connection. Mr. Gunn said he remembered comic books with Millicent, who first appeared in 1945. She was a comic romantic figure, who worked as a model for the Hanover agency. Mr. Gunn will grace one version of the first cover of “Models Inc.,” drawn by Phil Jimenez, a popular comic book artist who also illustrated the cover of “Amazing Spider-Man” No. 583, which paired Spidey with President Obama. A sales analysis on the Beat, the comic blog of Publishers Weekly, estimated that more than 520,000 copies of the issue were sold. Can Mr. Gunn persuade fashionistas that these comic books are as valuable as the September issue of Vogue? Mr. Gunn doesn’t claim to know, but he is as surprised as your average Hulk reader that he is now a Marvel action figure. “I’m not certain of the particulars of how I’ll be portrayed, but I’m really excited about it,” Mr. Gunn said. “To say I’m a character in a comic book is wild!”

See, I always knew Tim Gunn was cool but this just settles everything — he is freakin’ awesome! Lawd, what can’t Tim Gunn do? If he can put up with Kenley Collins’s bullshizz on Project Runway then surely he has the mettle to defeat any nasty evil-doers who try to ruin Fashion Week (which, in a sense, is what Kenley tried to do herself). What a fantastic idea for a comic book … I can’t say that I ever envisioned Tim Gunn as a comic book hero but seeing him in animated form makes me a believer. Love it!!!

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Talk about spot-on casting. I’ve just learned that Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige and director Kenneth Branagh have chosen their THOR — and it’s Chris Hemsworth, who can currently be seen as “George Kirk” in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot and also just snagged the lead in Red Dawn for MGM on Thursday. The gorgeous 25-year-old Australian is a virtual unknown here in the United States. But he played “Kim Hyde” on 171 episodes of Home and Away, the successful Oz television series chronicling the lives and loves of the residents of Summer Bay, a small coastal town in New South Wales, Australia. Hemsworth is repped by partner and co-founder William Ward’s ROAR management and Eileen Feldman’s agency. Marvel Studios has scheduled Thor for a June 17, 2011, release. The way Chris Hemsworth got the part of Thor is one of those great Hollywood backstories that happens only once in a blue moon. Ward had found Chris during one of the manager’s many scouting trips to Australia. Ward brought him to Los Angeles and really put him out there to casting directors and production executives. As for the major agencies, I hear CAA passed on the meeting, Endeavor took it but passed on repping him, and ICM was interested but dragged their feet. But Eileen Feldman got his appeal immediately. Chris had read for the part of Thor but wasn’t given a test because a casting director had nixed him early on. I’m told Chris’ younger brother Liam (who’s also a ROAR client) then tested for the role of Thor, but Marvel’s Kevin Feige passed. Then, after a conversation with Ward (”You’ve got to reconsider Chris, he’s your guy”), Feige decided to let Chris read again. And once Marvel put him on tape, it was “Oh my god”. Branagh came to town last week and saw the Chris test and made the final casting decision today … Thor’s character, in a nutshell is the Viking god of thunder, who wears a winged helmet and speaks in King James Bible-style Olde English, as well as referring to himself in the third person as “the Odinson.” He wields a magic hammer, and can “fly” by throwing the hammer really hard and hanging on to it. Not only is here the movie Thor, but he’ll also be interacting later with the likes of Iron Man and Hulk. Marvel tapping Kenneth Branagh was a smart move to elevate the pic since the English helmer has so much experience with Shakespearean battle movies and has the ability to balance action with convincingly delivered old English.

I knew from the first moment I saw Hemsworth in Star Trek (he plays Kirk’s father in the movie’s opening) that he would go on to bigger roles. He deffo has that star quality and I was sure, at least looks wise, that he’d be able to get starring roles in future movies. It’s quite a feat to get cast as the lead in a big budget superhero movie, especially one that will tie in with a movie like Iron Man (both Iron Man and Thor are members of the superhero conglomerate The Avengers). I, too, thought that Skarsgård was a shoe-in for the role … but Hollywood is a wacky place. I think Chris Hemsworth can be Thor. I guess we’ll eventually find out.

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Slim Shady — yes, the real Slim Shady — is now riding shotgun with Frank Castle. Above you see the cover for a digital comic book that teams up mercurial rap superstar Eminem with the heavily armed hard-case from the Marvel Universe, the Punisher. The issue was written by Fred Van Lente and drawn by the sublime Spanish artist Salvador Larocca, and the process came with a lot of guidance from Eminem and his manager, Paul Rosenberg, both of whom had intense interest in the project. The gun-toting partnership started with an XXL magazine photo shoot where the editors suggested that Eminem be presented as a character in the Marvel Universe, which is so red-hot in Hollywood. Mr. Mathers, being an intense comics fan and collector, liked the idea a lot, as did Marvel. The comics company expected Eminem would take the predictable route and ask for claws. “We thought he might want to do something as Wolverine since the movie is coming out right now, or maybe Spider-Man or one of the classic big names, and we were pleasantly surprised when he said he wanted to do a story with the Punisher,” said Michael Pasciullo, vice president of merchandising and communications at Marvel Entertainment. “He’s a true fan, and it showed throughout the process” … No word yet on if there are plans for a print edition of the collected story, which is set in Em’s hometown of Detroit. Back from a three-year hiatus, Eminem has a new album, “Relapse,” which hits stores on May 19. This is not the first time he’s revealed himself as a fan of comics — he memorably dressed up as Robin the Boy Wonder for his music video “Without Me,” although he couldn’t coax mentor Dr. Dre to don the cape of Batman. The 36-year-old rapper asked that either John Romita Sr. (who had a hand in designing the character way back in 1974) or the stylish Larocca handle the penciling for the issue, which “really showed how much he knows and cares about Marvel and its history,” Pasciullo said. “He also requested that the villain be Barracuda, and that’s when we knew we were dealing with a real fan,” Pascuillo said. “How many people know Barracuda? I think this was really fun for him, and I know it was fun for us.”

This is a very fun little tie-in, one I’m sure that Eminem got a huge kick out of. I know that I would *love* to be drawn into a comic book, that would seriously be the coolest thing ever. That this story is set in Detroit is just icing on the cake. I’m not a reader of XXL magazine but I deffo plan on picking up this issue for the express purpose of getting this special edition comic book.

And speaking of comic books, don’t forget that TODAY is FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! Folks here in the US (and in some participating countries) can visit their friendly neighborhood comic book store to pick up one free comic book today. Click HERE to find a participating comic book store near you and get your ass out there and get a free comic book today. I’ll prolly be heading out to The Golden Apple on Melrose Ave. here in LA (I hear William Shatner will be there in person this afternoon). I’m not sure which book I’m going to get yet … what are YOU planning on picking up today?

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I managed to get thru chapter 11 with only the final chapter to go. Yeah, it’s a really great read. It’s so smart and so really intelligent … it’s very much a nice change of pace from the usual drivel that I entertain myself with these days ;) I totally understand why so many folks are such devoted fans of the graphic novel. I’m anxious to read how the whole saga ends … I hope to have it completed this afternoon.

David and I are planning a little grocery store outing later on … which is always fun. It’s rainy today but the temps aren’t too bad. I’m just dying for Summer to get here already :)