Comic book publisher Devil's Due to collaborate with Starz on Spartacus titles

I had heard last year that Starz was planning to produce a new series with Spartacus as its lead character. Now I see that a comic book publisher has been brought on board to write four graphic novels that will tie into the storylines of the new series as well to generate a little pre-release hype. Stylistically, it will reflect a "300" influence. Australian Andy Whitfield will star in the title role. Starz also recently announced that John Hannah will play Batiatus. Apparently they must be planning the Batiatus character to be comic relief - sort of in a Peter Ustinov kind of way. If so I think John Hannah will be good in the part. I liked him as the bumbling brother in "The Mummy" but just couldn't quite accept him as a serious Roman Senator in "The Last Legion".

"Devil’s Due will be working closely with Starz, the production studio for its sibling premium entertainment channel, to create four self-contained stories that intertwine with the show’s continuity.

Contributing to the series will be DeKnight, DDP President Josh Blaylock and noted comic scribe Jimmy Palmiotti, with others to be announced. Evan Sult will edit the comic books with R.H. Stavis overseeing the project.

The first issue will debut as a promotional collectible at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con with a unique variant cover available only at the convention, followed by the release of the issue in stores nationwide in October.

“This is a very exciting project for Devil’s Due,” Blaylock said. “Not only do we get to tell an incredible story full of intense action, battles, and sexy characters, we also get to work with a project from Tapert and Raimi and the entire awesome team. We couldn’t be happier.”

“We have an expansive vision for the retelling of the classic Spartacus story, filled with astounding visuals and larger than life characters. A comic book is the natural extension to the world we’re constructing,” DeKnight said. “Josh Blaylock and the artists at Devil’s Due have just the right sensibility to make this the perfect complement to our show.”

“Spartacus: Blood and Sand” is scheduled for a debut on the Starz premium entertainment channel in January 2010. - More: MonstersandCritics.com

Oh dear! I went to the Devil's Due website to see if I could find a graphic and see that the comic book publisher is also releasing "Barack the Barbarian" this summer! I think I prefer President Obama just the way he is rather than buffed up to look like Governor Schwarzenegger in his earlier career! I'm pretty sure that's not Michelle wearing a thong bikini and seductively gripping the president's leg either. It's a good thing we still have freedom of speech here in the US! Although I must admit, Julius Caesar would probably have enjoyed starring in his own graphic novel! I wonder what Servilia would have looked like in a string bikini?

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Spartacus to be center of new STARZ series to debut summer 2009!

I was afraid after HBO abandoned "Rome" that we wouldn't get any more ancient historical epics or series on any of the premium channels but it looks like I'll need to subscribe to Starz next summer!!

[Thracian gladiator - left - courtesy of PBS.org]


"The world of gladiators comes to life as the Roman Empire's most brutal fighters clash in the ultimate arena. Starz's new series, "Spartacus," an entirely new twist on the ancient legend, will utilize virtual environments giving it a unique graphic novel look and style, along with a fresh narrative approach. Debuting exclusively on Starz, "Spartacus" will be produced by Starz Media with Executive Producers Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and Joshua Donen. The announcement was made today by Stephan Shelanski, executive vice president, programming, for Starz Entertainment. It will begin production in early 2009, debuting on Starz and its suite of channels later in the year.

From the talented team responsible for some of the biggest action feature film hits, and consistently popular action TV series, "Spartacus" will take the story of the rebellious warrior-slave and re-imagine it for a generation of TV viewers raised on graphic novels and cutting-edge production technology. Audiences will get 13 hour-long episodes of unsparing action, set in the brutal world of gladiators. Because the series is being produced for Starz -- the fastest-growing premium television service -- there is no shortage of intense action and vivid, R-rated storytelling. This will be a TV series with an original narrative and a very unique look and feel.

"When 'Spartacus' debuts in the summer of 2009, it will give our subscribers a show unlike anything currently on TV: a fresh, high-energy action series with nothing held back," Shelanski said. "We think it will be the destination show for next summer. It, along with our other original productions underscores our commitment to being a new kind of TV company, programming the biggest movies and the best new television series."

"By utilizing the latest digital filmmaking techniques to create the look of this series, we'll be able to tell the story in a way never before seen with production values far beyond what even the most ambitious TV series can offer," Tapert said. Raimi added "It is going to be very exciting to take one of the most beloved and inspiring characters of all time, re-invent and bring them to life for a whole new generation of TV viewers."

Starz's new "Spartacus" series was inspired by the actual slave of the Roman Republic who in 73 BC led a slave revolt that grew to more than 120,000 fighters. Defying the Roman Republic's legions of soldiers, they campaigned for two years through much of what is now Italy before succumbing to a much larger army. The new series will tell a new set of stories rich in character, action, sex and combat." - More

Technorati Tags: Spartacus, STARZ, television, Roman Empire, Roman, slave, gladiator, adventure, filmmaking, graphic novel, special effects,

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Comic used to stimulate kids interest in local archaeology in Bidford, England

"WARWICKSHIRE County Council has published a comic to encourage children and young people to get involved in digging up the past in Bidford.

Its archaeological outreach project, Buried under Bidford, which aims to give people the opportunity to experience hands-on archaeology and learn more about the rich heritage of the village, has produced the comic in a bid to engage youngsters with the scheme.

And feedback so far has shown it is doing just that.

It features a picture story of two modern children being taken into the past to live with Romans, facts from Roman times, puzzles, games and historical information.

Aimed at seven to 11-year-olds, it also ties in with key stage 2 of the national curriculum.

Christina Evans, project manager for the county council, said: "Speaking to young people helped shape the format of the comic so that it would be in a format they would understand and enjoy.

"Our feedback since it was published shows that it has helped the Buried under Bidford project to reach young people which is the only way to safeguard its heritage long term."

Archaeologists have unearthed evidence of Roman and Anglo-Saxon settlements in the Bidford area and more is believed to be in existence.

Christina added: "The archaeology of an area such as Bidford is priceless and should be preserved for future generations."

An exhibition displaying artefacts featured in the comic is currently running at Warwickshire Museum. These include a tankard discovered at the site of a Roman fort, a samian bowl from Gaul and a spike from the Roman bridge at Bidford, which shows the Roman practice of coating a wooden spike with iron.

Copies of the free comic can be obtained from the Historic Environment Record, Warwickshire Museum, Roman Alcester or Bidford library."

I think comics and graphic novels are vastly underrated for their ability to interest children (and even adults) in historical topics. I'm presently evaluating a tool called CMAP, originally designed as a concept mapping tool, that would enable students to collaborate on storyboards/graphic novels. I created a sample storyboard using the tool (and images from HBO's Rome under fair use) at: http://uoregon.edu/~mharrsch/HBOAntonyandAtiaforeplay.html

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