Blockbusters which could help industry cope with crisis

“Bat-Manga! The Secret History of Batman in Japan.” Edited and designed by Chip Kidd. Pantheon Books. $60. 384 pages. Things always get more interesting when you mix heritages, traditions and sensibilities. Think fusion cuisine or world music - or, for that matter, Barack Obama.

Scottish writers and artists play a huge role in the stories of American heroes.

“Bat-Manga! The Secret History of Batman in Japan,” edited and designed by Chip Kidd, Pantheon Books, 384 pages

FLORIDA SUPERCON ANNOUNCES SEVEN NEW GUESTS INCLUDING: SUPERSTAR COMIC BOOK ARTISTS MARK BROOKS & DICK GIORDANO, THE VOICES OF CHARLIE BROWN & LUCY and MORE!

It was an interesting year for televised animation. Part of this was due to the introduction of new platforms for the field. The other is, quite frankly, that there’s some interesting new blood entering the arena. Add the two together, and we repeat our regular claim - we are living in the new golden age of animation, where animation is being fully embraced as a medium, not a genre.

There aren’t as many obvious hits lined up this year as in 2008, but we’ll have plenty of options, including a “Taking of Pelham 1 2 3″ remake with Denzel Washington, Star Trek and Harry Potter installments.

What a strange year for movies. Lots of stuff came out that was completely watchable — I actually had genuine difficulty narrowing down my top 10 for the first time in years — but little that anyone would consider genius.

Gone is the withdrawn longhair ’schlump’ hooked on drugs and alcohol. In his place is a new Marc Jacobs who resembles something like a superhero - and is just loving all the attention. The fashion designer tells Ariel Levy why after two spells in rehab he’s finally happy in his skin…

Superhero films came to the fore in 2008. In summer, it seemed each week brought another superpowered or comic book-based tale. Other of the year’s top films featured washed-up wrestlers, 1970s politicians and an optimistic trash compactor. The following are my list of the best 10 films of the year. 1. “The Dark Knight.” Director Christopher Nolan made a crime epic disguised as a comic-book …

Periodical comic books are still staples of comic-book stores and the origination point for many great storylines. While Marvel and DC Comics dominate the sales charts for comic books, they aren’t the only ones publishing great material. The following are the top 10 periodical comic book series of 2008:1. “Action Comics.” Writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank took Superman to new heights in …

There aren’t as many obvious hit movies lined up for this year as there were in 2008, but the calendar still has plenty of options. Here’s a look at some of the most anticipated films coming to a box office near you in the new year. This is a highlight schedule, not a comprehensive one. Dates are subject to change.

He could be watching over Wichita from the Hyatt Regency or the unfinished Intrust Bank Arena at night, protecting the city and its people from harm. His name is Wichita Man. He emerges in the midst of popular superheroes, like the Hulk and Batman. He makes his Wichita debut at the end of the month. His purpose is to fight social problems such as HIV and domestic and gang violence. Wichita …

Robert Downey Jr. plays the Baker Street sleuth in a new take on iconic British character.

Attention film fans: Looks like it’ll be fine times at the movies in 2009.

Looking ahead: What films will be hot in 2009.

LOS ANGELES, California — “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” “Watchmen.” “The Lovely Bones.” These are among the eagerly anticipated films of 2009.

Superheroes, Star Trek and animated aliens will square off against old-school brainiacs like Sherlock Holmes in the battle for next year’s box office riches. Here’s a peek at 2009’s most “wired” movies.

There aren’t as many obvious hits lined up in 2009 as there were this year, but the calendar still has plenty of options. USA TODAY’s Scott Bowles looks at a few prospects.

Nothing serves Hollywood better than a world on the brink. Look at the year in film. War and a full-blown recession haven’t stopped moviegoers from plunking down $10 a ticket. Brisk business over the Christmas weekend pushed 2008 ticket sales to $9.5 billion within striking distance of the record set last year of $9.6 billion.

(Cue gothic organ) FOX has won a stake in Warner Bros film-adaption of cult comic, Watchmen.

Warner Bros says it has no plans to move the March 6 release date of its upcoming film “Watchmen” and may fight an adverse court ruling that gives Twentieth Century Fox the right to distribute the film.

LOS ANGELES: Fresh on the heels of “The Dark Knight” comes the latest comic book blockbuster “Watchmen” which is poised for a lucrative March 2009 release.

Not all print media took it on the chin in 2008. Comic books held their own, said Jim Reising Of Acme Books & Comics, 2218 W. Glen Ave.

ROUND LAKE – Terry Kaminski’s name could be listed among comic book characters such as Clark Kent, Peter Parker and Bruce Wayne – average citizens turned superheroes.