Getting ABaHB Back Together.
I am SO sorry for all the problems whit ABaHB, but we are getting things back together as soon as we can, with new things to come! Here is all the news we missed... News from Dec 25 - Feb 12
BITS AND PIECES OF NEWS
The Crow: Salvation will begin shooting in 10 days at Utah
The Crow / Razor comic 'Nocturnal Masque' has been released
Readers of the comic book magazine 'Wizard' should not believe anything they have to say about The Crow, all their stuff is out of date.
600 hits on the site in less than 3 weeks, not bad at all...
More news as it comes in...
THE CROW: 2037 or WORLD OF GODS AND MONSTERS?
People have asked about The Crow: Salvation and its history, so here's all the news that needs to be known about the ill fated Rob Zombie movie...
It appears as if there will be no Zombie movie at all. After Miramax pulled the movie from production, there was talks that it would be re-done without all of the crow references. Rob decided 2 years for nothing was too much, and called the whole thing off. He's working on a new screenplay right now, which may or may not see the light of day, but he said he will take his time to release it to a major studio.
"Zombie Takes Black, Ride Okay, faithful readers, here's the scoop (by way of Chris Kivlehan from producer Jeff Most's mouth). The Rob Zombie movie being developed for Ed Pressman Films and the Crow 3 are different movies entirely. Why the change? Well, it seems that Zombie's film was so strong it didn't need the Crow characters and background to stand on its own as a new franchise. Here's the inside word from Most himself: "We really love what Rob came up with, so much so that we actually realized that the strongest [part] of it was the characters that he had created," Most tipped. "My producer-partner Ed Pressman and I, with Rob, decided we'd be better off making that its' own franchise because it was so Rob and it was so much a design that didn't really need to depend on the Crow [character]. We felt because we established this motif of doing anthology-based Crow stories that if we did Rob's story as a Crow story, which we easily could have, we would have ultimately forced ourselves not to move into a sequel for his characters." In other words, the decision to introduce new characters for every Crow film would have limited the producers' ability to franchise Zombie's creations. "So instead of confusing the audience by going into a sequel to this anthology-based movie, then [create a sequel to] that anthology-based sequel, we just thought, let us re-approach it with Rob because it's such a strong story, such strong characters and set it up as its' own franchise, and that's what we're intending to do." The new film will be going back into development when Zombie completes his current (and often tumultuous) tour. "We're going to get back into work on it as soon as Rob completes his tour, hopefully sometime after the first of the year. The new working title on Rob Zombie's movie, is "Black Rider X" and we're really excited about it. He is a real genius as a filmmaker as well as he is as a musician. For someone who hasn't staked out a career as a screenwriter, he did work that's on par with produced writers who have done ten features."
As for Zombie's participation in the third installment of "The Crow" movie series, a source at his label said the film, which Zombie was expected to write and direct, has now been rethought and will no longer be associated with the undead Crow character but instead will be a dark "rock 'n' roll horror thing." - April
Click here for the promotional pin Rob Zombie gave out at conventions!
Thanks to: Belly of the Superbeast
CROW TOYS!
McFarlane Toys will have 11 new lines of action figures this year, including the licenses to Austin Powers, The Crow and The Beatles' movie Yellow Submarine. A Hot Rods and Monsters line will be released late in the year, and the second Movie Maniacx line will include Michael Meyers (Halloween), Pumpkinhead and Chucky and his Bride.
From: Comic Book Continuum
THE CROW #4
Written by Jon J Muth, art by Tommy Lee Edwards, colored by Mark Nicholas, cover by Kent Williams.
Now that Eric Draven has avenged his death, why is he still The Crow? "The Line Between the Devil's Teeth" begins to explore that question as The Crow finds himself involved in the life of his young friend, Sarah, and her family. This stand-alone story also introduces a major new villain into The Crow mythos -- Sin, a woman even more evil than her name implies.
32 pages, $2.50.
also...
Paul Lee will be drawing The Crow #5 and #6
From: The Comic Book Continuum
THE CROW: AUTHOR'S EDITION & CONTEST
According to major book and comic book sellers, the uncut Crow comic, The Crow: The Author's Edition won't be published for a while because of Kitchen Sink folding up in December - though this could change. Todd McFarlan (Spawn) is holding a Crow contest, though to be in it, you've gotta pick up an issue of Spawn. You can win some cool stuff, like a signed poster or the script from the first issue. (I don't recommend buying Spawn, though)
THE CROW: SALVATION
What is Kirsten currently working on?
Kirsten is at home, taking a break from her hectic filming schedule. Her next project is The Crow: Salvation, which she will begin filming on February 15th!
From: The Offical Kirstin Dunst Web Site
NEW CROW: STH EPISODES
This weeks episode of The Crow: Stairway to Heaven television series is a rerun of the "Double Take" episode, which was originally broadcast the week of Nov. 2. Look for four all new episodes of the series in February.
From: Comic Book Continuum
WIZARD TALKS OF KITCHEN SINK CROW COMICS
This from Wizard # 91
KITCHEN SINK PRESS
James O'Barr's The Crow #3 features a story by sci-fi author John J. Miller, who contributed to the popular Wild Cards novel series, Millar tells the tale of Dreux Dumaine, the world's newest Crow. Look for it in March**
Also...
CROW #1 (Todd McFarlane Productions/Image) Eric Draven flies again as the Crow in this new ongoing comic series.
KITCHEN SINK'S FINAL WORDS
Thank you for contacting us at Kitchen Sink Press. As of 12/18/98 we are ending our catalog and mail order operations. More information follows:
For catalog requests:
As of 12/18/98, we can no longer accept any new requests for catalogs. If you have requested a catalog prior to that date, and not yet received one, we apologize that we will not be able to fulfill your inquiry. Our last catalog mailing was 11/16/98.
For orders: If you have placed an order with us PRIOR to 12/18/98, it will be filled and shipped before 12/22/98. If you placed your order after that date, it will be returned to you shortly via e-mail or snail-mail.
Our Web site: Our web site may remain active for several weeks after our closing. Please see the dates listed above for dates that may affect your order or catalog request.
For other issues: If you have a problem with an order you have received, please let us know so we can resolve the issue promptly. If you have a credit memo and would like a refund, please let us know before 1/1/99 so we can issue you a check. If you have found an ultra chase card from The Crow:City of Angels or our Universal Monsters of the Silver Screens Trading cards sets, we are sorry to say we will not be able to honor sending your print. If you have a subscription to Li'l Abner, we will be sending a cancellation notice and refund checks (for check orders only, credit card customers have not been charged so no refund is due) in mid-January.
Many of our products are currently available through Bud Plant Comic Art (800-242-6642) or Last Gasp (800-366-5121). Please call them to see if they carry something you are looking for. You may also look up a comic store in your area at 888-266-4226, or refer to any of the stores on the list that follows. Unfortunately, if you are looking for items from The Crow, we are not able to direct to an alternate source at this time. We are also not able to direct you to stores in your area, besides the ones on the following list, that may carry our products at this time
Thanks again for your support over the years. If you need to contact us, please feel free to call or write us at the numbers listed below. We will try to answer every inquiry as promptly as possible that is not related to catalog requests or new orders. We will be working at 1/4 of our normal staffing level, so please be patient with us during this transition.
MILLION YEAR PICNIC 99 MOUNT AUBURN STREET CAMBRIDGE, MA 02138-7901 Ph:617-492-6763
GOLDEN APPLE 7711 MELROSE AVENUE LOS ANGELES, CA 90046 Ph:213-658-6047
SAINT MARK'S COMICS 11 SAINT MARKS PLACE NEW YORK, NY 10003 Ph:212-353-3300
MIDTOWN COMICS 200 WEST 40TH STREET 2ND FLOOR NEW YORK, NY 10018 Ph:212-302-8192
BIG PLANET COMICS 4908 FAIRMONT AVENUE BETHESDA, MD 20814 Ph:301-654-6856
CHICAGO COMICS 3244 NORTH CLARK STREET CHICAGO, IL 60657 Ph:773-528-1983
THE LAUGHING OGRE 4258 N. HIGH ST. COLUMBUS,OH 43214 Ph:614-267-6473
ATLANTIS FANTASY WORLD 1020 CEDAR STREET SANTA CRUZ, CA 95060 ph:831-426-0158
LIBRARY OF COMICS 5467 S. BRIDGEWOOD COURT CHICAGO, IL 60615 Ph:773-324-0860
WORDS & PICTURES MUSEUM 140 MAIN STREET NORTHAMPTON, MA 01060 Ph:413-586-8545
COMIC DUNGEON 1622 1/2 N. 45TH ST SEATTLE, WA 98103 Ph:206-545-8373
GRAHAM CRACKERS COMICS 1271 RICKARD DR. NAPERVILLE, IL 60540 Ph:630-355-4310
Thanks again.
-- Customer Service Department Kitchen Sink Press 76 Pleasant Street Northampton, MA 01060 (413) 586-9525 Phone XT 26 (413) 586-7040 Fax custserv@kitchensink.com E-mail
THE CROW REVIEWED
by Cristina Urdiales
Name: Eric Draven
Group: None
Origin:
First appearance: The Crow #1
Known Relatives:
None Publisher:*Kitchen Sink*
BRIEF HISTORY
Once upon a time... Well, no. That doesn't fit. Except perhaps for the very beginning. Because the very beginning was a bit like a fairy tale. Eric and Shelly were a young couple. They shared a happiness and complicity that most peoples can only dream about ; they bought an old house, and were planning to get married. They were very, very much in love. But this tale ended when the fairy died. Shelly and Eric were coming home from the beach when their car stalled. It was the wrong placeat the wrong time. A gang, led by T-Bird, assaulted them. Shelly was rapedand killed. Eric lived long enough to die in intensive care.
It should have been the end. But Eric's love, pain and despair were too strong. He came back from death a year later with the help of a spirit,a totem, or perhaps a dream, the Crow. Being undead, he could not die; yet he was in constant emotional agony, recalling every precious moment with Shelly, seeing her face everywhere he went. He sought to avenge himself by killing those who had destroyed and killed Shelly, so he could at least rest in peace.
He began to stalk in a town that was close to Hell. Having become an insane, undead killer and something of a lunatic, he painted his face to look like a white clown. His only friends were cats (including Gabriel, his own cat), who can see beyond; and Sherri, a young girl whose mother was a drug addict and whose name and innocence reminded him of Shelly. He killed several of his targets to get T-Bird's attention, and then asked for a showdown against T-Bird's whole gang. He killed most of the "soldiers" and finally executed T-Bird himself. He then probably passed away.
It has been learned later that Eric was not the only one, and that the Crow had helped several other persons to come back to avenge themselves of the wrongs that had been done to them and their loved ones.
from Mania
UPDATE ON THE FALL OF KITCHEN SINK
Due to the fall of Kitchen Sink Press, The Crow comics, back issues and merchandise will be no more. If Todd McFarlane (who has purchased the Crow rights for the Image Crow series) buys the Crow rights to reproduce the Kitchen Sink comics, they'll become highly mainstream with commercials. If any Crow fan has second thoughts about buying Crow items that aren't made by Image Comics, then it would be wise to buy them, as they won't be produced for a long time, or until James O'Barr gives the rights to another company.
If Todd McFarlane gets his hands on all The Crow rights from J. O'Barr, then he will do with The Crow what he has done with Spawn, and turn it into a money making machine. This isn't definate, but it is obvious with the Image Comics series that it isn't just aimed at Crow fans, much like The Crow / Razor, which horribily bought back Eric and Shelly (or Eric and Shelly rip offs).
With the new Crow movie upcoming, The Crow publicity machine will begin again, but hopefully this time the producers have learn't that The Crow is not about money (something which The Crow: City of Angels shouls have told them). Finally, The Crow is about quality, not quantity, therefore Kitchen Sink Press delivered the best when it came to The Crow.
NEW THE CROW: STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN EPISODES!
"The Crow" has been moved to a better time slot for the Pittsburgh metro area: Saturdays at 8:00 PM (from Wed. at 10 PM) on WCWB. All new episodes!"
Thanks to L. Schane for the news!
CSN RED K AWARDS
The "Everything But the Kitchen Sink" Award
The demise of Kitchen Sink Press
If the comics world seems a little less complete, there's a reason: Kitchen Sink Press, a company with a quater century history of cutting-edge and historically-relevant comics, is no longer. Denis Kitchen, a publisher who made new generations of fans aware of his genius of Will Eisner, saw his namesake publishing company go down the drain in December, just before they could release their first new licensed Crow comic. Kitchen Sink helped to fill the gaps between eclectic comics, underground comics, historic reprints, and modern-day comics, offering something that appealed to fans of every genre... but obviously it wasn't enough to keepa company going in this tough time. From Hell, The Spirit, Zot!, Li'l Abner, Steven... let's hope these projects and many other find new homes in the near future.
From Comic Shop News #604
Proyas Deal With New Line
Alex Proyas, director of The Crow and Dark City, and his producing partner, Andrew Mason, have signed a two-year first-look deal with New Line Cinema. According to Variety, Proyas and Mason (through their Sydney-based Mystery Clock Cinema production company) have an arrangement with New Line that will allow Proyas to option material to direct as well as produce. There’s no word on what Proyas’ next project might be, though the director is quoted as saying he might try "something more mainstream."
From Cinescape Online
CROW 'UN-CUT' GRAPHIC NOVEL RELEASED
Nothing major, but The Crow: The Author's Addition has been released according to Wizard #90. This is the uncut graphic novel that J. O'Barr has been working on for some time. It's for sale for $34.95 US and is a hard cover signed and numbered. Reportedly, there is also a soft cover edition being printed. All that I can say is i've got mine on order ... Thanks goes out to the Nevermore site for adding the Impossible Pain banner to their site. To access the site, click here.
CROW STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN CHANGING STATIONS?
My local WB station just this week took off The Crow from its Wed 10 PM slot and replaced it with Next Generation. But I can still pick it up on WGN Superstation Sat's 5 PM, at least as of last weekend.
special thanks goes to L Schanefor the news!
NEW CROW EPISODE
Desperate to open the loft portal and re-connect with Shelly, Draven dabbles in magic, unleashing a terrible force that even he might be incapable of overcoming in "Through a Dark Circle," the new episode of The Crow: Stairway to Heaven television series scheduled to air in syndication this week. Here's how the episode is described:
"Desperately lonely, Draven attempts to re-open the loft portal door using ancient incantations. He believe he is successful when the door energizes. However, what emerges is not his beloved Shelly, but the beast-like evil force of executed serial killer Richard Lee Wilbanks (played by Lawrence S. Smilgys), who has been waiting for an opportunity to return and wreak vengeance on everyone who saw him die.
"He easily overpowers Draven, who loses his regenerative powers in the devastating fight. When several of those who were present at Wilbanks' execution are violently kidnapped, Det. Albrecht and his new partner Capshaw are assigned the case.
"Draven confesses to Albrecht that it was he who unleashed this terrible force and when Cordelia, who was an assistant D.A. at Wilbanks' trial, is also kidnapped, the rift between the two men seems insurmountable. A weakened Draven uncovers Wilbanks' plan for his victims, but he needs Albrecht's help to save them.
"In a fierce battle, Draven transports both himself and Wilbanks into the Land of the Damned, where Draven finally recovers his powers, and destroys the evil force he conjured up. It's obvious to Draven that the portal has to be nailed shut, even though this might mean losing Shelly forever."
"Through a Dark Circle" was written by John Turman, a script consultant on the series, and was directed by Tibor Takacs.
Look for new episodes of The Crow: Stairway to Heaven five of the next six weeks.
From Comic Book Continuum
Click Here to see The Crow: 2037 promotional pin which Rob Zombie gave out at press confrences and conventions!
Pic from:Belly of the Superbeast
Trust Obey's New Project Includes Nothing Artists
John Bergin, of Trust Obey [once almost being signed to Nothing records]
He has a new project called 'Paved In Skin' and it includes a great number of Nothing Records artists.
"Trust Obey released their second full-lenght CD, Hands of Ash, during the summer of 1996. Originally recorded for Trent Reznor's record label, Nothing records, it was instead released by Fifth Colvmn Records"
from: Seems Like Salvation
THE CROW #3
Written by Jon J Muth, art by Jamie Tolagson, colored by Mark Nicholas, cover by Kent Williams. Jon Muth's first story arc concludes with The Crow wreaking havoc on the thugs that killed Eric Draven and Shelly Webster. Can justice be served by actions of extreme vengeance? Jamie Tolagson's striking artwork fully captures the horror and poignancy of this brutal and touching story.
From:http://detnews.com/comicbooks/
‘Crow: Salvation’ Prod Start The Crow:
Salvation feature film is scheduled to start shooting in Utah on February 15, according to the Detroit News Comic Book Continuum. It is reported that the location shooting in Salt Lake City is expected to take six weeks.
From Cinescape Online:www.cinescape.com
THE CROW: SALVATION SHOOTING
Production is scheduled to begin in Utah on Feb. 15 for The Crow: Salvation, the third movie in the series based on the comic-book concepts created by James O'Barr. Six weeks of shooting are expected on location in the Salt Lake City area. Bharat Nalluri is directing The Crow: Salvation from a script by Chip Johannessen. Eric Mabius will star as Alex Corvis, the new Crow. Kirsten Dunst will play Erin Randall, the sister of a murdered woman who teams up with Corvis to solve the mystery of the murder. The Crow: Salvation, from Miramax/Dimension Films, could reach theaters as early as Halloween of this year. There's no word yet if there will be a comics adaptation of the film. Todd McFarlane Productions and Image Comics are publishing an ongoing color Crow series, tied in with The Crow: Stairway to Heaven television series.
The Comic Book Continuum
Everything But the Kitchen Sink
Bad news for fans who enjoy the variety that publishers like the venerable Kitchen Sink Press bring to comics: it appears that the company is, at the bare minimum, discontinuing its comic book publishing operations and scaling back its book offerings, focusing instead on its candy business.
So where does this leave some of Kitchen Sink's most respected properties? Well, insofar as Will Eisner's work is concerned, all the rights revert to a family-owned company, which means that Eisner can take The Spirit and other projects to a new publisher.
James O'Barr reclaims the rights to J. O'Barr's The Crow; since Todd McFarlane is already publishing a Crow comic based on the syndicated series, it is possible that the rights to the black and white Crow series might find a home there as well.
So where does that leave other projects, like the Li'l Abner reprints, the Zot! reprints, the long-awaited From Hell and Seduction of the Innocent volumes, etc.? For now, in limbo: while it is possible that other publishers will pick up those books, the current state of the reprint market might make it difficult for a new publisher to make these books profitable.
Kitchen Sink is still in business in one capacity, however; they will continue to produce licensed candy bars for such properties as as Betty Boop, Bone, etc. And there are rumors that Denis Kitchen will re-enter publishing with a new company focusing on the works of Robert Crumb and other successful alternative comic artists.
Comic Shop News
McFarlane To Do 'Doom', 'Crow'?
The creative visions behind two of the hottest comic properties to branch out into other media may soon collide. According to Todd McFarlane Entertaiment President Terry Fitzgerald, the creator of Spawn may take his pen to the Crow universe sometime in the near future. "As a teaser, Todd might write an episode of the Crow TV show for 99 as it has been picked up for a further season," Fitzgerald told yours truly. Additionally, McFarlane and Co. may be hired to flesh out the world of the hit video game Doom. "We are very close to signing a deal with Columbia Pictures to work on their Doom feature film based on the PC title," Fitzgerald said adding, however, that it's "too early to tell. Todd and I would exec produce, story consult and design characters." In the near future, look for TME's animated work to appear on MTV in the form of a video for the band Korn's song "Freak on a Leash." The video will be a half animated, half live-action collaboration with Dayton/Farris (the people behind the groundbreaking video for the Smashing Pumpkins tune "Tonight, Tonight"). "We are providing the animated half, DF the live action segment," Fitzgerald confided. "In ours we bring to life the cartoon children from the album cover and put them into a perilous situation by introducing a security guard with a over active ego and a .45. A bullet gets fired and all hell breaks loose. The bullet bridges the gap from animation and live action, then back to animation. MTV is already ranting about it. Expect to see it on the tube around February 1st." (A great big thanks to Terry Fitzgerald for his time!)
From Cinescape Online www.cinescape.com
The Crow: Salvation Has Production Start.
The Crow: Salvation feature film is scheduled to start shooting in Utah on February 15, according to the Detroit News Comic Book Continuum. It is reported that the location shooting in Salt Lake City is expected to take six weeks.
Shooting Mentioned Again.
The Detroit News Comic Book Continuum recently presented the production schedule for the latest Crow sequel, which is titled The Crow: Salvation. According the the Continuum, filming is expected to begin in Utah on Feb. 15 of this year. The schedule calls for six weeks of shooting in the Salt Lake City area.
So far the only casting announcements are Eric Mabius to star as Alex Corvis, the latest incarnation of The Crow, with Kirsten Dunst (Interview With the Vampire) co-starring as Erin Randall. Corvis and Randall must work together to solve the murder of Randall's sister, for which Corvis is wrongfully accused.
The filmmakers are hoping for a Halloween 1999 release.
Crow Comic #3.
Written by Jon J Muth, art by Jamie Tolagson, colored by Mark Nicholas, cover by Kent Williams.
Jon Muth's first story arc concludes with The Crow wreaking havoc on the thugs that killed Eric Draven and Shelly Webster.
