We’re proud to introduce a new feature to our ULTIMATE FIGHTER recaps: expert commentary from Rafael Kayanan. Rafael is a cartoonist of long standing, (check out his work on Conan #39 written by Kurt Busiek, now in stores and his art blog here.) but he is also a technical expert and fight coordinator for movies, with extensive knowledge of fighting techniques, both hand to hand and with edged weapons. He also watches TUF and we’re honored to have him offering his commentary as his schedule allows.

So…on to the fighting!
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Bob at Four Realities reports on last nights Bryan Talbot talk in Toronto:

Most of his presentation then looked at individual pages of the new book and discussed how they fit into the larger picture of either the history of Sunderland, the history of Carroll or the history of comics, occasionally adding some details and anecdotes that didn’t make it into the book. He also talks a bit about his work process and artistic choices, like where he deliberately evokes the styles of some older comics as it seems appropriate for the scene (Jack Kirby for the Battle of Hastings, Herge’s TINTIN for his trip to Morocco, 1950s “Boy’s Own” British comics for the heroic tale of Jack Crawford, Sir John Tenniel at various times, of course, like the adaptation of “Jabberwocky”). He also talks a bit about his artistic process in this book, which is heavily based in digital manipulation of images to get various effects, with a step-by-step look at how he took an image of the boat that Alice Liddell travelled to America on, added waves, smoke and birds and tinted it for final use. Some other interesting anecdotes on the production include how he got permission for use of photos of the Bayeux Tapestry with some product placement and how he sampled the colouring of some old comics to make the Jack Kirby inspired segment more authentic. There are several dozen interesting asides like that.

Plus, Everyone has been linking to this review of ALICE IN SUNDERLAND done in the style of the book and so will we.

Friday night we stopped by Hanleys to say hi to Bryan Talbot and get our copy of ALICE IN SUNDERLAND signed. It was an odd day, as the signing almost had to be cancelled when someone jumped out of the Empire State Building across the street. Only one leg made it all the way to the street, but it landed right across from Hanleys. Brrrrrr…we managed to snag an invite to dinner afterwards with Bryan and his wife Mary, who is a doctor of linguistics and got to grill Bryan with all kind of questions on how he managed to create this singular masterpiece.

Apparently the book has gotten tons of attention in England, where it was published by the UK arm of Random House. (The acquiring editor is also Salmon Rushdie’s editor.) Recounting as it does the history of Sunderland, a rather little known part of England, the book has made Talbot a local hero, with a gallery show and numerous cover stories in the local papers. It’s already broken even sales-wise, we’re told.

Anyway, you can have your very OWN evening with Bryan Talbot tonight in Toronto. Considering that he’s truly one of the unsung masters of the comics form (and an early adapter of the graphic novel format itself) we highly recommend checking it out:

Alice in Sunderland
A Conversation with Bryan Talbot
In support of his new graphic novel ALICE IN SUNDERLAND
Monday, April 16th, 2007, 6PM
The Merril Collection (Lillian H. Smith Library, 239 College St.)
Free to attend.

Hosted by SPACE’s Mark Askwith

Bryan Talbot is coming to Toronto! The creator of One Bad Rat, Luther Arkwright, and the artist of The Sandman Special #1: The Song of Orpheus is touring North America in support of his massive new graphic novel, Alice In Sunderland.

Talbot will be doing a presentation from the work, and will be interviewed on stage by Mark Askwith from the SPACE channel.

We’re very excited to see such an esteemed creator visiting us all the way from the U.K., so save the date and make sure to come out for this rare appearance. Both The Tale of One Bad Rat and the brand-new Alice In Sunderland are available for sale at The Beguiling now!

Bryan Talbot has several East Coast appearances this week, including a presentation at the Lewis Carroll Society of America which is open to the public. He’s touring in support of his amazing new book ALICE IN SUNDERLAND, which we’re still only halfway through. Catch him where you can! Here’s his schedule for the rest of the year from his site:

Washington DC: Wednesday April 11th 2007, 6-8 pm Big Planet Comics, 4908 Fairmont Ave. Bethesda, MD, 301-654-6856.
Baltimore: Thursday April 12th, 2007: 5:30-7:30 pm Cards Comics & Collectibles, Inc: 100A Chartley Drive, Reisterstown, MD, 21136; (410) 526-7410
New York: Friday April 13th 2007, 6-8 pm Jim Hanley’s Universe 4 W 33rd St New York, NY 10001 (212) 268-7088
Saturday April 14th 2007: Lewis Carroll Society of North America, Butler Library, Room 203, Columbia University, NYC, 11.00 - 11.55am, Alice presentation and book signing (Open to the public)

April 16th 2007; 6pm, The Beguiling, The Merril Collection
Lillian H Smith Library, 239 College Street, Toronto
416 -533 9168; Presentation by Bryan Talbot, hosted by Mark Askwith
Saturday 21st April 1-2pm Forbidden Planet 59 Grainger Street, City Centre, Newcastle, NE1 5JE.Signing with cover artist Jordan Smith Tel: 0191 261 9173 (also see the Forbidden Planet events page for more info)
Saturday 21st April 4pm-5pm Borders Unit 8A Goodwood Square, Teesside Retail Park, Thornaby, Stockton-On-Tees, TS17 7BW Signing with cover artist Jordan Smith Tel: 01642 608651
Sunday 22nd April, 2 - 3pm Waterstones, 69 Saddler Street, Durham
DH1 3NP, 0191 3831488: Signing with cover artist Jordan Smith
Saturday 5th May: 1-2pm Smiths 41-43 Mesnes Street, Wigan, Lancashire, WN1 1QY Tel: 01942 242 810
Saturday 5th May: 4-6pm Waterstones C3-5 Fishergate, Preston, PR1 3LJ Tel: 01772 555766
Saturday 12th May & Sunday 13th May Bristol International Comics Expo Ramada Plaza Hotel, Redcliffe Way, Bristol, BS1 8NJ
Saturday 26th May: 11am Travelling Man: 7-11 Corn Exchange, Leeds, LS1 7BR Tel: 0113 3935356
Saturday 26th May: 3pm Travelling Man: 54 Goodramgate, York, YO1 7LF Tel: Gary 01904 6287887
Sunday 27th May 12pm Travelling Man 4-4a Dale Street, Manchester, M1 1JW Tel: 0161 2371877
Saturday 2nd June 10-6pm Asylum Books and Games 29 Adelphi, Aberdeen AB11 5BL Tel: 01224 574637
Sunday 3rd June 1-2pm Waterstones 174-176 Argyle St, Glasgow, G2 8BT Tel: 0141 2484814
Sunday 3rd June 5-6pm Forbidden Planet 40-41 Southbridge Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1LL Tel: 0131 558 8226

We’ve spotted the cover of the final Frank Miller/Dave Gibbons collaboration on Martha Washington, and here’s the solicitation info:

MARTHA WASHINGTON DIES

FRANK MILLER (W), DAVE GIBBONS (A), and ANGUS MCKIE (C)

On sale July 11, FC, 24 pages, $3.50 One-shot

On Earth, the battle for freedom rages on. The year is 2095 and the day is the one-hundredth birthday of Martha Washington. She is the leader of a small, resolute band that will not forfeit the pursuit of liberty—no matter what the cost. Today, the cost will be high. Martha has seen much in her hundred years, from the triumphs and tragedies of the battlefront, to the deepest reaches of space. Today, she will finally see the truth.

Includes a special section of never-before-seen production sketches and drawings that predate Martha’s first series, Give Me Liberty, along with Frank Miller’s original plot notes, all wrapped inside a high-quality card stock cover.  This all-new story by two of comics’ legendary creators is the unprecedented conclusion to one woman’s epic struggle for life’s most valuable quality—freedom.

Miller and Gibbons reunite to tell the final chapter!

Thanks to Richard Starkings for pointing out the cover.

Via PR

Even the U.S. Government can appreciate the classic political artwork of frequent New Yorker cover artist Eric Drooker. The Library of Congress has just purchased the original artwork of Drooker’s political masterwork, Flood! to rest in their public prints and photos collection. These pages have found a permanent home alongside graphic novel pioneer Lynd Ward’s 1930s originals, and the work of comics legend, Will Eisner.

“At first I was amazed that the U.S. Government would invest in a set of images so overtly critical of itself,” says Drooker, “but the Library of Congress represents a progressive wing of the government. Over the years, various collectors have tried to purchase original art from the book, but I never wanted to break up the cycle of engravings. I think it’s fantastic that now, scholars of future generations will be able to examine the original work in its entirety.”

To celebrate, Dark Horse Comics is proud to announce a new edition of this powerful graphic novel, with an additional chapter. An American Book Award winner and an Editor’s Choice of The New York Times, Flood! is a modern novel written in the timeless language of pictures, with an expressionist, film noir edge. Flood! explores all the joys and sadness of big city life, while prophetically gazing into the not-so-distant future.

In The New York Times Book Review, Pulitzer Prize winner Art Spiegelman (Maus) best described Flood! as “a complex, dream-charged vision of alienation in the wet, mean streets of New York City, where primal natural urges are suppressed in the lonely isolation of crowds. It’s a picture of a soulless civilization headed toward the apocalypse. It’s a poetic and lyrical novel—told virtually without words.”

He goes on to praise Drooker’s artistic storytelling. “Since images are usually open to broader interpretation than prose, each drawing in the sequence must work not only as a self–centered composition but also as a kind of hieroglyphic picture-writing. The page acts as a curtain to be raised, each page offering up new visual surprises. Mr. Drooker has discovered the magic of pulling light and life out of an inky sea of darkness.”

Drooker adds “Since Flood! was first published, the ‘graphic novel’ has emerged as a serious literary form. A number of sequential artists have created powerful dramas in words and pictures. My aim was slightly different: I was dispensing with the words—allowing the pictures alone to tell the story. The challenge to me, as a visual artist, was to explore how far I could communicate without resorting to words, to create a more powerful, universal tale.”
This special edition of Flood!: A Novel in Pictures features a bonus chapter, “After the Flood,” which includes thirty-two pages of new graphics, preliminary art, and an in-depth interview with the author. This definitive edition of Flood! is a unique record of our country’s turbulent past—and corporate present—and a must-read for students of graphic storytelling. This third edition also features a new cover by Drooker and a complete re-design. Flood!: A Novel in Pictures, was followed by Drooker’s acclaimed book, Blood Song: A Silent Ballad.

Flood!: A Novel in Pictures features art and story by Eric Drooker. This third edition arrives on sale April 25, carrying a retail price of $14.95.

For more information on the artist and his other works, please visit www.drooker.com.

Just one more 300 parody video because it’s got KITTENS.

§ Someone here was complaining that Queens is to be left out of the Spidey 3 festivities taking place at the end of the month, but in what we can only term a fitting move, the movie will premiere in that fine borough:

The event, slated for Queens because it is Peter Parker’s hometown, is set for April 30, four days before the pic’s May 4 global bow. It is part of both the Tribeca Film Festival and “Spider-Man Week in NYC,” a co-venture by the city and Columbia Pictures. The film’s global debut is set for April 16 in Japan.

§ Meanwhile CBR posts new FF 2 stills. Please go there for more. Howabout them skintight suits, eh?

§ More in the endless rounds of SIN CITY 2 gossip

The stars of the SIN CITY prequel have been told not to discuss ANGELINA JOLIE’s possible involvement in the film. Jolie has been linked to the graphic novel adaptation, A DAME TO KILL FOR, but director ROBERT RODRIGUEZ is keen to keep his big name star under wraps and he’s told his cast members not to reveal any details. Actress ROSARIO DAWSON, who will reprise her character, GAIL, opposite other Sin City alumni BRITTANY MURPHY and JESSICA ALBA, says, “The lead actress is going to be absolutely fabulous; but I can’t tell you who it is.” But Dawson does reveal to Movies.com, “It’s going to be the prequel to my segment in the first one, so you’ll understand a little bit more what the argument was between (co-star) CLIVE OWEN and my character.”

But what does Clive Owen look like BALD, that’s what we want to know.

§ Gilbert Hernandez has a new series coming out entitled SPEAK OF THE DEVIL at Dark Horse. What with Love and Rockets, and New Palomar, and his graphic novels, Gilbert seems pretty prolific these days.

Val Castillo is a young gymnast with a strange hobby—looking through her neighbors’ windows. At first, no one knows the identity of the neighborhood peeper, only that the suspect wears a devil’s mask.

When a friend discovers Val’s secret, he joins her into a dark journey of spying and discovery that includes peering into the bedroom of Val’s own father and stepmother. Intimate details of neighbors’ lives, better left quiet, become chatter and threaten all involved, eventually snowballing into a dark journey that even the strongest soul would not care to endure.

Speak of the Devil #1 features story and art from Gilbert Hernandez (Love & Rockets). The miniseries arrives on sale July 25.

§ Eric Powell’s THE GOON is also coming back at DH:

After a long hiatus from the regular series to work on The Goon: Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker graphic novel, Eric Powell, the mastermind behind The Goon is back! It’s been more than a year since Eric has written and drawn the ongoing adventures of his fan-favorite, award-winning antihero, and he aims to prove that the wait was worth it.

The brand-new story is the beginning of major upheavals in the Goon universe. The Zombie Priest and his latest abominations continue to plague the streets, but his madness and use of forbidden magic is drawing forces to Lonely Street that he may not be able to control. Plus the Goon comic is now offering 50% more poop jokes than all the Marvel and DC superhero titles combined. Suck on that, X-Men!

300 has landed at #12 on this week’s Hardcover Bestsellers list at Publishers Weekly. While it’s not the only listing for a graphic novel on a nationally recognized bestseller list (SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS charted a few years and ago and there have been others including, we believe, the ALIEN movie adaptation back in the day) it’s certainly a strong showing for the Dark Horse books.

We’re assuming Dirk hadn’t seen this when he castigates Dark Horse for their PR:

The following headline can currently be found on the Dark Horse homepage: “300 GRAPHIC NOVEL IS NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION!!!!!”

The 300 graphic novel is currently the #1 best selling graphic novel in the nation! Congratulations to Frank Miller and Lynn Varley!!!! Plus, a very special thank you to all the fans who have helped to make the book such a huge success.

The blurb is dated “Updated 3/23/07,” and I suppose it’s possible that Bookscan might be telling a different or more current story than, say, the USA Today listings. I hope so. I’d hate to think that Dark Horse, of all companies, doesn’t consider manga volumes to count as “graphic novels.”

We’d hate to think that Dirk is so in love with his manga that he ignores any evidence that goes against the worldview that he is hellbent on promoting each and every day. While we agree with him that it’s silly to ignore the huge success of manga, it’s equally silly to ignore the success of things that AREN’T manga…cuz it CAN happen y’know.

A variety of PR that dropped into our mailbox from Dark Horse recently.First off, Jeremy Atkins has been promoted to Director of Publicity. Way to go, Jeremy!

They also announced that they will be releasing the cult hit manga MPD-PSYCHO

MPD-Psycho was deemed too shocking for other publishers, with violent images that most thought were too graphic for the American public.

But coming this June, the most-requested manga series in recent memory will be presented uncut and uncensored from Dark Horse Comics. Brace yourself for a dark journey into madness: Eiji Otsuka and Sho-u Tajima’s MPD-Psycho.

Police detective Kobayashi Yousuke’s life is changed forever after a serial killer notices something “special” about the detective. Kobayashi is stable police detective until he witnesses the killer he’s hunting mutilate Kobayashi’s own girlfriend. The event triggers several dormant personalities that push Kobayashi into a complex tempest of deviants and evil forces, ultimately creating a multiple personality detective.

Earning praise for its consistently shocking plotlines and Sho-u Tajima’s clean, arresting art style, MPD-Psycho is the manga event of the decade. The title was rated the eighth most wanted Japanese series in U.S. fan polls and has sold more than four million copies in Japan.

MPD-Psycho is written by novelist and manga visionary Eiji Otsuka, author of The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, with sleek, stylish art from Sho-u Tajima. MPD-Psycho comes shrink-wrapped and carries an 18+ content advisory.

The trade paperback arrives on sale June 6 and retails for $10.95. Prepare for gory!

Finally, Charles Vess has sculpted a “FAIRY PRINCESS” statue for Dark Horse. Picture below, PR in the jump.

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Publishers Weekly has some hard numbers on the distribution of the 300 graphic novel, still going strong at #8 on Amazon. 80,000 copies of the book are on their way for next month, with many more already on shelves:

In a conference call that also included DH v-p of business development Michael Martens, Richardson sought to dispell rumors that the publisher would not have enough books to meet retailers’ needs. He said that 300 has shipped about 250,000 copies since January 2006. He added that the bookstore market should have 25,000 to 30,000 copies in stock (plus another 10,000 copies at online book retailer Amazon.com) and that bookstore and comics shop retailers have stock to meet demand. Richardson said part of the confusion over the availability of the title is that retailers fearful of getting caught short are reordering even though they have the book in stock. There have been complaints in the past about the availability of reprints for DH’s Sin City and Hell Boy graphic novels after those films opened, although the publisher disputes the notion that it did not have enough books available.

300 handily vanquished the opposition at this weekend’s box office, taking in about $31.2 million for a total of $127.5 after 10 days. It was a 56% drop-off from the bofftastic opening weekend but the WB expects it to reach $200 million. Meanwhile, it’s also expect to slay them overseas.

Thanks to smashing bows in five Asian territories plus exceptionally strong holdover-market performances, “300″ decisively dominated international boxoffice for the weekend, battling its way to an estimated $15.6 million from about 1,300 screens in 13 markets.

The Warner Bros. International release took the No. 1 spot in each market it played. The fresh territories included South Korea (an estimated $6.3 million in five days from 353 screens), Turkey ($1.5 million from 115 sites), Thailand ($917,000 from 120 spots), Hong Kong ($730,000 from 33 sites for an astonishing $22,121 per-screen average) and India ($582,000 from 161 sites).

The biggest of the holdover markets for director Zack Snyder’s rendition of Frank Miller’s graphic novel about the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. is Greece, where the film earned an estimated $2.5 million at 140 screens in its second weekend for a per-screen average of $17,857. The second-weekend tally is exceeded only by “300’s” record-setting opening weekend in the market. Upcoming this weekend are “300″ openings in such major territories as the U.K., France, Italy, Spain and Mexico.

Variety has more, with predctions of “massive” worldwide grosses:

“It will go very, very, very well in Spain,” says one Iberian exhib, who predicted around $16 million for the title and listed violence and piracy as the only possible downsides.

“There’s lots of excitement about it,” a German booker notes. “It even got a standing ovation at the Berlinale. The movie is going to attract male viewers looking for brutal action and female viewers eager to see Gerard Butler in the buff.”

Meanwhile, Ghost Rider has been holding it’s own at the box office, taking in $197.7 million worldwide.

The WB held a 300 press conference in Second Life today with Zack Snyder, Frank Miller, Lena Headey, Rodrigo Santoro and, yes, dear, dear Gerard Butler. Was it weird? Of course it was! The participant avatars were pretty accurate — Miller in his perennial cowboy hat, Snyder in a baseball cap, Butler in his jeans and leather jacket. Headey was impressed with her new, large boobs, but in SL it’s impossible to have less than impressive knockers.

Miller mentioned that he had met with Robert Rodriguez last night about SIN CITY 2 and shooting might start as soon as June. As for casting “read all the rumors,” he hinted, perhaps a reference to their pursuit of Angelina Jolie for Ava in A DAME TO KILL FOR.

He also said that he has an actor in mind for THE SPIRIT but couldn’t reveal the name.

Snyder talked about getting ready for WATCHMEN. For now they are concentrating on the characters and the look of the costumes, since superhero movie fans are used to a high level of detail. “Spider-man is fetish in its detail. That’s the level people expect and if you fall short of it it becomes a joke and that’s the last thing I want to have happen.”

He said there would be some bonus footage on the 300 DVD: “It’s my cut, there is no director’s cut. But there was a sequence we cut out with these giant albino giants that had elfs riding on their backs. When I saw I said that’s too much. Even for me it’s too much! Vince Regan cuts the leg off one of the giants. Someone stabs the midget elf who is on the ground in an elf hat.”

Headey mentioned her recent pilot playing Sarah Conner in a proposed Terminator TV show, but said its been filmed and they are waiting to see if it gets picked up.

Santoro was asked about his LOST character and said you would be learning more about Paulo.

As for DDGB, he didn’t have much to say about the ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK remake he’s signed for. There’s a script but no director. He also said his favorite band is Sigur Ros. Sigh.

Dark Horse has announced that BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SEASON 8 #1 had sold out of a 100K+ initial printing.

Following the book’s release yesterday, Dark Horse will be going back to print on the much anticipated first issue of Buffy: Season 8. Since the book was announced last summer, Dark Horse has garnered a great deal of attention both in and outside of the comic market. With high profile press coverage, buzz among fans, and excitement from direct market retailers, orders exceeded the initial printing of over 100,000 copies!

“Admittedly, our expectations were already gigantic, but this has surpassed even those” says Dirk Wood, Director of Marketing. “We couldn’t be happier about how this has launched, and have high hopes for upcoming issues.”

“We’ve done something unique here. We’ve taken something really popular from the most mainstream of media, television, and we’ve transplanted it with total authority into comics” says Managing Editor, Scott Allie. “This is Buffy, by Joss, as much as the show ever was. And the sales seem to suggest that people are getting the message.”

The upcoming second printing will feature a full bleed version of the breathtaking Jo Chen cover, with some of the design elements removed for a cleaner, and more stripped down look. This new version will be arriving in stores with an on sale date of March 28, just a week before the release of issue #2. Dark Horse encourages retailers to backorder Buffy The Vampire Slayer #1 with confidence, as orders will be filled in full with the new printing.

This will come as a big “duh!” to anyone who knows how popular Whedon and Buffy are among comics-friendly readers, over on the Engine, Warren Ellis wonders why:

And here’s the thing. Printing numbers aren’t set until the order numbers are in. And no-one wants to sell out a print run inside 24 hours of release, so you look at the numbers and you set an overprint, an additional number of copies to satisfy re-order demand.

Lots and lots of books have been selling through their overprints like wildfire. More and more, in fact. And I can tell you that the overprint percentages aren’t being reduced on my books, many if not most of which have been selling out lately.

So what the fuck is going on, that the market cannot guess the demand for BUFFY, SEASON EIGHT, EXCLUSIVELY TOLD IN COMICS AND WRITTEN BY JOSS, to the extent that the overprint is fucking VAPORISED something like twelve hours after the book hit the shelves? If I’m missing something here, please tell me.

It seems that in Iran300 has been viewed as an affront to Persian culture at least according to the staff of Pres. Ahmadinejad:

Javad Shamqadri, a cultural advisor to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said it was “plundering Iran’s historic past and insulting this civilization”.

He branded the film “psychological warfare” against Tehran and its people.

But Iranian culture was strong enough to withstand the assault, Mr Shamqadri said.

“American cultural officials thought they could get mental satisfaction by plundering Iran’s historic past and insulting this civilization,” he said.

Meanwhile, a bunch of US Marines thought the film a cracking good time:

There was periodic cheering Monday night at the Regal multiplex in downtown Oceanside, a few blocks from the main gate of Camp Pendleton, where young Marines attended showings of “300″ on three screens. Some Marines nodded in recognition at lines in the movie that were familiar from their training — such as when King Leonidas instructs his son that the more troops sweat in training, the less they will bleed in combat.

“When the Spartan officer says that Spartans are all about protecting the guy to the left and right rather than being worried about themselves, that struck a chord,” said Pfc. James Lyons, 20. “That’s what they tell us all the time.”

Let’s hope everyone can just agree to disagree and hold off on the rioting.

Well, the receipts are in and 300 has smashed box office records! Surely the success of the film, based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel, will shoot that same GN to the top of the charts as well, right?

Well…Although the book is currently #5 on Amazon’s overall best-seller list, ICv2 went back in to find out how many copies are available, and the news wasn’t so great. The short answer is that Diamond doesn’t have any right this minute, although more are on the way.

Martens also clarified the news on the 15,000 copies of the 300 graphic novel that had “just arrived.” Those copies had arrived in the country and were en route to Diamond. When they are available for distribution (presumably this week), they’ll be used to fill the back orders that accumulated last week. Martens promised a favorable allocation of those copies for the direct market vs. the book channel, with some copies left to fill comic store orders that come in this week.

Last, the additional 15,000 copy order “en route” from Asia is around two months away, meaning that the copies currently in stock in retail stores, soon to be at Diamond, and at book wholesalers will be all of the supply available to the market for some time. Martens did say that additional copies had been ordered beyond those 15,000 copies in an attempt to catch up with demand.

It’s interesting to compare this situation with CAP #25. A few retailers are bleating that “they should have been told!” From where we sit, Marvel couldn’t have done any different here, and they had no idea the story was going to catch on in the media like it did. So retailers are happy to have sold a few hundred copies of a $2.99 comic book, when it seems to us the issue is really selling hundred of copies of a $30 hardcover.

V FOR VENDETTA was the best selling non-manga graphic novel last year, spurred by interest in the movie, which didn’t even do that well. As has been proven many times, comic book movies don’t really boost comics sales that much except when there is a readily understandable, discretely packaged book that tie-in directly with the movie.

300 is the inverse of Cap #25 — everyone knew it was coming for a year, and there was still a bumpy road. The system is still far from perfect.

[This post has been edited from the original.]

Well, the receipts are in and 300 has smashed box office records! Surely the success of the film, based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel, will shoot that same GN to the top of the charts as well, right?

Well…Although the book is currently #5 on Amazon’s overall best-seller list, ICv2 went back in to find out how many copies are available, and the news wasn’t so great. The short answer is that Diamond doesn’t have any right this minute, although more are on the way.

Martens also clarified the news on the 15,000 copies of the 300 graphic novel that had “just arrived.” Those copies had arrived in the country and were en route to Diamond. When they are available for distribution (presumably this week), they’ll be used to fill the back orders that accumulated last week. Martens promised a favorable allocation of those copies for the direct market vs. the book channel, with some copies left to fill comic store orders that come in this week.

Last, the additional 15,000 copy order “en route” from Asia is around two months away, meaning that the copies currently in stock in retail stores, soon to be at Diamond, and at book wholesalers will be all of the supply available to the market for some time. Martens did say that additional copies had been ordered beyond those 15,000 copies in an attempt to catch up with demand.

When HELLBOY and SIN CITY opened, there were similar shortages of copies which seemed to peak just before the films’ opening. There are sporadic reports that the book has been unavailable in bookstores, as well, although that’s more a hit or miss thing.

It’s interesting to contrast the 300 situation with CAP #25. A few retailers are bleating that “they should have been told!” From where we sit, Marvel couldn’t have done any different here, and they had no idea the story was going to catch on in the media like it did. So retailers are happy to have sold a few hundred copies of a $2.99 comic book, when it seems to us the issue is really selling hundred of copies of a $30 hardcover.

V FOR VENDETTA was the best selling non-manga graphic novel last year, spurred by interest in the movie, which didn’t even do that well. As has been proven many times, comic book movies don’t really boost comics sales that much except when there is a readily understandable, discretely packaged book that tie-in directly with the movie.

300 is the inverse of Cap #25 — everyone knew it was coming for a year, and things still didn’t go according to plan. There are still some bumps along the road.

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Variety’s warp up of 300’s box office victory at the ticket selling gates has some interesting quotes — the $70 mil take was a mere $30 million more than tracking predicted. Sheesh!

Playing in more than 3,100 theaters, pic was the third biggest R-rated opener ever — behind “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Passion of the Christ” — and the biggest R-rated opener in March.

[snip] Fellman said the demos for “300″ were equally split between men and women — surprising, given the project’s high violence and machismo — and he pointed to the pic’s Internet-heavy marketing campaign as a major part of its success. Warners had pushed the pic’s trailer on MySpace and other youth-skewing sites.

Reflecting its popularity across many markets, “300″ played to a per-theater average of $16,500 in Salt Lake City, which Fellman called “home of the PG.” Pic hit $28,000 per engagement in Los Angeles and nailed averages of over $24,000 per theater in Las Vegas, Chicago, New York and San Francisco.

Fellman compared the movie’s success to that of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” the 2002 left-field romantic comedy hit that racked up more than $241 million. Pic was another original concept that managed to build a major fanbase though not part of a franchise, a la “Matrix Reloaded”; nor did it attract auds outside the typical moviegoing demo like “The Passion.”

Pic also played particularly well on Imax screens, drawing a $54,500 per-screen average off 62 runs. Imax chairman-prexy Greg Foster said “300″ played into a campaign aimed at the young fanboy crowd.

“We’ve been cultivating the techie crowd of 15- to 24-year-olds who play videogames and watch DVDs,” Foster said. “It’s a (demographic) that’s difficult to get (to theaters), but we finally nailed them.”

300’s production cost was a truly Spartan $65 million, which left a lot for the marketing blitzkrieg. Such a high yield on investment pretty much guarantees that we will be seeing more green screen movies where nothing exists except the six-pack abs.

300 took in another $24.5 million on Saturday for a total thus far of $52.2 million. Studio estimates put its weekend take at $70 million which would put it past ICE AGE: THE MELTDOWN’s previous best March opening of $68 million. By comparison, SIN CITY’s entire domestic take was $74 million.

Congrats to Frank Miller, Lynn Varley, Zack Snyder, the WB and of course, dear dear Gerard Butler. America loves Spartans! Who knew!

As predicted, 300 had a huge Friday opening, ShowBizData reports via Superhero Hype!:

This could be a watershed opening for Snyder and Warner Bros. who took a big chance on the stylized film based on Miller’s graphic novel after the failure of Oliver Stone’s Alexander at the box office in 2004, but it’s a good sign that Snyder’s next proposed project, an adaptation of Alan Moore’s Watchmen, will be fast-tracked come Monday morning.

Although 300 had a bigger opening day than last year’s Ice Age: The Meltdown, which currently holds the March weekend opening record with $68.03 million, the guy-friendly movie is also likely to be more frontloaded to Friday, which means it might be a close one if it’s going to break that record for the weekend.

The number includes IMAX and Thursday midnight screening receipts.

If the ladies over at GB.net are to be believed (and we do), there was much cosplay at opening night:

I just went to our Philly area IMAX to pick up our tickets for the IMAX showing tonight. The theater was absolutely mobbed at 4:00- hundreds of mostly young men, many of them dressed up in helmets and red capes (over clothes, thankfully: it’s 38 degrees here right now, and a few of them were not exactly mankind’s finest specimens - but they were having a blast of a good time).

And another:

Various strangers approached us to have our picture taken with them (I’ll post my own photos later), and we obliged. A little while later, as the lines were building, who should come strolling in the doors but a group of about ten teenage guys, all quite buff, wearing nothing but sandals, shorts, and red cloaks, carrying shields and wooden spears. We cheered and they cheered back and kind of got the crowd going. The security guards gave them a hard time about the makeshift weapons, but let them take a few photos first. I quote a gurad into his walky-talky verbatim “We’ve got hostiles with sticks.” Hilarious. Anyway, my sister and I trotted over to the fellas and asked for a photo, and one’s response was “hell yeah!” and then another said something like “we’ve got to protect the women,” it was very funny.

About halfway through 300, Zack Snyder’s adaptation of Frank Miller and Lynn Varley’s graphic novel, the battle finally kicks in. We’ve been setting it up for 45 minutes — the brutal but freedom loving Spartans versus the sybaritic, slave-driving Persians, the tensions of tradition versus a giant army about to invade, and the ethics of personal sacrifice for cultural good.

300 brave Spartan warriors are facing off against an unknown but vast number of Persians. King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) suddenly strides out into the fray, his spear stabbing through all resistance. As the music heats up, director Snyder speeds up then slows down the action. With his horse-haired helmet, huge bronze shield and swirling red cloak Leonidas is a human video game character, all mighty thews and gritted teeth. It’s bravura and beautiful and nothing quite like it has been seen before.

I saw 300 at a screening a few months ago, but I was in a horrible mood and I saw it with a few writers at a small screening room. My comments that I posted then had to be taken down, and now I’m just as glad because after seeing 300 last night in IMAX, I was pretty much sucked in from the first frame and enjoyed it way more. This isn’t a frightfully intellectual movie—it’s as alien to the idea of subtlety as Sparta was to male sensitivity training. If you are in the mood for some impressive action, breathtaking CGI and a story that hums along without stopping to think too much, you will probably enjoy it very much and my advice is not to feel guilty about it at all.
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It’s 300 week here at SBM! In a very serious matter, ICv2checks in on Dark Horse’s stock levels. You’ll recall that copies of both HELLBOY and SIN CITY trades were in short supply when those respective movies opener. Happily, the situation with 300 is much healthier:

We checked in with Dark Horse on the in stock status of its 300 titles for the movie premiere weekend, and the news is good. Some 14,000 copies out of a recent shipment of 35,000 copies of the 300 graphic novel are still available, another 15,000 copies have just arrived, and a second 15,000 copy shipment is en route.

THEN, FirstShowing’s Alex Billington examines Why Women Should Go See 300, and the answer is oh, so simple.

This entire list could just be “Gerard Butler” and thousands of women would still go. I really don’t know what it is, but this guy makes girls fall head over heels. Endless women have invaded Comic-Con (all of them representing GerardButler.net) multiple times just to stare and ask ridiculous questions. As Angelina Jolie is to guys, he is to girls - the very top of the line. Just the presence of him, either in a movie or real life (if that dream comes true for a few women) is exciting, I suppose. And heck, for all you ladies who love a hot hunk (did I just say that?) like Gerry, then you definitely will want to go see 300!