I’ve received a lot of comments and emails about the episode order for the upcoming X-Men Animated Volume 3 and 4 DVD sets from Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

Many fans are upset that the episodes are in broadcast order, rather than the order the episodes were written and produced. Although I can’t offer specific examples for these episodes, this type of practice is frowned upon for DVD releases. It leads to continuity errors like a character being discussed in one episode and yet they’ve not been introduced.

When broadcast, episodes are often aired out of production order. More often than not, this is simply related to animation or production delays. One episode may not be ready and a later episode that is ready is broadcast instead.

I asked my Buena Vista Home Entertainment rep to confirm the episode order and it was only a few minutes later I received the reply:

we actually got word that the episodes are being released in their original air date order per the fact sheet sent out.

While this isn’t the best of news, there are two ways to look at it.

One, be happy that we’re finally getting the series on DVD. It’s been a long time coming. Watch them in any order you want when you get them.

or

Two, don’t buy the sets. You’ll either have to satisfy yourself with overpriced, bad quality bootleg sets or watch them online at Marvel.com.

If I receive any more information about the episodes in these sets, I’ll pass it along to our readers.

With the big reveal in yesterday’s Captain America: Reborn #1, I wonder if it has any effect in The Marvels Project #1, from the Captain America team of Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting? It’s possible. Brubaker seems like the kind of writer that likes to build on things. Just look at his Captain America arc, it’s essentially one 50+ issue story.

Marvel has released several preview pages from The Marvels Project #1, due in shops on August 12. The previews certainly look interesting.

The web has been buzzing lately about DC’s Supergirl wearing red shorts under her all too small (in my opinion) blue miniskirt. To this I say bravo, especially to Supergirl artist Jamal Igle and DC editorial.

Evidently, the trend is catching on. Harris Comics has been touting the upcoming revamp (no pun intended) of their mainstay character Vampirella. In September, a new series will debut written by Phil Hester (Darkness) with art by Daniel Sampere. Not only that, the cover price will be $1.99. I’ll be interested to see how this reduced cover price performs.

However, the most “shocking” image released by Harris is this recent teaser on the left.

Yep, she’s wearing shorts. Kind of…

I’m not really sure what you’d call a swimsuit that turns into shorts. It’s an interesting change for a character that has long been known and popular mainly for her sex appeal. But, it seems that Vampirella is changing her costume. Not sure is this is a permanent change or not, but we’ll see.

From June 30 - August 11, 2009, Green Lantern Fans Can Enter to Win a PlayStation 3, a 40" LCD HDTV, a Copy of Green Lantern:  First Flight on Blu-ray and Much More.

To promote the Blu-ray and DVD release of "Green Lantern:  First Flight" on July 28, a sweepstakes has been created to get fans involved and give them a chance to win cool prizes.  Green Lantern fans can enter the sweepstakes and learn more about the fifth entry in the popular DVD series of DC Universe Animated Originals through a Facebook Power Ring widget.

Once the Facebook Power Ring Widget has been added to a fan’s page, they can "recharge their ring" continuously to keep it powered to 100% and automatically submit additional entries in the sweepstakes.  Additional features of the widget include a Personality Quiz, Green Lantern IQ Test, Video, News and Updates, Downloads and Links.

Check it out now at GreenLanternSweeps.com

If you’ve never been to HeroesCon in Charlotte North Carolina, you’ve got plenty of time to plan your first trip for 2010. HeroesCon is a family friendly and creator friendly show with a laid back atmosphere. That made it a perfect choice for Carter’s first convention.

Near the end of 2008, I mentioned to Carter (my oldest son—almost 6 now) and my wife, that he and I should go to HeroesCon 2009.  Carter was ambivalent to the decision, not really know what a convention was. I told him we would get to meet the people who make the comics (he likes reading/looking at them) and that we could shop for older comics and maybe find him some more Tiny Titans.

With the plan made, we began saving… and saving… and saving.

Sometime in April, I called the Charlotte Westin hotel (the official con hotel) and inquired about the con rate. It’s was a sizeable discount and well worth it to be that close to the con. I knew the Carter would need a few trips back to the hotel to rest, so being within walking distance was a necessity. The lady on the phone took our reservation and informed me to call back if I thought we wouldn’t arrive by 3 p.m. We would need to add a credit card to our account to hold the room past 3 – not a problem.

At the beginning of June, I contacted Dustin Harbin about a press pass. Along with convention founder Shelton Drum, he’s the organizational and PR mastermind behind the con. He agreed to put us on the press list. With hotel, con access and trip money put away—all we had to do was wait.

A few days before we left, I dropped by the local Hobby Lobby store (arts and crafts) and picked up Carter a nice 5” x 8” hardcover sketchbook for the show.

The day before the show, I decided to call and add a credit card to our hotel reservation, just in case we weren’t there by the 3 p.m. check in cutoff. I’m glad I did. My original plan was to call from the road and add it if we were running late. However, the hotel informed me they couldn’t take CC info over the phone, it had to be faxed. I managed to get the fax in with minutes to spare.

Thursday morning, June 18, Carter and I loaded up and left Tennessee, bound for Charlotte, North Carolina. The drive wasn’t bad at all. We made one stop for lunch and gas. We arrived at the hotel by 4 p.m. Just enough time to pick our pass for the con and then meet a few members of the Comic Geek Speak podcast (and listeners) for a trip to the local Golden Corral.

Afterwards, we (along with our card mates Jason and Hillary) trekked across the street to the local Target. As with any trip out of town, a visit to the toy aisle is required. It was no surprise to find a few CGS listeners, along with Murd and Pants from Comic Geek Speak perusing the toys as well. Carter picked out a few Ben 10 aliens we had never seen locally (Alien X, Highbreed, and Brain Storm) and we made our way to the checkout.

We made a quick trip to Michael’s so Jason could grab a skecth book and then it was back to the hotel for some much needed rest. We had a big day tomorrow.

Stay tuned for Part 2 and Part 3.

Superman and Batman are teaming up in the next Warner Home Video direct-to-video release of Superman/Batman: Public Enemies on September 29.  This release is an adaptation of the popular Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness storyline that opened the comics series of the same name. The comic featured a ton of guest stars from across the DC Universe and I only hope they make it to the animated version as well.

Here’s some more information direct for Warner Home Video:

Bruce Timm, who was a key producer on Superman: The Animated Series and Batman: The Animated Series, returns to the DC Universe once again with a newly announced direct-to-video (DTV) release scheduled to arrive from Warner Home Video on September 29th. And the voice cast is going to be exciting for fans, as it consists of Superman: TAS stars Tim Daly ("Clark Kent/Superman") and Clancy Brown ("Lex Luthor"), and Batman: TAS star Kevin Conroy ("Bruce Wayne/Batman"). Also among the voice cast are Allison Mack (Smallville), CCH Pounder (ER, The Shield, Justice League’s "Amanda Waller"), and John C. McGinley (Scrubs, Justice League’s "Ray Palmer/The Atom"). Here’s the studio description of this release:

A desperate solution for a troubled country: Lex Luthor for President, with the Justice League in the service of the government. Only Batman and Superman stand against the new regime…and their disloyalty proves to be exactly what Luthor intended! Using their outcast status to instigate a scandal against Superman, Luthor finally tastes a victory in his vendetta against The Man of Steel.

From Executive Producer Bruce Timm, and voiced by the cast from both hit Batman and Superman animated TV series including Kevin Conroy, Tim Daly and Clancy Brown, this DC Universe Original Animated Movie of Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness’s popular graphic novel seethes with political intrigue and action-packed battles between heroes all believing they’re on the right side of the law.

Video is widecreen, in anamorphic on DVD and in high-definition on Blu-ray Disc. Audio on the DVD is English Dolby 5.1 and Spanish Stereo; the Blu-ray sound formats have not been specified just yet. All versions included English subtitles. This 75-minute DTV feature will come in three variations: a single-disc Superman/Batman: Public Enemies DVD ($19.98 SRP) with just the main feature, aSuperman/Batman: Public Enemies - 2 Disc Special Edition DVD ($24.98 SRP) with the bonus material listed below, and a single-disc Superman/Batman: Public Enemies - Blu-ray Disc Special Edition version ($29.99 SRP) with additional BD-only bonus material, also listed below.

Also included on both Special Edition versions will be a Digital Copy of the feature. Following the list of bonus material below you will find package art for each versions of this title. An online trailer/preview and other information can be found at SupermanBatmanDVD.com.

Bonus Material on Superman/Batman: Public Enemies - 2 Disc Special Edition DVD andSuperman/Batman: Public Enemies - Blu-ray Disc Special Edition:

More Than 2 Hours of Extras on Blu-ray and 2-Disc Special Edition:
1. Sneak Peek at DC Universe’s Upcoming Movie
2. Blackest Night: Inside the DC Comics Event
3. A Test of Minds: Superman and Batman featurette giving us a fresh and revitalized look at the team-up of Superman and Batman working together despite their often competitive and challenging relationship
4. Bruce Timm Presents 2 Bonus Cartoons

PLUS: Only on Blu-ray (Almost 4 Hours of Extras Total)
1. 20-Minute Wait: Reuniting the Superman/Batman Animated Series Casts hosted by Andrea Romano
2. An additional 4 Bonus Cartoons handpicked by Bruce Timm