Big-Time Writers Lured to... Comic Books?

But he'll go on representing the same values on a global scale

(NEWSER) - OK, so technically he's an alien, but really, what's more American than Superman? Heck, even his outfit is red and blue. But after years of fighting for "truth, justice, and the American way," the Man of Steel announced he's going to renounce his US citizenship in Action Comics #900 . It all started when he independently and non-violently supported protesters in Iran, prompting the Iranian government to view his actions as an act of war from the United States. More»

What will we still be talking about next decade? Britney, for one

(NEWSER) - The ‘00s were full of important contributions to culture, but which ones will we still be talking about in another decade? Here are some of New York ’s picks:

• TV: The Sopranos for inventing quality cable, American Idol for changing the music industry, and of course all things Oprah Winfrey.
• Books: The Da Vinci Code for singlehandedly sustaining the book industry, and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay for blazing the trail of combining geek lit with high lit.

Horror maestro to lend hand on Vertigo's American Vampire

(NEWSER) - Stephen King is truly sinking his teeth into his official comic book debut, writing half of the first five issues of Vertigo’s upcoming American Vampire. The brainchild of King buddy Scott Snyder, the series tells the stories of a line of uniquely American blood suckers. King will be writing the origin of “Skinner,” the line’s progenitor, while Snyder, a noted short-story writer, will write about his descendants. More»

(AP) - The Walt Disney Co. says it is acquiring Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion in cash and stock, bringing characters like Iron Man and Spider-Man into the Disney family. Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of 5,000 Marvel characters. Marvel shareholders will receive $30 per share in cash plus 0.745 Disney shares for every Marvel share they own, Disney reports. More»

Big screen adaptations bring fame to writers

(NEWSER) - Comic books—trendy? All of a sudden they are, the Los Angeles Times reports. “The geeks have won,” says Ed Brubaker, one of the many comic-book creators who now finds himself a celebrity. Brubaker’s Angel of Death premieres online today as a live-action series, but he’s not the only one signing autographs—the popularity of films like The Dark Knight pushed comics into the mainstream. More»