Top Cow Productions: Difference between revisions
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====Film adaptation==== |
====Film adaptation==== |
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An [[Cinema of the United States|American]] [[superhero film]] based on the series was announced in 2008.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|author=SuperHeroHype |url=http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=7255 |title=Witchblade Teaser Poster and Site Revealed |publisher=SuperHeroHype |date=2008-05-26 |accessdate=2017-03-19}}</ref> The film was to be directed by [[Michael Rymer]], who directed the 2002 film ''[[Queen of the Damned (film)|Queen of the Damned]]'' and several episodes of ''[[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]]'', and was to be written by [[Everett De Roche]].<ref>{{cite web|author1=MrDisgusting|title='Witchblade' Director and Writer Revealed!|url= |
An [[Cinema of the United States|American]] [[superhero film]] based on the series was announced in 2008.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|author=SuperHeroHype |url=http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=7255 |title=Witchblade Teaser Poster and Site Revealed |publisher=SuperHeroHype |date=2008-05-26 |accessdate=2017-03-19}}</ref> The film was to be directed by [[Michael Rymer]], who directed the 2002 film ''[[Queen of the Damned (film)|Queen of the Damned]]'' and several episodes of ''[[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]]'', and was to be written by [[Everett De Roche]].<ref>{{cite web|author1=MrDisgusting|title='Witchblade' Director and Writer Revealed!|url=https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/12487|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826072940/http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/12487|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 August 2009|website=Bloody Disgusting|accessdate=9 September 2017|date=4 June 2008}}</ref> |
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The film was one of two being produced and financed back-to-back by [[Platinum Studios]], IDG Films and [[Relativity Media]]. The film was to be produced by Arclight's Gary Hamilton and Nigel Odell, Platinum Studios' [[Scott Mitchell Rosenberg]], and Steve Squillante of Havenwood Media. Top Cow's Marc Silvestri and Matt Hawkins were to be executive producers with Platinum Studios' Rich Marincic and Greenberg Group's Randy Greenberg. Filming was announced to begin in September 2008, with China and Australia among the possible locations being considered for filming.<ref>{{cite web|author=Pamela McClintock |url= |
The film was one of two being produced and financed back-to-back by [[Platinum Studios]], IDG Films and [[Relativity Media]]. The film was to be produced by Arclight's Gary Hamilton and Nigel Odell, Platinum Studios' [[Scott Mitchell Rosenberg]], and Steve Squillante of Havenwood Media. Top Cow's Marc Silvestri and Matt Hawkins were to be executive producers with Platinum Studios' Rich Marincic and Greenberg Group's Randy Greenberg. Filming was announced to begin in September 2008, with China and Australia among the possible locations being considered for filming.<ref>{{cite web|author=Pamela McClintock |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117934492.html?categoryId=1350&cs=1 |title=Pic trio wields ‘Witchblade’ |publisher=Variety |date=2005-12-12 |accessdate=2017-03-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Michael Fleming |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117985461.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2562 |title=‘Witchblade’ sharpened for bigscreen |publisher=Variety |date=2008-05-11 |accessdate=2017-03-19}}</ref> [[Megan Fox]] was approached for the role of Sara Pezzini at the 2008 [[San Diego Comic-Con]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2017}} |
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The film's website and teaser poster were released in May 2008,<ref name="autogenerated2"/> but the project was later cancelled. |
The film's website and teaser poster were released in May 2008,<ref name="autogenerated2"/> but the project was later cancelled. |
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====Anime series==== |
====Anime series==== |
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{{Main|Witchblade (anime)}} |
{{Main|Witchblade (anime)}} |
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In 2004 Japanese animation studio [[GONZO]] announced an [[anime]] version of ''Witchblade'', with a subsequent [[manga]] adaptation. The anime version is considered controversial by some because GONZO has announced that the main [[fictional character|character]] of the anime is of Japanese ethnicity but is not [[Hangaku Gozen|Itagaki]], one of the previous bearers of the Witchblade. Instead it is a new character named Masane. Although this series sets up an entire new story with all new characters, it is set in the same continuity as the comic book.<ref>{{cite web|url= |
In 2004 Japanese animation studio [[GONZO]] announced an [[anime]] version of ''Witchblade'', with a subsequent [[manga]] adaptation. The anime version is considered controversial by some because GONZO has announced that the main [[fictional character|character]] of the anime is of Japanese ethnicity but is not [[Hangaku Gozen|Itagaki]], one of the previous bearers of the Witchblade. Instead it is a new character named Masane. Although this series sets up an entire new story with all new characters, it is set in the same continuity as the comic book.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2006-12-12/top-cow-announces-witchblade-manga-in-2007 |title=Top Cow Announces Witchblade Manga in 2007 |publisher=Anime News Network |date=2006-12-12 |accessdate=2017-03-19}}</ref> |
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The anime series began broadcast during April 2006 and ran for 24 episodes. The lead character is the kind-hearted Masane who, despite her good intentions, is fairly clumsy and not good around the house. After the events of an earthquake that struck her home six years before the series, known as "Year Zero", Masane has no recollection of her past prior to this date. When she comes into contact with the Witchblade, Masane also finds herself under the watchful eye of an organization called the NSWF (National Scientific Welfare Foundation), and struggles to hold on to her daughter Rihoko, whom the government is trying to take from her. |
The anime series began broadcast during April 2006 and ran for 24 episodes. The lead character is the kind-hearted Masane who, despite her good intentions, is fairly clumsy and not good around the house. After the events of an earthquake that struck her home six years before the series, known as "Year Zero", Masane has no recollection of her past prior to this date. When she comes into contact with the Witchblade, Masane also finds herself under the watchful eye of an organization called the NSWF (National Scientific Welfare Foundation), and struggles to hold on to her daughter Rihoko, whom the government is trying to take from her. |
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Revision as of 19:01, 20 April 2020
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|
 | |
| Founded | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Marc Silvestri |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Headquarters location | Los Angeles |
| Key people | Marc Silvestri Matt Hawkins |
| Fiction genres | Superhero fiction, science fiction, horror fiction, licensed properties |
| Official website | www |
Top Cow Productions is an American comics publisher, a partner studio of Image Comics founded by Marc Silvestri in 1992.
History
 | This section needs to be updated. (March 2017) |
During the early years of Image Comics, which was founded in 1992, co-founder, Marc Silvestri shared a studio with Jim Lee, where he created his first creator-owned comic book, Cyberforce, as part of Image's initial line-up. After setting up his own studio, Top Cow Productions, he expanded into other comics, launching Codename: Strykeforce, a new Cyberforce series and various spin-offs.
The company attracted several professionals including artist Brandon Peterson, writer Garth Ennis and former Marvel staffer David Wohl. It also helped launch the careers of various writers and artists, such as Christina Z., Joe Benitez, Michael Turner and David Finch. Benitez, Turner and Finch have since worked for DC and Marvel Comics.
In 1996, Top Cow briefly departed from Image during a power struggle with Image associate Rob Liefeld until Liefeld left the company shortly after.[1] At the same time, Top Cow was moving more into the fantasy genre. New properties were Witchblade (where Turner had his first big success) and The Darkness (where Marc Silvestri returned to artist duties). Thanks to the success of Witchblade Top Cow was able to expand, adding to its line with titles that included The Darkness, Magdalena, Aphrodite IX, and others. Silvestri was heavily involved in training and developing new talent through the studio and Top Cow was known for a time for its "house style".[original research?]
In addition to its company owned properties, Top Cow has worked with creators to develop creator-owned properties. These properties have included Michael Turner's Fathom which eventually ended up at Aspen Comics, and Joe's Comics, created exclusively for J. Michael Straczynski, which included Rising Stars and Midnight Nation. Top Cow is also known for bringing Tomb Raider's Lara Croft to comics.
In 2006, Top Cow made a business agreement with Marvel Comics to use several of their licensed properties in their own series,[citation needed] with characters including Wolverine and the Punisher, appearing in crossovers (Darkness/Wolverine and Witchblade/Punisher). Also, as part of this agreement, several Top Cow artists provided art chores on various Marvel series,[citation needed] such as Tyler Kirkham (Phoenix: Warsong and New Avengers/Transformers), Mike Choi (X-23: Target X), and Silvestri himself (X-Men: Messiah Complex). At the 2007 San Diego Comic Con an announcement was made by Marvel Comics extending the deal into 2008.[citation needed] They also used Kickstarter to fund some of the comics.[citation needed]
At the 2007 New York Comic Con it was announced that Top Cow would be one of the first major comics publishers to offer online distribution, through a partnership with IGN. The initial titles offered were Tomb Raider #1–50, The Darkness #1–50 and Witchblade #1–50, at around $1 per issue.[citation needed] They also announced a deal with Zannel to license their comics as mobile comics.[2]
Titles
Media adaptations
Top Cow publisher Filip Sablik said in an interview that:
Both film and television, as well as video games and animation, are things that Top Cow is regularly and constantly pursuing. All of those things also take a long time to develop and set up. The Witchblade Anime that Gonzo produced and was released by FUNimation in the US took almost a decade to come to fruition. Add on to that Marc Silvestri and Matt Hawkins mantra of “we’d rather have no movie than a crappy movie” and you can see why it can take a while to bring a Witchblade or The Darkness movie to fans.[3][failed verification]
The Darkness
Film
In December 2004, Dimension Films paid an undisclosed six-figure sum to develop a movie based on the comic, possibly for release in 2008. The film was pitched as a movie similar to The Crow, which was also produced by Dimension. There have been no further developments.
Video games
In March 2005, The Darkness was licensed by Majesco Entertainment for a console game to be developed by Starbreeze Studios. 2K Games later obtained the rights to the game, and the first-person shooter was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 console systems on June 25, 2007 in the United States and releasing first on Xbox 360 in EU Regions on June 29, 2007 and then a month later on PS3 on July 20.
To promote the video game a five-issue mini-series was released, with each issue chronicled a chapter of the game. In June 2007 it was collected into a trade paperback.[4]
In February 2012, a sequel to the video game, entitled The Darkness II, was released for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The script for the game was written by comic book writer Paul Jenkins, who previously worked on The Darkness comic series. Unlike the first game, the graphics for The Darkness II were developed using a cel-shading technique, emulating the aesthetic of its graphic novel namesake.[citation needed] The game received positive reviews from critics.[citation needed]
Witchblade
Television series
Following a pilot film in August 2000, the cable network TNT premiered a television series based on the comic book series in 2001. The series was directed by Ralph Hemecker and written by Marc Silvestri and J.D. Zeik. Yancy Butler starred as Sara Pezzini. Although critically acclaimed and popular with audiences, it was canceled in September 2002.[5] Announced as a production decision, the cancellation nevertheless provoked widespread speculation that the true reason was Butler's alcohol addiction. Butler was ordered to enter rehab for alcohol addiction a year later, after being arrested for wandering intoxicated amidst traffic.[6]
Witchblade ran for two seasons of 12 episodes on TNT. The first episode aired on June 12, 2001, and the last episode aired on August 26, 2002. On April 1, 2008, Warner Home Video announced a long-anticipated DVD release. Witchblade: The Complete Series — a seven-disc collectors set including the original made-for-TV movie, all 23 episodes of the series, and special features — was released July 29, 2008.[7]
Film adaptation
An American superhero film based on the series was announced in 2008.[8] The film was to be directed by Michael Rymer, who directed the 2002 film Queen of the Damned and several episodes of Battlestar Galactica, and was to be written by Everett De Roche.[9]
The film was one of two being produced and financed back-to-back by Platinum Studios, IDG Films and Relativity Media. The film was to be produced by Arclight's Gary Hamilton and Nigel Odell, Platinum Studios' Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, and Steve Squillante of Havenwood Media. Top Cow's Marc Silvestri and Matt Hawkins were to be executive producers with Platinum Studios' Rich Marincic and Greenberg Group's Randy Greenberg. Filming was announced to begin in September 2008, with China and Australia among the possible locations being considered for filming.[10][11] Megan Fox was approached for the role of Sara Pezzini at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con.[citation needed]
The film's website and teaser poster were released in May 2008,[8] but the project was later cancelled.
Anime series
In 2004 Japanese animation studio GONZO announced an anime version of Witchblade, with a subsequent manga adaptation. The anime version is considered controversial by some because GONZO has announced that the main character of the anime is of Japanese ethnicity but is not Itagaki, one of the previous bearers of the Witchblade. Instead it is a new character named Masane. Although this series sets up an entire new story with all new characters, it is set in the same continuity as the comic book.[12]
The anime series began broadcast during April 2006 and ran for 24 episodes. The lead character is the kind-hearted Masane who, despite her good intentions, is fairly clumsy and not good around the house. After the events of an earthquake that struck her home six years before the series, known as "Year Zero", Masane has no recollection of her past prior to this date. When she comes into contact with the Witchblade, Masane also finds herself under the watchful eye of an organization called the NSWF (National Scientific Welfare Foundation), and struggles to hold on to her daughter Rihoko, whom the government is trying to take from her.
See also
References
- ^ Dean, Michael (25 October 2000). "The Image Story Part Two: The Honeymoon". The Comics Journal. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
- ^ Powers, Kevin (14 September 2007). "BAM! KAPOW! BOOM! Zannel And Top Cow Team Up To Fight Mobile Boredom". Silver Bullet Comics. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
- ^ Cullen, Ian (2015-03-28). "Masi Oka Returns As Hiro For 'Heroes Reborn'". Scifipulse.net. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
- ^ The Darkness: Levels at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
- ^ Grossberg, Joss (5 September 2002). "Witchblade Sliced by TNT". E! Online. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
- ^ Grossberg, Joss (24 November 2003). "Witchblade Star Ordered to Rehab". E! Online. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
- ^ "Witchblade DVD news: Announcement for Witchblade - The Complete Series". TVShowsOnDVD.com. 2008-01-04. Archived from the original on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
- ^ a b SuperHeroHype (2008-05-26). "Witchblade Teaser Poster and Site Revealed". SuperHeroHype. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
- ^ MrDisgusting (4 June 2008). "'Witchblade' Director and Writer Revealed!". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on 26 August 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
- ^ Pamela McClintock (2005-12-12). "Pic trio wields 'Witchblade'". Variety. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
- ^ Michael Fleming (2008-05-11). "'Witchblade' sharpened for bigscreen". Variety. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
- ^ "Top Cow Announces Witchblade Manga in 2007". Anime News Network. 2006-12-12. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
External links
 | This section's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. (March 2017) |
- Official website
- Top Cow Productions at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
- Image Comics – Image Comics Official Site
- Arrant, Chris (June 24, 2008). "Top Cow: Then and Now 1: Q&A with President Matt Hawkins". Newsarama.
- Arrant, Chris (June 25, 2008). "Top Cow: Then and Now 2: Q&A with Publisher Filip Sablik". Newsarama.
- Top Cow Productions at the Grand Comics Database
- Furey, Emmett (December 1, 2008). "WEEK OF TOP COW: Marc Silvestri". Comic Book Resources.
- Furey, Emmett (December 2, 2008). "WEEK OF TOP COW: Filip Sablik". Comic Book Resources.
- Weiland, Jonah (December 3, 2008). "WEEK OF TOP COW: Ron Marz & Phil Hester". Comic Book Resources. December 3, 2008
- Furey, Emmett (December 5, 2008). "WEEK OF TOP COW: Matt Hawkins". Comic Book Resources.
- Furey, Emmett (December 8, 2008). "WEEK OF TOP COW: Rob Levin". Comic Book Resources.
- Furey, Emmett (December 8, 2008). "The Future of Top Cow with Filip Sablik". Comic Book Resources.
- "Interview with Top Cow Productions Publisher, Filip Sablik". Flames Rising. May 1, 2010