Well, Now The Mainstream Moviegoer Has Spoken

There's been much complaining about The Spirit since the first images and trailers started coming out. But it had come largely from the comic book community and revolved around how much it seemed to become THE SIN CITY SPIRIT, rather than resembling anything Will Eisner ever did.

That sort of thing doesn't bother the mainstream moviegoer, though. So, what did they think of the film? Box Office Mojo has how they expressed their opinion with their dollars:

Also opening, The Spirit drew a piddling estimated $6.5 million over the weekend on around 2,600 screens at 2,509 theaters for $10.4 million in four days. Brandishing the style of Sin City and 300 in its ads and little else, the comic book movie was less-attended than The Shadow and The Phantom.

Damn shame, Frank. You done fucked up real good when you do worse than The Shadow and The Phantom.

300 Fitness Craze Still Kicking

Who knew that over a year and a half after it was released in theaters, 300's influence would still be found in gym's across the country?

Shortly after the release of the movie, there were many articles about the grueling workout routine the actors were put through to get them ripped. An overwhelming number of the exercises (if not all) involved the use of a kettlebell. It became a hot fad that trainers and clients embraced.

In November 2008, you can still see those gyms and trainers resistant to the movement back in 2007 now adopting it. While the local Bally Total Fitness gyms in my area don't have a large variety of kettlebells, but they certainly have several and trainers putting clients through their paces with them.

Who would have ever imagined when Frank Miller's beautiful mini-series came out that it might, in a roundabout way, lead to a new fitness craze?

If They Ever Decide To Do A GOOD Sequel To Dark Knight Returns...

Dustin Nguyen is the guy to call. I swear, this sketch gets across the same feel that Miller conveyed in his classic.

FRANK MILLER'S the spirit

Via a Warren Ellis Twitter (ahem...why you should be on and following him):

Was Miller Drunk? You Decide!

Over in my Paint-By-Twitter coverage of the Eisners (which will be bumped up to appear just below this blog), there was the suggestion that Frank Miller may have been drunk when he appeared behind the podium:

jamessime Special surprise Eisner host is drunken slurring Frank Miller. Having a hard time saying 'Spirit.' 22 minutes ago from twitterrific

graemem @jamessime Frank Miller was AWESOME. Drunk old men should always begin award ceremonies. 3 minutes ago from web in reply to jamessime

Now that there's video of it up on the 'net (which Kevin Melrose brought to my attention via his post at Blog@Newsarama), I leave it up to you. You make the call!

Fun With Eisner Award Twitters

(Editor's Note: This was originally posted Friday night/Saturday morning; it has been bumped in order to be easier to come across for anyone hitting the site Monday)

Wading through all the tweets from Twitterati at the Eisner Awards show. So far, the most interesting:

jamessime Special surprise Eisner host is drunken slurring Frank Miller. Having a hard time saying 'Spirit.' 22 minutes ago from twitterrific

graemem @jamessime Frank Miller was AWESOME. Drunk old men should always begin award ceremonies. 3 minutes ago from web in reply to jamessime

One would say he's having a hard time making a movie that resembles the work, too.



Everyone is reporting with glee the appearance of Tom Lennon & Ben Garant, from TV's Reno 911, as presenters. They joked that last year's Eisners just finished at 2pm this afternoon. Huh. Does the award show really have a rep for running long? I wonder...if they have to play winners off when they get long winded, do they play "The Lonely Man" from the Incredible Hulk TV show?

Everyone seems to have, also, reached a consensus that Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon tugged all the heart strings in the room in their acceptance speech as part of the group that won the award for best anthology series. Becky Cloonan, Rafael Grampa, and Vasilis Lolo round out the rest of the team on the award-winning 5.

mattfraction 5(!!!) 9 minutes ago from mobile web

kellysue Oh my god, I love Bá and Moon. 4 minutes ago from twitterrific

popcandy Was just touched when Brazilian brothers Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba won for best anthology. This comes after 12 years of coming to Comic-Con. 4 minutes ago from txt

Personally, I'm touched by Matt & Kelly. Like my friends Lucas and Janelle Siegel, I'm always wowed by couples that seem to be pursuing and living the dream together. That shit is just amazing. I want to be jealous of it, but I can't bring myself to be. It's just too damn life-affirming to see shit like that to wind up letting a negative emotion get involved. I guess you could say the same for two brothers pursuing and living the dream together, too.

I guess one is never too busy to check their Twitters while at the show and try to figure out where people they know are at:

ronxo Sitting next to Tim Sale, across from Darwyn Cooke and Ed Brubaker is behind me to my left and @agent_m to my right! Comics yay! about 2 minutes ago from txt

Agent_M @graemem where are you sitting? I'm right behind @jamessime and @ronxo 4 minutes ago from TwitterBerry in reply to graemem

graemem @Agent_M In the cheap seats. You think I get into the fancy tables at an event like this? 3 minutes ago from web in reply to Agent_M

Agent_M @graemem ya gotta work your way up! 1 minute ago from TwitterBerry in reply to graemem

I feel it appropriate at this time to mention that Koben Kelly isn't even in the building. I don't know why, though.

After two days (and some bonus time) at a convention where there are more Hollywood goings-on than comic books (or so it seems), you'd think people wouldn't be star-struck:

Agent_M Samuel L. Jackson is here! 1 minute ago from TwitterBerry

graemem Kate freaks out that she is in the same room as Sam Jackson. Her jaw dropped. less than a minute ago from web

graemem I wonder if Sam Jackson is all "Shit, I am slumming it here." 4 minutes ago from web

Agent_M http://twitpic.com/5feu - Samuel L. Jackson presenting an award at the Eisner's 4 minutes ago from TwitPic

Don't want to be an ass by letting it go unmentioned (yes, I know I'm an ass for many other reasons...there's a blog dedicated to it), so I'll pass along that Larry Lieber won the Bill Finger award. It just hasn't had any entertaining tweets about it. Well...maybe:

graemem Kate on Bill Finger Award: "Is this the award for old people?" 8 minutes ago from web

It appears Meltzer won the award for single issue story with JLA #11:

mattfraction jla11 4 minutes ago from mobile web

graemem Oh, Brad. I'll be the first person to clap! 2 minutes ago from web

popcandy Samuel L. Jackson gave best single issue to Brad Meltzer, who said, "This award is to all the losers," defining a hero as someone who tries. 1 minute ago from txt

Then Samuel Mothafuckin' Jackson presents the award for best mini, which, according to Matt Fraction, was:

mattfraction UMBRELLA!!! 3 minutes ago from mobile web

mattfraction gabriel ba can no longer be called the quiet one 5 minutes ago from mobile web

edkaye I'm guessing from @fractions non-stop twittering, that Gabriel Ba just won an eisner for his work on Umbrella Academy 3 minutes ago from web

ivanbrandon multiple eisner award winner gabriel bá 3 minutes ago from mobile web

popcandy Then Jackson gave best limited series to The Umbrella Academy. Writer Gerard Way (singer of My Chemical Romance) accepted with Gabriel Ba. 5 minutes ago from txt

popcandy "This really means so much to me," a nervous and moved Way said. "I know I had to prove a lot." 4 minutes ago from txt

Thanks to Matt, Ed & Ivan for reminding me why I should be excited for Umbrella Academy winning. Don't get me wrong: I loved the mini. But it would be hard to get excited for a rock star winning a comic book award. I mean...if he loses...he's still a rock star. But Gabriel Ba? He just rocks.

Best work for teens? Have no idea. Matt and Graeme?

mattfraction laika 3 minutes ago from mobile web

graemem YAY NICK ABADZIS. Also, yay for person who screamed Hugo Tate. Anyone who wants to publish Hugo Tate, please do. 2 minutes ago from web

graemem Also also, yay for Nick for namechecking Gina. 2 minutes ago from web

Special Recognition award? Bit of an upset to some, but there's a gracious tweet to be had:

graemem Now, I liked Black Metal, but Matt was f'in' robbed. half a minute ago from web

mattfraction chuck bb!! Totally didn't say baba booey 2 minutes ago from mobile web

ivanbrandon chuntz bon bon wins the special recognition award less than a minute ago from mobile web

jamessime Matt and Darwyn rocked the Eisners but were beat out by Chuck BB and Y the Last Man. (sigh) Great company to be in Matt and Dar. 3 minutes ago from twitterrific

Best Graphic Album - New?

mattfraction cathy malkasian 3 minutes ago from mobile web (Percy Gloom)

Best Collection - Comic Strips?

mattfraction terry&the pirates 2 minutes ago from mobile web

Best Collection - Comic Books?

Agent_M We had two nominees for best collection but lost to" I Shall Destroy All The Civilized Planets." I'm cool with that. I love that book. half a minute ago from TwitterBerry

I'm guessing this is for the Best Humor Pub?

Agent_M Perry bible fellowship won an award. Sweet! half a minute ago from TwitterBerry

mattfraction perry bible fellowship 15 minutes ago from mobile web

Little confusion about the most excellent work of Jason winning an award:

mattfraction I killed adolf Hitler 15 minutes ago from mobile web

edkaye @mattfraction well done. Before you were born too. I'm assuming you also invented the time machine? 13 minutes ago from web in reply to mattfraction

Best US Edition of International Material - Japan:

mattfraction TEKKONKINKREET! 13 minutes ago from mobile web

ivanbrandon matsumoto wins 12 minutes ago from mobile web

Even during awards shows, trouble can flare up...and even simmer back down just as quickly:

Agent_M Great. So I'm told Marvel.com is down. During comic-con weekend. Super. 10 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

graemem @Agent_M If it helps, I can get to it fine right now. 8 minutes ago from web in reply to Agent_M

Agent_M @graemem that does help, actually! Thanks, G-dog! 7 minutes ago from TwitterBerry in reply to graemem

graemem @Agent_M We people in the cheap seats live to serve. 4 minutes ago from web in reply to Agent_M

Agent_M @graemem there are two open seats at my table... 6 minutes ago from TwitterBerry in reply to graemem

graemem @Agent_M I may take you up on that later, when I'm done writing stuff up for Gawker... If only to actually say hello to you in real life. 4 minutes ago from web in reply to Agent_M

No one...(sniff)...no one ever calls me K-Dog. :( Class act by Agent M to invite Graeme up front.

Best Retailer? Well, I can't say what the name of the store is...but I can say which name it isn't:

Agent_M Aw man, Rocketship in Brooklyn didn't win the retailer award. But I love that shop. Best in Brooklyn, definitely! 9 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

I do hear great things about that shop. Seems like every Fantagraphics event that swings through NYC is held there, if I remember my press release e-mails correctly. I could find who won elsewhere, but if it isn't a tweet, I'd be cheating.

Wait a second...we have a late entry:

mattfraction god bless you Rory root 15 minutes ago from mobile web

mattfraction brave new world 9 minutes ago from mobile web

There you have it! Congrats to Atom! Freeman at Brave New World.

I don't have the Hall of Fame announcements yet, but:

mattfraction john broome and Arnold drake, you are forever in MY hall of fame 17 minutes ago from mobile web

Agent_M Sergio Aragones is presenting the hall of fame award. Love Groo. Love his moustache. Mayhaps he'll do some work for Marvel? 3 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

Will Matt Fraction be prophetic?

mattfraction john Broome! 3 minutes ago from mobile web

mattfraction ARNOLD DRAKE! 2 minutes ago from mobile web

ivanbrandon arnold drake!!!!!!!!! less than a minute ago from mobile web

Damn, that Fraction has his finger on the pulse, alright!

OK, I don't know what this bit is all about yet, but Fraction always brings the funny:

mattfraction barry Windsor smith made Gary groth say "rape" less than a minute ago from mobile web

What's that, Ivan?

ivanbrandon barry windsor smith's hall of fame acceptance speech about rape 3 minutes ago from mobile web

Oh...that explains it, then.

And, rounding out the four fan voted HoFers:

mattfraction LEN WEIN!! 3 minutes ago from mobile web

graemem You know why it's a surreal experience for you, Len? Because of that outfit. 3 minutes ago from web

Len Wein, who was glad-handed by Hugh Jackman earlier in the day at a panel he popped in during.

And, after those HoF awards...

popcandy Hall of Fame inductees were announced, now we're on the "In Memoriam" tribute. (This is kinda like the Oscars, only twice as long!) 2 minutes ago from txt

I'm guessing there are many fewer dry eyes after the tributes than there were before them.

I think, on that note, I'll cut short the blogging-by-tweet-compilation and resume by piecing together the Twitter conversation into coverage manana.

...or not. They got into some awards that just pulled me back in.

graemem Jane Weidlin not appearing to present awards = Best Moment Of Awards. 18 minutes ago from web

graemem If Bill Morrison doesn't shut up, *I* will pretend to be Jane Weidlin to make him stop. 15 minutes ago from web

graemem Torn by award: I love Spurgeon, Tim L and Matt B. WHO TO WIN?!? 12 minutes ago from web

mattfraction newsarama. They also skipped over like four awards 13 minutes ago from mobile web

mattfraction just to fuck with Brubaker I think 13 minutes ago from mobile web

Agent_M Seriously? Really? Fail. 12 minutes ago from TwitterBerry (Is that about Newsarama winning? Ouch!)

NewsaramaBlog We won the Eisner! 11 minutes ago from txt

cyberpilate @NewsaramaBlog HOORAH! 10 minutes ago from web in reply to NewsaramaBlog

graemem @NewsaramaBlog DUDE! Congratulations. 9 minutes ago from web in reply to NewsaramaBlog

graemem Len Wein's outfit - Still eyecatching, even the second time out. 8 minutes ago from web

Well, hey...Newsarama won the award. Matt Brady, JK & the Blog@ crew, Troy & the Best Shots crew (Mike, Joe, Caleb, Janelle, Sarah, Mean Jeff, Jamie, Tim, etc), mighty Lucas Siegel and the Games section (wish I was still there so I could officially help test online play), Vaneta, Ben OPK (embattled as he's recently been) and too many to mention do great work. Sure do miss working with those folks!

Best Comics-Related Book?

mattfraction reading comics 12 minutes ago from mobile web

Agent_M Douglas Wolk won for his book Reading Comics! W00t! 10 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

Best Pub Design?

mattfraction process recess 2 10 minutes ago from mobile web

Best Writer?


Is this his first photo without a hat?

graemem Go Brube. 6 minutes ago from web

mattfraction ED!!! 6 minutes ago from mobile web

edkaye @mattfraction Yes??? 6 minutes ago from web in reply to mattfraction

Agent_M Ed Brubaker won for Best Writer. Damn. Straight. 6 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

edkaye Ed Brubaker? Nice one! 5 minutes ago from web

popcandy Jane Wiedlin came onstage with a group of Stormtroopers. I'm next to Ed Brubaker, who ... just won best writer! Yay! 3 minutes ago from txt

popcandy Brubaker told me he thought Brian K. Vaughan would win for Y: The Last Man. He was actually busy texting someone when his name was called. 1 minute ago from txt

Best Writer/Artist?

mattfraction chris ware 4 minutes ago from mobile web

Best Writer/Artist - Humor?

mattfraction Powell again! Hurrah! 2 minutes ago from mobile web

Best Digital Comic?

mattfraction SUGARSHOCK! 5 minutes ago from mobile web

ivanbrandon multiple eisner award winner fábio moon 5 minutes ago from mobile web

edkaye Sugarshock for best webcomic? That's a bit much! It was good, but there's much better stuff out there. The Joss Whedon effect I assume. Hm! 7 minutes ago from web

Best Short Story?

mattfraction dan clowes for MR WONDERFUL 1 minute ago from mobile web

Best New Series?

mattfraction buffy 7 minutes ago from mobile web

Agent_M Okay, really, Immortal Iron Fist should have won. 6 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

Agreed, Agent M...agreed.

Mr. Fraction, would you present the last three awards for us?

Agent_M Gabriel macht is presenting the last few awards. He's playing the spirit in the movie. 5 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

Ahem! I asked Matt! Would you do the honors?

Best Reality-Based Work?

mattfraction satchel paige 2 minutes ago from mobile web

Best Graphic Album - Reprint?

mattfraction mousegurad 2 minutes ago from mobile web

Best Graphic Album - New?

mattfraction exit wounds. And we're done. half a minute ago from mobile web

Indeed, we are, Mr. Fraction. May I say you're almost as prolific and entertaining as a Twitterer as you are as a writer of comic book stories?

Oh...one last thing. Sometimes the heartache isn't just from not winning an award you were hopeful to score:

jamessime Broke my heart: Jane Wiedlin bombing at the Eisners. 1 minute ago from twitterrific

The Leaked Spirit Trailer

For those who missed the leaked Spirit trailer earlier: it would seem that some countries provide immunity to C&D requests from studios.

Sure, China might be burning copious amounts of coal that make our carbon footprint look like the actual footprint of a preemie, but at least they still have the leaked Spirit trailer available, much to the chagrin of Frank Miller & Lionsgate:



Ugh...well, it looks like the official one is out already, anyway: