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Week In Review

Brenda Starr Creator Passes On

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Dale Messick, whose long-running comic strip "Brenda Starr, Reporter" gave her entry into the male world of the funny pages, has died at age 98. She died after a long decline that began with a stroke in 1998, her daughter, Starr Rohrman, told The Associated Press.

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Messick, whose strip debuted June 30, 1940 & ran in 250 newspapers at its peak in the 1950s, died Tuesday, said her daughter, Starr Rohrman, who had been caring for her mother in Sonoma County. Ms. Messick was born on April 11, 1906; Brenda Starr was born in June 1940. An impossibly glamorous redhead, her appearance was inspired by Rita Hayworth, her first name came from the most famous debutante of the day, Brenda Frazier, and her last name was chosen because she was the star reporter on her newspaper, The Flash.

She jettisoned her given name Dalia to further her career -- once said Brenda had "everything I didn't have." But she charmed acquaintances with spunk and style worthy of her redheaded creation. Ms. Messick retired from drawing the strip in the mid-1980's, and it was passed on to other artists, all women. She said she did not like the way later versions of Brenda Starr looked. In the 1990's, she developed a new comic character called "Granny Glamour," who appeared in a single-panel cartoon in a local senior citizens' publication (Oakmont Gardens Magazine) in California. It ended after she had a stroke in 1998 and couldn't draw any more. In 1995, Brenda Starr was one of twenty comic strips honored by a series of United States postage stamps; Messick was the only living creator. In 1997, Messick received the National Cartoonist Society's Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award. The strip is now written by Mary Schmich and drawn by June Brigman.

For more info check out CNN.com.


Superman Returns:
A rumor from Superhero Hype about the spaceship: The crash site isn't from Clark's child-hood, but in fact from his return to Earth at the beginning of the film. Also, Sir Richard Branson will make a cameo in the film, according to News.com.au. Ain't-It-Cool-News has pics of the Daily Planet delivery truck & more. I can't forget, look here (Spoilers abound) for more pics from the set.

As always, keep a lookout for updates on Bryan Singer's blog as more news comes in.

X-men 3 News:
It was already announced that X-Men 3 would be directed by Matthew Vaughn. Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Halle Berry and Ian McKellan are all set for "X-Men 3" as well. Famke Janssen, as heavily rumored before, will become Dark Phoenix. No official word yet on James Marsden - who will be busy for a big chunk of the year on "Superman" - reprising his role as Cyclops, though it's understood he will be back.

Superhero Hype also reported that Sir Ian McKellan has confirmed he'll be Magneto if another sequel is made. Even though he imagines the writers will base a possible Magneto spinoff on a younger Magneto in the past, McKellan had this to say:

"If my character is in it and if he's my age. They might bring Magneto back but it may be the young Magneto. Who knows?"

X-Men 3 is scheduled to be released on May 26, 2006.

Sin City:
Dimension Films' Sin City, directed by Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller and Quentin Tarantino, dropped 51.5% in ticket sales for the graphic novel adaptation's second weekend, making $14.1 million for a total of $50.7 million and second place. The movie cost just $40 million to make.

As I've reported last month, Maxim will feature a special edition cover by none other than Frank Miller as a tribute to the Sin City movie.It will be out April 12 (May) edition and will only ship at a 20% of the press run while Sin City star Brittany Murphy will be on the cover of the other 80% of issue. You can read what Superhero Hype says here.

Check here for an update on what could ultimately become The Sub-Mariner & Silver Surfer movies.