Marvin: The Movie?

This just in from Variety. A live action/CGI Marvin the Martian movie is now "in development" at Warner Bros. and Alcon Entertainment. The plot? In the pitch, it's "a Christmas story, with Marvin coming to Earth to destroy Christmas but being prevented from doing so when he’s trapped in a gift box."

David Alvarez: "Prospects Don't Look Good"

Here's a rather odd pairing that actually works: Yosemite Sam and Pete Puma, Bugs Bunny's one-shot opponent from Robert McKimson's "Rabbits' Kin". This story comes from Issue #133, Feb. 2006. I know of at least one other Pete/Sam story from around this time, also using Sam as a prospector.

What interests me about the best of these comics is that they try new character combinations never explored in the cartoons themselves. As with the cartoons, they work best when only 2 or 3 characters are involved, as opposed to the awful "all-star" type stories they've been known to do. Talented writers like Earl Kress, Dan Slott, Frank Strom, Sam Agro, Brett Koth, Sean Carolan, Jennifer Moore, Jesse McCann, and many others who have contributed stories over the years really seem to understand these characters.




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Status of the DC Looney Tunes Comics?

In the comments to Matthew's last post, reader "santarl" pointed out that the Looney Tunes comics are no longer listed on the DC Comics website. I had to poke around but eventually found them mentioned on this page. The last one listed is Issue 165 due out on August 6 (featuring a cover with a race between Speedy and the Road Runner).

However, poking around Google reveals some comic sites with information about Issues 166 and 167. Some sites are taking pre-orders, some say pre-orders have been cancelled. These two issues are nowhere to be found on the DC Kids website (which is usually right on top of this sort of thing). Is anybody out here connected with the comics industry and know the status of the LT comics? They haven't been the greatest lately, but it will still be sad to see them go.

Looney Tunes #166 - was originally announced for Sept. 3, 2008


Looney Tunes #167 - was originally announced for Oct. 1, 2008 - Witch Hazel celebrates Halloween in "A Witch for all Seasons" as Porky Pig signs up for a bad deal in "The Devil and Bugs Bunny."

David Alvarez: "The Postman Always Brings Mice"

Enough about bad Bugs Bunny cartoons. Let's take a look at a GREAT Sylvester and Tweety comic book story. This longer-than-usual DC story from Issue # 53 (June 1999) is written by Sean Carolan and Jennifer Moore, with wonderful artwork by David Alvarez. It's too bad they're not making them like this anymore!



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Yosemite Sam Goes to Hell, Part 4

It's sad when one of the greatest animation directors of all time (I'd venture to say THE greatest) comes up with a real stinkeroo of a cartoon. But that's what happened when Chuck Jones directed "From Hare to Eternity" in 1997. Jones' new series of Warner Bros. cartoons, produced by "Chuck Jones Film Productions", were never given their due, thanks to Warner distributing them in limited theatrical release with some of the worst movies ever produced. Some of them went straight to video, like this one. "Chariots of Fur", the first of the CJFP shorts , is a certifiable masterpiece, but "From Hare To Eternity" is like watching paint dry. It's like watching the ghosts of Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam trying in vain to get a laugh, and falling flat on their faces. Greg Burson's Bugs Bunny is passable, but not great, and Frank Gorshin's Yosemite Sam sounds nothing like Yosemite Sam at all. On the bright side, the music and animation are beautiful, but the cartoon is frustratingly unfunny. But who was going to tell Chuck Jones his cartoon was lousy? Friz Freleng might have, if he'd been alive to see it.

From Hare to Eternity
Uploaded by MatthewHunter

Pew!

Let's take a break from Sam for a moment, to shine a spotlight on another LT character.

Pepe Le Pew was probably my least favorite of the Looney Tunes characters as a kid. However, as I got older I began to appreciate these cartoons more and more. The dialogue and mock French wordplay really is clever and funny. I can imagine Jones and Maltese had a great time coming up with that stuff. Sadly, Mr. Le Pew (like Mr. Leghorn) has been woefully underrepresented on the current Looney Tunes DVDs. I doubt I'd be able to sit through an entire disc of nothing but Pepe, but I sure wouldn't mind seeing more released. Anyway, in honor of Pepe here's a music video that Cartoon Network used to run as filler in-between shows titled "L'amour a une Odeur" by Pink Martini.

Yosemite Sam Goes to Hell, Part 3

Okay. I've posted the good ones. Now, let's take a look at Yosemite Sam's early 60's failures. "Shiskabugs" (1962) is at least memorable for some good gags, and the memorable reference to an actual rabbit dish, "Hassenpfeffer", but the horrible music and Blanc's strained voice (notice Sam doesn't yell once here)hurt:




And Yosemite Sam LITERALLY goes to Hell in "Devil's Feud Cake" (1963). Oh, Warner cartoons had some bad moments in the 1960's. But this cartoon, a "cheater" using footage from three better 1950's films, and featuring Bill Lava's music at its worst and Mel Blanc's voice at its weakest, makes it the worst Yosemite Sam cartoon ever made. Maybe even the worst Bugs Bunny cartoon ever made. But I'll let you decide after you see the NEXT post in this series! Until then, enjoy (rather, suffer through) "Devil's Feud Cake!"

Don't say I didn't warn you. This is BAD.






Sure you wanna watch it?










Really?



You asked for it.

Devil's Feud Cake
Uploaded by MatthewHunter