For a couple years now, there have been two rumors floating around concerning Zombieland, with the most logical being that a sequel was in the works, which is kind of has. Writers have been trying to come up with something, but it doesn’t look like anything will actually come of it. The second rumor is that a television series was being worked on for CBS and oddly enough, that’s the project that may be moving forward, as a casting call just went out.

According to I09, the call went out to cast the series main characters, which would carry over from the film. There are some minor spoilers ahead, so read on with caution. Below are some abbreviated descriptions for the characters, which also includes a couple of new characters. the series looks to delve into the back story of our four heroes.

Tallahassee is still kind of a snarky weirdo, but he seems to have a much less spiky relationship with Columbus. He and Columbus have a pretty amusing thing where they riff on the fact that Steven Seagal movies always have three-word titles like “Marked for Justice” or “May Cause Diarrhea.” But Tallahassee also dispenses homespun wisdom about how to feel happy with your life. He also tells a weird story about being in a trailer park with a perpetually nude Matthew McConaughey. He also has a somewhat heartwarming scene where he tells Columbus that he’s been wandering aimlessly for a long time, but maybe he’s been put here for a reason — to help Columbus and the others.

Columbus is much the same, except that he tracks down his grandma and grandpa (Bubbie and Peepaw) only to find them recently zombiefied. Also, Columbus is trying to deal with his new-found relationship with Wichita, after their first kiss. He has started calling her “Krista,” her real name — but there are some problems, especially after she finds him reading a book about fatherhood. He tries to organize a romantic scavenger hunt for her in the IKEA they’re camping out in, but it goes kind of horribly.

Wichita is still trying to look after Little Rock, trying to teach her math with problems about someone stealing from a liquor store and jumping on a train going 42 miles per hour, with a cop chasing in a car going 88 miles per hour. We also learn a lot more about Wichita’s backstory, including how she ran away from her father after he had her stealing people’s Christmas presents — and later, she found out she had a sister who was also being a grifter with her dad.

Little Rock seems actually kind of excited about meeting Columbus’ grandparents, before they turn out to be zombies. And she shares some of her own backstory, about how her dad parked her at a school while he went off grifting on his own — and then yanked her out of school right before a dance that she was looking forward to.

Fred and Ainsley are two office workers at the start of the zombie apocalypse, obliviously complaining about problems with their iPhones and getting the wrong order at Starbucks, which they admit are “first world problems” with a hashtag — while people are being disembowled just outside the window they’re not facing. Tallahassee shows up to bring them their lunch orders, wearing a green polo shirt.

As you can see, the writers plan to keep much of the same tone to the series that helped make the movie so enjoyable. Not unsurprisingly, they seem to be making the relationship between Columbus and Wichita the main focus, but also seem to be making a family out of the group. Not a terrible concept, especially considering they series will be a half-hour comedy. Things look promising!

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UPDATE! It’s been revealed by Broadcast that this series will actually end up streaming on Amazon, rather than be a traditional aired TV series, much like the resurgence of the cult favorite Arrested Development. No mention of time frame, but as with Netflix, it can be expected that Amazon won’t be restrained by the usual “seasons” as with traditional television series.

Josh "ecksmanfan" Johnson, Updated! Zombieland TV Series Begins Casting Process

This is a COVER IMAGE.... he got paid for not drawing a hand

This is a so called artist who has dozens, if not more websites and blogs celebrating how completely horrible he is and has always been. I mean c’mon, he was a fraggin’ Levis Jeans model. I don’t even know if he’s ever taken a figure drawing class. He charges $350 for a head shot commission. But you can’t get him to draw Deadpool unless you pay $400. He won’t even sign a copy of New Mutants #98 for less than $40. Seriously. I sat next to a guy at Amazing Arizona Comic Con last year, and he told me he sold more Deadpool prints cause of how much of a douche Liefeld is. Can you believe that… for some reason you people have made him a lot of money, and he repays you, by slighting you at conventions, charging you absurdly retarded prices for head shots and he won’t even sign a book starring a character he ripped off from DC? And now, he’s getting to write and draw Slade WIlson.

Sadly, I couldn't make this up if I wanted to.

People have attempted to question my claims as absurd and biased, and they are biased. But this is my editorial, so here goes my side of the story…
Deathstroke, debuted in New Teen Titans #2 in 1982, almost a decade before ‘Pool showed up 2 issues before New Mutants became X-Force. Deathstroke’s name is Slade Wilson. Deadpool’s name is Wade Wilson. Wade Wilson is a guy who was fully scarred by the process of giving him an artificial version of Wolverine’s healing factor. Slade is missing an eye, no doubt from battle, and not his origin. Deathstroke’s main advisary was the Teen Titans. While Deadpool didn’t really fight anyone, so much as mouthed off and kinda danced around in the backgrounds of massive guys who have veins running perpendicular to their appendages, guns as big as they are and millions of pouches on their thighs. Stroke is The Terminator. The man who is a Super Soldier who’s more true to his roots than fraggin’ Captain America. Oh and let’s not forget that abortion. What did they call it after Liefeld and company walked out to form a company based on a pretty facade and no foundation that is somehow still afloat (ahem, it was called Heroes Reborn, check out the super Cap boobies).

Seriously? He got paid for this!

And we know it’s all because they weren’t businessmen in the first place and had no concept how to run comics from the inside. But back to bashing this fool.

Why would DC Comics, a company that had me so excited to be reading comics is now making me very effing sad about the past week in this industry? It’s no doubt, that Savage Hawkman, Grifter and Deathstroke are soon to be put on the chopping block. I mean, Mr. Terrific and Static Shock were probably lower in sales than most of the mainstream characters. But if DC is willing to put some money behind titles with minorities headlining them as they are with the titles they’re giving to Liefeld and it would’ve proven something to me.

But if they’re willing to put money right now over money in the future and redefining the cultural lines that comics has drawn over the last hundred years, I would be jumping for joy. But, I’m not, beause they’re willing to cut ties with a group of readers who will now have even less characters to relate to. This was a great time to be a comic book fan. A really great time. We had characters of both genders, and all walks of life to be able to read about from a mainstream company. And the future looked bright.

But now… I don’t even know. I had thought, honestly for about a nano second, to continue buying Deathstroke just to watch it fail like WCW in late 2000 and 2001. It would have been magical. I mean how many times have any number of companies tried rebooting Avengelyne? Like dozens. And each time, who buys it? That’s not a rhetorical question people. Seriously, email me if you are willingly to publicly admit this. I’ll post a list of you online and send Rob an email so he can publicly apologize to you all. I mean look at the work I have posted on here. This encompasses his career. His (thank Eisner I’m drinking now)  hasn’t gotten any better. And for whatever reason, I haven’t heard his eyesight or health is depleting. And this may be snarky, but if there was anyone in this industry OTHER than Rob Granito who’s health deserved to go the way of the Dodo.

DC Comics, I give you Exhibit 5,000 in his career

Like some people who are still dramatically holding onto their youth of the early 90′s. These are the same kinds people who wore all black and vinyl in high school. And twenty years later, they’re fatter, uglier and saggier than they were then and they’re still wearing the fishnet tops and corsets that don’t come in sizes sold at the mall. These are the same type of people who pay $400 for a sketch of a character who is a blantant ripoff of a great character who is now going to be written and drawn by the man who raped him. Come to any booth I’m at at any con I attend and I’ll draw you whatever you want, except Deadpool, for a whole lot cheaper than Liefeld. Oh, and whoever I’m drawing, they’ll have feet.

And hiding behind a rock, much like the action in a Kevin Smith script, are feet drawn by Rob Liefeld

John Chihak, The Hardcore Rant: Et Tu DC? Et Tu?

Suicide Squad #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

I loved this book. The opening was pretty graphic for a DC book. There was a quick introduction of the main cast of characters. It had a very Secret Six (group of Super-Villains from the old DC universe) feel about it, but only a hell of a lot better. More blood. More guts. More awesomeness. I was stunned at just how much fun this book was. Writer Adam Glass did some great storytelling in this first issue. Suicide Squad is a team of super-villains (notably Deathstroke, Harley Quinn and King Shark) who are all on death row at Belle Reeve prison and sent on top-secret missions. If you have not done so already, buy this book when it’s released in a second printing. Or scour the internet for someone selling the original first printing of it.

Writer Adam Glass – Artists Federico Dallocchio & Ransom Getty & Scott Hanna – Colorist Van Staples – Letterer Jared K. Fletcher

Demon Knights #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

This book was a fun ride through the DC universe’s take on its medieval times, but it’s just not the book for me. I’ve never been a big fan of the demon Etrigan, our main “hero” in this book. Granted, there are a ton of you that will continue to pick up this book and I would like to get your feedback on this issue so please post a comment. I will say this, the art was great and the bar brawl was fun. Come on, who isn’t a fan of a good bar brawl?

Writer Paul Cornell – Penciller Diógenes Neves – Inker Oclair Albert – Colorist Marcelo Maiolo – Letterer Jared K. Fletcher – Cover Tony Daniel & Tomeu Morey

Batman and Robin #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

I am a huge fan of Batman and liked the interaction between Bruce and Damian. I especially enjoyed how Bruce (Batman) wasn’t about to take any crap from his son. I’ll try to ignore the fact that they seem to be connecting this book to recent events in the old DC universe such as Damian saying that Bruce was easier to look up to when he wasn’t around and saying that Dick trusted him more. Either re-start this franchise like almost every other book and do not bring up past events. Although, maybe they are going to delve into the past somehow in upcoming issues. I am a fan of the villain NoBody and how he’s knocking off the Batman Incorporated caped crusaders. Despite the flaws, I will continue reading this series because as I said, I’m a huge fan of Batman.

Writer Peter J. Tomasi – Penciller Patrick Gleason – Inker Mick GHray – Colorist John Kalisz – Letterer Patrick Brosseau – Cover Gleason and Gray

Green Lantern #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

The status quo is pretty much left the same between the old DC universe and the new one. All of the events that took place in the Green Lantern stories still all happened in this new universe too. As a Green Lantern fan this makes me very happy. New readers will enjoy it, but will be left with many questions. You can take the costume off of the hero, but you can’t take the hero out of the man. That is what we learn very early on in as Hal – now stripped of his Green Lantern ring, due to his actions in War of the Green Lanterns – jumps from his apartment balcony and smashes through the a window of another building. We learn that a movie is being shot and nobody is in danger at all. Carol Ferris is still a Star Sapphire ring wielder and Sinestro is once again a Green Lantern, but is still as evil as they come. I think DC made the right call keeping the Green Lantern storylines intact, but it will be interesting to see how they tie these heroes in with the rest of the DC universe.

Writer Geoff Johns – Pencils Doug Mahnke – Inks Christian Alamy with Tom Nguyen – Colors David Baron – Letters Sal Cipriano – Cover Ivan Reis & Joe Prado with Rod Reis

Red Lanterns #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

Opening with Red Lantern Dex-Starr (a cat) being held captive only to be rescued by Atrocitus exclaiming “What are you doing to my cat?” was wonderful. What a great way to start a book. Soon came the revelation that Atrocitus isn’t really feeling the rage as much anymore. Writer Peter Milligan did a good job of explaining to new readers what the Red Lanterns are all about. I am glad that DC is giving these characters their own book and bringing more depth to them.

Writer Peter Milligan – Penciller Ed Benes – Inker Rob Hunter – Colorist Nathan Eyring – Letterer Rob Hunter – Cover Benes & Hunter with Rod Reis

Superboy #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

I’ll admit, before I opened this book I thought it was going to suck. I am happy to say that I was proven wrong! The one thing that has stayed the same about Superboy is that he is still half Kryptonian and half human. He’s living in a lab and at first it seems he will be terminated only to survive and fight back against what should have been certain death. In the end, he is about to be released to be used as a weapon against a government problem, the Teen Titans. I am looking forward to picking up issue two. You should also.

Writer Scott Lobdell – Penciller R.B. Silva – Inker Rob Lean – Colorists The Hories – Cover Eric Canete with Guy Major

Legion Lost #1 – NO SPOLIER ALERT!

I am a fan of the Legion, but this first issue bounced all over the place and quite frankly, I did not enjoy it. I thought of reading it a second time, but I just couldn’t. Maybe I am missing something, so please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Writers Fabian Nicieza & Pete Woods – Colorist Brad Anderson – Letters Travis Lanham – Cover Woods with Anderson

Mister Terrific #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

Billionaire Michael Holt is so distraught at the loss of his pregnant wife he turns his intelligence to the betterment of mankind. Yet in his early days, feeling betrayed by his science, he was ready to kill himself until a figure appears in his lab telling him to not give up. That figure, is his son. The rest of the story is a bigger setup to what’s coming, the new villain, Brainstorm. This book still has some growing to do and I am interested to see how DC builds this character.

Writer Eric Wallace – Penciller Gianluca Gugliotta – Inker Wayne Frucher – Colorist Mike Atiyeh – Letterer Dave Sharper – Cover J.G. Jones

DeathStroke #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

This book opens with Deathstroke in Moscow, severely outnumbered and kicking butt. There’s a lot of blood, killings and explosions in this book, which was a nice change of pace for a DC book. But does anyone else think that Wilson Slade is a cross between Deadpool and Cable? It’s because the character doesn’t seem unqiue that I will not be picking up this title regularly.

Writer Kyle Higgins – Pencils Joe Bennett – Inks Art Thibert – Colors Jason Wright – Letters Travis Lanham

Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #1

I am not going to give anything away in this review because I want you to get as much of a kick out of it as I did. Sure I found myself comparing some character abilities to Doctor Who, but what counts the most is that this is a fun book. Basically, this team fights other monsters. I was pleased to see the appearance of Ray Palmer (The Atom in the old DC universe) because only he could create the type of headquarters Frankenstein and his team need.

Writer Jeff Lemire  - Artist Alberto Ponticelli – Colorist Jose Villarrubia – Letterer Pat Brosseau – Cover J.G. Jones – Cover Color Hi-Fi

Batwoman #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

If you followed Kat Kane as Batwoman in the old DC universe you will not need a history lesson. I found this first issue to be a major disappointment. The art was very cool though. The story needs some work, which is probably why Batman shows up – to help give this book some direction as it heads into issue two. If you’re a new reader, you’ll be completely confused and left wondering just what is going on. This was not set up as a fresh start to anyone new to the title. I even felt lost and I know the character’s background. I want this title to do well because it has so much potential. My fingers are crossed for this series.

Co-Writers J.H. Williams & W. Haden Blackman – Artist J.H. Williams – Colors Dave Stewart – Letters Todd Klein

Resurrection Man #1 – NO SPOILER ALERT!

This guy looks too much like Magneto. Correction: a homeless Magneto. Mitch Shelly is a man that cannot die. The concept is cool – every time he comes back to life he has a new power. In this issue he is being chased for his soul. Apparently, it’s overdue. Bottom line, I was bored and will be taking a pass on this title.

Writers Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning – Art Fernando Dagnino – Colors Santi Arcas – Letters Rob Leigh – Cover Ivan Reis, Joe Prado & Rob Reis

Grifter #1 – SPOILER ALERT!

Cole Cash is Grifter. I have never read this character before, but had heard good things about him. We open on Cole in an airplane hearing alien voices in his head. He kills the first alien – who is in human form – to stop the plane from going down. From there Grifter is left wondering just what in the world is going on. The aliens tried to take him over, but he was stronger than they thought. Now, as we lead into issue two, Cole’s own brother will be going after him to bring him in on murder charges. The second issue should be pretty crazy.

Story Nathan Edmondson – Pencils Cafu – Inker Jason Gorder – Colorist Andrew Dalhouse – Letters Wes Abbott – Cover Cafu & Bit

Comic Canuck, DC Comics: The New 52, Week Three

Berkeley, CA – 20 September 2011 – Information has been leaking out over the last week about a mysterious new project from a pair of rising stars, writer Nathan Edmondson (WHO IS JAKE ELLIS?, OLYMPUS, Grifter) and artist Mitch Gerads (Doctor Who, Stan Lee‘s Starborn). Now the duo have finally announced that their new ongoing action series will be published by Image Comics beginning in December and is titled THE ACTIVITY.

“We’ve been working on this since February, and we’re thrilled to share it with you,”

said Edmondson.

“Starting this December, the secrets of THE ACTIVITY will be revealed.”

In THE ACTIVITY, the evolution of global warfare necessitates the evolution of special forces to rise and meet the call. The U.S Army has therefore looked to its last secret special operations tribe, The Intelligence Support Activity, or Gray Fox. Within Gray Fox is a team of elite men and women whose mission is flexible, whose technology is bleeding edge, and whose execution is precise and lethal. They are Team Omaha, and they serve THE ACTIVITY.

“We’ve been keeping this project quiet for a while now,”

added Gerads.

“I just can’t wait to blow the lid off of this whole thing!”

“It’s been a real pleasure to watch Nathan develop, not just as a writer, but as a virtual fountain of ideas,”

enthused Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson.

“He originally came to us with OLYMPUS, but by the time that was wrapping, he’d pitched us WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? and then followed that up THE ACTIVITY and another, still-secert project we’ll be rolling out in 2012. He and Mitch make a great team, too, and I can’t wait to see where they take this concept.”

THE ACTIVITY #1, a 32-page full-color action adventure comic for $3.50, will be on sale in stores December 21 and will be available for order in the upcoming October issue of Previews.

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Comic Book Therapy, THE ACTIVITY: Image Reveals Source of Mysterious Teasers!