Shades of super-cinema

Further proof that superhero films have settled into a comfortable Hollywood niche, we're entering the the era of superhero deconstruction--or at least silly parody. Just as the 1980s ushered in revisionist comic lore with gritty graphic novels like The Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen, the second half of this decade will undoubtedly take the prior half's newfound obsession with super cinema and attempt to put a new spin on it. This has arguably already begun (and probably should have ended) with The Incredibles, but since Hollywood has never been known for moderation, get ready to gear up for third generation derivatives like Super Ex-Girlfriend. Yeah, clever title, really.

Fuel for the geek engines over at Ain't It Cool with what appears to be a Spider-Man 3 still of Thomas Hayden Church as Sandman.

Chud reports development of a Hellboy cartoon, which almost seems like a good idea until you realize how much of Big Red's charm comes from his grouchy, occassionally offensive demeanor--a tough element to maintain for the kiddie set. The article says the series is being developed for Cartoon Network, which means it may end up running in their less restrictive Adult Swim block, but from the looks of the animation in the still they provide, I'd guess its being set to appear alongside the network's other superhero cartoons, all of which are spastic, cheaply-drawn kiddie fare.