ULTIMATE X-MEN DISCUSSION ALERT:
This week, Ultimate X-Men #97 hit the comic shop shelves, the final chapter in the story that controversial included a(nother) death of Northstar as well as similarly dire consequences for Colossus. I figure it'll be good to have a space to discuss the story. However, since I don't want to put spoilers at the top of the post, this item is only here to let you know that there's a summary of the conclusion and a few reactions at the end of the post. Please add your reactions in the comments!

SAVE US MOVIE SIGN:
This has certainly been a week full of news for DC superhero movies and there was a gay aspect to most of those stories. Most exciting is a positive script review for the Greg Berlanti-directed Green Lantern movie that certainly builds the hype:

"Let me start off with saying that within just reading the first few pages, I knew Berlanti, Guggenheim and Green had gotten the character right."

Green Lantern Hal Jordan and director Greg Berlanti

On the other hand, this part is a tiny bit worrysome

"The script, if greenlit, is a sure-fire hit for fan boys, but in scale it's big, VERY big, and we are hearing rumors that it may be too big for the director currently attached, Greg Berlanti."

I'll be disappointed if Berlanti is deemed as not having the experience for Green Lantern. After all, Bryan Singer and Christopher Nolan weren't blockbuster movie directors when they brought X-Men and Batman Begins to the multiplexes.

And then comes the more surprising rumor of gay icon Cher as a possible Catwoman for the next Batman film. What makes the rumor rather interesting for me is the comment that Cher's Catwoman would be "like a vamp in her twilight years." Which strikes me as an interesting take on the iconic villain. I'd love to see a Selina Kyle who has benefited from years of villainy.

Cher and Catwoman

On the less-gay front there's talk of the Superman film franchise getting a reboot, Batman Begins-style. In the various reports I've read, I've seen Superman Returns director Bryan Singer compared to Ang Lee (who directed the first unsuccessful Hulk film), which makes it sound unlikely he'll be participating in the next Superman movie.

Sigh, that's a lot of gays-getting-booted-from-superhero-movie rumors for one week, isn't it?

TAKEI ALERT!
Is the number of gay actors performing in video games on the increase or have I only just started to notice? Not only will we soon hear Stephen Fry's voice in Fable 2 but now comes word that George Takei will be appearing in the between-mission cinemas for Red Alert 3.

George Takei in Red Alert 3

Actually, the Red Alert 3 cast has more than a bit of a gay sensibility. In addition to Takei, the cast includes gay faves like Tim Curry (whose history as a video game voice goes back as far as cult classic Gabriel Knight), Oz bad guy JK Simmons as well as Gemma Atkinson of Hollyoaks and the very gay Hollyoaks spin-off In the City. I'd be rather excited if most RTS strategy games — including the original Command & Conquor — didn't quickly end in frustration for me.

After the break: When Fallout 3 is planning on destroying your social life, Hex' Thelma meets Elizabeth Bennett and the latest fates for Ultimate Colossus and Northstar.