New Werewolf Poll for September: The Great Tail Debate

Last month we all agreed that “sequence” was the worst word to describe a werewolf’s transformation. This month’s poll has a more divisive topic: should bipedal werewolves have tails? Tails are a common physical feature on most werewolves. After all, wolves have tails, so it makes sense that a human / wolf hybrid would have one too, right? Right… or wrong! The primary purpose of a tail is to provide balance to fast-moving quadrupeds, and we’ve agreed for the sake of this poll that we’re talking about werewolves that move on two legs, not four. So what would be the point of having a tail if it didn’t serve a practical function? Anyone? Bueller?

[poll id=”4″]

Sep. 1st 2009

The Werewolf’s Guide To Life – A Manual For The Newly Bitten

The Werewolf's Guide To Life

I was trying to save my effusive praise until I’d actually read a copy, but I would be lying if I said the mere title of this book didn’t make me giddy. Written by Ritch Duncan and Bob Powers and lovingly illustrated by Emily Flake, The Werewolf’s Guide To Life looks like the lycanthropic response to the Zombie Survival Guide. It’s packed with sensible advice, survival tips and illustrations like the one below. It hits shelves on September 15, and you can pre-order it from a number of online retailers (including the ubiquitous Amazon). I’m trying to arrange an interview with the authors, so stay tuned!

Good advice.

Sep. 1st 2009

2010 Werewolf Calendar

It looks like artists like Dark Natasha, Goldenwolf, and Synnabar have joined forces to become a lycanthropic strikeforce of pure awesome… and create a werewolf-themed calendar for 2010. Check out their well-drawn and nuanced images at WerewolfCalendar.com.

Aug. 31st 2009

Rob Zombie says “the time is now” for a “Werewolf Women of the S.S.” Movie

Hollywood.com has an interview with Rob Zombie in which he talks about wanting to shoot a low-budget, deliberately retro feature length version of Werewolf Women of the S.S. (one of the faux trailers that ran as part of Grindhouse). His comments seem half-serious, but here’s the interview– judge for yourself!

Aug. 27th 2009

Werewolves on the Moon: Versus Vampires – Read the 1st Issue For Free

Werewolves on the Moon: Versus Vampires

Dark Horse Comics has put the entire first issue of Werewolves on the Moon: Versus Vampires online so you can read it for free. Go and read it. Now. Go on. I’ll wait.

Now, how many of you would have been happy to have been on that shuttle from Earth? Yeah, I thought so.

Werewolves on the Moon is now up to issue three, and if your local comic shop doesn’t carry them, you can order them online from Things From Another World.

Aug. 27th 2009

Damn It – Werewolf Series DVD Postponed until at least 2010

I missed this last week, with all the Wolfman trailer and Warcraft hoopla. ArcLight wrote in with the not-awesome news that the DVD release of Werewolf: The Series has been officially postponed and won’t be coming out in 2009. It seems that there are some problems licensing some of the music used in the show’s soundtrack, and the way the sound was mixed makes it impossible to replace / remove the music. Brian Ward, one of the DVD producers at Shout! Factory, posted an explanation in the Shout! Factory forum:

In order to extract the music, we would literally need to extract the scenes completely.  And these are some fairly important scenes that, in some cases, run several minutes. So we’re still working on figuring it all out.  It’s a great set and I hope to see it released shortly.  But it doesn’t look like it’s going to be on the books for ’09… There are only a couple songs giving us trouble, but they’re EXPENSIVE songs and we’re just not sure we’d sell enough to meet the record labels’ prices and still make any money whatsoever.  We’ve not stopped pursuing it.  We’ve put together a great set with some cool extras and a BEAUTIFUL cover, in my opinion.  I want people to own it.  Hopefully, sometime soon, they will.

Thanks, record labels. You guys just keep on finding ways to endear yourselves to the public, don’t you?

Aug. 26th 2009

Fangoria Interview: Wolfman‘s Hugo Weaving Wishes Film Press Would “Get Their Shit Together”

hugo-weaving-wolfman

In a recent interview with Fangoria, Hugo Weaving talks about his experiences playing Scotland Yard detective Aberline in the new Wolfman movie. Weaving has consistently been one of my favourite actors (come on, the guy has played a drag queen, a murderous computer program and an ageless elf king). In this exclusive interview he talks about bringing life to a character that wasn’t in the original 1940’s Wolfman, his enthusiasm for a well-written script, and what it was like to work with (and be a subject of) special effects artist Rick Baker. He also comments on the negative effect that press and distribution delays can have on the public’s enthusiasm for a film– something we’ve all seen with the repeated delays The Wolfman has been subject to. But with the recent trailer generating a lot of excitement, The Wolfman is starting to generate some positive buzz again– hopefully that will only increase as the February release date approaches. Thanks for the link, ArcLight!

Aug. 24th 2009

World of Warcraft Cataclysm: Worgen Confirmed As Playable Race for Alliance

World of Warcraft: Worgen

The official presence of the werewolf-like Worgen as playable characters in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm has been confirmed by everyone and their mom, including Blizzard. Check out the official Cataclysm site for more details on the Worgen, including backstory, player models, screenshots and concept art. The official sites seem to be suffering periodic downtime as a result of all the interested visitors, so be gentle. Below are some locally-hosted (hi-res!) copies of the Worgen concept art, in case your refresh button isn’t working.
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Aug. 21st 2009

Official Wolfman Trailer

It officially debuts online and in theatres tomorrow, but Bloody Disgusting has got an early scoop on the official theatrical trailer for The Wolfman. This trailer leaves little to the imagination– werewolf attacks, multiple transformations, and a handful of scenes that I can’t wait to watch play out in their entirety. Personally, I’m stoked. Without further ado, here you go: The Wolfman trailer, courtesy of Bloody Disgusting! Watch it and post your comments– what do you think?

Aug. 20th 2009

Werewolf Concept Art for I, Frankenstein

I, Frankenstein Werewolf Concept Art

Have another helping of Tatopoulos werewolf character design! Earlier today it was the Lycan costume from Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, and now I’m pleased to share a concept illustration of the Werewolf character from the forthcoming film version of Kevin Grevioux’s I, Frankenstein comic. This artwork was originally sent to Bloody Disgusting, so props to them for posting it!

The film is to be directed by Patrick Tatopoulos, who designed the werewolves in the first two Underworld films, then went on to direct Rise of the Lycans. Grevioux and Tatopoulus have worked together before: Grevioux developed the story for the first Underworld and was heavily involved in script-writing and co-producing throughout the series. Oh yeah, and he played the lycan Raze. So basically these guys know werewolves.

Aug. 19th 2009