Pop culture retail chain Forbidden Planet celebrates 42 years with star-studded ‘epic online event’

The comic book and cult entertainment retail chain, Forbidden Planet has detailed the launch of its own ‘epic online event’ to celebrate its 42nd birthday this year, featuring a cast of famous faces and special guest stars that have found a home within the legacy of the renowned brand.

On Saturday, August 29th ForbiddenPlanet.com will play host to a range of celebrity interviews, as alumni from the worlds of science fiction, comics, and popular culture gather to help the store celebrate 42 years of pop culture fandom.

The star-studded event will feature exclusive interviews with the likes of William Shatner, DMC, Neil Gaiman, Alice Cooper, Jonathan Ross, Gerard Way, Garth Ennis, Kevin Smith, Michael Moorcock, Simon Pegg, Mark Millar, Dan Slott, V.E. Schwab, Dave Gibbons, Brian Bolland, Dirk Maggs, Chris Claremont, and Ben Aaronovich. The interviews will be hosted by Forbidden Planet’s own Andrew Sumner.

The online event will also host a tribute to Forbidden Planet’s old friend, the late Douglas Adams – author of The Hitchhijer’s Guide to the Galaxy – in the shape of a rare, never-before-heard interview (recently discovered in the Forbidden Planet vaults) conducted by Neil Gaiman.

Vivian Cheung and Nick Landau, owners of Forbidden Planet, said: “Forbidden Planet 42 is an auspicious tip of the hat to our old friend Douglas Adams, the genius behind The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, for whom the number 42 was the answer to The Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything.

“Douglas was one of the first authors to ever sign at the store, and he returned for every new book he wrote. We are joined by a galaxy of stars from comics, music, science fiction, film and TV – friends of Forbidden Planet who have signed at the store over the last four decades. This celebration is dedicated to every creator who has appeared at FP and every staff member who has worked with us over the years – but most importantly, to all our customers and to every pop culture fan who shares this passion with us.”

Over the 42 years, Forbidden Planet has become a name synonymous with the culture, and has garnered a following that spans some of the genre’s most famous faces.

Kevin Smith of Clerks fame, said: “Before I ever visited London, Forbidden Planet was whispered about in New Jersey, you’d read about it in the letter columns of comic books, it actually appeared in the comics themselves. The first time I went over to the UK, one of the most important things to me about London was: We have to go to Forbidden Planet.”

Presenter and comic book fan, Jonathan Ross, added: “I went to university in London because I wanted to stay and enjoy things like Forbidden Planet. That’s when the whole new wave of more adult, progressive comics began. It was such an exciting time – there was a lot of new books and new publishers coming out – and the only place you could find them was at Forbidden Planet.”

The 42nd anniversary festivities will continue with special offerings and promotions in-store at Forbidden Planet branches throughout the UK.

Check out the trailer below:

 

 

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Kevin Smith and WildBrain to develop original Green Hornet animated series

WildBrain has teamed up with the renowned filmmaker, screenwriter, and actor, Kevin Smith to develop an original animated series based on the superhero franchise Green Hornet.

The new animated series will target a  family audience and feature classic Green Hornet elements that fans know and love, including his ultra high-tech car, the Black Beauty. However, set in contemporary times, the series will deliver some new elements as it follows the adventures of a re-imagined Green Hornet and Kato – the grown son of the original Green Hornet and the daughter of the original Kato.

Kevin Smith said: “It’s an honour to escort the legendary Green Hornet and Kato into their very own animated series for the first time in the rich history of these iconic pop culture characters. We’ll be telling a tale of two Hornets – past and future – that spans generations and draws inspiration from a lifetime spent watching classic cartoons and amazing animation like Batman: The Animated Series, Heavy Metal, and Super Friends.

“I can’t believe WildBrain gave me this job and I can’t thank them enough for the opportunity to extend my childhood a little longer.”

Stephanie Betts, EVP content and current series at WildBrain, added: “We’re thrilled to embark on a new animated Green Hornet series with Kevin, who has set up an incredibly rich world with a cast of  amazing characters – especially Kato, who is no longer just a sidekick, but is now a strong female partner to the Green Hornet.

“With his ingenious talent and passion for superheroes and classic franchises, Kevin is the perfect creator to update the Green Hornet. We’re excited to share the new Green Hornet and Kato with audiences worldwide.”

The Green Hornet originated as a radio series created by George W. Trendle in the 1930s, telling the story of Britt Reid, the wealthy owner and publisher of the fictional newspaper, The Daily Sentinel. By day, Reid oversees his paper’s reporting on crime and injustice, but by night he dons his green mask and ventures across the city with his sidekick Kato – in their ultra high-tech car the Black Beauty – to battle criminals and villains head on.

Over the decades, the Green Hornet franchise has spawned numerous comics series, toy lines, movie serials, a feature film and the classic 1966 live action TV series, which introduced future martial arts superstar Bruce Lee to North American audiences as Kato.

Kevin Smith is best known as the creative force behind such indie classic films as Mallrats, Clerks, Chasing Amy and the Jay and Silent Bob franchise. A self-described “professional pop-culture junkie”, he entertains legions of his fans weekly with his podcasts and YouTube videos, providing exuberant and passionate views on comics, superheroes and pop culture.

Smith has written numerous Green Hornet and Kato comics for Dynamite Entertainment, as well as Daredevil comics for Marvel and Green Arrow for DC. He also owns the comic-book store Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash, in Red Bank, New Jersey, which was the subject of the reality television show Comic Book Men.