TRANSFORMERS

George Clooney as Optimus Prime? It's news to the actor, who told IESB, "Is that what's going around?! I haven't had any calls."

BLACK PANTHER

We got an email from a reader named Sophie, who typed, "I was in Nigeria a few days ago and Wesley Snipes was in town to open a nightspot. I attended a press conference when Nigerian journalist (and Komikwerks.com Special Features Editor to boot!) Abdulkareem Baba Aminu asked the BLADE star a question related to BLACK PANTHER. Below is excerpted text of the article as it appeared on the newspaper." The text is as follows ...

"When the questions began, they ranged from his choice of quotes in popular movies like 'Passenger 57' to what his mission in Nigeria would be. Trust Entertainment asked him if he would use this opportunity to research a bit on one of his upcoming projects, called 'Black Panther,' 'Wow. 'The Black Panther' means a lot of things, but what my friend over there is talking about is a presently unannounced project of mine based on a 60s Marvel comic book of the same name,' said Snipes as he gave more background on the film: 'I've always been attracted to the story because the protagonist is a strong African figure, a monarch who is very intelligent and powerful, who uses his gifts to protect his people from external forces. In it, Africans are it.' The star continued 'And as for me doing research here in Nigeria, no: that's not what I'm here for. But now that you've mentioned it, it sounds like a great idea. I'd absolutely love to do 'Black Panther' in Nigeria.'"

WONDER WOMAN

We got another email from a reader named Manuel Magrane, who pointed us to an article over at Seven News that shows Sydney as a front-runner to host the Joss Whedon-led production.

Speaking of Whedon, he's quoted at Sci Fi Wire talking about giving Diana the "Batman Begins" treatment. "What's exciting is, like, Batman Begins basically really did a wonderful job explaining exactly why he was a bat and why he had everything on his costume that he did," Whedon said in an interview. "That's the joy of doing an origin story of Wonder Woman. Why does she wear the bracelets? Why does she use the lasso? Like, ... where does all that stuff come from? ... And I have answers for all of that, and it's really fun. So it's not a reinvention like, 'Oh, she's going to dress like Trinity [from 'The Matrix'].' I want to see Wonder Woman as I know her and see her, [and] not ... [just her] star-spangled panties. But she wears the Wonder Woman outfit, and she has the bracelets and all the accoutrements. ... The lasso and, if I can make it work for the plot, the invisible plane. I have a take on it that I think is cool. It's just I'm structuring the plot, and I've got to find a place for it. But I think people want it, and I think I can do it without ... it being campy, believe it or not. And I respect those things. I, in fact, love them."

ULTIMATE AVENGERS

According to the program for Wizard World Boston, the direct-to-DVD animated feature will be released February 21st, 2006.

X-MEN 3XMen Films is rumormongering that we'll see both Omega Red and Gauntlet in cameo roles for the next mutant-themed sequel, which follows our own exclusive news about a possible appearance for The Multiple Man.

XMen Films also talked to a member of the craft services team on the set and also have an update on filming locations.

THAT'S A WRAP

One of the readers wrote in, responding to the slow news days this week and said, "Slow news means you must start doing some gratuitous sex and violence." Well, I can't promise any sex, but how about this big dance number in a sample chapter from my novel "The Crown: Ascension" to whet your whistle?

If you have the scoop on anything related to comic book movies, TV adaptations or just want to give us a briefcase full of cash, no questions asked, drop us a line and let's coordinate. You can choose an alias if you'd like, or be mentioned by name -- we honor requests for anonymity. Broadcasting live from Los Angeles, this is your humble scribe Hannibal Tabu saying thanks for your time and indulgence, you should see fresh comics reviews online by 7PM EST, and "don't blame me, I'm drunk too!"