What is "The Condor"?

[Chris Wood]

On the animated Hellboy DVD there's a teaser for a new Stan Lee project called The Condor, due on DVD in March. Is this the same universe as Mosaic? And why is he wasting time on these nobodies instead of using classic characters?

Plot:
"Tony Valdez (voiced by Wilmer Valderrama) is a college dropout who turned his back on his family’s robotics corporation to become a champion skateboarder. But when his parents are murdered and Tony’s legs are destroyed in a brutal beating, he uses his father’s experimental NanoBot technology to walk again. Now as the superhuman skater known as the Condor, Tony must reconcile a crime fighting conscience with his rage for vengeance. What is the missing component to his parent’s DNA regeneration formula? Why is their sinister ValTech partner creating a race of adrenaline-crazed killers? And who is the depraved super-villain sworn to destroy Condor?"

[Steve G]

Yes. It was the first DTV created for the Stan Lee Presents series. For some reason it's being released second (?). I have no idea why though.

The reason why Stan is not using already established classic characters is because he doesn't own them - Marvel does. He owns The Condor and Mosaic.

So, what was the trailer and how did it look?

[screw on head]

I'm not sure if it's set in the same universe as Mosaic, but I know it isn't set in the Marvel universe . These Stan Lee DTVs are original ideas by Stan, which he then hands off to writers like Marv Wolfman to write a script for, which is the case for The Condor. Naturally I don't see Stan ever coming up with an original creation for Marvel ever again, so it makes sense he'd want to bring it to life through his company POW! entertainment I think it is.

Incidentally, Steve Gordon has mentioned on his blog that he worked on The Condor. Am I safe to assume you did character design and maybe even directed this Steve? I'm really looking forward to it myself, and I think this should be of interest to our posters!

I'm going to move this to the General Animation forum, but I think I'll mirror this given Steve's involvement with the film!

[Chris Wood]

[

The reason why Stan is not using already established classic characters is because he doesn't own them - Marvel does. He owns The Condor and Mosaic.

That's what I figured, but it's all rather pointless isn't it? This project sounds like a rip-off of that animated Tony Hawk film. Lee should kiss and make up with Marvel already and make something people will care about.

So, what was the trailer and how did it look?

It's just a teaser, and it doesn't show anything but a first person view of someone skateboarding through a CGI environment.

[Steve G]

Incidentally, Steve Gordon has mentioned on his blog that he worked on The Condor. Am I safe to assume you did character design and maybe even directed this Steve? I'm really looking forward to it myself, and I think this should be of interest to our posters!

I directed and 'helped' with a few of the designs, but I was not the character designer. That was Dan Haskett. You are correct the script was written by Marv Wolfman.

This has nothing to do with any Tony Hawk project that I am aware of. This was a completely new idea from Stan and I doubt very much if he is anymore aware of a similiar Tony Hawk project than I am.

[Chris Wood]

It may well have nothing to do with Tony Hawk. I was just saying it sounds like it's similarly trying to cash in on the popularity of skateboarding.

[Anarky]

It may well have nothing to do with Tony Hawk. I was just saying it sounds like it's similarly trying to cash in on the popularity of skateboarding.

you can say the same thing about Ghost Rider and The Silver Surfer

[AdamYJ]

That's what I figured, but it's all rather pointless isn't it? This project sounds like a rip-off of that animated Tony Hawk film. Lee should kiss and make up with Marvel already and make something people will care about.

I don't think there's really any sort of ill will between Stan and Marvel. He's still "Editor Emeritus" over there and all that. However, I just don't think they really have anything for him. There are newer talents all set writing and editing the books. Marvel's already got the Lion's Gate deal for animated projects. Avi Arad's all set with the live-action movies. What's he going to do? Hang around the Marvel offices and tell stories about "the old days". At least he's trying something.

Perosnally, I'd like to see more of The 7th Portal from his days with that Stan Lee Media web project from years and years ago. Unfortunately, I think that guy who embezzled a whole load of money out of the project is still half owner of the characters. So, we'll probably never see any more of Thunderer, Oxblood, Conjure Man, Gossamer and Imitatia.