Inception:

Here's a giant concrete building in Alberta that 40 construction workers and carpenters spent three months building for the filming of this Christopher Nolan mindfreak saga.[Calgary Herald]

Lost:

Here's a new fairy-tale-themed trailer. (Still with no new footage.)

One of these things is going to happen early in the final season: Sayid kills Jack, or Sayid dies. (I'm guessing it's Sayid dies, but only in one of the two timelines, meaning we still get alternate-universe Sayid.) [E! Online]

Josh Holloway hints we'll see Sawyer try and track down his daughter Clementine, in the universe where Sawyer's off the island. "That's something I would like to see. Even if they don't meet, his intention to meet her would be important to me. To see him off the island with her name and address on a piece of paper." [TV Guide Magazine]

Doctor Who:

Here are some pics from the scene you've already seen, featuring June Whitfield grabbing the Doctor's butt. [BlogtorWho]

Repo Men:

Here's a new still and a new poster from this artiforg-repo movie. [IGN]

Battle: Los Angeles:

We already featured a slew of set pics from this movie, but here's a pic of Aaron Eckhart in his uniform. [Jonathan Hoff on Flickr via Slashfilm]

Swamp Thing:

Producer Joel Silver says he's hoping to make this film soon — in 3-D — but don't hold your breath for Wonder Woman. [MTV]

Lobo:

This is another movie that Silver is hoping to get done soon — but rumored director Guy Ritchie says it's definitely not a done deal that he's directing it. [MTV]

Nightmare On Elm St.:

Is this movie in trouble, or just being fastidious? A second round of reshoots is happening, including a funeral scene that required extras to portray mourners. [Cinemablend]

Dollhouse:

Wondering who's back in the third-to-last and second-to-last episodes? Just about everybody, judging from these new pics. [SpoilerTV]

Chuck:

Here are a few clips from the season opener, "Chuck Vs. The Pink Slip". [Yvonne Strahovski Fansite]

Here are summaries of the first three episodes:

Chuck Vs. The Pink Slip/Chuck Vs. The Three Words: Chuck flunks out of spy school and loses Sarah; Morgan tries to help Chuck get over Sarah; Chuck tries to talk to Sarah about their relationship.

Chuck Versus the Angel of Death: Chuck must protect a visiting dictator from an assassination threat; Awesome is excited about the idea of being a spy

[MSN TV]

And here are some new cast interviews and snippets:

Heroes:

Here's the official synopsis for the Jan. 11 episode, "Close To You":

H.R.G. exposes Samuel's biggest weakness in an attempt to take him down; Ando and Hiro try to save Dr. Suresh.

[AOL TV]

Let's get the Mythical stuff out of the way first, shall we? Marvel's (Incredible) Hercules begins his latest and greatest storyline in this week's special one-shot, Assault On New Olympus, which guest-stars Spider-Man and leads into the regular series with plenty of other guest stars in issues ahead.

Not to be outdone, DC collects the recent Wonder Woman storyline Rise Of The Olympian in both hardcover and softcover, and it's well worth a look - I admit to being thrown by it when it was being published in single issues, but the destination is worth sticking around for; it's also the largest scale adventure for the character in years, as well. DC also has the first issue of Cinderella: From Fabletown With Love, a spin-off from Bill Willingham's Fables that sees fairytales' most deadly secret spy go globetrotting on her latest dangerous mission with wit, panache and some great art from Shawn McManus, for those who like characters who've been around before there were comics.

Talking of long-lasting characters, Ricardo Delgado's dinosaur epic Age of Reptiles returns this week with a new series, The Journey, which shows why dinosaur migration isn't as simple as it sounds. If you go in expecting an unusual, challenging but surprisingly beautiful read, you shouldn't be disappointed.

Much less beautiful (by design), Anthrax's Scott Ian writes Lobo: Highway To Hell, the first issue of which is out tomorrow and sure to be, uh, "heavy." Or something.

For those looking for more superheroic thrills, DC spins out The Great Ten from 52 (A plan only slightly flawed in that 52 finished over two years ago, and few people remember who The Great Ten were; they were the government-sponsored Chinese superteam). Marvel launches Paul Cornell's new Black Widow: Deadly Origin series, as well as a new Deathlok series (Deathlok: Pretty much, "What if Captain America was a cyborg with a bad attitude in the future?" It's as good/bad as that idea may sound to you).

And I guide you away from those in the tights and bright colors to my current hometown of Portland, where Greg Rucka's new series Strumptown is set. Yes, Stumptown (Rucka's new detective series, which he talks about right here, but comes from love of The Rockford Files and Magnum PI) may lack any sign of supernatural, sci-fi or urban fantasy hallmarks that would make it io9 material, but nonetheless, it's likely to be the best thing you could spend your money on at the comic store this week. Consider it recommended.

Just like last week, the week before that and every single one of these posts, you can meet all of the comics released to comic stores tomorrow on this here Diamond Distributors shipping list, and then find your closest comic store to purchase all the goodies mentioned here. You know it makes sense.

Spider-Man 4

MarketSaw claims they've gotten word that the Lizard will appear as the film's sole villain. Fact or wishful thinking? At this point, it falls into the category of unconfirmed rumor. Remember: Internet rumor = break out the salt shaker. [MarketSaw]

Lobo

Rumor has it that Clancy Brown is being strongly considered as the alien bounty hunter for Guy Ritchie's adaptation. Brown played the Kurgan in Highlander, and more recently creeped out Carnivale fans as Brother Justin Crowe. He's also well situated in the DC Universe, as he frequently voices Lex Luthor in DC's animated movies and shows. [Mania]

The Book of Eli

Three new stills take us to Denzel Washington's brightly lit post-apocalyptic future. [IGN]

New Moon

A new set photo shows Kristen Stewart in Italy, about to chase down Edward. [MTV Movies Blog]

True Blood

Tons of spoilers have popped up for the new season. Who was responsible for Bill's sudden disappearance in the season finale? As the new season opens, we'll find Bill in the company of a sarcastic and extremely handsome vampire named Talbot, who will serve as a guide for Bill — and who happens to be lover to the vampire king of Mississippi. Also in Talbot's company is Olivia, an elderly woman with an oxygen tank who mistakes Bill for her son. Eggs may be gone gone, but Tara has a new man looking her way: a handsome bloodsucker named Franklin Mott. Like Bill, Franklin will be the overprotective sort and will quickly rescue Tara from a group of racist rednecks. And Eric has a new love interest as well, an unlikable Czech Fangtasia stripper named Yvette. Even Tara's mom might be looking for loving when she turns to Reverend Daniels for comfort and hugs him a little bit too long.

Last season, Sam went off to track down his biological family, and he manages to find it. In the first episode, he'll encounter Betty and Marvin, a couple living in Arkansas. After subduing their pitbull, Sam learns that his family, the Mickens clan, has a less than favorable reputation. Sam's brother, Tommy Mickens, works at the Tire Depot and is especially notorious for skipping out on his rent and owing money everywhere. When Tommy first meets Sam, he'll claim to be someone else, not realizing Sam is his brother. Apparently, we'll be seeing a good deal of Tommy's bare butt cheeks, which suggests he's a shapeshifter like Sam.

Jason's libido takes a hit during a rather disturbing sexual encounter. A pair of NYU veterinary students, Jen and Missy, will try to lure Jason into a menage a trois, but he's less than eager when he seems to see bullet holes in their heads. And we'll see more V addicts when a "gang of crazy white-trash bikers" rolls in, eloquently named "Coot's Fuck You Crew." The group, led by the thuggish Coot, takes turns stabbing and feeding on Bill to get high.

The season will also feature Jesus Valsquez, an extraordinary orderly with a kind heart (and, this being True Blood, he's not too hard on the eyes) [E!, EW, Spoiler TV]

Lost

Carlton Cuse tweeted yesterday evening that William Atherton has signed as a guest star. [Twitter via MoRyan on Twitter]

V

More clips from the pilot show more about the Vs and how life on Earth changes after the landing. [MovieWeb]

Entertainment Weekly has a promotional music video set to Muse's "Uprising" at the link. [EW]

Heroes

HRG has an interesting business lunch in "Once Upon a Time in Texas:"

[Spoiler TV]

And a promo still of the episode shows a sweet moment for our Hiro. [CBR]

In the ninth episode, "Brother's Keeper," we will see the continuation of Matt and Sylar's battle. Also, Samuel will begin to understand the extent of his powers as Tracy loses control of hers. [Spoiler TV]

And there's a casting call for the fourteenth episode, "Let It Bleed:"

[MR. NOZAWA] 50-60 Male. Japanese. Must speak fluent Japanese. Wise, dedicated restaurateur in DC. Sushi chef and owner is persuaded to close his doors for a loyal customer ... CO-STAR

[Spoiler TV]

FlashForward

A normal night of trick-or-treating turns truly spooky in a clip from "Scary Monsters and Super Creeps:"

[Spoiler TV]

Paula Newsome is joining the cast in early 2010 as a doctor. [EW]

Chuck

For the new season's tenth episode "Chuck versus the Tic Tac," the producers are looking for a Connie Britton-type (Britton played Sharon Gaines on Friday Night Lights) to guest star as Kathleen McHugh, a strong, sexy, independent woman. In that episode, we'll also encounter Colonel James Keller, who will appear in the present and in flashbacks, Stanley Fitzroy, and Alex Coburn. Keller is a career military man, but is casual and relatable. Fitzroy is a "shockingly short" geek, and Coburn is a tall, athletic Marine. [Spoiler TV]

Smallville

Tom Welling is smoking (no, literally) in the latest poster from CW. [Operation Save Clark Kent]

And we flashback to Krypton with Jor-El and Zod in these images from "Kandor." [Operation Save Clark Kent]

Executive producer Kelly Sounders revealed a bit about what fans can expect from the current season. Chloe's having a hard time trusting people during this season, but she may be developing a fiery passsion for one of the show's more charming characters. She'll also be getting more screentime this season and will be an integral part of the heroes' lives beyond being a simple sidekick. There's some idea that Clark is still getting some training from Jor-El at the fortress, but there hasn't been time to show it on screen. But Clark will be getting a "magnificent" power before long (flying?). As for Lois and Clark's coupledom, she says Lois will be a bit more hesitant about the relationship going in. Deferring to the Superman mythos, Lois won't learn Clark's secret, but the episode "Idol" will play with that idea. And Clark will be greatly affected in the episode "Pandora," when he witnesses her visions of the future and gets to see life through her eyes. Clark will meet Zod during the first nine episodes, and they won't trust each other, but the nature of their relationship will keep shifting as more information comes to life. Clark won't come face-to-face with Jor-El, but she says we should tune into the Kryptonian backstory episode "Kandor." [TV Guide]

Also, sometime in the season's first nine episodes, we'll see Clark flirt with the idea of wearing glasses. [TV Guide]

In an interesting interview with the LA Times, screenwriter/producer Goldsman seems reluctant to trash his 1997 film, which almost ruined his career along with Lost In Space. But he does admit:

"What got lost in 'Batman & Robin' is the emotions aren't real," Goldsman said, picking his words carefully. "The worst thing to do with a serious comic book is to make it a cartoon. I'm still answering for that movie with some people."

But perhaps Kevin Feige, the president of production at Marvel Studios, explained B&R's significance better, "That may be the most important comic-book movie ever made...It was so bad that it demanded a new way of doing things. It created the opportunity to do 'X-Men' and 'Spider-Man,' adaptations that respected the source material and adaptations that were not campy."

And he's got a point: it did teach us all that there is a wrong way and a right way to make campy comic book movies. And if it made future comic book screenplay adapters more careful with how they portray this world, then that's one thing it has going for it as well.

Interestingly the horrible failure of a film didn't stop Goldsman from moving forward with his career and putting out the very successful A Beautiful Mind adaptation. And now that he's established his bona fides as a more serious writer, moving on to I Am Legend and writing/directing for Fringe, he's coming back to DC Comics, working on a number of upcoming projects.

Jonah Hex is wrapped, and Goldsman described Josh Brolin's character:

He's a character that has been described as having one foot on Earth and one foot beyond the grave, that he speaks to the dead . . . at the same time he is very much [like Sergio Leone's] 'The Man With No Name.'

Along with Jonah Hex Goldsman is still hard at work on The Losers and Lobo, the movie about the super powered blue-skinned alien biker. But most importantly, he's hard at work on a new Swamp Thing:

Goldsman said will be closer in tone to the character as presented in Alan Moore's eerie, metaphysical horror comics than the rubber-suit bog creature from the 1982 Wes Craven B-movie. "We want a film with real Southern, dark horror overtones, a little bit like a classic Universal horror film," Goldsman said, knowing full well that his presence on the project will stir controversy — it's a character that filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has called one of the "few remaining Holy Grails" in comics.

But it's not just DC heroes in Goldsman's future — his big-screen directorial debut may be a version of A Winter's Tale, Mark Helprin's fantasy novel set in an alternate New York, with a thief and a flying horse.

Morgan told reporters that he'd be interested in taking on the role of the grizzled alien with a fondness for dolphins, currently being developed as a movie by The Losers producers Joel Silver and Akiva Goldsman:

Lobo would be very cool. I don't think that I'm as big as Lobo is, but if you could, like, transplant Mickey Rourke's body onto my head, that would be just great... I do have an in. I'll be elbowing somebody soon.

While we're concerned by the visual of Mickey Rourke's body transplanted onto Morgan's head, we have to admit, he could probably pull it off...

Watchmen's 'Comedian' eyes another comic antihero: Lobo [SciFi Wire]

Talking during a press appearance for Orphan, Silver said that the Lobo movie is the project he's currently most excited about getting behind:

"I think we can do it. We've got a script we like... I think it's structured now as a PG-13 movie, I think we've done it that way, but I love it. I've just wanted to make it for a long time, and I think it's a great character, a great guy.

You have to admit: Silver's a lousy judge of character. Lobo, created as a minor character for forgotten comic The Omega Men became a breakout star in the late '80s after appearing in the popular Justice League International series. A bounty hunter as metal as any dolphin-loving unstoppable killing machine could be, he went on to appear in multiple series throughout the next decade and remains a cult favorite today for his unusual cursing (That's where "feetal's gizz" above comes from. See also "bastich") and potential for violent, dark comedy. He's many things, but "a great guy"? Not so much.

When asked if he could hint at how Lobo would be portrayed, Silver apparently changed the subject... or offered an interesting tease:

When any of you see Avatar, see pieces of it, the technology is genius, the stuff that's out there that is doable is fantastic.

Motion-captured ultraviolent space bounty hunters? Where do we sign up?

Producer Joel Silver: Lobo script is done [SciFi Wire]

Ian confirmed the news in a recent interview, telling the Quietus that he found Lobo a perfect fit for his talents:

[If I wasn't making music] I think I'd be writing comic books for a living, full-time. I have a bit of that going on already with the comic book character Lobo. I find it much easier to write comic-books than lyrics actually because it's a natural dialogue. Writing song lyrics is not natural but over the years I know what I need to know to get it done. I find it quite easy to capture a character and use my own personality and humor.

Ian's involvement with the series - to be illustrated by The Maxx's Sam Kieth - was teased in an interview with DC executive editor Dan Didio last week, when he said that the (then-unnamed writer) was

outside the normal circle of writers and... will have an excellent perspective on the character – something different that's sure to raise an eyebrow.

The two-part Lobo: Highway To Hell will launch in November, but don't be surprised if Ian shows up at San Diego Comic-Con at the end of the month to talk more about what's coming up.

Amongst The Thrashing: Scott Ian Of Anthrax Interviewed [The Quietus]

Comic books are full of men and women with amazing superpowers and uncanny abilities, but what about those even more powerful? Take a look at some of our favorite cosmic entities, quasi-deities, and a couple who just ought to be:

1. Darkseid (DC Comics)
Okay, so maybe his debut appearance was in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen (not exactly the most impressive of origins), but he's come a long way since then. Once the second in line to rule dystopian torture-planet Apokolips, Darkseid is now pretty much officially the most powerful of the New Gods - and, in the recent Final Crisis, someone who managed to destroy reality as we know it. Not only ridiculously strong and annoyingly indestructible, he's also telekinetic, telepathic, and a pretty darned impressive military strategist. (He also no longer looks like Jack Palance, who was said to be the original inspiration for his appearance. This is only debatably an improvement.)

2. Apocalypse (Marvel Comics)
As if just being called Apocalypse isn't enough, this Egyptian science geek has a list of powers longer than he rightfully ought to (like shapeshifting, teleportation and invulnerability). Not to mention the immortality. And technology from onetime creators of humanity, the robotic Celestials. And the intelligence and wisdom that you can't help but gain from being over 5000 years old. Maybe you could try to claim that he isn't exactly a "cosmic entity," but I wouldn't say that to his face. (Besides, his name is Apocalypse. So. Hardcore.)

3. Lodovica (Sky Doll, Soliel Productions)
Lodovica is the leader of one of the two warring papacies in this very strange (yet strangely beautiful) comic, which has been released in English translation by Marvel. According to Wikipedia, she's:

The power-mad ruler who strives to keep the faith of the populace through any means possible, whether by creating the illusion of divine power or by distracting them with the erotica of the Sky Dolls.

Hey, when you're the pope (or papess) of your own religion whose main weapons are false divinity and distracting erotica, you're not doing too bad. And even if you aren't technically divine, if you can convince everyone you're a deity, you're close enough.

4. God (Battle Pope, Image Comics)
First off, there's no denying God his deity status; he's kind of the guy that invented it. Set in after the Final Judgement, life is literally Hell on Earth, and all God's really got to protect us from the demon hordes is the Pope, a cigar-smoking womanizer. God himself, however, is delightfully sardonic and has a seemingly endless flowing beard. He also isn't afraid to get into a cosmic smackdown with the Pope if he feels the need, and seriously? That's pretty awesome. Plus, God can pull out the whole deus ex machina act and get away with it. And he doesn't even need the machina. (Additionally, Jesus is an endearing slacker type to the point where you almost expect him to take up bowling and carry around some Creedence tapes.)

5. Mr. Mxyzptlk (DC Comics)
Sure, all these guys have nigh-unlimited power, but Mxyzptlk here is the only who seems to have so much fun with his. Call him what you will - jester, imp, trickster - but this derby-hatted fellow from the fifth dimension has a ball messing with our world here in the third dimension, especially at the expense of poor Superman. His power is essentially unlimited and basically (but not technically) magical, and the only way to (temporarily) send him back home is to trick him into saying his name backwards. Lucky for us, we're just his playground.

Runner-Up: Lobo (DC Comics)
Okay, Lobo's no deity or great cosmic entity, but he'd probably like to think he is. Besides, he'd fit pretty well into a bunch of Norse myths, what with the killing and the violence and the dismemberment and all. More than that, however, he became an Archbishop of First Celestial Church of the Triple-Fish God, where he wears an awesome get-up and hangs out with space dolphins. Of course, he killed the fish god, so he basically wins all around.

Pick of the week for the majority of io9 readers would probably be the first issue of Serenity: Better Days, a new three-issue series set between Firefly and Serenity written by Joss Whedon and Brett Matthews (who also has a very enjoyable Lone Ranger and Tonto one-shot special hitting stores this week for those who dig the cowboy action.) It's drawn by Will Conrad, who also worked with Whedon and Matthews on 2005's Serenity: Those Left Behind series. For those of us who — spoiler warning — preferred Wash before he was dead, this is the next best thing to another movie, which is itself the next best thing to more Firefly on TV.

If the prospect of browncoat glee leaves you cold, then Image Comics' Screamland may be more your speed. The new series by newish creators Harold Sipe and Hector Casanova asks the kind of question that the suits at Fox are probably wishing they'd come up with first: "In a world where the movies are full of computer generated special-effects and psychological horror porn, how do classic horror icons like Dracula, the Wolfman and the Mummy make a living?" Yes, it's high concept comedy with added social commentary just the way you like it, as this first issue tale of Frankenstein's Monster's comeback attempt following the dot-com crash plans to demonstrate.

Elsewhere, it's all about the old favorites. DC Comics is reliving their '80s heyday with two reprints aimed at people pretty much exactly the same age as me. Justice League International collects the first half-year of the post-Crisis "funny" League in expensive hardcover format, while Lobo: Portrait of A Bastich collects Keith Giffen and 2000AD creators Alan Grant and Simon Bisley's two miniseries (Lobo and Lobo's Back, for those who wonder) about everyone's favorite indestructible sexist Beetlejuice-lookalike alien bounty hunter.

Marvel, for what it's worth, pretty much takes the week off, with only a trade paperback collection of alternate timeline drama X-Men: Die By The Sword worth mentioning — and even that's only to point out that the X-Men don't actually appear in the story despite the title (It's a team-up of Chris Claremont's other mutant teams, Excalibur and Exiles, so there are some former X-Men in there if you're going through withdrawal).

As usual, the full shipping list of what's coming to stores on Wednesday can be found here, and an easy-to-use way to find out where your local comic store is can be found here. Just watch out for the hordes of women who long to sleep with Adam Baldwin when you get there.