As reported by Comic Book Resources, Marvel Comics has issued a press release stating that for every 50 copies of unsold DC Comics revolving around their recent Blackest Night ring promotion, retailers will be sent a rare Deadpool-centric variant for Siege #3, the publisher’s current event series. Requesting the covers of the unsold issues only, Marvel claims this initiative was put in place to “provide assistance to comic retailers in 2010.”

It should be noted that Diamond Distributors is not involved in this trade promotion, and should not be contacted for information regarding it. Marvel did provide all of the relevant information within the press release (which can also be found below), and further questions can be directed to helpme@marvel.com.

All submissions must be received at the Marvel office by Tuesday, February 16, 2010.

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For those of you who don’t know who Grant Morrison is you’re likely to be made aware of him soon.  The groundbreaking comic book writer behind such legendary runs on X-Men, Animal Man, and Doom Patrol is getting his own biopic, and the director of that movie, Patrick Meaney, is profiled over at Wired.

In the profile, Meaney says Morrison is about to become one of those creators that will receive mainstream recognition that only creators such as Alan Moore and Frank Miller have enjoyed.

“Most ‘civilians’ that I talk to about the project still don’t know who Grant Morrison is,” Meaney said in the interview, “but Moore is definitely a name they recognize, as is Frank Miller. I feel like we could soon be seeing a bunch of Morrison film projects in the not-too-distant future.”

Currently in-development is Morrison’s work WE3, which is a favorite among many of us Morrison fans. The story involves pets enhanced with cybernetic weaponry to become assassins who rebel against their programming and their creators. The project is currently being handled by Kung Fu Panda director John Stevenson.

Morrison’s sensibilities lends well to the screen, however, his ideas are far left of Richard Kelly-weird so I’m not sure how well they are likely to be received by the bigwigs in Hollywood, or by audience members for that matter.  But I applaud any would-be producer in developing an idea of Morrison’s, it shows a willingness to take chances and I appreciate that. But if WE3 gets a true to form adaptation for the screen, I would suspect many parent’s groups raising holy hell over it.

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International Creative Management (ICM) has started zeroing in on the comic industry’s more notable assets, with the announcement of signing writer Grant Morrison. Being one of the world’s largest talent and literary agencies, ICM already boasts an impressive list of clients such as actors Jodie Foster and Al Pacino, director Woody Allen, television personality Ellen DeGeneres, author Patricia Cornwell and musician Beyoncé, to name a few.

As detailed by The Hollywood Reporter, Morrison has 20 years under his belt, penning fan-favorite works like JLA, X-Men, Doom Patrol and the current Batman and Robin. The spotlight has shined on him even more lately thanks to his ‘Batman: R.I.P.’ and Final Crisis projects, and the gaming world got a dose of Morrison thanks to his classic Arkham Asylum: A Serious Place On Serious Earth graphic novel that became the inspiration for the hit video game Batman: Arkham Asylum.

The newly formed DC Entertainment also counts on Morrison’s contributions and consulting as their goal of emulating Marvel Studios’ approach to comic movies intensifies. Other notable comic creators under ICM’s management are Spawn creator Todd McFarlane and legendary artist Neal Adams, who signed with them in August.

If last week was a bust, this week certainly isn’t. There is a ton of new comics to look forward to this week.

Doom Patrol #1 hits stands this week with stories by Keith Geffen, J.M. DeMatteis, Kevin Maguire and Matthew Clark. Frankly, I think its next to impossible to top Arnold Drake or Grant Morrison and their runs on the books, but I do think this first issue is a worth a shot.

My second recommendation comes is the softcover release of Joe Hill’s Eisner nominated series Locke & Key.  I hear nothing but awesome things about this book, so I am going to pick up this trade paperback. Next, from Image Comics, we finally have the trade of Jonathan Hickman’s Pax Romana. About a time-traveling crew of super soldiers out to save Christianity.

If you’ve read Hickman’s The Nightly News, than you already know that his design sensibility in regards to books where he handles every aspect of the production is nothing short of ground-breaking. There is also the critically acclaimed Chew, which I have not read but definitely really looking forward.

My final recommendation is highly milked “World’s Most Wanted” arc of Invincible Iron Man. I think this has gone on for something like eight parts now or more and it does feel like its run for a long time. However, I’m totally fine with it because its extremely compelling and has, by far, been my pick of the week every time a new issue comes out.

As always, we here at The Flickcast care about what you read, so with that in mind leave us a message letting us know what you liked or didn’t like in this week’s stack. For a better idea of what comes out this week check out Midtown Comics.