New Horror Comic

Comic fans still mourning the loss of defunct UK horror comic Scream! might be interested in a new spooky comic, Locke and Key, coming soon from IDW, the US publisher responsible for the new Doctor Who titles. As it's an American title you won't be able to pick it up in newagents over here, but it should be relatively easy to find in comic shops.

Wriiten by novelist Joe Hill, author of best selling novel ''Heart-Shaped Box'', this new comic is drawn by Gabriel (Beowulf) Rodriguez. In July 2007, Hill explained that ''Locke & Key is a supernatural thriller about three kids who find themselves the custodians of an unlikely New England mansion called Keyhouse. Within the house are secret doors with transformative powers, the power to fundamentally change a person’s identity... they find themselves pitted against a thing that calls itself Dodge... There’s a terrible door within Keyhouse that Dodge would like to force open, and which my heroes have to keep shut at all costs.''

Expect to see this new title on the shelves in February.

Ferg Handley Signing In Edinburgh

Spider-Man and Commando writer Ferg Handley will be signing copies of the current issue of Panini UK's Spectacular Spider-Man at Deadhead Comics in Edinburgh's Candlemaker Row on Saturday 26 January from 2pm.

As previously reported here on Down The Tubes this issue features Peter Parker visiting Edinburgh in his European search for clues about the deaths of his parents.

Handley is interviewed by Liam Rudden in today's The Guide section the of the Edinburgh Evening News, which features a cover of Spider-Man in front of Edinburgh Castle by Andie Tong.

• Spectacular Spider-Man Issue 162 is available at all good newsagents for £1.99 and comes with a free Spidey Target Game.

JLA Shelved

Media web site Digital Spy, Variety and others sources are reporting the highly-anticipated Justice League of America movie has been shelved indefinitely.

Warner Bros has allowed the cast's contracts to expire because of difficulties over the screenplay and taxation issues, according to Variety. Budget was also an issue, especially if the production doesn’t ultimately qualify for tax incentives in Australia, where the film was going to be shot.

E! Online reports producers have also agreed the script by Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney needed some tinkering - something that can't be done until the Writers Guild strike is over.

Warner Bros had already begun to distance the project from other DC-related franchises, as we reported earlier this month.

Directed by George Miller, the film based on DC Comics superhero super team was rumoured to star former OC actor Adam Brody as The Flash, alongside Armie Hammer Jr (as Batman), rapper Common (Green Lantern), Megan Gale (Wonder Woman) and Scott Porter (Superman). Wolf Creek actress Theresa Palmer was also lined up to play Batman's love interest Talia al Ghul.

Cast members were reportedly already on location on Tuesday when they were informed that the movie had been put on hold. But they were assured that the studio had every intention of making it in the future, with the existing cast as its stars.

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