The Sci Fi Channel and Virgin Comics teamed up previously for the Stranded series, and yesterday, the two announced their next joint venture Superbia.

When the newest residents of Woodshire Village, a pair of young newlyweds, moved to the quaint cul-de-sac, they expected life to be strange. But “strange” doesn’t quite cover it. A residential community for superheroes, Woodshire Village boasts affordable housing and easy commutes to all major crime scenes. And when the heroes are away, the spouses play.

One would expect Woodshire Village to be the safest community imaginable however it’s not without its share of secrets, scandal, mystery and murder. With the superheroes off saving the world – their “day job” – it’s up to their partners at home to solve the crimes occurring in their own backyards and preserve the safety of their protected enclave.

Oh boy, it sounds like the superhero version of Desperate Housewives. Not that that is a bad thing, DH is still one of the hot shows on ABC, and heck, I’d probably actually watch a television series with that premise.

Superbia, the comic book, will be written by Lisa Klink and Jordan Gorfinkle, and will be available this summer.

via Virgin Comics

Yes, another SciFi programming story from the meet and greet Tuesday night. The network has picked up Virgin Comics’ The Stranded for a possible series.

Creator Mike Carey will be developing the story for the Sci Fi Channel.

With The Stranded, Mike challenges ordinary people to face the extraordinary – their lives are lies. Every memory is false. Startling events cause them to confront the truth, that they are, in fact, “stranded” on Earth after a horrific genocide in another galaxy.

“From day one,” Carey says in a prepared statement, “working on The Stranded has felt like being at a nexus point of creativity. Virgin and SCI FI created the perfect platform, and then supported the book and the creative team through all the stages of development. This feels like something we all own, and we all love. I can’t wait to take it forward into its next incarnation.”

via Virgin Comics

The Sci Fi Channel has given the green light for the two-hour pilot movie Caprica - the prequel to the revived, and quite popular, Battlestar Galactica.

“Battlestar Galactica” is concluding its 3½-year run with 20 final episodes this year. Its “Caprica” prequel begins production in Vancouver in the spring. Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, the exec producers of “Galactica,” will join with Universal Media Studios to work on “Caprica.” Rene Aubuchon will co-write the “Caprica” pilot with Moore, and Jeff Reiner will direct it. Casting begins soon.

The news was announced this week at the Sci Fi Channel’s upfront presentation in New York City. The Caprica series has been rumored for a couple of years now, so it is good to see it finally make its way to the small screen. At this time no cast members have been announced, but if it is a prequel to the Battlestar Galactica series, one would think some of the major characters (Boomer, oh please let it be Boomer) will appear. Here’s hoping it is good enough to spin off a series of its own that is as good as BSG became.

via Variety

The Sci Fi Channel is going to allow the remaining episodes of Painkiller Jane to play out, but after that, the action series based on the comic book is getting the axe.

The cancellation of “Jane” comes on the heels of the strong Friday premiere of another Sci Fi series based on a comic strip, “Flash Gordon,” which scored the channel�s best series premiere numbers this year.

Well that’s odd considering I thought the Flash Gordon pilot was pretty weak, especially with that guy playing Ming.

The last episode of the show airs on September 21.

via Hollywood Reporter

The Painkiller Jane television series premieres this week (April 13) on the Sci Fi channel, and to help kick things off Dynamite Entertainment and Sci Fi are giving away free Painkiller Jane stickers.

Each retailer is expected to receive around 100 stickers on Wednesday as customer appreciation giveaway items, so make sure you tip your comic shop owner this week and tell them how much you love going to their store!

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Dynamite Entertainment has sent us the cover images for the upcoming Painkiller Jane #1. The new ongoing series by Joe Quesada and Jimmy Palmiotti coincides with the Painkiller Jane series coming to the SciFi Channel in April.

Even better news is the Painkiller Jane #0 issue, which hits stands the April 13 will only be $.25.

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If you love the pulp magazines from yesteryear, and are also a conisuer of fine pin-up work, then head over to the Website at the End of the Universe and download the free 2007 calendar.

Decades before Princess Leia ever wore her metal bikini in Return of the Jedi, women frequently modeled fine metallic swimwear on the covers of pulp science fiction magazines to excite the imaginations of impressionable, young readers.

This calendar does not have secular holidays or events on it, but rather features the birthdays of different sci-fi authors, editors, and artists.� I’ve already downloaded mine!

via Website at the End of the Universe (link)

SCI FI announced that it has greenlit Painkiller Jane for 22-episodes centering on a female superhero with healing abilities. Based on the comic book by Jimmy Palmiotti and Joe Quesada, the series has not been cast yet, but is slated to premiere in January 2007.