Comic capers coming soon

Having read a few recent stories regarding "V for Vendetta," it's become clear that some of my movie-reviewing colleagues don't know the difference between a graphic novel and a trade-paperback collection.

So here's a quick tutorial:

— Comic book series, miniseries and limited series are released as issues, many of which are compiled into collections. There are hardback and softcover edition of collections, with the latter also being known as trade paperbacks.

— Graphic novels, or original graphic novels, are created specially for that format and are published in hardcover or softcover form.

It is easy to get confused. For example, "V" was originally published in serialized form in Britain's "Warrior" magazine. Then DC Comics republished those existing strips, as well as some new material, as a 10-issue miniseries. That was later compiled into hardback and softcover collections.

So technically, "V" never was a graphic novel.

LET THE ONSLAUGHT BEGIN. "V for Vendetta" was just the first strike. Comic-book movies will get a boost in May with "X3: The Last Stand," and then a really big bump on June 30 with Bryan Singer's highly anticipated "Superman Returns."

Given that so many superhero films turn out to be blockbusters, you can only expect more of them.

Director Christopher Nolan is readying a "Batman Begins" follow-up, with Hugo Weaving of "V" supposedly on Nolan's short list of actors in consideration to play The Joker. And Josh Lucas is already looking like the front-runner to play district attorney Harvey Dent, who eventually becomes the villainous Two-Face.

Singer's deal with Warner Bros. includes options for more "Superman" films.

And there are plenty of other comics-related sequels in development:

FANTASTIC FOUR 2. Several Web sites are reporting that this comic-book "First Family" will clash with the Silver Surfer and his planet-eating master Galactus in their second film. And unconfirmed rumors have it that Keanu Reeves may have been offered the role of the space-faring surfer . . . dude!

SPIDER-MAN 3. An early promotional image of the title character in an all-black costume seems to confirm rumors that Tobey Maguire will be battling Venom this time.

Topher Grace may play Spidey's evil counterpart, and Thomas Haden Church has already been confirmed as playing another bad guy, the Sandman.

With James Franco's character already going down a dark road (as teased in the second film), this movie is becoming overcrowded with villains.

The same goes for the good guys. Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard) will be competing with Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) for Peter Parker's affections. And in the comics, Gwen's father, NYPD Capt. George Stacy (James Cromwell), becomes a new father figure to Peter.

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E-mail: jeff@desnews.com