Yep, while “Gyre” is gone, Kevin’s writing the new series based on Baphomet, the new character introduced in “Gyre”, titled “Gotham Babylon”. He’s already got the first 3 scripts in the can. Walt Flanagan will be back to draw all the pretty pictures.

A trade paperback collecting all of “Widening Gyre” is planned, hopefully to coincide with the release of the new “Babylon” book.

While these two stories tie together, Kevin and Walt’s first effort, “Batman: Cacophony”, was always meant as a standalone story.

Finally, for those of you wondering about that OTHER non-Batman related effort, namely, the “Green Hornet” series, Kevin has confirmed, via an upcoming interview with Comic Shop News, that all 10 issues of “Green Hornet” are written. We dig this quote a lot, too:

What could have started simply as, ‘here, take the script and let me see it when you’re done’ has become much more than that things would kick in, like ‘I remember in an earlier draft I had a scene involving Brit and his wife, so is there enough space to fit that in?’ Suddenly, you’re bringing something to it that wouldn’t have been there had you made the movie. And it’s not like I cut this out of the script because it was terrible. You cut stuff for time, but in comic book form we’ve got time for character development, and that will enhance any story. I’ve been looking at the breakdowns and going, ‘hey man, this scene could totally fit back in here, so I’m going to reinstate that scene.’

Comic Shop News can be found in most local comic shops, and is a free mini newspaper. Ask for it if you don’t see it.

Yep, with all this big comic news coming across the wire, your head might be spinning a bit, but we’ll keep it clear, and always remind you as the new books arrive. Kevin and Walt are quite the team, and we’re pleased to see that they’re continuing this great partnership into more titles.

Via @BrandonConsoli “what kind of feel is hit somebody gonna have?” I’m going for FORREST GUMP of sports films. Big valentine to the Game.

Via @LeakingPan “Just got tickets to a prescreening for tomorrow” Score me up, Homey: I wanna make A BIGGER COP OUT after HIT SOMEBODY.

Via @dibbs34 “LOVED The Smomcast. does she return for next weeks as well?” For two solid hours. One of ’em completely baked. S’awesome.

Re: Toronto’s Roy Thomson Show, Feb 6th – 23 tix freed up on TicketMaster. 63 full view. 48 partial view. http://tinyurl.com/tdotkev

Via @rosecity1980 “ticketmaster is turning me down, sir. says they got nothing…again” Call Roy Thomson box office. They’ve got some there.

DailyDevils: @NHLDevils want to get to 10k followers, and they’re giving out 100 pairs of tickets to do so! http://bit.ly/7bW2hK #devs10k

A request from Jeff Anderson (and a rare chance to get a signed page from his CLERKS II script): http://tinyurl.com/arequestfromjeffanderson

Via @themuckshow “is it worth the 9+hr drive from Ont 2 NJ just to see a store?” It’s gonna be, the weekend of August 2nd…

Yes, all we can confirm right now is that early August weekend will bring something big to Red Bank. But for now…No further deets. When we know, so will you.

Please check out the show, and feel free to use the new retweet or comment links to let us know what you think of the show. For those of you who think bringing Mom might tone Kev down…THINK AGAIN! Those of you on iTunes right now should be receiving the new episode automatically via your podcast subscription, so enjoy.

Kevin promised the return of Mom for a second episode, which we assume will be next week, though no immediate confirmation is given at the end of this episode. Stay tuned.

Heads-up if you’re into me & my bullshit: keep open 7/31 to 8/1 – the weekend AFTER ComiCon. 40th BDay Q&A in Red Bank & something cooler…

We can only speculate on the “something cooler” — One past year included a View Askew “prom” event, so your imagination is really the limit. We’re sure love to see the return of “Vulgarthon” which could wind up being quite the weekend event. Previous ‘thons included mini Q&A sessions after each film, but imagine just doing the Q&A as one chunk and then a non stop film marathon? Could be fun. Again, just speculation. We’ll let you know details on the weekend as soon as we can. Clear those schedules!

In the meantime, take a peek at this story which officially announces Kevin’s plans to return in June 2010:

Kevin Smith strikes back

Filmmaker Kevin Smith will be returning to Brantfords Walter Gretzky Street Hockey Tournament this year.

In 2009, his primary goal was to meet Walter, one of his idols, and play net in the tournament which raises money for the Brantford Sports Facilities Infrastructure Legacy Fund.

This year, he has his sights set on two new goals.

My aim is to not vomit, because I did after the second game last year, and to break the Guinness record for street hockey teams in a tournament, as thanks to Wally, he said on the phone from his home in Los Angeles, California.

According to the Guinness World Records website, the current record for street hockey teams in a tournament is 192, set in Ladysmith on Vancouver Island in 2007.

I said Id be back and were coming back in a big way, he said. Its possible. We figured last year we had a lot of teams and we only really promoted it a month before.

Smith is known for films such as Clerks, Mallrats, Dogma and the upcoming film Cop Out, a detective film starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan.

The director, writer, producer, actor and cult phenomenon attended the tournament for the first time last year, after he stumbled across a poster for it online while doing a Google search of Walter.

He then called Pat Shewchuk of Brantford Parks and Recreation and said he would like to play in the tournament and sponsor three teams of his fans to play as well.

His attendance in the tournament was a huge success, not only did the number of teams competing nearly triple, to 94 in 2009, but he sold out a show at the Sanderson Centre and donated the $10,000 proceeds to the sports infrastructure fund.

While his intention was always to throw some weight behind the tournament, he also managed to fulfill a dream of meeting one of his idols.

I had such a blast last year, he said. That was one of the top 10 moments of my life. I still look at those pictures and smile.

Im used to working in front of an audience under circumstances I can control, but Ive never done anything remotely athletic in front a crowd.

Smith said the thrill of last years experience had provided more than enough incentive to commit to it again.

People always ask me what my motivation behind it is. I need nothing more than the motivation to play street hockey in Wayne Gretzkys home town in front of his father, he said.

The filmmaker has already started to promote the event on his website and through social networking tool Twitter, but said a big announcement as to the finer details of the tournament would be made during a press conference with Walter at Wayne Gretzkys Restaurant in Toronto on Feb. 3.

Shewchuk, of Brantford Parks and Recreation, said Smiths participation will provide an opportunity to make the street hockey tournament a huge part of the Brantford sports calendar.

Our vision is to make it a signature event, she said. I think with Kevins continued involvement, he wants to make it the biggest around.

Shewchuk said Smiths enthusiastic approach to the tournament allowed it to expand in a way that wouldnt be possible without him.

When you have someone of his stature promoting it, it has the potential to be one of the biggest the city has seen, she said. With someone of his notoriety promoting this isnt an opportunity that comes to everybody.

However, Smith isnt the only one who deserves credit, Shewchuk said.

The reason Smith attended and promoted the tournament last year was because he is a big fan of the Gretzky family, especially Walter.

(Smith) really admires Walter and that is the reason he attended, Shewchuk said. I dont think the city realizes how lucky we are to have him and everything he does for us.

Last year, in an interview with Brant News, Smith said of Walter: Hes the cream of the crop – I look up to him as a human being – theres always room for a guy like that in your world.

Gear up and get ready for a record-breaking tournament in June! We hope to see many of you there.

Just had to save the best for last. Sure, this is an app for a celebrity, filmmaker Kevin Smith of Clerks fame, but it’s still a vanity app, so it counts. Smith has an entire app to himself with a feed of photos (photo blog), his Twitter feed, and other fun features (fan photos, a soundboard of Smith favorites, a custom-made ringtone hummed by Smith himself, and others). The app is powered by DenVog and most certainly costs buckets more to make than one from MotherApp or AppMakr. This is the only app on our list that isn’t free ($0.99), but I would say the Twitter feed and custom ringtone alone make it well worth the buck.

Via @gloom303 “Is that a plural I see in Mom SMods?” It is. At least two weeks worth. Ending of the second one’s an instant classic.

Also, Kevin has been tweeting information on how we can help the situation in Haiti with our donations. He’s also donated signed pairs of Vans shoes that he’s worn throughout various gigs over the years. 100% of the proceeds will go to the Red Cross. You can bid at eBay with comfort knowing it’s all going to a good cause. Our other favorite way to donate: Use your phone to text the word ‘Haiti’ to 90999 and $10 will be put on your phone bill which will 100% go towards the Red Cross and their aid efforts. With the amount we’re spending on text and data every month, what’s another $10 to help out the cause? Please donate.

Check it out — And also, take a peek to see what the Stash is offering up as far as deals. There’s some packages going on with signed books and variant covers, especially cool for those of you who might be a little late to the party with this series. Highly recommended.

Cop Out (Feb. 26) Kevin Smith directs Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan as the po-po, in what we’re hoping will be the funniest cop film since Bad Boys (the original, not Bad Boys 2). Our prediction: When it comes to buddy cops, Tracy Morgan is the next Eddie Murphy and/or Will Smith!

The Director: Kevin Smith
Age: 22
How Did They Get Their Break
Smith?s first film, Mae Day: The Crumbling of a Documentary, was shot with co-director Scott Mosier while the pair were at the Vancouver Film School.

The latter dubbed it ?the greatest documentary that never was?. It followed the duo?s failed attempt to made a documentary about the titular Mae Day, who was going through a sex change.

Just two years later, Smith made Clerks.

See the official press release links for more details on this exciting project, as Kevin continues on his triumphant return to the comics industry, his 3rd new series in under a year!