By Don Smith

Within you shall find the inaugural SyFy Snippets. The weekly column mixes news items we might not cover in our regular headlines with commentary. Its a work in progress so Id like to hear what you think. Drop me a line at don@airlockalpha.com with comments or criticisms. I wont be able to discuss everything that the Portal doesnt normally cover (and it wont always be just sci-fi either.) So, if you see something worth mentioning, let me know and I might include it.

Get In The Game
- In what is surely one of the early signs of the Apocalypse, WWE superstar HHH will play a bad guy in the upcoming Blade:Trinity. Also reportedly up for the muscle-bound wrestler known by his mother as Michael Paul LeVesque - a part written specifically for him by John Milius (screenwriter of Conan, the Barbarian) in a biker film. (Hollywood Reporter)

It's such a fine line between stupid and clever
- I was glad to hear that Michael McKean was joining the cast of Smallville as Perry White. Hes a great character actor - as show in his X-Files guest spot as Morris Fletcher and as David St. Hubbins in This is Spinal Tap.

The Dark Knight: with a bloody axe?
- Im not sure how I feel about Christian Bale as the new Batman. The only thing I know him from is American Psycho and, well, all I can say is: eeeek. Im still partial to Michael Keatons Caped Crusader. I havent seen him around lately -- isnt he available?

Hey, no need to wait in line for this one:
- But Star Wars fans probably will anyway.

Digital Bits is reporting a rumor that Lucasfilm might release the original Star Wars on DVD late next year (yes - say it with me folks - just in time for Christmas:) Supposedly this is because Lucasfilm is pleased how its upcoming DVD set The Adventures of Indiana Jones turned out so the company will use the same format for the Star Wars release.

For those that care:
- Star Wars: Episode III wrapped Sept. 17 in Sydney, Australia, the official Star Wars Web site reported.

9/21/??
- A couple of notable upcoming Sept. 21 birthdays:

H.G. Wells, author of The War of the Worlds, was born on this day in 1866. He would be 137 this year but he is dead. However, he left a note saying he would be here that day to blow out his candles: something about a time machine:

Also having a birthday that day is author Stephen King, born in 1947. If you are interested in writing (and not just horror), read his book On Writing. Its really insightful and inspirational for aspiring scribes. Danse Macabre is also great for those readers with an interest in horror.

The WB = The DC?
- Plans are in the works for a new series based loosely on the classic comic book character The Flash. Using the tried and true method of making the superhero an ordinary person (ala Smallville), the network is going to try to catch lightning in a bottle again (while ignoring its failure with Birds of Prey.) WB execs are talking about the series using elements of time travel.

Hey, maybe thats why H.G. is coming back?! Technical Advisor for the show?

Todd Komarnicki ("Resistance") is writing the pilot and exec producing.

Catch this one quick, or you might miss it:(Variety)

Holy *bleep*, *bleeping* Marvel may buy *bleeping* what?
- Comics giant Marvel Enterprises may hook up with Miramax to attain Artisan Entertainment, best known for The Blair Witch Project. I wont say anything smarmy here because 1. I think it would be a great move for the company and 2. They just sent me a nice letter saying, though I wasnt ready for a book of my own, they liked my writing sample and I should contact a specific editor again in the future. (New York Post)

This books not a snoozer
- Titan Books has announced it will release Sandman: Endless Nights, an anthology of new stories from author Neil Gaiman, Oct. 24. Personally, I havent read Gaimans work, but if J. Michael Straczynski offered him one of those 20 episodes of B5 that JMS didnt write, then thats a good enough endorsement for me.

Wohs eht hctaw dluohs uoy.
- HBO's supernatural drama Carnivale, which premiered last weekend, was the best-ever debut for an HBO original series, drawing 5.3 million viewers. The series -- about a boy with special powers and bad dreams that joins a travelling carnival - started out well, reminding me of Twin Peaks in its pace and visuals. This is of course helped by the presence of Michael J. Anderson, the Man from Another Place in David Lynchs Northwestern drama. (Variety)

Notable recent (or upcoming) DVD releases
Angel - Season Two; Stargate SG-1 Season 4 Boxed Set; Alias - The Complete First Season; Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life (Special Edition); Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere; Monty Python and the Holy Grail (2-Disc Collector's Edition)