STAN LEE CREATING GAY SUPERHERO SHOW • Look out, California Mormons: "Showtime is developing an hourlong project from comicbook icon Stan Lee that tracks the life of a gay superhero. … Story, which focuses on an up-and-coming superhero who struggles to hide his secret identities, is based on the book 'Hero' by Perry Moore."

Texas beatnik Matthew McConaughey is rumored to be Marvel Studios' first choice to play Captain America in a movie slated for release in early 2011.

Con: Captain America never fights crime shirtless. Pro: Captain America's indestructible shield can double as an indestructible drum when the Captain smokes his indestructible gravity bong.

DUBAI BUYS AND BUYS AND BUYS "Dubai is getting a dose of superhero power following the announcement that Marvel Entertainment has inked a deal with U.A.E.-based real estate company Tatweer to build the first-ever Marvel Super Heroes Theme Park. The, attraction, which will be completed by 2012 and will span over 4.5 million square feet, will feature the likes of Iron Man, Spiderman and the X-Men across a series of themed rides. It will be based at Tatweer's three billion sq feet entertainment destination Dubailand, which has also inked mega bucks deals with Dreamworks Animation and Universal Studios to offer a plethora of branded rides using characters from their franchises."