Happy Holidays!



See you back here Jan. 2, pardners.

DVD new releases for Dec. 26, 2006

The Black Dahlia (Widescreen Edition)

Airwolf - Season 2

The Descent (Unrated Full Screen Edition)

The Last Kiss (Widescreen Edition)

Davey & Goliath - The Lost Episodes

Monarch of the Moon/Destination Mars

Sex, Censorship and The Silver Screen

Hammer Film Noir Vol. 4 (Terror Street / Wings of Danger)

Hammer Film Noir, Vol. 5 (The Glass Tomb / Paid to Kill)

Anita O'Day - Live at Ronnie Scott's

New CD releases Dec. 26, 2006

New CD releases Dec. 26, 2006

Singles Box Set by Clash

Rocky Balboa: The Best of Rocky by Original Soundtrack

Arnold Layne / Dark Globe by David Gilmour

I Just Want to See the Boy Happy by Morrissey

Comics shipping Dec. 27, 2006

See complete lists:
DC Archives
DC Showcase
DC Trade Paperbacks
Marvel Masterworks
Marvel Essentials
Marvel Trade Paperbacks
Upcoming Trade Paperbacks - Graphic Novels


Comics Shipping Dec. 27, 2006

DARK HORSE COMICS

OCT060024 HELLGATE LONDON #2 (OF 4) $2.99
MAY060039 OH MY GODDESS VOL 24 RTL TP $10.95 $8.76 at Amazon.
AUG060054 PATH OF THE ASSASSIN VOL 4 TP (MR) $9.95
OCT060023 PERHAPANAUTS SECOND CHANCES #3 (OF 4) $2.99
JUL060047 SHAMAN WARRIOR VOL 1 TP $12.95 $10.36 at Amazon.
SEP060042 STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #11 $2.99
OCT060026 USAGI YOJIMBO #99 $2.99

DC COMICS

SEP060306 100 BULLETS VOL 10 DECAYED TP (MR) $14.99 $10.64 at Amazon.
OCT060178 52 WEEK #34 $2.50
OCT060155 BATMAN #661 $2.99
OCT060161 BATMAN AND THE MAD MONK #5 (OF 6) $3.50
OCT060181 BLUE BEETLE #10 $2.99
SEP060220 BLUE BEETLE SHELLSHOCKED TP $12.99 $10.39 at Amazon.
OCT060267 BOYS #6 (MR) $2.99
OCT060239 CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #28 $2.25
OCT060244 CIPHER VOL 6 $9.99
OCT060199 CONNOR HAWKE DRAGONS BLOOD #2 (OF 6) $2.99
OCT060184 CREEPER #5 (OF 6) $2.99
OCT060285 CROSSING MIDNIGHT #2 (MR) $2.99
OCT060186 FLASH THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE #7 $2.99
OCT060198 GUY GARDNER COLLATERAL DAMAGE #2 (OF 2) $5.99
OCT060192 HAWKGIRL #59 $2.99
SEP060200 HUNTRESS DARK KNIGHT DAUGHTER TP $19.99 $14.19 at Amazon.
OCT060290 JACK OF FABLES #6 (MR) $2.99
OCT060205 JSA CLASSIFIED #20 $2.99
OCT060201 JUSTICE #9 (OF 12) $3.50
OCT060209 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #5 $2.99
OCT060210 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA VAR ED #5 $2.99
OCT060293 LOVELESS #14 (MR) $2.99
OCT060270 NINJA SCROLL #4 $2.99
SEP060271 OYAYUBIHIME INFINITY VOL 3 $9.99
OCT060276 ROKKIN #6 $2.99
SEP060273 SEIMADEN VOL 7 $9.99
OCT060170 SUPERGIRL #13 $2.99
OCT060225 SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #25 $2.99
SEP060204 SUPERMAN BATMAN #31 $2.99
OCT060234 TEEN TITANS GO #38 $2.25
SEP060270 TENJHO TENGE VOL 11 $9.99
OCT060233 UNCLE SAM AND THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS #6 (OF 8) $2.99
OCT060251 VS (VERSUS) VOL 4 $9.99
OCT060263 WETWORKS #4 $2.99
OCT060264 WETWORKS VAR ED #4 $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

NOV061850 68 (ONE SHOT) (MR) $3.99
SEP061806 A DISTANT SOIL #38 (RES) $4.50
OCT061865 AGE OF BRONZE #24 $3.50
OCT061906 CITY OF HEROES #17 $2.99
SEP061867 CYBERFORCE X-MEN LEE CVR #1 $3.99
SEP061866 CYBERFORCE X-MEN SILVESTRI CVR #1 $3.99
AUG061767 FEAR AGENT #10 $2.99
OCT068077 INVINCIBLE VOL 1 FAMILY MATTERS TP $12.99 $10.36 at Amazon.
SEP061823 NEGATIVE BURN #7 (MR) $5.99
SEP061828 SAVAGE DRAGON #131 $2.99
OCT061864 SAVAGE DRAGON ARCHIVES VOL 1 TP $19.99 $13.59 at Amazon.
AUG061778 SPAWN #163 $2.95
AUG051640 SPAWN COLLECTION VOL 1 TP $19.95 $14.16 at Amazon.
JUN061747 TOMB RAIDER COMPENDIUM TP $59.99 $37.19 at Amazon.
OCT068232 WALKING DEAD NEW PTG #33 (MR) (PP #746) $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

OCT062138 ALL NEW OFF HANDBOOK MARVEL UNIVERSE A TO Z #12 $3.99
OCT062198 ANITA BLAKE VH GUILTY PLEASURES #3 (OF 12) $2.99
OCT062136 ANNIHILATION #5 (OF 6) $2.99
SEP062141 ASTONISHING X-MEN #19 $2.99
OCT062144 AVENGERS NEXT #4 (OF 5) $2.99
OCT062147 BLACK PANTHER #23 CW $2.99
OCT062226 CAPTAIN AMERICA AND THE FALCON NOMAD TP $24.99 $16.49 at Amazon.
OCT068054 CIVIL WAR CHOOSING SIDES 2ND PTG VAR (PP #743) $3.99
OCT062151 DAREDEVIL #92 $2.99
OCT062181 EXILES #89 $2.99
OCT062194 HELLSTORM SON OF SATAN #3 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
OCT062153 HEROES FOR HIRE #5 $2.99
OCT062157 IMMORTAL IRON FIST #2 $2.99
OCT062205 KABUKI REFLECTIONS #7 $5.99
OCT062159 MARVEL 1602 FANTASTICK FOUR #4 (OF 5) $3.50
OCT062232 MARVEL ADVENTURES FLIP MAGAZINE #20 $4.99
OCT062233 MARVEL HEROES FLIP MAGAZINE #20 $4.99
OCT062167 NEXTWAVE AGENTS OF HATE #11 $2.99
OCT062169 ONSLAUGHT REBORN #2 (OF 5) $2.99
OCT062201 PTOLUS CITY BY THE SPIRE #3 (OF 6) $2.99
OCT062133 SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE #13 $2.99
OCT062218 SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE VOL 2 NEW GIRL DIGEST TP $7.99
OCT062124 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #37 $2.99
OCT062125 ULTIMATE POWER #3 (OF 9) $2.99
SEP041807 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VOL 11 CARNAGE TP $12.99
OCT062176 WHAT IF X-MEN AGE OF APOCALYPSE $2.99
OCT062175 WHAT IF X-MEN DEADLY GENESIS $3.99
OCT062149 WINTER SOLDIER WINTER KILLS ONE SHOT CW $3.99
NOV062378 WOLVERINE #50 POSTER $6.99
OCT062187 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #9 $2.99
OCT062191 X-MEN #194 $2.99
OCT062219 X-MEN DEADLY GENESIS TP $19.99 $15.48 at Amazon.

COMICS

SEP063350 A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #48 (A) $4.99
OCT063139 ARCHIE DIGEST #231 $2.49
SEP063241 ARMY OF DARKNESS #13 $2.99
OCT063245 BART SIMPSON COMICS #33 $2.99
AUG063189 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA #4 $2.99
AUG063192 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA FOIL CVR #4 PI
OCT063140 BETTY & VERONICA #223 $2.25
NOV063210 CROMARTIE HIGH SCHOOL MANGA VOL 9 TP $10.95
OCT063279 ELVIRA #164 $2.50
JUN063516 GUMBY #2 $3.99
AUG063232 HACK SLASH SLICE HARD CASELLI CVR A $4.95
AUG063233 HACK SLASH SLICE HARD CRANK CVR B $4.95
OCT063410 LOVE & ROCKETS VOL 2 #18 (MR) $4.50
JUL063089 NIGHTWOLF THE PRICE #3 (OF 5) $2.95
AUG063645 SADHU #4 $2.99
OCT063746 SNAKEWOMAN #6 $2.99
OCT063148 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #170 $2.25
AUG063038 SOULFIRE CHAOS REIGN BEGINNINGS $1.99
SEP063035 VAMPIRELLA BLOOD LUST TP $9.95

New and upcoming action figures

Complete List of Marvel Legends Action Figures
Complete List of DC Direct Action Figures

Here's a look at action figures available via your local comics shop or via the TIP!-supporting links below:

DC Direct Action Figures

Alex Ross JLA series 5 action figures
--Brainiac
--Lex Luthor
--Green Arrow
--Martian Manhunter
--Red Tornado
--Translucent Martian Manhunter

Batman Through the Ages
--Box Set

Batman/Superman Series 4
--Batzarro
--Bizarro
--Superwoman
--Batwoman
--Batman Beyond
--Kryptonite Batman

DC Direct Reactivated Action Figures
--Batman
--Wonder Woman
--Lobo
--Superman

DC 13-inch Figures
Deluxe Edition 13-inch Green Lantern
Deluxe Edition 13-inch Lex Luthor
Deluxe Edition 13-inch Two-Face
Deluxe Edition 13-inch Superman
Deluxe Edition 13-inch Shazam

Elseworlds Action Figures Series 2
--Red Son Batman
--Red Son President Superman
--Kingdom Come Jade
--Kingdom Come Spectre and Norman McKay
--Gotham By Gaslight Batman

Elseworlds Action Figures Series 3
--Supergirl
--Batgirl
--Nightstar
--Kingdom Come Aquaman
--Red Son Green Lantern

First Appearance Series 4
--Blue Beetle translucent
--Blue Beetle
--Brave New World Atom
--Warlord
--Brave New World Martian Manhunter
--Brave New World Aquaman

Infinite Crisis Action Figures Series 1
--Powergirl
--Omac
--Mongul
--Earth Prime Superboy
--Alexander Luthor

JSA Action Figures
--Mr. Terrific
--Hawkgirl
--Dr. Midnite
--Hourman
--Golden Age Atom 2-pack

Hanna Barbera Series 2 Action Figures
--Captain Caveman
--Fred Flintstone and Dino
--Johnny Quest
--Magilla Gorilla
--Penelope Pitstop and Muttley
--Tom and Jerry
--Yogi Bear
--Flintstones at the Drive-In

Hanna Barbera Series 3 Action Figures
--Fred Flintstone Quittin' Time
--Twinkle Toes Fred Flintstone
--Great Grape Ape
--Huckleberry Hound
--The Jetsons
--Secret Squirrel
--Snagglepuss

Hasbro Spider-Man Origins Figures
--Set of 8
--Spider-Man
--Spider-Man Venom costume
--Green Goblin
--Doctor Octopus
--Iron Spider-Man
--Wolverine
--Captain America
--Daredevil

Lost series 2 action figures
--Crash site box set
--Sawyer
--Jin
--Sayid
--Desmond
--Sun
--Mr. Eko

Marvel Figure Factory Sets
--Angel
--Beast
--Black Costume Spider-Man
--Deadpool
--Invisible Woman
--Silver Surfer

Marvel Legends Action Figures

Hasbro Marvel Legends Figures Series 1
--Emma Frost
--Ultimate Iron Man
--Movie Beast
--Planet Hulk
--Banshee
--Hercules

Hasbro Marvel Legends Action Figures Series 2
--Wolverine
--She-Hulk
--Yellow Jacket
--Quick Silver
--Lord Asgard Thor
--Magneto Xorn
--X3 Jean Grey
--First Appearance Storm

Marvel Legends Series 15
--Mandarin
--Beta Ray Bill
--Moon Knight
--Spider-Woman (variant)
--Quicksilver (variant)
--Thor-Buster Iron Man
--Wasp (variant)
--Captain Marvel (variant)

Marvel Legends Icons 13-inch Action Figures Series 3 Action Figures
--Spider-Man
--Spider-Man Variant
--Beast
--Beast Variant

Hasbro Marvel Legends Icons 13-inch Series 1 Action Figures
--Wolverine
--Thor

Marvel Legends Masterworks Sets
--Spider-Man Vs. Green Goblin
--Fantastic Four Vs. Mole Man
--Hulk Vs. The Thing
--Galactus Vs. Everybody

Marvel Select Figures

Best of Marvel Select Figures
--Grey Hulk
--Thanos
--Ultimate Spider-Man
--Green Goblin

Marvel Studios
--Dr. Doom with Mask
--Dr. Doom unmasked

Star Wars Transformers
--Millennium Falcon With Han Solo and Chewbacca

Pop Artifact! Space 1999 robot

Pop Culture Roundup Dec. 22, 2006

Coming Soon has an exclusive pic of Keith Richards on set and in costume as Jack Sparrow's dad in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End."

-----------------

Could somebody please give me $1,500 so I can buy this Superman painting by Steve Rude?



-----------------

Speaking of money, a high school year book featuring rare pictures of privacy minded Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko is for sale on E-Bay.

------------------

The Bat Blog displays some groovy custom Batmobile models. Not to mention a custom Dark Knight Hello Kitty doll!



-----------------

A fire destroyed the home of "Lost" star Evangeline Lilly.

...her two female roommates were not home when the fire broke out sometime after 6:30 a.m.

"Unfortunately, it is true that the home she rented in Hawaii did burn down this morning," Lilly's publicist Cara Tripicchio said in an e-mail. "Evangeline was on set already when the fire occurred and luckily, her roommates were not in the house either.


------------------

A whole buncha writers are slated to contribute to Joss Whedon's upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic, which picks up where the TV series ended.

Whedon says he’ll write several of the book’s arcs, including the first, “The Long Way Home” with art by Georges Jeanty. For the rest, Whedon has assembled a veritable who’s who of comic book writing talent that includes Brian K. Vaughan (Ex Machina), Brad Meltzer (Justice League of America) and Jeph Loeb (Onslaught Reborn), along with former “Buffy” TV writers Jane Espenson, Drew Goddard, Drew Greenberg and Steven DeKnight.

“I have some extremely powerhouse comic book people who surprisingly threw their hats in, and then some of my best show writers,” says Whedon. “I approached the guys I did because I knew they could bring something-not just get it done, but really bring something to the party.”


Former "Buffy" TV series writer Douglas Petrie also is apparently planning to contribute.

----------------------

Speaking of "Buffy," Sarah Michelle Gellar is adding her voice to the new "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" CGI flick.

She will play April, the human researcher who serves as the Turtles' tech-services worker and mother figure.

-----------------------

The seventh and last Harry Potter has a title--"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"--but not release date.

-----------------------

Jack Burnley, one of the all-time best Batman and Superman artists, died Tuesday. Comics historian Mark Evanier has a tribute.



------------------------

What's Christmas without Fred Hembeck's annual presentation of Santa heads? Happy holidays, Fred!

New and upcoming action figures Dec. 21, 2006

Complete List of Marvel Legends Action Figures
Complete List of DC Direct Action Figures

Here's a look at action figures available via your local comics shop or via the TIP!-supporting links below:

DC Direct Action Figures

Alex Ross JLA series 5 action figures
--Brainiac
--Lex Luthor
--Green Arrow
--Martian Manhunter
--Red Tornado
--Translucent Martian Manhunter

Batman Through the Ages
--Box Set

Batman/Superman Series 4
--Batzarro
--Bizarro
--Superwoman
--Batwoman
--Batman Beyond
--Kryptonite Batman

DC Direct Reactivated Action Figures
--Batman
--Wonder Woman
--Lobo
--Superman

DC 13-inch Figures
Deluxe Edition 13-inch Green Lantern
Deluxe Edition 13-inch Lex Luthor
Deluxe Edition 13-inch Two-Face
Deluxe Edition 13-inch Superman
Deluxe Edition 13-inch Shazam

Elseworlds Action Figures Series 2
--Red Son Batman
--Red Son President Superman
--Kingdom Come Jade
--Kingdom Come Spectre and Norman McKay
--Gotham By Gaslight Batman

Elseworlds Action Figures Series 3
--Supergirl
--Batgirl
--Nightstar
--Kingdom Come Aquaman
--Red Son Green Lantern

First Appearance Series 4
--Blue Beetle translucent
--Blue Beetle
--Brave New World Atom
--Warlord
--Brave New World Martian Manhunter
--Brave New World Aquaman

Infinite Crisis Action Figures Series 1
--Powergirl
--Omac
--Mongul
--Earth Prime Superboy
--Alexander Luthor

JSA Action Figures
--Mr. Terrific
--Hawkgirl
--Dr. Midnite
--Hourman
--Golden Age Atom 2-pack

Hanna Barbera Series 2 Action Figures
--Captain Caveman
--Fred Flintstone and Dino
--Johnny Quest
--Magilla Gorilla
--Penelope Pitstop and Muttley
--Tom and Jerry
--Yogi Bear
--Flintstones at the Drive-In

Hanna Barbera Series 3 Action Figures
--Fred Flintstone Quittin' Time
--Twinkle Toes Fred Flintstone
--Great Grape Ape
--Huckleberry Hound
--The Jetsons
--Secret Squirrel
--Snagglepuss

Hasbro Spider-Man Origins Figures
--Set of 8
--Spider-Man
--Spider-Man Venom costume
--Green Goblin
--Doctor Octopus
--Iron Spider-Man
--Wolverine
--Captain America
--Daredevil

Lost series 2 action figures
--Crash site box set
--Sawyer
--Jin
--Sayid
--Desmond
--Sun
--Mr. Eko

Marvel Figure Factory Sets
--Angel
--Beast
--Black Costume Spider-Man
--Deadpool
--Invisible Woman
--Silver Surfer

Marvel Legends Action Figures

Hasbro Marvel Legends Figures Series 1
--Emma Frost
--Ultimate Iron Man
--Movie Beast
--Planet Hulk
--Banshee
--Hercules

Hasbro Marvel Legends Action Figures Series 2
--Wolverine
--She-Hulk
--Yellow Jacket
--Quick Silver
--Lord Asgard Thor
--Magneto Xorn
--X3 Jean Grey
--First Appearance Storm

Marvel Legends Series 15
--Mandarin
--Beta Ray Bill
--Moon Knight
--Spider-Woman (variant)
--Quicksilver (variant)
--Thor-Buster Iron Man
--Wasp (variant)
--Captain Marvel (variant)

Marvel Legends Icons 13-inch Action Figures Series 3 Action Figures
--Spider-Man
--Spider-Man Variant
--Beast
--Beast Variant

Hasbro Marvel Legends Icons 13-inch Series 1 Action Figures
--Wolverine
--Thor

Marvel Legends Masterworks Sets
--Spider-Man Vs. Green Goblin
--Fantastic Four Vs. Mole Man
--Hulk Vs. The Thing
--Galactus Vs. Everybody

Marvel Select Figures

Best of Marvel Select Figures
--Grey Hulk
--Thanos
--Ultimate Spider-Man
--Green Goblin

Marvel Studios
--Dr. Doom with Mask
--Dr. Doom unmasked

Star Wars Transformers
--Millennium Falcon With Han Solo and Chewbacca

Pop Artifacts! Lone Ranger and Tonto figures

Pop Culture Roundup Dec. 21, 2006

The legendary Stax record label has been reactivated, with Isaac Hayes once again on the roster.

The first two signings are Hayes and R&B singer Angie Stone, while the first new release will be "Interpretations," a tribute to the songs of Earth Wind & Fire mastermind Maurice White.

"Stax always has been and always will be soul music, I was a part of that," Hayes said in a statement. "I am coming back to Stax because there is still so much to do. It's like coming home."


---------------------

Meanwhile, onetime Stax signee Mavis Staples has a new, politically minded album coming out.

Due April 24, "We'll Never Turn Back" was produced by Ry Cooder, who contributed two original songs and new arrangements of the traditional "This Little Light" and "99 and a Half."

The album will be released by Anti- Records, an offshoot of punk label Epitaph Records.

..."The feeling is that freedom songs and the civil rights movement have particular relevance today in light of what's going on with the war and the conservatism in the U.S.," Epitaph/Anti- founder Brett Gurewitz told Billboard.com. "Hopefully we can subtly point out through this record that liberalism has a foundation in spirituality itself. It's a political record, but one with a lot of soul."


----------------------

The FBI is making public a final batch of documents the agency kept while spying on former Beatle John Lennon back in the early 1970s.

Despite the fierce battle the government waged to keep the documents secret, the files contain information that is hardly shocking, just new details about Lennon's ties to New Left leaders and antiwar groups in London in the early 1970s, said the historian, Jon Wiener.

For example, in one memo, then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover wrote to H.R. Haldeman, President Nixon's chief of staff, that "Lennon had taken an interest in 'extreme left-wing activities in Britain' and is known to be a sympathizer of Trotskyist communists in England."


You can check out the documents here.

--------------------

Former Procol Harum organist Matthew Fisher has won a co-writing credit for "Whiter Shade of Pale" after a long court battle.

Gary Brooker, 61, who still fronts the band, will now have to share all future revenues from the song, and must also pay a large part of a legal bill estimated at £500,000.

At a hearing last month Mr Fisher, 60, claimed he not only wrote the Hammond organ solo which forms the introduction to the song and is repeated throughout, but that he also made important chord changes to the original Brooker sequence.


----------------------

Games and Beyond has some super-cool Captain Action toy scans out of Sears, Montgomery-Ward, Alden, Spiegel and JC Penny's Christmas "wish books" from the mid- to late 1960s.



-----------------------

Nancy Drew movie poster revealed

Here's the one-sheet for the upcoming "Nancy Drew and the Mystery in Hollywood Hills" starring Emma Roberts (Julia's niece).

Twin Peaks Season 2 DVD due April 10, preview of cover art

Here's box art for the long, long, long-awaited season 2 set of "Twin Peaks."

You can pre-order the set now for $36.99 from Amazon.

The season will be collected in a six-DVD set. No details on extras yet.

Doctor Who soundtrack out Feb. 13 in U.S.

A top seller and download in the U.K., composer Murray Gold's music from the revived "Doctor Who" TV series is finally coming out over here.

Tracks include:

1. DoctorWho Theme – TV version
2. Westminster Bridge
3. The Doctor's Theme
4. Cassandra's Waltz
5. Slitheen
6. Father's Day
7. Rose In Peril
8. Boom Town Suite
9. I'm Coming To Get You
10. Hologram
11. Rose Defeats The Daleks
12. Clockwork TARDIS
13. arriet Jones, Prime Minister
14. Rose's Theme
15. Song For Ten (performed by Neil Hannon)
16. The Face of Boe
17. UNIT
18. Seeking The Doctor
19. Madame de Pompadour
20. Tooth and Claw
21. The Lone Dalek
22. New Adventures
23. Finding Jackie
24. Monster Bossa
25. The Daleks
26. The Cybermen
27. Doomsday
28. The Impossible Planet
29. Sycorax Encounter
30. Love Don't Roam (performed by Neil Hannon)
31. Doctor Who Theme – Album

You can pre-order it now for $13.99 from Amazon.

DVD: Peter Pan platinum edition out March 6

Extras on this double-disk remastered reissue of the classic Disney film include:

* Restored original theatrical soundtrack
* Camp Never Land: Explore Never Land with all-new multi-level games
* Deleted songs
* In Walt's Words: Walt Disney reveals "Why I Made Peter Pan"
* The Peter Pan Story: 1952 featurette
* Sneak Peek of the all-new Tinker Bell movie
* You Can Fly: The Making of Peter Pan

You can pre-order it now for $19.99 from Amazon.

DVD: Wild, Wild West season 2 due out March 20

The second season set of this James Bond meets "Gunsmoke" series includes 28 episodes on seven disks.

You can pre-order it now for $34.99 from Amazon.

DVD: U.S. vs. John Lennon out Feb. 13

This documentary details the ex-Beatles' early 1970s political activism and subsequent immigraton fight with the Nixon Administration, which sought to deport him.

Extras include an interview with Walter Cronkite.

You can pre-order the disk now for $19.59 from Amazon.

New Comics Dec. 20, 2006

See complete lists:
DC Archives
DC Showcase
DC Trade Paperbacks
Marvel Masterworks
Marvel Essentials
Marvel Trade Paperbacks
Upcoming Trade Paperbacks - Graphic Novels


Comics Shipping Dec. 20, 2006

DARK HORSE COMICS

OCT060022 BAKERS MEET JINGLE BELLE (ONE SHOT) $2.99
OCT060013 CONAN #35 (MR) $2.99
OCT060040 CRIMINAL MACABRE TWO RED EYES #1 (OF 4) $2.99

DC COMICS

OCT060177 52 WEEK #33 $2.50
SEP060290 ALBION TP $19.99
SEP060217 AQUAMAN SWORD OF ATLANTIS #47 $2.99
AUG060191 AQUAMAN SWORD OF ATLANTIS ONCE AND FUTURE TP $12.99 $10.39 at Amazon.
OCT060157 BATMAN LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #213 $2.99
OCT060182 BIRDS OF PREY #101 $2.99
OCT060158 CATWOMAN #62 $2.99
OCT060183 CHECKMATE #9 $2.99
OCT060286 DEADMAN #5 (MR) $2.99
OCT060289 FABLES #56 (MR) (NOTE PRICE) $3.50
SEP060313 FABLES VOL 8 WOLVES TP (MR) $17.99 $12.23 at Amazon.
OCT060292 HELLBLAZER #227 (MR) $2.99
OCT060195 ION #9 (OF 12) $2.99
OCT060211 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA HEREBY ELECTS TP $14.99 $10.19 at Amazon.
OCT060237 KRYPTO THE SUPER DOG #4 (OF 6) $2.25
OCT060269 MAN CALLED KEV #5 (OF 5) (MR) $2.99
SEP060269 MOON CHILD VOL 5 $9.99
OCT060221 OMEGA MEN #3 (OF 6) $2.99
OCT060271 RED MENACE #2 (OF 6) $2.99
OCT060272 RED MENACE VAR EDITION #2 (OF 6) $2.99
OCT060241 SCOOBY DOO #115 $2.25
SEP060248 SECRET SIX #6 (OF 6) $2.99
OCT060227 SHADOWPACT #8 $2.99
SEP060207 SUPERMAN For TOMORROW VOL 2 TP $14.99 $10.19 from Amazon.
OCT060232 TEEN TITANS #42 $2.99
SEP060270 TENJHO TENGE VOL 11 $9.99
OCT060295 TESTAMENT #13 (MR) $2.99
OCT060280 TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE #2 (MR) $2.99
OCT060298 Y THE LAST MAN #52 (MR) $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

OCT061865 AGE OF BRONZE #24 $3.50
OCT061866 BOMB QUEEN VOL 2 #3 (OF 3)(MR) $3.50
OCT061846 CRYPTICS #2 $3.50
JUL061747 DARKNESS COMPENDIUM EDITION TP $59.99
OCT061853 DEADWORLD REQUIEM THE WORLD TP (MR) $16.99 $11.55 from Amazon.
OCT061871 ELEPHANTMEN #5 $2.99
OCT068218 FELL 5TH PTG #2 $1.99
OCT068217 FELL 6TH PTG #1 $1.99
OCT068120 FELL NEW PTG #5 $1.99
OCT061902 FRESHMEN VOL 2 #2 $2.99
SEP061823 NEGATIVE BURN #7 (MR) $5.99
OCT061881 PIRATES OF CONEY ISLAND #3 (OF 8) $2.99
OCT061850 WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ GN $9.99

MARVEL COMICS

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Pop Artifact! Jaws game

Pop Culture Roundup Dec. 19, 2006

Animation pioneer Joseph Barbera died Monday.

Hanna-Barbera Productions...became synonymous with television animation, yielding more than 100 cartoon series over four decades, including “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?,” “Jonny Quest” and “The Smurfs.”

On signature televisions shows like “The Flintstones” and “The Jetsons,” the two men developed a cartoon style that combined colorful, simply drawn characters (often based on other recognizable pop-culture personalities) with the narrative structures and joke-telling techniques of traditional live-action sitcoms. They were television’s first animated comedy programs.


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Via YouTube: Comics creator Stan Lee's appearance on "To Tell the Truth."

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A film based on cartoonist Mike Allred's "Madman" is in the works.

George Huang ("Swimming With Sharks") will direct a script he'll pen with Allred. Robert Rodriguez and Elizabeth Avellan will produce via their Troublemaker Studios banner.

...[The film] will follow a template similar to "Sin City," which Troublemaker produced and Rodriguez directed with creator Frank Miller for Dimension.

As with that film, the creative behind the comicbook is an active part of the creative process. And, like "Sin City," "Madman" will be shot entirely at Rodriguez's Troublemaker Studios in Texas.


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Via Bubblegumfink: Groove to the Peppermint Trolley Company (the band that sang the "Brady Bunch" theme).

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U.S. PBS station KTEH in San Jose has purchased rights to air the first season of the new "Doctor Who." Other outlets may follow.

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Details on the new "Prisoner" TV series to air on AMC:

The cable network is set to co-produce with the U.K.'s Granada and Sky One a new version of the sci-fi thriller, which aired from 1967-68 on CBS. The remake will feature a similar story line to the original series, which starred Patrick McGoohan, who also was creator, producer, writer and director.

...Production on the hourlong series is scheduled to begin in the spring for a worldwide premiere targeted for January 2008.


The article doesn't say who will star. Former "Doctor Who" Christopher Eccleston was reportedly in the running for the part, but now he's joining the cast of "Heroes," so who knows...

Best Prisoner sites.

Review: Darwyn Cooke's Spirit

Darwyn Cooke's got enviable talent--he's one of the best cartoonists working in comics today and I'm sure there are plenty of people who don't feel a bit sorry for him.

But I pity him, nevertheless, because he's now at work trying to fill amongst the biggest shoes in comic book history: Those of Will Eisner, in an ongoing monthly title featuring Eisner's seminal character The Spirit.

Sure, Cooke will tell you he's not trying to emulate or match Eisner's work. But the comparisons are inevitable.

It's true that plenty of other people have worked on the Spirit over the years. Eisner didn't even touch the strip for a few years during World War II, when it was ghosted by Lou Fine, Jack Cole and others. And The Spirit: The New Adventures title of the late 1980s saw all sorts of comics pros trying their hand on the character. But Cooke is the first cartoonist to take the job on solo--scripting and penciling an ongoing monthly Spirit comic.

Reportedly, Cooke was invited by Eisner himself to do the Spirit, shortly before the cartoonist's death. And if there had to be a new Spirit comic, I can't think of a better person for the job. He's no Eisner--nobody is--but Cooke is an inventive, fluid artist who can tell a good yarn in pictures. And, on the basis of a one-shot Spirit/Batman comic and the first issue of the new Spirit series proper, Cooke's stint on the character should be a treat.

Admittedly, the Batman crossover had some problems. Firstly, it didn't really do much to introduce us into the Spirit's mileau and failed to really capture his character. Also, Jeph Loeb's script lacked serious luster. His captions were dull and dashed off, lacking any style or drama. And Cooke's art suffered from a few storytelling hangups that caused me to lose track of what was happening a few times.

For example, the transition where Batman first appears was abrupt--taking place in a single, small, caption-less panel that failed to tell us the scene of action was shifting from the Spirit's point of view. And the Octopus' and the Joker's purple pin-stripe costumes were too similar to my eyes, and I couldn't tell who was who a few times. But, overall, it sure was pretty to look at. I loved the first splash, where the Spirit logo is depicted as huge, tumbling letters from a sign. And all the characters--the Spirit, Batman, Dolan, Commissioner Gordon, Barbara Gordon, Ellen, P'Gell, Penguin, the Joker, Carrion, etc. , look fabulous.

Much better is Spirit #1, which sees Cooke handling the full script and pencils, accompanied by J. Bone on inks and the wonderful Dave Stewart on colors. These guys could do random, nonsensical panels and the result would still be the best illustrated book published by DC or Marvel these days.

The bonus here, though, is that the issue actually tells an entertaining story. It's a done-in-one, which is suiting given that Eisner's classic Spirit tales were all told in just 7 or 8 pages. I believe Cooke plans to do all his issues as stand-alones and I hope that's the case. It's nice to see a regular-sized comic that can tell a single, well-paced story like this one.

Plot-wise, it's not a terribly sophisticated yarn--just a romp about the Spirit and a kidnapped girl reporter he rescues from an icky new villain, the Pill. But it's funny with lots of action and it flows smoothly--no glitches that take you out of the story, ala the Batman crossover. Cooke does a nice job of gently ushering the Spirit into the 21st century, taking a satirical jab at 24-hour news networks along the way. It's the type of thing Eisner was a master at: Mixing noir action, screwball comedy and subtle social commentary into one nice little package.

Cooke's major triumph, though, is giving us a new take on Eisner's ever-problematic Ebony White.

Eisner introduced Ebony back in the 40s and came to deeply regret the racially stereotyped way he wrote and drew the character. Eisner eventually smartened Ebony up and wrote a number of excellent stories spotlighting him. But he still looked and spoke much the same. Ultimately, Ebony was a product of much less englightened times.

The easy thing for Cooke to do would've been simply to ignore Ebony completely and not use the character. Instead, he's updated Ebony for our times. He's smart, funny and a great foil for the revived Spirit.

Truthfully, I'd buy pretty much anything Cooke drew. He's that good. There's lots of stuff I'd love to see him do--an ongoing Challengers of the Unknown title, for example, or an original series or graphic novel featuring his own characters. But, despite any reservations I and other longtime Spirit fans might have had, I think he's going to do a wonderful job with this series.

I'm still having a hard time believing it's a monthly. Reading a comic this good every 30 days is going to be a treat.

New CDs Dec. 19, 2006

The Compact Coward by Noel Coward

Our Back Yard: Live by Echo & the Bunnymen

Cover by Tom Verlaine

Living with War - Raw by Neil Young

The Article 3 by Me'Shell NdegéOcello

White & Nerdy by Weird Al Yankovic

More upcoming CDs

New DVDs Dec. 18, 2006

The Simpsons - The Complete Ninth Season

The Simpsons - The Complete Ninth Season (Collectible Lisa Head Pack)

Little Miss Sunshine

Hogan's Heroes - The Complete Fifth Season

Walt Disney Treasures - More Silly Symphonies (1929-1938)

Walt Disney Treasures - The Complete Pluto, Volume Two

Walt Disney Treasures - Your Host, Walt Disney

Walt Disney Treasures - The Mickey Mouse Club Featuring the Hardy Boys

ER - The Complete Sixth Season

Married With Children - The Complete Sixth Season

Lady in the Water (Widescreen Edition)

Gene Simmons - Family Jewels - Season One

My Super Ex-Girlfriend

More upcoming DVD releases.

Pop Artifact! Popeye chalk

Pop Culture Roundup Dec. 18, 2006

Via Bat-Blog: A foreign TV commercial featuring Batgirl, Catwoman and Wonder Woman. Not exactly sure what they're trying to sell...

Best Batman sites.

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CBS is considering an animated "Star Trek" show.

The series would most likely be broadcast on the web and be made up of ‘Clone Wars’ like 6-minute mini episodes. The yet-to-be-named project was originally pitched by long-time Trek producer David Rossi (well known to TrekMovie.com readers as a producer on Trek Remastered) along with his producer/writer partners Doug Mirabello and José Muñoz. Rossi sat down with TrekMovie.com for an exclusive look at how he and his partners hope to create a different kind of Trek set in the 26th century.

Best Star Trek sites.

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Reuters catches up with ex-Monkee Mickey Dolenz.

Dolenz's muse keeps him busy. He just finished playing Charlemagne in the play "Pippin" in Toronto. He's also had two books published this year -- a children's book titled "Gakky Two-Feet" (Putnam, 2006) and a trivia game book titled "Micky Dolenz' Rock 'n Rollin' Trivia" (Square One Publishers, 2006).

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Via the Collected Comics Library: We can expect these Marvel Essentials volumes in 2007 (nice to see that Golden Age stuff on the list):

Essential Spider-Woman Vol. 2
Collects Spider-Woman #26-50, Marvel Team-Up #97 and Uncanny X-Men #148

Essential Defenders Vol. 3
no contents yet

Essential Silver Surfer Vol. 2
Collects Silver Surfer (1982) #1, Silver Surfer (1987) #1-18 and Annual 1, and Marvel Fanfare #51

Essential Marvel Two-in-One Vol. 2
Collects Marvel Two-in-One #26-52 and Annual #2-3

Essential Dazzler Vol. 1
Collects Dazzler #1-21, Uncanny X-Men #130-131 and Amazing Spider-Man #203

Essential Fantastic Four Vol. 6
Collects Fantastic Four #111-137

Essential Golden Age Marvel Comics Vol. 1
Collects Marvel Comics #1-8

Essential Golden Age Sub-Mariner Vol. 1
Collects Sub-Mariner Comics #1-8

Essential Golden Age Captain America Vol. 1
Collects Captain America Comics #1-8

Complete list of Marvel Essentials books.

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Soundtracks for Marvel Comics' new direct-to-DVD animated movies are available on iTunes.

Each soundtrack is performed by a live orchestra and composed by Emmy Award-winning composer Guy Michelmore

For Ultimate Avengers, Michelmore conducts Seattle's Northwest Sinfonia orchestra and creates an epic soundscape perfectly suited for the action-packed drama of Marvel's first film, highlighted by the sounds of a choir singing Old Norse lyrics describing Thor's mighty battles!

In Ultimate Avengers 2, Michelmore builds on the thematic soundscapes established in the first film and infuses the score with an authentic African sound reflective of the film's Wakandan setting. To achieve this, Michelmore brought in a gospel choir from West London, many of whose families originate from West Africa, to chant words in Swahili and West African languages.

And while the film hasn't been released yet, eager fans can already download the incredible soundtrack to Invincible Iron Man. Michelmore's score for this film weaves two different sounds into a cohesive sonic tapestry, blending the Eastern-tinged music highlighting the movie's flashbacks in China with the sounds of the '30s and '40s, a reflection of the art design of the New York setting.


Best Marvel Comics sites.

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Ringo Starr plans an autobiographical documentary film.

A source told Britain's Daily Express newspaper: "To most of the general public, Ringo is still the Liverpudlian who simply got lucky by hooking up with Lennon and McCartney at the right time.

"Less is generally known about Ringo's story. He is speaking to people such as Beatles producer Sir George Martin in the film, and it is hoped people will go away with a better understanding of him."

...The documentary is set to be broadcast on British TV next year.


Best Beatles sites.

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Talented cartoonist Jay Stephens has a cool-looking how-to-draw monsters book coming out soon.



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Via Drawn!: A Yuletide video from Sufjan Stevens.

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Denis Payton, who played sax, guitar and harmonica in the Dave Clark Five, died Sunday.

"He had an amazing philosophy on life and will be greatly missed by me and all who knew him," said Dave Clark, one of the group's founding members. "Denis was extremely brave and not afraid of death."

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With our troops bogged down in Iraq, who will protect us from the threat of giant monsters?!



Lots more here.

Pop Artifact! "Space 1999" action figure

Pop Culture Roundup: Dec. 15, 2006

Entertainment Weekly has a several pics from the upcoming Quentin Tarantino-Robert Rodriquez trashfest "Grindhouse."



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From Bedazzled: Kate Bush singing "December Will Be Magic Again" from her 1979 BBC Christmas special.

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Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun died Thursday.

Atlantic's roster included huge stars: Professor Longhair, the Drifters, Led Zeppelin, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Cream, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Dusty Springfield, Genesis, AC/DC, the Bee Gees, Bette Midler, the Allman Brothers Band, the Three Tenors, Hootie and the Blowfish, Kid Rock, James Blunt, and Gnarls Barkley.

Launched in 1947 as a short-term outlet for Ertegun's fixation with the jazz and blues that was largely unknown to most Americans, Atlantic has grown into one of the world's biggest record companies. Ertegun was founding chairman, surviving various ownership changes since he and his partners sold the label in 1967 for $20 million.

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Fred Marsden, drummer of Gerry and the Pacemakers (and brother to Gerry), died last Saturday.

The group disbanded in 1967. Gerry Marsden reformed the Pacemakers in 1973 but without Fred, who had given up the music business to be a telephone operator and later established the Pacemaker driving school.

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Neato Coolville digs out the Shogun Warrior toy he got for Christmas back in 1977. I got one, too, probably that year.

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Warners wants Guillermo del Toro to direct a new Tarzan flick. Del Toro's next project, however, may be a film based on DC Comics' Deadman character.

Best Tarzan sites.

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I Gotta Hear This Dept.: Former "Doctor Who" Tom Baker has recorded a version of the Kinks' "You Really Got Me" for charity. Preview and order it here.

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Attendance at Baltimore's Geppi Entertainment Museum, dedicated to all things pop culture, could be better.

The major problem (which affects not only Geppi’s Museum, but the Sports Legends Museum, located under GEM, as well) – location, location, location. GEM and Sports Legends are located literally a stone’s throw (by someone who really can’t throw) from Camden Yards and the Ravens’ stadium – blocks away from the Inner Habor, the city’s tourist hub.

“Other than a game day, we’re in a landlocked position,” GEM owner Steve Geppi told the Gazette.

Another factor that contributed – fewer people going to Orioles games – 2.1 million in 2006, compared to 3 million in 2005. While attendance numbers were not given for GEM, Sports Legends only brought in 1/3 of its expected attendance during its first year of operation.


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There's an official video for the "Within You Without You/Tomorrow Never Knows" mashup of the Beatles' Love album over at YouTube.

Best Beatles sites.

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There'll be an original Doctor Who Christmas story in England's Sunday Times Dec. 24. Don't know if it'll be available online.

Best Doctor Who sites.

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