Coming soon: The Immortal Doctor Fate

Out Dec. 15, 2015.

Originally introduced in 1940, Doctor Fate was reinvented and modernized in these 1970s tales written by Martin Pasko. In these stories, the golden-helmet wearing Doctor Fate, who draws his powers from the ancient spirit known as Nabu, faced numerous mystical threats to our world. But what happens when the spirit chooses a 10-year-old boy to become the new Doctor Fate?

Collects 1ST ISSUE SPECIAL #9, stories from THE FLASH #306-313, THE IMMORTAL DOCTOR FATE #1-3, DR. FATE #1-4 and DC CHALLENGE #11.

Vintage Photoplay movie mag covers








Pop reviews: Ant-Man; The Martian

What I'm watching, hearing, reading, etc.


Ant-man is the most light-hearted and, literally, ground-level Marvel movie to date. No mystical throwing hammers or high-flying armored suits here - just a guy who shrinks.

Starring Paul Rudd as convicted thief and electronics whiz Scott Lang, this is essentially a caper film. Original Ant-Man (we see him in flashbacks) Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) wants to steal back his shrinking formula, which has fallen into the hands of an evil rival. So he hires Scott to steal it back.

Cue lots of planning and training scenes, with Scott learning how to use Pym's shrinking suit and use other tech to communicate with ants. The effects here are remarkable, as we're transported with Scott into a world where everything small is huge, and all sort of things that we normally don't worry about -- shower drains and toy trains, for example -- become a threat.

Michael Pena is a fun as Scott's prison pal, Luiz, and the plot is played mainly for laughs, though there is plenty of action and some heart-warming scenes between Lang and his young daughter.

Evangeline Lilly doesn't have much to do as Pym's daughter, Hope, but it's no spoiler at this point to note Marvel has more in store for her down the road.

The movie makes hash of Marvel Comics continuity, but slots in well with the chronology established in the other films. Hayley Atwell and John Slattery appear early on as Peggy Carter and the older Howard Stark in a scene set in 1989.


The Martian is a hit sci-fi novel (and soon-to-be-film) penned by admitted space nerd Andy Weir. Set at some point in the fairly near future, the book tells the story of astronaut Mark Watney who gets stranded on the Red Planet during a massive sandstorm. His crew evacuates, thinking him dead.

Much of the rest of the book focuses on Watney's survival, told in remarkable detail and as realistically as possible. Weir has done all his homework and more, thinking through each scenario and researching "what would a guy do in this situation?" Most of us would die. But not Mark. He figures out how to grow food - he's been left with only a limited supply - and sets up camp for the long haul. Even if he couldn't communicate with Earth, which he can't, it would take years for NASA to send help.

It's a captivating read that puts you in the survivor's shoes. Watney is great company, too, with a bleak-but-optimistic sense of humor that makes him seem very real. Matt Damon is playing him in the movie version, out this fall.

Vintage Movie Poster: Bengazi


Coming soon: Man-Thing by Steve Gerber: The Complete Collection Vol. 1

Out Oct. 27, 2015

Marvel's melancholy muck-monster, by the man who knows him best! With the Nexus of All Realities as the ultimate staging post,prepare for the wildest journeys of your life in this fi rst volume of a complete collection of Steve Gerber's Man-Thing tales! Join the most startling swamp-creature of all in encounters with the Thing, sorcerers Dakimh and Jennifer Kale, and the most far-out fowl ever created, Howard the Duck! Plus existential angst, clashes with the modern world, and the death of a clown!

COLLECTING: ASTONISHING TALES (1970) 12-13, FEAR 11-19, MARVEL TWO-INONE 1, MAN-THING (1974) 1-8; MATERIAL FROM SAVAGE TALES (1971) 1, FEAR 10, MONSTERS UNLEASHED 5

More Batman v Superman pics

Still not sure why it's "Batman v Superman" and not "Batman vs. Superman." And still concerned about Batman's neck.





Pop Artifacts: Vintage Peter Max buttons


New Comics this Week: EC Weird Science Archives; Swamp-Thing Root of All Evil; Miles Morales Ultimate Spider-Man collection

Click the links to order discounted items from Amazon.




Vintage Movie Poster: The Beat Generation


Coming Soon: Moon Knight Epic Collection: Shadows of the Moon

Out Nov. 3, 2015.

 
Ghosts, werewolves and things that go crazy in the night! Marvel's multiple-personality midnight marauder takes the fight to the strangest rogues' gallery in all of comics - from Arsenal, the one-man army, to the nun with a crossbow known as Stained Glass Scarlet. The Jester is no joke, for Moon Knight or Daredevil. Then there's Morpheus, who's guaranteed to give you sleepless nights.

COLLECTING: MOON KNIGHT (1980) 5-23 (MOON KNIGHT EPIC COLLECTION VOL. 2)

Out now: Mission Impossible TV show soundtrack collection

From the fab folks at La-La Land Records:

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE TELEVISION SCORES (6-CD BOX SET)
LIMITED EDITION OF 1500 UNITS

STARTS SHIPPING AUGUST 10th
La-La Land Records and CBS proudly announce the release of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE TELEVISION SCORES, a limited edition 6-CD box set, showcasing the restored and remastered original music scores from the classic 1966-1973 television series MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, starring Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, Greg Morris and Martin Landau. 

Restored and remastered from mono studio elements, this deluxe limited edition release of 1500 Units features some of the best television music ever recorded, much of it never-before-released, from such renowned composers as Lalo Schifrin, (who wrote the iconic theme), Gerald Fried, Jerry Fielding, Don Ellis, Richard Hazard, Robert Drasnin and more! Album producer Jon Burlingame takes you on a thrilling mission through this deluxe compilation and its amazing scores with his comprehensive liner notes – delivered via three informative, photo-packed booklets. The 6-Disc set is housed in an attractive hard-cover slipcase.

This deluxe set was produced for La-La Land Records by Jon Burlingame with music restored by Chris Malone and mastered by Doug Schwartz. Art direction is by Joe Sikoryak.

Order here.