Upcoming DC Comics trades -- September 2006 and beyond

Just got this list of upcoming goodies:

DCU titles scheduled to arrive in stores in September include:

BATGIRL: DESTRUCTION'S DAUGHTER TP
Writer: Anderson Gabrych
Artists: Pop Mhan, Alé Garza, Andy Kuhn, Jesse Delperdang, Cam Smith; original cover artists: Tim Sale and Amanda Conner
Collects BATGIRL #65-73
$14.99, 224 pages

BATMAN: FACE THE FACE TP
Writer: James Robinson
Artists: Leonard Kirk, Andy Clarke, Don Kramer, Keith Champagne; original cover artist: Simone Bianchi
Collects BATMAN #651-654 and DETECTIVE COMICS #817-820
$14.99, 192 pages

ENEMY ACE ARCHIVES VOL. 2 HC
Writers: Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert
Artists: Joe Kubert, Neal Adams, Russ Heath and Frank Thorne
Collects stories from STAR SPANGLED WAR STORIES #143-145, 147-150, 152, 158, 181-183 and 200
$49.99, 196 pages

IDENTITY CRISIS TP
Writer: Brad Meltzer
Artists: Rags Morales and Michael Bair; original cover artists: Rags Morales and Michael Turner
Collects IDENTITY CRISIS #1-7
$14.99, 288 pages

INFINITE CRISIS HC
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artists: Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Jerry Ordway, Andy Lanning, Ivan Reis, Joe Bennett, Sean Parsons, Art Thibert, Oclair Albert, Marc Campos, Drew Geraci, Norm Rapmund, Lary Stucker, Jimmy Palmiotti; original cover artists: Jim Lee, Scott Williams and George Pérez
Collects INFINITE CRISIS #1-7
$24.99, 264 pages

JONAH HEX: A FACE FULL OF VIOLENCE TP
Writers: Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Artists: Luke Ross and Tony DeZuñiga; original cover artists Frank Quitely, Leonardo Manco, Phil Noto, Howard Chaykin, Tim Bradstreet and Brian Bolland
Collects JONAH HEX #1-6
$12.99, 144 pages

JSA: MIXED SIGNALS TP
Writers: Geoff Johns and Keith Champagne
Artists: David Lopez, Don Kramer, Fernando Blanco, Dale Eaglesham, Jim Fern, Art Thibert, Keith Champagne and Alex Ross
Collects JSA #76-81
$14.99, 144 pages

JUSTICE VOL. 1 HC
Writers: Alex Ross and Jim Krueger
Artists: Doug Braithwaite and Alex Ross
Collects JUSTICE #1-4
$19.99, 160 pages

SHAZAM FAMILY ARCHIVES VOL. 1 HC
Writer: Unknown
Artists: Mac Raboy, Al Carreno, Marc Swayze; original cover artists: Mac Raboy and C.C. Beck
Collects stories from MASTER COMICS #23-32, CAPTAIN MARVEL JR. #1 and CAPTAIN MARVEL ADVENTURES #18
$49.99, 228 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: BATMAN VOL. 1 TP
Writers: John Broome, Ed "France" Herron and Bill Finger
Artists: Carmine Infantino, Joe Giella, Bob Kane, Sheldon Moldoff, Murphy Anderson and Sid Greene
Collects stories from DETECTIVE COMICS #327-342 and BATMAN #164-174
$16.99, 552 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN VOL. 1 TP
Writers: Dave Wood, Ed "France" Herron and Jack Kirby
Artists: Jack Kirby, Roz Kirby, Marvin Stein, Bruno Premiani, George Klein, Wallace Wood and Bob Brown
Collects SHOWCASE #6, 7, 11 and 12 and CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN #1-18
$16.99, 540 pages

SUPERMAN: INFINITE CITY SC
Writer: Mike Kennedy
Artist: Carlos Meglia
A softcover edition of the original graphic novel
$17.99, 96 pages

SUPERMAN: UP, UP AND AWAY TP
Writers: Geoff Johns and Kurt Busiek
Artists: Pete Woods and Renato Guedes; original cover artists: Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson
Collects SUPERMAN #650-653 and ACTION COMICS #837-840
$14.99, 192 pages

Elfquest title scheduled to arrive in stores in October:

ELFQUEST: THE DISCOVERY TP
Writers: Wendy and Richard Pini
Artist: Wendy Pini
Collecting ELFQUEST: THE DISCOVERY #1-4
$14.99, 128 pages

DCU titles scheduled to arrive in stores in October include:

ABSOLUTE DC: THE NEW FRONTIER HC
Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke
Collects DC: THE NEW FRONTIER #1-6, plus a pinup gallery, deleted story pages and more
$75.00, 464 pages

ALL STAR SUPERMAN VOL. 1 HC
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Frank Quitely; original cover artists: Frank Quitely and Neal Adams
Collects ALL STAR SUPERMAN #1-6
$19.99, 160 pages

BATMAN: GOTHAM COUNTY LINE TP
Writer: Steve Niles
Artist: Scott Hampton
Collects BATMAN: GOTHAM COUNTY LINE #1-3
$17.99, 160 pages

BIRDS OF PREY: THE BATTLE WITHIN TP
Writer: Gail Simone
Artists: Ed Benes, Joe Bennett, Joe Prado, Tom Derenick, and Bob Petrecca; covers artists: Ed Benes, Jack Jadson, Jason Pearson, Ryan Sook, Adriana Melo and Will Conrad
Collects BIRDS OF PREY #76-85
$17.99, 240 pages

GREEN LANTERN: REVENGE OF THE GREEN LANTERNS TP
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artists: Carlos Pacheco, Ivan Reis, Ethan Van Sciver, Marc Campos Jesus Merino and Prentis Rollins; original cover artists: Carlos Pacheco, Ethan Van Sciver, Simone Bianchi and Neal Adams
Collects GREEN LANTERN #7-13
$12.99, 168 pages

THE NEW TEEN TITANS ARCHIVES VOL. 3 HC
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Artists: George Pérez and Romeo Tanghal
Collects THE NEW TEEN TITANS #17-20 and TALES OF THE NEW TEEN TITANS #1-4
$49.99, 228 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE PHANTOM STRANGER VOL. 1 TP
Writers: Mike Friedrich, John Broome, Ed "France" Herron, Robert Kanigher, Jack Oleck, Len Wein and Gerry Conway
Artists: Neal Adams, Jerry Grandenetti, Leonard Starr, Bill Draut, Carmine Infantino, Frank Giacoia, Murphy Anderson, Wayne, Howard, Vince Colletta, Jim Aparo, Tony DeZuñiga and Jack Sparling
Collects SHOWCASE #80 and THE PHANTOM STRANGER #1-21
$16.99, 544 pages

SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES TP
Writers: Mark Waid and Stuart Moore
Artists: Barry Kitson, Mick Gray, Adam DeKraker, Pat Olliffe and Ken Lashley
Collects LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #14-15 and SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #16-19
$14.99, 144 pages

SUPERMAN RETURNS: THE PREQUELS TP
Writers: Bryan Singer, Michael Dougherty, Dan Harris, Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray and Marc Andreyko
Artists: Ariel Olivetti, Karl Kerschl, Rick Leonardi, Nelson, Wellington Dias; original cover artist: Adam Hughes
Collects SUPERMAN RETURNS: KRYPTON TO EARTH, SUPERMAN RETURNS: MA KENT, SUPERMAN RETURNS: LOIS LANE and SUPERMAN RETURNS: LEX LUTHOR
$12.99, 128 pages

DCU titles scheduled to arrive in stores in November include:

ADAM STRANGE ARCHIVES VOL. 2 HC
Writer: Gardner Fox
Artists: Carmine Infantino, Murphy Anderson and Joe Giella
Collects stories from MYSTERY IN SPACE #66-80
$49.99, 228 pages

AQUAMAN: SWORD OF ATLANTIS - ONCE AND FUTURE TP
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artist: Jackson Guice; original cover artists: Jackson Guice, Ian Churchill, Carlos Pacheco and Jesus Merino
Collects AQUAMAN: SWORD OF ATLANTIS #40-45
$12.99, 144 pages

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT ARCHIVES VOL. 5 HC
Writers: Don Cameron, Joe Greene, Joe Samachson and Bill Finger
Artists: Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson, Jack Burnley, Ray Burnley, Dick Sprang, Norman Fallon and Stan Kaye
Collects BATMAN #17-20
$49.99, 216 pages

GOTHAM CENTRAL: THE QUICK AND THE DEAD TP
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artists: Michael Lark, Kano, Stefano Gaudiano; original cover artists: Michael Lark and Cliff Chiang
Collects GOTHAM CENTRAL #23-25 and 28-31
$14.99, 168 pages

NIGHTWING: RENEGADE TP
Writer: Devin Grayson
Artists: Phil Hester, Ande Parks and Cliff Chiang
Collects NIGHTWING #112-117
$14.99, 144 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SHAZAM VOL. 1 TP
Writers: Dennis O'Neil, E. Nelson Bridwell and Elliot S. Maggin
Artists: C.C. Beck, Kurt Schaffenberger, Bob Oksner, Dave Cockrum, Alan Weiss, Dick Giordano, Don Newton, Tenny Henson, Bob Wiacek, Vince Colletta, Tex Blaisdell, Bob Smith and Joe Rubinstein
Collects stories from SHAZAM #1-24, 26-35
$16.99, 560 pages

SUPERMAN/BATMAN VOL. 3: ABSOLUTE POWER TP
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artists: Carlos Pacheco and Jesus Merino
Collects SUPERMAN/BATMAN #14-18
$12.99, 128 pages

SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL VOL. 5 TP
Writers: John Byrne and Marv Wolfman
Artists: John Byrne and Jerry Ordway
Collects ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #432-435, ACTION COMICS #592-593 and SUPERMAN #9-11
$19.99, 208 pages

Will Eisner Library title scheduled to arrive in stores in December:

THE SPIRIT ARCHIVES VOL. 20 HC
Writer/artist: Will Eisner
Collects Spirit stories from January 1-June 25, 1950
$49.99, 196 pages

DCU titles scheduled to arrive in stores in December include:

BLUE BEETLE VOL. 1 TP
Writers: Keith Giffen and John Rogers
Artists: Cully Hamner, Duncan Rouleau, Cynthia Martin and Phil Moy
Collects BLUE BEETLE #1-6
$12.99, 144 pages

GOLDEN AGE DR. FATE ARCHIVES VOL. 1 HC
Writer: Gardner Fox
Artists: Howard Sherman, Jon Chester Kozlak and Stan Aschmeier
Collects stories from MORE FUN COMICS #55-98
$75.00, 396 pages

THE HUNTRESS: THE DARKNIGHT DAUGHTER TP
Writer: Paul Levitz
Artists: Joe Staton, Steve Mitchell, Bob Layton, Bob Smith, Bruce Patterson, Jerry Ordway and Mike DeCarlo
Collects DC SUPER STARS #17 and stories from BATMAN FAMILY #18-20, WONDER WOMAN #271-287, 289-290 and 294-295
$19.99, 224 pages

THE NEW TEEN TITANS: TERRA INCOGNITA TP
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Artists: George Pérez, Romeo Tanghal and Pablo Marcos
Collects THE NEW TEEN TITANS #26 and 28-34 and THE NEW TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #2
$19.99, 224 pages

SACHS & VIOLENS TP
Writer: Peter David
Artist: George Pérez
Collects SACHS & VIOLENS #1-4
$14.99, 128 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER VOL. 1 TP
Writers: Joe Kubert, Bob Haney, Robert Kanigher, Frank Robbins, Archie Goodwin and David Michelinie
Artists: Joe Kubert, Irv Novick, Doug Wildey, Dan Spiegle and Jack Sparling
Collects stories from STAR SPANGLED WAR STORIES #151-204
$16.99, 560 pages

SUPERMAN: FOR TOMORROW VOL. 2 TP
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artists: Jim Lee and Scott Williams
Collects SUPERMAN #210-215
$14.99, 160 pages

SUPERMAN: THE GREATEST STORIES EVER TOLD VOL. 2 TP
Writers: Jerry Siegel, Otto Binder, Edmond Hamilton, Cary Bates, Elliot Maggin, John Byrne, Jerry Ordway and Geoff Johns
Artists: John Sikela, Stan Kaye, Curt Swan, George Klein, Frank Miller, John Byrne, Terry Austin, Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood and Brent Anderson; original cover artist: Alex Ross
Collects stories from SUPERMAN (first series) #30, 132, 167, 400 and SUPERMAN (second series) #2 and 185 and ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #500, and more
$19.99, 192 pages

See Complete List of:
DC Archives
DC Showcase Presents

DC Comics Trade Paperbacks and Graphic Novels

Pop Artifact! Man from U.N.C.L.E. magic slate

Vintage Comic Book Ad

More return of the Cybermen

Here's another new pic of the revamped Cybermen, to be featured soon on "Doctor Who."



See the Best Doctor Who Sites on the Web.

Pop Culture Roundup May 12, 2006

Bedazzled posts some great performance footage by Best Band Ever the Clash. And here's the Clash on Tom Snyder's "Tomorrow Show," an appearance I remember watching at the time and which, sadly, isn't included in the new DVD set collecting punk/new wave acts on Snyder's show. How they neglected including the Clash is beyond me...

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Happy first birthday to Dial B for Blog (and thanks again, Robby, for the spiffy new logo).

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Bubblegumfink (who also has a spiffy new logo, by the way) points us to a ROM Space Knight page. I have about 8,000 issues of Marvel Comics' ROM series. I'm not sure why...

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NPR checks in with Paul Brownstein, producer of the new, three-disk "Sgt. Bilko" DVD set.

7-minute "X-Men 3" sneak peek

Check it out here.

See the Best X-Men Sites on the Web.

Warner Bros. "Tough Guys" DVD box rounds up Cagney, Robinson, Bogie and more



Six disks of tough-talkin', tough-actin' action: This set includes half a dozen of Warner's 1930s gangster flicks, the genre that earned the studio its early success.

The box is out July 18 and is available for pre-order from Amazon now.

No details on extras yet, but here's a look at the included films:

'G' Men
Stars James Cagney, Margaret Lindsay, Ann Dvorak, Robert Armstrong, Barton MacLane
Directors: William Keighley
Theatrical Release Date: May 4, 1935
It's the early days of the F.B.I. - federal agents working for the Department of Justice. Though they've got limited powers - they don't carry weapons and have to get local police approval for arrests - that doesn't stop fresh Law School grad Eddie Buchanan from joining up, and he encourages his former roommate James "Brick" Davis (James Cagney) to do so as well. But Davis wants to be an honest lawyer, not a shyster, despite his ties to mobster boss McKay, and he's intent on doing so, until Buchanan is gunned down trying to arrest career criminal Danny Leggett. Davis soon joins the "G-Men" as they hunt down Leggett (soon-to-be Public Enemy Number One) and his cronies Collins and Durfee, who are engaged in a crime and murder spree from New York to the midwest.

Each Dawn I Die
Stars James Cagney, George Raft, Jane Bryan, George Bancroft, Max 'Slapsie Maxie' Rosenbloom
Directors: William Keighley
Theatrical Release Date: August 19, 1939
Although innocent, reporter Frank Ross is found guilty of murder and is sent to jail. While his friends at the newspaper try to find out who framed him, Frank gets hardened by prison life and his optimism turns into bitterness. He meets fellow-inmate Stacey and they decide to help each other.

City for Conquest
Stars James Cagney, Ann Sheridan, Frank Craven, Donald Crisp, Frank McHugh
Directors: Anatole Litvak
Theatrical Release Date: September 21, 1940
Cagney is Danny Kenny, a truck driver who enters "the fight game" and Sheridan his former girlfriend, Peggy. While Danny is realizing success in the ring, he is blinded by acid on the boxing gloves of his opponent during a fight. When Danny attempts to get even with the gangster who was reponsible for for his blindness he is wounded. His former manager finances a newsstand for the now blind and handicapped Danny who uses his income to pay for his bother Eddie's music education. The movie ends some time later as Peggy meets/recognizes Danny at his newstand and they both listen to Eddie's first symphony on the radio. The movie is based on a novel of the same name.

Bullets or Ballots
Stars Edward G. Robinson, Joan Blondell, Barton MacLane, Humphrey Bogart, Frank McHugh
Director: William Keighley
Theatrical Release Date: June 6, 1936
After Police Captain Dan McLaren becomes police commissioner former detective Johnny Blake knocks him down convincing rackets boss Al Kruger that Blake is sincere in his effort to join the mob. "Buggs" Fenner thinks Blake is a police agent.

San Quentin
Stars Pat O'Brien, Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan, Barton MacLane, Joe Sawyer
Director: Lloyd Bacon
Theatrical Release Date: August 7, 1937
Ex-Army officer Jameson takes a job a prison guard at San Quentin. Joe, the brother of his new girlfriend May, is sentenced to the prison for robbery. When Jameson tries to separate lawbreakers from hardened criminals, badguy Hansen tries to stir up trouble by telling Joe about Jameson's interest in his sister.

A Slight Case of Murder
Stars: Edward G. Robinson, Jane Bryan, Allen Jenkins, Ruth Donnelly, Willard Parker
Director: Lloyd Bacon
Theatrical Release Date: February 26, 1938
Remy Marco announces he's going legit with the end of Prohibition. His fortune declines because the beer he makes tastes terrible. His daughter falls in love with a rich man's son who gets a job as a cop.

Eastwood TV series "Rawhide" coming to DVD



The complete first season of "Rawhide" starring Clint Eastwood is out on DVD July 25 from Paramount Home Video.

The show, which ran to 1966, focuses on a group of Texans driving 3,000 head cattle north to market and their adventures along the way. The show's star was Eric Fleming, as cattle boss Gil Favor, with Eastwood playing his foil cowhand Rowdy Yates.

Every episode of the 1959 season will be included on the seven-disk set. No details on extras. The set is available for pre-order now via Amazon.

Here's a list of included episodes:

1 Incident of the Tumbleweed Wagon - Airdate: 1/9/1959
2 Incident at Alabaster Plain - Airdate: 1/16/1959
3 Incident with an Executioner - Airdate: 1/23/1959
4 Incident of the Widowed Dove - Airdate: 1/30/1959
5 Incident On the Edge of Madness - Airdate: 2/6/1959
6 Incident of the Power and the Plow - Airdate: 2/13/1959
7 Incident at Barker Springs - Airdate: 2/20/1959
8 Incident West of Lano - Airdate: 2/27/1959
9 Incident of the Town in Terror - Airdate: 3/4/1959
10 Incident of the Golden Calf - Airdate: 3/13/1959
11 Incident of the Coyote Weed - Airdate: 3/20/1959
12 Incident of the Cubasco - Airdate: 4/3/1959
13 Incident of the Curious Street - Airdate: 4/10/1959
14 Incident of the Dog Days - Airdate: 4/17/1959
15 Incident of the Calico Gun - Airdate: 4/24/1959
16 Incident of the Misplaced Indians - Airdate: 5/1/1959
17 Incident of Fear in the Streets - Airdate: 5/8/1959
18 Incident Below the Brazos - Airdate: 5/15/1959
19 Incident of the Dry Drive - Airdate: 5/22/1959
20 Incident of the Judas Trap - Airdate: 6/5/1959
21 Incident in No Man's Land - Airdate: 6/12/1959
22 Incident of a Burst of Evil - Airdate: 6/26/1959
23 Incident of the Roman Candles - Airdate: 7/10/1959

DVD: Film Noir Classic Collection Vol. 3 out July 18



Warner Home Video's third batch of film noir classics includes six films featuring the likes of Robert Montgomery, Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell, Vincent Price, Ida Lupino and Lizabeth Scott, along with a bonus disk featuring a documentary on the genre. Featured directors include Nicholas Ray, John Farrow and Anthony Mann.

You can pre-order the set now via Amazon.

Here's a look at each film:

On Dangerous Ground
Stars: Ida Lupino, Robert Ryan, Ward Bond, Charles Kemper, Anthony Ross
Director: Nicholas Ray
Hard, withdrawn city cop Jim Wilson roughs up one too many suspects and is sent upstate to help investigate the murder of a young girl in the winter countryside. There he meets Mary Malden, whom he finds attractive and independent. However, Mary's brother is chief suspect in the killing. And Mary herself is blind.

Lady in the Lake
Stars: Robert Montgomery, Audrey Totter, Lloyd Nolan, Tom Tully, Leon Ames
Director: Robert Montgomery
The camera shows Phillip Marlowe's view from the first-person in this adaptation of Raymond Chandler's book. The detective is hired to find a publisher's wife, who is supposed to have run off to Mexico. But the case soon becomes much more complicated as people are murdered.

His Kind of Woman
Stars: Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell, Vincent Price, Tim Holt, Charles McGraw
Director: John Farrow
Theatrical Release Date: August 29, 1951
Nick Ferraro, deported crime boss, needs to re-enter the USA. His plan involves "honest" gambler Dan Milner, who's subjected to a series of "misfortunes," then bribed to take a trip to Mexico. En route, Dan meets chanteuse Lenore Brent, truly his kind of woman. But on arrival at posh Morros Lodge in Baja California, Dan finds the ostensibly rich, carefree guests all playing roles...except, possibly, ham actor Mark Cardigan. What does Ferraro want with him? Can he trust anyone?

The Racket
Stars: Robert Mitchum, Lizabeth Scott, Robert Ryan, William Talman, Ray Collins
Director: John Cromwell
Theatrical Release Date: December 12, 1951
The big national crime syndicate has moved into town, partnering up with local crime boss Nick Scanlon. There are only two problems: First, Nick is the violent type, preferring to do things the old-fashioned way instead of using the syndicate's more genteel methods. The second problem is McQuigg, the only honest police captain on the force, and his loyal patrolman, Johnson. Together, they take on the violent Nick and try to foil the syndicate's plans to elect Welch, the crooked prosecutor running for a crooked judgeship.

Border Incident
Stars: Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy, Howard Da Silva, James Mitchell, Arnold Moss
Director: Anthony Mann
Theatrical Release Date: October 28, 1949
To penetrate a gang exploiting illegal Mexican farmworkers smuggled into California (and leaving no live witnesses), Mexican federal agent Pablo Rodriguez poses as an ignorant bracero, while his American counterpart Jack Bearnes works from outside. Soon, both are in deadly danger from the ringleader, sinister rancher Owen Parkson, and find night on the farm to be full of shadowy film-noir menace...

Forbidden Passage
Stars: Addison Richards, Wolfgang Zilzer, Hugh Beaumont, George Lessey, George Cleveland
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Theatrical Release Date: February 8, 1941
This entry in MGM's series of shorts, "Crime Doesn't Pay", features the U.S. Department of Immigration's efforts to halt the smuggling of illegal aliens into the country. Desperate immigrants, tired of waiting for legal entry, pay exorbitant fees and risk a grisly death to enter by illegal means.


A Gun in His Hand
Stars: Tom Trout, Richard Gaines, Anthony Caruso, William Challee, Robert Emmett O'Connor
Directors: Joseph Losey
Theatrical Release Date: September 15, 1945
A young man graduates from the police academy at the top of his class. He then teams up with some local thieves and uses his knowledge of police procedures to commit several warehouse robberies. The police are baffled at first. But when a police officer is murdered during one of the robberies, they start to gather the evidence they need to solve the crimes.

You, the People
Stars: C. Henry Gordon, Byron Shores, Paul Everton, Matt McHugh, Raymond Bailey
Directors: Roy Rowland
Theatrical Release Date: November 30, 1940
This entry in MGM's series of shorts, "Crime Doesn't Pay", features a big city crime boss's attempt to use his crime "machine" to fraudently win re-election for the current corrupt mayor. By using several illegal tactics, and aided by voter apathy, the crime boss nearly continues his control of the city.

Women in Hiding
Stars: Marsha Hunt, Jane Drummond, Mary Bovard, C. Henry Gordon, Granville Bates
Directors: Joseph M. Newman
Theatrical Release Date: June 22, 1940
This Crime Does Not Pay series short focuses on unwed mothers, specifically those who believe that they cannot confide in anyone and, therefore, go to clinics run by people more interested in profit than proper medical care. In this dramatization, women pay $500 to enter a clinic and must sign papers in which they agree to give up their babies for adoption. Childless couples then pay the clinic operators $500 to adopt the children.

Pop Artifact! Lone Ranger binoculars

Vintage Comic Book Ad

Hal Wilner helming star-filled "Pirates of the Caribbean" tie-in album

Record producer Hal Wilner, known for his all-star tribute albums to Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Kurt Weill and the like, has rounded up another batch of well-known musicians for a musical tie-in to the latest "Pirates of the Caribbean" film.

The album will feature appearances by Bono, Bryan Ferry, Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Antony And The Johnsons, Richard and Linda Thompson, Loudon Wainwright III and former Virgin Prunes singers Gavin Friday, Guggi and Dave-id.

more here.

Pop Culture Roundup May 11, 2006

Via Blogity Blog Blog Blog: A Dalek font.

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Booksteve doesn't join the 1980 Superman Fan Club.

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Datajunkie shares his Outer Limits bubblegum cards.

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Dial B for Blog shares great Neal Adams art from the fondly-remembered-by-me 1976 DC Comics calendar (I wonder if I've still got it someplace around here).

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Fred Hembeck points us to the excellent-sounding "The George Reeves Adventures of Superman Companion," which you can order via its author's Web site.

Lost Clues season 2, episode 21: "?"

Official recap from ABC:

?
Air Date: 05/10/2006
As Libby clings to life, Michael must deal with the awful truth of what he has done. While Jack treats his gunshot wound, Michael knows that she is the only person who can say what really happened in the Hatch. This has him on edge more than ever. And while his guilt is profound, his desire to rescue his son is much, much stronger.

But what to do about Henry? It looks like he shot three of our people on his way out of the Hatch and two of them are likely to die. He's on the run and Jack wants some payback, but is once again handcuffed by his value to the group as a doctor and therefore must pass the responsibility of going after him to someone else.

Eko finds himself drawn to Locke like never before and the two form an uneasy alliance as they set off in pursuit of the man who has wrought so much havoc in the camp. But as they make their way into the jungle, we get the sense this journey is about much more than revenge.

In FLASHBACK we see Eko as he once was, resplendent in his robes and taking confession in an Australian church. But when one of his "customers" makes a reference to Eko's past we learn that he still trying to free himself of the man he once was. It seems Eko is trying to make his way to the USA and he's finally got the papers to get him there, but his Monsignor informs him that his trip will have to wait -- at least long enough for him to investigate something. It seems one of the parishioners has reported a miracle.

Back on the island, Libby continues to hold on as Michael sweats it out in the background and Kate has the unenviable job of informing Hurley the terrible news. Despondent, Hurley races to the Hatch to sit at Libby's side in a desperate attempt to save her life.

Meanwhile, in the jungle, Locke and Eko share a haunting connection in their dreams that leads them to the discovery of a new Hatch. And the information they discover within is enough to shake all of us to the core. It seems that, for these two men, their feelings and beliefs about the island have switched places. Whereas Locke was the believer for so long, this new discovery has convinced him he was being a fool. But Eko's belief in the importance of what they are doing has never ever been stronger. And on this island, the stakes are as high as they get.

People see what they want to. And while one person sees nothing but smoke and mirrors, the next believes he has been witness to an honest-to-goodness miracle. Thing is, who among us is in a position to decide which one is correct?


Observations/speculation:



* Not so suprisingly, Ana Lucia is dead. Somewhat suprisingly, so is Libby. What about her mysterious connection to Hurley? I guess we'll have to find out via others' flashbacks.

* What's up with Locke and Eko mix and matching dreams? What compelled/helped them discover the Pearl hatch?

* When Locke has the dream that he's Eko, Eko is shown limping ala Locke.

* What's the nature of the "experiment"? The Pearl is set up to spy on other Dharma Initiative stations, but it's being observed as well (we see a camera). Will the notebooks Eko gathered provide any information?

* Where does the pneumatic tube go? Someplace else on the island, or off it? Will the map Locke shot off reach someone, ala a message in a bottle?



* In the new orientation video, the doctor introduces himself as Dr. Mark Wickmund. In the orientation film discovered earlier this season, the same man introduces himself as Dr. Marvin Candle. In the video, the man appears to move both arms normally. But in the film, one arm appears limp or perhaps missing beneath his sleeve.

* Wickmund/Candle makes reference to the Pearl observers being picked up in the Pala Ferry. According to this message board posting, Pala is a fictional place created by Aldous Huxley. More from Wikipedia: "Island" is a novel by Aldous Huxley that was first published in 1962. It is the account of Will Farnaby, a cynical journalist and would-be poet who is shipwrecked on the fictional island of Pala. Island is Huxley's utopian foil to his dystopian "Brave New World." Is the "ferry" a boat, a helicopter, plane, some mode of inter-dimensional transport? Where the hell does it go?



* A table next to one of the chair's in the Pearl has remnants of heroin and cigarette butts on it.



* The father of the allegedly drowned-but-got-better girl is the psychic who gave Claire her ticket on the ill-fated Oceanic 815. What did he foresee about the crash? Why did he want Claire to take the plane? Was he aware Eko also was fated to take it?

Other stuff:

* Another Hanso Foundation ad aired during the episode. This is part of the "Lost Experience" promotion, which provides "clues" via such ads, various Web sites, etc. There's a good roundup of all the clues gathered to date here.

Listen to the most recent offical "Lost" podcast.

See screen captures from the latest episode and promo shots for the next one.

Watch a preview for the next new show.

See the Best Lost Sites on the Web.

Order Action Figures May 11, 2006

See a Complete List of Marvel Legends Action Figures




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

Batman Lego Sets
--The Batmobile: Two-Face's Escape (7781)
--The Batman Dragster: Catwoman Pursuit (7779)
--The Batwing: The Joker's Aerial Assault (7782)
--The Batboat: Hunt for Killer Croc
--The Batcave: The Penguin and Mr. Freeze's Invasion
--The Batmobile: Ultimate Collector's Edition

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
--Exclusive Dawn and Glory
--Sunnydale High School Playset

DC Direct Action Figures

Alex Ross Justice League Action Figures Series 3
--Green Lantern
--The Joker
--Plastic Man
--Wonder Woman
--Poison Ivy

Alex Ross Justice League Action Figures Series 4
--Shazam
--Black Adam
--Hawkman
--Zatanna
--Solomon Grundy

Batman Dark Victory
--Batman
--Commissioner Gordon
--Scarecrow
--Robin and Penguin

Batman/Superman: The Return of Supergirl Action Figures
--Supergirl
--Superman
--Batman
--Darkseid
--Corrupted Supergirl

Crisis on Infinite Earths Action Figures Series 2
--Anti Monitor
--Barry Allen Flash
--Battle Armor Lex Luthor
--Earth 2 Superman
--Brainiac

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

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 Aquaman

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

Green Lantern Action Figures Series 2
--Manhunter Robot
--Guy Gardner
--Shark
--Saalak
--Sinestero

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

New Frontier Action Figures Series 1
--Green Lantern
--Superman
--Wonder Woman
--Green Arrow
--Black Hawk

Silver Age Superman Action Figures
--Superman Robot
--Lex Luthor
--Lois Lane
--Jimmy Olsen
--Perry White

Who's Who in the DC Universe Miniature Figures Series One

Hanna Barbera Action Figures
--Set of Five
--Fred Flintstone Chopper
--Hong Kong Phooey
--Quick Draw McGraw
--Tom and Jerry Music
--Tom and Jerry House

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

Marvel Legends Action Figures
Marvel Monsters Gift Pack
Young Avengers Gift Pack

Marvel Legends Series 14
--Original Armor Iron Man (variant)
--Longshot
--Baron Zemo (variant)
--Luke Cage: Powerman
--The Falcon (variant)
--Psylocke

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 Exclusive Giant-Man Series
--Giant Man
--Ant Man
--Havok
--Sabretooth
--Captain Britain
--Kitty Pryde
--Thor
--Weapon X
--Warbird
--Sentry
--Weapon X variant
--Sentry Variant

Marvel Legends Face Off Twin Packs
--Kingpin Vs. Daredevil (variant)
--Hulk Vs. The Leader (variant)
--Captain America Vs. The Red Skull (variant)

Marvel Legends Icons Series
--Captain America (variant)
--Iron Man (variant)
--Wolverine (variant)
--Venom (variant)
--Spider-Man (variant)
--Hulk (variant)

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

Marvel Legends Showdown
--Mister Fantastic and Mole Man
--Colossus and Magneto
--Ghostrider and Vengeance
--Logan and Chopper
--Namor and Shark
--Green Goblin
--Beast
--Juggernaut (variant)
--Elektra (variant)

Marvel Mega Morphs
--The Thing
--Iron Man
--Magneto

Marvel Select Figures
--Spider-Woman
--Moon Knight
--Cloak and Dagger

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

X-Men 3 Action Figures
--Air Strike Wolverine
--Angel
--Stealth Cyclops
--Tech Gear Beast
--Phoenix
--Colossus
--Nightcrawler
--Iceman
--Rogue
--Avalanche
--Sabretooth

Pop Artifact! G.I. Joe Counter Intelligence Manual



More G.I. Joe.

Vintage Comic Book Ad

Two early Doctor Who adventures hit DVD this fall

According to the Doctor Who Restoration Web site, "The Web Planet" (starring William Hartnell as the Doctor) and "Inferno" (with Jon Pertwee) will be out on DVD Sept. 5.

See the Best Doctor Who Sites on the Web.

Pop Culture Roundup May 10, 2006

Useful via Boing Boing: How to make a wallet out of Batman underwear.

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Datajunkie reposts a very nice collection Jim Aparo art for Charlton Comics. Man I miss Aparo...

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Details on the newest T-Bone Burnett album in, like, forever.

"The True False Identity" — which Burnett calls a "black comedy record" — is a startling, off-kilter mix of blues, gospel and spoken-word. It creates its own feverish, absurd world, as Burnett sings of places like "Palestine Texas" and "Zombieland," (the album's first two tracks).

"Where I want to go with my work and with my life is that place that's between heaven and earth. It's neither; it's ether," Burnett says. "That's the place I feel comfortable — that's where I feel alive."


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Dial B for Blog continues with the Showcase Comics house ads.

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Check out all Fred Hembeck's great recreations for Silver Age comic book covers.

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Via PCL Linkdump: Tunes for your next Gotham City keg party.

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Check out Poptique, a newish blog you'll like.

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USA Today rounds up a bunch of "Lost" theories and bounces 'em off the show's creators.

Lost preview May 10, 2006: "?"



Read ABC's teaser copy for tonight's show.

Listen to the most recent offical "Lost" podcast.

Watch a preview for tonight's show.

Remember to watch the ads during tonight's show too!

Come back tomorrow for a summary of the show with observations/speculation.

See the Best Lost Sites on the Web