Pop Artifact: Tarzan and the Leopard Woman movie poster

Vintage comic book ad

Pop Culture Roundup Jan. 11, 2007

"Munsters" star Yvonne De Carlo passed away yesterday at 84, The Associated Press reports.

De Carlo, whose shapely figure helped launch her career in B-movie desert adventures and Westerns, rose to more important roles in the 1950s. Later, she had a key role in a landmark Broadway musical, Stephen Sondheim's "Follies."

But for TV viewers, she will always be known as Lily Munster in the 1964-1966 slapstick horror-movie spoof "The Munsters." The series (the name allegedly derived from "fun-monsters") offered a gallery of Universal Pictures grotesques, including Dracula and Frankenstein's monster, in a cobwebbed gothic setting.




Another interesting note:

George Barris, who created the ghoulish "Munsters" car, equipped De Carlo's Jaguar with spider web hubcaps, a gargoyle hood ornament and a glossy black sunroof.

"She was a wonderful lady and a car buff. She loved the show so much that she incorporated it into her life, her own car," Barris said Wednesday.




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

Jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald will be honored with a U.S. postage stamp available today.

Ella Fitzgerald will be immortalized near the end of January as the 30th honoree in the Postal Service's Black Heritage series. Fitzgerald (1917-1996) was widely known as "The First Lady of Song." Her extraordinary vocal range and flexibility, combined with her gift for pitch, rhythmic sense and flawless diction, made her one of America's most distinctive singers of jazz and popular tunes. The Ella Fitzgerald stamp image is a portrait based on a photograph taken around 1956 that captures the joy and excitement that Fitzgerald brought to music.



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

Bat Blog shares a couple of nice Batman drawings artists Jim Aparo and Mike Grell created for the Comics Reader zine back in the 1970s.

Best Batman Sites

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

Joss Whedon, creator of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and "Lost" producer J.J. Abrams are set to direct episodes of NBC's "The Office" to air in February.

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

A British publisher is planning manga adaptations of Shakespeare.

UK independent publisher SelfMadeHero will launch its line of contemporary manga next month with manga adaptations of Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet, using the Bard's original language in abridged versions of his classic plays. Amulet Books, an imprint of art book publisher Harry N. Abrams, will publish the Manga Shakespeare titles in the U.S. in April.

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

William Shatner may appear in the upcoming Star Trek movie.

William Shatner revealed to SCI FI Wire that the upcoming 11th Star Trek movie will indeed, as rumored, deal with the early years of Capt. James T. Kirk and Spock—and that he will definitely appear in the movie if director J.J. Abrams can find a place to use him. Shatner, who originated the role of Kirk in the original Trek series and several subsequent films, said in an interview that he was invited to meet with Abrams (Mission: Impossible III), who is also co-writing the movie.

Best Star Trek Sites.

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

A new series of "Doctor Who" radio adventures has started on BBC 7.

Produced by Big Finish, the eight fifty-minute episodes see [eighth doctor Paul] McGann joined by Two Pints of Lager actress Sheridan Smith, who plays unwilling companion Lucie Miller.

Lucie's been dumped onboard the TARDIS as part of a Time Lord witness protection programme. Neither she or the Doctor are happy with the situation and sparks fly immediately.

You can hear the show's on the Beeb's audio-on-demand service.

Best Doctor Who Sites.

Marvel Comics stamps

I can't remember if I posted an image of the U.S. postage stamps honoring Marvel Comics characters, which will be out later this year. So, here they are, possibly again.

New and upcoming action figures Jan. 11, 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

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 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

Pirates of the Caribbean at the World's End pictures

Here's a batch:











Pop Artifact! Tarzan's New York Adventure movie poster

Vintage comic book ad

Upcoming comics goodies

Solicitations from DC and Marvel comics are due out next week. But in the meantime, here are a few things we can expect from both publishers later this year (click the links to pre-order from Amazon):

DC

Dr. Fate Archives Volume 1

Due June 1, 396 pages, hardcover.

Marvel

Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus Volume 1
He was a teenage web-wlinger, and he carved a career few heroes have equaled since! Witness the origins of Doctor Octopus, the Sandman, the Lizard, Electro and more of Spider-Man's original rogues gallery - most of whom remain in the spotlight forty years later! Plus: Spider-Man's identity is exposed for the first time! His first fights with the Green Goblin, the villain who would defeat him more disastrously than any other! Spidey's first effort to join a super-team, and his first effort to fight a super-team - all before his high-school graduation (and we've got that, too)! Guest-starring Doctor Strange, Daredevil, the Human Torch, the Hulk and more! Collects Amazing Fantasy #15, Amazing Spider-Man #1-38 and Annual #1-2; plus the Spider-Man stories from Fantastic Four Annual #1 and Strange Tales Annual #2, and the covers to Marvel Tales #3-28 and Annual #1-2.
Due May 9, 1,088 pages, hardcover. Variant edition also available.

Essential Rampaging Hulk Volume 1
Not a hoax, not a dream, not an imaginary story... so what is it? Judge for yourself as the gamma-powered gargantua's long-lost black-and-white adventures are reprinted for the first time! Rarely seen moments of Hulk history featuring aliens, magic, horror and wonder - the full gamut for Marvel's great green giant! Guest-starring the Avengers, the X-Men and more! Collects Rampaging Hulk #1-9, The Hulk! #10-15 and Incredible Hulk #269.
Due May 16, 576 pages.

Spider-Man Newspaper Strips Volume 1
What's black and white and red and blue all over? Long thought lost to avid arachnophiles, three years' worth of Spider-Man's newspaper adventures - from January 1977 to January 1980 - are collected in their entirety for the first time across two volumes! Spiderdom's top talents set the web-slinger up with daily doses of enemies old and new, from Kraven the Hunter to the Rattler!
Due May 30, 464 pages, hardcover.

Pop Culture Roundup Jan. 10, 2006

Hear a great audio documentary about the mellotron on the BBC.

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

George Harrison's handwritten lyrics for "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" are up for auction.

[They] are expected to fetch up to 400,000 pounds ($780,000).

The manuscript, penned by George Harrison, includes lines not included in the final version of the song, which was first recorded in 1968.

The bottom of the page also features the words: "The band leader said he ain't playin' no more," which auctioneer Cooper Auctions said was a reference to the tense atmosphere in the Beatles' studio at the time.


Best Beatles Sites.

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

And here we thought that collaboration between Stan Lee and Ringo Starr reported last year would never surface. From Ringo's Web site:

The third installment in the "Stan Lee Presents" presents series is Ringo, a musical comedy that tells the life story of ex-Beatle Ringo Starr, voicing himself, as if he were a superhero.

"We're very excited," states Lee. "The DVDs should appeal to the same audience as those who enjoy Marvel comics." The first DVD in the series, "Mosaic", will come to DVD Jan. 9 followed by "The Condor", due March 20.


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

Speaking of the Beatles, could Apple Corps. and Apple Inc. have a collaboration in the works? Sure, the Beatles have sued the computer manufacturer a couple of times over use of the Apple name and especially weren't happy when Stephen Jobs and co. went into the music biz using the Apple with iTunes. But rumors are afoot that the Beatles want to present their music in download form and that the band's catalogue has been remastered.

And, now this, from an article about Jobs introducing the new iPhone yesterday:

Jobs demonstrated the iPhone’s music capabilities by playing “Lovely Rita, Meter Maid,” from the Beatles’ “Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band,” as the album’s psychedelic album art graced a wide-screen monitor.

Update: Maybe, maybe not.

After the show, Apple senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller refused to answer questions about why Jobs would demo a song not available on iTunes.

"We don’t have anything to say about that," he said.

Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president for iTunes, was equally opaque.

"Anyone can rip their own CD," Cue said. "Steve’s a huge Beatles fan - huge. He rips and burns."


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

Out March 27, a box set compiling the complete "Brady Bunch" series will be bedecked in green shag carpeting.



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

Upcoming on the History Channel:

"Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier," hosted by Leonard Nimoy, includes interviews with a number of principals of the five separate TV series and the 10 theatrical movies, who'll discuss the impact of the phenomenon, climaxing in an official auction of "Trek" memorabilia at Christies in New York last October. Air date is Feb. 19.

Comics shipping Jan. 10, 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 Jan. 10, 2007

DARK HORSE COMICS

NOV060039 BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL #121 (MR) $2.99
OCT060042 STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #12 $2.99
OCT060043 STAR WARS LEGACY #7 $2.99

DC COMICS

NOV060198 52 WEEK #36 $2.50
NOV060174 BATMAN #662 $2.99
NOV060173 BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #2 $2.99
NOV060251 BATMAN STRIKES #29 $2.25
NOV060254 CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #9 $2.25
OCT060190 FALLEN ANGEL VOL 2 DOWN TO EARTH TP (MR) $14.99 $10.19 at Amazon.
NOV060288 FRIDAY THE 13TH #2 (MR) $2.99
NOV060270 GEN 13 #4 $2.99
NOV060271 GEN 13 VAR EDITION #4 $2.99
NOV060217 GREEN ARROW #70 $2.99
NOV060215 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #8 $2.99
NOV060226 JSA CLASSIFIED #21 $2.99
NOV060224 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #2 $2.99
NOV060225 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA VAR ED #2 $2.99
OCT060248 KIKAIDER CODE 02 VOL 6 (MR) $9.99
MAR060357 LAND OF THE BLINDFOLDED VOL 8 $9.99
OCT060274 MAJESTIC VOL 3 THE FINAL CUT TP $14.99 $10.19 at Amazon.
NOV060230 MARTIAN MANHUNTER #6 (OF 8) $2.99
NOV060232 OMAC #7 (OF 8) $2.99
NOV060233 OUTSIDERS #44 $2.99
OCT060250 RECIPE FOR GERTRUDE VOL 3 $9.99
AUG060220 RUSH CITY #4 (OF 6) $2.99
NOV060274 STORMWATCH PHD #3 $2.99
NOV060275 STORMWATCH PHD VAR EDITION #3 $2.99
NOV060195 SUPERMAN BATMAN VS ALIENS PREDATORS #1 (OF 2) $5.99
NOV060245 TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED #4 (OF 8) $3.99
NOV068163 TOM STRONG BOOK ONE TP $14.99
OCT050276 VILLAINS UNITED TP $12.99
NOV060277 WELCOME TO TRANQUILITY #2 $2.99
NOV060278 WELCOME TO TRANQUILITY VAR ED #2 $2.99
DEC050283 WONDER WOMAN LAND OF THE DEAD TP $12.99 $11.04 at Amazon.

IMAGE COMICS

JUL061696 ANT #9 $2.99
OCT061846 CRYPTICS #2 $3.50
NOV061871 GIRLS #21 (MR) $2.99
OCT061874 GODLAND #15 $2.99
AUG061806 HUNTER KILLER LTD ED HC $19.99
NOV061875 NIGHTLY NEWS #3 (OF 6) $2.99
SEP061829 STRANGE GIRL #13 $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

NOV062283 AGENTS OF ATLAS #6 (OF 6) $2.99
NOV062277 AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #4 $2.99
NOV062290 BLADE #5 CW $2.99
NOV062372 CABLE DEADPOOL VOL 1 IF LOOKS COULD KILL TP (O/A) (AUG041865 $14.99
NOV062362 CHAMPIONS CLASSIC VOL 2 TP $19.99 $13.59 at Amazon.
NOV062379 CIVIL WAR FINAL BATTLE POSTER $6.99
NOV062275 FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN #16 $2.99
NOV062364 GHOST RIDER VOL 1 VICIOUS CYCLE TP $13.99 $11.61 at Amazon.
NOV062336 HELLSTORM SON OF SATAN #4 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
OCT068191 IMMORTAL IRON FIST 2ND PTG DELLOTTO VAR #1 (PP #746) $2.99
NOV062340 MAGICIAN APPRENTICE #5 (OF 12) $2.99
NOV062307 MYTHOS GHOST RIDER $3.99
NOV062325 NEW EXCALIBUR #15 $2.99
NOV062324 NEW X-MEN #34 $2.99
NOV062337 PUNISHER #43 (MR) $2.99
OCT062172 RUNAWAYS #23 $2.99
NOV062317 SQUADRON SUPREME HYPERION VS NIGHTHAWK #1 (OF 4) $2.99
NOV062318 THUNDERBOLTS #110 $2.99
NOV062319 THUNDERBOLTS YU VAR #110 $2.99
NOV062384 ULTIMATE MARVEL FLIP MAGAZINE #21 $4.99
NOV062385 ULTIMATE TALES FLIP MAGAZINE #21 $4.99
NOV062320 WHITE TIGER #3 (OF 6) $2.99
NOV062329 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #10 $2.99
NOV062321 WONDER MAN #2 (OF 5) $2.99

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT

NOV063181 TOYFARE HASBRO GHOST RIDER MOVIE FIGURE CVR #115 $4.99

COMICS

NOV063496 DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES VOL 2 KURTH CVR A #4 (OF 4) $4.99
NOV063497 DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES VOL 2 WALPOLE CVR B #4 (OF 4) $8.99
NOV063510 GI JOE AMERICAS ELITE #19 $2.99
SEP063460 INFINITEENS #2 (RES) $2.99
OCT063436 JANES WORLD OMNIBUS VOL 1 (MR) $19.95
AUG063033 SHRUGGED #4 $2.99
OCT063146 TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #17 $2.49
OCT063149 VERONICA #177 $2.25

MAGAZINES

NOV063993 BACK ISSUE #20 $6.95
NOV064024 ROUGH STUFF #3 $6.95