Pop Culture Roundup Jan. 18, 2006

Disney has acquired rights to do a "John Carter Warlord of Mars" film. A "John Carter" film by Paramount sounded like it was a go a year or so back, but I guess something changed.

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Fred Hembeck posts another nifty batch of "classic cover redos." I love the JSA entry.

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NBC's "Heroes" will be back for a second season.

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The great Brit-folk group Pentangle is reuniting for the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

More than 33 years after they disbanded guitarists Bert Jansch and John Renbourn will be re-united with singer Jacqui McShee, drummer Terry Cox and bassist Danny Thompson for a special performance at the awards in London on Monday 5 February.

Their performance can be heard on Radio 2 in a special highlights show to be broadcast on Wednesday 7 February between 7 and 9pm.


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There's a new Beatles Beatleg Podcast up.

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Speaking of Beatles: Spot the genes in these two.



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Milt Caniff's "Steve Canyon" comic strips are going online.

Pop focus: The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes



I got a big shock out of the April 2007 solicitations list released by DC Comics earlier this week. The list of what's coming out a few months from now includes a book I'd given up all hope of ever seeing reprinted: The Batman volume of Michael L. Fleischer's "Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes."

Originally published in the mid 70s, the tome was the ultimate reference up to that point on the Batman character and his comic book exploits. It's an amazing piece of work, as are Fleischer's other volumes dedicated to Wonder Woman (marketed as "The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes Vol. 2") and Superman (sold as "The Great Superman Book.")

Fleisher, as Bronze Age comics fans likely know, is/was a pretty fine comics writer himself.

Being a cash-poor 10 or 11 year old at the time, I missed the Encyclopedias when they first came out, but bought all three via used bookstores and eBay a few years ago. Had I known DC intended to republish them...

But, at any rate, here's what newcomers to the books can look forward to: Each volume is as an honest-to-goodness encyclopedia covering aspects of each character's personality, supporting cast villains, secret headquarters and special equipment and synopses of their exploits.



The entries are written as if the characters actually exist. For example, the entry for ACE (the Bat Hound) reads, "the courageous brown dog--owned first by engraver JOHN Wilker and later by BRUCE Wayne--the functions periodically, from June 1955 onward, as the canine crime-fighting compation of BATMAN and ROBIN."

Pretty much anything that happened or was mentioned in an issue of Batman, Detective Comics, All Star Comics, The Brave and Bold and World's Finest Comics during Batman's first three decades is recounted and cross-referenced. The same is true for Superman and Wonder Woman in their various comics titles.

An issue-by-issue synopsis of all Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman adventures is offered in each book. The entries, however, end in the mid 60s. I suppose getting any more up to date would've been complicated and perhaps too recent for Fleischer to satisfyingly recount. Emulating Marvel Comics, DC's continuity started getting pretty complicated by the mid 70s and continuing or updating these book would've been a challenge.

Fleischer, for example, doesn't get into the whole business of Earth 1/Earth 2 and multiple versions of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, etc., and probably wisely so. Deciding where the cut off was between the "old" and "new" Batman, etc., would've been a nightmare repaid only in fanboy complaints.

Instead, we get a nice reader's companion to each character's adventures from the late 1930s/early 1940s to the prime of the Silver Age, illustrated with lots of great black-and-white panel reproductions from the original stories.

In a way, it makes great sense for DC to reprint them now as they make great companions to the DC Archives and DC Showcase collections. I just figured that, if they ever got republished, it would've been done in the fan press or something, by TwoMorrows or someone like that. So good on DC!

What I'm interested to know--I don't know who to contact at DC or how to reach Fleisher (although I'd love to print an interview with him about these books), is whether other volumes of the "Encyclopedia" might ever see print.

In the Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman volumes from the 1970s, Fleisher mentions several other planned books, including guides to Green Lantern, the Flash (both Golden and Silver Age?), and "group" volumes dedicated to Captain Marvel/Plastic Man/The Spirit, Doctor Fate/Hawkman/Starman/Spectre and Marvel Comics' Captain America/Sub-Mariner/Human Torch. I'd love to see these!

UPDATE: Fleischer's Wonder Woman and Superman encyclopedias are being reprinted. Click the links to pre-order from Amazon.

New and upcoming action figures Jan. 18, 2007

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

Pop Artifact! Roy Rogers watch

Educational comics

Pop Culture Roundup Jan. 17, 2007

Gyneth Paltrow will star as Tony Stark's secretary Pepper Potts opposite Robert Downey Jr. in the new "Iron Man" film, Marvel Comics has announced.

Paltrow will portray billionaire industrialist and genius inventor Tony Stark's indispensable personal assistant, Virginia "Pepper" Potts. Pepper is an invaluable resource to Stark Industries, and one of the few people in Tony's life who can go toe-to-toe with him, occasionally acting as his conscience and working to keep his priorities straight as he secretly defends the world as the armored hero known as Iron Man. Below the surface, Tony and Pepper share a deep attraction for one another although neither is willing to admit it.

Paltrow joins a star-studded cast for Marvel Entertainment's first self-financed and produced feature film, which also includes Oscar(R) nominees Robert Downey Jr. in the title role and Terrence Howard as Jim "Rhodey" Rhodes, Stark's best friend. Jon Favreau is set to direct. This latest move reinforces the continued allure of Marvel's films among Hollywood's most celebrated talent.

The film is slated to hit theaters May 2, 2008.


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Live at Massey Hall is the second in a series of archival live concert recordings due out from Neil Young. Here's the press release:

On January 19, 1971, Neil Young performed at Massey Hall in Toronto, Canada. In many ways, this was a major homecoming event. He had left Canada in 1966, soon becoming a member of Buffalo Springfield in Los Angeles, then recording his self-titled debut solo album in 1968. That was followed by "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" with Crazy Horse, then Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "Déjà vu" in 1970 and his best-selling album "After The Gold Rush." By the time Young came back to Canada for the Massey Hall concert, he had become one of the most exciting and successful singer-songwriters in rock.

Neil Young was performing solo that evening in Toronto, playing many of his well-known songs like "Down by the River," "Ohio" and "I Am a Child." But he also included several new originals that would be featured on his next new album, "Harvest," which had not been released yet, like "Old Man," "The Needle and the Damage Done" and "Heart of Gold." The audience had not heard any of these before, and the night was an historic and moving performance for all.

"This is the album that should have come out between 'After The Gold Rush' and 'Harvest,'" Young says now. "David Briggs, my producer, was adamant that this should be the record, but I was very excited about the takes we got on 'Harvest,' and wanted 'Harvest' out. David disagreed. As I listen to this today, I can see why."

"Live At Massey Hall," produced by Young and the late David Briggs, is the second Reprise Records release in the Neil Young Archives Performance Series, following last year's "Live At The Fillmore East" album. Both are in anticipation of the "Archives Volume I" collection, due this fall. That 8-CD, 2-DVD audiobiography will include Young's music from 1963 to 1972, and feature a treasure trove of previously unreleased recordings, both studio and live, along with concert footage and rare memorabilia from the first decade of Neil Young's long and unequaled career.


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The Bat-Blog presents some nifty foreign Batman comic book covers.

Best Batman Sites.

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Bob Dylan contributed a new song, "Huck's Tune," to the soundtrack of the gambling-themed move "Lucky You." A Kris Kristofferson original ("They Ain't Got 'Em All") and Bruce Springsteen's "The Fever" and "Lucky Town" also are featured.

"Lucky You" is due March 6 via Columbia and in theaters March 16. The soundtrack also features tracks from Ryan Adams, George Jones, Shawn Colvin, Bonnie Raitt and the film's co-star, Drew Barrymore, who plays an aspiring singer.

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From BoingBoing: A nice tribute to recently departed sci-fi author/philosopher Robert Anton Wilson, whose works were a big influence on the creators of "Lost."

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Sharity: James Dean on Conga Drums!

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"Lost" cast member Elizabeth Mitchell, who plays the mysterious Other Juliet, gets a flashback when the series comes back Feb. 7. Spoilers may apply.

Best "Lost" Sites.

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More on the Beatles/iTunes rumors from the Toronto Sun. The gist, rumor has it the entire Beatles catalog may be available on iTunes by June. Also, remastered CDs of the catalog also are planned, centering around the 40th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in June. Pepper, itself, may be released in some sort of a special edition. We'll see. In the meantime, it'd probably be a good idea for me to start saving my money.

Best Beatles Sites.

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The great Charlton Comics writer Joe Gill has passed away. Mark Evanier has more.

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The early Doctor Who adventure "The Gunfighters" is being released in a CD adaptation Feb. 5. Audio from the original TV programs featuring first Doctor William Hartnell were used, along with new linking narration.

Best Doctor Who Sites.

TwoMorrows book looks at gorilla comics!

Any self-respecting fan of the Silver Age will need this one.

Comics Gone Ape!
By Micheal Eury

They may be only one notch below humans on the evolutionary ladder, but gorillas and monkeys have for decades climbed to the top of the comic-book world as heroes and villains, monsters and masterminds, and soldiers and sidekicks. Comics Gone Ape! is the missing link to primates in comics, spotlighting a barrel of simian superstars like Beppo, BrainiApe, the Gibbon, Gleek, Gorilla Man, Grease Monkey, King Kong, Konga, Mojo Jojo, Sky Ape, and Titano. Comics Gone Ape! is loaded with rare and classic artwork, chest-thumping cover galleries, and 11 exclusive interviews with apes artists and writers including Arthur ADAMS (Monkeyman and O’Brien), Frank CHO, Carmine INFANTINO (Detective Chimp, Grodd), Joe KUBERT (Tor, Tarzan), Tony MILLIONAIRE (Sock Monkey), Doug MOENCH (Planet of the Apes), and Bob OKSNER (Angel and the Ape). With its all-new Avengers-as-gorillas cover by Arthur ADAMS, you won’t be able to keep your filthy paws off this book! Edited by BACK ISSUE magazine’s Michael EURY.

Pre-order it now for $11.53 from Amazon.

Marvel Comics April 2007 solicitations

Highlights:


MARVEL ILLUSTRATED: JUNGLE BOOK
Written by MARY JO DUFFY & GIL KANE
Penciled by GIL KANE
Cover by P. CRAIG RUSSELL

The saga of Mowgli and his brothers, adapted from Rudyard Kipling's THE JUNGLE BOOK by comics legends Gil Kane and P. Craig Russell! Originally presented in MARVEL FANFARE #8-11. Includes sneak previews for the upcoming Marvel Illustrated line of books featuring the Last of the Mohicans and more!
64 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99


AMAZING SPIDER-MAN OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC
Written by STAN LEE & STEVE DITKO
Penciled by STEVE DITKO with JACK KIRBY
Cover by JACK KIRBY & STEVE DITKO
Variant Painted Cover by ALEX ROSS

In 1962, in the pages of a comic book slated for cancellation, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko gave birth to one of the most-enduring icons in American popular media: the one and only Amazing Spider-Man! Turning the concept of a super hero on its head, they imbued the young, guilt-ridden Peter Parker with the fantastic powers of an arachnid and the fantastic pressures of an everyday teenager.

The combination was pure magic. During the course of 40 issues of web-slinging, wisecracking wonderment Lee and Ditko built the foundation for 45 years of Spidey spectaculars — girl trouble; bill trouble; bully trouble; the Daily Bugle; and a cast friends, family and, of course, super-villains unlike any other!

Completing the entire Stan Lee/Steve Ditko Spider-Man run in one massive volume —including every page, every pinup and every letters column. Not to mention unused covers, critical essays and bonuses galore!We went back to the Mighty Marvel Archive to restore each and every page in this volume for painstaking accuracy to the originals.

There’s no kidding — this collector’s edition is the guaranteed be-all, end-all book for the Spider-Man fan!

Collecting AMAZING FANTASY #15, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1-38 and ANNUAL #1-2, STRANGE TALES ANNUAL #2, and FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #1.1088 PGS./All Ages …$99.99

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC – VARIANT EDITION
1088 PGS./All Ages …$99.99

See complete Marvel Comics April 2007 solicitations

Comics shipping Jan. 17, 2007

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. 17, 2006

DARK HORSE COMICS

OCT040044 BERSERK VOL 6 TP (MR) $13.95 $11.58 from Amazon.
NOV060013 CONAN #36 (MR) $2.99
NOV060012 CONAN & THE MIDNIGHT GOD #1 (OF 5) $2.99
NOV060021 OUTER ORBIT #2 (OF 4) $2.99
JUL060047 SHAMAN WARRIOR VOL 1 TP $12.95 $10.36 from Amazon.

DC COMICS

NOV060199 52 WEEK #37 $2.50
NOV060205 AQUAMAN SWORD OF ATLANTIS #48 (RES) $2.99
OCT060164 BATMAN YEAR ONE HUNDRED TP $19.99 $13.59 from Amazon.
NOV060207 BIRDS OF PREY #102 $2.99
NOV060183 CATWOMAN #63 $2.99
DEC050304 GALS VOL 5 $9.99
OCT060197 GREEN LANTERN #16 (RES) $2.99
NOV060203 HELMET OF FATE DETECTIVE CHIMP #1 $2.99
OCT060196 ION VOL 1 THE TORCHBEARER TP $14.99 $10.19 from Amazon.
NOV060222 JLA CLASSIFIED #32 $3.99
OCT060247 KAMIKAZE KAITO JEANNE VOL 7 $9.99
OCT060248 KIKAIDER CODE 02 VOL 6 (MR) $9.99
MAR060357 LAND OF THE BLINDFOLDED VOL 8 $9.99
NOV060235 OMEGA MEN #4 (OF 6) $2.99
OCT060250 RECIPE FOR GERTRUDE VOL 3 $9.99
NOV060283 RED MENACE #3 (OF 6) $2.99
NOV060305 SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE SLEEP OF REASON #2 (OF 5) (MR) $2.99
NOV060257 SCOOBY DOO #116 $2.25
NOV060236 SHADOWPACT #9 $2.99
NOV060285 SKYE RUNNER #6 $2.99
NOV060234 SPIRIT #2 $2.99
OCT060174 SUPERMAN EMPEROR JOKER TP $14.99 $10.19 from Amazon.
NOV060307 TESTAMENT #14 (MR) $2.99
OCT060296 TESTAMENT VOL 2 WEST OF EDEN TP (MR) $12.99
NOV060308 Y THE LAST MAN #53 (MR) $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

OCT061852 ANGRY CHRIST COMIX TP (MR) $16.99
OCT061900 DARKNESS VOL 5 DEMON INSIDE TP $19.99 $13.59 from Amazon.
OCT061870 DRAIN #2 (MR) $2.99
NOV061871 GIRLS #21 (MR) $2.99
AUG061807 HUNTER KILLER LTD DLX BOXED ED HC $29.99
SEP061821 INVINCIBLE #38 $2.99
NOV061860 IRON GHOST GEIST REICH TP $15.99
OCT061851 MIKE CAREYS ONE SIDED BARGAINS (ONE SHOT) (MR) $5.99
OCT061877 NEGATIVE BURN #8 (MR) $5.99
NOV061876 NOBLE CAUSES #26 (NOTE PRICE) $3.50
JUL061710 OCCULT CRIMES TASKFORCE #3 (OF 4) (MR) $2.99
AUG061775 PVP #30 $2.99
NOV068171 PVP VOL 2 RELOADED TP (NEW PTG) $11.99 $10.16 from Amazon.
NOV061861 SILENCERS TP $14.99
OCT061884 TRUE STORY SWEAR TO GOD IMAGE ED #3 $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

NOV062284 AVENGERS EARTHS MIGHTIEST HEROES II #5 (OF 8) $3.99
NOV062322 CABLE DEADPOOL #36 $2.99
NOV062373 CABLE DEADPOOL VOL 2 BURNT OFFERING TP (O/A) (FEB051953) $14.99
NOV062267 DAILY BUGLE FEBRUARY NEWSPAPER PI
NOV062376 ESSENTIAL X-FACTOR VOL 2 TP $16.99 $11.55 from Amazon.
NOV062323 EXILES #90 $2.99
AUG062045 FANTASTIC FOUR #542 CW $2.99
NOV062295 GHOST RIDER #7 $2.99
NOV062305 MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #9 $2.99
NOV062304 MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #20 $2.99
NOV062358 MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN VOL 5 DIGEST TP $6.99
NOV062382 MARVEL SELECT FLIP MAGAZINE #21 $4.99
NOV062383 MARVEL TALES FLIP MAGAZINE #20 $4.99
NOV068018 NEWUNIVERSAL 2ND PTG RIBIC VAR #1 (PP #747) $2.99
NOV062276 SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN #34 $2.99
NOV062315 SHE-HULK 2 #15 $2.99
NOV062281 SPIDER-MAN REIGN #2 (OF 4) $3.99
OCT068239 SPIDER-MAN REIGN 2ND PTG ANDREWS VAR #1 (OF 4) $3.99
NOV062271 ULTIMATE POWER #1 DIRECTORS CUT $3.99
NOV062272 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #104 $3.99
NOV062274 ULTIMATE X-MEN #78 $2.99
NOV062334 X-MEN FIRST CLASS #5 (OF 8) $2.99

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT

NOV063182 WIZARD ANIME INSIDER BLEACH CVR #41 (NOTE PRICE) $4.99

COMICS

NOV063293 ARCHIE #572 $2.25
NOV063295 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #176 $3.69
SEP063225 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA #5 $2.99
SEP063228 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA FOIL CVR #5 PI
OCT063403 CASTLE WAITING VOL II #4 $3.95
SEP063235 CLASSIC BATTLESTAR GALACTICA #3 $3.50
NOV063493 DEMONWARS THE DEMON AWAKENS SEELEY CVR A #1 (OF 3) $4.99
NOV063494 DEMONWARS THE DEMON AWAKENS WALPOLE CVR B #1 (OF 3) $8.99
SEP062992 FIRST MOON GN $12.95
OCT063334 HIGHLANDER #3 $2.99
NOV063511 HOW TO BE A COMIC BOOK ARTIST $4.99
NOV063762 PHANTOM #14 $3.50
OCT063320 RED SONJA SHE DEVIL WITH A SWORD ANNUAL #1 $3.50
NOV063909 REGARDS FROM SERBIA GN (MR) $19.95
NOV063797 ROADKILL ZOO #1 (OF 6) (MR) $2.50
NOV063394 SIMPSONS COMICS #126 $2.99
MAY063248 SORE THUMBS VOL 1 GN (MR) $12.95
FEB063361 STREET FIGHTER II #5 POWERFOIL SVEN CVR C $12.50
SEP063238 XENA STRANGE VISITOR ONE SHOT $4.95

MAGAZINES

NOV063993 BACK ISSUE #20 $6.95

RELATED MERCHANDISE

JUL063808 KANA DE MANGA SPECIAL SOUND FX $9.99
OCT063722 MODERN MASTERS VOL 10 KEVIN MCGUIRE SC $14.95 $10.17 from Amazon.
NOV063693 ZOMBIES FEAST POSTER $9.99

See comics shipping next week.

Pop Artifact! The Phantom plastic model by Revell



Educational comics

Pop Culture Roundup Jan. 16, 2007

The Sci Fi Channel will air several original flicks in its "Sci Fi Saturday" block this season. No dates yet, but movies scheduled include:

* The Lost Colony
* King Arthur & The Order of the Dragon
* Riddle of the Sphinx
* Sherlock Holmes & the Banshee
* Odysseus & the Isle of Mists

More.

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Liverpool's Cavern Club is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

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Here's a list of last night's Golden Globe winners.

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Rumors are afoot that Beatles tunes will debut on iTunes Feb. 14 (Valentine's Day).

A popular Beatles fan website, Abbeyrd, reports an "unnamed source" who said that a deal between the two Apple's has been struck, and it seems likely that the latest album, Love, will be made available through iTunes.

It's not clear if back catalogue material will be released. One trait both Apple Corp and Apple Inc share is a penchant for maintaining a tight hold of copyright and control.

The rumour began last year, when Beatles drummer Ringo Starr hinted that tracks from the band — the last major act to refuse to release music online — would be made available "at some point".

Disney's "Meet the Robinsons" pictures

Here are pics and German poster from Disney's upcoming CGI toon, based on the children's book by William Joyce.







DC Direct April 2007 solicitations

See:
DC Comics April 2007 solicitations
Complete List of DC Direct action figures





DC MINIMATES WAVE 5

The DC Universe just got smaller — and more collectible! DC Direct and Art Asylum team up to deliver your favorite super-heroes with a MiniMates makeover! These figures range in size from 2.125” – 2.5” tall. Each 2 pack is blister-carded on a 4-color card. Collect them all!
IN STORES 9/19/07
* CAPTAIN MARVEL WITH MARY MARVEL
* HAWKMAN WITH HAWKGIRL
* GUY GARDNER WITH KILOWOG
* RED TORNADO WITH MA HUNKEL


JUSTICE LEAGUE SERIES 6 ACTION FIGURES
Continuing the best-selling action figure line designed by Alex Ross!
Each figure features multiple points of articulation and a base.
Advance-solicited; on sale September 12, 2007 • Action Figures • PI
* HAWKGIRL 7.5" (with wings)
* GREEN LANTERN ARMORED 7.5"
* BATMAN ARMORED 7.25"
* SCARECROW 7.25"


NIGHTWING 13” DELUXE COLLECTOR FIGURE
NIGHTWING is the newest addition to DC Direct’s line of realistically proportioned, super-heroic 1:6 scale figures! This deluxe collector figure comes clothed in an authentically detailed fabric costume and includes two escrima sticks and a display stand. Packaged in a deluxe 4-color window box with a 5th panel.
Includes alternate mask.
Advance-solicited; on sale September 19, 2007
Collector figure• $69.99 US


THE SANDMAN ABSOLUTE STATUE
Designed by Mark Buckingham
Sculpted by Jim Maddox
From the pages of THE SANDMAN by Neil Gaiman!
This limited-edition, hand-painted cold-cast porcelain statue measures approximately 11" tall x 6" wide x 5" deep and is packaged in a 4-color box.
Advance-solicited; on sale September 25, 2007 • Statue • $175.00 US


WOMEN OF THE DC UNIVERSE: DONNA TROY BUST
Designed by Adam Hughes
Sculpted by Jack Mathews
Donna Troy continues the amazing line of Women of the DC Universe busts designed by award-winning illustrator Adam Hughes. This limited-edition, hand-painted, cold-cast porcelain busts measures approximately 5.5” tall x 3” wide x 2” deep and is packaged in a four-color box.
Advance-solicited; on sale September 5, 2007
Bust • $45.00 US

New DVD releases Jan. 16, 2007

Doctor Who - The Complete Second Series

King of Queens - Complete Seventh Season

Allo 'Allo!: Complete Series Six

Farewell to the World Live ~ Crowded House

Employee of the Month (Widescreen Edition)

Space Academy: The Complete Series

The Legend of Prince Valiant, Vol. 2

The Kinks: In Performance

The Animation Show (Vol. 1 & 2 Boxed Set)

More upcoming DVD releases

New CD releases Jan. 16, 2007

New CD releases Jan. 16, 2007

Farewell to the World by Crowded House

Dig Everything: the 1966 Pye Singles by David Bowie

Meet the Smithereens: Tribute to the Beatles by Smithereens

Take Two Plus by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston

Golden Afrique 3 by Golden Afrique

Phantom Limb by The Shins

No Promises by Carla Bruni

Balance of Power by Electric Light Orchestra

Trancefer by Klaus Schulze

Even More Mellow Cats 'N' Kittens: Hot R&B and Cool Blues 1945-1951 by Various Artists

Hollywood Rock 'N Roll Record Hop by Various Artists

More upcoming CDs

Pop Artifact! Steve Canyon board game



See a complete list of Steve Canyon comic strip reprints.

Educational comics

Pop Culture Roundup Jan. 15, 2007

Jazz pianist/harpist Alice Coltrane, wife of the late tenor sax giant John Coltrane, died Friday, according to Reuters.

After [John's] death in July 1967 at age 40, she raised the couple's children, continued playing and expanding upon his music and devoted herself to the study of Eastern religions, adopting the Sanskrit name, Turiyasangitananda.

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You'll like The Aquaman Shrine.

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Ronnie Spector has a new album out later this year with guest appearances by Keith Richards, Patti Smith, the Greenhornes, the Raveonettes' Sune Rose Wagner, the New York Dolls' David Johansen and Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

"Everybody on the album, they're really friends of mine in real life. They brought everything to it," says Spector, who's particularly happy that the Ronettes will be going into the Hall of Fame in the same class as Smith. And she was proud of the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, who took a very serious approach to his guest appearance on the Amy Rigby-written "All I Want."

The album, Last of the Rock Stars, is out already in the UK. No date for the U.S. release is given.

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Action Figure Insider has lots of exclusive pics of the Hot Wheels TV Batmobile, which is out in 1/64 scale next month and in 1/18 and 1/43 models this fall.

Check availability of Batmobile toys at Amazon.

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The producers/writers of "Lost" are planning a definite end to the series--at some point.

...executive producer Carlton Cuse said at a Sunday press panel that the show’s producers are in the process of “picking an end point to the show.”

“Once we do that,” he told reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, “a lot of the anxiety and a lot of these questions, like, ‘We’re not getting answers,’ a lot of those will go away. They really represent an underlying anxiety that this is not going to go well or that we don’t know what we’re doing."

...Producers would not offer specifics on when that end point would come, but there were a few clues that the show’s fifth season might be its last.


The show (finally) returns from hiatus Feb. 7.

Best "Lost" Sites.


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Production of a new Flash Gordon TV series, to air on the Sci Fi Channel, is set to begin soon. Twenty-two episodes have been ordered.

The characters of Ming, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov will be brought back for a contemporary retelling of the comic-strip story created in 1934 by Alex Raymond. The strip is still distributed internationally by King Features Syndicate.

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Check out a groovy 1963 National Geographic article exploring the wonders of Disneyland.

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A couple of nice links from Journalista!:

It's the 60th anniversary of Milt Caniff's "Steve Canyon" strip.

The New York Times profiles collectors of vintage comic strips.

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"The Sopranos" returns to HBO April 8.

DC Comics April 2007 solicitations

Highlights:


THE ORIGINAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF COMIC BOOK HEROES VOLUME 1: BATMAN TP
Written by Michael Fleischer
Art by various

Everything you ever wanted to know about DC’s Dark Knight — and so much more — can be found in this amazing volume, brought back into print for the first time in 30 years!
Originally published in 1976, this extensive volume — the first in a series — includes everything you could want to know about Batman, his allies and enemies, weapons in his war on crime and his adventures from the 1930s to the 1970s!
Advance-solicited; on sale May 23 • 416 pg, B&W, $19.99 US

THE BATMAN CHRONICLES VOL. 3 TP
Written by Bill Finger
Art by Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson and various
Cover by Kane

The third volume in the series collecting every Batman story in chronological order of publication! This volume, collecting DETECTIVE COMICS #46-50, BATMAN #4-5 and more, features The Joker, Clayface and more.
Advance-solicited; on sale May 9 • 192 pg, FC, $14.99 US


GOLDEN AGE DR. FATE ARCHIVES VOL. 1 HC
Written by Gardner Fox
Art by Hal Sherman and various Cover by Hal Sherman

Don’t miss this new, extra-sized archive collecting the complete, mystic adventures of Doctor Fate from More fun Comics #55-98! Young Kent Nelson, taken in by the ancient wizard Nabu, is trained in the mystic arts, preparing to protect the world from mystic threats as the golden-helmeted hero Dr. Fate!
Advance-solicited; on sale June 27 • 396 pg, FC, $75.00 US $47.25 from Amazon.

DOCTOR FATE #1
Written by Steve Gerber
Art and cover by Paul Gulacy
Variant cover by Gene Ha

“The Helmet of Fate” explodes into a new ongoing series dedicated to the popular member of the JSA! Psychiatrist Kent Nelson finds even stranger depths within the human mind than he has in any mystical realm. How can he begin to help others when his own life is a shambles? Find out in this amazing debut issue!
Retailers: This issue will feature two covers that may be ordered separately. One copy of the Variant Edition may be ordered for every 10 copies of the Standard Edition ordered. Please see the Previews Order Form for further details.
On sale April 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US Edited by Joey Cavalier


SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE FLASH VOL. 1 TP
Written by Robert Kanigher, John Broome and Gardner Fox
Art by Carmine Infantino, Joe Giella and various
Cover by Infantino & Giella

Over 500 pages of classic adventures are included in this value-priced volume! The Fastest Man Alive stars in these fantastic tales from late 1950s and into the 1960s! This collection features The Flash in battle against the Mirror Master, the Trickster, Captain Cold and many other villains!
Advance-solicited; on sale May 16 • 512 pg, B&W, $16.99 US


SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT VOL. 1 TP
Written by Robert Kanigher
Art and cover by Ross Andru & Mike Esposito

Over 500 pages of classic adventures are included in this value-priced volume collecting one of the most unusual series ever from DC Comics! On an unnamed, uncharted Pacific island, dinosaurs continued to thrive while World War II raged across the globe. It’s there that members of the U.S. Military found themselves armed only with standard-issue weapons against the deadliest predators ever to roam the Earth!
Advance-solicited; on sale May 2 • 560 pg, B&W, $16.99 US

THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31st CENTURY #1
Written by J. Torres
Art by Chynna Clugston-Flores
Cover by Steve Uy

An all-new series spinning out of the smash-hit TV show, written by J. Torres (TEEN TITANS GO, Sidekicks, Alison Dare: Little Miss Adventures) and drawn by the creator of the indie favorite Blue Monday, Chynna Clugston-Flores!
To stop the Fatal Five from destroying Metropolis, the Legion of Super-Heroes travel back in time for reinforcements, because this looks like a job for…Clark Kent?! Can six teenagers from the future help a mild-mannered reporter become the Man of Steel, or will the Fatal Five determine his destiny before it’s even begun?
Retailers: Please see the solicitation for the Free Comic Book Day Edition of this issue elsewhere in this issue of Previews.
On sale April 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.25 US

See the entire listing here.