Pop Culture Roundup Jan. 19, 2007
Billboard has details on the new Wilco album, Sky Blue Sky, out May 15.
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Doo Wop singer Pookie Hudson, of the Spaniels, died Tuesday at age 72, Billboard reports. His group is probably best known for the hit "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight."
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Country music greats Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson & Ray Price are joining for an double album, Last of the Breed, due out March 20 on the Lost Highway label.
According to the label:
Some of Nashville's finest were brought in for these sessions including steel guitar legend Buddy Emmons and renowned fiddler Johnny Gimble. Beautiful backing vocals were provided by The Jordanaires.
LAST OF THE BREED has the sound and feel of a classic album in a very natural way. Merle, Ray and Willie bring new life to such gems as Harlan Howard's "Heartaches By The Number" (with Vince Gill on backing vocals), Cindy Walker's "Night Watch", Mickey Newbury's "Sweet Memories" and Kris Kristofferson's "Why Me Lord", featuring Kristofferson singing backing vocals. The Trio also cut a couple of recently penned songs with Nelson's "Back To Earth" and Haggard's "Sweet Jesus", co-written with Kenny Vernon.
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Sci Fi Wire has details on former Doctor Who Christopher Eccleston's upcoming debut on NBC's "Heroes." Spoilers apply.
Best Heroes Sites
Best Doctor Who Sites
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Here's a big interview with "Veronica Mars" creator Rob Thomas. The show returns from hiatus next week. I hope it gets back on track after a very shaky start of the season.
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Doo Wop singer Pookie Hudson, of the Spaniels, died Tuesday at age 72, Billboard reports. His group is probably best known for the hit "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight."
--------------------
Country music greats Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson & Ray Price are joining for an double album, Last of the Breed, due out March 20 on the Lost Highway label.
According to the label:
Some of Nashville's finest were brought in for these sessions including steel guitar legend Buddy Emmons and renowned fiddler Johnny Gimble. Beautiful backing vocals were provided by The Jordanaires.
LAST OF THE BREED has the sound and feel of a classic album in a very natural way. Merle, Ray and Willie bring new life to such gems as Harlan Howard's "Heartaches By The Number" (with Vince Gill on backing vocals), Cindy Walker's "Night Watch", Mickey Newbury's "Sweet Memories" and Kris Kristofferson's "Why Me Lord", featuring Kristofferson singing backing vocals. The Trio also cut a couple of recently penned songs with Nelson's "Back To Earth" and Haggard's "Sweet Jesus", co-written with Kenny Vernon.
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Sci Fi Wire has details on former Doctor Who Christopher Eccleston's upcoming debut on NBC's "Heroes." Spoilers apply.
Best Heroes Sites
Best Doctor Who Sites
------------------------
Here's a big interview with "Veronica Mars" creator Rob Thomas. The show returns from hiatus next week. I hope it gets back on track after a very shaky start of the season.
More upcoming Marvel Omnibus volumes
Along with the drool-inducing Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus due in April (it includes EVERY Spidey story by creators Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in one huge book), there's more--lots more--good stuff coming up from Marvel.
According to listing on Amazon we can look forward to a second Fantastic Four Omnibus featuring the work of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, available in both regular and variant covers.
Plus, there'll be a Silver Surfer Omnibus, too, also available with regular and variant covers.
Also on tap is Essential Fantastic Four Vol. 6, which collects issues #111-137 of that title.
According to listing on Amazon we can look forward to a second Fantastic Four Omnibus featuring the work of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, available in both regular and variant covers.
Plus, there'll be a Silver Surfer Omnibus, too, also available with regular and variant covers.
Also on tap is Essential Fantastic Four Vol. 6, which collects issues #111-137 of that title.
DVD: Casino Royale (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)
The newest Bond flick is due out March 13 in a two-disk set. You can pre-order it now for $12.97 from Amazon.
Bob Dylan - Don't Look Back (1965 Tour Deluxe Edition)
Out Feb. 27, this is an expanded and upgraded version of the great documentary about Dylan's 1965 British tour.
Details:
DISC 1: BOB DYLAN DON'T LOOK BACK
This digitally-remastered version of the cinema verite classic follows Dylan on his extraordinary 1965 concert tour of England--his last as an acoustic performer. With unobtrusive equipment and rare access to Dylan, legendary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker achieved an unprecedented, fly-on-the-wall glimpse of one of music's most influential figures--and redefined filmmaking along the way.
DISC 2: BOB DYLAN 65 REVISITED
Forty years after the release of DONT LOOK BACK, D.A. Pennebaker ahs created this new work culled from over 20 hours of never-before-seen rare footage from his personal archive of film negatives. Raw and unassuming, 65 REVISITED provides a fresh perspective of the young Dylan on the road during his 1965 English tour.
BONUS - DONT LOOK BACK COMPANION BOOK & FLIPBOOK
Originally published in 1968, the 168-page companion book features a complete transcription of the film, over 200 photos, and a new forward by D.A. Pennebaker. The collectible Subterranean Homesick Blues flipbook provides a frame-by-frame look at the film's famed cue-card sequence, considered by many to be the first contemporary music video.
Special features:
* Five Additional Uncut Audio Tracks.
* TWO COMMENTARIES by D.A. Pennebaker and tour road manager Bob Neuwirth.
* Alternate Version of the Subterranean Homesick Blues Cue Card Sequence
* Original Theatrical Trailer.
* D.A. Pennebaker Filmography.
* Bob Dylan Discography.
* Cast and Crew Biographies.
You can pre-order the set now for $34.99 from Amazon.
Top 10 graphic novels, DVDs, CDs, action figures Jan. 19, 2006
Graphic novels
1. 300: The Art Of The Film
2. Fables Vol. 8: Wolves
3. Y: The Last Man Vol. 8 - Kimono Dragons
4. Ultimate X-Men Vol. 15: Magical
5. Superman: Emperor Joker
6. Runaways, Vol. 2
7. Penny Arcade Volume 3: The Warsun Prophecies
8. New X-Men Omnibus
9. Blade of the Immortal Vol. 16
10. Astonishing X-Men Vol. 3: Torn
DVDs
1. An Inconvenient Truth
2. Little Miss Sunshine
3. The Illusionist (Widescreen Edition)
4. 24 - Season 6 Premiere (First 4 Episodes)
5. The Departed (Two-Disc Special Edition)
6. Flags of Our Fathers (Widescreen Edition)
7. 24 - Seasons 1-5
8. The Devil Wears Prada (Widescreen Edition)
9. The Office - Season Two
10. The Guardian
CDs
1. Not Too Late ~ Norah Jones
2. Corinne Bailey Rae ~ Corinne Bailey Rae
3. Wincing the Night Away ~ The Shins
4. Into White ~ Carly Simon
5. Daughtry ~ Daughtry
6. Love ~ The Beatles
7. Dreamgirls: Music From The Motion Picture [2-CD Deluxe Edition] ~ Original Soundtrack
8. Continuum ~ John Mayer
9. Dreamgirls ~ Original Soundtrack
10. Eye To The Telescope ~ KT Tunstall
Action Figures
1. DC Comics Ultra Blast Batman
2. Gargantuan Blue Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons Icons)
3. Ultimate Powers Superman Figure
4. Transformers Cybertron Supreme Class Cybertron Primus Figure
5. Ben 10 Alien Collection - Stink Fly
6. Star Wars Deluxe Transformer Millenium Falcon
7. Ice Age 2 Go Nutz Scrat
8. Transformers Voyager Classic Megatron Figure
9. Ben 10 Alien Collection - XLR8
10. Transformers Optimus Prime 20th Anniversary Figure
1. 300: The Art Of The Film
2. Fables Vol. 8: Wolves
3. Y: The Last Man Vol. 8 - Kimono Dragons
4. Ultimate X-Men Vol. 15: Magical
5. Superman: Emperor Joker
6. Runaways, Vol. 2
7. Penny Arcade Volume 3: The Warsun Prophecies
8. New X-Men Omnibus
9. Blade of the Immortal Vol. 16
10. Astonishing X-Men Vol. 3: Torn
DVDs
1. An Inconvenient Truth
2. Little Miss Sunshine
3. The Illusionist (Widescreen Edition)
4. 24 - Season 6 Premiere (First 4 Episodes)
5. The Departed (Two-Disc Special Edition)
6. Flags of Our Fathers (Widescreen Edition)
7. 24 - Seasons 1-5
8. The Devil Wears Prada (Widescreen Edition)
9. The Office - Season Two
10. The Guardian
CDs
1. Not Too Late ~ Norah Jones
2. Corinne Bailey Rae ~ Corinne Bailey Rae
3. Wincing the Night Away ~ The Shins
4. Into White ~ Carly Simon
5. Daughtry ~ Daughtry
6. Love ~ The Beatles
7. Dreamgirls: Music From The Motion Picture [2-CD Deluxe Edition] ~ Original Soundtrack
8. Continuum ~ John Mayer
9. Dreamgirls ~ Original Soundtrack
10. Eye To The Telescope ~ KT Tunstall
Action Figures
1. DC Comics Ultra Blast Batman
2. Gargantuan Blue Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons Icons)
3. Ultimate Powers Superman Figure
4. Transformers Cybertron Supreme Class Cybertron Primus Figure
5. Ben 10 Alien Collection - Stink Fly
6. Star Wars Deluxe Transformer Millenium Falcon
7. Ice Age 2 Go Nutz Scrat
8. Transformers Voyager Classic Megatron Figure
9. Ben 10 Alien Collection - XLR8
10. Transformers Optimus Prime 20th Anniversary Figure
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.
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Fred Hembeck posts another nifty batch of "classic cover redos." I love the JSA entry.
------------------
NBC's "Heroes" will be back for a second season.
-------------------
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.
---------------------
There's a new Beatles Beatleg Podcast up.
---------------------
Speaking of Beatles: Spot the genes in these two.
----------------------
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
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
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