Pop Artifact! Marvel Super-Heroes puzzle



Pop Culture Roundup June 14, 2007

Maybe it should be "Fantastic Bore," says the Associated Press.

Amid all the vapid dialogue and visual fireworks, the performances seem like afterthoughts, particularly those of Gruffudd and Alba, who could use a snap of the fingers by fiery Johnny to light a spark of personality within them.

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Meanwhile...

A projectionist at a Memphis theater chain has lost his job after writing an unauthorized early review of "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" for the Web site Ain't It Cool News.

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Blake Bell has more details about a TV documentary on comics artist Steve Ditko to air on the BBC at an undetermined date. Hopefully we'll be able to see it State-side too.

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"Lost" producer Carlton Cuse says the "Bad Twin" novel spin-off and the Nikki and Paulo characters were missteps.

"We buried them alive," Cuse said of Nikki and Paulo. "OK, you guys don't like Nikki and Paulo, there."

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Posters on the DC Archives Message Board weigh in on the new Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Vol. 1, which came out yesterday. Reviews seems mostly good, though there are some mixed feelings about the lightweight "newsprint-style" DC used. My copy is on order at Amazon and I'm hoping it'll ship soon.

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Remember those "Polaris submarines" you could order from comic books? Assembled, they look like this.

Vintage Marvel Comics house ad



Today's video: Fantastic Four cartoon "Galactus" pt. 2



New and upcoming action figures June 14, 2007


Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer action figures, see below

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

Superman Last Son Action Figures
--Last Son Superman
--Ursa
--Bizarro
--Zod

Shazam Action Figures
--Dr. Sivana
--Captain Marvel Jr.
--Mary Marvel
--Billy Batson and Hoppy
--Captain Marvel

Superman Vs. Doomsday
Doomsday
Lex Luthor and Robot
Solar Suit Superman
Superman

Batman and Son
Batman
Ninja Man-Bat
Robin and Daimin
The Joker

52 Weeks
Animal Man
Batwoman
Booster Gold
Supernova

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

DC 13-inch Figures
Green Lantern
Lex Luthor
Martian Manhunter
Catwoman
Nightwing
Classic Batman
Batgirl gray costume
Batgirl black costume

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

DC Direct Wonder Woman Series 1 Action Figures
--Wonder Woman
--Agent Diana Prince
--Circe
--Donna Troy as Wonder Woman

DC Direct New Frontier Series 2 Action Figures
--Batman
--Dr. Fate
--The Flash
--Martian Manhunter

Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer action figures
Battle Stretch Mr. Fantastic
Fire Blast Human Torch
Raging Thing
Force Field Invisible Woman
Silver Surfer
Lightning Attack Dr. Doom
Blast-off Human Torch
Super Strength Thing

Hanna Barbera Series 3 Action Figures
--Fred Flintstone Quittin' Time
--Twinkle Toes Fred Flintstone
--Great Grape Ape
--Huckleberry Hound
--The Jetsons
--Secret Squirrel
--Snagglepuss

McFarlane Lost series 2 action figures
--Crash site box set
--Sawyer
--Jin
--Sayid
--Desmond
--Sun
--Mr. Eko

McFarlane Lost series 3 action figures
--Sayid
--Desmond
--Claire
--Ben/Henry

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

Marvel Legends Action Figures

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

Hasbro Marvel Legends Figures Series 3
--Bucky Barnes
--First appearance Captain America
--Marvel Girl Rachel Grey
--Heroes for Hire Black Knight
--Hydra Soldier
--X-3 Colossus
--Astonishing X-Men Cyclops
--Danger

Hasbro Marvel Legends Icons 12-inch Action Figures
--The Punisher
--Doctor Doom
--The Human Torch
--The Silver Surfer

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
--Mephisto

Marvel Sideshow Toys Figures
--Venom
--Black costume Spider-Man
--Spider-Man
--White Queen
--White Queen Exclusive

Pop Artifact! Thor patch

Pop Culture Roundup June 13, 2007

TV's Mr. Wizard has passed away.

Don Herbert, who unlocked the wonders of science for youngsters of the 1950s and ’60s as television’s Mr. Wizard, died yesterday at his home in the Bell Canyon section of Los Angeles. He was 89.

...Mr. Herbert held no advanced degree in science, he used household items in his TV lab, and his assistants were boys and girls. But he became an influential showman-science teacher on his half-hour “Watch Mr. Wizard” programs, which ran on NBC from 1951 to 1965.


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A Silver Surfer spin-off from the new Fantastic Four film (opening this weekend) is planned.

Fox has already put a feature spinoff into development that will star the enigmatic Surfer, with J. Michael Straczynski currently crafting the screenplay.

...A longtime writer of television science fiction on "The Twilight Zone" and "Babylon 5," Straczynski has also spent much of the last few years writing for Marvel Comics on properties like "Amazing Spider-Man" and "Thor" (also in development with a Mark Protosevich screenplay and "Layer Cake's" Matthew Vaughn reportedly negotiating to direct). Straczynski recently penned 15 issues of Fantastic Four for Marvel, and the first issue of his "Silver Surfer: Requiem" series just published last month, with three more in the works.


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William Hurt will play the Green Goliath-hunting Gen. "Thunderbolt" Ross in the new "Incredible Hulk" film.

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Learn the secret origin of the Shadow's assistant Burbank.

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Batman and guns: Silver Age Comics investigates.

Vintage Marvel Comics house ad



Today's video: Fantastic Four cartoon "Galactus" pt. 1



New comics June 13, 2007

Click links to order discounted graphic novels from Amazon.

See complete lists:
DC Archives
DC Showcase
DC Trade Paperbacks
Marvel Masterworks
Marvel Essentials
Marvel Trade Paperbacks
Upcoming Trade Paperbacks - Graphic Novels


Comics shipping June 13, 2007

DARK HORSE COMICS

APR070030 BPRD GARDEN OF SOULS #4 (OF 5) $2.99
FEB070076 CONAN & THE MIDNIGHT GOD #4 (OF 5) $2.99
OCT060052 OH MY GODDESS VOL 5 TP RTL $10.95
APR070040 STAR WARS LEGACY #13 $2.99
APR070047 STAR WARS REBELLION #7 $2.99

DC COMICS

FEB070329 ALAN MOORE WILD WORLDS TP $19.99
APR070163 BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #6 $2.99
JUN060159 BATMAN FACE THE FACE TP $14.99
APR070224 BATMAN STRIKES #34 $2.25
APR070228 CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #14 $2.25
APR070181 COUNTDOWN 46 $2.99
MAR070239 EMMA VOL 4 $9.99
APR070248 GEN 13 #9 $2.99
APR070203 GREEN ARROW #75 $3.50
APR070193 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #13 $2.99
APR070246 GRIFTER MIDNIGHTER #4 (OF 6) $2.99
APR070206 HAWKGIRL #65 $2.99
JAN070303 JACK KIRBYS FOURTH WORLD OMNIBUS VOL 1 HC $49.99
APR070204 JLA CLASSIFIED #39 $2.99
APR070201 JUSTICE COVER A #12 (OF 12) $3.99
APR070202 JUSTICE COVER B #12 (OF 12) $3.99
FEB078188 MAD WAR ON BUSH $9.99
MAR070242 MOON CHILD VOL 7 $9.99
SEP058101 PREACHER VOL 8 ALL HELLS A COMING TP $17.99
MAR070243 SEIMADEN VOL 9 $9.99
MAR070221 SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE ATOM VOL 1 TP $16.99
APR070251 STORMWATCH PHD #8 $2.99
APR070174 SUPERMAN BATMAN #36 $2.99
MAR070246 TENJHO TENGE VOL 14 $9.99
MAR070240 TOWER OF THE FUTURE VOL 7 $9.99
FEB070295 TRIALS OF SHAZAM #7 (OF 12) $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

MAR071840 ELEPHANTMEN PILOT $2.99
APR071917 HERO BY NIGHT #4 (OF 4) $2.99
MAR071848 NOBLE CAUSES #30 $3.50
MAR071851 PVP #34 $2.99
APR071859 SAM NOIR VOL 1 RONIN DETECTIVE TP $15.99
JAN071947 TRUE STORY SWEAR TO GOD IMAGE ED #6 $2.99
FEB078067 WALKING DEAD VOL 2 HC LTD SGN ED $59.99

MARVEL COMICS

APR072287 AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #9 $2.99
APR072380 AVENGERS ART ADAMS POSTER $6.99
FEB072434 AVENGERS ASSEMBLE HC $29.99
APR072290 AVENGERS CLASSIC #1 $3.99
APR072310 BLADE #10 $2.99
APR072335 CABLE DEADPOOL #41 $2.99
SEP052008 ESSENTIAL MARVEL TWO IN ONE VOL 1 TP $16.99
APR072340 EXILES #95 $2.99
MAR072057 FALLEN SON DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA SPIDER-MAN $2.99
APR072374 FANTASTIC FOUR VISIONARIES JOHN BYRNE VOL 7 TP $24.99
APR072298 FRANKLIN RICHARDS WORLD BE WARNED #1 $2.99
APR072281 FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN #21 $2.99
APR072349 KABUKI REFLECTIONS #8 $5.99
APR072315 MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #25 $2.99
APR072276 MARVEL ILLUSTRATED TREASURE ISLAND #1 (OF 6) $2.99
APR072385 MARVEL TALES FLIP MAGAZINE #25 $4.99
APR072318 MYSTIC ARCANA MAGIK $2.99
APR072322 NEW AVENGERS #31 CWI $2.99
APR072337 NEW X-MEN #39 $2.99
APR072324 NOVA #3 CWI $2.99
APR072326 PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #8 CWI $2.99
FEB072182 RED PROPHET TALES OF ALVIN MAKER #8 (OF 12) $2.99
APR072332 SUB-MARINER #1 (OF 6) CWI $2.99
APR072375 WHAT IF EVENT HORIZON TP $16.99
APR072302 WORLD WAR HULK #1 (OF 5) WWH $3.99
APR072303 WORLD WAR HULK ROMITA JR VAR #1 (OF 5) $3.99

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT

APR073256 TOYFARE TRANSFORMER MOVIE TOYS CVR #120 $4.99
MAY073103 WORLD WAR HULK #1 FINCH CVR CGC 9.8 ED PI

COMICS

MAR073154 ARCHIE & FRIENDS #110 $2.25
MAR073155 ARCHIE DIGEST #235 $2.49
MAR073161 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #152 $3.69
MAR073085 BLACK DIAMOND #1 (OF 6) $2.95
MAY073772 BLACK GHOST APPLE FACTORY $5.00
MAY062772 BUMPERBOY & LOUD LOUD MOUNTAIN GN $8.95
MAR073054 DAVE SIM COLLECTED LETTERS VOL 2 $22.00
APR074049 INDIA AUTHENTIC KAALI #2 $2.99
MAY073770 INTO THE DUST #1 $2.99
MAY073484 LIFE AND TIMES OF SCROOGE MCDUCK TP 2ND PTG $17.99
MAR073170 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES VOL 3 TP $7.49
APR073894 TALES FROM THE CRYPT #1 $3.95
MAR073088 THUNDERHEAD UNDERGROUND FALLS GN (RES) $14.95
APR073769 TRANSFORMERS MOVIE ADAPTATION #2 (OF 4) $3.99
MAY073475 VOGELEIN OLD GHOSTS GN $12.95
FEB073104 WONDERLAND #4 $3.50

RELATED MERCHANDISE

STAR17719 BEACHBUM BERRYS INTOXICA $10.95

Pop Artifact! Spider-Man night light

Pop Culture Roundup June 12, 2007

Booksteve checks out Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's 1978 Silver Surfer graphic novel.

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Hear a behind-the-scenes "Doctor Who" documentary on the BBC.

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Details on the revamped, "Finding Nemo"-themed submarine ride at Disneyland.

When the "Submarine Voyage" ride reopens Monday at Disneyland, it will have a new story line, shiny new coral reefs and something not envisioned when it debuted in 1959—an alternate experience for disabled visitors.

I'm more a "Captain" than "finding" Nemo guy, but making the attraction more accessible is a good move.

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Tomorrow's comics today: See the big list of what's in shops tomorrow.

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Johnny Cash Radio, a weekly streaming audio program featuring music and interviews, begins tomorrow on the late singer's official site.

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It worked for Buffy: Rob Thomas, creator of "Veronica Mars" says he's in talks with DC Comics about a possible series based on the TV show.

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Booksteve examines the origins of Marvel Comics' Inhumans.

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There's a mystery afoot on Dial B for Burbank.

Vintage Marvel Comics house ad



DVD new releases June 12, 2007

Deadwood - The Complete Third Season

Ghost Rider - Extended Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Ghost Rider (Widescreen Edition)

The Hardy Boys Nancy Drew Mysteries: Season Two

The Original Nancy Drew Movie Mystery Collection (Detective / Reporter / Troubleshooter / Hidden Staircase)

Welcome Back, Kotter - The Complete First Season

Diagnosis Murder - The Second Season

Hellboy: Blood and Iron (Animated)

Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built

John Wayne: Screen Legend Collection (Reap the Wild Wind / Rooster Cogburn / The Hellfighters / The War Wagon / The Spoilers)

James Stewart: Screen Legend Collection (Shenandoah / The Glenn Miller Story / Thunder Bay / You Gotta Stay Happy / Next Time, We Love)

What's Happening Now!! - The Complete First Season

The Jeeves Collection (Thank You, Jeeves! / Step Lively, Jeeves!)

The Cecil B. Demille Classics Collection

More upcoming DVDs

CD new releases June 12, 2007

Traveling Wilburys Deluxe Edition by The Traveling Wilburys

Traveling Wilburys by The Traveling Wilburys

Vol. 2-Singles 1960-63 by James Brown

The Salvation Blues by Mark Olson

More upcoming CD releases

Today's video: Fantastic Four cartoon "Menace of the Moleman" pt. 2



Pop Artifact! Marvel Comics toilet paper



Pop Culture Roundup June 11, 2007

Looks like Supergirl is paying a visit to "Smallville" next season.

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Innocent Bystander reviews the Jack Kirby documentary that's packaged with the exended DVD version of the first Fantastic Four movie.

It's a PBS/Ken Burns quality film, a paean to a man who was, as someone puts it in the documentary, the top artist in comic books for three decades (I'd extend that to four, actually: 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s).

Vintage Marvel Comics house ad



Today's video: Fantastic Four cartoon "Menace of the Moleman" pt. 1