Pop Artifact! Might Mouse doll

Pop Culture Roundup Oct. 4, 2007

VHI Classic plans a day of John Lennon-themed programming on the ex-Beatle's birthday Oct. 9.

On Tuesday, October 9 VH1 Classic will pay tribute to the life of music legend John Lennon with a "Day of Peace" programming. The day, which marks the anniversary of John's birthday, coincides with Yoko Ono's unveiling of the "Imagine Peace Tower" in Reykjavik, Iceland, a tower of light that will shine over the words "imagine peace" in 24 languages.

Throughout the day...VH1 Classic will air exclusive messages by Yoko Ono talking about the power of peace. In addition, VH1 Classic will premiere exclusive programming featuring John Lennon and Yoko Ono including:

Imagine: John Lennon at 2 PM and 6 PM
is a very personal and emotional scrapbook that takes viewers into the
mind and soul of the artist. Largely comprised from hundreds of hours
of Lennon interviews and personal home movies, this feature is
narrated in John's own words, giving viewers an intimate view of his
life and experiences before, during, and after The Beatles. It is a
candid and close look at Lennon the musician, the husband, the father
and most significantly of all, the man.

The U.S. vs. John Lennon, at 4 PM, tells the story of John Lennon's transformation from beloved musical artist to anti-war activist, to iconic inspiration for peace, and recounts the story of the U.S. Government's efforts to deport him. This feature-length documentary, by filmmakers David Leaf and John Scheinfeld, has the
support and cooperation of Yoko Ono. The film covers the period of 1966-1976 and includes rare and unique audio/visual archival material.

John and Yoko's Year of Peace, premiering at 8:00 PM focuses on the year 1969. While headlines blare war and civil unrest John Lennon and
Yoko Ono are in love and have just gotten married. And they want to change the world. Lying in a hotel bed surrounded by journalists, they announce their mission for peace and invite the rest of the world to symbolically climb into bed with them and share their dream. This special features rare footage from that time, including John and Yoko's wedding, the infamous bedside confrontation between John and conservative cartoonist Al Capp, Lennon debating media expert Marshall McLuhan and meeting Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Now twenty-seven years after Lennon's murder, Yoko and others involved in the peace mission reflect on the events of that year.


Best Beatles Sites.

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

There's a lot of buzz among 'toon fans concerning the CW's decision to scrap it's Kids WB! programming block next season (this is the one that includes DC Comics-based series like "The Batman" and "The Legion of Superheroes."

However, there'll still be 'toons on the network next year--in a block overseen by Fox instead of Warner Bros.

And this change doesn't necessarily spell the end of "The Batman" and "Legion."

Newsarama has a good overview of the situation:

According to the source, fans of The Batman, Legion of Super Heroes, the upcoming Spectacular Spider-Man and other comic book and animated stables should not be too concerned.

Simply put, the end of Kids WB! does not mean the end of Warner Bros. Animation, the source explained, pointing out that they are two completely separate entities. For many shows, Kids WB! was the outlet Warner Bros. Animation series used, but those series aren’t going to be cancelled at the end of the 2007-2008 season. “We are exploring a number of other avenues to direct this programming, from other networks to direct-to-DVD options,” the source said. “There are a wide field of possibilities to be explored.”

For example, Toon Disney’s Jetix block of programming is now showing Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series, and will soon begin airing Pinky and the Brain. Clearly, when Disney is airing Warner Bros. animated series, the distribution picture as well as visions of old studio rivalries needs to be re-thought.

An additional possible distribution outlet – T-Works, the upcoming online animation-centric Warner Bros. site.

Vintage DC Comics house ad



New and upcoming action figures Oct. 4, 2007

Complete List of Marvel Legends Action Figures
Complete List of DC Direct Action Figures



DC Direct New Gods Action Figures, see below

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

DC Direct Action Figures

DC Direct New Gods Figures
--Darkseid
--Lightray
--Mister Miracle
--Orion

DC Direct Matt Wagner Trinity Action Figures
--Superman
--Wonder Woman
--Batman
--Ras Al Ghul

DC Armory Action Figures
--Aquaman
--Batman
--Flamebird
--Nightwing

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

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

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

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 3 action figures
--Sayid
--Desmond
--Claire
--Ben/Henry

Marvel Legends Action Figures

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 Series 4
--Nova
--Astonishing X-Men Beast
--Black Bolt
--Tigra
--First-appearance Daredevil
--Punisher

Hasbro Marvel Legends Icons 12-inch Action Figures
Series 4
--Cyclops
--Magneto

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! Mickey Mouse lawnmower toy

Pop Culture Roundup Oct. 3, 2007

A rare, pre-Beatles photo of John Lennon has turned up and is featured on a BBC TV program airing today:

Beatles fans get a rare treat tonight with the revealing of a long-lost photograph of a young John Lennon on the Inside Out programme at 7.30pm on BBC One North West.

The extraordinary photograph of 17-year-old John Lennon was found during a year long search by the Inside Out North West team and remaining members of The Quarrymen, the group that went on to become The Beatles.

Nigel Walley, who is pictured with John in the photograph, is The Quarrymen's former manager.

Nigel now lives in Clacton and was brought up to Liverpool by the Inside Out North West programme to be re-united with the photograph he had not seen since 1958.

"It's fantastic, really great. I can't believe how good it is, it's much better than I expected," said Nigel, who was amazed by the quality of the photograph which has been kept locked away in a cupboard for many years by a Beatles collector, who wants to remain anonymous.

Nigel could not recall the photograph being taken, at first, but then realised it had been taken by a street photographer in Lime Street, in Liverpool.

"I remember it now. I think the photographer came up to us because we were wearing those camel coats, just look at the lapels, amazing aren't they?"

When Nigel examined the photograph he said: "I recognise my writing on the back of it. I've put May 5th 1958 Lime Street. I haven't a clue what we were doing then, just a couple of lads out in town larking about probably. But we look happy then.

"It is a long time ago now but I seem to remember giving this photograph and some other Beatles photos to my brother and he took them to school where someone stole them from his desk. Goodness knows where this one got to since then."

Nigel added: "It's very emotional for me seeing this photo again after all these years. John was a very good friend of mine.

"We kept in touch with each other after The Beatles became so famous. I would pop around to his house and we would talk about the old days.

"I was only speaking to him a few days before he died. It was a great shock to hear he had been shot. We were making plans to see each other again.

"One thing I know, John would have loved seeing this photograph. It's something I'll always treasure now. I can't thank Inside Out enough."

Rod Davis, who played guitar and banjo for The Quarrymen, says: "It's an incredible discovery because this photo has not been seen for nearly the last 50 years. It's been locked away and forgotten about.

"It's a terrific find for us because we've been looking to find photos or film so we can celebrate the 50th anniversary year of John Lennon meeting Paul McCartney.

"What's so great about this photo is that John was just a face in the crowd then but even then it's the Lennon I knew. You can see in his face, I think, he knew he was something special even then."

John Lennon founded The Quarrymen skiffle group in 1956 and named them after his school Quarrybank.

He met Paul McCartney on 6 July 1957 at the Woolton Rose Queen Festival where The Quarrymen were playing.

Peter Trollope, Producer of Inside Out North West, said: "It's a remarkable photograph and is a wonderful addition to the Lennon archive. We were thrilled to find it after all these years."




Best Beatles Sites.

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

An expanded version of Paul McCartney's most recent album is out Nov. 6.

Three previously unreleased tracks and a live DVD will be included on a deluxe edition of Paul McCartney's "Memory Almost Full,"...

The CD portion of the album will feature the songs "In Private," "Why So Blue" and "222," while the DVD rounds up five tracks from McCartney's intimate June concert at London's Electric Ballroom. The DVD also boasts videos for the "Memory Almost Full" singles "Dance Tonight" and "Ever Present Past."


You can pre-order it now.

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

Consumer alert: At least some copies of the new "Showcase Presents the Metal Men Vol. 1" book from DC Comics are messed up. You might wanna flip through the book if you're picking it up at a comics shop.

Last Wednesday I bought a copy of SHOWCASE PRESENTS METAL MEN 1 which had the following pages: 1-288, 337-384, 337-527. Pages 289-336 were totally missing. I didn't discover this until I got home, so I called THE LAUGHING OGRE comic book store to see if I could get a replacement, but when they checked the other copies in the store, they ALL had this same problem.

We'll report any further developments.

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

Bedazzled just sent me an e-mail letting us know some clips of Split Enz performing on the 1970s "Fridays" comedy show are up at his site.

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

Little, Brown has canceled plans to publish the controversial "Tintin in the Congo" title in the United States.

...criticized for its racist, Colonial-era depictions of Africans, [Little, Brown]
has quietly pulled the title from its fall list...The publisher also said it will not include the book in a forthcoming box set of all 24 books in the Tintin series.

...Publicist Melanie Chang did not give a reason for the standalone book's cancellation, but of its omission from the box set she said, "Given the controversy surrounding the Congo title, we felt including it in the box set would eclipse the true intention of the collection, which is to showcase Hergé’s extraordinary art and his remarkable contribution to the graphic arts."


I hate censorship but see Little, Brown's point on this. Hergé himself had misgivings about the title, which was an unfortunate product of a far less-enlightened time. And the news of the boxset is exciting. There's some beautiful art and wonderful stories in those volumes and with it, and the upcoming Tintin animated movies, it's nice to think more young readers will have access to them.

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

Booksteve spots Stan Lee in a 1940s Terry and the Pirates comic book!

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

Disney is planning a "mature" video game (now there's an oxymoron) based on the old "Turok" comic book series.

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

Classic Doctor Who villains the Sontarans are due for a reappearance on the revived series, the BBC reveals:

Christopher Ryan, best known for playing super-cool Mike in the classic comedy series The Young Ones, is set for a guest-starring role in an upcoming Series Four adventure.

Ryan will play a Sontaran leader in the story, due to begin filming in the next few weeks.

"I'm absolutely delighted to be appearing in this new Doctor Who," Chris revealed. "The last time I appeared in Doctor Who was in 1986, Colin Baker was the Doctor and I was still a Young One."

The story in question was the Trial Of A Time Lord, where Chris starred as the slug-like Mentor Kiv alongside Trevor Laird, who played Martha's dad in 2007.

If you know your Who lore, the Sontarans will need no introduction. If you're a newer viewer, however, you may not know that the Sontarans are amongst the greatest villains from the classic series of Doctor Who.

A military, warlike species, able to clone vast armies of themselves, the Sontarans are locked into an eternal struggle with their enemies the Rutans.


Best Doctor Who Sites.

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

It's rumored that actress Billie Piper may be returning to "Doctor Who," too.

Confident BBC executives believe she will soon put pen to paper for a stunning comeback in next year's series finale.

Show creator Russell T Davies and leading man David Tennant—both close pals—are persuading the pretty 25-year-old to commit to a three-part appearance next summer.

DVD: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Complete Collection

This 41(!)-disk set is being sold exclusively through Time-Life. It'll be available in Fall 2008 and is available for pre-order now:

TimeLife.com

The set includes all 105 episodes from the show's four seasons, plus 10 hours of bonus material including:

- Featurette—The Cloak & Swagger Affair: The Untold History of The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
- "Solo"—The Original Color U.N.C.L.E. Pilot
- Bonus Feature: U.N.C.L.E. V.I.P.S.—A Celebration of U.N.C.L.E. Guest Stars!
- Featurette—The Spy-Fi Tour: Archives, Art and Artifacts
- U.N.C.L.E. Feature Film—One Spy Too Many
- Bonus Feature: U.N.C.L.E. V.I.P.S.—A Celebration of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Guest Stars
- Interview—Double Agents: The Robert Vaughn and David McCallum Reunion
- The Secret Tapes of Illya Kuryakin: Home Movies from the Set of The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
- Bonus Feature: U.N.C.L.E. V.I.P.S.—A Celebration of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Guest Stars
- Featurette—MGM’s Secret Operations
- Bonus Feature: U.N.C.L.E. V.I.P.S.—A Celebration of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Guest Stars

DVD: The Who "Amazing Journey and Six Quick Ones"

Here's info on this double DVD set, available for pre-order now from Amazon.

Amazing Journey: The Story Of The Who and Amazing Journey: Six Quick Ones, two exhilarating feature-length films about one of the seminal and most influential rock bands in history, produced by Spitfire Pictures in association with Trinifold Management, will be released by Universal Studios Home Entertainment on DVD on November 6, 2007.

Spanning over four decades, Amazing Journey: The Story Of The Who reintroduces The Who now and to generations-to-come, as it tells one of the greatest stories of rock. The film tells the unfolding story of The Who and how they have straddled the rock world for forty years, in a tale as gripping in adventure, life and personality as the searing power of their music. The film features all-new, exclusive, never-before-seen interviews with Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and others, rare and recently discovered concert footage, artist profiles and much, much more, all in 5.1 Surround Sound.

“Amazing Journey transcends all generational barriers and offers a profoundly personal account of rock history,” commented Craig Kornblau, President of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures Digital Platforms. “As an authorized piece, the film is the definitive anthology of one of the most important bands of our time. We are very pleased to be able to make this film available to those who already love the band, and perhaps more importantly, to showcase its legacy to those who may have not had the good fortune to have seen them perform live.”

The companion feature film, Amazing Journey: Six Quick Ones, takes the viewer inside the mysteries that drive a rock band to the pinnacle of musical achievement.

Deliberately conceived as two complimentary pieces of work, one film for a wide audience and one for the die-hard rock fan, the two films present a complex and complete picture of the legendary musicians as they have never been seen before. Music greats including Sting, U2’s The Edge, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and Oasis’ Noel Gallagher, offer insightful commentaries on The Who’s indelible influence. Alongside a companion booklet and additional DVD bonus content, this set comprises one of music’s most collectible and comprehensive compilations ever assembled about one of rock’s greatest bands.

Beginning with their first hit single “I Can’t Explain,” The Who emerged from Mod-Era London to electrify the world with their unique sound. The music and live performances of Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle and Keith Moon tore through the existing boundaries of rock. The band has recorded 11 remarkable albums, including the world’s first rock opera Tommy, and the ensuing masterwork Quadrophenia. The British legends produced some of the most compelling and original music of the era, including the songs, “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “Happy Jack,” “Pictures of Lily” and the immortal “My Generation.”

ACCOMPANYING FEATURE FILM

The band’s monumental legacy is celebrated not only by flagship title Amazing Journey: The Story Of The Who but also by a second feature film, Amazing Journey: Six Quick Ones. The films will be released side-by-side on two discs in 5.1 Surround Sound. The two features represent approximately four hours of must-see materials, much of which have never been seen before.

Amazing Journey: Six Quick Ones takes us through, in four individual pieces, the virtuoso musical abilities of each band member: Roger Daltrey; Pete Townshend; John Entwistle; and Keith Moon.

Then, in “Who Art You,” the fifth constituent part of this feature, the viewer is taken into The Who’s trademark bullseye, and the Mod and Pop Art movements, as The Who’s 1960s journey to become a band as visual as they were musical is explored;

Finally, in a coup de grace, during 2003, The Who allowed legendary filmmakers, the Pennebakers, into the studio to film them record the hit song “Real Good Looking Boy.” Recorded for the album Then and Now, this work was the band’s first new studio recording in over 20 years. “Who’s Back” – the sixth “Quick One” – is the intimate portrait that emerged of these artists at work.

IN ADDITION, THE DVD SET CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ADDED BONUSES:

* The Scrapbook: Five Additional Insider Insights into the World of The Who: Dinner with Moon
* A Legal Matter
* Won’t Get Fooled Again
* Cincinnati: The Whole Story
* Royal Albert Hall 2000
* The High Numbers at the Railway Hotel: The earliest footage of the band known to be in existence, seen in its entirety here for the first time.

New comics Oct. 3, 2007

See complete lists:
DC Archives
DC Showcase
DC Trade Paperbacks
Marvel Masterworks
Marvel Essentials
Marvel Trade Paperbacks


Click links to order discounted graphic novels from Amazon.


Comics shipping Oct. 6, 2007

DARK HORSE COMICS

AUG070014 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #7 $2.99
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MAY070027 SOCK MONKEY INCHES INCIDENT TP $12.95

DC COMICS

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IMAGE COMICS

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MARVEL COMICS

AUG072302 ANNIHILATION BOOK 1 TP $24.99
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COMICS

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MAGAZINES

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RELATED MERCHANDISE

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Vintage DC Comics house ad



Pop Artifacts! Peanuts buttons

Pop Culture Roundup Oct. 2, 2007

Deal alert: Amazon is offering 50 percent off of its Essential 100 Films on DVD.

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Fans of radio drama may want to check out the Quicksilver Radio Theater's production of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein: Modern Prometheus," which streams online here in two parts Oct. 11 and Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. ET. You'll be able to download podcasts here after Oct. 18.

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British screenwriter Steven Moffat, who's penned four episodes of "Doctor Who," is writing the screenplay for the upcoming Steven Spielberg/Peter Jackson Tintin films.

Kathleen Kennedy is serving as producer on the three feature films, which will be made using performance-capture technology and produced in digital 3-D. Jackson and Spielberg are each directing an installment, with the helmer of the third movie to be determined.

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

Director Robert Rodriquez has reportedly cast actress (and his girlfriend) Rose McGowan as Barbarella, in his upcoming adaptation of the French comic/Jane Fonda film.

DVD new release Oct. 2, 2007

DVD new releases Oct. 2, 2007

The Jungle Book (Two-Disc 40th Anniversary Platinum Edition)

Entourage - Season 3, Part 2

Criminal Minds - The Second Season

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries: Set 5

How I Met Your Mother - Season Two

Jericho - The First Season

Caligula (Three-Disc Imperial Edition)

The War - A Film By Ken Burns and Lynn Novick

Shark - Season One

Paul Lynde Halloween Special

Bram Stoker's Dracula (Collector's Edition)

The Sarah Silverman Program - Season One

Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story

Stax/Volt Revue Live In Norway 1967

Caligula (The Unrated Edition)

Species IV - The Awakening (Unrated)

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Complete Series

Misery (Collector's Edition)

Funny Face (50th Anniversary Edition)

A Flintstone's Christmas Carol

The Unseen Beatles

Felix the Cat: The Complete 1958-1959 Series

Ramones: It's Alive 1974-1996

David Byrne: Live From Austin Texas

Welcome to Grindhouse: The Beach Girls/Coach

Welcome to Grindhouse: The Hellcats/Chain Gang Women

Christmas Television Favorites

Audrey Hepburn 5-Pack (Funny Face - SCE, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday, Sabrina - 1954, Paris When it Sizzles)

Grindhouse Double Feature-Don't Open the Door/Don't Look in the Basement

More upcoming DVDs

CD new releases Oct. 2, 2007

CD new releases Oct. 2, 2007

Revival ~ John Fogerty

Magic by Bruce Springsteen

Very Best of Mick Jagger by Mick Jagger

Mantaray by Siouxsie

Lady's Bridge by Richard Hawley

Dylan by Bob Dylan

That's Swift: From the Norman Petty Vault by Various Artists

Collector's Box 4: 1981-1982 by King Crimson

Broadsides: Songs and Ballads by Pete Seeger

Che Guevara Speaks by Che Guevara

More upcoming CDs

DC Showcase action figures unveiled

Here are the first four entries in DC Direct's new line of "Showcase Presents" action figures, which are modeled after classic comic artist's renditions of the characters. They'll be out sometime next year.

Note that no artist is specified for Jonah Hex. Also, the Carmine Infantino Batgirl doesn't seem to look much different from the Silver Age Batgirl figure that DC Direct released a few years back. The Curt Swan Superman looks pretty good, though, as well as the Kubert Hawkman. I look forward to seeing more of these.

Carmine Infantino Batgirl


Curt Swan Superman



Joe Kubert Hawkman (will come with a winged helmet head, as well)


Jonah Hex

Upcoming comics and pop culture books

Here's some upcoming titles of interest to This is Pop Culture! fans. Click the links to pre-order any of them from Amazon.


The Complete Terry And The Pirates Volume 2: 1937-1938
Pat Ryan goes on trial for his life, Terry Lee needs all his resourcefulness to escape the twin menaces of Klang the Warlord and the master schemer, Hunter Yurk, while for the first and only time, Burma and the Dragon Lady share an adventure. IDW Publishing proudly presents The Library of American Comics reprinting of the greatest adventure strip of all time, Terry and the Pirates. This volume features more than 725 comic strips, including full-color Sundays that highlight the breathtaking work of Milton Caniff, The Rembrandt of the Comics. The second in a six-volume series edited by Dean Mullaney.


The Complete Terry And The Pirates Volume 3: 1939-1940
April Kane has come to China and Terry Lee's life will never be the same! Milton Caniff's newspaper classic shifts into high gear with stories featuring the villainous Sanjak, the outrageous Singh-Singh, and the mysterious Hu Shee. This volume features the first appearance of pivotal character Raven Sherman. Containing over 100 lovingly-restored color Sunday pages and more than 700 total comic strips.


Students for a Democratic Society: A Graphic History
By Harvey Pekar, Gary Dumm and Paul Buhle
In 1962 at a United Auto Workers’ camp in Michigan, Students for a Democratic Society held its historic convention and prepared the famous Port Huron Statement, drafted by Tom Hayden. This statement, criticizing the U.S. government’s failure to pursue international peace or address domestic inequality, became the organization’s manifesto. Its last convention was held in 1969 in Chicago, where, collapsing under the weight of its notoriety and popularity, it shattered into myriad factions. Through brilliant art and they were-there dialogue, famed graphic novelist Harvey Pekar, gifted artist Gary Dumm, and renowned historian Paul Buhle illustrate the tumultuous decade that first defined and then was defined by the men and women who gathered under the SDS banner. Students for a Democratic Society: A Graphic History captures the idealism and activism that drove a generation of young Americans to believe that even one person’s actions can help transform the world.


Dark Horse Presents: The Savage Sword of Conan
In the mid 1970s following the colossal success of Conan the Barbarian, Roy Thomas helped expand the universe of Conan to showcase further stories and the talents of some of the comics industry's best with the equally popular Savage Sword of Conan magazine. Now, for the first time in over thirty years, these primal tales, featuring Robert E. Howard's most popular character, are available in this, the first in a series of massive trade paperbacks, collecting all Savage Sword Conan stories beginning with issue one. Included in this volume are tales by Roy Thomas, featuring the breathtaking art of such legends as Barry Windsor-Smith, John Buscema, Alfredo Alcala, Jim Starlin, Al Milgrom, Pablo Marcos, Walter Simonson and more. But that's not all. Also included in this tome are Conan's few appearances in the title Savage Tales - for the complete Conan collection! 542 pages.


Kirby Five-Oh!: Celebrating 50 Years Of The "King" Of Comics
The publication that started the TwoMorrows juggernaut presents Kirby Five-Oh!, a special look at the best of everything from Jack Kirby's 50-year career in comics! The regular columnists from The Jack Kirby Collector magazine have formed a distinguished panel of experts to choose and examine: The best Kirby story published each year from 1938-1987! The best covers from each decade! Jack's 50 best unused pieces of art! His 50 best character designs! And profiles of, and commentary by, the 50 people most influenced by Kirby's work! Plus there's a 50-page gallery of Kirby's powerful raw pencil art, and a deluxe color section of photos and finished art from throughout his entire half-century oeuvre.


Superman vs. Hollywood: How Fiendish Producers, Devious Directors, and Warring Writers Grounded an American Icon
by Jake Rossen
Tinseltown's fascination with the comic icon is detailed in this book, encompassing all the behind-the-scenes machinations that helped shape Superman into a screen legend—and all the derailed projects that have vilified everyone involved. These newly uncovered stories about the odyssey of bringing the Man of Steel to the big screen include the challenge of making Superman appear to fly, and the many casting processes, which at various points had Superman being played by the likes of Bruce Jenner, Robert Redford, Sylvester Stallone, Neil Diamond, Nicolas Cage, Justin Timberlake, Keanu Reeves, and even Muhammad Ali. Based on extensive interviews with producers, screenwriters, cast members, and crew, this exposé spills the beans on all the various TV shows, from the classic The Adventures of Superman to the current hit Smallville; the various animated efforts on both the large and small screens; and the movies—from 1979's smash hit Superman: The Movie to 2006’s wildly expensive Superman Returns. Also included are the stories about the Superman movies that never made it to the screen, helmed by maverick directors Kevin Smith and Tim Burton, and featuring expenditures on scripts and sets that are even more eye-popping than the films’ special effects.


Radio Sound Effects: Who Did It and How, in the Era of Live Broadcasting
by Robert L. Mott
"a delightful mixture of amusing anecdotes with serious documentation of a little-known, but vital, aspect of early radio history...a highly readable history of the entire medium of radio"


CREEM: America's Only Rock 'N' Roll Magazine
With raw photographs of rock's greatest stars and insightful prose by the legendary rock journalists who were stars in their own right, CREEM magazine stood at the forefront of youth counterculture from 1969 to 1988 as "America's Only Rock 'n' Roll Magazine." A product of Detroit's revolutionary counterculture, CREEM cultivated an incredibly gifted staff of iconoclastic scribes, editors, photographers, and graphic artists whose work continues to resonate today, including: Lester Bangs, Dave Marsh, Richard Meltzer, Nick Tosches, and a not-so-famous Cameron Crowe. They invented a raucous new form of journalism, where the writing and photographs were as much an expression of rock 'n' roll as the music itself. CREEM embraced and abused the best and the worst of the era: MC5, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, the Faces, Lou Reed, the Stooges, T.Rex, Kiss, Mott the Hoople, the Who, the New York Dolls, Bob Seger, Ted Nugent, Aerosmith, the Ramones, Cheap Trick, the Clash, and Van Halen, among many others.

Now the Mouth of the Motor City presents a retrospective of the beautiful haze that was rock's golden age—from the end of the hippie days through glam and punk and into '80s metal. Featuring the best of the magazine's vast archives of photos, illustrations, and articles, CREEM is the authentic rock 'n' roll experience—written for fanatics by fanatics.

Vintage DC Comics house ad



Pop Artifact! Popeye bendy figures

Pop Culture Roundup Oct. 1, 2007

Want the new Radiohead album? What's it worth to you?

In Rainbows will be released as a digital download available only via the band's web site, Radiohead.com. There's no label or distribution partner to cut into the band's profits — but then there may not be any profits. Drop In Rainbows' 15 songs into the on-line checkout basket and a question mark pops up where the price would normally be. Click it, and the prompt "It's Up To You" appears. Click again and it refreshes with the words "It's Really Up To You" — and really, it is. It's the first major album whose price is determined by what individual consumers want to pay for it. And it's perfectly acceptable to pay nothing at all.

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Lois Maxwell, the original Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond films, has died at age 80.

In the late 1940s, she moved to Hollywood and won a Golden Globe for her part in a Shirley Temple comedy, “That Hagen Girl.” After returning to Britain in the mid-1950s, she acted opposite Sean Connery in the first James Bond movie, “Dr. No,” in 1962 as the secretary to M, the head of the secret service. She was 58 when she appeared in her final Bond film, “A View to a Kill” (1985).

Best James Bond Sites.

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Cool! Dalek cufflinks! (Via Boingboing)

Best Doctor Who Sites.

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Check out some awesome screen shots from the 1966 Batman film.



Best Batman Sites.

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Must...resist...reading..."Lost" spoilers!

Best Lost Sites.

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See photos from tonight's episode of "Heroes."

Best Heroes Sites.

Vintage DC Comics house ad