How did I not know about these? Comic book "wall murals"

The only thing about these that's not cool is I'm sure that the estates of Jack Kirby and other artists who created these artworks won't see a dime from them. But having a nearly wall-sized picture of Thor, Spidey, Captain America, the Fantastic Four or -- sweet Christmas! -- Luke Cage is pretty awesome.



Video doc on Beatles buddy Klaus Voorman's new album

Beatles fans who have done their homework know that Klaus is a pal of the Beatles dating back to their pre-fame days playing clubs in Hamburg, Germany. An artist by training, Klaus created the cover for the Beatles' Revolver album and, much later, the covers for the Beatles Anthology collections. Inspired by the Beatles, including the group's original bassist, Stu Sutcliffe, Klaus also became a musician in the early 1960s, landing a spot playing bass in Manfred Mann. When the Beatles broke up, Klaus performed on solo albums by John, George AND Ringo.

Anyway, he recently put out a solo album featuring all sorts of guest stars, including Paul and Ringo. It's just been released in the U.S. Here's a nice short video documentary about the project:

1960s Batgirl and Batman cycles


Adrianne Palicki cast as TV Wonder Woman

"Friday Night Lights" actress Adrianne Palicki has been cast in NBC's "Wonder Woman" pilot from producer David E. Kelley, TV Line reports.

...according to IMDb as well as the way she towered over me at TCA, Palicki is 5-foot-11, making her sufficiently “Amazonian” in presence.
Oh, and there’s this: Not one hour after the Palicki news got out, that 1970s Wonder Woman, Lynda Carter, tweeted her approval: “Congratulations, Adrianne!”

Casting sheet for new Wonder Woman TV show

No stars have been cast, but details about the different roles featured in the upcoming Wonder Woman TV series have surfaced. Here's a look at the show's main characters:

WONDER WOMAN / DIANA THEMYSCIRA / DIANA PRINCE: Female, late 20s to 30s. A kick-ass Superhero / Powerful C.E.O. / A vulnerable woman. Long flowing black hair, blue eyes. Amazon-like, muscular, an Olympian. The charismatic stage presence of a rock star. A crime fighter. Also, a real woman who yearns to live a normal life. She is accessible and appealing to all people, men and women alike…

MYNDI MAYER: Female, open ethnicity, 30s. Publicist, Press Secretary and Wonder Woman’s confidant and nurturing best friend. Worldy and edgy. Sexy and persuasive, her appearance is part of her strength. She is beautiful and put together - dressed expensively in the latest fashions, plus she’s got a bit of bite, clever wit and sass. She’s the prodder of Diana’s social life…

ETTA: Female, open ethnicity, 30s. Diana Themyscira’s always cheerful personal assistant. A bit charactery , but real, pretty and effervescent. She is blindly devoted to Diana. She’s her unrelenting cheerleader, with unwavering, unabated support. On the vulnerable side, she sees the humble and sympathetic sides in everyone, including Diana…

CEO HENRY DEMETER: Male, open ethnicity, 40s. Acting CEO of Themyscira Industries. Grounded, intelligent and deeply devoted to Diana. He runs the day to day operations of the company and acts like an Uncle to Diana although he could be a possible love interest down the line…

STEVE TREVOR: Male, open ethnicity, 30s. A leading man Diana can’t look past. Good looking but a real man. An Army vet, he now works in the Justice dept…

ED INDELICATO: Male, late 30s to early 40s. Stoic and tough, he is a liaison to the police department. Devoted and loyal to Diana, he’s blue collar, a no nonsense kind of guy. A chiseled man who subscribes to the old fashion rules of relationships - men don’t talk much. His job comes first and he wouldn’t make room for the possibility that there is potential romantic relationship with Diana…

Marvel Comics May 2011 solicitations

Some items of interest from Marvel's May offerings:

SPIDEY SUNDAY SPECTACULAR! #1
Written by STAN LEE
Pencils & Cover by MARCOS MARTIN
The legendary Stan “The Man” Lee and artist extraordinaire Marcos Martin bring the real world into Spidey’s world in this collection of their two-page Spidey Sunday strips, straight from the pages of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN! Get ready for a heaping helping of fourth-wall-breaking, web-swinging wonder in the Mighty Marvel Manner!
40 PGS./Rated A ...$3.99

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN BY DAVID MICHELINIE & TODD MCFARLANE OMNIBUS HC
Written by DAVID MICHELINIE
Penciled by TODD MCFARLANE, ALEX SAVIUK, ERIK LARSEN & COLLEEN DORAN
Covers by TODD MCFARLANE
Whether clad in blue and red or black, or possessing spider-powers or cosmic ones, Spider-Man stands ready to face any threat! And the threats have never been greater! From his own foes — Venom, Mysterio, the Scorpion and more — to newcomers to his friendly neighborhood like Sabretooth, the Taskmaster, Magneto and the Sentinels, Spidey sure has his hands full! Good thing he’s got Mary Jane, Captain America, the Black Cat and the Hulk around to lend a hand! Featuring the pulse-pounding prose of longtime IRON MAN scribe David Michelinie and the groundbreaking artistry of the legendary Todd McFarlane! Collecting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #296-329 and material from SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #10.
848 PGS./Rated A
ISBN: 978-0-7851-5729-8


MARVEL MASTERWORKS: ATLAS ERA VENUS VOL. 1 HC
Written by VARIOUS
Penciled by KEN BALD, DON RICO, WERNER ROTH, MIKE SEKOWSKY & VARIOUS
Cover by KEN BALD
The MARVEL MASTERWORKS are proud to present one of the most amazing titles and characters in the Marvel pantheon: Venus! Debuting in 1948, Venus would come to reflect the morphing genres and content of the comic-book industry like almost no other title, and across its run would present some of the most compelling stories of the era. From the beginning, the title featured the goddess of love, Venus, who leaves her immortal throne to seek love as a normal — though stunningly beautiful — mortal on Earth. Publisher Whitney Hammond turns her arrival on Earth into a media event and appoints her editor of his flagging magazine Beauty. Stories on the trials and tribulations of magazine publishing and men smitten by her beauty, however, soon gave way to mythological tales with a fantasy/adventure bent. Increasingly dark in tone, Venus’ adventures began to feature scheming Olympian villains set to control, foil or destroy the Earthbound goddess’ plans. Trips into the underworld ruled by the Atlas Era’s Loki became the norm, and lush artwork by many of the period’s top talents graced extended-length stories. Collected here for the first time, this rare fan-favorite title is a must-have for every Atlas aficionado! Collecting VENUS #1-9, LANA #4 and MARVEL MYSTERY COMICS #91.
296 PGS./All Ages
ISBN: 978-0-7851-5018-3

MARVEL MASTERWORKS: DAREDEVIL VOL. 6 HC
Written by ROY THOMAS
Penciled by GENE COLAN
Cover by GENE COLAN
With Matt Murdock thought dead to the world, Daredevil’s adventures take on a whole new level of action, drama and excitement in the manner only Marvel can present — and it takes off with a test of courage that pits DD against Mr. Fear. Then comes the flaming skeleton horseman, Death’s-Head — a villain with deep, unknown links to those closest to Daredevil. It’s a classic battle that pushes Matt Murdock to reveal his identity to the lovely Karen Page at last — but will it bring them closer together, or force them apart? Also featured are the debut of Stunt-Master; the return of war vet Willie Lincoln; an encounter with the underworld mastermind Crime-Wave; a battle with the triple-threat team-up of Mr. Hyde, Cobra and Jester; the introduction and origin of Nighthawk; and a fight to the finish with the one and only Gladiator! Brought to you by Roy Thomas and the unmatched penciling talent of Gene Colan, they’re MASTERWORKS one and all — so reserve your copy today! Collecting DAREDEVIL #54-63.
224 PGS./All Ages
ISBN: 978-0-7851-5020-6

MARVEL MASTERWORKS: DAREDEVIL VOL. 2 TPB
Written by STAN LEE with DENNIS O’NEIL
Penciled by JOHN ROMITA with JACK KIRBY & GENE COLAN
Cover by JACK KIRBY & DEAN WHITE
The classic adventures of the Man Without Fear reach new heights in his second MARVEL MASTERWORKS collection with the debut of not just one, but two seminal Daredevil artists! Kicking it off, John Romita takes DD into the heart of the Savage Land to do battle with the Plunderer and meet none other than Ka-Zar! If learning Ka-Zar’s origin wasn’t thrilling enough, then surely a Daredevil/Spider-Man team-up ought to enhance your excitement! In a story featuring Romita’s first-ever artwork on Spidey, these two highflying heroes give the Masked Marauder what-for — but only after duking it out themselves, natch. Next comes the debut of Daredevil’s classic nemesis, the Gladiator — and before you know it, enter another amazing artist: Gene Colan. Just in time to close out our volume, the Dean of Delineation lends his pencil to the first of what would become a nearly uninterrupted seven-year tenure on the Man Without Fear. Come experience it all from the very beginning with the MARVEL MASTERWORKS! Collecting DAREDEVIL #12-21.
224 PGS./All Ages
ISBN: 978-0-7851-5050-3

ROCKET RACCOON: GUARDIAN OF THE KEYSTONE QUADRANT PREMIERE HC
Written by BILL MANTLO
Penciled by KEITH GIFFEN, MIKE MIGNOLA & SAL BUSCEMA
Covers by MIKE MIGNOLA
It’s Rocket Raccoon, the deadliest weapons expert in the galaxy! Before he lent his expertise to the war effort during Annihilation, before he saved the universe as one of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Rocket Raccoon was the Guardian of the Keystone Quadrant! Experience his original adventures with the Incredible Hulk, and his anthropomorphic allies and enemies on his home planet of Halfworld! Collecting INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) #271, ROCKET RACCOON #1-4 and material from MARVEL PREVIEW #7.
144 PGS./Rated
ISBN: 978-0-7851-5527-0
Trim size: standard

Inspiration for Superman's Lois Lane dies

Joanne Siegel, wife of late Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel, has died at 93.

Joanne Siegel met her future husband and fellow Superman co-creator Joe Shuster in Cleveland during the 1930s when she was a teen, according to Cleveland's Plain Dealer. Shuster contacted her after she placed an ad in the Plain Dealer offering to model, but she didn't realize that she would become the inspiration for Lois Lane.

There reportedly have been many Cleveland women claiming they were the basis for Lois Lane, but Jerry Siegel insisted it was Joanne, while admitting that some of the other women's traits may have influenced the character as well.