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Flaming Lips issue new songs on USB drive buried inside a gummi skull

The Flaming Lips has released four new songs on a USB drive buried inside a life-size gummi skull.

Via Pitchfork:

As announced on his Twitter, Coyne himself hand-delivered the gummi skulls to Oklahoma record store Guestroom Records yesterday (at 4:20 p.m., on April 20, wink wink). The USB drive contained four new songs, two of which, "Drug Chart" and "In Our Bodies, In Our Heads", are available to listen to over at Playful Prairie. (The other two are called "Walk With Me" and "Hillary's Time Machine Machine", apparently.) Coyne and the Lips Tweeted some images and video of what these wacky things look like, too (including some visceral shots of a skull getting bitten into).

Video find: 1968 J.R.R. Tolkien documentary

Via Dangerous Minds:

Doctor Who stars Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill on BBC Breakfast

New Green Lantern movie stills

Upcoming Marvel Comics collections: 50th anniversary book and more

Some items of interest spotted on Amazon:

Marvel 50th Anniversary: The 1960s
With the debut of 1961's Fantastic Four #1, Marvel Comics reinvented the super-hero genre - and the hits just kept on coming! Compiled in one titanic tome: the famous first issues of dozens of your favorite super heroes and super-hero teams - including the Hulk, Dr. Strange, Nick Fury, Iron Man, Thor, Spider-Man, Daredevil, the XMen, the Avengers and the Defenders! And witness the unlikely solo breakouts of the Human Torch, Red Wolf, Dr. Doom, the Silver Surfer, the Black Widow and more!
Trade paperback. 488 pages.

Marvel Masterworks: The Incredible Hulk - Volume 6

Stoker's Dracula by Roy Thomas and Dick Giordano

Art of Marvel Movies
FROM COMIC-BOOK LEGENDS TO SILVER-SCREEN SUPER HEROES! Marvel presents an insider's look into the making of its cinematic universe - assembling three Avengers in one stylish slipcase. Featuring exclusive production artwork, behind-the-scenes photography, and in-depth cast-and-crew interviews, this four-book collection is a must have for any fan of Mighty Marvel movies! Includes IRON MAN: THE ART OF IRON MAN THE MOVIE HC, IRON MAN: THE ART OF IRON MAN 2 HC, THOR: THE ART OF THOR THE MOVIE HC and CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE ART OF CAPTAIN AMERICA - THE FIRST AVENGER HC.
Hardcover. 200 pages.

Essential Defenders - Volume 6

Eliza Dushku, Brian Cranston join voice cast for Batman: Year One animated film

Brian Cranston ("Breaking Bad") will voice James Gordon and Eliza Dushku will intone the voice of Catwoman in an animated version of "Batman: Year One," due out on DVD this fall. Ben McKenzie will voice Batman/Bruce Wayne while Katee Sackoff will voice Detective Sarah Essen.

The feature adapts the landmark four-issue story written by Frank Miller and drawn by David Mazzucchelli that first appeared in 1987 on the heels of Miller's seminal work, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.

Pop Culture How To: Make a giant Tintin statue

Take a look at one talented, dedicated Tintin fan made for his rec room.

Marvel movie universe may include S.H.I.E.L.D., Black Widow and Dr. Strange films

The Marvel Studios/Disney nexus has big plans for the big screen following the upcoming Avengers film, says Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige:

"Once all these characters come together, it's the culmination of all that has come before. It launches a new era and a new time in the history of our films," he continued. "Not only will it be the first film that our new home studio, Disney, will be distributing, but it will also renew each of these characters and launch them into their own franchises, starting with the second film to be released by Disney, ‘Iron Man 3’”

“’Thor’ will go off into a new adventure, and ‘Captain America’ will continue to explore the modern world in another film of his own," he confirmed. "We hope that holds true for the characters appearing in that film — Black Widow, Hawkeye, and the spy organization, S.H.I.E.L.D. — all of whom are more than worthy and capable of carrying their own films. And, we've got a lot of other characters we're prepping and getting ready for film debuts: the world of martial arts, these great cosmic space fantasies, Dr Strange, and the magic side of the Marvel Universe. There are many, many stories to be mined."

New X-Men: First Class international trailer

Doctor Who star Matt Smith pays tribute to Elisabeth Sladen

Current Doctor Who Matt Smith has released a statement on Elisabeth Sladen, the actress who portrayed the show's character Sarah Jane Smith, who appeared both in the 1970s and current incarnation of the series, along with her own spin-off, "The Sarah Jane Adventures."

"What struck me about Lis was her grace. She welcomed me, educated me, and delighted me with her tales and adventures on Doctor Who. And she also seemed to have a quality of youth that not many people retain as they go through life. Her grace and kindness will stay with me because she had such qualities in abundance and shared them freely."

"I will miss her, as will the world of Doctor Who and all the Doctors that had the good pleasure to work with Lis Sladen and travel the universe with Sarah-Jane."

Comics shipping April 20, 2011

Things I'll buy:

DARK HORSE PRESENTS #1 I was a fan of the first incarnation of this anthology title and like the idea of anthologies in general.

AVENGERS #12

MICKEY MOUSE #307 Rumor has it that Boom! Comics' license on these reprint titles is coming to an end. Hopefully Marvel, which is publishing some Disney titles formerly published by Boom! (Muppets, Cars, etc.) will pick them up. If not, we do have Fantagraphics upcoming lines of Carl Barks' Donald Duck/Uncle Scrooge and Floyd Gottfredson's Mickey Mouse to look forward to.

Other items of note: