Video find: Paul McCartney "Rockestra" documentary

A making-of film on the recording of this 1978 track, which features performances by David Gilmour, John Bonham, Ronnie Lane, John Paul Jones and others.

DC Comics announces four new series: Talon, Amethyst; Phantom Stranger and more

Here are details on four new series DC Comics is introducing this September:

TALON – Co-Writers: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV. Artist: Guillem March. Meet Calvin Rose, the only Talon to ever escape the grasp of the Court of Owls. This former assassin of the Court is trying to live a normal life … but that’s impossible when he’s being hunted by his former masters!

SWORD OF SORCERY – Writer: Christy Marx. Artist: Aaron Lopresti. Featuring the return of Amethyst, Amy Winston leads a strange life on the road with her mother and resents it. She’s about to learn it’s all been necessary when she discovers she’s the lost princess of Gemworld—and she’s being hunted by her murderous aunt. With a back-up story written by Tony Bedard with art by Jesus Saiz, set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the monstrous warrior Beowulf is charged with finding and defeating the evil Grendel.

THE PHANTOM STRANGER – Writer: Dan DiDio. Artist: Brent Anderson. Spinning out of his recent appearances in JUSTICE LEAGUE and DC’s Free Comic Book Day story, learn more about the true origin of The Phantom Stranger and his connection to the mysterious Pandora.

TEAM SEVEN – Writer: Justin Jordan. Artist: Jesus Merino. Set in the early days of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52, threads of the entire DC Universe collide. As Superman emerges, so does the world’s counter measures against him and his kind. Team 7 is comprised of Dinah Lance, Amanda Waller, Steve Trevor, John Lynch, Alex Fairchild, Cole Cash and Slade Wilson — and their story will change everything you know about DC COMICS-THE NEW 52.

How long is DC going to continue the "New 52" tagline? Are there even 52 titles now, given cancellations and new additions? I don't think the phrase means much to new readers.

Oh well, it's good to see them adding providing variety genre-wise.

Photo: Marilyn Monroe in hat



Pop Culture Roundup: Tarzan; Spider-Man; Thor; Ray Bradbury

Ripper Jagger's Dojo is a great spot for Tarzan fans lately. Check out this spotlight on Tarzan paperback cover artist Richard Powers. Plus, all this summer, Rip is serializing Edgar Rice Burroughs' "The Return of Tarzan."


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British actor Andrew Garfield, who stars as Peter Parker in the upcoming "Amazing Spider-Man,"  says he was bullied as a kid and that Spidey comics helped him cope through tough times while growing up.

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I really like the cartoony Kirby vibe of Michael Cho's superhero art. Check out this awesome new painting of Thor.

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The first time a Ray Bradbury story got adapted in a comic book, it wasn't exactly with the author's permission. Read this Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed post about the late sci-fi author's amusing run-in with EC Comics.

Warner Bros. gains licensing rights for 1960s Batman TV shows products

Warner Bros. has secured legal rights to license all sorts of products related to and inspired by the 1960s "Batman" TV series starring Adam West and Burt Ward, Variety reports.

What's not mentioned is whether we'll ever see the program on DVD. It's airing now regularly on Me-TV and the Hub on cable, but has yet to appear on disk. The show was originally produced by 20th Century Fox, but the Batman character, and DC Comics, is owned by Warner. Hopefully, this new arrangement will pave the way for eventual DVD release, too.

Here's some info from Variety:

For the first time in 40 years, Warner Bros. Consumer Products will be able to use the likeness of the show's stars, including Adam West, Burt Ward, Cesar Romero and Burgess Meredith, on everything from apparel to toys, home goods, publishing and promotions.
WBCP will introduce the new "Batman" product opportunities to potential partners and retailers at next week's Licensing Expo, running June 12-14 in Las Vegas. First products will launch in the spring.
Retailers had requested a larger merchandise line tied to the show over the years, but studio arm had previously been able to use only the series' logo, POW!-packed animated opening sequence and the Batmobile for product, not the actors, due to rights issues as the series was produced by 20th Century Fox. As a result, studio was limited to a small line of T-shirts and a die-cast Batmobile made by Mattel.

BBC Radio shows this week - click and listen

Click the links to stream the following shows.

Radio Luxembourg 208 - Your Station of the Stars Available on BBC iPlayer
Noel Edmonds tells the story of Luxy, the original pop music station in the UK

Shakespeare's London
Writer Iain Sinclair seeks out echoes of Shakespeare's city in the London of today.

Anarchy in the UK
Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock tells the story of punk rock.

Buzzcocks
Mark Lamarr tells the story of Manchester's Buzzcocks.

The Jam: Made in Britain
Jonathan Ross tells the story of The Jam with contributions from Paul Weller and others.

Punky Reggae Party
Tom Robinson celebrates the unlikely alliance between punk and reggae.

Doctor Who
Time-travelling adventure series

The Goon Show
Classic material from one of the all-time radio comedy greats

Martin Conisby's Vengeance
The seafaring hero faces pirates and battles afloat. Stars Steven Pacey and Julia Swift.

New music I like: Hot Chip - Night and Day


  

Howard the Duck on Blu-Ray?

There are worse movies that get more respect, I suppose, but the 1986 adaptation of Marvel Comics' Howard the Duck directed by George Lucas is pretty darned awful.

I remember being both disappointed and embarrassed by the film. Disappointed because the Howard comic book series was fabulous -- a funny, well-illustrated, satirical romp that was one of the best comics of the 70s. Embarrassed because most people, including friends I'd encouraged to see the film, would only know Howard by this terrible big screen representation.

Anyway, as with all things awful, the film has its fans (or should that be "fans"), including, evidently the current head of Marvel, Joe Quesada, who participated in this spoof video urging Lucas to put the film out on Blu-ray.

Hear another tune from the new Beach Boys album

Rolling Stone is streaming "From There to Back Again" off the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson-produced That's Why God Made the Radio LP, which is out tomorrow.


Music new releases June 5, 2012: Beach Boys; Beatles Yellow Submarine Soundtrack; Ziggy Stardust; The Association complete Warner and Valiant singles; Myabirds, more!

Click the links to order discounted items from Amazon.


Americana by Neil Young and Crazy Horse


That's Why God Made the Radio by the Beach Boys



Yellow Submarine Songtrack by The Beatles



Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie

 

Complete Warner Bros. & Valiant Singles Collection by The Association

 
 Generals by the Mynabirds

 
 Boys Don't Cry (import) by Rumer

 
 Make It Your Sound, Make It Your Scene: Vanguard Records & The 1960s Musical Revolution 

Big Sixties Frat Party!!! by Sandy Nelson

 
 Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead by Vivian Stanshall