New comics Jan. 28, 2015: Vault of Horror; Savage Sword of Conan; Eerie; Blue Beetle; Nick Fury; Love and Rockets

Of note this week. Click the links to order discounted items from Amazon.


The EC Archives: Vault of Horror Volume 4
Dark Horse Comics brings even more macabrely majestic stories from the Vault! This terrifying tome has been digitally recolored--using Marie Severin's original palette as a guide--and features stories drawn by all-star comic artists Johnny Craig, Graham Ingels, Joe Orlando, Jack Davis, Jack Kamen, Graham Ingels, and George Evans!


Savage Sword of Conan Volume 18
"My life is my own to live." Taken prisoner in farflung Zamora, Conan is discovered to resemble the land's demi-god of legend, prophesied to return one day to champion Zamora in war. Conan is paid handsomely to lead "his" people but may find that battle against countless enemies is to be preferred to facing the wrath of an angry god!
The Savage Sword of Conan features over 500 pages of Conan tales never-before collected and out of print for over twenty years!


Eerie Archives Volume 18
Eerie Archives Volume 18 celebrates the unique horror work of Richard Corben. In addition to running some of the best Corben shorts from the seventies, this volume also includes a new interview between Corben and longtime collaborator José Villarrubia! Horror masters Bruce Jones, Bernie Wrightson, and Alex Nino also contribute! Collects Eerie #86-#89!
•   Exclusive new Richard Corben interview!


Showcase Presents: Blue Beetle
This value-priced title collects the entire 24-issue run of BLUE BEETLE from the 1980s, including the Beetle's battles against DC Universe villains Chronos and Dr. Alchemy. Includes appearances by The Question and the Teen Titans.
Collects BLUE BEETLE #1-24.


Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Classic Volume 2
There's never a dull day at S.H.I.E.L.D. Not when there's the latest Helicarrier to launch and fresh agents to whip into shape. And definitely not when Madame Hydra lures Nick Fury and the team to her new base, where the Yellow Claw lies in wait! But it's not all bad news - not when Nick's staunchest ally, a certain death defying dependable, makes his glorious return! If the S.H.I.E.L.D. team can survive their Hydra Affair, they'll face an Apogee of Disaster in space when the nightmare named Lohan goes techno-viral. Good thing the Fantastic Four are on hand to lend their extraterrestrial expertise! The deadliest threats of all lie in wait though, when Baron Von Strucker is reborn - at the hands of the Red Skull!
COLLECTING: Nick Fury , Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (1989) 12-23


John Cullen Murphy's Big Ben Bolt Volume 1
Classic Comics Press is pleased to present the first volume of Big Ben Bolt, created by John Cullen Murphy (Prince Valiant) and Elliot Caplin (The Heart of Juliet Jones, Abbie and Slats, Long Sam). Debuting in American newspapers on February 20, 1950, Big Ben Bolt appeared in more than 200 papers nationwide and garnered world-wide recognition in its 28 year run. Volume One reprints dailies from the comic strip s beginning to May 24,1952 and includes an introduction by Murphy s son, Cullen Murphy, biographical information and more!


Ofelia: A Love and Rockets Book
In the latest Gilbert Hernandez volume of the Love and Rockets library series, Ofelia threatens to write a book about Luba, and Fritz and Pipo fall in love.
In Ofelia, the sisters, the kids, and the cousins are all settled comfortably in California after leaving Palomar in Luba and Her Family. Luba and her cousin Ofelia’s relationship has always been fraught, but when Ofelia threatens to write a book about Luba, past memories, secrets, resentments, and pain resurface. Meanwhile, Luba’s children—genius Socorro, recently out-and-proud Doralis, and prickly Maricela—show that a talent for trouble may be hereditary. Luba’s sisters, Fritz and Petra, swap lovers (as usual), but . . . are Fritz and family friend Pipo sittin’ in a tree? These vividly drawn characters are charged with Hernandez’s trademark complexity; they live, love, age, fight— and die—in this sweeping, multi-generational saga. Black & white

First teaser: Fantastic Four 2015 movie

Marvel reportedly isn't too crazy this film from 20th Century Fox, which retained movie rights on the Fantastic Four characters, and not Marvel itself.  The publisher even went so far as to -- at least temporarily --  cancel the Fantastic Four comic book to avoid publicizing the movie.

At any rate, here's a first look. We'll so how it fares among fans and at the box office.


Original Will Eisner "Spirit" pencil art



Music new releases Jan. 27, 2015: King Crimson; Valentinos; Standells; Soul Stirrers; Shadows of Knight

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Live At The Orpheum (LP Vinyl) by King Crimson


Lookin for a Love: The Complete SAR Recordings by the Valentinos


Live 1966 by the Standells


Joy in My Soul: The Complete SAR Recordings by the Soul Stirrers


Live 1966 by the Shadows of Knight

DVD and Blu-ray new releases Jan. 27, 2015: Downton Abbey; Justice League - Throne of Atlantis; Studio Ghibli documtary

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Masterpiece: Downton Abbey Season 5


Justice League: Throne of Atlantis


Kingdom of Dreams & Madness

New clip for Marvel's Agent Carter, episode 4


Comic art: Darwyn Cooke Flash Gordon, Mandrake, Prince Valiant and Phantom covers

Dynamite Comics is launching a batch of titles based on King Features characters this week, the first issues of which all feature covers by the great Darwyn Cooke. Can't speak to the interiors, but these look great: