Quick hits

Joss Whedon said he plans to resume doing his "Astonishing X-Men" title for Marvel, which is just wrapping up its initial 12-issue run. But it'll be 2006 before we see another issue, Comics Buyer's Guide reports. Good news, as Whedon brings the same snappy dialogue and cool plotlines to the book that he created in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

TV Guide commemmorates the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' Shea Stadium concert this week with four "collectible" covers this week--one for each Fab. Inside, there's first-hand acocunts of the show from celebs who were there and nine pages of previously unseen photos.

Meanwhile, Paul Saltzman who meditated with and photographed the Beatles during their 1968 stay at the Marharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in Rishikesh in India is profiled in the Chicago Sun-Times.

A trailer for "Aeon Flux" starring Charlize Theron has hit the Web.

Pop Artifact! Alfred E. Neuman for President button

Vintage DC Comics house ad

Upcoming DC Comics trades and hardcovers

DC has announced the following upcoming releases:

November in-store:

DAY OF VENGEANCE TP
Writer: Bill Willingham, Judd Winick
Artists: Justiniano, Walden Wong, Ian Churchill and Norm Rapmund
Cover artist: Walter Simonson
Collects DAY OF VENGEANCE #1-6, ACTION COMICS #826, ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #639 and SUPERMAN #216
$12.99, 224 pages

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT THE JUSTICE LEAGUE TP
Writers: Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis
Artists: Kevin Maguire and Joe Rubinstein
Collects JSA CLASSIFIED #4-9
$12.99, 144 pages

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES: TEENAGE REVOLUTION TP
Writer: Mark Waid
Artists: Barry Kitson, Leonard Kirk, Dave Gibbons, Scott Iwahashi, Mick Gray, Art Thibert, James Pascoe and Drew Geraci
Collects LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1-6 and material from the TEEN TITANS/LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES SPECIAL
$14.99, 200 pages

MANHUNTER: STREET JUSTICE TP
Writer: Marc Andreyko
Artists: Jesus Saiz & Jimmy Palmiotti
Cover artist: Jae Lee
Collects MANHUNTER #1-5
$12.99, 128 pages

THE OMAC PROJECT TP
Writers: Greg Rucka, Geoff Johns and Judd Winick
Artists: Jesus Saiz, Rags Morales, Ed Benes, Phil Jimenez, Ivan Reis, Marc Campos, Andy Lanning and Michael Bair
Cover artist: Ladrönn
Collects THE OMAC PROJECT #1-6, COUNTDOWN TO INFINITE CRISIS and WONDER WOMAN #219
$14.99, 256 pages

TEEN TITANS VOL. 4: THE FUTURE IS NOW TP
Writer: Geoff Johns and Mark Waid
Artists: Mike McKone, Ivan Reis, Tom Grummett, Marc Campos, Joe Prado, Marlo Alquiza and Nelson
Collects TEEN TITANS #15-23 and material from TEEN TITANS/LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES SPECIAL
$9.99, 256 pages

December in-store:

BATGIRL: KICKING ASSASSINS TP
Writer: Andersen Gabrych
Artists: Alé Garza, Pop Mhan, Jack Purcell and Jesse Delperdang
Collects BATGIRL #60-64
$14.99, 128 pages

CRISIS ON MULTIPLE EARTHS: THE TEAM-UPS VOL. 1 TP
Writers: Gardner Fox and John Broome
Artists: Murphy Anderson, Carmine Infantino, Gil Kane, Joe Giella and Sid Greene
Cover artist: Jerry Ordway
Collects THE BRAVE & THE BOLD #61, FLASH #123, 129, 137 and 151, GREEN LANTERN #40 and SHOWCASE #55-56
$14.99, 224 pages

GOLDEN AGE HAWKMAN ARCHIVES VOL. 1 HC
Writer: Gardner Fox
Artists: Sheldon Moldoff and Dennis Neville
Collects stories from FLASH COMICS #1-22
$49.99, 224 pages

LEX LUTHOR: MAN OF STEEL TP
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artist: Lee Bermejo
Collects LEX LUTHOR: MAN OF STEEL #1-5
$12.99, 128 pages

THE LIGHT BRIGADE TP
Writer: Peter Tomasi
Artist: Peter Snejbjerg
Collects THE LIGHT BRIGADE #1-4
$19.99, 200 pages

PLASTIC MAN: RUBBER BANDITS TP
Writer: Kyle Baker
Artist: Kyle Baker
Collects PLASTIC MAN #8-11 and #13-14
$14.99, 144 pages

RANN-THANAGAR WAR TP
Writer: Dave Gibbons
Artists: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado and Marc Campos
Collects RANN-THANAGAR WAR #1-6
$12.99, 144 pages

SUPERMAN: TRUE BRIT SC
Writers: Kim "Howard" Johnson and John Cleese
Artists: John Byrne and Mark Farmer
A softcover edition of the original graphic novel
$17.99, 96 pages

VILLAINS UNITED TP
Writer: Gail Simone
Artists: Dale Eaglesham, Val Semeiks, Wade von Grawbadger and Prentis Rollins
Cover artist: J.G. Jones
Collects VILLAINS UNITED #1-6
$12.99, 160 pages

WONDER WOMAN: EYES OF THE GORGON TP
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artists: Drew Johnson, James Ruiz, Sean Phillips, Ray Snyder
Cover artist: J.G. Jones
Collects WONDER WOMAN #206-213
$19.99, 192 pages

WILDSTORM:

November in-store:

SMAX TP
Writer: Alan Moore
Artists: Zander Cannon and Andrew Currie
Collects SMAX #1-6
$12.99 U.S., 136 pages

OCEAN TP
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artists: Chris Sprouse & Karl Story
Cover artist: Michael Golden
Collects OCEAN #1-6
$14.99 U.S., 160 pages

December in-store:

MAJESTIC: WHILE YOU WERE OUT TP
Writer: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Artists: Neil Googe and Trevor Scott
Cover artists: Ed McGuinness and Dexter Vines
Collects MAJESTIC #1-7
$12.99, 168 pages

TOM STRONG BOOK FOUR TP
Writers: Alan Moore, Peter Hogan and Geoff Johns
Artists: Jerry Ordway, Chris Sprouse, John Paul Leon and Karl Story
Collects TOM STRONG #20-25
$17.99, 160 pages

VERTIGO

November in-store:


THE LOSERS VOL. 4: CLOSE QUARTERS TP
Writer: Andy Diggle
Artists: Jock and Ben Oliver
Collects THE LOSERS #20-25
$14.99, 144 pages

December in-store:

FABLES VOL. 6: HOMELANDS TP
Writer: Bill Willingham
Artists: Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Lan Medina, David Hahn and Dan Green
Cover artist: James Jean
Collects FABLES #34-41
$14.99, 192 pages

SWAMP THING VOL. 8: SPONTANEOUS GENERATION TP
Writer: Rick Veitch
Artists: Rick Veitch and Alfredo Alcala
Collects SWAMP THING #71-76
$19.99, 160 pages

VIMANARAMA TP
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artists: Philip Bond
Collects VIMANARAMA #1-3
$12.99, 104 pages

CMX

November in-store:


GALS! VOL. 4
Writer & artist: Fujii Mihona
$9.99, 192 pages

MUSASHI #9 VOL. 5
Writer & artist: Takahashi Miyuki
$9.99, 192 pages

SWAN VOL. 5
Writer & artist: Ariyoshi Kyoko
$9.99, 192 pages

TENJHO TENGE VOL. 4
Writer & artist: Oh! great
$9.99, 232 pages

TESTAROTHO VOL. 2
Writer & artist: Sanbe Kei
$9.99, 192 pages

TOWER OF THE FUTURE VOL. 1
Writer & artist: Hiwatari Saki
$9.99, 192 pages

YOUNG MAGICIAN VOL. 2
Writer & artist: Narushima Yuri
$9.99, 200 pages

December in-store:

CHIKYU MISAKI VOL. 2

Writer & artists: Iwahara Yuji
$9.99, 196 pages

THE DEVIL DOES EXIST VOL. 4
Writer & artist: Takanashi Mitsuba
$9.99, 192 pages

MOON CHILD VOL. 1
Writer & artist: Shimizu Reiko
$9.99, 192 pages

MONSTER COLLECTION: THE GIRL WHO CAN DEAL WITH MAGIC MONSTERS VOL. 4
Writer: Original concept by Yasuda Hitoshi/Group SNE
Artist: Itoh Sei
$9.99, 170 pages

PIECES OF A SPIRAL VOL. 2
Writer & artist: Tachibana Kaimu
$9.99, 200 pages

SEIMADEN VOL. 3
Writer & artist: Higuri You
$9.99, 180 pages

TENJHO TENGE VOL. 5
Writer & artist: Oh! great
$9.99, 232 pages

DC LIBRARY:

November in-store:


THE SPIRIT ARCHIVES VOL. 17 HC
Writer & artist: Will Eisner
Collects Spirit stories from July 4-December 26, 1948.
$49.99, 216 pages

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS ARCHIVES VOL. 6 HC
Writers: Wally Wood, Steve Skeates, Bill Pearson and others
Artists: Wally Wood, Gil Kane, Dan Adkins, Chic Stone, John Giunta, Ogden Whitney, George Tuska, Steve Ditko, Jack Abel, Ralph Reese, Reed Crandall and Paul Reinman
Collects T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #15-20.
$49.99, 224 pages

December in-store:

THE BEST OF THE SPIRIT TP
Writer & artist: Will Eisner
Collects 22 classic Spirit stories from the 1940s and 1950s, plus a new introduction by Neil Gaiman.
$14.99, 192 pages

ELFQUEST: THE GRAND QUEST VOL. 12
Writers: Wendy and Richard Pini
Artist: Wendy Pini
Collects ELFQUEST: KINGS OF THE BROKEN WHEEL #5 - 7 and a story from FRAZETTA FANTASY ILLUSTRATED.
$9.99, 224 pages

Quick hits

A new Doctor Who serial, made for radio and featuring Paul McGann as the Doctor (he played him in that American TV movie, don't ya know), is available for listening via the BBC radio-on-demand site.

Need a laugh?

TV Guide has an interview with David ("Angel") Boreanz on his new TV series "Bones."

Downloadable at Kiddie Records Weekly: Boris Karloff and Jean Arthur perform "Peter Pan."

Out now!

Cool stuff in yer local comics shop (or orderable via This is Pop!-supporting links):

Adam Strange Planet Heist TP

Catwoman Mini Statue

Classic Dan Dare Vol 6 Operation Saturn Part 2 HC

Comics Journal Library Vol 5 Great Comics Illustrators TP

Concrete Vol 1 Depths TP

Essential Daredevil Vol 3 TP

Hulk Tempest Fugit TP

Runaways Vol 1 HC

Ultimates Annual #1

Uncanny X-Men New Age Vol 3 On Ice TP

Worlds Finest Archives Vol 3 HC

Batman Rogues Gallery DC Direct action figures:
Black Mask
Killer Croc
Man Bat
Mr. Freeze
Penguin

Revenge of the Sith Lightsabers

Pop Artifact! Snoopy in Space doll

Vintage DC Comics house ad

DVD new releases for Aug. 9

John Cleese - Wine for the Confused

The Muppet Show Complete First Season

McMillan and Wife Complete First Season

Roswell Complete Third Season

Dallas Complete Third Season

Columbo Complete Third Season

Thundercats: Season One Vol. 1

Quick hits

"The Fantastic Four" will be out on DVD Dec. 13, DVDAnswers reports.

ICv2 has some info about a planned direct-to-DVD "Ultimate Avengers" flick from Marvel Comics.

JoBlo has some skinny on Marvel's "Ghost Rider" film.

Betty Boop is 75!

Remember that Farrah Fawcett poster?

Remember that 1978 Stan Lee/Jack Kirby Silver Surfer graphic novel?

Sire Records celebrates 30th anniversary with box set

The Sire label was crucial to introducing U.S. audiences to a buncha important punk and post-punk performers. Not to mention Madonna.

In celebration of its 30th anniversary, the label is teaming with Rhino Records to present "Just Say Sire: The Sire Records Story," a three-CD, one-DVD set out Sept. 13.

According to Billboard, the track listing includes:

Disc one:

"Everybody," Madonna
"Mirror in the Bathroom," English Beat
"Kiss Me," Tin
"Oh L'Amour," Erasure
"Tainted Love," Soft Cell
"Situation (Remix)," Yaz
"People Are People," Depeche Mode
"Living on the Ceiling," Blancmange
"That Summer Feeling," Jonathan Richman
"Young at Heart," the Bluebells
"One Step Beyond," Madness
"Genius of Love," Tom Tom Club
"Im Nin'alu," Ofra Haza
"Endicott," Kid Creole & the Coconuts
"Love and Mercy," Brian Wilson
"Each and Every One," Everything But The Girl
"All the Way," Little Jimmy Scott
"Crazy," Seal
"Fire Woman," the Cult
"Constant Craving," k.d. lang

Disc two:

"Teenage Kicks," the Undertones
"This Charming Man," the Smiths
"I Melt With You," Modern English
"Moskow Diskow," Telex
"(I'm) Stranded," the Saints
"Ca Plan Pour Moi," Plastic Bertrand
"Top of the Pops," the Rezillos
"Nowhere Girl," B-Movie
"Part of the Process," Morcheeba
"Come Together (7" Version)," Primal Scream
"Beat Dis," Bomb The Bass
"The Love Cats," the Cure
"The Killing Moon," Echo & the Bunneymen
"Warm Leatherette," the Normal
"Everyday Is Like Sunday," Morrissey
"Never Never," the Assembly
"Oblivious," Aztec Camera
"Inside Out," The Mighty Lemon Drops
"Soon," My Bloody Valentine
"Leave Them All Behind," Ride

Disc three:

"Blitzkrieg Bop," the Ramones
"Alex Chilton," the Replacements
"Come on Let's Go," Paley Brothers and Ramones
"Aloha Steve & Danno / Theme From Hawaii Five-O," Radio Birdman
"The Wagon," Dinosaur Jr.
"Sonic Reducer," Dead Boys
"White Horse," Laid Back
"Blank Generation," Richard Hell and the Voidoids
"I Want That Man," Deborah Harry
"I'll Be Your Everything," Tommy Page
"Summer Teeth," Wilco
"World Class Fad," Paul Westerberg
"Back on the Chain Gang," the Pretenders
"Give Back the Key to My Heart," Uncle Tupelo
"Shake Some Action," Flamin' Groovies
"Counting Backwards," Throwing Muses
"Boy," Book Of Love
"Romeo Had Juliette," Lou Reed
"O.G. Original Gangster," Ice-T
"Jesus Built My Hotrod," Ministry
"Burning Down the House," Talking Heads

DVD:

"Pop Muzik," M
"Rock'n'Roll High School," the Ramones
"Let's Go to Bed," the Cure
"A Little Respect," Erasure
"Brass in Pocket," the Pretenders
"The Cutter," Echo & the Bunnymen
"Bastards of Young," the Replacements
"She Sells Sanctuary," the Cult
"Once in a Lifetime," Talking Heads
"Like a Prayer," Madonna
"Enjoy the Silence," Depeche Mode
"Feed the Tree," Belly
"Drifting, Falling," the Ocean Blue
"Reach," Martini Ranch
"Groovy Train," the Farm
"Things Can Only Get Better," D:Ream
"New York City Boy," Pet Shop Boys
"In the Meantime," Spacehog
"One Week," Barenaked Ladies
"Come to Daddy," Aphex Twin

The set is available for pre-order from Amazon.

Catching up on San Diego action figure debuts

Action-Figure.com has sneak previews of several goodies introduced during the recent Comic-Con International in San Diego, including:

A line of Elseworlds figures from DC Direct. These will include Superman and Wonder Woman figures inspired by the "Red Son" mini-series, Batgirl and Batman figures from the "Thrill Killer" mini and a "Crimson Mist" Batman. They'll be out Dec. 7.

A Marvel Select figure of the Watcher, which will be out next February.


Pop Artifact! Marx Dwight D. Eisenhower figure



Vintage DC Comics house ad

Batman 1943 serial set for DVD

Batman: The 1943 Serial Collection is due out Oct. 18 and collects every chapter of the Caped Crusader's first screen appearance.

A separate DVD collection released earlier this year collects the 1949 "Batman and Robin" serial.

Complete "Dark Shadows" revival set for DVD release

A three-disk set collecting the entire revived "Dark Shadows" series is set for Oct. 18 release. The set collects every episode of the 1991 TV series.

Quick hits

Several branches of the Denver library system have pulled Spanish-language fotonovelos from their shelves after a local radio talk show host complained of their adult-oriented content, the Rocky Mountain News reports.

Rhino Records is celebrating 27 years of record reissue goodness. Reuters has an overview.

Anthony Stewart Head (Giles on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") has a cameo in an upcoming "Doctor Who" serial.

You'll like Jart in My Head.

Dial B for Blog has more sick comic book covers.

Bubblegumfink presents Boris Karloff narrating "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and Rip Van Winkle."

Pop Artifact! Godzilla movie poster

Jackson working on original "Kong" DVD

Along with directing his own remake of the classic "King Kong," Peter Jackson is helping out with the bonus materials for a new DVD of the original film, says the Hollywood Reporter.

Jackson is working on a new documentary, "RKO Production 601: The Making of Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World," a two-hour, seven-part feature included in the two-disc "King Kong" set, which Warner Home Video will release on Nov. 22.

...In addition to the seven-part documentary, the "King Kong" DVD set includes such extras as a documentary on "Kong" director (and creator) Merian C. Cooper, a trailer gallery of Cooper's other films, and a commentary from stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen, actress Terry Moore ("Mighty Joe Young") and special effects master Ken Ralston ("Star Wars").