DC Direct JLA gift set

Out for the holidays, this set boxes up modern-look versions of the Justice League of America.

Along with the figures, it comes with 48-page comic book featuring material from JLA 80-Page Giant #1, JLA Secret Files #3, JLA #77, and JLA Gallery #1.

New comics previews

Check out Mile High Comics for advance looks at Albion #3, Batman: Gotham County Line #1, Outsiders #29, Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles #1, Swamp Thing #20, Amazing Fantasy #13, Incredible Hulk #87, Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #8, Marvel Monsters: Devil Dinosaur, Marvel Team-Up #13, New Thunderbolts #13, Spider-Girl #91, Spider-Man: The Other Sketchbook, Uncanny X-Men #465 and X-Men Unlimited #11.

More upcoming comics.

Quick hits

Checking in with Neil Gaimin.

Not much to see, but the official "Superman Returns" site is up.

Another animated "Lucky Luke" feature is planned in France.

31 free Van Morrison MP3s. And worth every penny!

Booksteve joins the Johnny West Club.

Via Bubblegumfink: a site dedicated to British TV annuals.

Dial B looks in his crystal ball.

Pop Artifacts! Doctor Who vintage TARDIS and K-9 toys





Vintage comic book ad

Quick hits

I want this for Christmas.

Mark Evanier on Muppet stamps!

Today in exotica!


JoBlo has an interview with "Serenity" director Joss Whedon.

And TV Guide has an interview with "Serenity" star Nathan Fillion.

Mike Myers is set to play the late Who drummer Keith Moon.

An "Emily the Strange" movie is in the works.

Newsarama has an 8-page preview of Grant Morrison's upcoming "All-Star Superman".

Yahoo! Movies previews "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbit".

DVD new releases for October 2005

Oct. 4


The Bob Newhart Show - The Complete Second Season

Cinderella (Disney Special Platinum Edition)

Cream - Royal Albert Hall - London May 2-3-5-6 2005

Cream - Farewell Concert (1968)

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005)

Star Trek - Nemesis (Special Collector's Edition)

The Val Lewton Horror Collection (Cat People / The Curse of the Cat People / I Walked with a Zombie / The Body Snatcher / Isle of the Dead / Bedlam / The Leopard Man / The Ghost Ship / The Seventh Victim / Shadows in the Dark)


Oct. 11


Arrested Development - Season Two

Soap - The Complete Fourth Season

South Park - The Complete Sixth Season

Veronica Mars - The Complete First Season


Oct. 18


Batman Begins (Widescreen Edition)

Batman Forever (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Batman Returns (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Batman Vs Dracula

Dark Shadows:Complete Revival Series 1991

Twilight Zone Season 4


Oct. 25


Alias - The Complete Fourth Season

Bewitched - The Complete Second Season (colorized)

Bewitched - The Complete Second Season (B&W)

Looney Tunes - Golden Collection, Volume Three

Tales From the Crypt - The Complete Second Season

Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection:V2

The Wizard of Oz (Three-Disc Collector's Edition)

"Serenity" review roundup

South Florida.com: While Serenity will play like a masterpiece to devoted fans of Firefly, outsiders are likely to have a few problems with it. Most glaring is the dialogue, which tries a little too hard to be Old West. But in its own unassuming, self-effacing way, Serenity is the epic sci-fi adventure that the latter years of Star Wars could only dream of being.

Associated Press:...a spirited mix of the familiar and the futuristic, of fast-paced chase scenes and butt-kicking brawls, of witty banter and well-drawn characters.

Ohio State University Lantern: The adaptation of the TV show "Firefly" written and directed by Joss Whedon tries to cover all bases. The action/sci-fi/drama/adventure/comedy is much like a track star trying to run a 400, a relay, and poll vault all at once - it is just too much.

...a majority of the movie the audience is left wondering what exactly is the purpose.

Knight Ridder...sharp writing and well-drawn characters mean you can enjoy it even if you don't like those genres. And even if, like me, you don't have a history with the characters.

...There's lots of other stuff floating around in "Serenity," including an anti-mood-altering drug theme that is either an indictment of Prozac or a shout-out to Tom Cruise, a "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" joke and a speech about how one country shouldn't meddle in another country's business.

There's snappy dialogue, and the performances are sharp (Chiwetel Ejiofor, so magnetic in "Four Brothers," brings another villain to life), but Whedon is a better writer than director. Although he shapes individual moments well, he hasn't assembled them into a movie that will satisfy anyone who comes to "Serenity" without having seen "Firefly."