Pop Culture Roundup Jan. 4, 2006

NPR has a story about the new "Masters of American Comics" book.

Live concerts on NPR: Son Volt, Lucinda Williams and James Brown.

Pete Townshend, who knows a thing or two about blasting out his eardrums, is warning iPod users to watch the volume.

Dial B for Blog presents some more DC Comics Silver Age House Ads.

The original "Ultra Man" TV series is coming to DVD.

Booksteve presents some rare Jim Steranko art.

New comics, Jan. 5, 2006



NOTE: Comics will be shipping Thursday, instead of Wednesday, this week

Available now at yer local comics shop or via This is Pop!-supporting links:

Batman Black And White Statue Joe Kubert

Beta Ray Bill Mini-bust - Bowen Designs

Billy The Kids Old Timey Oddities TP

Buffy The Vampire Slayer Spike Bust

Chronicles Of Conan Vol 9 River Dragons and Others TP

Essential Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe Vol 1 TP

Hellblazer Staring At The Wall TP

Marvel 1602 New World TP

Marvel Universe Astonishing X-Men Cyclops Bust

Maze Agency Vol 1 TP

Mickey Mouse Adventures Vol 7 TP

New Avengers Vol 1 Breakout TP

Silver Age Fantastic Four Human Torch Med Statue

Superman Sacrifice TP

Ultimate Annuals Vol 1 TP

Ultimate X-Men Vol 5 HC

Universal Monsters Cavalcade Of Horror TP

Weta Narnia White Witch Statue

See a Complete List of Upcoming Comics.

DVD review: "Punk: Attitude"



Few musical genres are as factionalized as the stuff that gets lumped as "punk." The music, the bands, the looks are so varied, it's tough to even know what we mean by the term.

"What is punk, anyway?" is a good question, and the one at the center of this new film by longtime Clash associate (and onetime member of Clash spinoff band Big Audio Dynamite) Don Letts.

The answer he comes up with is right there in the title: "Attitude." And it's a pretty satisfactory one, particularly since Letts' attempts to get at it are so openminded, evenhanded and fair.

It all boils down to punk being approach to music, art and life. It's no bullshit, not about show business but true expression, it's not pretentious but blunt, short and loud. And when it starts being too much about a particular look or sound, it ceases to be punk. It becomes new wave or some other dang thing.

There's no sense Letts is pushing any specific agenda, playing favorites or trying to lead you to a particular conclusion. He throws up a bunch of different people on the screen and lets them talk.

The interviewees are a remarkably insightful and articulate lot: Henry Rollins (Black Flag), David Johansen (The New York Dolls), Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys), Mick Jones and Paul Simonon (The Clash) and photographer-on-the-scene Bob Gruen.

Given his background, one might think Letts would focus primarily on British punk. But he doesn't. There's lots and lots of attention to given to East- and West Coast U.S. punk and its 1960s garage band roots. The film does a great job summing up musical events on both sides of the Atlantic.

Things don't stop with the 1970s heyday either. Letts traces the punk attitude into the 1980s with No Wave, the 1990s with Grunge into whatever the heck's going on today (it's too early to tell).

And, given the nihilistic point of view one tends to attach to a lot of punk, the film ends up being remarkably positive. Rather than dwell on the victims (Sid and Kurt, among others) we're left with folks like Poly Styrene talking about how punk gave them purpose, an avenue for expression and a release.

It's a valuable contribution to filmed music history. If there's any downside its the absence of key players John Lydon, Malcolm McLaren and the late Joe Strummer. Without them, it can't be taken as a definitive history.

But watch it alongside the excellent documentaries on the Sex Pistols ("The Filth and the Fury") and the Clash ("Westway to the World," also directed by Letts), and you have a very detailed picture of how this music/movement came about and its significance today.

Pop Artifact! Thunderbirds space patrol ship

Vintage DC Comics house ad!



See the Best DC Comics Sites on the Web.

Comics previews

Mile High Comics has first looks at: Batman and the Monster Men #3, Exterminators #1, Hard Time Season Two #2, Jonah Hex #3, Swamp Thing #23, Team Zero #2, Doc Samson #1, Marvel Team-Up #16, Marvel Zombies #2, New Excalibur #3, Sentinel #3, Sable & Fortune #1, Spider-Girl #94, Spider-Man Unlimited #13, X-Men Colossus Bloodline #5 and X-Men The End Men and X-Men #1.

DVD new releases for Jan. 3, 2006

All in the Family: The Complete Fifth Season

Gunsmoke - 50th Anniversary Edition, Volume 1

Gunsmoke:50th Anniversary Edition Volume 2

Have Gun Will Travel:Complete Third Season

Silk Stalkings: Season Four

Wedding Crashers - Uncorked (Unrated Widescreen Edition)

"I Dream of Jeannie" season 1 DVD due out March 14



The four-disk set will include 30 episodes from the Barbara Eden (hubba hubba) and Larry Hagman series.

Extras include commentary on the pilot episode, some bonus previews and a featurette.

Amazon has it available for pre-order now.

Pop Culture Roundup Jan. 3, 2006

Via Bedazzled: Jefitoblog presents a big batch of Big Star outtakes.

Datajunkie looks back at Charlton's "Ghostly Tales," featuring art by Tom Sutton, Steve Ditko and others.

HansZUNblog presents all sorts of rare Jan and Dean.

Comics artist Steve Rude plans to self-publish the further exploits of "Nexus" and "The Moth."

Mark Evanier digs out Dell's biographical comics of the 1960s.

An upcoming episode of "Justice League Unlimited" features appearances by Supergirl and the Legion of Superheroes, Comics Continuum reports.

TV Guide presents some spoiler-free "Lost" hintage (nothing observant fans haven't noticed already).

SciFi Wire reports actress Mei Melancon ("Rush Hour 2") will play Psylocke in "X-Men 3".

An official site is up for the "Ultimate Avengers" direct-to-DVD animated flick, which is out in February.

Corgi Batmobiles 2006

Corgi continues its line of comics-based Batmobile die-cast cars with these new models:


1:24-scale 2000 Batmobile
Available: 2/28/2006


2000 Teen Titan Batmobile #3
Seen in the Teen Titan comic issue when Robin decides to take it for a joy ride with his friends. 1:43 scale
Available: 2/28/2006


2000 Batmobile #4
With hidden spring-release missile launcher that emerges out of the rear engine. 1:43 scale.
Available: 4/30/2006


2000 Batmobile #5
1:43 scale.
Available: 6/30/2006


1960s Batmobile #3
With opening hood. 1:43 scale.
Available: 4/30/2006


1950s Killer Mothmobile
With spring-release moth wings. 1:43 scale.
Available: 4/30/2006


1970s Batrocket
With opening rear engine. 1:43 scale.
Available: 6/30/2006

The Shadow complete list of books - paperbacks

Click links to see if titles are currently available for order.

Nostalgia Ventures official reprints 2006-0n:

THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 1 “The Golden Vulture" and “Crime, Insured"

THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 2 “The Chinese Disks” and “Malmordo”

THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 3 “The Red Blot” and “The Voodoo Master”

THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 4 "The Murder Master" and "The Hydra"

THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 5 "The Black Falcon" and "The Salamanders."

THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 6 "The Shadow's Justice" & "The Broken Napoleons"

THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 7 "The Cobra" and "The Third Shadow"

THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 8 "The London Crimes" & "Castle of Doom"

THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 9: "Lingo" & "Partners in Peril"

THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 10: "The City of Doom" & "The Fifth Face"

THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 11: "The Road of Crime" & "Crooks Go Straight"

Blackmask Shadow reprints:

Atoms of Death

The Black Hush

Chain of Death

The Cobra

Dead Men Live

The Death Giver

Fingers of Death

The Golden Master

Gypsy Vengeance

The Invincible Shiwan Khan

The Living Joss

The Living Shadow

Masters of Death

Murder Marsh

The Shadow Unmasks

The Shadow's Shadow

Shiwan Khan Returns

The Silent Death

Bantam Shadow paperbacks

The Living Shadow The Shadow #1

The Eyes of The Shadow The Shadow #2

The Shadow Laughs! The Shadow #3

The Death Tower The Shadow #4

The Ghost Makers The Shadow #5

Hidden Death The Shadow #6

Gangdom's Doom The Shadow #7

Belmont paperbacks

Return of The Shadow

The Shadow Strikes

Shadow Beware

Cry Shadow!

The Shadow's Revenge

Mark of the Shadow

Shadow Go Mad

The Night of The Shadow

Pyramid and Jove Shadow paperbacks:

The Living Shadow (The Shadow #1)

The Black Master (The Shadow #2)

The Mobsmen On The Spot (The Shadow #3)

Hands In The Dark (The Shadow #4)

Double Z (The Shadow #5)

The Crime Cult (The Shadow #6)

The Red Menace (The Shadow #7)

Mox (The Shadow #8)

The Romanoff Jewels (The Shadow #9)

The Silent Seven (The Shadow #10)

Kings Of Crime (The Shadow #11)

Shadowed Millions (The Shadow #12)

Green Eyes (The Shadow #13)

The Creeping Death (The Shadow #14)

Gray Fist (The Shadow #15)

The Shadow's Shadow (The Shadow #16)

Fingers Of Death (The Shadow #17)

Murder Trail (The Shadow No. 18)

Zemba (The Shadow No. 19)

Charg, Monster (The Shadow No. 20)

The Wealth Seeker (The Shadow No. 21)

The Silent Death (The Shadow No. 22)

Enjoy the holiday of your choice!



We'll see you next year!

Premiere 2006 preview issue features "Superman" cover

"The Return of Superman" gets top billing in the mag's look at what's coming to theaters next year.



And here's a shot from inside:



See the Best Superman Sites on the Web.

U.S. cover art for "Doctor Who: Complete First Series" DVD set

It's out Feb. 14.



See the Best Doctor Who Sites on the Web.

Pop Culture Roundup Dec. 23, 2005

Shout! Factory will release a four-DVD set collecting the best of 1970s children's show "The Electric Company" on Feb. 7.

NPR explores "the best CDs you didn't hear this year."

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's....SuperChrist!

Top 10 graphic novels, DVDs, CDs and action figures Dec. 22

At Amazon:

Graphic Novels

1. Watchmen

2. Black Hole

3. Batman: Year One Deluxe Edition

4. V for Vendetta

5. Watchmen (Absolute Edition)

6. Frank Miller's Complete Sin City Library

7. The Acme Novelty Library

8. Girl on Girl (Y: The Last Man, Book 6)

9. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

10. Astonishing X-Men Vol. 2: Dangerous

DVDs

1. Serenity (Widescreen Edition)

2. March of the Penguins (Widescreen Edition)

3. Firefly - The Complete Series

4. Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)

5. Wedding Crashers - Uncorked (Unrated Widescreen Edition)

6. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (Unrated Widescreen Edition)

7. Lost - The Complete First Season

8. Battlestar Galactica - Season 2.0

9. 24 - Season Four

10. Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Widescreen Edition)

CDs

1. Born to Run: 30th Anniversary 3-Disc Set [Original recording remastered] ~ Bruce Springsteen

2. The Essential Johnny Cash [Limited Edition] [Original recording remastered] ~ Johnny Cash

3. Our New Orleans: A Benefit Album for the Gulf Coast ~ Various Artists

4. The Legend [Box set] ~ Johnny Cash

5. Prairie Wind ~ Neil Young

6. Back to Bedlam ~ James Blunt

7. Extraordinary Machine ~ Fiona Apple

8. Illinois ~ Sufjan Stevens

9. Aerial ~ Kate Bush

10. No Direction Home: The Soundtrack (The Bootleg Series Vol. 7) ~ Bob Dylan

Action figures

1. Batman Begins Flying Batman Figure

2. Marvel Legends Legendary Riders Figure: Vengeance

3. Marvel Legends Gift Pack Spider-Man classic Feasome Foes Gift Pack

4. Marvel Legends Sentinel Series Figure: Angel Red

5. The Batman Secret Files Rogues Gallery Figure: Penguin

6. The Batman Secret Files Rogues Gallery Figure: Mr. Freeze

7. Marvel Legends Sentinel Series Figure: Cyclops

8. Marvel Legends Legendary Riders Figure: Origin Thing

9. Batman Begins Action Cape Batman Figure

10. Marvel Legends Sentinel Series Figure: Omega Red

Pop Artifacts! Hanna-Barbera buttons

Christmas comics!

Pop Culture Roundup

Jessica Simpson: Bond girl? Charlize Theron said no to the part.

Comics/TV scribe/history and one-time Jack Kirby assistant Mark Evanier celebrates his fifth anniversary of blogging. Congrats Mark! Your site is a daily spot for me.

A DVD focusing on the Velvet Underground's 1993 reunion tour is out Jan. 24 from Rhino Records. "Velvet Redux: Live MCMXCIII" features live performances of VU classics such as "Heroin," "Pale Blue Eyes," "Rock'n'Roll" and "Sweet Jane."

Mexicovers is a new-to-me blog presenting great south-of-the-borderish exotica music, along with the cool cover art.

Dial B for Blog presents another of his favorite comic book Christmas stories (this one's a fave of mine, too): "The Silent Night of the Batman," from the era when the Caped Crusader was heroic enough to belt out a Christmas carol, not sulk around like a constipated ninja all the time.

Fred Hembeck shares his first attempts at scripting a comic.

TV Guide reports on the end of "Alias."

Frank Miller says he wants to make five "Sin City" films.

There's an animated flick coming out soon, but a third live-action Conan film is supposedly in the works too. No word on whether the one-terminator will be back.

The BBC has a report on rare, early Disney films, sketches and background drawings found in Japan.