Pop Culture Safari!

Pop Artifact! Secret Squirrel push puppet

Vintage comic book ad

"Sgt. Bilko" 50th anniversary DVD art

A three-disk set paying tribute to the 50th anniversary of Phil Silvers' "Sgt. Bilko" is due out May 9.

According to TV Shows on DVD, extras include:

* Episode intros by Allan Melvin (Henshaw).
* Commentary from Melvin, Dick Van Dyke, Larry Storch (guest star), Mickey Freeman (Zimmerman) and George Kennedy (army technical advisor).
* Emmy Award acceptance speeches.
* Dick Cavett Show appearance with Jack Benny.
* Phil's final TV interview with Sonny Fox.
* Lost Bilko audition films.

I couldn't find what the set includes in terms of actual episodes, however.

At the moment, the set is listed for $11.99 at Amazon.

Pop Culture Roundup Feb. 7, 2006

Newsarama remembers the talented comic book artist Mike Parobeck (DC's "The Batman Adventures"), who died in 1996.

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The New York Times profiles DC Comics President Paul Levitz, who's putting on his writers cap again to script some issues of the company's "JSA" series.

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A new, official "Lost" podcast is out. Drop by here tomorrow for a preview of the new episode.

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More "Lost": The two-hour series pilot will air again Feb. 22. Yeah, it's another rerun. But the creators also promise this season will be a bit longer than usual.

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In memory of Grampa Al Lewis, Scars and Stuff shares his "Munsters" soundtrack album from 1964. (That show did have a groovy theme song. I have a version of Jimmy Smith playing in someplace...)

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Sonic Pollution details Syd Barrett's troubled last days in Pink Floyd and presents a rare video to boot.

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Dial B for Blog presents some of those fun DC Comics public service ads from the Silver Age.

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Allen Toussaint, Dr. John and Irma Thomas will be joined by Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello in a New Orleans tribute during the Grammy's tomorrow night.

"Complete Motown Singles Vol. 4" due from Hip-O

Hip-O Select is taking pre-orders for the fourth volume of its complete Motown Singles series. This set focuses on 1964 and, like the previous volumes, is chockful of classic (and obscure) stuff. The tracks (Note disks 1-15 are in Vols. 1-3):

Complete Motown Singles 1964

Disc 16

1. Castles In The Sand - Stevie Wonder
2. Thank You (For Loving Me All The Way) - Stevie Wonder
3. Live Wire - Martha & The Vandellas
4. Old Love (Let's Try It Again) - Martha & The Vandellas
5. Live Wire - Martha & The Vandellas
6. Shambles - Gene Henslee
7. Beautiful Women - Gene Henslee
8. The Way You Do The Things You Do - The Temptations
9. Just Let Me Know - The Temptations
10. If Your Heart Says Yes - The Serenaders
11. I'll Cry Tomorrow - The Serenaders
12. He's A Good Guy (Yes He Is) - The Marvelettes
13. Goddess Of Love - The Marvelettes
14. How Can We Tell Him - Bobby Breen
15. Better Late Than Never - Bobby Breen
16. Run, Run, Run - The Supremes
17. I'm Giving You Your Freedom - The Supremes
18. After The Showers Came Flowers - Joanne & The Triangles
19. Don't Be A Crybaby - Joanne & The Triangles
20. (You Can't Let The Boy Overpower) The Man In You - The Miracles
21. Heartbreak Road - The Miracles
22. Only You - Sammy Turner
23. Right Now - Sammy Turner
24. Give Me A Kiss - The Hornets
25. She's My Baby - The Hornets
26. You're A Wonderful One - Marvin Gaye
27. When I'm Alone I Cry - Marvin Gaye

Disc 17

1. Can You Do it - The Contours
2. I'll Stand By You - The Contours
3. Set Me Free - Lee Alan
4. My Lady Bug Stay Away From That Beatle - R. Dean Taylor
5. Poor Girl - R. Dean Taylor
6. Like A Nightmare - The Andantes
7. If You Were Mine - The Andantes
8. Midnight Johnny - Liz Lands
9. Keep Me - Liz Lands
10. My Guy - Mary Wells
11. Oh Little Boy (What Did You Do To Me) - Mary Wells
12. In My Lonely Room - Martha & The Vandellas
13. A Tear For The Girl - Martha & The Vandellas
14. Devil With The Blue Dress - Shorty Long
15. Wind It Up - Shorty Long
16. Every Little Bit Hurts - Brenda Holloway
17. Land Of A Thousand Boys - Brenda Holloway
18. Bringin' In The Gold - Howard Crockett
19. I've Been A Long Time Leaving - Howard Crockett
20. Satisfied Mind - Bruce Channel
21. That's What's Happenin' - Bruce Channel
22. Once Upon A Time - Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells
23. What's The Matter With You Baby - Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells
24. Just Ain't Enough Love - Eddie Holland
25. I'll Be In Trouble - The Temptations
26. The Girl's Alright With Me - The Temptations

Disc 18

1. Hey Harmonica Man - Stevie Wonder
2. This Little Girl - Stevie Wonder
3. Little Acorn - Dorsey Burnette
4. Cold As Usual - Dorsey Burnette
5. You're Just Like You - Bobby Breen
6. Here Comes That Heartache - Bobby Breen
7. Try It Baby - Marvin Gaye
8. If My Heart Could Sing - Marvin Gaye
9. Hey Harmonica Man - second pressing - Stevie Wonder
10. I Like It Like That - The Miracles
11. You're So Fine And Sweet - The Miracles
12. You're My Remedy - The Marvelettes
13. A Little Bit Of Sympathy, A Little Bit Of Love - The Marvelettes
14. Where Did Our Love Go - The Supremes
15. He Means The World To Me - The Supremes
16. Jimmy Brown - Dorsey Burnette
17. Everybody's Angel - Dorsey Burnette
18. I'll Always Love You - Brenda Holloway
19. Sad Song - Brenda Holloway
20. When I'm Gone - Mary Wells
21. Guarantee (For A Lifetime) - Mary Wells
22. Baby I Need Your Loving - Four Tops
23. Call On Me - Four Tops
24. Since I've Lost You - Jimmy Ruffin
25. I Want Her Love - Jimmy Ruffin
26. You Make Me Happy - Bruce Channel
27. You Never Looked Better - Bruce Channel
28. Candy To Me - Eddie Holland
29. If You Don't Want My Love - Eddie Holland

Disc 19

1. Dancing In The Street - Martha & the Vandellas
2. There He Is (At My Door) - Martha & the Vandellas
3. Baby I Miss You - Tommy Good
4. Leaving Here - Tommy Good
5. My Smile Is Just A Frown (Turned Upside Down) - Carolyn Crawford
6. I'll Come Running - Carolyn Crawford
7. Looking For The Right Guy - Kim Weston
8. Feel Alright Tonight - Kim Weston
9. Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue) - The Temptations
10. Baby, Baby I Need You - The Temptations
11. My Lil's Run Off - Howard Crockett
12. Spanish Lace And Memories - Howard Crockett
13. Satan's Blues - Junior Walker And The All Stars
14. Monkey Jump - Junior Walker And The All Stars
15. Bread Winner - Sammy Ward
16. You've Got To Change - Sammy Ward
17. It's A Crying Shame (The Way You Treat A Good Man Like Me) - Shorty Long
18. Out To Get You - Shorty Long
19. That's What Love Is Made Of - Single Version - The Miracles
20. Would I Love You - The Miracles
21. Lifetime Man - Oma Heard
22. Mr. Lonely Heart - Oma Heard
23. Baby Don't You Do It - Single Version - Marvin Gaye
24. Walk On The Wild Side - Marvin Gaye
25. Needle In A Haystack - Single Version - The Velvelettes
26. Should I Tell Him - The Velvelettes
27. Happy Street - Stevie Wonder
28. Sad Boy - Single Version - Mono - Stevie Wonder

Disc 20

1. Baby Love - The Supremes
2. Ask Any Girl - The Supremes
3. Whisper You Love Me Boy - Mary Wells
4. I'll Be Available - Mary Wells
5. Soul Stomp - Earl Van Dyke
6. Hot 'N' Tot - Earl Van Dyke
7. What Good Am I Without You - Marvin Gaye, Kim Weston
8. I Want You 'Round - Marvin Gaye, Kim Weston
9. Who You Gonna Run To - Mickey McCullers
10. Same Old Story - Alternate Mix - Mickey McCullers
11. Sweet Thing - Single Version - The Spinners
12. How Can I - The Spinners
13. Hello Love - The Majestics
14. The Further You Look, The Less You See - The Majestics
15. Tonight's The Night - The Headliners
16. You're Bad News - The Headliners
17. Too Many Fish In The Sea - The Marvelettes
18. A Need For Love - The Marvelettes
19. Come See About Me - The Supremes
20. You're Gone (But Always In My Heart) - The Supremes
21. Pretty Little Angel - Stevie Wonder
22. Tears In Vain - Single Version - Stevie Wonder
23. Pretty Little Angel - Stevie Wonder
24. Without The One You Love (Life's Not Worthwhile) - Four Tops
25. Love Has Gone - Four Tops
26. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - Marvin Gaye
27. Forever - Single Version - Marvin Gaye
28. A Little More Love - Kim Weston
29. Go Ahead And Laugh - Kim Weston

Disc 21

1. Wild One - Martha & The Vandellas
2. Dancing Slow - Martha & The Vandellas
3. When Someone's Good To You - Carolyn Crawford
4. My Heart - Carolyn Crawford
5. Can You Jerk Like Me - The Contours
6. That Day When She Needed Me - The Contours
7. Come On Do The Jerk - The Miracles
8. Baby Don’t You Go - The Miracles
9. Randy, The Newspaper Boy - Ray Oddis
10. Happy Ghoul Tide - Ray Oddis
11. Talkin’ To Your Picture - Tony Martin
12. Our Rhapsody - Tony Martin
13. Ever Since The World Began - Dorsey Burnette
14. Long Long Time Ago - Dorsey Burnette
15. This Is The Life - Marvin Gaye
16. My Way - Marvin Gaye
17. My Girl - The Temptations
18. (Talkin’ ’Bout) Nobody But My Baby - The Temptations
19. Come See About Me - Choker Campbell’s Big Band
20. Pride And Joy - Choker Campbell’s Big Band
21. Put Me In Your Pocket - Howard Crockett
22. The Miles - Howard Crockett
23. He Was Really Sayin’ Somethin’ - The Velvelettes
24. Throw A Farewell Kiss - The Velvelettes

The set ships Feb. 24.

Previous volumes:
The Complete Motown Singles, Volume 1, 1959-1961
The Complete Motown Singles Volume 2, 1962
The Complete Motown Singles, Volume 3, 1963

Marvel Comics hardcovers: Good stuff ahoy

Some of these I've mentioned before, but they're all pretty major, exciting releases. A roundup seems like a good idea. Coming up:

Marvel Visionaries: John Buscema

Out next spring, this 368-page volume pays tribute to the great penciler with stories from:

* Crime Fighters #4
* Western Outlaws & Sheriffs #60
* Strange Tales #22 & #150
* Tales To Astonish #85-87
* Avengers #41-42, #75-76, #277 & Annual #2
* Silver Surfer #4
* My Love #4
* Fantastic Four #111-112
* Thor #200
* Dracula Lives #3
* Marvel Spotlight #30
* Epic Illustrated #1
* Wolverine #10
* Marvel Shadows & Light #3

The Eternals By Jack Kirby

The whole works! The 392-page volume collects all 19 issues of Kirby's underrated 1970s series, plus an annual. It's set for release next summer.

Uncanny X-Men Omnibus

A big, fat 848-page collection featuring the earliest and most influential stories from the series that brought back and revitalized the 1960s X-Men. Featuring work by Len Wein, Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, John Byrne and Terry Austin, it includes X-Men #94-131, and Giant-Size X-Men #1 plus the original letters pages and other extras. It's due out in April.

CD new releases Feb. 7, 2006

Belle & Sebastian The Life Pursuit

Ray Davies The Storyteller

Jack DeJohnette and Bill Frisell The Elephant Sleeps but Still Remembers

Eric Dolphy Quintet with Herbie Hancock Left Alone

Dave Douglas Keystone

John Entwistle Mad Dog, The Rock and Too Late the Hero

Andrew Hill Smokestack

Minus 5 Minus 5

Hank Mobley Workout

Lee Morgan The Gigolo

Beth Orton Comfort of Strangers

Horace Silver Horace-Scope

Stanley Turrentine Joyride

Mary Lou Williams Collective with Geri Allen Zodiac Suite: Revisited

DVD new releases Feb. 7, 2006

The Batman - The Complete First Season

The Best of The Electric Company

Breakfast at Tiffany's (Anniversary Edition)

Growing Pains - The Complete First Season

The Lost World, Vol. 1 Episodes 1 to 5

The Lost World, Vol. 2 Episodes 6 to 10

Moonlighting: Season 3

Teen Titans - The Complete First Season

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (Widescreen Edition)

See more upcoming DVDs.

Pop Artifact! Fred Flintstone dinosaur toy

Vintage comic book ad

Comics previews

Mile High Comics has first looks at: 100 Bullets #69; Batman Legends Of The Dark Knight #200; Captain Atom Armageddon #5; Jonah Hex #4; Wildcats Nemesis #6; Ares #2; Franklin Richards One Shot #1; I Heart Marvel: Web Of Romance #1; Incredible Hulk #92; Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four #9; Marvel Knights 4 #27; Marvel Zombies #3; Sensational Spider-Man #23; X-Men #182 and X-Men The 198 #2.

See a complete list of upcoming comics.

"Justice League Unlimited" episodes features lots of Whedonverse alums

Stars of various Joss Whedon shows ("Buffy," "Angel," "Firefly") are lending their voices to upcoming episodes of the "Justice League Unlimited" animated series:

Gina Torres as Vixen
Amy Acker as Huntress
Morena Baccarin as Black Canary
Nathan Fillion as Vigilante
Adam Baldwin as Bonk / Jonah Hex / Hal Jordan (uncred.)
Armin Shimerman as Dr. Milo
Juliet Landau as Tala / Plastique
Giselle Loren as Stargirl
Daniel Dae Kim as TBC
Alexis Denisof as Mirror Master

Here are details on upcoming episodes:

Episode #31 - Flash and Substance
Original Airdate - February 11th, 2006
Batman and Orion see a different side of the Flash when a rogues’ gallery of villains attacks the museum that is opening in his honor.
Already aired in the UK.
Features Alexis Denisof as Mirror Master.

Episode #32 - Dead Reckoning
Original Airdate - February 18th, 2006
The ghost of a circus performer convinces Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman to help him retrieve the stolen souls of a mystic order of Monks. Already aired in the UK.
Features Juliet Landau as Tala.

Episode #33 - Patriot Act
Original Airdate - February 25th, 2006
When an out of control super soldier threatens Metropolis, Green Arrow leads seven non-powered Justice Leaguers, including Crimson Avenger and Shining Knight, in a battle they can’t hope to win. Already aired in the UK.
Features Nathan Fillion as Vigilante and Gisele Loren as Stargirl.

Episode #34 - The Great Brain Robbery
Original Airdate - March 4th, 2006
A mystical accident leads to Lex Luthor and the Flash’s minds being swapped into each other’s bodies. Already aired in the UK.
Features Juliet Landau as Tala.

Episode #35 - Grudge Match
Original Airdate - March 11th, 2006
Roulette starts Metabrawl (“Cat and Canary”) again, this time with an all-female fight card made up of Justice Leaguers. Already aired in the UK.
Features Juliet Landau as Tala, Morena Baccarin as Black Canary, Amy
Acker as Huntress and Gina Torres as Vixen.

Episode #36 - Far From Home
Original Airdate - March 18th, 2006
Supergirl, Green Lantern and Green Arrow travel into the future where they meet the Legion of Super Heroes and their enemies The Fatal
Five. Already aired in the UK.

Episode #37 - Ancient History
Original Airdate - March 25th, 2006
The Shadow Thief returns and so does Hawkman as more mysteries from “Shadow of the Hawk” are explored.

Episode #38 - Alive (Part 1)
Original Airdate - April 1st, 2006
In a knock-down drag out battle on Earth and in space, the power moving behind the scenes of the villains is revealed leading to the most unexpected team-up in Justice League history.

Episode #39 - Destroyer (Part 2)
Original Airdate - April 8th, 2006 - Series Finale
In a knock-down drag out battle on Earth and in space, the power moving behind the scenes of the villains is revealed leading to the most unexpected team-up in Justice League history.

Upcoming goodies from TwoMorrows Publishing

WRITE NOW! #12, the magazine about comics and animation writing, brings you an interview with DC Comics President and Publisher PAUL LEVITZ
about the art, craft and business of comics writing! An in-depth
interview with STEVE ENGLEHART about his amazing career and thoughts on
writing for today’s market! A SURVEY of TOP COMICS EDITORS from Marvel,
DC, Dark Horse and other companies; find out the best way to submit
your work to them! Marvel Editor ANDY SCHMIDT tells you how to break in—and,
just as important—how to stay in the comics writing game! Movie and
comics writer ROBERT TINNELL talks about how comics and movies are the
same—and how they’re different! Plus: Eye-opening Nuts and Bolts
examples of script and art from top comics creators, and a stunning
Justice Society cover by GEORGE PÉREZ! Edited by DANNY FINGEROTH.

The 80 page (plus cover), saddle-stitched 8 1/2" x 11" magazine with a
full color cover and black-and-white interiors retails for $6.95 in the
U.S. and ships 26 April 2006.

COLLECTED JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR, VOLUME 5

Kirby fans demanded more, so this fifth volume is a gargantuan 224-page
trade paperback, reprinting the sold-out issues #20-22 of The Jack
Kirby Collector, the critically-acclaimed magazine for Kirby fans! Included
are the “Kirby’s Women,” “Wackiest Work,” and “Villains” issues,
featuring three unseen interviews with Jack Kirby, plus new ones with
Jack’s daughter LISA KIRBY, and industry pros DAVE STEVENS, GIL KANE,
BRUCE TIMM STEVE RUDE, and MIKE MIGNOLA! PLUS: see a complete ten-page
unpublished Kirby story still in pencil! Jack’s mind-blowing original
pencils to FANTASTIC FOUR #49 (from the fabled Galactus trilogy)! An
analysis comparing Kirby’s margin notes to Stan Lee’s dialogue on
classic Marvel comics! And a NEW special section with over 30 pieces of
Kirby art never before published, including Jack’s uninked pencils from
The Demon, Forever People, Jimmy Olsen, Kamandi, Eternals, Captain
America, Black Panther, and more! With page after page of rare Kirby
art(much in its original pencil form), and a dynamite KIRBY/DAVE STEVENS
cover, it’s a celebration of the most prolific creator in comics
history: Jack “King” Kirby! Edited by JOHN MORROW.

The 224 page (plus cover), squarebound 8-1/2" x 11" Trade Paperback
with a full color cover and black-and-white interiors retails for $24.95 in
the U.S. and ships 12 April 2006.

MODERN MASTERS VOLUME SEVEN: JOHN BYRNE

The next volume of the Modern Masters series celebrates the life and
work of one of today’s top artists, John Byrne! From the death of
Phoenix to the rebirth of Superman, Byrne is one of the most
influential comic book artists working in the business. On the X-Men, he penciled
the greatest stories in the history of the title and helped propel the
X-Men to their current household-name status. His work as writer and
artist of Fantastic Four returned the group to prominence within the
Marvel Universe. And his reboot of the Superman mythology brought
national attention to the comic book industry. Modern Masters Volume 7:
John Byrne features an extensive, career-spanning interview lavishly
illustrated with rare and unpublished art, as well as a large
sketchbook section. Experience this look at his incredible body of work on such
titles as Captain America, Alpha Flight, She-Hulk, Superman/Batman:
Generations, and his creator-owned Next Men, and it’s easy to see that
John Byrne deserves the title Modern Master. By JON B. COOKE and ERIC
NOLEN-WEATHINGTON.

The 128 page (plus cover), squarebound 8-1/2" x 11" Trade Paperback
with a full color cover and black-and-white interiors retails for $14.95 in
the U.S. and ships 19 April 2006.

Pop Culture Roundup Feb. 6, 2006

Check out the newest Beatles "beatleg" podcast.

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Scar Stuff shares some more 1970s "Spider-Man" records.

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Datajunkie shares an old-time radio story featuring Bela Lugosi.

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Just Jared has some more "Spider-Man 3" set pictures.

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Mike Sterling links up with the Silver Surfer.

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Test your Superboy IQ with Dial B for Blog.

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Fred Hembeck remembers "Munsters" and "Car 54, Where Are You?" star Al Lewis. Here's a New York Times obit of Lewis.

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Doctor Strange will square off against the Dread Dormammu in a direct-to-DVD film due out from Marvel Comics and Lionsgate Films later this year or in early 2007, the Comics Continuum reports. An Iron Man DVD is also in the works and one featuring the Ultimate Avengers just came out.

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Comedian Ricky Gervais' ("The Office," "Extras") podcasts on the UK Guardian site are the most-downloaded podcasts ever, apparently.

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Actor James Cromwell ("Six Feet Under," "Star Trek: First Contact") will play Capt. Stacy, father of Gwen, in "Spider-Man 3."

Major Matt Mason Toys: TIP! Saturday Picture Page

Coming on the TIP! Saturday Picture Page

Major Matt Mason Toys! Tune in tomorrow!

Pop Artifact! Superman muscle-building set

Vintage DC Comics House Ad

"Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" due on DVD April 4

Single and double-disk versions of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" are due out April 4 from Disney.

The only extras on the single-disk version are a commentary from commentary director Andrew Adamson and cast members and a second commentary from members of the film's production team.

The double-disk collector's edition includes the above commentaries plus:

* A collector’s booklet.
* A director film diary.
* Fun facts.
* Bloopers.
* Anatomy of a Scene: The Melting River featurette.
* Film diaries from key production members.
* Featurettes on creature creation.
* "From One Man's Mind" feature on author C.S. Lewis
* A 3-D journey through the land of Narnia.
* A Narnia timeline.

At the moment, Amazon is listing the double-disk set for $24.99 and single-disk version for $20.99.

Pop Culture Roundup Feb. 3, 2006

Bedazzled presents Will Shatner singing Harry Chapin's "Taxi" on the 1970s "Dinah!" show. I'm sorry.

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Not content with counting down the Top 10 Best Exotica Albums of All Time, Xtabay is also sharing a compilation featuring 21 versions of that exotica standard, "Quiet Village." Put on your pith helmet and fix yourself a drink with an umbrella in it...

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New York's Film Forum is celebrating the 75th anniversary of "Frankenstein" with a tribute to Boris Karloff.

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A bio-pic of the late Beatles manager Brian Epstein is in the works and has the support of Epstein's estate.

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Virginia Madsen may star as the much-younger love interest opposite Harrison Ford in the upcoming "Indiana Jones" flick, Ain't it Cool reports.

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In the works from Warner Home Video, a 14-disk set featuring all three Christopher Reeve "Superman" movies and lots and lots of bonus material, including director Richard Donner's cut of "Superman II," which is 40 percent longer than the released version. According to the Hollywood Reporter: "Donner was fired 70% into the shoot, and much of what he filmed has been locked away in the vaults. Newly restored footage includes an alternate opening in which Lois Lane suspects Clark Kent is the Man of Steel and then almost dies trying to prove it."

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Just Jared has some fresh pics from the set of "Spider-Man 3."

Top 10 graphic novels, DVDs, CDs and action figures Feb. 3

At Amazon:

Graphic Novels

1. Attack of the Bacon Robots (Penny Arcade, Vol. 1)
2. Serenity
3. The Complete Calvin and Hobbes
4. V for Vendetta
5. Watchmen
6. DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore
7. The Walking Dead Vol. 4: The Heart's Desire
8. Fables Vol. 6: Homelands
9. Black Hole
10. Tsubasa 8 : RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE (Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle)

DVDs

1. Wallace & Gromit - The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (Widescreen Edition)
2. Grey's Anatomy - Season 1
3. 24 - Season Four
4. Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (Widescreen Edition)
5. Family Guy, Vol. 3
6. Crash (Widescreen Edition)
7. Wedding Crashers - Uncorked (Unrated Widescreen Edition)
8. 24 - Season Two
9. 24 - Season Three
10. Dune (Extended Edition)

CDs

1. The Greatest - Cat Power
2. Whatever People Say I Am Thats What I Am Not - The Arctic Monkeys
3. Rabbit Fur Coat - Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins
4. Comfort of Strangers - Beth Orton
5. Illinois - Sufjan Stevens
6. The Life Pursuit -Belle & Sebastian
7. Get Behind Me Satan - The White Stripes
8. Demon Days - Gorillaz
9. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
10. On An Island - David Gilmour

Action Figures

1. King Kong Skull Island Playset
2. Star Wars Episode III Battlepack Figures: Rebel Vs. Empire
3. Marvel Legends Gift Pack Spider-Man classic Feasome Foes Gift Pack
4. Star Wars Revenge Of The Sith AT-RT Driver with Missile- Firing Blaster
5. Star Wars Revenge of the Sith Figure: Wookiee Commando
6. The Chronicles of Narnia Action Figure: Aslan
7. The Chronicles of Narnia Action Figure: Minotaur
8. Spider Man Classic Asst. 15 Rocket Blast Spider Man
9. Star Wars Revenge of The Sith OBI- Wan Kenobi with Pilot Gear
10. Spider-Man Classic Web Car and Web Copter

Pop Artifact! Hawkman button

Vintage DC Comics House Ad

Pop Culture Roundup Feb. 2, 2006

Each year the "Seattle Reads" program selects a book everyone in the city is encouraged to read and discuss together. This year the selection is Marjane Satrapi's excellent "Persepolis," the first time a graphic novel has been chosen.

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Via Lady, That's My Skull, Joe Kubert draws Ed McMahon.

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"Lost" actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje delivered the traditional prayer before the Hawaii state Senate yesterday. Better than getting picked up from drunk driving.

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Via Mark Evanier: Animation actress June Foray ("Bullwinkle" and much more) is on the "Ellen" show Feb. 8.

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Check out (and hear) Xtabay's choice for Best Exotica Album of All Time.

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Sonic Pollution presents rare TV footage of the Julie Driscoll/Brian Auger Trinity.

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Coming from ActionFigureXpress in April, it's Cheerleader Buffy:

That goofy "Spider-Man 3" casting

So the "Spider-Man" movie franchise, which for the past two movies featured a blonde playing a redhead (Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson) will now feature a redhead playing a blonde (Bryce Dallas Howard as Gwen Stacy).

Weird. And it gets even stranger when you consider Dunst's Mary Jane character was placed in a very Gwen Stacy-getting-dropped-by-Green Goblin scene in the first flick (unlike Gwen in the 1970s comic, however, the movie Mary Jane survived).

But what the heck. I was pretty entertained by the first two Spidey flicks and look forward to the next. Despite whatever tweaks and changes they make, the films are still in many ways more loyal to the spirit of the original Lee-Ditko, Lee-Romita comics than the stuff Marvel is publishing today.

Here's Bryce Howard, now blonde: