Pop Culture Roundup July 14, 2006

Take the Last Train to Cashville!

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As announced yesterday, Gemstone Publishing will be reprinting the classic EC Comics line in "archive" hardcover editions. I think this great news. But, like some other folks--including Joanna over at Comics Worth Reading--I have some reservations about this part of the news:

The EC Archives editions will present these stories with all-new colors based on the originals, but utilizing new methods of shading and texture to enhance and improve each story's impact.

I'm not a fan of most modern, computerized comic book coloring. In many cases, all the hues and shades tend to overpower the art, particularly when it's added to older stories originally presented in "flat" color. But I also get the sense that this archive line is a labor of love on Gemstone's part, so maybe the use of modern colors will be respectful of the original colors and subtle.

I'm thinking we'll see something akin to the new colors added Gemstone's current reprintings of Carl Barks' classic Donald Duck comics: Bright, expressive, but not distracting.

Joanna also isn't keen on the EC Archives including the comics' original house ads, etc. I'm actually glad this is the case. Those old house ads are popular with fans, as evidenced by their regular appearance on the Web, such as on the DC Archives board, Dial B for Blog, here, etc. Such surrounding elements help recapture the period in which the comics first appeared.

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On NPR: Downloadable concerts by Gomez and the Bad Plus.

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Original "Star Wars" films on DVD details

As mentioned a while back, the original versions of first three "Star Wars" movies (i.e. the ones that didn't suck) will be out on DVD Sept. 12.

These are the versions originally shown in theaters without all the CGI ickiness Director George Lucas insisted on adding later on.

The new releases are double DVD sets, including the original cuts and the new-and-unimproved versions, plus some extras. Here are the specs:


Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope (1977 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)


Disc 1:
* Widescreen Feature (Enhanced Trilogy Version)
* Commentary by George Lucas, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren and Carrie Fisher
* Easter Egg - Credit Roll
Disc 2:
* Widescreen Feature (For Both Versions Full Screen and Widescreen) - original theatrical movie version in dolby 2.0 surround
* XBox Playable Game Demo
* Lego Game Trailer


Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980 & 2004 versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)


Disc 1:
* Widescreen Feature (Enhanced Trilogy Version)
* Commentary by George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Ben Burtt, Lawrence Kasdan, Dennis Muren, and Carrie Fisher
* Easter Egg - Credit Roll
Disc 2:
* Widescreen Feature (For Both Versions Full Screen and Widescreen) - original theatrical movie version in dolby 2.0 surround
* XBox Playable Game Demo
* Lego Game Trailer


Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983 & 2004 versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)


Disc 1:
* Widescreen Feature (Enhanced Trilogy Version)
* Commentary by George Lucas, Lawrence Kasdan, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren, and Carrie Fisher
* Easter Egg - Credit Roll
Disc 2:
* Widescreen Feature (For Both Versions Full Screen and Widescreen) - original theatrical movie version in dolby 2.0 surround
* XBox Playable Game Demo
* Lego Game Trailer

All three sets are available for pre-order now from Amazon, click the above links for details.

DVD: Abbott and Costello Show 100th Anniversary

I'm thinking it's the 100th anniversary of either Abbott or Costello (who was born first?) not the show, since TV wasn't around a century ago. Anyway, details are scant other than that this set exists and will be out Sept. 5.

As you can see on the cover art, the set includes 26 episodes from the show's first season on five disks. It's available for pre-order now from Amazon.

DVD: Flintstones season 6

The sixth season of "The Flintstones" is due out Sept. 5 and available now for pre-order from Amazon.

Details:

For those who leave no stone unturned, here's the sixth and final season of the greatest archeological dig in cartoon history. And its 26 episodes are treasure well worth excavating! Exploring every realm of popular parody, The Flintstones delighted kids but tickled adults even more with howlingly funny takeoffs of such "trendy" TV shows as Bewitched (with the voices of Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York in Samantha), award-winning movies (My Fair Freddy and The Treasure of Sierra Madrock) and kitschy spoofs of Hollywood royalty in Return of Stoney Curtis. The show's writers even had the foresight to project into the future, as in The Long Long Long Weekend, guest-starring the series' newest character, space alien Gazoo.

DVD: Teens Titans, The Batman season 2 sets

The complete second seasons of "Teen Titans" and "The Batman" are out Sept. 12. Click the links to pre-order from Amazon now.


Teen Titans - The Complete Second Season

Dangerous enemy or lifelong friend? That's the question of Season 2 when Terra, a free-spirited teen with awesome earth-manipulating powers, rolls into town. As a skilled fighter, she makes a powerful addition to the Titans' fight against crime, and as a fun-loving, no-holds-barred hero, she jives instantly with their team chemistry. But the Titans aren't the only ones interested in recruiting the new girl. Robin's archnemesis Slade is on the prowl for an apprentice, and the combination of Terra's volatile powers and personal vulnerability make her a perfect target for his twisted plans. Trusting this newcomer could prove to be a fatal mistake for the Teen Titans! Throughout 13 action-packed adventures from the hit TV series (and Bombastic Bonuses too), this Deluxe 2-Disc Edition is earth-shattering entertainment!


The Batman - The Complete Second Season

Riddle me this: who's the latest villain to set his sinister sights on Gotham City? Riddler, of course, and only The Batman has the answers to stop this enigmatic evildoer. In these 13 action-packed episodes from the hit TV series, Gotham's greatest protector stumps Riddler and other favorite villains like Joker, Mr. Freeze and Penguin, and his obsession with justice earns the trust of up-and-coming police detective Jim Gordon. When Gordon offers The Batman a tentative alliance ? "Just help me make this city safe for my daughter" ? another piece of the legend falls into place! Swoop onto this Deluxe 2-Disc Edition with All Season 2 Adventures plus Exciting Extras. See justice done as no other hero can deliver!

DVD: Tomorrow Show--Tom Snyder's Electric Kool-Aid Talk Show

It's another theme-oriented collection of interviews and musical performances from Snyder's "Tomorrow Show." The last disk focused on punk/new wave performers while this one features various 60s-era folks.

Contents include:

• Interviews with:
--The Grateful Dead
--Dr. Timothy Leary
--Ken Kesey
--Tom Wolfe
• Four live performances by The Grateful Dead:
--On The Road Again
--Cassidy
--Dire Wolf
--Deep Elem Blues

The disk is out Sept. 26 and available for order now from Amazon.

EC Comics "Archives" officially announced

We mentioned the prospect of hardcover, "archive" collections of classic EC Comics quite a while back. Now it looks like official word of the reprints is out:

EC COMICS RETURN IN STUNNING NEW FORMAT

Weird Science launches a new hardcover EC Archive series available this October!

(Baltimore, MD) - July 13, 2006 - Once unjustly maligned as a cause of escalating teen delinquency during the '50s, the EC Comics line - created by publisher William Gaines and a host of some of comics' most legendary artists - is now considered by scholars, fans, and collectors alike as a milestone achievement in graphic storytelling, years ahead of its time. These comics entertained millions during their all-too-short runs and influenced some of our generation's most talented writers, filmmakers, and artists. They have inspired cartoons, movies, TV series, and countless parodies and tributes, and now these classics of the 20th century are set to return, presented in a stunning new format for the 21st century!

EC Crypt and Gemstone Publishing are proud to present the first volume in The EC Archives, launching in October 2006 with Weird Science Volume One! Previous collected editions of the classic EC Comics line reproduced the stories in black-and-white which, although showcasing the beautiful line art rendered by such EC greats as Graham "Ghastly" Ingels and Wally Wood, did not preserve the wonderful coloring expertly applied by EC and Marvel Comics veteran, Marie Severin. The EC Archives editions will present these stories with all-new colors based on the originals, but utilizing new methods of shading and texture to enhance and improve each story's impact. The reproduction of these volumes will be the best ever presented, as each of The EC Archives will be shot directly from the original EC art!

Weird Science Volume One kicks off the series in October with a 212-page hardcover volume collecting the first six issues of the legendary Sci-Fi comics series! Included are stories by Al Feldstein, William Gaines and more, with art by legendary illustrators Wally Wood, Harvey Kurtzman, Joe Orlando, Jack Kamen, Al Feldstein and others. Each volume will also include all of the original EC advertisements, editorial pieces, and even letters pages, to give readers a true idea what made EC one of the most influential comic book lines ever created.

"The EC Comics line was a classic in its day, "said Publisher Russ Cochran. "It is still popular with collectors and has been an influence on everyone from comic creators to filmmakers in Hollywood."

One filmmaker in particular who holds the EC Comics line in high regard is legendary Star Wars creator, George Lucas, who provides a nostalgic foreword for this first volume. One can assume that comics such as Weird Science helped to expand the imagination of a young George Lucas, steering him towards an eventual journey to A Galaxy Far, Far Away.

And Lucas isn't alone in his appreciation for the EC Comics line. His own friend and frequent collaborator, Steven Spielberg, provides the foreword for the second volume in the series, Shock SuspenStories Volume One, which will be released in November 2006. Thereafter, fans and collectors can expect additional volumes such as Tales from the Crypt Volume One in December 2006, Two-Fisted Tales Volume One in January 2007, and additional volumes to follow throughout 2007!

All volumes are priced at $49.95 and will be available at bookstores and comic book specialty stores.


Here's a preview of cover art:

Pop Artifact! Vac-U-Form



Vintage DC Comics House Ad



See the Best Batman Sites on the Web.

Pop Culture Roundup July 13, 2006

Bedazzled presents some more Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd vids.

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Booksteve remembers those great digest-size issues of Adventure Comics DC published back in the early 80s. Man, I miss Adventure. I was long-time fan of the title, starting with the Spectre run, through Aquaman, etc. All that great Jim Aparo art...

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Via Mike Sterling: A Palm Springs art gallery is hosting a Batman-themed exhibit with paintings by Adam West, among others. Observation: Adam West--not a great painter.



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The New York Times checks in with Jack Larson and Noel Neill, who played Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane on the 1950s "Superman" TV series and who appear in cameos in "Superman Returns."

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Dial B for Blog blends my two fave obsessions: Comic books and the Beatles.

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Billboard has details on Bob Dylan's upcoming album, Modern Times.

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Pre-order action figures July 13, 2006

Complete List of Marvel Legends Action Figures
Complete List of DC Direct Action Figures

Here's a look at action figures available via your local comics shop or via the TIP!-supporting links below:

Batman Lego Sets
--The Batmobile: Two-Face's Escape (7781)
--The Batman Dragster: Catwoman Pursuit (7779)
--The Batwing: The Joker's Aerial Assault (7782)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
--Sunnydale High School Playset
--Buffy the Vampire Slayer Action Figures: Xander, Cordelia and Xander w/ Patch
--Buffy the Vampire Slayer Action Figures: “Destiny” Angel and “Destiny” Spike Set of 2
--Buffy the Vampire Slayer Action Figures: Pylean Princess Cordelia
--Buffy the Vampire Slayer Action Figures: Angel and Spike Hawaiian Shirt Box Set

DC Direct Action Figures

Alex Ross Justice League Action Figures Series 3
--Green Lantern
--The Joker
--Plastic Man
--Wonder Woman
--Poison Ivy

Alex Ross Justice League Action Figures Series 4
--Shazam
--Black Adam
--Hawkman
--Zatanna
--Solomon Grundy

Batman Dark Victory
--Batman
--Commissioner Gordon
--Scarecrow
--Robin and Penguin

Batman/Superman: The Return of Supergirl Action Figures
--Supergirl
--Superman
--Batman
--Darkseid
--Corrupted Supergirl

DC Direct Reactivated Action Figures
--Batman
--Wonder Woman
--Lobo
--Superman

13-inch Figures
Deluxe Edition 13-inch Green Lantern
Deluxe Edition 13-inch Lex Luthor
Deluxe Edition 13-inch Two-Face
Deluxe Edition 13-inch Aquaman

Elseworlds Action Figures Series 2
--Red Son Batman
--Red Son President Superman
--Kingdom Come Jade
--Kingdom Come Spectre and Norman McKay
--Gotham By Gaslight Batman

Green Lantern Action Figures Series 2
--Manhunter Robot
--Guy Gardner
--Shark
--Saalak
--Sinestero

Infinite Crisis Action Figures Series 1
--Powergirl
--Omac
--Mongul
--Earth Prime Superboy
--Alexander Luthor

New Frontier Action Figures Series 1
--Green Lantern
--Superman
--Wonder Woman
--Green Arrow
--Black Hawk

Who's Who in the DC Universe Miniature Figures Series One

Hanna Barbera Action Figures
--Set of Five
--Fred Flintstone Chopper
--Hong Kong Phooey
--Quick Draw McGraw
--Tom and Jerry Music
--Tom and Jerry House

John Lennon
--JOHN LENNON 18" Action Figure

Marvel Figure Factory Sets
--Angel
--Beast
--Black Costume Spider-Man
--Deadpool
--Invisible Woman
--Silver Surfer

Marvel Legends Action Figures
Marvel Monsters Gift Pack
Young Avengers Gift Pack

Marvel Legends Series 14
--Original Armor Iron Man (variant)
--Longshot
--Baron Zemo (variant)
--Luke Cage: Powerman
--The Falcon (variant)
--Psylocke

Marvel Legends Series 15
--Mandarin
--Beta Ray Bill
--Moon Knight
--Spider-Woman (variant)
--Quicksilver (variant)
--Thor-Buster Iron Man
--Wasp (variant)
--Captain Marvel (variant)

Marvel Legends Exclusive Giant-Man Series
--Giant Man
--Ant Man
--Havok
--Sabretooth
--Captain Britain
--Kitty Pryde
--Thor
--Weapon X
--Warbird
--Sentry
--Weapon X variant
--Sentry Variant

Marvel Legends Face Off Twin Packs
--Kingpin Vs. Daredevil (variant)
--Hulk Vs. The Leader (variant)
--Captain America Vs. The Red Skull (variant)

Marvel Legends Icons Series
--Captain America (variant)
--Iron Man (variant)
--Wolverine (variant)
--Venom (variant)
--Spider-Man (variant)
--Hulk (variant)

Marvel Legends Masterworks Sets
--Spider-Man Vs. Green Goblin
--Fantastic Four Vs. Mole Man
--Hulk Vs. The Thing
--Galactus Vs. Everybody

Marvel Legends Showdown
--Mister Fantastic and Mole Man
--Colossus and Magneto
--Ghostrider and Vengeance
--Logan and Chopper
--Namor and Shark
--Green Goblin
--Beast (variant)
--Juggernaut (variant)
--Elektra (variant)
-- Silver Surfer
-- Spider-Man and Thing
-- Wolverine and Hulk
-- Dock Ock
-- Black Costume Spider-Man
-- Punisher
-- Doctor Doom
-- Captain America
-- Human Torch

Marvel Mega Morphs
--The Thing
--Iron Man
--Magneto

Marvel Select Figures
--Spider-Woman
--Moon Knight
--Cloak and Dagger

Marvel Studios
--Dr. Doom with Mask
--Dr. Doom unmasked

Star Wars Transformers
--Millennium Falcon With Han Solo and Chewbacca

X-Men 3 Action Figures
--Air Strike Wolverine
--Angel
--Stealth Cyclops
--Tech Gear Beast
--Phoenix
--Colossus
--Nightcrawler
--Iceman
--Rogue
--Avalanche
--Sabretooth