Review: "Wisdom from the Batcave: How to Live a Super, Heroic Life"
It's easy to write off superhero comics as simple wish fulfillment: They're all about adolescent power fantasies.
After all, who wouldn't want the strength to beat up people you don't like? Or the power to fly? That would be cool.
But do superhero stories offer us anything else? Do they have any deeper value besides fantasy, escapism and nostalgia?
Carey A. Friedman thinks so, and details this belief in "Wisdom from the Batcave."
Friedman is a rabbi and this book is a spiritual self-help work of sorts, but not a cheesy, gimmicky one.
Friedman takes superheroes, especially Batman, quite seriously. He takes a close look at the Batman myth and what it tells us about living a meaningful life.
Batman is the ideal character for such an exercise because, more than any other superhero, he's human. He doesn't have any particular super powers. True, he's super intelligent and very strong. And he has an incredible car. But if we use our imaginations enough, achieving what he's achieved is in some way possible. We can all work toward improving ourselves.
And that goes beyond simply doing lots of pushups. Using Batman as an example, Friedman details the importance of family (Batman's got Robin, Alfred and an assortment of other folks he relies on for support), facing adversity (Batman emerges from the tragedy of his parents' death to do something constructive in the world--fighting crime) and strong principles. And it all comes off a lot less hokey than you might think.
A former chaplain at Duke University, Friedman got the idea of using Batman in this fashion while doing "Spiritual Survival for Law Enforcement" workshops for the FBI. Those sessions drew from philosophy and different religious traditions in order to give law enforcement officers the psychic tools they need to persevere in situations that sometimes feel bleak and hopeless. But while teaching the class and thinking about his own reservoirs of strenght and inspiration, Friedman kept coming back to Batman.
No doubt many of us other grown-ups owe more than we might think to the characters who inspired as us children. In a way, that made us who we are. Or who we'd like to be. And maybe that's why many of us still have an emotional attachment--one that goes beyond mere nostaligia--to these characters today.
Published by Compass Books, "Wisdom from the Batcave" is available in bookstores or via www.batwisdom.com
CD new releases Oct. 24, 2006
The Harry Smith Project: The Anthology Of American Folk Music Revisited by Various Artists
Fuzzy Warbles Collector's Box Set by Andy Partridge
Voices on the Air: the Peel Sessions by Siouxsie & the Banshees
Collectors' King Crimson, Vol. 1 by King Crimson
Complete Peel Sessions by Pulp
1964 Orchestra Recordings by Carmen McRae
Imaginary Kingdom by Tim Finn
Message in a Box by Police
Soul Jazz Records Presents Dynamite Dancehall by Various Artists
In Five Easy Pieces by Scott Walker
Master (1961-1984) by Marvin Gaye
Direction Reaction Creation by The Jam
More Upcoming CDs
DVD new releases Oct. 24, 2006
The L-Word - The Complete Third Season
The O.C. - The Complete Third Season
Justice League Unlimited - Season One
Bewitched - The Complete Fourth Season
MacGyver - The Complete Final Season
Wings - The Complete Third Season
Monster House (Widescreen Edition)
Voyage to the Bottom of Sea Season 2 V.1
Sesame Street Old School 1: 1969-1974
Facts of Life: Complete Third Season
Saturday Night Live - The Best of Saturday TV Funhouse
World According to Sesame Street
Porky's (Widescreen Special Edition)
More Upcoming DVD Releases
DVD: Saturday Night Live season 1 - what does it include?
The eight-disk box includes full episodes: Sketches, musical performances and all. To give you an idea of what all is featured, here's a listing of all the first season's lead and musical guests:
Ep. Guest/Music
1. George Carlin/Janis Ian & Billy Preston
2. Paul Simon/Art Garfunkel, Randy Newman, Phoebe Snow (featuring a Simon and Garfunkel reunion on "Scarborough Fair")
3. Rob Reiner/John Belushi as Joe Cocker
4. Candace Bergen/Esther Phillips
5. Robert Klein/ABBA, Loudon Wainwright III
6. Lily Tomlin/Howard Shore and His All Nurse Band
7. Richard Pryor/Gil-Scott Heron, Thalamus Rasulala
8. Candice Bergen/The Stylistics, Martha Reeves
9. Elliott Gould/Anne Murray
10. Buck Henry/Bill Withers, Toni Basil
11. Peter Cook, Dudley Moore/Neil Sedaka
12. Dick Cavett/Jimmy Cliff
13. Peter Boyle/Al Jarreau, The Shapiro Sisters
14. Desi Arnaz/Desi Arnaz, Jr.
15. Jill Clayburgh/Leon Redbone
16. Anthony Perkins/Betty Carter
17. Ron Nessen/Toni Basil, Patti Smith
18. Raquel Welch/Phoebe Snow, John Sebastian
19. Madeline Kahn/Carly Simon
20. Dyan Cannon/Leon and Mary Russell
21. Buck Henry/Gordon Lightfoot
22. Elliott Gould/Leon Redbone, Harlan Collins & Joyce Everson
23. Louise Lasser/Preservation Hall Jazz Band
24. Kris Kristofferson/Rita Coolidge
Other guests during the first season include Andy Kaufman and Jim Henson's Muppets on several episodes along with Albert Brooks, Al Franken and Billy Crystal.
The set is due out Dec. 5. It's available for pre-order now for $48.99 from Amazon.
DVD: The Complete Uncensored Private Snafu
This one-disk collection is due out Dec. 5 and is available for pre-order for $10.99 now from Amazon.
Commissioned by the military during World War II, this collection of propaganda cartoons has not been seen in over fifty years. Created by the famed animators at Warner Bros. from 1943-1946 and voiced by the legendary Mel Blanc, this DVD presents all twenty-eight Private Snafu cartoons ever released:
Coming! SNAFU! by Chuck Jones, released June 1943
Gripes by Friz Freleng, July 1943
Spies by Chuck Jones, August 1943
The Goldbrick by Frank Tashlin, September 1943
The Infantry Blues by Chuck Jones, September 1943
Fighting Tools by Bob Clampett, October 1943
The Home Front by Frank Tashin, November 1943
Rumors by Friz Freleng, December 1943
Boo by Traps by Bob Clampett, January 1944
SNAFUperman by Friz Freleng, March 1944
SNAFU vs Malaria Mike by Chuck Jones, March 1944
A Lecture on Camouflage by Chuck Jones, April 1944
Gas by Chuck Jones, May 1944
Going Home by Chuck Jones, May 1944
The Chow Hand by Frank Tashlin, June 1944
Censored by Frank Tashlin, July 1944
Payday by Friz Freleng, September 1944
Target SNAFU by Friz Freleng, October 1944
A Few Quick Facts: Inflation by Osmond Evans, November 1945
Three Brothers by Friz Freleng, December 1944
In the Aleutions by Chuck Jones, February 1945
A Few Quick Facts: Fear by Zach Schwartz, April 1945
It's Murder She Says... by Chuck Jones, May 1945
Hot Spot by Friz Freleng, July 1945
Operation SNAFU by Friz Freleng, July 1945
No Buddy Atoll by Chuck Jones, October 1945
Private SNAFU Presents Seaman TARFU by George Gordon, January 1946
DVD Charlie Chan Collection Vol. 2 out Dec. 15
It's available for pre-order now for $41.99 from Amazon.
Films included:
Charlie Chan at the Opera, 1936
While ostensibly on vacation with his wife and twelve children, famed detective Charlie Chan visits a circus at just the right time to become involved in the murder of one of the circus owners. Chan is prevailed upon to travel with the circus in hopes of discovering the killer before he, she - or it - strikes again.
Charlie Chan at the Olympics, 1936
Regarded by many as the best of the Charlie Chan series. The opera star Gravelle suffers amnesia. He is a recent escapee from an insane asylum, accused of murdering fellow performers (his wife and her lover). Included in the movie is the opera "Carnival", composed for the picture by Oscar Levant.
Charlie Chan at the Race Track, 1936
While steaming from Honolulu to Los Angeles the owner of a prize racehorse headed for the Santa Anita Handicap is killed, apparently kicked to death by his stallion. Not so, deduces Charlie. Leter he exposes efforts to fix a race at the famous track.
Charlie Chan at the Circus, 1937
Spies have an invention which will allow its posessor to remote-control flying aircraft. The U.S. Navy, the Berlin police, and No. 1 son Lee Chan (a member of the U.S. Swim Team at the Berlin Olympics) help Charlie capture the spies.
Doctor Who season 2 set up for pre-order
The release date is Jan. 16.
Extras on the set include:
* Out-takes
* Deleted scenes
* Audio Commentary available on nine episodes, with In Vision commentary available on five episodes - featuring cast and crew including David Tennant and Billie Piper
* 13 Doctor Who Confidential Episodes (edited versions)
* David's Video Diaries
* Billie's Video Diary
* Children in Need special
* Audio description and subtitles available on each episode
The set also includes all 13 episodes from the season:
1. The Christmas Invasion
2. New Earth
3. Tooth And Claw
4. School Reunion
5. The Girl In The Fireplace
6. Rise Of The Cybermen
7. Age of Steel
8. The Idiot's Lantern
9. The Impossible Planet
10. The Satan Pit
11. Love & Monsters
12. Fear Her
13. Army Of Ghosts
14. Doomsday
See the Best Doctor Who Sites on the Web
Pop Culture Roundup Oct. 23, 2006
...the notebook, which contains lyrics to several unpublished Williams songs and has a value as high as $250,000.
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Mike Sterling provides some comic book investment advice.
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Fans of the Doors will wanna check out NPR's Fresh Air for interviews with drummer John Densmore, keyboardist Ray Manzarek and Elektra Records head Jac Holzman.
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Happy first blogging anniversary to On My Mind.
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Via PCL LinkDump an extensive UK Nancy Sinatra fan club site.
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Sharity: Forrest J. Ackerman and Frank Coe Music For Robots
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Yahoo! has a sneak peek at tonight's ep of "Heroes."
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Monty Python's Terry Jones is recovering from cancer surgery.
Ms Shields said: "Terry's doctors are very cheered with an early diagnosis of possible colon cancer for which he has now had routine surgery in a London private hospital."
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"E.C. Segar's Complete Popeye" Vol. 1 out Nov. 30
E.C. Segar's Complete Popeye Vol. 1: I Yam What I Yam
Most folks are familiar with Popeye through a variety of incarnations that have ensconced the character in the public consciousness for almost 80 years—the animated Popeye cartoons, the feature film Popeye, etc.—but far fewer have been exposed to the original brilliance of Popeye's creator, E.C. Segar. Now, comic strip fans can experience Segar's original comic strips through this new six-volume series.
In 1929, Segar took his eccentric Thimble Theatre comic strip (which began in 1919) and introduced Popeye, transforming the strip almost overnight into one of the most popular works of art in American history. Segar's entire cast of characters, such as Olive Oyl, Wimpy, Eugene the Jeep, the Sea Hag, and Alice the Goon became a part of American culture. This outwardly farcical gaggle of vaudevillian-esque antiheroes, bumbling about on picaresque chases was one of the most sophisticated—and hilarious—comic strips in history.
Fantagraphics' Popeye will collect the complete run of Segar's Thimble Theatre comic strip (dailies and color Sundays) featuring Popeye, re-establishing Segar as one of the first rank of cartoonists who have elevated the comic strip to art. He was the most popular cartoonist of his day, his sense of humor coming straight out of Mark Twain, who also balanced exaggerated tall tales and a perfect ear for everyday speech with dark themes that undercut his laugh-out-loud stories.
In this first volume, covering 1928-1930, Popeye's initial courtship of Olive Oyl takes center stage while Olive's brother Castor Oyl discovers the mysterious Whiffle Hen. Also, the entire cast meets the Sea Hag for the first time in their pursuit of the "Mystery House" (Popeye's first extended daily narrative), and Castor Oyl attempts to turn Popeye into a boxing champion in a series of hilarious Sunday strips.
These strips are masterpieces of comic invention. Popeye's omnipotence pre-figures the rise of superheroes in the 1930s and 1940s, though Popeye is a much more sympathetic character, and his very name announces his vibrant personality. He's a scoundrel with a heart of gold, and a tongue of silver: "My sweet patootie loves me because I yama high-voltage poppa, and she is my hotsy-totsy momma!" His mangled English pulsated with the vital spirit of immigrant America, its rhythm poetic in its own vulgar way: 'I yam what I yam and tha's all I yam.'"
Segar blended complex narrative, slapstick traditions, brilliant characterization, and an inimitable cartooning style to create the most exciting and profound humor of its era, rivaling even the great film comics of his era, such as Charlie Chaplin and the Marx Brothers.
See the Best Comic Strip Sites on the Web.
Beatles' Love cover art revealed, up for pre-order
special edition and standard versions of the album now on Amazon.
Produced by George and Giles Martin, the album is the soundtrack to the Cirque de Soleil show of the same name, now running in Las Vegas.
The father-and-son production son created the score using both released and unreleased studio recordings of the Fabs and mashed them up--putting vocals tracks on top of the backing track of other tunes, etc.
The special edition includes the standard CD plus a DVD audio disk with the music in both stereo and 5.1 sound.
Here's the track list:
1. Because
2. Get Back
3. Glass Onion
4. Eleanor Rigby/Julia (Transition)
5. I Am The Walrus
6. I Want To Hold Your Hand
7. Drive My Car/The Word/What You're Doing
8. Gnik Nus
9. Something/Blue Jay Way (Transition)
10. Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!/I Want You (She's So Heavy)/Helter Skelter
11. Help!
12. Blackbird/Yesterday
13. Strawberry Fields Forever
14. Within You Without You/Tomorrow Never Knows
15. Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
16. Octopus's Garden
17. Lady Madonna
18. Here Comes The Sun/The Inner Light (Transition)
19. Come Together/Dear Prudence/Cry Baby Cry (Transition)
20. Revolution
21. Back In The U.S.S.R.
22. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
23. A Day In The Life
24. Hey Jude
25. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
26. All You Need Is Love
See the Best Beatles Sites on the Web
More "Fantastic Four 3" set pictures: Invisible Woman in action
See the Best Fantastic Four Sites on the Web.