Pop Culture Safari!

More upcoming DVD releases

CD new releases Feb. 27, 2007

Third (Bonus CD) by Soft Machine

Fourth by Soft Machine

Six by Soft Machine

Seven by Soft Machine

Birthday by Idle Race

Now It's Time by Paula Frazer & Tarnation

Sings for Soulful Lovers/Seven Letters by Ben E. King

Frozen Borderline: 1968 - 1970 by Nico

Gems From the Classic Years (1967-1976) by King Sunny Ade

If You Go Away: the RCA Years 1965 - 1970 by Rod Mckuen

Gene Clark With the Gosdin Brothers by Gene Clark

The Honeydrippers by Robert Plant & The Honeydrippers

Atlas Eclipticalis With Winter Music by John Cage

The Percy Sledge Way/Take Time to Know Her by Percy Sledge

Sings for Soulful Lovers/Seven Letters by Ben E. King

Hey Jude by Wilson Pickett

More Upcoming CDs

Pop Artifact! "Son of Frankenstein" movie poster

Pop Culture Roundup Feb. 26, 2007

Via Boing Boing: How to crochet a Dalek. Also: Make your own Dharma Initiative snacks.

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Virgin Comics and the Sci Fi Channel are joining forces on a new comics line.

Five new comic book titles will kick off the joint venture, dubbed Sci Fi/Virgin Comics. Details on those titles are forthcoming, but the idea is to create original properties that will be eyed across all media.

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Datajunkie posts another nice batch of Wally Wood art from the Galaxy sci fi mag.

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Papercutz is launching an updated version of EC Comics' Tales from the Crypt anthology title geared toward younger readers.

Papercutz Editor, Jim Salicrup, explained the apparent contradiction of a youth-oriented imprint publishing the very comic book series that Dr. Wertham used as example "A" to blame comics for juvenile delinquency in the 1950s as follows: "Everyone loves scary stories, especially kids, and the Tales From the Crypt style of dark humor with shock endings truly appeals to all ages, not unlike Harry Potter or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Despite the furor over horror comics in the '50s that led to the demise of most of the EC line, people forget that those comics were created for all ages. Ironically, most of the original Crypt comics would be approved by the Comics Code today."

The first issue ships in June.

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The old Warren publishing titles Creepy and Eerie are being revived, too, but in this case as it's TV and/or film properties.

Though both Creepy and Eerie have horror and sci-fi elements, duo will likely develop Creepy as more of a horror project and Eerie as a sci-fi brand, execs said.

While a younger generation may not be aware of the brands or the comic books, Josh Braun said that auds will find much of that they like about contemporary genre films and TV embedded in these earlier properties.

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A new hardcover book series focusing on "Mad's Greatest Artists" is coming soon.

Don Martin will be the subject of the first of the Mad's Greatest Artists releases, a two-volume, 1,200 page slipcased hardcover that will have a retail price of $150.

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Check out a sneak peek at tonight's "Heroes" ep.

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On My Mind presents a comic book cover gallergy from Wonder Woman's "mod" stage.

2007 Oscar winners list

Here are the winners from last night:

Art Direction: ``Pan's Labyrinth''

Sound Editing: ``Letters From Iwo Jima''

Sound Mixing: "Dreamgirls"

Makeup: ``Pan's Labyrinth''

Animated Short Film: ``The Danish Poet''

Live Action Short Film: ``West Bank Story''

Actor in a supporting role: Alan Arkin in "Little Miss Sunshine"

Animated feature film: "Happy Feet"

Adapted Screenplay: "The Departed"

Costume Design: "Marie Antionette"

Cinematography: "Pan's Labyrinth

Visual Effects: "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"

Actress in a supporting role: Jennifer Hudson in "Dreamgirls"

Foreign Language Film: "The Lives of Others"

Documentary Feature: "An Inconventient Truth"

Documentary Short Subject: "The Blood of Yingzhou District"

Original Score: "Babel" Gustavo Santaolalla

Original Screenplay: “Little Miss Sunshine” Written by Michael Arndt

Original Song: "I Need to Wake Up" from "An Inconvenient Truth" Music and Lyric by Melissa Etheridge

Film Editing: "The Departed"

Best Director: Martin Scorsese for "The Departed"

Actress in a leading role: Helen Mirren in “The Queen”

Actor in a leading role: Forest Whitaker in "The Last King of Scotland"

Best Motion Picture: "The Departed"

Honorary Academy Award (Oscar statuette): Ennio Morricone.

Pop Artifact! Marvel comics sticker

Vintage Aurora models ad

Pop Culture Roundup Feb. 23, 2007

Via the Mego Museum: Vintage "Star Trek" TV promos.

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A live-action "Justice League" film may be in the works.

Batman may meet up with Superman on the bigscreen after all -- along with Wonder Woman, Aquaman, the Flash and all the rest of DC Comics' biggest names.

Warner Bros., with its major appetite for fresh franchises, is looking to make a feature based on super team the Justice League of America, hiring writing duo Kiernan and Michele Mulroney to pen the script.

..."The Justice League of America has been a perennial favorite for generations of fans, and we believe their appeal to film audiences will be as strong and diverse as the characters themselves," Warner prexy of production Jeff Robinov said in announcing the hiring of the Mulroneys.

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Image Comics plans trade paperback collections of Jack Kirby's Silver Star and Captain Victory titles.

DVD: Best of the Flip Wilson Show

Out Feb. 27 on three disks.

Info:

The Flip Wilson Show was an instant smash when it premiered on NBC in September 1970, becoming the highest-rated variety program on television. In a bold departure from the standard fare of the time, The Flip Wilson Show did without large production numbers, house band, regular cast, or elaborate sets. From a round stage in front of a studio audience, gifted comedian Flip Wilson entertained the country with nothing but his hilarious monologues, a stellar array of guest stars, and great sketch comedy. This first-ever collection of full-length episodes from The Flip Wilson Show features guest performances by Ray Charles, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Albert Brooks, Redd Foxx, Joe Namath, Johnny Cash, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, and many more. Flip's signature characters are here, too, from Rev. Leroy of the "Church Of What's Happenin' Now" to that sexy, sassy force of nature-the legendary Geraldine Jones. These treasured shows will have you laughing from beginning to end, but it won't be the Devil who made you do it. It'll be Flip Wilson.

Order it for $34.49 from Amazon.