Pop Culture Roundup July 31, 2007
According to what he said at the recent San Diego Comicon International, Joss Whedon has a couple new "Buffy"-related projects coming up: First the current "Buffy" comic from Dark Horse will continue into "season 9," with the return of everyone's favorite by werewolf Oz expected. Also, maybe, in the works is the long talked about "Ripper," a BBC TV series that would chronicle the early days of Buffy's watcher, Giles.
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Italian filmmaker Michelangelo Antonioni died yesterday, the same day as the great Swedish director Ingmar Bergman.
Mr. Antonioni is probably best known for “Blow-Up,” a 1966 drama set in Swinging London about a fashion photographer who comes to believe that a photograph he took of two lovers in a public park also shows, hidden in the background, evidence of a murder. But his true, lasting contribution to cinema resides in an earlier trilogy — “L’Avventura” in 1959, “La Notte” in 1960 and “L’Eclisse” in 1962 — which explores the filmmaker’s tormented central vision that people had become emotionally unglued from one another.
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Fred Hembeck remembers talk show host Tom Snyder.
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Inkworks plans a series of new trading cards based on the upcoming Flash Gordon TV series on the Sci Fi Channel.
In addition to being able to use images from the series, which stars Eric Johnson (who played Whitney Fordman on Smallville) as the eponymous hero, Inkworks will also be able to include images from the rich comic book (and comic strip) history of the classic Flash Gordon property created by Alex Raymond.
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Read an interview with mysterious Dial B for Blog/Dial B for Burbank creator "Robby Reed" (who also kindly designed the logo for this site).
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Italian filmmaker Michelangelo Antonioni died yesterday, the same day as the great Swedish director Ingmar Bergman.
Mr. Antonioni is probably best known for “Blow-Up,” a 1966 drama set in Swinging London about a fashion photographer who comes to believe that a photograph he took of two lovers in a public park also shows, hidden in the background, evidence of a murder. But his true, lasting contribution to cinema resides in an earlier trilogy — “L’Avventura” in 1959, “La Notte” in 1960 and “L’Eclisse” in 1962 — which explores the filmmaker’s tormented central vision that people had become emotionally unglued from one another.
----------------------------
Fred Hembeck remembers talk show host Tom Snyder.
----------------------------
Inkworks plans a series of new trading cards based on the upcoming Flash Gordon TV series on the Sci Fi Channel.
In addition to being able to use images from the series, which stars Eric Johnson (who played Whitney Fordman on Smallville) as the eponymous hero, Inkworks will also be able to include images from the rich comic book (and comic strip) history of the classic Flash Gordon property created by Alex Raymond.
------------------------------
Read an interview with mysterious Dial B for Blog/Dial B for Burbank creator "Robby Reed" (who also kindly designed the logo for this site).
2007 Eisner Award Winners
Here's a list of comics creators awarded Eisner Awards at the 2007 Comicon International in San Diego:
Best Short Story“A Frog’s Eye View,” by Bill Willingham and James Jean, in Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall (Vertigo/DC)
Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)
Batman/The Spirit #1: “Crime Convention,” by Jeph Loeb and Darwyn Cooke (DC)
Best Continuing Series
All Star Superman, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (DC)
Best Limited Series
Batman: Year 100, by Paul Pope (DC)
Best New Series
Criminal, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Marvel Icon)
Best Title for a Younger Audience
Gumby, by Bob Burden and Rick Geary (Wildcard)
Best Humor Publication
Flaming Carrot Comics, by Bob Burden (Desperado/Image)
Best Anthology
Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall, by Bill Willingham and various (Vertigo/DC)
Best Digital Comic
Sam and Max, by Steve Purcell
Best Reality-Based Work
Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel (Houghton Mifflin)
Best Graphic Album - New
American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang (First Second)
Best Graphic Album - Reprint
Absolute DC: The New Frontier, by Darwyn Cooke (DC)
Best Archival Collection/Project - Strips
The Complete Peanuts, 1959-1960, 1961-1962, by Charles Schulz (Fantagraphics)
Best Archival Collection/Project - Comic Books
Absolute Sandman, vol. 1, by Neil Gaiman and various (Vertigo/DC)
Best U.S. Edition of International Material
The Left Bank Gang, by Jason (Fantagraphics)
Best U.S. Edition of International Material - Japan
Old Boy, by Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi (Dark Horse Manga)
Best Writer
Ed Brubaker, Captain America, Daredevil (Marvel); Criminal (Marvel Icon)
Best Writer/Artist
Paul Pope, Batman: Year 100 (DC)
Best Writer/Artist - Humor
Tony Millionaire, Billy Hazelnuts (Fantagraphics); Sock Monkey: The Inches Incident (Dark Horse)
Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
Mark Buckingham/Steve Leialoha, Fables (Vertigo/DC)
Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)
Jill Thompson, “A Dog and His Boy” in The Dark Horse Book of Monsters; “Love Triangle” in Sexy Chix (Dark Horse); “Fair Division,” in Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall (Vertigo/DC)
Best Cover Artist
James Jean, Fables, Jack of Fables, Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall (Vertigo/DC)
Best Coloring
Dave Stewart, BPRD, Conan, The Escapists, Hellboy (Dark Horse); Action Comics, Batman/The Spirit, Superman (DC)
Best Lettering
Todd Klein, Fables, Jack of Fables, Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall; Pride of Baghdad, Testament (Vertigo/DC); Fantastic Four: 1602, Eternals (Marvel); Lost Girls (Top Shelf)
Special Recognition
Hope Larson, Gray Horses (Oni)
Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism
Alter Ego, edited by Roy Thomas (TwoMorrows)
Best Comics-Related Book
The Art of Brian Bolland, edited by Joe Pruett (Desperado/Image)
Best Publication Design
Absolute DC: The New Frontier, designed by Darwyn Cooke (DC)
Hall of Fame
Judges’ Choices (2): Robert Kanigher and Ogden Whitney
- Ross Andru & Mike Esposito
- Dick Ayers
- Wayne Boring
- Joe Orlando
Other Awards:
Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comics Writing: Gardner Fox, George Gladir
Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award: David Petersen
Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award: Neil Gaiman
Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailing Award:
Earth-2, Sherman Oaks, CA, owned by Carr D’Angelo
Best Short Story“A Frog’s Eye View,” by Bill Willingham and James Jean, in Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall (Vertigo/DC)
Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)
Batman/The Spirit #1: “Crime Convention,” by Jeph Loeb and Darwyn Cooke (DC)
Best Continuing Series
All Star Superman, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (DC)
Best Limited Series
Batman: Year 100, by Paul Pope (DC)
Best New Series
Criminal, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Marvel Icon)
Best Title for a Younger Audience
Gumby, by Bob Burden and Rick Geary (Wildcard)
Best Humor Publication
Flaming Carrot Comics, by Bob Burden (Desperado/Image)
Best Anthology
Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall, by Bill Willingham and various (Vertigo/DC)
Best Digital Comic
Sam and Max, by Steve Purcell
Best Reality-Based Work
Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel (Houghton Mifflin)
Best Graphic Album - New
American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang (First Second)
Best Graphic Album - Reprint
Absolute DC: The New Frontier, by Darwyn Cooke (DC)
Best Archival Collection/Project - Strips
The Complete Peanuts, 1959-1960, 1961-1962, by Charles Schulz (Fantagraphics)
Best Archival Collection/Project - Comic Books
Absolute Sandman, vol. 1, by Neil Gaiman and various (Vertigo/DC)
Best U.S. Edition of International Material
The Left Bank Gang, by Jason (Fantagraphics)
Best U.S. Edition of International Material - Japan
Old Boy, by Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi (Dark Horse Manga)
Best Writer
Ed Brubaker, Captain America, Daredevil (Marvel); Criminal (Marvel Icon)
Best Writer/Artist
Paul Pope, Batman: Year 100 (DC)
Best Writer/Artist - Humor
Tony Millionaire, Billy Hazelnuts (Fantagraphics); Sock Monkey: The Inches Incident (Dark Horse)
Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
Mark Buckingham/Steve Leialoha, Fables (Vertigo/DC)
Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)
Jill Thompson, “A Dog and His Boy” in The Dark Horse Book of Monsters; “Love Triangle” in Sexy Chix (Dark Horse); “Fair Division,” in Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall (Vertigo/DC)
Best Cover Artist
James Jean, Fables, Jack of Fables, Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall (Vertigo/DC)
Best Coloring
Dave Stewart, BPRD, Conan, The Escapists, Hellboy (Dark Horse); Action Comics, Batman/The Spirit, Superman (DC)
Best Lettering
Todd Klein, Fables, Jack of Fables, Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall; Pride of Baghdad, Testament (Vertigo/DC); Fantastic Four: 1602, Eternals (Marvel); Lost Girls (Top Shelf)
Special Recognition
Hope Larson, Gray Horses (Oni)
Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism
Alter Ego, edited by Roy Thomas (TwoMorrows)
Best Comics-Related Book
The Art of Brian Bolland, edited by Joe Pruett (Desperado/Image)
Best Publication Design
Absolute DC: The New Frontier, designed by Darwyn Cooke (DC)
Hall of Fame
Judges’ Choices (2): Robert Kanigher and Ogden Whitney
- Ross Andru & Mike Esposito
- Dick Ayers
- Wayne Boring
- Joe Orlando
Other Awards:
Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comics Writing: Gardner Fox, George Gladir
Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award: David Petersen
Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award: Neil Gaiman
Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailing Award:
Earth-2, Sherman Oaks, CA, owned by Carr D’Angelo
Upcoming Marvel Legends figures for 2008
Unveiled at the recent San Diego Comicon International, here's some upcoming stuff from Hasbro's Marvel Legends action figure line.
Hasbro Marvel Legends Series 4 action figures
Nova, Astonishing X-men Beast, Black Bolt, yell0w-costume Daredevil, Tim Bradstreet Punisher, Tigra, build-a-figure Nemesis
Hasbro Fantastic Four build-a-figure wave
Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Human Torch, Thing, Silver Surfer, Doctor Doom, Sub-Mariner, Moleman, build-a-figure Ronan the Accuser
Hasbro Marvel Icons figures
yellow-costume Daredevil, Nightcrawler, red-costume Daredevil
green-costume Phoenix, Collossus, red-costume Phoenix
Jean Grey Black Queen
Human Torch, Silver Surfer
Spider-Man build-a-figure wave
Hasbro Marvel Legends Series 4 action figures
Nova, Astonishing X-men Beast, Black Bolt, yell0w-costume Daredevil, Tim Bradstreet Punisher, Tigra, build-a-figure Nemesis
Hasbro Fantastic Four build-a-figure wave
Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Human Torch, Thing, Silver Surfer, Doctor Doom, Sub-Mariner, Moleman, build-a-figure Ronan the Accuser
Hasbro Marvel Icons figures
yellow-costume Daredevil, Nightcrawler, red-costume Daredevil
green-costume Phoenix, Collossus, red-costume Phoenix
Jean Grey Black Queen
Human Torch, Silver Surfer
Spider-Man build-a-figure wave
Tonner Dolls DC Comics, Spider-Man figures
DVD new releases July 31, 2007
Hawaii Five-O - The Second Season
Babylon 5 - The Lost Tales
300 (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)
The History Channel Presents Last Stand of the 300 - The Legendary Battle at Thermopylae
Dallas - The Complete Seventh Season
Popeye the Sailor: 1933-1938, Vol. 1
Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 4 (Act of Violence / Mystery Street / Crime Wave / Decoy / Illegal / The Big Steal / They Live By Night / Side Street / Where Danger Lives / Tension)
Suspense: The Lost Episodes Collection, Vol. 1
Sabrina the Teenage Witch - The Second Season
The Archie Show: The Complete Series
Space 1999 30th Anniversary Edition Megaset
20 Million Miles To Earth (50th Anniversary Edition)
Thunderbirds 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition Megaset
Illegal / The Big Steal (Film Noir Double Feature)
Crime Wave / Decoy (Film Noir Double Feature)
Act of Violence / Mystery Street (Film Noir Double Feature)
Where Danger Lives / Tension (Film Noir Double Feature)
They Live by Night / Side Street (Film Noir Double Feature)
Pulp Fiction Art - Cheap Thrills and Painted Nightmares
More upcoming DVDs
Babylon 5 - The Lost Tales
300 (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)
The History Channel Presents Last Stand of the 300 - The Legendary Battle at Thermopylae
Dallas - The Complete Seventh Season
Popeye the Sailor: 1933-1938, Vol. 1
Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 4 (Act of Violence / Mystery Street / Crime Wave / Decoy / Illegal / The Big Steal / They Live By Night / Side Street / Where Danger Lives / Tension)
Suspense: The Lost Episodes Collection, Vol. 1
Sabrina the Teenage Witch - The Second Season
The Archie Show: The Complete Series
Space 1999 30th Anniversary Edition Megaset
20 Million Miles To Earth (50th Anniversary Edition)
Thunderbirds 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition Megaset
Illegal / The Big Steal (Film Noir Double Feature)
Crime Wave / Decoy (Film Noir Double Feature)
Act of Violence / Mystery Street (Film Noir Double Feature)
Where Danger Lives / Tension (Film Noir Double Feature)
They Live by Night / Side Street (Film Noir Double Feature)
Pulp Fiction Art - Cheap Thrills and Painted Nightmares
More upcoming DVDs
CD new releases July 31, 2007
Love Letters From Ella by Various Artists
You're Getting Better: The Word Jazz Dot Masters by Ken Nordine
Elvis Viva Las Vegas by Elvis Presley
Live at the BBC V.1 by Lloyd Cole & The Commotions
Fractured Mindz by Dave Davies
More upcoming CDs
You're Getting Better: The Word Jazz Dot Masters by Ken Nordine
Elvis Viva Las Vegas by Elvis Presley
Live at the BBC V.1 by Lloyd Cole & The Commotions
Fractured Mindz by Dave Davies
More upcoming CDs
Pop Culture Roundup July 29, 2007
Fred Hembeck draws the original X-men.
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Talk show Tom Snyder, of "Tomorrow Show" fame, has died.
Known for his improvised, casual style and robust laughter, Snyder conducted a number of memorable interviews as host of NBC's "The Tomorrow Show." Among his guests were John Lennon, Charles Manson and Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols.
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Jon Favreau, director of the upcoming Iron Man film, will script a comic book about ol' Shellhead as well.
The ...four-issue Iron Man: Viva Las Vegas mini-series, which is slated for release around the time that the Iron Man movie debuts on May 2nd, 2008. Favreau will be working with Adi Granov, the artist who designed the Iron Man suit used in the movie.
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Image Comics has plans to publish new comics series based on some of Jack Kirby's late-career creations, says Image Publisher Erik Larsen.
It will be two books to begin with. Silver Star covers Earth - Captain Victory covers all space and both will be packed with awesome Kirby characters and concepts many of which have only appeared as sketches. The idea is to introduce these characters one after another the same way that characters were introduced in other Kirby books over the years. What I'd like to do is feature Jack's original drawings and whatever notes he might have had in the back of the books to give readers insight into what Jack drew and what we had to work with. In the Silver Star book, for example, there are a few drawings that feature characters that didn't make it into the book. In Jack's original Silver Star pitch there was a whole gang of guys that wound up on the cutting room floor and Jack redesigned his "Angel of Death" character so much that he doesn't look like the same guy. That original design was cool as all hell and I want to put that design to good use. Jack has numerous cosmic characters that would fit right in to Captain Victory and Earthbound characters would be right at home in Silver Star and we can mix and match as well, having cosmic characters appearing in Silver Star and non-cosmic characters popping into Captain Victory.
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You can nab the new Marvel Legends Stan Lee action figure here. The figure, along with this She-Hulk figure, is only available from Hasbro or at this year's San Diego Comicon International.
-----------------------
It's the 50th anniversary of the great R&B label Stax Records and NPR is presenting interviews with some of the great musicians who made it what it was. First up: Booker T and the MGs guitarist Steve Cropper.
More Stax: PBS' "Great Performances" profiles the label in special this Wednesday. Check yer locals.
------------------------
The New York Times' profiles Portmeirion, the eccentrically designed town on the Welsch coast that served as the setting for the cult TV series "The Prisoner."
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Keith Richards is penning his memoirs. What he can remember of them anyway...
--------------------------
IDW Publishing has a new Doctor Who comic book series in the works, and will be republishing an old one.
...current TV series script editor Gary Russell will pen the series with Nick Roche ("Transformers: Devastation" and "Transformers: Beast Wars") providing artwork. "Doctor Who" showrunner Russell T Davies will oversee the book.
IDW will also begin reprinting Dave Gibbons' run on "Doctor Who Monthly" from the 1980s. Originally presented in black and white, the books will now be colored using new techniques.
--------------------
Talk show Tom Snyder, of "Tomorrow Show" fame, has died.
Known for his improvised, casual style and robust laughter, Snyder conducted a number of memorable interviews as host of NBC's "The Tomorrow Show." Among his guests were John Lennon, Charles Manson and Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols.
--------------------
Jon Favreau, director of the upcoming Iron Man film, will script a comic book about ol' Shellhead as well.
The ...four-issue Iron Man: Viva Las Vegas mini-series, which is slated for release around the time that the Iron Man movie debuts on May 2nd, 2008. Favreau will be working with Adi Granov, the artist who designed the Iron Man suit used in the movie.
---------------------
Image Comics has plans to publish new comics series based on some of Jack Kirby's late-career creations, says Image Publisher Erik Larsen.
It will be two books to begin with. Silver Star covers Earth - Captain Victory covers all space and both will be packed with awesome Kirby characters and concepts many of which have only appeared as sketches. The idea is to introduce these characters one after another the same way that characters were introduced in other Kirby books over the years. What I'd like to do is feature Jack's original drawings and whatever notes he might have had in the back of the books to give readers insight into what Jack drew and what we had to work with. In the Silver Star book, for example, there are a few drawings that feature characters that didn't make it into the book. In Jack's original Silver Star pitch there was a whole gang of guys that wound up on the cutting room floor and Jack redesigned his "Angel of Death" character so much that he doesn't look like the same guy. That original design was cool as all hell and I want to put that design to good use. Jack has numerous cosmic characters that would fit right in to Captain Victory and Earthbound characters would be right at home in Silver Star and we can mix and match as well, having cosmic characters appearing in Silver Star and non-cosmic characters popping into Captain Victory.
---------------------
You can nab the new Marvel Legends Stan Lee action figure here. The figure, along with this She-Hulk figure, is only available from Hasbro or at this year's San Diego Comicon International.
-----------------------
It's the 50th anniversary of the great R&B label Stax Records and NPR is presenting interviews with some of the great musicians who made it what it was. First up: Booker T and the MGs guitarist Steve Cropper.
More Stax: PBS' "Great Performances" profiles the label in special this Wednesday. Check yer locals.
------------------------
The New York Times' profiles Portmeirion, the eccentrically designed town on the Welsch coast that served as the setting for the cult TV series "The Prisoner."
-------------------------
Keith Richards is penning his memoirs. What he can remember of them anyway...
--------------------------
IDW Publishing has a new Doctor Who comic book series in the works, and will be republishing an old one.
...current TV series script editor Gary Russell will pen the series with Nick Roche ("Transformers: Devastation" and "Transformers: Beast Wars") providing artwork. "Doctor Who" showrunner Russell T Davies will oversee the book.
IDW will also begin reprinting Dave Gibbons' run on "Doctor Who Monthly" from the 1980s. Originally presented in black and white, the books will now be colored using new techniques.
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