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"Lost" producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse talk about the remainder of season 4, including the two-hour season finale.

AVC: Do you both already know what's going to go on?

DL: Do we know the absolute end of the show? Yeah. We've had that in mind for quite some time. But can we hand you a script for the last episode of the show right now? No, because there are market fluctuations that we are unaware of at this point. Certain characters that you want to write more for sort of wear out their welcome sooner rather than later. New characters are introduced, and pop in unexpected ways. The essential nature of that last episode is more specifically about what the last three or four scenes are, and us working toward those has always remained pretty constant.

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Via On My Mind: BBC Radio 2 presents a documentary on Monkee Michael Nesmith.

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Via LP Cover Lover: It's cover girl Julie Newmar!

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Golden Age Comic Book Stories presents Frank Frazetta illustrations for "Tarzan at the Earth's Core" and "Tarzan and the Castaways".

Part 1, 2, 3, 4

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Marvel Superheroes 'toon finally coming to DVD in U.S.?

Will the 1960s Marvel Superheroes series finally be making it's way to DVD in the U.S.?

This is a step in the right direction: Liberation Entertainment Ltd. has signed a deal with Consumer Products to release Marvel animated programs over here.

Jetix has released a number of Marvel-based 'toons on DVD overseas, including DVD sets compiling the Marvel Superheroes show. Here's a look at what Jetix has released in the U.K.

Here's what the press release on the Liberation/Jetix deal says:

The deal gives Liberation Entertainment exclusive DVD distribution rights for popular Marvel character based animated series including Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men, The Fantastic Four, Silver Surfer and Spider Woman.

Jay Boberg, Liberation Chairman commented: "This deal expands our relationship with Jetix and continues to build Liberation’s ongoing partnership with Marvel. Liberation has already acquired DVD distribution and television sales rights outside the US to Marvel’s new animated Wolverine and the X-Men TV series, and as a result of this deal we will be able to bring the “crown jewels” in Marvel’s animated TV series - including Spider-Man and The Hulk to new audiences, as well as long-time fans. Aggregating these new and classic Super Hero animations will give us leverage in the marketplace to maximize sales.”

Spencer Pollard, Managing Director of Liberation Entertainment commented, “This catalogue represents a huge opportunity for Liberation and I am delighted that we have secured the distribution rights from Jetix Consumer Products. The catalogue has enormous potential – many people grew up with the original Spider-Man series as well as the rest of the catalogue and we believe it is hugely collectable, which will interest both children and adults alike”

Lost is back!

The fourth season of "Lost" resumes tonight!

Read a teaser for tonight's show here. Then, come back to Pop Culture Safari tomorrow for a full run-down on what occurred.

Also see:

Lost Season 4 Episode Guide
The Best Lost Sites on the Web
Lost: What we STILL don't know

Steranko provides covers for new Hercules comics

Legendary comics artist Jim Steranko is doing two covers for issues of Radical Publishing's Hercules: The Thracian Wars series.

Details:

Radical Publishing is proud to announce that legendary, award winning artist Jim Steranko has provided covers for issue #1 and #2 of Hercules: The Thracian Wars. Steranko also designed the Hercules character and created the logo that is being used on all issues of Radical's *Hercules*. For issue #2 of Hercules: The Thracian Wars, Jim Steranko's cover is a homage to the popular 1968 Incredible Hulk King-Sized Special #1 cover.

In discussing his cover for issue #1 of Hercules: The Thracian Wars, Jim Steranko explains:

"The series' story takes place after the Labors, we felt the traditional action approach would be a cliche. The Radical version is different from all other comics' versions and I felt my cover should underscore that quality. So, instead of casting it in spine-cracking action, I did the opposite: I visualized a silently inert, fearsomely intense Hercules, a Hercules just before the storm, a moment crackling with tension! I deliberately hid his face in shadow--except for a slash of light across one eye that reveals his fierce, tortured, inner emotions."

Hercules: The Thracian Wars #1 is featured in March 2008 Diamond Previews catalogue and will ship in May of this year. The issue will ship with two covers, one by Jim Steranko for cover A and one by Admira Wijaya and Sunny Gho of Imaginary Friends Studios for cover B.

Hercules: The Thracian Wars #2 is featured in April 2008 Diamond Previews catalogue and will ship in June of this year. The issue will ship with three covers, one by Greg Broadmore of WETA Workshop, one by Admira Wijaya and Sunny Gho of Imaginary Friends Studios, and a limited edition cover by Jim Steranko.

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Incredible Hulk movie poster

Here's a teaser poster for the upcoming Hulk film:

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Speed Racer movie pictures

Here's a batch of fresh ones:

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Batman The Dark Knight movie posters

Here are three teaser posters for upcoming Batman movie:

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Download the Moench and Gulacy "library"--free!

The creator-owned works of the great comic book team of Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy are being made by Smashout Comics.

Details:

Smashout Comics, an online comics publisher specializing in quality reprints and original projects, announces the publication of the complete creator-owned works of the long-running team, Doug Moench & Paul Gulacy.
Best known for their work on Marvel's Shang-Chi, Master of Kung-Fu, Moench & Gulacy have a large body of creator-owned projects throughout their professional relationship, and Smashout Comics is offering all of them for free download on Wowio.com.

First up is Six from Sirius and Six from Sirius II, a tale of futuristic bounty hunters originally published by Epic Comics.

"Within my body of work, Six from Sirius will always stand as a special project for many reasons," says Moench. Creative freedom and control were key, copyright ownership a blessing, and working with editor Archie Goodwin a relief and a joy. But I always come back to the art, the extra time and care lavished by Paul Gulacy. After seeing far too many exquisitely penciled Gulacy pages diminish under inadequate or inappropriate inks, it was a genuine thrill to receive pages inked by
Paul himself, the true Gulacy shining through from start to finish. And then he topped it off by coloring the pages as well. Hand-colored, with special markers. No matter how many times I look at this work, it remains gorgeous."

"One thing that draws me to sci-fi is the immense playground you have to work with," says Gulacy. "This story was a labor of love, and Doug was the perfect partner to do the scripting chores considering his thorough knowledge of the genre. My choice of mediums included marker pens, acrylics and colored pencils. Six from sirius was one of the most powerful, compelling, thought provoking stories i've ever worked on that still holds up over 25 years later. A real must-see for sci-fi fans and followers of our work."

Smashout Comics will soon publish SCI Spy, a James Bond meets outer space tale originally published by DC/Vertigo. Look for this project on the site in May.

Also in May, Moench & Gulacy will headline a new line of digital anthologies. The first issue of Smashout 100 will lead off with Blood on Black Satin, a little-seen Moench & Gulacy horror short story originally published by Eerie in the 1970s.

Finally, Smashout Comics is offering the first issue of the time-hopping Moench series Aztec Ace, originally published by Eclipse. Moench is joined on Aztec Ace by a variety of artists, including Michael Hernandez and Dan Day. The remaining issues of the series will follow throughout 2008.

Comics shipping April 23, 2008

Here's a look at what's in comic shops today. Click highlighted titles to order from Amazon at discounted prices:

DARK HORSE COMICS

FEB080075 CONAN LEGACY FRAZETTA COVERS #2 (OF 8) GOD IN THE BOWL $5.99
DEC070043 LIVING WITH THE DEAD TP $9.95
MAR080078 MINDSTYLE JIM HENSONS CITY CRITTERS TRADING FIG $255.68
FEB080099 RETURN O/T GREMLINS #2 (OF (RES) $2.99
OCT070062 STAR WARS DARK TIMES #10 $2.99
JAN080094 STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF OLD REPUBLIC #27 VECTOR PART 3 $2.99
JAN080093 STAR WARS LEGACY #22 $2.99
MAR080094 STATIONERY SET CAMILLA D ERRICO $4.99

DC COMICS

AUG070362 AFRO SAMURAI BUST $69.99
AUG070363 AFRO SAMURAI JUSTICE BUST $69.99
JAN080162 BATMAN #675 $2.99
SEP070283 BATMAN 1/2 SCALE BUST $295.00
JAN080197 BATMAN CHRONICLES TP VOL 05 $14.99
FEB080218 BIRDS OF PREY #117 $2.99
FEB080220 CHECKMATE #25 $2.99
FEB080180 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 1 $2.99
FEB080183 DEATH OF THE NEW GODS #8 (OF 8) $3.50
JAN080265 I HATE YOU MORE THAN ANYONE VOL 04 $9.99
JAN080200 JONAH HEX TP VOL 04 ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG $12.99
DEC070245 JSA HC VOL 02 THY KINGDOM COME PART 1 $19.99
FEB080223 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #20 $2.99
FEB080275 NUMBER OF THE BEAST #2 (OF 6) $2.99
FEB080268 SCOOBY DOO #131 $2.25
FEB080272 SECRET HISTORY THE AUTHORITY HAWKSMOOR #2 (OF 6) $2.99
FEB080235 SHADOWPACT #24 $2.99
FEB080234 SPIRIT #16 $2.99
FEB080260 SUPER FRIENDS #2 $2.25
FEB080213 SUPERMAN BATMAN #47 $2.99
FEB080285 SUPERNATURAL RISING SON #1 (OF 6) $2.99
JAN080237 TEAM ZERO TP $17.99

IMAGE COMICS

DEC072086 DYNAMO 5 #12 $3.50
JAN082074 GODLAND #22 $2.99
MAR082141 JOHNNY DELGADO IS DEAD TP VOL 01 $14.99
JAN082080 MICE TEMPLAR #4 $2.99
OCT072019 SPAWN #177 $2.95
NOV072057 SPAWN GODSLAYER #8 $2.99
FEB082186 WITCHBLADE #117 ROSS CVR B $2.99
FEB082185 WITCHBLADE #117 SEJIC CVR A $2.99
NOV072082 WITCHBLADE TAKERU MANGA 1-6 SET $15.99

MARVEL COMICS

JAN088154 AVENGERS INVADERS SKETCHBOOK PI
FEB082303 AVENGERS TP KREE SKRULL WAR NEW PTG $24.99
FEB082301 DAREDEVIL TP VOL 02 HELL TO PAY $15.99
FEB082311 DEADPOOL CLASSIC TP VOL 1 $29.99
FEB082310 DEADPOOL VS MARVEL UNIVERSE TP $24.99
JAN082148 HULK #3 $2.99
FEB082227 HULK VS HERCULES WHEN TITANS COLLIDE $3.99
FEB088110 IRON MAN HULK SAMPLER PI
FEB082232 MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #35 $2.99
FEB082196 MARVEL ILLUSTRATED PICTURE DORIAN GRAY #5 (OF 6) $2.99
FEB082243 MIGHTY AVENGERS #12 SI $2.99
FEB082245 MS MARVEL #26 SII $2.99
FEB082275 NEW EXILES #5 $2.99
FEB082251 POWER PACK DAY ONE #2 (OF 4) $2.99
FEB082252 SHE-HULK 2 #28 $2.99
JAN082178 THOR #8 $2.99
FEB082200 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #53 $2.99
FEB082202 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #121 $2.99
JAN088351 UNCANNY X-MEN #497 DJURDJEVIC VAR DWS (PP #809) $2.99
FEB082261 UNCANNY X-MEN #497 DWS $2.99
FEB082272 WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #2 $2.99
JAN088014 X-FORCE #3 BLOODY VAR $2.99
FEB082266 X-FORCE #3 DWS $2.99
FEB082273 X-MEN FIRST CLASS VOL 2 #11 $2.99
FEB082308 X-MEN TP EMPEROR VULCAN $13.99
FEB082259 YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #4 (OF 6) $2.99

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COMICS

FEB083563 AYRE FORCE HC VOL 01 $19.95
FEB083564 BART SIMPSON COMICS #41 $2.99
SEP063228 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA FOIL CVR #5 PI
NOV073266 BEAU SMITHS NO GUTS NO GLORY TP (RES) $19.99
FEB083486 BETTY & VERONICA #235 $2.25
FEB083488 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #160 $3.69
FEB083454 BIZARRE NEW WORLD POPULATION EXPLOSION GN $6.95
JAN083834 CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED DELUXE HC VOL 02 TALES BROTHERS GRIMM $17.95
JAN083835 CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED DELUXE TP VOL 02 TALES BROTHERS GRIMM $13.95
JAN083719 COMPLETE TERRY AND THE PIRATES HC VOL 03 1939-1940 $49.99
FEB083713 DEMON PRINCE CHILDREN OF GAIA GN VOL 02 $11.99
JAN083589 DF DARK TOWER LONG ROAD HOME #1 (OF 5) SGN ED $29.99
FEB083731 DF DARK TOWER LONG ROAD HOME #2 SGN ED $29.99
JAN083591 DF GRIMM FAIRY TALES #3 ALT CVR PI
MAR083695 DF PROJECT SUPERPOWERS #1 ULTRA LTD ED CVR $10.00
MAR083694 DF RED SONJA #26 UK EX CVR PI
OCT073449 DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES VOL 3 ROBERTS CVR A #10 $3.50
OCT073450 DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES VOL 3 WALPOLE CVR B #10 $5.50
JAN083457 FALL OF CTHULHU #11 CVR A $3.99
JAN083458 FALL OF CTHULHU #11 CVR B $3.99
JAN083728 GENE SIMMONS ZIPPER #5 $3.99
FEB083439 GOLD DIGGER #95 $2.99
FEB083440 GOLD DIGGER PEEBO TALES SPECIAL #3 $3.50
FEB083441 GOLD DIGGER SOURCEBOOK #16 $3.95
MAR083892 GOOD & EVIL #3 PART 1 THE BEGINNING $2.99
FEB084105 INDIA AUTHENTIC #12 ANDHAKA $2.99
FEB083899 INVINCIBLE SUMMER AN ANTHOLOGY TP #2 $14.00
FEB083985 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #270 $7.50
FEB083662 KAGETORA GN VOL 09 $10.95
MAR083585 LADY DEATH 2007 SWIMSUIT SP RUBY RED FOIL ED $5.99
FEB083807 MAC BOLAN THE EXECUTIONER DEVILS TOOLS #1 (OF 5) $3.99
FEB083990 NEOZOIC #4 $2.95
JAN083388 NEPHILIM GN $10.95
MAR083937 NEXUS ORIGIN ONE SHOT (O/A) $3.99
DEC073540 PROJECT SUPERPOWERS FOIL CVR #2 (OF 7) PI
FEB083947 QUEEN & COUNTRY DEFINITIVE EDITION TP VOL 02 $19.95
MAR083510 RAGMOP TP (O/A) $29.95
OCT073256 RAMA THE LEGEND TP $14.95
JAN083389 SAY PLEASE GN $12.95
JAN083390 SEDUCE ME AFTER THE SHOW GN $12.95
SEP073561 SHEENA TRAIL O/T MAPINGUARI STAPLES CVR B ONE SHOT $9.50
SEP073560 SHEENA TRAIL O/T MAPINGUARI STONE CVR A ONE SHOT $5.50
FEB083565 SIMPSONS CLASSICS #16 $3.99
FEB083576 SIMPSONS COMICS TP DOLLARS TO DONUTS $14.95
FEB083494 SONIC X #32 $2.25
JAN083881 SPACE DOUBLES #3 $2.99
FEB083840 SPEED RACER CHRONICLES OF THE RACER TP $17.99
FEB083815 ST TNG INTELLIGENCE GATHERING #4 (OF 5) $3.99
FEB083813 STAR TREK NEW FRONTIER #2 $3.99
FEB083900 TALES OF TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #45 $3.25
JAN088382 TERRY MOORES ECHO #1 2ND PTG (PP #809) $3.50
JAN083679 TRANSFORMERS SPOTLIGHT GRIMLOCK $3.99
JAN083341 VENGEANCE OF VAMPIRELLA TP $15.95
JAN083469 WARHAMMER 40K BLOOD & THUNDER LTD ED HC $49.99
JAN083468 WARHAMMER 40K BLOOD & THUNDER TP $16.99
DEC073503 WARHAMMER HC FORGE OF WAR LTD ED $49.99
MAR083866 WELCOME TO THE DAHL HOUSE TP $7.00
JAN083353 WHITE PICKET FENCES DOUBLE FEATURE GN $6.95
JAN083723 WORMWOOD CALAMARI RISING #4 $3.99
FEB084088 X-O MANOWAR BIRTH HC $24.95

MAGAZINES

MAR084145 FEMME FATALES VOL 17 #2 $9.99
MAR084885 GAME TRADE MAGAZINE #99 PI
DEC078158 GEEK MONTHLY VOL 2 #4 (PP #80 $5.99
JAN084037 PIQ MAGAZINE MAY 2008 $6.99
FEB084188 ROUGH STUFF #8 $6.95
FEB084211 SCARY MONSTERS MAGAZINE #66 $8.95
FEB084215 STARGATE MAGAZINE #22 $6.99
JAN084067 TORCHWOOD MAGAZINE #3 $6.99
OCT073992 VIDEO WATCHDOG #138 $7.95
MAR084139 WHITE DWARF #340 $6.00

Secret origins

DVD compiles Filmation's DC Superhero 'toons

Filmation's Batman, Superman and Aquaman TV series are all out on DVD, now, but those aren't the only the only DC Comics' characters the studio animated. Also featured on the 1960s "Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure" were shorts starring an entire roster of other DC stars.

Those 'toons will be featured on a new DVD, "Super-Heroes: The Filmation Adventures," due out from Warner Home Video in August.

Here's a look at the cover art.

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And, from the Big Cartoon Database, here are the adventures that will likely be included:

The Atom:
Invasion Of The Beetle-Men
The Plant Master
The House Of Doom

The Flash:
The Chemo-Creature
Take A Giant Step
To Catch A Blue Bolt

Green Lantern:
Evil is as Evil Does
The Vanishing World
Sirena, Empress Of Evil

Hawkman:
Peril from Pluto
A Visit To Venus
The Twenty Third Dimension

Justice League of America (Atom, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Superman):
Between Two Armies
Target Earth
Bad Day On Black Mountain

Teen Titans (Aqualad, Kid Flash, Speedy, Wonder Girl):
The Monster Machine
The Space Beast Round-Up
Operation: Rescue

UPDATED: I'd speculated that three Superboy 'toons Filmation did might be included on this set as well. As Andy Mengels reports in his comment below, they won't. From what Andy says, those shorts aired with the original Filmation Superman series. But they weren't included on the DVD collection for that show. Since they won't appear on this new collection either, it looks like WB Home Video has no intention of releasing them, most likely due to the Phantom Zone status of Superboy, due to legal wranglings between Warner/CD and the estates of Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Lost May 8, 2008, episode preview

Highlight the hidden text below for info on the May 8, 2008, episode of "Lost."

Here's the trailer:

LOCKE DISCOVERS THE WHEREABOUTS OF JACOB'S CABIN, AND LIFE ABOARD THE FREIGHTER BECOMES DANGEROUS, ON ABC'S "LOST"
"Cabin Fever" - Locke is enlightened as to the whereabouts of Jacob's cabin, and life aboard the freighter becomes perilous, on "Lost," THURSDAY, MAY 8 (10:02-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Lost" stars Naveen Andrews as Sayid, Henry Ian Cusick as Desmond, Emilie de Ravin as Claire, Michael Emerson as Ben, Matthew Fox as Jack, Jorge Garcia as Hurley, Josh Holloway as Sawyer, Daniel Dae Kim as Jin, Yunjin Kim as Sun, Evangeline Lilly as Kate, Elizabeth Mitchell as Juliet, Terry O'Quinn as Locke and Harold Perrineau as Michael.

Guest starring are Jeff Fahey as Frank Lapidus, Lance Reddick as Matthew Abaddon, Marc Vann as doctor, Kevin Durand as Keamy, Anthony Azizi as Omar, Grant Bowler as Captain Gault, John Terry as Christian Shephard, Holland Roden as Emily, Rebecca Tilney as Emily's mother, Amanda Carlin as ER nurse, Patrick Torres as ER doctor, Doug Hutchison as Horace Goodspeed, Nestor Carbonell as Richard Alpert, Matthew Pedersen as physical therapist, Mandy June Turpin as Florence, Sarah Duval as Melissa, Charles Henry Wyson as John Locke (age 5), Phil Abrams as Gellert and Caleb Steinmeyer as John Locke (age 16).

"Cabin Fever" was written by Elizabeth Sarnoff & Kyle Pennington and directed by Paul Edwards.

Also see:

Lost Season 4 Episode Guide
The Best Lost Sites on the Web
Lost: What we STILL don't know