DC Universe Classics figures exclusives

Mattel has announced the following DC Universe Classics figures, exclusive to Toy R Us stores:

BATGIRL and AZRAEL, LIGHTRAY and ORION (now with a removable helmet!), CYBORG SUPERMAN and MONGUL and finally HAL JORDAN in his original uniform with a new ABIN SUR figure!









Plus:

DC Universe Infinite Heroes 8-pack – Battle for Metropolis!

This fantastic gift set features 3 ¾ scale figures of Earth 2 SUPERMAN, “SHAZAM!”, CAPTAIN ATOM, LEX LUTHOR in Power Armor with real firing missiles, and finally 4 (count em!) LEXCORP Trooper guards with infiltration helmets on! All of these figures come delivered to the collector in a gorgeous window box package!

Pop links: Lorna the Jungle Girl, The Eye, Star Trek Pez, 1968 Frazetta portfolio, Ditko's Killjoy, Dr. Who audio adventures,

Pappy presents a vintage Lorna the Jungle Girl tale, art by Werner Roth.



-----

Meanwhile, Fortress of Fortitude shares an adventure of The Eye!



-----

What geek could resist Star Trek Pez?



-----

Golden Age Comic Book Stories presents Frank Frazetta's Opar Press Portfolio from 1968.



-----

Check out Steve Ditko's shortlived 1970s backup strip, Killjoy.



-----

The BBC's Doctor Who audio adventures continue. Listen to them here.

Showcase Presents Eclipso collection planned

The announcement of a new volume in DC Comics' big, black-and-white Showcase Presents series is always big news. To me anyway. And the latest scoop is this collection, due out next August:

Showcase Presents: Eclipso. It'll be one of the newer, thinner Showcases at 296 pages but should be lots of fun. No specifics on which issues will be included, etc.



More DC Showcase books.

Beatles unreleased Carnival of Light to see the light of day?

I think Paul McCartney occasionally brings such things up for the sake of publicity (in this case, the release of a new electronica album under his "Fireman" moniker) without having any concrete plans to follow through, but he's saying that, maybe, we'll finally be able to hear the Beatles' "Carnival of Light."

The 14-minute experimental track was created for a 1967 "happening" at London's Roundhouse and, frankly, doesn't sound like something you'd want to hear more than once. If that.

The improvised work features distorted electric guitars, discordant sound effects, a church organ and gargling interspersed with McCartney and John Lennon shouting random phrases like "Barcelona" and "Are you all right?"

But, still, it's the Beatles, right?

McCartney confirmed he still owned the master tapes, adding that he suspected "the time has come for it to get its moment," The Observer reported. "I like it because it's the Beatles free, going off piste," McCartney said.

McCartney would need the consent of Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, and George Harrison's widow, Olivia Harrison, to release the track.

So, don't hold your breath. But, maybe, as part of the long-rumored/promised Beatles remasters that are supposed to start coming out sometime next year, they'll include this as a "bonus" somewhere along the line.

Pics from upcoming Astro Boy CGI film

Here are a couple of images from the upcoming "Astro Boy" film.





The flick features the voices of Nicolas Cage, Donald Sutherland, Kristen Bell, Nathan Lane, Bill Nighy, Eugene Levy and others and will be out next October.

Documentary attempts to reunite the Kinks

Via Boing Boing: A Boston reporter is documenting his quixotic efforts to reunite the Kinks.

Here's an excerpt:

Mattel Collector site features limited edition DC action figures

Here's a peek at some 2009 releases from Matty Collector, Mattel's new online collector's site.

Make your own muppet

Possibly the coolest thing ever, at FAO Schwartz online:

Pop links: Disneyland posters, screaming deal on James Bond DVDs,

Gorillas Don't Blog shares some nifty, vintage Disneyland posters. I posted my own batch of Disneyland attraction posters a few years back here.



-----

Deal alerts: Today only save over $200(!) James Bond Ultimate Collector's Set or $115 on the James Bond Blu-ray Collection Six-Pack.





-----

Dial B for Blog recalls the history of DC Comics' Showcase Presents title.

Todd Rundgren to produce New York Dolls again

From the press release:

The New York Dolls and legendary record producer Todd Rundgren have been reunited for the first time in 36 years. Rundgren will produce the Dolls' new album at his studio on the island of Kauai. Production is scheduled to start in January 2009.

This is the first time in 36 years since Rundgren originally produced the New York Dolls eponymous debut album "The New York Dolls" which included the classic songs "Personality Crisis", "Trash", "Jet Boy" and "Private World". Rundgren will be reunited with original Dolls founding members, David Johansen (vocals) and Sylvain Sylvain (guitar, vocals).

"We're really excited to be working with Todd again," says David Johansen. “We're hoping to recapture the same magic on the forthcoming album."

The album, which is yet untitled, will be released on the Atco label through Warner Brothers. The Atco label has been specially re-launched. The New York Dolls are one of the first signings to the label. The Dolls will follow the release of the new album with a world tour in 2009.

Beatles "white album" number 5 up for auction

As Beatles fans know, early pressings of the band's "white album" (formally known as The Beatles) included sequential numbers on the covers. Numbers 1 through 4 went to the band members themselves. And number 5, is now up for auction on eBay UK.

The album – no. 0000005 – was given by John Lennon to a close friend before it entered the public domain.

From the auction listing:

Some years ago, this album was taken into the collectors shop named 'Vinyl Revival Records' in Newbury, Berkshire, England by a musician (they did not disclose who) who had visited John in the flat that he shared with Yoko in late 1968 (that was owned by Ringo) at 34 Montague Square, Marylebone, London W.1. The musician saw a pile of White Albums on a table and asked for one. John readily agreed, but said 'Don't take No.1 - I want that'. Instead he took No. 5'.

The album then passed into the hands of Beatles specialist dealer 'Good Humour' who then sold it to its current owner who has now commissioned me to sell it on his behalf.

Tomorrows book takes an issue-by-issue look at Marvel Comics in the 1960s

Not much info on this title yet, other than: "Marvel Comics In The 1960s: An Issue-By-Issue Field Guide To A Pop Culture Phenomenon" by Pierre Comtois. Release date Aug. 5, 2009, 224 pages.

New trailer for Watchmen movie

Thor animated series on the way from Marvel

From the press release:

The Mighty Thor's headed for TV screens everywhere...

Marvel Animation is expanding its slate of offerings with 26 action-packed half-hour episodes of an all-new animated television series based on Thor. The Thor series will be self-produced by Marvel and is scheduled to launch fall 2010 following Marvel's live-action "Thor" feature film in summer of 2010.

The Thor animated series is an all new-property featuring one of Marvel's longtime favorite characters: the heroic thunder god of Norse mythology. The animated series will follow Thor as he defends his mythical home of Asgard against fantastical villains, fiendish hordes, winged creatures and angry giants. The show takes place in various wondrous worlds: from mountainous landscapes to places of icy mists and fiery voids. Thor will be surrounded by many companions on his mission, every one sure to add to the action and adventure of this series.

But you don't have to wait until 2010 for new Marvel animation, Marvelites!

Coming in 2009, Marvel brings its iconic heroes Wolverine and Iron Man to television in two brand-new animated series airing on Nicktoons. The two shows, "Wolverine and the X-Men" (a co-production with Toonz Entertainment Pte Ltd., Singapore and First Serve International Ltd.) and "Iron Man Armored Adventures" (a co-production with France based Method Films) will each feature 26 action-packed, half-hour episodes that follow the respective heroes through dynamic action, adventure and drama as they face foes both familiar and new to their fans.

Marvel Animation has also partnered with BET Networks to produce an animated series based on the legendary Marvel hero, the Black Panther. The all-new "Black Panther Animated Series" is slated to premiere on BET Networks in the summer of 2009.

In fall of 2009, Marvel will premiere its self-produced all-new "Marvel Super Hero Squad" animated series, an action-packed show featuring super-stylized versions of its most popular characters including Captain America, Silver Surfer, Hulk, Wolverine and Iron Man. The series features the great heroic story telling Marvel is known for and adds a touch of comedy to the mix.

Following Marvel's live-action feature film release, "Avengers," in the summer of 2011, Marvel will premiere its self-produced "The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes" in the fall of 2011 showcasing the best of the best in the Marvel Universe in 26 episodes of an all-new animated series.

Still more Batman: Brave the Bold pics

Here's yet another batch of images from the Cartoon Network's upcoming "Batman: Brave and the Bold" series.

Pop links: Mitch Mitchell passes, iTunes features treasure trove of Disney LPs, Faces really reuniting , Stan Lee on Showtime, Batman logos, more!

Criminy we've got lots of cool links today...

Jimi Hendrix Experience Mitch Mitchell died yesterday. He was the last living member of the famed trio and a great jazz-influenced drummer. A lot of the intensity to Jimi's best music owes a lot to his fiery, Elvin Jones-like support.

-----

Found this great link yesterday via BoingBoing: A listing of great recordings on the Disneyland label now available via iTunes.



-----

Looks like that rumored Faces reunion is actually in the works.

...original members Rod Stewart, Ron Wood, Ian McLagan and Kenney Jones, along with Stewart touring bassist replacing the late Ronnie Laine, will have a rehearsal next Monday (Nov. 17) "just to check if they can remember the songs."

-----

Legendary comics scribe Stan Lee is producing a new series on Showtime.

"Hero" focuses on a gay superhero who struggles to hide both that secret and his secret identity. It's based on a novel of the same name by Perry Moore.

-----

Here's a nice study of Batman logos through the years. I did my own survey of Batman cover logos a few years back.



-----

See a great Steve Ditko Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves story from 1969.



-----

Also up at Fortress of Fortitude, a Basil Wolverton sci fi tale.



------

Monty Python's Dead Parrot Sketch has its roots in 4th century humor, the BBC reports.

Philogelos: The Laugh Addict, which has been translated from Greek manuscripts, contains a joke where a man complains that a slave he was sold had died.

"When he was with me, he never did any such thing!" is the reply.

-----

Golden Age Comic Book Stories features artwork from Jim Steranko's 1971 comic art calendar, featuring work by Jack Kirby, Joe Kubert, Alex Toth and Steranko himself. Nice stuff.



Check out other recent entries there, too, for stories illustrated by Archie Goodwin and Alex Toth.

-----

Comic Book Resources catches up with the great comic book artist P. Craig Russell and provides a peek at his latest work, an adaptation of Neil Gaimin's "The Dream Hunters."



-----

Today's deal alert:

More Batman: Brave and the Bold pics

Here are some new images for the "Batman: Brave and the Bold" cartoon, which debuts on the Cartoon Network Nov. 14 at 8 p.m.

Pop links: Wrightson's Frankenstein, see the new starship Enterprise, new Shadow radio shows discovered

Golden Age Comic Book Stories displays artwork from Berni Wrightson's two "Frankenstein" portfolios.



-----

Entertainment Weekly offers a look at the starship Enterprise as seen in the upcoming "Star Trek" flick.



-----

Radio Spirits, the company that restores and sells old-time radio programs is issuing two previously lost episodes of "The Shadow."

Starring a young Orson Welles in the title role, the new episodes -- The Old People and The Voice of the Trumpet -- first aired during the 1938 season of the long running radio series.

THE SHADOW: KNIGHT OF DARKNESS includes 18 digitally remastered episodes of the program on nine compact discs. In addition to the two "lost" Orson Welles episodes, additional entries on the set feature the other two actors best known for portraying The Shadow -- Bill Johnstone and Bret Morrison. The set further includes three unedited Johnstone episodes from the BF Goodrich sponsored run of the series that have previously been unavailable in this form.

New comics Nov. 11, 2008: Buffy Vol. 3,

Here's what look's interesting to me. Please click the links to order titles from Amazon. Sales help support this site!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Vol. 3: WOLVES AT THE GATE

CHRONICLES OF CONAN VOL 16 ETERNITY WAR & OTHER STORIES

STRAY TOASTERS TP new edition

BATMAN COMPLETE ANIMATED SERIES DVD BOX SET

Creator of bogus Megan Fox Wonder Woman site 'fesses up

Last week I carried some posts to a relatively official-looking site that unveiled actress Megan Fox as the star of the in-development Wonder Woman movie.

The site was eventually debunked as a fan creation, but many of us were left wondering why someone would bother going through the effort to create such a thing. I guess I shouldn't be too superior. I blog about such things.

Anyway, the site has been update with a look at how and why it was created. Here's the gist.

Superman. Batman. Spiderman. They have all had their day of glory on the silver screen. Meanwhile, the woman of most men's dreams has been stuck in Hollywood "Development Hell". Like most designers, I too have been stuck in development hell. So I, as a designer, looked to Wonder Woman for inspiration. Why did I do it? It was the challenge of making something out of nothing.

My wheels began turning one day when I had heard that Joss Whedon had walked away from the original Wonder Woman movie project. I carried on with my day wondering who would be the ultimate Wonder Woman?

My day of wondering actually turned into many months. Upon much contemplation and trial runs, it occurred to me that for Wonder Woman to be universally successful she would have to appeal to younger audiences. And with that, Megan Fox as Wonder Woman began...