Discounted DVD new releases Aug. 24, 2010: Lost, Simpsons, Time Bandits, Flights of the Conchords, Patty Duke Show

Click the pics to order discounted DVDs from Amazon:

Lost: The Complete Sixth and Final SeasonLost: The Complete CollectionThe Simpsons: The 13th SeasonTime Bandits [Blu-ray]Flight of the Conchords: The Complete First SeasonThe Patty Duke Show: Season Three

Discounted CD new releases Aug. 24, 2010: Eels, Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan, Bruce Springsteen, Dale Watson, Disney Villains

Click the pics to order discounted CDs from Amazon:

Tomorrow MorningHawkCollection 1973-1984Carryin' OnDisney Villains: Simply Sinister Songs

Upcoming book collects classic Christmas comics

Coming from IDW Publishing in November:

THE GREAT TREASURY OF CHRISTMAS COMIC BOOK STORIES

Written and art by Walt Kelly, John Stanley, Dan Noon, and more.

These wonderful Christmas comics from the Golden Age of Comics will warm the hearts of children of all ages. Top cartoonists like Walt "Pogo" Kelly, John "Little Lulu" Stanley, Dan Noonan, and many more penned the funny, heartwarming comics in this beautiful collection. You'll meet elves, reindeer, talking snowmen and funny animals -- and, of course, Santa Claus himself -- in terrific stories that will provide a sense of wonder for kids, Moms, Dads, Uncles, and Aunts.

176 pages, $34.99.

DC publishes Katrina graphic novel: Dark Rain

Some details:

Written by Mat Johnson and drawn by Simon Gane, Dark Rain tells a story of opportunists trying to exploit the plight of New Orleans in the days after the hurricane. At times it's alternately funny and moving, but it's always focused on a very sharp but simple story.
It tells the tale of a man desperate for money who wants to rob a bank in the chaos of the flood and enlists the help of a reluctant ex-con who could use the money to help with his child support. Things go from bad to worse when they realize they're racing against an evil Blackwater type outfit of mercenaries to the bank. Very reminiscent of a Third Man type story set in New Orleans, this is a book very much worth checking out.

Picture: Batman TV show TV Times cover

Picture: The Supremes

Pop links: Batman by Neal Adams, the Orb and Gilmour team up, Asterix sells burgers, Conan O'Brien teams with Jack White

See a nice batch of Neal Adams-illustrated Batman covers.



-----

Trippy 1990s techno band have recorded a new album featuring Pink Floyd singer/guitarist David Gilmour. roceeds from album sales will go toward fighting the extradition from Britain and to the United States of computer hacker Gary McKinnon.



----

Depressing: Asterix is being used to advertise for McDonald's in France.

Asterix co-creator Albert Ulderzo (Goscinny is deceased) was consulted on the use of the character and his studio created the image.  And Asterix was used in a previous French McDonald’s promotion, in 2001, that tied to the release of an Asterix film. 



-----

Conan O'Brien is releasing a spoken word recording plus a rockabilly duet with the White Stripes' Jack White.



-----

The Beatles "red" and "blue" compilations were popular ways for youngsters to get into the band's music when I was a kid in the 1970s. Now, they join the rest of the band's catalog in newly remastered form. The 2-CD packages will be out Oct. 19.

Ken Nordine jeans ads

Via PCL LinkDump: Vintage 1970s Levi's jeans ads narrated by the imitable word jazzer Ken Nordine.



Brian Wilson featured on NPR

Hear Brian talk about his brilliant new album of Gershwin interpretations. NPR's "Weekend Edition" also will feature a Brian interview this Sunday morning (check your locals).

Picture sleeve parade: Dusty Springfield

New Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pictures





Captain America by Jack Kirby Omnibus on the way

Cool! I'm assuming this collects Kirby's 1940s work and his return stint on the title in the 1960s and 70s. It's 568 pages and slated for February release.

Here's an Amazon link:

Captain America by Jack Kirby Omnibus

Superheroes: Bad role models, psychologists say

A new study says so...

Watching superheroes beat up villains may not be the best image for boys to see if society wants to promote kinder, less stereotypical male behaviors, according to psychologists who spoke Sunday at the 118th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association.
 
"There is a big difference in the movie superhero of today and the comic book superhero of yesterday," said psychologist Sharon Lamb, PhD, distinguished professor of mental health at University of Massachusetts-Boston. "Today’s superhero is too much like an action hero who participates in non-stop violence; he’s aggressive, sarcastic and rarely speaks to the virtue of doing good for humanity. When not in superhero costume, these men, like Iron man, exploit women, flaunt bling and convey their manhood with high-powered guns. "

Picture: The Brady Bunch

Pop links: January Jones to star as Emma Frost in X-Men First Class, rare Jack Kirby, Marvel Comics stickers, retro comics school folders

January Jones of "Mad Men" will play Emma Frost in "X-Men: First Class."


-----

See some relatively obscure Jack Kirby covers for Marvel Comics.



------

Jon presents a great array of Marvel Comics stickers. I think I've mentioned before how annoyed my parents were when I plastered a batch of these on my wall as a kid.



------

I'm not a fan of Wal-Mart, but apparently you can outfit your kids for school there with cool folders illustrated with retro comic book covers.

Vintage ad: Neal Hefti Batman LPs