Vintage Christmas ads: Wurlitzer jukebox

Petra Haden performs the theme of Psycho

Another tune off Petra Haden's upcoming LP of movie themes, performed a capella:

BBC Radio 4 adapts Modesty Blaise

BBC 4 Radio is doing an audio adaptation of the Modesty Blaise spy character:

Modesty Blaise is glamorous, intelligent, rich and very, very cool. She's been called the female James Bond but she's much more interesting than that.

Modesty started life in 1963 as a strip cartoon in the London Evening Standard. The first of the novels followed three years later.

Daphne Alexander plays Modesty in Radio 4's adaptation of A Taste for Death.

DC Nation program block returns to Cartoon Network Jan. 5

Details from press release:

Warner Bros. Animation’s DC Nation programming block comes soaring back, bringing action from the pages of DC Comics to the television screens of comic book fans of all ages.  Green Lantern: The Animated Series goes retro-futuristic when it starts the block with the episode “Steam Lantern.” After being blasted by the Anti-Monitor, Hal finds himself in a steampunk world. Young Justice: Invasion answers lingering questions from the past season with “Before the Dawn,” when Blue Beetle, Miss Martian and the team go on a covert mission to rescue some of their own, uncovering shocking secrets and devastating truths. In between episodes, fans will enjoy all-new DC animated shorts starring some of their favorite DC Comics characters.

McCartney-Nirvana song to appear on upcoming soundtrack

"Cut Me Some Slack," the appropriately named track featured in this week's New York flood benefit by Paul McCartney and the former members of Nirvana will appear on the soundtrack to an upcoming documentary directed by drummer Dave Grohl.

According to NME:

The film marks Grohl's directorial debut and tells the story of the legendary California recording studio where classics such as Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours' and Nirvana's 'Nevermind' were recorded. It will be shown at the US film festival which runs from January 17-27, 2013.

The soundtrack also features appearances from Peter Hayes and Robert Levon Been of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters and Queens Of The Stone Age associate Alain Johannes.

Another trailer for 2012 Doctor Who Christmas special

Pop culture roundup: Jack Kirby; Cathy Lee Crosby as Wonder Woman; Superman; Steve Ditko; Space 1999 vs. Star Trek; Charlton romance!

There's some great stuff on display on this new Tumblr site: The Baxter Building, dedicated mainly to comics of the 1960s and 70s. I love this image from Jack Kirby's never-published adaptation of "The Prisoner."

 

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Actress Cathy Lee Crosby discusses playing Wonder Woman in the 1974 TV pilot film, which is now out on DVD.

"I would have thought they would have gone with a brunette," says the blonde Crosby, "but then I realized that the original movie was actually jointly owned by Warner Bros. and ABC. From what I understand, Warner Bros. wanted to do it more James Bond and ABC wanted to do it more comic book. So I guess it went halfway down the middle, because in a lot of ways this Wonder Woman was more like a female James Bond.

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Via Booksteve, a Superman sportswear ad:

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Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko answers fan mail:

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No (via Space: 1970):

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Sequential Crush looks back at Charlton's interfaith romance comics.

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Via Comics Reporter: Check out these nifty illustrations by Moomins creator Tove Jansson for a 1962 edition of "The Hobbit" published in Sweden.

This Christmas, give the gift of smoking, with Lucy and Desi!

Hear Petra Haden's a capella version of the Superman theme!

A few years back, vocalist Petra Haden put out a great a capella version of the entire Who Sell Out album, featuring all the vocals and instrumental parts replicated by her own, multi-tracked voice.

New movie poster for The Wolverine

PBS to broadcast Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour documentary and film

This Friday, check yer locals, PBS stations will air the recent BBC documentary about the making of the Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour," followed by a broadcast of the film.

 

Video: Paul McCartney performs with remnants of Nirvana

From last night's flood benefit in NYC. Remnants of Nirvana -- that'd be a good band name!

More upcoming DC Comics collected editions: Captain Comet Archives; Kirby's Days of the Mob, more!

DC has announced more collected editions for 2013. These items caught my eye:

JACK KIRBY'S O.M.A.C. - ONE MAN ARMY CORPS TP
Writer: Jack Kirby
Artists: Jack Kirby, D. Bruce Berry and Mike Royer
Collects: OMAC #1-8
176 pg

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER VOL. 2 TP
Writers: David Michelinie, Gerry Conway, Bob Haney and Robert Kanigher
Artists: Gerry Talaoc, Dick Ayers, Joe Kubert and Romeo Tanghal
Collects: STAR SPANGLED WAR STORIES #189-204 and UNKNOWN SOLDIER #205-219
592 pg

SUPERMAN: THE PHANTOM ZONE TP
Writer: Steve Gerber
Artists: Gene Colan and Tony Dezuniga
Collects: PHANTOM ZONE #1-4 and DC COMICS PRESENTS 97
160 pg

BATMAN ILLUSTRATED BY NEAL ADAMS VOL. 3 TP
Writers: Dennis O'Neil, Neal Adams, Len Wein and Frank Robbins
Artists: Neal Adams, Dick Giordano
Collects: BATMAN #232, 234-241, 243-246, 251 and 255, BATMAN ANNUAL #14, THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #99, DETECTIVE COMICS #412-422, 439 and 600 and more
280 pg

THE CAPTAIN COMET ARCHIVES VOL. 1
Writers: John Broome, Gerry Conway, David Kraft and Bob Rozakis
Artists: Carmine Infantino, Bernard Sachs, Murphy Anderson, Sy Barry, Joe Giella, Gil Kane, Pablo Marcos, Bob Smith, Vince Colletta, Ernie Chan, Rich Buckler and Bob Layton
Collects: STRANGE ADVENTURES #9-44, 46 and 49, and SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS #2-6
416 pg

IN THE DAYS OF THE MOB HC
Writer: Jack Kirby
Artists: Vince Colletta and Mike Royer
Collects: IN THE DAYS OF THE MOB #1 and stories from AMAZING WORLD OF DC COMICS #1 and 10
80 pg

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: JONAH HEX VOL. 2 TP
Writers: Michael Fleischer and David Michelinie
Artists: George Moliterni, Bill Draut, Luis Dominguez, Rich Buckler, Frank Springer, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Romeo Tanghal, Ernie Chan, Noly Panaligan, Vicente Alcazar, Danny Bulanadi, Rich Buckler, Dick Giordano, Val Mayerik,
Collects: WEIRD WESTERN TALES #34-38 and JONAH HEX #1-22
544 pg