Pop Culture Safari!

Pop Culture Roundup: Spider-Man; "Blue Velvet"; Batman; "Land of the Giants"; DC and Marvel tabloids

ITEM! The strange history of Spider-Man in Mexico.

ITEM! An upcoming Criterion Collection edition of David Lynch's will include more than an hour of re-discovered footage.

ITEM! A behind-the-scenes look at a new Golden Age Batman figure and how it was designed.

ITEM! A classic "Land of the Giants" model kit is being reissued.

ITEM! A gallery of DC Treasury Edition covers.

ITEM! And Marvel Treasury Editions covers, too!

New Music Friday: Curtis Mayfield; Ella Fitzgerald; Sleaford Mods; The Claypool Lennon Delirium; Ray Charles; Flamin' Groovies; Julian Lage

Our picks this week. Click the links to order items from Amazon.

Curtis Mayfield - Keep On Keeping On: Curtis Mayfield Studio Albums 1970-1974

This collection includes newly remastered versions of his first four studio albums: Curtis (1970), Roots (1971), Back to the World (1973) and Sweet Exorcist (1974).

Ella Fitzgerald - Ella at the Shrine (vinyl)

Sleaford Mods - Eton Alive

The Claypool Lennon Delirium - South of Reality

Ray Charles - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

Flamin' Groovies - Gonna Rock Tonite: Complete Recordings 1969-1971

Julian Lage - Love Hurts

Records We Missed: E.E. Cummings Reads His Poetry

Dig the all-caps cover copy!

So long, Peter Tork

Singer, songwriter and member of television's "The Monkees," Peter Tork died at age 77 today, The New York Times reports. We're big Monkees fans here at PCS and Peter will be much missed.

Here's a look at Tork's screen test for the TV series:

And here's a video of The Monkees' "Auntie Grizelda," with Tork on lead vocals:

And, from our sister site, The Glass Onion Beatles Journal, here's a pic of Tork with George Harrison from Harrison's "Wonderwall Music" sessions:

Comic Book Art: John Romita Sr. Amazing Spider-Man Annual #7 cover, original artwork

Coming Up: Spider-Man by John Byrne Omnibus

Out in May. Stay tuned for pre-order info.

Details from Marvel:

Written by BILL MANTLO, CHRIS CLAREMONT, RALPH MACCHIO, MARV WOLFMAN, ROGER STERN, JOHN BYRNE & HOWARD MACKIE
Penciled by JOHN BYRNE

Cover by JOHN BYRNE

Every Spider-Man story illustrated by the legendary John Byrne, collected in one huge hardcover! Spidey is put through his paces as he teams with the Hulk, the Wasp, Ms. Marvel, Iron Fist, Captain Britain, Man-Thing, Thor, Luke Cage and more — and battles Man-Wolf, Doctor Octopus and the Ringer! Revisit chapter one of Spidey’s history as the web-slinger faces his most fearsome foes for the first time! And a legend is reborn as Peter Parker returns to the Spider-Man costume, kicking off an amazing run featuring daring drama, fresh faces and classic foes!

Collecting MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) #53-55, #59-70 and #75; AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #189-190, #206 and ANNUAL #13; PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN (1976) #58; SPIDER-MAN: CHAPTER ONE #0-12; AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1999) #1 (A & C STORIES), #2-11, #12 (A STORY) and #13-18; and MARVEL AUTHENTIX: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1.
1264 PGS.

Coming Up: Timely's Greatest - The Golden Age Sub-Mariner

Out in May. Stay tuned for pre-order info.

Details from Marvel:

BY BILL EVERETT - THE PRE-WAR YEARS OMNIBUS HC
Written by BILL EVERETT with CARL BURGOS & JOHN COMPTON
Penciled by BILL EVERETT with CARL BURGOS

Marvel proudly presents TIMELY’S GREATEST, a series of once-in-a-lifetime volumes presenting the greatest stories of the Golden Age, when Marvel was known as Timely Comics! Our debut volume celebrates the incomparable adventures of comics’ first antihero, Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner! Bill Everett’s Sub-Mariner cut a bold path, defending his undersea kingdom, invading New York City, fighting the Axis powers and battling both against and alongside the Human Torch! Like his signature character, Everett was an iconoclast ahead of his time. His lush, detailed artwork and engrossing ongoing storylines were unlike anything else of the era! For the first time ever, experience every adventure of Prince Namor from his 1939 debut through Bill Everett’s February 1942 induction into the armed services.

Collecting material from MARVEL COMICS #1, MARVEL MYSTERY COMICS #2-31, HUMAN TORCH COMICS #2-6, SUB-MARINER COMICS #1-4, ALL-WINNERS COMICS (1941) #1-4, DARING MYSTERY COMICS #7-8 and COMEDY COMICS (1942) #9.
864 PGS.

Coming Up: Marvel Horror Omnibus

Due out in May. Order from Amazon now.

Details from Marvel:

Written by STEVE GERBER, DOUG MOENCH, TONY ISABELLA, LEN WEIN, DAVID ANTHONY KRAFT, JOHN DAVID WARNER, STEVEN GRANT, MIKE FRIEDRICH, BILL MANTLO, SCOTT EDELMAN, DAVID MICHELINIE & MORE
Penciled by JOHN BUSCEMA, PABLO MARCOS, ALFREDO ALCALA, YONG MONTANO, RON WILSON, GENE COLAN, TONY DEZUNIGA, DON PERLIN, VAL MAYERIK, JACK KIRBY, DICK AYERS, BILLY GRAHAM, SONNY TRINIDAD, BILL SIENKIEWICZ, JOHN BYRNE & MORE

Cover by Larry Lieber

Marvel’s creepiest characters put the “super” into supernatural in this titanic tome of terror! A veritable who’s who of horror, this volume collects the complete 1970s adventures of the Zombie, Brother Voodoo, the Living Mummy, It! the Living Colossus, the Golem, Gabriel the Devil Hunter, the Scarecrow and Modred the Mystic — including hair-raising encounters with Werewolf by Night, Doctor Strange, the Hulk, the Thing, the Avengers and more! Read it if you dare!

Collecting STRANGE TALES (1951) #169-174 and #176-177; SUPERNATURAL THRILLERS #5 and #7-15; ASTONISHING TALES (1970) #21-24; DEAD OF NIGHT #11; MARVEL SPOTLIGHT (1971) #26; MARVEL CHILLERS #1-2; MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) #24; WEREWOLF BY NIGHT (1972) #39-41; MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE (1974) #11, #18, #33, #41 and #95; DOCTOR STRANGE (1974) #48; INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) #244; FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #222-223; AVENGERS (1963) #185-187; and material from ZOMBIE (1973) #1-10; HAUNT OF HORROR (1974) #2-5; MONSTERS UNLEASHED (1973) #11; BIZARRE ADVENTURES #33; MENACE #5; MOON KNIGHT (1980) #21; TALES OF SUSPENSE (1959) #14 and #20; and STRANGE TALES (1951) #74 and #89.
1328 PGS

New Comics Day: DC Universe by Len Wein; Amazing Spider-Man by Nick Spencer Vol. 2; Black Panther Epic Collection; Captain America by Ta-Nehisi Coates Vol. 1

Our picks this week. Click the links to order items from Amazon.

DC Universe by Len Wein

From the Teen Titans to Swamp Thing, Len Wein had his fingerprints on just about every aspect of DC Comics. As a writer and later editor, Wein helped to innovate some of the company's most groundbreaking titles, including work on Watchmen, New Teen Titans, Justice League of America, Saga of the Swamp Thing and more.

Now, for the first time ever, his greatest stories are collected together as a salute to one of DC's most important creators of all time. This sensational story of the DC Universe is told from the dawn of superheroes, starring Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, the Justice League of America, the Teen Titans and more! Collects Teen Titans #18 & 20, Phantom Stranger #20-24, JLA #100-102, Action Comics #419-420, #422-423, #425-426, #429, #432, DC Comics Presents #27-29, JLA 80-Page Giant #2, DC Retroactive: Green Lantern - The '80s: Big Betrayal #1, and Swamp Thing Winter Special #1.

Amazing Spider-Man by Nick Spencer Vol. 2: Friends and Foes

Wondering when Boomerang's status as Spider-Man's roommate would blow up? Well, the time has come and it's all here in this continuation of Nick Spencer's action-packed take on everybody's favorite web-head!

COLLECTING: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 6-12

Black Panther Epic Collection: Revenge of the Black Panther

Behold as the Black Panther sets out on adventures that only his co-creator, Jack Kirby, could conceive! T'Challa will discover the secret of King Solomon's frog, encounter alien races, battle eternal samurai warriors and much, much more. The history of the Wakandans, their majestic city, their amazing technology and the origins of Vibranium are also explored with a power and passion that only Kirby can offer. Then, Ed Hannigan and Jerry Bingham present an epic battle between the Black Panther, the Avengers and Ulysses Klaw. Next, T'Challa returns to the American South to root out the evil Soul Strangler's cult. Finally, Peter B. Gillis and Denys Cowan craft a compelling tale as the Panther fights apartheid in the neighboring nation of Azania.

COLLECTING: VOL. 2: BLACK PANTHER (1977) 1-15, MARVEL PREMIERE (1972) 51-53, BLACK PANTHER (1988) 1-4, MATERIAL FROM MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) 100

Captain America by Ta-Nehisi Coates Vol. 1: Winter in America

It's winter in America! For over 70 years, Captain America has stood in stalwart defense of our country and its people. But in the aftermath of Hydra's takeover of the nation, Cap is a figure of controversy, carrying a tarnished shield...and a new enemy is rising! Who are they? And how do they intend to co-opt and corrupt the symbol that is Captain America? Distrusted by a nation that seems to have lost faith in him, Steve Rogers is a man out of time - and out of options! Where can a now-unsanctioned Captain America turn for aid and assistance in order to stem the rise of the cabal of influence brokers known as the Power Elite? Join acclaimed BLACK PANTHER scribe Ta-Nehisi Coates for the next chapter of Captain America's life!

COLLECTING: CAPTAIN AMERICA 1-6, FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2018 (AVENGERS/CAPTAIN AMERICA) 1 (CAPTAIN AMERICA STORY)

Comic Art: Jim Aparo - The Brave and the Bold #170 original artwork

Time Capsule: Bing and Gary Crosby perform "Hey Jude" on "Hollywood Palace," Feb. 18, 1969

Pop Artifact: Isis/Shazam! publicity cel, 1976

Via Heritage Auctions.

Details:
Isis, aka The Secrets of Isis was a live-action series, the first to feature a female superhero (predating both Wonder Woman and The Bionic Woman). The lovely Joanna Cameron starred as Andrea Thomas, a science teacher who discovers a magic gold amulet that gave her super powers whenever she said "Oh mighty Isis." Shazam! was another Filmation live-action Saturday morning series, starring Jackson Bostwick as the legendary Captain Marvel.

Video Find: Ken Nordine studio tour

Remembering the great voice-over and Word Jazz pioneer, who died at age 98 this week.

Video Find: King Crimson on "Fridays" 1981

I remember seeing this when it first aired. Nevermind the wardrobe, the 80s version of Crimson did incredible stuff that, in my opinion, still holds up - sharp, edgy and not proggy at all.

So long, Ken Nordine

Ken Nordine, known for his spoken "Word Jazz" LPs and radio show, is dead at age 98, reports WBEZ.

Along with his imaginative spoken word pieces, which include collaborations with Tom Waits and the Grateful Dead, Nordine provided voice-overs on a zillion TV ads, including work for Levis, Taster's Choice coffee and other products.

Here are a few examples of his work: