ITEM! J.R.R. Tolkien's delightful letters from Father Christmas.
ITEM! Good news/bad news: "The Derry Girls" has finished filming a final season.
ITEM! Former "Doctor Who" star Freema Agyeman has a cameo in the new Matrix film.
ITEM! Bob Dylan's Christmas decorations.
ITEM! Michael Keaton may be in the upcoming Batgirl film - as Batman!
Out now from Amazon.
Details:
From the darkened depths rises a peril greater than any Thor has ever before faced. Mangog threatens to unsheathe the Odinsword and bring Ragnarok upon the Norse gods in this collection of Asgardian classics! And that’s just the beginning — because in Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s THOR, there’s always another cosmic adventure around the corner! Case in point: a cosmic battle between Galactus and Ego the Living Planet; the return of “Him,” the man who would come to be known as Adam Warlock; and the universe-shaking origin of Galactus! Thor’s adventures get personal, too, with a surprising revelation regarding Donald Blake, the return of Jane Foster, and the dramatic dance between Balder and the Norn queen Karnilla!
COLLECTING: Thor (1966) 154-174
From his days on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" to "Super Dave" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm," Bob Einstein gets my vote as One of the Funniest People Ever. They guy slayed deadpan.
I'll definitely be giving this a look.
ITEM! Singer Kate Bush says National Health workers in the UK deserve a raise for Christmas. And she saw a bird.
ITEM! Marvelettes lead singer Wanda Young is dead at 78.
ITEM! Comics writer Brian Michael Bendis is developing a Legion of Superheroes animated series for DC and HBO Max.
ITEM! How accurate is "Being the Ricardos"?
ITEM! Stan Lee's brother Larry Lieber and the estates of Marvel comics creators Steve Ditko, Gene Colan, Don Heck and Don Rico have signed onto a lawsuit that might have bearing over the copyrights to characters they helped create back in the 1960s.
Out in July 2022. Order now from Amazon.
Details:
Gil Kane’s The Amazing Spider-Man Artisan Edition presents each page in what appears to be black and white, but has actually been scanned in color. Readers view the art in its most natural form—blue pencils, ink gradients, and editorial notations all clearly visible—so they can (ahem) marvel at all the little nuances that make original art unique.
This volume contains the infamous three-part drug story that was not approved by the Comics Code Authority (Amazing Spider-Man #96–98). The second three-part story features the legendary six-armed Spider-Man saga (Amazing Spider-Man #100–102). Additionally, one of the most famous—and most shocking—Spidey tales is included: the death of Gwen Stacey! (Amazing Spider-Man #121). You can’t get a better line-up of Spider-Man stories than this!
Gil Kane is regarded as one of the finest comic artists in the history of the medium. His dynamic sequential storytelling abilities, coupled with impeccable draftsmanship, make him a true artist’s artist—as this book will attest!
Kenneth Branagh is back as Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot in a new flick opening in theaters Feb. 11. Others in the cast include Gal Gadot, Annette Bening, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and Letitia Wright.
The Coen Bro's Shakespeare adaptation stars Denzel Washington and Frances MacDormand. It opens in theaters on Christmas and streams from Jan. 14 on Apple TV+.
Available now from Amazon.
Details:
Four-disc set with four restored classic mysteries: "The Fatal Hour" (1931), "The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes" (1935), "Silver Blaze" (1937), starring Arthur Wontner, and "A Study in Scarlet" (1933), starring Reginald Owen.
A Limited-Edition Collector’s Box Set comes complete with exclusive Sherlock Holmes collector’s items, including a 13-month Sherlockian calendar, featuring special anniversary dates and fun facts about the history of Sherlock Holmes; a collector’s edition Sherlock Holmes magnet; a Sherlock Holmes notebook for jotting down clues; a one-year subscription to The Film Detective app; and a Sherlock Holmes tote bag.
Formats: DVD, Blu-ray.
Extras: Newly restored Sherlockian shorts, including "Slick Sleuths" (1926), "Sherlock Holmes Baffled" (1900), "A Black Sherlock Holmes" (1918), "Sure Luck Holmes" (1928), "Cousins of Sherlocko" (1913), "The Copper Beeches" (1912) and “The Case of the Blind Man's Bluff" (1954); a Sherlock Holmes bonus TV-episode starring Ronald Howard; "Elementary Cinema: The First Cinematic Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," an original documentary by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures; "Sherlock Holmes and the Blue Carbuncle," a radio broadcast recreation from Redfield Arts Audio; introductions with filmmaker and film historian Samuel M. Sherman; audio commentary from author Jennifer Churchill, author and film historian Jason A. Ney, writers-producers Phoef Sutton and Mark Jordan Legan; and authors/screenwriters, Peter Atkins and David Breckman; original film posters replicated as postcards; and booklet inserts with original essays from author Don Stradley and author-screenwriter C. Courtney Joyner. (Cinedigm/The Film Detective).
ITEM! Here's the list of comic book creators credited at the end of "Spider-Man: No Way Home." (spoilers).
ITEM! Marvel Comics scribe Dan Slott (Spider-Man, Fantastic Four) is penning a trio of Doctor Who comics.
ITEM! Brian Eno's not big on NFTs, whatever the hell those are.
Out in August 2022. Order now from Amazon.
Details:
Fantastic Four enters a new era as Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway take the reins. Thomas begins where it all began—with the Mole Man. This time, paired with Kala, Queen of the Netherworld, and topped off with a retelling of the FF’s origin. The drama remains at its peak as the Human Torch’s relationship with Crystal runs head on into Quicksilver. Meanwhile, the Frightful Four launch a surprise attack that pushes Reed and Sue to the breaking point. In the aftermath, Medusa will become the FF’s newest member. Then, it’s into the Negative Zone for the origin of Annihilus. Also featuring a new look for the Torch; classic battles with Thundra and the Hulk; the return of Doctor Doom; and the world’s creepiest babysitter, Agatha Harkness.
COLLECTING: Fantastic Four (1961) 126-146, Annual (1963) 10 (cover only); Giant-Size Super-Stars (1974) 1; material from FOOM (1973) 1, 4, 5
