New Comics Collected Editions: Batman: One Dark Knight! Batman: Black and White! Human Target!

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

Batman: One Dark Knight

All they had to do was get him across town.

     It was the sort of mission Batman had run a thousand times. From high above the sweltering summer streets of Gotham, Batman would escort the GCPD as the dangerous metahuman super-villain known as E.M.P. was transferred from a temporary holding cell to his permanent home at Blackgate Prison in Gotham Harbor. E.M.P.’s electrical powers posed a dangerous threat, but the situation was well in hand.

     Until it wasn’t.

     Now every light in Gotham is out, the police have been knocked into disarray, and a broken, bleeding Batman must fight his way to Blackgate, block by block, dragging E.M.P. behind him. But it’s not just the gangs who want to make life difficult for him. The dark corners of Gotham contain many surprises…and E.M.P. has many more shocks to deliver before the night is through!

     One of the most iconic Batman artists of the 21st century, the incomparable Jock (THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS, BATMAN: THE BLACK MIRROR), has focused all his storytelling powers on the tale of one very, very dark night in Gotham City. It’s always darkest before the dawn—if it ever comes… 

     Collects Batman: One Dark Knight #1-3.

The Human Target: Book One

Christopher Chance has made a living out of being a human target—a man hired to disguise himself as his client to invite would-be assassins to attempt his murder. He’s had a remarkable career until his latest case protecting Lex Luthor when things go sideways.

     An assassination attempt Chance didn’t see coming leaves him vulnerable and left trying to solve his own murder, as he has 12 days to discover just who in the DC Universe hated Luthor enough to want him dead by slow-acting poison. And the prime suspects happen to be…the Justice League International?

     Human Target is a hard-boiled, gritty story in the vein of classic detective noirs, told by bestselling and critically acclaimed creators Tom King and Greg Smallwood!

     This volume collects Human Target #1-6, the first half of the murder mystery.

Batman: Black & White

Featured in a new prestige format, Batman: Black & White features the Dark Knight in multiple interpretations, all varying in terms of theme, tone, and setting, yet all connected with a distinctive black-and-white color scheme. With an all-star roster of creators from Paul Dini and Andy Kubert to Joshua Williamson and Riley Rossmo to G. Willow Wilson and Greg Smallwood, there's a Batman for everyone!

    The miniseries inspired by the Eisner Award-winning series BATMAN BLACK & WHITE is here! Collects the new Batman Black & White #1-6.

Watch Johnny Nash Perform "I Can See Clearly Now"

Kirby Up Close: Original Jack Kirby and Vince Colletta Art from Thor #136

A close-up view of some Kirby Thor panels.

Pop Pic: The Understated Myrna Loy

 

Check it Out: Life-Size Lego Bust of the Black Panther

If you enjoy decorating your home with build-your-own T'Challa tchotchkes, this may be for you.

More info via Lego.

So Long, Ramsey Lewis

The great pianist and jazz popularizer Ramsey Lewis famed for his 1965 instrumental version of "The In Crowd" is dead at age 87, according to The New York Times.

Here he is in a fun (albeit watermarked) video with his trio during his prime:

And be sure not to miss his awesome Beatles cover album:

New on Video: "Voyage Into Space (Special Edition) [Blu-ray]"

Order now from Amazon.

Details:

DO YOU REMEMBER VOYAGE INTO SPACE - THE STORY OF A BOY AND HIS FLYING ROBOT - ON AFTERNOON BROADCASTS OF THE 3:30 MOVIE OR 4:30 MOVIE WHEN YOU WERE A KID?

Finally, this missing link in the adventures of Johnny Sokko comes to home video for the first time in this Blu-ray release! 

Experience the far-out exploits of a young secret agent with the Unicorn Peacekeeping Organization as he battles the vile minions and colossal monsters of Emperor Guillotine, extraterrestrial dictator of the nefarious Gargoyle Gang! 

Joining the fight is an atomic-powered giant robot, armed with a fantastic array of superweapons, which only Johnny can command via a unique remote control wristwatch! This original compilation movie, assembled by American International Television from episodes of the Toei Company tele-series Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot, was a beloved favorite for scores of kaiju-crazy kids across the US in the '70s. 

From the makers of Gigantor and Kamen Rider, Voyage Into Space is part James Bond, Jonny Quest, and Ultraman, shaken - not stirred - with over-the-top plots, oddball villains, outrageous creatures, outré special effects, outlandish action, topped with an offbeat jazz combo score, resulting in a mind-bending adventure in all its English-dubbed glory! If you're reliving memories or creating new ones, let's take off on a Voyage Into Space! - August Ragone, author of "Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters.”

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• High Definition Blu-ray 1080p Presentation (1.42:1)
• DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
• Brand new 2019 HD master
• Audio Commentary With Film Historian August Ragone

Watch the Four Tops Perform "It's the Way Nature Planned It" on "Soul Train"

Pop Pic: Maureen O'Sullivan

 

Coming Up: "The Team-Up Companion" Looks at Classic Superhero Team-Up Titles

Order now from TwoMorrows Publishing.

Details:

The Team-Up Companion examines team-up comic books of the Silver and Bronze Ages of Comics—DC’s The Brave and the Bold and DC Comics Presents, Marvel’s Marvel Team-Up and Marvel Two-in-One, plus other team-up titles, treasuries, and treats—in a lushly illustrated selection of informative essays, special features, and trivia-loaded issue-by-issue indexes. 

Go behind the scenes of your favorite team-up comic books with specially curated and all-new creator recollections from Neal Adams, Jim Aparo, Mike W. Barr, Eliot R. Brown, Nick Cardy, Chris Claremont, Gerry Conway, Steve Englehart, Steve Gerber, Steven Grant, Bob Haney, Tony Isabella, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Ralph Macchio, Dennis O’Neil, Martin Pasko, Joe Rubinstein, Roy Thomas, Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, and many other all-star writers and artists who produced the team-up tales that so captivated readers during the 1960s, 1970s, and early 1980s. 

By Back Issue and RetroFan editor Michael Eury! 

Watch a Teaser for Disney's New Mickey Documentary: "Story of a Mouse"

Video: Watch Marvel Studios Announce it Upcoming TV and Film Projects

Best New Comic Book Covers of the Week

In shops this Wednesday.

Watch the Eagles Perform "Witchy Woman"

Pop Pic: Jessica Lange

 

Check Out a Vintage Frank Zappa Promo Poster, 1971

Coming Up: The Cowsills "Rhythm Of The World"

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Details:

2022 release, the first new music from the band in nearly 30 years. Starting in 1965, The Cowsills was composed of six siblings, performing their instruments and singing those glorious harmonies as only families can. 

Originally starting as a regional act (from Newport, Rhode Island), the group was "founded" by Joda Records owners Danny Sims and reggae/pop singer Johnny Nash ("I Can See Clearly Now") in the mid-'60s for whom they recorded a handful of singles before turning towards more national recognition when they were signed to MGM Records in 1967. 

At this point, the group's mother Barbara and young sister Susan joined the act and they were awarded a Gold record for over one million copies sold of their very first single for MGM, the sublime, "The Rain, The Park & Other Things." 

This began a series of chart records that dominated the Top 40 for the next three years. Among the classic Cowsills recordings are "We Can Fly," "Indian Lake," "Hair" (from the rock musical Hair), and "Love American Style" (the theme song from the popular ABC-TV show of the same name). 

The group also recorded and charted with five successful albums during this time period. The band and their story were even the inspiration for the popular 1970s sitcom The Partridge Family. As all families do, the group went through a series of changes, disbanding in 1972. But music never left the soul of this tuneful and melodic kin. 

Over the years, the group, as individuals, continued to make music and even reunited in 1978 and 1993 to make historic records that are woefully out of print. 

Now, nearly 30 years after their last recordings as a group, The Cowsills are returning with new music for the new world! Omnivore Recordings is proud to announce the release of Rhythm Of The World. Eleven brand new songs written by the band.

Out Now: See You At San Diego: An Oral History of Comic-Con, Fandom, and the Triumph of Geek Culture

Order now from Amazon.

Details:

See You At San Diego is the comprehensive chronicle of Comic-Con International and modern geekdom itself as told through countless stories by nearly fifty of the most integral members of the Comic-Con and fandom scene. This full-fledged oral history, bursting with intimate reflections, hilarious observations, and at times, heartbreaking, often thought-provoking stories, is about how the geek at last inherited the earth and the story of the transformation of mainstream American pop culture into comic book culture over the past century.

Join some of the biggest names in fandom as they launch off at ludicrous speed into the spiraling galaxy of geek culture through the kaleidoscopic lens of the planet’s biggest pop culture gathering worldwide (clocked twice by Guinness!): the San Diego Comic-Con. With such special guests as: Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller, Kevin Smith, Bruce Campbell, Felicia Day, Scott Aukerman, Stan Sakai, Sergio Aragonés, Trina Robbins, the Russo Bros., Lloyd Kaufman, Tim Seeley, Kevin Eastman, and many others ― along with 400+ photos and art ― the book also features forewords by Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo) and by Jeff Smith (Bone), plus an afterword by Wu-Tang Clan’s own uber-nerd mastermind RZA.

Full-color with 400+ photos and art

Watch a Preview for Marvel's "Special Presentation" - "Werewolf By Night"

Watch David Cassidy Perform "Rock Me, Baby"