Upcoming DVDs of interest

Click titles to order from Amazon.


German Expressionism Collection (The Hands of Orlac / The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari / Secrets of a Soul / Warning Shadows)
Four German Silent Classics in a New Beautiful Thin-Pak Boxed Set. The Set Includes: Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) Directed by Robert Wiene, Starring Conrad Viedt and Werner Krauss - Warning Shadows (1923) Directed by Arthur Robison - The Hands of Orlac (1924) Directed by Robert Wiene, Starring Conrad Veidt - Secrets of a Soul (1926) Directed by G.W. Pabst, Starring Werner Krauss.


Love American Style - Season One, Volume Two


McHale's Navy: Season Three
ALL 36 EPISODES FROM THE THIRD SEASON STARRING ERNEST BORGNINE, TIM CONWAY AND JOE FLYNN Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale ,Ernest Borgnine, Ensign Parker ,Tim Conway, and the rest of the misfit crew of PT73 are back in action on the Taratupa Island Naval Base, setting sail for 36 more adventures in hilarity. From 1962 through 1966, McHale’s Navy was a mustsee staple of ABC television. By the show’s third year on the air, the nowfamiliar crew had become a classic embodiment of American culture an unforgettable gang of funloving guys who were constantly at odds with authority.


The Fugitive - Season One, Volume Two


The Mod Squad - Season 1, Volume 2


The Wild Wild West - The Fourth Season

Don't forget Lost tonight!

In case you missed it, you can see our complete "what happened in season 3," roundup, plus unanswered "Lost" questions and links to season 4 "Lost" episode teasers and pictures here.

Pop links

TV alert: Ringo Starr appears on A&E's "Private Sessions" this Sunday. Here's what to expect:

The legendary Singer/Songwriter/Drummer chatted with host Lynn Hoffman and sang 4 songs including his signature hit "Photograph", Beatles hits "With a Little Help From My Friends" and "Boys". Viewers can tune-in to see Ringo Starr also perform the title track off of his anticipated new album Liverpool 8.

Plus, surprise guest appearances from Yoko Ono, Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke as well as Conan O'Brien's Max Weinberg.


----------

Mike Sterling chronicles the ongoing end of civilization.

----------

Today in sharity: 21 songs about going nuts.

----------

"Asterix at the Olympic Games" grossed $4.1 million in its opening weekend, Variety reports. Reviews? Not so hot:

Local critics have almost unanimously savaged the picture.

It “bathes in a tepid marmalade … prepare to be disappointed,” Le Parisien declared.

“The vacuity of this enormous cooking pot ends up making you nauseous,” Le Monde wrote.


Still, I'd be interested in seeing this and the other Asterix films on DVD but, as I mentioned a few days back, none of them are available on U.S.-compatible disks.

New and upcoming books of interest

Click title links to pre-order from Amazon:


Humbug (2-volume slipcased set)
"We won't write for morons. We won't do anything just to get laughs. We won't be dirty. We won't be grotesque. We won't be in bad taste. We won't sell magazines."—Declaration of editorial principles, Humbug #1
Harvey Kurtzman changed the face of American humor when he created the legendary MAD comic. As editor and chief writer from its inception in 1952, through its transformation into a slick magazine, and until he left MAD in 1956, he influenced an entire generation of cartoonists, comedians, and filmmakers. In 1962, he co-created the long-running Little Annie Fanny with his long-time artistic partner Will Elder for Playboy, which he continued to produce until his virtual retirement in 1988.

Between MAD and Annie Fanny, Kurtzman's biographical summaries will note that he created and edited three other magazines, Trump, Humbug, and Help!, but, whereas his MAD and Annie Fanny are readily available in reprint form, his major satirical work in the interim period is virtually unknown. Humbug, which had poor distribution, may be the least known, but to those who treasure the rare original copies, it equals or even exceeds MAD in displaying Kurtzman's creative genius. Humbug was unique in that it was actually published by the artists who created it: Kurtzman and his cohorts from MAD Will Elder, Jack Davis, and Al Jaffee, were joined by universally acclaimed cartoonist Arnold Roth. With no publisher above them to rein them in, this little band of creators produced some of the most trenchant and engaging satire of American culture ever to appear on American newsstands. At last, the entire run of 11 issues of Humbug is being reprinted in a deluxe format, much of it reproduced from the original art, allowing even owners of the original cheaply-printed issues to see the full impact of these creators' artistry for the first time.

"Man—We're Beat! Satire has got us beat. 1953—We started MAD magazine for a comic-book publisher and we did some pretty good satire and it sold very well. 1956—We started Trump magazine...and we worked much harder and we did much better satire and we sold much worse. 1957—We started Humbug magazine and we worked hardest of all and turned out the very best satire of all, which of course now sells the very worst of all. And now...as they throw rocks at Vice President Nixon...as space gets cluttered with missiles...and as our names are carefully removed from our work in MAD pocketbooks—a feeling of beatness creeps through our satirical veins and capillaries and we think how George S. Kaufman once said, 'Satire is something that closes Saturday night....'"—From the editorial to Humbug's final issue


Birth of the Cool: California Art, Design, and Culture at Midcentury
1950s West Coast style exuded "cool": from the smooth, hypnotic strains of a Miles Davis riff through Richard Neutra's elegant, modernist residences to the hard-edged paintings of Helen Lundeberg and Karl Benjamin. This richly illustrated volume casts a fresh eye on Fifties West Coast style with illuminating commentary from a variety of perspectives. Designed to echo the period it celebrates, this catalog explores modernist innovations in art, architecture, design, film and music. Prominent cultural critics write on an array of topics: Thomas Hine about the culture of cool; Elizabeth Smith on domestic aspects of the period's architecture; Francis Colpitt on hard-edged abstract painting; Dave Hickey on jazz, and Bruce Jenkins on the crossover between animation and experimental film. The result is a multi-faceted exploration of the 1950s West Coast zeitgeist in all its color, creativity, and cool.


Iconic America: A Roller-Coaster Ride through the Eye-Popping Panorama of American Pop Culture
What is America? It’s Monopoly and Mickey Mouse, but also Sinatra and Fred Astaire. It’s the Declaration of Independence, but it’s also Barbie and Playboy, Winslow Homer and Rudi Gernreich’s topless bathing suit. This juxtaposition of images reflects America’s unique eclecticism, and the unprecedented influence that the images of America’s pop culture have had on the world. This book works as a great treasury of Americana, and as a mischievously enjoyable observation on all things truly American. Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger and famous adman George Lois have crafted an enlightening book, searching American history to find over 350 people, symbols, and things of import. Their iconic and iconoclastic choices are entertainingly presented through surprising visual juxtapositions. Inspired by Tommy Hilfiger’s passion for Americana and George Lois’ wit, Iconic America dramatizes the national ethos, and makes us think about who we are and what we stand for, with humor and charm.


James Bond Encyclopedia
Created in full collaboration with Eon Productions, producers of the Bond movies, this illustrated celebration of the world's most famous super-spy examines every aspect of 007's world, with information on his history, style, and tastes, along with A-Z guides to his adversaries, allies, gadgets, cars, and, of course, the ever-glamorous Bond girls. AUTHOR BIO: John Cork and Colin Stutz authorities on every aspect of the James Bond story, wrote the acclaimed book on the James Bond phenomenon, James Bond: The Legacy, have produced, written and directed 30 special feature documentaries for MGM's DVD releases of James Bond films, and contributed to The Ultimate James Bond: An Interactive Dossier CD-Rom for MGM Interactive.


Lost and Philosophy: The Island Has Its Reasons
Sometimes it feels like you need a Ph.D. to follow the show. But you don't. You just need this book in which twenty-one philosophers explore the deep questions we all face as survivors on this planet: Does "everything happen for a reason"? Is torture ever justified? Who are the Others? How do we know we're not patients in Hurley's psych ward? What if the Dharma Intitiative is experimenting on us? Desmond may not be able to save Charlie, but this book could save you.


Moondog: The Viking of 6th Avenue: The Authorized Biography
"Moondog is one of America’s great originals."—Alan Rich, New York Magazine

Here is one of the most improbable lives of the twentieth century: a blind and homeless man who became the most famous eccentric in New York and who, with enormous diligence, rose to prominence as an internationally respected music presence.
Born Louis Thomas Hardin in 1916, Moondog first made an impression in the late 1940s when he became a mascot of The New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall. His unique, melodic compositions were released on the Prestige jazz label. In the late 1960s the Viking-garbed Moondog was a pop music sensation on Columbia Records. Moondog is the noted inspiration for the contemporary freak folk movement led by Devendra Banhart.
Moondog's compositional style influenced his former roommate, Philip Glass, whose Preface and performances of Moondog works appear in the book. Moondog's work transcends labels and redefines the distinction between popular and high culture. A CD compilation with a variety of Moondog's compositions is bound into the book.


Ray Davies: Not Like Everybody Else
In Ray Davies: Not Like Everybody Else, Tom Kitts presents a critical biography of Davies, his music and his times. Based on interviews with his closest associates as well as thorough study of the recordings themselves, Kitts creates the most thorough picture of Davies' work to date. He places the work in the context of the British Invasion and growth of the rock in the '60s and'70s, affirming Davies' role as a key innovator whose groundbreaking techniques often predated more famous examples by years. Throughout, Kitts balances a fan's appreciation with a critical eye to place Davies and his work in proper perspective.

For fans of rock music and the music of the Kinks, Ray Davies: Not Like Everybody Else will be a must purchase. It will finally place this legendary innovator in the pantheon of the great rock artists of the past half-century.


Rolling Stone Cover to Cover: The First 40 Years
Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Rolling Stone stoked the imagination of America's social revolutionaries and fueled the careers of brilliant writers like Tom Wolfe, Hunter S. Thompson, Joe Klein, Cameron Crowe, P.J. O'Rourke and visionary photographers including Annie Leibovitz, Mark Seliger and Baron Wolman.

Rolling Stone Cover to Cover is a backstage pass to four decades of popular culture--a DVD ROM-based, searchable digital archive of every issue of Rolling Stone magazine from 1967 to 2007. Browse issues 1 through 1026 – over 98,000 searchable pages, exactly as they first appeared in print--every story, review, interview and even every ad.

This exclusive box set also comes with a photo-filled, 208–page page companion coffee table book providing a vivid behind-the-scenes look at the magazines history, from birth to today and includes a bonus one-year subscription to Rolling Stone (a $12.95 value). See certificate inside package for offer and rebate details.

The product includes the Bondi Reader, powerful MAC or PC browsing software that allows you to explore, search and view every page, and to arrange and save multiple reading lists. The ultimate pop culture reference tool, this essential collection is a must-have for all music fans, political junkies, nostalgia buffs and collectors.


Smile
Author Dominic Priore, dubbed by MOJO the worlds foremost Smile-ologist, has written the definitive book on the entire experience from the original recording to the revival tour and beyond. He has been in the studio with Wilson, as well as on the road for the celebrated European Smile concerts, and the result is the full version of one of pops mythic stories. Features forewords by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks. Previously published by Sanctuary.


Taken By Storm
Taken By Storm is a superb selection of British artist Storm Thorgersons work over the past 30 years. It features the best of Hipgnosis, Pink Floyd, and the Storm Studios and is a visual equivalent of a greatest hits album! Thorgersons prolific album art is presented in full-color and includes in-depth analysis of each image, including the themes and motivations that inspired the work as well as the practical details involved in producing each stunning image. Includes new material from the last five years, none of which has been previously published in book form. Great for music and art lovers alike!

Get ready for Lost season 4! What happened in season 3?



Also see:
"Lost" Season 3 Episode Guide.
Best "Lost" Sites on the Web.
Details on Lost season 4 opener.
Lost season 4 episode 2 details.
Lost season 4 episode 3 details.

Lost season 4 episode 1 pictures

Lost season 4 episode 2 pictures.
Lost season 4 character photos.


"Lost" begins its fourth season Jan. 31 on ABC. But what the heck is going on? It's been nine months since the last new episode!

To help you get ready, here's a thorough review of the key happenings of season 3, plus a current list of unanswered questions about the show:

Key events:

* We see that the Others live in a sophisticated village--with houses, power, running water, even book clubs--on the island and they were seemingly caught unawares by the Oceanic plane crash.

* Benjamin Linus (first introduced to the crash survivors as "Henry Gale") leads the Others and instructs Goodwin and Ethan Rom to pose as passengers and spy on the crash survivors. He tells them to prepare "lists" of "good people" among the passengers.

* Henry has kidnapped Kate, Sawyer and Jack to play them off one another and to break them down mentally so he can convince Jack to operate on a cancerous tumor growing on his (Ben's) spine.

* The polar bears spotted by the survivors were evidently part of a Dharma Initiative project and were kept in the cages where the Others put Kate and Sawyer.

* The Others had been in contact with the outside world via electronic communications and, evidently, a submarine that allowed them to come and go at will. However, the electromagnetic disturbance caused by the Hatch ex/implosion in season two has apparently disrupted communications with civilization. And--wanting to keep the island shut off from the outside--Locke blows up the submarine.

* The Hatch explosion apparently provided Desmond with the ability to see briefly into the future during psychic "flashes."

* The Others recruited Juliet, a fertility expert, to come to the island because all the women who have become pregnant there die, as do their babies. Juliet has been unable to find a solution to this problem.

* After his spinal surgery, Ben promises to let Jack and Juliet leave the island. But, as they are about to board the sub, Locke blows it up. Later, Juliet acts as if she's been cast out by the Others and joins the crash survivors in their camp. However, she's really spying on them and providing information to Ben.

* Sun is pregnant by Jin.

* The island appears to have some sort of healing ability. Locke is able to walk again after crashing there. Jin, who was infertile, is able to father a child. Ben and Juliet make references to there being no cancer among the inhabitants. However, Ben develops cancer and it doesn't go away on its own.

* The Other Alex refers to Ben as her father. However, she is also evidently the daughter for Danielle Rousseau, the French woman who is a survivor of some sort of research party unrelated to the Others or the Dharma Initiative.

* The Dharma people refer to the Others as "hostiles." Ben calls these hostiles the "original inhabitants" of the island.

* When Alex's boyfriend Carl shows rebellious tendencies, he's taken to a room and subjected to brainwashing techniques that refer to Jacob--an entity the Others seem to worship, or at least hold in very high regard.

* Jacob seems to be some sort of mystical entity--maybe a ghost. Ben can see and communicate with him and apparently delivers Jacob's orders to the Others. Locke doesn't see Jacob, but can evidently hear him.

* The Others seem fascinated by Locke, and Ben seems threatened by him. After Locke "hears" Jacob, Ben shoots Locke, who is wounded but somehow survives.

* Mr. Eko is killed by the mysterious smoke monster after it apparently scans his mind, learning about his past and making judgments about who Eko is and what he's done.

* Cindy the stewardess and two child survivors from the plane's tail section are living happily with the Others, it seems.

* In flashbacks, we see how a young Ben and his father arrive on the island as part of the Dharma Initiative. Ben eventually encounters the Other Richard Alpert in the jungle. Ben has seen visions of his dead mother in the jungle. Alpert is curious about Ben's apparent psychic ability. Years later, Ben helps plan and participates in a gas attack that kills all the Dharma people, including Ben's father.

* Claire attaches a message to the leg of a migratory bird that stops on the island.

* Somehow, the Others brought Locke's father, "Anthony Cooper," to the island and have been holding him captive. Cooper is later killed by Sawyer.

* The crash survivors Nikki and Paulo are paralyzed by spider bites and buried alive by Sawyer and Hurley, who believe the couple is dead.

* A woman named Naomi parachutes on the island after her helicopter crashes. She's apparently been sent by Desmond's girlfriend Penelope Widmore and the rest of her crew is on a ship near the island but, for some reason, haven't been able to locate it.

* Naomi has a satellite phone, but Sayid is unable to get a signal with it so he can communicate to Naomi's crew.

* Juliet evidently turns against Ben and tells Jack what she's been up to. She also tells the crash survivors an underwater Dharma station, called the Looking Glass, is running a jamming signal that prevents those on the island from communicating with the outside world by radio or satellite. Charlie swims down to the Looking Glass to switch off the signal, but is captured by two armed women inside the station. There's a struggle and Charlie is able to turn off the signal, but drowns before he can escape the flooding station.

* Ben tells Jack that Naomi isn't who she says and that alerting her crew will bring dangerous people to the island who will kill everyone. But Jack makes the call.

* We see a future vision of Jack and Kate. They are off the island, but Jack thinks it's a mistake that they escaped. Something terrible happened to make it possible. He tells Kate they need to go back.

Character connections:

* Christian Shepherd is the father of both Jack and Claire, although they don't realize this.

* Locke's dad is the same guy who conned and destroyed Sawyer's family.

* Kate befriends Cassidy Phillips, the woman Sawyer conned and got pregnant. Kate isn't aware of the Cassidy-Sawyer connection, though.

* The monk who leads the order Desmond joins has a picture on his desk of the jewelry shop clerk that Desmond encounters in London.

* Charlie rescues Sayid's girlfriend Nadia from a mugging in London.

People killed:

* The Other Colleen is killed by Sun.

* The man Sun has an affair with is killed.

* Mr. Eko is killed by the smoke monster.

* The Other Ms. Klugh is killed by her fellow Other Mikhail.

* Locke's father "Anthony Cooper," the con man who destroyed Sawyer's family is killed by Sawyer.

* Nikki and Paulo are paralyzed by spider bites and inadvertently buried alive by Sawyer and Hurley.

* Tom/Mr. Friendly and a whole bunch of his fellow Others are killed by the crash survivors in the season ender.

Featured music:

* "Downtown" by Petula Clark.

* Charlie is seen singing "Wonderwall" by Oasis on a London street.

* Three Dog Night's "Shambala" plays on the stereo in the Dharma bus Hurley locates. It's playing again in Ben's flashback scenes featuring the same bus, which was driven by Ben's father.

Featured books:

* The Others' book group is reading "Carrie" by Stephen King.

* A guard outside the Others' brainwashing facility is reading Stephen Hawking's "A Brief History of Time."

* A copy, in Portuguese, of Joseph Heller's "Catch 22" is in a backpack apparently belonging to Naomi.

Unanswered questions:

* What is the history of the Others? Where did they come from?

* What is the back story of Danielle, the French woman? How did she arrive on the island? Does she have any ties to Dharma? Why was her daughter, Alex, abducted?

* Why are the Others interested in some of the crash survivors and not the rest? They define themselves as "good." What's their definition of the word?

* What was Ben's breakfast on the beach with Kate all about? What was he hoping to get from her?

* Why did the smoke monster kill Mr. Eko?

* What's up with the sickness that supposedly killed off Danielle's team?

* What is the history of "Adam and Eve," the skeletal remains the crash survivors discovered in season one?

* What exactly was the purpose of the Hatch and what occurred when it ex/imploded?

* What is the smoke monster that has killed several people? What is its purpose and is it controlled by anyone?

* What's become of Walt and Michael who left the island on a boat at the end of season 2?

* What really brought the various people to island? What's behind the web of connections among them all?

* Is the Dharma Initiative still active at all? If not, why is someone from the outside making airdrops of supplies and food to the island?

* How did the Others get information about the plane crash survivors, including their real names? How are they in contact with the outside world?

* Why do women on the island die instead of giving birth?

* What's behind the apparent healing properties of the island?

* What's responsible for the visions of animals and dead people the crash survivors sometimes see on the island?

* What's behind Locke's ability to walk again and Desmond's ability to see future events?

* What's the deal with Libby, killed in season 2, who evidently gave Desmond the sailboat that landed him on the island and who once was in a mental ward with Hurley?

* What's up with the giant, four-toed statue Sayid, Sun and Jin see at the end of season 2?

* Any explanation for why the man in the Dharma Initiative videos is at different times identified as Dr. Marvin Candle and Dr. Mark Wickmund or why the CIA agent who identifies himself as Joe Inman to Sayid tells Desmond his name is Kelvin Inman?

* Why did the psychic in Australia encourage Claire to take the doomed flight?

* Who is the man Sarah left Jack for? Why is she so reluctant to reveal his identity? Is he somehow associated with the Dharma Initiative and/or the Others?

* Who--or what--is "Jacob"?

* What's motivating the Others? Spiritual beliefs? Fear? What's their community all about?

* Who is the person who has died in the "flash forward" featuring the off-island Jack and Kate. They refer to him, but not by name.

* Who was Naomi working for? Penelope's dad, Mr. Widmore, perhaps? Does he have an interest in the island and somehow know Desmond ended up there?

* What's the relationship between Ben's people and Naomi's?

* Are Naomi's people in the Dharma Initiative or related to it? Did Ben have a real reason for killing off the Dharma crew? What were they up to that he saw as a threat? What is he protecting the island from and why do other people want the island?

* What's going to happen when Naomi's people show up? Is Ben telling the truth when he says they are dangerous?

* Juliet tells Sawyer that the Others are building a runway. What for? Why are they building it on the smaller island, not the main one?

* What is the mistake Jack feels he made? Does he really intend to go back to the island?

* In the flash forward, Jack refers to his dad as if he's still alive? Is he?

Pop links

Comics Continuum provides a look at the animated J. Jonah Jameson.



----------

Comics artist Michael Netzer now wants to save ALL the superheroes.

"I turn again to Paul Levitz, Dan DiDio and the entire family of DC
Comics editors, with a plea to learn from the profound lesson which
the untimely departure of Heath Ledger teaches us about the promotion
and marketing of our real-life heroes... and to apply the same measure
of insight into the plans that DC Comic is making for the promotion
and marketing of its fictional heroes. The heroes that are loved and
heartfelt by comics lovers as themselves being quite real in their
relevance to our own world. The heroes that have also become well
rooted in our hearts, and in the hearts of comics fandom worldwide."


----------

Denise Richards is the "worst Bond girl ever," a new survey says.

The actress took the top spot in a poll by Entertainment Weekly for her turn as Pierce Brosnan's love interest Dr. Christmas Jones in 1999's The World Is Not Enough.

Tanya Roberts (A View To A Kill) and Corinne Clery (Moonraker) finished second and third respectively.

Ursula Andress was voted the best Bond girl for her iconic portrayal of Honey Ryder in Dr No, followed by Honor Blackman (Goldfinger) and Diana Rigg (On Her Majesty's Secret Service).


What this says to me, though, is that a Bond girl is only as good as her Bond movie. And there hasn't been a good one (girl or movie) in a long, long time.

----------

"Lost" star Jorge Garcia
(Hurley, dude!) says ABC made him give up a blog because execs feared he would reveal show secrets (like why so many of his co-stars can't drive sober?).

----------

Booksteve uncovers yet more comic book weirdness.

----------

Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood, birthplace to Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster are planning a 70th anniversary celebration this year to honor the Man of Steel this year.

----------

Happy Birthday Fred Hembeck! Tune in here next week when we have an interview with Mr. Hembeck about his upcoming new book!

New comics Jan. 30, 2008

DARK HORSE COMICS

AUG070161 KOTOBUKIYA GENERAL GRIEVOUS EPISODE III VINYL MODEL KIT $199.00
AUG070159 OH MY GODDESS VOL 28 RTL TP $10.95
OCT070044 PREDATOR OMNIBUS TP VOL 02 $24.95
AUG070130 STAR WARS DARK TIMES #8 $2.99
NOV070010 STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #25 $2.99

DC COMICS

NOV070194 ACTION COMICS #861 $2.99
NOV070187 BATMAN #673 $2.99
SEP070214 BATMAN THE MAN WHO LAUGHS HC $19.99
NOV070180 BLACK ADAM THE DARK AGE #6 (OF 6) $2.99
NOV070250 CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #41 $2.25
NOV070172 COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE #6 (OF 8) $3.99
NOV070168 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 13 $2.99
JUN070298 DC ARMORY SER 1 AQUAMAN AF PI
JUN070299 DC ARMORY SER 1 BATMAN AF PI
JUN070300 DC ARMORY SER 1 NIGHTWING AF PI
NOV070177 DEATH OF THE NEW GODS #5 (OF 8) $3.50
NOV070206 GREEN LANTERN #27 $2.99
NOV070211 JSA CLASSIFIED #34 $2.99
OCT070200 MANHUNTER TP VOL 04 UNLEASHED $17.99
OCT070190 OUTSIDERS CHECKMATE CHECKOUT TP $14.99
OCT070226 PENGUIN REVOLUTION VOL 05 $9.99
OCT070185 SPIRIT #13 $2.99
NOV070220 TRIALS OF SHAZAM #11 (OF 12) $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

AUG072018 MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #6 $2.99
SEP072008 SUBURBAN GLAMOUR #3 (OF 4) $3.50
OCT072042 WITCHBLADE CVR A CHOI & OBACK #114 $2.99
OCT072043 WITCHBLADE CVR B BASRI #114 $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

NOV078192 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #546 BND 2ND PTG VAR $3.99
NOV072136 AVENGERS INITIATIVE #9 $2.99
NOV072137 CAPTAIN AMERICA #34 $2.99
NOV072138 CAPTAIN AMERICA CHOSEN #6 (OF 6) $3.99
NOV072140 DAREDEVIL #104 $2.99
NOV072143 FANTASTIC FOUR #553 $2.99
NOV072146 HOUSE OF M AVENGERS #4 (OF 5) $2.99
NOV078193 HULK #1 2ND PTG VAR $2.99
NOV072154 MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #32 $2.99
NOV072125 MARVEL SPOTLIGHT ULTIMATES 3 $2.99
OCT078066 MARVEL ZOMBIES ARMY OF DARKNESS HC 2ND PTG DM VAR $19.99
NOV072165 MIGHTY AVENGERS #8 $2.99
NOV072201 MMW SILVER SURFER HC VOL 01 $54.99
NOV072202 MMW SILVER SURFER HC VOL 01 VAR ED 15 $54.99
NOV072166 NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #2 $3.99
NOV072211 NEW AVENGERS PREM HC ILLUMINATI $19.99
NOV072222 NEW AVENGERS TRANSFORMERS TP $10.99
AUG072280 RED PROPHET TALES OF ALVIN MAKER #12 (OF 12) $2.99
OCT072080 SPIDER MAN SWING SHIFT DIRECTORS CUT ONE SHOT $3.99
NOV072131 SPIDER-MAN WITH GREAT POWER #1 (OF 5) $3.99
NOV072126 ULTIMATE SECRETS $3.99
NOV072121 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #118 $2.99
NOV072122 ULTIMATE X-MEN #90 $2.99
NOV072223 UNCANNY X-MEN TP RISE & FALL OF THE SHIAR EMPIRE $29.99
NOV072178 WHAT IF SPIDER-MAN VS WOLVERINE $2.99
NOV078080 X-FACTOR #26 2ND PTG VAR (PP #798) $2.99
NOV072190 X-MEN EMPEROR VULCAN #5 (OF 5) $2.99
NOV072207 X-MEN HC ENDANGERED SPECIES $24.99
NOV072209 YOUNG AVENGERS HC $29.99

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT

SEP073267 MARVEL ZOMBIES 2 #1 CGC 9.8 PI
DEC073288 WIZARD MAGAZINE #197 DARK SECTOR CVR $5.99
DEC073286 WIZARD MAGAZINE #197 FINAL CRISIS JG JONES CVR $5.99
DEC073287 WIZARD MAGAZINE #197 HEROES TV CVR $5.99

**********

COMICS

NOV073453 ADOLESCENT RADIOACTIVE BLACK BELT HAMSTERS #1 $3.50
SEP073718 AMULET HC VOL 01 STONEKEEPER $21.99
SEP073717 AMULET SC VOL 01 STONEKEEPER $9.99
NOV073317 ARCHIE DIGEST #241 $2.49
NOV073644 BADGER SAVES THE WORLD #2 (OF 5) $3.99
OCT073486 BAGHDAD JOURNAL AN ARTIST IN OCCUPIED IRAQ HC (JUN052939) $34.95
NOV073321 BETTY & VERONICA #233 $2.25
NOV073239 CAPTAIN BILLYS WHIZ BANG $5.99
NOV073520 DARK 48 #1 $3.99
OCT073870 DEVI #17 $2.99
AUG073611 DF COUNTDOWN PRESENTS LORD HAVOK & THE EXTREMISTS SGN #1 $19.99
SEP073607 DF COUNTDOWN PRESENTS SEARCH RAY PALMER GOTHAM GASLIGHT SGN $19.99
AUG073612 DF DAREDEVIL ANNUAL SGN #1 $29.99
SEP073609 DF DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA VOL 1 PREMIERE HC SGN $69.99
AUG073616 DF INCREDIBLE HULK SGN #111 $19.99
OCT073467 FIST OF JUSTICE #1 $3.99
NOV073405 FUTURAMA COMICS #35 $2.99
NOV073648 GENE SIMMONS ZIPPER #3 $3.99
AUG078159 GFT RETURN TO WONDERLAND #1 (OF 6) NEW PTG VAR CVR $2.99
AUG078160 GFT RETURN TO WONDERLAND #2 (OF 6) NEW PTG VAR CVR $2.99
SEP073572 GI JOE STORM SHADOW TP VOL 01 SOLO $18.99
DEC073825 GOOD AND EVIL TP $12.95
NOV073485 HELL GIRL GN VOL 01 $10.95
NOV073886 INDIA AUTHENTIC #9 KARTIKKEYA $2.99
DEC073504 IRAQ GN OPERATION CORPORATE TAKEOVER $10.00
NOV073324 JUGHEAD #187 $2.25
DEC073303 KIDS OF LOWER UTOPIA GN VOL 01 $21.00
NOV073693 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #135 $4.99
OCT073321 LADY DEATH 2007 SWIMSUIT SP JEWEL CVR $39.99
SEP073919 NEXUS ORIGIN S&N ED PI
OCT073386 PROJECT SUPERPOWERS #0 $1.00
SEP073453 SALEM #0 (OF 4) $3.99
NOV073334 SONIC X #29 $2.25
NOV074113 SOUTHLAND TALES THE PRELUDE SAGA LTD HC BK $79.95
NOV074029 STEPHEN KING DUMA KEY HC $28.00
NOV073729 SUCKULINA VAMPIRE TEMP $3.50
SEP073448 VIOLET ROSE #1 $3.50
DEC073685 WARRIORS GN VOL 02 WARRIORS REFUGE (OF 3) $6.99
NOV073415 WHAT WERE THEY THINKING TP VOL 01 (RES) $14.99
OCT073602 WORMWOOD CALAMARI RISING #1 $3.99
SEP073565 XOMBIE TP VOL 01 REANIMATED $18.99

MAGAZINES

OCT073954 DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 13 $12.95
DEC074077 FEMME FATALES VOL 17 #1 $9.99
DEC074779 GAME TRADE MAGAZINE #96 PI
DEC074055 ILLUSTRATION MAGAZINE #21 $15.00
NOV073965 NEWTYPE ENG ED FEB 2008 $12.98
OCT073962 POLYMANCER VOL 2 #5 $5.25
NOV073979 SCRYE #118 APRIL 2008 $5.99
OCT073956 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 14 $12.95
NOV073994 STARLOG #364 MAR 2008 $7.99
SEP074133 TOMARTS ACTION FIGURE DIGEST #162 $5.95
DEC074074 WHITE DWARF #337 $6.00

Complete list of Asterix books

Click titles to view at Amazon.

Asterix the Gaul

Asterix and the Golden Sickle

Asterix and the Goths

Asterix the Gladiator

Asterix and the Banquet

Asterix and Cleopatra

Asterix and the Big Fight

Asterix in Britain

Asterix and the Normans

Asterix the Legionary

Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield

Asterix at the Olympic Games

Asterix and the Cauldron

Asterix in Spain

Asterix and the Roman Agent

Asterix in Switzerland

Asterix and the Mansions of the Gods

Asterix and the Laurel Wreath

Asterix and the Soothsayer

Asterix in Corsica

Asterix and Caesar's Gift

Asterix and the Great Crossing

Obelix and Co.

Asterix in Belgium

Asterix and the Great Divide

Asterix and the Black Gold

Asterix and Son

Asterix and the Magic Carpet

Asterix and the Secret Weapon

Asterix and Obelix All at Sea

Asterix and the Actress

Asterix and the Class Act

Asterix and the Falling Sky

Asterix at the Olympic Games pictures

Here are some promotional stills from "Asterix and the Olympic Games," out now in Europe:











Lost season 4 episode 3 details

Highlight the hidden text for details on the Feb. 14 episode:

SAYID AND KATE GO IN SEARCH OF LOCKE TO NEGOTIATE A PEACEFUL DEAL WHEN THEY DISCOVER THAT HIS HOSTAGE MAY BE THE KEY TO GETTING OFF THE ISLAND, ON ABC'S "LOST"

"The Economist" - Locke's hostage may be the key to getting off the island, so Sayid and Kate go in search of their fellow castaway in an attempt to negotiate a peaceful deal, on "Lost," THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14 (9:00-10:02 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Lost" stars Naveen Andrews as Sayid, Henry Ian Cusick as Desmond, Emilie de Ravin as Claire, Michael Emerson as Ben, Matthew Fox as Jack, Jorge Garcia as Hurley, Josh Holloway as Sawyer, Daniel Dae Kim as Jin, Yunjin Kim as Sun, Evangeline Lilly as Kate, Elizabeth Mitchell as Juliet, Terry O'Quinn as Locke and Harold Perrineau as Michael.

Guest starring are Ken Leung as Miles, Jeremy Davies as Daniel Faraday, Rebecca Mader as Charlotte, Jeff Fahey as Frank Lapidus, Mira Furlan as Danielle Rousseau, Marsha Thomason as Naomi, Armando Pucci as Italian man and Thekla Reuten as Elsa.

"The Economist" was written by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz and directed by Jack Bender.


48 unanswered questions about "Lost"

The Los Angeles Times has a question for each of the remaining planned episodes of "Lost," which starts its fourth season on Thursday.

Also see:

Get ready for Lost season 4! What happened in season 3?



DVD new releases Jan. 29, 2008


Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Sixth Season



Emergency! - Season Four



Masterpiece Theatre: Mansfield Park


The Invasion



Groundhog Day - 15th Anniversary Edition


Monty Python's Life Of Brian - The Immaculate Edition


The Val Lewton Horror Collection with Martin Scorses Presents Val Lewton Documentary (Cat People / The Curse of the Cat People / I Walked with a Zombie ... / The Seventh Victim / Shadows in the Dark)




CD new releases Jan. 29, 2008


Just A Little Lovin' by Shelby Lynne



The Bedlam in Goliath by The Mars Volta



Day Trip by Pat Metheny Trio



Classic African American Gospel from Smithsonian Folkways by Various Artists



Tupelo Honey by Van Morrison



Wavelength by Van Morrison



Avalon Sunset by Van Morrison



A Sense of Wonder by Van Morrison



Back on Top by Van Morrison



Into the Music by Van Morrison



Down in New Orleans by The Blind Boys of Alabama


Why no Asterix films in the U.S.?

Overseas, Asterix is dang near as famous as Mickey Mouse. And, while he hasn't achieved ubiquity here in the United States, you can at least find his comics adventure stories in most decent bookstores.

But have you ever seen an Asterix film? There have been 10 such things, with an 11th just out now in Europe.


Pop links

The Hollywood Animation Archive posts some great LP covers and Mad magazine art by cartoonist Jack Davis.

----------

From Classic Television Showbiz: Don Knotts' TV debut on a 1951 episode of "Search For Tomorrow."

----------

Today in sharity:



----------

Deal alert:



----------

Dial B for Blog hates everything.

----------

And you thought Batman was the only superhero with a utility belt!



----------

Israel has invited Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr for a visit, 43 years after the nation banned the Beatles from its borders.

Beatles commentary songs

WFMU has posted MP3s of several Beatles-related novelities, including "John, You've Gone Too Far this Time," Rainbo's (otherwise known as future actress Sissy Spacek) 1969 response to the infamous Two Virgins LP cover and Bonnie Jo Mason's (later known as Cher) "Ringo, I Love You."

Beatles U.S. picture sleeves

Here's an assortment of Capitol and Vee-Jay picture sleeves for Beatles 45 rpm singles from the 60s. Some great pics and designs here.





















Stay tuned for more in coming weeks.