Pop Culture Safari!

Pop Culture Roundup Sept. 11, 2006

From the Absorbacon: Late Silver Age Batman, Encapsulated In A Single Panel.

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From Bedazzled: Pics of awesome custom guitars designed by Mosrite for the Strawberry Alarm Clock. Want 'em? You can buy them on e-Bay.

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Why bother linking to individual posts when Bubblegumfink, as usual, has a whole slate of interesting stuff? Make special note, however, of the sunshine pop sharity LP featuring Victor Garber or "Alias" fame. Not that's an interesting find.

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Fred Hembeck weighs in on the new "Fantastic Four" cartoon.

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"Doctor Who" producer Russell T. Davies discusses plans for the show's fourth season.

November 2006 comics solicitations--more good stuff

Along with the offerings we've already published from DC, Marvel and Dark Horse, here are some items of interest coming out in November. Click links to pre-order from Amazon.

GOLDEN AGE MEN OF MYSTERY STAR STUDDED SPECTACULAR VOL 1 TP

by Various An awesome bookshelf collection of classic Golden Age reprints, with17 full stories in all! Starring: Bulletman, Torchy, Dollman, Ibis, Thun'da, Minute Man, Commando Yank, Mr. Scarlet, Cave Girl, Golden Arrow, Phantom Lady, Fighting Yank, and six more, as illustrated by Kirby, Powell, Fine, Baker, Meskin, Kubert, Ditko, and others. SC, 144pgs, B&W SRP: $24.95

ARCHIES CLASSIC CHRISTMAS STORIES VOL 1

by Various These stories proved so popular that in 1954, an entire series devoted to stories of holiday cheer and good will to men premiered: Archie's Christmas Stocking! Now you can relive the magic, warmth, and hilarity as Archie and his friends show their holiday spirit in this special collection of classic tales from the first decade of Archie's Christmas Stocking. 96pgs, FC

HANK KETCHAMS COMPLETE DENNIS THE MENACE 1955-1956 HC

by Hank Ketcham Hank Ketcham's Complete Dennis the Menace is one of the most successful books in the company's history, greeted by reviews with praise similar to that garnered by The Complete Peanuts. This third volume of Hank Ketcham's Complete Dennis the Menace publishes every single panel strip from 1955 and 1956 in one handsome and thick hardcover volume. Ketcham's legendary pen and ink work achieves its full flowering in this volume as do the various situations and themes that Ketcham would return to: the first "split screen" (two-panel strip) that Ketcham would occasionally use; Dennis actually flirts with a girl; he rats Dad out to Mom; exacerbates confrontations between Dad and the police; and stymies hapless baby-sitters. Oh, and Mr. Wilson finally comes front-and-center as Dennis' #1 victim.

EC ARCHIVES SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES VOL 1 HC
by Various This beautifully bound hardcover reprints the first six complete issues (24 stories) of the comic book Shock SuspenStories, originally published in 1952. Includes stories by William Gaines & Al Feldstein, with art by Jack Kamen, Jack Davis, Joe Orlando, Graham Ingles, and Wally Wood. Featuring a foreword by Steven Spielberg this book looks back at some of the edgiest and best written stories in comic history.

WALT DISNEYS CHRISTMAS PARADE #4
by Barks, Gregory, Gottfredson, Lustig, and Transgaard In Carl Bark's and Bob Gregory's "Christmas in Duckburg," Scrooge has Donald catching moose in the frozen North... until he runs into trouble with the larcenous Beagle Boys! John Lustig (Last Kiss) contributes "Wrap Up Your Troubles," in which Mickey is forced to pack some very dangerous yuletide gifts! Other ho-ho-ho-inducing features include Big Bad Wolf, Gyro Gearloose, and a 1932 Floyd Gottfredson short!

DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 1
The Man of Bronze returns as the pulp's greatest superman confronts The Devil Genghis, John Sunlight, a mad genius armed with incredible scientific inventions stolen from Doc Savage's Fortress of Solitude. Doc Savage and his Iron Crew return in two thrilling novels by Lester Dent writing as Kenneth Robeson.

SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 2
The greatest avenger from the legendary hero pulps returns in two more classic novels by his creator, Walter B. Gibson. The Shadow's crime-fighting organization became fully-formed in The Chinese Disks, the novel which introduces as agents cabby Moe Shrevnitz, reformed former-crooks Hawkeye and Tapper, Pietro, and the giant African Jericho Druke. The novel is a sequel to Gibson's first novel, The Living Shadow, and features the return of The Shadow's first major foe, Diamond Bert Farwell. Malmordo is the final Shadow novel completed by Walter Gibson before his 1946 departure following a contract dispute, and ended his initial 15-year run chronicling The Shadow's adventures.

James Bond "Casino Royale" photo gallery

More "Casino Royale" pictures.

See the Best James Bond Sites on the Web.

Pop Artifact! Mego Jughead figure

Vintage DC Comics House Ad

Pop Culture Roundup Sept. 8, 2006

A soundtrack album for the great "My Name is Earl" series is coming out from Shout! Factory Sept. 19. Some interesting cuts:

Included are new recordings by Matthew Sweet (“Livin’ Thing”), Uncle Kracker (“The Weight”) and John Hiatt (“Instant Karma”), plus favorites by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Sammy Davis, Jr.

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Via Blog@Newsarama comes word of this upcoming book:

DC Comics Covergirls
Written by Louise Simonson
Pub Date: April 2007

From the trailblazing Wonder Woman of the 1940s to edgy, girl-power-driven comics series like Birds of Prey, DC Comics Covergirls takes a look at the female characters of DC Comics throughout the company's history, and features many of DC Comics' iconic comic book covers. Written by renowned comic book writer Louise Simonson, the book examines the evolution of the comic book women of DC Comics: the 1942 introduction of the most famous DC heroine, Wonder Woman, and her various incarnations up to the present; the creation of comic book spin-offs based on characters such as Lois Lane; and the recent wealth of fierce, female character-driven comics such as Supergirl, Birds of Prey, Batgirl, and Catwoman, featuring women who have no trouble being both sexy and strong-willed. Famous featured DC Comics artists include Jim Lee, Alex Ross, Adam Hughes, J. Scott Campbell, Michael Turner, Tim Sale, and Jill Thompson. DC Comics Covergirls is a smart and in-depth look at the female comic book characters we've grown up with all these years, and is sure to appeal to new comic book fans and diehard collectors alike.

You can pre-order it now from Amazon.

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Via the Jack Kirby Comics Blog: Another interesting book, coming from Dark Horse Comics:

THE ARTIST WITHIN
by Greg Preston
The culmination of more than fifteen years of photography by renowned photographer Greg Preston, this book is a living history of the men and women who have shaped the imaginations of countless millions of people around the world through their work in the fields of animated cartoons, comic books, comic strips, and editorial cartooning. The list of artists includes such luminaries as Frank Miller, Al Hirschfeld, Joe Barbera, Jack Kirby, Joe Simon, Moebius, Walter and Louise Simonson, and many more, all in photographs exclusive and shot expressly for this book.

You can pre-order it from Amazon.

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Ever know there was a planned Captain Marvel comic strip? I didn't.

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Superhero Hype! has some "Fantastic Four 2" set pictures.

Details on "Doctor Who" series 2 UK DVD set

Here are the extras to be included on the second series (season) "Doctor Who" set, out Nov. 20 in the U.K.:

Out-takes
Deleted scenes
Audio Commentary available on nine episodes, with In Vision commentary available on five episodes - featuring cast and crew including David Tennant and Billie Piper
13 Doctor Who Confidential Episodes (edited versions)
5.1 sound
David's Video Diaries
Billie's Video Diary
Children in Need special
Audio description and subtitles available on each episode

The set also includes all 13 episodes from the season:

1. The Christmas Invasion
2. New Earth
3. Tooth And Claw
4. School Reunion
5. The Girl In The Fireplace
6. Rise Of The Cybermen
7. Age of Steel
8. The Idiot's Lantern
9. The Impossible Planet
10. The Satan Pit
11. Love & Monsters
12. Fear Her
13. Army Of Ghosts
14. Doomsday

See the Best Doctor Who Sites on the Web.

"Legion of Superheroes" animated series episode guide season 1

Here are details on the "Legion of Superheroes" first season episodes. The show debuts Sept. 23 on the Kids WB! Air dates for specific episodes are provided where known.

1.1. "MAN OF TOMORROW" September 23, 2006
When fearsome villains the Fatal Five set their sights on the newly formed Legion of Super Heroes, three of the Legion's members go back in time to get help from the greatest hero of all time: Superman. Instead they find Clark Kent, aware of his powers but not yet of his grand destiny.

1.2. "TIMBER WOLF" September 30, 2006
A mysterious scientist asks the Legion to help capture a dangerous creature. They succeed, only to discover the creature is nowhere near as dangerous as the scientist himself.

1.3. "LEGACY" October 7, 2006
Superman unknowingly saves the life of Alexis, one of the wealthiest people in the galaxy. Alexis and Superman become fast friends, but when Superman's Legion responsibilities get in the way of their friendship, Alexis decides to do something about it...

1.4. "FEAR FACTORY"
During a cosmic storm, the team takes refuge in a creepy, derelict space station. On board, one-by-one, each Legionnaire faces his or her deepest fear -- and then disappears.

1.5. "CHAMPIONS"
While supporting Lighting Lad as he competes in the challenging Galactic Games, Superman and Phantom Girl uncover a sinister plot by the Fatal Five! Lightning Lad has troubles of his own when he finds his biggest competition from someone close to him.

1.6. "PHANTOMS"
When Superman accidentally opens a gateway to a phantom dimension, a young man with powers identical to his is freed in the process. Now Superman must not only stop this destructive visitor, but also rescue the Legionnaires when they become trapped in the vistor's dimension.

1.7. "CHILD'S PLAY"
A young sorcerer arrives on Earth and causes a heap of trouble. In an effort to send him home, Superman learns of his vulnerability to magic, while Phantom Girl puts her diplomatic skills to the test as she travels to the sorcerer's secretive world to ask for help.

1.8. "LIGHTING STORM"
Much to the Legion's disappointment, Lighting Lad accepts an invitation to join an older, "cooler" team. Once there, however, Lightning Lad realizes these new heroes aren't exactly what they seem. Now, caught between the Legion and his new friends, Lighting Lad must decide once and for all where his loyalties lie.

1.9. "BRAIN DRAIN"
A major malfunction sends Brainiac 5's genius IQ plummeting. To obtain the rare element needed to save him, Superman and Timber Wolf must travel to the most inhospitable planet in the galaxy -- and thanks to a transporter accident, they have only Brainy's head to guide them.

1.10. "THE SUBSTITUTES"
It's that time of year again -- Legion Auditions! This year's crop is hardly promising, with most hopefuls turning out to be comic duds. But when the Legion is overwhelmed fighting a mysterious foe in Earth's upper atmosphere, a group of rejects takes it upon themselves to save the world below... with outrageous results.

1.11. "CHAIN OF COMMAND"
When disaster strikes Lightning Lad's home planet of Winath, the Legion is called to help. Lightning Lad's efforts to take charge are thwarted however when long-absent Legion leader Cosmic Boy arrives with an enigmatic new hero in tow.

1.12. "SUNDOWN, PT. 1"
The Legion is put to the ultimate test when an ancient weapon known as a Sun Eater comes to life. The Legion mounts a heroic defense, but the Sun Eater proves too powerful. Now at full strength, the unstoppable Sun Eater sets its sights on Earth...

1.13. "SUNDOWN, PT. 2"
With the Sun Eater on a direct course for Earth's sun, the Legion has no choice but to ask bitter enemies for help to stop it. Superman meanwhile has his toughest battle yet when he discovers the stealthy alien controlling the sinister machine. In the end, the Legion triumphs... but at a terrible cost.