Whedon plans more Buffy comics
While he's ruled out a comics series based on his upcoming "Dollhouse" TV series, Joss Whedon says there may be more Buffy comics in his future:
“We definitely have a ['Buffy'] season nine in mind, [but right now] we’re slugging our way through eight. We’ve also talked about doing more ‘Serenity’ comics, and we’ve talked to Dark Horse about a ‘Cabin in the Woods’ tie-in. ‘Dollhouse’ is just the least visual oriented in a genre way and lends itself least to comic books.”
“We definitely have a ['Buffy'] season nine in mind, [but right now] we’re slugging our way through eight. We’ve also talked about doing more ‘Serenity’ comics, and we’ve talked to Dark Horse about a ‘Cabin in the Woods’ tie-in. ‘Dollhouse’ is just the least visual oriented in a genre way and lends itself least to comic books.”
Jack Kirby NFL illustrations
Today marks the 15th anniversary of Jack Kirby's death and, as a way of remembering, I thought I'd share these images he created for the National Football League's Pro Magazine back in 1973. These pieces are currently up for auction here.
Pop links: Ditko art; Spirit sections; Springfield drummer passes; Wolverton Bible; Beatle meets Dalek!
Fortress of Fortitude presents a Steve Ditko-illustrated 1950s suspense yarn.
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Golden Age Comic Book Stories shares three Spirit newspaper comics sections from 1940 with stories by Will Eisner, Bob Powell and others.
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This looks a must have: "The (Basil) Wolverton Bible," out from Fantagraphics Books later this month.
Dewey Martin, original drummer of the Buffalo Springfield, has died.
Martin became a session musician after leaving his native Canada for the US in the early 60s. He played drums for Roy Orbison and the Everly Brothers, before joining Neil Young and Stephen Stills in 1966 to complete the Buffalo Springfield lineup.
Here's the Springfield playing "For What it's Worth" on "The Smother Brothers Comedy Hour" in 1967.
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Who colored the earliest isssues of Fantastic Four? Mark Evanier has a theory.
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Here's a cool photo I've never seen before from the Beatle Photo Blog: John Lennon and one of Doctor Who's Daleks!
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Golden Age Comic Book Stories shares three Spirit newspaper comics sections from 1940 with stories by Will Eisner, Bob Powell and others.
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This looks a must have: "The (Basil) Wolverton Bible," out from Fantagraphics Books later this month.
Cartoonist Basil Wolverton was known for his grotesque drawings, fantastically odd creatures, spaghetti-like hair, smoothly sculpted caricatures and insanely detailed crosshatching. His career in the golden age of comic books lasted from 1938 until 1952, after which his illustrations and caricatures extended into such publications as Life, Pageant and MAD magazines. Stylistically, he has been regarded as one of the spiritual grandfathers of underground and alternative comix.
Less well known and understood is his work for the Worldwide Church of God, headed until 1986 by radio evangelist Herbert Armstrong. From 1953 through 1974, Wolverton, a deeply religious man, was commissioned and later employed by the church to write and illustrate a narrative of the Old Testament (including over 550 illustrations), some 20 apocalyptic illustrations inspired by the Book of Revelations, and dozens of cartoons and humorous illustrations for various Worldwide Church publications.
Compiled and edited by Wolverton’s son, Monte, the 304-page Wolverton Bible includes all of Wolverton’s artwork for the Worldwide Church of God corporation. Recording artist and noted EC authority Grant Geissman (Tales of Terror: The E.C. Companion and Foul Play!: The Art and Artists of the Notorious 1950s E.C. Comics!) provides an insightful foreword, while Monte Wolverton delivers commentary and background in the introduction and in each section. This volume is authorized and commissioned by the Worldwide Church of God and endorsed by the Wolverton family.
Dewey Martin, original drummer of the Buffalo Springfield, has died.
Martin became a session musician after leaving his native Canada for the US in the early 60s. He played drums for Roy Orbison and the Everly Brothers, before joining Neil Young and Stephen Stills in 1966 to complete the Buffalo Springfield lineup.
Here's the Springfield playing "For What it's Worth" on "The Smother Brothers Comedy Hour" in 1967.
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Who colored the earliest isssues of Fantastic Four? Mark Evanier has a theory.
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Here's a cool photo I've never seen before from the Beatle Photo Blog: John Lennon and one of Doctor Who's Daleks!
Stan Lee lends voice to Black Panther cartoon
Marvel Comics scribe will be among those providing their voices to a Black Panther cartoon airing on BET later this year.
Djimon Honsou is the voice of the Panther while Kerry Washington is Princess Shuri, Alfree Woodard is Dondi Reece and Lee will voice General Wallace.
Djimon Honsou is the voice of the Panther while Kerry Washington is Princess Shuri, Alfree Woodard is Dondi Reece and Lee will voice General Wallace.
Pop links: lost Doctor Who animated series; Cramps frontman passes; Bloom County collected
Did you know a Doctor Who animated series was almost produced in the 1980s? Check this out.
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Lux Interior, frontman of The Cramps, has died.
Born Erick Lee Purkhiser, Interior formed the garage-punk band with his wife Kristy Wallace, who took the stage name Poison Ivy.
IDW Publishing will reprint the entire run of Berke Breathed's "Bloom County."
Beginning in October 2009,each of the five volumes will collect nearly two years worth of daily and Sunday strips, in chronological order. This will be the very first time that many of these comic strips have been collected, and the first time in a beautifully designed, hardcover format.
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Lux Interior, frontman of The Cramps, has died.
Born Erick Lee Purkhiser, Interior formed the garage-punk band with his wife Kristy Wallace, who took the stage name Poison Ivy.
A statement from the band's publicist confirmed that Interior died in hospital yesterday morning from a pre-existing heart condition for which he was receiving treatment.
-----IDW Publishing will reprint the entire run of Berke Breathed's "Bloom County."
Beginning in October 2009,each of the five volumes will collect nearly two years worth of daily and Sunday strips, in chronological order. This will be the very first time that many of these comic strips have been collected, and the first time in a beautifully designed, hardcover format.
What happened on Lost last night?
Get a full rundown on what happened, plus observations/speculation at the Lost Season 5 blog.
Sirius/XM to launch McCartney hosted radio show
From the press release:
SIRIUS XM Radio will launch a limited-run channel devoted to the music of Paul McCartney, in celebration of his new critically-acclaimed album recorded under the guise of his alter ego, The Fireman.
Paul McCartney’s Fireman Radio will premiere on Valentine’s Day, February 14 and will air through Friday, March 13 on The Bridge, SIRIUS channel 33 and XM channel 27. The channel will feature a rare in-depth and revealing interview with Paul McCartney. During the interview, the legendary artist will share his inspiration behind his secret Fireman projects.
SIRIUS XM Radio will launch a limited-run channel devoted to the music of Paul McCartney, in celebration of his new critically-acclaimed album recorded under the guise of his alter ego, The Fireman.
Paul McCartney’s Fireman Radio will premiere on Valentine’s Day, February 14 and will air through Friday, March 13 on The Bridge, SIRIUS channel 33 and XM channel 27. The channel will feature a rare in-depth and revealing interview with Paul McCartney. During the interview, the legendary artist will share his inspiration behind his secret Fireman projects.
Paul McCartney’s Fireman Radio is an exclusive commercial-free channel, completely devoted to McCartney’s legendary and expansive post-Beatles music-making and will include music from his solo records, tracks from every Wings album, the three Fireman albums, 1993’s Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest, 1998’s Rushes and 2008’s Electric Arguments as well as musical surprises from Paul’s vault.
Additionally, every week, McCartney will host a special "fireside chat" where he will discuss music, politics, news and any other topic he feels compelled to discuss.
Complete with stool! It's the Barack Obama action figure
Also comes with two styles of necktie, two head sculpts, American flag and microphone. Available now at Amazon.
Green Lantern Corps, Dr. Fate feature on Batman: Brave and the Bold Feb. 6
Here's info and pics from this week's episode of "Batman: The Brave and the Bold" on the Cartoon Network. You can check out full episodes here.
"In the middle of thwarting a robbery by the Cavalier, Batman is whisked away into outer space. When he arrives on their home world, he discovers The Green Lantern Corps is MIA after a battle with Despero - leaving the entire universe defenseless! To save us all, Batman joins the surviving Green Lanterns, G'Nort, Guy Gardner and Sinestro, to defeat the rampaging tyrant Despero before he turns OA, the living Green Lantern planet into his personal weapon of mass destruction!"
"In the middle of thwarting a robbery by the Cavalier, Batman is whisked away into outer space. When he arrives on their home world, he discovers The Green Lantern Corps is MIA after a battle with Despero - leaving the entire universe defenseless! To save us all, Batman joins the surviving Green Lanterns, G'Nort, Guy Gardner and Sinestro, to defeat the rampaging tyrant Despero before he turns OA, the living Green Lantern planet into his personal weapon of mass destruction!"
Upcoming pop culture DVDs: Doctor Who; animated X-Men; Disney Animation Collection
Click links to pre-order titles from Amazon.
Doctor Who: The E-Space Trilogy - Full Circle/State of Decay/Warriors' Gate
Doctor Who: Battlefield
Marvel X-Men Volume 2
Disney Animation Collection 1: Mickey & Beanstalk
Embark on magical adventures in this DISNEY ANIMATION COLLECTION DVD, part of an exciting series of classic Disney short films! Your favorite Disney characters star in "Mickey And The Beanstalk," the imaginative telling of a beloved storybook tale! Based on the timeless adventures of "Jack and the Beanstalk," Mickey, Donald and Goofy climb a fantastic beanstalk up into the sky to a place where everything is huge -- the food, the castle and the fearsome giant named Willy who guards a beautiful golden harp! Will Mickey and his friends outwit the giant and make it safely back home?
Disney Animation Collection 2: Three Little Pigs
Experience a unique telling of one of your favorite storybook tales in this DISNEY ANIMATION COLLECTION DVD, part of an adventure-filled series of classic Disney short films! Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? "Not I!" answer the first two brothers as they build their new homes -- one made of hay and the other of sticks. But when the wolf huffs and puffs and blows down their houses, the brothers seek protection in the third pig's house, very wisely made of bricks. Will the three little pigs finally be safe, once and for all?
Disney Animation Collection 3: Prince & The Pauper
The legendary tale of "The Prince And The Pauper" gets a magical Disney makeover in tis adventure-filled DISNEY ANIMATION COLLECTION DVD, part of a series of beloved classic short films! In a faraway kingdom, two boys who look exactly alike meet by chance and decide to switch places: a pauper named Mickey, who dreams about a life of luxury, and the Crown Prince, who wishes he could be as free as his subjects. Each boy faces extraordinary challenges in his new role, and together they must figure out how to save the kingdom from an evil Captain who wants the throne for himself!
Doctor Who: The E-Space Trilogy - Full Circle/State of Decay/Warriors' Gate
Doctor Who: Battlefield
Marvel X-Men Volume 2
Disney Animation Collection 1: Mickey & Beanstalk
Embark on magical adventures in this DISNEY ANIMATION COLLECTION DVD, part of an exciting series of classic Disney short films! Your favorite Disney characters star in "Mickey And The Beanstalk," the imaginative telling of a beloved storybook tale! Based on the timeless adventures of "Jack and the Beanstalk," Mickey, Donald and Goofy climb a fantastic beanstalk up into the sky to a place where everything is huge -- the food, the castle and the fearsome giant named Willy who guards a beautiful golden harp! Will Mickey and his friends outwit the giant and make it safely back home?
Disney Animation Collection 2: Three Little Pigs
Experience a unique telling of one of your favorite storybook tales in this DISNEY ANIMATION COLLECTION DVD, part of an adventure-filled series of classic Disney short films! Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? "Not I!" answer the first two brothers as they build their new homes -- one made of hay and the other of sticks. But when the wolf huffs and puffs and blows down their houses, the brothers seek protection in the third pig's house, very wisely made of bricks. Will the three little pigs finally be safe, once and for all?
Disney Animation Collection 3: Prince & The Pauper
The legendary tale of "The Prince And The Pauper" gets a magical Disney makeover in tis adventure-filled DISNEY ANIMATION COLLECTION DVD, part of a series of beloved classic short films! In a faraway kingdom, two boys who look exactly alike meet by chance and decide to switch places: a pauper named Mickey, who dreams about a life of luxury, and the Crown Prince, who wishes he could be as free as his subjects. Each boy faces extraordinary challenges in his new role, and together they must figure out how to save the kingdom from an evil Captain who wants the throne for himself!
Action figures: Upcoming DC Comics figures from Tonner
Here's a look at some upcoming DC Comics-based figures (dolls, I guess you'd call em as they're too pretty to be "action figures") from Tonner. Check for availability here.
Hawkgirl
Catwoman
Wonder Woman
Green Lantern
Supergirl
Poison Ivy
Hawkgirl
Catwoman
Wonder Woman
Green Lantern
Supergirl
Poison Ivy
Pop links: Tap returns; comic book movie prequels; Universal rebuilds;
Spinal Tap is at work on its first new album in 17 years.
...bassist Derek Smalls (aka Harry Shearer) said: "This is the 25th anniversary of Spinal Tap so Christopher, Michael and myself are probably going to do an acoustic tour where we play both [spoof folk trio] A Mighty Wind and Spinal Tap music."
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USA Today reports on the relatively new trend of comic book "prequels" to upcoming movies.
•The first comic in a four-part prequel, Star Trek Countdown #1, hit shelves last month in anticipation of May 8's Star Trek.
•Terminator Salvation, starring Christian Bale, gets a four-issue prequel before the movie arrives May 22.
•G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra invades screens Aug. 7, but not before a four-issue comic-book series hits stores.
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Universal Studios is rebuilding the classic sets it lost to fire a year ago.
Beginning in mid-summer, production will resume on the world- famous Courthouse Square, Brownstone Street and an enhanced New York Street. The new locations to be introduced this year will include a gas station, a firehouse, a London Street and, most notably, a modern urban cityscape, with glass and steel façade structures that will provide film and TV crews with the opportunity to replicate a modern city street scene in a controlled studio environment. The contemporary cityscape will be the largest modern urban backlot shooting location in Los Angeles.
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Random Acts of Geekery displays some original comic book art by Frank Robbins. I remember people hating his stuff in Marvel's Invaders during this period, but I think it looks cool!
...bassist Derek Smalls (aka Harry Shearer) said: "This is the 25th anniversary of Spinal Tap so Christopher, Michael and myself are probably going to do an acoustic tour where we play both [spoof folk trio] A Mighty Wind and Spinal Tap music."
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USA Today reports on the relatively new trend of comic book "prequels" to upcoming movies.
•The first comic in a four-part prequel, Star Trek Countdown #1, hit shelves last month in anticipation of May 8's Star Trek.
•Terminator Salvation, starring Christian Bale, gets a four-issue prequel before the movie arrives May 22.
•G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra invades screens Aug. 7, but not before a four-issue comic-book series hits stores.
-----
Universal Studios is rebuilding the classic sets it lost to fire a year ago.
Beginning in mid-summer, production will resume on the world- famous Courthouse Square, Brownstone Street and an enhanced New York Street. The new locations to be introduced this year will include a gas station, a firehouse, a London Street and, most notably, a modern urban cityscape, with glass and steel façade structures that will provide film and TV crews with the opportunity to replicate a modern city street scene in a controlled studio environment. The contemporary cityscape will be the largest modern urban backlot shooting location in Los Angeles.
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Random Acts of Geekery displays some original comic book art by Frank Robbins. I remember people hating his stuff in Marvel's Invaders during this period, but I think it looks cool!
Don't forget Lost tonight!
Get ready for tonight's ep by reading the posts at the Lost Season 5 blog. And check back there in the morning for a full summary, along with observations/speculation, of what happened.
New comics Feb. 4, 2009: Buffy, New Gods action figures, paperback Masterworks, more
Here's what looks interesting this week. Click the title links to order discounted items from Amazon.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #22 Continuing "season 8" of one of the greatest TV series ever.
SUPERGIRL COSMIC ADVENTURES IN THE 8TH GRADE #3 My 5-year-old daughter keeps asking when this will be out. She'll be happy. It's a fun read.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #585 I started reading this series on a whim a couple months back and, I have to say, I'm enjoying it quite a bit. It's pretty much old-school superhero fare that anyone who's seen a Spider-Man movie or two will "get." A rare case of Marvel getting things right.
COMPLETE CHESTER GOULDS DICK TRACY VOL. 6 I'm not really a Dick Tracy fan, but I know some folks here likely are.
MARVEL MASTERWORKS AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VOL. 1 The first AMS masterwork in a more affordable paperback edition.
NEW GODS SERIES 2 ACTION FIGURES Cool, Kirby-style figures!
BIG BARDA
KALIBAK
METRON
SUPERMAN
Things I can't afford and wouldn't buy anyway. But some people can and will:
DOCTOR WHO CLASSIC DOCTOR & DAVROS STATUE
DOCTOR WHO CLASSIC MASTER & AUTON STATUE
JLA TROPHY ROOM BAT SIGNAL PROP REPLICA
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #22 Continuing "season 8" of one of the greatest TV series ever.
SUPERGIRL COSMIC ADVENTURES IN THE 8TH GRADE #3 My 5-year-old daughter keeps asking when this will be out. She'll be happy. It's a fun read.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #585 I started reading this series on a whim a couple months back and, I have to say, I'm enjoying it quite a bit. It's pretty much old-school superhero fare that anyone who's seen a Spider-Man movie or two will "get." A rare case of Marvel getting things right.
COMPLETE CHESTER GOULDS DICK TRACY VOL. 6 I'm not really a Dick Tracy fan, but I know some folks here likely are.
MARVEL MASTERWORKS AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VOL. 1 The first AMS masterwork in a more affordable paperback edition.
NEW GODS SERIES 2 ACTION FIGURES Cool, Kirby-style figures!
BIG BARDA
KALIBAK
METRON
SUPERMAN
Things I can't afford and wouldn't buy anyway. But some people can and will:
DOCTOR WHO CLASSIC DOCTOR & DAVROS STATUE
DOCTOR WHO CLASSIC MASTER & AUTON STATUE
JLA TROPHY ROOM BAT SIGNAL PROP REPLICA
Pop links: Spider Woman toons; Kyle Baker draws Hawkman; Buddy's Peggy Sue; vintage Ditko stories
Geek Orthodox shares some "classic" Spider Woman TV cartoons. I'd flat out forgotten she'd had her own series.
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Cartoonist Kyle Baker is doing a Hawkman title for DC Comics.
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The BBC interviews Buddy Holly's "Peggy Sue."
Peggy Sue Gerron, a sweet-faced woman of 68, is an unlikely piece of walking rock 'n' roll memorabilia. But in 1957, she was the girlfriend of Holly's best pal, Jerry Allison, and so became the inspiration for the singer's jiving classic.
Today, Ms Gerron smiles and plays down her role of musical muse, when asked.
"I think he decided he was going to write a girl's song, and sometime during the middle of the night he got Norman Petty, the producer, and he told him, 'I've written this song and I've named it after Jerry's girlfriend, Peggy Sue'."
I posted this video last week, but what the heck:
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Via Journalista, Harry Green Eyeball (awesome name!) presents three vintage Steve Ditko-illustrated suspense tales.
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Cartoonist Kyle Baker is doing a Hawkman title for DC Comics.
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The BBC interviews Buddy Holly's "Peggy Sue."
Peggy Sue Gerron, a sweet-faced woman of 68, is an unlikely piece of walking rock 'n' roll memorabilia. But in 1957, she was the girlfriend of Holly's best pal, Jerry Allison, and so became the inspiration for the singer's jiving classic.
Today, Ms Gerron smiles and plays down her role of musical muse, when asked.
"I think he decided he was going to write a girl's song, and sometime during the middle of the night he got Norman Petty, the producer, and he told him, 'I've written this song and I've named it after Jerry's girlfriend, Peggy Sue'."
I posted this video last week, but what the heck:
-----
Via Journalista, Harry Green Eyeball (awesome name!) presents three vintage Steve Ditko-illustrated suspense tales.
Playmobil founder dies
Hans Beck, the founder of Playmobil toys has died at 79.
Beck created a whole fantasy world of figures with moving arms and legs that bend at the hip, wear snap on clothes, and continue to capture the imagination of children all over the world.
More than 2.2bn figures have been produced and sold in over 70 countries. At 7.5cm tall, and promoted as "ideal for a child's grip", the figures are meant to represent real life average adult height of 175cm (5ft 7cm).
The original figures were a knight, a builder and a Native American. But the toy empire expanded hugely over the years and, alongside fairies, firefighters, nurses, jewel thieves, Egyptologists, prisoners, police tracking dogs and airport security staff are now part of the Playmobil firmament.
The trigger for the toy's creation was the global oil crisis of the early 1970s, when the price of plastics increased sixfold. Large toys which Brandstätter had produced up until then became prohibitively expensive and it was forced to rethink its product line.
Beck created a whole fantasy world of figures with moving arms and legs that bend at the hip, wear snap on clothes, and continue to capture the imagination of children all over the world.
More than 2.2bn figures have been produced and sold in over 70 countries. At 7.5cm tall, and promoted as "ideal for a child's grip", the figures are meant to represent real life average adult height of 175cm (5ft 7cm).
The original figures were a knight, a builder and a Native American. But the toy empire expanded hugely over the years and, alongside fairies, firefighters, nurses, jewel thieves, Egyptologists, prisoners, police tracking dogs and airport security staff are now part of the Playmobil firmament.
The trigger for the toy's creation was the global oil crisis of the early 1970s, when the price of plastics increased sixfold. Large toys which Brandstätter had produced up until then became prohibitively expensive and it was forced to rethink its product line.
Flamin' Groovies reunite
Power pop band the Flamin' Groovies are reuniting.
...principals Cyril Jordan and Roy Loney will reunite for the first time since 1971 at the eighth Ponderosa Stomp festival, to be held April 28-29 at New Orleans' House of Blues.
The Flamin' Groovies formed in San Francisco in 1965 and set a template for the nascent power pop movement with their 1969 debut, "Supersnazz," and its 1970 follow-up, "Flamingo."
Shake some action!
...principals Cyril Jordan and Roy Loney will reunite for the first time since 1971 at the eighth Ponderosa Stomp festival, to be held April 28-29 at New Orleans' House of Blues.
The Flamin' Groovies formed in San Francisco in 1965 and set a template for the nascent power pop movement with their 1969 debut, "Supersnazz," and its 1970 follow-up, "Flamingo."
Shake some action!
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