New album sales hit a record low, whines stupid music industry

From Billboard:

For the week ending May 30, the U.S. music industry sold a total of 4,984,000 albums, according to Nielsen Soundscan. This figure, which includes new and catalog releases, represents the fewest number of albums sold in one week since Soundscan began compiling this data in 1994.

The music industry, of course, screams piracy is the reason for these dismal sales. But really it has nobody but itself to blame. For years CDs were overpriced. With the advent of home CD burners, they became easy to copy. People copied CDs because they were priced too high. If a CD only cost $5, I figure many people wouldn't go through the hassle of getting blank disks and copying. They could get a commercial CD, with album art at a very reasonable price. But now, especially with music available via download, it's too danged late.

Great new blog from our pal Booksteve

I'm a little late promoting this great new effort on Booksteve's part: "Four-Color Shadows," which features public domain comic book stories by greats such as Alex Toth, Wayne Howard and more. You'll dig it. Thanks for all the hard work, Steve.

Artist Joe Kubert talks about introducing black characters to Sgt. Rock

A very interesting interview here:

...there was no hesitation to publish – it was felt that having a black character in Easy Co. would be popular with the readers and that it was something that our readers would like to see. We did have a good reaction from the readers in their letters. It wasn’t all purely money-making, however. There was an attempt to show recognition of problems that had existed. We knew there had been no integrated units in WWII but it was important to show how things were supposed to be.
Kubert credits editor Bob Kanigher with making the decision. I guess that proves that Bob K, whose famous for his egomania and less-than-kind behavior to comics creators, wasn't all bad.

Captain America costume and movie details revealed

 It's not Captain America without the little wings on the head, I think. But, again, maybe those would look silly in a movie. I don't know. It's not terrible, but not terribly imaginative either. At least he's got the cool shield (but, I guess we already know that from having seen it in Iron Man 2).

Some tidbits:
The movie stars Fantastic Four actor Chris Evans as the lead.

The cast, which also includes Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, and Hugo Weaving as Red Skull are currently filming in London.


Doctor Who game available for download

The first episode of Doctor Who: The Adventure Games is available for free download for PC (Mac users can get it June 15) here.

This first installment is called "City of the Daleks." Details:

The TARDIS materializes in 1963 to find the human race crushed by the Daleks. The Doctor embarks on a quest to the Dalek planet to correct time and save the last survivor of Humanity - Amy Pond!

Will you bid for Bond's Goldfinger car

I posted a mention yesterday of this upcoming auction for the Aston Martin car featured in "Goldfinger" and "Thunderball." Now the BBC has a story up with some pretty neat pics. I've got the Corgi version... And

A peek at Madame Tussaud's Marvel Comic exhibition

A cool look at the Hulk, Iron Man and more featured in the famed wax museum's new Marvel-themed exhibit.

McCartney plays White House - performance to air on PBS in July

Here's a nice story about Macca's performance in the White House yesterday, where he picked up the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from President Obama:
“After the last eight years, it’s great to have a president who knows what a library is,” McCartney quipped at the end of a star-studded ceremony...
...he said he would play a song he’d been “Itching to do at the White House,” adding, “I hope the president will forgive me.” Then launched into a spirited rendition of “Michelle.”
The performance, which also features appearances by Elvis Costello, Stevie Wonder and Dave Grohl,  will air July 28 on PBS.

Discounted new comics releases June 2, 2010

Click the pics to order discounted items from Amazon:

DARK HORSE COMICS

FEB100015 CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #21 KOZAKI PT 3 (OF 3) $2.99
Conan Volume 8: Black Colossus (Conan (Dark Horse))
FEB100013 CONAN TP VOL 08 BLACK COLOSSUS $12.14
Jet Scott Volume 2
FEB100041 JET SCOTT GN VOL 02 $23.09
JAN100176 MADE WITH 90% RECYCLED ART TP $10.99
APR100027 SERENITY FLOAT OUT ONE SHOT #1 FRANK STOCKTON CVR $3.50
APR100026 SERENITY FLOAT OUT ONE SHOT #1 JO CHEN CVR $3.50
Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago . . . . Volume 1
FEB100063 STAR WARS LONG TIME AGO OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 $16.49

DC COMICS

APR100183 ADVENTURE COMICS #12 $3.99
APR100245 AUTHORITY #23 $2.99
APR100175 BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #45 $2.99
APR100137 BRIGHTEST DAY #3 $2.99
APR100239 CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #50 $2.50
APR100275 DEMO VOL 2 #5 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
APR100271 DMZ TP VOL 08 HEARTS AND MINDS (MR) $16.99
Final Crisis
MAR100239 FINAL CRISIS TP $13.59
APR100231 FLASH REBIRTH #1 NEW PTG #1 $1.00
A God Somewhere
MAR100276 GOD SOMEWHERE TP (MR) $16.49
APR100192 GREAT TEN #8 (OF 9) $2.99
APR100276 GREEK STREET #12 (MR) $2.99
Icon Vol. 2: The Mothership Connection
MAR100249 ICON MOTHERSHIP CONNECTION TP $16.49
APR100282 IZOMBIE #2 (MR) $2.99
APR100154 JOKERS ASYLUM THE RIDDLER #1 $2.99
Jonah Hex: No Way Back
JAN100270 JONAH HEX NO WAY BACK HC $13.59
APR100195 JSA ALL STARS #7 $3.99
Justice League of America: Cry for Justice
FEB100188 JUSTICE LEAGUE CRY FOR JUSTICE HC $16.49
MAR100218 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #39 $2.99
APR100240 LOONEY TUNES #187 $2.50
Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman Statue (2010)
SEP090257 LYNDA CARTER AS WONDER WOMAN STATUE (2010) $168.03
APR100200 NEMESIS THE IMPOSTORS #4 (OF 4) $2.99
APR100161 RED HOOD LOST DAYS #1 (OF 6) $2.99
APR100171 RED ROBIN #13 $2.99
APR100256 SPARTA USA #4 (OF 6) $2.99
Stuck Rubber Baby (New Edition)
FEB100270 STUCK RUBBER BABY HC NEW EDITION (MR) $16.49
APR100179 SUPERMAN BATMAN ANNUAL #4 $4.99
Superman: New Krypton, Vol. 4
FEB100194 SUPERMAN NEW KRYPTON HC VOL 04 $16.49
APR100286 SWEET TOOTH #10 (MR) $2.99

IDW PUBLISHING

APR100390 DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 3 #4 $3.99
MAR101000 GI JOE HEARTS AND MINDS #1 SGN ED $9.99
APR100340 GI JOE ORIGINS #16 $3.99
Metal Gear Solid Omnibus
MAR101049 METAL GEAR SOLID OMNIBUS TP $19.79
APR100403 PILGRIM #2 $3.99
APR100392 STARSTRUCK #10 $3.99
Transformers: The Best of Optimus Prime (Transformers (Idw))
MAR100997 TRANSFORMERS BEST OF OPTIMUS PRIME TP $13.49
APR100349 TRANSFORMERS IRONHIDE #2 $3.99

IMAGE COMICS

APR100404 BULLETPROOF COFFIN #1 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
APR100415 DUST WARS #1 (OF 3) $2.99
DEC090406 EXISTENCE 3.0 #4 (OF 4) (MR) $3.50
FEB100397 INVINCIBLE #72 (MR) $2.99
MAR100434 MICE TEMPLAR DESTINY #9 $4.99
APR100424 PRO (NEW PTG) (O/A) (MR) $7.99

MARVEL COMICS

Agents Of Atlas: Turf Wars TPB
MAR100657 AGENTS OF ATLAS TP TURF WARS $10.11
APR100599 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN MGC #546 $1.00
MAR108094 AVENGERS #1 PREMIERE VAR $3.99
APR100565 AVENGERS ORIGIN #3 (OF 5) $3.99
APR100559 AVENGERS PRIME #1 (OF 5) HA $3.99
MAR100521 AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #1 $3.99
APR100577 AVENGERS THOR CAPTAIN AMERICA OFFICIAL INDEX #2 $3.99
APR100570 CAPTAIN AMERICA BLACK PANTHER FLAGS OF FATHERS #3 (OF 4) $3.99
Daredevil by Ed Brubaker & Michael Lark Omnibus, Vol. 2
DEC090592 DAREDEVIL OMNIBUS BY BRUBAKER & LARK HC VOL 02 $47.25
Daredevil: The Man Without Fear
APR100693 DAREDEVIL TP MAN WITHOUT FEAR NEW PTG $13.49
APR100569 DARKSTAR AND WINTER GUARD #1 (OF 3) $3.99
APR100522 ELECTRIC ANT #3 (OF 5) $3.99
Ender's Game: War Of Gifts Premiere HC
MAR100632 ENDERS GAME WAR OF GIFTS PREM HC $16.49
MAR100562 FRANKEN-CASTLE #17 $2.99
APR100588 HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD #1 HA $3.99
APR100507 HERALDS #1 (OF 5) $2.99
APR100586 HERCULES TWILIGHT OF A GOD #1 (OF 4) $3.99
Hulk: Planet Skaar
MAR100658 HULK PLANET SKAAR TP $16.49
MAR108097 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #25 2ND PTG LARROCA VAR (PP #919) $3.99
MAR100550 IRON MAN EXTREMIS DIRECTORS CUT #2 (OF 6) $3.99
APR100579 IRON MAN MAGAZINE #2 $6.99
MAR100640 OFF HB MARVEL UNIV A TO Z PREM HC VOL 14 $24.99
APR100513 ORSON SCOTT CARDS ENDER IN EXILE #1 (OF 5) $3.99
APR100581 PUNISHER FRANKEN-CASTLE BIRTH OF MONSTER #1 $4.99
MAR100488 SKY DOLL SPACE SHIP #1 (OF 2) (MR) $5.99
MAR100489 SKY DOLL SPACE SHIP #1 (OF 2) VAR (MR) $5.99
APR100543 SPECTACULAR SPIDER-GIRL #2 (OF 4) $2.99
Spider-Man Noir: Eyes Without A Face Premiere HC
MAR100635 SPIDER-MAN NOIR PREM HC EYES WITHOUT A FACE $13.49
APR100516 STAND HARDCASES #1 (OF 5) $3.99
APR100515 STEPHEN KINGS N #4 (OF 4) $3.99
APR100620 THANOS IMPERATIVE #1 (OF 6) $3.99
APR100608 THOR AND WARRIORS FOUR #3 (OF 4) $2.99
MAR100575 TORCH #8 (OF 8) $3.99
MAR108109 UNCANNY X-MEN #524 2ND PTG DODSON VAR (PP #919) $2.99
APR100617 VENGEANCE OF MOON KNIGHT #9 HA $3.99
MAR100651 WAR OF KINGS WARRIORS TP $24.99
APR100503 WOMEN OF MARVEL CELEBRATING 7 DECADES POSTER BOOK $5.99
APR100667 X-BABIES TP STARS REBORN GN $14.99
DEC090593 X-FORCE HC VOL 01 $34.99
MAR100614 X-MEN FOREVER GIANT-SIZE #1 $3.99
MAR108108 X-MEN HELLBOUND #1 (OF 3) 2ND PTG TOLIBAO VAR (PP #919) $3.99

*********

COMICS

MAR100780 28 DAYS LATER #11 $3.99
MAR100709 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #209 $3.99
Bart Simpson Class Clown (Simpsons Comic Compilations)
MAR100776 BART SIMPSON CLASS CLOWN TP $10.87
MAR100710 BETTY #186 (NOTE PRICE) $2.99
MAR101182 BLEACH TP VOL 31 $9.99
MAR101198 BUTTERFLIES FLOWERS GN VOL 03 (MR) $9.99
MAR101199 CACTUS SECRET GN VOL 02 $9.99
APR100834 CARS #1 ECCC BLANK VAR CVR $9.99
FEB100724 CAVEWOMAN EXTINCTION ONE-SHOT $3.75
MAR100755 CAVEWOMAN EXTINCTION ONE-SHOT ROOT SP ED PI
JAN100780 CAVEWOMAN PREHISTORIC PINUPS #7 (MR) $4.50
JAN100781 CAVEWOMAN PREHISTORIC PINUPS #7 NUDE ED (A) $5.50
MAR100756 CAVEWOMAN PREHISTORIC PINUPS #7 NUDE SP ED (A) PI
FEB100725 CAVEWOMAN PREHISTORIC PINUPS #7 SP ED (MR) PI
MAR101181 CLAYMORE TP VOL 16 $9.99
APR100816 CODEBREAKERS #3 $3.99
MAR101200 CRIMSON HERO TP VOL 13 $9.99
APR101007 FAT FREDDYS CAT OMNIBUS (O/A) (MR) $29.99
APR100763 FREAKANGELS HC VOL 04 (MR) $27.99
APR100764 FREAKANGELS HC VOL 04 ELLIS & DUFFIELD SGN ED (MR) $39.99
APR100762 FREAKANGELS TP VOL 04 (MR) $19.99
DEC091073 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #47 $2.99
MAR101201 HAPPY HAPPY CLOVER GN VOL 05 $7.99
MAR101125 HERCULES TP VOL 02 KNIVES OF KUSH $14.95
MAR101202 HONEY & CLOVER GN VOL 10 $9.99
MAR101203 HOSHIN ENGI TP VOL 19 $9.99
APR100956 HOUSEWIVES AT PLAY MOTHER KNOWS BEST TP (A) $9.95
FEB100669 HOW TO DRAW ROBOTS PKT MANGA TP $12.95
APR100826 INCORRUPTIBLE #1 ECCC VAR CVR (MR) $9.99
APR100827 IRREDEEMABLE #14 $3.99
FEB100819 KEVIN SMITH KATO #1 LTD ED GREEN FOIL CVR PI
FEB100676 KILLER MODUS VIVENDI #2 (OF 6) (MR) $3.95
DEC090877 LA BIBLE HC BK 01 GENESIS $16.95
MAR101204 LA CORDA DORO TP VOL 12 $9.99
FEB100844 LEGENDARY TALESPINNERS #3 (OF 3) $3.99
MAR101194 LIBRARY WARS GN VOL 01 $9.99
MAR101205 MAGIC TOUCH GN VOL 08 $9.99
JAN101125 MEGA MAN ZX GN VOL 01 (OF 2) $12.95
MAR100699 MOUSE GUARD LEGENDS O/T GUARD #1 (OF 4) $3.50
FEB101060 MOVIE COMICS FEATURING MAN FROM PLANET X TP $25.00
MAR101136 MOVING PICTURES GN $14.95
MAR101206 MUHYO ROJIS BUREAU SUPER INVEST TP VOL 17 $9.99
MAR100815 MUPPET SHOW #6 $2.99
MAR101180 NARUTO TP VOL 48 $9.99
APR100766 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD SGN HC VOL 01 (MR) ) $34.99
APR100765 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD TP VOL 01 (MR) $24.99
JUL090672 OKKO HC VOL 02 CYCLE OF EARTH W/ DUST JACKET $19.95
MAR101183 ONE PIECE TP VOL 49 $9.99
MAR101184 ONE PIECE TP VOL 50 $9.99
MAR101185 ONE PIECE TP VOL 51 $9.99
MAR101186 ONE PIECE TP VOL 52 $9.99
MAR101187 ONE PIECE TP VOL 53 $9.99
APR101075 PEACE MAKER KUROGANE GN VOL 04 (OF 5) (MR) $10.99
MAR101207 POKEMON ADVENTURES TP VOL 07 2ND ED $7.99
FEB100836 QUEEN SONJA #7 $2.99
MAR101208 RASETSU GN VOL 05 $9.99
MAR101128 ROGUE TROOPER TALES OF NU EARTH GN VOL 02 $24.99
APR101085 SHINOBI LIFE GN VOL 05 (OF 7) $10.99
MAR101188 SHONEN JUMP JULY 2010 $4.99
MAR101209 SLAM DUNK GN VOL 10 $9.99
MAR100715 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #213 $2.99
MAR101210 ST DRAGON GIRL GN VOL 07 $9.99
MAR101231 TFW WHITE KNIGHT ONESHOT A CVR RIO $3.99
MAR101232 TFW WHITE KNIGHT ONESHOT B CVR MYCHAELS $3.99
APR100960 TOO HOT TO HANDLE TP (A) $18.99
MAR101178 TORIKO GN VOL 01 $9.99
APR100849 TOY STORY #2 ECCC BLANK VAR CVR $9.99
APR101023 TREASURY 20TH CENTURY MURDER HC VOL 02 FAMOUS PLAYERS (O/A) $15.95
MAR101195 VAMPIRE KNIGHT TP VOL 10 $9.99
FEB101159 WAKING #4 (OF 4) A CVR MELO $3.99
FEB101160 WAKING #4 (OF 4) B CVR BENITEZ $3.99
MAR100826 WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #707 $2.99
MAR101211 WILD ONES GN VOL 10 $9.99
MAR101179 YU GI OH R GN VOL 05 (OF 5) $9.99