Richie Rich comics return

Ape Comics reportedly has purchased a license to publish comics featuring the character. The midst of a great recessions seems like an odd time for feature re-launch a comics series about the world's richest kid. But, then again, the series -- like a lot of comics -- is all about wish fulfillment and escapism. So maybe the timing is perfect. Also,

Ape will update the character by emphasizing his altruistic side as the world’s richest kid becomes a globe-trotting adventure who uses his wealth to help poor people around the world.

So long Solomon Burke

The great soul singer has died at age 70.

Doctor Who to film in U.S. for first time

For the first time ever, the venerable British series will film a episode in the U.S., the BBC reports.

In the special two-parter co-produced with BBC AMERICA, key scenes will be filmed in Utah for a story set in the late ‘60s in which the Doctor, Amy and Rory find themselves on a secret summons that takes them on an adventure from the desert in Utah - right to the Oval Office itself.

...Showrunner and lead writer, Steven Moffat, said: “The Doctor has visited every weird and wonderful planet you can imagine, so he was bound get round to America eventually! And of course every Doctor Who fan will be jumping up and down and saying he’s been in America before. But not for real, not on location - and not with a story like this one! Oh, you wait!”

Photo: Elizabeth Montgomery

Photo: Diana Rigg

DC and Marvel plan to drop price of comics

In a sign of the economic times, both DC and Marvel Comics have announced plans to drop prices on most of their titles back to $2.99. The plan is, of course, to ensure financially strapped fans can continue following their favorite books, and even maybe buy more books.

This is probably a smart idea. Even smarter -- and I've said this a million times -- would be for the big publishers to reclaim the news stand. The "direct market" of comic book shop-centric sales has resulted in an aging, dwindling readership of comics over the past few decades. It's difficult to find regular comics titles in grocery stores, drug stores, etc. Moving back into this realm, with titles that are easy to jump aboard and appropriate for kids, could help save the monthly title format.

Kids are still interested in superheroes. They wear Spider-Man t-shirts, watch Batman cartoons, etc. If they saw comic books featuring such characters in places where kids go, i.e. to the store with mom and dad, the publishers could gain a larger, new generation of fans.

Publishing a few kid-oriented titles for the comic book shop doesn't cut it. The publishers' mainstream fair should be geared to a target age of 10-12. All the flagship titles: Batman, Superman, Fantastic Four, Amazing Spider-Man, etc., should be geared to this age group and available everywhere with storylines that don't require a graduate degree in funnybook history to understand.

This would be an enormous change and could result in the loss of some older fanboy fans. But it also could reverse the slow death of monthly superhero comics.

John Lennon: On TV

In advance of what would be Lennon's 70th birthday, Mojo presents several of the ex-Beatles' late 60s, early 70s TV appearances, including interviews from the "David Frost Show" and more.