DC Comics July 2011 solicitations

Highlights from DC's July offerings:

DC RETROACTIVE: SUPERMAN – THE ‘70S #1
Written by MARTIN PASKO
Art and cover by EDUARDO BARRETTO
DC Retroactive is an exciting event honoring the defining eras of DC’s core heroes, featuring an original story by the legendary writers and artists who helped mold the characters! Martin Pasko revisits the Metropolis of the 1970s, telling an epic lost tale as Mr. Mxyzptlk returns for another go at The Man of Steel. Will he succeed this time around?
Plus: Following the 26-page lead story is a classic tale originally published in the ’70s, also written by Martin Pasko!
ONE-SHOT
On sale JULY 27
56 pg, FC

DC RETROACTIVE: BATMAN – THE ‘70S #1

Written by LEN WEIN
Art by TBD
Cover by TBD
The 1970s was a pivotal decade for Batman, one in which he transitioned from TV’s campy Caped Crusader into today’s Dark Knight Detective!
Now, legendary scribe Len Wein (DC UNIVERSE: LEGACIES) tells a never-before-revealed tale from this era in a brand-new story!
Plus: Following the 26-page lead story is a classic tale originally published in the ’70s, also written by Len Wein!
ONE-SHOT
On sale JULY 20
56 pg, FC

DC RETROACTIVE: WONDER WOMAN – THE ‘70S #1

Written by DENNIS O’NEIL
Art by J. BONE
Cover by TBD
From legendary scribe Dennis O’Neil comes an untold adventure starring DC’s Amazon Princess in her “white costume” phase! When Paradise Island is in danger, Wonder Woman must complete three tasks to save her homeland from destruction. But are these tasks too difficult even for her?
Plus: Following the 26-page lead story is a classic tale originally published in the ’70s, also written by Dennis O’Neil!
ONE-SHOT
On sale JULY 20
56 pg, FC

DC RETROACTIVE: GREEN LANTERN – THE ‘70S #1
Written by DENNIS O’NEIL
Art and cover by MIKE GRELL
DC Retroactive is an exciting event honoring the defining eras of DC’s core heroes, featuring an original story by the legendary writers and artists who helped mold the characters! The 1970s were a time of spacefaring thrills for the Emerald Knight! Now, writer Dennis O’Neil returns to the character for a brand-new epic starring Hal Jordan!
Plus: Following the 26-page lead story is a classic tale originally published in the ’70s, also written by Dennis O’Neil!
ONE-SHOT
On sale JULY 27
56 pg, FC

DC RETROACTIVE: THE FLASH – THE ‘70S #1
Written by CARY BATES
Art by TBD
Cover by TBD
In a new tale from classic 1970s writer Cary Bates, Gorilla Grodd unleashes his most ruthless attack yet against his nemesis, The Flash – a plan for revenge so warped and diabolical, it dooms The Scarlet Speedster to a slow and agonizing fate that will end his heroic career and cause an unspeakable rift between Barry and his wife, Iris!
Plus: Following the 26-page lead story is a classic tale originally published in the ’70s, also written by Cary Bates!
ONE-SHOT
On sale JULY 20
56 pg, FC

DC RETROACTIVE: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA – THE ‘70S #1
Written by CARY BATES
Art by TBD
Cover by TBD
Writer Cary Bates reveals the untold story of how super villain Kanjar Ro nearly destroyed life as we know it when he set out to conquer Earth – Earth- Prime, that is. It’s up to the Justice League, Adam Strange and a very special DC legend to save the 1970s!
Plus: Following the 26-page lead story is a classic tale originally published in the ’70s, also written by Cary Bates!
ONE-SHOT
On sale JULY 27
56 pg, FC

KAMANDI, THE LAST BOY ON EARTH OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC
Written by JACK KIRBY
Art by JACK KIRBY, MIKE ROYER and D. BRUCE BERRY
Cover by JACK KIRBY and MIKE ROYER
At last, DC collects the adventures of Kamandi in the popular Omnibus format, beginning with issues #1-20!
In these tales, Kamandi – one of the few survivors of a futuristic Great Disaster that has destroyed civilization – must make his way through a world populated by bizarre, mutated animals and other strange wonders! Considered one of Jack Kirby’s most creative works, KAMANDI features a band of intelligent animal supporting characters who accompany Kamandi as he searches for answers and adventure across the wastelands of Earth.
On sale SEPTEMBER 28
448 pg

SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND LOIS LANE ARCHIVES VOL. 1 HC
Written by OTTO BINDER and others
Art by WAYNE BORING, KURT SCHAFFENBERGER and others
Cover by CURT SWAN and STAN KAYE
These whimsical stories are collected from SHOWCASE #9-10 and SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND LOIS LANE #1-8, including:
* “The Girl in Superman’s Past”
* “The Jilting of Superman”
* “The Witch of Metropolis”
* “The Rainbow Superman”
* “Lois Lane – Convict!”
* “The Ugly Superman”
Advance solicited
On sale DECEMBER 21
264 pg

Music new releases April 12, 2011

Wasting Light
Wasting Light Foo Fighters

 So Beautiful or So What (CD/DVD Deluxe)
So Beautiful or So What (CD/DVD Deluxe)  Paul Simon

Bob Dylan in Concert: Brandeis University 1963
Bob Dylan in Concert: Brandeis University 1963

Build a Rocket Boys!
Build a Rocket Boys! Elbow

Here Before
Here Before The Feelies

Nine Types of Light
Nine Types of Light TV on the Radio

DVD new releases April 12, 2011

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1

The Incredibles (Four-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)
The Incredibles (Four-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)

 Car 54 Where Are You: Complete First Season
Car 54 Where Are You: Complete First Season

Doctor Who: Kinda (Story 119)
Doctor Who: Kinda (Story 119)

Doctor Who: Snakedance (Story 125)
Doctor Who: Snakedance (Story 125)

Dragnet 1970: Season Four
Dragnet 1970: Season Four

 H.R. Pufnstuf: Complete Series Collector's Edition
H.R. Pufnstuf: Complete Series Collector's Edition

Green Lantern movie stills



Silver Age Phantom comics set for collection

Cool! I'd love to see Jim Aparo's Phantom comic collected, too. Those were for Charlton, right?

Hermes Press has announced it will reprint the Silver Age of Adventures of Lee Falk's The Phantom, starting with Gold Key's 1962 version, in eight hardcover volumes.

Hermes Press recently added The Phantom daily strips to their archival series, with Volume 3 due in May. The Phantom comic book reprint series will span 15 years and encompassing 17 Gold Key comics, 11 King Phantom comics and all 45 Charlton Phantom issues.

The Phantom The Complete Series: The Gold Key Years: Volume One reprints The Phantom #1-8, with stories by Bill Harris, art by Bill Lignante and cover art by George Wilson. It will be 256 pages and will cost $49.99.

Upcoming DC Comics releases: Lois Lane Archives

A couple of new highlights spotted on Amazon:

Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane Archives Vol. 1

Showcase Presents: Wonder Woman Vol. 4

Steve Ditko Omnibus Vol. 2 (Steve Ditko Omnibus 2)

BBC TV to air George Martin documentary

I hope we'll have a chance to see this in the Colonies:

A new 90-minute documentary about legendary Beatles record producer Sir George Martin will premiere on Britain's BBC-2 TV network over the Easter weekend. The film is titled "Produced by George Martin" and includes new footage with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.

"Produced by George Martin" will air on BBC-2 on Saturday April 23rd, which by coincidence is celebrated in England (and many other European nations) as "St. George's Day," a day commemorated by several nations and cities of whom St. George is the patron saint.

The film documents the six-decade professional history of the 85-year-old knighted record producer who discovered and signed the Beatles in June 1962, and then produced them throughout their recording career, and who also produced several albums with Paul McCartney and Wings. The film features specially-shot new sequences with Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. Other interviewees include vocalist Cilla Black and Monty Python's Michael Palin.

Londoners may see a sneak preview of the film when it is screened this coming Wednesday (April 13th) at the British Film Institute's flagship National Film Theatre on London's South Bank. Click here for more info on this special screening.

There are preliminary plans for the film to be televised in other countries including the USA in 2012. There are also discussions for the film to be screened at prestigious international film festivals.

In addition to chronicling his pioneering production work with the Beatles, the film looks at his extensive producing experience before and after the Beatles. This includes his early work with classical music - and with comedic performers such as Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, The Goons and Beyond The Fringe. And a focus on some of his wide-ranging post-Beatles work including film scores and album production for many major musicians.

Among the many artists produced by Sir George during his sixty-year career have been: friends and contemporaries of the Beatles such as Cilla Black, Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Fourmost, Mary Hopkin; rock and pop artists such as Jeff Beck, Ultravox, Cheap Trick, John McLaughlin & The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Billy Preston, Sinead O'Connor, Peter Gabriel, Sting, Elton John, Gary Brooker, Jimmy Webb, Neil Sedaka, Stevie Wonder and America; jazz artists such as: Ella Fitzgerald, Cleo Laine, Johnny Dankworth, Humphrey Lyttelton; and vocalists such as: Matt Monro, Kenny Rogers, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey and Celine Dion.

P.S. If you're interested in George Martin beyond his work with the Beatles, I highly recommend this box set:

International trailer for X-Men: First Class

New details on book collecting John Lennon's letters

The New York Times has fresh details on an upcoming collection of John Lennon's letters, which is approved by Yoko Ono and edited by Beatles biographer Hunter S. Davies.

The publisher said Friday it will release “The Lennon Letters,” containing a selection of the writing the musician sent “to his friends, family, strangers, newspapers, organizations, lawyers and the laundry,” in October 2012.

...In a news release, Little, Brown said “The Lennon Letters” will present the correspondence “in chronological order, so that a narrative builds up, reflecting John’s life,” adding that “many of the letters are reproduced as they were, in his handwriting or typing, plus the odd cartoon or doodle.” The publisher said Mr. Davies had tracked down about 200 letters and postcards, and anyone who has Lennon letters to share for the book may contact him at johnlennonletters@hotmail.co.uk.

Classic Tarzan paperback covers

Golden Age Comic Book Stories presents a great selection of Tarzan paperback art by Neal Adams and Boris Vallejo. I always liked this one by Adams:


New Thor movie clip features a hint of Hawkeye

As most folks know, the upcoming Thor and Captain America movies will lead to a full-on Avengers flick to be directed by Joss Whedon. In this new clip, we seem to catch a glimpse of the Avengers' bowman, Hawkeye.