New clip for Marvel's Agent Carter, episode 4


Comic art: Darwyn Cooke Flash Gordon, Mandrake, Prince Valiant and Phantom covers

Dynamite Comics is launching a batch of titles based on King Features characters this week, the first issues of which all feature covers by the great Darwyn Cooke. Can't speak to the interiors, but these look great:




Pop focus: Sherlock Holmes at the movies

Before Benedict, there was Basil.

Teamed with Nigel Bruce as Dr. John Watson, Basil Rathbone was THE Sherlock Holmes for a good chunk of the 20th century, appearing in 14 Holmes films between 1939 and 1946. Those who didn't see the films in the theaters saw them on television, where they ran for decades as afternoon and late-night filler.

With his angular, birdlike profile Rathbone is the face that comes to the minds of many when they picture Sherlock Holmes. He appeared similar to images of Holmes that appeared in print with Conan Doyle's original Holmes stories and, following the films, his face inspired many more depictions of the detective.

The first Holmes film starring Rathbone and Bruce was based an adaptation of "The Hound of the Baskervilles," while the second, "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" was based on an 1889 stage play.

From there, the series moved from 20th Century Fox to Universal Studios and wandered straight into anachronism. While the first two pictures were based in Holmes' original time period of the late 1800s, the early Universal films saw Holmes and Watson fighting Nazi and foreign saboteurs.  Later entries drifted back into more conventional detective stories.

Below is a look at the Rathbone-Bruce series, including production shots and posters.










Hound of the Baskervilles, 1939

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 1939

Sherlock Holmes and theVoice of Terror, 1942

Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon, 1943

Sherlock Holmes in Washington, 1943

Sherlock Holmes Faces Death, 1943

The Spider Woman, 1945

The Secret Claw, 1944

The Pearl of Death, 1944

Sherlock and the House of Fear, 1945

The Woman in Green, 1945

Pursuit to Algiers, 1945

Terror By Night, 1946

Dressed to Kill, 1946

New and upcoming pop culture books: Neil Gaimin; Harlan Ellison; Veronica Mars; Wes Anderson; Bjork; Disney; Patton Oswalt; The Ramones; SNL, more

Click the links to order discounted items from Amazon.


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Veronica Mars (2): An Original Mystery by Rob Thomas: Mr. Kiss and Tell


As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust: A Flavia de Luce Novel


The Wes Anderson Collection: The Grand Budapest Hotel


Exploring Calvin and Hobbes: An Exhibition Catalogue


Bjork: Archives


Girl in a Band: A Memoir by Kim Gordon


A Wish Your Heart Makes: From the Grimm Brothers' Aschenputtel to Disney's Cinderella (Disney Editions Deluxe (Film))


The Dawn of Technicolor: 1915-1935


George Harrison: Behind the Locked Door


Silver Screen Fiend: Learning About Life from an Addiction to Film by Patton Oswalt


Punk Rock Blitzkrieg: My Life as a Ramone by Marky Ramone


Saturday Night Live: The Book


The B Side: The Death of Tin Pan Alley and the Rebirth of the Great American Song


Big Eyes: The Film, The Art


Wings Over New Orleans: Unseen Photos of Paul and Linda McCartney, 1975


Twelve-Cent Archie (Comics Culture)


Black Light: The World Of L. B. Cole


Wrapped in Plastic: Twin Peaks (Pop Classics)


Star Trek: City on the Edge of Forever by Harlan Ellison


Mastering the Game of Thrones: Essays on George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire


Better Call Saul: The World According to Saul Goodman


Inside the World of Gerry Anderson (Classic Comics)


The Girl on the Train: A Novel