Pop focus: "Wizard of Oz," behind the curtain

A selection of images highlighting the production and promotion of 1939's "Wizard of Oz."


























 

New comics solicitations for April 2015: Avengers - Behold the Vision; Avengers - Vision and Scarlet Witch; Avengers West Coast - Vistion Quest; Fantastic Four - Strange Days; King-Size Kirby; Thor Masterworks 14; Batman Adventures 2; Batman - Arkham: Riddler; Batman - Legends of the Dark Knight 4; Tarzan Omnibus, more

Collected edition highlights for. Click the links to pre-order discounted items from Amazon.


Avengers Epic Collection: Behold the Vision
Volume #4 in the Avengers Epic Collections Written by ROY THOMAS Penciled by JOHN BUSCEMA, GENE COLAN & SAL BUSCEMA with BARRY WINDSOR-SMITH, FRANK GIACOIA & HOWARD PURCELL Cover by JOHN BUSCEMA
Prepare yourself for one of the most stellar creative periods in Avengers history! Roy Thomas, John Buscema, Gene Colan and Sal Buscema raise Earth's Mightiest Heroes to unheard-of heights with the debut of the Vision, an all-out battle with Ultron, and the introduction of Yellowjacket and an all-new Goliath! Then, Kang the Conqueror drops in from the 41st century, pitting our heroes against the Squadron Sinister in a cosmic chess match! As if one set of adversaries from across time wasn't enough, the Avengers must also battle the Captain America, Sub-Mariner and Human Torch of 1941! Also featuring the Black Panther vs. the Sons of the Serpent, the return of Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, and barbarian Arkon the Magnificent! Collecting AVENGERS (1963) #57-76 and MARVEL SUPER-HEROES (1967) #17. 456 PGS.

Avengers: Vision and the Scarlet Witch
The unlikely romance between the Vision and the Scarlet Witch was one of the Avengers' most famous storylines. Now, witness what happens when the two heroes finally get hitched and settle down in the suburbs! If you think they're going to live the quiet life, think again! See how a match made in heaven led to a wedding in Limbo, and how a Halloween horror proves that there's still magic in their marriage! Plus: A golden age mystery with ties to the Witch's past is solved! The Vision bonds with his brothers in all but blood -- but who is the Scarlet Witch's father? Marvel's oddest couple shows that home is where the heroes are! Guest-starring the Avengers and the Inhumans vs. Dormammu, the Grim Reaper and more! Collecting GIANT-SIZE AVENGERS #4 and VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH (1982) #1-4. 128 PGS.

Avengers West Coast: Vision Quest
Written by JOHN BYRNE Penciled by JOHN BYRNE Cover by JOHN BYRNE
It's battles, betrayals and the bizarre as only Byrne could bring you! Watch as one of comicdom's most recognizable talents remakes the West Coast Avengers, starting with the capture and dismantling of the Vision! As secrets about the synthezoid come to light, the Whackos are determined to get their teammate back, safe and sound -- but what happens when the Vision they recover isn't the Vision they remember? And most important, how will this shocking change affect the Vision and the Scarlet Witch's marriage...and family? Plus: Ancient secrets of humanity revealed! The Scarlet Witch's first step into the descent that disassembled the Avengers! The debut of the Great Lakes Avengers! And featuring the triumphant return of one of Marvel's hottest golden age greats: the original Human Torch! Collecting WEST COAST AVENGERS (1985) #42-47 and AVENGERS WEST COAST #48-50. 216 PGS.


Fantastic Four Epic Collection: Strange Days
Volume #25 in the Fantastic Four Epic Collections Written by TOM DEFALCO, PAUL RYAN, SCOTT LOBDELL & MARK WAID Penciled by PAUL RYAN, CARLOS PACHECO, JOHN BUSCEMA, ADAM KUBERT & JOE BENNETT Cover by CARLOS PACHECO
Life and death struggles for Marvel's First Family! Just when the FF were coming to terms with Reed Richards' demise, he makes a suitably fantastic return! But that means Doctor Doom is alive, too! How did they both survive? Hyperstorm has all the answers, but his incredible lineage means he may be the one foe the Fantastic Four can't beat. That's not the only problem Reed has -- there's also the small matter of the Sub-Mariner's feelings for Sue! A rejuvenated Franklin completes the family reunion, but will a reassembled Fantastic Four have any room for Scott Lang, aka Ant-Man? The legendary band is back together, but their joy won't last for long. Onslaught is coming! Collecting FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #403-416, FANTASTIC FOUR: THE LEGEND, ONSLAUGHT: MARVEL UNIVERSE and material from TALES OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE. 472 PGS.


King Size Kirby (Slipcase)
Written by JACK KIRBY, MARTIN BURNSTEIN, JOE SIMON & STAN LEE Penciled by JACK KIRBY Cover by JACK KIRBY
Hail to the King! Celebrate Jack "King" Kirby's incredible contribution to Marvel's history in this decades-spanning, Adamantium-sized collection! Westerns, romance, war, horror, sci-fi, humor and super heroes -- Jack Kirby was a master of it all! From Captain America socking Hitler to Devil Dinosaur and the Eternals' far-out adventures, savor Kirby's work on his legendary creations including the Hulk, Thor, Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four and Inhumans! Collecting material from RED RAVEN COMICS #1; MARVEL MYSTERY COMICS #13; CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #1 and #7; TALES TO ASTONISH (1959) #5; RAWHIDE KID (1955) #17; AMAZING ADVENTURES (1961) #1, STRANGE TALES (1951) #89, #94 and #114; TEEN-AGE ROMANCE #84; FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #1, #48-51, #57-60 and ANNUAL #5; INCREDIBLE HULK (1962) #3; TWO-GUN KID #60; LOVE ROMANCES #103; AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #8; SGT. FURY #6 and #13; AVENGERS (1963) #4; TALES OF SUSPENSE #59; X-MEN (1963) #9; THOR (1966) #134-136 and #155-157; NOT BRAND ECHH #1; AMAZING ADVENTURES (1970) #1-2; MARVEL TREASURY SPECIAL: CAPTAIN AMERICA'S BICENTENNIAL BATTLES; CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #200; ETERNALS (1976) #7; DEVIL DINOSAUR #1; and WHAT IF? (1977) #11. 816 PGS.

Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor Volume 14
Written by GERRY CONWAY with ROY THOMAS & BILL MANTLO Penciled by JOHN BUSCEMA with RICH BUCKLER, SAL BUSCEMA & GEORGE TUSKA Cover by GIL KANE
The Mighty Thor adds another volume to his saga of Asgardian adventure as the Marvel Masterworks roll on! Thor is lucky to have the mighty Hercules at his side -- because Loki has teamed with Firelord in a bid to usurp Odin's throne! Meanwhile, Jane Foster has returned, and Thor is torn between aiding her on Earth and remaining in defense of Asgard! And when the Absorbing Man and Ulik the Troll enter the fray, the drama reaches epic proportions that will have you on the edge of your seat! Before it's over, Thor will battle the gods of Egypt to save Odin from death itself. And to top off this voluminous volume, we're including a rare Hercules solo tale from Marvel Premiere! Collecting THOR (1966) #229-241 and MARVEL PREMIERE #26. 280 PGS.


Batman Adventures Vol. 2
Written by KELLEY PUCKETT Art and cover by MIKE PAROBECK and RICK BURCHETT
Inspired by Batman: The Animated Series, these stories from BATMAN ADVENTURES #11-20 feature The Joker, Batgirl, Robin, Commissioner Gordon, Man-Bat, Scarecrow and more! This volume includes the story "Batgirl: Day One," featuring the very first comics appearance of Harley Quinn!

Batman Arkham: Riddler
Written by GARDNER FOX, PAUL DINI, SCOTT SNYDER and others Art by CARMINE INFANTINO, GREG CAPULLO and others Cover by GUILLEM MARCH
The Riddler's greatest hits are collected in stories from DETECTIVE COMICS #140, #142, #377, #822, #837, BATMAN #171, #179, #292, #317, #362, BATMAN #23.2: THE RIDDLER, BRAVE AND THE BOLD #183, JOKER'S ASYLUM II: THE RIDDLER #1 and LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT 100-PAGE SUPER SPECTACULAR #2!


Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 4
Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON, CHARLES SOULE, JIM KRUEGER, MIKE W. BARR and others Art by WES CRAIG, DENNIS CALERO, DEXTER SOY, TOM RANEY and others Cover by DAVID WILLIAMS
In these stories from LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT and 100-PAGE SUPER SPECTACULAR #2-3, Batman battles The Riddler and Clayface. Plus, young Bruce Wayne discovers a cave that will affect his entire life.


Edgar Rice Burroughs' Jungle Tales of Tarzan
Martin Powell (W), Diana Leto (A), Pablo Marcos (A), Lowell Isaac (A), Will Meugniot (A), Nik Poliwko (A), Steven E. Gordon (A), Jamie Chase (A), Terry Beatty (A), Mark Wheatley (A), Sergio Cariello (A), Tomas Aranda (A), Carlos Arguello (A), Thomas Floyd (A), Thomas Yeates (A), Steve Price (A), and Daren Bader (Cover)
Sequential Pulp delivers twelve stories from twelve dynamic artists in a brand-new Tarzan anthology based on Edgar Rice Burroughs's classic pulp novel Jungle Tales of Tarzan. These vine-swinging tales, a cherished contribution to the Tarzan canon, all take place before Tarzan rises to lead his ape tribe! Limited edition signed by three of Burroughs's descendants.


Edgar Rice Burroughs's Tarzan Omnibus Volume 1
Various (W/A)
Dark Horse's contributions to the Lord of the Jungle shine in this collection of previously uncollected stories! Tarzan fights for Jane's life, races against Nazis in search of a powerful artifact, encounters classic characters from Victorian literature, and battles Martians! Collects Tarzan #1-20 and Tarzan: A Tale of Mugambi! From comics greats Bruce Jones, Thomas Yeates, Al Williamson, Timothy Truman, and more! Over 500 pages of jungle adventure! Includes series covers by Bernie Wrightson, Michael Wm. Kaluta, Mark Schultz, and John Totleben!

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