Next batch of Doctor Who books detailed

The BBC provides details on the next batch of Doctor Who novels, all due out early next year. Click the links to pre-order any of the titles from Amazon.


The Pirate Loop
by Simon Guerrier

The Doctor's been everywhere and everywhen in the whole of the universe and seems to know all the answers. But ask him what happened to the Starship Brilliant and he hasn't the first idea. Did it fall into a sun or black hole? Was it shot down in the first moments of the galactic war? And what's this about a secret experimental drive?

The Doctor is skittish. But if Martha is so keen to find out he'll land the TARDIS on the Brilliant, a few days before it vanishes. Then they can see for themselves...

Soon the Doctor learns the awful truth. And Martha learns that you need to be careful what you wish for. She certainly wasn't hoping for mayhem, death, and badger-faced space pirates.


Wishing Well
by Trevor Baxendale

The old village well is just a curiosity - something to attract tourists intrigued by stories of lost treasure, or visitors just making a wish. Unless something alien and terrifying could be lurking inside the well. Something utterly monstrous that causes nothing but death and destruction.

But who knows the real truth about the well? Who wishes to unleash the hideous force it contains? What terrible consequences will follow the search for a legendary treasure hidden at the bottom?

No one wants to believe the Doctor's warnings about the deadly horror lying in wait - but soon they'll wish they had...


Peacemaker
by James Swallow

The peace and quiet of a remote homestead in the 1880s American West is shattered by the arrival of two shadowy outriders searching for 'the healer'. When the farmer refuses to help them, they raze the house to the ground using guns that shoot bolts of energy instead of bullets...

In the town of Redwater, the Doctor and Martha learn of a snake-oil salesman who's patent medicines actually cure his patient. But when the Doctor and Martha investigate they discover the truth is stranger, and far more dangerous.

Caught between the law of the gun and the deadly plans of intergalactic mercenaries, the Doctor and Martha are about to discover just how wild the West can become...

DVD: Looney Tunes: Golden Collection 5

The fifth DVD collection of vintage Warner Bros. cartoons includes 60 remastered, uncut shorts on four DVDs. It's out Oct. 30 and is available for pre-order now from Amazon.

Here's the lineup:

Disc One: Bugs and Daffy

1. 14-Carrot Rabbit
2. Ali Baba Bunny (with Commentary Track by Filmmaker Greg Ford & Music Only Track)
3. Buccaneer Bunny
4. Bugs' Bonnets
5. A Star is Bored
6. A Pest in the House (with Commentary Track by Writer Paul Dini)
7. Transylvania 6-5000 (with Commentary Track by Historian Jerry Beck)
8. Oily Hare
9. Stupor Duck (with Music Only Track)
10. The Stupor Salesman
11. The Abominable Snow Rabbit (with Music and Effects Track)
12. The Super Snooper (with Music and Effects Track)
13. The Upstanding Sitter
14. Hollywood Daffy
15. You Were Never Duckier (with Commentary Track by Director Eric Goldberg)

Special Features Include:
1. Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens, a Life in Animation Part 1 (Estamated time: 45 minutes)
2. Featurettes: The Bugs Bunny Show
a. Bad Time Story Bridging Sequences (Estimated time: 8:26)
b. What's Up Dog? Audio Recording Sessions (Estimated time: 3:00)

Disc Two: Fairy Tales

1. Bewitched Bunny (with Commentary Track by Director Eric Goldberg & Music and Effects Track)
2. Paying the Piper
3. The Bear's Tale
4. Foney Fables
5. Goldimouse and the Three Cats (with Music Only Track)
6. Holiday for Shoestrings (with Commentary Track by Historian Daniel Goldmark)
7. Little Red Rodent Hood
8. Little Red Walking Hood (with Commentary Track by Animator Mark Kausler)
9. Red Riding Hoodwinked (with Commentary Track by Filmmaker Greg Ford & Music Only Track)
10. The Trial of Mr. Wolf
11. The Turn-Table Wolf (with Music and Effects Track)
12. Tom Thumb in Trouble (with Commentary Track by Historian Jerry Beck)
13. Tweety and the Beanstalk (with Music Only Track)
14. A Gander and a Mother Goose
15. Senorella and the Glass Huarache

Special Features Include:
1. Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens, A Life in Animation, Part Two (Estimated Time: 45:00)
2. Behind the Tunes
a. Once Upon a Tune (Estimated Time: 8:27)
b. Drawn to Life: The Art of Robert McKimson (Estimated Time: 15:00)
3. A Chuck Jones Tutorial: Tricks of the Cartoon (Estimated Time: 13:21)
4. Bonus Cartoons
SNAFU
a. Coming!! [1943] (Estimated Time: 3:00)
b. Gripes [1943] (Estimated Time: 3:00)
c. Gas [1944] (Estimated Time: 4:00)
Hook
a. Take Heed Mr. Tojo [1943] (Estimated Time: 3:00)
b. The Good Egg [1945] (Estimated Time: 3:00)
c. The Return of Mr. Hook [1945] (Estimated Time: 2:00)
d. Tokyo Woes [1945] (Estimated Time: 4:00)

Disc Three: The Best of Bob Clampett

1. Bacall to Arms (with Commentary Track by Historian Jerry Beck)
2. Buckaroo Bugs (with Commentary Track by Historian Michael Barrier and Commentary Track by Director John Kricfalusi, Director Eddie Fitzgerald and Cartoonist Kali Fonecchino)
3. Crazy Cruise
4. Farm Frolics (with Commentary Track by Actor Keith Scott)
5. Hare Ribbin'
6. Patient Porky
7. Prehistoric Porky
8. The Bashful Buzzard (with Commentary Track by Writer Paul Dini)
9. The Old Grey Hare (with Commentary Track by Filmmaker Greg Ford)
10. The Wacky Wabbit (with Commentary Track by Director Eric Goldberg)
11. The Wise Quacking Duck
12. Wagon Heels
13. The Daffy Doc (with Commentary Track by Animator Mark Kausler)
14. A Tale of Two Kitties (with Commentary Track by Historian Michael Barrier)
15. Porky's Pooch

Special Features Include:
1. Behind the Tunes
a. Wacky Warner One-Shots (Estimated Time: 8:40)
b. Real American Zero: The Adventures of Private SNAFU (Estimated Time: 8:45)
2. From the Vaults
a. Hare Ribbin' Director's Cut (Estimated Time: 8:00)
b. The Bashful Buzzard Storyboard Reel (with Bashful Buzzard Orignial Opening Music Cue) (Estimated Time: 8:00)
3. Alternate Milt Franklin Opening Themes (with Introduction by Greg Ford)(Estimated Time: 5:00)

Disc Four: "The Early Daze"

1. Alpin Antics
2. Eatin' on the Cuff or the Moth Who Came to Dinner (with Commentary Trac by Historian Jerry Beck)
3. Milk and Money
4. I've Got to Sing a Torch Song
5. Porky at the Crocadero (with Commentary Track by Historian Daniel Goldmark)
6. Polar Pals
7. Scrap Happy Daffy
8. Porky's Double Trouble
9. Golddigers of '49
10. Pilgrim Porky
11. Wise Quacks
12. Porky's Review (with Commentary Track by Fimmaker Greg Ford)
13. Porky's Poppa
14. Wholly Smoke (with Commentary Track by Historian Daniel Goldmark)
15. What Price Porky

Special Features Include:
1. Unsung Maestros: A Directors Tribute (Estimated Time: 15:00)
2. The Looney Tunes Television Specials
a. Bugs and Daff's Carnival of the Animals [1976 TV Special] (Estimated Time: 24:23)
b. Bugs Bunney's Looney Christmas Tales (1979 TV Special] (Estimated Time: 24:13)
c. Bugs Bunny's Bustin' Out All Over [1980 TV Special (Estimated Time: 23:46)

DVD: The Lost World Special Edition

Out Sept. 11, this DVD includes Irwin Allen's 1960 adaptation of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle tale along with the 1925 silent movie version. It's available for pre-order now from Amazon.

The 1960 film stars Claude Rains as the scientist who discovers an untouched land of dinosaurs and other assorted beasties. Michael Rennie, Jill St. John, David Hedison, and Fernando Lamas co-star.

DVD: Super Powers Team: Glactic Guardians

Out Oct. 23, this double disk collects the complete run of the final "Super Friends" animated TV series. You can pre-order it now from Amazon.

The 1985-86 show featured then new heroes such as Cyborg and Firestorm joining bigshots like Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman to battle the likes of Scarecrow, Darkseid, Lex Luthor and others. Voice actors included Adam West and Casey Kasem returning to do Batman and Robin.

DVD: Best of the Johnny Cash Show

This double disk set, out Sept. 18, collects 64 live music performances from the Man in Black's 1968-71 TV series. You can pre-order it now from Amazon.

Here's the star-studded lineup:

01 Johnny Cash: "Ring of Fire"
02 Bob Dylan: "I Threw It All Away"
03 Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan: "Girl From the North Country"
04 Kris Kristofferson: "Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)"
05 Louis Armstrong and Johnny Cash: "Blue Yodel #9"
06 Stevie Wonder: "Heaven Help Us All"
07 Creedence Clearwater Revival: "Bad Moon Rising"
08 Linda Ronstadt and Johnny Cash: "I Will Never Marry"
09 George Jones and Johnny Cash: "White Lightning"
10 George Jones: "Medley: She Thinks I Still Care / The Love Bug / The Race Is On"
11 Johnny Cash: "Hey Porter"
12 Waylon Jennings: "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line"
13 Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash: "The Singing Star's Queen"
14 Waylon Jennings: "Brown Eyed Handsome Man"
15 Tammy Wynette: "Stand by Your Man"
16 Marty Robbins: "Medley: Big Iron / Running Gun / El Paso"
17 Johnny Cash: "Ride This Train"
18 Johnny Cash: "As Long as the Grass Shall Grow"
19 Johnny Cash: "Man in Black"
20 James Taylor: "Sweet Baby James"
21 Pete Seeger: "Cripple Creek"
22 Pete Seeger and Johnny Cash: "Worried Man Blues"
23 Johnny Cash: "Sunday Morning Coming Down"
24 Johnny Cash: "Old Time Religion"
25 Johnny Cash: "A Wonderful Time Up There"
26 Johnny Cash, the Carter Family, the Statler Brothers, Carl Perkins, and the Tennessee Three: "Daddy Sang Bass"
27 Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters: "Wildwood Flower"
28 Neil Young: "The Needle and the Damage Done"
29 Johnny Cash: "Tennessee Flat Top Box"
30 Joni Mitchell and Johnny Cash: "Long Black Veil"
31 Johnny Cash: "Big River"
32 Johnny Cash: "I Walk the Line"
33 June Carter Cash: "A Good Man"
34 Derek and the Dominoes: "It's Too Late"
35 Derek and the Dominoes With Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins: "Matchbox"
36 Charley Pride: "Able Bodied Man"
37 Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys: "Blue Moon of Kentucky"
38 Loretta Lynn: "I Know How"
39 Jerry Lee Lewis: "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On"
40 Johnny Cash: "Ride This Train (America the Beautiful, This Land Is Your Land)"
41 The Everly Brothers With Ike Everly and Johnny Cash: "Silver Haired Daddy of Mine"
42 Ray Charles: "Ring of Fire"
43 Johnny Cash: "A Boy Named Sue"
44 Conway Twitty: "Hello Darlin'"
45 Mother Maybelle Carter: "Black Mountain Rag"
46 Neil Diamond: "Cracklin' Rosie"
47 Ray Price: "For the Good Times"
48 Roy Orbison: "Crying"
49 Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash: "Oh, Pretty Woman"
50 Johnny Cash: "Wanted Man"
51 Chet Atkins: "Medley: Country Gentleman / Mister Sandman / Wildwood Flower / Freight Train"
52 June Carter Cash With Homer and Jethro: "Baby It's Cold Outside"
53 Merle Haggard: "No Hard Time Blues"
54 Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash: "Sing Me Back Home"
55 Carl Perkins: "Blue Suede Shoes"
56 Johnny Cash, the Carter Family and Carl Perkins: "The Old Account Was Settled Long Ago"
57 The Statler Brothers: "Flowers on the Wall"
58 Roy Clark: "Medley: In the Summertime / 12th Street Rag"
59 Johnny Cash: "Working Man Blues"
60 Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash: "Jackson"
61 Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash: "Turn Around"
62 Johnny Cash: "I Love You Because"
63 Hank Williams, Jr.: "Medley: You Win Again / Cold Cold Heart / I Can't Help It If I'm Still in Love With You / Half As Much"
64 Johnny Cash: "Folsom Prison Blues"

New comics Aug. 8, 2007

Click links to order discounted graphic novels from Amazon.

See complete lists:
DC Archives
DC Showcase
DC Trade Paperbacks
Marvel Masterworks
Marvel Essentials
Marvel Trade Paperbacks
Upcoming Trade Paperbacks - Graphic Novels


Comics shipping Aug. 8, 2007

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUN070015 BPRD KILLING GROUND #1 (OF 5) $2.99
STAR20336 HELLSING VOL 1 TP $13.95
AUG040042 HELLSING VOL 5 TP $13.95
AUG060055 OH MY GODDESS VOL 25 RTL TP $10.95
JUN070054 STAR WARS LEGACY #15 $2.99
JUN070055 STAR WARS REBELLION #9 $2.99

DC COMICS

MAY070211 ALAN MOORE THE COMPLETE WILDCATS TP $29.99
MAY070201 APOTHECARIUS ARGENTUM VOL 2 $9.99
JUN058058 ASTRO CITY CONFESSION TP $19.99
APR070162 BATMAN #667 $2.99
JUN070168 BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #8 $2.99
MAR058151 BATMAN DARK VICTORY TP $19.99
JUN070224 BATMAN STRIKES #36 $2.25
OCT060163 BATMAN YEAR ONE DELUXE SC $14.99
JUN070156 BLACK ADAM THE DARK AGE #1 (OF 6) $2.99
JUN070157 BLACK ADAM THE DARK AGE VAR ED #1 (OF 6) $2.99
JUN070228 CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #16 $2.25
JUN070142 COUNTDOWN 38 $2.99
MAY070202 DEVIL DOES EXIST VOL 11 $9.99
JUN070246 GEN 13 #11 $2.99
JUN078029 GLOBAL FREQUENCY DETONATION RADIO TP $14.99
JUN070191 GREEN ARROW YEAR ONE #3 (OF 6) $2.99
JUN070195 GREEN LANTERN #22 $2.99
JUN078026 GREEN LANTERN 2ND PTG #21 $2.99
JUN078027 GREEN LANTERN CORPS 2ND PTG #14 $2.99
JUN070204 JLA CLASSIFIED #41 $2.99
MAY070204 MUSASHI #9 VOL 12 $9.99
JUN070160 OUTSIDERS FIVE OF A KIND WEEK 2 KATANA SHAZAM $2.99
MAY070180 SHOWCASE PRESENTS ADAM STRANGE VOL 1 TP $16.99
JUN070245 STORMWATCH PHD #10 $2.99
MAY070150 SUPERMAN CHRONICLES VOL 3 TP $14.99
MAY070207 TENJHO TENGE VOL 15 $9.99

IMAGE COMICS

JUN071949 CONSUMED #2 (OF 4) $2.99
JUN071948 GHOSTING #1 (OF 4) $2.99
JUN071888 GLISTER #1 $5.99
FEB071893 INVINCIBLE VOL 3 ULTIMATE COLL HC $34.99
MAY071909 KISS 4K #3 $2.99
JUN071939 RIPCLAW PILOT SEASON #1 $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

JUN072133 AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #11 $2.99
JUN072138 ANNIHILATION CONQUEST WRAITH #2 (OF 4) $2.99
JUN072141 AVENGERS CLASSIC #3 $2.99
JUN072152 BLADE #12 $2.99
JUN072121 CIVIL WAR CHRONICLES #2 $4.99
MAY072111 DAREDEVIL #99 $2.99
MAY078224 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN 2ND PTG ROMITA JR VAR #3 (OF 7) $3.99
MAY078223 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN 3RD PTG LEE VAR #2 (OF 7)(PP #774 $3.99
MAY078222 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN 3RD PTG LEE WRAPAROUND VAR #1 (OF $3.99
JUN072236 ESSENTIAL DAZZLER VOL 1 TP $16.99
JUN072194 EXILES #97 $2.99
JUN072147 FANTASTIC FIVE #3 (OF 5) $2.99
JUN072146 GHOST RIDER #14 $2.99
JUN072227 GHOST RIDER VOL 2 LIFE & DEATH OF JOHNNY BLAZE TP $13.99
JUN072204 HEDGE KNIGHT 2 SWORN SWORD #3 (OF 6) $2.99
JUN072158 INCREDIBLE HULK #109 WWH $2.99
JUN072218 MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR VOL 6 DIGEST TP $6.99
JUN072123 MARVEL ILLUSTRATED MAN IN THE IRON MASK #2 (OF 6) $2.99
JUN072174 NEW AVENGERS #33 $2.99
JUN072175 NEW AVENGERS TRANSFORMERS #2 (OF 4) $2.99
JUN072195 NEW EXCALIBUR #22 $2.99
JUN072139 NOVA #5 $2.99
JUN072178 OMEGA FLIGHT #5 (OF 5) CWI $2.99
JUN072180 PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #10 CWI $2.99
MAY078119 SPIDER-MAN FEATURING THE SILVER SURFER MAGAZINE (PP #774) $5.99
JUN072128 ULTIMATE X-MEN #85 $2.99
JUN072238 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #16 MCGUINNESS POSTER $6.99
JUN072232 WOMEN OF MARVEL VOL 2 TP $24.99
JUN072160 WORLD WAR HULK FRONT LINE #3 (OF 6) $2.99
JUN072189 X-FACTOR #22 $2.99
MAY078278 X-MEN BACHALO 2ND PTG BACHALO VAR #200 (PP #774) $3.99

COMICS

DEC042789 AMAZING AGENT LUNA VOL 1 GN $10.99
JUN073573 ARCHAIC #8 (NOTE PRICE) $3.50
JUN073388 ARMY OF DARKNESS FROM ASHES #1 $3.50
JUN073390 ARMY OF DARKNESS FROM ASHES NEGATIVE CVR #1 $3.50
JUN073389 ARMY OF DARKNESS FROM ASHES VIRGIN CVR #1 $3.50
JAN073521 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA VOL 1 PX ED TP $14.99
JAN073520 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA VOL 1 REG ED TP $14.99
FEB073135 BIOWULF PKT MANGA TP $14.95
JUN073952 INDIA AUTHENTIC UMA #4 $2.99
JUN073185 NEON GENESIS EVANGELION ANGELIC DAYS VOL 6 TP $9.99
MAY073626 PHANTOM CVR A #18 $3.50
MAY073627 PHANTOM CVR B #18 $4.50
MAY073166 PIRATES VS NINJAS POCKET MANGA VOL 1 (NOV068439) $14.95
MAY073330 RED SONJA #25 $2.99
MAY073331 RED SONJA ADAMS NEGATIVE CVR #25 $2.99
MAY073332 RED SONJA BLOOD RED PX FOIL CVR #25 PI
MAR073750 STREET FIGHTER ALPHA VOL 2 GN (OF 2) $12.95
MAY073479 UNCLE SCROOGE #368 $7.99
STAR19711 VOGELEIN CLOCKWORK FAERIE TP $12.95
MAY073475 VOGELEIN OLD GHOSTS GN $12.95
MAY073480 WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #683 $7.99

RELATED MERCHANDISE

JUN074124 A CRUEL WIND A CHRONICLE OF THE DREAD EMPIRE SC $16.95
APR074019 JOHN ROMITA AND ALL THAT JAZZ HC $44.95
MAY063443 KRYPTON COMPANION SC $24.95
JUN074132 MAJESTRUM A TALE OF HENGHIS HAPTHORN $14.95
MAY073146 MANY FACES OF JOHNNY THE HOMICIDAL MANIAC POSTER $7.95
JUL043561 UNSHELVED VOL 1 TP $14.95
MAY078332 UNSHELVED VOL 5 READ RESPONSIBLY TP $17.95

Vintage DC Comics house ad



Today's video: 1960s G.I. Joe TV ad

Pop Artifacts! Batman buttons 1



Pop Culture Roundup Aug. 7, 2007

Songwriter Lee Hazelwood, who penned "These Boots are Made for Walking" and recorded a number of duets with Nancy Sinatra, has died.

He is widely cited as a primary inspiration for today's neo-psychedelic and baroque-pop movements. In the late 1990s, he was embraced by such alternative rock figures as Nick Cave and Sonic Youth, whose drummer Steve Shelley reissued some of his albums on CD. A 2002 tribute album, "Total Lee! The Songs of Lee Hazlewood," features such underground artists as Tindersticks, Lambchop, Calexico, Johnny Dowd and Pulp's Jarvis Cocker and Richard Hawley.

------------------

Here's a teaser for DC Comics' straight-to-DVD animated adaptation of Darwyn Cooke's "New Frontier" mini-series.



-------------------

Booksteve remembers "The Magic Christian" in its book, movie and soundtrack incarnations.

--------------------

Hear a preview from Brian Wilson's new song cycle That Lucky Old Sun.

---------------------

The Daily Mail interviews Pattie Boyd about her new book, which details her relationships with George Harrison and Eric Clapton.

DVD new releases Aug. 7, 2007

Rome - The Complete Second Season

The Simpsons - The Complete Tenth Season (Collectible Bart Head Pack)

The Muppet Show - Season Two

The Dresden Files - The Complete First Season

The Simpsons - The Complete Tenth Season

Full House - The Complete Seventh Season

Flash Gordon (Saviour Of The Universe Edition) (1980)

Elvis - The Hollywood Collection (Charro / Girl Happy / Kissin' Cousins / Live a Little, Love a Little / Stay Away, Joe / Tickle Me)

Roseanne - Season Eight

This Is Elvis (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Myrna Loy and William Powell Collection (Manhattan Melodrama / Evelyn Prentice / Double Wedding / I Love You Again / Love Crazy)

Daniel Boone: Season 5

The Hills - The Complete Second Season

That Girl: Season Three

Super Friends - The Legendary Super Powers Show - The Complete Series

My Hero - Season Two

Brigitte Bardot Collection (Naughty Girl / Love on a Pillow / The Vixen / Come Dance with Me / Two Weeks in September)

New CD releases Aug. 7, 2007

CD new releases Aug. 7, 2007

Elvis - That's the Way It Is (Two-Disc Special Edition) ~ Elvis Presley

In Concert November 1975 by Richard & Linda Thompson

Individually & Collectively/Living Together, Growing Together by The 5th Dimension

Soul & Inspiration by The 5th Dimension

A Portrait/Love's Lines, Angles and Rhymes by The 5th Dimension

Live! by The 5th Dimension

The Magic Garden/Up, Up and Away by The 5th Dimension

Stoned Soul Picnic/The Age of Aquarius by The 5th Dimension

Gentleman Ruffin by David Ruffin

So Soon We Change by David Ruffin

Frankenstein vs. The Creature from Blood Cove by Original Soundtrack

Vintage DC Comics house ad



Today's video: Mego Star Trek phaser ad

Pop Artifact! Mego Hulk van

Pop Culture Roundup Aug. 3, 2007

The Chicago Sun-Times reviews the 1968 "The Archie Show," now out on DVD.

The music is what set "The Archie Show" apart from the rest of the Saturday morning lineup (it was also one of the first cartoons to use a laugh track). While superheros were saving the planet on other shows, the Archies were making records. Every episode featured the Archies' signature brand of bubblegum pop -- pop that sold tens of millions copies (including those cardboard '45s that were part of the packaging on your favorite cereal box). Songs like "Sugar, Sugar" (which sold 7 million copies), "Bang-Shang-a-Lang" and "Jingle Jangle" made the "imaginary" Archies as hot as the real artists on the charts. For a time, in 1969, "Sugar Sugar" sat atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart, besting "Age of Aquarius" by the Fifth Dimension, "Can't Get Next to You" by the Temptations and "Honky Tonk Women" by the Rolling Stones. The reason for the Archies' musical success pointed to one man, iconic promoter Don Kirshner, fresh from his stint with the Monkees. Kirshner assembled a studio band that included (in various incarnations) Ron Dante, Jeff Barry, Bobby Bloom, Leslie Miller, Ellie Greenwich, Andy Kim and Toni Wine. The resulting layered harmonies made the Archies easy to listen to.

-------------

See Steve Martin interview New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast.

-------------

Actor Gabriel Macht ("The Good Shephard") will play the Spirit in Frank Miller's big-screen adaptation of the Will Eisner comic strip.

"We think Gabriel has a devilishly charming quality, and the dry wit that embodies the Spirit, and we wanted to do this with someone who can embody this character for the next few years, because we anticipate we'll be making more than one Spirit movie," said Lionsgate prexy of film production Mike Paseornek.

---------------

As hinted here previously, the beloved Dial B for Blog, um, blog, is coming back. It's creator, "Robby Reed" promised new "issues" beginning in September. Meanwhile, you can catch up on some his earlier funny, informative and in-depth looks at Silver Age Comics here.

You also can keep up to date on the Dial B for Blog Message Board here.

----------------

Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson may perform together at one of Wilson's upcoming London concerts.

DVD: Spider-Man 3 due out Oct. 30

Details from Sony:

Spider-Man(TM) 3 will be available in several versions for fans to collect including a single-disc release, a two-disc Special Edition release, PSP, and a three-pack DVD release which will include Spider-Man(TM) and Spider-Man(TM) 2 on DVD with collectible O-Ring packaging.

Also available is the Spider-Man(TM) High Definition Trilogy, a three-pack release of all three films on Blu-ray(TM) High-Def allowing fans an exclusive opportunity to collect both Spider-Man(TM) and Spider-Man(TM) 2 in high definition, along with Spider-Man(TM) 2.1 and Spider- Man(TM) 3. Spider-Man(TM) 3 will also be available as a stand-alone two-disc release on Blu-ray(TM) High-Def.

The two-disc Spider-Man(TM) 3 Blu-ray(TM) High-Def and two-disc Special Edition DVD offer fans more than six hours of all-new bonus materials, including a trio of featurettes spotlighting the cinematic creation of the web crawler's greatest nemeses. Grains of Sand -- Building Sandman details the challenges Sony Pictures Imageworks faced in creating the iconic villain; Re-Imagining the Goblin explores the changes in the New Goblin character from page to screen; and Covered in Black -- Creating Venom follows the cinematic creation of Spider-Man's archrival.

The two-disc's added value also has a trio of features on the creation of the spectacular stunts in the movie: Hanging On ... Gwen Stacy & the Collapsing Floor, where stunt coordinator Scott Rogers explores the logistics of the dangerous stunt performed by Bryce Dallas Howard; Fighting, Flying & Driving -- The Stunts, wherein Stunt Coordinator/2nd Unit Director Dan Bradley and Stunt Coordinator Scott Rogers provide a behind-the-scenes peek at the various "gags" in the film; and Wall of Water where the viewer is taken into the creation of one of the biggest stunts in the film. In addition, the discs offer bloopers, a Snow Patrol music video, and two audio commentary tracks with cast and filmmakers.

Spider-Man(TM) 3 Special Features (Single-Disc DVD)
-- Digitally Mastered Audio and Video
-- Audio: English Dolby True HD 5.1, English PCM 5.1 (Uncompressed),
French, Spanish, Portuguese, Thai 5.1 (Dolby Digital)
-- Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean,
Thai, Chinese Mandarin, Chinese Cantonese
-- Bloopers
-- Photo Galleries
-- Snow Patrol Music Video
-- Audio Commentary with Director Sam Raimi and Cast Members Tobey
Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, Topher
Grace, and Bryce Dallas Howard
-- Audio Commentary with Producers Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad and Grant
Curtis, Editor Bob Murawski and Special Effects Supervisor Scott
Stokdyk
-- Closed Captioned
-- Bonus Previews


Spider-Man(TM) 3 Two-Disc Special Edition DVD, Two-Disc Blu-ray(TM) High-Def


Disc One Special Features:

-- Digitally Mastered Audio and Video
-- Audio: English Dolby True HD 5.1, English PCM 5.1 (Uncompressed),
French, Spanish, Portuguese, Thai 5.1 (Dolby Digital)
-- Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean,
Thai, Chinese Mandarin, Chinese Cantonese
-- Bloopers
-- Photo Galleries
-- Snow Patrol Music Video
-- Audio Commentary with Director Sam Raimi and Cast Members Tobey
Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, Topher
Grace, and Bryce Dallas Howard
-- Audio Commentary with Producers Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad and Grant
Curtis, Editor Bob Murawski and Special Effects Supervisor Scott
Stokdyk
-- Closed Captioned
-- Bonus Previews


Disc Two Special Features:

-- Digitally Mastered Audio and Video
-- Audio: English, Spanish 5.1 (Dolby Digital). English, Spanish (Dolby
Surround)
-- Subtitles: English, Spanish
-- Featurette: Grains of Sand -- Building Sandman
-- Featurette: Re-Imagining the Goblin
-- Featurette: Covered in Black -- Creating Venom
-- Featurette: Hanging On ... Gwen Stacy and the Collapsing Floor
-- Featurette: Fighting, Flying & Driving -- The Stunts
-- Featurette: Tangled Web: The Love Triangles of Spider-Man 3
-- Featurette: Wall Of Water
-- Featurette: On Location Cleveland -- The Chase on Euclid Avenue
-- Featurette: On Location New York -- From Rooftops to Backstreets
-- Featurette: The Science of Sound
-- Featurette: Inside The Editing Room
-- Theatrical TV Spots From Around the World
-- Closed Captioned

DVD: Twin Peaks Gold Box collects whole works

Twin Peaks: Definitive Gold Box Edition is 10-disc set out Oct. 30. You can pre-order it now from Amazon.

It will include both versions of the up-until-now unavailable in the U.S. pilot episode along with all 29 episodes from seasons one and two. Y

Extras include:

* Log Lady introductions for each episode.

* Deleted scenes, production.

* The four-part Secrets from Another Place: Creating Twin Peaks documentary.

* Return to Twin Peaks featurette.

* 13 TV spots.

* Three image galleries.

* Three Georgia Coffee commercials.

* Julee Cruise's Falling music video.

* Eight interactive maps.

* Kyle MacLachlan's monologue and Twin Peaks sketch from "Saturday Night Live."

Vintage Marvel Comics house ad



Today's video: Big Wheel TV ad



Pop Artifact! Spider-Man figure

Pop Culture Roundup Aug. 2, 2007

Remembering Bergman and Antonioni, Bedazzled presents vintage posters and lobby cards for some of their best-known films, including "Persona" and "Blow Up."

--------------------

Batman and Wonder Woman may be the subjects of DC Comics' next straight-to-DVD animated films.

---------------------

Brian Wilson is performing a new "song cycle" in concert.

Wilson says the piece "will consist of five 'rounds' with interspersed spoken word". It is based on the classic 1949 song 'That Lucky Old Sun', and though the new song suite will contain elements of the tune, there will also be newly composed songs too, one of which is called 'Midnight's Another Day'.

The work was put together with Wilson's old collaborator Van Dyke Parks, who wrote the lyrics for the seminal 'Smile' album.


-----------------------

The Absorbacon digs IDW Publishing's new Star Trek "season 4" comic book.

...the first issue is quite traditional; it really does read almost like a "lost episode".

------------------------

Dean Cain, who played Superman on "Lois and Clark," is visiting "Smallville," reports Ain't It Cool.

He'll play "the murderous Dr. Curtis Knox (who may or may not be Vandal Savage).”

------------------------

Entertainment Weekly chats with "Buffy" creator Joss Whedon about some upcoming projects, including:

...a 90-minute TV movie for the BBC about Buffy's watcher, Giles; Goners, his original movie for Universal that's still in development and presently in rewrites; Cabin in the Woods, a horror movie coscripted with Drew Goddard (Cloverfield) that he's shopping around; and two comics, a Buffy ''season 9'' story arc and a Serenity miniseries.

--------------------------

James Bond fans may be interested in this:

"The Battle For Bond" by Robert Sellers

Cinema history might have been very different had the first James Bond film not been Dr. No in 1962 starring Sean Connery, but Thunderball directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1959 and starring Richard Burton as agent 007. It sounds preposterous and unbelievable, but it almost happened. The Battle for Bond unravels the untold story behind the most controversial part of the James Bond legend using previously unpublished material including letters and private documents.

Vintage Marvel Comics house ad



Today's video: Mego Action Jackson TV ad



New and upcoming action figures Aug. 2, 2007

Complete List of Marvel Legends Action Figures
Complete List of DC Direct Action Figures

Here's a look at action figures available via your local comics shop or via the TIP!-supporting links below:

DC Direct Action Figures

DC Armory Action Figures
--Aquaman
--Batman
--Flamebird
--Nightwing

Superman Last Son Action Figures
--Last Son Superman
--Ursa
--Bizarro
--Zod

Shazam Action Figures
--Dr. Sivana
--Captain Marvel Jr.
--Mary Marvel
--Billy Batson and Hoppy
--Captain Marvel

Superman Vs. Doomsday
Doomsday
Lex Luthor and Robot
Solar Suit Superman
Superman

Batman and Son
Batman
Ninja Man-Bat
Robin and Daimin
The Joker

DC Direct Reactivated Action Figures
--Batman
--Wonder Woman
--Lobo
--Superman

DC 13-inch Figures
Green Lantern
Lex Luthor
Martian Manhunter
Catwoman
Nightwing
Classic Batman
Batgirl gray costume
Batgirl black costume

Elseworlds Action Figures Series 3
--Supergirl
--Batgirl
--Nightstar
--Kingdom Come Aquaman
--Red Son Green Lantern

First Appearance Series 4
--Blue Beetle translucent
--Blue Beetle
--Brave New World Atom
--Warlord
--Brave New World Martian Manhunter
--Brave New World Aquaman

Infinite Crisis Action Figures Series 1
--Powergirl
--Omac
--Mongul
--Earth Prime Superboy
--Alexander Luthor

JSA Action Figures
--Mr. Terrific
--Hawkgirl
--Dr. Midnite
--Hourman
--Golden Age Atom 2-pack

DC Direct Wonder Woman Series 1 Action Figures
--Wonder Woman
--Agent Diana Prince
--Circe
--Donna Troy as Wonder Woman

DC Direct New Frontier Series 2 Action Figures
--Batman
--Dr. Fate
--The Flash
--Martian Manhunter

Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer action figures
Battle Stretch Mr. Fantastic
Fire Blast Human Torch
Raging Thing
Force Field Invisible Woman
Silver Surfer
Lightning Attack Dr. Doom
Blast-off Human Torch
Super Strength Thing

Hanna Barbera Series 3 Action Figures
--Fred Flintstone Quittin' Time
--Twinkle Toes Fred Flintstone
--Great Grape Ape
--Huckleberry Hound
--The Jetsons
--Secret Squirrel
--Snagglepuss

McFarlane Lost series 2 action figures
--Crash site box set
--Sawyer
--Jin
--Sayid
--Desmond
--Sun
--Mr. Eko

McFarlane Lost series 3 action figures
--Sayid
--Desmond
--Claire
--Ben/Henry

Marvel Figure Factory Sets
--Angel
--Beast
--Black Costume Spider-Man
--Deadpool
--Invisible Woman
--Silver Surfer

Marvel Legends Action Figures

Hasbro Marvel Legends Figures Series 3
--Bucky Barnes
--First appearance Captain America
--Marvel Girl Rachel Grey
--Heroes for Hire Black Knight
--Hydra Soldier
--X-3 Colossus
--Astonishing X-Men Cyclops
--Danger

Hasbro Marvel Legends Icons 12-inch Action Figures
--The Punisher
--Doctor Doom
--The Human Torch
--The Silver Surfer

Marvel Legends Masterworks Sets
--Spider-Man Vs. Green Goblin
--Fantastic Four Vs. Mole Man
--Hulk Vs. The Thing
--Galactus Vs. Everybody

Marvel Select Figures

Best of Marvel Select Figures
--Grey Hulk
--Thanos
--Ultimate Spider-Man
--Green Goblin
--Mephisto

Marvel Sideshow Toys Figures
--Venom
--Black costume Spider-Man
--Spider-Man
--White Queen
--White Queen Exclusive

Pop Artifact! Captain America figure

Pop Culture Roundup Aug. 1, 2007

Bedazzled presents a whole buncha vintage TV promos and ads from the 1960s and 70s.

---------------------

British actress Jane Asher, once girlfriend of Paul McCartney, will do a guest spot in "Doctor Who" spinoff show "The Sarah Jane Adventures."

----------------------

Before he was Bond, Roger Moore was The Saint. Click here, and you can listen to a program narrated about the history of Leslie Charteris's famed character.

-----------------------

TV Alert: Tonight PBS airs a documentary about the great Stax R&B record label on "Great Performances."

Complete Don Martin Mad cartoons collected in new books

New set details on this yet, but the essentials are: All Don Martin's brilliantly funny Mad magazine cartoons in two huge hardcover books in a box--1,200 pages of comic genius and the best sound effects in the business.

The collection is listed as being part of the "Mad's Greatest Artists Series," so maybe we'll see similar collections by the likes of Sergio Aragones and others.

Here's the cover pic. The release date is listed as Oct. 22 and it's available for pre-order for $94.50 from Amazon (list price $150.00).

DVD: The Adventures of Aquaman - The Complete Collection

Collecting the sea king's complete 1960s Filmation animated series, this double disk set is out Oct. 23 and available for pre-order now from Amazon.

DVD: Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Season Three

This five-disk set is due out Oct. 9 and is available for pre-order now from Amazon.

Details:

The Master of Suspense returns with all 39 Emmy-nominated Season Three episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Filled with tales of murder, madness, intrigue and suspense, this unforgettable series was renowned for its riveting storytelling and compelling characters.

DVD: Addams Family - Volume 3

This six-disk set is out Sept. 11 and available for pre-order now from Amazon.

Details:

The final 21 episodes from the second and final season--including "Gomez, The Reluctant Lover," "Morticia's Dilemma," "Fester Goes on a Diet," "Lurch's Little Helper," and "Ophelia's Career"--have been collected in a six-disc set. 9 3/4 hrs. total.Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; audio commentary on selected episodes; trivia.

New comics Aug. 1, 2007

Click links to order discounted graphic novels from Amazon.

See complete lists:
DC Archives
DC Showcase
DC Trade Paperbacks
Marvel Masterworks
Marvel Essentials
Marvel Trade Paperbacks
Upcoming Trade Paperbacks - Graphic Novels


Comics shipping Aug. 1, 2007

DARK HORSE COMICS

MAR070030 CONAN & THE MIDNIGHT GOD #5 (OF 5) $2.99

DC COMICS

JUN070147 ACTION COMICS #853 (CD) $2.99
JUN070149 ALL NEW ATOM #14 (CD) $2.99
FEB058319 BATMAN WAR DRUMS TP $17.99
OCT060163 BATMAN YEAR ONE DELUXE SC $14.99
MAY070153 BIRDS OF PREY BLOOD AND CIRCUITS TP $17.99
JUN070193 BLACK CANARY #3 (OF 4) $2.99
JUN070141 COUNTDOWN 39 $2.99
JUN070165 DETECTIVE COMICS #835 $2.99
MAY070202 DEVIL DOES EXIST VOL 11 $9.99
MAY070226 GOOD AS LILY $9.99
MAY078334 GREEN LANTERN SINESTRO CORPS SPECIAL 3RD PTG #1 $4.99
APR070192 GREEN LANTERN WANTED HAL JORDAN HC $19.99
JUN070207 JONAH HEX #22 $2.99
JUN070225 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #36 $2.25
JUN070202 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #8 $2.99
JUN070203 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA VAR ED #8 $2.99
MAY070200 KING OF CARDS VOL 1 $9.99
JUN070229 LOONEY TUNES #153 $2.25
JUN070208 METAL MEN #1 (OF 8) $2.99
JUN070243 MIDNIGHTER #10 $2.99
JUN070167 NIGHTWING #135 $2.99
MAY070205 OMUKAE DESU VOL 5 $9.99
JUN070159 OUTSIDERS FIVE OF A KIND WEEK 1 NIGHTWING BOOMERANG $2.99
JUN070153 SUPERGIRL #20 (AA) $2.99
MAY070150 SUPERMAN CHRONICLES VOL 3 TP $14.99
JUN070253 SUPERNATURAL ORIGINS #4 $2.99
MAY070207 TENJHO TENGE VOL 15 $9.99
JUN070247 WELCOME TO TRANQUILITY #9 $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

FEB071893 INVINCIBLE VOL 3 ULTIMATE COLL HC $34.99
JUN071939 RIPCLAW PILOT SEASON #1 $2.99
MAY071881 SPAWN GODSLAYER #3 $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

JUN072145 DAREDEVIL BATTLIN JACK MURDOCK #3 (OF 4) $3.99
JUN072115 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN #7 (OF 7) $3.99
JUN072116 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN COIPEL VAR #7 (OF 7) $3.99
JUN072117 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN JAE LEE SKETCH VAR #7 (OF 7) $3.99
JUN072118 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGERS GUIDEBOOK $3.99
MAY072117 FANTASTIC FOUR #548 CWI $2.99
JUN072149 FANTASTIC FOUR AND POWER PACK #2 (OF 4) $2.99
JUN072153 IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN #11 $2.99
JUN072167 MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #30 $2.99
MAY072091 MARVEL ILLUSTRATED LAST OF THE MOHICANS #3 (OF 6) $2.99
MAY072131 MARVEL SPOTLIGHT WORLD WAR HULK $2.99
MAY072142 MARVEL TAROT $3.99
JUN072169 MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #2 $4.99
JUN072172 MS MARVEL #18 $2.99
MAY072145 NEW AVENGERS ILLUMINATI #4 (OF 5) $2.99
JUN072176 NEW WARRIORS #3 CWI $2.99
JUN072183 SHANNA SHE-DEVIL SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST #1 (OF 4) $2.99
APR072329 SHE-HULK 2 #20 $2.99
MAY072098 SPIDER-MAN FANTASTIC FOUR #4 (OF 4) $2.99
JUN072132 SPIDER-MAN RED SONJA #1 (OF 5) $2.99
JUN072186 THOR #2 $2.99
JUN072230 THUNDERBOLTS PRESENTS ZEMO BORN BETTER TP $10.99
JUN072221 ULTIMATE X-MEN ULTIMATE COLLECTION VOL 2 TP $24.99
JUN072188 UNCANNY X-MEN #489 $2.99
JUN072228 WISDOM RUDIMENTS OF WISDOM TP $21.99
JUN072156 WORLD WAR HULK #3 (OF 5) WWH $3.99
JUN072157 WORLD WAR HULK ROMITA JR VAR #3 (OF 5) $3.99

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT

JUN073145 INQUEST GAMER WOW FIRE OF OUTLAND CVR #149 $1.99
STAR19111 TWISTED TOYFARE THEATRE VOL 3 TP $9.99

COMICS

MAY052925 AMAZING AGENT LUNA VOL 2 GN $10.99
APR073942 DEVILS PANTIES COLL ED VOL 1 TP #1 $19.95
MAR073680 FOR LIFE ONE SHOT $3.95
JUN073455 FORGOTTEN REALMS VOL 5 STREAMS SILVER TP $18.99
MAY073817 HERC BROWN #0 $0.99
MAY073445 HEWOES #1 $2.99
APR073584 HIGHLANDER #9 $2.99
FEB073338 LONE RANGER VOL 1 REG CVR TP $19.99
MAY073781 PANEL DISCUSSION NEW PTG TP $24.95
MAY073626 PHANTOM CVR A #18 $3.50
MAY073627 PHANTOM CVR B #18 $4.50
JUN073174 RIDE HOME GN $8.95
MAY073479 UNCLE SCROOGE #368 $7.99
STAR19711 VOGELEIN CLOCKWORK FAERIE TP $12.95
MAY073475 VOGELEIN OLD GHOSTS GN $12.95
MAY073480 WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #683 $7.99

MAGAZINES

MAY073896 DRAW #14 $6.95
MAY073902 ROUGH STUFF #5 $6.95

RELATED MERCHANDISE

APR074019 JOHN ROMITA AND ALL THAT JAZZ HC $44.95
JUN074117 JORDAN CRANE UPTIGHT ALL NIGHT POSTCARD BOOK $9.95
MAY073146 MANY FACES OF JOHNNY THE HOMICIDAL MANIAC POSTER $7.95
MAY073141 PETER THE PIRATE SQUID $4.95
MAY073980 TRIPWIRE 2007 ANNUAL $14.95
JUL043561 UNSHELVED VOL 1 TP $14.95
MAY078332 UNSHELVED VOL 5 READ RESPONSIBLY TP $17.95

Vintage Marvel Comics house ad



Today's video: X-Ray Stretch Armstrong TV ad

Pop Artifact! Thor figure

Pop Culture Roundup July 31, 2007

According to what he said at the recent San Diego Comicon International, Joss Whedon has a couple new "Buffy"-related projects coming up: First the current "Buffy" comic from Dark Horse will continue into "season 9," with the return of everyone's favorite by werewolf Oz expected. Also, maybe, in the works is the long talked about "Ripper," a BBC TV series that would chronicle the early days of Buffy's watcher, Giles.

--------------------------

Italian filmmaker Michelangelo Antonioni died yesterday, the same day as the great Swedish director Ingmar Bergman.

Mr. Antonioni is probably best known for “Blow-Up,” a 1966 drama set in Swinging London about a fashion photographer who comes to believe that a photograph he took of two lovers in a public park also shows, hidden in the background, evidence of a murder. But his true, lasting contribution to cinema resides in an earlier trilogy — “L’Avventura” in 1959, “La Notte” in 1960 and “L’Eclisse” in 1962 — which explores the filmmaker’s tormented central vision that people had become emotionally unglued from one another.

----------------------------

Fred Hembeck remembers talk show host Tom Snyder.

----------------------------

Inkworks plans a series of new trading cards based on the upcoming Flash Gordon TV series on the Sci Fi Channel.

In addition to being able to use images from the series, which stars Eric Johnson (who played Whitney Fordman on Smallville) as the eponymous hero, Inkworks will also be able to include images from the rich comic book (and comic strip) history of the classic Flash Gordon property created by Alex Raymond.

------------------------------

Read an interview with mysterious Dial B for Blog/Dial B for Burbank creator "Robby Reed" (who also kindly designed the logo for this site).

2007 Eisner Award Winners

Here's a list of comics creators awarded Eisner Awards at the 2007 Comicon International in San Diego:

Best Short Story“A Frog’s Eye View,” by Bill Willingham and James Jean, in Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall (Vertigo/DC)

Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)
Batman/The Spirit #1: “Crime Convention,” by Jeph Loeb and Darwyn Cooke (DC)

Best Continuing Series
All Star Superman, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (DC)

Best Limited Series
Batman: Year 100, by Paul Pope (DC)

Best New Series
Criminal, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Marvel Icon)

Best Title for a Younger Audience
Gumby, by Bob Burden and Rick Geary (Wildcard)

Best Humor Publication
Flaming Carrot Comics, by Bob Burden (Desperado/Image)

Best Anthology
Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall, by Bill Willingham and various (Vertigo/DC)

Best Digital Comic
Sam and Max, by Steve Purcell

Best Reality-Based Work
Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel (Houghton Mifflin)

Best Graphic Album - New
American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang (First Second)

Best Graphic Album - Reprint
Absolute DC: The New Frontier, by Darwyn Cooke (DC)

Best Archival Collection/Project - Strips
The Complete Peanuts, 1959-1960, 1961-1962, by Charles Schulz (Fantagraphics)

Best Archival Collection/Project - Comic Books
Absolute Sandman, vol. 1, by Neil Gaiman and various (Vertigo/DC)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material
The Left Bank Gang, by Jason (Fantagraphics)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material - Japan
Old Boy, by Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi (Dark Horse Manga)

Best Writer
Ed Brubaker, Captain America, Daredevil (Marvel); Criminal (Marvel Icon)

Best Writer/Artist
Paul Pope, Batman: Year 100 (DC)

Best Writer/Artist - Humor
Tony Millionaire, Billy Hazelnuts (Fantagraphics); Sock Monkey: The Inches Incident (Dark Horse)

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
Mark Buckingham/Steve Leialoha, Fables (Vertigo/DC)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)
Jill Thompson, “A Dog and His Boy” in The Dark Horse Book of Monsters; “Love Triangle” in Sexy Chix (Dark Horse); “Fair Division,” in Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall (Vertigo/DC)

Best Cover Artist
James Jean, Fables, Jack of Fables, Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall (Vertigo/DC)

Best Coloring
Dave Stewart, BPRD, Conan, The Escapists, Hellboy (Dark Horse); Action Comics, Batman/The Spirit, Superman (DC)

Best Lettering
Todd Klein, Fables, Jack of Fables, Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall; Pride of Baghdad, Testament (Vertigo/DC); Fantastic Four: 1602, Eternals (Marvel); Lost Girls (Top Shelf)

Special Recognition
Hope Larson, Gray Horses (Oni)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism
Alter Ego, edited by Roy Thomas (TwoMorrows)

Best Comics-Related Book
The Art of Brian Bolland, edited by Joe Pruett (Desperado/Image)

Best Publication Design
Absolute DC: The New Frontier, designed by Darwyn Cooke (DC)

Hall of Fame
Judges’ Choices (2): Robert Kanigher and Ogden Whitney
- Ross Andru & Mike Esposito
- Dick Ayers
- Wayne Boring
- Joe Orlando

Other Awards:

Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comics Writing: Gardner Fox, George Gladir

Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award: David Petersen

Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award: Neil Gaiman

Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailing Award:
Earth-2, Sherman Oaks, CA, owned by Carr D’Angelo

Upcoming Marvel Legends figures for 2008

Unveiled at the recent San Diego Comicon International, here's some upcoming stuff from Hasbro's Marvel Legends action figure line.

Hasbro Marvel Legends Series 4 action figures

Nova, Astonishing X-men Beast, Black Bolt, yell0w-costume Daredevil, Tim Bradstreet Punisher, Tigra, build-a-figure Nemesis

Hasbro Fantastic Four build-a-figure wave

Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Human Torch, Thing, Silver Surfer, Doctor Doom, Sub-Mariner, Moleman, build-a-figure Ronan the Accuser

Hasbro Marvel Icons figures

yellow-costume Daredevil, Nightcrawler, red-costume Daredevil


green-costume Phoenix, Collossus, red-costume Phoenix


Jean Grey Black Queen


Human Torch, Silver Surfer

Spider-Man build-a-figure wave

Tonner Dolls DC Comics, Spider-Man figures

These high-end (i.e. spendy) dolls are made by the Tonner Doll company as part of a DC Stars lineup. Some are available via Amazon, just click the links.


Aquaman


Batgirl


Supergirl


Supergirl Kryptonian Casual


Supergirl Casual Identity


Wonder Woman


Wonder Woman Amazon Princess


Wonder Woman Office Savvy

DVD new releases July 31, 2007

Hawaii Five-O - The Second Season

Babylon 5 - The Lost Tales

300 (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)

The History Channel Presents Last Stand of the 300 - The Legendary Battle at Thermopylae

Dallas - The Complete Seventh Season

Popeye the Sailor: 1933-1938, Vol. 1

Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 4 (Act of Violence / Mystery Street / Crime Wave / Decoy / Illegal / The Big Steal / They Live By Night / Side Street / Where Danger Lives / Tension)
Suspense: The Lost Episodes Collection, Vol. 1

Sabrina the Teenage Witch - The Second Season

The Archie Show: The Complete Series

Space 1999 30th Anniversary Edition Megaset

20 Million Miles To Earth (50th Anniversary Edition)

Thunderbirds 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition Megaset

Illegal / The Big Steal (Film Noir Double Feature)

Crime Wave / Decoy (Film Noir Double Feature)

Act of Violence / Mystery Street (Film Noir Double Feature)

Where Danger Lives / Tension (Film Noir Double Feature)

They Live by Night / Side Street (Film Noir Double Feature)

Pulp Fiction Art - Cheap Thrills and Painted Nightmares

More upcoming DVDs

CD new releases July 31, 2007

Love Letters From Ella by Various Artists

You're Getting Better: The Word Jazz Dot Masters by Ken Nordine

Elvis Viva Las Vegas by Elvis Presley

Live at the BBC V.1 by Lloyd Cole & The Commotions

Fractured Mindz by Dave Davies

More upcoming CDs

Vintage Marvel Comics house ad



Today's video: 1976 Mego action figures ad



Pop Artifact! Spider-Man pinball game

Pop Culture Roundup July 29, 2007

Fred Hembeck draws the original X-men.

--------------------

Talk show Tom Snyder, of "Tomorrow Show" fame, has died.

Known for his improvised, casual style and robust laughter, Snyder conducted a number of memorable interviews as host of NBC's "The Tomorrow Show." Among his guests were John Lennon, Charles Manson and Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols.

--------------------

Jon Favreau, director of the upcoming Iron Man film, will script a comic book about ol' Shellhead as well.

The ...four-issue Iron Man: Viva Las Vegas mini-series, which is slated for release around the time that the Iron Man movie debuts on May 2nd, 2008. Favreau will be working with Adi Granov, the artist who designed the Iron Man suit used in the movie.

---------------------

Image Comics has plans to publish new comics series based on some of Jack Kirby's late-career creations, says Image Publisher Erik Larsen.

It will be two books to begin with. Silver Star covers Earth - Captain Victory covers all space and both will be packed with awesome Kirby characters and concepts many of which have only appeared as sketches. The idea is to introduce these characters one after another the same way that characters were introduced in other Kirby books over the years. What I'd like to do is feature Jack's original drawings and whatever notes he might have had in the back of the books to give readers insight into what Jack drew and what we had to work with. In the Silver Star book, for example, there are a few drawings that feature characters that didn't make it into the book. In Jack's original Silver Star pitch there was a whole gang of guys that wound up on the cutting room floor and Jack redesigned his "Angel of Death" character so much that he doesn't look like the same guy. That original design was cool as all hell and I want to put that design to good use. Jack has numerous cosmic characters that would fit right in to Captain Victory and Earthbound characters would be right at home in Silver Star and we can mix and match as well, having cosmic characters appearing in Silver Star and non-cosmic characters popping into Captain Victory.

---------------------

You can nab the new Marvel Legends Stan Lee action figure here. The figure, along with this She-Hulk figure, is only available from Hasbro or at this year's San Diego Comicon International.



-----------------------

It's the 50th anniversary of the great R&B label Stax Records and NPR is presenting interviews with some of the great musicians who made it what it was. First up: Booker T and the MGs guitarist Steve Cropper.

More Stax: PBS' "Great Performances" profiles the label in special this Wednesday. Check yer locals.

------------------------

The New York Times' profiles Portmeirion, the eccentrically designed town on the Welsch coast that served as the setting for the cult TV series "The Prisoner."

-------------------------

Keith Richards is penning his memoirs. What he can remember of them anyway...

--------------------------

IDW Publishing has a new Doctor Who comic book series in the works, and will be republishing an old one.

...current TV series script editor Gary Russell will pen the series with Nick Roche ("Transformers: Devastation" and "Transformers: Beast Wars") providing artwork. "Doctor Who" showrunner Russell T Davies will oversee the book.

IDW will also begin reprinting Dave Gibbons' run on "Doctor Who Monthly" from the 1980s. Originally presented in black and white, the books will now be colored using new techniques.

Vintage Marvel Comics house ad



Today's video: Archies car ad