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Circuit City has reversed its decision to yank Mad Magazine from its shelves after the mag parodied the retailer's sales flyers.

"I became aware of this 'situation' only this morning, and I have sent a note today to the editors of Mad Magazine," said Jim Babb, spokesman for Circuit City. "Speaking as 'an embarrassed corporate PR Guy,' I apologized for the fact that some overly-sensitive souls at our corporate headquarters ordered the removal of the August issue of MAD Magazine from our stores.

"The parody of our newspaper ad in the August MAD was very clever," he continued. "Most of us at Circuit City share a rich sense of humor and irony... but there are occasional temporary lapses. We apologize for the knee-jerk reaction, and have issued a retraction order; the affected stores are being directed to put the magazines back on sale."

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See a trailer for DC Comics' straight-to-DVD animated Wonder Woman film.

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Read "Mantoka: Master of Magic" by the great Jack Cole.

Join the Lost Book Club

From ABC:

Do you need a "Lost" fix? Beginning today, ABC.com is launching the "Lost Book Club" which will give fans new insight on books that have been either seen or referenced throughout the dynamic four seasons of "Lost." The book list will be added to regularly on ABC.com, with a list also available for audio download on the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com).

Also available on ABC.com will be a message board to discuss the titles, a synopsis of each book, along with when and how it was referenced in the show, and an introduction by co-creator/executive producer Damon Lindelof and executive producer Carlton Cuse. Book examples include Sawyer reading Watership Down, Juliet's book club reading Carrie and an orientation film hidden behind The Turn of the Screw.

How the anthrax attacks killed Cracked magazine

Well, the anthrax attacks didn't actually kill the old Mad knock-off mag, but they did throw a major wrench into the possibility of reprinting some of Cracked's best stories.

For details, check out this wild tale posted by former Cracked Editor-in-Chief Mort Todd on the Comics Journal message board:

The guy who is alleged to have sent anthrax-laced letters to many media outlets soon after 09/11/01, infecting and killing some, has killed himself. Quoted from the 08/02/08 NY Post: Scientist Bruce Ivins, "a top Army bioweapons expert who killed himself this week as investigators closed in on him for the deadly 2001 wave of anthrax letters had a history of murderous tendencies that dates back decades, according to documents disclosed yesterday... Television-news anchors Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather, along with Sens. Tom Daschle and Patrick Leahy, were among the recipients of the missives."

What it doesn't say is that he also is suspected of sending a letter to American Media Inc., publishers of The Star, The Globe, National Examiner, and The Sun and, for a short time, Cracked magazine (way after my reign). This lead to the death of a photo editor and since all the film to print the magazine, from 1958 to 2000, was stored there, it had to be destroyed because of contamination.

Now this may be cheered by some, but there was some great art by John Severin, Jack Davis, Will Elder, All Jaffee, Bill Ward, Steve Ditko, Gene Colan and many other titans of the comics industry!

This means that any future reprint collections of Cracked (and it is warranted) will have to be shot from the actual magazines and resultant loss of quality.

CD new releases Aug. 5, 2008

Click links to order CDs from Amazon.

I Got the Feelin' James Brown
Buy New: $31.97

Complete '68 Comeback Special 4oth anniversary edition Elvis Presley
Buy New: $39.97

The Complete BBC Sessions Squeeze
Buy New: $22.98

The Disappearing Act 1987-1998 Sam Phillips
Buy New: $18.99

Hard Travelling Pete Seeger
Buy New: $13.98

DVD new releases Aug. 5, 2008

Click links to order DVDs from Amazon.

Get Smart - Season 1
Buy New: $16.99

Starship Troopers 3
Buy New: $16.99

Doctor Who - The Time Meddler
Buy New: $16.99

Doctor Who - The Five Doctors
Buy New: $23.99

Pete Seeger
Buy New: $18.99

Star Trek The Original Series - The Complete Second Season remastered
Buy New: $59.99

Love Story
Buy New: $26.99

Pop links

Check out the latest additions to Fred Hembeck's nifty across-the-page gallery.

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Circuit City doesn't want its customers to see the latest issue of Mad Magazine, which parodies the retailer's sales flyers.



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Further memoirs by the late, great John Peel are set for publication.

'The Olivetti Chronicles: Notes On Life, Music And Facial Hair' will include previously unpublished articles, and hits bookshelves on October 23.

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On YouTube: A preview for the sadly never-produced "Buffy" animated series.

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As per usual, lot's of good stuff at Golden Age Comic Book Stories:
A look at Larry Ivie's early 70s 'zine Monsters and Heroes, featuring artwork by Jeff Jones, Berni Wrightson and others. Part one, two, three.
And artwork from late 1960s, early '70s programs from the New York Comicon: Part one, two, three, four , five.

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Today in How Marvel Comics has Completely Lost the Plot.

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The UK's Mojo and Uncut review Brian Wilson's new album.

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See Boyce and Hart and Phil Spector on "I Dream of Jeannie."

Pop links

Much of the music on the much-reported "giggling Beatles" tape up for auction isn't the Beatles at all, Fabs expert Doug Sulpy reports.

The song Don’t Let Me Down Like This was not the Beatles at all, but rather, Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers. Sulpy also identified Too Much Monkey Business, Nitty Gritty, Somethings Got A Hold On Me, and I Shall Not Be Moved as all being performed by The Hollies, though the Beatles did in fact cover Too Much Monkey Business.

So, the only actual “new” items on this tape, according to Sulpy, are the breakdowns between songs and a different version of I’ll Follow The Sun. The other tracks have appeared elsewhere.

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From On My Mind: "I Spy" paperbacks!

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Today in sharity:

Lots of Batman: Brave and Bold 'toon pics

Now HERE'S the Batman I like! To heck with the "Dark Knight." This show looks like a lot of fun.

"Tales of Beedle the Bard," new J.K. Rowling book up for pre-order

Amazon is offering J.K. Rowling's new short story collection in two editions.

Here's info:

The Standard Edition features all five fairy tales from the original "The Tales of Beedle the Bard," a new introduction by J.K. Rowling, illustrations reproduced from the original handcrafted book, and commentary on each of the tales by Professor Albus Dumbledore.

The Collector's Edition is designed to evoke the spirit of the handcrafted original.It includes a reproduction of J.K. Rowling's handwritten introduction, as well as 10 additional illustrations not found in the Standard Edition. Opening the cover of the case reveals a velvet bag embroidered with J.K. Rowling's signature, in which sits the piece de resistance: your very own copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard , complete with metal skull, corners, and clasp; replica gemstones; and emerald ribbon.

Here's more info:
Standard Edition
Collector's Edition

Man from U.N.C.L.E. paperbacks

Pop links

Golden Age Comic Book Stories shares memorabilia from Jim Steranko's 1970s Shadow and Doc Savage fan clubs.



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Pop links

See a trailer for "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

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Dark Horse Comics is reviving 1960s Gold Key characters like Magnus, Doctor Solar and Doctor Spektor in a new line of comics.

Dark Horse President Mike Richardson confirmed, okay, was coerced into confirming, that the hard-fighting heroes who were once part of the Valiant universe will return, along with other 1960s Gold Key characters that Valiant never used.

"We've been republishing collections of the Gold Key Magnus and Solar, Man of the Atom, books for a reason," he said, backstage in the Dark Horse booth at the San Diego Comic Con. "When those are done, we'll be coming out with new adventures."

He was not ready to announce the creative teams on the new books, or what other Gold Key books were in the mix.

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Jack White and Alicia Keys will perform the theme to the next James Bond film.

The male half of the White Stripes, who wrote and produced the tune, called "Another Way to Die," will also play drums. The film's soundtrack is due out Oct. 28, while the movie itself, the second 007 flick featuring hunky blond Bond Daniel Craig, hits theaters Nov. 7.

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A Marvin the Martian film is in the works.

New Star Wars: Clone Wars pics

New comics July 30, 2008

Here's a look at new comics for today.

Click the linked titles to order discounted books from Amazon.

DARK HORSE COMICS

JAN080113 DOMO SCULPTED MAGNET $7.99
OCT070075 FRAZETTA EGYPTIAN QUEEN STATUE $350.00
APR080139 JOURNAL TOKIDOKI KAITEN SUSHI $9.99
OCT070080 JUDGE DREDD DREDD VS DEATH STATUE $250.00
JUL078191 JUDGE DREDD DREDD VS DEATH STATUE (PP #782) $250.00
MAY080044 PIGEONS FROM HELL #4 (OF 4) $2.99
MAR070069 ROBOTS & DONUTS TP $24.95
MAY080066 STAR WARS REBELLION #15 VECTOR PART 7 (OF 12) $2.99
AUG070160 STYLE SCHOOL TP VOL 02 $16.95
DEC070131 UNCLE CREEPY STATUE $150.00
JAN080083 WORKSHOP OF FILTHY CREATION ART OF JOHNNY ACE & KALI VERRA $19.95

DC COMICS

DEC070319 AME COMI CHEETAH VINYL FIGURE $49.99
DEC070318 AME COMI WONDER WOMAN VINYL FIGURE $49.99
MAY088240 BATMAN #677 RIP 2ND PTG $2.99
MAY080175 BATMAN DEATH MASK #4 (OF 4) $2.99
APR080223 BATMAN GOING SANE TP $14.99
MAY080184 BLUE BEETLE #29 $2.99
MAY080231 CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #47 $2.25
MAY080176 CATWOMAN #81 $2.99
MAY080157 DC SPECIAL CYBORG #3 (OF 5) $2.99

Doom Patrol Archive VOL 05
Author: Arnold Drake; Buy New: $31.49

MAY080194 GREEN LANTERN #33 $2.99
MAY080151 HUNTRESS YEAR ONE #6 (OF 6) $2.99
MAY080169 JOKERS ASYLUM TWO FACE #1 $2.99
MAY080200 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA ANNUAL #1 $3.99
MAY080243 NEW DYNAMIX #5 (OF 5) $2.99
MAY080152 REIGN IN HELL #1 (OF 8) (RES) $3.50
MAY080181 SUPERMAN BATMAN #50 (NOTE PRICE) $3.99
MAY080158 TEEN TITANS #61 $2.99
MAY080144 TRINITY #9 $2.99
MAY080235 WILDCATS #1 $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

MAY082200 DYNAMO 5 #15 $3.50
FEB082135 ELEPHANTMEN TP VOL 01 WOUNDED ANIMALS $16.99
MAY082167 FRANK FRAZETTAS CREATURES #1 $3.99
MAY082230 PILOT SEASON THE CORE #1 $3.99
MAY082176 POPGUN GN VOL 02 $29.99

MARVEL COMICS

MAY082261 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN EXTRA $3.99
MAY082310 BLACK PANTHER #39 SI $2.99
MAY088165 CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 #1 3RD PTG HITCH SKETCH VAR (PP#824) $2.99

Captain Marvel Secret Invasion premium HC
Author: Brian Reed, Lee Weeks; Buy New: $13.59

Essential Fantastic Four, Vol. 7
Author: Gerry Conway, Tony Isabella, Len Wei...; Buy New: $11.55

MAY082271 FANTASTIC FOUR TRUE STORY #1 (OF 4) $2.99
MAY088163 GUARDIANS OF GALAXY MUST HAVE (PP #824) $3.99
MAY088166 HULK #4 2ND PTG MCGUINNESS WRAPAROUND VAR (PP #824) $2.99
MAY082340 MARVEL SPOTLIGHT UNCANNY X-MEN 500 ISSUES $2.99
MAY082351 MMW DEFENDERS HC VOL 01 $54.99
MAY082352 MMW DEFENDERS HC VOL 01 VAR ED 100 $54.99
MAY082313 MS MARVEL #29 SI $2.99
MAY082293 NEWUNIVERSAL 1959 $3.99
MAY082372 NOVA TP VOL 02 KNOWHERE $16.99
MAY082373 ORDER TP VOL 02 CALIFORNIA DREAMING $12.99
MAY082309 SECRET INVASION FANTASTIC FOUR #3 (OF 3) SI $2.99
MAY088091 SECRET INVASION WHO DO YOU TRUST 2ND PTG JIMENEZ VAR $3.99
MAY082374 SILVER SURFER TP REQUIEM $14.99
MAY082276 SKAAR SON OF HULK #2 $2.99
MAY082297 SKRULLS VS POWER PACK #1 (OF 4) $2.99
MAR082160 SPIDER-MAN WITH GREAT POWER #5 (OF 5) $3.99
MAY082321 THOR #10 $2.99

Thor, Vol. 1
Author: J. Michael Straczynski, Olivier Coip...; Buy New: $16.63

MAY082322 TRUE BELIEVERS #1 (OF 5) $2.99
MAY082256 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #124 $2.99
MAY082331 WOLVERINE #67 $2.99
APR088300 WOLVERINE #67 MCNIVEN SKETCH VAR (PP #821) $2.99
MAY082332 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #27 $2.99
MAY082337 X-MEN FIRST CLASS VOL 2 #14 $2.99
MAY082336 X-MEN ODD MEN OUT $3.99

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT

JUN083590 WIZARD MAGAZINE #203 BROKEN TRINITY SILVESTRI CVR $5.99
JUN083588 WIZARD MAGAZINE #203 M KNIGHTS 10TH ANNIV QUESADA & PALMIOTT $5.99
JUN083589 WIZARD MAGAZINE #203 WOLVERINE MOVIE CVR $5.99

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COMICS

APR084245 1001 ARABIAN NIGHTS ADVENTURES OF SINBAD #2 $2.99
MAY083741 AGE OF INSECTS VOL 03 NOT HUMAN $5.99
MAY083604 ARCHIE DIGEST #246 $2.49
JUN083611 BABYSITTER GN $29.95
JUN084373 BEYOND WONDERLAND #1 (OF 6) (O/A) $2.99
MAY088192 CALIBER #1 (OF 5) 2ND PTG A CVR ARTGERM $2.99
MAY088193 CALIBER #1 (OF 5) 2ND PTG B CVR ARTGERM $2.99
MAY088194 CALIBER #1 (OF 5) 2ND PTG C CVR WILKINS $2.99
MAY088197 CALIBER #4 (OF 5) A CVR ROYO $2.99
MAY088198 CALIBER #4 (OF 5) B CVR RAMBAUD $2.99
DEC073810 CLASH TP $16.95
MAY083863 COMIC BOOK COMICS #2 $3.95

MAD's Greatest Artists
Author: Don Martin; Buy New: $94.50

MAY083541 CONTRACT #1 (OF 3) $3.99
MAR083645 DRAGONLANCE LEGENDS TIME OF THE TWINS #1 (OF 3) MOYANO CVR A $5.50
MAR083646 DRAGONLANCE LEGENDS TIME OF THE TWINS #1 (OF 3) WALPOLE CVR $9.50
JUN084202 DREADNOUGHT INVASION SIX #4 (OF 4) $3.95
APR083514 DREAM MAIDEN MEGAN GN $8.95
APR083645 FALL OF CTHULHU TP VOL 02 GATHERING (O/A) $14.99
MAY083592 FEMME NOIR DARK CITY DIARIES #2 (OF 4) HALEY CVR B $3.95
MAY083591 FEMME NOIR DARK CITY DIARIES #2 (OF 4) STATON & LOPEZ CVR A $3.95
MAY083593 FICTION CLEMENS #3 (OF 3) $5.95
JUN083865 FORGOTTEN REALMS TP VOL 07 THE LEGACY $18.99
MAY083969 GHOST WHISPERER #5 $3.99
MAR083390 GIRL GENIUS HC VOL 07 AGATHA & VOICE O/T CASTLE $39.95
MAY084241 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #29 $2.99
DEC074027 GRIMM FAIRY TALES OVERSIZED HC $39.99
MAY088195 HERCULES #1 (OF 5) 2ND PTG A CVR STERANKO $2.99
MAY088196 HERCULES #1 (OF 5) 2ND PTG B CVR ADMIRA SUNNY $2.99
MAY088199 HERCULES #4 (OF 5) A CVR SEJIC $2.99
MAY088200 HERCULES #4 (OF 5) B CVR MONG $2.99
MAY084133 JADE OF BANGO GN VOL 01 (OF 7) $12.99
MAY083762 JIM BUTCHERS DRESDEN FILES #4 (OF 4) WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE $3.99
MAY083988 JOURNEY TP VOL 01 $19.99
MAY083611 JUGHEAD #190 $2.25
MAY084024 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #141 $4.99
DEC073811 KOLCHAK THE NIGHT STALKER SOUND OF FEAR TP $13.95
MAY083770 KUJIBIKI UNBALANCE GN VOL 01 $10.95

Little Nemo in Slumberland - So Many Splendid Sundays
Author: Winsor McCay, Peter Maresca; Buy New: $86.40

Little Nemo In Slumberland HC Volume 2 Limited Edition...
Author: Winsor McCay;

MAY083955 LOCKE & KEY #6 $3.99
MAY083746 MAN WITH NO NAME #3 $3.50

Me and the Devil Blues 1
Author: Akira Hiramoto; Buy New: $13.57

MAY083964 MUMMY MOVIE PREQUEL RISE & FALL OF XANGOS AX #4 $3.99
JUN083739 NEVERLAND GN $6.00
APR083704 NEW BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SEASON ZERO #11 $2.99
JAN083490 PATH TP VOL 03 DEATH & DISHONOR (O/A) $17.95
MAY083571 PIRATES VS NINJAS DEBATE IN 08 ONE-SHOT $3.50
APR083691 PROJECT SUPERPOWERS #5 (OF 7) $2.99
APR083700 RED SONJA ADRIAN FOIL CVR #35 PI
JUN083875 SABBATH ALL YOUR SINS REBORN TP VOL 01 THE COLLECTED POGROM $18.99
JUN083874 SERPO GN $14.99
APR083736 SHIKI TSUKAI GN VOL 03 $10.95
MAY083616 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES TP VOL 08 $7.95
MAY083958 STAR TREK MIRROR IMAGES #2 $3.99
MAY083962 STAR TREK YEAR FOUR ENTERPRISE EXPERIMENT #4 $3.99
APR083833 SUPERNATURAL LAW #45 $3.50
APR084060 TALES FROM THE CRYPT #7 $3.95
APR083779 TEAM 14 ALTINER CVR A (ONE SHOT) $3.99
APR083780 TEAM 14 BASALDUA CVR B (ONE SHOT) $3.99
MAY083772 TOTO GN VOL 02 $10.95
APR083525 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY SPRING 2008 SALONGA LTD ED $19.99
MAY083563 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY SUPERSTAR COLLECTION SET $29.99
JUN083906 WHITE RAPIDS GN $27.95
JUN084108 WILD STARS TP VOL 01 BOOK OF CIRCLES $17.95
JUN084109 WILD STARS VOL 03 #1-7 SET $14.95
APR083638 ZOMBIE TALES #3 CVR A $3.99
APR083639 ZOMBIE TALES #3 CVR B $3.99

MAGAZINES

JUN085157 GAME TRADE MAGAZINE #102 PI
MAY084268 GEEK MONTHLY VOL 2 #8 $5.99
JUN084409 GIRASOL PULP DOUBLES THE SPIDER VOL 08 $14.95
MAY084271 JUXTAPOZ VOL 15 #8 AUG 2008 $4.99
MAY084283 SCRYE #124 SEP 2008 $5.99
FEB084199 TOMARTS ACTION FIGURE DIGEST #167 $5.95
JUN084420 WHITE DWARF #343 $6.00