Monsters Vs. Aliens movie pictures
Here are some images from Dreamworks upcoming "Monsters Vs. Aliens." looks fun.
Pop links: So long Dial B for Blog, Frankenstein fumetti
One of my favorite comics blogs, Dial B for Blog, is closing up shop. It was a great ride and, I believe, every "back issue" of the blog will still be available for viewing, which is a good thing, cuz there are some gems.
All the best, Robby and good luck with your future projects!
-----
Golden Age Comic Book Stories presents a 1939 photo-comic ("fumetti" as the Italians call 'em) adaptation of "Son of Frankenstein."
All the best, Robby and good luck with your future projects!
-----
Golden Age Comic Book Stories presents a 1939 photo-comic ("fumetti" as the Italians call 'em) adaptation of "Son of Frankenstein."
Spidey/Obama update
so, did anyone out there actually get a copy of Amazing Spider-Man #583? I went to my neighborhood comics shop and it turns out--due to ordering logistics/conditions far beyond my mere consumer understanding--they didn't even get a single of the Obama cover. I was told a second-printing of the ish would be in next week. I checked a couple other stores and no Obama funnybook there, either.
Now I read that Marvel is actually doing a third printing of the issue.
At any rate, I'm sure I'll eventually see the story. I've actually been following Amazing over the past few months and want to see the ish just to keep up on Spidey's happenings, not just his interactions with the president-elect. It's been a good comic of late, for reasons which I hope to write about in detail soon.
Now I read that Marvel is actually doing a third printing of the issue.
At any rate, I'm sure I'll eventually see the story. I've actually been following Amazing over the past few months and want to see the ish just to keep up on Spidey's happenings, not just his interactions with the president-elect. It's been a good comic of late, for reasons which I hope to write about in detail soon.
Pop links: George Herriman site, DC snubs Darwyn Cooke Wonder Woman comic, Sherlock's violin, fighting for Asterix
Via The Comics Reporter: Here's a really nice new site focusing on the work of the brilliant George Herriman, creator of Krazy Kat.
-----
Via Occasional Superheroine and Journalista: For crying out loud, did DC Comics really turn down an all-ages Wonder Woman proposed by Darwyn Cooke and J. Bone?
I really enjoy the kid-oriented book DC does put out. My 5-year-old daughter loves DC Super Friends and the new Supergirl comic. And I get the brilliant Billy Batson/Shazam book for my 11-year-old son (and me). But, man, I would have loved to see a Wonder Woman comic by Cooke and Bone. It'd be great. And where's the kid-oriented Superman book?
Most likely the reason for the Wonder Woman rejection is that DC is waiting for a TV show, movie, toy line to tie a new title to. But why wait? There are comics to sell now. And if they produced a good one, people would buy it. I think it's encouraging that DC didn't wait on other product to publish Supergirl and Shazam comics, so why wait for Wonder Woman?
My personal experience as a parent is that kids today LOOOOVE comics. In addition to the titles already mentioned above, both my kids love Donald Duck comics. And my son reads Asterix, Tintin, my old Mad magazines, DC Showcase books and Archives, what have you.
Getting kids to read comics is a simple matter of publishing comics for kids and putting them where parents (non-geek parents who don't realize you need to go to comic shops, or live near a comic shop, to find most of 'em) and kids will see them.
And turning down the likes of Cooke and Bone smacks of outright insanity.
-----
An ailing tree that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used to sit beneath as a child has been cut down and used to create a violin in tribute to Conan Doyle's fiddling creation Sherlock Holmes.
The house in Liberton, on Edinburgh's South Side, in which Conan Doyle was brought up, is now a special school and the teachers and pupils, upset at the need for the tree to be felled, have decided to use £1,200 raised by volunteers for an instrument to be created by Steve Burnett, a self-taught craftsman living in the City. He plans to fashion a violin based on a design which the great violin-maker, Giuseppe Guarneri, provided for Nicolo Paganini in about 1740.
Although the finished instrument will be priceless, Dunedin School has no intention of allowing it to gather dust in a glass box. Instead, it may be used by pupils in music lessons. The school, which now occupies Liberton Bank House, also hopes to transform the remaining tree stump into a sculpture, designed by the pupils and honouring Holmes.
----
The daughter of Asterix co-creator/artist Alberto Underzo says her dad is wrong to sell off the rights to produce Asterix comics to others, the BBC reports.
Sylvie Uderzo accused "a handful of shadowy advisers" of persuading her father, 81, to sell his 60% stake in Asterix publisher Editions Albert Rene.
..."It's as if the gates of the Gaulish village had been thrown open to the Roman Empire," she wrote.
"I am entering resistance against perhaps the worst enemies of Asterix, the men of finance and industry."
-----
Via Occasional Superheroine and Journalista: For crying out loud, did DC Comics really turn down an all-ages Wonder Woman proposed by Darwyn Cooke and J. Bone?
I really enjoy the kid-oriented book DC does put out. My 5-year-old daughter loves DC Super Friends and the new Supergirl comic. And I get the brilliant Billy Batson/Shazam book for my 11-year-old son (and me). But, man, I would have loved to see a Wonder Woman comic by Cooke and Bone. It'd be great. And where's the kid-oriented Superman book?
Most likely the reason for the Wonder Woman rejection is that DC is waiting for a TV show, movie, toy line to tie a new title to. But why wait? There are comics to sell now. And if they produced a good one, people would buy it. I think it's encouraging that DC didn't wait on other product to publish Supergirl and Shazam comics, so why wait for Wonder Woman?
My personal experience as a parent is that kids today LOOOOVE comics. In addition to the titles already mentioned above, both my kids love Donald Duck comics. And my son reads Asterix, Tintin, my old Mad magazines, DC Showcase books and Archives, what have you.
Getting kids to read comics is a simple matter of publishing comics for kids and putting them where parents (non-geek parents who don't realize you need to go to comic shops, or live near a comic shop, to find most of 'em) and kids will see them.
And turning down the likes of Cooke and Bone smacks of outright insanity.
-----
An ailing tree that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used to sit beneath as a child has been cut down and used to create a violin in tribute to Conan Doyle's fiddling creation Sherlock Holmes.
The house in Liberton, on Edinburgh's South Side, in which Conan Doyle was brought up, is now a special school and the teachers and pupils, upset at the need for the tree to be felled, have decided to use £1,200 raised by volunteers for an instrument to be created by Steve Burnett, a self-taught craftsman living in the City. He plans to fashion a violin based on a design which the great violin-maker, Giuseppe Guarneri, provided for Nicolo Paganini in about 1740.
Although the finished instrument will be priceless, Dunedin School has no intention of allowing it to gather dust in a glass box. Instead, it may be used by pupils in music lessons. The school, which now occupies Liberton Bank House, also hopes to transform the remaining tree stump into a sculpture, designed by the pupils and honouring Holmes.
----
The daughter of Asterix co-creator/artist Alberto Underzo says her dad is wrong to sell off the rights to produce Asterix comics to others, the BBC reports.
Sylvie Uderzo accused "a handful of shadowy advisers" of persuading her father, 81, to sell his 60% stake in Asterix publisher Editions Albert Rene.
..."It's as if the gates of the Gaulish village had been thrown open to the Roman Empire," she wrote.
"I am entering resistance against perhaps the worst enemies of Asterix, the men of finance and industry."
Prisoner actor McGoohan dies
Sad news: The BBC reports that actor Patrick McGoohan, 80, has died in Los Angeles.
The actor, who was born in New York and raised in England and Ireland, came to screen prominence in TV series Danger Man, in which he played a secret service agent. The programme later aired as Secret Agent in the US.
He was later considered for the role of James Bond for the movie Dr No.
But McGoohan was chiefly associated with cult ITV drama The Prisoner, writing some of the episodes himself under a different name.
His character spent the entire time attempting to escape from The Village and finding out the identity of his captor, the elusive Number One.
The actor, who was born in New York and raised in England and Ireland, came to screen prominence in TV series Danger Man, in which he played a secret service agent. The programme later aired as Secret Agent in the US.
He was later considered for the role of James Bond for the movie Dr No.
But McGoohan was chiefly associated with cult ITV drama The Prisoner, writing some of the episodes himself under a different name.
His character spent the entire time attempting to escape from The Village and finding out the identity of his captor, the elusive Number One.
Pop links: Milt Caniff mini-doc, musical Peanuts punchlines, classic Marvel Comics calendars
Sancum Santorum Comix takes a look at vintage Marvel Comics calendars here, plus more recent Marvel calendars here. (I had that 1975 calendar.)
And, if you like this sort of thing, head over to the Mighty Marvelmania Museum.
-----
Via Mark Evanier, here's a mini-documentary Ohio State University created to celebrate Ohio native Milt Caniff:
-----
For those who read music, there are hidden punchlines in Charles Schulz's "Peanuts" strip featuring kid musician Schroeder, The New York Times reports.
In a strip from 1953 Schroeder embarks on an intensive workout. He does push-ups, jumps rope, lifts weights, touches his toes, does sit-ups (“Puff, Puff”), boxes, runs (“Pant, Pant”) and finally eats (“Chomp! Chomp!”). In the last two panels he walks to his piano with determination and begins playing furiously, sweat springing from his brow.
The eighth notes above Schroeder’s head are from the opening bars of Beethoven’s “Hammerklavier” Sonata (Op. 106), a piece so long, artistically complex and technically difficult that it is referred to as the “Giant” Sonata. When Beethoven delivered it to the publisher in 1819, he is believed to have said, “Now you will have a sonata that will keep the pianists busy when it is played 50 years from now.”
And, if you like this sort of thing, head over to the Mighty Marvelmania Museum.
-----
Via Mark Evanier, here's a mini-documentary Ohio State University created to celebrate Ohio native Milt Caniff:
-----
For those who read music, there are hidden punchlines in Charles Schulz's "Peanuts" strip featuring kid musician Schroeder, The New York Times reports.
In a strip from 1953 Schroeder embarks on an intensive workout. He does push-ups, jumps rope, lifts weights, touches his toes, does sit-ups (“Puff, Puff”), boxes, runs (“Pant, Pant”) and finally eats (“Chomp! Chomp!”). In the last two panels he walks to his piano with determination and begins playing furiously, sweat springing from his brow.
The eighth notes above Schroeder’s head are from the opening bars of Beethoven’s “Hammerklavier” Sonata (Op. 106), a piece so long, artistically complex and technically difficult that it is referred to as the “Giant” Sonata. When Beethoven delivered it to the publisher in 1819, he is believed to have said, “Now you will have a sonata that will keep the pianists busy when it is played 50 years from now.”
Batman: Brave and the Bold features Deadman, Gentleman Ghost, Green Arrow and Kamandi!
The Cartoon Network has released details and pics from this Friday's episode of "Batman: Brave and the Bold," which features loads of DC Universe guest stars.
Deadman and Batman team up as spirits to stop Gentleman Ghost from raising an army of undead criminals. Green Arrow and Speedy join in the battle to save London. In this week’s teaser, Batman and Kamandi outrace a horde of monsters from the future.
Deadman and Batman team up as spirits to stop Gentleman Ghost from raising an army of undead criminals. Green Arrow and Speedy join in the battle to save London. In this week’s teaser, Batman and Kamandi outrace a horde of monsters from the future.
New comics Jan. 14, 2009: Spidey and Obama, Wonderful Wiz, more Bone, early Ditko
Here's what looks interesting to me this week. Click on links to order discounted books from Amazon.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #583 This is the one with the Obama cover.
WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ #2 I'm waiting for the trade on this adaptation by Eric Shanower and Scottie Young, but I've snuck a peek and the individual issues and they looks fabulous.
BONE VOL 09 CROWN OF HORNS The color reprints of Jeff Smith's great series continue.
STEVE DITKO EDGE OF GENIUS Black-and-white reprints of early Ditko comics work. Published by Greg Theakston's Pure Imagination.
See other recent comics new releases.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #583 This is the one with the Obama cover.
WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ #2 I'm waiting for the trade on this adaptation by Eric Shanower and Scottie Young, but I've snuck a peek and the individual issues and they looks fabulous.
BONE VOL 09 CROWN OF HORNS The color reprints of Jeff Smith's great series continue.
STEVE DITKO EDGE OF GENIUS Black-and-white reprints of early Ditko comics work. Published by Greg Theakston's Pure Imagination.
See other recent comics new releases.
43 years and STILL not on DVD: The Batman TV series
It's come to my attention (via Fred Hembeck) that this week marks the 43rd anniversary of the Adam West "Batman" TV series. Fred wasn't crazy about the show. Me? I was CRAAAAAAZZZZZZY about it. The cool Batparaphernalia, the wacky sound effects, the insane cliffhangers and all those crazy, bright colors.
I'm 43 myself, and watched the show obsessively when it was in reruns when I was 5 or 6. Goofy as it was, it turned me into a lifelong Batfan and, along with the Beatles and other obsessions, is likely why I'm doing this silly blog at all.
And I continue to think it's ridiculous Warner Bros. and Universal can't get it together, strike a deal and get it out on legit DVDs. But maybe they just want the bootleggers to continue making money off it.
Any way, it's been a while since I've run any photos from the show, so here's a fresh batch:
More Batman TV Series posts and pics
I'm 43 myself, and watched the show obsessively when it was in reruns when I was 5 or 6. Goofy as it was, it turned me into a lifelong Batfan and, along with the Beatles and other obsessions, is likely why I'm doing this silly blog at all.
And I continue to think it's ridiculous Warner Bros. and Universal can't get it together, strike a deal and get it out on legit DVDs. But maybe they just want the bootleggers to continue making money off it.
Any way, it's been a while since I've run any photos from the show, so here's a fresh batch:
More Batman TV Series posts and pics
DVD, CD new releases Jan. 13, 2009:
Here are DVDs and CD new releases of interest this week. Click links to order disounted items from Amazon (proceeds help support this site).
DVDs
Patti Smith Dream Of Life
John Lennon - In Performance
Paul McCartney - In Performance
Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business Of America
CDs
Doctor Who: Series 4
Love Live: Whisky a Go-Go 1978 Love
Arthur Lee Arthur Lee
Other recent New Releases
DVDs
Patti Smith Dream Of Life
John Lennon - In Performance
Paul McCartney - In Performance
Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business Of America
CDs
Doctor Who: Series 4
Love Live: Whisky a Go-Go 1978 Love
Arthur Lee Arthur Lee
Other recent New Releases
Pop links: Marianne Faithfull 60s videos, comic sales up
Upcoming book: Marvel Comics in the 1960s
Here's additional info an cover art for a great-sounding new book due in August from Twomorrows Publishing:
Marvel Comics In The 1960s: An Issue-By-Issue Field Guide To A Pop Culture Phenomenon
By Pierre Comtois
After being relegated to the realm of children's literature for the first 25 years of its history, the comic book industry experienced an unexpected flowering in the early 1960s. A celebration of that emergence, Marvel Comics in the 1960s: An Issue-by-Issue Field Guide to a Pop Culture Phenomenon presents a step-by-step look at how a company that had the reputation of being one of the least creative in a generally moribund industry, emerged as one of the most dynamic, slightly irreverent, and downright original contributions to an era when pop-culture, from Tom Wolfe to Andy Warhol, emerged as the dominant force in the artistic life of America. In scores of handy, easy-to-reference entries, Marvel Comics in the 1960s takes the reader from the legendary company's first fumbling beginnings as helmed by savvy editor/writer Stan Lee (aided by such artists as Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko), to the full maturity of its wild, colorful, offbeat grandiosity. With the history of Marvel Comics in the 1960s divided into four distinct phases, author Pierre Comtois explains just how Lee, Kirby, Ditko, et. al. created a line of comic books that, while grounded in the traditional elements of panel-to-panel storytelling, broke through the juvenile mindset of a low brow industry and provided a tapestry of full-blown, pop-culture icons.
Marvel Comics In The 1960s: An Issue-By-Issue Field Guide To A Pop Culture Phenomenon
By Pierre Comtois
After being relegated to the realm of children's literature for the first 25 years of its history, the comic book industry experienced an unexpected flowering in the early 1960s. A celebration of that emergence, Marvel Comics in the 1960s: An Issue-by-Issue Field Guide to a Pop Culture Phenomenon presents a step-by-step look at how a company that had the reputation of being one of the least creative in a generally moribund industry, emerged as one of the most dynamic, slightly irreverent, and downright original contributions to an era when pop-culture, from Tom Wolfe to Andy Warhol, emerged as the dominant force in the artistic life of America. In scores of handy, easy-to-reference entries, Marvel Comics in the 1960s takes the reader from the legendary company's first fumbling beginnings as helmed by savvy editor/writer Stan Lee (aided by such artists as Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko), to the full maturity of its wild, colorful, offbeat grandiosity. With the history of Marvel Comics in the 1960s divided into four distinct phases, author Pierre Comtois explains just how Lee, Kirby, Ditko, et. al. created a line of comic books that, while grounded in the traditional elements of panel-to-panel storytelling, broke through the juvenile mindset of a low brow industry and provided a tapestry of full-blown, pop-culture icons.
Pop links: 60s Britpop star Dave Dee passes, Ringo still angry, no Zep, Terry and the Pirates comic,
British pop star Dave Dee has passed away the Guardian reports. He was lead singer of Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, which scored eight UK Top 10 hits back in the 1960s.
Formed 1961 by Dee, a former Wiltshire policeman, between 1965 and 1969 the band spent more time in the UK charts than the Beatles.
Here they are in 1965 on British children's TV show "Blue Peter."
-----
Getting weirder all the time: Ringo Starr is reportedly boycotting his own Website.
The 68-year-old former Beatles star faced a public backlash after controversially announcing on his website he was stopping signing his name for fans last October.
Since the incident - which Ringo insists was misinterpreted - he has canceled his regular video messages and updates in an internet blackout.
A source close to the drummer said: "Ringo used to enjoy telling fans about his plans, but he was pretty shocked by the hostility he faced over the autograph thing."
"As a result he's reluctant to appear on the website again."
-----
Led Zeppelin is not reuniting with or without Robert Plant, evidently.
Peter Mensch (Jimmy Page's manager) has told MusicRadar.com that: "Led Zeppelin are over! If you didn't see them in 2007 [when they played a one-off reunion at London's O2 Arena], you missed them. It's done. I can't be any clearer than that."
He added: "They tried out a few singers, but no one worked out," said Mensch. "That was it. The whole thing is completely over now. There are absolutely no plans for them to continue. Zero. Frankly, I wish everybody would stop talking about it."
-----
Pappy shares a "Terry and the Pirates" give-away comic from 1947.
-----
Celebrating the label's 50th anniversary, the BBC presents the "A-Z of Motown."
-----
Golden Age Comic Book Stories presents the 1937 Walt Disney Annual from Whitman Books. Lovely art.
-----
On My Mind presents a Youtube-filled Elvis Presley birthday tribute.
-----
The Horrors of it All shares a nice Rudy Palais-illustrated tale: "Death Kiss"!
Formed 1961 by Dee, a former Wiltshire policeman, between 1965 and 1969 the band spent more time in the UK charts than the Beatles.
Here they are in 1965 on British children's TV show "Blue Peter."
-----
Getting weirder all the time: Ringo Starr is reportedly boycotting his own Website.
The 68-year-old former Beatles star faced a public backlash after controversially announcing on his website he was stopping signing his name for fans last October.
Since the incident - which Ringo insists was misinterpreted - he has canceled his regular video messages and updates in an internet blackout.
A source close to the drummer said: "Ringo used to enjoy telling fans about his plans, but he was pretty shocked by the hostility he faced over the autograph thing."
"As a result he's reluctant to appear on the website again."
-----
Led Zeppelin is not reuniting with or without Robert Plant, evidently.
Peter Mensch (Jimmy Page's manager) has told MusicRadar.com that: "Led Zeppelin are over! If you didn't see them in 2007 [when they played a one-off reunion at London's O2 Arena], you missed them. It's done. I can't be any clearer than that."
He added: "They tried out a few singers, but no one worked out," said Mensch. "That was it. The whole thing is completely over now. There are absolutely no plans for them to continue. Zero. Frankly, I wish everybody would stop talking about it."
-----
Pappy shares a "Terry and the Pirates" give-away comic from 1947.
-----
Celebrating the label's 50th anniversary, the BBC presents the "A-Z of Motown."
-----
Golden Age Comic Book Stories presents the 1937 Walt Disney Annual from Whitman Books. Lovely art.
-----
On My Mind presents a Youtube-filled Elvis Presley birthday tribute.
-----
The Horrors of it All shares a nice Rudy Palais-illustrated tale: "Death Kiss"!
Bill Everett bio coming from Fantagraphics
Blake Bell, author of the nicely done "Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko" has turned his sites on another great comic book artist: Sub-Mariner creator Bill Everett.
"Fire and Water: Bill Everett, The Sub-Mariner, and the Birth of Marvel Comics," a 216-page hardcover, will be out in July from Fantagraphics Books.
Details:
In 1939, brand-new Marvel's first ever comic book featured an anti-hero named the Sub-Mariner, created by legendary artist Bill Everett. (The angry half-man, half sea-creature Sub-Mariner property has recently been film-optioned.) From the superhero and horror genre, to romance, crime, and suspense, Bill Everett was a master of the medium. Blake Bell's follow-up to Strange & Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko, Fire and Water: The Sub-Mariner, and the Birth of Marvel Comics, is definitive biography of the man and his career. The main focus, however, will be the stunning display of artwork that few artists can match in breadth and quality- all on display in this coffee table art book that is destined to ensure Everett's place at the table of premier comic book virtuosos.
"Fire and Water: Bill Everett, The Sub-Mariner, and the Birth of Marvel Comics," a 216-page hardcover, will be out in July from Fantagraphics Books.
Details:
In 1939, brand-new Marvel's first ever comic book featured an anti-hero named the Sub-Mariner, created by legendary artist Bill Everett. (The angry half-man, half sea-creature Sub-Mariner property has recently been film-optioned.) From the superhero and horror genre, to romance, crime, and suspense, Bill Everett was a master of the medium. Blake Bell's follow-up to Strange & Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko, Fire and Water: The Sub-Mariner, and the Birth of Marvel Comics, is definitive biography of the man and his career. The main focus, however, will be the stunning display of artwork that few artists can match in breadth and quality- all on display in this coffee table art book that is destined to ensure Everett's place at the table of premier comic book virtuosos.
Spidey meets Obama
Here's info from Marvel Comics on Amazing Spider-Man #583, in which Spidey meets the new Spider-Fan in Chief.
"This all new story written by Zeb Wells and art by Todd Nauck and Frank D’Armata takes place in Washington, D.C. on Inauguration Day and finds one of Spider-Man’s oldest foes attempting to thwart the swearing in ceremony of the 44th President of the United States. The story will be featured as a bonus story in Marvel Comic’s Amazing Spider-Man #583, available in comic book shops nation-wide on January 14th, 2009. A special variant cover by artist Phil Jimenez featuring the President-Elect and Spider-Man will be available for this issue."
“When we heard that President-Elect Obama is a collector of Spider-Man comics, we knew that these two historic figures had to meet in our comics’ Marvel Universe,” Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada said in the release. “Historic moments such as this one can be reflected in our comics because the Marvel Universe is set in the real world. A Spider-Man fan moving into the Oval Office is an event that must be commemorated in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man.”
Note: I'm getting lots of search hits from people seeking to buy or pre-order the Spidey comic.
If you want a copy, your best bet is to visit your local comic book store on Jan. 14 and buy it. Normally, issues of new comics run $2.99. To find a shop near you click here.
People also are starting to offer up the issue on Web auction sites, too, of course. At ridiculous prices (i.e. around $20 at the moment). I'd imagine prices will be lower once the issue actually hits the stands. But you can check this ad below to see:
Again, though, a comic shop is the place to go.
"This all new story written by Zeb Wells and art by Todd Nauck and Frank D’Armata takes place in Washington, D.C. on Inauguration Day and finds one of Spider-Man’s oldest foes attempting to thwart the swearing in ceremony of the 44th President of the United States. The story will be featured as a bonus story in Marvel Comic’s Amazing Spider-Man #583, available in comic book shops nation-wide on January 14th, 2009. A special variant cover by artist Phil Jimenez featuring the President-Elect and Spider-Man will be available for this issue."
“When we heard that President-Elect Obama is a collector of Spider-Man comics, we knew that these two historic figures had to meet in our comics’ Marvel Universe,” Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada said in the release. “Historic moments such as this one can be reflected in our comics because the Marvel Universe is set in the real world. A Spider-Man fan moving into the Oval Office is an event that must be commemorated in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man.”
Note: I'm getting lots of search hits from people seeking to buy or pre-order the Spidey comic.
If you want a copy, your best bet is to visit your local comic book store on Jan. 14 and buy it. Normally, issues of new comics run $2.99. To find a shop near you click here.
People also are starting to offer up the issue on Web auction sites, too, of course. At ridiculous prices (i.e. around $20 at the moment). I'd imagine prices will be lower once the issue actually hits the stands. But you can check this ad below to see:
Again, though, a comic shop is the place to go.
Dark Horse Comics April 2009 solicitations: Kurtzman's Trump, Creepy Archives Vol. 4
Dark Horse Comics has announced it's releases for this April (although, actually, it looks like some of these titles don't come out until June). Here's what looks good to me:
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #24
Written by Jim Krueger, penciled by Cliff Richards, inked by Andy Owens, colored by Michelle Madsen, covers by Jo Chen and Georges Jeanty.
Faith. Giles. Let's catch up!
In a one-shot issue, Krueger fleshes out the go-to girl for dirty deeds, Faith, and her new partner, Giles. After her last thankless escapade, where she put a stop to Buffy-hunting Slayer and kindred spirit Lady Gigi, Faith decided that though she's determined to be finished with bloodshed, she's not ready to leave misguided Slayers (like Gigi) with nowhere to turn. Fast-forward to the present . . . bloodshed still abounds, and the Faith-and-Giles team is still finding out what it really means to help those chosen to slay . . .
40 pages, $2.99, in stores on April 1.
PLAYBOY'S TRUMP! THE COMPLETE COLLECTION
Written and art by Harvey Kurtzman and various.
Launched in January 1957 by Harvey Kurtzman and Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner, Trump partnered Kurtzman with many of his "usual gang of idiots" from his time at Mad -- famous humor artists such as Jack Davis, Al Jaffee, and Wally Wood. They were joined by such dynamic humorists as Arnold Roth, comedians Mel Brooks and Doodles Weaver, and TV writer and novelist Max Shulman (creator of the character Dobie Gillis, who appeared in dozens of stories, a movie, and the popular TV series The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis). Though it lasted only two issues, this first effort after Kurtzman's historic split from Mad was the breeding ground for the magazines Humbug and Help!‹and would ultimately lead to the more than thirty-year run of Kurtzman and Will Elder's landmark character Little Annie Fanny in the pages of Playboy magazine.
Trump! reprints the only two issues of the magazine, released in January and March of 1957. Trump! features the contributions of the following artists and writers: Harvey Kurtzman, Harry Chester, Jack Davis, Will Elder, Al Jaffee, Wally Wood, Arnold Roth, Russ Heath, Mel Brooks, Doodles Weaver, Max Shulman, and many others.
144 pages, $19.95, in stores on June 17.
CREEPY ARCHIVES VOLUME 4
Written and art by various.
Pulpy, smart, and scary, the stories in Creepy constituted some of the best short-form horror fiction ever told in comics. With legendary comics writer/editor Archie Goodwin both editing the magazine and crafting most of its storytelling, Creepy was at once a newsstand favorite with fright fans, and a vaunted showcase of fine comics art for serious fans of the art form. For decades, the only sources for these stories were the expensive collectible original issues. Now Dark Horse is collecting all of the original material from the history of Creepy magazine into a hardcover archive library! Collecting Creepy issues #16-#20.
240 pages, black and white, $49.95, in stores on June 24.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #24
Written by Jim Krueger, penciled by Cliff Richards, inked by Andy Owens, colored by Michelle Madsen, covers by Jo Chen and Georges Jeanty.
Faith. Giles. Let's catch up!
In a one-shot issue, Krueger fleshes out the go-to girl for dirty deeds, Faith, and her new partner, Giles. After her last thankless escapade, where she put a stop to Buffy-hunting Slayer and kindred spirit Lady Gigi, Faith decided that though she's determined to be finished with bloodshed, she's not ready to leave misguided Slayers (like Gigi) with nowhere to turn. Fast-forward to the present . . . bloodshed still abounds, and the Faith-and-Giles team is still finding out what it really means to help those chosen to slay . . .
40 pages, $2.99, in stores on April 1.
PLAYBOY'S TRUMP! THE COMPLETE COLLECTION
Written and art by Harvey Kurtzman and various.
Launched in January 1957 by Harvey Kurtzman and Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner, Trump partnered Kurtzman with many of his "usual gang of idiots" from his time at Mad -- famous humor artists such as Jack Davis, Al Jaffee, and Wally Wood. They were joined by such dynamic humorists as Arnold Roth, comedians Mel Brooks and Doodles Weaver, and TV writer and novelist Max Shulman (creator of the character Dobie Gillis, who appeared in dozens of stories, a movie, and the popular TV series The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis). Though it lasted only two issues, this first effort after Kurtzman's historic split from Mad was the breeding ground for the magazines Humbug and Help!‹and would ultimately lead to the more than thirty-year run of Kurtzman and Will Elder's landmark character Little Annie Fanny in the pages of Playboy magazine.
Trump! reprints the only two issues of the magazine, released in January and March of 1957. Trump! features the contributions of the following artists and writers: Harvey Kurtzman, Harry Chester, Jack Davis, Will Elder, Al Jaffee, Wally Wood, Arnold Roth, Russ Heath, Mel Brooks, Doodles Weaver, Max Shulman, and many others.
144 pages, $19.95, in stores on June 17.
CREEPY ARCHIVES VOLUME 4
Written and art by various.
Pulpy, smart, and scary, the stories in Creepy constituted some of the best short-form horror fiction ever told in comics. With legendary comics writer/editor Archie Goodwin both editing the magazine and crafting most of its storytelling, Creepy was at once a newsstand favorite with fright fans, and a vaunted showcase of fine comics art for serious fans of the art form. For decades, the only sources for these stories were the expensive collectible original issues. Now Dark Horse is collecting all of the original material from the history of Creepy magazine into a hardcover archive library! Collecting Creepy issues #16-#20.
240 pages, black and white, $49.95, in stores on June 24.
Pop links: Steve Gerber Web bio, Spirit Archives delayed,
An anonymous author is posting an autobiography of the late comic book writer Steve Gerber (creator of Howard the Duck) online. Peculiar idea, but the chapters up so far contain lots of detail and great illustrations.
-----
DC Comics' last volume of "The Spirit Archives," Vol. 26, due out last week has been delayed until June, the publisher reports.
That means it'll come out after the Dark Horse Comics-published "Spirit Archives Vol. 27," which reprints stories from that company's The Spirit: New Adventures title of the late 1990s, which featured Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, Neil Gaiman, Eddie Campbell, Mike Allred and other taking on Will Eisner's masked character. The Dark Horse book will be out in May.
-----
DC Comics' last volume of "The Spirit Archives," Vol. 26, due out last week has been delayed until June, the publisher reports.
That means it'll come out after the Dark Horse Comics-published "Spirit Archives Vol. 27," which reprints stories from that company's The Spirit: New Adventures title of the late 1990s, which featured Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, Neil Gaiman, Eddie Campbell, Mike Allred and other taking on Will Eisner's masked character. The Dark Horse book will be out in May.
AMC streams The Prisoner free online
In preparation for a new take on one of the coolest TV series ever, AMC is re-airing all 17 episodes of "The Prisoner" on its Web site.
AMC also has a "Prisoner 2009" site where you can get updates on the new version, which features Jim Caviezel as Number Six, the show's protagonist who is banished from society to the mysterious Village and Ian McKellen as his nemesis, Number Two. The series reportedly also include an appearance by original Number Six, and the show's creator, Patrick McGoohan.
AMC also has a "Prisoner 2009" site where you can get updates on the new version, which features Jim Caviezel as Number Six, the show's protagonist who is banished from society to the mysterious Village and Ian McKellen as his nemesis, Number Two. The series reportedly also include an appearance by original Number Six, and the show's creator, Patrick McGoohan.
New comics Jan. 7, 2009
Here's what looks good to me this week. Click title links to order items from Amazon. Proceeds help support this site.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #21
A Joss Whedon-scripted issue, I believe.
DC UNIVERSE ILLUSTRATED BY NEAL ADAMS VOL. 1
I don't know if this includes any of Neal's overbearing re-coloring as did DC's Adams' Batman hardcovers, but it'll be good stuff nevertheless.
SHOWCASE PRESENTS STRANGE ADVENTURES VOL. 1
A big slab of Silver Age sci fi.
SUPERGIRL COSMIC ADVENTURES IN THE 8TH GRADE #2
Got the first issue of this for my daughter. It's a smart, funny youth-aimed story.
LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 14 DASHING WHITE COWBOY
More of Goscinny/Morris' funny Western.
See other recent comics new releases.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #21
A Joss Whedon-scripted issue, I believe.
DC UNIVERSE ILLUSTRATED BY NEAL ADAMS VOL. 1
I don't know if this includes any of Neal's overbearing re-coloring as did DC's Adams' Batman hardcovers, but it'll be good stuff nevertheless.
SHOWCASE PRESENTS STRANGE ADVENTURES VOL. 1
A big slab of Silver Age sci fi.
SUPERGIRL COSMIC ADVENTURES IN THE 8TH GRADE #2
Got the first issue of this for my daughter. It's a smart, funny youth-aimed story.
LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 14 DASHING WHITE COWBOY
More of Goscinny/Morris' funny Western.
See other recent comics new releases.
New Lost season 5 blog
It's getting near premiere time for "Lost" and, as readers of this blog know, I'm a big fan of the show.
However, I figure not all of you are. That's why I've decided that, for the upcoming season, I'm gonna post all my "Lost"-related stuff at a separate site:
Lost Season 5
So, if you like "Lost," check it out. I've already posted lots of photos and info on the upcoming season and will post my observations, theories about all this season's episodes.
No fear, though, I'll still be posting daily on various and sundry pop cultural topics right here at Pop Culture Safari as well.
However, I figure not all of you are. That's why I've decided that, for the upcoming season, I'm gonna post all my "Lost"-related stuff at a separate site:
Lost Season 5
So, if you like "Lost," check it out. I've already posted lots of photos and info on the upcoming season and will post my observations, theories about all this season's episodes.
No fear, though, I'll still be posting daily on various and sundry pop cultural topics right here at Pop Culture Safari as well.
Pop links: Lennon MBE found, no more monthly comics?, is Miller's Spirit really off the mark?, more!
The MBE that John Lennon returned to The Queen in 1969 has been found in a royal vault.
The star was awarded the MBE along with the rest of The Beatles in 1965, but later decided to send it back as a form of protest.
In a letter addressed to The Queen, Lennon wrote:
"Your Majesty, I am returning my MBE as a protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against 'Cold Turkey' slipping down the charts. With Love, John Lennon of Bag."
The medal, which has lain untouched for years, was found in a cabinet at the Chancery Department Of The Royal Household, reports The Daily Telegraph. It is still in its original presentation case, and is accompanied by Lennon's protest letter.
Beatles historians and fans are now calling for the MBE to be put on public display, either in a museum or at Lennon's childhood home in Liverpool, Mendips, which was donated to the National Trust by Yoko Ono.
-----
Should we dispense with monthly comic books and just publish trade paperbacks? The editorial director of Harris Comics thinks so.
A monthly comic series loses a small fraction of their audience from one issue to the next due to the natural attrition of serialized storytelling. No serialized story will keep 100% of its readers with each succeeding installment. On average the typical comic probably loses 10% of its readership per issue. That may not sound bad but stretch those losses over the course of twelve or twenty-four issues and suddenly a comic that sold 25,000 copies its first issue is no longer breaking even within a few years of its debut. At that point a publisher has to decide whether to keep going or cancel. Now imagine if instead of one monthly a publisher had decided to launch many simultaneously, believing that a larger set of offerings would make their company look more impressive. Maybe a company could offset the losses making up for it with related trade paperback sales and other merchandise. But say they have a half dozen or a dozen titles bleeding that much. The losses start piling up exponentially. That scenario has played out many times over the last few years and why you’ve seen new publishers fall as quickly as they have risen.
I grew up buying comics at the news stand and, later, the comic book shop. I love that monthly fix. But, more and more, I buy comics in collected format. For one thing, it's cheaper. For another, many of the monthlies produced now are being created with the collection in mind--so why not wait and read them all at once.
Dispensing with the monthlies would probably result in better comics, actually. By trying to create comics for both formats, the stories actually suffer in their organization and pacing. Few of today's monthlies stand up as strong 20-odd page works. Often, story-telling is drawn out and slowed down, just to fill the page count for the eventual collection. And the resulting collections often don't read as strong books unto themselves.
Once the industry makes a decision on how it wants to tell stories--in 20-page snippets or in 100-odd page books--we'll have better told stories.
The end of monthlies also would likely spell the end of silly big event crossovers and other marketing gimmicks in favor of individual, though longer, stories that focus more on original plots and characterization that isn't as steeped in continuity.
-----
Kyle Baker, sarcastically, shows that maybe Frank Miller's take on the Spirit isn't as off the mark as some people, like me, think.
It's a well-done piece and, I have to admit, I haven't seen Miller's film yet. I should, if only so that I can gripe about it fairly. My reservations about it (which have prevented me from shelling out the dough to go see it) are based on what I've seen in teasers and my general opinion of Miller's past work.
I stand by my opinion that Miller is essentially a one-trick pony: He takes a property, darkens it up and says "look at how clever I am." And, as a result, he's badly damaged the superhero genre, resulting in books that confuse grim nihilism and exploitation for maturity and stealing away characters that once were safe for young children to enjoy and admire from the youth audience.
I'm talking about Batman, not the Spirit, here. I realize that the Spirit was created for an adult, newspaper-reading audience. But, after Miller's "Dark Knight," pretty much the entire mainstream lines of DC and Marvel have become dark and ugly in tone and inappropriate for pre-teens. And I just can't forgive his role in that development.
At the same time, though, maybe I shouldn't let that predispose me to hate Miller's "Spirit." If and when I see it, I'll share my thoughts about it.
------
See, this is the Batman I remember! (Well, maybe he doesn't have to always be this nice...)
-----
From Geek Orthodox: Superhero bottle caps!
------
Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton has died, Billboard reports.
Asheton and his drummer brother Scott formed the Stooges with Iggy Pop in Ann Arbor in 1967. Amid a music scene that also reared acts like Bob Seger and the MC5, the Stooges stood out for their reckless abandon, theatrics and pummeling style, a clear precursor for punk and alternative rock.
The star was awarded the MBE along with the rest of The Beatles in 1965, but later decided to send it back as a form of protest.
In a letter addressed to The Queen, Lennon wrote:
"Your Majesty, I am returning my MBE as a protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against 'Cold Turkey' slipping down the charts. With Love, John Lennon of Bag."
The medal, which has lain untouched for years, was found in a cabinet at the Chancery Department Of The Royal Household, reports The Daily Telegraph. It is still in its original presentation case, and is accompanied by Lennon's protest letter.
Beatles historians and fans are now calling for the MBE to be put on public display, either in a museum or at Lennon's childhood home in Liverpool, Mendips, which was donated to the National Trust by Yoko Ono.
-----
Should we dispense with monthly comic books and just publish trade paperbacks? The editorial director of Harris Comics thinks so.
A monthly comic series loses a small fraction of their audience from one issue to the next due to the natural attrition of serialized storytelling. No serialized story will keep 100% of its readers with each succeeding installment. On average the typical comic probably loses 10% of its readership per issue. That may not sound bad but stretch those losses over the course of twelve or twenty-four issues and suddenly a comic that sold 25,000 copies its first issue is no longer breaking even within a few years of its debut. At that point a publisher has to decide whether to keep going or cancel. Now imagine if instead of one monthly a publisher had decided to launch many simultaneously, believing that a larger set of offerings would make their company look more impressive. Maybe a company could offset the losses making up for it with related trade paperback sales and other merchandise. But say they have a half dozen or a dozen titles bleeding that much. The losses start piling up exponentially. That scenario has played out many times over the last few years and why you’ve seen new publishers fall as quickly as they have risen.
I grew up buying comics at the news stand and, later, the comic book shop. I love that monthly fix. But, more and more, I buy comics in collected format. For one thing, it's cheaper. For another, many of the monthlies produced now are being created with the collection in mind--so why not wait and read them all at once.
Dispensing with the monthlies would probably result in better comics, actually. By trying to create comics for both formats, the stories actually suffer in their organization and pacing. Few of today's monthlies stand up as strong 20-odd page works. Often, story-telling is drawn out and slowed down, just to fill the page count for the eventual collection. And the resulting collections often don't read as strong books unto themselves.
Once the industry makes a decision on how it wants to tell stories--in 20-page snippets or in 100-odd page books--we'll have better told stories.
The end of monthlies also would likely spell the end of silly big event crossovers and other marketing gimmicks in favor of individual, though longer, stories that focus more on original plots and characterization that isn't as steeped in continuity.
-----
Kyle Baker, sarcastically, shows that maybe Frank Miller's take on the Spirit isn't as off the mark as some people, like me, think.
It's a well-done piece and, I have to admit, I haven't seen Miller's film yet. I should, if only so that I can gripe about it fairly. My reservations about it (which have prevented me from shelling out the dough to go see it) are based on what I've seen in teasers and my general opinion of Miller's past work.
I stand by my opinion that Miller is essentially a one-trick pony: He takes a property, darkens it up and says "look at how clever I am." And, as a result, he's badly damaged the superhero genre, resulting in books that confuse grim nihilism and exploitation for maturity and stealing away characters that once were safe for young children to enjoy and admire from the youth audience.
I'm talking about Batman, not the Spirit, here. I realize that the Spirit was created for an adult, newspaper-reading audience. But, after Miller's "Dark Knight," pretty much the entire mainstream lines of DC and Marvel have become dark and ugly in tone and inappropriate for pre-teens. And I just can't forgive his role in that development.
At the same time, though, maybe I shouldn't let that predispose me to hate Miller's "Spirit." If and when I see it, I'll share my thoughts about it.
------
See, this is the Batman I remember! (Well, maybe he doesn't have to always be this nice...)
-----
From Geek Orthodox: Superhero bottle caps!
------
Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton has died, Billboard reports.
Asheton and his drummer brother Scott formed the Stooges with Iggy Pop in Ann Arbor in 1967. Amid a music scene that also reared acts like Bob Seger and the MC5, the Stooges stood out for their reckless abandon, theatrics and pummeling style, a clear precursor for punk and alternative rock.
New DVDs, CDs Jan. 6, 2009: Battlestar Galactica season 4, vintage Doctor Who, John Peel and more
Click the links to preorder discounted items from Amazon. Proceeds help support this site!
DVDs
Battlestar Galactica - Season 4.0
The Tudors - Season 2
Doctor Who: War Machines
Doctor Who: Four to Doomsday
Mannix: The Second Season
John Peel's Dandelion Records
CDs
Art of Field Recording, Vol. 2 by Various Artists
Other recent New Releases
DVDs
Battlestar Galactica - Season 4.0
The Tudors - Season 2
Doctor Who: War Machines
Doctor Who: Four to Doomsday
Mannix: The Second Season
John Peel's Dandelion Records
CDs
Art of Field Recording, Vol. 2 by Various Artists
Other recent New Releases
Pop links: Buck Rogers by Frazetta, NYT on Elder and Von Eeden's Jack Johnson
Golden Age Comic Book Stories presents some Buck Rogers comic book covers by the great Frank Frazetta.
-----
Missed this over the holiday break: A New York Times piece about the late Mad magazine cartoonist Will Elder.
-----
Also from The New York Times, a review of Trevor Von Eeden's new graphic novel about boxer Jack Johnson.
-----
Missed this over the holiday break: A New York Times piece about the late Mad magazine cartoonist Will Elder.
-----
Also from The New York Times, a review of Trevor Von Eeden's new graphic novel about boxer Jack Johnson.
Who's the new Doctor Who?
I'm a bit late with this one due to being on vacation, but, here's some news from the BBC:
The BBC today announced that Matt Smith has been cast in the role of the Doctor in the iconic BBC series Doctor Who.
Smith will be the 11th Time Lord and will take over from David Tennant who leaves the show at the end of 2009. He will be seen in the forthcoming fifth series that will be broadcast in 2010.
The identity of the new Doctor was revealed on a special edition of Doctor Who Confidential that was broadcast on BBC One today (3 January) at 5.35pm (17.35 GMT).
Matt Smith said of his new role: "I'm just so excited about the journey that is in front of me. It's a wonderful privilege and challenge that I hope I will thrive on.
"I feel proud and honoured to have been given this opportunity to join a team of people that has worked so tirelessly to make the show so thrilling.
"David Tennant has made the role his own, brilliantly, with grace, talent and persistent dedication. I hope to learn from the standards set by him.
"The challenge for me is to do justice to the show's illustrious past, my predecessors, and most importantly, to those who watch it. I really cannot wait."
Matt Smith, 26, grew up with his family including one sister in Northampton. He was head boy at Northampton School For Boys where he excelled at sports, music and drama.
Initially, Matt wanted to be a professional footballer and played for Northampton Town Under-11 & 12s, Nottingham Forest Under 12, 13 & 14s and Leicester City Under 15 & 16s before a back injury forced him out of the game.
Following his injury, and with the encouragement of one of his teachers, Jerry Hardingham, Matt decided to join the National Youth Theatre.
It was during this time that Matt first gained attention at the Royal Court Theatre when he was cast in the play Fresh Kills, directed by Wilson Milam, whilst still at the University Of East Anglia where he was studying Drama and Creative Writing.
Already a stalwart of the National Youth Theatre, his performance at the Court led to a variety of theatrical experiences at the National Theatre: in the award-winning History Boys (directed by Nick Hytner), On The Shore Of The Wide World (directed by Sarah Frankcom) and also in the acclaimed trio of plays Burn / Citizenship / Chatroom (directed by Anna Mackmin).
These roles led to Matt's first outings on the small screen, alongside Billie Piper in Phillip Pullman's period detective stories, The Ruby In The Smoke and The Shadow In The North (both BBC One), where he played Jim, right-hand man to Billie's detective heroine Sally Lockhart.
These pieces were followed by the lead role of Danny in the BBC Two series Party Animals, the brilliantly observed drama set in the world of young politicians.
Matt has recently completed work on Moses Jones for BBC Two, directed by Michael Offer, in which he plays the lead role of Dan Twentyman, alongside Shaun Parkes in the title role.
The BBC today announced that Matt Smith has been cast in the role of the Doctor in the iconic BBC series Doctor Who.
Smith will be the 11th Time Lord and will take over from David Tennant who leaves the show at the end of 2009. He will be seen in the forthcoming fifth series that will be broadcast in 2010.
The identity of the new Doctor was revealed on a special edition of Doctor Who Confidential that was broadcast on BBC One today (3 January) at 5.35pm (17.35 GMT).
Matt Smith said of his new role: "I'm just so excited about the journey that is in front of me. It's a wonderful privilege and challenge that I hope I will thrive on.
"I feel proud and honoured to have been given this opportunity to join a team of people that has worked so tirelessly to make the show so thrilling.
"David Tennant has made the role his own, brilliantly, with grace, talent and persistent dedication. I hope to learn from the standards set by him.
"The challenge for me is to do justice to the show's illustrious past, my predecessors, and most importantly, to those who watch it. I really cannot wait."
Matt Smith, 26, grew up with his family including one sister in Northampton. He was head boy at Northampton School For Boys where he excelled at sports, music and drama.
Initially, Matt wanted to be a professional footballer and played for Northampton Town Under-11 & 12s, Nottingham Forest Under 12, 13 & 14s and Leicester City Under 15 & 16s before a back injury forced him out of the game.
Following his injury, and with the encouragement of one of his teachers, Jerry Hardingham, Matt decided to join the National Youth Theatre.
It was during this time that Matt first gained attention at the Royal Court Theatre when he was cast in the play Fresh Kills, directed by Wilson Milam, whilst still at the University Of East Anglia where he was studying Drama and Creative Writing.
Already a stalwart of the National Youth Theatre, his performance at the Court led to a variety of theatrical experiences at the National Theatre: in the award-winning History Boys (directed by Nick Hytner), On The Shore Of The Wide World (directed by Sarah Frankcom) and also in the acclaimed trio of plays Burn / Citizenship / Chatroom (directed by Anna Mackmin).
These roles led to Matt's first outings on the small screen, alongside Billie Piper in Phillip Pullman's period detective stories, The Ruby In The Smoke and The Shadow In The North (both BBC One), where he played Jim, right-hand man to Billie's detective heroine Sally Lockhart.
These pieces were followed by the lead role of Danny in the BBC Two series Party Animals, the brilliantly observed drama set in the world of young politicians.
Matt has recently completed work on Moses Jones for BBC Two, directed by Michael Offer, in which he plays the lead role of Dan Twentyman, alongside Shaun Parkes in the title role.
Action figures: Cute, cuddly Doctor Who figures on the way
Character Options has released info on a batch of cartoony Doctor Who "Time Squad" figures due out later this year.
Here's a look at a few:
More Doctor Who action figures at Amazon.
Here's a look at a few:
More Doctor Who action figures at Amazon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)