Pop links: Michael's weird sendoff; Tom Corbett; Steranko; Infantino; Beatles bootlegger quits, more!

Reviewing a memorial service is weird. But, then, this memorial service WAS weird. From Mojo:

WHILE THIS IS STILL the Official Period Of Mourning In Which It Is Not Permissible To Say Bad Things About Michael Jackson, can we be the first to ask of yesterday's Tribute gig: what the f____ was that all about?

If the vision of his not-always-supportive family dressed up in the shades'n'glove uniform and faking the solidarity they could never manage during his lifetime was not weird enough, what will be the lasting (further?) damage to his poor kids - Prince Michael, Prince Michael II and Princess Michael Of Kent (or whatever she's called) - of this garish and hypocritical wake-cum-PR-circus, this tribute to their father and (frankly) all the money he made for lots of people once upon a time?


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See a Tom Corbett View-Master reel.



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We just wrapped our own presentation of Shadow paperback covers by the great Jim Steranko. Now here's a look at some of his other book illustration work.






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Via Michael May's Adventureblog, check out this awesome home theater modeled on Captain Nemo's Nautilus!


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The first issue of DC's Wednesday Comics (see related posts below) is in shops today. USA Today is running the Superman installments online. Check out the first one here.



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Read a great interview with veteran comics artist/editor Carmine Infantino.





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Good news/bad news Dept.: Famed Beatles bootlegger Dr. Ebbetts, known for his excellent-sounding "needle drop" from-vinyl transfers of classic Beatles albums to CD, is calling it quits. This news is on good authority--from renowned Beatleg expert Doug Sulpy himself. So that's bad. The good news is why Doc Ebbetts is quitting:

Evidently, the Doc has heard samples which purport to be from the upcoming remasters, feels that these better his own work, and has decided it isn't worth it to carry on with the "core" of his collection rendered obsolete by the upcoming official releases.

Obviously, this means that the upcoming official remasters of the Beatles' albums are going to sound really, really good. Up until now, Dr. Ebbetts' releases have been the best way to hear the Fabs' output on disk, far surpassing the sound quality of the official CDs released in the late 1980s.

So, I bid a fond farewell to Doc E. and all the great work he's done tiding us over in the interim.




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Hear Sonic Youth live in concert on NPR.

Tom Swift book covers pt. 5











New comics July 8, 2009: Bat Lash! Wednesday Comics! Prince Valiant! More!

New releases of note this week. Click the links to order discounted books from Amazon.


SHOWCASE PRESENTS BATLASH I've been looking forward to this one: A collection of awesome Sergio Aragones-scripted/Nick Cardy-illustrated Western tales in beautiful black and white.


WEDNESDAY COMICS #1 I'm also eager to see this, the first issue of DC's new weekly anthology title, published in Sunday comics-tabloid format. Looks like a great roster or characters/creators.


THOR TALES OF ASGARD BY LEE & KIRBY #3 Continuing the reprints of the Lee/Kirby Thor backup strip.


PRINCE VALIANT VOL. 1 1937-1938 The first installment of Fantagraphics Books' new reprintings of Hal Foster's classic strip.

Wednesday Comics Flash preview

The first issue of the excellent-looking tabloid-format Wednesday Comics from DC hits stands tomorrow. If you've missed reports, it's a weekly anthology title, featuring serialized superhero tales in a Sunday Comics format. Here's a look at a Flash installment:

Pop links: Lost Spirit movie! Who's Batgirl? New Spinal Tap! Classic Archie reprints! Partial Python reunion! Potter pics!

What if "Exorcist" William Friedkin had followed through on plans to direct a TV movie based on Will Eisner's "The Spirit" back in the 1970s? Booksteve investigates.

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DC Comics continues the long tease: Who is the new Batgirl? If it's not Barbara Gordon, I don't care. The comic is out Aug. 19.



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Download a free new Spinal Tap tune from Mojo!

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IDW Publishing will collect classic Archie newspaper strips and comic book stories in a new line of hardcovers.

In addition to reprinting original strips by series creator John Goldwater and original artist Bob Montana, IDW will also present Best Of volumes that showcase the work of Archie artists, such as Montana, Dan DeCarlo, and Stan Goldberg. "Archie has had so many talented artists throughout its history, each with their own take on the characters," said Goldstein. "We want to offer fans the best from each of those eras, especially since much of this material has not been in print since its original publication."

"We are thrilled to be partnering with IDW Publishing on these important historical works. IDW is well known for their outstanding work and we look forward to working closely with the team at IDW to create a line that all past, present and future Archie fans will enjoy," commented co-CEO Jon Goldwater.

IDW will also publish special collections of Archie's Madhouse and Archie as Pureheart the Powerful, a comedic super hero series that ran during the 1960's. Award-winning creative director and editor Craig Yoe will oversee many of these special volumes.







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Most of Monty Python is reuniting for a musical production of "The Life of Brian."

Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam will appear in the European premiere of Idle's musical Not The Messiah (He's A Very Naughty Boy).

The oratorio, based on the film Life Of Brian, will receive its UK premiere at the Royal Albert Hall on 23 October.

Also:

A six-episode documentary, Monty Python: Almost The Truth (The Lawyer's Cut) will air on US TV in October before being released on DVD.

John Cleese and the other surviving members will all feature.

"This is a documentary I always hoped that would be made - something so complete and so faithful to the truth that I don't need to watch it," said Jones.


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Yahoo! has posted more than 100 pics from the upcoming "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

Tom Swift book covers pt. 4











Golden Records kiddie tunes collected on CD!

Among this weeks new releases are two volumes collecting classic recordings from the Golden Records kiddie label. Check out the track listings:

From Your Golden Childhood: The Best of Little Golden Records, Vol. 1
1. MIGHTY MOUSE THEME (Here I Come to Save the Day!) - Mighty Mouse (Tom Morrison) and The Terrytooners featuring Mike Stewart
2. CLEMENTINE -The Sandpipers
3. PETER COTTONTAIL (Year Round Version) - The Sandpipers featuring Anne Lloyd
4. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY - Bert Parks
5. I LIKE PEOPLE (The Friendly Song) - Jimmy Durante
6. TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME - The Sandpipers featuring Anne Lloyd with Mitch Miller's Orchestra
7. THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD - The Sandpipers featuring Anne Lloyd and Mike Stewart
8. GIVE A LITTLE WHISTLE - Cliff Edwards with Mitch Miller's Orchestra
9. CAROUSEL WALTZ - Mitch Miller's Orchestra Conducted by Jimmy Carroll
10. SONG WAGON - Roy Rogers, Dale Evans & The Ranch Hands
11. TUBBY THE TUBA - Paul Tripp
12. HI-LILI, HI-LO - Shari Lewis, Lamb Chop & Friends
13. THE BALLAD OF THE ALAMO - Mike Stewart
14. PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON - The Golden Singers

From Your Golden Childhood: The Best of Little Golden Records, Vol. 2
1. I'M POPEYE THE SAILOR MAN - Popeye (Jack Mercer) and The Sandpipers
2. THE FARMER IN THE DELL - The Sandpipers featuring Anne Lloyd
3. LONDON BRIDGE - The Sandpipers featuring Anne Lloyd
4. FUZZY WUZZY - Betty Clooney
5. YOU'RE A GRAND OLD FLAG - Bert Parks
6. YANKEE DOODLE BUNNY (The Holiday Bunny) - Jimmy Durante
7. CASEY AT THE BAT - Mel Allen
8. SCUFFY THE TUGBOAT - Gil Mack and Mike Stewart
9. OKLAHOMA! - The Sandpipers
10. OPEN UP YOUR HEART (AND LET THE SUN SHINE IN) - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
11. THREE BLIND MICE - The Sandpipers featuring Anne Lloyd
12. LET A SMILE BE YOUR UMBRELLA - Shari Lewis, Lamb Chop & Friends
13. THE UGLY DUCKLING from Hans Christian Andersen- Art Carney with The Sandpipers featuring Anne Lloyd
14. ON TOP OF SPAGHETTI - The Rita Williams Singers

CD new releases July 7, 2009: Son Volt; Jayhawks; Kristoferson reissues; Alfred Hitchcock; Golden Records; Klaus Voorman!

New releases of note this week. If any of these items are of interest to you, please consider clicking the titles and ordering them from Amazon, as part of the proceeds help support this site!


American Central Dust by Son Volt


Music from the North Country: The Jayhawks Anthology by Jayhawks


Music from the North Country: The Jayhawks Anthology(Deluxe Edition) by Jayhawks


Who's to Bless and Who's to Blame/To the Bone by Kris Kristofferson


Border Lord/Jesus Was a Capricorn by Kris Kristofferson


Surreal Thing/Easter Island by Kris Kristofferson


Spooky Lady's Sideshow/Shake Hands with the Devil by Kris Kristofferson


I Think This Is by Young Fresh Fellows


Ohio Express/Chewy Chewy by Ohio Express


Newport 1958: Brubeck Plays Ellington by Dave Brubeck & Paul Desmond


Alfred Hitchcock's Presents: Ghost Stories for Young People/Famous Monsters Speak by Alfred Hitchcock


A Sideman's Journey by Klaus Voorman


From Your Golden Childhood: The Best of Little Golden Records, Vol. 1


From Your Golden Childhood: The Best of Little Golden Records, Vol. 2


Poet: A Tribute to Townes Van Zandt by Various Artists

DVD new releases July 7, 2009: Dr. Who; Peanuts 60s collection!

New releases of note this week. If any of these items are of interest to you, please consider clicking the titles and ordering them from Amazon, as part of the proceeds help support this site!


Doctor Who: The Rescue / The Romans


Doctor Who: Attack of the Cybermen


Peanuts: 1960's Collection (A Charlie Brown Christmas / Charlie Brown's All-Stars / It's the Great Pumpkin / You're in Love / He's Your Dog / It Was a Short Summer)

Pop links

See a Mort Meskin-illustrated Johnny Quick tale from Adventure Comics #104.

Tom Swift book covers pt. 3