Bat fans

An old wire service photo of collegiate Batman TV show fans of the 1960s.

Pop links: Rare Wally Wood story, see a preview for the new Doctor Who

Read a rare 1951 sci-fi tale illustrated by the great Wally Wood.



-----

Watch a preview for the upcoming season of "Doctor Who."

Beatles' studio NOT for sale

Now EMI is saying it won't be selling Abbey Road Studios.

After days of speculation over the fate of the site made famous by the eponymous Beatles album, EMI released a statement saying it believes the studios should remain under its ownership.

The firm, which is owned by private equity parent Terra Firma, also said it had rejected an offer for the historic building last year.

It did however say it was in talks with “interested and appropriate third parties” about funding a “revitalisation” project.


The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions: The Official Story of the Abbey Road Years 1962-1970

Vintage comic book ad: The Shadow

New Doctor Who promotional pic

A nice new shot featuring the new Doctor, Matthew Smith, and companion Amy Pond, played by Karen Gillan.


DC Comics May 2010 solicitations

Highlights from DC's newly announced offerings for May:


THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1
On sale MAY 19 • 48 pg, FC, $3.99 US
Written by PAUL LEVITZ • Art and cover by YILDIRAY CINAR & WAYNE FAUCHER
1:10 Variant cover by JIM LEE
Fan-favorite LEGION writer Paul Levitz returns to the 31st century super team he made supreme with an all-new intergalactic era! This exciting series picks up on threads from Geoff Johns’s “Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes” storyline and creates its own all-new ones, including a Green Lantern Corps tie-in and the destruction of a major planet! Rocket on board here as Levitz and rising star artist Yildiray Cinar (TEEN TITANS) revitalize one of DC’s most beloved franchises starting with an oversized first issue with a variant cover by superstar artist Jim Lee!

Adventures of Superboy Book One
ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY VOL. 1 HC
On sale JULY 28 • 224 pg, FC, $39.99 US
Written by JERRY SIEGEL AND DON CAMERON • Art by JOE SHUSTER & OTHERS • Cover by JACK BURNLEY
The original adventures of Superman when he was a boy are collected for the first time, from MORE FUN COMICS #101-107 and ADVENTURE COMICS #103-121. Set in Smallville, the future Man of Steel learns responsibility as he deals with problems of every sort in the post-World War II Midwest.

Pop links: Monkeemobile, history of the the direct comics market, Jimi Hendrix Rockband on the way

Hey, hey it's the Monkeemobile!


-----

The Comics Journal provides a detailed history of the Direct Market system of comics distribution. My own take: The Direct Market started out as a good idea--helping to get distribution for smaller, independent comics companies--but ultimately worked to essentially remove comic books from the wider popular culture. It's why you no longer see spinner racks in drug stores and supermarkets and likely a key reason kids don't gravitate to funny books anymore.

-----

Practice up that dorky plastic guitar: Jimi Hendrix Rock Band is a'comin'.

Mattel's Mego-style retro-action figures out soon

I've mentioned these DC Universe World's Greatest Superheroes figures before, but they put me in such a warm, nostalgic mood. They'll be out next month, apparently.



Vintage comic book ad: More Roy Rogers

Comic book new releases Feb. 17, 2010

Comics shipping this week:

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUL090100 BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL NOVEL VOL 01 SWORD DEMON $10.99
DEC090024 DEVIL #1 (OF 4) $3.50
JUL090134 SIMPSONS CLASSIC CHARACTER #4 BART $49.95
DEC090066 STAR WARS KNIGHTS OLD REPUBLIC #50 (OF 50) DEMON PT 4 (OF 4 $2.99
SEP090079 UNCLE SCROOGE COMIC CHARACTER #6 BEAGLE BOY $49.95

DC COMICS

DEC090264 AIR #18 (MR) $2.99
DEC090240 AUTHORITY THE LOST YEAR #6 (OF 12) $2.99
DEC090161 AZRAEL #5 $2.99
NOV090248 BALLAD OF A SHINIGAMI VOL 03 $9.99
DEC090155 BATMAN #696 $2.99
JUL090312 BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE MARSHALL ROGERS $80.00
DEC090157 BATMAN STREETS OF GOTHAM #9 $3.99
DEC090231 BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #14 $2.50
DC Direct Blackest Night: Series 3 Action Figure Set
AUG090264 BLACKEST NIGHT SER 3 BLACK LANTERN AQUAMAN AF PI
AUG090265 BLACKEST NIGHT SER 3 GREEN LANTERN ARISIA AF PI
AUG090266 BLACKEST NIGHT SER 3 ORANGE LANTERN LARFLEEZE AF PI
AUG090267 BLACKEST NIGHT SER 3 STAR SAPPHIRE AF PI
DEC090140 BLACKEST NIGHT THE FLASH #3 (OF 3) $2.99
DEC090248 DANTES INFERNO #3 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
NOV090173 DC UNIVERSE ORIGINS TP $10.11
Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance
NOV090175 FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH DANCE TP $12.14
DEC090249 FREE REALMS #6 (OF 12) $3.99
DEC090136 GREEN LANTERN #51 (BLACKEST NIGHT) $2.99
DEC090138 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #45 (BLACKEST NIGHT) $2.99
DEC090271 HELLBLAZER #264 (MR) $2.99
DEC090274 JOE THE BARBARIAN #2 (OF 8) (MR) $2.99
DEC090195 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #42 $3.99
NOV090180 KOBRA RESURRECTION TP $19.99
DEC090190 MAGOG #6 $2.99
DEC090250 MODERN WARFARE 2 GHOST #3 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
DEC090160 OUTSIDERS #27 $2.99
DEC090191 POWER GIRL #9 $2.99
Starman Omnibus Vol. 4
OCT090253 STARMAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 04 $31.49
DEC090171 SUPERGIRL #50 (NOTE PRICE) $4.99
DEC090175 SUPERMAN BATMAN #69 $2.99
DEC090252 SUPERNATURAL BEGINNINGS END #2 (OF 6) $2.99
NOV090251 TALE OF AN UNKNOWN COUNTRY VOL 02 $9.99
DEC090233 TINY TITANS #25 $2.50
NOV090250 VENUS IN LOVE VOL 08 $9.99
DC Direct Women of the DC Universe: Series 3: Hippolyta Bust
JUL090328 WOMEN OF THE DCU SERIES 3 HIPPOLYTA BUST $60.00

IMAGE COMICS

AUG090317 ASTOUNDING WOLF MAN TP VOL 03 $16.99
NOV090372 ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #21 (RES) $2.99
MAR092483 BROKEN TRINITY TP $14.99
DEC090372 CHASE VARIANT ONE SHOT IS ALL I NEED (ONE SHOT) $3.99
NOV090384 INVINCIBLE #70 $2.99
DEC090412 MICE TEMPLAR DESTINY #7 $2.99
DEC090376 PERHAPANAUTS MOLLYS STORY (ONE SHOT) $3.50

MARVEL COMICS

DEC090476 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #621 GNTLT $2.99
DEC090486 AVENGERS VS ATLAS #2 (OF 4) $3.99
Black Panther: Power TPB
DEC090625 BLACK PANTHER POWER TP $11.55
DEC090485 BLACK WIDOW AND MARVEL GIRLS #4 (OF 4) $2.99
DEC090484 BLACK WIDOW DEADLY ORIGIN #4 (OF 4) $3.99
DEC090488 CAPTAIN AMERICA #603 $3.99
DEC090490 DAREDEVIL #505 $2.99
DEC090436 DARK AVENGERS #14 SIEGE $3.99
DEC090596 DARK AVENGERS PREM HC VOL 02 MOLECULE MAN $13.49
NOV090510 DEADPOOL #19 $2.99
DEC090461 DEADPOOL MERC WITH A MOUTH #8 $2.99
DEC090492 DEATHLOK #4 (OF 7) $3.99
DEC090493 DOCTOR VOODOO AVENGER OF SUPERNATURAL #5 $2.99
DEC090494 DOOMWAR #1 (OF 6) $3.99
NOV090437 ENDERS SHADOW COMMAND SCHOOL #5 (OF 5) $3.99
Fantastic Four: In Search of Galactus
SEP090521 FANTASTIC FOUR IN SEARCH OF GALACTUS PREM HC $19.79
DEC090534 GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #23 $2.99
DEC090595 HALO HELLJUMPER PREM HC (MR) $24.99
DEC090506 HULK #20 FOH $3.99
Hulk Volume 4: Hulk Vs. X-Force Premiere HC (Incredible Hulk)
DEC090602 HULK PREM HC VOL 04 HULK VS X-FORCE $16.49
DEC090504 INCREDIBLE HERCULES #141 $3.99
DEC090509 INCREDIBLE HULK #607 FOH $3.99
DEC098263 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #21 2ND PTG VAR (PP #904) $2.99
DEC098264 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #22 2ND PTG VAR (PP #904) $2.99
DEC090575 KICK ASS PREM HC (RES) (MR) $24.99
DEC090576 KICK ASS PREM HC DM ED (RES) (MR) $24.99
DEC090630 LADY DEADPOOL BY LIEFELD POSTER $8.99
MAY090517 MARVELS EYE OF CAMERA #6 (OF 6) $3.99
MAY090518 MARVELS EYE OF CAMERA #6 (OF 6) B&W VAR $3.99
Mighty Avengers: The Unspoken
DEC090601 MIGHTY AVENGERS PREM HC UNSPOKEN $13.49
DEC090561 PSYLOCKE #4 (OF 4) $3.99
DEC090522 PUNISHER #14 $2.99
DEC090483 SPIDER-MAN 1602 #5 (OF 5) $3.99
Spider-Man: The Gauntlet, Book 1 - Electro & Sandman
DEC090599 SPIDER-MAN GAUNTLET PREM HC ELECTRO SANDMAN $16.49
DEC090520 SPIDER-WOMAN #6 $2.99
DEC090448 STAND SOUL SURVIVORS #4 (OF 5) $3.99
Thor By Dan Jurgens & John Romita Jr. Volume 1 TPB (Marvel Comics Heroes Return)
DEC090626 THOR BY DAN JURGENS & JOHN ROMITA JR TP VOL 02 $19.79
DEC090546 UNCANNY X-MEN #521 $2.99
DEC090478 WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #5 GNTLT $3.99
DEC090612 WOLVERINE DARK WOLVERINE TP PRINCE $14.99

**********

COMICS

OCT090885 9TH SLEEP GN $12.95
NOV090854 ADVENTURES OF SIMONE & AJAX GN $19.99
NOV090779 ALMOST SILENT HC $24.99
DEC090916 ANGEL #30 $3.99
Angel: Only Human (Angel (IDW Paperback))
DEC090919 ANGEL ONLY HUMAN TP $13.59
OCT090686 ANYWHERE #2 (OF 6) (MR) $3.50
NOV090598 AP HOW TO DRAW MANGA NEXT GENERATION PKT MANGA TP VOL 03 $12.95
DEC090665 ARCHIE & FRIENDS TP VOL 03 CARTOON LIFE CHUCK CLAYTON $9.95
DEC090666 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #206 $3.99
DEC090905 ARMY OF TWO #2 $3.99
DEC090976 ATOMIC ROBO REVENGE O/T VAMPIRE DIMENSION #1 (OF 4) $3.50
DEC090667 BETTY & VERONICA #246 $2.50
DEC090930 BEYOND THE WALL #4 $3.99
DEC091066 BLACK GOD TP VOL 07 $10.99
DEC091065 BLACK GOD TP VOL 08 $10.99
NOV090940 BOKURANO OURS GN VOL 01 $12.99
SEP090921 BUCKAROO BANZAI HARDEST O/T HARD #2 (OF 2) $3.99
OCT090793 CARS #1 $2.99
NOV090669 DIE HARD YEAR ONE #6 $3.99
OCT091017 DOMINO LADY #4 (MR) $3.99
OCT090689 DON BLUTH SPACE ACE #6 (OF 6) $3.95
NOV090901 DRONE #3 (OF 4) $3.50
DEC090735 FARSCAPE ONGOING #4 $3.99
NOV090916 GAKUEN ALICE GN VOL 10 (OF 16) $10.99
DEC090807 GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS HAPPY VALLEY #3 (OF 9) (MR) $3.50
NOV090959 GESTALT GN VOL 05 $9.99
DEC090906 GHOSTBUSTERS HOLIDAY SP TAINTED LOVE (ONE SHOT) $3.99
DEC090890 GI JOE COBRA II #2 $3.99
DEC090896 GI JOE TP VOL 02 $19.99
DEC091067 HERO TALES GN VOL 02 (MR) $10.99
DEC091068 HIGURASHI WHEN THEY CRY GN VOL 06 (MR) $10.99
OCT090886 HOW TO CAPTURE A MARTINI GN (MR) $12.95
OCT090688 HOWARD LOVECRAFT & FROZEN KINGDOM GN $12.95
OCT090783 HUNTERS FORTUNE #3 (OF 4) $3.99
DEC090685 IGNITION CITY HC VOL 01 (MR) $27.99
DEC090686 IGNITION CITY HC VOL 01 DUAL SGN ED (MR) $49.99
DEC090684 IGNITION CITY TP VOL 01 (MR) $19.99
DEC090739 INCORRUPTIBLE #3 $3.99
OCT090797 INCREDIBLES #5 $2.99
DEC090933 JENNIFER LOVE HEWITTS MUSIC BOX #3 $3.99
NOV090860 KING AROO HC VOL 01 $39.99
DEC090711 LEAST I COULD DO BEGINNINGS HC VOL 01 LOOK AT ME $19.95
NOV090846 LOCKE & KEY CROWN OF SHADOWS #3 $3.99
NOV090658 LOGANS RUN #1 $3.99
NOV090577 MEANWHILE PICK ANY PATH 3856 STORY POSSIBILITIES $15.95
DEC090941 NANOVOR GAME DAY TP VOL 01 $11.99
NOV090943 NAOKI URASAWA 20TH CENTURY BOYS GN VOL 07 $12.99
AUG090995 PHANTOM GENERATIONS #8 $3.99
DEC090837 RED HAIDA MANGA GN $22.95
NOV090888 RESURRECTION VOL 2 #8 $3.99
NOV090960 SHAKUGAN NO SHANA TP VOL 05 $9.99
DEC090724 SIMPSONS COMICS #163 $2.99
DEC090875 SKIM GN $12.95
DEC090674 SONIC UNIVERSE #13 $2.50
DEC091069 SOUL EATER TP VOL 02 $10.99
DEC090912 STAR TREK DS9 FOOLS GOLD #3 $3.99
DEC090911 STAR TREK ROMULANS PAWNS OF WAR TP $19.99
OCT090883 TAIMASHIN RED SPIDER EXORCIST GN VOL 01 $9.95
DEC090822 TALISMAN ROAD OF TRIALS #4 $3.99
NOV090994 TENA ON S STRING GN VOL 02 $10.99
NOV090886 TICK NEW SERIES #2 $4.95
DEC090900 TRANSFORMERS BUMBLEBEE #3 $3.99
DEC090902 TRANSFORMERS LAST STAND O/T WRECKERS #2 $3.99
DEC090757 UNCLE SCROOGE #388 $2.99
DEC090931 WEEKLY WORLD NEWS #2 $3.99
NOV090701 WIZARDS OF MICKEY HC VOL 01 MOUSE MAGIC $24.99
NOV090902 ZMD ZOMBIES OF MASS DESTRUCTION #6 (OF 6) $3.25
DEC091070 ZOMBIE LOAN TP VOL 08 $10.99
DEC090922 ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS AVENTURE #1 (RES) $3.99