Pop Culture Safari!

New comics April 17, 2013

Didn't really spot any highlights from my POV this week, but you can see the complete list of this week's releases here.

When terrible things happen, as they did today in Boston, it's good to turn to the advice of the late Mr. Rogers, who offered this brilliant wisdom to parents working to help children (and themselves) cope with the unexplainable:

"My mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of 'disaster,' I remember my mother's words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers-so many caring people in this world."

More good advice here.

Marvel announces "epic" chronological collections of key titles

Marvel has announced a new series of hefty re-print volumes that will collect, chronologically, big portions of key series.

The Epic Collections are similar to the Marvel Essentials titles Marvel has published over the past several years, but in full color. Volumes reprinting Amazing Spider-Man, Avengers, Captain America, Fantastic Four, Iron Man and Thor are planned, and perhaps others.

While the books themselves will be complete and chronological, they may not be published sequentially, says David Gabriel,Marvel senior vice president of sales.

"This will be like starting a giant puzzle on your shelves (for those that like this sort of thing). So for example Iron Man Epic Collection 'Vol. 10' appears one month telling the stories from 1982, the next volume might be 'Vol. 5' presenting the stories from Iron Man #47-67, and so on across our biggest character lines."

Gabriel says they're planning about 20 volumes for each line, and that no existing reprint lines will be affected by the new initiative. The first releases are listed at approximately 450 pages, and Gabriel says they'll initially be released at about once a month, though that could change depending on response. List price ranges from $34.99 to $39.99.

I prefer the Marvel Omnibus series due to the oversized art and inclusion of letter pages and house ads, etc., so I figure I'll stick with that line.

It'll be nice to see some of this material in color in relatively affordable editions, but it does seem like Marvel is going to the well quite bit with all these re-prints, in multiple formats, so many times over the past decade or so.

Since they want fans to keep re-buying the same stuff over and over, I'd like to see a regular reprint title -- standard floppy -- ala Marvel's Greatest Comics on the stands each month. That would really scratch the nostalgia itch.

Brian Wilson autobiography in the works

Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson penned a pretty suspect "autobiography" more than a decade ago, which was co-written with his manipulative then-psychologist Eugene Landy.

There was a lot of focus on how Brian had mistreated and even abused by his family and band members, in particular his father Murray. And much of this is likely true. Still, there was a lot of focus on Landy being Brian's savior, when it's since come to light that the psychologist did much to exploit Wilson, taking advantage of Brian's fragile mental state.

Wilson seems to be in a much better place, now, though still troubled. And this new book project seems to have more of his blessing and input. I hope so.

All new Wilson products tend to make me nervous, as it's hard to tell whether he's fully on board and happy about them. However, Wilson seems to be doing pretty well: Happily married and touring regularly. And his songwriting and production on last year's Beach Boys reunion album was excellent.

Here's what he has to say about the upcoming book:

Wilson said "I’ve been working harder in the last ten years than I ever did in my whole career and I love it! I love working. I started the Beach Boys when I was still in high school, and I guess I’ve never spent too much time thinking about all the things we went through—all the good times and bad times. I don’t like to dwell on the bad times, it makes me sad in my heart. But I feel a little stronger now. And I’m feeling a little bit like maybe now is a good time to look back.

"Life’s better than it’s been in the past twenty years. I’m having a ball. I’m 70 years old and it took me a long time to learn a really simple thing: it’s hard work to be happy.