Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection

Warner Bros. new Blu-ray/DVD Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection presents three classic network TV Peanuts holiday specials: A Charlie Brown Christmas, It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, along with three bonus episodes: It's Magic, Charlie Brown, The Mayflower Voyagers and It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown, all in one Ultimate Collector's Edition.


An additional Backstory Featurette is also included and a as special added bonus look for three Peanuts Holiday Window Clings of Snoopy and Charlie Brown in holiday dress and a Snowglobe Lucite Lenticular starring the Charlie Brown gang in different classic holiday scenes when the globe is tilted in different directions.


Come celebrate the holidays with Peanuts and enjoy this very special DVD collection that the whole family can cherish. It's a holiday tradition!

The James Bond Girls File #2 The 1970s

I remember when the 1970s arrived and I found out that Sean Connery was returning to the role of James Bond in the next film in the series, Diamonds Are Forever, in 1971. I was thrilled. When the film came out I was overjoyed. It may not have been the best Connery Bond film but it was still excellent escapist fun.

In 1973 Roger Moore took over the role of Bond. I like Moore but his style was just a little too tongue-in-cheek for my taste at the time. His 1970s Bond films, Live And Let Die, The Man With The Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me (my favorite of the run) and Moonraker were good films, but not great films, in my opinion.

There were too many gadgets, gimmicky getaways and glib gabbing. The women however. Ahh, the women. The Bond Women of that era were gorgeous and you can see them all in 007 Double - O - Seven Magazine Archive Files: The James Bond Girls #2 The 1970s from each film in candid shots, studio stills and behind-the-scenes photos.

Included with each film synopsis and interesting Bond facts are lots and lots of photos of not only the women but the other key characters, locations and much, much more form each film. Jill St. John as Tiffany Case from Diamonds Are Forever shows off her package on the cover while on the back cover Britt Exland as Mary Goodnight from The Man With The Golden Gun shows off her 'ample talent'.

Moltenclaw's Invasion

Unfortunately Hasbro/Wizards Of The Coast's Heroscape Dungeons & Dragons Collection D3, will be the last Expansion Set made. Previous figures will be sold while supplies last. I'm sorry to set this game system go. For the miniature game player its a great way to have pre-painted sculpted figures at a reasonable price.


Four new Expansion Packs come in the D3 series and they include Heroes Of Fallcrest, Bugbears And Orcs, Valkrill's Legion and Icewind Scourge.


Each pack hold three to six figures, depending on their size. Look for lots of detail in the sculpts and paint application. I especially like the Ice Giant, Dragon and giant Orc. Look for dynamic poses, awesome outfits, wicked weapons and outrageous creatures and humanoids. What's not to love?

Call Of Duty: Black Ops Prestige Edition

The long wait is over. Call Of Duty is back and this time it's more realistic than ever with lots of violence, bloodshed, explosions and more. Become part of a Black Ops operation as either a single player or in a group. Your objective is to stop threats before they become a reality-by any means necessary.


Look for lots of gunplay, hand-to-hand combat, knife fights, artillery fire, airplane strafing and bombing, assassinations and every other little nasty deed that needs to be done when fighting as a special operative.


The folks at Activision and Treyarch have listened to what fans of Call Of Duty had to say and they've made some improvements in game play making it much more realistic. Actions breed consequences and Black Ops doesn't just let a player walk away from mayhem without repercussions.


The Currency System lets you purchase and customize your own play style. Where there's money there's wagering and you get to wager big time with the pay-off being survival.


Train before you fight, capture key moments to replay, fight zombies, play split-screen and escape to play another day.


You can also sabotage your enemies equipment without their knowledge and use it to your advantage.


Black Ops is an in-you-face combat experience where you can practically feel the heat of your weapons, here the zing of bullets flying overhead and smell the blood of your enemies. It's first-person action that plunges you into hostile situations in all kinds of climate, terrain and dangerous situations.


Character rendering is super realistic. Full 360 degree terrain and environments look as if you could walk right into the game and you never have to worry about lagging graphics or unexpected pauses. Black Ops is the ultimate combat game.


The Call Of Duty: Black Ops Prestige Edition comes with a mechanized rover complete with microphone and video feed, a LED Video Display Transmitter, a Limited Edition Black Ops Collector' Medal and an Exclusive X-box Live Outfit. Live the adventure of a lifetime-if you can survive!

Mouse Guard: Legends Of the Guard

Archaia Entertainment LLC. and artist/writer David Petersen have compiled every issue of the Legends Of The Guard mini-series into one hardbound book.

Legends Of The Guard consists of Mouse Guard stories as envisioned by fellow writer/artists. Centered on stories told in a pub, the book consists of stories envisioned by Petersen’s peers. The book contains stories drawn in similar and very different styles than Petersen’s which make it even more enjoyable.

Included with the new short tales are bios of the contributing creators along with their photos and preparatory sketches. All-in-all it’s a absorbing look at how different artists and writers envision a fellow artist/writer’s work.

Goldeneye 007

The very first N64 game my wife and I bought for our son for Christmas back in the 1990s was Goldeneye. At the time the game starred the likeness of Pierce Brosnan as James Bond.

My son and I would sit and play it for hours eventually going through every level. At the time nothing existed like it. The game engine was truly one of the first, if not the first, first shooter game where players actually saw the action as the main character.

Goldeneye is back from Activision and it is bigger and better than ever. This time is stars the likeness of Daniel Craig as James Bond and incorporates not only the Goldeneye storyline but throws in a few classic Bond villains such as Oddjob, Jaws and The Man With The Golden Gun.


Go it alone or switch over to multi-player. Whatever mode you choose you’re guaranteed fast action, travel to exotic locales, encounters with dastardly opponents, incredible chases and dangerous encounters and lots of explosions, gunplay and hand-to-hand combat.


Relive the classic Bond film Goldeneye with new visual interpretations of characters from the film such as Agent 006 and others. It is all-out action and adventure as you take on the mantel of 007 and battle your way through throngs of bad guys. Choose from a multitude of weapons, change your point of view from first person to full vista and get ready to experience the world of James Bond 007.


Play time is swift, refresh time is instantaneous, and environments are varied and sweeping. Play single screen or split screen with other players and pit you super spy skills against their. Rated ‘T’ for Teen.

Warhawk And Fieseler

Hasegawa Hobby Kits Introduces two more vintage airplane models. The American WWII P-40N Warhawk 'Natural Metal' is a Limited Edition model kit that looks every bit as real as the real thing--only smaller.


This is a 'big boy' model. No snap together parts or pre-painted pieces in this kit. Pieces fit easily together when gluing, decals are a snap to apply and by following the easy-to-understand painting instructions (and the box cover) you'll have your model looking like the real thing in no time.


Check out the tri-propellers, extra fuel tank, wing mounted guns and clear cockpit with pilot and look for full wheel assembly, highly-detailed body rivets and seams and parts that snap off their frames with little or no flashing. It's a beaut!


The German Fieseler FiL56C Storch 'Gran Sasso' is a light weight aircraft capable of carrying three passengers (included) with a large wingspan, single prop, three stationary landing gear and a long tapered body with multiple wing supports and an angular caged cockpit.


This plane is meant to fly low and slow for long distances as evident by its lightweight frame, minimal use of materials and unnecessary 'extras'. It's built for utilitarian use at low cost and high efficiency. It too is a Limited Edition model requiring glue, paint and decal application.


Both models are highly accurate reproductions that when completely assembled, painted and decaled are exact replicas of their larger namesakes.

Galaxie, Camaro, Patton, Star And Giant

I remember when I saw my first 1959 Ford Galaxie Skyline With Retractable Roof when I was a kid of six. I can still see it parked on the street and a man entering the driver's side. Suddenly, as if by magic, the hardtop roof started to separate from the body, slide back and quietly and smoothly folded itself into the car's now open rear trunk. I couldn't believe my eyes.


Revell/Monogram brings the past alive with its new 1959 Ford Galaxie Skyline With Retractable Roof Authentic Kit that works just like its namesake. You'll marvel at its engine and interior details, chrome wheels, bumpers and trim and the clear molded windshield and windows that, like it other parts, assemble with minimal flashing and a snug fit. Paint it up green and white and you have a facsimile of a much loved Ford classic automobile.


For a little more Motor City Muscle you'll want to check out the 2002 Camaro


2 'N 1 1:25 Scale model kit from Monogram that lets you choose either a snappy red and silver or yellow and black version of the powerful Camaro. Full engine details, tinted windshields and windows, front and rear lights and body details make either version a car lover's dream come true.


I love tanks and one of my favorites is the M48A2 Patton Tank. This heavy duty, treaded killing machine is all business with heavy body armor, swivel turret with gun and upper turret machine gun and driver mounted commander machine gun, communication antenna and accessories. It is one Love Bug that the enemy can never bat away. For an authentic replica of a land roving war machine nothing matches this model. Three figures are also included.


The F-80 Shooting Star jet fighter is one of the earliest American Air Force fighter jets made. The model completely disassembles revealing the full-length gas turbine engine. You can assemble it with landing gear up or down with the pilot in or out of the cockpit. Follow the paint and decal instructions to match the details seen on the original aircraft.


The HH-53C Super Jolly Green Giant lives up to its namesake. This massive helicopter has a five fin propeller, an oversize extended rear stabilizing propeller assemblage and enough interior room to carry a sizable troop assemble and light artillery. It boasts extra armor, heavy maintenance and a camouflage paint scheme that made it difficult to spot during combat rescue missions in Vietnam.


I love the cockpit and body details as well as the landing gear assemblage, rear door ramp and extra fuel tanks, maintenance and body details.

Disney's A Christmas Carol

Actor/comedian Jim Carrey gives the performances of his career in Disney's A Christmas Carol. "Performances?", you might ask. "You mean performance."

No, performances. Through the magic of computer special effects Jim Carrey plays all the pivotal roles in the classic A Christmas Carol. From Ebenezer Scrooge to the Ghosts of Christmas, Carrey has a field day as he shows off his incredible talent.

A few liberties are taken with the story, which are easily forgiven considering how good the film is. The entire family will love this wonderful new adaptation of a timeless Christmas classic.


Disney's 2-disc set includes a Blu-ray and regular DVD. Special features are featurettes, on the set, deleted scenes and much more. The entire package makes for a terrific Christmas gift all wrapped up in a delightful film that is sure to become a Christmas classic in its own right.

Blood Stone 007

It was just announced that the next James Bond movie won't begin filming until 2012! What's a Bond fan to do!?


Fortunately Activision has the solution: Blood Stone 007. Written by a Bond writer, the Bloodstone video game (for all consoles and rated 'T' for Teen) is set up like an actual Bond film. Look for plenty of twists and turns, hidden agendas, surprise allies and enemies, loads of action, spectacular fight and car/plane/boat chases and women-lots of beautiful women.


Blood Stone features some of the most innovative and impressive James Bond action and adventure ever imagined for film or video games. Follow Bond as he tries to track down and stop a dangerous stolen biochemical project before it's too late.


Featuring James Bond, as depicted by Daniel Craig, Blood Stone has some of the most exciting hand-to-hand and weapons combat ever realized. Visual effects add to excitement as Bond races all over Europe and the Far East in various cars (including his famous Aston Martin) and travels to some of the most stunning vistas on land, sea and in the air.


More than any other James Bond video game before it, Blood Stone is like being in a Bond movie. Go it alone or with MI6 and take on the most notorious and dangerous assassins, gunmen and henchmen in the world.


You will be blown away by the fast action, realistic environments and breath-taking colors and effects.

Totally Tubular ‘80s Toys

To modern toy collectors the decade of the 1980s is a veritable goldmine of toys to 1970s, toy manufacturers recognized that not only were collect.
With the advent of the Star Wars action figures introduced in the late kids playing with toys but collectors were, well, collecting them.


Toy manufacturing technology took a giant leap in the 1980s with the introduction of electronics, video games, sound chips, interactive toys and better articulation, quality and variety.


Totally Tubular ‘80s Toys, written by Mark Bellomo and published by Krause Publications, examines the 1980’s toy phenomenon with an indebt look at the decade that changed toys forever.


Pages are brimming with full color and black and white photos of such favorites as He-man, Ghostbusters, Smurfs, Transformers, Star Wars, Cabbage Patch Kids, My Little Pony, early video games, Strawberry Shortcake, G.I. Joe and dozens of other toys for boys and girls.


Included with each genre of toys are written pieces tracking the history of the toys- including manufacturers, number of toys in the series, their popularity, special facts about each selection and more information about each series of figures, games and other interesting tidbits.


I especially enjoyed reminiscing about the movie/TV and comic book ties-ins such as The Ghostbusters, the Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles, Indiana Jones, Mork and Mindy, DC and Marvel Comics and Star Trek.


If you love toys, especially vintage toys, then you’re sure to love looking at this book. It’s a toy lover’s time travel trip to a timeless time when toys were tops with tykes.

Previews, November

Diamond Previews for November showcases lots of new merchandise scheduled to hit stores in January 2011. Why not start off the New Year right with lots of goodies-now that’s economic recovery.


Comic books that you need to check out are Ultimate Comics Captain America, Invincible Iron Man #500, Captain America 70th Anniversary Magazine, Daredevil reborn, Magneto, Infestation, Star Wars: Darth Vader And The Lost Command, Batman: Europa, Hellboy: The Sleeping And The Dead, Who Is Jake Ellis?, The Infinite Vacation, Starman/Congorilla, Shazam!, Steel, Wonder Girl, Weird Worlds, Batman Beyond, Young Justice, Driver Special, Fallen Angel: Return Of The Son, Dark Sun, Doctor Who, Jurassic Park: The Devils In The Dessert, Memoir, Twilight Guardian, Phoenix, Sherlock Holmes: Year One, The Spider, Grimm’s Fairy Tales: Myths & Legends and Lady Death.


While you’re at it add these magazines and books to your reading list: The DC Superhero Collection Magazine: Blackest Night Collection, Star Wars: Knight Errant, DC Comics: Year By Year, Sucker Punch.


Topps has its Star Wars Galaxy Series 6 Trading Cards and new toys to play with include Halo, DC Heroes Retro, Star Trek, Thor, G.I. Joe, Wrestling, Pokemon, Star Wars, Transformers, Tron, Merlin, Disney and Nintendo.


Game on with Catan, The Hobbit and Halo.

Secret Origin-Superman/Shazam!

In celebration of DC Comics' 75th Anniversary, Warner Bros. Animation has released a new DVD: Secret Origin, The Story Of DC Comics narrated by Ryan Reynolds.

The DVD looks back over the last 75 years to the origin of DC Comics, then published under the name National Periodicals, beginning from its pre-Golden Age titles.


Beginning with the creation of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, DC Comics set the standard by which dozens of other comic book companies were held to.

Follow DC’s publishing history through WWII, the end of the Godden Age, the dawn of the Silver Age with re-invented Godden Age heroes like the Flash, the Anti-establishment Bronze Age on up to the Modern Age headlined by the British Invasion and the reinvention of the comic book genre.

Writers, artists, editors and staff from the Golden, Silver, Bronze and Modern Ages recall the events that shaped comic books and DC Comics in particular. Look for such comic book luminaries as Neal Adams, Frank Miller, Grant Morrison, Lein Wein and many others as they weigh about their generation’s input into the evolution of DC Comics.

Secret Origin, The Story OF DC Comics allows viewers to uncover the history of the world’s greatest super heroes. Don’t miss it.


Superman/Shazam! The Return of Black Adam from DC Showcase Animated Original Shorts spotlights the first meeting of the Man of Steel and World’s Mightiest Mortal.


The story opens with orphan Billy Batson as he copes with his inner city slum neighborhood. Billy’s enthusiastic attitude never wavers despite his surroundings.


Unbeknownst to Billy a fiery ‘meteor’ crashes to earth nearby. When the fire and smoke clear a black clad figure, whose chest is emblazoned with a lightning bolt, steps forward. He is Black Adam whose has been exiled from Earth for 5,000 years.


He has returned to Earth to destroy the new chosen one who is to be Earth’s protector by the wizard Shazam. Originally Black Adam was chosen until his newfound power corrupted him and he believed himself to be a god. Banished from Earth he has returned to take his rightful place as ruler and to destroy his would-be replacement.


Elsewhere Billy Batson is meeting Clark Kent for breakfast. Clark plans to write an article about Billy for the Daily Planet. Their meeting is cut short when Black Adam attacks.


He plans to kill Billy who has been chosen as Earth’s new guardian. Too bad no one told Billy! As Adam attacks Clark Kent retaliates as Superman. In the heat of battle Billy escapes and winds up taking a very unusual subway ride-a ride to the inner sanctum of the wizard Shazam.


Once there Shazam bestows upon Billy the power of Captain Marvel. All Billy has to do is utter Shazam’s name and he is instantly transformed into the mighty Captain Marvel. Good thing to because Black Adam is still seeking to kill him.


When all seems lost Billy transforms into Captain Marvel, Superman teams with him and they manage to defeat Black Adam. Superman/Shazam! The Return of Black Adam is the consummate super hero slugfest with lots of explosions, devastation and incredible feats of strength, power and fighting prowess.


Included with the short feature are three other DC shorts including the previously released Green Arrow and Spectre shorts and a new Jonah Hex short. Also included is a special selection of network TV DC Comics series shorts from various DC animated series.


All-in-all it makes a ‘super’ package that DC fans are sure to enjoy. Shazam!

Band On The Run

I’m a huge Beatles fan. I grew up on their music and like every other Beatles fan I was devastated when they broke up in 1969. Fortunately each member of the band was a talented musician in their own right and each continued to release solo albums.


The most prolific album creator was ex-Beatle member Paul McCartney. In fact, he still turns out albums on a fairly frequent basis. His style has evolved with the times. What’s amazing is that he still turns out hits, contemporary hits, in his late 60s!


After the Beatles break up Paul released several solo albums but it wasn’t until he, along with his new band Wings, released Band On The Run in 1973 that he kicked his solo career into high gear.


Band On The Run is a classic album. Many of its songs are still popular today and a whole new generation of music lovers has rediscovered the pulse-pounding beats, quiet reflective tunes and impressive musical arrangements that made the album such a huge success. It’s one of my all-time favorite albums. I still listen to it on my I-pod when I go out walking or jogging. My favorite tunes are the title track, Jet and Helen Wheels.


Concord Music Group is proud to present a brand new re-mastered version of the popular Band On The Run album that includes not only the full song selection but a very special DVD containing rare music videos of many of the songs and a visual chronicle of Paul performing and taking part in the historic cover photo shoot for the album. A special photo insert is also included.


It’s a very special nostalgic trip back to a high-energy period when McCartney was at his best and the music world was better off for it.

Barbie A Rare Beauty

No one was prepared for the success of the Barbie line of fashion dolls. When the first Barbie doll was released in 1959 from Mattel it was expected to be successful-no one was prepared for how successful!

For just over 50 years Barbie has captivated the imaginations of millions of young girls. She has gone on to be a true phenomenon with collectors paying thousands of dollars for vintage figures and cloths. Barbie clubs and conventions have cropped up all over the world. There have been many Barbie imitators released but none have reached the success of the original.

As Barbie’s popularity grew Mattel released other figures into Barbie’s world along with accessories, a whole wardrobe of clothes, special commemorative releases, vehicles and more. Barbie has expanded her role as a simple fashion model to take on the challenge of many professional roles like a doctor, nurse, military officer, astronaut and a plethora of important business and historical roles.

In Barbie A Rare Beauty, written and compiled by longtime Barbie collector and historian Sandi Holder and published by Krause Publications, readers follow the stellar career of the most famous doll in the world. Pages are filled with full-color photos of Barbie as seen through the decades. Look for rare and sought after outfits, special limited edition Barbie figures, play sets and so much more in this wonderful book commemorating a true American success story.