[UPDATE: The limited edition box set sold out right away, so now a Deluxe Edition box set will be release July 2012, with pre-order available now.]

Dark Shadows, the first supernatural soap opera, the massive cult hit that originally aired on the ABC network way before most of the cast of Twilight and True Blood were even born, is being resurrected (pun firmly intended) this year; a Tim Burton vehicle with Johnny Depp makes its way into theaters on May 11th. Now, MPI Entertainment is releasing Dark Shadows: The Complete Original Series, which is the ENTIRE series, on DVD on May 8th in one beautifully encased black coffin, WITH archetypical red lining inside! (See box art here at top and below.) This massive DVD box set will also include bonus material, like over 100 interviews, bloopers, a behind-the-scenes documentary, and cast reunion, as well as a 96-page commemorative booklet.

The SRP on this one of a kind item goes for $599.98, which obviously will not be appealing or affordable to everyone, but for those who want to own some of the show without breaking the bank to do so, or for those who have never experienced the show and are curious to dip their toe in the black swamp so to speak, MPI is also releasing more affordable options. There will also be two single-disc DVDs out on April 10th — Dark Shadows: Fan Favorites and Dark Shadows: The Best of Barnabas — at a much more down to earth price of $14.98 each, with each DVD showcasing 9 episodes, ones that are considered the benchmark of the series.

Right now, Amazon is running a deal on the standard edition of L.A. Noire for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 for $19.99 each (that’s 50% off the list price of $39.99).

There’s also a sale on L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 for $29.99 each (that’s 40% off the list price of $49.99).

Note – this deal is valid through Saturday, March 17, 2012, until 11:59pm while supplies last.

These items currently have a free one-day shipping promotion on them: Use a Discover Card to purchase this and enter promotion code DSCVRSHP to get free one-day shipping. See the Special Offers and Product Promotions section of the product page for more details.

The road to the inevitable digital lifestyle is a rocky one. Retailers are rightfully fearing for their lives while sellers are stuck in the middle between retailers wanting exclusives and online shoppers demanding more access to content. The most interesting battle in this arena is actually happening with comic books. Publishers are finding rapidly growing success with digital books on tablets and smartphones, but the customer base isn’t yet big enough to support the publishers so they still have to appease brick and mortar retail.

This battle was lost years ago by music publishers. Record labels fought hard, but the truly dynamic and reigning method for acquiring music now is via iTunes, the Amazon Mp3 store, and streaming options. That’s not to say CDs don’t still sell because they do, but that business has lost its attractiveness and feels like a necessity now to make sure music is available to those that haven’t quiet jumped online yet. The statistics may still show a majority of sales happening in “classic” CD format, but it’s a given that the nail is in that coffin.

Star Wars: Dark Times: Out Of The Wilderness #4
Story by Randy Stradley
Art by Douglas Wheatley
Colors by Dan Jackson
Cover Art by Pablo Correa
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: February 22, 2012
Cover Price: $2.99

The Dark Times series of the Star Wars Expanded Universe is the inescapable exploration of tales and stories set between the Prequel Trilogy and Original Trilogy. Of the main film characters, Darth Vader and the Emperor are fairly much the only ones who show up, and most of their appearances are generally cameos. This series follows a former Jedi Knight named Dass Jennir, who survives Order 66 and follows his path as he tries to live during the era that Obi-Wan Kenobi dubbed as the “Dark Times.”

Installment number four of the Dark Times: Out Of The Wilderness story arc is actually my first dive into this story – though I have read a few of the previously released trade paperbacks for the series, so I have a reasonable backing of information about the fundamental characters.

Game Of Thrones was recently released on DVD and Blu-ray and Season 2 of the HBO series is only two weeks away!

Entertainment Weekly has devoted its cover story this week to the popular television series with four separate cover shots. While shooting the cover, they snapped an impromptu photo of the cast in their medieval-like garb with swords in hand busting out some – of all things – air guitar!

Check out the cast photo doing air guitar here below; at top are two of the four EW covers; below is the other two covers.