US – Tuesday, February 9
The week's releases
Metro staff reviews the latest CDs, DVDs and books for your reading pleasure.
 
Stern: I’d do ‘Idol’ for $100M
Howard Stern took to his radio show yesterday to address the rumors that he’s a possible replacement for Simon Cowell for the next season of “American Idol.” To sum it up? He’s not going for it.
 
Dancing while the skinny lady sings
You’ve heard of the jukebox musical? David Parsons and singers AnnMarie Milazzo and Tyley Ross of the East Village Opera Co. offer a jukebox opera, playing nightly at the Joyce. Eleven Parsons dancers share the stage with Milazzo and Ross, who clutch microphones cranked to 11 and stroll through the action. On the recorded soundtrack, three drummers create a wall of sound so loud you — well, I — want to hide under the seat. Digital video of abstract patterns, natural landscapes and stunning architecture change for each song.
 
The facets of Anne Frank and her diary
Generations of schoolchildren have read and recognized their own experiences in the words of Anne Frank, finding surprising commonalities with this young girl despite the passage of generations and the unique horror of  her situation. But according to Francine Prose’s fascinating new account of the writing of Frank’s diary, our veneration of her outpourings has eclipsed a proper assessment of Anne Frank — conscientious author.

 
Channing Tatum on love and war
Channing Tatum has worked in his fair share of genres, from indie films (“A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints”) to dance flicks (“Step Up”) to blockbusters (“G.I. Joe”). In his latest, “Dear John,” the Alabama native takes on a heavy Nicholas Sparks love story about a soldier in love while at war. He talks with us about true love and blowing stuff up.
 
Updated 19:55, August the 24th, 2009
 

Comics for ‘Nobodies’

You won’t read ‘Bang!’ or ‘Pow!’ in any of Jeff Lemire’s work

Trust “Nobody,” or at least the work of Jeff Lemire.Trust “Nobody,” or at least the work of Jeff Lemire.
 

A scene from “Nobody,” like “Invisible Man” after the credits roll.
 
A scene from “Nobody,” like “Invisible Man” after the credits roll.
 
“I think I always try to put character before plot. My books are about people, not high concepts.”    Lemire
 
“I think I always try to put character before plot. My books are about people, not high concepts.”    Lemire
 

The misconception that comic books are all about flying steroidal morons in tights has long been out of fashion. But reading through contemporary comics, you’d still expect plenty of action, right? A crime noir perhaps? Intrigue? Spies at the very least. Not if you are reading the work of Toronto-based artist and writer Jeff Lemire, whose new book “The Nobody” is yet another in DC imprint Vertigo’s long line of genre-defying, literary titles.

Lemire — whose body of work has largely focused on the sleepy, rural towns of his native Canada in standouts like the “Essex County” series — brings a quiet intensity to the page, with panels more about stillness and slow epiphany than explosions and gunshots. You might call it minimalist, or even “emo” as some have done, and you wouldn’t be far off. But don’t expect overwrought handwringing and crying about girlfriends.

“I think subtlety is a lost art in all aspects of popular culture, and comics are not exempt from that,” says Lemire. “The easiest and loudest and most obvious ways of communicating ideas, visually or otherwise, seem to be the default. But in comics, film, literature, etc., there are always challenging and thought-provoking artists worth sifting through the mud for.”

Lemire, for example. Loosely based on an H.G. Wells classic, “The Nobody” brings Lemire closer to standard comics. The storytelling approach, however, is unmistakably his own.

“I think I always try to put character before plot,” he says. “My books are about people, not high concepts. In a way I was having some fun with this, too, in ‘The Nobody.’ Take a high-concept idea like ‘The Invisible Man,’ and see what those characters would do after the end credits roll.”

 
 
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MMMpod
The February MMMpod features conversation from Ozzy Osbourne. Michael Emerson from "Lost" tells us about his days enjoying punk rock in Boston. We also dig up an old interview from the late great Howard Zinn. We have a song from Delta Spirit and The Soft Pack, who tell us where they got their name.

 
 
 
Metro Life Panel