Bart Simpson Comics #31 hit the stands this Wednesday; pick up your copy today!

Bart wins a shopping spree at Krusty’s Land of Misfit Toys, but it doesn’t take long before all his friends and family members are asking him to score them some free toys. Then Maggie and Moe take a trip to Wall E. Weasel’s, stumble into a plot of international intrigue, and come face-to-face with another crime solving baby sitting duo––Gerald, the one-eyebrowed baby, and Titania!

The Simpsons have come home with another Emmy award for best animated show, for the episode 'The Seemingly Never Ending Story.' The episode beat out all competition including South Park's controversial 'Trapped In The Closet' and Family Guy's 'PTV'. Simpsons executive producer Al Jean joked about receiving the award in his acceptance speech saying "This is what happens when you don't mock Scientology."

This year's Emmy win gives executive producer James L. Brooks his nineteenth Emmy, breaking the record for the most Emmy's won by a person. Nine of these have been received for his work on The Simpsons. Congratulations to James L. Brooks and the entire team for their win.

Another peek at Season 18 today, with Fox revealing its second promotional image for the season. This time it's the episode 'Jazzy And The Pussycats' which will air on September 17th. The episode features Jack and Meg from The White Stripes; so too does the promo image. Click image below for a full view.

The Simpsons: The Complete Eighth Season arrives in stores today. Available to buy as a limited edition Maggie head or standard cardboard box, the set includes every episode from Season 8 with commentaries, as well as deleted scenes, commercials, audio outtakes, and animation showcases. The DVD box set is retailing for $49.95 US. Pick up your copy today!

D'oh! China has banished The Simpsons, Pokemon and Mickey Mouse from prime time. Beginning Sept. 1, regulators have barred foreign cartoons from TV from 5 to 8 p.m. in an effort to protect China's struggling animation studios, news reports said Sunday. The move allows the Monkey King and his Chinese pals to get the top TV viewing hours.

Foreign cartoons, especially from Japan, are hugely popular with China's 250 million children and the country's own animation studios have struggled to compete. Communist leaders are said to be frustrated that so many cartoons are foreign-made, especially after efforts to build up Chinese animation studios. The ban hasn't been formally announced, but newspapers were criticizing it Sunday as the wrong way to improve programming.

Simpsons Comics #121 hits comic stands on Wednesday. Does anyone really know what time it is? Not if you ask anyone in Springfield. Homer takes his beef with daylight saving time to Mayor Quimby. The mayor promptly rescinds the order but accidentally creates a loophole that allows everyone in town to set their own time schedule. Be it Eastern, Central, or Pacific Time, chaos ensues.

Fox has released promotional art for the Season 18 premiere, 'The Mook, The Chef, The Wife and His Homer', set to air on September 10. The artwork features Metallica, which confirms that this will be the episode in which Metallica guest star. Here's the art, which you can click for a full view.

Harry Shearer, voice of Mr. Burns among a cast of hundreds on The Simpsons is getting serious in an effort to defend Mel Gibson, as the movie star faces ongoing criticism for an ill-advised, drunken rant against Jews. Shearer insists he doesn't want to come across as a staunch defender of the ' Mad Max' star following his controversial remarks - but he insists Gibson is one of the good guys in Hollywood. Shearer says, "In my slight dealings with him, I've found him more pleasant and less upsetting than certain persons on the other side of this discussion."

Gibson has apologised for the anti-Semitic comments he made during a police arrest last month and is now calling on Jewish leaders in Los Angeles to help him make amends. Shearer isn't the only Hollywood star to come to Gibson's defence - Jodie Foster and Patrick Swayze have also offered public support for the disgraced actor.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is set to cook up a storm when he appears on long-running cartoon sitcom The Simpsons. The 'Hell's Kitchen' star will teach Homer Simpson how to cook in the episode, but producers have yet to confirm whether the foul-mouthed chef will keep his expletive-laden vocabulary on the family show. Ramsay says, "I was really honoured. I don't know how they're going to do it, but I hope they keep the swearing in."


This news story originated from UK tabloid The Mirror, who have been notorious for false guest star information including David Beckham, so we'll let you know if this story does turn out to be false.