Next to the original Star Trek TV series, the Stargate SG-1 TV series comes in a close second to being my favorite science fiction TV show.
When it was first announced that the Stargate movie franchise was being adapted for a TV show there was a lot skepticism amongst fans.
The original Stargate movie starred Kurt Russell as Jack O-Neill and as portrayed he was a by the book military professional.
In the TV series O’Neill was played by ex-MacGyver star Richard Dean Anderson and his O’Neill was anything but by the book. Irreverent is the word that best describes Anderson’s ONeill.
Along with O-Neill there were three other individuals who traveled the Star Gate intergalactic highway: Teal’c (an alien warrior), Daniel Jackson (a geek linguist and historian) and Samantha Carter (a military tech genius).
Their mission was to travel from Stargate Command via the Goa'uld gateway and explore other worlds.
They encountered aliens (both good and bad), strange creatures, explored bizarre alien cities and did all the other things a typical (let’s explore) outerspace adventure is want to do.
The only difference is the tone of the show really stressed friendship and family, featured some wicked humor and boasted some pretty amazing visual effects for the time it was produced.
During the show’s run Diamond Select Toys produced a number of figure series along with a few other Stargate related items.
One figure series: the Desert Combat Series, consisted of five figures (four of which I have: O’Neil, Carter, Jackson and Teal’c).
A fifth Jonas Quinn figure was available but I believe it was a special chase figure and more difficult to get than the other four.
The six -inch figures came with a section of the series' robotic MALP or a section of the Goa’uld Transport Ring.
The piecemeal MALP comes with real rubber treads, a movable two piece arm with grasping claw, a swiveling radar and sensor dish, several swiveling sensor probes, and various protuberances and depressions bristling with dials, button and indicators.
It’s a nicely crafted, structured and functional miniature of the full-size MALP unit.
The Carter figure includes a complete Transport Ring with inscriptions, images and dial location indicators. It’s given a tarnished and ancient look by the clever use of paint application.
Packaging consists of standard bubble packs with molded cradle areas to hold the figures and accessories. A large Stargate SG-1 logo decorates an upper panel with the individual characters photo and name on a lower panel.
The reverse side of each bubble pack shows bust photos of each character in the set along with a brief description of the TV series premise.
All of the figures are dressed in variations of Desert Combat clothing.
Teal’c and Jackson are attired in full desert camo with a tan t-shirt under a full camo jacket, camo pants with belt, desert high top boots and a multi-pocket vest complete with smaller pockets over the shoulders.
Carter comes with camo pants, belt and boots but wears only a sleeveless deep tan t-shirt. O'Neill wears a similar shirt with short sleeves and camo pants. belt and boots.
O’Neil, Teal’c and Jackson brandish Goa’uld hand weapons. Carter carries a sighted black rifle with an oversize ammo canister.
She also comes with a blaster and an ancient stone tablet with symbols.
Carter features, as with all the other figures’ features, look exactly like the characters they are designed after.
Carter sports her short yellow hair, has bright blue eyes and slightly darker skin tone lips. The sculpting is spot on with clean crisp features, excellent color coverage with flesh and clothing varying tones and shadows and perfectly scaled.
All of the figures feature full articulation with the majority of articulation points hidden by the figures’ clotting. Features and skin tones look natural with slight tonal variations.
Arms, legs, elbows, wrists, necks, heads and torsos all move in natural swings and pivots which allow the figures to pose realistically with or without weapons or accessories.
The O’Neill figure wears a lidless camo cap and black sunglasses and has a short barrel machine gun with gold barrel, a small communication device and what appears to be a handheld translator.
Jackson is equipped with a machine gun, an ancient Egyptian statue of a deity complete with gold stripping and red piping decorations and a silver lidded canister.
A heavy gold Goa’uld staff weapon is Teal’c’s weapon of choice.
The overall quality of the figures, accessories and packaging are excellent.
As a big fan of the TV series I wish I had all of the figures that Diamond Select Toys produced.
Three, two, one...ignition! Get ready for some explosive action as you light up the game play of YGO.
The newest Konami Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game Ignition Assault contains the latest Cards used in the animated TV series "Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS", plus as a new powerful theme series.
Look for members/support for the Dragonmaid, Time Thief, Karakuri, Generaider, Gimmick Puppet, Chronomaly, Heraldry, Heraldic Beast, Number, Number C, Xyz, CXyz, Rank-Up-Magic, Witchcrafter, Unchained, "Unchained Soul, Mayakashi, Ghostrick, Sky Striker, Sky Striker Ace, Charmer and Familiar-Possessed archetypes, as well as Gizmek, Cupid and Cataclysmic series.
It also introduces Plunder Patroll, Megalith, Ancient Warriors, @Ignister and A.I. archetypes.
Ignition Assault comes 9 cards per Pack. One Foil Card comes in every Pack. The Set contains 100 Cards:
8 Secret Rares
10 Ultra Rares
14 Super Rares
20 Rares
48 Commons
When writer Chris Claremont and artist Bob McLeod first introduced The New Mutants in the 1980s it was for two reasons.
Money (isn’t it always about money?). Marvel Comics wanted to capitalize on the success of its Uncanny X-Men franchise. What better way to do so than to introduce a new (and younger) team of mutants?
Christ Claremont was not crazy about the idea at first but agreed nonetheless. It would give him greater creative freedom and the opportunity to write stories outside The X-Men franchise.
The New Mutants were different from The X-Men. Besides being younger and less experienced they offered a fresh perspective on mutant mania and prejudice.
If there was one thing you could count The New Mutants to be (despite the writer or artist) their stories always had a twinge of the strange and bizarre about them.
That no more so true than with The New Mutant’s Specials or Annuals.
In the Special Edition The New Mutants #1, Loki: The God of Mischief rears his ugly head and brings the Enchantress along for the ride.
Magic reigns as The New Mutants face off against a transformed fellow X-Men and find themselves in an enchanted land complete with gnomes, elves, giants and the like.
It’s magic mayhem brought to you by writer Chris Claremont and artist Arthur Adams.
Oh! Warlock and The Warriors Three show up for the fun!
Marvel’s two resident changling aliens: Warlock and The Impossible Man, face-off in a hilarious shape-changing contest that spans the entire Marvel Universe.
It’s a shape shifting romp as one tries to outdo the other. Who’s the winner? The one who puts on a ‘new’ face. It’s a ‘colorful’ conclusion. It's all in the Giant-Sized Annual The New Mutants #3.
Chris Claremont provides the words and Alan Davis the artwork. It’s a classic!
“I’m in the movies! I’m in the movies!”
That’s what you’ll be yelling when you sit down and play the latest Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game from Konami.
The Darkside Of Dimensions comes up against the Silver Screen in a unique YGO Move Pack that pits Hollywood hoopla against YGO spells, monsters and other denizens of the world of YGO.
Shhhhh! It’s a Secret Edition! Yeah, right!
Each Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions Movie Pack Secret Edition contains:
3 The Dark Side of Dimensions Movie Pack Secret Edition Booster Packs
1 of 2 Ultra Rares, either "Krystal Dragon" or "Duza the Meteor Cubic Vessel"
1 of 2 Ultra Rares, either "Dark Magician" or "Blue-Eyes White Dragon"
1 of 2 Ultra Rares, either "Slifer the Sky Dragon" or "Obelisk the Tormentor"
Going to the movies just got a whole lot more interesting!
The Shining-one of the scariest Stephen King books and movies ever produced.
Director Stanley Kubrick shocked the movie going public with his adaptation of King’s novel. Jack Nicholson gave the performance of his life as an innkeeper of the Overlook Hotel who succumbs to the terrors of the supernatural.
In Stephen King's Doctor Sleep, the horrifying sequel to The Shining, the little boy (Danny) whom experienced ‘the twins’ and other nightmarish vision and occurrences in The Shining must come to terms with his past to save a young girl.
Now a man, Dan Torrance (played by Ewan McGregor) has come to terms with the events of his childhood while residing in the Overlook Hotel with his family.
That is until he meets Abra, a young girl who also shares Dan’s extrasensory gift/curse named the Shine.
Abra sought out Dan because of their shared power and seeks his help.
Abra is on the run from The True Knot, headed by the sinister and deadly Rose The Hat.
The True Knot members feed off the Shine of innocents in their quest to achieve immortality.
Together Dan and Abra battle Rose and The True Knot as they embrace their powers and enter into territories best left alone.
The Director's Cut Included Doctor Sleep Blu-ray/Digital Code Combo Pack from Warner Bros. also provides several featurettes about the film.
Get ready to experience a new level of horror. Close your shades, turn on all the lights and never, never, watch this movie by yourself.
Sadly Triad Toys no longer exists. But when it did it turned out some pretty impressive 12-inch figures.
One such figure is Dead Cell’s Dakota Jennings figure.
Packaged in a deep red and black, flip-open lid display box, the figure is showcased behind a full clear plastic slip-over encasing
Included is a fitted tissue sheet that protects the stepped figure container from the inside front cover, flap, equipment, form-fitted, accessories plastic bubble. It’s a unique design.The lid is held in place by two Velcro buttons.
Dakota stands approximately 12-inches tall. She is held in place in a form-fitting plastic ‘coffin’.
Her face is striking with her bright red lips, large blue eyes, smooth features, small nose and long neck. The facial sculpture and coloring looks very realistic with highlights on the lips and eyes
Long blond hair cascades over her shoulders. The individual hair follicles are finely woven plastic inserted in the figure’s skull cap.
The Dakota figure is highly-articulated with easy to move and pose articulations points for the arms, wrists, legs, feet, torso and neck. She stands freely on her own with no assistance.Joints are tight, move smoothly, pivot realistically and are rugged enough to handle action poses.Dakota comes dressed in a sleeveless black top with a brown leather wraparound vest and a single shoulder strap held in place by a silver buckle.
Stitching and lacing are in scale and tight.
She wears a brown leather upper armband and a tattered white cloth wristband/bandage.
An upper left leg gun holster hangs low over her tight fit, low waist, blue denim jeans. She also wears a brown leather right knee brace.
Her fashion ensemble is complete with ankle high black boots with heavy treads and lower right arm, brown leather gauntlet.
Dakota’s hands are static in weapon holding positions and can been easily removed to be replaced with additional hands from the accessories bubble.
The figure snugly holds the handgun and samurai sword- with sheath, that come with the figure.
Additional accessories include three pairs of hands in different positions: fist, relaxed and grip.
The figure comes complete with a black leather jacket with silver zipper.
The weapons and accessories are extremely detailed. The handgun comes with a working clip and the sword has a brown leather convoluted grip and textured sheath.
It’s an impressive figure compilation with a boatload of details, great articulation, first-rate sculpting and high quality paint and color application with subtle blends and no rough edges or slop-overs.
Admittedly the hot comic books collectors look for usually are first issues, first appearances or crucial events.
But, not all first appearances, et al happen in the pages of comic books.
Many promotional pieces, catalogs and other comic book literature contain some key and collectibles art.
Back in the early and mid-1990s the Internet was in its infancy. Most promotional material was still only available in printed form and then it was not readily available to everyone.
Comic book publishers were still going through a transitional phase. The Direct Sales Market had revolutionized the distribution of comic books and publishers were scrambling in an attempt to take full advantage of the situation.
Often publishers would create ‘in-house’ publications meant for stockholders, retailers and were often distributed at retailer conventions and to the press. Very few copies managed to make to the comic book collectors themselves.
Interestingly enough many of the ‘proposed’ projects laid out in the publications either were shelved, creative teams changed or modified. Many simply did not get published.
What makes these publications so interesting is that much of the art in them were the first appearances of certain characters seen long before Diamond Previews or collector magazines such as Wizard, Fan and Combo spotlighted them sometimes months later.
For ‘true’ first appearances these magazines are a goldmine. Marvel, DC, Image and to a smaller degree alternate press publishers turned out their own catalog/previews.
I predict as the comic book collecting frenzy continues to escalate that these publications will soon be much sought after.
After perusing Amazon and Ebay I was only able to find two such copies of the publications seen in the accompanying photo.
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Shonen Jump Trading Card Games from Konami offers players a little ‘flower power!’
Brighten up your Yu-Gi-Oh! games with some cool Ash Blossom accessories that are sure to satisfy YGO players of all ages and genders.
If you play YGO then you have to have a Game Mat. And what better Game Mat than a cushioned, rubberized 24 inch by 14 inch Game Mat featuring Ash Blossom?
It’s a real beauty and it brings a whole new sophistication to any YGO game.
Other Ash Blossom goodies include 50 Tournament Level Ash Blossom Sleeves, and Ash Blossom Card Case that holds over 70 Sleeved YGO Cards and to top it off a gorgeous Ash Blossom 9-Pocket Duelist Portfolio.
Check it out! The Shonen Jump YGO Trading Card Game Ash Blossom Duelist Portfolio has Anti-Slip Pockets, features gorgeous Ash Blossom illustrations both on the front and back and is made of sturdy plastic and board that are guaranteed to last for years.
The Legendary Duelists Magical Hero Booster Packs come with five Cards per Pack and 36 Packs per Box with 56 Cards per Booster Set. Just look at what your get:
Yugi's Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl in a magical team-up.
A treasure trove of amazing new Cards for Dark Magician.
Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl will be able to battle alongside one another as a single Fusion Monster.
The Heart of the Cards allows Yugi to Summon Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl at will.
Magicians' Souls is a new effect monster that can be used to send a Dark Magician or Dark Magician Girl to the Graveyard, then Summon it back to the field.
Magicians' Combination is a new Trap Card that lets players Tribute their on-field Dark Magician or Dark Magician Girl to Special Summon the other one from player’s hand or Graveyard and negate any Card effect an opponent activates!
The return of the protagonists from the first five Yu-Gi-Oh! animated series!
The complete set of Legendary Duelists: Magical Hero contains 56 cards with one Rare in every Pack:
29 Commons
10 Rares
8 Super Rares
9 Ultra Rares
Isn’t it time to put a little ‘magic’ into your YGO game? So ‘conjure’ up some cash and buy Magical Hero today!
Have you ever have one of those days when you need a healthy dose of a warm fuzzy feeling?
Has life got you stressed out? Do your job, family conflicts and other troubles have you feeling low?
Would you like a big pick me up?
I have just the solution.
Pick up a copy of PIE International's Cat Whiskers book for a healthy dose of kitten and cat cuteness that’s sure to sooth your worried mind and bring back the warm fuzzies.
The small, hardbound book is filled with full color photos of cats and kittens as they sleep, relax, make funny faces and do all the things silly cats are prone to do.
It’s a regular feline feel good book.
Japanese artists have the uncanny knack for illustrating and painting the most common day to day objects and making them look mystical, magical and absolutely captivating.
In Flowers of Edo: A Guide To Classical Japanese Flowers readers will discover exquisite illustrations of native Japanese flowers for all seasons.
Soft and defused colors and delicate line work showcase how intricate flowers really are.
I’ve never been a big flower fan but after looking at this book of mesmerizing illustrations I’ve begun to appreciate just how amazing nature is.
Included with each illustration, are full descriptions of the flowers (both in English and Japanese) including their scientific designation, their history and place of origin.
Talk about ’flower power!’
There comes a time in every reviewer/collector’s life that they must get rid of a few things.
Now is that time. I have too much stuff!
I’ve written reviews going on 28 years. During that time I have accumulated a houseful of merchandise.
I’ve weeded out stuff consistently of course but for some odd reason the piles of books, toys, etc. keep getting bigger.
I’ve given stuff away, sold stuff, traded stuff and I’ve even donated lots and lots of toys and models to our church to give to kids on the mission field.
And yet it keeps accumulating. I take full responsibility. I am a pack rat, albeit an organized one.
Yesterday I decided to do something about it.
First thing I tackled was my book library. I went through my reading material and pulled out two cases of books I have not looked at for years. Off to the used bookstore they go to sell for some cash.
Next I hit the garage and dug out a big plastic container filled with James Bond, Star Wars, and Star Trek and other TV and movie VHS tapes. I’m giving them to a lady at our church for her husband who still has a VCR player.
While I was at it I pulled out a couple of cases of trading cards to give to that same lady to give to kids at our church youth group: Awana.
As soon as spring and summer get here I plan on getting with a friend of mine who frequents toy conventions. I’ll either split a booth cost with him or let him sell some of my toys and give him a commission.
Too many toys! I also plan on seeing if I can find military toy collectors. I have a boatload of six and 12-inch military figures to sell.
Eventually, once I’m in my 70’s, I’ll be selling off my comic books (about 15,000), the rest of my toys, trading cards, books--well, you get the idea.
My plan is to sell off the lion’s share of my collection so when my wife and I decide to downsize and live in a small apartment or condo, we won’t have much to move.
Whatever is left over when I die my son has promised to sell it on E-bay so my wife won’t have to deal with it. That is, if I pass on first.
It is amazing how much stuff I’ve accumulated. Even after getting rid of so much stuff my man cave and part of my garage is still packed.
I’d like to donate my library of books to a college or some institution that will use them. That, and copies of my review articles-I literally have written thousands of them.
Speaking of which. One other thing I almost got rid of were the floppy discs containing my original documents. I packed them up and put them in the garbage. But, after thinking about it for a while I decided to hold on to them.
My good friend Bill told me that it’s best I keep them for posterity and for my kids to have something to remember me by. Good call Bill!
Today I’m off with a load of books to the bookstore. Tomorrow I hit the local video game rescue store to sell my old Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64 and several handheld game consoles, along with dozens of games.
It’s my hope that someone will enjoy playing the old games as much as I did.
It ain’t easy getting rid of things, but it’s necessary. I’m not getting any younger and it’s best I take care of things before it gets too difficult.
Everyday I wake up grateful to God I’m alive. Life is so short. One day you’re a kid with your head full of dreams and the next you’re old.
But, it’s not so much the destination, it’s enjoying the journey to get there.
I am so blessed. I have my Lord, salvation and the knowledge that I will spend eternity in Heaven with him.
I have my beautiful wife and two great kids, a grandson and soon a new granddaughter, my friends, my family, a wonderful home, food to eat, cloths to wear, my health, a great church, fantastic memories, a nice car, good neighbors--I can’t possibly list all wonderful things that God has done for me and mine.
I deserve none of it and yet God blesses. He’ll do the same for you if you ask him to save you. He’ll turn your life around just as he has mine.
Y
ears ago I had a friend whom absolutely loved Disney cartoons. A talented cartoonist, his dream was to one day work for Disney. He certainly was (an is) talented enough.
One such dreamer actually had his dream come true.
Kevin P. Rafferty was originally called to the ministry but changed his life’s direction. He was hooked on art and his dream job was to work for Walt Disney.
As fate would have it his dream came true and starting out as gopher and jack of all trades, Kevin listened, looked and learned from those around him.
Eventually after years of hard work and dedication he obtained his fantastical Walt Disney Imagineering Career.
Kevin is responsible for developing, designing and creating some of the most spectacular ride attractions at the various Disney Theme Parks.
Magic Journey, from Disney Editions, tells his remarkable story of perseverance, dedication, determination and the dogged pursuit of his dream job.
In the book he tells his story; laced with humor, sage advice, fond recollections and his unending gratitude to be working for Walt Disney Imagineering.
It’s a remarkable and inspiring story of one man’s dream coming to fruition.
Critics and fans alike are head over heels in awe and in love with Disney’s Star Wars The Mandalorian TV series.
Many are calling it the best Star Wars since the original Star Wars Trilogy films.
In celebration and honor of the series Disney/Lucas Press presents The Mandalorian Poster Book.
Inside Star Wars fans receive 16 double-fold, pull-out posters.
Bounty Hunters, Droids and a baby Yoda-who could ask for more?
Imagine spending an entire day at every Disney Theme Park across the globe.
That’s just what photographers and videographers did as they looked through the eyes of the various cast members employed by Disney.
Go behind the scenes of rides, stage shows, cruise ships, visitor services, maintenance, engineers and electricians, construction workers and all of the other hundreds of employees at Disney that keep the mouse moving.
It’s a wonderful, full-color tour of and about the people who make the magic happen.
Animation, movie making and the various entertainment avenues of Disney could not exist or function without the people behind the magic.
The book is a visual tour of the many departments and the people who spend their days making guests feel welcome, the insure the wheels of Disney keep rolling and that the gears of The Magic Kingdom are well oiled and running smoothly.
This is the Disney few people ever get to experience and One Day At Disney invites readers to come along for the ride.
Sean Connery’s starring role as James Bond in the Diamonds Are Forever film is credited with saving the James Bond movie franchise.
After starring in five James Bond films, Connery called it quits and moved on.
The producers of the Bond films were forced to look for a replacement for Connery.
They chose Australian actor/model George Lazenby. It was a bad decision.
While On Her Majesty's Secret Service was not a bad movie it was obvious from the start that Lazenby was no Connery.
He did not return for the next film.
The producers were in a panic and persuaded Connery to return one more time as James Bond by offering him a huge amount of cash.
Connery accepted and starred In Diamonds Are forever.
James Bond’s author: Ian Fleming, when he wrote Diamonds Are Forever constructed the book unlike any previous Bond stories.
The story (often referred to as Fleming's Hollywoodization of Bond) was witty, unconventional, touched upon then taboo subjects and took Bond fans by surprise.
Editor Oliver Buckton presents The Many Facets Of Diamonds Are Forever, published by Lexington Books/Rowman & Littlefield.
In the book several James Bond scholars and new critics analyze the book and film breaking them down into its unique facets.
Readers learn the who, what, why, where and when of the creation of one the most intriguing and unique James Bond novels ever written.
The book delves deeply as to how the book came about and Fleming's decision to create such an unconventional Bond novel.
Wonderfully Wordless, by William Patrick Martin, lists the 500 most recommended graphic novels and picture books.
In the listings are books for all ages groups that tells stories with little or no words, all accompanied by black and white photos of each cover.
The books are broken down by genres and each description is short, precise and concise.
Wonderfully Wordless is an excellent resource book for parents, teachers, librarians and anyone interested in good solid reads with little or no text.
Graphic storytelling has been around since cave dwellers told their illustrated exploits on cave wall. The Egyptians used hieroglyphics and other ancient civilizations had their own unique visual story telling techniques.
Through the centuries words and pictures have told tales of adventure to romance. The printing press brought readers comic strips, comic books and other printed examples of story telling.
In It Happened To Me: Comics, Graphic Novels and Manga, author Randall Bonser offers the ultimate teen guide to the history, origins and evolution of each form of art and tale telling.
Accompanied by art, the book methodically examines in full detail the story of visual story telling and delves into its influence on societies all around the world.
Readers learn how each is created, the tools used, how diversity is represented and offers recommendations as to what series of tales to read and study.
It’s a ‘how-to’ and ‘all about’ collection of the history, techniques used and the impact generated on society of each art form.
I recommend the book for anyone new to comics, graphic novels and Manga.
It’s a real pain being a vampire. Undead, only coming out at night, crucifixes are deadly, garlic is a no-no and wooden stakes are guaranteed to cause the worst case of heart ‘burn’ imaginable.
Add to that the only way you can survive is to drink blood-human blood.
What happens if your blood supply is threatened? Total bummer!
That’s the dilemma two vampire find themselves in when aliens invade the earth and turn humans into rabid zombies. Throw in cannibals, gun totting nuns and other assorted creatures and finding your next meal as a vampire is a real challenge.
Suddenly the undead are the good guys. Who’d a thunk?
Savage Creatures sees the forces of evil collide in a truly unique take on vampires, zombies, aliens and things that go bump in the night.
It’s all courtesy of Mill Creek Entertainment on a brand new DVD/Digital Combo Pack that also includes a director commentary, a visual effect breakdown and a behind the scenes featurette.
Gods need entertainment too. Too bad a tourist and incompetent wizard of Discworld doesn’t realize it.
When a fire breaks out the unlikely pair of misfits are forced to join together on a magical journey orchestrated by the gods.
Along the way they encounter barbarians, falling of the edge of Discworld, encountering dragons and facing off against the wizard’s rather nasty former classmate.
Magic and clash meet in a hilarious and imaginative journey where the gods play a board game and the wizard and tourist are the game pieces.
On the same disc as The Color Of Magic comes Hogfather. Both are tales by terry Pratchett.
Once a year kids look forward to the night the Hogfather arrives and showers them with gifts.
But, there are evil forces out there that want nothing better to stop Hogfather and ruin the holiday for everyone.
It’s up to the most unlikely band of reluctant heroes to set things right and save Hogfather so the holiday of Hogswatch can once more be celebrated.
Both hilarious and unusual tales are on the dual film Blu-ray/Digital HD Combo Pack that also includes a few surprises.
According to some movie critics Renee Zellweger gave the best performance of her acting career starring as the legendary actress/singer/performer Judy Garland in the new film from Lionsgate: Judy.
There are rumors of her winning the Best Actress Academy Award.
The movie centers on the last year or so of Judy Garland's as she struggles to revitalize her career.
For those of my generation Judy Garland was the performer's performer. She could act, sing and dance and do them extremely well. She lit up the screen.
But, as talented she was, she never felt good about herself. She suffered from an almost debilitating lack of self-worth.
The last couple years of her life saw her marrying her fifth husband, attempting to make a comeback on the stage and even trying her hand at network TV.
As vivacious and vibrant as she was on the Silver Screen her personal life was a mess. She struggled with substance abuse, often found herself in face-to-face confrontations with friends and associates and as a woman, often dismissed by the movie studio executives.
Judy does not hold back. It shows every fault, foible and failing of Judy Garland while at the same time offering glimpses of the little girl who skyrocketed to super stardom and survived it all. Included in the film are some classic musical numbers and Renee Zellweger hits it out of the park!
As she grew older and less agile while struggling with her own inner demons she nonetheless proved time and time again she deserved the title of, “The world’s greatest entertainer.”
The Judy (Judy Garland: The Legend Behind The Rainbow) Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Combo Pack also includes a featurette on the making of Judy, a Judy Gallery and a theatrical trailer.
I was in my late 20’s when I watched the first Rambo movie: First Blood. I watched as John Rambo transformed in the next two films from a confused and troubled Vietnam veteran battling his own demons to a mythical, super-soldier killing machine.
As Sylvester Stallone (who plays Rambo) grew older he completed a forth Rambo film simply called Rambo.
In it Rambo left society and lived in a self-imposed exile. Inevitably he returned to his killer nature.
It’s been over ten years since the last Rambo film.
In the new film John Rambo has returned to his old homestead in the United States.
Once there he slowly attempted to turn away from his old ways and find some measure of peace.
But, when his beloved niece attempts to find her father in Mexico she is kidnapped and made a sex slave.
Rambo is determined to get her back and nearly succeeds only to have her perish. His attempt to rescue her results in the death of many of the human traffickers and their clientele.
John returns to his farm with the sex traffickers hot on his heels.
Alone, outnumbered and determined to stop the sex traffickers once and for all Rambo hunkers down, prepares his ranch for the onslaught and ruthlessly takes on the sex traffickers as only he can.
Rambo Last Blood is by far the most violent and bloody Rambo movie to date. Stallone delivers a powerful performance and is not afraid to show how time has taken its toll on Rambo.
Rambo Last Blood is stated to be the last Rambo movie.
However, when interviewed Stallone said, “I’ll continue to make Rambo movies as long as the audience wants them.”
The Rambo Last Blood Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Combo Pack also packs in the extras with a Rambo Production Diary, the music behind the film and a theatrical trailer.
Recently The Terminator movie series premiered its sixth film in the series: Dark Fate. It’s good but no where as good as the first and second films.
Back when Dark Horse Comics first appeared it secured The Terminator comic book publishing rights.
The events in the mini-series take place not long after T2.
Readers are given a first hand look at the inner workings of Skynet and meet the very first female Terminator.
The four-part mini-series retains the look and feel of the film series.
Prices fluctuate, but the entire four issue run can be bought for less than $20. The only questions is: for how long?
Any comic book collector worth their salt knows who John Byrne is.
His influence one the comic book community still resonates today and for good reason.
John’s runs on Superman, Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, The Fantastic Four, The Demon, The Doom Patrol, The X-Men, She Hulk and dozens of other tiles set the bar that new talent must aspire to.
John not only does work for the ’Big 2’ but also for other smaller publishers such as Dark Horse and IDW.
His Next Men title is still a favorite with fans.
But, did you know that John started out just like other young creators on whatever title was assigned him?
John first started out working for Charlton Comics and on The All New Hanna Barbera’s Wheelie And The Chopper Bunch.
You read right-John started out on funny cartoons.
The Wheelie issues he began on have started to rise in value and are necessary additions to any John Byrne comic book collection.
Currently #1 sells for around $10. However it is a Bronze Age comic book and as any comic book collector can tell you Bronze Age comics are shooting up in value-fast!
Here’s some trivia for you.
I am old enough to remember watching Walt Disney cartoon shorts when they were shown at movie theaters. My favorites starred Donald Duck. I can even recall some of the WWII shorts animated by Disney-albeit as reruns on TV before everything got ‘politically correct’.
Even though I was only shy of three years old I vaguely recollect watching the opening of Disneyland on ABC TV in 1955. Art Linkletter hosted the live program. It was a first and as with any live event it had its ‘awkward’ moments.
My mom and I enjoyed watching The Wonderful World of Color/Disney from Disney when it was on TV.
I was also a member of the Mickey Mouse Club. It premiered in 1955. I don’t remember the first shows but by 1958 I was old enough to remember some of them.
Believe it or not I remember most of the Mickey Mouse Club March:
Who's the leader of the club
That's made for you and me
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E
Hey there, hi there, ho there
You're as welcome as can be
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E
Mickey Mouse, Mickey Mouse
Forever let us hold our banner high
High, high, high
Come along and sing a song
And join the jamboree
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E
Mickey Mouse club
We'll have fun, we'll be new faces
High, high, high, high
We'll do things and we'll go places
All around the world
We'll go marching
Who's the leader of the club
That's made for you and me
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E…
Come relive the magic with me of things Disney past and present with four new books from Disney Editions that are guaranteed to bring out the kid in everyone.
Walt Disney Studios is now an international corporation. Disney is everywhere from theme park, movies, TV shows, cable, streaming, books, music, toys, retail outlets, cruises-you name it, Disney does it.
Needless to say there’s a lot to know about Disney. Where to start?
Here’s a suggestion. Pick up a copy of Disney Editions’ Disney A to Z The Official Encyclopedia 5th Edition.
Dave Smith, the Chief archivist Emeritus of Walt Disney Archives, and his staff spent literally hundreds of hours compiling this impressive tome of all things Disney.
Just one look and you can tell it is quite an undertaking. If it’s about Disney, then it’s in this HUGE, thick, hardbound book.
Comprehensive and thorough hardly describe this impressive collection of facts and fun that also includes hundreds of black and white photos.
Updated with 10 more years of history this book is the ultimate Disney guide. People, places, things and events concerning Walt Disney Enterprises are chronicled. It’s 858 pages of pure Disney!
Disney Studios has had huge successes with its live action adaptations of some of its classic animated films.
Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Alice In Wonderland and the Lion King faithfully translated classic animated musicals using real actors combined with visual effects to make updated versions of the films.
But, how do you make a film about a flying elephant in live action?
Leave it director Tim Burton and the magic makers at Disney to do just that in their delightful live adaptation of Dumbo, the baby flying circus elephant.
Danny Devito is just one of the big name stars who lent their talent to this delightful film that captures the heart and soul of the original animated film. It’s pure movie magic.
How did the filmmakers at Disney Studios do it?
Author Leah Gallo and Disney Editions reveal the secrets behind the making of the film in a brand new, deluxe, hardbound book.
The cover alone is almost worth the price of the book. Dumbo flies directly at the reader amidst a red, white and blue striped background with the huge Dumbo logo overhead. Spot varnish makes the images pop.
Tim Burton provides the foreword for the book.
The Art And Making Of Disney Dumbo starts with art from the original 1941 film.
From there the creative team behind the new film breaks down the art, re-imagines images, preplans sequences and begins post production.
Readers are guided through the entire film process courtesy of the very informative and secret revealing text.
Included in the book are concept art pieces, scene visualizations, set designs, costume designs, period set dressings and setups, special effects preparation and digital imaging.
Learn about the choice of actors, the lighting, location shooting, the incredible special and visual effects, the soundtrack and much more.
It is a wondrous journey through the film making process made even more fascinating by the scope and scale of the undertaking such a massive product.
Dumbo lives and you’ll believe an elephant can really fly!
I love Pop-Up books! I have several and it always fascinates me how book designers and artists can take flat pieces of colored paper and using folds, perforations, hinges and other Pop-Up secrets can create delightful 3D sculpture from 2D images.
Disney Editions has really outdone itself in what I consider one of the best (if not the best) Pop-Up books I have ever seen.
Author Matthew Reinhart has created a plethora of Pop-Ups in PIXAR A Pop-Up Celebration and what a celebration it is!
The large hardbound book comes in a transparent slipcase to protect the amazing book. An additional single sheet insert protects the back of the book.
Get ready for a delightful visual journey as you open the first page.
Inside the author introduces readers the genesis of PIXAR films. Beginning with 1995’s Toy Story film the book provides plenty of Pop-Up surprises and delightful fun.
Pages break down PIXAR’s film by the year they were released.
The two-page spreads provide foldout Pop-Up of articles associated with PIXAR films such as its trademark desk lamp, computer, etc.
Each film (Usually three to four per two-page foldout) has a small foldout Pop-Up dedicated to it along with some film reel Pop-Ups providing extra film art.
Although only measuring 4 1/2 X 5 inches each film foldout Pop-Up is extremely elaborate in its complexity. For example, check out The Incredibles Pop-Up. WOW!
Short text snippets guide readers through the film history of PIXAR.
It’s hard to describe just how complex this book is. The sheer amount of manpower to construct each Pop-Up is mind-blowing. I can see myself spending hours with my grandchildren pouring over each and every page and Pop-Up. I can hardly wait.
There are instances where God graciously grants individuals the ability to do amazing things few of us can accomplish. Genius is a mysterious and wonderful thing.
Compared to the huge population of the earth only a small percentage of people possess genius.
One such individual is animator/ illustator/paiinter/designer Marc Davis- a longtime Disney animator and Imagineer.
Diehard Disney fans are familiar with his work. He is considered by many to be the best of the best of Disney’s animators and creative minds. I have to agree.
The sheer volume of his work is amazing, as is his incredible imagination.
As a graphic designer and illustrator I marvel at his uncanny ability to imagine and put down on paper his concepts. Even more amazing is how long he did it.
Most artists start to burn out as they grow older. Not Marc Davis-if anything his imagination and skill increased, as did his output.
In Marc Davis In His Own Words Imagineering The Disney Theme Parks authors Pete Docter and Christopher Merritt lead readers though two huge volumes containing Marc’s work.
Both volumes are contained in an oversize hardbound slipcase festooned it Marc’s art.
Volume 1 starts out with Marc’s early work on some of Disneyland’s rides.
Concept art finished illustrations, set pieces, ride mechanics, fully realized animatronic robots, interactive elements and more are discussed, analyzed and broken down.
What’s remarkable is that anything like this had never been done before.
Amusement parks may have had a few moving set pieces but nothing compared to the scale and complexity of what Marc Davis and his creative collaborators had in mind.
Imagine creating such classic rides like The Haunted Mansion, Pirates Of The Caribbean and dozens more.
Pages are packed with concept art and sketches, color studies, set designs, costume concepts, facial and body sculptures and inner mechanical workings.
New computer technology was incorporated as were lighting designs requiring precisions timing and sequencing.
The second volume follows the first concentrating on later designs for not only Disneyland but also Disneyworld and Walt Disney theme attractions.
My mind is absolutely boggled by the sheer volume of work accomplished!
Behind-the-scenes photos of staff and production people and facilities are also included as are concepts and art for projects that never got off the ground.
Readers will see the creative process and concept art and sculpts for entire themed lands.
Imagineers were responsible for conceptualizing how a ride is laid out and timed so that each individual rider experiences sequences without being distracted by what has gone before or what is about to come.
It’s an impressive feat of engineering and time management.
There’s signage, storyboards, completed art and set setups, live action sequences, personnel costumes and the consistent feel and atmosphere for each ride such as The Haunted Mansion.
What massive undertakings!
I have to admit I’m a bit jealous of the talent of Mr. Davis. I can imagine what it must have been like working with and for him. Talk about a learning opportunity!
Everything he touched was first-class from his sketches to his final ride designs. Every facet of each project was fine-tuned to the last note. Colors, lighting, visual and atmospheric effects, set deigns and dressings-the list goes on and one.
For an amazing journey into the mind and creativity of a man with a vision like no other this is the book that provides it all.
Sadly Mr. Davis is no longer with us but his legacy and genius live on.
At the early cusp of computer animation Warner Bros. produced a classic animated film that combined the best of conventional animation with the then new computer animation. The result was The Iron Giant full-length animated film that has garnered a cult following.
In a nutshell the story goes like this: The time is the 1950s when the Communist threat and The Cold War were in full swing.
When a mysterious object crash lands a young boy investigates and discovers a giant metal eating robot with no memory of what it is or what its mission is.
The military gets involved and injures the boy thus setting the robot in motion as its memory is restored and it proceeds to make kindling out of the military’s weapons in retaliation for the boy being 'hurt'.
As a last resort the military decides to drop an A-bomb to destroy the robot, even thought there will be civilian casualties. Only at the last moment the robot regains its senses after is finds out its human friend is uninjured.
The robot stops the bomb and saves many lives.
It’s a wonderful story of friendship and loyalty-sort of a robotic E.T.
Trendmasters Toys put out a very limited amount of The Iron Giant toys. Being as the film is such a classic the figures demand high prices due to their scarcity.
One such toy was Trendmasters’ The Iron Giant Animated Bank.
The large toy is packaged in a oversize rectangular box with a clear plastic front piece for viewing the bank.
The massive Iron Giant sits upon a pile of metal junk. On his right knee sits his human friend.
When a hidden button is pushed at the garbage-strewn base the Giant opens his mouth, his left arm lifts to his mouth as it opens and he speaks as his eyes light up and his right leg raises slightly.
The details of the figure are amazing, perfectly matching the film’s robot.
Angular cut legs and arms with round pivot joints of knees and ankles, wrists and elbows fit snugly into place and look incredible real.
The robot's massive chest is festooned with rivets. His neck air vent area, large shoulder mounts, huge head with a protruding lower jaw, round eyes and a fin running from his nose area over his cranium are perfect.
Large platter like feet attach to its legs via swing hinges, two massive articulated hands extend from Popeye-like lower arms and the robot’s waist looks like a convoluted overlapping section of steel rings.
The base is strewn with various pieces that appear to be rusted and crumpled metal and the small human figure is dressed in blue jeans, a red and white stripped shirt and red tennis shoes.
It’s an amazing figure with lots of small details, first rate sculpting, clever animated capability, clean and crisp color application, a sound chip with Vin Diesel’s voice and a cool place to set your coins in his hand and watch him gobble up your change.
Is it any wonder this figure is so sought after by fans?
Depending on its condition, the bank can be purchased from $125 to $250.
Angelina Jolie returns to the role she made famous in Maleficent Mistress Of Evil the follow up film of the hit movie Maleficent from Disney.
This time around Maleficent’s human goddaughter is being romanced by a nearby kingdom’s Prince.
The romance blossoms and Aurora and the Prince plan to marry-much against his mother’s wishes.
It seems the queen hates the Fairy folk and all tings magical.
After a disastrous rehearsal dinner sparks fly, as do insults resulting in the Queen and Maleficent parting ways.
Things come to a boil as Maleficent returns to her magical realm and rallies her troops to fight against the humans that threaten to destroy there kind.
Tempers flare and was erupts and its up to aurora, the Prince and his father the King to set things aright.
Jolie once again nails it as the fiery Fairy Queen Maleficent and each actor is given their own moment to shine.
The visual effects are stunning, as are the creature effects.
Maleficent Mistress Of Evil delivers some heart-pounding moments along with some amazing visual, practical and special effects.
The Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Code Combo Pack also includes fun extras: extended scenes, outtakes, Aurora’s wedding, a behind-the-scenes look at the magic of the film and much more.
I certainly can identify with writer/cartoonist Adam Ellis’s new book: Super Chill. I also have had ‘A Year Of Living Anxiously’. Make that several years worth.
Have you ever had one of those years when you decided you needed to make some changes in your life?
You start out with good intentions but not long after you begin, things don’t exactly go as planned.
In Super Chill, from Andrews McMeel Publishing, creator Adam Ellis recounts just such a year.
Watch as he plans to change his diet, exercise, seek a more spiritual life, challenge himself to make physical as well as mental changes and to question his own life, moral stand and outlook on life.
Are you feeling it yet? We’ve all been there and Adam Ellis nails what it all means in a hilarious cartoon chronicle of the choices we all make.
The Nancy comic strip has been around for decades. The little girl with black close-cropped hair with a red ribbon and dressed in her black with red polka dots skirt, white blouse, black vest and blue/gray shoes looks at life from a slightly eschew pint of view.
Artist and writer Olivia Jaimes upholds the Nancy tradition with her delightful new collection of Nancy full-color comic strips.
It appears that Nancy is the only one who really knows what's going on. She is aware that she is a comic strip character and cleverly reveals so to the chagrin of those characters around her.
Sluggo is still hanging around, along with Nancy’s teachers, friends, associates and detractors.
For a unique take on life filled with clever in-jokes and jabs the Nancy A Comic Collection delivers. Also an extensive interview with Nancy’s writer/artist and a Nancy Gallery are also included.
For 30 years Dilbert has taken jabs at office life and it appears he will not stop anytime soon.
As a former office worker I feel Gilbert’s pain.
Anyone working in an office environment (especially a large corporate office setting) can identify the hypocrisy, lunacy of corporate decisions and the menagerie of office workers to contend with.
Believe me, I’ve seen my share and Dilbert exposes each and everyone for who they are.
Dilbert Turns 30, by Scott Adams, presents not only recent comic strip reprints but also the top 50 Dilbert comics of the last decade.
Let the lunacy begin!
Having raised two teenagers (a boy and girl) my wife and I have the experience, war wounds, gray hair and wrinkles to prove it.
In Not Sparking Joy, by Zits creators Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman, reveals what its like to raise a teenage boy.
Learning how to confront a teenager’s overactive hormone attack, kooky friends, illogical requests and outlook on life to their unending hunger and total lack of hygiene, Zits Not Sparking Joy is a handbook offering some hilarious advice to any parent about to face their child’s teenage years.
Beware! Teenage life is seen from the points of view of not only teenagers, but parents as well.
What happened!? They were so cute and adorable when they were little. And then...BOOM! Cuteness gives way to irresponsibility, challenging authority and their ‘rights’.
Still there are times just when you are just about give up that kid(s) you knew pops out through all that teenage angst and you realize how much you love them.
Of yeah, wait until your kids get their own kids! Revenge is sweet!
Actor Joaquin Phoenix gives the performance of his life as Warner Bros./DC Comics’ Joker according to some movie critics and analysts.
Joaquin stars as Arthur Fleck, a nobody with some serious issues when it comes to fitting in and functioning in society.
Alone and feeling ostracized he lives a sequestered existence as he watches over his sickly mother.
Also inflicted with a rare condition that causes him to laugh uncontrollably when placed in stressful situations he often becomes the object of ridicule and the brunt of many cruel jokes.
Joker is a difficult movie to describe. Is it real or are all the events just imagined by Arthur Fleck?
Regardless of what the truth is, it is a remarkable movie. Moviegoers get to follow the slow slip into insanity of Arthur as he deals with the harsh realities of his life.
His descent begins when street thugs, who steal his store sign that he uses to bring in customers, accost him. Arthur being dressed as a comical clown makes the scene is all the most disturbing as the thugs relentless beat him almost to unconsciousness when he tries to retrieve the sign.
Things go for bad to worse as Arthur’s aspirations to be a stand-up comedian are shattered, he finds out much of his life is a lie perpetrated by his mother, is taunted by a fellow employee, loses his job and uncovers some shocking facts.
Ultimately he comes face-to-face with Thomas Wayne resulting in the tragic events that eventually created The Batman.
It is remarkable watching as Arthur disappears and The Joker persona takes over.
It is a violent, often disturbing and tragic story of a lonely man who slips into madness and couldn't be happier.
There are plenty of Easter eggs referring to the Batman movies, TV show, comic books and lore.
I was surprised that after watching the film I accidentally found myself feeling sorry for The Joker.
The Joker Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Code Combo Pack, from Warner Bros., also includes four featurettes: Joker: Vision & Fury, Becoming Joker, Please Welcome...Joker! and Joker: A Chronicle of Chaos.
Joker promises to change the way people perceive a comic book movie. Look for more groundbreaking superhero movies from Warner Bros. such as the upcoming new Birds of Prey, Suicide Squad and Batman.
Riding on the wave of mutant success writer Chris Claremont decide to add another ‘X’ project to his already busy roster of X-Men titles.
After having huge successes with The Uncanny X-Men, The New Mutants and a string of mini-series, Chris was ready for something with a little lighter edge and a lot more humor.
So he came up with Excalibur-a very British take on mutants.
The Excalibur Special Edition sets up the team. Kitty Pride of the X-Men has had some horrendous dreams. So scary in fact that she can’t sleep.
At that time she believed the X-Men were dead. Professor X was halfway across the galaxy.
She contacts Nightcrawler (the only other ‘surviving X-Man) and then things really get out of control.
They are attacked by one of the most unusual band of aliens imaginable, almost get killed by Warwolves, run into Captain Britain and that’s just part of the melee.
Eventually things settle down and Kitty, along with Nightcrawler, Captain Britain, his shape-shifting girlfriend Megan and Rachel Summers (Phoenix) band together and create Excalibur.
There’s a lot more stuff to see in this issue to completely grasp the story.
Artist Alan Davis and inker Paul Neary deliver some absolutely fantastic art full of action, emotional highs and lows, some incredible fight scenes, unique character designs and lots of humor.
Currently a raw copy goes for around $10 and a 9+ slabbed copy for about $100.
For even more fun be sure to pick up a copy of Excalibur Mojo Mayhem featuring the art of Arthur Adams.
In this issue Excalibur goes up against Mojo and his assassin and team-up with the X-Babies.
It is hilarious and Arthur’s artwork fits the bill perfectly.
There’s a classy tribute to the Jack Kirby and Stan Lee legacy that both Marvel and DC Comics fans are sure to get a kick out of.
It’s absolutely a hoot and a fun read that is sure to become a classic.
Issues are available for less than five bucks.
Purchasing the very first run of The New Uncanny X-Men titles can be daunting and expensive.
The classic run of Giant Size X-Men #1 and The Uncanny X-Men #94 through #143 can clean out one’s wallet.
When it comes to Claremont, Cockrum and Byrne’s classic runs on the title it can get expensive.
If you’re a penny-pincher like myself you can’t slap down hundreds or thousands of dollars for comic books.
I’m fortunate that I have most of the classic Cockrum and Byrne X-Men issues-mainly because I bought them when they were originally on sale at the newsstand.
Still, for a great way to pick up the classic X-Men issues without paying high prices search for Marvel’s Classic X-Men series.
It features reprints of the classic issues with original art provided by John Bolton intermingled with the classic Byrne and Cockrum art.
It’s a great way to save a few bucks and still enjoy some classic tales.
