American Military Helicopters And Vertical/Short Landing And Takeoff Aircraft Since 1941

I had the good fortune when our children were young to take them on a short helicopter ride when we visited Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Although the flight only lasted a few minutes it was amazing, scary, exhilarating and horrifying all at the same time. I’d do it again in a shot!

Helicopters for the U,S, military have been in service since 1941.

While the first models were clunky, unyielding and little more than frames with large propellers the later models were sophisticated war machines capable of amazing maneuverability and firepower.

Author E.R. Johnson and artist Ted Williams, along with McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, presents the ultimate guide to helicopters and other similar aircraft in American Military Helicopters And Vertical/Short Landing And Takeoff Aircraft Since 1941.

Learn everything there is to learn about the various aircraft including their specs, speeds, capabilities, history and more.

Listed by year and make the book delves heavily into each aircraft with in-depth information complemented by new and archival photographs and illustrations.

I never realized their were so many such aircraft used by the military over the years. It’s mind-boggling!

"I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought." — 1 Corinthians 1:10

Blue Beetle

Blue Beetle started out at Charlton Comics, created by artist and writer Steve Ditko.

When Charlton closed up shop the company sold the rights to its comic book characters to DC Comics.

Originally Watchman writer Alan Moore was going to use the Charlton characters in his highly successful Watchmen maxi-series.

DC executive squelched the idea and instead Moore created his own characters fashioned after the Charlton superheroes.

Meanwhile DC reintroduced the Charlton comic book cast, several n their own series. Blue Beetle was one of them.

The series caught on with fans and was a moderate success. However it was the Identity Crisis mini-series that set Blue Beetle apart from his earlier persona.

That Blue Beetle was murdered (albeit he was eventually brought back).

DC Comics decided to create a new Blue Beetle. He was Jamie Reyes who discovered an alien ‘egg’ that contained a carapace, war machine, sentient suit, that promptly bound itself to Jamie.

Together they are the superhero Blue Beetle.

In the new Blue Beetle movie the origin of Blue Beetle is shown. The film delves in to the history of the biotech armor and together the suit and Jaime face off against what seems unstoppable foes who want the suit or to destroy it.

Heavy emphasis is placed on the companionship between Jaime and the suit as it evolves.

Longtime DC Comics fan have lots of Easter eggs to look for such as the original Blue Beetle (Ted Cord) brief cameo, his secret lair and high-tech arsenal and mechanisms, OMAC and many other DC comics characters and icons.

The Blue Beetle Blu-ray/Digital Code Combo from Warner Bros./Discovery also includes several Blue Beetle featurettes.

"He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." — Philippians 1:6

SR-71 Blackbird

The fastest military aircraft in history!

First designed in the late 1950s and tested and flown in the 1960s, Lockheed’s Ultimate Spy Plane: SR-71 Blackbird still holds the record for the highest flying and fastest military aircraft ever developed.

Revolutionary in its design, instrumentation, radar profile and flight capabilities the Blackbird only was in service for a short time with a limited number of aircraft built.

Schiffer Publications' Legends Of Warfare Flight  SR-71 Blackbird Lockheed’s Ultimate Spy Plane small hardbound book written and researched by David Doyle offers a close-up examination of this phenomenal jet aircraft.

Assembled and tested at the Area 51 military base it was a part of the genesis of the mysterious and highly top secret airbase.

In fact, if it were not for the Blackbird Area 51 may not exist.

Inside the book color and black and white photos are included. Highly detailed text, performance charts and specs and other important flight testing data is provided.

Photos show the Blackbird under development, in flight, in air refueling, landing and both the exterior and full cockpit details.

Key personnel responsible for developing and testing the aircraft are shown in photos. Both text and photos chronicle the evolution of the Blackbird up until its retirement in the late 1990s.

Military, aircraft and military historians are sure to love this book and add it to their libraries.

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord." — Psalm 150:6

Diamond Previews, November 2023

"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.'" — Mark 10:27

Action Figures Of The 1980s

They used to be inexpensive-not anymore!

Our son is a child of the 1980s. Like most boys during that decade he loved action figures. 

He had them all: the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, Ghostbusters, Power Rangers, Batman, Indiana Jones, G.I. Joe, Masters Of The Universe and many others.

They were relatively cheap, abundant and a lot of fun to play with at that time.

Those same toys are highly sought after collectibles by those same kids from the 1980s-who are now all grown up and trying to collect a part of their past.

If only knew then what we know now. We never would have gotten rid of the toys. After all-they were JUST TOYS!

In Action Figures Of The 1980s, authors John Marshall and Schiffer Publications, offer a full-color, nostalgic trip down toy Memory Lane complete with photos, prices and loads of fascinating information about the action figures produced in the 1980s.

So many toys from TV series, animated shows, movies and more are represented. Take a moment, sit back, relive the past and wish, “If only I had saved those toys and their packaging!”

"As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart." — Proverbs 27:19

The Punisher #1

After his successful mini-series, drawn by Mike Zeck, Marvel Comics gave The Punisher his own monthly title.

The monthly series allowed the writer and artist to delve deeply into the personality, motivation and methods of The Punisher.

Frank Castle makes a crack junkie think he killed him so he can follow him to a drug house.  Once there Frank takes care of business.

Not long afterward an old buddy from Vietnam talks to Frank about one of their squad’s members (believed dead) who is alive and transporting drugs.  The man wanted Frank’s friend to help him, he refused.  He turns up dead later.

Frank uses the information his dead friend provided him and infiltrated the crime organization in disguise under a false name.

Things go haywire and Frank once again takes care of business.  Still in disguise he managed to contact the ‘big man’ of the organization only to discover it is another of his former war buddies.  End of issue #1.

Writer Mike Baron and artist Klaus Janson delved into the world of Frank Castle (the Punisher) and firmly established the character.

The story was gritty, somewhat disturbing and excellently paced.

This is The Punisher that years later will appear in movies and his own TV series: grim, tough, without mercy and a professional killer hell-bent on revenge and bloody justice.

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world." — 1 John 2:15-16

The Kaiju Film

King Kong and Godzilla-they are familiar names to lovers of monster films. They are classic characters.

But, there are far more strange monsters or strange beasts (Kaiju) in films from all around the globe.

Big monsters-what’s the attraction and who cares? An interesting question.

Kaiju are more that just rampaging monsters terrorizing humans and destroying cities. They are symbols and analogies.

Godzilla was a symbol of the nuclear destruction of two Japanese cities in World War II. King Kong examines the clash between primal and modern eras.

Other less known monsters represent all sorts of things from the industrial age, modernization, tradition versus change and so forth.

Author Jason Barr examines the many facets of Kaiju films in his new book: The Kaiju Film A Critical Study Of Cinema’s Biggest Monsters, published by McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers.

Discover what happens when science runs amok, consumerism reigns, capitalism drives civilization and pollution ravages the earth.

Monsters? No, more like harbingers and prophets of the dangers of colonialism and militarism.

Who are the real monsters? Giant beasts or mankind?

"When I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me." — Micah 7:8

 

Amazon Warrior Wonder Woman

She may be a founding member of The Justice League of America and an advocate for peace and love but when it comes to war few can match Wonder Woman.

The Tonner Amazon Warrior Wonder Woman figure comes in a special, black display box with the DC Stars logo.

Inside the figure is secure in the box with silk ribbon tie-downs and foam rubber.  Accessories are in separate Ziploc bags and packets of silicon chips keep the moisture out of the box preventing damage to the figure.

A sheet of tissue paper gate folds over the figure for protection.  A special circular base and wire support are also inside.

The Wonder Woman figure is one of the most beautiful of the DC Stars figures in my opinion.

Wonder Woman’s long black hair back in tied in a gold ribbon. Her hair looks real and cascades down over her shoulders.

As befitting an Amazon Princess Wonder Woman’s features are classic with a strong chin, a small straight nose, high cheeks and full red lips.

Her expressive, large blue eyes reflex her compassion and strength.

The fully articulated figure is tall and slightly muscular.  Her hands are small and delicate, as are her feet.  Flesh tones are natural looking and varied slightly to emulate real skin.

The armor and clothing she wears lays on the figure naturally like normal clothing.  The figure’s attire moves with the figure with no bunching or unnaturally folds or wrinkles and is easily removed and put back on the figure.

Wonder Woman comes dressed in a gold leather one-piece suit with no legs or sleeves.  It has vertical stitched strips going down all sides and with stitched leather strips all around its hip area.  The strips are decorated with gold spherical buttons.

Under the leather once-piece she wears finely meshed tights.

Over the one-piece is ornate chest armor the covers her bosom and ends in a point just above her navel.  A large eagle and star decorate the front.

The upper part of the armor has two gold rings that attach to a long gold gossamer cape that flows to just below her ankles.

A pair of gold leather, high heel, knee boots with full-length side zippers, twin gold gauntlets that easily slip on and off the figure’s arms, gold loop earrings and a wing tip gold tiara make up the balance of her wardrobe. 

All of her garments are beautifully crafted with fine stitching and minute details.

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

USS Nimitz [CVN-68]

Nuclear power-a force to be reckoned with.

To show you how old I am, I remember when the Nimitz was launched in 1975. It was a big deal-especially considering the United States and the U.S.S.R. were still in a state of a Cold War with the U.S.S.R. Nuclear tension was high-very high!

When our children were young I took them to the Mayport Navel Port to take a tour of the USS Enterprise Aircraft Carrier. Unfortunately it got called on deployment suddenly and all tours were canceled.

I always wanted to tour an aircraft carrier and never did.

Schiffer Publishing’s Legends Of Warfare Naval USS Nimitz [CVN-68] America’s Supercarrier 1975 To The Present, written by Sergio Santana, provides the next best thing.

Inside Is a gallery of black and white and color photos of all the areas of the aircraft carrier along with a history of the Nimitz, spaces, technical, crew operations, patrol parameters, nautical information and more.

A visual guided tour visits flight operations, hangers, recreation areas, weapons training, weapons stations and types, the gallery, crew and officer quarters, work shops, supply storage and every other parts of the ship that few people, other than crew members, ever see.

After looking at and reading the book I feel as if were standing on the flight deck and taking a personal tour of the ship.

What an engaging and first hand look at one of the U.S.A.s’ premiere naval vessels.

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." — 2 Corinthians 9:7

Smart Games Safari Park Jr.

Are your kids ready for a challenging safari complete with wild animals and rough terrain?

If so then Smart Game’s Safari Park Jr. game is the perfect way to explore the wild without any of the danger.

A single player (three years old and up) selects a challenge card and tries to match the locations the lion, giraffe and elephant must be on the game board. Sounds simple? It can be challenging.

Placing the animals in the recessed slide paths players must move the animals through bushes, under trees, between rocks, under a rainbow and through a pond to match the positions of the challenge.

Match the challenge and you win!

Safari Park Jr., from Smart Games, is colorful and rugged with game pieces easy for young hands to pick up and move.

The game board with its preset landscape is its own little outdoor world.

Like all of Smart Games Safari Park Jr. comes packaged in a heavy-duty, flip lid, colorful cardboard box that makes taking the game and pieces easy to pack and unpack.

With over 60 challenges the preschool game develops planning, problem solving, visual perception, language and eye-hand coordination in children.

It’s fun to play, look at and a challenge for young children!

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans." — Proverbs 16:3

 

 

 

Legends Of Flight Douglas DC-4, DC-6 And DC-7

A workhorse for both cargo and passengers.

I love old commercial aircraft made during the 1930s to the 1960s. They were classy, built tough and made to last.

Air flight back then was mainly via prop aircraft and Douglas made the best.

Follow the history of DC series of aircraft used for commercial flight.

Vintage photos showcases the interiors of each plane, their instrumentation, flight crews, passenger amenities and much more.

I just love the old brochures, memorabilia and other artifacts from the past.

Back then it was a special occasion to fly on a plane. People dressed up, enjoyed full meals, excellent service and comfortable seating and with lots of leg room.

Schiffer Publications’ Legends Of Flight Douglas DC-4, DC-6 And DC-7 A Legend Of Flight Illustrated History by Wolfgang Borgmann, is packed with fascinating text, wonderful old photos in black and white and color, charts, specs, promotional material recreations and so much visual history.

Did you know that Douglas aircraft were used in the Berlin airlift. That and so much more delves into the history of all the Douglas aircraft-variations and all in this marvelous small hardbound book!

"For we live by faith, not by sight." — 2 Corinthians 5:7

My First Build & Drive

You may find this hard to believe but I remember as a child (probably about three years old) of gathering some odds and ends out of my mom’s junk drawer and making all sorts of gadgets: such as pretend cars.

Smartmax’s Magnetic Discovery, My First Build & Drive (for ages 1 to 5 years old) offers 24 challenges for any future mechanics, engineers and technical wizards. (I wish I had this as a child!)

Young children can choose their challenge and with the magnetic parts provided can build, create and make all sorts of wheel vehicles.

The colorful blocks and miscellaneous parts let a child build and solve problems.

My First Build And Drive comes with a large selection of pieces packaged in a rugged, flip-lid and colorful cardboard box.

Kids build using the extra large parts for easy handling and can create both 2D and 3D contraptions and gadgets.

It encourages color and shape recognition, fine motor skills, fantasy and creatively, hand-eye coordination and balance and stacking.

It’s bright, colorful, easy to handle and a great way to develop a child’s creativity and productivity.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." — Joshua 1:9

Strange Tales #158

Nick Fury and Baron Strucker have their ‘Final Encounter‘ in Marvel Comics' Strange Tales #158.

If you are a new comic book reader or only been collecting for the last ten years or so you need to do yourself a favor and pick up the Nick Fury series in Strange Tales written and drawn by Jim Steranko.

Steranko changed the face of comic books in he 1960s.  His artistic approach included introducing elements of POP, OP and other modern art influences.

His dynamic page layouts, mastery of the human figure, talent for depicting high-tech and futuristic technology and creating gripping stories revolutionized how comic book stories could be told.

While his output was relatively small his impact on the comic book industry is still being felt today. In Strange Tales #158 Nick Fury and his longtime Nazi nemesis Baron Strucker faced off.  

Strucker revealed his deadly Satan Claw and tried to kill Fury with it.  In one of the most dynamic fight sequences even seen in comic books, Steranko delivered a one-two punch as Fury seemingly perished.  It was an incredible tale.

In an equally momentous tale Doctor Strange encountered the Living Tribunal (his first appearance) that passed judgment on Doctor Strange for releasing a cosmic menace.

The penalty was the destruction of Earth.
 
Only Strange’s wit, wisdom, determination and strength of will managed to save mankind.  He had to stop the evil he has released is a short span of time or Earth was doomed.

I love these old Marvel Comics.  Unlike so many of today’s comic books Marvel Comics in its early days dared to take chances and pioneered such epic stories.

Nothing else in pop culture at that time could match the imagination and creativity of Marvel Comics.

Artists and writers took pride in their work even though the wages were low.  Quality and creativity were at the forefront, not the almighty dollar.

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." — Ephesians 3:20-21

The Crimson King

Crimson-the color of blood. Kind of unsettling when it comes to gaming. Discover if you have a champion YGO gamer in your blood!

Konami’s new Shonen Jump Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game Structure Deck: The Crimson King puts players in the middle of a Phoenix Whirlwind!

Join Jack Atlas, the Master of Faster as he gives you command of the many faces of Red Dragon Archfiend! Here’s what to expect:

• Synchro Summoning one of the Level 8 “Red Dragon Archfiend” monsters.
• Unleash even higher-Level Synchro Monsters like the imperious Red Nova Dragon!
• Includes a massive Extra Deck to maximize your strategic flexibility.
• Look for a brand-new Level 8 Synchro Monster that counts as Red Dragon Archfiend on the field or in the Graveyard
  Turbocharge your own strategy while sending your opponent back to the Dueling stone age! 
• Summon one of the higher-Level Red Dragon Archfiend Synchro Monsters. Special Summon the original Red Dragon Archfiend from your Extra Deck. Eliminate all your opponent’s Attack Position monsters without needing to battle!

The Crimson King Structure Deck comes with a total of 50 Cards:

• 5 Ultra Rares
• 3 Super Rares
• 42 Commons

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man." — Proverbs 3:3-4

Diamond Previews, October 2023

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." — 1 Corinthians 13:13

Dreamland

We’ve all heard the rumors: a secret government base located in the desert outside of Los Vegas, Nevada, testing site of alien technology, hangers full of UFOs and aliens from other worlds.

Area 51 has been clocked in secrecy since its inception in 1955. What are the facts? Is it all those things previously mentioned or are they all speculative fiction?

Author Peter W. Merlin and Schiffer Publishing delve into the facts about Area 51 in Dreamland The Secret History Of Area 51.

Originally a ramshackle, cobbled together military base for testing aircraft Area 51 has grown to a huge government complex with multiple buildings, hangers and an underground complex.

But is it as sinister and secret as believed?

Join the author as he delves into the history of Area 51 from its genesis as a temporary building and tent complex to its current state of high-tech, state-of-the-art, mega-complex filled with military secrets.

Not only is the base a testing ground from experimental aircraft it is so much more.

Learn how new technology, flight uniforms, instrumentation, offense and defense systems, weapons and all things military are tested, tried and approved.

This massive hardbound book contains dozens of black and white and color photos of aircraft, equipment and other items never or seldom seen by the public,

Peter W. Merlin provides an exhaustive, well-researched and impressive piece of work that leaves no detail left out.

Learn the truth about Area 51. It’s even more amazing than fiction!

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." — 2 Corinthians 9:7

Dueling Heroes

Get ready for Konami's Shonen Jump Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game’s Dueling Heroes. It’s time to duel in this latest 25^th Anniversary YGO Tin.

Things get bumped up a notch as YGO Duelists battle it out with Cards from recent Sets.

You’ll never know what to expect from one of the wildest, fast-paced and unpredictable YGO Sets imaginable.

Just look at what you get:

3 x 18-Card Mega-Packs with:

• Two Prismatic Secret Rares
• Two Ultra Rares
• A Super Rare
• A Rare
• Twelve Commons

Total per Tin:

• 6 Prismatic Secret Rares
• 6 Ultra Rares
• 3 Super Rares
• 3 Rares
• 36 Commons
• 1 Quarter Century Secret Rare

Contains 300 cards from recent Sets, including:

• Battle of Chaos
• Dimension Force
• Darkwing Blast
• Tactical Masters
• The Grand Creators
• And more!

Includes a Quarter Century Secret Rare version of one of the sixteen monsters decorating the sides of the Tin.

Are you the hero that will win?

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." — Ephesians 3:20-21