Marvel Fanfare #15

Johnny Storm (The Human Torch) and Ben Grimm (The Thing) of Marvel Comics’ The Fantastic Four) have always have had a friendly rivalry. The two are constantly trying to one up each other by pulling pranks.  Ben usually gets the worst of it.

In Marvel Fanfare #15 writer/artist Barry Windsor Smith created the ultimate Torch/Thing go around and it is hilarious.

The Torch and The Thing's long tradition of pranking each other gets out of hand when The Thing wakes up one morning to a barrage of practical jokes pulled off by The Human Torch.

From prat falls to an unexpected ride into the face of Dr. Doom The Thing is put through the practical joke ringer only to finally land in a room filled with balloons.

It seems The Human Torch devised the practical joke extravaganza to celebrate April 1st-April Fool’s Day.  The only problem is, The Torch got the date wrong.

Unfortunately for him Ben hasn’t and as it’s said, “Revenge is sweet.”

Artist/writer Barry Windsor Smith is a master of his craft.  From simple scenes of sleep to the most outrageous example of action and mayhem, he pulls each off with style.

It’s a hilarious tale made even more so by Smith’s incredible art.

A follow-up story-starring Daredevil is also included as the Man Without Fear seeks to save a friend from his past.

Isaiah 55:8 (NKJV) “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.”

Batman The Long Halloween Deluxe Edition

Warner Bros. and DC Comics presents a very special DC Universe Movie Batman The Long Halloween Deluxe Edition 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray/Digital Code Combo that combines both Part One and Part Two of the previously released Batman The Long Halloween.

Also included is an all-new Documentary along with other features

Follow the links to the Part One and Part Two reviews previously posted.

Romans 8:28-29 (NIV) “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

Desmond Llewelyn as Q

James Bond should have died ages ago. (In the last film he did). If it were not for the research and development department headed by Q that provided Bond with his many gadgets the 007 moniker would have been reassigned years ago.

While the department head Q holds a begrudging respect for Bond and his spying skills he has little patience for Bond’s blatant regard for his gadgets which often returned damaged or completely destroyed.

Over the years Bond and Q have developed almost a father/son relationship and like any family the different members sometimes come to loggerheads.

Still Q does his job and he does it well despite Bond’s frivolity.

The 12-inch Q figure from The Spy Who Loved Me recreates the lovable, if somewhat grumpy, genius behind the many gadgets and weapons at Bond’s disposal courtesy of Sideshow Collectibles.

In the film (as with the Sideshow figure) Q is a little long in the tooth.  His hair is mostly white and his features more gaunt and sharp as they are with most old men.

A special The Spy Who Loved Me circular base is included along with a wire support stand for posing the figure.

The figure and accessories are housed in Sideshow’s standard flip lid rectangular box with a movie poster reproduction on the cover, side and back panels with photos of the figure with scenes from the movie and short Q and movie descriptions on the back of the box and inside the flap.

Both the figure and accessories are housed in a form fitting clear plastic cocoon and secured with wires and are displayed behind a clear plastic panel.

Clothed in a two-piece tweed suit the Q figure also wears a white shirt with a red tie and brown Oxford shoes.

Remarkably the tie is adjustable and the clothes fit smoothly over the figure.  No bunching or unnatural wrinkles occur when the figure is posed.

All the garments remove with no binding when the figure is posed.

The jacket of the suit has three pockets (one breast and two mid-waist) and fastens closed wit0 buttons.

Stitching and heams on the cloths are in scale and appear just like a full size set of cloths.

The articulated figure has partially closed hands for holding the various accessories.

Harkening back to the days of From Russia With Love a black attache case with a red interior is also included.  The case has working brass hinges and a black leather strap handle.

Inside the briefcase are a string of gold coins and a tear gas canister as seen in the movie.  A small handle knife is included that slips into the briefcase.

Also included is a collapsible rifle with black barrel, firing mechanism and trigger and a wooden stock.

The details on the briefcase and interior equipment and rifle are amazing as they look exactly like their larger counterparts.

Q has always been one of my favorite James Bond characters and I’m pleased Sideshow Collectibles was able to faithfully recreated Desmond Llewelyn as Q.  He is missed.

John 1:1-2 (KJV) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Primetime 1966-1967

The decade of the 1960s is considered by many to be the most inventive, diverse and ground-breaking era in television.

1966 to 1967 saw a huge shift in TV when programming broadcast in full color. Up until that point (with a few exceptions) TV shows were broadcast in black and white. 

In 1966 when I was 13 years old, our landlady, Mrs. Peck, had a color TV console. She would allow my friends in the neighborhood and myself to watch Star Trek (in living color) every Thursday night at 8 PM.

We were in hog heaven! There was nothing like it! 

You have to remember back then that were no video games, no internet, no multi-movie complexes, no social networking, no cable TV or any of the other mass media outlets and entertainment that we take for granted today.

There were books, board games, toys, TV on three networks or maybe four or five if you lived close to Canada or if there was a Public TV Station nearby. 

Kids played outside until dusk. Mom and dad read the newspaper, worked around the house, stores closed at 5 PM on weekdays and were closed on Sunday and everyone went to church on Sunday.

A lot has changed. 

Try to imagine what a treat it was to see a full color TV show!

Thom “Beefstew” Shubilla and McFarland & Company Inc., Publishers look back at the late 1960s with their Primetime 1966-1967 book that covers the full spectrum of Television’s all-color season.

Every genre of series were broadcast from Westerns to Science Fiction.

Some of my favorites were Star Trek, Lost In Space, Batman, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Bewitched, Hogan’s Heroes and dozens of other series. 

I especially loved Science Fiction and the hard as nails Detective series.

The book examines each genre and provides interesting and fascinating text about the shows, their cast and crews, their genesis and so forth. 

Take a delightful trip down TV Memory Lane and discover some of the best TV series ever produced and all in full color!

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

 

 

 

 

My Favorite Martian

There was time in the mid-1960s when magic was all the rage on TV.

Bewitched started it, and I Dream of Jeannie,

However there was a third entry in the genre: My Favorite Martian.

What made My Favorite Martian so enjoyable was he interplay between Uncle Martin and Tim (played by Bill Bixby).  They really played well off each other and as the show progressed the affection between the two characters was infectious.

The small hardbound book contains several classic My Favorite Martian tales by some of the top comic book artists at the time-including Russ Manning.

My Favorite Martian The Complete Series: Volume One also contains a piece by Ray Walston’s (he played Uncle Martins) daughter and Daniel Herman’s artist retrospective on the series.

Also included are production stills, behind-the-scrnes photos and more.

Hermes Press published the book.  The style is very retro-1960s-right down to the cover and color selection and binding.

Romans 12:14 (KJV) “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”

Elemental Hero

It’s that time again! Konami’s Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game has just released its latest batch of Elemental Hero game related goodies.

This time around they feature Elemental Hero.

Look for the Card Case that can hold over 70 sealed Cards! It’s a great way to keep your deck together and ready for play.

Next up is the metallic 50 Tournament Level Sleeves all wrapped up in a sealed package. Protect your precious Cards with these Sleeves. You won’t be sorry!

What better place to keep you top-tier YGO Cards than in Konami’s 9-Pocket Duelist Portfolio that holds 180 Cards front and back!

It’s sturdy, has anti-slip pockets and is decorated with images from the Elemental hero collection.

And last, but certainly not least, is the Elemental Hero Game Mat that measures 24 inches by 14 inches and features full color reproductions of Elemental Hero Card images.

Why scuff your Cards on a table or hard surface when you can play on a soft Game Mat that is easily to clean and looks cool to boot!?

Get all four today to add to your YGO Trading Card Game collection!

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #1

Back in 1970 when Jack Kirby left Marvel Comics to start a new comic book saga at DC Comics the series would be dubbed The Fourth World.

It’s scope was huge and Kirby intermingled The New Gods, Mr. Miracle, The Forever People and Jimmy Olsen Superman’s Pal titles into a multi-tiered epic that still has ramifications felt today in DC Comics.

Back in the late 1990s writer/artist Jon Byrne headlined a new comic book series called Jack Kirby’s Fourth World.  Only Byrne with his fertile imagination and reverence for Jack’s work could have pulled off such a tribute and series.

Walt Simonson provided the cover for the first issue and John Byrne the interior along with the story.

The first issue gave a quick rundown the Fourth World starting with the creation of the universe and the twin worlds of Genesis and Apokolips along with the planet Earth and the other populated worlds in the galaxy.

Reader witnessed the birth and maturity of the god despot Darkseid and the uneasy peace between Genesis and Apokolips made possible by the switching of the two rulers’ sons.

John Byrne faithfully recreated many of the ordinal Jack Kirby illustrations and expounded and expanded on the literary legacy Jack left behind.

The series is a fitting tribute to Jack Kirby and his unparalleled imagination and legacy.

James 1:19 (NIV)”My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,”

Comic Books And The Cold War

I’m old enough to remember the paranoia surrounding The Cold War Era.

I recall vividly as a young child taking part in the ‘Duck and Cover’ exercises at schools. As if ducking under a desk could save you from an atomic explosion.

It seemed like everyone had a bomb shelter in their backyard. Air Raid Shelter signs, anti-communist propaganda warning of the Red Menace and periodicals, signs and TV and radio broadcasts touted The American Way Of Life.

Kids’ cartoons and even comic books warned of the danger of Communism and nuclear annihilation.

In Comic Books and The Cold War 1946 to 1952, McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers offers essays on the graphic treatment of Communism, the Code and social concerns such as sex, the family and the American way of life.

It seemed like every comic book publisher either had books about the threat of Communism or consistently warned of atomic annihilation, the danger of radiation, alien invasions as allegories of Communist takeover and so forth.

DC, Marvel (Timely), EC Comics were the main propagators of such martial. Other smaller publishers contributed their own hyped up horror stories of the fall of civilization.

If I hadn’t lived through it I wouldn’t have believed it. Yeah, it was that crazy.

Edited by Chris and Rafiel York, the book presents a series of essays examining (in great detail) just how prevalent comic book publishers took the threat of the Cold War.

More than a book just about comic books. It offers an in-depth analysis of society at that time and how if affected everyone and everything around it.

Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

Spike

Who would ever would have thought that a Punk Vampire would become such a fan favorite.

That's exactly what happened to the character Spike, the bad boy Vampire, played by James Marsters, seen in the Buffy The Vampire Slayer TV series.

As the show progressed Spike began to abandon his ‘tough as nails, I’m out only for myself’ attitude and began to form a real affection for Buffy and her human friends.

In this version of Spike from Sideshow Collectibles Spike has his mouth open with his sharp Vampire teeth bared and his characteristic large forehead and demonic eyes are showing.

His short-cropped blond hair really emphasizes his heavy brow.

Spike comes in a flip lid box with full color photos of Spike decorating all the sides.

Inside and on the back are some short text pieces about Spike and the Buffy The Vampire show.

Inside Spike and his accessories are protected by a clear sheet of plastic and a piece of tissue paper.  He and his accessories are held in lace a by form fitting plastic cocoon and plastic straps

A special Buffy base is included along with a wire support for posing the figure.

Accessories include a double-barrel shotgun with wooden stock, two shotgun shells filled with holy water, a gold necklace with pendant and a partially decomposed human skull.

The fully articulated Spike figure has preset hands for holding the various accessories.

Skin color is subtle and variated, Spike’s teeth and gums are finely detailed and painted and his facial features look real with flared nostrils, furrowed brow and jaw cheek creases.

Spike comes dressed in a full length, black leather trench coat with large collar, black buttons running halfway down the front and button over cuffs.  He wears black boots, shirt and pants.

The figure moves easily under the multiple layers of cloths with no binding or cinching.

Articulation is easy and the figure stays in place when posed.

Sculpt and paint application are sharp, clean and offer no rough edges or slopovers.  

Accessories are equally finely crafted, painted and detailed and fit easily and firmly into the figure’s hands.

Jude 24-25 (NIV) “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

Seal Team Season Five and The Equalizer Season Two

It’s remarkable that actor David Boreanaz has starred in four TV series: Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel, Bones and now Seal Team.

The Seal Team Season Five DVD Collection from CBS TV/Paramount Studios comes complete on four discs that include all the episodes from Season Five along with plenty of Special Features.

They include featurettes, deleted scenes and a gag reel.

In Season Five the Seal Team investigates and takes part in missions both domestic and foreign.

Nuclear devastation, terrorists, stolen weapons and more challenge the team. Throw in some personal conflicts, trust issues and family troubles and you have an action packed, filled with thrills and contemporary issue TV series that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The Equalizer Season Two DVD Collection features Queen Latifah in the key role. Taking its inspiration from The Equalizer films, The Equalizer TV series tackles criminals that the law is defenseless to prosecute.

Taking matters into her own hands she deals with criminals in her own unique fashion. The only problem is that the police and the authorities aren’t exactly pleased with her methods.

Personal dealings, intrigue and a wide-spread criminal conspiracy keep The Equalizer on her toes.

DVD extras include featurettes, deleted scenes and a gag reel.

Both Seal Team and The Equalizer are high-octane TV series with lots of action, drama, danger and thrill-- minute TV series filled with lots of twists and turns and surprises.

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV) “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Fantasy & Science Fiction #763, September/October 2022

 

John 10:10 (NIV) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Little Book Of Super Heroes

Sometimes something small packs a big punch.

If you’re new to superhero comic books then Little Book Of Super Heroes, written by Mike Gent and Michael Heatley and published by G2 Entertainment Ltd., is the perfect introductory book for you.

Inside all of the major super heroes and villains are conversed along with the history of comic books, their creators and adaptations to TV and film.

Full color photos and art reproductions help guide the reader through the concise and informative text.

Although small the book is packed with information, history and art.  It makes for a handy reference book to keep on hand especially when traveling. 

What better way to have a quick reference guide handy than when you are traversing about to yard sales, stores, etc.?

A small hardback book it has high gloss interior pages, a clever cover design and loads of facts and information contained within.

Galatians 6:9 (NKJV) “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Fire, Ice and Warrior Dragons

Every once in awhile a toy line comes out that redefines the medium.  The attention to detail, imagination, sculpting-the works forces the toy industry to take a quantum leap in quality and innovation.

McFarlane Toys’ Dragons series was one such release.

The three Dragons I’m reviewing came from the later release of the characters.  The packaging had changed from a hanger with an extended flap to a hangar/standup clear plastic package with the Dragons held in place by form-fitting plastic cocoons.

Along the bottom is a pasted on strip of paper with the name of the Dragons on the front along with the McFarlane Toys Dragons logo. On the back of each package is a gallery of the other Dragons in the set.

You would expect the Fire Dragon to be red in color-it is not and for good reason.

The Fire Dragon is a huge heavy beast with very pronounced scales covering its entire body and tail.

The sculptors cleverly made the back and tail fins red.  This gives the dragon the appearance of having flames coming from its back and tail.

The huge lizard has its massive mouth open revealing its long rows of yellow teeth.  Its bright yellow eyes are made even more intense by the slightly yellow tinted face and the large black spikes on each side of its jaw.

Four long, flat horns protrude from the back of its head.  Several small red spikes adorn the top of its head and snout.

The four legged beast has large black talons and black spikes jutting out from its rear haunches.

Segmented light green/white scales cover its abdomen and lower tail.

Two large wings with bat-like membranes have black spikes extending from the end of its folded wings

The beast has a long spiked tail wrapped around its lower body.

The Fire Dragon also comes with a jagged rock outcrop to which it attaches and poses.

Color application is impressive with its many hues and the sculpt work, especially on the scales and is amazing and finely detailed.

The Warrior Dragon has the color of a rock outcropping with hints of green moss.  His large head with its massive jaws and rows of sharp teeth and lashing red tongue is enough to scare the most fearless warriors away.

Large horns that curl downward and forward decorate both sides of its spiny skull.  

The dragon’s body looks more like plates of leather than scales with its powerful muscles and under frame easily seen at all angles.

It’s powerful front legs end in three finger hands with long sharp black claws.

Its legs have three clawed toes

Running down the sides of the dragon and its inner legs and arms is a green section of scales that also runs down the length of its tail.

The tail ends in a striated point.  Segmented plates are most obvious on the twisting tail.  It’s easy to see how the plates lap over each other.

The dragon’s wings are folded with the membranes between the spins green in color.

When posed the dragon sits on a brown rocky spire consisting of two small peaks.

The Ice Dragon's skin looks like jagged gray stone-much like a stony outcropping.  It’s chest torso, neck, tail and wings look as if they are covered in white frost and snow.  Its large outset wings with its red ice tattoo has icicles clinging to their tips and spines.

The long serpentine neck is slightly twisted and its head and spin has translucent spikes/horns.

It has red eyes underneath its heavy brow and its open mouth reveals the same type of translucency of its teeth.  Translucent spikes decorate its upper and lower snout.

Segmented sections reach from the top of its neck to the bottom of its tail-all of which look pieces of ice.

Three clawed hands and feet equip the mighty beast for battle while its armor plated torso protects it from the deadliest of battles.

The Ice Dragon stands upright with its mighty arms bent at its elbows and the large hands open and ready for a fight.

Its legs are braced and its tail twists upward to just above its head.  The powerful wings are unfurled.

Included with the dragon is snowy crag of rock that attaches to the dragon for display.

Romans 12:2 (NKJV) “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Magnum P.I. Season Four

One of my all-time favorite TV shows is the original Magnum P.I. TV series starring Tom Selle

The series ran from 1980 to 1988. Since then two of of its major cast members have died: Roger Mosley (T.C.) and Jonathan Hillerman (Jonathan Higgins).

The hopes for an original cast reunion fizzled out years ago.

There was talk of a new Magnum P.I. series several years ago that would have featured the daughter of Thomas Magnum taking over his private eye practice-nothing came of it.

Four years ago CBS TV/Paramount Studios green-lite a new Magnum P.I. series with a whole new cast but retained the same names, except for Higgins who was played by a woman.

The new series had its critics but eventually audiences warmed to the show and cast.

While paying tribute to old series the new series did not try to recreate the original look and feel of the original series. Instead it retained the spirit of the old series while introducing it’s own unique style.

Unfortunately the Fourth Season was the last of the new series as announced by CBS a few months back.

That’s too bad as the series was starting to kick into high gear and proving itself as as a viable individual voice.

The Magnum P.I. Season Four DVD Collection includes all of the episodes from the season along with some extras such as deleted scenes and a gag reel.

Magnum and his friends tackle a case of blackmail, a triple homicide and other Hawaiian island crimes in the fast-paced series full of action, beautiful locations and intrigue.

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

The Incredible Hulk #272

What happens when you put the Hulk, Wendigo and Sasquatch all in one comic book?  Do you really need to ask?

After being exiled in space the Hulk is returned to earth by a group of grateful aliens (among them Rocket Raccoon) after he helped them.

He plummets to earth in the frozen Canadian north-not as the Hulk but as Bruce Banner.

Regaining consciousness he desperately looks for shelter amidst the snow and ice.

Meanwhile Dr. Walter Langkowski (Sasquatch of Alpha Flight) is searching for the mysterious and deadly hunter of men.

Bruce stumbles upon a lone cabin in the woods.  Desperate he enters looking for food and clothing.  What he finds are gristly human remains.

Just as he is about to leave the flesh eating Wendigo shows up and grabs him to eat him.

Remarkably the Wendigo is stopped by the now transformed Walter Langkowski in his Sasquatch form.

The Wendigo and Sasquatch tussle and soon the Wendigo has the upper hand.

Banner stands by helplessly as the Wendigo is about to deliver the final fatal blow to Sasquatch.

Willing himself to become the Hulk Banner transforms into the Emerald Giant, but this time with the mind of Bruce Banner.

Sasquatch and the Hulk take down the Wendigo, or so they believe.

When the Wendigo draws blood from the Hulk Banner temporarily looses control and the Hulk persona takes over and with teh help of Sasquatch delivers the final blow to the Wendigo, leaving him unconscious.

Eventually Banner’s senses return and he controls the Hulk.

What a great issue! Three classic Marvel characters all in one book and even a cameo shot of Rocket Raccoon.  Who could ask for more?

Currently a near mint raw copy of Marvel Comics  The Incredible Hulk #272 fetches about $40 and a slabbed copy goes for $120.

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”