Mikester

Probably more “monster” than “bird,” but I’ve remembered it as a bird for 37 years and that’s what I’m sticking with.

filed under Categories cartoons, pal plugging 11 Comments

So just on a whim (and still riding that ape high after rewatching the excellent Rise of the Planet of the Apes), I decided to rent from the Netflix the first disc of the Return to the Planet of the Apes animated series from the mid-1970s:


Now, because I’m old, I was around to watch this when it originally aired…and I haven’t seen it since. According to this Wikipedia page it had been rerun a number of times since, even relatively recently. But I never saw it again after my initial viewings, and for decades all I retained of what I watched was a brief scene of a giant bird swooping down and grabbing something. …Yeah, I know, but I’m pretty sure Beneath the Planet of the Apes would’ve been improved by a giant bird.

I popped the disc in and watched the first episode…the theme music is evocative of the original movie, and the opening sequence is interesting:


…be sure to stay for the dramatic reading of the name of the series at the very end.

I’ve only seen the first episode so far, and while it seems like things pick up a bit in the later episodes, judging by the plot descriptions on the Wiki page, the initial installment is very casually paced. I think we spend about, oh, ten minutes watching our human cast wander through the desert:


And there’s a lot of “panning over still images” as animation, and reused shots, and other cost-cutting devices common to this sort of thing. However, it’s sort of nice to watch a cartoon that is, as I said, casually paced: holding a shot for more than a second, and not constantly screaming at you. It also seems like it’s relatively intelligently written, giant birds aside, and I look forward to delving a little deeper into this series.

I can’t say I’m exactly reliving childhood memories with this, since, aside from the one barely-remembered scene, I don’t recall any of it. And before you ask…I’m planning on checking out the DVDs for the live-action TV series, too.

I’m also throwing one of these thingies here, since it’s been a while and I can stand to have a little more Amazon action:


It’s shameless, I know.

To offset my selfish grab for pennies, let me recommend a couple of Planet of the Apes-related books by Rich Handley of Roots of the Swamp Thing fame: Timeline of the Planet of the Apes: The Definitive Chronology and Lexicon of the Planet of the Apes: The Comprehensive Encyclopedia, and you can learn about both of ’em (and download free excerpts) right here.

I think I’ve probably featured that Galactica card on the site before, but c’mon, just look at it.

filed under Categories star wars, trading cards 8 Comments

So as a young Mikester in the late ’70s, I found this particular Star Wars trading card to be of interest:


…as it gave us one of the few really good glimpses as to what the Jawas looked like under their hoods:


The official (or semi-official, or “canon,” or whatever) explanation is that the Jawas are “rodent-like,” and that what we’re supposedly seeing there isn’t a Jawa’s actual face, but just more protective covering with gemstone eyepieces. But I think it’s this specific image that has me associating Jawas with more insectoid characteristics than rodential. I mean, look at it…it’s like a giant ant under there. That’s completely creepier than a rodent.

By contrast, this Battlestar Galactica sticker featuring the Cylons’ Imperious Leader could’ve used a little more mystery:


The Cockeyed Space Tyrant is puckering up…for you.

Man-Thing: hyphen. Swamp Thing: no hyphen.

filed under Categories pal plugging 2 Comments

So hey, what’s up with this little guy?


Why, that’s an enlarged detail from one of the drawings by pal Tom Foxmarnick that appears in the February 2012 issue of ImagineFX, currently on the stands! It has a nice full-color two-page spread of Tom’s work, and well worth checking out.

I’ve featured Tom’s art on this site before, which you may remember from the most terrifying MODOK-variation of all time, or this pic of Swamp Thing and Man-Thing wreaking some havoc. You can also see more of his work on his Deviantart page, or, if you bought that horror anthology Taboo, you can read his story “Check-Out Time in #2, or “39th and Norton” in #7. Or you can catch his work in pretty much any issue of CARtoons from the ’80s through the ’90s.

Anyway, Tom’s a swell guy, and I’ve always enjoyed his fine cartooning, so I’m always happy to plug it whenever the opportunity arises.

• • •

Speaking of pal-plugging, pal Cathy has put together the final word on all you people out there who consistently misspell Spider-Man. Yeah, that’s right, I’m talking about you. If you’re having trouble remembering if “Spider-Man” requires a hyphen, then print out this informative cartoon and, I don’t know, glue it to the inside of your car’s windshield or something. And learn well from it, my friends…learn very well.

“You don’t have enough points to fly!”

filed under Categories gaming, I cast magic missile 9 Comments

I got in way too late Friday night to think of anything clever, so instead here’s another scan of a vintage role-playing item from that collection we acquired: Authentic Thaumaturgy, published in 1980:


This is a general use supplement for use with any role playing game, featuring “a professional occultist on improving the realism of magic systems used in fantasy simulation games.” …I suspect the “professional occultist” part is the kind of thing that gave easily-panicked parents the vapors during that brief period when the evil influence of role playing games was clearly what was wrong with today’s youth, along with their zoot suits and their jazzy music.

Speaking of which, during that whole anti-Dungeons and Dragons hoohar that inspired, among other things, this…I never heard anyone bring up the point that (with the version of D&D that existed at the time) the ideal roll when rolling up character stats with the six-sided dice was three sixes. I mean, c’mon, that’s totally a gimme right there.

Okay, I’m sure somebody had to bring it up, but never within earshot of me. I did hear one really great “evils of fantasy role playing” thing at the time, but I already talked about it here so you can go back and relive the memories of Progressive Ruin Classic at that link, if you’d like.

I will probably never look at Charlie Brown the same way again.

filed under Categories sir-links-a-lot 5 Comments

 

Still more in tune with the younger generation than the people who wrote the original Teen Titans comics.

filed under Categories swamp thing 17 Comments

Anonymous asks:

“No comments on Swampy appearing in the Animal Man Annual?”

Sure: I hear Swamp Thing is going to be appearing in the Animal Man annual.

There you go.

Speaking of Swamp Thing, I hope my last post didn’t give the impression that I don’t want people to email me about Swamp Thing stuff…of course I do. But I was getting so many emails (and the occasional comment!) about some site posting the Swamp Thing PSA that I thought I’d better put the kibosh on it before my Gmail account hit its storage limit.

I did spend a few minutes at the shop Wednesday evening talking about Swamp Thing media and merchandise with one of our longtime customers…no, I didn’t bring it up, he did, honest. We discussed the greatness of the movies, I warned him about the animated series, noted that my ownership of Swamp Thing slippers could someday be considered “evidence,” and most importantly…

…whatever happened to the costumes worn by the late Dick Durock in the Swamp Thing films? …My guess is that they probably fell apart and were discarded long ago, but who knows? Perhaps they were saved and preserved by some loyal Swamp Thing fan? I’m sure there’s an answer, and my half-hearted Googling did nothing, but perhaps someone out there knows of their fate. Not that I want to wear the costumes around the house or to work or jury duty or anything.

Of course, if I never get my exclusive movie-worn costume, I can always resort to making my own, thanks to the helpful tips from this eHow article:

“Spray the green and yellow spray paint in a random pattern around the costume. This will add more color depth to the costume, and create a sense of the camouflage that an actual swamp monster would require in a swamp.”

Well said.

Also discovered during my Googling adventures, this site offering my Swamp Thing slippers photo from one of my self-links up there, with these usage hints:

“You can use this FREE Swamp Thing Slippers Picture for many uses such as Graphics Design, Posting on a Social Network like MySpace, Friendster, Facebook or Hi5!”

Yes, please do use my photo of Swamp Thing slippers on your Google Pluses and your GreatestJournals. Here, let me improve it for you:


I mean, that’s what all you kids do with images on your Orkuts and your Voxes, right? “Bling” ’em up? I’m just trying to stay “hep” with you young “cats.”

It’s an iron wind that blows no one any good.

filed under Categories gaming, I cast magic missile 5 Comments

Another goodie from the Box of Ye Olde Role-Playing Games – the 1980 Iron Crown Enterprises release The Iron Wind:


The back cover:


According to this site, this book had a print run of 5,000 copies, and after it had been out for a while, the black and white covers were stripped off the as-yet unsold covers and replaced with color covers.

Like several items in this particular collection, the sales receipt from the original purchase of this book was found inside:


As a result of being kept in the book for, oh, 30+ years, a rectangular “tanning” spot was left by the receipt on the pages it was kept between. …Hey, that’s not “damage,” that’s “character,” I tell potential buyers.