Part Two
Marvel Super Special No. 31, 1984
Sunday, November 11, 2018
Friday, November 9, 2018
The Last Starfighter Part One
The Last Starfighter
Part One
Marvel Super Special No. 31, 1984
What with all the renewed interest in 80s pop culture, as exemplified by the Netflix series Stranger Things, I thought I'd post the Marvel Comics adaptation of the 1984 movie The Last Starfighter.
I remember seeing the movie around the time it first came out; I haven't viewed it since then. More so than Star Wars, it was aimed at an audience of kids and 'tweeners', and took advantage of the arcade video game craze then going on.
I'm guessing that, like most of the feature film adaptations that Marvel did, the creative team received an early draft script in order to have the book finished in time to coincide with the film's debut. That said, the plotting in this Marvel Super Special pretty much stays true to the film, although teen love interest 'Maggie' certainly gets some enhanced cheesecake treatment in this comic.
Despite having two artists, Brett Blevins and Tony Salmons, the art in this adaptation often looked rushed and incomplete. Throw in the awful color separations common to 80s comics, and there's no way this Super Special can be called among the best. But the story is fun in its own way, and I've read many contemporary sci-fi comics that come in a poor second to this one.
In any event, Part One is below; Part Two will be my second post.
Part One
Marvel Super Special No. 31, 1984
What with all the renewed interest in 80s pop culture, as exemplified by the Netflix series Stranger Things, I thought I'd post the Marvel Comics adaptation of the 1984 movie The Last Starfighter.
I remember seeing the movie around the time it first came out; I haven't viewed it since then. More so than Star Wars, it was aimed at an audience of kids and 'tweeners', and took advantage of the arcade video game craze then going on.
I'm guessing that, like most of the feature film adaptations that Marvel did, the creative team received an early draft script in order to have the book finished in time to coincide with the film's debut. That said, the plotting in this Marvel Super Special pretty much stays true to the film, although teen love interest 'Maggie' certainly gets some enhanced cheesecake treatment in this comic.
Despite having two artists, Brett Blevins and Tony Salmons, the art in this adaptation often looked rushed and incomplete. Throw in the awful color separations common to 80s comics, and there's no way this Super Special can be called among the best. But the story is fun in its own way, and I've read many contemporary sci-fi comics that come in a poor second to this one.
In any event, Part One is below; Part Two will be my second post.
Thursday, November 8, 2018
The Power of Gold
The Power of Gold
by Dan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg
from the album Twin Sons of Different Mothers
1978
Fall, 1978, and on the Album Oriented Rock station in my hometown, 'The Power of Gold' by Dan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg is getting airplay.
'Power' was the single from the duo's album Twin Sons of Different Mothers, released in August of that year. Don Henley of the Eagles contributed backing vocals. Fogelberg's political and environmental activism made him a member of the circle of 70s rock stars that the Eagles moved in, and other members of the band also served as contributors to his songs; for example, Glen Frey does backing vocals on Hard to Say (1981).
'Power' is a great example of 70s guitar-driven rock. I picked up the album back in November of '78 based on the strength of that single, but in fact the remainder of the tracks on the album are primarily instrumentals - prefiguring in many ways what nowadays is called 'chill' music.
Fogelberg and Weisberg teamed up again in 1995 to release the album No Resemblance Whatsoever.
Fogelberg died from prostate cancer at age 56 in December 2007.
The story is told of the power of gold
And its lure on the unsuspecting
It glitters and shines, it badgers and blinds
And constantly needs protecting
Balance the cost of the soul you lost
With the dreams you lightly sold
Are you under the power of gold?
The letters and calls got you climbing the walls
And everyone wants a favor
They beg to remind you of times left behind you
But you know the past is a loser
The face you're wearing is different now
And the days run hot and cold
Are you under the power of gold?
The power of gold
You're a creature of habit, run like a rabbit
Scared of a fear you can't name
You own paranoia is looming before you
But nobody thinks that it's a game
Balance the cost of the soul you lost
With the dreams you lightly sold
Then tell me that you're free of the power of gold
The power of gold
The women are lovely, the wine is superb
But there's something about the song that disturbs you
by Dan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg
from the album Twin Sons of Different Mothers
1978
Fall, 1978, and on the Album Oriented Rock station in my hometown, 'The Power of Gold' by Dan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg is getting airplay.
'Power' was the single from the duo's album Twin Sons of Different Mothers, released in August of that year. Don Henley of the Eagles contributed backing vocals. Fogelberg's political and environmental activism made him a member of the circle of 70s rock stars that the Eagles moved in, and other members of the band also served as contributors to his songs; for example, Glen Frey does backing vocals on Hard to Say (1981).
posing with Jerry Brown in 1976, left to right: Don Henley, Don Felder, Linda Ronstadt, Glenn Frey, Brown, Randy Meisner, Dan Fogelberg, Joe Walsh, and Jackson Browne
'Power' is a great example of 70s guitar-driven rock. I picked up the album back in November of '78 based on the strength of that single, but in fact the remainder of the tracks on the album are primarily instrumentals - prefiguring in many ways what nowadays is called 'chill' music.
Fogelberg and Weisberg teamed up again in 1995 to release the album No Resemblance Whatsoever.
Fogelberg died from prostate cancer at age 56 in December 2007.
The story is told of the power of gold
And its lure on the unsuspecting
It glitters and shines, it badgers and blinds
And constantly needs protecting
Balance the cost of the soul you lost
With the dreams you lightly sold
Are you under the power of gold?
The letters and calls got you climbing the walls
And everyone wants a favor
They beg to remind you of times left behind you
But you know the past is a loser
The face you're wearing is different now
And the days run hot and cold
Are you under the power of gold?
The power of gold
You're a creature of habit, run like a rabbit
Scared of a fear you can't name
You own paranoia is looming before you
But nobody thinks that it's a game
Balance the cost of the soul you lost
With the dreams you lightly sold
Then tell me that you're free of the power of gold
The power of gold
The women are lovely, the wine is superb
But there's something about the song that disturbs you
Monday, November 5, 2018
Book Review: Quatermass
Book Review: 'Quatermass' by Nigel Kneale
2 / 5 Stars
In October and November of 1979 the UK channel ITV ran the fourth, and final, installment of the long-running British sci-fi series featuring the dedicated scientist Bernard Quatermass. The series (simply titled Quatermass), had a modest budget, but talented actors (like most, if not all, British sci-fi TV shows).
The series can be obtained on DVD, and on YouTube, in the U.S.
Nigel Kneale, who wrote the screenplays for the three previous Quatermass serials, also wrote the screenplay for this fourth installment, as well as the tie-in novel (271 pp), published in 1979 by Arrow Books.
The novel maintains continuity with the series in that it takes place in the near future; i.e., the 1980s. Quatermass is a man in his 80s as well.
In this near future, the world is in the grip of economic and social collapse, and conditions are particularly severe in the UK. Civilization no longer exists, save for isolated government outposts; London is a wasteland ruled by vicious street gangs who vie with South African mercenaries for whatever food and goods remain in the empty shops. The population is left to fend for themselves, and in the countryside, life has regressed to a subsistence level.
As the novel opens, Quatermass is apprehensive over the whereabouts of his estranged granddaughter Hettie; she is all that remains of his immediate family. Despite his age, he endeavors to leave his home in Scotland to begin his search for Hettie. Having been sheltered to some extent, once out and about he is shocked and appalled at the anarchy gripping the landscape. Of particular concern are the mobs of young people who refer to themselves as 'Planet People'. Wandering the landscape in rags and tatters while chanting children's schoolyard rhymes, the Planet People appear to be in the grip of some kind of apocalyptic fervor.
When the deranged hippies congregate on an ancient site known as Ringstone Round, they trigger the appearance of a strange phenomenon, one likely of alien origin.
It quickly becomes clear that the planet is being subjected to an investigation by an entity of tremendous power. As what is left of society further erodes into confusion and chaos, it is up to Quatermass to learn the machinations of the entity.........and whether its intentions are for good or evil...........
Given its origin as a screenplay for a TV series, and the attendant limitations on budget, I was willing to allow for the novelization to have some limitations.
It is not without its strengths, particularly its depiction of a decayed and violent England, which does not seem so outlandish or far-fetched in terms of an extrapolation from the state of the country in the late 70s.
Unfortunately, author Kneale is not an overly skilled writer. Probably because of his background as a writer of screenplays, his prose style is choppy and awkward; segments of the novel dealing with apocalyptic events often are related in a cursory manner, while the plentiful passages of dialogue suffer from being overly lengthy and stilted.
It doesn't help matters that the rationale for the existence of the alien entity, and its actions upon the earth, are never fully disclosed, leaving me with the impression that author Neale simply wanted something Enigmatic to drive his storyline.
Summing up, one can argue that 'Quatermass', despite its faults, is much more sophisticated and less campy than the shows appearing at the same time in the US, like Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and Battlestar Galactica. While this may be true, 'Quatermass' is something of a missed opportunity in terms or providing a story that captures, and holds, the reader's attention. This one can be safely passed by.
In October and November of 1979 the UK channel ITV ran the fourth, and final, installment of the long-running British sci-fi series featuring the dedicated scientist Bernard Quatermass. The series (simply titled Quatermass), had a modest budget, but talented actors (like most, if not all, British sci-fi TV shows).
The series can be obtained on DVD, and on YouTube, in the U.S.
Nigel Kneale, who wrote the screenplays for the three previous Quatermass serials, also wrote the screenplay for this fourth installment, as well as the tie-in novel (271 pp), published in 1979 by Arrow Books.
The novel maintains continuity with the series in that it takes place in the near future; i.e., the 1980s. Quatermass is a man in his 80s as well.
In this near future, the world is in the grip of economic and social collapse, and conditions are particularly severe in the UK. Civilization no longer exists, save for isolated government outposts; London is a wasteland ruled by vicious street gangs who vie with South African mercenaries for whatever food and goods remain in the empty shops. The population is left to fend for themselves, and in the countryside, life has regressed to a subsistence level.
As the novel opens, Quatermass is apprehensive over the whereabouts of his estranged granddaughter Hettie; she is all that remains of his immediate family. Despite his age, he endeavors to leave his home in Scotland to begin his search for Hettie. Having been sheltered to some extent, once out and about he is shocked and appalled at the anarchy gripping the landscape. Of particular concern are the mobs of young people who refer to themselves as 'Planet People'. Wandering the landscape in rags and tatters while chanting children's schoolyard rhymes, the Planet People appear to be in the grip of some kind of apocalyptic fervor.
When the deranged hippies congregate on an ancient site known as Ringstone Round, they trigger the appearance of a strange phenomenon, one likely of alien origin.
It quickly becomes clear that the planet is being subjected to an investigation by an entity of tremendous power. As what is left of society further erodes into confusion and chaos, it is up to Quatermass to learn the machinations of the entity.........and whether its intentions are for good or evil...........
Given its origin as a screenplay for a TV series, and the attendant limitations on budget, I was willing to allow for the novelization to have some limitations.
It is not without its strengths, particularly its depiction of a decayed and violent England, which does not seem so outlandish or far-fetched in terms of an extrapolation from the state of the country in the late 70s.
Unfortunately, author Kneale is not an overly skilled writer. Probably because of his background as a writer of screenplays, his prose style is choppy and awkward; segments of the novel dealing with apocalyptic events often are related in a cursory manner, while the plentiful passages of dialogue suffer from being overly lengthy and stilted.
It doesn't help matters that the rationale for the existence of the alien entity, and its actions upon the earth, are never fully disclosed, leaving me with the impression that author Neale simply wanted something Enigmatic to drive his storyline.
Summing up, one can argue that 'Quatermass', despite its faults, is much more sophisticated and less campy than the shows appearing at the same time in the US, like Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and Battlestar Galactica. While this may be true, 'Quatermass' is something of a missed opportunity in terms or providing a story that captures, and holds, the reader's attention. This one can be safely passed by.
Saturday, November 3, 2018
At the library sale
At the Library Sale
The other evening I went to the used book sale held at the local library. I usually expect to pick up three or four worthy titles, but this time I was pleasantly surprised to see quite a collection of sc-fi paperbacks, all only for a dollar and all in very good / nearly new condition (these are not library books being put up for sale, but donations from library patrons).
Most of the attendees are elderly people, as well as moms looking to pick up books for their kids.
Then there are the Professionals, who arrive toting boxes and smart phones so they can do on-the-spot price calculations and then grab literally pounds of hardback books, which they sell online.
Then there are the eccentrics, who smell like disused closets, and wear clothes (usually flannel shirts) covered with pet hair and food and beverage stains. They walk around hunched over, and avoid eye contact. These people often are Hoarders, and they leave with piles and piles of books with which to clutter their houses.
Anyways, aside from making supercilious judgments about the other customers, this visit proved to me that sometimes these library book sales can be well worth visiting.
The other evening I went to the used book sale held at the local library. I usually expect to pick up three or four worthy titles, but this time I was pleasantly surprised to see quite a collection of sc-fi paperbacks, all only for a dollar and all in very good / nearly new condition (these are not library books being put up for sale, but donations from library patrons).
Most of the attendees are elderly people, as well as moms looking to pick up books for their kids.
Then there are the Professionals, who arrive toting boxes and smart phones so they can do on-the-spot price calculations and then grab literally pounds of hardback books, which they sell online.
Then there are the eccentrics, who smell like disused closets, and wear clothes (usually flannel shirts) covered with pet hair and food and beverage stains. They walk around hunched over, and avoid eye contact. These people often are Hoarders, and they leave with piles and piles of books with which to clutter their houses.
Anyways, aside from making supercilious judgments about the other customers, this visit proved to me that sometimes these library book sales can be well worth visiting.
Friday, November 2, 2018
Mel Ramos RIP
Mel Ramos RIP
July 24, 1935 - October 14, 2018
Mel Ramos died at age 83 on October 14.
If you grew up during the 60s and 70s Ramos was a mainstay of pop culture, with his pinups appearing in magazines like Playboy. His juxtapositioning of beautiful women with consumer products had just the right note of satire for an era in which political correctness didn't really exist.
However cheesy Ramos's works may have been, there no was denying his technical skill, which was superior to many of those also regarded as 'Pop Art' figures. Check his rendering of the wrinkles and folds of the sheets and curtains in the portrait below.
Although the pinup era began to decline by the end of the 70s, Ramos remained productive, and in recent years his art was the subject of exhibitions in the US and abroad.
There are a number of books devoted to Ramos's art available at your usual online vendors, although all are out of print, and some have steep asking prices.
July 24, 1935 - October 14, 2018
Mel Ramos died at age 83 on October 14.
If you grew up during the 60s and 70s Ramos was a mainstay of pop culture, with his pinups appearing in magazines like Playboy. His juxtapositioning of beautiful women with consumer products had just the right note of satire for an era in which political correctness didn't really exist.
However cheesy Ramos's works may have been, there no was denying his technical skill, which was superior to many of those also regarded as 'Pop Art' figures. Check his rendering of the wrinkles and folds of the sheets and curtains in the portrait below.
Although the pinup era began to decline by the end of the 70s, Ramos remained productive, and in recent years his art was the subject of exhibitions in the US and abroad.
There are a number of books devoted to Ramos's art available at your usual online vendors, although all are out of print, and some have steep asking prices.
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