tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52931559467619609132024-03-16T13:52:25.775-05:00Bronze Age BabiesGrowing Up Goodness From the 1970's-'80's -- With Doug and Karen!Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comBlogger2280125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-53297613663690357692020-06-24T06:00:00.000-05:002020-06-24T10:31:31.751-05:00Super Blog Team-Up: Seven Decades of Apes-mania, and We're Afflicted!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZeKc-tblT1FPpfcWPmTlra_uGqBCKaom75NdQeTGFxFlKnq0xTU9I1ek0_sBn0ljeUUAfVqu2pIlVm1WSj0KwRMd0Il8g6EyVzCqtLiJ1bI3AovBIs88oNBUvOULR3cbAl8YGGzGps4/s1600/PotAPromoImage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="564" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZeKc-tblT1FPpfcWPmTlra_uGqBCKaom75NdQeTGFxFlKnq0xTU9I1ek0_sBn0ljeUUAfVqu2pIlVm1WSj0KwRMd0Il8g6EyVzCqtLiJ1bI3AovBIs88oNBUvOULR3cbAl8YGGzGps4/s640/PotAPromoImage.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Doug: Hi, my name is Doug, and... well, I'm addicted to the Planet of
the Apes. There - I said it! Are you happy now? Welcome back to
the BAB, everyone! We are pleased to be in your company today, and also
excited to have been asked once again to participate in this summer's
Super Blog Team-Up. "Expanded universe" is our topic, so we
are running with that across three blogs. Our premise here is that the variety of products available to kids in during the era of the Bronze Age of comics allowed our imaginations to make leaps into new territory for our favorite Apes characters.<br />
<br />
Doug: Once you're done here, make
the jump to <a href="https://blackwhitebronzecomics.blogspot.com/2020/06/super-blog-team-up-beast-on-planet-of.html">Black & White and Bronze Age Comics</a> and also to Karen's new space, <a href="http://echoesfromthesatellite.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Echoes from the Satellite</a>.<b><span style="color: red;"> </span></b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">You'll find a 20-page Doug Moench/Herb Trimpe tale as well as our thoughts on a short story from the <u>Tales from the Forbidden Zone</u> anthology, respectively.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Doug: Over the years we've discussed the damned dirty Apes many times, and today we want to reflect on those previous thoughts about the films, merchandise, and comics. The Apes train keeps rolling; with the new trilogy now concluded, we're hopeful that Disney (having secured the rights from Fox) will continue to explore the possibilities of the expanded Apes universe. So join us on a trip through our childhoods, as we look at the expansion of the Apes mythos into toys, magazines, etc... and even on to "modern" merchandise, like the examples below.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZY7-OXdnRETD6GwwypylRJ2X8rEVhAYwYjXtnffbPtDXMX-0S9FbKRswRvtUwwlyIs3eo35rvk75kaR0YZ9wpc9dUPdjr86MQRQIDl-p3DAyLCn0avHzPKFGIYL6u6o8twkgVmnoCxQ/s1600/HT_PLANET_APE_GEN_URSUS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZY7-OXdnRETD6GwwypylRJ2X8rEVhAYwYjXtnffbPtDXMX-0S9FbKRswRvtUwwlyIs3eo35rvk75kaR0YZ9wpc9dUPdjr86MQRQIDl-p3DAyLCn0avHzPKFGIYL6u6o8twkgVmnoCxQ/s320/HT_PLANET_APE_GEN_URSUS.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaYfWvG25wZ4DfhP_6egbaSbr74jOlt4OUgmA61gkHpDpsx65uG7QZfGVv8l-nesKeGYGRfbHomS7xUeBFq-zAk9_Vp6JQQy9eKlSJHLI9ew-0X31i6qEJhNfoL_kC6oSBFhuwxbeOy8/s1600/https+_hypebeast.com_image_2019_06_medicom-toy-general-ursus-soldier-ape-bearbricks-release-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaYfWvG25wZ4DfhP_6egbaSbr74jOlt4OUgmA61gkHpDpsx65uG7QZfGVv8l-nesKeGYGRfbHomS7xUeBFq-zAk9_Vp6JQQy9eKlSJHLI9ew-0X31i6qEJhNfoL_kC6oSBFhuwxbeOy8/s320/https+_hypebeast.com_image_2019_06_medicom-toy-general-ursus-soldier-ape-bearbricks-release-001.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZY7-OXdnRETD6GwwypylRJ2X8rEVhAYwYjXtnffbPtDXMX-0S9FbKRswRvtUwwlyIs3eo35rvk75kaR0YZ9wpc9dUPdjr86MQRQIDl-p3DAyLCn0avHzPKFGIYL6u6o8twkgVmnoCxQ/s1600/HT_PLANET_APE_GEN_URSUS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Doug: Words cannot express my wide-eyed wonder when, as a mere lad of seven years, I watched my first <i>Planet of the Apes</i>
movie. My family had recently relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and
while I was most disappointed to leave behind my beloved Channel 44 out
of Chicago that showed <i>Marvel Super-Heroes</i> (the legendary 1966 cartoon show) or <i>Spider-Man</i> (the 1967 classic), </span><span style="color: black;">I was excited to discover a few channels in my new home that would expand my love of science fiction.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Doug: Among
reruns of the 1940's serials, such as Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon, and
a seemingly endless string of Tarzan movies (here my love of Johnny
Weismuller and Buster Crabbe began -- it wouldn't be until many years
later that I would read the Edgar Rice Burroughs novels and gain an even
greater appreciation for Christopher Lambert's portrayal of the jungle
lord in <i>Greystoke</i>), there came the Apes movies and still later the CBS television show. </span><span style="color: black;">From that point forward, I was going Ape!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">Karen: Every single movie was novelized, and of course, there was the origina</span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;">l novel by Pi</span><span style="color: #000099;">erre Boulle (which</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">
got updated with a movie cover). I had all of these books when they
came out but sadly somewhere along the way got rid of them. There were
also novelizations of some of the TV episodes.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">Doug: All of those novelizations have been collected in paperback - I think there may be five volumes, and that would include adaptations of several episodes of the TV show.</span> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYiuCaMS5bqB5DGq1j9uM7VIR9RO53mBAzWQSu5S_EI9nptJrQsdDANd50uoHN2m69JWV3a2ZgKsLfsOQPmNAdyiymN02hexUAelRQOLWmX_N6b4iNpjTYPKPc2X1_DG-h5lvhzqKgcQ/s1600/Pota-tv%255B1%255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="791" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYiuCaMS5bqB5DGq1j9uM7VIR9RO53mBAzWQSu5S_EI9nptJrQsdDANd50uoHN2m69JWV3a2ZgKsLfsOQPmNAdyiymN02hexUAelRQOLWmX_N6b4iNpjTYPKPc2X1_DG-h5lvhzqKgcQ/s640/Pota-tv%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></span></span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;">Karen:
Is there anyone who is unaware of the Mego Apes figures? I think these
were the single most popular Apes merchandise. I was only aware of the
figures based on the movies, which included Cornelius, Zira, Dr. Zaius,
the Gorilla Soldier, and 'the Astronaut'. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">It
was only recently that I discovered that Mego had also made figures
based on characters from the TV show. There were also accessories and
playsets. All I had though was three figures: Cornelius, Zira, and the
Gorilla.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFaIG4JI3kHQJwPnQB8G9bVM7KdgJG-CnR_CYAO-pjCxVZI1_VrFYv65nU4taYzPPL8MxFOpqQ_8byCgj4aO5OJ9dgXVmisNrtIgrAQ3SQk24e8In89QgyFadWK5j4FHtFUnXWbFjC7s/s1600/image_13_-_figures-1%255B1%255D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="800" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFaIG4JI3kHQJwPnQB8G9bVM7KdgJG-CnR_CYAO-pjCxVZI1_VrFYv65nU4taYzPPL8MxFOpqQ_8byCgj4aO5OJ9dgXVmisNrtIgrAQ3SQk24e8In89QgyFadWK5j4FHtFUnXWbFjC7s/s640/image_13_-_figures-1%255B1%255D.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">Doug:
Ah, here is where I had mucho Apes! Back in the days of blow-apart
Megos (held together with elastic, rather than the later use of heavy
rubber bands), I had the astronaut in his blue jumpsuit. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwkaCn2RUs5B3lyCUZknjsscrqIiVZWn_t5iqVD5yOMh0nUxxNosyLfY536XMimdlNdV3TrwLxRUhbkYr-h0xhoKs-4qnfgHmJNnWexWfXoUJASNRHWgpePbLBy4KubLvHoZg74POGJM/s1600/61vRfxoFOuL._SX346_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_%255B1%255D.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="348" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwkaCn2RUs5B3lyCUZknjsscrqIiVZWn_t5iqVD5yOMh0nUxxNosyLfY536XMimdlNdV3TrwLxRUhbkYr-h0xhoKs-4qnfgHmJNnWexWfXoUJASNRHWgpePbLBy4KubLvHoZg74POGJM/s320/61vRfxoFOuL._SX346_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_%255B1%255D.jpg" width="223" /></a>Along the way I
also had Cornelius (or was it Galen? -- same figure, if I recall),
Generals Urko and Ursus, and maybe a soldier gorilla. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: black;">I believe I also had Dr. Zaius, and once the TV show came out I had Verdon and Burke. I also had the treehouse playset. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAMAhB6C85G5ZPJO29JbXgJoRGKhmzuwsp_Y9MSH3ThhcYJURwm2YdaAQmzEfy4KqcQlOWXxJFrEV4OY5bAQDBR91d2vhNarMRm0nyF49qvTTfnEJNcJRT6H53w525mFv8H1Iu8cOCIkI/s320/200px-PlanetApesBook.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAMAhB6C85G5ZPJO29JbXgJoRGKhmzuwsp_Y9MSH3ThhcYJURwm2YdaAQmzEfy4KqcQlOWXxJFrEV4OY5bAQDBR91d2vhNarMRm0nyF49qvTTfnEJNcJRT6H53w525mFv8H1Iu8cOCIkI/s320/200px-PlanetApesBook.jpg" style="float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 188px;" /></a></span>These
figures were exceptional, and provided fodder for many cross-universe
adventures once I brought in my superhero Megos for some scrapping!</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Doug: I also
had bubble gum
cards, coloring books, etc. Wanting to soak up all things Ape at that
point, I came across the Boulle novel at the public
library, with the cover you mentioned; so I asked my mom to check it out for me. What a
disappointment for 8-year old me! Now, this was long before I knew anything about such
things as "based on the novel", etc. But what I'd seen on TV was nothing
like this book -- Apes driving cars? ...wearing suits? Nah...</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;">Karen:
I remember building a lot of plastic model kits in the 70s. Although I
guess the heyday of the hobby was probably in the 60s, with all the g</span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">reat Aurora model kits, it was still pretty popular in the 70s. The Apes had a</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">
spot here too, with a line of kits from a company called Addar. As far
as I know, there were six kits, which featured Cornelius, Zira, Dr.
Zaius, Caesar, General Aldo, and General Ursus. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">These were pretty cool
kits, which included not only figure</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">s
but some scenery; the Zaius kit, for example, include the bomb
launching 'altar' from "Beneath the Planet of the Apes." I had that kit,
as well as the two generals and Cornelius. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MF_CbQM-YDM7-RtNffFfIyhf8MRqefwnyp3N5nX1bEkS0AboiJITurfRSwHrfieD3kL5t95DpDU2phHkJEUozA2DIpLuYoev-8qzhMEuJnG2yn7-ecZQW8bcn-7fQP7MIQNIppsee0E/s1600/1623392%255B1%255D.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="600" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MF_CbQM-YDM7-RtNffFfIyhf8MRqefwnyp3N5nX1bEkS0AboiJITurfRSwHrfieD3kL5t95DpDU2phHkJEUozA2DIpLuYoev-8qzhMEuJnG2yn7-ecZQW8bcn-7fQP7MIQNIppsee0E/s400/1623392%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>They looked great next to my
AMT Mr. Spock and Aurora Hulk and Spider-</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">Man! </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">Doug: I don't recall if I had any Apes models; I know I had the Spider-Man kit. I always hated the way they looked when I painted them. Nothing like the box... (picture me with a sad Charlie Brown face).</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;">Karen:
There were so many other types of Apes toys out there that we can't
name them all in a blog post. But I will throw out a few that I had and
loved. One was the Color Forms POTA set. Yes, bright primary colors for
the apes, and an Ape City background. This was</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"> what we did before we had video games -- we made little</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"> scenes and told stories. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">Doug:
Man, time clouds the memory. If I didn't have the Color Forms set, I
must have had a friend who did. I remember playing with them <span style="font-style: italic;">somewhere</span>...</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">Karen:
There was also the POTA board game, which I think my brother played
with me grudgingly once. It was reminiscent of the old "Mousetrap" game,
as you had to build a cage out of the cardboard pieces included and
capture your opponents but I have no idea how the gameplay worked.
Again, it was colorful and had apes on it. That was good enough for me.
</span><br />
<br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;">Karen:
I was able to live out all my most oppressive fantasies as a gorilla
soldier thanks to Mattel's ape rifle and mask set. That mask was like a
typical Halloween costume mask, with only a front and an elastic string
to hold it on your head. The rifle made a nice loud crack when you
pulled the trigger. Don Post studios put out some very nice over the
head Apes masks but I never had any of them.</span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VegGNSl8cMldVXx3aiFbCRJw4KKeab-ajW5AHn3tG_28fMGmFxMP2HTo3esmiuTK6l4Vukm35_MtyrtsTn0pqEmzL8swAPe3Y6T5tgbvftJcw446FfZndwMIn74gX_aOiR3zyxd3baU/s1600/1eccab35380cbec4ae9e93d15e2501e9%255B1%255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="529" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VegGNSl8cMldVXx3aiFbCRJw4KKeab-ajW5AHn3tG_28fMGmFxMP2HTo3esmiuTK6l4Vukm35_MtyrtsTn0pqEmzL8swAPe3Y6T5tgbvftJcw446FfZndwMIn74gX_aOiR3zyxd3baU/s640/1eccab35380cbec4ae9e93d15e2501e9%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);">
<span style="color: blue;">Karen: To start my
day I had a plastic bowl and mug set, which I recall had the glaring
face of General Ursus -or was it Urko? - on it. It was the perfect
companion to watching the Apes cartoon on Saturday mornings. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">Doug: Sheesh, you went Ape way more than me!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;">Karen: The comic magazine was published
by Marvel from 1974-1977, and</span><span style="color: #000099;"> featured comic book adaptations of all
five films, as well as original stories by Marvel staff. On top of all </span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">this there were articles and photographs from the movies and TV series. It was an Ape fan's dream </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">(NOTE:
Of course, Boom Studios has recently given those Apes mags the
high-quality Archives treatment, and one of the stories is our topic of
discussion over at the BWBC today - <a href="https://blackwhitebronzecomics.blogspot.com/2020/06/super-blog-team-up-beast-on-planet-of.html">check it out</a>!).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">Doug: </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">One of the regrets of my comics-buying life is that I didn't own more
of the B&W magazines. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">I
did, however, peruse many of them while my mom grocery shopped. I'm
surprised I never got the "Hey, this ain't a library, kid!" line from
the grocer. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Yet, at the time they seemed so grown-up
and even risque' that I don't think my mom would have shelled out the
buck or two. <span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3GipjTziSc1L8m3al34XH9H1NcpS_-3C-Ue8zr5XyGsadhEmON88UbJ_XtvbNVTvFB-BXBU_NGvcXkYVgU0GCm_faOWt-Y1oOoBEauQ4sZd1LW3Hm3JsEH0yuxXSianeTkc5fw1iKFZE/s1600/zaius+full.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642342751471466274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3GipjTziSc1L8m3al34XH9H1NcpS_-3C-Ue8zr5XyGsadhEmON88UbJ_XtvbNVTvFB-BXBU_NGvcXkYVgU0GCm_faOWt-Y1oOoBEauQ4sZd1LW3Hm3JsEH0yuxXSianeTkc5fw1iKFZE/s400/zaius+full.jpg" style="float: right; height: 324px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 182px;" /></a></span></span></span></span></span>And, as a parent now, that was most likely the right choice
for a 7-8-year old kid. But to see those books today... And the Apes
mags in particular were just beautiful. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Karen: There are
many, many more items, but these are some of the ones we recall fondly.
We'd love to hear from any other Ape-maniacs. Let's discuss
some of the modern toys and items available. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;">Karen:
It's funny how toys and merchandise continue to be
made based on the original films. It's a testament I suppose to their
enduring charm. One note: we're only looking at stuff based on the </span><span style="color: #000099;">original
POTA - so you won't see anything from the Tim Burton remake here <span style="color: black;">(NOTE: When we originally wrote these comments, the latest trilogy had yet to see the light of day)</span>. This
is certainly not an encyclopedic look at Apes merchandise but simply
items we're aware of.</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcLm4p20JSCOpEHLUXhUHMEBxg2r8-PqiaqEJWFqalLF9noAE3MuzyqzotA9IkIB3XmJk1e66IixW4Ea85E7JUrOWe-DTrONSYAKyOQ4LyXg2RbHd90tZGFVcGybwd_YhGGNDmTqQzwo/s1600/318JA0flKvL._SL500_AA300_%255B1%255D.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcLm4p20JSCOpEHLUXhUHMEBxg2r8-PqiaqEJWFqalLF9noAE3MuzyqzotA9IkIB3XmJk1e66IixW4Ea85E7JUrOWe-DTrONSYAKyOQ4LyXg2RbHd90tZGFVcGybwd_YhGGNDmTqQzwo/s200/318JA0flKvL._SL500_AA300_%255B1%255D.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">Karen: Most of the modern stuff is in the area of figures -and some of them are quite </span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">impressive.
There are the Diamond Select/Emce figures that recreate the Mego line
(it might have only been four figures from the original line -I'm not
sure). From what I gather, they actually used the original sculpts to
create their figures</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">, and copie</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">d the costumes meticul</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">ously. </span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">Even
the packaging looks the same. It's like a time machine back to a toy
store circa 1973. I just wonder what that did to the secondary market
for t</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">he Mego figures?
<br />
<br />Karen: There were </span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">also the Hasbro line of figures. I'll just say I</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">'m not a big fan of this line. I thin</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">k th</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">ey had a tou</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">gh
time with the apes' hair. I mean, look at this Cornelius figure. What's
up with the wavy hair? It just looks weird. I do think the costumes and
</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">accessories weren't too bad. Some of these figures also came in tubes, which I thou</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">ght was pretty odd packaging. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"> </span></span></span></span>
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">Karen: Of course no discussion of modern action figures is complete without Sideshow Collectibles. Known for their </span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">attention to detail and high quality, their Apes line didn't disappoint. </span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxtc6RAASp-S_UaY34v7RYTRoM_RaeVDqFuE7jJ2ANGMvD2KYqGBrLyh73vyvP9JtrLc8XyDPeZXbzsiMMNu-DS_crfFCop52SB20RnvjSMpDnOrwj7Ddax7d-deCifcJ6ybZGSNz3OoD/s1600/ursus+full.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642343022421039442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxtc6RAASp-S_UaY34v7RYTRoM_RaeVDqFuE7jJ2ANGMvD2KYqGBrLyh73vyvP9JtrLc8XyDPeZXbzsiMMNu-DS_crfFCop52SB20RnvjSMpDnOrwj7Ddax7d-deCifcJ6ybZGSNz3OoD/s400/ursus+full.jpg" style="float: left; height: 400px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 225px;" /></a></span>Not only did we get </span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">the major ape characters, b</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">ut
figures of astronauts Taylor and Brent, Taylor in his slave outfit, his
love interest Nova, and even some of the mutants from <span style="font-style: italic;">Beneath the Planet of the Apes.</span> Sideshow went with molded rather than fabric hair and it looks pretty good. </span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBQsfiHnHf6qCKGg_baS7-EAthyphenhyphenU-VQRQq-oBMCoto8ZUBjaCnc76c4Lyid1LUfE6kx5GKrtNL63dHwm2T7xvVEj6vBghgM_o7aqY6wPeAxuuxrZMExRMHENf2gbgAYom1J6TxkHq4QsD/s1600/ursus+closeup.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642344559466886002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBQsfiHnHf6qCKGg_baS7-EAthyphenhyphenU-VQRQq-oBMCoto8ZUBjaCnc76c4Lyid1LUfE6kx5GKrtNL63dHwm2T7xvVEj6vBghgM_o7aqY6wPeAxuuxrZMExRMHENf2gbgAYom1J6TxkHq4QsD/s400/ursus+closeup.jpg" style="float: right; height: 400px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 225px;" /></a></span>I have the Dr. Zaius figure and it is outstanding. Most figures included some nic</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">e accessories too. A picture of my Dr. Zaius is at right.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">Karen: But the very best Apes figures, in my opinion, were the gorillas made by Hot Toys. These figures are just the <span style="font-style: italic;">creme de la creme</span>. There </span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">was a gorilla soldier, a gorilla capta</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">in, and General Ursus. Let me tell you, I have General Ursus, and he is a beaut. </span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">The costume details, the face sculpt, the hair -all perfect. He's also extremely articulate</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">d so nearly any pose you can think of is possible. His accessories include a rifle and pistol, and his awesome helmet is</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"> removable. I think this</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"> is the very best figure I have ever seen for POTA. Of course, the</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"> major catch with Sideshow</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"> and Hot Toys is the price</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">. At anywhere from $40-70 a figure, it could be pretty costly to try to collect a complete </span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">set!
I had a hard time getting the good General; I tried two on-line stores,
both of which showed him as being in stock, only to have them contact </span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">me and tell me they were sold out. </span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NAWY33eXVZh50HGksTfHskNARmm61JyoJVwljLzhUAF_vPq8c6F9WIM615NoOnASW92-BHkr6HVy32nX5i3NsXkESn7K2AMb1LXzCKnnNHtNheBl-pFx4jUAYWyemR3ZgdvLrnCSYv0/s1600/review_apes_4%255B1%255D.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NAWY33eXVZh50HGksTfHskNARmm61JyoJVwljLzhUAF_vPq8c6F9WIM615NoOnASW92-BHkr6HVy32nX5i3NsXkESn7K2AMb1LXzCKnnNHtNheBl-pFx4jUAYWyemR3ZgdvLrnCSYv0/s320/review_apes_4%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a>I
kept bidding on auctions at eBay, only to get out-bid. I finally won an
auction, but then the seller told me that somehow the General's hands
had myste</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">riously gone missing! Finally I did win an auction and bring the big monkey home. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"><br /><span style="color: black;">Doug: All of Hot Toys figures are stunning, regardless of subject matter. That Ursus you've pictured is incredible!</span><br />
<br />Karen: A Japanese company called Medicom produced a pretty large
line of figures from the original films that included even the ape-o</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">nauts! I also really like their Lawgiver statue. </span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0uwzK1cs9CurlGEEpJSnJuScKsTPWZFYTljvW4JkSi0HKvfjWjFU7fjkC20ZUSUdjASyozx7zMObUQLoRCOOZB4hjwGLcQ5enGj2P6lsNjvaAVWwZgjgWv6GBvRYJJe7f1LnCvQnDCs/s1600/SetA%255B1%255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="317" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0uwzK1cs9CurlGEEpJSnJuScKsTPWZFYTljvW4JkSi0HKvfjWjFU7fjkC20ZUSUdjASyozx7zMObUQLoRCOOZB4hjwGLcQ5enGj2P6lsNjvaAVWwZgjgWv6GBvRYJJe7f1LnCvQnDCs/s200/SetA%255B1%255D.jpg" width="200" /></a>They
had fairly good sculpts but very limited articulation. Unlike the
Hasbro, Sideshow, and Hot Toys figures, these ones were only 6" in size.
</span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">I have</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">n't gotten my hands on any of these yet but I might try in the future. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"> </span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">
<br />Karen: I love mini-figures, so I get a big kick out of these POTA Kubricks. I only h</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">ave the</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"> ape soldiers with a horse but I believe there were at least eight different sets. Even at this small scale, there's a l</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">ot of detail, and even the packaging is pretty cool. I've seen these go for all sorts of </span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">prices. </span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">I
got lucky and bought my set at a convention for $10. I later looked at
some eBay auctions and saw it going for as much as three</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"> times that. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: black;">Doug: These remind me of Diamond Select Toys' Mini-Mates. We have a ton of superhero Mini-Mates stored down in the basement that my sons used to collect.</span> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">Karen: Although I nev</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">er got the DVD set that included a bust of Caesar (the DVDs w</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">ere
actually inside I believe), I did manage to pick up the very nice Blu
Ray set put out about two years ago (and at a bargain price</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">). </span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFK97_eqEZg3aqMP60Y6r98AdbyBSdppZzi0DAlH2VmLlrTwPiLTgeaRwxyxX_j6jvUgovZ9-VWC_DFXxqQi-g29Qzx2UPkF99TdMgZpqxvopoUxnhAZr6d6gS_lWd_FZFwHLC-6T9pDnE/s1600/Apes+blu+ray.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642347477661854114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFK97_eqEZg3aqMP60Y6r98AdbyBSdppZzi0DAlH2VmLlrTwPiLTgeaRwxyxX_j6jvUgovZ9-VWC_DFXxqQi-g29Qzx2UPkF99TdMgZpqxvopoUxnhAZr6d6gS_lWd_FZFwHLC-6T9pDnE/s400/Apes+blu+ray.jpg" style="float: left; height: 164px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 265px;" /></a></span>The films look simply spe</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">ctacular
-the first film in particular has just gorgeous color. There are a ton
of extras, and I've spent hours watching all the documentaries and
trailers. If you are an apes fan you really must see the <span style="font-style: italic;">Behind the Planet of the Apes</span> documentary. It may have been shown on AMC or FMC, but it's w</span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">orth
repeat viewings. I still haven't listened to the commentary tracks on
POTA yet (the only film with commentary by the way). The packaging is
quite innovative, with a slip case that combines Taylor's ship and an
ominous looking Caesar. The whole thing folds out, and inside is a
detailed timeline that shows the two different timelines for the films.
There's also a very nice book wit</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvEwrr0VI99xBwEbE3JTcVTSFuUoqZOMBrifxSMKHnpeKiaJvBsETiIT9XEanwuH8cyDW89SLjZFmeBIiV-oI9xe-GnnZW6mG0xhOMHppymgHmcyzWN-VItcGKKpTOqt5-WsJAnkNW81T/s1600/apes+blu+ray+timeline.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642348152473480322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvEwrr0VI99xBwEbE3JTcVTSFuUoqZOMBrifxSMKHnpeKiaJvBsETiIT9XEanwuH8cyDW89SLjZFmeBIiV-oI9xe-GnnZW6mG0xhOMHppymgHmcyzWN-VItcGKKpTOqt5-WsJAnkNW81T/s400/apes+blu+ray+timeline.jpg" style="float: right; height: 170px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 303px;" /></a><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;">h
great background on the films, as well as beautiful color photos taken
from the sets. I love looking at this book! The only drawback to the set
is the way the discs themselves are mounted on the inside of the case.
There's a circular rubber disc for each DVD, which fits the hole in the
center of each, but I've had difficulty getting mine to stay on, so they
frequently wind up loose in the slip case. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfapTHnl3Y9aKYIl6CTlhnhMKGs-YgP6jwSif9OL1fHvO_UF05SVKkDlnUd-wWg-8p5xuLfkhX-6vN6XkRmb7sE3la57Ea94-Dji1kFu7NpgBVWPmNGqIU-iz1sclS-c8R_ceywoTCGn6S/s1600/chimpin.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfapTHnl3Y9aKYIl6CTlhnhMKGs-YgP6jwSif9OL1fHvO_UF05SVKkDlnUd-wWg-8p5xuLfkhX-6vN6XkRmb7sE3la57Ea94-Dji1kFu7NpgBVWPmNGqIU-iz1sclS-c8R_ceywoTCGn6S/s320/chimpin.jpg" width="320" /></a>But that's quite minor when
you look at everything you get in this set. This is a very worthwhile
addition to anyone's collection.</span></span></span><span style="color: #000099;"> </span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"><br /><br />Karen:
A side-note: the photos of the apes on the discs themselves, as well
as the cover photo of Caesar, are actually pictures of the folks from <a href="http://apemania.com/main.htm">Apemania</a>,
who do amazing recreations of the ape characters. Their website is a
virtual treasure trove for Apes fans. I highly recommend taking a look
-or three! </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #000099;">Karen: Besides the excellent book in the DVD set, I can recommend <span style="font-style: italic;">Planet of the Apes Revisited</span> by Joe Russo, Larry Landsman</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #000099;">,
and Edward Gross. It looks at the films in chronological order,
supplying a lot of information about the behind the scenes work done to
make each film. The brief TV series is also covered. There are black
and white still throughout the book and an eight page color section.
<br />
<br /><span style="color: blue;">Karen: Lastly, I couldn't sign off on this portion of today's post without mentioning my latest Apes
purchase.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"> Because as we all know, chimpin' ain't easy.</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Karen:
Neca is producing a 7" figure line based on the original films <span style="color: black;">(NOTE: This information would have been circa 2014)</span>. The
first three figures in the line will be Dr. Zaius, Cornelius, and a
gorilla soldier. The figures are supposed to be available this month,
retailing around $20 each or about $52 for a three-pack. They really
have great detail and remind me of of upscale versions of the old Mego
dolls.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: blue;">Karen: Also in the merchandise category, Famous Monsters magazines' Captain Company is offering special <a href="http://www.captainco.com/collections/planet-of-the-apes-1" target="_blank">Apes packs </a>of
magazines, posters, t-shirts, and figures. How can you turn this stuff
down? The poster image is too cool, with the Icarus spaceship sinking
slowly away.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJqcwYGvNfT6Zsspn9aH1hc_mbM4IPkNJ8WP7hcKe_IG8nCT1FZqSXBWJc_9ZN8Qfdku_BF8r7eWc_aRsEloQueESq143gEy22d9KCZ0wKqEEApdog56ipr8MZFqcfqkswyV5iUctOTg/s1600/s-l640.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="494" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJqcwYGvNfT6Zsspn9aH1hc_mbM4IPkNJ8WP7hcKe_IG8nCT1FZqSXBWJc_9ZN8Qfdku_BF8r7eWc_aRsEloQueESq143gEy22d9KCZ0wKqEEApdog56ipr8MZFqcfqkswyV5iUctOTg/s400/s-l640.jpg" width="308" /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEi4dN0jk3N_WoItvx2mpcyu0ZPpO6dg6xsuhWefxFBc-huzES_OTTKN-q2mCZl_UVFPIfnHfm7Q0bVql_CJ3PeU9B4P6s-gvvp0CKYMHUCT7yhtf0Wtn8PUaiXZnSz66pHGGo2MPERiy7elpYyPCxwjE0Dpbj0kwTCtMm7xwz9OueHuxvQ9nbR7faCrUJRcZTBMZJeX9zDQUoUeN19yFD3CVPuFlz6d=" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEi4dN0jk3N_WoItvx2mpcyu0ZPpO6dg6xsuhWefxFBc-huzES_OTTKN-q2mCZl_UVFPIfnHfm7Q0bVql_CJ3PeU9B4P6s-gvvp0CKYMHUCT7yhtf0Wtn8PUaiXZnSz66pHGGo2MPERiy7elpYyPCxwjE0Dpbj0kwTCtMm7xwz9OueHuxvQ9nbR7faCrUJRcZTBMZJeX9zDQUoUeN19yFD3CVPuFlz6d=" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">Karen: In other Apes news, the marvelous Creatures Features store in Burbank, California is currently featuring an art exhibit, </span><a href="http://creaturefeatures.com/art-of-the-apes/" target="_blank">Art of the Apes</a></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">, through July 27th. They have works by dozens of talented artists on display. Check out <a href="http://vimeo.com/99310254" target="_blank">this video</a> of the event. The artwork is so incredible and of such tremendous variety! I sure wish I could go!</span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 153);"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: blue;">Karen:
So Ape-ophiles, hang in there, and remember the words of the Lawgiver:
Ape shall never kill ape -unless he's got his hands on the last
available Dr. Zaius action figure!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: black;">Doug: Alright, kids - if that's not a blast from the past (both the
BAB's past as well as your childhood and beyond!), I don't know what is.
And as a bonus, we are also reprinting a review Karen did of the Star
Trek/Planet of the Apes crossover from IDW. Talk about Expanded universes... You can see it below. One
last thing - at the bottom of today's post you'll see links to our SBTU
partners. Check out their work when you have time!</span>
</div>
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>Star Trek/Planet of the Apes: The Prime Directive</b></i></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Written by Scott Tipton and David Tipton</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Art by Rachael Stott</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Colors by Charlie Kirchoff</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Published by IDW</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: blue;">Karen:
It was almost exactly a year ago that I reviewed the first two issues
of this series in a post. I liked it, but being an infrequent visitor to
my comic shop, I didn't pick up the remaining three issues in this
series. At some point last year I did grab the TPB and over the
Christmas holiday I took it from my reading stack and sat down with it.
And I thoroughly enjoyed it! POTA was the first science fiction
franchise I fell for as a kid, with Star Trek following soon after. As a
fan of both, I felt the writers and artist were able to capture the
tone of each to make this book feel like a true meld of the two.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">Karen:
The time is right after the events of the first Apes film, and sometime
during the original series of Trek, after the first season episode
"Errand of Mercy," in which the Federation and the Klingon Empire were
forced into a peace treaty by the Organians, a powerful race of energy
beings. The Klingons have discovered an artificial space portal that
leads to another dimension -an alternate reality? - and have been
sending ships back and forth. The Enterprise uncovers this and follows
them through, only to find what appears to be another Earth, although
Spock's scientific instruments indicate that it is the year 3978 in this
other universe. However, the sensors also indicate a primitive
civilization. Intrigued by what the Klingons could be doing here, Kirk,
Spock and company beam down. From a distance they spy their old friend,
the Klingon Commander Kor, talking to...apes!</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: blue;">Karen:
The Enterprise crew soon figures out that the Klingons are supplying
these gorillas with firearms. We saw this sort of behavior from the
Klingons on the show before, most notably in the episode "A Private
Little War." Back on board the Enterprise, Kirk and his officers go over
the information they've gathered about the planet, and indications that
a nuclear war in the past helped lead to the current condition of apes
being dominant over humans. Kirk decides that even though this isn't
their universe, the Prime Directive, the order which states that
Starfleet personnel cannot interfere with the development of other
civilizations, is still in effect. The Klingons, however, have no such
rule; just the opposite in fact. Constrained by the Organian Treaty,
they must be using the portal to seek out new planets in this universe
to conquer or gather resources from. Kirk decides that they have to stop
the Klingon efforts on this Earth. They prepare to beam back down and
he tells Spock to have the computer put them near some landmark that
they can identify. Oh boy...</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">Karen:
The team materializes on a beach, with the classic shot of the
demolished Statue of Liberty to greet them. Stunned, they take a moment
to gather themselves, then notice human footprints and horse tracks in
the sand. Following these, they find the still shell-shocked George
Taylor and Nova. Taylor at first thinks that Kirk and company have been
sent from his Earth, his time, but Kirk tries to explain, although it's
obviously complicated. Taylor doesn't care where they are from though
-he wants their help in taking the planet back from the apes. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">Karen:
Here is where the story really starts to pick up. Kirk has to balance
the need to stop the Klingons with trying to protect the ape culture,
all while keeping an eye on Taylor. And that's not easy. Taylor manages
to break off and get himself beamed up to the Enterprise. There is a fun
fight between Kirk and Taylor -who wouldn't want to see prime of their
lives Shatner and Heston go mano a mano? </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: blue;">Karen:
Our two favorite chimps, Cornelius and Zira, are also around, and it's a
treat to see them interacting with McCoy, Scotty, and the rest. The
first issue was almost all set-up.I felt that by the third book the
voices were all there, and things were moving along very smoothly. The
art also captured the likenesses of the actors well enough that I wasn't
ever wondering who a character was supposed to be. It was always
obvious.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbubW-RPJjxUVq_iL7oU-4rSB96BdZ5AkDQnd4guxVgr2zLEIY6WsFWeNkRMp4QG9HOjNDq_nODsSTz2V3D79TENsEgWHvuZjoynsdEbY74al_K0y0ywRru0cSswGKB_P49-RxDhgb-qh5/s1600/scotty+cornelius.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbubW-RPJjxUVq_iL7oU-4rSB96BdZ5AkDQnd4guxVgr2zLEIY6WsFWeNkRMp4QG9HOjNDq_nODsSTz2V3D79TENsEgWHvuZjoynsdEbY74al_K0y0ywRru0cSswGKB_P49-RxDhgb-qh5/s400/scotty+cornelius.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Karen:
The story may tip a little more towards the Trek side but there is
plenty of POTA here. The scenes between Commander Kor and the rogue
gorilla general, Marius, are excellent. The confrontation between Marius
and General Ursus, from <i>Beneath the Planet of the Apes</i>, is also a
highlight, and it feels like we are getting some great backstory on
Ursus, who had always seemed fairly one-dimensional. Poor Dr. Zaius only
makes a brief appearance though. The ending caught me by surprise, but
in a good way. I don't want to say much more than that.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">Karen:
This book probably gave me more pure, unadulterated reading pleasure
than any other comic I've read this year. The love and respect for both
series came through. I would highly recommend it for fans of either
series. If you like both of them though, you will truly enjoy this.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYGffx8jSJ_h8N7cBtNiVaQi2aNqNvwq-mAfiYcJSIKBBe8UaieearznGNR6FueBeuV_-AoHUsvkC68PZbOF5XEFH_74m6q5dv481bCfRLvQVF9wTPZBRZkvsYxJsWkKOborV-SZ4/s1600/SBTUContinuesBelow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="940" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYGffx8jSJ_h8N7cBtNiVaQi2aNqNvwq-mAfiYcJSIKBBe8UaieearznGNR6FueBeuV_-AoHUsvkC68PZbOF5XEFH_74m6q5dv481bCfRLvQVF9wTPZBRZkvsYxJsWkKOborV-SZ4/s640/SBTUContinuesBelow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-310b91eb-7fff-ea45-f11a-a743385c4943" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Super-Hero Satellite:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> <a href="https://charltonhero.wordpress.com/">M.A.S.K.: The Road To Revolution</a> </span></span><br />
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<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-99900c48-7fff-e32d-23f9-abf817baba6f" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Between The Pages Blog:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> <a href="https://betweenthepagesblog.typepad.com/between-the-pages-blog/2020/06/super-blog-team-up-fantastic-star-wars-characters-that-youve-completely-forgotten.html">The Star Wars Expanded Universe</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-3f2f9b07-7fff-5cd1-64f8-a55b44ca715c" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Comics Comics Comics: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://comicscomicscomics.blog/2020/06/24/super-blog-team-up-expanded-universe-the-further-adventures-of-indiana-jones/">Indiana Jones, with a focus on the Marvel series The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones</a></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-3f2f9b07-7fff-5cd1-64f8-a55b44ca715c" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-3f2f9b07-7fff-5cd1-64f8-a55b44ca715c" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1cb0c020-7fff-359c-a325-757cb9ea4548" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Comic Reviews By Walt:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> <a href="https://comicreviewsbywalt.wordpress.com/">The Aliens vs Predator Universe</a></span> </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-3f2f9b07-7fff-5cd1-64f8-a55b44ca715c" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-4ed8e517-7fff-4d26-8fe2-b68a7eedec33" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Daveâs Comic Heroes Blog:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> <a href="https://davescomicheroes.blogspot.com/2020/06/logans-run-marvel-movie-adaptation.html">Loganâs Run Marvel Movie Adaptation</a></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-4ed8e517-7fff-4d26-8fe2-b68a7eedec33" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
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<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-4ed8e517-7fff-4d26-8fe2-b68a7eedec33" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3b4a977b-7fff-e2b6-c3ff-467c3a10a2a6" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Telltale Mind</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">: </span><a href="https://thetelltalemind.com/2020/06/24/archie-andrews-superstar/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Archie Andrews - Superstar</span></a></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-4ed8e517-7fff-4d26-8fe2-b68a7eedec33" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-56659c12-7fff-3275-973f-69faaf8be108" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Radulich In Broadcasting:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/radulich-in-broadcasting-network">Flash Gordon Universe</a></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-4ed8e517-7fff-4d26-8fe2-b68a7eedec33" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
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<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-4ed8e517-7fff-4d26-8fe2-b68a7eedec33" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7e33a2da-7fff-f318-b004-47bed3cb00df" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Source Material Comics Podcast:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sourcematerialpodcast/">TMNT/Ghostbusters</a></span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-4ed8e517-7fff-4d26-8fe2-b68a7eedec33" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
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<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-4ed8e517-7fff-4d26-8fe2-b68a7eedec33" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-61c6ccb3-7fff-c705-927e-7afa56266e77" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Unspoken Issues:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> <a href="https://theunspokendecade.com/">Mad-Dog</a> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-4ed8e517-7fff-4d26-8fe2-b68a7eedec33" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-f5eb2a46-7fff-9321-44f0-283afd30f06f" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Crapbox Son Of Cthulhu</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">: <a href="https://crapboxofcthulhu.blogspot.com/2020/06/super-blog-team-up-expanded-universe.html">Marvelâs 2001: A Space Odyssey Issues 3 & 6</a> </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-f5eb2a46-7fff-9321-44f0-283afd30f06f" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-f5eb2a46-7fff-9321-44f0-283afd30f06f" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2b333dcd-7fff-4809-dc5a-9412b54c50e3" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Daily Rios:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> <a href="http://thedailyrios.com/">Little Shop of Horrors</a></span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-f5eb2a46-7fff-9321-44f0-283afd30f06f" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-f5eb2a46-7fff-9321-44f0-283afd30f06f" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-6265aea0-7fff-fbae-9547-c15b09cf9d3f" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Black & White and Bronze Comics: </span><a href="https://blackwhitebronzecomics.blogspot.com/2020/06/super-blog-team-up-beast-on-planet-of.html"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">âBeast on the Planet of the Apesâ - a Review</span></a></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-f5eb2a46-7fff-9321-44f0-283afd30f06f" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
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<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-f5eb2a46-7fff-9321-44f0-283afd30f06f" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2c91cc04-7fff-0598-682d-3cb5b3400a53" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Echoes from the Satellite:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="https://echoesfromthesatellite.blogspot.com/2020/06/super-blog-team-up-planet-of-apes-tales.html">âTales from the Forbidden Zone - The Pacing Placeâ</a> </span></span></span><a href="https://echoesfromthesatellite.blogspot.com/2020/06/super-blog-team-up-planet-of-apes-tales.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-f5eb2a46-7fff-9321-44f0-283afd30f06f" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-6bdcb3ff-7fff-8191-3dfa-d1fea0ffe93a" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lost N Comics YouTube:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJXEjtBJ-mkUVVaA5oOFNlA">Expanding the medium by delving into the world of motion/audio comics</a></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-58080895-7fff-584e-60c9-83c37959fe10" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Pop Culture Retrorama:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> <a href="https://popcultureretrorama.com/">The Phantom Universe</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e9549d96-7fff-bee1-0ec0-f93eaa3cd931" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">DC In The 80s:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="https://dcinthe80s.wordpress.com/">The TSR Universe (DC comics)</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYC9P9fqqCGW4ZbNp6jZTSkfPyUfJ7m7UBoIkXFBzZCrzQGJ-XS1SsDbSQudFX6XfOTUWREzxNng8R_YsLUIXosc-cw2IHzLKNNHkgC0nft31doH25BP8kJiw6Lk-umFAcvlqnn6HVKWY/s1600/SBTUmain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="801" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYC9P9fqqCGW4ZbNp6jZTSkfPyUfJ7m7UBoIkXFBzZCrzQGJ-XS1SsDbSQudFX6XfOTUWREzxNng8R_YsLUIXosc-cw2IHzLKNNHkgC0nft31doH25BP8kJiw6Lk-umFAcvlqnn6HVKWY/s640/SBTUmain.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Doug: Tomorrow is Super Blog Team-Up, and you'll be able to get your fill of Karen and I in three different locations. No matter where you start, check us out around the blogosphere!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0tzRvYbmrUjby-5Vkkk4UrM1r0WgjMBi4rj2U1SMxoBz1P4hS2Wz1o9aw0VoLLEZDOq8O2ApX_tuoX_4C6rpvbi107uzRIKQKPWIIZ90DFrtaRgASSYYkqjSK6SfSn8RaN-YRbzWygY/s1600/planet-apes-colorform-adventure-set_1_2a4f4582627145d991c1a89fd3a11936.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="856" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0tzRvYbmrUjby-5Vkkk4UrM1r0WgjMBi4rj2U1SMxoBz1P4hS2Wz1o9aw0VoLLEZDOq8O2ApX_tuoX_4C6rpvbi107uzRIKQKPWIIZ90DFrtaRgASSYYkqjSK6SfSn8RaN-YRbzWygY/s320/planet-apes-colorform-adventure-set_1_2a4f4582627145d991c1a89fd3a11936.jpg" width="276" /></a>Here, you'll find a retrospective of toys, games, and periphery materials that have made being a Planet of the Apes fan an absolute joy since those Bronze Age days of our youths. As a bonus, we'll be reprinting Karen's review of the <i>Star Trek/Planet of the Apes</i> series from a few years past.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMSolDiIXl0B5udA1_2q5pnwAebcJQIYSk3Cbd7gpyZAPCbmUl2kuSjt4FY6GGb1mTe_xpCDdtngioV2g1yAjUKQfsT9wsdSk_4PKVhLf7YR67F7K9UmQPLc8hF7wjQE56mwZKejYny8/s1600/512DiVIvPqL._SY445_QL70_ML2_%255B1%255D.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="285" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMSolDiIXl0B5udA1_2q5pnwAebcJQIYSk3Cbd7gpyZAPCbmUl2kuSjt4FY6GGb1mTe_xpCDdtngioV2g1yAjUKQfsT9wsdSk_4PKVhLf7YR67F7K9UmQPLc8hF7wjQE56mwZKejYny8/s320/512DiVIvPqL._SY445_QL70_ML2_%255B1%255D.jpg" width="204" /></a>You can click over to <a href="https://echoesfromthesatellite.blogspot.com/">Echoes from the Satellite</a>, which is Karen's new blogging venture. There you'll find us breaking down Bob Mayer's short story, "The Pacing Place". The wonderful anthology <u>Tales from the Forbidden Zone</u> housed that telling of the "what if?" life of George Taylor, had he not gone through the events at the end of <i>Beneath the Planet of the Apes</i>. It's a fun story, as we hope you'll see.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_I65yn6XRRT6kd_a2-2nIIQDnjfdT4iJOMUHsNz14eKZ6vVUpLwYnjrB8zM_ENsUMgW-An900ZKm4CCfwB8Ij35-zvTon65XksiXyfvkrvcC5fmSCEXs7TDK-5kB-Hg4FcwmIWOr_VB4/s1600/Planet_of_the_Apes_Magazine_21%255B1%255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_I65yn6XRRT6kd_a2-2nIIQDnjfdT4iJOMUHsNz14eKZ6vVUpLwYnjrB8zM_ENsUMgW-An900ZKm4CCfwB8Ij35-zvTon65XksiXyfvkrvcC5fmSCEXs7TDK-5kB-Hg4FcwmIWOr_VB4/s320/Planet_of_the_Apes_Magazine_21%255B1%255D.jpg" width="237" /></a>Over at the blog I used for scratching my black & white art itch, <a href="https://blackwhitebronzecomics.blogspot.com/">Black & White and Bronze Comics</a> will feature our review of a 20-page Doug Moench/Herb Trimpe/Dan Adkins story called, "Beast on the Planet of the Apes". It's the conclusion (as it turned out) of Moench's exploration of the adventures of Derek Zane, and features a chimpanzee Robin Hood. That's right...<br />
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We hope to see many of the old guard back for conversation tomorrow, and look forward to making those - and some new - acquaintances. See you then!<br />
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Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-72464209833006273062020-06-22T06:00:00.000-05:002020-06-22T06:00:04.046-05:00The Bronze Age Babies Blog - Newly Remastered!<br />
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Doug: Friends, after much time and labor, Karen and I are pleased to announce that the Bronze Age Babies has received a much needed facelift. We want to invite all visitors new and old to spend some time spelunking through our history - our sidebar has a feature that should make that relatively easy, and our Library of Reviews is of course at the top of this page. Even if you were with us from the start 11 years ago, we think you'll find that almost all posts have a new look.<br />
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Doug: Our problem was largely twofold: First, the site we had used since the beginning for our display of comic book covers ceased operations near the end of 2019. That created holes and/or broken links in well over 1000 posts. When you're visual-heavy as we have always been, not good. Additionally, many of the YouTube videos we'd linked over the years relied on Shockwave. Not a thing anymore. So sprinkled throughout our history were several blank spaces where a topical clip should have been located.<br />
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Doug: While I'm sure we didn't find every single element that needed attention, I can say that we've found and corrected over 95% of those situations. We would be in your debt if, upon discovering something we've missed, you'd drop us a comment on that specific post. We'll see it, and will promptly direct our attention. We've always treasured this space for the community it generated - why stop now? Thank you in advance!<br />
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Doug: And come back on Wednesday of this week to enjoy our first new content in two years. Karen and I will present a retrospective of Planet of the Apes posts dealing with toys and other periphery products that helped our imaginations to expand on the mythos created by the films. We'll also be in operation at my space, <a href="http://blackwhitebronzecomics.blogspot.com/">Black & White and Bronze Comics</a>, and at Karen's new blog, <a href="https://echoesfromthesatellite.blogspot.com/">Echoes from the Satellite</a>. June 24 is Super Blog Team-Up, and you know we try to bring it on those days! Hopefully you'll think we've succeeded.<br />
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<br />Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-8454068221911834862020-06-04T12:46:00.000-05:002020-06-04T12:46:10.175-05:00There's Monkey Business Afoot...<br />
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Spread the news, friends - the Bronze Age Babies will be reconvening with awesomeness aplenty soon. Coming up June 24, 2020, you'll be able to get your much-needed dose of Karen and Doug in not only this space, but also at <a href="http://blackwhitebronzecomics.blogspot.com/">Black & White and Bronze Age Comics</a> and at Karen's soon-to-be-unveiled new blog. We'll be joining this summer's Super Blog Team-Up and will be doing a dive into the expansion of the Planet of the Apes universe. Hope to see everyone in just a few weeks for some wonderful conversation!</div>
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Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-17273673403035337442018-07-19T06:00:00.000-05:002018-07-19T06:00:00.944-05:00The Super Blog Team-Up Post that Wasn't, and Bar the Doors<br />
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Doug: The Dreaded Deadline Doom. Creator changes. Cancelled titles. New directions for your favorite teams, heroes, and books.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37Cnu1-zek8hW8srd-AnT0MaghrvcW9uGMlX4Y559BaA4C6VOIbGJAdB0x7lduokR18ENdY7k403qSTmJfR4uvKkyQ9ylTMdGVIr9rSLP7MskCCXA9tKLxrxr6pEFKVXr40g_zrRMJwY/s1600/60485_20140713052214_large%255B1%255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37Cnu1-zek8hW8srd-AnT0MaghrvcW9uGMlX4Y559BaA4C6VOIbGJAdB0x7lduokR18ENdY7k403qSTmJfR4uvKkyQ9ylTMdGVIr9rSLP7MskCCXA9tKLxrxr6pEFKVXr40g_zrRMJwY/s320/60485_20140713052214_large%255B1%255D.jpg" width="213" /></a>Doug: All of those things have conspired in the past to give us a "Wait, what?!?" feeling. Those stopping by today for the promised second BAB entry in this summer's Super Blog Team-Up extravaganza may be wondering where it is. In the big picture, the SBTU group decided to postpone the event to mid-August. Several bloggers who will participate found that today was not going to work for them, so in the interest of quality a later date has been agreed upon.<br />
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Doug: Truth from this corner, however, is the post didn't get written. And it won't be written. The conspiracies against us in the present include time, family, vacations, and other general pursuits... but the bottom line is that we don't have a post for you today, nor will we for the foreseeable future. And lest anyone read into these comments, there are no troubles in BAB-land; Karen and I correspond as we have for the past dozen or so years, if a bit more infrequently now.<br />
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Doug: What we'd hoped to bring you was a review of the Paul Dini/Alex Ross treasury <i>JLA: Liberty and Justice</i>. If you've been around these parts for some time, you'll recall that we've reviewed the <a href="http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.com/2012/12/superman-peace-on-earth-part-one.html">Superman</a>, <a href="http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.com/2013/12/batman-war-on-crime-part-one.html">Batman</a>, and <a href="http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.com/2013/12/shazam-power-of-hope-part-one.html">Captain Marvel</a> books in that wonderful series. It was always our hope to finish the run by reviewing the Wonder Woman and JLA volumes. Sadly, we didn't get round to them.<br />
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Doug: While it was a lot of fun to be "back" in May, today's post is also our last, at least until some undetermined future notice. The Bronze Age Babies are going back into retirement. So while we'd love to say we'll see you tomorrow, same Bat-time, same Bat-channel, we can't. But... never say never.<br />
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You all take care!<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Be sure to stay up-to-date with Karen and her collaborators Larry & Bob on the <a href="https://planet8podcast.blogspot.com/">Planet 8 podcast</a>, </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and check in daily with Martinex1 and Redartz over at <a href="http://backinthebronzeage.blogspot.com/">Back in the Bronze Age</a>.</span></span></span></div>
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Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-55022106284429987932018-05-26T06:00:00.000-05:002018-05-26T06:00:05.554-05:00Please Stand By...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">The Bronze Age Babies are back in hibernation. But fear not! We will return in the middle of July with new content and the second part of this summer's Super Blog Team-Up. Join us then!</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the meantime, the conversation continues on Twitter. Check us out @BronzeAgeBabies.</span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can also listen to Karen and her partners on the <a href="https://planet8podcast.blogspot.com/">Planet 8 Podcast</a>, available on various platforms, including iTunes.</span></span></b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And, don't miss out on the daily happenings at <a href="http://backinthebronzeage.blogspot.com/">Back in the Bronze Age</a>, with Martinex1 and Redartz! </span></span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-19053101558339932382018-05-25T06:00:00.000-05:002018-07-02T10:48:32.449-05:00What a year in the Marvel Cinematic Universe!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtYeFV9sLvpcVVIYMWb3JPreNfTljQWaJiHMf6rpfZ5PYqYasZM9HCWs-LSe2LB25Sq8iv4eYKIvsraUuh-zmShcOPzmkbtDlm6ywTGQcsyryf0-fOIvMhcfM0YoBQXGzb3gyV8ccIsw/s1600/Marvel-Studios-10-Years-Mcu-Fandom-Video%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="600" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtYeFV9sLvpcVVIYMWb3JPreNfTljQWaJiHMf6rpfZ5PYqYasZM9HCWs-LSe2LB25Sq8iv4eYKIvsraUuh-zmShcOPzmkbtDlm6ywTGQcsyryf0-fOIvMhcfM0YoBQXGzb3gyV8ccIsw/s640/Marvel-Studios-10-Years-Mcu-Fandom-Video%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image via https://movieweb.com/marvel-studios-10-years-mcu-fandom-video/</td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">NOTE - If the spacing in this post seems a little wonky, we had tech issues. Obviously tech issues that are not easily corrected. Hey, cut us some slack... we're rusty!</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0a06ba;">Karen: Since Doug
and I are popping back into the blog-o-sphere briefly, we want to take the
opportunity to discuss a few of the Marvel films that have come out recently.
Since these have been out a while now, this discussion will be SPOILER-FILLED,
so stop reading now if you haven't seen them yet and still want to be
surprised! OK? Ready? You can't blame us now if your little hearts are broken by
anything you read!</span><span style="color: #0a06ba;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0a06ba;"><br />
Karen: I had the luck to see <i>Avengers: Infinity War</i> on a huge screen at
the Alamo Drafthouse in Kansas City, MO while visiting friends, and what an
experience. The film is a visual powerhouse, a true spectacle -this is
essentially the culmination of all of the preceding films, well, certainly the
Avengers films, and it moves at a good clip. It was ideal to see it with a
packed house that was completely engaged.<span style="background: white;"> Lots
of folks applauding, laughing, gasping -but when the movie ended, it was
completely silent. This was not your typical Marvel film (I think they tipped
their hand somewhat at the beginning, when the opening credits rolled and there
was no Marvel fanfare music). "Gut-punched" is the best way I can
describe it. I have seen it again, and the impact is lessened somewhat, but
it's still pretty wrenching. Of course, the original Avengers are left alive,
and I am sure that in <i>Avengers 4</i>, they will find a way to bring the
missing half of the population back -and I'm betting they pay a price to do so.</span></span><span style="color: #0a06ba;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
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</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: black;">Doug:
I saw <i>A:IW</i> on the best Saturday ever! My oldest son was able to come
home for the weekend and we saw Avengers at a noon showing at the Paramount
Theater in Kankakee, IL. After a late lunch, we headed to the Venue at the
Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN to take in Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles. I
don't know if any two human being should be allowed to have that much fun in
one day.</span></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0a06ba;">Karen:
Wow, I don't know if you could get much further apart in tone - at least you
ended your day with the more upbeat entertainment!</span><span style="color: #0a06ba;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: black;">Doug:
Rain was great. We've seen them twice. Each time, the showstopper is
"George Harrison's" rendition of <i>While My Guitar Gently Weeps</i>.
Standing ovation each time.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
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</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: black;">Doug:
We also had a pretty interactive crowd during our screening of <i>Infinity War</i>.
Of note was the entrance of Captain America, which brought about quite a
commotion. Very well done. The Guardians of the Galaxy of course stole the show
whenever they hit the screen, and I thought The Spinners' <i>Rubberband Man</i>
was a great way to announce their arrival. I agree with you, though, that the
film opened on a dark note - picking right up from the conclusion of <i>Thor:
Ragnarok</i>, but without any of that film's humor. After years of glimpses
here and there, we finally got to see Thanos in all his incredibleness. He
didn't disappoint. And from there it was "buckle your seatbelts",
because we indeed got a tour of the galaxy that was enough to make one's head
spin. I have not seen the movie a second time, but would like to.</span><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: blue;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; color: #0a06ba;">Karen: I think the second (or
third...) viewing helps to dial in the details, and also bring the characters
more into focus. I guess that's where I felt a bit let down. Beyond the
spectacle of it all, which admittedly is amazing, I was a little disappointed
that we didn't get more character development, or key moments with some
characters. I will say Thor had a fantastic story within the film. He has been
so utterly devastated, but returns in the final act so heroically...
although his ultimate attack on Thanos ends in failure. Tony Stark
sees his fears realized, and Robert Downey Jr does a terrific job. I really
enjoyed his exchanges with Benedict Cumberbatch as the equally-arrogant
Dr. Strange. But I was completely surprised by Hulk losing his nerve -and
a little disappointed too. For <i>Avengers 4</i>, I suspect we may see him
emerge as some version of "Smart Hulk," with Banner more in control.
I would have liked more Cap too, but I imagine he'll get more time in the next
film. It was sweet seeing the Vision/Wanda romance on the big screen, although
it is suddenly in full bloom - obviously a lot has happened since <i>Civil War.</i>
And depending on what happens in the next film, this might be all we see of
that relationship.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: black;"><br /> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: black;">Doug:
I also felt like a ball had been dropped with the Hulk/Banner character(s). The
aforementioned <i>Thor: Ragnarok</i> had finally given us a Hulk that fans of
the Bronze Age Defenders have been awaiting - funny, crude, and just plain
incredible. But after his sudden appearance as the apparent savior of the
Asgardians' ship, that was all. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: black;">So while seeing Banner in the
Hulkbuster armor was kind of cool, that he never broke out of it and unleashed
a berserker rage was disappointing.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: black;"><br /><br />
</span><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0a06ba;">Karen:
Agreed, we had a full-on, talking, smashing Hulk, almost as if a Sal Buscema
drawing had come to life! All we got was that fake trailer with him running
with the rest of the Avengers in Wakanda. Bummer!</span><span style="color: #0a06ba;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: black;">Doug:
I loved that the Vision had somehow gotten his hands on Nightcrawler's
"image inducer" (sheesh... second time that's come up this week) and
we saw him as a sort of Victor Shade. However, although he and Wanda got quite
a bit of screen time, their powers felt really off. She was suddenly the
strongest Avenger (until Thor arrived), and whereas I'd hoped to see the Vision
we'd seen in <i>Avengers: Age of Ultron </i>and<i> Captain America: Civil War</i>,
we instead got a character who spent most of the picture as a victim. So
despite really, really liking the film, I'm starting to sound bitter with my
Hulk comments ahead of this negativity. But I really did like it!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: black;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0a06ba;">Karen:
I hear you - I don't want to complain either, considering how much Marvel had
done! It's just, well, I want more! There were so many deaths. I think the ones
caused by Thanos' use of the stones will get reversed, but the earlier ones? </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0a06ba;">Hard to say. I wonder
if Loki is truly dead. He essentially pulled a knife on Thanos, which didn't
seem very clever of him. Given his capability with illusion, could he have
fooled the Titan and removed himself so he could plot against him and
strike at the right time? Tom Hiddleston has done such a wonderful job with
Loki that I'd hate to see him go out so pointlessly. Let him have a moment of
sheer ruthless calculation and trickery.</span><span style="color: black;"><br /><br />Doug: Rumors are running hot and heavy in the past few weeks that <i>Avengers
4</i> is going to look an awful lot like <i>Avengers Forever</i>. And if you
recall, Captain Mar-Vell's son Genis-Vell had a large role there. Could our
newly arriving Captain Marvel fit into that part? It's pretty obvious that time
travel is going to have to be a component of <i>Avengers 4</i>, and I'm
wondering if the assumed rescue of Janet van Dyne from the microverse in <i>Ant-Man
and the Wasp</i> this summer will play into what's to come. And seriously - if
somehow out of this we get to see Hawkeye in the Old West, my life will about
be complete!</span><span style="color: #0a06ba;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0a06ba;">Karen: Funny -my
husband and I were trying to figure out how they will right things, and getting
the Gauntlet back and just reversing time would be too simple. We wondered if
Ant-Man's "quantum realm" or whatever it is might be the key to
traveling through time -or to an alternate reality -to somehow fix things. Now,
I would think the odds are unlikely we'll get Hawkeye running around with the
Two-Gun Kid, but I'd love to see Kang show up!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0a06ba;">Karen: Thanos was very well done -I never felt taken out of the
movie by the CGI. Very convincing. Even though they changed his motivation, it
worked. It's probably easier for a general audience to accept a genocidal desire
to balance the population than a love for the physical manifestation of Death.
I mentioned to my husband that he came off like a dark Jor-El -he saw a threat
to his planet, and the universe, and when no one listened, rather than trying
to save people or at least save his loved ones, he decides to kill half the
population. He's also sort of the opposite of Cap. When Cap was on Sokovia and
they were talking about blowing it up, he refused until everyone was off. Cap
is unwilling to trade in lives. Thanos sees it as essential to saving other
lives. I suppose you can justify anything if you try hard enough.</span><span style="color: #0a06ba;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Doug: Thanos was pretty convincing in his logic. <b>His</b> logic.
Isn't Cap great? I do have another minor disappointment in <i>A:IW</i>, and
that's when Cap and Thanos went mano a mano we didn't get to hear Cap say,
"I could do this all day." You mentioned above some of the great
interactions between the various characters. The directors did a wonderful job
of balancing all of these actors and egos and really moving the story forward
in a concise manner. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56Fq6iNvv0UXhmhKbL0ruyLkRN2FI6wuNCbcjqfe86s7cwie3ohjBtO9-egUfjJmrjm3wbUVCEmrCahEa6d-maoPCJTOGiWBu-8kZnjVBdgFAvzjAuPvkYab12NPmJOWs_tV3BxkWz9Y/s1600/avengers-infinity-war-iron-man-star-lord-1093782-1280x0%2525255B1%2525255D%255B1%255D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="166" data-original-width="400" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56Fq6iNvv0UXhmhKbL0ruyLkRN2FI6wuNCbcjqfe86s7cwie3ohjBtO9-egUfjJmrjm3wbUVCEmrCahEa6d-maoPCJTOGiWBu-8kZnjVBdgFAvzjAuPvkYab12NPmJOWs_tV3BxkWz9Y/s400/avengers-infinity-war-iron-man-star-lord-1093782-1280x0%2525255B1%2525255D%255B1%255D.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fTR_GXFQ5koDr_prcgaBM4E036kBJKowgySlE-Q3ju5qVgUiOxgSPqHqzXfRR7rkmSGt61XOpH4x_C-crzrvvAh1QfGgv09v6F6UpJO4RQndA01Iy51Yms4f-joECZJdjFS65mh5YLc/s1600/avengers-infinity-war-iron-man-star-lord-1093782-1280x0%255B1%255D.jpeg" style="float: left;"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;"></span></a><span style="color: black;">And also as you said, some of the characters
really played wonderfully off each other. Also worth mentioning is the
chemistry between Thor and Quill, and of course between Stark and young Parker.
And how about that scene where our two resident psychos - Winter Soldier and
Rocket Raccoon - teamed up to blast any and all alien baddies? Loved it! </span><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #0a06ba;">Karen: There
were so many great team-ups. Didn't you think that Stark was really missing his
old, reliable, professional Avengers team-mates when he was stuck with the
idiotic Guardians on Titan? The exasperation was just pouring out of him! And I
still crack up thinking about this exchange: "I am Groot!" "I am
Steve Rogers!"</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Doug: There's probably one other major thing from <i>Infinity War</i>
that bears discussion, and that would be the appearance of the Red Skull. What
did you think of that? I know for my son and I it was literally jaw-dropping.
For me, it fit perfectly and was a nicely wrapped surprise. I will also say
that I was able to see <i>Infinity War</i> spoiler-free. Even the trailers and
pre-release publicity kept everything to the guessing/anticipation stage. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #0a06ba;">Karen: At first
when I saw that hooded figure I thought, "Wow, are they going to bring in Mistress
Death?" But honestly, the Red Skull was just as good -maybe better,
because it was so cool to discover what had become of him. And I agree about
seeing it spoiler-free: I have to commend my fellow fans, because it seemed
like no one was letting anything out this time. It was wonderful to experience
this film cold, basically.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0a06ba;">_________________________________________________________________________________ </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0a06ba;"><span style="color: black;">Doug: We're going to interrupt today's post for an intermission. For those among us of a certain age - and if you are, you know what I mean - there was one aspect of <i>Avengers: Infinity War</i> that was especially affecting. Longtime commenter and resident cartoonist PF Gavigan contacted us ahead of our return and offered to do a strip specifically for today's post. We are thrilled to display it below, and then we'll be back to our MCU thoughts.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="color: #0a06ba;">Karen: I'm
really excited about the upcoming <i>Ant-Man and the Wasp</i> movie -it will be
like a refreshing, light breeze after this heavy affair. And it was such a
thrill to see Laurence Fishburne as Bill Foster in the trailer, directly
referencing being Goliath! I'm assuming the film takes place before <i>Infinity
War</i>. But I wonder if the end credits scenes may lead us into <i>Avengers 4</i>.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfpn86R-J7k9a4UWDLIh4mJ8x6gJvQKhPiX-AL_8cOLGbGpwFXGc-1wmehpAAR3_1ENHaIY7q6XR4omNtmqfUwzhH8TLSIoAduklTEMu2MtERyyoIdZyi_l62SlvxCoN57DIe2N8lihf8/s1600/ant-man-and-the-wasp-avengers-infinity-war%255B1%255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="320" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfpn86R-J7k9a4UWDLIh4mJ8x6gJvQKhPiX-AL_8cOLGbGpwFXGc-1wmehpAAR3_1ENHaIY7q6XR4omNtmqfUwzhH8TLSIoAduklTEMu2MtERyyoIdZyi_l62SlvxCoN57DIe2N8lihf8/s400/ant-man-and-the-wasp-avengers-infinity-war%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span>Doug: Which makes me wonder...
if there's a time travel element to <i style="font-family: inherit;">Avengers 4</i>, are we going
to find out that the Avengers Initiative was not a project invented upon Thor's
arrival, as Nick Fury has suggested? Sure seems like there were heroes running
around before Iron Man - three size-changers that we now know of, and that
Easter egg with the Original Human Torch has been on my back burner since first
seeing <i style="font-family: inherit;">Captain America:
The First Avenger</i>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #0a06ba;">Karen: Well,
I've kind of wondered if it was something Nick Fury, Peggy Carter, and Howard
Stark cooked up, since he told Tony about it at the end of <i>Iron Man</i>. But
who knows -was there a proto-Avengers team? Did Hank Pym know Carol Danvers?</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0a06ba;"><span style="color: black;">Doug: If this Ant-Man film is anything like its predecessor, we're in for a light-hearted, popcorn movie treat. And I think I really appreciate that about Marvel, as compared to their Distinguished Competition. Marvel gets it - they know that there were comics before and after the Dark Ages of the late 1980s-early 2000s. DC seems to have forgotten that they were the light-hearted company through the 1940s-mid-1980s. It's a shame; hopefully they find their identity a bit with the upcoming Shazam! film.</span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0a06ba;"><br />
Karen: Of course, <i>Black Panther</i> was also a huge hit for Marvel, and is
already out on blu-ray/DVD. I still can't get over how fast these movies are
available to stream/buy after they hit the theaters. This was also a
spectacular-looking film - I have to say the movie version of Wakanda was far
grander than any version I recall from the comics. It was so perfectly
envisioned -and it was cool to see it in <i>Infinity War</i> again.<i> Panther</i>
had one of the best casts of any Marvel movie, and a very strong story.
Chadwick Boseman has completely won me over as T'Challa.</span><span style="color: #0a06ba;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnJZ-ZoE4_NBel1q4c8GkYrjAs0yFacqnrxKrLDN-RHV7D5yPhp6fSiIJT1CfamEmlUM0EB5YFsu3fvk-adNztThpZV_JmT5fgc0nxXz9ulG0PKsrMOk5fOj-YtRbeSBDvWzeFgVOh28/s1600/black-panther-8%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnJZ-ZoE4_NBel1q4c8GkYrjAs0yFacqnrxKrLDN-RHV7D5yPhp6fSiIJT1CfamEmlUM0EB5YFsu3fvk-adNztThpZV_JmT5fgc0nxXz9ulG0PKsrMOk5fOj-YtRbeSBDvWzeFgVOh28/s400/black-panther-8%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Doug: I made the trek to Indiana the Thursday before Veterans' Day
to see <i>Thor: Ragnarok</i> with my sons and we were also able to see <i>BP</i> together. We had a great time at both films. Yes -
the spectacle of <i>Black Panther</i> was incredible. I was pleasantly surprised that M'Baka the
Man-Ape was in the film and how well he was portrayed. Erik Killmonger raised
some important philosophical issues, giving us that Dr. King/Malcolm X
dichotomy. I have read numerous comments online and have had some meaningful conversations
with some of my students of color after this film came out. In addition to
being a grand superhero film, Marvel has opened some dialogue that
(unfortunately) still needs to take place.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0a06ba;">Karen: The impact of Black Panther has been amazing to see. I
have to admit I was not prepared for just how big it would be. How many young
people will see this and it will be their <i>Star Wars - </i>that movie that
forever changed everything for them? Who knows what crop of film-makers or
writers or artists or even scientists and engineers may spring up after being
inspired by this movie? It might sound like hyperbole, but films and TV shows
can really affect people.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Doug: You know, we could go on and on here - we haven't really touched <i>Guardians of the Galaxy, volume 2</i>. And shoot - even though not an MCU film, I was going to bring up <i>War for the Planet of the Apes</i>! But maybe we'll just see what direction this takes in the comments - that's right, now it's reader's write time!</span></span><br />
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UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<![endif]-->Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-46920531318742404482018-05-24T06:00:00.000-05:002018-05-24T07:17:09.965-05:00Super Blog Team-Up: Time, Clock of the Heart<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77OT8tmlU0C-Cp2gKRUCuW4mEuzEmFl4tB4fkk7S-S8GOmqZNjZicY6rAMeAPHtGUHtirqwbv4-C2SsIRyRfYJKFfC1Xq5KexdM4O7IPQ5FY0ZZ-EQ-5t8pnVNwd8v8VcHGhyWCtvqH0/s1600/112116_20091027004522_large%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77OT8tmlU0C-Cp2gKRUCuW4mEuzEmFl4tB4fkk7S-S8GOmqZNjZicY6rAMeAPHtGUHtirqwbv4-C2SsIRyRfYJKFfC1Xq5KexdM4O7IPQ5FY0ZZ-EQ-5t8pnVNwd8v8VcHGhyWCtvqH0/s640/112116_20091027004522_large%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i>All-New Collector's Edition C-55, Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes</i> (1978)</b><br />
"The Millennium Massacre"<br />
Paul Levitz-Mike Grell/Vince Colletta<br />
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Doug: I'm penning my part to today's post in mid-April. The last time I did something like this was <a href="http://backinthebronzeage.blogspot.com/2017/05/be-our-guest-writer-it-was-just-my.html">right around a year ago</a> when I contributed a guest review for our buds over at <a href="https://backinthebronzeage.blogspot.com/">Back in the Bronze Age</a>. So I'd lie if I said I wasn't just a wee bit a) rusty and b) nervous about getting this right. Not only am I back on tour with my longtime (like, for 11 years if you're new in these parts) partner Karen, but we are part of a much larger event today. Super Blog Team-Up is an occasional get-together of blogs from across the Geekosphere, and we've always maintained a sense of honor for being asked to participate. I suppose at the worst, we can make everyone else look great. Hopefully we compete a little better than that today! You'll find links to our three partners at the conclusion of today's post. We'll also be tweeting links to our past SBTU posts throughout the day.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Karen: 11 years? That just took me by surprise. It has been something of a journey, one I am truly glad to have gone on with Doug. Little did we know back when we met on the old Avengers Assemble message board that we'd find out we were so simpatico, and enjoy writing and working together. And despite the BAB morphing into more of a Twitter presence, we stay in touch. So when he told me we had the chance to participate in another Super-Blog Team-Up, it just seemed right. So yeah, we'll give it our best!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsU18luIADF5fCwAmj0dNSV22M0myBIW4TeTdimOT5LkGB6c6w-o_lBkOPE-4WDYyJZB78iW_a0v7S3UcgAcmhBOcJMbenYHBFi0zwM9-MIkqyZPE5F7wVOGuvKV1Bz6puZd66ev2Z4kk/s1600/01abc10e97d3bd932e040858af01602054f3835275.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="1600" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsU18luIADF5fCwAmj0dNSV22M0myBIW4TeTdimOT5LkGB6c6w-o_lBkOPE-4WDYyJZB78iW_a0v7S3UcgAcmhBOcJMbenYHBFi0zwM9-MIkqyZPE5F7wVOGuvKV1Bz6puZd66ev2Z4kk/s640/01abc10e97d3bd932e040858af01602054f3835275.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
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Doug: You can find the official title of today's comic of choice in our nuts and bolts section, just above. To me, this was always "the 2nd Legion treasury". Yeah, I know that's heresy to our hardcore DC readers, but it's how I rolled when I was 12 years old. According to <a href="http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/comic.php?comicid=2231">Mike's Amazing World of Comics</a>, this lovely would have been on sale just ahead of Christmas, 1977. I don't recall receiving it as a gift, but rather plucking it off a magazine rack at the Belscot discount store in Kankakee, Illinois. Funny how after all this time we can often picture the when/where of key comics purchases! And this one is a key, as it features not only all of the Legionnaires of the latter Bronze Age, but also the wedding of two of the founding members - Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl!<br />
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**For those wanting to read this on their own but not in possession of the original oversized comic, this book was recently reprinted in <a href="https://www.talesofwonder.com/product/87309/SUPERBOY-AND-THE-LEGION-OF-SUPERHEROES-HC-VOL-01/0">Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, volume one</a>. And an additional programming note - all images in today's post are photographs from Doug's copy of this super-tabloid. Apologies up front if some of the images aren't square.**<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Karen: I have to admit, your memory is better than mine, but I recall that these treasury size books could be particularly hard to track down at times. I don't recall exactly where I got my copy of this Legion one (which I no longer have) but it's entirely possible I might have had to go to three or four stores before I located it. For our review today I am using the hardcover book you mentioned. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">Doug: I cannot recall that I ever knew of a Treasury Edition (or Limited Collectors' Edition) before it hit the newsstands. These things had a somewhat magical quality of just showing up - and then the begging of my mom for $2.00 commenced</span>... </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1xds_1sAzT0E8qz7li1UYzPFyjkyqMdPYzCTgxGCUJhsadrJmBNCsLRCyjsuCgDBEjEMcHkIbMIRpVB8ntradkaUzXcgB0vHjngdgEaybtyARfMx3CtGDUWITOMU5u_nMGlKisZiDic/s1600/010dc8525435c6a601380d63fde6db75202561b664.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1600" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1xds_1sAzT0E8qz7li1UYzPFyjkyqMdPYzCTgxGCUJhsadrJmBNCsLRCyjsuCgDBEjEMcHkIbMIRpVB8ntradkaUzXcgB0vHjngdgEaybtyARfMx3CtGDUWITOMU5u_nMGlKisZiDic/s640/010dc8525435c6a601380d63fde6db75202561b664.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Doug: We open with a great two-page splash of Superboy streaking into the timestream while imagining how cool it's going to be to witness the nuptials of his longtime friends. As a point of information for newer readers, the Teen of Steel reminds us that, like Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel before them, our young heroes will have to resign from the Legion once hitched. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7OQ5LXYwEun73IiSrn3cN-QVTpWYNFOOcg48sGIr97FyHAs6ef7KY6tEQyP9hxecAJBsNnGU-Wzh-XM5q8b7DT5aPXEcvGXBnoGNVMQZifbxeTNCFrN82OkfpvULUABDGvMid8UebZY/s1600/01eca50c8178b3e906655d0789104a50257e2a8b05.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1158" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7OQ5LXYwEun73IiSrn3cN-QVTpWYNFOOcg48sGIr97FyHAs6ef7KY6tEQyP9hxecAJBsNnGU-Wzh-XM5q8b7DT5aPXEcvGXBnoGNVMQZifbxeTNCFrN82OkfpvULUABDGvMid8UebZY/s400/01eca50c8178b3e906655d0789104a50257e2a8b05.jpg" width="288" /></a>As Superboy exits the timestream in 2978 he is shocked to see Metropolis transformed into a city rife with military presence. He's almost immediately accosted by some Science Police who don't exactly have "polite" on their day's agenda. Superboy's chastised for not knowing a password they think he should know, and the police brutality commences. Wrong guy to try to rough up... Soon after, a team of Legionnaires comes by. Sun Boy, Cosmic Boy, and Ultra Boy are all equally brusque and it's pretty obvious that something's not as it should be.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Karen: One of the conceits of the Legion was that Superboy was able to travel through time unaided, and he did it simply by flying really fast, I suppose, and the effect was that of a multi-colored tube (a rainbow tunnel?) with the years, the actual numerals, flashing by. </span><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcbCcBgvslcPSr_MEkAtLdV5T6IAqL2GC-GxJPr_mbzdgx0vYeHT1_QK-6u4L0HdVQqlyusxh0K4Fmp3aMy2Bc2kY-0tTUOeZpihcSHybMeGSt1PkI3XiQy9YJKboewWFuUSmZJr4Vkc/s1600/01af092a4fa1aa16f1cab5479a6a07de91b59f5f56.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1159" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcbCcBgvslcPSr_MEkAtLdV5T6IAqL2GC-GxJPr_mbzdgx0vYeHT1_QK-6u4L0HdVQqlyusxh0K4Fmp3aMy2Bc2kY-0tTUOeZpihcSHybMeGSt1PkI3XiQy9YJKboewWFuUSmZJr4Vkc/s400/01af092a4fa1aa16f1cab5479a6a07de91b59f5f56.jpg" width="287" /></a>The whole thing is completely silly when you say it out loud, but as a kid, I just accepted it and loved the idea. The switch to the altered future is not exactly subtle, with the Science Police having skull insignias on their helmets!</span><br />
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Doug: For some reason, I've always felt that Dr. Doom got it right with his time platform. Why, I don't know, but that looked cool. The rainbow tunnel (love it!) was effective as a visual, but I agree with you - for all of the science DC writers at times took the pains to explain, Superboy's journeys were left completely to our imaginations. <br />
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Doug: The team finally makes it to their headquarters after fighting off a warship of the Lunarites. Apparently this has become commonplace, these attacks, and it's Princess Projectra who is charged with bringing Superboy up to speed while the rest of our friends scuttle away to ready for the wedding. I found it interesting that the ceremony is near the beginning of the story rather than climactic near the end. The narrative Projectra tells is depressing, but oh-so-awesome in the oversized format. (I also have a copy of the aforementioned <i>Superboy/Legion</i> hardcover and it's not nearly as spectacular in the standard 7"x10" size.) Superboy doesn't like what he's hearing and is convinced that there are nefarious forces at work. He defers to the wedding, yet his uneasiness will need to be rectified at some point - and soon. The wedding is a bit ho-hum, as we get just a 2-page splash with the bridal party and guests. Notably absent is Supergirl, but the rest of the gang to this point is here. Oh, and Paul Levitz and Mike Grell were also invited, apparently, in a bit of an artistic conceit.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Karen: I would agree with you that the wedding is ho-hum; but I'd go further and say that the overall look of the issue seems uninspired, which is disappointing since it's Mike Grell drawing it. There just seems to be lost opportunities. We're in an alternate future -but everyone's costume is exactly the same as always (except for the occasional weapon holster). And the wedding is notably under-attended. Think of all the guests Dave Cockrum crammed into the wedding of Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel. Of course, who knows who might have been there that Colletta could have erased.</span><br />
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Doug: As long as we're on the subject of the creators, it would be worth mentioning a couple of nuggets. First off, Paul Levitz was very new to the book at this time. I know many'a Bronze Age Baby thinks of Levitz first when they recall the team's scribes. But when <i>All-New Collectors' Edition</i> C-55 saw the light of day Levitz had only been on the monthly for a few issues, supplanting Jim Shooter. Grell, on the other hand, had been the Legion's regular artist for a few years before switching to covers-only duty in the months leading up to this book. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3ZcmEgZw9oG1OzjWQuLqjL8y-C-8SaDc9FhYbkREWov33I8EzF1hMTpXtfWVrvG0UzOEsa9QP5Og5M9lo3ou2dpqmm6Se5mWFokBiYQvS-yUMgnthjbDUQ4LpcdlFUcAroAC-vGDrjA/s1600/01287a035010e1837ead25d9e7173cbe3edeedc6f2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1600" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3ZcmEgZw9oG1OzjWQuLqjL8y-C-8SaDc9FhYbkREWov33I8EzF1hMTpXtfWVrvG0UzOEsa9QP5Og5M9lo3ou2dpqmm6Se5mWFokBiYQvS-yUMgnthjbDUQ4LpcdlFUcAroAC-vGDrjA/s400/01287a035010e1837ead25d9e7173cbe3edeedc6f2.jpg" width="400" /></a>I wanted to bring up the fact that Grell's tenure on the Legion to this point was basically split between two inkers - himself, and Bob Wiacek (almost equally). Only once in the monthly were his pencils subject to the will of one Vincent Colletta; I would say overall that the quality of the art in today's book is uneven at best. At times we get vintage Grell, but at others we definitely feel the influence of Colletta's feathery inks. Perhaps Wiacek would have brought a boldness to the story that is sorely lacking at times.<span style="color: blue;"><br /><br />Karen: I've really come to feel that with the exception of those early Kirby <i>Thor</i>s, Colletta really does no one any favors.</span></div>
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Doug: Yeah, and regarding our complaints about Grell's job on this book, maybe he was just so fully invested in his <i>Warlord</i> mag by this time that the Legion had become second banana?<br />
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Doug: Right after the wedding, the cake frosting barely wiped off our teens' faces, Garth's and Imra's honeymoon cruiser is attacked by Lunarite fighters. Mon-el (man, I love that dude - my favorite Legionnaire!) orders the team into battle, but it's quickly determined that the Lunarites were ready for the counter-attack. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vl13L-vq1ocOPwmEYaBkBgvjs6A6J543ACa3LP2XGeQwSt2NVcRxEZDGj_YQIz4P9VSHcUbaH1J6xH4VsYOYMOjXsZ65uPWypUX1p4kO-q351nu9iL4OfMGy8b3rUa4VHfjDRGsyKCU/s1600/017d6aaca7c53c46435be24fbf2639a4f67f89a7f6.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1600" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vl13L-vq1ocOPwmEYaBkBgvjs6A6J543ACa3LP2XGeQwSt2NVcRxEZDGj_YQIz4P9VSHcUbaH1J6xH4VsYOYMOjXsZ65uPWypUX1p4kO-q351nu9iL4OfMGy8b3rUa4VHfjDRGsyKCU/s400/017d6aaca7c53c46435be24fbf2639a4f67f89a7f6.jpg" width="400" /></a>While the Legion begins to regroup, Superboy breaks rank and says he refuses to join any rescue mission for Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl. Team leader Wildfire loses his cool (as usual), but Superboy insists that his uneasy feeling about the overall state of affairs is the true problem. Shadow Lass agrees, and the team splits into factions - one group taking off to save their teammates, the other heading back into the timestream. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVMeuTfKyxXyN_9EiytqLZZZ-McGhbftBkY-qV5YUh1tKuH2N3Dab2t-42zMV4UndX0o4TFrrLWtEae6WlQ5X9Gsw8NwW5zdWUSrOUE_jYFuks3wxXXiOIDcAhUqaMl6eq2nHX4A2dsw/s1600/01ae8562a18632da116b1383b9179f317a31cc1dd4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVMeuTfKyxXyN_9EiytqLZZZ-McGhbftBkY-qV5YUh1tKuH2N3Dab2t-42zMV4UndX0o4TFrrLWtEae6WlQ5X9Gsw8NwW5zdWUSrOUE_jYFuks3wxXXiOIDcAhUqaMl6eq2nHX4A2dsw/s400/01ae8562a18632da116b1383b9179f317a31cc1dd4.jpg" width="400" /></a>And it should not go unnoticed that a trio was left home to guard the HQ: Dream Girl, Star Boy, and Tyroc. Paul Levitz is on record as stating a strong dislike for Tyroc. And the character gets virtually no screen time in this entire tale!<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Karen: Wildfire has always been a favorite of mine (along with Brainiac 5) but he should never have been a Legion leader. It was only because they let readers vote for leaders that they got stuck with an erratic, emotional hot-head as their boss for a while. Must have been fun for the writer! Sure it was. In any case, this plot development follows the typical DC-split the team into groups pattern. Heck, I guess Marvel does it too. I want to note too that great panel of the Legion flying up into the heavens which you first spotted and posted on the BAB twitter feed, which sure seems like inspiration for the famous Alex Ross illustration of the entire Legion flying up as a one into space. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreWlmy2uOo8t8Z_1DFHDVLCRapyLKq1vmtR9ttcMJKzXPCeH92lDLXNcXM73wPiWU6pOORN5gQzTy_JwThp6_4f3bkEdlJAd9p_aILpTs_rWcTLjGX7L26n0pStauW9SjBGWiMddurSw/s1600/c5ffae17784876133aa2c7a52ee62a61%255B1%255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreWlmy2uOo8t8Z_1DFHDVLCRapyLKq1vmtR9ttcMJKzXPCeH92lDLXNcXM73wPiWU6pOORN5gQzTy_JwThp6_4f3bkEdlJAd9p_aILpTs_rWcTLjGX7L26n0pStauW9SjBGWiMddurSw/s400/c5ffae17784876133aa2c7a52ee62a61%255B1%255D.jpg" width="183" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjgcpzZo3hDP_56euSGaNvkALUh0oKp1VSz5u_F0wCvAxD4IsjYCzwzJGpi32xSY23PTWRPIRfWAzBT3KdZTVMJ91rmhQGKovgvs6zxbJFLQMxJDNxJl6Bx0qlE5MAYVrODGpekLVrhw/s1600/01c8c798ee3103b3100917e3a10e6f671be07a44b7.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="629" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjgcpzZo3hDP_56euSGaNvkALUh0oKp1VSz5u_F0wCvAxD4IsjYCzwzJGpi32xSY23PTWRPIRfWAzBT3KdZTVMJ91rmhQGKovgvs6zxbJFLQMxJDNxJl6Bx0qlE5MAYVrODGpekLVrhw/s400/01c8c798ee3103b3100917e3a10e6f671be07a44b7.jpg" width="156" /></a>Doug: Chapter 2 of our tale takes us to the Lunarite capital, on the moon. We're told that the Chinese colonized the moon in 1985, and the Lunarites have a yellow hue to their skin. C'mon... I'd have thought stereotypes like that went out with the comics-as-propaganda of the World War II era. Guess not. Anyway, Garth and Imra are having none of this captivity thing and fight their way out until they're forced to crash land their getaway ship. But have no fear - Wildfire's cavalry shows up in the nick of time... in the capital. It's looking grim, as Garth and Imra are about to run out of oxygen in their damaged vehicle. But have no fear - in a wonderfully almost-plausible deus ex machina, Phantom Girl arrives just as Lightning Lad is about to commit a murder/suicide and stops him. Turns out Cosmic Boy could track Garth's lightning, as it is electromagnetic in property. Whatever. While the team celebrates being reunited, Wildfire exclaims that he's going to make Superboy pay for his insubordination.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsbGA13MhgOGyqKDT3-DJ4ZfKZOmUcNWNK_-LVfd6zmwt6BmepSq_cU7mTb4Z7h79QPJi9s47aQ6CmqIUhnGOb-kdBfWopdgsUhLmWYOzPAAzzgBEJKEePr-6yc5UyX8I87scerrIJ3s/s1600/01725941c671d3c37d24c1b9ec7aebc43dbd8cb364.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="1600" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsbGA13MhgOGyqKDT3-DJ4ZfKZOmUcNWNK_-LVfd6zmwt6BmepSq_cU7mTb4Z7h79QPJi9s47aQ6CmqIUhnGOb-kdBfWopdgsUhLmWYOzPAAzzgBEJKEePr-6yc5UyX8I87scerrIJ3s/s400/01725941c671d3c37d24c1b9ec7aebc43dbd8cb364.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Karen: You know, I just assumed the Lunarites were aliens, until it was explained they were Chinese. I try to look at things like this from the time period in which it was produced, but even then, surely this must have seemed racist. Well, it either didn't occur to any of the people at DC putting these comics together that bright yellow-skinned Chinese villains named "Khan" might possibly be seen as offensive, or they just didn't care about the people it would offend. </span><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvceaTzsvXbMzffSLQuZW83WNprDMIz6q0G1FvAccSACEUSIPFiUcCVEtz7OWN5x-hHzv8wcGVutMY3kvS_uJuDIRdvgqFF0zUq95OBnshm3WNY6S7yZY2KIa3zFZOHya3TEI88Gl4Els/s1600/01898748fb7be137155d3d87824e9c03db724009a3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1224" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvceaTzsvXbMzffSLQuZW83WNprDMIz6q0G1FvAccSACEUSIPFiUcCVEtz7OWN5x-hHzv8wcGVutMY3kvS_uJuDIRdvgqFF0zUq95OBnshm3WNY6S7yZY2KIa3zFZOHya3TEI88Gl4Els/s400/01898748fb7be137155d3d87824e9c03db724009a3.jpg" width="305" /></a>I have to say, it was difficult reading this stuff. I was just hoping to get past it. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><span style="color: blue;">Karen: Another thing I found weird was that Lightning Lad was so ready to just blast him and Imra to atoms to spare them a slow death - hey, let's not look for a way out til the last, let's just kill ourselves!</span><br />
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Doug: Our next installment follows Superboy, Mon-el and Shadow Lass, Karate Kid and Princess Projectra, Sun Boy, and Brainiac-5 to 1978. According to Brainy, it's the year the United Nations broke up and he's seeing some readings about the timestream that seem askew. Brainiac benches Superboy due to the "same person in the same place twice" rule. If you've been around, you get it - it's an old comic book trope (see <a href="http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.com/2013/08/dougs-favorites-avengers-56.html"><i>Avengers</i> 56</a>). The team seemingly employs Nightcrawler's image inducer and goes incognito through the streets of New York (I will never understand why the DCU has Gotham City, Metropolis, <i>and</i> New York City. Dumb). After some investigation, the super-teens determine that there are three factions wanting to dissolve the UN, all united by a certain shady character. The Legionnaires track the do-badder to an abandoned building once used at a World's Fair, and engage.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_frbMJRZTlc__TgXtG2uOW1_nabXTdAQH0i2rRYWm0oX7vKzWWnbKEgRlDeXYCEtDbS318n2JY952JPLPs_N3rdLiaOHIMWuBkqpDCs4yy5AvNzR-kw3hK1YR1aqo4Lu7t-ELbZkF1CA/s1600/0183642766d8113e5939352d34093aa43f9806e071.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="1472" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_frbMJRZTlc__TgXtG2uOW1_nabXTdAQH0i2rRYWm0oX7vKzWWnbKEgRlDeXYCEtDbS318n2JY952JPLPs_N3rdLiaOHIMWuBkqpDCs4yy5AvNzR-kw3hK1YR1aqo4Lu7t-ELbZkF1CA/s320/0183642766d8113e5939352d34093aa43f9806e071.jpg" width="320" /></a>They face more traps than the <i>Home Alone</i> kid could rig, but eventually fight their way to... the Time Trapper! He defeats the Legion, and then cackles that super-villain laugh as he declares that he's making tracks - to the end of time!<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Karen: The time bubble was another piece of Legion tech that I adored. Why would a time machine be a huge glass bubble? How did it work? It seemed to have a propulsion system too... these questions were never answered but I didn't care, it was fantastic. The team's investigation is pretty mundane. It's not a lot of fun seeing the Legionnaires outside of their uniforms. But the Time Trappers' lair is a kick. </span><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7duclSZSpqnPGJsd0f_WIc4T4bXIju2zKhaGR5MhMuB6NSyxTV7m8ZTuIvbkTMQHsmPwMgA2RmOB92hSbkseKNp8VltHD1Qd7Akp9U06aS89VPqT6SIpJC-OH53hqw8wUK-GHkdt6iA/s1600/0132c85e17b631f68b4f8e1bab3bf6a0df57451fa2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="1439" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7duclSZSpqnPGJsd0f_WIc4T4bXIju2zKhaGR5MhMuB6NSyxTV7m8ZTuIvbkTMQHsmPwMgA2RmOB92hSbkseKNp8VltHD1Qd7Akp9U06aS89VPqT6SIpJC-OH53hqw8wUK-GHkdt6iA/s320/0132c85e17b631f68b4f8e1bab3bf6a0df57451fa2.jpg" width="320" /></a>There must be some huge warehouse where all the bad guys buy their traps: giant mechanical arms, check; laser guns, check; spiked walls, check.</span><br />
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Doug: Yeah, regarding the team in civvies, it wasn't nearly as compelling a scene as when <a href="http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.com/2011/09/finding-silver-in-bronze-lce-c-49.html">they were in Smallville hiding out from Mordru</a>. Now that story had some tension! <br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Karen: I remember it fondly... how could I forget Bob Cobb??</span><br />
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Doug: Scene shift to 2978 at the Legion HQ as both teams of Legionnaires return. Wildfire can't wait to light into Superboy, who pushes back hard. Saturn Girl intervenes, saying both of them fully believe what they're saying, so convene a meeting of the whole team and sort it out. Rond Vidar is able to adapt his hypertime drive based on information received from Dream Girl. Tyroc draws the short straw (guess they didn't think they'd need any yelling in the far flung future?) and gets monitor duty for the second time in the story. As the team arrives at the end of time, I have to comment again that the art is pretty uneven. At times in this book I've felt like Grell did layouts only; most of the time I thought he did full pencils. For having so much time off the monthly book ahead of this, I guess I'd have expected a bangup job. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlpOJmX6xU7pCG1wbPB5VGCVjOqsHYRLI4ATtphPp6uzgMUkezJM_aeXktUU7Cei1tMO3_L0LLVxZV_i60yU7TN5gKg_Ph-UX4oTr55eTN8rBnLzTxaoJbAarcW5lUfCrArSgLiQ2jGU/s1600/019cfbfd3faf75b9ff5a819e1d6e19f69dc57aa611.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="1600" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlpOJmX6xU7pCG1wbPB5VGCVjOqsHYRLI4ATtphPp6uzgMUkezJM_aeXktUU7Cei1tMO3_L0LLVxZV_i60yU7TN5gKg_Ph-UX4oTr55eTN8rBnLzTxaoJbAarcW5lUfCrArSgLiQ2jGU/s400/019cfbfd3faf75b9ff5a819e1d6e19f69dc57aa611.jpg" width="400" /></a>The Time Trapper finishes the Legion pretty easily, but feels the need to narrate his origin story. We find out that he's a Controller - and those guys go all the way back to the early <i>Adventure Comics</i> days! And worse? He is in possession of the Miracle Machine (basically, it's the DC version of the Cosmic Cube, Marvelites!).<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Karen: I love how Wildfire is threatening to throw Superboy out of the Legion. Sure, that's going to happen. To pick up on your comments about the art, one thing that I became very aware of was the lack of backgrounds, which may be partly due to a rush job, but you have to wonder how much of it was due to that frequently-used eraser of Mr. Colletta's.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsJkn37SK6DQn4-4Syyob7K80asbE7Y3XBhT1rqtMsu6jZLTxUgJqHxbaFeX6W94C3Nus86V_QgMr2U2ONQB61nLdxB4EwFXY7sI3p5V8P6ZCoSvyM16LEBCnKE9UQB0w95_bXUz6akU/s1600/017350e11fdd856779424e8c5d9c0bd307f5a15135.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="1600" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsJkn37SK6DQn4-4Syyob7K80asbE7Y3XBhT1rqtMsu6jZLTxUgJqHxbaFeX6W94C3Nus86V_QgMr2U2ONQB61nLdxB4EwFXY7sI3p5V8P6ZCoSvyM16LEBCnKE9UQB0w95_bXUz6akU/s400/017350e11fdd856779424e8c5d9c0bd307f5a15135.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Karen: I know I must have read the Sun-Eater story that introduced the Controllers but re-reading this story, I couldn't remember a thing about them. So the recap in the story was helpful. I did recall the Miracle Machine -and I suppose it's just my Marvel Zombie prejudice showing that I think the Cosmic Cube looks a lot sleeker and neater than this contraption!</span><br />
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Doug: I totally agree on those old <i>Adventure Comics</i> tales and trying to remember them. I know I've read that but also could not come up with any plot points. <br />
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Doug: A meeting of the minds, or I should say a battle of the minds begins as the Time Trapper starts his final play. Superboy orders his teammates to combine their thoughts, focusing on the Miracle Machine in an effort to "turn that damn thing back!" Yes, that's right -- Superboy swears. It's about as bad to me as watching him snap Zod's neck -- totally out of character. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlg3dsxP0e2OAq-h_v6r9hQkr3UaBSInj1AkgTIDZc4012x7TBmglQz6MQA9WeIBCLjvIdaRvN9_osGkPkKWt88IFH8Ua_CiO04XDCHA_r11hkKzUkECCcRLBlin6P-eZ5-W8S1joEpTY/s1600/018bf58dcb65c38b3451083627f88593f616c91a1d.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="1447" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlg3dsxP0e2OAq-h_v6r9hQkr3UaBSInj1AkgTIDZc4012x7TBmglQz6MQA9WeIBCLjvIdaRvN9_osGkPkKWt88IFH8Ua_CiO04XDCHA_r11hkKzUkECCcRLBlin6P-eZ5-W8S1joEpTY/s400/018bf58dcb65c38b3451083627f88593f616c91a1d.jpg" width="400" /></a>And in a story that was long but seemed to end all-too-quickly, the Time Trapper is defeated by good thinking, the timestream is restored, and all those not involved in the adventure forget what was going on in the first place. It's almost anti-climactic.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Karen: Good thinking, but not clean thinking, is that what you're getting at? Again, I have to agree, Superboy's cussing seems incongruous (and unnecessary). It's certainly not the most exciting ending: you have the whole Legion of Super-Heroes facing a villain, and do we get to see them exhibiting their amazing powers? Nope. Instead, we get treated to a staring match. Perhaps not the best use of these characters. It does wrap up way too quickly.</span><br />
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Doug: My reservations about the art and ending aside, this book still holds a special place in my heart and in my memory. Few things hearken back to my peak buying years like the treasury-sized books. Megos, too, but for comics the treasuries are such a part of the 1970s. I cannot dislike this book; the story, maybe. But the wraparound cover, the sheer size of the tome, and the extras included after the main tale make this a special keepsake. And although I have a shiny new reprint in the <i>Superboy</i> hardcover, I'm glad I've held on to the original edition. It feels right.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Karen: All of my treasury editions were tossed in the trash (!) when I was a teen as they had become infested by some sort of critters. No lie. They had been on a shelf in the garage and the little buggers had eaten chunks out of the books, so away they went, with a tear or two shed. So it was a pleasure to be able to get this story in this hardcover edition, even if it was in a smaller size. The story may not live up to the memory, but it's got a lot of nostalgia value. And to be honest, I think I enjoyed the 8-page extras feature illustrated by James Sherman, covering all of the Legion members, the Subs, and their HQ and equipment, more than the story! If I could get a poster with those features, I'd jump for joy!</span><br />
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Doug: As a public service to our readers, you can check out those very bios right below this text. Thanks to all for stopping by today, and as was our hope in the past, please leave us a comment about this issue or our review.<br />
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Wait! You're not done yet! Be sure to patronize our three partners today -<br />
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<a href="https://itgblogcast.blogspot.com/2018/05/super-blog-team-up-takeover-bring-on.html"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">I'm the Gun</span></b></span></a><br />
<a href="https://t.co/cvKNwpeaXd"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Chasing Amazing</span></b></span></a><br />
<a href="https://backinthebronzeage.blogspot.com/2018/05/super-blog-team-up-obscure-replacements.html"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Back in the Bronze Age</span></b></span></a><br />
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You won't be sorry you did!<br />
<br />Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-51931779758707580402018-05-23T06:00:00.000-05:002018-05-23T06:00:00.953-05:00Books With Pictures - and Some Without<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Doug: Hello, and thanks for coming around this week. It's good to be back in the blogger's chair, even if only for a few days. When last we met, it was over at <a href="https://backinthebronzeage.blogspot.com/">Back in the Bronze Age</a> when I contributed <a href="http://backinthebronzeage.blogspot.com/2017/05/be-our-guest-writer-it-was-just-my.htmlhttp://backinthebronzeage.blogspot.com/2017/05/be-our-guest-writer-it-was-just-my.html">a post on DC's imaginary stories</a>. That was over a year ago! And other than school work, I've really not written since May 2017. But I've done a heckuva lot of reading, and today I'd like to share some thoughts on the tomes I've consumed over the past 12 or so months.<br />
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A year ago I decided to start keeping track of the books I was reading. Since we quit blogging in November 2016, it really freed up time in the evenings for some leisurely reading. And as I got to forming that habit, I found that I'd missed regular reading - and particularly reading comics. Formerly, the comics I read were always blog-oriented. That's not a bad thing - I think our repository of reviews is a real treasure. But we're talking about me consuming 1-2 comics in a week over the 7+ years the BAB was active. However, that commitment had necessitated (at least, that's the story I'm telling) the acquisition of a massive amount of collected editions. At last count I have over 350 books on my shelves. For most of those books, they sat idle since arriving, waiting for a post idea or review to liberate them from their resting place. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEsNPC6cFH17_bCAyoUR34tjKsmX32vuXHv6qCqegT-zUlLRRuMQS8lcxmVmbXvKzqUUKwBEU8joLXlGb6hs2eyK9qij5aCLZPhk8oqY4Qx-w-HrgyUJMiI0xWwXmfmORKaz44mdVDiY/s1600/61sc5S3JatL._SX375_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_%255B1%255D.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="377" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEsNPC6cFH17_bCAyoUR34tjKsmX32vuXHv6qCqegT-zUlLRRuMQS8lcxmVmbXvKzqUUKwBEU8joLXlGb6hs2eyK9qij5aCLZPhk8oqY4Qx-w-HrgyUJMiI0xWwXmfmORKaz44mdVDiY/s400/61sc5S3JatL._SX375_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_%255B1%255D.jpg" width="301" /></a>Once the blog shuttered, I felt able to crack open all of the books I'd amassed. If an evening goes the way I'd like, I'm on the couch or in the recliner with a tpb or hardcover, keeping an eye on some college sports or the Cubs. On a good night, I'll read 2-3 comics. I'd also add that the fact that our sons have been out of the house over the past few years has contributed to my disposable evening time. So you see how it's possible to rip through the amount of material I've read (see below).<br />
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Karen long ago said that we live in the golden age of reprints. She's not wrong. Just two weeks ago I finished the <a href="https://www.talesofwonder.com/product/88542/BATGIRL-THE-BRONZE-AGE-OMNIBUS-HC-VOL-01/0"><u>Batgirl Bronze Age Omnibus</u></a>, collecting the character's early appearances in <i>Detective Comics</i> and <i>Batman</i>, up through the <i>Batman Family</i> years. Think about that... A 500-page hardcover devoted to mostly 8-10 page back-up stories, and featuring a C-list character. Karen was right!<br />
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You can count the <i>Planet of the Apes</i> B&W magazine strips among material I never expected to read. Thank goodness Boom Studios did what it took to put that mysterious content in my hot little hands. And if you've not seen these archive-like editions, you are missing out. The reproduction is outstanding - heavy stock, the same size as originally published, and wrapped by a sturdy hardcover. I have the first two volumes and intend to buy the next two. And speaking of those "damned, dirty apes", if you're into prose then you might like <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Planet-Apes-Tales-Forbidden-Zone/dp/1785652680">Tales from the Forbidden Zone</a>. Karen and I both read it, and I can guarantee if we'd still been writing, you'd have seen our thoughts on it. Not every short story was a winner, but more often than not there was a smile and some thoughtful reflection before moving on to the next chapter. One story I'd mention specifically involved Taylor and Nova in a "What if Taylor had survived the nuke at the end of <i>Beneath the Planet of the Apes</i>?" Good stuff.<br />
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For our readers who've been with us for a few years, you'll recall that I have done contract work for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's education department. After spending 10 days each July in Washington, DC over the past seven summers, I am somewhat melancholy to report that I am not going back this year. However, my interest in the subject remains high, and you can see across my three reading logs that I've continued with my professional development by reading various selections in Holocaust witness and history. Two books I'd highlight to those interested: if you would be inclined to read a rather raw survivor testimony, told within months of liberation, then <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Five-Chimneys-Woman-Survivors-Auschwitz/dp/0897333764/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1526091664&sr=1-1&keywords=five+chimneys"><u>Five Chimneys</u></a> is excellent. Certainly, it's a tough read, but very compelling throughout. If you want a concise history of some of the nuances of the event and era, then I heartily recommend Peter Hayes's very accessible <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Why-Explaining-Holocaust-Peter-Hayes/dp/0393355462/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1526091864&sr=1-2&keywords=why+explaining+the+holocaust+by+peter+hayes">Why? Explaining the Holocaust</a>.<br />
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<br />I didn't always care for the books I chose. Last summer I decided to give one of Edgar Rice Burroughs' last Tarzan novels a whirl. <u>Tarzan and the Foreign Legion</u> could best be avoided. In addition to Burroughs' formulaic storytelling, the racism that was so prevalent through the World War II era is off putting. I finished it, but can't say I bettered myself for the experience. Richard Wright's <u>Come Together: Lennon & McCartney in the Seventies</u> was OK, but the author's style was a little wonky; often he was repetitive. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HGWPqNpNrmiRNX6CNhHwiRj_FMOkaS7gvvQCYn47bU-UJXHf3JDajk9RnJJLRqH5jQpwWA_zP8e1F0xOwJyM0GlCg1TQIpj6saXg3DgreFhX5bnv3sgHOYpSjDOEUzz_-yUVJE67DRQ/s1600/11320_900x1350%255B1%255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="192" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HGWPqNpNrmiRNX6CNhHwiRj_FMOkaS7gvvQCYn47bU-UJXHf3JDajk9RnJJLRqH5jQpwWA_zP8e1F0xOwJyM0GlCg1TQIpj6saXg3DgreFhX5bnv3sgHOYpSjDOEUzz_-yUVJE67DRQ/s400/11320_900x1350%255B1%255D.jpg" width="263" /></a>If he'd said one more time how much the four Beatles loved each other like brothers, I was going to scream. For funnybooks, I really liked the <u>Essential Man-Thing</u> once Gerber quit toying with the Nexus of Reality. I didn't care for that supernatural/occult stuff... which makes me wax hypocritical, as I absolutely loved the <u>DC Comics Classics Library Roots of the Swamp Thing</u>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-la4YuQqdOrmKfe56GljPEiYiAIU5uIEJypqB4GG9H0ZqQvjy62kEUaQF1WXqyQKiFTSBqjxVRNxPRYUN39hyzwgDYphbRgApxVfkDiFZUgBBW-cUOV90WD22o1udc4Qt30Kwfw2rCc/s1600/51jguAzIDuL._SX329_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_%255B1%255D.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-la4YuQqdOrmKfe56GljPEiYiAIU5uIEJypqB4GG9H0ZqQvjy62kEUaQF1WXqyQKiFTSBqjxVRNxPRYUN39hyzwgDYphbRgApxVfkDiFZUgBBW-cUOV90WD22o1udc4Qt30Kwfw2rCc/s400/51jguAzIDuL._SX329_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_%255B1%255D.jpg" width="265" /></a>I also found volume 2 of the <u>Secret Society of Super-Villains</u> disappointing as compared to my childhood memories. But overall, when you look at the almost-70 books on the lists, there were mostly hits among a few misses.<br />
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Shoot, why not toss you a good, better, best type of list?<br />
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<b>Good</b>: I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the Aquaman trade "Death of a Prince". Outside of <i>Super Friends</i>, I had zero experience with DC's King of Atlantis. So I was interested at my growing enthusiasm as I waded through these Bronze Age reprints from Arthur Curry's days as a back-up feature in <i>Adventure Comics</i>. Solid art from Mike Grell and Jim Aparo, and a nicely done payoff at the end. Recommended.<br />
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<b>Better:</b> <u>Beatles '66</u> by Steve Turner was wonderful. Turner begins his book in December of 1965, and then charts the careers and lives of the Fab Four month-by-month through December 1966. It's tough to say that the book "centers" on any one thing, as the last world tour, the decision to stop touring, increased drug use, the recording of <i>Revolver</i>, and the appearance of Yoko Ono all conspired to make the year of my birth a landmark era for the Beatles. Great book, and I'd read it again.<br />
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<b>Best:</b> I gave no thought to this whatsoever beyond my initial impression. It wasn't even close, or worthy of further consideration. The best thing I've read in the past 12-15 months was the <u>Uncanny X-Men Omnibus</u>, volume 1. The 800+ page heavyweight collects <a href="http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.com/2010/06/giant-size-june-g-s-x-men-1.html"><i>Giant-Size X-Men</i> #1</a>, and <i>X-Men</i> #s <a href="http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.com/2013/01/bab-classic-x-men-ani-men-and-count.html">94</a>-131. Also included is the George Perez-drawn <a href="http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.com/2010/07/george-perez-july-x-men-annual-3.html"><i>X-Men Annual</i> #3</a>. As most of you know, this title just kept picking up steam. Aside from the 2-3 filler issues (the Dreaded Deadline Doom), every issue was pulse pounding and senses shattering. You know what I'm saying!<br />
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As to my coming-up reading list, I've already pulled three hardcovers for immediate consumption: <u>Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams</u>, volume 1, <u>Spider-Man Newspaper Strips</u>, volume 1, and <u>The Inhumans Marvel Masterworks</u>, volume 2. Once school's out in a few days, I'll commence to also wading through a large stack of real books -- I need to finish Rep. John Lewis's (D-GA) memoir <u>Walking with the Wind</u>, and then I have a caboodle of additional Civil Rights books already purchased: <u>The Autobiography of Malcolm X</u>, <u>The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.</u>, and <u>Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson</u>. For lighter fare, my son gave me Tim Kurkjian's (ESPN baseball commentator) book, <u>I'm Fascinated by Sacrifice Flies: Inside the Game We All Love</u> and Keith Richards's autobiography, <u>Life</u>.<br />
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So what are your thoughts? What are you reading presently, or recently? What would you recommend to me, or do you see something we share that you'd pass along to a friend? If you are just happening by this space for the first time ever, you must know that in order to join our Loyal Order of Water Buffalo Lodge a comment must be made and left for all to see. True story. All you veterans -- you know the drill.<br />
<br />Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-55907034881409424832018-05-22T06:00:00.000-05:002018-05-22T06:00:00.319-05:00Life's the Same, I'm Moving in Stereo<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Karen: Aloha, returning BABsters, and any new members of the family. It's been a while, hasn't it? Well, pull up a chair. I won't bore you with too many details about what I've been up to. Mostly, I've gone about my business, kept busy with my day job, had a little fun here and there. Right after we stopped regular production on the blog, I had an article on Captain Marvel (that's the Mar-Vell version) get published in Back Issue 93. You can <a href="http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_54&products_id=1247" target="_blank">check it out here</a> if you're so inclined. That's the last 'real' piece of writing I've finished, alas.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">But don't weep for me, friends, because I've found another outlet for my nerd impulses: podcasting.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHaUJayjDFgN0xmpzYyDP3BQXI27-k0F5Ec1l9RTuMSz4BNnBLJj8_p6V27DBCvFrIX4xdA945voNSaa5ZElEMbS3ZEDdPFk3UwSDBIDqH-IhusYEQloe2pqjEtNZgyY_b6DfPFgVajN1/s1600/KWpodcast+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1230" data-original-width="1600" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHaUJayjDFgN0xmpzYyDP3BQXI27-k0F5Ec1l9RTuMSz4BNnBLJj8_p6V27DBCvFrIX4xdA945voNSaa5ZElEMbS3ZEDdPFk3UwSDBIDqH-IhusYEQloe2pqjEtNZgyY_b6DfPFgVajN1/s400/KWpodcast+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Now this is podcasting!"</td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;">Yep, I've taken my gig from the written word to the spoken, with the help of a couple of friends, my pals Larry and Bob. For a few years now, Larry had expressed interest in doing a podcast, and I'd say, sure, here's what we need to do...and neither of us would get it done! Turns out we needed a catalyst -that was Bob. Bob has a ton of experience in the A/V world, </span><i style="color: blue;">and</i><span style="color: blue;"> he has his own sound board. So when he heard us talking about podcasting he said, "Sign me up!" And we're glad we did!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXL6xwMK-FOH8j7Ogkpgue3bUMEgzbyG7rzLTcL8udxuzqLaEFCTE3PkqrCDTHUxJ500TvPZXaFE875HEutB-L5ISpgvDq9hHWZwtZ6QwEeYZai_JlZfA6Y2LQ9FeTz3tpNf7mm7mJgdgm/s1600/first+recording+session.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXL6xwMK-FOH8j7Ogkpgue3bUMEgzbyG7rzLTcL8udxuzqLaEFCTE3PkqrCDTHUxJ500TvPZXaFE875HEutB-L5ISpgvDq9hHWZwtZ6QwEeYZai_JlZfA6Y2LQ9FeTz3tpNf7mm7mJgdgm/s400/first+recording+session.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mission Commander Larry and Chief Engineer Bob</td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;">The three of us are all super-geeks, with a lot of shared interests, and some more specialized areas of knowledge. We knew we wanted to talk about old and new science fiction, fantasy, and super-hero movies, comics, TV shows, products, and so forth. But we needed a name. No joke, we came up with dozens of names, only to find they were all taken. Finally, we started tossing around ideas based off of sort of 1950s sci-fi, thinking about what if our show was themed around a crew of bored astronauts? Take the favorite number of Larry's fiance (8) and voila! Planet 8 podcast was born.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSYMu151Fu6ZEBjvKqsFMLC7si3rmIUqjRNGS1IaSBxocj6hPHsaWrQfsTROA3NwA5CjW9YRCn3d7uusMakyp5VrzSq0w35dgId4X6FRNBaET-juvvS75hBLv_VY1bFNtLgxx5k9lN8V3/s1600/planet+8+album+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSYMu151Fu6ZEBjvKqsFMLC7si3rmIUqjRNGS1IaSBxocj6hPHsaWrQfsTROA3NwA5CjW9YRCn3d7uusMakyp5VrzSq0w35dgId4X6FRNBaET-juvvS75hBLv_VY1bFNtLgxx5k9lN8V3/s400/planet+8+album+cover.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">The logistics of recording a session are fun: Bob and Larry both live in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I used to live (that's where we all became friends); they meet at Bob's to record their part, and Skype me in from my home in Arizona to join them. It's worked pretty well so far, although we've had to experiment a bit to get everything sounding right. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Our first episode, where we discuss <i>Avengers: Infinity War</i>, is live now and available from our blogsite, <a href="https://planet8podcast.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">https://planet8podcast.blogspot.com/</a>, <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/Planet8cast" target="_blank">feedburner</a>, and also from iTunes. We've recorded another, which should be posted soon, which is all about our desert island picks for movies and TV shows. There are a ton of genre films coming out this summer, and we have plans to look at <i>Solo</i>, <i>Incredibles 2, Jurassic World</i> and of course, <i>Ant-Man and the Wasp</i>. We also have a whole laundry list of topics we want to explore, such as robots, convention experiences, the original Planet of the Apes films, King Kong, and just about any other geeky thing you can think of.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Much as Doug and I hoped to build a community when we established the BAB, we hope that Planet 8 can develop a core group of listeners who will participate in our discussions via our blog, Twitter, and Facebook (there are links on our website). It would be especially great to hear from old BAB regulars. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">And who knows - maybe we can even convince a famous comic blog host from Illinois to appear as a guest on one of our episodes!</span></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-19925192521217603222018-05-21T06:00:00.000-05:002018-05-21T06:00:00.681-05:00We're Back!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Doug: Welcome back to this space! It has been a looooonnnnggg time since we've been together and Karen and I are excited to shepherd our community through a week of new content. In the midst of our time together we will be honored to present our entry in the coming 2-part Super Blog Team-Up. Here's a preview of the week ahead -<br />
<ul>
<li>Tuesday: Catching up with Karen </li>
<li>Wednesday: What's Doug been reading?</li>
<li>Thursday: Super Blog Team-Up! Former BAB staff writers Martinex1 and Redartz will also be participating over at their place, <a href="http://backinthebronzeage.blogspot.com/">Back in the Bronze Age</a>.</li>
<li>Friday: Sharing thoughts on the recent spate of Marvel Cinematic Universe flicks</li>
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After that we'll again be on hiatus until part two of this summer's SBTU event. Join us back here on July 19th!<br />
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Doug: Although the focus of this blog (and at times of the partnership between Karen and I) has largely shifted to the Twitterverse (we've added over 1700 followers since closing shop here), the spirit of the BAB remains across the interwebs. We regularly discuss Bronze Age/pop culture issues, tweet out cool artwork, and hopefully keep our work here alive by sharing links to material throughout our archive. <br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Karen: You've done a fantastic job on Twitter - I sort of see it as a metamorphosis! While you draw on the blog for some tweets, there's a lot of fresh material too. It all works to keep that community aspect of BAB alive, which was our original goal.</span><br />
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Doug: We hope you'll find this to be a reunion of sorts, with most of the old gang re-assembling for a little LCS-on-a-Wednesday conversation. I don't know how different I am from when I left you 19 months ago - I can report that our youngest son will be married two weeks from now, and in preparation for looking good as the mother and father of the groom my wife and I have each taken off some serious weight. Other than that, I think you'll find me the same guy you knew before!<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Karen: That's impressive, but I don't think we'll have any problems recognizing you, pal. As for me, I feel like a lot of things in my orbit have changed, but for the most part, the basics of life remain the same. Although I have a new activity that I'll talk about on Tuesday that I hope all of you may also participate in. I won't say any more than that.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJrDISEBBAz5aRatokZ41zldglfmh9yW15mAyA69xsf1K_XqJ9UGyu9Zno3VMqL687cp5JYUyGB5YJv_KZsC4pylZ8wvkGuQb9pL_iC2ct8ly2nL7OvW-OEL_hrt9kwAnKfXpbLHQ9Xw/s1600/mt02_fantasticfour%255B1%255D.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="373" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJrDISEBBAz5aRatokZ41zldglfmh9yW15mAyA69xsf1K_XqJ9UGyu9Zno3VMqL687cp5JYUyGB5YJv_KZsC4pylZ8wvkGuQb9pL_iC2ct8ly2nL7OvW-OEL_hrt9kwAnKfXpbLHQ9Xw/s320/mt02_fantasticfour%255B1%255D.gif" width="236" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCcFfT3xWHJLhWd0tUxHCIwTEAsKzaGkSXvK0CFMoh4W-4lS8PbN70tqj5TpiwVvY3GXQGW8fTVeRq40_EBXIAiC3e-_iv-S9FJDbZji5rk-VIMwfdChyHMWs9dJ3u-U7DdZcDrFvxO8/s1600/Cassette%255B1%255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="340" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCcFfT3xWHJLhWd0tUxHCIwTEAsKzaGkSXvK0CFMoh4W-4lS8PbN70tqj5TpiwVvY3GXQGW8fTVeRq40_EBXIAiC3e-_iv-S9FJDbZji5rk-VIMwfdChyHMWs9dJ3u-U7DdZcDrFvxO8/s200/Cassette%255B1%255D.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDdyZKCF6eomXzyLCzXo72um4LDQ2yfh7bs8sjCWMAnLpZopumXhCyDt9UVmiQQTVHZp7Qtk_xSbo5Pjk7ffc3RPfbxluZ_-2lWXtPM8TYEC_KGM0VM88TpSdxLO0nUzofxHyiJjJ8r4/s1600/star-trek-mego-spock-card-front%255B1%255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="572" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDdyZKCF6eomXzyLCzXo72um4LDQ2yfh7bs8sjCWMAnLpZopumXhCyDt9UVmiQQTVHZp7Qtk_xSbo5Pjk7ffc3RPfbxluZ_-2lWXtPM8TYEC_KGM0VM88TpSdxLO0nUzofxHyiJjJ8r4/s320/star-trek-mego-spock-card-front%255B1%255D.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCcFfT3xWHJLhWd0tUxHCIwTEAsKzaGkSXvK0CFMoh4W-4lS8PbN70tqj5TpiwVvY3GXQGW8fTVeRq40_EBXIAiC3e-_iv-S9FJDbZji5rk-VIMwfdChyHMWs9dJ3u-U7DdZcDrFvxO8/s1600/Cassette%255B1%255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJrDISEBBAz5aRatokZ41zldglfmh9yW15mAyA69xsf1K_XqJ9UGyu9Zno3VMqL687cp5JYUyGB5YJv_KZsC4pylZ8wvkGuQb9pL_iC2ct8ly2nL7OvW-OEL_hrt9kwAnKfXpbLHQ9Xw/s1600/mt02_fantasticfour%255B1%255D.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCcFfT3xWHJLhWd0tUxHCIwTEAsKzaGkSXvK0CFMoh4W-4lS8PbN70tqj5TpiwVvY3GXQGW8fTVeRq40_EBXIAiC3e-_iv-S9FJDbZji5rk-VIMwfdChyHMWs9dJ3u-U7DdZcDrFvxO8/s1600/Cassette%255B1%255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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Doug: So enough about us (although more to follow in the next two days). What's everyone else been up to?</div>
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<br />Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-56602918536259443782018-04-06T11:59:00.000-05:002018-04-13T10:49:49.413-05:00Soon... for a Limited Engagement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Watch this space in May (specifically, the week of 5/21-25/2018), as Karen and Doug return for a few days of new content surrounding the upcoming SuperBlog Team-Up. We're excited to be "back", if only for a short time. </div>
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<br />Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-8126433069735111392016-11-03T06:00:00.000-05:002016-11-03T06:00:00.175-05:00When It's Not "Continued Next Issue"...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Bronze Age Babies blog is suspended indefinitely. We invite you to use the various navigation tools under the masthead and on the sidebar to find your way to over <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">22</span>00 posts, almost 700 of which are reviews of comic books, films, books, etc.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Karen and Doug thank you for stopping by and welcome comments on any of our posts. We will be notified of your comment, so feel free to continue any conversations that grab your interest.</span></span></span><br />
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Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-5593136135174836052016-11-02T06:00:00.000-05:002017-03-24T20:42:30.757-05:00It Was Yesterday Once More<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqG-YSOAwsjUtuyP83H8TLq59tgnk02hz1ZCB5vSToyT2j8fd3AdAOn0hLDmijPpoIDQTIKQcHJ0TBNYILv-BsfzSKxFk5Ym6yB_a9eJRvqWWTOwkOGpj_edKPEEJEN6LmWkFfOG-XjGc/s1600/Bronze+Age+Babies1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqG-YSOAwsjUtuyP83H8TLq59tgnk02hz1ZCB5vSToyT2j8fd3AdAOn0hLDmijPpoIDQTIKQcHJ0TBNYILv-BsfzSKxFk5Ym6yB_a9eJRvqWWTOwkOGpj_edKPEEJEN6LmWkFfOG-XjGc/s640/Bronze+Age+Babies1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first Bronze Age Babies masthead, c. June 2009</td></tr>
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Doug: Karen started it. She did. In 2007 I am almost positive I'd never read a blog. Oh, sure -- I knew what a blog was. But I don't think I'd ever read one. She twisted my arm, though, and along with a third partner we embarked on the "Two Girls, a Guy, and Some Comics" site. Around 18 months later we landed here in this little corner of the Internet, where it's been childhood and teenage memories every day since. Here's what we said on June 16, 2009:<br />
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<a href="http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.com/2009/06/welcome-youve-come-across-blog-that-we.html">Welcome!</a>
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You've come across a blog that we hope will be a lot of fun.<br />
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<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.megomuseum.com/pota/images/2Ursus2.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.megomuseum.com/pota/images/2Ursus2.JPG" style="float: left; height: 266px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 289px;" /></a>Your
hosts are Doug, a high school social science teacher based in the
Midwest, and Karen, a research scientist based in the Southwest. We're
about the same age, and despite our lack of geographic proximity, had
some similar interests and experiences growing up throughout the
1970's-1980's. Lyndon Johnson was president when we were born, and
Ronald Reagan was about to leave the White House (make whatever joke you
feel is necessary right here!) when we were wrapping up college.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkC2Ya9yyWpqZgE3ZFd9F31NkNTH4ob6QZKE3mDp080POLxksTLK6Xjj_K-ICF1zW0jJAYdJsqabG4HcY_EXZHS2vHsXId0iNFg2LfrHNIDqaJvCZhH77CC6O_MJdlB6YRgFgcac-rBf0/s1600/Rock_and_roll_over_cover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkC2Ya9yyWpqZgE3ZFd9F31NkNTH4ob6QZKE3mDp080POLxksTLK6Xjj_K-ICF1zW0jJAYdJsqabG4HcY_EXZHS2vHsXId0iNFg2LfrHNIDqaJvCZhH77CC6O_MJdlB6YRgFgcac-rBf0/s1600/Rock_and_roll_over_cover.jpg" /></a>You'll
see discussions of all things pop-culture. One week we might take a
look at a film of the era (like Planet of the Apes or Logan's Run), another
week it might be a review of a comic book story (Amazing Spider-Man #'s
121-122 -- the deaths of Gwen Stacy and of the original Green Goblin).<br />
<br />
We'll tell you what music we were listening to at a given period of our childhood, and what toys we were playing with.<br />
<br />
So stop by from time-to-time, and be sure to leave a comment or reminiscence of your own.</div>
</blockquote>
<div align="left">
<blockquote>
Doug and Karen</blockquote>
</div>
<br />
<br />
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Doug: That was the only post we published that June. In July, we ran five.<br />
<br />
Doug: In the succeeding 7 1/2 years we've published almost 2300 posts, 679 of which were reviews; we've also sent out almost 13,000 tweets. There have been 3.7 million pageviews on our blog (Holy cow!). And
some of you have been alongside us almost every step (and occasional misstep)
of the way. Today, for the foreseeable future, the Bronze Age Babies goes into
hibernation.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Karen: This isn't an easy decision for either Doug
or me. The BAB, as we've come to call it, has been a consistent part of our
lives, and we truly value the community that has been created here. It's become
much greater than anything we could have imagined or hoped for back in
2009, and we want to thank you all for contributing to it. Reading
your comments and engaging with you, getting to know everyone -well, it's just
been terrific. But a lot has changed over the years, and we're both at a
point now where we have too many other demands on our time to continue the BAB
with the care it deserves.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Karen: Personally, I want to say thank you for
listening, as I've discussed all the geeky things I love, and for
making me feel welcome. As a woman, and a girl growing up loving comics,
monsters, and science fiction, this has not always been the case. So thank you from
the bottom of my heart for treating me like "one of the guys" and
either nodding along with me, or telling me when you thought I was full of BS,
but always doing it in the spirit of good-humor and respect! It means a lot to
me. I hope as I manage to come out from under what is currently an oppressive
work load, I'll have more time to roam the various comics blogs and I'll
see some of you out there. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Doug: Karen said "</span><span style="color: blue;">to continue the BAB with the care it deserves</span><span style="color: black;">". To some extent this blog has become like a child;
certainly a member of the family. It's been in need of more care than we've
been able to give it on our own, so we certainly don't want to leave this space
today without a grateful nod to all those who've contributed as guest writers
and guest reviewers over the past couple years. And even before that it was so
helpful to us when our friends and readers left us recommendations in the <a href="http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.com/2011/01/suggestion-box.html">Suggestion
Box</a> or during one of our requests for creativity. That was more valuable
than you could imagine. But to Redartz and Martinex1 -- you guys were willing
to come aboard as "staff writers" (you know Karen and I felt like big
shots when we expanded this operation!) and truly take days of posting off our
plates. Your presence as regular contributors added new life to the BAB, taking
us into conversations that were uniquely your own. We have all been better for
it. Thanks so much. And one more shout-out to Dr. Oyola for the professional-looking mastheads we've used over the past three years or so. He did good work, didn't he? Above and below are samples of what I used to cobble together with PowerPoint.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYa_uOtWZDFfRwMmkAX2p3TXDiQd5rMNdK2IGphoo-UodGkoKWh77NfikBujj-H0Cl2pzc4_my4W64V_epGS8-Fmlwnhn9DtYuOgn0VG9IdaaBCNDAFlfsOMSExBJCQZl56B8AN3SHIfI/s1600/CapMasthead.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYa_uOtWZDFfRwMmkAX2p3TXDiQd5rMNdK2IGphoo-UodGkoKWh77NfikBujj-H0Cl2pzc4_my4W64V_epGS8-Fmlwnhn9DtYuOgn0VG9IdaaBCNDAFlfsOMSExBJCQZl56B8AN3SHIfI/s640/CapMasthead.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<br />
Doug: So what's ahead for me? I am going to read some comics without the
mindset of writing about them and scanning from them, that's what I am going to
do: just read. I had placed the graphic novel <u>March</u> on the sidebar as an
upcoming review topic. I finished reading the third and final volume the
morning of October 22nd. While you won't see any extensive thoughts from me
here, I will just say "<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/02/books/for-younger-readers-march-revisits-civil-rights-movement-in-visual-detail.html?_r=0"><span style="color: windowtext;">read it</span></a>" -- in these turbulent
political times, every American should; indeed, there is meaning for every
human being regardless of race, creed, color, or national origin. I tweeted to
Representative John Lewis (D-GA), the author of <u>March</u>, and told him that
he is an American hero. I got a response, and I treasure that.<br />
<br />
Doug: But I am going to miss the conversations about comics. You all
have been my "regulars" at the comic shop on a Wednesday new-arrival
day. The community we sought when we began is a real thing in my life now --
you should know that you've left over 36,000 comments on this blog. That will
be missed -- those days when some among you came back again and again to keep a conversation rolling... those were special times. You have come here over the years not to show off your knowledge
or to argue; the opportunity for reflection of a shared experience will become
a void for me, I know. So I will need to create a presence of my own on other
blogs that do something similar to what we have done here -- perhaps among our <a href="http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.com/search/label/Super%20Blog%20Team-Up">Super Blog Team Up</a> partners. And down the line?
I've for years fancied a blog dedicated to comic books with art by John
Buscema. Maybe someday...<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Karen: I can echo Doug and say I will miss the
conversations. Already, as I write this days before you all read it, I feel a great
swell of emotion, knowing that I will no longer get up each morning and
(because of the time difference) see your comments in my inbox. And even if I
was too busy to participate in a discussion, I still was happy to know that the
BAB was providing a few minutes of fun for you all. I know that you'll find new
places to go - perhaps even hosted by a few stalwarts we know?? - but
being able to help create this space is something I'm proud of. If I ever
manage to get some spare time again, I might wind up blogging, but it might be
about more free-ranging topics. I may have said all I have to say about comics.
I mean, it's been 7+ years!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Karen: Before I lock up my desk and turn off the light, I want to give props to my partner. He has worked so hard on this blog, really taking on the
role of publisher, and adding so much extra, like the Twitter feed, to create
something special. I may have started us blogging, but Doug has been the
driving force behind BAB for years. On top of that, he's just a flat-out good
person, as I'm sure you've all gathered. There's no way we could have gone so
long, done so many reviews together, without his hard work and good will. So
cheers partner.</span><br />
<br />
Doug: Stop it⊠youâre making me misty. Karen has also been a rock, even in
those times when life threw her a few curveballs. She has stretched me as a
writer (shoot, partnering with an author whose thoughts run in <i>Back Issue</i>? Give
me a breakâŠ), and as Iâve said many times, I have read so many comics because
of the BAB. I always appreciated the days when her posts ran, as her passion
for topics on which I am not well-versed shined loud and clear. We've made a great
team. And who knows? Maybe we arenât finished talking comics. We have agreed to
reach out to each other whenever we find a Bronze Age nugget worth discussing.
But when that happens, those conversations will occur via email.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Doug: And to this day, believe it or not, the
Bronze Age Babies have never spoken to each other.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Thanks for reading!</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">EPILOGUE: As Karen alluded above, our readers will have an alternative space to check out. Beginning tomorrow, November 3, 2016, Martinex1 and Redartz will be hosting a new blog. Please patronize them and leave them a comment at their new address, <a href="http://backinthebronzeage.blogspot.com/">Back in the Bronze Age...</a> You won't be disappointed, as we've already seen previews of several of their ideas. It is going to be fun!</span></span><br />
<br />Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.com68tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-46634213799917023072016-11-01T06:00:00.000-05:002016-11-01T06:00:01.233-05:00We're Lost in a Masquerade<br />
Doug: Just too much of a good thing...<br />
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<br />Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-89117913989132638922016-10-31T06:00:00.000-05:002016-10-31T06:00:00.189-05:00If I Had A Buck... A Grave Concern!<span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUV163rm1V_yBLKZ-aWKeFlS5QAjLu43Cr1otUMDkDGwBgsQru8U1go9TpfyMwgIK0J7RYvqBr2L3f4ASRCmqQb0kgworTjGm09mSc-7bgOWlgZAop1xgieeIao_Pv0cANEhGmM4F4FHQ/s1600/dollar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUV163rm1V_yBLKZ-aWKeFlS5QAjLu43Cr1otUMDkDGwBgsQru8U1go9TpfyMwgIK0J7RYvqBr2L3f4ASRCmqQb0kgworTjGm09mSc-7bgOWlgZAop1xgieeIao_Pv0cANEhGmM4F4FHQ/s200/dollar.jpg" width="200" /></a></span><span style="color: #741b47;">Martinex1: It's the time of year for frightening thrills and morbid chills! Happy Halloween BABsters!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">This round of our $1 Challenge focuses on the rather common cover theme of heroes in the cemetery. Considering that super-heroes never stay dead, they sure spend a lot of time at the grave sites. For the Batman and Daredevil, it may seem like a more natural locale, while other covers may be more surprising. Needless to say, both DC and Marvel seem to favor the setting.</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #741b47;"> So it is time to pay the ferryman - four quarters for four comics and safe passage. Are these offerings tricks or treats? Which do you think are the best? Did you read any of the stories and did they live up to the dramatic covers? Make your selections, share your choices and your greatest fears! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span>Martinex1http://www.blogger.com/profile/15772734018573677099noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-79248425574984081072016-10-30T06:00:00.000-05:002016-10-30T06:00:01.498-05:00Night of the Laughing Dead: Man-Thing 5 and 6<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinc8NUpLS7dqm6ZeH9JmIfk4pCN6N_AdYAdSM8e3h1eyTdiw_LrVhTNSkwYs9mbqEQtUsxwq_i6auTHu60z6I__xcCd09eR1k0aaJJMpelpRFcAgcnJIy9wtVxtI477Hv0HrO-HwTo9k5r/s1600/coverhitstwo0003.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinc8NUpLS7dqm6ZeH9JmIfk4pCN6N_AdYAdSM8e3h1eyTdiw_LrVhTNSkwYs9mbqEQtUsxwq_i6auTHu60z6I__xcCd09eR1k0aaJJMpelpRFcAgcnJIy9wtVxtI477Hv0HrO-HwTo9k5r/s400/coverhitstwo0003.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Man-Thing #5</i> (May 1974)<br />
"Night of the Laughing Dead"<br />
Steve Gerber- Mike Ploog / Frank Chiaramonte <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8bYZZN-7OWNoMPJf8Y7Ac4ZVtHoi2e_Eew6u9fMWHfGwppE2_t-r5Kfc8kKodXpip8zzu8kOw5A-i8Y9MQS0I-6aZC3jQeq5rRvDHlToZe-f4wCuJWqpGb8Zv1WpSv8z8iVDL9ULA5Q_/s1600/manthing6.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8bYZZN-7OWNoMPJf8Y7Ac4ZVtHoi2e_Eew6u9fMWHfGwppE2_t-r5Kfc8kKodXpip8zzu8kOw5A-i8Y9MQS0I-6aZC3jQeq5rRvDHlToZe-f4wCuJWqpGb8Zv1WpSv8z8iVDL9ULA5Q_/s400/manthing6.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Man-Thing #6</i> (June 1974)<br />
"And When I Died"<br />
Steve Gerber- Mike Ploog / Frank Chiaramonte <br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Red</span>artz: Good day, fright fans! In honor of the upcoming Halloween Holiday, today we will revisit an excellent 2-parter featuring Marvel's own denizen of the dismal swamps, the Man-Thing. Issue 5 was the first 'monster' book I ever bought (truth be told, at the time I only bought it for the Marvel Value Stamp- yes, they led this fan to spend extra quarters on unfamiliar comics). Upon reading this issue, and the subsequent one with the story's conclusion, I was hooked on ol' Manny, and followed his book for years... </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">As our story opens, we see a pretty downcast clown, Darrell, who proceeds to 'take the last train out'. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8iXuQu3nqaARFDN5jAeRyS5Y9kbZFX4fg5G_6SEWGd4qriShuV8OOLtWh2tNfzD8IfWJpXlrFcsgJME5F4sCLgB38Nw-OmDpSZBDKB33BB2GB5f7mVtRbp-pqovc589-DBmugPNUVAd0/s1600/babmanthing50002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8iXuQu3nqaARFDN5jAeRyS5Y9kbZFX4fg5G_6SEWGd4qriShuV8OOLtWh2tNfzD8IfWJpXlrFcsgJME5F4sCLgB38Nw-OmDpSZBDKB33BB2GB5f7mVtRbp-pqovc589-DBmugPNUVAd0/s320/babmanthing50002.jpg" width="222" /></a><span style="color: #38761d;">The Man-Thing is attracted by the sound of the gunshot, and soon stumbles upon the tragic scene...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Prodded by vague memories of 'funerals', Man-Thing carries off the body. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfNRcZjUKIj8LU2iCF5zPid7j_Fj-1EQ_jb6utwOJTGNkYAhrKIIKXPS21Q7BpKAi3hfq5ma5AfCxNIPNk2NSyZq5FX1CL27bid8tA3EXUescQ6OJdnYnUPYTXJn_AbG2jg7PEvzBful1/s1600/babmanthing50004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfNRcZjUKIj8LU2iCF5zPid7j_Fj-1EQ_jb6utwOJTGNkYAhrKIIKXPS21Q7BpKAi3hfq5ma5AfCxNIPNk2NSyZq5FX1CL27bid8tA3EXUescQ6OJdnYnUPYTXJn_AbG2jg7PEvzBful1/s320/babmanthing50004.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpy_X0Vbe6w9_i92x-BARh-jNjwoRXzAKy2GFXbJmjMp0ookjgzcHZfafg-jOJiz86NkwOM9xb8iUf4VI5PE_S6yzLVGjCURIlm1F-1vOA8IOkHxBDFy7IbqMCZVUh-2yR03tUyIaeFHeU/s1600/babmanthing50005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpy_X0Vbe6w9_i92x-BARh-jNjwoRXzAKy2GFXbJmjMp0ookjgzcHZfafg-jOJiz86NkwOM9xb8iUf4VI5PE_S6yzLVGjCURIlm1F-1vOA8IOkHxBDFy7IbqMCZVUh-2yR03tUyIaeFHeU/s320/babmanthing50005.jpg" width="215" /></a><span style="color: #38761d;">Meanwhile, Manny's friend Richard Rory and his companion Ruth Hart encounter Ayla, Darrell's love and fellow circus performer, along with Tragg (the strongman) and Garvey, the rather unsavory owner. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnUy9Hr0uJhs7ed5V2iGouibvb3HZ9s4C_pDxGF3R_qOSSNt3FzvelfQ8kiexLp6Qceuz-bgyUal9O8lUNfp_Rp16c0Spx5URcuP4MChygVIrNWste2mDsrwtxGxoEB3RgLvgr6AfCvyv/s1600/babmanthing50008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnUy9Hr0uJhs7ed5V2iGouibvb3HZ9s4C_pDxGF3R_qOSSNt3FzvelfQ8kiexLp6Qceuz-bgyUal9O8lUNfp_Rp16c0Spx5URcuP4MChygVIrNWste2mDsrwtxGxoEB3RgLvgr6AfCvyv/s320/babmanthing50008.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19CglylSE1kEDi_e00O9T_A_g42byl52dUX4My4FEGF38abYMEDLHXmPotLPxsFTBTmXkPqEMh3min7odDpgrWWnuXdrkHUs0dLh_NeJfJAp5NG1AQrYbmXMrOxw35OiO0jK30CMu0_jV/s1600/babmanthing50010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19CglylSE1kEDi_e00O9T_A_g42byl52dUX4My4FEGF38abYMEDLHXmPotLPxsFTBTmXkPqEMh3min7odDpgrWWnuXdrkHUs0dLh_NeJfJAp5NG1AQrYbmXMrOxw35OiO0jK30CMu0_jV/s320/babmanthing50010.jpg" width="217" /></a><span style="color: #38761d;">Ayla flees the circus, along with Richard and Ruth. We learn that Darrell was devastated, mistakenly thinking Ayla had deceived him with Garvey. Ayla, fearful for Darrell' well-being, drags Richard and Ruth into the swamp , only to find his body being carried by the Man-Thing. Meanwhile, Garvey and his thug Tragg have followed them all. Unfortunately, they wreck their truck after swerving to avoid what they thought was Darrell, dancing in the roadway. Garvey and Tragg follow the 'clown' and find the group gathered around Darrell's body. When Tragg tries to lay into the clown, Richard intervenes, and gets clobbered for it. Man-Thing goes to defend his friend, and as he and Tragg trade slime, something distracts everyone:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">At this point, Darrell's spirit rises from his body, and informs the group that they will all be actors, portraying the characters in Darrell's past life. The performance will be judged by the "critics", who will then decide Darrell's soul's ultimate fate.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hyphenhyphenM4tV_fbyp7rICNFuomMrx_V52urac1j0yh3Mz4xGGn7RyK7Dgi_RZ3GagLFWMh2-B_o57wYzQ2AEARLx3uTdH4GgcdIlf4Ea0oX7gx0GtA7_2rF27D7tvdK9OvXH6O64sPy_rb_Thj/s1600/20160919_121122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hyphenhyphenM4tV_fbyp7rICNFuomMrx_V52urac1j0yh3Mz4xGGn7RyK7Dgi_RZ3GagLFWMh2-B_o57wYzQ2AEARLx3uTdH4GgcdIlf4Ea0oX7gx0GtA7_2rF27D7tvdK9OvXH6O64sPy_rb_Thj/s320/20160919_121122.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-stZumyvA2OJQiaAdYQpIvxUsfx7vPTt8Bl85AwaYZBxwEuQIoVRb5N31c2LGaaxqlxXn1t-z01mB18a0xehl8dWRE0IXRn8JMafpTdSb0uGvgVin1kPioIaA1Ka1kwLguH-JMi7hlwKA/s1600/babmanthing60003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-stZumyvA2OJQiaAdYQpIvxUsfx7vPTt8Bl85AwaYZBxwEuQIoVRb5N31c2LGaaxqlxXn1t-z01mB18a0xehl8dWRE0IXRn8JMafpTdSb0uGvgVin1kPioIaA1Ka1kwLguH-JMi7hlwKA/s320/babmanthing60003.jpg" width="217" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIel059ejQeCidlzMB2dHcM6Q1BSCBBvpETTTARU4fKxzSg5Like-Q_C0G_zZYpEK36patFF65faQTtj2tMJRLg0CJl6amkfB_IyoZMTqLuwZGwSmohG51K-8VDkGABkJ7wvSQcMKv89Q/s1600/babmanthing60001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIel059ejQeCidlzMB2dHcM6Q1BSCBBvpETTTARU4fKxzSg5Like-Q_C0G_zZYpEK36patFF65faQTtj2tMJRLg0CJl6amkfB_IyoZMTqLuwZGwSmohG51K-8VDkGABkJ7wvSQcMKv89Q/s320/babmanthing60001.jpg" width="220" /></a><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">The spectral clown transforms the cast , Man-Thing portraying Darrell's 'inner demon'. Appropriately, as Man-Thing senses emotion, as opposed to understanding words, and can 'feel' Darrell's conflicts. The Spectral Darrell then directs scenes from his past, from boyhood through teenhood, and into adulthood. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQf6cr9utXGrUWat3EAVUUSmqPc2Sk4gryQttr3NdKAEiN1fnvV6dCEFw3iDZCfLhY3hOunPo1wG_hwN5S3oWee9gB5xdQrddFzzgsKd-CVvhRKy8VuaSx2In862-7anWAZ7GyyxaVT1JN/s1600/babmanthing60011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQf6cr9utXGrUWat3EAVUUSmqPc2Sk4gryQttr3NdKAEiN1fnvV6dCEFw3iDZCfLhY3hOunPo1wG_hwN5S3oWee9gB5xdQrddFzzgsKd-CVvhRKy8VuaSx2In862-7anWAZ7GyyxaVT1JN/s320/babmanthing60011.jpg" width="211" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJtm-xJu4mAEjJ3zPyPzjSoSbLxSqubxevGPvHq42fVbv4dWrgXfYIVuhMSAJhYnYFrwUnS_RoDZeJQdZWKgGG5UR7FsUOWgEcVz6l2qe2cpe2H2W-llaExg49c0rT7Nz8WePazmLVSgs/s1600/babmanthing60007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJtm-xJu4mAEjJ3zPyPzjSoSbLxSqubxevGPvHq42fVbv4dWrgXfYIVuhMSAJhYnYFrwUnS_RoDZeJQdZWKgGG5UR7FsUOWgEcVz6l2qe2cpe2H2W-llaExg49c0rT7Nz8WePazmLVSgs/s320/babmanthing60007.jpg" width="216" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHe_kKVGYdsjKg1ERVHNvKVQQ2hVhfUvbPiZplduM9i7Yi5nffvVpifc7fBX3WfnAtdLsRfzJAN2UiRQKOqJrlERlyOVdll9JNNTgS-5HuM_LoBz3qfjLBLrANpueUKE8cX2HYw2w0vR4z/s1600/babmanthing60009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHe_kKVGYdsjKg1ERVHNvKVQQ2hVhfUvbPiZplduM9i7Yi5nffvVpifc7fBX3WfnAtdLsRfzJAN2UiRQKOqJrlERlyOVdll9JNNTgS-5HuM_LoBz3qfjLBLrANpueUKE8cX2HYw2w0vR4z/s320/babmanthing60009.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"> The reasons for Darrell's deep depression becomes apparent to everyone. However, the 'critics' decide he failed to justify his suicide and prepare to discard his soul. These 'critics' are revealed as</span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #38761d;"> representatives of Heaven, Hell and Purgatory.</span> At this point Man-Thing intervenes (empathetically defending Darrell and his soul), and battle ensues. But Ayla ceases the clamor with her plea for Darrell, and the 'critics' are finally convinced. And Darrell's corpse smiles.... </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxC3FPZW7gjW8GYcmgisDwdBYvFPWbOrMd6nccERGuYzV1P2-D6bW87lDFBNc7HwVBSTR9a4_tNDlB1PRx6yWZhRCPl9UADBDIwW6o3a7wDVmg_u2tI01QCT9l45kE0WT7HxPcjlUIc_e2/s1600/babmanthing60016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxC3FPZW7gjW8GYcmgisDwdBYvFPWbOrMd6nccERGuYzV1P2-D6bW87lDFBNc7HwVBSTR9a4_tNDlB1PRx6yWZhRCPl9UADBDIwW6o3a7wDVmg_u2tI01QCT9l45kE0WT7HxPcjlUIc_e2/s320/babmanthing60016.jpg" width="215" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVga2ZSqMdOea3YqykSa9GEJRBdDsxqKflWCmNmHtRc2-4CcOQWip-cxxaZIXKxe1tFoRJwQvRsrdK_GmIMBRawwHS-S6MCajC85F6zajwE1j3WUxmVSTm3BNeJWkJ_N9YRSclyPF100Z/s1600/babmanthing60012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVga2ZSqMdOea3YqykSa9GEJRBdDsxqKflWCmNmHtRc2-4CcOQWip-cxxaZIXKxe1tFoRJwQvRsrdK_GmIMBRawwHS-S6MCajC85F6zajwE1j3WUxmVSTm3BNeJWkJ_N9YRSclyPF100Z/s320/babmanthing60012.jpg" width="215" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Fxh7A9wHRvhA-Zxl3h4PgUCS7MqjZLZ4iOKtuIWXmnAMI5t07cClTI5BS3qZWxR9_nPAFvF6JiGlLiDLiUG1ofrmReszlH1FPT6uc9cVfNQHfokfRk-CZ6nCwvAYc4qFl4o6ZvngTWcX/s1600/babmanthing60014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Fxh7A9wHRvhA-Zxl3h4PgUCS7MqjZLZ4iOKtuIWXmnAMI5t07cClTI5BS3qZWxR9_nPAFvF6JiGlLiDLiUG1ofrmReszlH1FPT6uc9cVfNQHfokfRk-CZ6nCwvAYc4qFl4o6ZvngTWcX/s320/babmanthing60014.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakmQKRwNlCPNZ2BhypG0d184GPiznsCto7ysjmicR2blCDhWKcwkCTkotqJ7oUyCMbk6uc25n295G6Vm5OecfJAoYHuQOFbcLTBCDVBNAGB9fSJe-5pQ9MRhyphenhyphenLLTgDyUOraWpIOI7kcJW/s1600/babmanthing6a0028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakmQKRwNlCPNZ2BhypG0d184GPiznsCto7ysjmicR2blCDhWKcwkCTkotqJ7oUyCMbk6uc25n295G6Vm5OecfJAoYHuQOFbcLTBCDVBNAGB9fSJe-5pQ9MRhyphenhyphenLLTgDyUOraWpIOI7kcJW/s400/babmanthing6a0028.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Steve Gerber (one of my favorite Bronze age storytellers) approaches this title almost like an anthology series, with each story revolving around the supporting cast (primarily Richard Rory and Ruth Hart) and the particular new characters introduced for that specific tale. The Man-Thing himself often (but certainly not always) acts as a metaphor for justice, perhaps, or fate, or as a 'deux et machina'. In this story, he (literally) acts as Darrell's inner demon, and at story's end takes action to defend the soul he had shared.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">The first half of the story, in issue 5, is mainly down -to- swampy earth creepy fare, introducing the colorful cast of circus members and following their conflict with and pursuit of the unfortunate Darrell. Incidentally, when I first read this at age 13, it seemed pretty intense- suicide being such a central element of this comic book story. Gerber excels at portraying conflicted, unorthodox, even convoluted characters. Many such characters are found in his Defenders and Howard the Duck books, often with a lighter (or more fantastic, anyway) tone. But in this story these characters are 'regular people' (ghost clowns being excepted, of course), and their turmoils seem deadly serious. When the Headmen face the Defenders, there is a distinct humorous touch. Conversely, when Tragg gut-punches Rory, it's no laughing matter. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">The second half of the story (issue 6) has a very different tone. Much of the issue is taken up by the mystical performance of Darrell's life by the transmogrified cast, and by the final battle with the emissaries of heaven, hell and purgatory. We aren't told how those transformations are done- it's just accepted as part of the spiritual events of the story. Just as we accept Darrell's spirit rising from the corpse, and we accept the appearance of the denizens of the Afterlife. The whole ghostly performance is a chance for Gerber to explore some issues of Troubled Youth (something he dealt with often). The two halves of the story complement each other nicely, balancing the earthly with the spiritual. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">As for the artwork: in a word, perfect. Mike Ploog gives an almost cartoony look to the scenery and cast, just ideal for depicting Gerber's slightly off-kilter world. His Man-Thing is terrific, his Tragg suitably thuggish. And his spectral clown Darrell is beautifully creepy. Frank Chiaramonte's inks work well. Not overpowering, letting Ploog's pencils shine, and also providing some nice use of blacks and shadow. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Additionally, a point should be made about Ploog's renditions of people in general. His men and women look like 'ordinary folks', as opposed to appearing as eye-pleasing models rendered by, say, a John Romita. Ploog's characters have wrinkles, sags, flaws. All the better to make them more identifiable and sympathetic to the reader, especially when placed in some pretty far-out situations such as Gerber creates. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">This little two-parter made me a Man-Thing reader for good. "Man-Thing" is, in a way, like Spider-Man: the supporting cast is as important as the main character. Richard Rory is one of those 'likeable losers', and his friendship with Manny is both heartwarming and quite odd. Those odd elements abounded in Gerber's books, and some worked better than others. In this tale, though, all those elements coalesced into a very eerie, very memorable, very enjoyable story. </span>Redartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221459636234713619noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-34304501673541858052016-10-28T06:00:00.000-05:002016-10-28T06:00:01.374-05:00Discuss: Movie Spin-offs to Television<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Doug: From the silver screen to the "idiot box" -- live action and/or animated (which should really open this up for fans of <i>The Real Ghostbusters</i>). And if anyone wants to argue that <i>Batman: The Animated Series</i> is a spin-off of Tim Burton's 1989 film <i>Batman</i>, you'd get no argument from me!<br />
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Also, yesterday Prowler wrote this: <br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Doug, just a suggest for a topic; a movie that just didn't live up to
the hype or a favorite that upon rewatching, just didn't hold up.</span></blockquote>
Feel free to consider that for your commenting pleasure, too! <br />
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<br />Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-51422205558299216032016-10-27T06:00:00.000-05:002016-10-27T06:00:23.449-05:00It's Another Open Mic Night on the BAB<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Doug: I was looking ahead in the queue and noticed nary a thing scheduled for today. Can't have that... So today why don't we have a little potpourri, a bit of a smorgasbord if you will, of conversation topics? <a href="https://i.annihil.us/u/prod/marvel/i/mg/0/03/56096c110e425/portrait_incredible.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://i.annihil.us/u/prod/marvel/i/mg/0/03/56096c110e425/portrait_incredible.jpg" width="213" /></a>It's Open Mic today, so whatever you've been wondering, worrying, or pontificating about, bring it before the throngs of BAB readers, won't you? I'll start --<br />
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I've been back into the <u>Monster of Frankenstein</u> trade that reprints that character's Bronze Age appearances. I'd gotten about halfway through it last year when the Halloween season ended. It was shelved until this year and I have to say it was worth the wait. When I left off I had just gotten into the B&W reprints from Marvel's <i>Monsters Unleashed</i> mag. Wow. I've said it several times before and will again -- I most regret, in all the Bronze Age offerings, missing out on the Marvel magazines. The art by Val Mayerik is phenomenal. He was very Wrightson-like in his detail, and the format really suited his style. Doug Moench was the author of those tales and successfully created the mood necessary for stories of that ilk. I've just gotten back into the color section, with a reprint of <i>Giant-Size Werewolf by Night</i> #2. <a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/4c/15/1b/4c151b4c24857b55922cd900e4501759.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/4c/15/1b/4c151b4c24857b55922cd900e4501759.jpg" width="225" /></a>Don Perlin and Vinnie Colletta were the art team, and while it was a jarring difference from the previous several stories, it wasn't horrible. The trade concludes with a couple of <i>Marvel Team-Up</i>s, so that should be fun.<br />
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I recently recorded and watched <i>Logan's Run</i>. It had been many years since I'd seen the entire picture. I had forgotten how quaint the special effects were, and the morality lesson in the dialogue toward the end. Maybe you've forgotten all that, too. But I know, if you were a red-blooded boy when it first ran back in the mid-70s, the one thing you did not forget was Jessica-6: Jenny Agutter. It's tough to believe that it's been 40 years since <i>Logan's Run</i> was in the theaters. Ms. Agutter is forever frozen for us as a 30-year old "runner" (she was actually 24 in 1976). Thank you, celluloid. <br />
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Lastly, I've been digging the Billy Joel channel that's been playing again on Sirius-XM channel 18. As you may recall, my wife and I saw <a href="http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.com/2016/09/billy-joel-helped-us-celebrate-our-50th.html">Joel at Wrigley Field</a> back in August. I'm a sucker for covers, and there are a few that play in rotation on that channel. I also enjoy the narrative portions where Joel sits at the piano and discusses his homages to certain songs from the past in his own hits. Speaking of covers, one of the albums that's been in my own personal rotation over the past few weeks is The Smithereens <i>Covers</i>. There are 23 cuts from a plethora of artists -- all times, all genres. It's a lot of fun. The Billy Joel channel also features a bunch of live Joel, and that has also brought me several times back to the Deluxe Edition of The Who: <i>Who's Next. </i>There are 29 tracks on the album, about half of which are live versions of well known Who hits. Money.<br />
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OK -- I've been varied. Your turn. What's on your mind?<br />
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Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-16581819388275325742016-10-26T06:00:00.000-05:002016-10-26T06:00:09.780-05:00Frankenstein Underground<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Frankenstein Underground (Dark Horse, 2015)</b></div>
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Mike Mignola -Ben Stenbeck -Dave Stewart</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Karen: First things first: yes, I know this is not a Bronze Age book. But, it's nearly Halloween, and we always do some horror and monster-oriented reviews during October. I happened to have read this recently and enjoyed it, so I thought, "Why not?" And that's as close to an explanation as you're going to get.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Besides, I think this is a terrific book. I'll admit that at first I was disappointed to learn that Mignola did not handle the interior art work, but I soon found myself over that, as Ben Stenbeck is a more than able replacement. I would say he captures the mood of Mignola's milieu but his actual style is much more classical, in some ways reminding me of another horror master, Mike Ploog. Certainly there is Mignola's influence in design, but Stenbeck proves his own man.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">If you have any background with Hellboy or Mignola's other comics in that same world, you'll be instantly comfortable with this story. But even if you don't, I don't believe it would be hard to jump in. I had not read the story which preceded this one (<i>House of the Living Dead</i>) but I had no trouble with any part of this story. Mignola's Frankenstein Monster seems a bit of an amalgamation of the literary version with Karloff's creature, and maybe a wrestler thrown in for good measure. There's certainly no mistaking the design for anything other than something from the Hellboy universe. The huge, clunky bolts popping out from all over are a little comical at times though.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">The tale takes place in 1956, and the Monster is again fleeing persecution, this time in Mexico. He runs into a cave and winds up falling deep into the Earth, arriving in a strange landscape that he believes is Hell. He soon discovers (or is discovered by) a group of primitive people, who put him in chains and haul him off to a temple. There he is brought before their 'god' -who turns out to be a modern American man. He and others are the only survivors of a lost expedition. This part of the story takes its cues from 'Hollow Earth' theories, and if you've been reading this blog for a while, you know I eat <a href="http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-ancient-origins-of-inhumans.html" target="_blank">this kind of stuff</a> up. However, a terrible, evil force has corrupted the leader of the expedition, and one of Mignola's Cthulhu-derived elder gods is on the way. The Monster finds himself fighting for the unfortunate victims of this abomination, and in doing so, discovers redemption.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">There have been so many versions of the Monster in popular culture. Mignola has managed to give his version his own spin while retaining that essence of the tragic, tortured creature abandoned by his creator. This Monster is no innocent, yet you can't help but feel sympathy for him, and his struggle with his identity, and his sense of purpose, is moving. It's fascinating to me that in most modern depictions, the Monster is usually portrayed as the misunderstood hero of the piece. No doubt that's driven by a generation of adolescents like us who grew up watching old Frankenstein films on Saturdays, feeling a great affinity with a mistreated seven foot tall reanimated corpse. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">There's action a'plenty in the book, with Frankenstein squaring off against the Morlock-like primitives, a club-wielding giant, weird tentacled beasties, and much more. I have to complement Dave Stewart's colors too, which are absolutely essential in creating the eerie and mysterious settings. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">All in all, highly recommended, whether you are a fan of Mignola's work, or Frankenstein in general.</span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17032477453891087135noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-22210562024740325722016-10-25T06:00:00.000-05:002016-10-25T06:00:15.283-05:00Discuss: Great Vocal Performances<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Doug: Today we're discussing great vocal performances, both recorded and live. Below is one of my all-time favorites, from 1982's "The Concert in Central Park". Enjoy!<br />
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Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-75989184692591916012016-10-24T06:00:00.000-05:002020-04-07T09:43:05.472-05:00Dawn, Go Away - Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes 226<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i>Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes</i> #226 (April 1977)</b>(Cover
by Mike Grell)<br />
"The Dazzling Debut of Dawnstar!"<br />
Paul Levitz-James Sherman/Jack Abel<br />
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Doug: Isn't that a typical DC cover in terms of the happenings? We often joke
about DC's stable of characters as being pretty white bread. You know what they
also were? "Mean girls". All of 'em. If you were to hit up one of the
cover-heavy sites, like <a href="http://www.coverbrowser.com/">Cover Brows</a><a href="http://www.coverbrowser.com/">er</a>, and tour some Silver and Bronze Age
DC comic books I think you'd find scenes like the one above were pretty common.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhSpa17yBsuoVL4FHpx0O-AD-RoSfujrIxQBHP4zShlEKwPLrFNDiAvkIhDsvtQWBXV98dKRZqQwto5I8vMJN-nLVbGG0T0xwaT_toSEYw2p1edHMvJl-QZadAX9uj9_uX0zxPyYUjo4/s1600/DS1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhSpa17yBsuoVL4FHpx0O-AD-RoSfujrIxQBHP4zShlEKwPLrFNDiAvkIhDsvtQWBXV98dKRZqQwto5I8vMJN-nLVbGG0T0xwaT_toSEYw2p1edHMvJl-QZadAX9uj9_uX0zxPyYUjo4/s320/DS1.jpg" width="320" /></a>Rude, rude, rude. Or, in other cases, playing some stupid "gotcha!"
game or gag.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Karen: This does seem like a recurring theme, and not
just with the Legion. We all know Superman can be a ...uhm, jerk.<br />
<br />
</span>Doug: So we're back with another look at the Bronze Age Legion of
Super-Heroes. Two weeks ago we checked in on <a href="http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.com/2016/10/iron-mikes-legion-superboy-and-legion.html">a
tussle with the Fatal Five</a> as drawn by Mike Grell. Karen remarked at the
time that <i>Superboy</i> #219 was somewhat of an oddball issue in that it
contained a feature-length story. This book, then, would be more along the
lines of "status quo" at DC in the 1970s. Whereas Marvel had for the
most part eschewed the split books or back-ups, DC remained committed to the
concept. We'll only be reviewing the cover story (@11 pages), as the back-up
(@6 pages) is actually the first part of a story that continues into the next
issue. Of note, however, is that that back-up (starring Brainiac-5) was
penciled by another successor to Mike Grell in Mike Nasser. Both James Sherman
and Nasser were capable artists, and today we'll inspect Sherman's work.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Karen: I liked both Sherman and Nasser, and I feel
like they are unfortunately under-rated, and somewhat forgotten.<br />
<br />
</span>Doug: I concur. I personally think of Cockrum and Grell first, and I
know many of our friends who are a few years younger think of Keith Giffen.<br />
<br />
Doug: "Lay that 100-Word Review on us, Doug!" As you wish...<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">100-Word Review</span></b>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The âRaidersâ, interstellar thieves, break out of a Legion containment cell.
Although soon corralled by Sun Boy and Star Boy, the young heroes lament that
Lightning Lad has not been able to track the course the Raiders had been on. In
walks Wildfire, brusque as always. He tells that he has someone who can track
anything in space â Dawnstar! The Legionnaires are skeptical, and moreso when
she apparently leads them to nothing. But Saturn Girl detects a convoy, and the
Raiders soon attack it. The Legion battles, but loses contact with the bad
guys. But Dawnstar tracks them again⊠to Earth!</blockquote>
<blockquote>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMiDylzNwH3fu8Iw2IhEfFyegK0f8eANppEpJjn9_061UQfFzB8b7svVlIksEg2G127NseMW60AWUub3_De0h4A151tPhK1LPSqEbvjVbFV1GzVBIQEIVUL2LQr1t5zcGmJlfvEu9w_4/s1600/DS2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMiDylzNwH3fu8Iw2IhEfFyegK0f8eANppEpJjn9_061UQfFzB8b7svVlIksEg2G127NseMW60AWUub3_De0h4A151tPhK1LPSqEbvjVbFV1GzVBIQEIVUL2LQr1t5zcGmJlfvEu9w_4/s400/DS2.jpg" width="265" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FgNb0yzcssoSYJX7d7LrWBfm_0r3Y4LhSDh10DGf9CK0daufPkhKww3bRYvKA7jROZP1r91Ov9P2NqnrJzecm69xdD7kYO8l-09yZMP7YrEsdKinQqRP2D21RuA_D8uaPw4WwWzVDnY/s1600/DS3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FgNb0yzcssoSYJX7d7LrWBfm_0r3Y4LhSDh10DGf9CK0daufPkhKww3bRYvKA7jROZP1r91Ov9P2NqnrJzecm69xdD7kYO8l-09yZMP7YrEsdKinQqRP2D21RuA_D8uaPw4WwWzVDnY/s400/DS3.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMiDylzNwH3fu8Iw2IhEfFyegK0f8eANppEpJjn9_061UQfFzB8b7svVlIksEg2G127NseMW60AWUub3_De0h4A151tPhK1LPSqEbvjVbFV1GzVBIQEIVUL2LQr1t5zcGmJlfvEu9w_4/s1600/DS2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
Doug: I've said before, and will repeat -- it cannot be easy writing a
self-contained story to be told over only 10 pages. Even though I said this
tale was 11 pages, it was DC's modus operandi in the Bronze Age to make the
splash page like a second cover and never the launching point for the plot. My
misgivings about the story length are, I'm sure, skewed by my general
favoritism toward Marvel's style of rolling plotlines. Anyway, we should be
thinking about some analysis of this yarn.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">The Good</span></b>:<br />
<br />
Doug: I liked that the line-up was a manageable size of six Legionnaires plus
Dawnstar. But for those fans who like the team big, we also got glimpses of
Timber Wolf, Colossal Boy, Chameleon Boy, Ultra Boy, and Mon-el. That's a dozen
heroes in an 11-page story -- definitely bang for your Bronze Age buck (or a
quarter + a nickel, as the case may be). <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikzQeISKSATK3VTxaiBbIDfBvewDdCfOwvk4uXpYiIjXcZvYgkubMJt3cyZEG8wouRlhZIzKqy00KUbYz5BaT22lxxlNEjdueILjNjfPsjOR30VL4CDaH9YztW29p_o7CnDDrUFQk_hGY/s1600/DS4.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikzQeISKSATK3VTxaiBbIDfBvewDdCfOwvk4uXpYiIjXcZvYgkubMJt3cyZEG8wouRlhZIzKqy00KUbYz5BaT22lxxlNEjdueILjNjfPsjOR30VL4CDaH9YztW29p_o7CnDDrUFQk_hGY/s400/DS4.jpg" width="263" /></a>I was never a big booster of either
Sun Boy or Star Boy, but I thought the creators did a nice job of making them
relevant right away in their securing of the would-be prison breakers. They
didn't factor into the big battle at the end, so I'm left wondering if Paul
Levitz (and others) made a conscious decision to cycle our young heroes through
the roll calls.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Karen: It's a minor thing, but I like the little
"roll call" box on the splash page. It let you know who would be the
focus of the issue. "Sun Boy" and "Star Boy" - they're both
named after the same thing! But very different powers. And Star Boy started out
as another version of Superboy before he lost all his powers except the ability
to increase gravity on people and objects. In the review of issue 219 we
briefly discussed how some Legionnaires are 'A-list' and others are below that.
I'd say these two are B-listers. I did like the fact that you might get Sun Boy
and Star Boy one issue, then Chameleon Boy and Phantom Girl the next.<br />
<br />
</span>Doug: The Legion seemed to have a roster flow that the Avengers (for
example) didn't enjoy. That being said, writing done-in-ones was a major plus
factor to the Legion scribes as compared to their Avengers-writing brethren.
Concerning pictures, the art team in today's story did a nice job. James
Sherman was often able to incorporate some very cool lighting effects. We saw
that in our review of <i>Superboy</i> #233 in <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQFSz2ppqwkax-A8RYu-Ut2cG-MaRoUKiNegKnbZf3pn9Z6Fx5tjniU9fpC6pbR2aQRZeQ11liZYS14KVn0XpXKhM3u6WvBs13M9vMWHfoumZj5v3IIA3vKGYxA2zYE0PAEtr2fpqukW4/s640/infinite+man.jpg">some
of the images featuring the Infinite Man</a>. Here Dawnstar has some nice
lighting while in space flight. And I'm just a sucker anyway for winged
characters. She truly was the focal point of the story, to the point that she
was at the center of every panel in which she appeared! One of the issues with
characters who have a distinctive feature, such as large wings, is keeping the
size and span consistent from panel to panel. Sherman and Jack Abel do just
that, so there's a really nice flow with no distractions along that line.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Karen: I think James Sherman was a dynamic artist, but
Abel was not a good match for him, with his thin lines. The figures have no
weight. Looking at issue 233 where Bob Wiacek inked him, the art is much more
appealing. Still, I appreciate his layouts and storytelling, but wish we'd
gotten a more compatible inker.<br />
<br />
</span>Doug: Levitz was efficient in introducing us to Dawnstar. We got a
full-figure look at her when she entered the story, followed by an image of her
in flight right away. We know she's being brought to the team as a
"tracker", and then Levitz has Wildfire say that not only can she
track in space, but "fast enough that she'll outdistance this bucket of
bolts--!" in reference to the Legion cruiser. After only five panels, I
felt like I had enough information to make a judgment of her potential.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Karen: None of the Legionnaires had much depth at this
point I'm afraid. The Grell-designed costume was pretty standard for him. It
screamed a cross of 'hippie/Native American' which I suppose was still
popular in 1977. I also notice that the Legion cruiser looks bigger here, drawn
by Sherman, than it did </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PsrgdQxh6AfK0Nn0GUZxsGYceKhQPCVrzohZXfy6lqFMs_wy8CH8027deBtnutCp1thtvAhnoMNQ8LDPM4FIZVRug5Fi_hr9v7vxDe8ByLDU0PzSTcgTZQOx6OnWIBOGbdG2rzCL2-2T/s640/legion+cruiser.jpg">when
Grell drew it in our review of issue #219</a><span style="color: blue;">.<br />
<br />
</span>Doug: One aspect of Legion stories that I like is that there isn't
always a need for a formal top-flight bad guy. With a futuristic interplanetary
setting, the sky was the limit for the sorts of menaces they could face. This
particular story was merely a vehicle for Dawnstar's introduction, but it
worked. The meatier plot actually rested in the second story in this book.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Karen: The Raiders were always sort of goofy. I
thought they looked a bit like ants, at least their heads did. Their leader
-the big disembodied brain and eyes in a tank -is a great sci-fi pulp trope and
I got a kick out him. I also noticed that some of the spaceships looked like
submarines, which was also a laugh.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIvuT6DSmhKhNm22WOG1jk_4gQkNQOGHWRfs75_8mgtP_eE2Ne8C9fRMyyeMdlHazXt-MNKBrwnCa-yHe4ubcnp-5iiyiHoXmsFEtAZaylAYZXVhqyb-O4l_Jp6gO_GB5XJSM6cU94go/s1600/DS5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIvuT6DSmhKhNm22WOG1jk_4gQkNQOGHWRfs75_8mgtP_eE2Ne8C9fRMyyeMdlHazXt-MNKBrwnCa-yHe4ubcnp-5iiyiHoXmsFEtAZaylAYZXVhqyb-O4l_Jp6gO_GB5XJSM6cU94go/s400/DS5.jpg" width="262" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEOmqv0wzJa_LQUh8hvdr_DV9rDCOzdcnZC2FqqtHTat9_32TF6cY1QiX2WZeERuMWuIN0ZAwZ7Mu6kT8TZAL-H5dM4XOFqap08-tV-ulubnU4epyn9W4cpaQtjO0wRhebHKDgU9WlpQ/s1600/DS6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEOmqv0wzJa_LQUh8hvdr_DV9rDCOzdcnZC2FqqtHTat9_32TF6cY1QiX2WZeERuMWuIN0ZAwZ7Mu6kT8TZAL-H5dM4XOFqap08-tV-ulubnU4epyn9W4cpaQtjO0wRhebHKDgU9WlpQ/s400/DS6.jpg" width="267" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIvuT6DSmhKhNm22WOG1jk_4gQkNQOGHWRfs75_8mgtP_eE2Ne8C9fRMyyeMdlHazXt-MNKBrwnCa-yHe4ubcnp-5iiyiHoXmsFEtAZaylAYZXVhqyb-O4l_Jp6gO_GB5XJSM6cU94go/s1600/DS5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<span style="color: blue;"></span><span style="color: blue;"></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"></span><span style="color: blue;">
</span><b><span style="color: red;">The Bad</span></b>:<br />
<br />
Doug: I mentioned above that I didn't really care for DC's trope of having its
heroes treat each other so poorly, often as a plot contrivance. Regarding the
Legion, you can trace this all the way back to <i>Adventure Comics</i> #247.
Anyway, Dawnstar did exactly what Wildfire brought her aboard to do, and that
was to track the Raiders and their pals for the purpose of putting them out of
business. Yet when the Legion arrived and ended up in a surprise battle,
Lightning Lad severely rebuked Dawnstar for doing her job! His take on it was
that she left too soon and the team did not have the opportunity to formulate a
battle plan. Well... I'd argue that it was more Wildfire's responsibility, and
he does get some blame. But there wasn't a conversation of "What if this
or that?" on the cruiser as the flew through space? Shame on them, if that
was the case.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Karen: It did seem like the Legionnaires tended to
snipe at each other a lot, but then this is a quality of a lot of Marvel titles
too. But I'd agree that Dawnstar really did nothing to deserve a
tongue-lashing. It seemed like a ginned up conflict.<br />
<br />
Karen: One thing that I find cringe-inducing now is Dawnstar's powers. She's
Native American, so of course, she can track people. Because, you know, that's
what Native Americans are good at, even mutant ones with wings who can fly
through outer space. I know, it was 1977, there wasn't the sort of cultural
consciousness then that we have now. But it's still hard to take. But probably
not as hard as Tyroc.<br />
<br />
</span>Doug: Stereotypes are too easy for writers. I could also suggest doing
characters justice by writing them out of the easy mold. If I missed it, pardon
me -- I don't think I did. Was there no mention of the Legion's transuits for
space walking? The team had bubbles on their heads, but nowhere could I
ascertain that anyone was wearing a transuit. I do wish it had been explained
how Dawnstar could survive space with no equipment whatsoever. That was a
stretch. I have a hard enough time with Superboy in that regard. Can't be a
yellow sun <i>everywhere</i>.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Karen: I noticed that too. I guess Dawnstar can exist
in space, which must mean she has some limited invulnerability, right? But they
were inconsistent -Saturn Girl doesn't appear to have a bubble around her head,
although she certainly should be wearing a helmet and a transuit.<br />
<br />
</span>Doug: Wildfire's personality. I really don't like jerky characters. I
understand that's the point -- to create conflict. Trouble is, they usually
create that conflict with me. How's that for being invested?<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Karen: I'll admit he seems like a doofus here, but as
time went on, Wildfire became one of my favorites. He was given more depth than
most of the Legionnaires. He was probably more Marvel-like in many ways - a
tragic character, given his energy form, and pining for Dawnstar later on.<br />
<br />
</span><b><span style="color: red;">The Ugly</span></b>:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Karen: I don't think I'd call anything especially
ugly, but the art was not as strong as it could have been, and I do find the
racial stereotyping of Dawnstar unfortunate at best.<br />
<br />
</span>Doug: Agreed on both counts, although I may actually suggest that I
thought the overall execution of the art in this issue was more to my liking
than what we'd seen from Mike Grell in our review of a couple of weeks ago.<br />
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
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<![endif]--><br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17032477453891087135noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-21114260121409020512016-10-21T06:00:00.000-05:002016-10-21T06:00:00.532-05:00The Open Forum: Remembering AM Radio...<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Redartz: The years since the "Bronze Age" have seen quite a few changes in popular culture. Some of the most common features of daily life back then are all but forgotten today. Think rotary telephones, handwritten letters, and black/white televisions. Other elements of today's life were unknown in the 70's, such as smartphones and the internet. You may have noticed that manyof the changes revolved around science and technology. Although it still exists today, AM radio was a victim of technology as well, beginning with the rise of FM broadcasting. By the time digital music became common, AM had been largely relegated to talk radio and sports. And like most, I gravitated away from AM listening as FM offered cleaner music ("no static at all", as Steely Dan put it). That said, AM radio offered quite a lot of listening pleasure during the 70's, and today we will recall a bit of that.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">My first exposure to AM was the local Anderson, Indiana radio station: WHUT. During the early 70's the station played top 40 hits, and was the station of choice on our school bus. Riding home after classes we would strain to hear Three Dog Night, Elton John and Grand Funk over the usual cacophony of yelling schoolkids. During the summer months, at the public swimming pool, I remember Paul McCartney's "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" would echo across the water, courtesy of the dj at WHUT. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">It wasn't long before my burgeoning love for pop music found greater fulfillment , via Casey Kasem and American Top 40. The same middle school friend who introduced me to comics also opened my ears to "AT40".</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEUNj-8dWUZkz-FzUiBaw6wllZTKnue21TseSM1Pil23mdaWWi_wv7bWnHrJ6mDpNaiNnfwTnmYXiPruLkd2sKQuEnHKx7HAT6Tg6oB_MuR6X9v5FHFP7G6w7TTMkVzJSJ1pRD9uJN1dj/s1600/topfortylogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEUNj-8dWUZkz-FzUiBaw6wllZTKnue21TseSM1Pil23mdaWWi_wv7bWnHrJ6mDpNaiNnfwTnmYXiPruLkd2sKQuEnHKx7HAT6Tg6oB_MuR6X9v5FHFP7G6w7TTMkVzJSJ1pRD9uJN1dj/s320/topfortylogo.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"> Every weekend through the rest of the decade and well into the 80's, I'd tune in to hear Casey count 'em down. Starting on Muncie, IN station WLBC, and later on several Indianapolis stations, the Billboard chart came alive every week, along with Casey's trivia and long-distance dedications. And the music was the big draw, even though there was somewhat greater static from the more distant Muncie broadcaster. Yet that fuzziness was part of the charm, and didn't seem troublesome at all.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">By 1975 I'd gotten heavily addicted to comics, just in time to catch another treat on AM radio: the Fantastic Four Radio Show. Again courtesy of our local Anderson station, each week Stan Lee himself brought the FF to my ears through those little speakers on my clock radio. It only ran for 13 episodes, but somehow it seemed longer. The show featured a young Bill Murray as the Human Torch, and adapted some of the classic Lee/Kirby epics. I never missed it. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">At about the same time period that I was tuning in to the FF, another radio show grabbed my attention and kept me glued each evening: the CBS Radio Mystery Theater. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">This show premiered in 1974 and ran until 1982, totaling 1399 episodes. Being a tv kid, I had no prior experience with radio drama. This was a whole new reason to stay up late after bedtime, on school nights when I should have been studying or asleep. It was perfect: lying alone in the dark, late ( I think the show ran locally about 11:00 pm), listening to the creeeaaaky door intro and creepy music, followed by narrator E.G. Marshall's introduction. <span id="goog_451604998"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_451604999"></span>Quite a variety of themes were presented- mysteries, horror, science fiction, and some classics. Somehow everything seemed more convincing in those darkened late-nights, even the commercials. And when the news came on after, it sounded like the Chimes of Doom...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">And speaking of the commercials, that was another unique part of AM radio. The preponderance of local ads and low radio budgets made for some amusing (and sometimes pretty cheesy) commercials. I can still clearly recall an ad from the mid-70's that ran very frequently on Anderson and Muncie stations. It was for a local drive-in theater that showed, shall we say, more adult-oriented fare. But the commercial opened with the Surfari's "Wipeout" intro, and surf guitar line. This was followed by an invitation to visit the "Blackford County Drive-In; 9 miles north of Muncie on highway 3. Our inner car heaters make winter feel like summer". I'll be hearing that commercial in my head until my dying day, and maybe after. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBo2E_M9JTrVXY-lB8zKj7gFXWEeIS9PGbm1mFxIRaZnwRewfg3GsvBNrkhrwroPaoBbnQrbeB3R7i9sJ9bf20NQD9Rbmxy8cSDvk3mUf2zARYYhfTMqqErq5_6M35Rjf2gGbT5QmwL3pZ/s1600/20161019_193554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBo2E_M9JTrVXY-lB8zKj7gFXWEeIS9PGbm1mFxIRaZnwRewfg3GsvBNrkhrwroPaoBbnQrbeB3R7i9sJ9bf20NQD9Rbmxy8cSDvk3mUf2zARYYhfTMqqErq5_6M35Rjf2gGbT5QmwL3pZ/s320/20161019_193554.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d;">One more little feature I'll mention about AM radio: a personal eccentricity, perhaps. During the evenings, when many local stations went off the air, the AM band became a place to pick up vague bits of broadcast from exotic locations all over, such as Des Moines, New York and Windsor, Ontario. WABC, CKLW, WLS and countless others. Again, the action of listening in the dark to these ghostly voices made them all the more evocative. Hearing those speakers, commercials, tunes, local newscasts- all fading in and out among the distant static was almost haunting, and very fun. I always heard you could pick up Mexican radio ( as per Wall of Voodoo), but never could myself...</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Incidentally, you had to have an old analog tuning dial to do this best. Digital push-button tuning skips over too much, and you miss the fun of sweeping back and forth up and down the dial. Plus, you get the cool blue-green light illuminating the dial!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Hmmm, maybe I'll go upstairs late this evening and drag out that old transistor. Bet I can pick up WLW...</span><br />
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<br />Redartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221459636234713619noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-11349465592289699492016-10-20T06:00:00.000-05:002020-04-14T12:06:46.013-05:00True or False: I Can Explain the Difference Between Magic, Sorcery, and Wizardry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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And if you think you're feeling pretty smug, then explain this -<br />
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<br />Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-57977729134689369072016-10-19T06:00:00.000-05:002020-04-16T10:55:27.925-05:00Who's the Best... Horror Movie Remake?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: blue;">Karen: Tis the season -for things creepy and scary. I was turning the dial on Sunday (well, clicking the remote, but you get my meaning) and I saw remakes of Frankenstein, and The Thing (actually that strange prequel to John Carpenter's remake...that's confusing), so I thought it might be time to toss out the question - Who's the Best remake? Or are you of the opinion that remakes stink? And of course, are they really remakes, or just different versions from the same subject matter?</span></div>
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