Ten Years Ago in Comics: Looking Back at 1996

Ten years ago comic book fanboys were into (from top to bottom and left to right): ‘Sin City: The Big Fat Kill’, ‘Kurt Busiek’s Astro City #6’, ‘Acme Novelty Library #6’, ‘Milk & Cheese #666’, and comic strip themed stamps from the U.S. Postal Service.

Which Super Hero are You?

I just took the super hero quiz and here are my results:

To be fair to results above I did read Spiderman as a kid, but I had no I idea that I was 15% like Wonder Woman!

Also don’t forget to also take the Super Villain Quiz too (it looks like I’m Dr. Doom):

Quiz found via Jason Calacanis (also known to his friends as Green Lantern).

Twenty Years Ago in Comics: Looking Back at 1986

Twenty years ago the graphic novel started to impress comic book fanboys like myself: At the top a cover and a close up of Batman punching Superman from ‘Batman: The Dark Knight Returns’, and some interior panels and a cover from ‘the Watchman’ are shown below.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Decrepit

Not only aren’t there any new ideas left in Hollywood, it seems there aren’t any new actors either! It’s looking like they’re going to cast Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in a new film that will start shooting in ’07. Ford is now 64 years old, and while he still has that dapper look (see the recent photo above) he’s moved well past the “Admiral Kirk” zone. Like the latest Rocky film this seems to be part of a new formula where ” It ain’t over ’til it’s over and over and over again!” Anyway here’s the breaking news:

Lucas: Indy IV Films In ’07

“George Lucas on Dec. 29 said that filming of the long-awaited fourth Indiana Jones movie will begin next year, the Associated Press reported. Harrison Ford, who appeared in the three earlier films, is set to star again. Lucas said he and director Steven Spielberg recently finalized the script for the film.”

Dr. Who: Third Series Trailer

Above: Coming attractions for Season Three of the current Dr. Who.

Batgirl, Catwoman & Wonder Woman Commercial

I’m pretty sure that the above commercial is from Argentina, but I have no idea what it’s advertising!

Thirty Years Ago in Comics: Looking Back at 1976

Back in 1976 Jack Kirby was THE king of comic books (shown at the top), while the first issue of American Splendor was produced (shown on the lower left) and Doonesbury made the cover of Time Magazine (shown on the lower right).

Far Arden

Minneapolis based illustrator Kevin Cannon is working producing a webcomic as part of a “288 hour comic book challenge”. In this cartooning marathon each chapter is produced in a single day (twenty four pages in twenty hours, and one chapter per month).

The resulting work is “Far Arden” which is a very enjoyable read. The story tends to go all over the place, but the chaos has a sort of charm that draws you into the book. So far Kevin has three enjoyable chapters online, and the next chapter is due out around the end of January 2007.

Forty Years Ago in Comics: Looking Back at 1966

Forty years ago the Silver Surfer (top left) was introduced for the first time, and on the top right fanboys were watching Batman on TV in FULL COLOR and reading ‘The Fantom’ by Lee Falk (shown on the middle right). In 1966 comic books tackled heroin abuse, shown below are two panels from ‘Hooked!’.

Forty Years Ago in Comics: The Beatles Saved My Romance!

Forty years ago fangirls were going through a Beatlemania phase as seen in the above comic book ‘Summer Love’ published by Charlton Comics in 1966. For only twenty five cents you can learn how “The Beatles Saved My Romance”! Hint: ‘She loves you yeah yeah…’

Is that Hattori Hanzo steel?

So you’ve watch the movie and now you need to own the actual sword, what do you do? Well True Swords carries quite a few sword replicas for die hard fanboys. I was quite impressed with their selection, which includes swords from Kill Bill, Final Fantasy, and even an X-Men Wolverine claw. Anime fans will also enjoy the Bleach, Naruto, and Rurouni Kenshin swords.

Fifty Years Ago in Comics: Looking Back at 1956

In 1956 fanboys were mad about Mad magazine (Issue #30 from December shown on the top left) and reading tons of comic books littered with space aliens like ‘Mystery in Space’ on the right which sports a cover by cover by Gil Kane. Below that are some panels shown from a classic Peanuts comic strip from March of ‘56, and on a more serious note the comic book on the right features Martin Luther King Jr. and a story about the early civil rights movement.

Corot: Designed to Find Earth-like Planets

The Corot (COnvection, ROtation and planetary Transits) spacecraft is scheduled for launch today! The spacecraft (seen above, click on the image to view at a larger size) will be capable of detecting small rocky planets of a similar size to our own. There’s a great Mission Overview at BBC News or for more details you can check out the Corot website.

Sixty Years Ago in Comics: Looking Back at 1946

In 1946 for ten dollars you could buy 100 comic books! Shown above is Captain Marvel Adventures #67 in which the captain gets a secretary, on the left is Startling Comics #41 which features the newspaper headline ‘Volunteers Wanted for Atomic Tests’, below is America’s typical teenager Archie and to the right is a cover from Will Eisner’s The Spirit, Oct. 6, 1946.

Optimus Prime Arrives!

This Transformers cover from Empire magazine is making the rounds on the net, click on the image to see it full size!

Dédééééé

Here’s a silly animated commercial from Belgium which seems to be selling lotto tickets:

Notice that while the commercial is using computer graphics, it’s still using traditional 2D animation techniques wen you see the boing and the bounce of the pig running off at the end. The charatcers aren’t just stiff plastic puppets, and they’re interacting with each other.

Racketeers Kidnap Miss Santa Claus

Above: A classic 1948 Wonder Woman themed Christmas cover illustrated by Harry G. Peter.

Here’s a sensational description of the story synopsis:

Racketeers Kidnap Miss Santa Claus

“Diana Prince meets a poor boy named Pete Allen who doesn’t believe in Santa Claus. Wonder Woman decides to visit the boy’s family and deliver presents. She discovers that the boy lives in a slum. His mother is scared that her sister’s husband, Joe Bamko, will hurt the children.

Wonder Woman meets Joe who kidnaps the kids to use as hostages against her. Wonder Woman is forced to surrender to the gangster. Under the influence of her own magic lasso, Wonder Woman is then forced to break into the treasury to steal gold for the gangster. With the help of Steve and Etta, Wonder Woman frees herself and stops Joe’s gang from escaping. She then finishes delivering presents to Pete and his sister.”

However historians can only guess why a Christmas themed comic book was released in February…

Calvin & Hobbes: The Art of the Snowman

For Christmas I’d like to share this very enjoyable collection of comic strips that made me smile:

A special tribute to Calvin, Hobbes and
the Underappreciated Art of the Snowman

Found via Comic Ne.ws.

Bugs Bunny Celebrates Christmas

Above: A 1946 cover of Looney Tunes & Merry Melodies Comics #51 featuring Bugs Bunny.

Found via this Looney Tunes Collectibles page.

Pulp Xmas

Something for you Quentin Tarantino fanboys:

Read more…

Tezuka Exhibition Coming to US in 2007

“Tezuka the Marvel of Manga”, an exhibition featuring the work of manga and anime master Osamu Tezuka currently being hosted in Melbourne, Australia, will move on to the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco in June 2007, after a tour stop at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australia.

Found via Toonzone.net and Animaxis.com.

Shatner vs. Rocket Man

Arguably the most famous performance of Elton John’s Rocket Man was in 1978, at a science fiction film awards ceremony, Bernie Taupin personally introduced William Shatner’s unique interpretation of Rocket Man. Shatner’s version utilized then-modern chromakey video techniques to portray simultaneously three different facets of the Rocket Man’s character:

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Shimura Zoo: Miracle Dog

Warning: The following video from “Tensai! Shimura Dobutsu-en” (aka Genius! Shimura Zoo) will make you want to cry! This episode features the sad tale of the Takahashi family which lives in Aichi prefecture Ichinomiya city and their one and a half year old paralyzed pet puppy dog. But don’t fear, before the episode runs too long we see the return of the mystery psychic pet healer from California who may be able to help:

Read more…

Grind House: Latest Trailer

I’d say that this is on the top of my “must see on opening day” list for 2007!