Jon's Random Acts of Geekery: 8/24/08

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Movie of the Week: Rodan, The Fire Monster

Rodan, the Fire Monster is another one of those movies that's available for me to embed, thanks to AOL (and there's a phrase I never thought I'd type!). For a full-screen view, click on the lower right-hand corner of the video player!

And now, a slideshow of Rodan collectibles!

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Of course, after his solo movie, Rodan was reduced to supporting cast member, backing up Godzilla in Ghidrah, the Three Headed Monster, Godzilla Vs. Monster Zero, and Destroy All Monsters, and possibly others I'm not thinking of right now.

He was popular enough to have an Aurora model kit and a Shogun Warrior figure made of him, even though I think by the 70s, he wasn't a part of the Godzilla series any more!

Been too long since I watched his movie debut, so I think I'll have to watch this embedded video myself!

Jon

Cool Stuff: Hanna-Barbera Collectibles!

Last Cool Stuff post of the month, let's see if I get through this volume's Hanna-Barbera collectibles!

Loopy De Loop 8mm cartoon!

Magilla Gorilla 8mm cartoon!

Scooby Doo 8mm cartoon!

These Mexican Hanna-Barbera party hats are incredibly cool... look at the variety of characters represented there!

Edit: You can see some (or all) of these in greater detail at buddy Patrick Owsley's blog entries here and here -- and thanks to Patrick for reminding me of those posts of his! I'd completely forgotten about 'em!

Pebbles storybook!

Penelope Pitstop balancing top! Yeah, I know... that toy concept makes no sense as a Penelope Pitstop item does it?

Peter Potamus storybook!

Quick Draw McGraw Marx viewer! I'm not sure if these had just one scene, or multiple scenes to look at. Any of you know?

Riccochet Rabbit storybook!

Ruff and Reddy storybook!

Scooby-Doo Storybooks!

Scooby Doo Pocketflix movie viewer!

Secret Squirrel slide puzzle!

Shazzan Big Little Book! This is another show there's just not enough merchandising of!

This Shazzan light-up mask is pretty cool... too bad the seller didn't have a photo of it lit up!

Shazzan jigsaw puzzle!

Just one more posting of Hanna-Barbera stuff for this volume!

Jon

Friday, August 29, 2008

Slideshow: Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman Collectibles!

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Give-A-Show Fridays: The Finest Indian of Them All and Elephants Crossing the Alps!

This week, we wrap up the 1962 Kenner Adventure Time set, so no more audio after this pair (at least, not until we get to the 1970s, assuming I ever get the Talking Give-A-Show that came out!)

Next week, we're on to the 1962 "Red" Set, and the cartoon characters return!

Jon

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Last Post About the Halloween Countdown (for a while, anyway)...

OK, so me being the kind of anal-retentive, don't-meet-the-deadline-beat-the-deadline kind of guy I am... I have, this evening, completed all my blog entries for this year's Halloween countdown (sheesh, and August isn't even over yet?).

Now, I know some of my fellow bloggers (yes, I'm looking at you, Plaid Stallions) also like to plan ahead with your blogs... so those of you who are looking at participating in the Halloween Countdown, here's my gauntlet thrown down at you:

Above is the graphic which will head up each of my Halloween Countdown posts this year... now, if you wish to use this for your own blog's Halloween Countdown, that would be fine and dandy by me (hopefully, your background color will match mine, since this isn't a transparent GIF)... OR, you could create your own Halloween Countdown 2008 heading for each of your posts... if you're up to the challenge!

I'm really looking forward to getting your comments on the Halloween stuff this year... I have REALLY planned ahead, after all! There should be plenty of videos to look at -- and if, by chance, one of the videos doesn't work by the time the post is posted, please, PLEASE let me know in the comments immediately -- I have back-ups!

And, as always, if you're going to be a participant this year, make sure you let me know by October 1st, so you can be added to the Halloween Countdown 2008 Blogroll!

Jon

Happy Birthday, Jack Kirby!

Can't believe I forgot this was coming... here's a slideshow tribute to The King!

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

By the 10's: Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen!

Let's take a look at Jimmy Olsen, by the 10's!

We'll start with Jimmy Olsen 10... and here, Jimmy's assumed the role of Jungle Jimmy! So, given that Jimmy has a tendency for disguises and transformations, we'll have to say this goes in the first category, eh? Oh, and bonus points for a gorilla!

Jimmy Olsen 20... and it's a transformation cover!

Jimmy Olsen 30's cover is one I should've posted last Father's Day, eh? This certainly isn't a disguise or transformation cover... must be a "Superman is teaching Jimmy a lesson" cover!

Jimmy Olsen 40's cover is a two-in-one, if I'm not mistaken... it's a Transformation AND a "Teach Jimmy a Lesson" cover! It's just not readily apparent, that's all.

Jimmy Olsen 50 features a transformation (of sorts)... and we see that Jimmy Olsen should never design his own costumes... Green and Orange?!?!?

I can't really explain anything on this cover... especially the speed lines on Superman, indicating his flight direction has nothing to do with his pose!

Jimmy Olsen 70's cover introduces Silver Kryptonite! I wish I could remember what that was now...

Jimmy Olsen 80, and it's about time we got another transformation cover, eh?

Jimmy Olsen 90 features a transformation cover, and it's also in very, very bad taste!

Jimmy Olsen 100! An issue I've never read, but have heard about in the vaguest of terms!

Jimmy Olsen 110's cover is very retro... many Golden Age comics featured covers like these, that had nothing to do with the interiors!

Jimmy Olsen 120... could this be a "Teach Jimmy a Lesson" cover?

Jimmy Olsen 130... one of the most bizarre covers and stories ever!

Jimmy Olsen 140 is a good collection of stories! I think I've owned this issue a few times!

Jimmy Olsen 150's got a pretty weird cover... and where the heck are the backgrounds?

Backgrounds are also sparse on Jimmy Olsen 160!

Unfortunately, "By the 10's" means none of the Kirby issues are included... and sometime in the very near future, we'll pick up on this again with Superman Family, which took over the numbering from Jimmy Olsen!

Jon