Interesting final segment -- John was introduced in the animated movie "Yellow Submarine" as sort of a psychadelic-colored Frankenstein monster, mixing up a potion to turn back to normal... and of course, the idea of having a monster created that had some kind of singing and dancing talent was later used in "Young Frankenstein"! And finally, the girls coming in and tearing the monster apart parallels a sequence in the Monkees' movie "Head" -- after the Monkees perform "Circle Sky" in front of a crowd, they rush the stage and tear the Monkees to pieces, too!
Saturday, June 30, 2012
The Beatles Cartoon, Episode 2!
Interesting final segment -- John was introduced in the animated movie "Yellow Submarine" as sort of a psychadelic-colored Frankenstein monster, mixing up a potion to turn back to normal... and of course, the idea of having a monster created that had some kind of singing and dancing talent was later used in "Young Frankenstein"! And finally, the girls coming in and tearing the monster apart parallels a sequence in the Monkees' movie "Head" -- after the Monkees perform "Circle Sky" in front of a crowd, they rush the stage and tear the Monkees to pieces, too!
Friday, June 29, 2012
Toy Spotlight: Whitman's Batman Activity Box!
This one deserves a spot all by itself... it's the ultimate punch-out Batman toy, and getting an original one will set you back a pretty penny (most recent auction I could find closed at over $300!). Sadly, it's never been officially reissued (I did find one place online that is selling a reproduction, but I don't know if it's legit or not -- they're asking $25, including shipping). I have to say, I'm kind of surprised that nobody's scanned this in high res and offered it as a PDF to download and print for yourself!
Anyway, this is a gorgeous item, really the only Batman toy that gives you everything you'd need for playing out any kind of Batman adventure! It's got locales, figures, heroes, villains, vehicles, bystanders! And these pictures don't even show everything!
Cover Redux!
This time around, the first Cover Redux is Fantastic Four #93 and Marvel's Greatest Comics #75! Obviously, coloring has been changed, but there's more... Yes, the image has been hifted down, but it's also been shifted over! New art's been added next to Torgo's upraised arm, and the wall of the arena is different, too! Plus, Ben's head is completely different! Some motion lines have been dropped, too! Can you spot any other changes?
Thursday, June 28, 2012
The Indexible Hulk #27!
Title: “Like a Beast at Bay!”
Credits: Written by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Mickey Demeo (Mike Esposito), letters by Artie Simek.
Supporting Cast: Thunderbolt Ross, Glenn Talbot, Rick Jones, Betty Ross
Villain: The Leader
Hulk Intelligence: He should be Banner smart, but he's got a temper!
Guest-Stars: None
Plot: As the Hulk is about to attack the giant Humanoid again, Rick reaches him and warns about the new missile to be launched. The Hulk grabs Rick and leaps away, barely escaping the huge mushroom cloud created when the missile explodes. Still, they are hit by the shockwave, which sends them hurtling further away. Back at the base, when the smoke clears, Ross and Talbot can see that the Leader's Humanoid is down and out of action! The soldiers surround the fallen android (I guess there was no residual radiation of any kind, eh?), but suddenly, the thing bursts into flames, and nothing is left of it – the Leader's decided to destroy it rather than let it fall into the military's hands. But the Leader's changed targets anyway – he's keeping an eye on the Hulk, to learn his secret! Where the Hulk and Rick finally landed, the Hulk is fine, but Rick is barely breathing. The Hulk performs CPR in a sense on the boy, reviving him. The Hulk picks Rick up again and leaps to the hidden cave lab, but the military spots them and follows! When they reach the lab, the Hulk checks the gamma ray equipment, which he plans to use every two days to remain the Hulk (else the bullet in his brain will instantly kill him when he turns back to Banner). Suddenly, the cave is rocked by cannon fire! The military has found the whereabouts of the cave, and are attacking! The Hulk responds by throwing debris from the resulting cave-ins back to Ross' soldiers. Then Ross uses a bullhorn to tell the Hulk to give up, or they'll drop nuclear weapons on the cave! The Hulk pushes Rick out of the cave, figuring he'll sacrfice himself, but the Leader contacts him via projecto-image, and offers to take him away from there with his projecto-ray so long as they team up!
Invention Exchange: As noted in last issue, the giant Humanoid and the Sunday Punch missile. New this issue is the Leader's projecto-beam.
Reprinted In: The Incredible Hulk Special #3, Incredible Hulk (Simon & Schuster, 1978), Essential Hulk #1.
Notes: Obviously, the idea of Banner's brain controlling the Hulk's body is already changing, as he's getting closer and closer to Hulk temperament again! Namor gets a lot of cover focus, since his feature just began in the previous issue.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Fandom Library BONUS! Inside Comics #2
Cool Stuff!
Gigantor! Gigantor! Giga-a-a-antor!









Gigantor book and record set from Japan! And after the jump... GI Joe stuff!
Gigantor book and record set from Japan! And after the jump... GI Joe stuff!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Ten of a Kind: TV Show Episodes I Wish They'd Made!
This is a list of 10 TV shows and the episodes I'd wish they'd made!
1. The Monkees: Origin Episode: Oh, we know how the Monkees were cast, but I don't recall in any episode did they ever even hint how Micky, Davy, Peter and Michael were supposed to have met and decided to form a band, nor how they got the Monkeemobile! In my mind, the four of them begin the episode trying to get a gig as a solo artist, but of course, it's hard to make money shaking a tambourine and maracas, or just playing drums, without a band behind you. Oh, Mike and Peter may have done okay, but clearly, they needed a band, as well as a place to live. Maybe the four of them first meet when they respond to the "For Rent" advertisement for the beach house. They all want it (because beach house = parties = girls) but none can afford it by themselves. Later, they come across some kind of promotion where there's a very cool customized car that's being given away, and all you have to do to win it is to be the last person touching it. Of course, this would be the (logo-less) Monkeemobile, and the four each figure that if they won the car, they could sell it for the bread they need! Naturally, as they wait it out, they start to get to know each other, and by the time the contest ends, and the promoter asks what name to put on the car, the four of them answer, "The Monkees!" Or something like that.
2. Quantum Leap: Sam Leaps Back To Himself: Well, I wouldn't actually want Dr. Sam Beckett to actually leap into his younger self; rather, I'd have him leaping into someone close to his younger self, so we can see what Sam was like as a young man, perhaps in college, where we see his early brilliance.
3. Bewitched: Crisis On Infinite Darrins: The episode that would have explained that the Dick York episodes were on Bewitched Earth-1, and the Dick Sargent episodes were on Bewitched Earth-2. Maybe Endora cast some kind of master spell that she figured was going to get Darrin gone for good, and Sam wouldn't even remember he'd ever existed, and instead, she switches Darrins for a Darrin from an alternate reality, but Sam never notices!
4. Dungeons and Dragons: The Return: This, of course, was actually scripted, and performed radio-style and included on the D&D DVD set, but it would've been nice to see it actually animated!
5. Planet of the Apes: The Return Home: A little-known detail about the POTA TV series is that when the episodes were edited together into movies for syndication, some new footage of Roddy McDowall as Galen was added to these, and in one of them, he talks about Burke and Virdon finally making their way back to their own time. I want to see that episode, okay?
6. Time Tunnel: The Return: Hey, it's a trend! It would've been nice if they could've provided some closure on this show, so that the guys could have returned back home to their own time, and then they could've figured out what went wrong with the Time Tunnel in the first place!
7. Land of the Giants: You know the title by now, right? Another Irwin Allen show that needed closure to it!
8. Heroes: The Apology: An hour-long episode where all the writers and producers sit down and apologize over and over for how off the track the show went, starting with the end of the first season when the battle with Sylar ended up being just plain lame!
9. Thundercats: Take out Mumm-Ra permanently! When the original Thundercats was on, I watched it daily, and one thing that always bugged me was when Mumm-Ra was defeated, they'd always let him walk away! Come on, these guys are supposed to be warriors, why would they let the worst foe they have constantly live to plot another day??? I know, it would've meant having to come up with new villains... so what?
10. Birdman: The Origin: Yeah, I know, this is out of left field... the origin was hinted at, but we never really got the real story, did we? What the heck was his name before he got his powers, and did they really come from Ra? Where did Avenger, the giant eagle, come from? Who paid for the Aviary? How did he come to work for Falcon-7? Inquiring minds want to know!
1. The Monkees: Origin Episode: Oh, we know how the Monkees were cast, but I don't recall in any episode did they ever even hint how Micky, Davy, Peter and Michael were supposed to have met and decided to form a band, nor how they got the Monkeemobile! In my mind, the four of them begin the episode trying to get a gig as a solo artist, but of course, it's hard to make money shaking a tambourine and maracas, or just playing drums, without a band behind you. Oh, Mike and Peter may have done okay, but clearly, they needed a band, as well as a place to live. Maybe the four of them first meet when they respond to the "For Rent" advertisement for the beach house. They all want it (because beach house = parties = girls) but none can afford it by themselves. Later, they come across some kind of promotion where there's a very cool customized car that's being given away, and all you have to do to win it is to be the last person touching it. Of course, this would be the (logo-less) Monkeemobile, and the four each figure that if they won the car, they could sell it for the bread they need! Naturally, as they wait it out, they start to get to know each other, and by the time the contest ends, and the promoter asks what name to put on the car, the four of them answer, "The Monkees!" Or something like that.
2. Quantum Leap: Sam Leaps Back To Himself: Well, I wouldn't actually want Dr. Sam Beckett to actually leap into his younger self; rather, I'd have him leaping into someone close to his younger self, so we can see what Sam was like as a young man, perhaps in college, where we see his early brilliance.
3. Bewitched: Crisis On Infinite Darrins: The episode that would have explained that the Dick York episodes were on Bewitched Earth-1, and the Dick Sargent episodes were on Bewitched Earth-2. Maybe Endora cast some kind of master spell that she figured was going to get Darrin gone for good, and Sam wouldn't even remember he'd ever existed, and instead, she switches Darrins for a Darrin from an alternate reality, but Sam never notices!
4. Dungeons and Dragons: The Return: This, of course, was actually scripted, and performed radio-style and included on the D&D DVD set, but it would've been nice to see it actually animated!
5. Planet of the Apes: The Return Home: A little-known detail about the POTA TV series is that when the episodes were edited together into movies for syndication, some new footage of Roddy McDowall as Galen was added to these, and in one of them, he talks about Burke and Virdon finally making their way back to their own time. I want to see that episode, okay?
6. Time Tunnel: The Return: Hey, it's a trend! It would've been nice if they could've provided some closure on this show, so that the guys could have returned back home to their own time, and then they could've figured out what went wrong with the Time Tunnel in the first place!
7. Land of the Giants: You know the title by now, right? Another Irwin Allen show that needed closure to it!
8. Heroes: The Apology: An hour-long episode where all the writers and producers sit down and apologize over and over for how off the track the show went, starting with the end of the first season when the battle with Sylar ended up being just plain lame!
9. Thundercats: Take out Mumm-Ra permanently! When the original Thundercats was on, I watched it daily, and one thing that always bugged me was when Mumm-Ra was defeated, they'd always let him walk away! Come on, these guys are supposed to be warriors, why would they let the worst foe they have constantly live to plot another day??? I know, it would've meant having to come up with new villains... so what?
10. Birdman: The Origin: Yeah, I know, this is out of left field... the origin was hinted at, but we never really got the real story, did we? What the heck was his name before he got his powers, and did they really come from Ra? Where did Avenger, the giant eagle, come from? Who paid for the Aviary? How did he come to work for Falcon-7? Inquiring minds want to know!
Comic Book Ads!
Monday, June 25, 2012
What, This and That Time Again?
So, what's new to share with you guys?
ITEM! So... the latest development with my career? Well, I had applied for and got hired to work for a company that works with disabled adults... but when I was hired, it turned out that the hours and pay ended up being way too little (it would've been one thing if it had been, say, 25 years ago... but now, it doesn't work). I was prepared to work there for as long as I needed to until I found something else... when something else suddenly happened! Remember I'd posted a while back about looking into truck driving, but I couldn't get it paid for? Enter CR England -- I applied there, and not only got accepted for training (with a minimum employment period after that), but I also got my tuition paid for, thanks to being former military! That means, however, that I'll be away from home for about six weeks beginning late next month, and then periodically after that for various periods when I'm on the road... but you know, a job is a job, and that will fit me and my family's income needs more than anything else I've been able to manage. Yes, that means that Medical Assisting is completely off the table for me now... it was a noble attempt, but ultimately, a failed one. Ce la vie!
ITEM! Have you been checking out my new Facebook page on Book and Record Sets? Well, I know one of you have -- Jason Galterio -- and I wanted to publicly thank him for his generosity in offering me for the cost of shipping a bunch of really super cool Power Records featuring Marvel and DC heroes! Jason Galterio, I hereby honor you with the first ever Random Acts of Geekery Golden No-Cross of Valor for Services Above and Beyond Geekery! That and $5.75 will get you a cup of coffee, natch, as it doesn't even get to come in an empty envelope like Marvel's No-Prizes used to! Anyway, I've got a bunch of videos up there created from my collection already, and I may start crossposting them here in the near future. I've also set up a YouTube channel that you could probably find if you put some effort into it!
ITEM! Given the first item above, some things ended up happening rather quickly around here, as you might imagine - and they had been happening quickly before then, believe it or not! A while back, the homeowners' association for my neighborhood had a special meeting, and at that meeting I was elected to the board of directors; well, the first meeting of the board happened two or three weeks after that, and at the end of that meeting, I found myself elected as the new vice president! Not long after that, I took charge of our neighborhood's community yard sale (an annual event that I've always felt needed someone to really take charge of)... well, as you can imagine, after enrolling in truck driving school, I ended up having to resign as vice president (it'll be effective as of the next meeting), although I hope to stay on the board, depending on how often I'm out of town when board meetings are held. I'm still able to get the yard sale dealt with before I leave, fortunately!
ITEM! So, if I'm going to be a long-haul trucker, what's that going to mean here at the Random Acts of Geekery? Well, initially, not too terribly much, as I already have my posts done through to the end of December (hey, I had a flurry of activity, what can I say?). I'm hoping I'll find time for another month of posts done by the time I leave, but after I'm gone at school, I won't be doing anything for a while on the blog (except maybe answer comments, which I really need to catch up on anyway). Once I'm done with school and start working, I'll only be able to do posts when I'm at home -- at least, initially! I do have my iPad, which will be coming with me, but I'm not sure how well it'll work for me to do blog posts with (kind of a small screen, you know). So, we'll have to kind of wait and see. It's possible that I may have to do some rearranging of things here, and cut back on the volume of posts, so that there's only one post a day... I'll just have to see what I can manage.
ITEM! If you have a Dollar Tree in your area, get thee hence if you like to find cool superhero toys for a buck! There's this line of toys, "Miniature Alliance," only at Dollar Tree, and it's carded painted PVC miniatures of the Hulk, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Captain America, Venom, and Wolverine. I bought all but the last two of those -- and have to wonder, why no Thor? I mean, he's been in two movies, and Venom's only been in one! Well, mine is not to reason why, I suppose (well, actually, it is, but I won't get anywhere with it). They're pretty cool, and made by Monogram Direct, who also makes some other cool stuff that I wish I could find, such as their resin Avengers figurines with letter bases that, when put together, spell "Avengers"! Unfortunately, those are out of my price range, I think. Anyway, I see on eBay that a "box set" of these is currently being offered for $24.95 plus $8.95 shipping, so I think you're much better off going to Dollar Tree! Of course, if you don't have one near you, you might be out of luck... but I'd be willing to work something out for anyone who contacts me immediately!
ITEM! So... the latest development with my career? Well, I had applied for and got hired to work for a company that works with disabled adults... but when I was hired, it turned out that the hours and pay ended up being way too little (it would've been one thing if it had been, say, 25 years ago... but now, it doesn't work). I was prepared to work there for as long as I needed to until I found something else... when something else suddenly happened! Remember I'd posted a while back about looking into truck driving, but I couldn't get it paid for? Enter CR England -- I applied there, and not only got accepted for training (with a minimum employment period after that), but I also got my tuition paid for, thanks to being former military! That means, however, that I'll be away from home for about six weeks beginning late next month, and then periodically after that for various periods when I'm on the road... but you know, a job is a job, and that will fit me and my family's income needs more than anything else I've been able to manage. Yes, that means that Medical Assisting is completely off the table for me now... it was a noble attempt, but ultimately, a failed one. Ce la vie!
ITEM! Have you been checking out my new Facebook page on Book and Record Sets? Well, I know one of you have -- Jason Galterio -- and I wanted to publicly thank him for his generosity in offering me for the cost of shipping a bunch of really super cool Power Records featuring Marvel and DC heroes! Jason Galterio, I hereby honor you with the first ever Random Acts of Geekery Golden No-Cross of Valor for Services Above and Beyond Geekery! That and $5.75 will get you a cup of coffee, natch, as it doesn't even get to come in an empty envelope like Marvel's No-Prizes used to! Anyway, I've got a bunch of videos up there created from my collection already, and I may start crossposting them here in the near future. I've also set up a YouTube channel that you could probably find if you put some effort into it!
ITEM! Given the first item above, some things ended up happening rather quickly around here, as you might imagine - and they had been happening quickly before then, believe it or not! A while back, the homeowners' association for my neighborhood had a special meeting, and at that meeting I was elected to the board of directors; well, the first meeting of the board happened two or three weeks after that, and at the end of that meeting, I found myself elected as the new vice president! Not long after that, I took charge of our neighborhood's community yard sale (an annual event that I've always felt needed someone to really take charge of)... well, as you can imagine, after enrolling in truck driving school, I ended up having to resign as vice president (it'll be effective as of the next meeting), although I hope to stay on the board, depending on how often I'm out of town when board meetings are held. I'm still able to get the yard sale dealt with before I leave, fortunately!
ITEM! So, if I'm going to be a long-haul trucker, what's that going to mean here at the Random Acts of Geekery? Well, initially, not too terribly much, as I already have my posts done through to the end of December (hey, I had a flurry of activity, what can I say?). I'm hoping I'll find time for another month of posts done by the time I leave, but after I'm gone at school, I won't be doing anything for a while on the blog (except maybe answer comments, which I really need to catch up on anyway). Once I'm done with school and start working, I'll only be able to do posts when I'm at home -- at least, initially! I do have my iPad, which will be coming with me, but I'm not sure how well it'll work for me to do blog posts with (kind of a small screen, you know). So, we'll have to kind of wait and see. It's possible that I may have to do some rearranging of things here, and cut back on the volume of posts, so that there's only one post a day... I'll just have to see what I can manage.
ITEM! If you have a Dollar Tree in your area, get thee hence if you like to find cool superhero toys for a buck! There's this line of toys, "Miniature Alliance," only at Dollar Tree, and it's carded painted PVC miniatures of the Hulk, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Captain America, Venom, and Wolverine. I bought all but the last two of those -- and have to wonder, why no Thor? I mean, he's been in two movies, and Venom's only been in one! Well, mine is not to reason why, I suppose (well, actually, it is, but I won't get anywhere with it). They're pretty cool, and made by Monogram Direct, who also makes some other cool stuff that I wish I could find, such as their resin Avengers figurines with letter bases that, when put together, spell "Avengers"! Unfortunately, those are out of my price range, I think. Anyway, I see on eBay that a "box set" of these is currently being offered for $24.95 plus $8.95 shipping, so I think you're much better off going to Dollar Tree! Of course, if you don't have one near you, you might be out of luck... but I'd be willing to work something out for anyone who contacts me immediately!
Kirby Kovers!
Geek TV: Captain Nice!
Total Episodes: 15
Original Air Dates: January 1967-August 1967
Original Network: NBC
Geek Factor: 6
Characters:
Carter Nash/Captain Nice (William Daniels): The above-mentioned mild-mannered police chemist who lives with his mother. His costume was made by mom, and he chose the name “Captain Nice” because he already had “CN” monogrammed on many items. Among his powers are the ability to fly, but he's nervous about using it, because he's afraid of heights!
Sgt. Candy Kane (Ann Prentiss): Carter's girlfriend in the police department.
Mrs. Nash (Alice Ghostly): Carter's mother and general pain in the tuchas (at least, to Carter).
Mayer Finney (Liam Dunn): Mayor of Bigtown, the city Captain Nice operates in!
Geek Guest-Stars: Julie Parrish, who played a hat check girl in two episodes, played Miss Piper in the original Star Trek pilot “The Menagerie”.
Geek Pedigree:
DVD Release: None.
Website: http://www.crazyabouttv.com/captainnice.html is probably as good as any other site out there!
Notes: Never saw this when it was first on, but I did catch reruns in the early days of HA! (before it merged with The Comedy Channel to become Comedy Central). I enjoyed it! There was a paperback book written by William Johnston based on the series, and a single issue of a Gold Key comic book.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Give-A-Show Video Feature!
Multiple features this time, all from Magna-Slide, which was a Canadian competitor to the Give-A-Show Projector that seems to only have done Disney stuff! So here's Snow White, followed by Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Aristocats, and Mickey and Donald at Walt Disney World!
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