KISS - Shout It Out Loud Cover By Spinning Jenny

                    

Emi, the ball popper!

 

Emerald Sage is gentle loving cat.  She purrs easily and loudly when she's happy, which is most all the time.  She's still active, even though she is over seven years old now.  That is a senior cat.  Kaida is the cause of most of her exercise.  She doesn't like to be picked up and held, but loves to be petted.  She is a rare gem and I love her.

So I got an exercise ball chair for a Yuletide present.  It has been great, and it keeps my core muscles exercising, since you have to be careful about sitting properly.  Else one might fall OFF the ball.  Now I knew having two cats and an inflated rubber ball in the house might be dangerous to the ball.  But for over two months, the cats generally ignored it.  Until yesterday.

Sven- War of the Gargantuas

 

Two brothers have different temperaments and eating issues.  One likes humans, one does not.  This eventually leads the green one into conflict with people.  His brown brother, Sanda, tends to stay out of sight of people and also is a vegetarian, or so it inferred.  Sanda tries to rehabilitate his brother, Gaira, but alas, Gaira's taste for people won't abate.  The brothers then fight all over Japan, ending up in Tokyo.  Fighting off into the ocean, an erupting volcano takes care of the brothers.

Hero-a-go-go (2015)

 

Michael Eury takes a fun look at the mid-1960s superhero boom.  I generally disagree with calling it all "camp" since that label could be applied to almost anything at all.  Nor was camp invented in the 60s.  Eury does mention this, thankfully.  I got the book a few years ago, and glanced through it.  Then apparently completely forgot it was in my collection.  It sure is interesting how that sort of thing can happen to a person.  I got it out to read while eating pizza before the new Ant-Man movie the other day.

The War of the Gargantuas (1966) - U.S. Theatrical Trailer

                  

Quantumania (2023)

 

Well, we were warned.

Scott, Hank, Janet, Hope and Cassie all get sucked into the Quantum Realm.  Cassie had been poking around in there, and naturally, they all end up in there.  However, people live in what looks like a microscopic universe... a microverse, if you will.  There they find out that Janet knows of Kang, and the search to get home involves this variant of the Conqueror.  Also, M.O.D.O.K. is floating about down there, and it has some issues that need resolved as well.

HOTW- Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Goliath, Yellowjacket, Dr. Pym

 

From Wiki-

Biochemist Dr. Henry "Hank" Pym discovers an unusual set of subatomic particles he labels "Pym particles". Entrapping these within two separate serums, he creates a size-altering formula and a reversal formula, testing them on himself. Reduced to the size of an insect, he becomes trapped in an anthill before he eventually escapes and uses the reversal formula to restore himself to his normal size. Deciding the serums are too dangerous to exist, he destroys them.^[6] Shortly afterwards, he reconsiders his decision and recreates his serums. Pym's experience in the anthill inspires him to study ants, and he constructs a cybernetic helmet that allows him to communicate with and control them. Pym designs a costume made of unstable molecules to prevent bites or scratches from the ants and reinvents himself as the superhero Ant-Man.^[7]

Adam & The Ants - Prince Charming

                 

The Avengers meet the Justice League

Avengers #70 was the first comic book I remember owning and actually knowing a little about what was going on.  I did not realize exactly what was happening then, with the homages going on. It would actually be years before I figured it out, but I did start to have my suspicions in time.  The Squadron was too similar to the JLA.

Sven- Duel 1971

 

Dave Mann cuts off an 18 wheeler truck.  The driver takes this far too personally, and chases him around southern California until Dave figures out how to get the truck to fall over a cliff.  Now he has no car, no way to communicate to anyone and is miles away from civilization.

DAM poster

Pretty sure this is going to the the cover of Xenorama #50, since what else would I use?  It is nice and colorful, but dang, it really could have been better.  Just tell me which monster is Godzilla?  Yeah, I know which one it is supposed to be, but only two of the beasts on the poster look like their movie counterparts.  At least the spaceship and the saucer are correct.  The poster has grown on me, and it will catch the eye.  A little more detail, and having Godzilla front and center would really help, though.  AIP had to have gotten some Japanese material from Toho, right?

Duel (1971) Official Trailer

                      

Great Mazinga thoughts

 

I am about 40 episodes into this series- it's got 56 episodes, plus a few movies.  I've had the set for a while, but haven't watched it much until recently.  It has really grown on me, though it is not quite as good as Mazinger Z.  Part of that is because it is not as fresh and new, whereas we have now seen this sort of show.  Also, Great Mazinga is really, and I mean really overpowered.  I get that he needs to have terrible enemies, but Dr. Kabuto keeps giving Great more powers.  Even at the start of the series.

RIP Raquel Welch

 

Raquel Welch passed on today at the age of 82.  She leaves behind an incredible legacy of movies, song and television appearances.  She has been part of my life since I saw her in One Million Years, BC (1966) even though I didn't know who she was at the time.  After I did learn of her, I would watch most every movie that aired if I saw her name in it.  She was good in everything she did.  I strongly suspect that she was one of the three major influences on the women I find attractive in my life.  She was a great actress, and had excellent comedy timing to go along with her dramatic chops.

HOTW- Captain Marvel (the first one)

 

With one magic word...

The old wizard Shazam gifts orphan Billy Batson with great powers.  By saying Shazam, Billy turns into Captain Marvel.  He has to stop Dr. Sivana from something right away from taking over the world.  He was soon joined by three Lt. Marvels, a sister, Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel, Jr, as well as various other fantastic characters.  He also had a great rogue's gallery as well.   He received his powers from Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury, which made him the world's mightiest mortal.  The wizard Shazam had found all those people to give them a fraction of their power for his champion.  Good thinking there!

The Cramps People Ain't No Good- Live Rennes

               

Danhausen figure

 

With a Xenorama issue about toys in the near future, I have been looking at what I still own.  This is brand new to me, though.  Pro Wrestler Danhausen broke his leg during a match, and these dolls were part of a plan to help the very nice, very evil wrestler with his medical bills.  They are after all, working as independent contractors.  Since I enjoy his youtube channel, I thought I would help out, and get a cool keepsake.  It was released in the second quarter of 2022, but I just got it last month.  I had to send them a reminder, but then they got it right out to me.  No muss, no fuss.  It even comes with a bag of human monies, a jar of teeth and extra hands to hold them.  It is very nice and very evil!

Sven- Killer Klowns (1988)

 

Aliens land in a small town and start collecting humans for sustenance.  Two semi-teens see the ship (thinking it was a meteorite) and investigate.  They find the remains of an old man and see the alien klowns.  They bail, run to the cops who don't believe them.  Meanwhile, the aliens go on a rampage of death, wrapping their new food sources in cotton candy.  Eventually our heroes head find the ship, have a battle and manage to destroy the ship as it takes off.  The five of them are alive, but most of the town was not.

A Shot in the Dark (1964)

 

A murder has been committed at the Ballon Manor.  Inspector Clouseau is assigned to the case.  This once again causes Chief Inspector Dreyfuss no end of consternation.  Everyone is convinced that Maria Gambrelli is the culprit, but there is a lot more that meets the eye going on.  M'sieu Ballon wants Clouseau on the case, simply because of his ineptitude.  Naturally, this doesn't work out for the guilty party at all.  Nor does it work out for Dreyfuss.

KILLER CLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE | Official Trailer

                  

Spider-Man 2 - Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

                     

HOTW- The Black Cat

 

From Wiki- Linda Turner is the daughter of silent film Western actor Tim Turner, and a former Hollywood stunt woman. Linda has successfully made the transition from stunt woman to lead actress. During the filming of an unnamed picture, Linda suspects the film's director, Garboil (no first name given), of being a Nazi spy or at the very least an American Bund member. In order to follow him and gain corroborating evidence, she disguises herself in a backless blue blouse, red shorts, blue flared gloves, red buccaneer boots and a blue opera mask and calls herself the Black Cat.  While following Garboil, Black Cat meets Rick Horne, a reporter for the Los Angeles Globe who has been assigned to investigate rumors of a Nazi spy ring in LA. Initially disdainful of each other, the pair are forced to work together and discover that Garboil is planting secret information in his motion pictures. Using her knowledge of the studio, Black Cat sneaks into the editing room and changes the edit of the picture to render the information useless. When they are discovered, Rick and Cat physically overpower the gang and turn them in. Garboil escapes and Linda decides to maintain her Black Cat identity in order to keep watch over his activities.

The Clash- London Calling/Train In The Vain (Live On Fridays)

        

Jet Jaguar figure

 

I got this figure a while ago.  It is hanging on the wall.  I haven't opened it up or anything, since that would destroy the collectability.  Also, it isn't really articulated, so it looks better this way.  I had a Bandai Jet Jaguar way back in the 90s, but when it went out of print (or whatever they call it when toys are no longer made) I sold it for about 5 times the original cost.  Always keep the tags on, kids!  That was the most boring pose they could have done.  This one is made by Playmates, and they generally have some far more dynamic poses for their toys and figures.

Sven- Creature from the Black Lagoon

 

I remember the first time I saw this movie.  It was on KWGN Channel 2's Sci-Fi Flicks.  I was probably 7 or 8 years old.  The Outer Limits episode Tourist Attraction was aired before it, and since that had aquatic monsters in it, it prepared us for the movie properly.  It is not a well regarded episode, but I like it.  Two underwater terrors at once was just great.  I think OL started at 9:30 as Channel 2 had early news at 9, and then Sci-Fi Flicks started at 10:30 PM and generally finished around 12:30 AM.  It was a great time for monster kid.

Godzilla vs. Megalon pin

Godzilla vs. Megalon was released in Japan in 1973.  It took three years to be released in the States, and when it was, it was a big success.  We here at Xenorama will be celebrating the movie with a special issue later on in the year.  It is one of my favorite Godzilla films.  I saw it at age 11, which was the perfect age to see this movie.  We will explore all sorts of things about this film, so look forward to it!  It is always fun to be able to watch these movies for "research."  I hope that excuse works!  Here is a pin from the movie, apparently these were given away at various theaters in 1976.

Creature from the Black Lagoon Official Trailer #1 - (1954) HD

     

The A-Team: The Say Uncle Affair

From IMDb- "Stockwell is contacted by Ivan Trigorin, aka "Brown Fox", his former partner at the CIA for nearly ten years. The Russian is looking for a top secret stealth bomber the Americans have stolen from the Soviets and starts torturing the General for information. Carla informs the A-Team they have 36 hours to find Stockwell, or the entire operation will cease to be and they will become fugitives once more."  This is from the A-Team, Season 5, episode 6.

HOTW- The Human Torch (1939)

 

From Comic Vine (an excellent comic book website, I must say) -

The original Human Torch, who fought in the second World War and was a member of the Invaders, is a synthetic human created by Professor Phineas T. Horton. He is also (publishing-wise) the first ever Marvel super-hero!