TECH FUTURE: AR/VR

Even if you've never tried on a VR headset or dabbled in augmented reality, fans of Ernie Cline's Ready Player One will be familiar with some of the concepts around what it might be like to live, work, and play in a digital landscape. Michael Krasny hosted an interesting discussion on NPR's Forum today with senior WIRED editor Peter Rubin and various developers and CEOs from the industry. From NPR: "Holograms you can touch. Cameras that recognize what they see. Clothing you can try on virtually. These are just some of the things tech companies say augmented reality will make possible. But how far off are touchable holograms? And will people actually want to use them? In this hour of Forum we discuss the future of AR, its potential applications and the ethics of mixing computer-generated images with the real world." I found the discussion really interesting, especially when they got into issues around ethics, safe use in society (don't AR and drive!), and our connection and responsibility to the real world. Listen here on NPR. 

TRANSFORMERS JAPANESE COLLECTION

New release: The complete Transformers Japanese Collection will see its first US release on June 13th via Shout! Factory. From the press release: "In 1984 the world was introduced to a unique line of transforming toys designed by Japanese toymaker Takara. Originally created as independent action figures, the characters were repackaged as The Transformers by American toy powerhouse Hasbro, who created a comprehensive backstory of valiant Autobots and treacherous Decepticons. The franchise was an instant success, launching popular comic books and a daily animated series that spanned four stunning seasons and a theatrical motion picture. Original toy creators Takara teamed up with Toei Animation, took the events of the show’s first three seasons and launched their own series, steering the heroic adventures of the Autobots — known as Cybertrons in Japan — in a completely new and surprising direction. Finally, for the very first time in North America, those three Japanese creations — Headmasters, Super-God Masterforce and Victory — can be seen in one deluxe DVD box set!" 13 discs with bonus art galleries. More info at Shout! Factory and Amazon. 

SUPER SENTAI EVENT

Shout! Factory is hosting a Super Sentai event this weekend! Tune in to their streaming channel to see classic Japanese sci-fi/monster action on their website, complete with commentary and round table discussions with tokusatsu experts. This is a great way to find out how the whole Power Rangers phenomenon began in Japan. There is also a flash sale on all tokusatsu DVD box sets and fans can save up to 50%! More info at Shout! Factory. 

ERNIE CLINE CLASSIC GAME FEST

Author Ernie Cline (Ready Player One) will be a special guest at Classic Game Fest this summer! The festival will be held the Palmer Events Center in Austin July 29-30. "Classic Game Fest is excited to welcome acclaimed author and screenwriter, Ernest Cline, back to Classic Game Fest! Cline will be signing autographs and a meet and greet on Saturday, July 30th from 12-2pm ONLY! You’ll have an opportunity to purchase a book or bring your own copy to have signed." More info here. See my Ernie Cline image archive on Pinterst. 

LABYRINTH LP

David Bowie's wonderful soundtrack to Labyrinth (1986) has finally been reissued! After years of seeing the original pressing fetch high prices on the collector's market, fans can now pick up the 2017 remastered edition for around $24. Also includes Trevor Jones' instrumental tracks. Great songs to a great movie! Can't go wrong with Jim Henson, David Bowie, Terry Jones, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Kenny Baker, Brian Henson, George Lucas, and Gates McFadden! Find the LP at Amazon and local music stores. The film also had a 4k restoration and Blu-ray release recently, though I must say I prefer the original Blu-ray edition- looks more film-like and natural to my eyes. Enjoy!

THEREMIN PAGE

I was raised on old records by Blues greats such as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and John Lee Hooker, so I never really got into Led Zeppelin. At the time it all sounded like too much borrowing and noodling on the guitar. But I explored the band as an adult and came to enjoy how they expanded the form. I was especially intrigued by Led Zep's commitment to interaction between the voice and guitar. My ears were finally ready for their brand of electric experimentation. It's been some years now since I listened to them, so I revisited The Song Remains the Same film last night. Sure, lots of swagger there, but I did enjoy this Theremin sequence from Whole Lotta Love. I admit, I even enjoyed seeing Plant's fantasy bits filmed in Wales. I've become a regular Wales traveler in the past couple of years, so just soaked in the landscape and didn't mind the sword-quest story too much. If anyone saw the recent doc It Might Get Loud, you'll get that I kept thinking of an elderly Page over his Theremin- still grinning like a kid. Here's Plant and Page working the Theremin-voice improv in the 70s. Enjoy! 

YO-YO

Curiosity is such is funny thing. I never know where it will lead me. I got a bit nostalgic recently about the blue Duncan Imperial Yo-Yo I had as a kid. I really enjoyed it, although I was never that into complex tricks. I just loved the motion of it, which I found kind of meditative. My local Toys R Us has a Yo-Yo section, so I went over one night about a month ago and picked up a new blue Imperial. I guess Yo-Yos are kind of like riding a bike, and it was a blast to rediscover. I even picked up a 1950s-style wood model on-line and a modern one that's great for some tricks. I then checked out current Yo-Yo competition videos on Youtube. Man, those people are really serious about it these days! In contrast, it's pretty charming to go back to this 1978 doc about the history and science of Yo-Yos. I've also included a video about the world's most incredible Yo-Yo collection- totally awesome! If you are interested in Yo-Yos, I suggest these websites: Yo-Yo tricks, Yo-Yo Play. Enjoy!

HEARTS FOR HARDWARE

I recently ran into an artist at a local convention who has found his muse- in vintage game hardware. Inspired by old systems, Randy Gallegos has created a cool portfolio of paintings that pay tribute to the designs of Atari, Nintendo, Macintosh, and others. You can see his work and order prints via HeartsForHardware. Gallegos also works as an artist/illustrator for commercial clients and publishing companies. Check out his website. Enjoy!

SPIDEY SUPER STORIES

I was a huge Spider-Man fan when I was a kid. I was the kind of boy who walked around humming the cartoon theme song and swung my Mego doll around on a thread until his arm fell off. I collected old Silver Age comics at tag sales and flea markets and regularly checked the local pharmacy magazine rack for current issues. Peter Parker's life as a nephew, photographer, and superhero had me in constant suspense. Collecting was super fun, but also something I took seriously. So when my hero appeared on the Electric Company TV show and in tie-in books, I dismissed it all as too "kiddie". After all, I was reading the "real" Spider-Man! But these vintage covers caught my eye recently. They hold a certain charm. The people in the scenes look like the people I knew back then. And the whole project now seems like a loving tribute to Spider-Man as a universal -and relatable- hero. I can finally embrace this iteration of Spidey for what it was: honest, inclusive, and fun! Here is a sampling of covers and ads for the Spidey Super Stories comic (1974-1982). Enjoy!

ULTRAMAN 50TH TOYS

Bandai and S.H. Figures celebrated the 50th anniversary of Japan's iconic hero, Ultraman, in a really cool set of detailed toys. Not only did they pay close attention to costuming and articulation, but they even added miniature buildings so fans could stage their own kaiju battles. Cue stop-motion enthusiasts! Here is a badass animation spotlighting the set. Enjoy! More toy info at Amazon. 

MAN OR ASTROMAN

Man Or Astroman? started in the early 1990s with a fun cocktail of blistering surf-punk guitar and frequent nods to classic sci-fi. Fans of MST3K might remember the band's cover of the main theme, not to mention many of the group's recordings begin with sound samples from cheesy MST flicks. Here's one I always enjoyed called Maximum Radiation Level from Deluxe Men in Space (1996). Seems like the Cold War is heating up again, so maybe it's timely. Duck and cover (and enjoy)!

SPIDER-MAN JAPAN

Spider-Man holds a special place in the hearts of fans of live-action Japanese classics (tokusatsu). Supaidaman was Spidey on Turbo! The series even included a giant robot, which appeared in Ernie Cline' awesome Ready Player One. I sure hope Steven Spielberg will be able to license all the cool references in the novel for his current movie adaptation. Here's the intro to the Japanese show. Enjoy!

READY PLAYER ONE NEW EDITION

My favorite book of the last few years has been Ernie Cline's Ready Player One. Not only is it a fun sci-fi take on the Willy Wonka premise, but all of the trials and riddles the protagonist must solve are steeped in 1980s pop culture. Ernie, who also wrote the Star Wars-inspired movie Fanboys, struck gold when he sold the book (his first novel) and Steven Spielberg snatched it up as his next project. They are filming right now! And if that's not awesome enough news, John Williams will be scoring the film! I've been so excited for Ernie. And as a huge fan of the book, I've collected editions from all over the world (Space Invaders are a common cover design motif). I even have a special copy of the first edition that has been signed by many people referenced in the novel- my own personal quest to celebrate the book and connect with the culture of my youth. Now that I finished writing my 1960s spy novel,  I'm inspired to write my next book about the late 1970s and 1980s. Meeting up with my heroes through RPO has been super fun and good preparation to write. So why bring this up now? Ready Player One was just released in a new Large Print edition this week. Check it out at Amazon. Congrats to Ernie Cline on the continuing success of his badass book. Enjoy! 

RICHARD HATCH R.I.P.

Battlestar Galatica star and Golden Globe nominee Richard Hatch passed away today at the age of 71. Hatch originated the role of Captain Apollo in the classic 1978 sci-fi series- a main TV staple of my youth. Surrounded by an ensemble of salty pilot characters, Hatch's Apollo was the cool adult in the room. Dashing and heroic, he was also the sweet, responsible guy who adopted the orphan boy, Boxy, after the human race was almost wiped out by the robotic Cylon invaders. He played a great leader and role model, who was in turn being mentored by his kindly admiral father, Adama (portrayed by Bonanza's Lorne Greene). I really looked up to Apollo as a kid! And I think every boy in my class that year sported his haircut. Hatch kept one foot in the Battlestar Galactica universe over the years, penning five novels, developing a new series, and starring as the dark criminal-turned politician, Tom Zarek, in the the 2003 re-boot of BSG. When I met Hatch at a convention a couple of years ago he was excited to talk about his continuing efforts to produce new material based on Battlestar Galactica and on his Star Trek character, Anaxar. Most recently I lobbied for him to visit an upcoming convention in northern California. BSG creator Ronald Moore tweeted: "Richard Hatch was a good man, a gracious man, and a consummate professional. His passing is a heavy blow to the entire BSG family." And BSG co-star Edward James Olmos tweeted: "Richard Hatch you made our universe a better place We love you for it. Rest In Peace my friend @SoSayWeAll the Admiral!" So sorry to hear about the loss of one of my childhood heroes. He is survived by his son, Paul.

FRANK MILLER

It's hard to imagine what path my life might have taken if I hadn't been exposed to the work of writer/artist Frank Miller in the 1980s. During his creative explosion Miller redefined Daredevil as a dramatic Noir saga with Japanese-influenced Ninja and panel design. He also wrote an epic Samurai sci-fi adventure called Ronin, inspired by the work of Moebius and Goseki Kojima. Fans also included Kevin Eastman, who went on to co-create the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. My deep interests in Japan (I lived there in '85 and then between '88-'91) and in the comic arts were really fueled during those bus rides back to boarding school from Moondance Comics in Brattleboro, Vermont. Tucked under the arch in Harmony Parking lot back in the day, Moondance was my oasis and steady supplier of glossy bliss. I never knew when issues were coming out, so every Saturday I signed up for the "Bratt-trip," hoping to follow up on Miller's cliffhangers. I have so many vivid memories of reading his comics on the bus back to school. We weren't allowed TV back then, and these comic characters really came to life and inhabited my imagination for years. Each episode in his stories was incredibly dynamic and thrilling. And by the time I got back to school, I was already thrown into great suspense and eager for the next installment. These were the days before binge-consumption, when we could keep stories alive and vital for months and months. The death of Elektra and the first chapter of Ronin are forever imprinted in my inner landscape. My mind can replay the images in total, as if I had watched Miller's stories up on the film screen, rather than as a series of panels on paper. He was a genius! Of course, his Batman book, The Dark Knight Returns, was yet another masterpiece, and it changed the direction of Batman for all time. Miller is currently publishing a new installment in his growing series of Dark Knight sagas. I got to meet Frank Miller twice. The first time was rather rushed, but it was at the height of my Miller-mania. He stopped by Mort Walker's Cartoon Art Museum when in was in Port Chester (a cool castle location!), and he spoke to a small audience about his various projects. I had some copies of his books to sign, but Brian Walker whisked him out of the room at the end. It all worked out well, though. Brian and I eventually became friends and I wrote the Conversations series book about his dad, Mort. And I met Frank Miller again at the first MoCCA festival in NYC. Although I spent most of my time there with Patrick McDonnell (Mutts), I also had a drawing made by Klaus Janson, which both he and Miller signed. I've recently been looking back at Miller's Daredevil and Ronin covers and letting my mind sift through the memories. I have so much to thank him for! Below: some iconic images from Daredevil, Ronin, and Wolverine (art), and Frank Miller talking about his work in 1987. Enjoy!

STAR WARS STRIPS

The classic Star Wars newspaper comic strips by Russ Manning have been collected into a new hardcover edition by IDW and Marvel. From the press release: "The first of three volumes that present for the first time ever the classic Star Wars newspaper strip from 1979-1984 in its complete format--including each Sunday title header and "bonus" panels in their meticulously restored original color. Initially the color Sundays and B&W dailies told separate stories, but within six months the incomparable Russ Manning merged the adventures to tell brand new epic seven-days-a-week sagas that rivaled the best science fiction comics of all time. Volume One contains 575 sequential comic strips from the strip’s premiere on March 11, 1979 to October 5, 1980." Coming April 25th! Pre-orders at Amazon and at your local comic shop. Enjoy!

REBEL GIRL

Here's a cool homage to Carrie Fisher and her Star Wars character, Princess Leia, featuring "Rebel Girl" by Bikini Kill. Enjoy!

PRINCESS BRIDE SIGNING

Princess Bride signing: A number of cast members from this cult classic will be at the FanX Comic-Con in Salt Lake City in March, 2017. Fans in the area will be able to meet up with Cary Elwes, Chris Sarandon, and Wallace Shawn! Stan (the Man) Lee and Weird Al will also be there! More info here. 

BOWIE MTV CHALLENGE

Today would have been David Bowie's 70th birthday. Although he's been gone for almost a year now, I still have difficulty finding the words to express just how important he was to me. Creative, diverse, and inspiring, DB was like a favorite cousin I never met, though I did see him perform five or six times over the years. I used to write a site called Art Pioneers and the last entry was to announce the release of Bowie's album, Lazerus. Little did I know he would pass away the very next day. I wanted to celebrate his birthday today as a hero of the Atari Days era. I may post more clips later, but I want to begin with this interesting interview he did with MTV's Mark Goodman in 1983, where he challenged them to come clean on their lack of coverage of black artists. I like how he continued to press the issue- a cool moment of criticism for the medium within which he was operating. Rebel Rebel. Check it out.

ERIN GRAY

Happy Birthday to actress Erin Gray! Born on this day in 1950, Gray rocketed on my radar in 1979 when she was cast as Colonel Wilma Deering in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. I loved how she portrayed a strong female role-model on that series. Much like the Bionic Woman and Wonder Woman, Deering was an independent and powerful character who reminded me of the real women in my family. It was a cool age that started to show some evolution in regards to gender. Gray once said, "I was the first female colonel. I enjoyed being that kind of role model for young women watching the show. A woman can be a colonel! A woman can be in charge! Those were new ideas then." Despite advancements in the culture, many people have continued to suffer from power struggles and abuse. Gray courageously shared her story of domestic abuse with Stand! here. This reminds me of a documentary I once helped get made called Wonder Women: The Untold Story of American Superheroines. We heard from many great minds in the film, including Lynda Carter, Gloria Steinem, Trina Robbins, Lindsay Wagner, and Kathleen Hanna. And as they discussed the various female action characters in films in TV shows through the decades, it was shocking to see how many were sacrificed, tortured, or were simply patterned on male power symbols. The culture still has a long way to go, but I want to give a heartfelt salute of gratitude to Erin Gray (and Lynda and Lindsay) for showing us our better potential back in the 1970s. We can get there! Celebrate by re-exploring the Buck Rogers TV series on DVD or Blu-ray. Reprints of the TV comic book were published recently by Hermes Press. Enjoy!

TREK UK COMICS

New release: Star Trek: The Classic UK Comics Volume 2 will be released on January 10th. Published by IDW, this 240-page collection continues more awesome Trek stories from the 1970s. From the press release: "This second volume fills in another major gap in Star Trek lore, courtesy of these never-before reprinted comics that originally appeared in weekly British magazines in the early 1970s. There's much to love about these wonky, way-out writings and their atypical artwork. These oft-forgotten Star Trek tales represent a different era. They're lost gems with many facets and a unique perspective, an eccentric corner of Star Trek history unlike any other. These are the U.K. voyages of the Starship Enterprise―and, now, at last, fans everywhere can experience them. As a special bonus, Rich Handley provides the first half of a detailed encyclopedia of all things Star Trek from these British comics. Exploring the minutiae is half the fun of enjoying a franchise, and when it comes to Trek, there's no end of trivia to devour!" Missed out on Volume 1? Here's some info:  "In 1969, six months before the Star Trek TV series premiered in England, British comics readers were introduced to the characters in an original comic book series. The stories were serialized, generally 2 to 3 pages at a time, in 257 weekly magazines spanning five years and 37 storylines. These extremely rare comics have never been published in the United States. Star Trek fans will quickly note that the comics were not written with strict adherence to Star Trek's core concepts. The Enterprise frequently traveled outside our galaxy, and the crew committed many violations of the never-mentioned Prime Directive along the way. Spock shouted most of his lines and often urged Kirk (or "Kurt," as his name was misspelled in early issues) to shoot first and ask questions later. But it's precisely that "offness" that makes them so eminently readable and deserving of a proper reprinting. They're unique in the annals of Star Trek and fans have gone without them for far too long." Order Vol 1 and Vol 2 on Amazon. Enjoy!

C3PO FORMAL

My new look for formal events. This would be perfect for graduation ceremonies.

NIGHT FLIGHT

The classic late-night series Night Flight has returned as a streaming channel! This cable show originally ran from 1981-1988 and featured musical acts, documentaries, and cult films. Fans of 1980s music can now re-explore appearances by DEVO, Gary Numan, Grace Jones, Laurie Anderson, Tom Tom Club, and many others. More info at Night Flight. Enjoy!