Thanksgiving 2025 (a thorny rose herself)

Thanksgiving at Mom's House

I didn't call

her "Mom"

but I

could have

(should have)

There'd 'av been

no conflict

as I call 

my mother

"Mama"

Strange to think

that for a 

kid who revelled

in calling adults

by their first name

I would 

often find it 

awkward

to use the name

"Joyce"

It seemed 

improper somehow

less familiar

than it

really was

I should've

(could've)

called her

"Mom"

but I didn't

She became

another mother

to me

thirty-three

years ago

By marriage

of course,

the official

term being

"mother-in-law"

Not the 

stereotypical

"hate each 

other's guts"

type either

No

she was 

loving, kind 

(opinionated, direct)

a source of support

Conflicts 

were few 

and frustrations 

might occur 

only occasionally

She exuded

love and affection

through her smile,

eyes, words,

and actions

A soft 

heart-y interior

within a tough confrontational 

(very particular)

shell

The

woman

could

be

fierce

Loved by

all

yet

abandoned

by two

She didn't deserve

to be alone

but she was

a survivor 

(thrive-or)

After her

second husband

left her for 

"the ministry"

HA!

I started

to get

her flowers

for her

birthday

She'd admire them

 sitting on the stove

surprised to find out

that they were hers

(every time)

A woman who 

cultivated roses

 (a thorny rose herself)

should always

be remembered

Yellow carnations

(if I could find them)

would still 

look good

weeks after

I wasn't allowed 

to get her flowers 

this last birthday

'cause the budget went 

to a flowering plant instead

But I sent some

down anyway

six weeks later

an emissary

(my final tribute)

I'm told

she liked them;

and they were present

 at her passing

(and so was I)

A silent sentinel 

to two grieving

loving daughters

anguishly saying

good-bye

I prayed 

if it were His will

that I'd be there

for them

(for me)

God's timing 

is perfect

threading the needle

between birthdays

and anniversaries

Forever avoiding

a taint of grief 

on future milestones;

 great indeed are

His tender mercies!

Her favorite room

(double doors to the deck)

looked out upon

her wooded garden

so carefully kept

Within her house

built just for her

(over 50 years past)

at the end of the street

Forty-four O'eight Banff

The site of so many 

Thanksgiving Dinners

 with assigned seats,

crystal goblets, and taboo subjects

(mostly) avoided

A room and a table

filled to the brim

with family and friends,

green chairs and bun warmers

(fall foliage decor abounding)

She cooked her turkey

upside down 

so the white meat

would always

be moist and tender

My "real" Thanksgiving

had been the Day After

(in Claremont)

until the Day After

was no more

I should have

 realized earlier 

that one 

wasn't more "real" 

than the other

I was just 

getting a bonus 

Thanksgiving

(a double portion of

 my favorite Holiday)

Yearly traditions

die way too fast

but at least the

memories made

generally outlast

This year

we're all scattered

to various homes

while Mom's house 

now sits alone

A place of joy

a place of sorrow

a place of feasting

a place of no more

tomorrows

Thanksgiving at Mom's house

was so very special

but feasting with her 

next will resume

at Heaven's table

https://obituaries.carewellcremations.com/joyce-leamon

Halloween After-Party (NECA Universal Monsters)

 Happy Halloween!  Two weeks late...

You know, I could use the magic of blogging time travel and set the post date to be Halloween, where it would sit in that chronological spot. You might believe that you just missed it the day it came out.  But that would be dishonest.

And it would conflict with the details surrounding my latest work-in-progress shelf:

Tarzan and the Leopard Men (#18) - Edgar Rice Burroughs

 

I finished this last Sunday morning, and I've been waiting to have time to write about it all week.  It was another great story, which had me cheering at the end.  Since ERB uses some generic names for some of the characters, we're going to have fun casting them below as a cool visual aid.

THIS is "Planet Earth"? (or Will the real Dylan Hunt, please stand up?)

One of my favorite albums from the early '90s is School of Fish.  The whole thing is a masterpiece, especially the first two tracks: "Intro" & "3 Strange Days".  I echo some of the lyrics frequently because they represent a limited and compressed toe-dip into some pop culture phenomenon, experience, or sampling.  I'd even call the term 3 strange days a "short soirée", even though that stretches the definition well beyond the norm.  But hey, mangling and jangling the English language is just how my thoughts work.  And it may not be a strict three days (and it doesn't have to be limited to pop culture entertainment), but you get the idea:

For three strange days
I had no obligations
My mind was a blur
I did not know what to do
I think I lost myself
When I lost my motivation
Now I'm walking 'round the city
Just waiting to come to
For three strange...

So last weekend, after completing my annual Halloween movie fest (more on that another time...maybe), I started watching Gene Roddenberry's unsuccessful and bizarre, loosely-connected trilogy of mid-70s SyFy films: Genesis II (1973), Planet Earth (1974), and Strange New World (1975) on Tubi.

It's something I've heard about and seen pictures of over the years, and I've always wanted to check it out.  Let's just say there's a lot to discuss...

The Poet by todd webb (2025 Nov 05)

 

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Tarzan Triumphant (#15) - Edgar Rice Burroughs [paused in progress]

Apologies, dear reader, but I wasn't able to finish this one yet.  I got through the first five or six chapters when something about the book started to bother me.

Tarzan the Invincible (#14) - Edgar Rice Burroughs

I finished this yesterday, and once again, I found the beginning and end to be stronger than the middle, but I have a theory for why that may be.  And it doesn't have to do with ERB; rather, it revolves around my work schedule.  You see, I typically finish the previous novel as my work week is winding down, and immediately dive into the next one (I've already read 4 chapters of #15 last night).  So my ability to maintain focus when reading before bed is hampered by a long day of working (when I'm in the middle of the story), and maybe I piddle out a few pages at a time, instead of whole chapters - sometimes reading several paragraphs more than once!  ...sometimes reading several paragraphs more than once! ...and maybe I piddle out a few pages at a time, instead of whole chapters - sometimes reading several paragraphs more than once! [You get the idea.]

I mean, I was really struggling yesterday to complete the novel, even though I felt rested enough and really wanted to finish it.  I had to stop, get up and move around, then come back again (repeatedly).  I even did some of my vision fusion exercises in hopes my brain wasn't shutting itself down like it was two to three years ago, before I had vision therapy (for double vision).  And I really did enjoy the story with one exception, which was both cool and a missed opportunity.

And had this book been published in the 1950s, instead of 1930-1931, it probably would've been called, "Tarzan versus the Reds".  Oh, and the dynamic Neal Adams cover has nothing to do with the story...that I can recall.

TRON: UPRISING

I missed TRON: UPRISING the first time around, back in 2012-2013, because we didn't pay for Disney XD back then.  However, streaming Disney+ (which is increasing in price again next month to $18.99/month!) allowed me to check it out before I rewatched TRON: LEGACY.  I (briefly) mentioned my fondness for Legacy in my TRON: ARES post earlier this week.  Somehow, I had time to watch episode 1 on Monday, then I got around to episodes 2-5 on Thursday, before finishing the series in a marathon layabout day (that was quite enjoyable) yesterday*, watching episodes 6-19.

*Skipping the Baltimore Comic-Con for the second year in a row for other reasons.

Was it worth it...?

TRON: ARES (2025) -- Enjoyable!

 

I got to see TRON: ARES last night in 3D IMAX and I really enjoyed it!  In some ways it was just what I was expecting, and in others, it was better.  The Nine Inch Nails (NIᴎ) soundtrack was sufficiently booming and driving, a fitting evolution from Daft Punk's masterful (and superior) score from TRON: LEGACY (2010).  If you've seen the trailer, then you pretty much get the gist of what the basic premise is going to be.  The programs from "The Grid" are coming to our world via some sort of 3D Laser printing.  And yes, you've got to suspend your disbelief to enjoy any TRON movie, but that's part of the fun.

I've been a TRON fan since the original release back in 1982, when I was a wee lad of 12 years old; one eager to look around someone's shoulder and watch them risk their quarter playing video games.  I didn't have any quarters to spare, much less the skill to last more than a few minutes.  Wendy Carlos' soaring synth score and the stunning computer graphics (revolutionary at the time) were a delight.  I finished rewatching it the day before (for the unknownth time), and it hasn't lost any of its charm.  It almost makes me want to pay the outrageous gouging price of the latest HasLab - but man, those figures look awesome!

For me, the only letdown was the all-too vague and infinitesimal references to TRON: LEGACY, a film I absolutely love.  I've seen headlines of reviewers saying ARES is all style and no substance (much as I try to stay away from those things).  Maybe they've got a point, but when the style is so immersive and takes you along for the light cycle ride, who cares?  Evan Peters is exceptionally good as the grandson of the original Dillinger (and I didn't once see him as the X-Men's Quicksilver).  I can't imagine any true TRON fan being disappointed.

The Poet by todd webb (2025 Oct 13)

 

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TARZAN and the Golden Lion (#9) - Edgar Rice Burroughs

 

Published in 1922-1923, with this copy being the 14th printing (from June 1988), and part of an excellent, recent eBay lot purchase that allowed me to acquire the rest of the 24 novels (in great condition).  This marks the first novel I've read with a Boris Vallejo cover, instead of Neal Adams.  And I've got to say, having a different cover artist affects your mental view of the main character.  I finished it last night...finally.  Some of it was a bit hard to get through, but I think that's more due to what I'd been going through since last week (see previous picture post for the horrifying details).

Despite being a bit exhausted from the pre-inspection moving and a case of FOMO from missing out on a couple of fall foliage out-of-town day trips, I'm going to give it my best shot at providing some comments on the book. Such as defining the meaning of "Jad-bal-ja" below...

By My Own House Betrayed!!!

 WARNING - some of the images below may be terrifying!

"The Germ of Righteousness" and Balancing the Scales

Yesterday, I mentioned that there was something about Albert Werper's character arc that I wanted to expound upon.  And thanks to waking up early, and it finally being the weekend for me, I can give it a go. However, I'll have to provide more *spoiler* details about the story to do so, which means if you're inclined to read Tarzan #5, you might want to skip this post for now.

The Poet by todd webb (2025 Oct 02)

 

Happy 75th Anniversary Peanuts!

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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar (#5) - Edgar Rice Burroughs

As mentioned last time, this is the other Tarzan novel in my collection that I bought new back in the mid-80s.  And the opening chapters did seem familiar to me, but I know I never finished it way back when.  But I did finish it yesterday afternoon and...Wow, what a great story!

Based on the back cover copy and the front cover Neal Adams image, you're told that Tarzan is going to venture back to the City of Opar and lose his memory, returning to his pre-civilization savage ways (aka Jungle Tales of Tarzan [#6]). I was imagining that he would possibly get involved with the Priestess La in his tabula rasa condition, similar to the way Superman was cozying up to Amazing Grace on Apokolips early in John Byrne's run (Superman #3, Adventures of Superman #426 & Action Comics #586). Boy, was I wrong!  The story goes through so many twists and turns, and while La does have more than a cameo, the title is apt because it's all about the jewels...

Tarzan and the Lion Man (#17) - Edgar Rice Burroughs

You've heard it said, "You can't judge a book by its cover".  Well, I can now say that the picture is fairly accurate, but what on earth does that have to do with the title?  This is one of two Tarzan books that I bought new from a bookstore sometime around high school (1984 printing), and I've always wondered about the incongruity.  That's because I never got around to reading it, but boy does it look nice still.  I figured the Lion Man must be this Gorilla-creature with the Don King haircut, thinking that the tawny colored hair was the only thing that could possibly relate to a lion. Having finished it last night, I now know the truth...

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (2025) - Recommended!

 

Not going to say much, other than my wife and I really enjoyed this film today.  Nice romance with Twilight Zone vibes.  Recommended.  (Also beautiful colors and great accompanying music.)  Really, the only caution I'd give is the generous use of the F-word.

Bad Influences

 

Obviously, there's a story behind this...

Tarzan and the City of Gold (#16) - Edgar Rice Burroughs

 

The Tarzan wave continues!  I finished my second book, Tarzan and the City of Gold (#16) two nights ago.  Originally, published serially in 1932, this book comes 10 volumes after the last one I talked about.  For me it's been nearly two weeks, but for ERB (as a writer), a full 15 years has passed.  I have to admit I approached it with some trepidation, really wondering if I would still enjoy Tarzan out of his normal jungle context.  And the first sentence wasn't helping any...

Yesterday's The Poet by todd webb

 

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Highlander (1986) - Discovering a Cult Classic

Admittedly, I'm a little late to the game on this movie, 39 years late.  But it was in my Amazon Prime feed (and actually "free"*).  So I finally got around to watching it last Friday.  From the opening prelude spoken by the legendary Sean Connery (see screen capture below) and the first notes of Queen's "Princes of the Universe" song right after, I knew immediately why this is deemed a cult classic.  And the certainty only continued to grow as more evidence surfaced, surprising and delighting me upon my first watching.

31-24

Sometimes a post begins with an idea, sometimes it begins with a title.  Today, it's the latter.  And to ensure you know my pronunciation intent, I'll spell it out for you: "thirty-one, twenty-four".  No, this isn't the beginning of some girl's measurements.  If you're reading this in real time (today's original posting date), then you probably already have an idea of what I might touch on this morning.  Meet me after the jump break if you're curious to know more.

Jungle Tales of Tarzan (#6) - Edgar Rice Burroughs

Well, I've kept you waiting long enough.  Those who've been faithfully following this latest resuscitation of Comics And... no longer need endure sleepless nights in anxious suspense.  I can now finally reveal the mystery Tarzan novel I hinted at two weeks ago.  

Deepest, darkest African Cannibalistic Tribe drumroll please...  

Jungle Tales of Tarzan

Did anyone guess?  Probably not.  You only had 12 to choose from out of the 24 novels, which you can view in all their Neal Adams and Boris Vallejo cover glory here.

I finished the book just over a week ago and have been eager to write about it ever since.  Let's take a swan dive past a towering tropical waterfall and plunge into its textural depths.

Out of Time Traveling Thru the Night

It's 10:00pm Saturday night, and I'm just about to drive out of the BMI Event Center parking lot in Versailles, Ohio.  ApologetiX had finished their outstanding performance at Immortal Fest II only 45 minutes prior.  Within that short window I was able to speak to most of the band members and get signatures on my copy of the setlist. Instead of heading to a nearby hotel, I'm heading home to Columbia, Maryland over 500 miles away. This year I'm not just avoiding a lodging expense, I've got to get back in time for my 3-month old granddaughter's baptism, scheduled for 10:00am the next day.  The iPhone GPS app says it will take 7.5 hours, and I've got 12 exactly.  Plenty of time, right?

Unboxing the Magnetic Press Play Kickstarter - The Official Role-Playing Game of the Planet of the Apes

 

Funded last year, it finally arrived today.  

"Open it up, and see what's inside" - Steve from Blue's Clues

Today's "The Poet" by todd webb

 Because someone needs to read this today...

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Surfing with...

Does anyone remember Joe Satriani's Surfing with the Alien CD from 1987?  It's the one spotlighting our favorite comic book surfer, Norrin Radd, as depicted by John Byrne.  Alas, the Apple Music version has replaced the Silver Surfer with a stylized guitar headstock.  It's still a rockin' instrumental Jam by one of the finest guitarists still around.  I'm listening to it right now in fact... or I was until iTunes crashed on me.

Coincidentally (really it wasn't planned), I had on the Original Television Soundtrack for Hawaii-Five-O while I was working yesterday.  It contains TWO iconic themes by Mort Stevens & His Orchestra.  The first is the main theme song, which I'm pretty sure my brother had piano sheet music too (Ventures version). And the second, entitled "Call to Danger", has portions that were used for CBS Special Presentations.  "Grumps" will be sure to recognize it.  "Mc Garrett's Theme" is now playing, and it's a smooth lounge lizard groove that would make Jackie Gleason proud.

While I don't have my own official theme music, the closest thing would be Ferrante and Teicher's "Theme to Midnight Cowboy", which I can play on repeat for hours at a time.  I just switch up whatever I'm listening to and it becomes my living soundtrack, whether it be instrumentals or anything else.  Why should Shaft be the only one living with music wherever he goes?

One of the topics today, if you haven't guessed it by now, deals with surfing.  Specifically, pop culture surfing, which is how I like to describe the ebbs and flows of my latest passions and distractions (i.e. entertainment).  Now, I know next to nothing about physical surfing, except for when it comes to the internet (double entendre).  But I like to refer to my latest craze as "riding the wave".  And while the conditions are good, I need to just go with the flow and enjoy the ride.

Which brings us to my current fan focus...

John Christopher's The Tripod Trilogy

 "Listen, kiddo, Jim Kirk was many things, but he was never a Boy Scout!"

- Carol Marcus

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

And neither was I.  However, my personal history is rooted in scouting in three ways:

• I used to have a bevy of Kenner's Steve Scout toys back in the mid-70s.  Specifically, I had Steve and Bob, the Pathfinder jeep with removeable wheels, the snowmobile, and the scout base tower made of formed plastic faux wooden logs.  A cross between MEGOs and GI Joe Adventure Team, these were a lot of fun to play with outside, but not very durable as my broken and incomplete collection attests.  They probably have no value to speak of any more, not even displayable, but they are touchstones to my past that I'm reluctant to leave behind in a trash receptable. 

• I also was a Cub Scout.  I'm pretty sure I joined during my brief sojourn in Leavenworth, KS, during the fall of 1978 when I lived at my Grandmother's house a block down from the elementary school where I had started 3rd Grade.  (I can clearly recall trying to sell peanut brittle to the neighbors along Olive Street for one of the fundraisers.)

During that time I enjoyed: 

• playing on the wooden playgrounds (all the rage those days), the greatest of which was Buffalo Bill Cody Park with it's zipline swing, and playing kickball during recess (the only sport I was ever good at); 

• biking down alleyways with a bubblegum card in my spokes pretending I was a member of G-Force from Battle of the Planets (aka Gatchaman); 

• posing my Kenner Star Wars action figures on the stone wall surrounding the property or on the 90-degree turn carpeted stairs, which were also fun to ride down on a pillow...as long as the door separating the two floors was slightly ajar.

One thing I didn't enjoy was all the sentences I had to write as punishment for offenses at school.

I know I achieved my Bobcat, Wolf, and Bear badges, but I'm unclear on whether or not I finished by Webelos or not.  Many of these would have been completed after we returned home to Virginia in early 1979.

• One of my fondest memories of being a "Scout" was the Boy's Life magazine that came in the mail.  And I was totally blown away and entranced by the serialized version of John Christopher's The White Mountains, book one of The Tripod Trilogy series, which began in the May 1981 issue.  I even have some of the pages saved somewhere in my archives (likely an old Avon box), but fortunately, I didn't even have to dig it out because this wonderful site has the entire adaptation scanned for your enjoyment.

I started reading the trilogy on 2025 Jul 19 and finished the fourth book last night, 2025 Aug 13. My daughter Evelyn helped get me some of the missing volumes that I needed for my birthday.  I had at least read The White Mountains back in Middle School, but the rest seemed to be new to me.  Anyway, let's explore how awesome this series is below the jump break.

Closest I could get to matching spines.

Fantastic Four (4): First Steps - Movie Review and Commentary

The problem with blogging is that you have to strike while the iron is hot, meaning you have a limited window to act on something you want to write about before the urge diminishes or a new concept emerges to take its place.  It's one reason why this blog has been dormant for so long, life simply happens and dedicating a specified time that overlaps with the desired post can be quite elusive, or you simply move on.  And I have to admit, I'm struggling somewhat this morning because I've been wanting to write about this movie (in detail) since I saw it two weeks ago, but I can already tell the window is starting to close both on desire and time.  It doesn't help that I actually was able to sleep in until 0700 this morning - when I usually do my writing way before dawn.  And there are a few other ideas that I have brewing around, which I won't even mention because if I do, it'll be like crossing them off the list...

Tip #1: If you want to be a rank amateur blogger like me, the above preamble writing is essential to focus your mind on the actual topic.

If you read yesterday's two postings, you'll know that I loved the new Fantastic Four (4): First Steps movie, and I've seen it three times already.  Now, let's delve into why:

Fantastic Four (4): First Steps - Related Merchandise Smorgasbord

It's too late to go back to bed, so I'm caffeinating up with a cup of guayusa tea to keep the headache at bay.  So, let's dive into my latest jam (and obsession), Fantastic 4: First Steps merchandise:

There is so much cool stuff that they've put out in support of this movie.  It may be the best product-related blitz that's ever occurred for a Marvel movie.  Of course, we've got the traditional Marvel Legends Action Figures, Funko POPS, and Popcorn/Drink buckets.  But leaning into their 60s-era vibe, we also have cereal toys (good luck finding one) as seen in the film, collectible milk glasses (good luck getting one), and best of all - an actual 45rpm single of the main theme.

Fantastic Four (4): First Steps - Movie-ing Experiences

Previously on Comics And...Other Imaginary Tales:

"It's going to be hard for Fantastic Four (4): First Steps to compete.  Not only does it need to be entertaining, I really hope it makes me feel something."

Apologies for my absence dear reader, my family went on a shortened summer vacation to Wyoming and Kansas, visiting relatives all along the way.  We had to drive 2000 miles over 2.5 days to get to a wedding reception, which took us along I-80 across four states (out of the eleven we traversed). Day two had us going from Peru, IL to Kimball, NE, with nary a chance to see the new Fantastic Four movie on it's official July 25th opening day, or at least so I thought...

Sidney Fox Theatre 2025 July 25

Follow-Ups

Multiple random bits and follow-ups today.  Let's see where we go because I certainly don't know myself...

DC Studios opening logo

Yesterday, I watched Superman (2025) for the third time in under a week; this time in IMAX, which is the BEST format to see the film.  It gives you superior sound and the fullest extent of the viewing screen, really immersing you into the picture.  One of the reasons for the multiple viewings is from my family members who want to see it with me!  (Ahhhh, the benefits of being a lifelong comic book fan, I can offer expert testimony and commentary.)  And as I predicted, my enjoyment of the movie continues to grow.  I can honestly say I love it.

I appreciate Lois more and more, and find the interview scene to be such a clever way to not only recap pre-story events, but to expose the heart of their relationship and motivations as people.  It was Clark's, "People were going to die!!" line that really hooked me the first time.  Having lost his family, his world, etc.; he doesn't want anyone to go through the pain he has. This is why he tries to save everyone, including squirrels and B.E.Ms (bug-eye-monsters).

Sometimes when I hear an album for the first time, a few songs will immediately catch my ear and become quick favorites.  These are the ones you want to listen to over and over.  But with multiple listening's (usually three - the same number to get to the center of the tootsie roll pop), you start to uncover other hidden gems.  They've been gradually infiltrating your mind, transitioning from background to foreground with subtle themes or moments that you don't realize you're becoming attuned to.  Similarly, when you're cleaning you take care of the obvious things first and once they're out of the way, look what's underneath!  And so it can be with some movies.

As I marinate on Superman again and again, I can unpack all the good things contained therein.  The jokes land better because I'm prepared for them*, and the performances are seen more fully (not just the words but the gestures, especially on a giant screen).  Guy Gardner is rising in prominence when initially (to me) he was overshadowed by Mister Terrific.  Critics who complain about the busyness of the film and the almost overwhelming number of characters to process, aren't wrong, but that's only if you're a one-time-only consumer.  As a creator do you produce your story to the lowest common denominator and simplify the storytelling, or do you challenge people to engage more fully?  Here I think it worked, but it doesn't always.

Superman (2025) - Movie Review and Analysis

My wife and I got to watch James Gunn's new Superman movie yesterday.  And we both really liked it.  You should go see it.  

If you're a "skimmer", then that's all you need to know.

Now that the thesis statement is out of the way, let's go to the executive summary (without spoilers):

Actually, while you're about to read the ES, I'm going to be composing the more detailed spoiler-filled analysis below the jump break.  I'll see you back up here later.  Don't go away.

Executive Summary

James Gunn's Superman is fun and entertaining, and sure to be a crowd pleaser with most.  The story, characters, and stylistic choices are well thought out, creating a valid reinterpretation and synthesis of the Superman mythos over the decades, which should resonate well with modern audiences.  This is not the Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age, Copper Age, or even the Modern Age version of Superman - it's the Gunn Age (aka "all of the above") - and that's how it should be.  The acting is well executed and the overall movie, while not perfect, exceeds expectations from what we were shown in the trailers.  It's great to have a less tortured version of Superman again.  And I for one, not only want to see the film repeatedly, but I want more of this new DCU.

Ironically Iconic Images from Fantastic Four Omnibus Vol. 5 - the 1973 to 1975 era

Happy 7/11 Day, aka Slurpee Day!

1977 Hulk cup

Most of my early comic book purchases were made at the 7-11 in Colonial Heights, VA, near my hometown of Matoaca. Two of them were quite significant and memorable:

#1) I was flipping through a comic in the backseat of our Chevy Impala (it's a wonder I didn't get sick!) on the way to said store where I first saw the House Ad for Godzilla #1.  And lo and behold, when I arrived, it was there right on the spinner rack! Truly, one the most thrilling comic book purchases in all my 48 years of collecting (only a few months at that time).  A couple of years ago (2023) at the Baltimore Comic-Con I discovered an artist (Doctor Chopper) who creates 3D art from comic book clippings. He had one of that very same House Ad, which now is proudly displayed in my study along with some other Godzilla collectibles.  Whenever my granddaughter, Athena, comes over I sing her the theme song from the 1978 cartoon and we count all the Godzilla's (figures and comic images) in the room:

Up from the depths

Thirty stories high

Breathes Fire

His Head in the Sky 

Godzilla, Godzilla, Godzilla ...

And Godzoooooooky!

If you want to know, I currently have ten. (And eight year old me liked the cartoon much better than 55-year old me.)

 

Only 8 are shown in this photo.

Blogger get your stinkin' Times New Roman paws out of my post! I want to use Arial, not to be confused with Ariel.

#2) Now, I have an underdeveloped jaw, which is probably why I'm quickly developing a turkey-neck in my advanced years (I hate it!).  So when I was young, the dentist said I had to get six adult teeth removed to make room for my remaining teeth to drop.  They had to put me under to perform the oral surgery.  I was promised by my mother that I would be able to buy one comic for each tooth!  She knew what motivated me. (It would've been $2.10 before tax [6 @ 35 cents] or $10.67 in 2025 dollars.)  So, after counting backwards as I began to breath the gas, the next thing I remember is my mother and sister walking me out the back door of the dentist office.  I think I was around 8 years old.  Not only could I barely walk, but I was still in a post anesthetic fog where my vision (and brain) wasn't fully cleared yet.  However, I was bound and determined that I would pick out my comics that day before we went home.  And we did.  Probably the closest time I've ever been to being in a semi-drunken stupor (I'm a teetotaller).  I was going through those spinner racks (there were usually two) trying to find something I wanted/needed. (The image in my head is similar to the vaseline covered lens of a Dark Shadows dream sequence - my peripheral vision was nonexistent.)   And wouldn't you know, I have no rememberance of what I got that day!

But that's not what I had decided to write about this morning.  More after the jump break...

This Space Reserved - A Mega-Sized Marvel Masterworks Read-Thru

 

First off, Happy Fourth of July! It's America's 249th Birthday, and last night kicked off the "America 250" celebration that will continue throughout the year.  The Red, White, and Blue is back, baby!  I can still remember the excitement for the Bicentennial back in 1976.  It really promises to be a fun time.  So many things are turning around for the good these days (Praise God!).  And if today's music isn't as good as those bygone times, we can just catch an old American Top 40 with Casey Kasem broadcast on iHeart Radio!  I'm listening to one I recorded years ago right now from June 26, 1976!

Is it possible to digress before you even start?  If so, I think I just did ...

I really should have weighed these!

In less than two months, I finished reading all that you see shown above.  I started on May 8th, and finished last night (July 3rd).  And that was after reading the Marvel Masterworks (MMW): Doctor Strange #11 right before that, which was preceded by my first reading of John Wyndham's classic Midwich Cuckoos. My inspiration was the forthcoming (no pun intended) Fantastic Four: First Steps movie coming out in three weeks. Now, I have reservations about this movie.  I don't like Mister Fantastic with a moustache and the female Silver Surfer is S-t-(bad word).  However, I love that it takes place in the 60s, something I always thought should be done.  Anyway, in case the movie flops and fails to generate renewed FF reading interest, I figured I better take advantage of the anticipation, just in case.

TIME DELAY

Last night, my wife and I were watching a few minutes of The Sound of Music, the 50th anniversary Blu-Ray edition. We had started it the night before, while babysitting our second granddaughter for the first time.  This version contains a nifty "My Favorite Things" function that allows you to select one of four special features: production photos, sing-along lyrics, movie/real-world facts, and trivia. We had activated the lyrics and facts, so during the "Do Re Me" song montage of Salzburg, Austria locales, up popped the caption stating that filming began in April 1964.  Now, savvy movie aficionados (or buffs) know that The Sound of Music is a quintessential 1965 film, which marks its 60th anniversary this year in 2025.  You can even see it in theatres for a brief run this coming September. And therein lies the theme of this latest installment of Matthew's Musings, Time Delay.

The title of this post immediately sprang to mind, along with the beginnings of a musing. Do I keep it to myself or share it with others? Well, if you're reading this, then you know the answer...

A piece of art, writing, or entertainment is defined by the time it is presented, published, or released.  However, in most instances (with the exception of electronic writing, such as this blog), there is a gap in time between when the work is developed and when it is ready for public consumption.  Subconsciously (or maybe even consciously) we understand this, but that doesn't stop our time association with whatever it is to be slightly askew from actual reality.  Thus, creating a perception reality that is just as real to us and more impactful.