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...

Go follow todd yourself here

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