Dark Shadows turns 60 today!!!

 

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the airing of Dark Shadows episode 1 from 1966 June 27.  Or, as streamers would recognize it, Dark Shadows Beginnings episode 1.  Even though Barnabas won't show up for another 200+ episodes, those early ones are great.  Read about my initial enthusiasm here.

I finally purchased the legit complete series boxset from MPI not too long ago.  And it's the perfect time to restart the series, which I've completed at least twice (and some change). You see, I had to take a break because I didn't want to watch a week's worth of commercials by streaming it again.  

Stan Lee Lied (2024) - A Review of Sorts

 

Our beloved leader, Jim, sent this book to me after I shared with him a link to a news article, which announced a new product that would allow you to have Stan Lee read stuff to you via a digitally cloned voice.  Having been raised on my brother's copy of Stan's The Origin of Marvel Comics from 1974 (now battered but long in my possession after he abandoned comics), and the six-issue reprint collections by Pocket Books, as well as Stan's narration for the early 80's cartoons of Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends and The Incredible Hulk, I've long been a fan of his bombastic writing style.  Plus, there were all those great stories from the early Marvel Age...

Luke 8:17

For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.

Dang.

"Spanning Jordan's swelling tide"

Sorry, I've been away for a while - I hope to rectify that in another month after I finish processing the rest of the stuff in my garage, which still needs to go into storage.

Today is Mother's Day, and it also marks the 56th anniversary of my Daddy "spanning Jordan's swelling tide" into Heaven.  The phrase comes from his favorite hymn, "Life is Like a Mountain Railway."  My mother told me about it yesterday.  I almost choked up reading the lyrics because he not only lived the song, but he died the song as well, going from his train car into Glory. 

Here's the last stanza and refrain:

Spanning Jordan's swelling tide;
You behold the Union Depot
Into which your train will glide;
There you'll meet the Sup'rintendent,
God the Father, God the Son,
With the hearty, joyous plaudit,
"Weary pilgrim, welcome home."

Blessed Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach the blissful shore,
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.

More details can be found here with accompanying links (although the character portrait info is no longer viewable).

And someone has done a nice write-up on the hymn here.

Short and sweet...just getting my writing feet wet again...

TARZAN and the Lost Empire (#12) - Edgar Rice Burroughs REDO

 

Two weeks ago, my Tarzan post got flagged for violating Blogger's community guidelines.  I still have no clue as to what triggered it or what the issue appeared to be, despite submitting it for review again (with no follow-up communication).  I originally took out a comment about a font style I didn't like.  And I've just now reduced the book quotes even though the novel is in the public domain.  Anyway, I'm trying again.  Here's hoping it works...because it greatly suppressed my meager, but highly valued page views.

I finished this novel a week ago, and it was another long read, taking just over a month.  However, it wasn't due to disinterest.  Quite the contrary, in fact, I was actually savoring it amidst the busyness of everyday life.  Often, reading a single chapter before bed.

TARZAN and the Lost Empire (#12) - Edgar Rice Burroughs

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

One Hulk Clapping - from Fantastic Four #12 to Infernal Hulk #1

Originally on sale 1962-12-11

This week, while on a slightly more than a day trip to Richmond with my youngest daughter, I had the opportunity to finally re-read The Fantastic Four #12 (this time in the foil facsimile edition*).  An outstanding issue by all accounts, but I want to focus on what may be the first instance of the Hulk-Clap...and what it has become today.

*Marvel published the first 12 issues of the FF in this format over the last 12 months in honor of the new movie from last summer.

Let's jump right to a blow-up of the three-panel clap:

The Martian Chronicles Miniseries (1980)

 

Yesterday, I finished watching The Martian Chronicles, a miniseries in three parts that originally aired in late January 1980, less than a month before the original Miracle on Ice.  I was reminded of the series when I was looking up episodes where Roddy McDowell appeared in Fantasy Island (or as Mr. Rourke would say it, "Faan-Ta-see EYE-land").  A search that was prompted by the shock realization that Roku wasn't streaming all the episodes of the series. (They were missing episode 4 from season 1, and had switched the order of 3 and 5.  Their order for UFO was really jumbled a few years ago.)  I realized I had watched some of this when I was 9, but I doubt I got past the first episode back then.  Compared to Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (still in its superior first season) or even Galatica 1980, which premiered the hour before (with flying motorcycles!), The Martian Chronicles had little of the Sci-Fi space action that I was accustomed to since seeing Star Wars a mere three years prior (with The Empire Strikes Back only 4 months away).  Instead, it was atmospheric, philosophical, thought-provoking, and methodical (a bit slow at times) - it's like a mash-up of The Twilight Zone and Space:1999 (first season).  Anyway, I definitely appreciated it more as an adult than as a kid.  Although each viewing left an impression on me.