Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Full Trailer

Is anyone else really excited to see this? It premiere's this fall on ABC, Tuesdays at 8:00. Speculation is that is either Luke Cage or Rage in the trailer. What's your thoughts?

Ray Harryhausen, R.I.P.

Ray Harryhausen was one of the greats. His movies were a big part of my childhood. Rest in peace.

From Today.com --

Ray Harryhausen, the special-effects and stop-motion pioneer whose work on fantasy and monster movies delighted millions and inspired a generation of filmmakers, died Tuesday at age 92, his family reports.

"Harryhausen’s genius was in being able to bring his models alive," the family statement read. "Whether they were prehistoric dinosaurs or mythological creatures, in Ray’s hands they were no longer puppets but became instead characters in their own right, just as important as the actors they played against and in most cases even more so."

Filmmakers Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Peter Jackson, and George Lucas are among those who've credited Harryhausen with lending them inspiration.

Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic's Twitter account sent out a quote from the "Star Wars" creator himself, saying "Without Ray Harryhausen, there would likely have been no Star Wars."

Harryhausen's films included "Mighty Joe Young," "It Came From Beneath the Sea," "20 Million Miles to Earth," "One Million Years B.C.," "The Valley of Gwangi" and "Clash of the Titans."

His foundation's Facebook page notes that "he is perhaps best remembered for his extraordinary animation of seven skeletons in 'Jason and the Argonauts ' (1963) which took him three months to film."

Harryhausen is honored in the 2001 movie "Monsters Inc.," when monsters Mike and Celia go on a date to Harryhausen's restaurant.

"I'm sad to hear that Ray Harryhausen has died," Mike Nelson, former head writer for "Mystery Science Theater 3000," wrote on Facebook. "What a great career. Got to meet him a few times at my Legend Films office, seemed like a wonderful guy. RIP."

Wrote fan Harvey O'Brien on Facebook, "A living legend has become a past master. His name endures in popular culture in spite of the aesthetic and industrial changes to (special effects) in the CGI era, which tells you everything you need to know about his contribution to cinema."

And Di Brown wrote, "If you enjoy film, Ray touched your life. Most of today's major names in film cite Ray as the reason they chose their career path. And many could take a lesson from the unassuming and humble life led by a man who could have been forgiven for being far less so. Our world is diminished by his absence."

FCBD Haul

Had a great day yesterday! Got to go to all of my local comic shops in one day and saw Iron Man 3. It was a fun movie, but it had some issues, especially if you're a fan of the comic books.

Let's take a look at the stuff I picked up --

 

I only managed to get 21 different books of the 50+ free comics that were available. These are all going to my brother. I got extras of The Tick, Hulk and the Agents of SMASH, The Smurfs, Star Wars, Overstreet's Comic Book Marketplace (I'm keeping these for myself) and The Walking Dead (for my son).

 

At my regular comic shop (Kenmore Komics & Games) I picked up my new books plus five packs of Marvel Greatest Battles trading cards.

At JC Comics and Cards I bought a vintage 1977 Hulk glass for $7.50 and Essential She-Hulk Vol. 1 for $5.00.

At a local sports card store I got two of the Topps Star Wars Jedi Legacy promo cards. These were given out one per customer, so I had my wife get one. She was embarrassed  to ask for a trading card. But she did it because she loves me. ;)

 

We stopped for lunch at a local place called The Firehouse Grille and Pub and I had a donut burger. The "bun" is a glazed donut cut in half with the glazed sides facing the burger and then grilled. It was pretty darn good!

 

 

Tomorrow Will Be The Greatest Saturday Ever!!!

Free Comic Book Day! May the 4th! Iron Man 3! Could a day get any better?

I will be wearing a Star Wars shirt that has the cover of an old Marvel comic on it. First, I will stop by three local comic shops to get all of the free comics for me, my brother and nephew (they don't have any comic stores near them). Then, I will go to a sports card store that is giving away a Topps Star Wars Jedi Legacy promo card. Then I'll end the day by seeing Iron Man 3. Wow! What are your plans?

Here's some links and videos --

Free Comic Book Day

Topps Star Wars May The 4th Promotion

Say No To May The 4th!

;)

Happy Birthday Ace Frehley

Ace is 62 today!

 

Here he is singing New York Groove with KISS in 1979.

Allan Arbus, R.I.P.

My family always watched M*A*S*H when I was growing up. I think it's one of the greatest TV shows ever and Allan Arbus was great as Dr. Freedman. Rest in peace.

From USA Today --

Allan Arbus, known to many of us at the psychiatrist Maj. Sidney Freedman from M*A*S*H, has died at age 95.

The actor, who was married to photographer Diane Arbus, died on Friday at his home in Los Angeles, reports The New York Times.

Arbus, who was born in New York, was a TV regular in the 1970s and '80s, appearing on Taxi, Starsky & Hutch, Matlock and other shows. But it was his M*A*S*H character that became his best-known role.

But before he turned to acting, he married Diane Nemerov in 1941 and became passionate about photography. In 1946, they established a studio on West 54th Street for fashion photography and soon won a contract from Condé Nast to supply photos for magazines including Glamour and Vogue.

The couple separated in 1959 and divorced in 1969, when Allan Arbus moved to Los Angeles. Diane committed suicide in 1971. In 1976, Arbus married Mariclare Costello. She survives him, as do his two daughters from his first marriage, Amy and Doon; and a daughter from his second marriage, Arin Arbus, according to the Times.

Marvel Super Special #5: KISS

 

Marvel Super Special #5 was released in 1978. It was actually the third appearance of KISS in Marvel Comics. The band first appeared in 1977's Howard the Duck #'s 12 and 13 and Marvel Comics Super Special #1.

Credits for Marvel Super Special #5 --

Co-Scenarists: Ralph Macchio and Alan Weiss
Writer: Ralph Macchio
Penciler: John Romita, Jr.
Inker: Tony DeZuniga
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Letterer: Irving Watanabe
Editor: Richard Marschall
Editor-In-Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Bob Larkin

It also featured a four-page full-color pull-out poster by artist George Bush.

I still have this comic along with the poster buried in my collection somewhere. Although the poster has been removed and has tape on the corners from hanging on my bedroom wall.

A history of KISS comics can be found on Wikipedia here.

Toys I Wish I Hadn't Sold - Tomland Star Raiders

I was looking through some pictures on an old flash drive and found these. I believe these were the only Star Raiders my brother and I had back in the 70s and they were the glow-in-the-dark versions. I sold these on eBay back in 2008. Unfortunately I needed the money back then and thinned out my collection a little bit. You can read more about Tomland Star Raiders at Megolike.com.

Rot

Bico

Ridal

Richard LeParmentier, R.I.P.

 

I met Mr. LeParmentier at The Pittsburgh Comicon in 2001. Above is a picture I took of him. I also got his autograph, but I'm not sure where it is at the moment. Rest in peace.

From TODAY --

Actor Richard LeParmentier, whose character was infamously choked by villain Darth Vader in the original "Star Wars" movie, has died at age 66, his representative confirms to TODAY.

LeParmentier died suddenly, his son Tyrone told Derek Maki, who represented the actor. No further details were available.

LeParmentier's name may be unfamiliar to many, but "Star Wars" fans well know his most famous scene.

"Don't try to frighten us with your sorcerer's ways, Lord Vader," says LeParmentier in his role as General (sometimes described as Admiral) Motti. "Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not helped you conjure up the stolen data tapes, or given you clairvoyance enough to find the rebels' hidden fort--"



At that point, LeParmentier's character stops speaking and grabs at his throat as if he was being choked by an invisible hand. Darth Vader (voice of James Earl Jones) then delivers one of his most famous lines, "I find your lack of faith disturbing."

LeParmentier also had numerous film and television appearances, though his most famous after "Star Wars" was the role of Lt. Santino in 1988's "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" He also provided the narration for the 2004 video game "Soldiers: Heroes of World War II." He was also a screenwriter.