Monster Mags #8: Famous Monsters of Filmland #226 (1999)

 

Paul Stanley Mask

I went thrift shopping yesterday to look for stuff for my Halloween costume. I didn't find anything I could use, but I did find this at The Salvation Army. It's a Paul Stanley from KISS mask made by The Paper Magic Group in 1997. I paid $2.99 for it.

I'm A Pinball Wizard!

My local bowling alley Stonehedge Entertainment is also Akron's largest pinball parlor. My wife and I stopped in there Friday night to have a beer and see our son (he's a bartender). While there I played The Creature From the Black Lagoon and KISS pinball machines. Although it was hard to hear the machines because they had lunar bowling going on. I also took some pictures of some of the monster related machines because Halloween!!!

Stuff I Got For Christmas Part 2

Sorry it took so long for this post. I've been deathly ill for the past week. But, I'm feeling much better now. :)

Here's the rest of the non-Hulk pop culture stuff I got for Christmas. Everything is from my wife unless noted.

 2011 Diamond Select Frankenstein figure, ReAction Freddy Krueger and a skull sucker.

 Snow Miser and Heat Miser Funko Pop! figures.

Rudolph and Bumble notepads.

 Mystery Minis! Nebula from GOTG and Loki and Thanos from Marvel.

Loki is 1/144 and Thanos 1/72. Both rare figures!

 Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments.

Frano Harris "The Immaculate Reception" and The Legendary Leg Lamp.

 Star Wars Imperial Cherry Sours, Jelly Belly Galaxy Mix, 

Yoda Lightsaber Lip Balm and KISS playing cards.

 Books! The Nearly Complete Essential Hembeck Archives Omnibus, Comic Books 101 and two Peanuts hardcover books from the late 1960s.

Seven packs of Stupid Heroes, one pack of Heroes and two packs of Mars Attacks Invasion from my wife. Two packs of Star Wars Galaxy 7 from my brother.

 Yay! Stupid Heroes sketch card!

Butter Boy by Neil Camera.

 My son bought me the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the first two Hobbit movies on blu-ray. I haven't seen the Hobbit movies yet.

I also got two more t-shirts. But, they're in the dirty laundry and I didn't feel like digging them out. Superman logo from my wife and Guns 'n Roses from a fellow co-worker.

Non-geeky stuff I got: lounge pants, slippers, blanket, knee brace, assorted candies and a bacon press!

All in all it was a pretty great holiday!

O Tannenbaum

Happy Christmas Eve!

Here's some photos of my tree and the pop culture ornaments that my wife let's me hang on the tree. :)

The Incredible Hulk

Little Hulk and Gene Simmons

Mickey Mouse

Spider-Man

Gene Simmons Boots

Darth Vader

Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town

Bigfoot

Atlantic City: Slot Machines

Whenever we go to casinos, my wife and I only play the slots. We never win really big, but we have a good time. I did manage to walk away from a KISS machine with $190.

Here's a few photos of some licensed slot machines I snapped with my phone while we were in Atlantic City.

Me playing KISS

KISS Again

My wife playing KISS

Godzilla on Monster Island

Godzilla again

The Munsters

Elvira's Secret

Hee Haw

Universal Monsters

Happy Birthday Ace Frehley

Ace is 62 today!

 

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

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.

Meeting Eric Singer

 

Continuing the celebration of 40 Years of KISS, I will be doing random KISS posts throughout the year.

I met KISS' current drummer, Eric Singer, back in the late 90s at a music store I worked at. It wasn't long after KISS had "let him go" in favor of reuniting the original band. If I remember correctly, Eric didn't have many kind words to say about Gene Simmons.

Eric in his Catman makeup

40 Years Of KISS

40 Years ago today, the hottest band in the world played their first gig in a small club in Queens. Click here to read a cool little article called "40 Years Later: The Story Of KISS & Makeup".

What are some of your favorite KISS songs? I don't think they have any bad songs, just some are better than others. I even really like Music From The Elder! I've been a fan of Gene's songs since I was a kid. Some of my favorites are Charisma, Unholy, Mr. Blackwell and all of Gene's solo album.

To celebrate, here are some videos courtesy of KissVEVO.

Our Tree

Put the tree up this past Sunday.

Two of the new ornaments this year. Gene Simmons boots and Pittsburgh Steelers stocking.

Our family ornaments. We've had these forever.