You have to admit, I've found one way to fill a blog! So:
SEVENTY-NINTH DAY (Dec. 18)
The Fantastic Four no. 5 (July 1962) – 1992 reprint. First appearance by Dr. Doom; the time machine and Blackbeard story explains things that were mentioned years later.
Unsolved Mysteries, “Bugsy Siegel;” “D. B. Cooper;” “Mona Lisa”
Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981 made-for-TV horror)
Gilligan, “Three Million Dollars, More or Less;” Scooby-Doo, “Scooby-Doo and a Mummy, Too”
Mazeppa, “Sherman Oaks’ School for the Dead;” Superman, “The Magnetic Telescope;” Zorro’s Fighting Legion, “Chapter Six: Zorro to the Rescue;” Dracula (1931 horror)
EIGHTY-SECOND DAY (Dec. 21)
“Find the Place Yourself,” “The Desrick on Yandro,” “The Stars Down There,” “Vandy, Vandy,” M. W. Wellman (Fantasy ss)
“A Christmas Carol,” Charles Dickens (fantasy novella) – plus glosses – a fun tale of the season, with ol’ Ebenezer Scrooge
Strange Creatures from Time and Space, John A. Keel (fortean) – a benchmark in “monster” reading; very early and basic, yet with advanced (read: weird) fortean theories
The Incredible Hulk no. 1 (May 1962) – 2004 reprint of the slightly bulky, slightly sulky man-monster
A Charlie Brown Christmas – animated classic. At least we’ve read one Peanuts book
How the Grinch Stole Christmas – animated version of the Seuss story, plus extras
Gilligan, “Water, Water, Everywhere;” Scooby-Doo, “Which Witch is Which?”
EIGHTY-FIFTH DAY (Dec. 24)
The News no. 1 (Nov. 1973) – the first issued of what became The Fortean Times. A miscellanea of odd news stories. The most interesting bit was probably the frog-fall of 1954. The funniest concerned a pair of “witches” who intended to fight a magic duel in England – which was to start by sacrificing a cat. One witch didn’t show, the other “was seen running away from Hampstead Heath pursued by hundreds of laughing children.”
Famous Monsters of Filmland no. 68 (Aug. 1970) – quite informative issue, with long articles on Lugosi/Dracula, the Phantom of the Opera, George Pal, and the amazing Mysterious Island of 1929, plus mini-reviews of Frankenstein, the Wolf-Man, the Creature, etc. If Cubby was still unfamiliar with the “basic” movie monsters and horror films, that’s been corrected.
Sting of the Green Hornet no. 1 (June 1992) – the Hornet is back – but who is the shadowy character who tells Walter Gibson what to do?
Marvel Tales no. 138 (Apr. 1982), reprinting Amazing Spider-Man no. 1 from 1962. Who is this newspaper guy writing bad things about Spidey? Plus the first appearance of astronaut John Jameson.
“Canon Alberic’s Scrapbook,” M. R. James – a ghost story for Christmas
Gilligan, “So Sorry, My Island Now;” Scooby-Doo, “Go Away Ghost Ship”
Star Trek, “Man-Trap” – a great new sf show for Cubby to watch
The Lone Ranger, “Six-Gun’s Legacy;” Jonny Quest, “Skull and Double-Crossbones”
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964 sf) – a true holiday classic! Not.
Frosty the Snowman (1969) – more of a classic
Mazeppa, “These Boots Were Made for Walkin’”; Superman, “The Electric Earthquake;” Zorro’s Fighting Legion, “Chapter Seven: The Fugitive”
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
December 7-14
SIXTY-EIGHTH DAY (Dec. 7)
Meet the Werewolf, Georgess McHargue (jv folklore) – Now we’ve been introduced to the werewolf! Vampires we know from the film Nosferatu. And all sorts of creatures cavorted through Famous Monsters magazine.
“The Joker,” from Batman no. 1 (Spring 1940) – but this Clown Prince of Crime is worse than most monsters!
Gilligan, “The Big Gold Strike;” Scooby-Doo, “Backstage Rage”
Connections, “The Trigger Effect” – Amazing and disturbing look at the net of interconnected technology we live in. Now here’s edifying TV!
“Chair of Death,” “RFK Pictures,” “Anastasia”, and “Bermuda Triangle,” Unsolved Mysteries
SEVENTIETH DAY (Dec. 9)
“Prof. Hugo Strange and the Monsters.” “The Cat,” “The Joker Returns” finishes The Batman Chronicles Vol. 1
Mammoth Book of Illustrated Crime, Colin & Damon Wilson (true crime) – The Wilsons’ stated desire was to describe the history of the last century and a half using crime tales, and they succeed. (Of course, they define everything from violent acts of war to making whiskey during Prohibition as “crime”.) Cubby learned a lot from this book about everything from the Mafia to Watergate to Hollywood scandals.
Gilligan, “Waiting for Watubi,” Scooby-Doo, “Bedlam in the Big-Top”
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953 sf)
Forty-eight books read = 1/100 of the way through all the books I estimate Cubby will ever read. Yes, most of them were for youngsters, but it’s a good boost for his ego. That’s not counting twenty or so books he is part-way through!
SEVENTY-SECOND DAY (Dec. 11)
Lone Ranger, “High Heels;” Jonny Quest, “Shadow of the Condor”
Gilligan, “Angel on the Island;” Scooby-Doo, “A Gaggle of Galloping Ghosts”
The Six Million Dollar Man, “Population: Zero”
Phantom of the Opera (1925 horror) – should have been paired with the last “Mazeppa” showing.
Pat Savage, Woman of Bronze (Oct. 1992) – one-shot comic from Millennium. Doc Savage and his crew may be the characters Cubby has seen the most, at this point.
A Study in Scarlet, Arthur Conan Doyle – Now we’ve been introduced to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson
The Who, “Who’s Better, Who’s Best” (cassette)
SEVENTY-FIFTH DAY (Dec. 14)
“Yes, We Have No Bonanza,” Three Stooges short
Gilligan, “Birds Gotta Fly, Fish Gotta Talk;” Scooby-Doo, “The Spooky Space Kook”
Star Ka’at, Andre Norton and Dorothy Madlee (jv sf) – managed to get in a second Norton book
Don’t Step in the Leadership, Scott Adams (comic strips)
Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles (cd)
Fifty books read = 1/96 of books
Meet the Werewolf, Georgess McHargue (jv folklore) – Now we’ve been introduced to the werewolf! Vampires we know from the film Nosferatu. And all sorts of creatures cavorted through Famous Monsters magazine.
“The Joker,” from Batman no. 1 (Spring 1940) – but this Clown Prince of Crime is worse than most monsters!
Gilligan, “The Big Gold Strike;” Scooby-Doo, “Backstage Rage”
Connections, “The Trigger Effect” – Amazing and disturbing look at the net of interconnected technology we live in. Now here’s edifying TV!
“Chair of Death,” “RFK Pictures,” “Anastasia”, and “Bermuda Triangle,” Unsolved Mysteries
SEVENTIETH DAY (Dec. 9)
“Prof. Hugo Strange and the Monsters.” “The Cat,” “The Joker Returns” finishes The Batman Chronicles Vol. 1
Mammoth Book of Illustrated Crime, Colin & Damon Wilson (true crime) – The Wilsons’ stated desire was to describe the history of the last century and a half using crime tales, and they succeed. (Of course, they define everything from violent acts of war to making whiskey during Prohibition as “crime”.) Cubby learned a lot from this book about everything from the Mafia to Watergate to Hollywood scandals.
Gilligan, “Waiting for Watubi,” Scooby-Doo, “Bedlam in the Big-Top”
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953 sf)
Forty-eight books read = 1/100 of the way through all the books I estimate Cubby will ever read. Yes, most of them were for youngsters, but it’s a good boost for his ego. That’s not counting twenty or so books he is part-way through!
SEVENTY-SECOND DAY (Dec. 11)
Lone Ranger, “High Heels;” Jonny Quest, “Shadow of the Condor”
Gilligan, “Angel on the Island;” Scooby-Doo, “A Gaggle of Galloping Ghosts”
The Six Million Dollar Man, “Population: Zero”
Phantom of the Opera (1925 horror) – should have been paired with the last “Mazeppa” showing.
Pat Savage, Woman of Bronze (Oct. 1992) – one-shot comic from Millennium. Doc Savage and his crew may be the characters Cubby has seen the most, at this point.
A Study in Scarlet, Arthur Conan Doyle – Now we’ve been introduced to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson
The Who, “Who’s Better, Who’s Best” (cassette)
SEVENTY-FIFTH DAY (Dec. 14)
“Yes, We Have No Bonanza,” Three Stooges short
Gilligan, “Birds Gotta Fly, Fish Gotta Talk;” Scooby-Doo, “The Spooky Space Kook”
Star Ka’at, Andre Norton and Dorothy Madlee (jv sf) – managed to get in a second Norton book
Don’t Step in the Leadership, Scott Adams (comic strips)
Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles (cd)
Fifty books read = 1/96 of books
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Nov. 27 -- Dec. 4
FIFTY-EIGHTH DAY (Nov. 27)
What’s New, B.C.?, Johnny Hart – comic strips with funny versions of cavemen, dinosaurs, ants, etc.
“Frost and Fire,” Ray Bradbury -- Really long and strange sf story about people on a planet where you are born, live, and die in eight days
“The Choccolocco Monster: Jokester Reveals 32-Year-Old Prank,” Matthew Creamer, article from the Anniston (AL) Star, Oct. 31, 2001 – Amusing hoax from 1969; bored fifteen-year-old plus fur coat plus cow skull = monster.
Fantastic Four no. 1 (Nov. 1961) – 2005 reprint of Silver Age comic. New superheroes to stand beside Superman, Batman, and Captain America
Doc Savage: Curse of the Fire God no. 3 (Nov. 1995)
“Peril in Paris,” from Detective Comics no. 24 (Dec. 1939)
The Lone Ranger, “Tenderfeet”; Jonny Quest, “Double Danger” introduces Jade
Gilligan, “President Gilligan”; Scooby-Doo, “What the Hex Going on?”
Victory at Sea, “Guadalcanal”; NASA, “Houston, We’ve Got a Problem”
Mazeppa, “The Reverend Dr. Menleaux Park;” Superman, “The Bulleteers,” Zorro’s Fighting Legion, “Chapter Five: The Decoy”
SIXTY-FIRST DAY (Nov. 30)
Gilligan, “The Sound of Quacking;” Scooby-Doo, “Never Ape an Ape-Man”
The Six Million Dollar Man (1973 TV movie) – the pilot for the series. Oddly, we’re about 2/3 through the novel Cyborg, but Cubby couldn’t resist. The stock footage at the beginning reminds him of the NASA films.
Thistle & Shamrock #703, “Rising Scots” and #705, “Same Tune, Different Planet”
“The Case of the Ruby Idol,” from Detective no. 35 (Jan. 1940)
Doc Savage, Curse of the Fire God no. 4 (Dec. 1995) finishes this mini-series
“Here There Be Tigers,” “Uncle Einar,” “The Gift,” “The Time Machine,” “The Strawberry Window,” “The Dragon,” “The Exiles” finished R Is for Rocket by Ray Bradbury
Notes on the Second Month: Cubby has finished 43 books, including a second Bradbury. So many to go! His TV viewing has strayed to Gilligan’s Island, Scooby-Doo, and the Three Stooges, but a little kid likes such things. Cubby now thinks of Dr. Seuss and similar books as being for “little kids,” even though he only started reading two months ago. So we’ll have to feed him more informational items in the future.
SIXTY-FOURTH DAY (Dec. 3)
“Professor Hugo Strange,” Detective Comics no. 36 (Feb. 1940); “The Spies,” no. 37 (March 1940); “Introducing Robin, the Boy Wonder,” no.38 (April 1940)
Dogbert’s Clues for the Clueless, Scott Adams (comic strips)
Gilligan, “Good-Bye, Island”; Scooby-Doo, “Foul Play in Funland”
When Worlds Collide (1951 sf) – another science fiction epic!
SIXTY-FIFTH DAY (Dec. 4)
Amazing Fantasy no. 15 (Aug 1962) – 2002 reprint of the first Spider-Man story. Another costumed hero in the comics! Spidey’s was only one of several stories in that issue. Comics books used to be a lot longer – and cheaper!
“Restless Knights,” Three Stooges short
Wine, Women, and War (1973 TV movie) – second Six Million Dollar Man movie. They were trying to make Steve Austin look like James Bond. (Reminding me: Cubby needs to see the first Bond movies, if he’s watched this and The Avengers episodes.)
What’s New, B.C.?, Johnny Hart – comic strips with funny versions of cavemen, dinosaurs, ants, etc.
“Frost and Fire,” Ray Bradbury -- Really long and strange sf story about people on a planet where you are born, live, and die in eight days
“The Choccolocco Monster: Jokester Reveals 32-Year-Old Prank,” Matthew Creamer, article from the Anniston (AL) Star, Oct. 31, 2001 – Amusing hoax from 1969; bored fifteen-year-old plus fur coat plus cow skull = monster.
Fantastic Four no. 1 (Nov. 1961) – 2005 reprint of Silver Age comic. New superheroes to stand beside Superman, Batman, and Captain America
Doc Savage: Curse of the Fire God no. 3 (Nov. 1995)
“Peril in Paris,” from Detective Comics no. 24 (Dec. 1939)
The Lone Ranger, “Tenderfeet”; Jonny Quest, “Double Danger” introduces Jade
Gilligan, “President Gilligan”; Scooby-Doo, “What the Hex Going on?”
Victory at Sea, “Guadalcanal”; NASA, “Houston, We’ve Got a Problem”
Mazeppa, “The Reverend Dr. Menleaux Park;” Superman, “The Bulleteers,” Zorro’s Fighting Legion, “Chapter Five: The Decoy”
SIXTY-FIRST DAY (Nov. 30)
Gilligan, “The Sound of Quacking;” Scooby-Doo, “Never Ape an Ape-Man”
The Six Million Dollar Man (1973 TV movie) – the pilot for the series. Oddly, we’re about 2/3 through the novel Cyborg, but Cubby couldn’t resist. The stock footage at the beginning reminds him of the NASA films.
Thistle & Shamrock #703, “Rising Scots” and #705, “Same Tune, Different Planet”
“The Case of the Ruby Idol,” from Detective no. 35 (Jan. 1940)
Doc Savage, Curse of the Fire God no. 4 (Dec. 1995) finishes this mini-series
“Here There Be Tigers,” “Uncle Einar,” “The Gift,” “The Time Machine,” “The Strawberry Window,” “The Dragon,” “The Exiles” finished R Is for Rocket by Ray Bradbury
Notes on the Second Month: Cubby has finished 43 books, including a second Bradbury. So many to go! His TV viewing has strayed to Gilligan’s Island, Scooby-Doo, and the Three Stooges, but a little kid likes such things. Cubby now thinks of Dr. Seuss and similar books as being for “little kids,” even though he only started reading two months ago. So we’ll have to feed him more informational items in the future.
SIXTY-FOURTH DAY (Dec. 3)
“Professor Hugo Strange,” Detective Comics no. 36 (Feb. 1940); “The Spies,” no. 37 (March 1940); “Introducing Robin, the Boy Wonder,” no.38 (April 1940)
Dogbert’s Clues for the Clueless, Scott Adams (comic strips)
Gilligan, “Good-Bye, Island”; Scooby-Doo, “Foul Play in Funland”
When Worlds Collide (1951 sf) – another science fiction epic!
SIXTY-FIFTH DAY (Dec. 4)
Amazing Fantasy no. 15 (Aug 1962) – 2002 reprint of the first Spider-Man story. Another costumed hero in the comics! Spidey’s was only one of several stories in that issue. Comics books used to be a lot longer – and cheaper!
“Restless Knights,” Three Stooges short
Wine, Women, and War (1973 TV movie) – second Six Million Dollar Man movie. They were trying to make Steve Austin look like James Bond. (Reminding me: Cubby needs to see the first Bond movies, if he’s watched this and The Avengers episodes.)
Saturday, December 3, 2011
November 18-25
FORTY-NINTH DAY (Nov. 18)
Victory at Sea, “Mediterranean Mosaic”
NASA, “The Eagle Has Landed” – as promised since the First Day, the story of men landing on the moon!
Gilligan, “Voodoo Something to Me”; Scooby-Doo, “A Clue for Scooby-Doo”
“The Batman Meets Doctor Death,” from Detective Comics no. 29 (July 1939), and “The Return of Dr. Death,” from no. 30 (Aug. 1939) – Batman’s mighty free with his Bat-Gun and bright red Batmobile.
Bartholomew and the Oobleck, Dr. Seuss (jv) – We missed a Dr. Seuss somehow. Cubby, at less than two months, feels himself beyond such things already. But with the mysterious green Oobleck falling from the sky, this second Bartholomew book is also quite fortean.
Day the Earth Stool Still (1951 sf) – Another alien arrives in another flying saucer, like The Thing, but Klaatu isn’t so bad.
FIFTY-FIRST DAY (Nov. 20)
Strange But True, Donald J. Sobol – juvenile accounts of real-life mysteries from the creator of Encyclopedia Brown.
Day of the Ness, Andre Norton and Michael Gilbert – finally a book by Andre Norton (or, at least, co-written). Juvenile sf tale of a bizarre group of aliens menaced by the ugly, troll-like Ness, and the earth boy who helps them (with contributions by Susie the cat).
Doc Savage: Curse of the Fire God no. 1 (Nov. 1995) – The Man of Bronze begins another comic book adventure. I’ll be superamalgamated!
The Lone Ranger, “The Renegades”; Jonny Quest, “The Robot Spy”
Gilligan, “Good Night, Sweet Skipper”; Scooby Doo, “Mine Your Own Business”
Day the Earth Stood Still DVD extras; the Three Stooges, “We Want Our Mummy”
The Avengers, “The Gravediggers”
FIFTY-FOURTH DAY (Nov. 23)
“Batman vs. the Vampire” Part One, from Detective Comics no. 31 (Sept. 1939), and Part Two, from no. 32 (Oct. 1939).
Marvels no. 0 and no. 1, from the trade paperback (1994). We see the early Human Torch, Namor, and Captain America, with cameos by Lois Lane and Clark Kent, Doc Savage and Lamont Cranston, and Popeye the Sailor!
INFO Journal no. 22, March 1977
Gilligan, “Wrongway Feldman”; Scooby Doo, “Decoy for a Dognapper”
Mazeppa, “Shampoo and Tattoo;” Superman, “The Arctic Giant;” Zorro’s Fighting Legion, “Chapter Four: Bridge of Peril.”
FIFTY-SIXTH DAY (Nov. 25)
“You Know the Tale of Hoph,” “Old Devlins Was A-Waitin’,” Manly Wade Wellman
Doc Savage: Curse of the Fire God no. 2 (Oct. 1995)
“Batman Wars Against the Dirigible of Doom,” from Detective Comics no. 33 (Nov. 1939)
King Kong (1933 sf) – Quite a follow-up to The Lost World, and it’s a Thanksgiving tradition (at least in the New York area) to watch it on Turkey Day. We’re millionaires, boys! I’ll share it with all of you!
The Giant Claw (1957 sf) – Saw this and am not proud of the fact, but it’s becoming a Thanksgiving tradition to watch this turkey as well.
Victory at Sea, “Mediterranean Mosaic”
NASA, “The Eagle Has Landed” – as promised since the First Day, the story of men landing on the moon!
Gilligan, “Voodoo Something to Me”; Scooby-Doo, “A Clue for Scooby-Doo”
“The Batman Meets Doctor Death,” from Detective Comics no. 29 (July 1939), and “The Return of Dr. Death,” from no. 30 (Aug. 1939) – Batman’s mighty free with his Bat-Gun and bright red Batmobile.
Bartholomew and the Oobleck, Dr. Seuss (jv) – We missed a Dr. Seuss somehow. Cubby, at less than two months, feels himself beyond such things already. But with the mysterious green Oobleck falling from the sky, this second Bartholomew book is also quite fortean.
Day the Earth Stool Still (1951 sf) – Another alien arrives in another flying saucer, like The Thing, but Klaatu isn’t so bad.
FIFTY-FIRST DAY (Nov. 20)
Strange But True, Donald J. Sobol – juvenile accounts of real-life mysteries from the creator of Encyclopedia Brown.
Day of the Ness, Andre Norton and Michael Gilbert – finally a book by Andre Norton (or, at least, co-written). Juvenile sf tale of a bizarre group of aliens menaced by the ugly, troll-like Ness, and the earth boy who helps them (with contributions by Susie the cat).
Doc Savage: Curse of the Fire God no. 1 (Nov. 1995) – The Man of Bronze begins another comic book adventure. I’ll be superamalgamated!
The Lone Ranger, “The Renegades”; Jonny Quest, “The Robot Spy”
Gilligan, “Good Night, Sweet Skipper”; Scooby Doo, “Mine Your Own Business”
Day the Earth Stood Still DVD extras; the Three Stooges, “We Want Our Mummy”
The Avengers, “The Gravediggers”
FIFTY-FOURTH DAY (Nov. 23)
“Batman vs. the Vampire” Part One, from Detective Comics no. 31 (Sept. 1939), and Part Two, from no. 32 (Oct. 1939).
Marvels no. 0 and no. 1, from the trade paperback (1994). We see the early Human Torch, Namor, and Captain America, with cameos by Lois Lane and Clark Kent, Doc Savage and Lamont Cranston, and Popeye the Sailor!
INFO Journal no. 22, March 1977
Gilligan, “Wrongway Feldman”; Scooby Doo, “Decoy for a Dognapper”
Mazeppa, “Shampoo and Tattoo;” Superman, “The Arctic Giant;” Zorro’s Fighting Legion, “Chapter Four: Bridge of Peril.”
FIFTY-SIXTH DAY (Nov. 25)
“You Know the Tale of Hoph,” “Old Devlins Was A-Waitin’,” Manly Wade Wellman
Doc Savage: Curse of the Fire God no. 2 (Oct. 1995)
“Batman Wars Against the Dirigible of Doom,” from Detective Comics no. 33 (Nov. 1939)
King Kong (1933 sf) – Quite a follow-up to The Lost World, and it’s a Thanksgiving tradition (at least in the New York area) to watch it on Turkey Day. We’re millionaires, boys! I’ll share it with all of you!
The Giant Claw (1957 sf) – Saw this and am not proud of the fact, but it’s becoming a Thanksgiving tradition to watch this turkey as well.
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