Marvel Calendar 1975 or 2005

As is my wont, I love when things coincide, especially when they involve superheroes!

In the past, I’ve noted that Mark Anderson, over at Andertoons, has posted a number of pieces of superhero art from the 70s, especially his calendars which, being cyclical in nature, keep coming round again.

I mention this because my friend, the amazing poet Gregory Crosby, recently posted yet another Marvel calendar – the 1975 edition – which corresponds to this year, 2025! This time it’s from the geek blog ‘TAIN’T THE MEAT… IT’S THE HUMANITY!

So, enjoy! And if you want your own copy, you can order a facsimile from or Amazon or here’s a PDF you can print at home.

Catching Fish in Warsaw

Back at the end of August, I had this weird idea. I’d been scrolling through Facebook and came across a post by Fish, former lead singer of Marillion (who, if you know anything about me, you know were instrumental in my formative years). In it, he was announcing added dates for his upcoming “Road to the Isles” tour, which, he also announced, would be his last tour. After 15 studio albums (four with Marillion) and numerous live and collected records, he was hanging up the scarf and microphone. 

Continue reading “Catching Fish in Warsaw”

Who are your favorite artists?

“What is art?”

“I can’t explain it, but I know it when I see it.”

It’s an old joke, to be sure, but it’s kinda true, especially for me. I know very little about art, especially intrinsically. What I mean is that everything I do know, I’ve had to seek out and learn on my own. I have no built-in sense of the technicalities of art beyond the most basics. I think this is partially true because I have no artistic abilities, pretty much at all. When I was directing my short film some 25 years ago, I tried my hand at doing storyboards and they ended up looking like anemic stick figures. Even longer ago than that, I tried to teach myself special effects make-up* (thanks to Tom Savini’s seminal books) and was so excited when the sculpture that took me days to finish looked vaguely like a cat person (which, to be clear, was actually my goal). Continue reading “Who are your favorite artists?”

What is one of the best photographs you’ve ever taken?

Life is an open BookPhotography has changed quite a bit since I was a kid, so the exploration of today’s question, about the best photograph I’ve ever taken, feels like it’s going to be a bit roundabout and circumspect. I mean, first off, we have to talk about the word “best” don’t we? What does that even mean? “Best” according to whom? Continue reading “What is one of the best photographs you’ve ever taken?”

On Maps and Knowing Where Things Are

superhero-map
https://brilliantmaps.com/superhero-nyc/

I really love maps. They’re great for showing all sorts of really cool data about any number of things. And doing it in a way which makes it easy to read and understand. Like this one here, next to what you’re reading, it’s a map of New York City, showing the homes/working areas of a number of top superheroes.

Continue reading “On Maps and Knowing Where Things Are”

Starlog!

starlog_1Growing up, my passion for film, filmmaking, and science fiction was spurred, pretty much, by one magazine – Starlog. I used to get it all the time, especially if the cover was about a film/TV show I was either desperate to see or one I had seen and was obsessing over.

Today, I discovered the Starlog Archive online. Can’t wait for a break in my daily work so I can dive in and read some of the original thoughts on films long since sequalized, lionized, disregarded, and remade.

Try Some, Buy Some?

ThursdaysFor some reason, maybe it’s because I miss being visually creative or because I wanted to see some of these things in the world, who knows? But what’s happened is that I’ve come up with some products, thanks to some amazing designers, and made a little shop to sell them.

Now, this isn’t some plan to get rich or anything like that (yes, I do make a little bit, but really that’s just for Monki’s college fund) but more just for me to have some design fun and share things. So if you see something you like, pick it up. If there’s something you want, let me know.

Enjoy!

The Archaeologist, A Unique Gin Bottled and Infused With Vintage Harley Davidson Motorcycle Parts

In Poppe Culture, my mystery novel about Skids Poppe, ex-motorcycle gang member turned journalist who solves crimes, I created a drink named after the erstwhile main character: Continue reading “The Archaeologist, A Unique Gin Bottled and Infused With Vintage Harley Davidson Motorcycle Parts”

The Great Tomsoni – 1934-2019

DSC_0282.jpgOn March 9, 2019, the art of magic lost a legend. Sure, more people may have seen Penn & Teller or David Copperfield or Criss Angel or Lance Burton, but all of them acknowledged Johnny Thompson as a true master of the field.

I had the pleasure of knowing and spending some time with him when I was living in Las Vegas, and I certainly have my stories to share, but the following words, by people who knew him far better than I, are a perfect tribute.

Rest easy, Great. You did good work. Continue reading “The Great Tomsoni – 1934-2019”