Friday, April 26, 2024

Friday Fun: Before X-MEN '97! Before X-MEN the Animated Series! There was X-MEN "Pryde of the X-Men"!!!

When you watch X-Men '97 on Disney+...

...ask yourself what do you know about what led to it...even before the now-legendary animated TV series aired in the mid-1990s...

Did you know about the then-heavily-promoted pilot by Marvel AnimationNew World Studios, and Toei Entertainment that aired in syndication during September 1989?
Marvel Comics devoted much of their monthly "prozine" Marvel Age's 63rd issue to the project (including a new cover by the pilot's primary character designer Russ Heath which was also used for the first VHS release of the cartoon)!
Here's the main article...
(Note the panels running along the bottom of the pages are actually from a storyboard used during production)
In addition, there was an animators' size-comparison chart...
...and the issues's back cover was an illustration showing the characters'...backsides!
Two special treats for you...
First, the centerfold from this issue of Marvel Age by ever-amazing fan-turned-pro writer/artist Fred Hembeck about the fan anticipation for the pilot...

...and here's the pilot itself!
Note, it's from an EP (6-hour speed) VHS release.

(The slower the speed, the poorer the quality!
But a studio could fit more shows and/or movies on a single video cassette at a bargain price!)
Note: There is an SP (2 Hour Speed) VHS from New World Video...
...released to comics stores and Tower Video (remember them)?
All the others are EP (6 Hour Speed)!
Try to find this version in used video bins!
Don't Miss X-Men '97!
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(A trade paperback "photonovel" graphic novel taken from screengrabs of the "Pryde of the X-Men" pilot!)
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Thursday, April 25, 2024

Reading Room / Tales Twice Told BLACK MAGIC "Flying Dutchman!"

Last Tuesday, we presented the 1970s reworked version of this tale...

...today, we show you the original, never-reprinted, 1950s story from Prize's Black Magic V4N5 (1954)!



Illustrated by Al Eadeh, this tale based on the long-established legend of the Flying Dutchman may have been written by Joe Simon, Jack Kirby, or both!

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Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Wednesday Worlds of Wonder DONNA MATRIX "Zero & One" Conclusion

...come to think of it, do you really need any further explanation?
This ain't Shakespeare!
Just enjoy the mayhem...
There was no "next issue"!
However, next week, there will be a feature detailing how this never-reprinted pioneer CGI comic was produced!

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Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Reading Room / Tales Twice Told WEIRD "Deadman's Ship"

For a change, this week's entry into Tales Twice Told begins with the re-done version by artist Enrique Cristobal...

...from Eerie Publications' Weird V8N4 (1974).

Though the scripter of this re-working is unknown, he/she/they are likely the story's original author, who is probably...nope, not gonna tell you now.
You'll have to come back Thursday to find out!
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Monday, April 22, 2024

Monday Madness SLOW DEATH "Antarctica!"

The first Earth Day was in 1970...as was the first issue of this environmentally-themed comic!

In 2020, this 50th Anniversary final issue came out featuring a mix of new and classic tales!
This is the cover-featured new story about...
Writer/artist William Stout has worked on movie/tv storyboards and production design, illustrated comic books, album covers, and movie posters.
In 1989, Stout traveled to Antarctica and Patagonia.
His experiences there eventually resulted in a one-man show Dinosaurs, Penguins and Whales — The Wildlife of Antarctica.
In 1991 Stout received a grant from the National Science Foundation to participate in their Antarctic Artists and Writers Program.
For three months during the 1992-1993 austral summer, Stout was based at McMurdo Station and Palmer Station.
He made several dives beneath the ice, climbed the active volcano Mount Erebus, camped in the dry valleys, and produced over one hundred painted studies as he carefully observed Antarctica's wildlife.
Talk about "practice what you preach"!
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