Reading Room JET POWERS "Three-Million-Year-Old Men"

What's a typical day in the life of Jet Powers like?

After breakfast there's a scientist with a time machine...

...which ends up in the hands of alien invaders from the future!

But, Jet Powers cleans the whole matter up...before lunch!

That's just the opening Jet tale, lovingly-illustrated by Bob Powell, from Magazine Enterprises' Jet Powers #2 (1951).
Be here tomorrow to see how Jet spends the rest of his day...

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Comic Collectible Corner

Tomorrow: JET POWERS!

This scene does not actually occur in the comic...

Art by Bob Powell

...but it's a really kool cover and these characters (and the dinosaur) do get involved in overlapping stories involving time travel, aliens, a returning arch-villain, robots, and another mad scientist!

Be here tomorrow...

Happy Birthday to the REAL Captain Kirk!

Chris Pine is a decent replacement, but...

...as Sean Connery IS the one, true James Bond, William Shatner IS Captain James T Kirk!

If any proof be needed...

BTW, Trivia Point: The photo above features Captain Kirk vs...Captain Midnight!
Richard Webb (Finney in "Court Martial" was tv's Captain Midnight in the 1950s)

Comix Class: MOVIEMAKING ILLUSTRATED

Our "brother blog", Secret Sanctum of Captain Video presents a long out-of-print handbook which utilizes Silver and Bronze Age Marvel Comics artwork to demonstrate cinematography in storyboard fashion.
In fact, noted comic and animation artist Scott Shaw! used it in his storyboarding class...

I used to teach a class in storyboarding for the animation union here in Los Angeles. At the time, there was a tremendous influx of comic book talent from the Philippines come to work in animation. Many of these artists had no previous experience working in this field, plus there was a certain learning gap due to language and culture. Although this book really isn't particularly well-done (comics and film AREN'T as similar as some folks think), I frequently used pages from it when trying to help my Filipino students. Once they figured things out, many of 'em went on to do LOTS of professional storyboard work in the animation biz.

Considering how many current artists have problems grasping the essentials of storytelling (not illustrating, storytelling), perhaps an updated version of this should be standard reading.
Until then, this will have to do.
Class is already in session.
Don't be late and bring an Apple (iTouch or iPad will do) for the teacher. ;-)

Who Knows What Evil Lurks in Letterbox on Blu-Ray?

The Shadow Knows...

Almost 20 years after its theatrical release (has it really been that long?) and 15 after its release on DVD in a pan-and-scan version, The Shadow is finally getting a letterbox release! from Shout! Factory.
(Note: I do have the laserdisc and the Academy Award screener VHS, which are letterbox (and the laserdisc has DTS stereo), but I've been waiting for a DVD edition.
Unfortunately, this is Blue-Ray only, so I'll have to ask a friend in England to send me the British DVD, which is letterbox.)
The somewhat-sparse extras include new interviews with Alec Baldwin, Penelope Ann Miller, Tim Curry, director Russell Mulcahy, production designer Joseph Nemec, III, director of photography Stephen H. Burum and writer David Koepp, plus the original trailer.
Sadly, no commentaries, and they didn't even include the rather cheesy, yet kool Taylor Dane music video...
Ah, well...
BTW, the complete, never-reprinted, two-issue comic adaptation of the movie by Michael Kaluta is on our brother RetroBlog Secret Sanctum of Captain Video™ .
Even though the script is fairly close to the movie (with a new framing sequence), visually, it's a totally-different experience!