May | 2014 | 2 Warps to Neptune

Archive for May, 2014

Complete Set of Bob Pepper’s Dragonmaster Cards (1981)

Published May 9, 2014 Board Games/Tabletop Games , Bob Pepper , Fantasy Art 15 Comments

A sequel to my first post on Milton Bradley’s Dragonmaster. Click to make big. We owe the scans to Tom Beiter, champion of pop culture posterity and author of Garage Sale Finds, a detailed profile of “garage sale treasures and sometimes trash.” (You will not believe the amazing stuff that Tom finds—and often restores.)

It’s clear that Pepper had a deep understanding of Medieval, Renaissance, and Pre-Raphaelite art, and his method—mixing charcoal and watercolors—produced some incredibly vivid colors and textures. His impeccable imagination did the rest. Each card is a work of art, and the originals, if they still exist, belong in a museum. (Is there a fantasy art museum? A commercial art museum?)

I’m betting that one or more of you can come up with a game that does Pepper’s work some justice. From what I’ve heard, the original version is not very compelling.

1986 Schaper Toy Fair Catalog: Animax

Published May 8, 2014 Catalogs , Fantasy Toys/Playsets , Toy Fairs 5 Comments

Decadent! Derivative! But look at that Bridge of Doom Playset and tell me you wouldn’t lock yourself in a room with it for hours on end, running your cheeks and fingers along the… Sorry, where were we?

Read the Animax story and see more amazing pics at Mel Birnkrant’s Animax page.

Dan Aykroyd and Duran Duran Playing Video Games, 1983

Published May 7, 2014 '80s Music , Arcade Cabinets/Coin-Ops , Atari , Magazines/Zines , Video Games 1 Comment

From Vidiot #5, 1983. Vidiot, “The Magazine of Video Lunacy,” was an offshoot of rock magazine Creem, and lasted only 6 issues.

It just so happens that Space Duel and Gravitar are two of my favorite cabinets. I’m a sucker for vector graphics. Space Duel also appears on the front and back covers of The Who’s It’s Hard (1982).

Double Trouble (1984) Was a Real Show on TV and I Can Prove It

Published May 7, 2014 '80s Movies/TV , TV Guide 3 Comments

Kate and Allison (Jean and Liz Sagal) are identical twin teenagers with totally opposite personalities! One is serious; one is happy-go-lucky. I don’t remember which has what trait, and it doesn’t matter, because they look exactly the same. They’re dancers, see, and dad (Donnelly Rhodes) owns a dance studio that’s also sort of a health club. Hilarious antics ensue, right? Nope.

In the second (and last) season, the setting was moved from Des Moines to New York. Dad was replaced by the cool aunt, and the girls pursue acting and design school. It doesn’t matter which one pursued what occupation, because they look exactly the same.

Patricia Richardson, a terrific actor who held Home Improvement together for eight years, appears in the first season of Double Trouble.

The openings from both seasons are below. If you wanted to describe the mainstream vibe of the ’80s to visitors from outer space, the first one has you covered.

Radio Shack Commercial: ‘A New Generation of Affordable Cellular Phones’ (1987)

Published May 6, 2014 Commercials Leave a Comment

Only $1399! But you may as well spring for the “totally portable” model—only $2495!

Two years later, Radio Shack’s Transportable Cellular Phone System was “just” $799.

Blip #5 (June, 1983): ‘Technology + Tradition = Summer Fun’

Published May 6, 2014 Computer Camp , Magazines/Zines , Make Mine Marvel , Video Games Leave a Comment

Blip was Marvel’s short-lived—seven issues only—foray into the video game world. It was colorful but silly, printed on comic stock and marketed to younger kids.

Page two talks about the development of Atari’s E.T., and refers to TRON (the movie) as a “flop.” Ripping every gamer’s favorite flick was probably not a good idea.

The activity on pages 12 and 13 is representative of the entire run. Kids of every age would have found it condescending.

Pages 14 and 16 are about computer camp, one of my favorite subjects. I wrote about the Atari camp here. I love the robot on the lawn chair, even though it’s a clunky (pun intended) metaphor.

And, if you weren’t feeling old enough already, how about the “News Blips” on page 23?

The most amazing feature of the Concept 100 is its satellite hookup. That’s right—this car will actually have a computer that is tuned in to a satellite orbiting in space. What good is this? One big advantage is tracking. If you ever get lost, just order up a map and the satellite will find your car…

Read the whole issue, and the whole run, at archive.org.

Board Games: Dragonmaster (Milton Bradley, 1981)

Published May 5, 2014 Board Games/Tabletop Games , Bob Pepper , Dark Tower , Fantasy Art 18 Comments

Dragonmaster is a straightforward, trick-taking card game with a sword and sorcery theme. What makes it interesting is the spectacular art, which resembles that of another, better known Milton Bradley game from the same year, Dark Tower. Here’s a shot of the different screens in Dark Tower for comparison:

The same talented gent, Bob Pepper, illustrated both games. Pepper is probably most famous for his kaleidoscopic cover art for Forever Changes (1967), one of the greatest rock albums of all time. He also did numerous, ultra-stylized sci-fi/fantasy paperback covers from the late 1960s until the early 1980s, including a series of unforgettable Philip K. Dick covers for DAW. Less well known are his beautiful classical album covers—for Bartok, Schubert, Puccini, Bach. I’ll feature more from Pepper soon.

Once again we see the influence of the psychedelic movement of the 1960s on the fantasy renaissance of 1975 – 1985.

You can read a short interview with Pepper at Well of Souls, a Dark Tower fan site.

UPDATE: See a complete set of Pepper’s Dragonmaster cards here.

(Images via Board Game Geek)

Star Wars Micro Collection: Bespin Freeze Chamber Action Playset (Kenner, 1982)

Published May 2, 2014 Kenner Toys , Star Wars (Original Trilogy) 5 Comments

Reedley High School Yearbook, 1955

Published May 1, 2014 High School , High School Yearbooks , Sci-Fi/Space Art , Space Race , UFOs Leave a Comment

Reedley High School (public) is in Fresno County, California. The illustrations are gorgeous, and telling. Historians generally cite 1955 as the year the Space Race began, and the phrase “flying saucer” dates to 1947 (“UFO” was officially adopted by the U.S. Air Force in 1952). The futuristic Reedley is a great example of the Mid-Century modern aesthetic.

Take some time to read some of the notes when you can. Here’s one from the first page:

I hope you get cheer leader, at least I voted for you. You’re a real cute kid with a personality to match keep it up – don’t get to conceited – have much fun

lots of luck

“Real cute kid” and “real swell girl” come up often, and both sexes use it.

(Photos via eileensbooks/eBay)