Just a Tron Yori shirt I thought was pretty awesome.
(Via Circa Classic Vintage)
Archive Page 102
Tron `Yori’ Shirt (Pilgrim for Girls, 1982)
Published July 26, 2013 '80s Decor/Design/Fashion , Tron 3 CommentsAdvanced Dungeons & Dragons Storybooks: The Forest of Enchantment and The Treasure of Time (1983)
Published July 25, 2013 Books , Coloring/Activity Books , Comic Books , D&D , D&D Art , D&D Non-Gaming Merchandise , Earl Norem , Make Mine Marvel , Marvel Books (Imprint) 17 Comments
In 1983 Marvel published a series of D&D storybooks and coloring books under license from TSR. (One year later, the roles would be reversed for the Marvel Super Heroes RPG, published by TSR under license from Marvel.) I believe these are the only two storybooks. You can read The Forest of Enchantment here. The Treasure of Time is here. Both PDFs are originally from Kuronons’ D&D Goodies Collection.
They’re kid’s books, so it’s pretty juvenile stuff, and there’s no effort to introduce the concept of role-playing (unlike the 1979 AD&D Coloring Album). All but two of the characters from LJN’s first run of AD&D action figures make appearances, so the books are basically long toy commercials.
Nevertheless, they’re notable for a few reasons: Bob Stine is Goosebumps author R.L. Stine, and Jane Stine, who founded Parachute Publishing, is his wife.
As for the art, Earl Norem did the interior work for The Forest of Enchantment, and Marie Severin did the cover and designed the book. She also illustrated The Treasure of Time. Severin was a colorist at EC until the notorious publisher was run out of town by the Comics Code. She worked for Marvel—as colorist, inker, and penciler—from 1959 until the early ’90s. She is one of the most well-respected artists in the comics field.
Famously, Severin was directed to soften the facial expression of the Hulk on one of the most innovative covers in Marvel’s history: The Hulk King Size Special #1 (1968). See both versions here. The artist who made the Green Guy too savage for public consumption? Jim Steranko.
Kid Visiting Marvel Comics Headquarters, 1983
Published July 24, 2013 Comic Books , Make Mine Marvel , Stan "The Man" Leave a Comment
The Art of Earl Norem: The Rampaging Hulk #9 (1978) and Marvel Preview #22 (1980)
Published July 24, 2013 Comic Books , Curtis Magazines , Earl Norem , Make Mine Marvel 1 Comment
A decorated World War II veteran, Earl Norem got his start in men’s action-adventure magazines and worked steadily in that genre throughout the ’50s and ’60s. He broke into comics in the mid-’70s, doing a large number of memorable covers for Marvel’s Curtis Magazines, including Savage Sword of Conan and The Rampaging Hulk.
Norem was a major contributor to the Marvel Books imprint from 1982 to 1986 (The Amazing Spider-Man, The Transformers, G.I. Joe), elevated the Masters of the Universe image in a slew of books and magazines, and painted the covers for a Choose Your Own Adventure-style book series called Wizards, Warriors & You (1984 – 1986). I think he also did some package art for G.I. Joe. I’m trying to track down the details.
I’ll be posting Norem’s art on an ongoing basis. He deserves the attention.
The Renegades (1983) Was a Real Show on TV and I Can Prove It
Published July 23, 2013 '80s Movies/TV , Ads , TV Guide 7 Comments
Starring Patrick Swayze as Bandit!
Randy Brooks as Eagle!
Paul Mones as J.T.!
Tracy Scoggins as… uh… Tracy!
Robert Thaler as Dancer!
Brian Tochi as Dragon!
Fausto Bara as Gaucho!
And the dad from That ’70s Show (Kurtwood Smith) as Captain Scanlon!
The Renegades originally aired as a TV movie in August of ’82. It was spun off as a series in March of 1983 and lasted for six episodes only. It’s a Mod Squad (1968 – 1973) reboot, but without the social conscience or hip vibe that made the first show so awesome. The premise was tweaked again, with better results, for 21 Jump Street (1987 – 1991).
Here’s the Renegades intro. Pay special attention to Scoggins’ dramatic head turn, ‘Dancer’ running his hand through his feathered hair, and the uncomfortably long time the renegades stand staring at the cops. The music rules.
Comic Book Spinner Racks, 1982
Published July 22, 2013 Big Kids Reading Comics , Comic Book Stores , Comic Books , Make Mine Marvel , Spinner Racks 3 Comments
There are two racks in the first shot. Looks like a pretty awesome comic shop. I see The Spectacular Spider-Man #68, The Uncanny X-Men #159 (starring Dracula!), Star Wars #57 and #58—all of them “wholesome,” according to the banner.
The rack in the second photo is in a book store. Captain America #268 makes yet another appearance on 2W2N. That’s three times so far.
I worked in a music store in 1990, and one of my jobs was refilling the spinner rack when new comics arrived. (I had experience, after all.) I had to tear the covers off the old comics and trash the books. The covers were returned to the publisher for credit.
(Images via Blog for Rom Fans and Derf City)
Kid Art (1982): Raiders of the Lost Ark
Published July 19, 2013 Kid Art , Raiders of the Lost Ark 3 Comments
Neil Whelan describes his fine work:
On 12 June 1981, Raiders Of The Lost Ark was released in America. Alongside Star Wars, it was a defining film for a generation and 30 years later it’s still one of my top three favourite films of all time.
As was the tradition back in those days before DVD and high definition, films stayed at the cinema for months [after] their initial release rather than being pulled from screens after a couple of weeks.
By the look of this old text book, I didn’t get to see it until 17 April 1982, eventually reviewing it the following Thursday. I think I summed up the plot pretty well and you can instantly see what my favourite scene was.
You have to admit, it is a damn good plot summary, and he nails the scene.
Kenner’s Raiders of the Lost Ark Toys: Map Room Adventure Set (1982)
Published July 19, 2013 Kenner Toys , Raiders of the Lost Ark 2 Comments
It’s hard to believe now, but no one anticipated how massively successful Raiders of the Lost Ark was going to be. Kenner picked up the merchandising gig late, and the Raiders play sets and action figures didn’t appear until the second half of 1982—after E.T. was released. By then it was too late. Yo Joe!
Apparently looking through the mini headpiece on the mini Staff of Ra revealed the location of the ark in 3-D.
(Images via eBay)
Fantastic Films #27 (January, 1982): Interview with Jim Steranko
Published July 18, 2013 '80s Movies/TV , Blade Runner , Comic Books , Fantastic Films , Jim Steranko , Magazines/Zines , Outland , Raiders of the Lost Ark , Sci-Fi Movies/TV 4 Comments
Comics and illustration genius Jim Steranko on his Raiders of the Lost Ark pre-production art:
The first Raiders painting I did established the character of Indiana Jones. There was really no actor discussed at this point, at least not with me […]
I got a note from George’s [Lucas] secretary describing Indiana Jones, which said that Indy should have a jacket like George wears. That was the only instruction. Fortunately, I knew what kind of jacket George wears. It all worked out very well. I perceived Indiana Jones as a cross between Doc Savage and Humphrey Bogart […]
The definitive image appears on Kenner’s 1981 Raiders of the Lost Ark Game.
Steranko’s Outland adaptation was serialized in Heavy Metal from June, 1981 through January, 1982. You can read the first few pages here.
The movie it’s based on, written and directed by Peter Hyams (Capricorn One, 2010), is generally dismissed as a heavy-handed retelling of High Noon (1952). That’s a mistake. As Steranko says, “[Outland] struck me as being the first noir science fiction film, somewhat in the ‘Chandleresque’ vein.” The film also verges on cyberpunk, and it came out a year before Blade Runner.
It’s fitting that Steranko, deeply influenced by the pulps, also did the cover for the Marvel Super Special Blade Runner cover.
Iron Maiden Concert T-Shirt (1982): ‘The Beast Tames Texas’
Published July 17, 2013 '80s Decor/Design/Fashion , '80s Music 2 Comments
2 Warps to Neptune 