Who needs torches and oil when this “handy” flashlite [sic] is available at the local marketplace? Reduce your encumbrance, adventurers!
Archive Page 25
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Flashlite (Larami, 1983)
Published September 14, 2015 D&D , D&D Non-Gaming Merchandise , Larami Toys 6 CommentsAdvanced Dungeons & Dragons Pencil Sharpeners: Strongheart and Warduke (Larami, 1983)
Published September 14, 2015 D&D , D&D Non-Gaming Merchandise , Larami Toys , School Supplies Leave a Comment
These were part of a very large lot of licensed D&D items that sold on eBay, many of which allegedly came from the TSR archives. There was a third sharpener identified on the package as a Deadly Grell, but it was actually a five-headed hydra, as seen below. A similar hydra makes an appearance in the AD&D Characters Coloring Book, also from 1983. A series of “bendable monster” figures, including a Deadly Grell and a five-headed Hydra, was released by LJN in 1983-1984.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Metal Miniatures: Monks, Bards, & Thieves (TSR, 1983)
Published September 11, 2015 D&D , D&D Art , D&D Miniatures 1 Comment
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Metal Miniatures: Conan Set #1 (TSR, 1984)
Published September 11, 2015 Conan the Barbarian , D&D , D&D Miniatures Leave a Comment
TSR released two Conan modules in 1984 (Conan Unchained! and Conan Against Darkness!) to coincide with the release of Conan the Destroyer. In 1985 TSR released, for obscure reasons, the Conan Role-Playing Game, with game mechanics based on the Marvel Super Heroes RPG. Chris Kutalik reviews the Conan RPG at Hill Cantons.
A Portrait of Young Geeks Playing D&D, Circa 1983
Published September 10, 2015 '80s Decor/Design/Fashion , D&D , D&D Clubs , D&D Portraits , High School , High School Yearbooks 8 Comments
The Hesperia Junior High D&D Club is playing The Keep on the Borderlands in the school library. Love that camo boonie hat. The photos are from the Hesperia Junior High Yearbook from 1982-1983 via Keith Sloane, who posted them in the comments at Joseph Bloch’s Greyhawk Grognard. I posted Bloch’s D&D Club photo here.
Last Push for the Complete Reprint of AD&D Fanzine The Oracle (1982 – 1983)
Published September 9, 2015 D&D , DIY , Erol Otus , Magazines/Zines Leave a Comment
Since my last post about The Oracle reprint, Tim Hutchings has sent me a review copy of the reprint, and it does not disappoint. When Tim says that the zine was “almost single-handedly” created and published by teenager Christopher Bigelow, it’s not an exaggeration. Bigelow, who wrote a comprehensive introduction to the reprint, put the zine together with a word processor on loan from his dad’s secretary, served as the entire editorial staff, contracted all the contributing talent, and wrote many of the articles (under pseudonyms)—while still in high school!
The Kickstarter has 8 days to go and was fully funded many moons ago. However, there’s an incredible new stretch goal promising to recreate the sixth issue of The Oracle promised—but never delivered—at the end of 1983’s issue #5. Who will contribute the articles mentioned in that more than 30-year-old teaser? Here’s Tim:
The Dungeon of Kroom Level III, Sarah Richardson of the Ennie award winning Contessa blog.
The Medieval Town in Literature, Timothy Connelly, frequent contributor Gygax Magazine among others.
New AD&D Character Class… This is the one which makes me so invested in a sixth issue. A sadly departed gamer who wrote up a proposal for an Oracle article on the Empath character class will have his article finished by his son.
Expanded Crossbreed System, Erol Otus. Yes, THE Erol Otus. The man whose artwork defined D&D for me and maybe most of a generation. I grow giddy at the prospect. The Erol contribution will be based on his crossbreed rules for the Island Town game scenario.
Right. And all we need is “$100 of monthly contributions lined up” to keep the PlaGMaDA archive going. It’s a good cause, and you can go here to back and donate. A PDF copy of the reprint is only 5 bucks!
If you’re on the fence, here’s one more interesting note. As I was perusing my review copy, I ran across the below ad (phone number edited out) in the last two Oracle issues.
Laird is also credited with the cover of issue #5 (first image above), published in Autumn 1983. The name struck a chord, and I realized that Peter A. Laird is the co-creator (writer and artist) of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The original black & white comic was published in May 1984, less than a year after his Oracle work. As if the project weren’t historical enough already…
Glenn Danzig Reviews The Road Warrior, Circa 1982
Published September 8, 2015 Mad Max Trilogy , Magazines/Zines 2 Comments
According to the Destroy All Movies – Punks on Film Facebook page, the reviews are from an unidentified fanzine. He nails all of them, if you ask me.
Australian Mad Max 2 Ads, 1981
Published September 8, 2015 Mad Max Trilogy , Movie Theaters/Marquees 1 Comment
Mad Max 2 (The Road Warrior in the U.S.) remains, and will always remain, one of the most sophisticated, most uncompromising, most meaningful, most convincing, most thrilling action movies ever made. Every time I watch it—at least once a year—I’m awed by how perfectly it holds up.
(Images via madmaxmovies.com)
2 Warps to Neptune 